WARNING: this chapter includes sex!
Arella’s POV
Zane pulled me closer, and I would have gasped at how small he could make me feel – but in the best way possible. His hands were so big they easily covered my asscheeks when he lifted me onto his lap. He squeezed it so delectably well, that it made me want to moan. Tell him to do it again, as each one of his touches felt like an electric pulse to my pussy. But I couldn’t say anything because his tongue was currently exploring my mouth, teasing it like it was his to claim.
Well, two could play at that game!
Fisting my fingers through his hair, I moved up his body, pressing myself against him, so there was nothing between us. He let out a groan that was swallowed by my lips pressing against his. I pushed back, my tongue easily slipping into his mouth.
And FUCK!
His taste exploded on my tongue, like fireworks. Suddenly he was the taste I had lon
Zane’s POV“Weak,” I snorted at my son as he sprawled on the ground, struggling to get up after the harder-than-necessary blow I’d just delivered.“I-I’m sorry, father,” Cain whined, tears in his eyes. My wolf let out a snarl, and clawed my insides, making pain coil inside of me. Because a part of me did feel bad for doing this. A part of me wanted to reach out and comfort him. To tell him that he did well. That I could see the improvements and the efforts of his hard work---But then I remembered the price of those emotions. How they had made me weak. And who, in the end, paid the ultimate price…My Luna Queen…My mate!Her blood was on my hands because of that weakness…So I took those useless emotions and stuck them someplace where the sun didn’t shine. I didn’t show any weakness. I wouldn’t. Not in front of my pack and not in front of my children. I refused to let them suffer because of my weakness.Not anymore…“Don’t be sorry,” I snarled, spinning on my heels and heading back to
Zane’s POV“My King?” the delta said, causing me to stop and face him. I was heading back to my office after the fencing lesson with my son. Cain was a fast learner and soon he’d be able to beat even his seniors. Perhaps I should find him a private tutor or---“We have a problem,” the delta stuttered, clearly nervous. His hands were shaking slightly as he reached out for the tablet. Papers were a thing of the past and I for one hated the wasteful things. I liked my trees in the forest, not on my desk as clutter…“What’s the problem?” I growled, not in the mood to even out my voice. My wolf was in a foul mood – the beast always was these days. More feral than sane on the good days and today he was pissed. He was angry that Noah had been there to help our son.That should have been our job!And he was pissed because I wasn’t going to go to Eva’s kindergarten performance tonight. Like my son, my daughter would learn to be strong. She’d learn not to need anyone in her life – not even her
Warning: Any form of stereotyping is there for gags – not provocation…Arella’s POVWhen you’re alone in the woods--- sure, you fantasize about naked men all the time. Hell, my vibrator had been many different men – most of which were fictional characters in the steamy novels I read. But at the back of my mind, I’d always known that the moment the bliss was gone and I opened my eyes, they’d be gone too.This guy, however, didn’t go anywhere!And yeah, he was butt-naked too…Turning off the ATV, I took another glance at the man. Had someone spiked the bottles of Bailley’s I’d asked Donna to send me or was there seriously a naked man lying right in front of me?Because he was hot!What?I was a hot-blooded woman – sue me for noticing that a passed-out guy was hot! And after all the men I’d seen out here, he looked like he’d just stepped out of a wet dream. A very nice ass and broad shoulders, toned legs, and--- did I mention the nice ass?It was an exceptionally nice ass…Anyway---With
Warning: Any form of stereotyping is there for gags – not provocation…Arella’s POVOk, so--- NOT dead!That’s a plus…And the good news kept coming because, despite the severe break in his leg, nothing else seemed to be broken. Or infected, which was a miracle in my book, considering that the bear trap looked as old as Methuselah and as rusty as a Cuban automobile.Still disinfected the shit out of it…And this time the man remained still as--- well, the dead, but knock on wood for me, will you?I was sort of walking a thin line here…The huge guy continued to sleep soundly, while I wrapped his leg and unceremoniously got him onto the stretcher.And I do sincerely mean unceremoniously!The guy weighed a ton! And no matter what training I’d done in the past or continued to do every day out here, could have prepared me for the density of this being.“What did they make you out of? Clay?!” I panted, as I finally was done moving the mountain of muscles, aching in places I didn’t know I h
Zane’s POVDrugged!I couldn’t believe that a human – and a FEMALE at that! – got the drop on me and managed to knock me out. My wolf growled at the notion, but for once, he wasn’t fighting tooth and nail to have control of our body. He was, just like me, too sluggish and drugged up to do anything other than grumble.A small blessing for now…I tried to focus on my surroundings, getting a sense of where I was. It smelled like wood, warmth and---Dinner?!That had even my wolf forcing his head up. Because whatever was cooking smelled absolutely divine! Hell, it made my mouth salivate and reminded me that I hadn’t eaten in goddess only knows how long.But what was that sound?Music, I concluded and---Was that heavy metal?It was!Ramstein, if my German wasn’t getting too rusty and someone was singing along. Terribly, I might add! Hell, I’d heard dying animals make more tolerable noise than that! I fought against the sluggishness in my body and forced myself to turn toward the sound. Wi
