AIYANA
Alyssa approached, her brow furrowed with concern.
"You’re sure about this?"
I glanced again toward the dark trail. The forest was waiting for me.
"No," I replied. "But I’m going anyway."
I turned my head, searching for my grandmother among the women. She was sitting on a rock, hands clasped in her lap, talking to Eli’s mother.
My heart clenched.
I leaned closer to Alyssa, speaking low so only she could hear.
"Keep an eye on her, okay?" I whispered. "I don’t trust my aunt for a second."
Her hair was st
AIYANAIcarus pulled me closer, his arm tight around my waist."You don’t look like a mistress, angel."His voice dripped with sarcasm, each word like a needle."But you also don’t strike me as the sharing type. Or... are you?""Let her go," Max growled.His whole body trembled with rage."Now, Icarus.""Oh, Max…" Icarus turned his head lazily, as if bored."I’m just trying to figure out… who’s who in this twisted story."His gaze shifted to Isabela, collapsed a few feet away, eyes brimming, face scratched."That one’s the girlfriend. This one... the mate."He let out a short, cold laugh."So you have two women, Max? Is that it? And here I thought you were the good guy."His hand trailed up to my collarbone, the touch turning into a threat."Tell me," he said, his voice dropping lower, darker."If you could only save one…"His black eyes locked onto Max’s, merciless."The mistress… or the mate?"He tightened his grip on my neck just enough to make Max step forward, eyes wide."Who do
AIYANAAlyssa approached, her brow furrowed with concern."You’re sure about this?"I glanced again toward the dark trail. The forest was waiting for me."No," I replied. "But I’m going anyway."I turned my head, searching for my grandmother among the women. She was sitting on a rock, hands clasped in her lap, talking to Eli’s mother.My heart clenched.I leaned closer to Alyssa, speaking low so only she could hear."Keep an eye on her, okay?" I whispered. "I don’t trust my aunt for a second."Her hair was st
AIYANAThe smell of smoke and damp earth clung to my skin, as if fear had its own scent. The night was thick, opaque, and starless. Isabela stumbled just behind me, cursing under her breath. My grandmother led the way, her steps far too determined for someone her age. Birguit walked beside me, eyes sharp, sniffing out danger before it could reach us."Why would Icarus do this now?" I asked quietly, to no one in particular."Because he thinks Maxim and his father killed his people," Isabela replied, cold as always. "And you don’t know him. He’s violent and unhinged.""I don’t know anything," I muttered, pulling my coat tighter around me. "And still I’m here, running in the middle of the night like some scared chil
AIYANAMaxim’s breath was warm against my mouth, and something inside me twisted, an invisible force pulling me toward him.And then, he came back.The second kiss wasn’t just a touch.It was something deeper, hungrier.His lips molded to mine, hot and demanding as if he wanted to carve himself into me. His hand slid from my cheek to the nape of my neck, pulling me closer, while his other hand gripped my waist.And that’s when it happened.Something inside me roared.It was hot and instinctive, a primal desire that burned beneath my skin like a beast had been awakened.My head spun as I felt the force growing inside me, it wanted to claim him.My body leaned into his, and for a second, nothing else existed beyond that moment, that touch, that fire spreading through my veins."Whoa!"The sound shattered the spell.I stepped back, breathless, my chest rising and falling quickly.Maxim was breathing heavily too, his expression tense, his eyes glowing with something dangerous.I turned to
AIYANAI wasn’t expecting anything more than an ordinary day. Work, shower, bed. That’s how it was every year. But when I opened the door and saw all those people gathered, I needed a moment to understand what was going on.Alyssa was in front, holding a cake covered in whipped cream and strawberries, a big smile on her face.“Happy birthday, you grumpy wolf!”My grandmother, Aldrich, stood beside her, eyes shining with that kind of affection only she could give. Azz was bouncing around excitedly, holding a colorful balloon, while Chloé crossed her arms and gave a half-smile, like she was saying, “Yeah, I’m here too.”Luca whistled.“Her face is priceless. Looks like she saw a ghost.”He wasn’t totally wrong.“What…?” My voice caught.Alyssa rolled her eyes.“What does it look like? It’s a surprise!”My hands were still gripping the straps of my bag, and I realized my whole body was tense. I never celebrated my birthday. Never wanted to.But there they were, waiting for some kind of r