Zane’s POVI didn’t trust this female!Not only did she NOT back away from me when I growled at her, but she seemed completely immune to my wolf. Any ordinary human would be cowering in fear or running away when the beast made his presence known.But she didn’t even flinch!Was she a witch or something? The cramped cabin sort of fit the bill, but the very alive – although slightly odd – chameleon on the shelf told me otherwise. But if she wasn’t a witch, then what the hell was she? And how the hell did she seem to be able to calm my wolf?I didn’t like it!But I had to admit – even if only to myself – that it felt like a burden had been lifted off my shoulders. Even if it was only for a little while, I felt as if my body could finally relax, because I wasn’t fighting my wolf all the goddess damned time. My tense muscles lost some of their tension and I felt a little sore, but in a good way. My wolf wasn’t taking control and I felt that I could breathe a little easier.Which was fuckin
Zane’s POVShe was kissing me!Her lips were pressed against mine in a firm kiss, preventing me from uttering another word. And to my surprise, I wasn’t throwing her off me. Instead, I was stuck with the urge to pull her closer. To deepen the kiss and dive into her.To see if she tasted as sweet as she smelled…But she broke the connection before I had time to react. The second her heat left mine, was when I became aware of the fact that her body had been pressed up against mine. And my wolf growled because we hadn’t had time to explore the feeling of it. Of what it felt like having that warm, luscious body pressed up against us. And more than anything, I wanted her back.But I resisted the urge to pull her back on me, wondering if there was something wrong with my wolf. If this was some side effect of whatever she’d drugged me with or if she was some kind of siren. Because never before had my wolf WANTED another female on him.Not since our mate…What the hell---?! “You were saying?
Zane's POVI threw a glance down at myself and--- yeah, I was naked! I’d shifted and it had destroyed my clothes, but werewolves weren’t uncomfortable with nudity. I’d almost forgotten that humans tended to be shy about stuff like that. I hadn’t counted her as one of those people since---“You kissed me!” I exclaimed, wondering if that was something she did for kicks a lot. And why the hell that pissed me AND my wolf off…“To shut you up, because you were being an annoying prick,” she exclaimed, her back still turned. “Which only reaffirmed why I don’t want to see your dick!”Oh…?I was an annoying prick now, was I?I had no idea where the urge came from, but I just wanted to mess with this female. Hell, if I got to piss her off as badly as she’d pissed me off, I would count it as a win!And I knew exac
WARNING: this chapter includes sex!Arella’s POVZane pulled me closer, and I would have gasped at how small he could make me feel – but in the best way possible. His hands were so big they easily covered my asscheeks when he lifted me onto his lap. He squeezed it so delectably well, that it made me want to moan. Tell him to do it again, as each one of his touches felt like an electric pulse to my pussy. But I couldn’t say anything because his tongue was currently exploring my mouth, teasing it like it was his to claim.Well, two could play at that game!Fisting my fingers through his hair, I moved up his body, pressing myself against him, so there was nothing between us. He let out a groan that was swallowed by my lips pressing against his. I pushed back, my tongue easily slipping into his mouth.And FUCK!His taste exploded on my tongue, like fireworks. Suddenly he was the taste I had lon
Arella’s POVZane looked like I’d just slapped him, the information making his brain melt. He lowered his eyes, staring at the floor’s reflection as if it replayed the past. His hands were clutching his knees as though they were the only things holding him together. His anguish filled the space between us, thick and suffocating, and my heart ached at the sight of him unraveling. When he finally looked up, the pain in his eyes was raw, almost unbearable.“No,” he started, his voice barely above a whisper, as he shook his head. “It’s my fault. I should have---”“I know you think that,” I interrupted gently, leaning forward. “It’s called survivor’s guilt, Zane, and it’s a bitch to deal with. But in the end, it’s all in your head.”“How can you say that?” He snapped, his brow furrowed and confusion flickering across his face. “Hel
Arella's POV“I don’t know if I can!” I replied, desperately grasping onto the pain that had kept me safe for all these years. “You hurt me, Zane! Badly! And repeatedly!”“I’m sorry,” he spoke softly, his fingers brushing against my skin and making sweet sparks erupt up my arm. “I thought I was protecting you.”“And fucking that Omega?” I hissed, hating how it hurt getting those words over my lips. “Just driving the point home?”“I haven’t touched anyone since I met you,” he replied, sounding confused--- and then realization dawned on him. I braced for the inevitable pain of more betrayal and hurt. What I got, however... “One of the Omegas did offer herself to me, but I declined.”I scoffed.“Does that happen a lot?” I asked sarcastically, not believing for a second that nothing happened. He was a man
Arella’s POV“Wh-what?!”Was all I managed to stutter at the mind-blowing confession Zane had just made. A part of me didn’t even believe him. Yeah, it had to be some sort of ploy to get near me again. His wolf needed it so as not to go mad, or something!Still, I couldn’t stop the way my heart fluttered in my chest…“I love you,” he repeated--- and my damn heart skipped another beat! “I’ve been falling in love with you for a long time. That’s why I’ve been acting like a fucking asshole. I’ve been trying to protect you. Trying to convince everyone that you don’t matter to me, because I didn’t want your death on my hands! But apparently, I’ve been doing a crap job of it because people are making bet pools on when I’m going to mate you.”That--- was a lot of information to process!“You’re unbelievable,” I sna
Zane's POVWalking over, I checked my wolf, knowing that the beast always reacted badly when talking about the past. And sure enough, he was snarling at the air, as if the memories haunting him were physically hurting him. Hoping to calm him just a little, I took a deep breath, filling my lungs with my angel’s scent. The snarling stopped, but he remained on edge – good enough for now...“It was a year ago,” I began, sitting across from Arella, but finding it hard to remain still. “Some--- rogues… They---they somehow managed to pass the border patrol. Helena and Eva were out in the field that day, having a picnic, when--- when they swarmed the area. They managed to take Eva.”“They kidnapped her?” Arella gasped, horrified.I nodded, remembering the day like a weird nightmare. Everything had been so wrong. The sun had been shining and Noah had cracked some lame joke. Selena and our pare
Zane’s POVI paused outside the banquet hall, taking in a deep breath to calm my nerves. I had so much shit to make up for, I knew I was up shit’s creek without a paddle. Hell, at this point I was pretty sure the whole boat was gone!My wolf made a weird sound, which sounded a lot like approval. Making an internal check, I realized that the beast was calmer now, taking in her scent that was saturated in that area. He even made a contented purr, wagging his tail like a freaking puppy. I could even let down the mental barrier between us, and he just stood there, urging me to go to her…Bizarre beast!I carefully opened the door--- and had to stifle a gasp when I saw the inside. The hall was alive with color and the soft buzz of preparation. Streamers, balloons, and floral arrangements covered every surface, their cheerful vibrancy bringing life to an otherwise old and traditional wall decor. There were tables set up with
Zane's POVMy head snapped up, and he quickly explained: “They searched, but they didn’t think of looking beyond their borders. And the second girl told her friends she was surprising her family who lives in another pack. They even got a couple of messages from her, keeping them updated on her journey. They only got suspicions when the warning had come out to the packs, since she fit the description. So they contacted her family directly. She never showed up.”More bad news...“And her phone?” I asked, scrolling through the information that I already knew by heart. “If she kept messaging the family after she was taken it’s safe to assume that it’s her kidnappers who have her phone.”Noah nodded his agreement.“We’ve been trying to track it, but the signal jumps between cell towers, making it impossible to pin down,” he sighed in frustration. “Whoever is d
Zane’s POVThe next couple of days felt like they lasted a lifetime! The days had dragged on, stretching like an eternity as I struggled to keep myself together. Every moment apart from Arella felt like a punishment, like I was carving pieces of myself away. But I had to do it.For her.This is for her own protection, damn it! I kept repeating that to myself, even as my wolf thrashed against my barriers, demanding her presence, her touch. He didn’t understand—hell, sometimes I didn’t understand—why I couldn’t go to her. But I knew. If THEY realized how fucking much she meant to me, they’d target her, she’d be next. And I wouldn’t survive that.She had called me selfish...If she only knew how fucking painful this was, she wouldn’t be calling me selfish. My wolf was howling and raging against my mental barriers, tearing me up from the inside. His intense o
Arella's POVHe hissed the words, and I felt his pain deep in my soul. He grabbed my shoulders and pushed me back until my spine hit the wall. The sparks erupted across my skin, making me shudder despite my anger. With every breath, our bodies rubbed up against each other, making me have to stifle a moan. I hated how my body reacted to him, but I couldn’t help it. He was everything I wanted, and I had to physically hold myself back not to climb him like a tree and---“I’ve tried, okay? I tried letting you go, but I always come back to you.” He loomed over me, his voice a raw growl. “I’m a selfish prick—just like you said—because I can’t let you go! Even if that means---” His voice broke off and clarity returned to his eyes. He turned away, his words crashed over me like a wave, leaving me breathless.What the---?! He stepped back, raking his hands through his hair. His