LOGINConnorThe screams, the intoxicating taste of their blood… I was drunk on all of it. I ripped through them like they were nothing but meat sacks. Felt no remorse, no human emotion except hunger. Insatiable, overpowering hunger.But now, sitting in the dark in the hotel room, sated but full of self-loathing, avoiding the man in the mirror. What would Cassie think of me now? I killed, no, I destroyed those men. I could argue that they were evil men, preying on the weak. But did that make me any better?My hands shook as I reached for my phone. I should call Cassie. Tell her where I am. I almost did. Changed my mind and placed the phone face down on the nightstand. She wouldn’t understand. She’d try to fix me. I don’t know if I could be fixed. Maybe Regina had the answer. What did I have to lose?***I spent a restless night on a bed that held faint scents of earlier occupants. Nightmares made me get up before dawn crept in at the window. Cassie would still be asleep. I pictured her lyin
CassandraNeil. I had almost completely forgotten about him. That one stupid kiss was all it took to make me doubt everything. Well, not exactly everything. I loved Connor. Simple. Wasn’t it? But Neil had been there when I needed Connor. And where was my mate now? Trying his best to avoid me.Neil answered on the second ring.“Mel?” his deep voice droned in my ear, and it shouldn’t sound so good.‘You shouldn’t talk to him!’ Sage bared her teeth at me. I ignored her. It’s not like I’m cheating on Connor.I took a deep breath before I answered. “No, it’s me. Cassie.” Why was my heart beating so fast suddenly?Stunned silence on the other end for a few tense heartbeats.“Hey,” he said at last. “I’ve been trying to get a hold of you.” His breath hitched over the phone. “Did you… did you block my number?” he asked, and the slight hurt in his voice made me feel guilty despite myself.Sage grumbled disapprovingly, ‘It was the right thing to do. He’s not our mate.’I felt Mel’s eyes boring i
ConnorThe city seemed louder, busier, and the smells overwhelming. I went to my office where there was less noise, less temptation.Shelly Rohas was back from maternity leave and back in her post as manager. She was one of my most capable employees and pack members. I was relieved to have her back. My business was running smoothly in her capable hands. We spent some time going over financials and orders before I left to inspect a few sites.Once again, my pack members didn’t disappoint me. They took pride in their work, and it showed. I would like to think my father would have been proud of how committed they were.After the explosion that nearly cost us everything, including injuring my father almost fatally, I had wanted to close the renovation business and venture into another field. But my pack helped rebuild Wolffe Renovations, and it would have been unfair to take it away from them. Satisfied that there were no problems to deal with, I could concentrate on my current dilemma.I
CassandraIt felt like the worst hangover. Throbbing head, dry mouth, nausea. I couldn’t lift my head off the pillow. But it was worth a try. He said something stopped him from draining me. I bet my life it was Miles. If only Connor would just give it another go. Miles was in there, hiding or recovering.‘That was dangerous, what you did, Cassie,’ Sage sounded pissed off. ‘Connor is right. You should be more careful. Don’t you care about our pup?’“Don’t fucking preach to me right now, Sage. I feel like shit.” My head throbbed, and Connor’s teeth left marks on my shoulder that still burned. “I know you’re worried, but I can’t deal with this right now.”‘Yeah, we both do. I should have stopped you.’“I needed him, Sage.” Tears pricked my eyes. I cry so easily these days. Of course I wouldn’t want to hurt my child, and I felt some guilt. But this was Connor, the man I loved more than life. “And he needs us.”Sage retreated to the dark places in my mind and shut me out, but she couldn’t
Reject her? It would be for the best, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it, knowing the pain it would cause both of us. I couldn’t put our pup at risk.“I can’t do that, Cassie,” I said, softening my tone. “But the longer I stay, the more difficult it would become for me to control this thirst for blood. What if I hurt Aiden or another pack member?”“You said something stopped you,” she continued as if she hadn’t heard me. “Maybe you should bite me again.”“Cassie, stop.” I gripped her arms and shook her once. “Listen to yourself! Do you have a death wish?” I wished I could shake the recklessness out of this stubborn woman. I was no longer the wolf she knew but something else, something much darker, and yet she couldn’t see it. She was in denial. I wished I could share in her optimism that somehow Miles had survived the transformation, but I didn’t.“No, I mean… think about it. It could be your wolf, Connor. He won’t let you hurt me,” she said as if it were obvious. Her face brightene
ConnorCassandra lay spread out before me like an offering, glistening with her juices soaking her thighs. Her taste bubbled on my tongue like the sweetest champagne. But what was even sweeter was the taste of her blood. I craved more. The pulse quickening in her neck beckoned me to take it. Just one bite. I could almost taste it.“C-Connor?” The fear in her voice drove me over the edge.I grabbed her hips and pulled her to me, plunging into her slick entrance without warning. Warm, wet heat enveloped my dick. Her gasps were music to my ears. Fear and excitement formed a potent mixture with her scent, and I breathed it greedily.“Sacred now? You wanted this,” I growled at the base of her throat, letting my fangs graze the velvet skin. Her pulse fluttered there, a frightened bird struggling to escape.“No… God, yes, I need you,” she moaned, her back arching to meet my violent thrusts.I lifted her knees onto my shoulders, opening her up more, pushing in deeper. The sound of our skin sl
Connor“Did I die?” I asked no one in particular. “Did I fucking die? Natalia!” I still tasted her blood on my tongue. Its bitter aftertaste made my stomach roil with disgust.She rolled her eyes at me. “What?”“I swear to the gods… if you turned me...” I let the threat hang in the air, but it soun
CassandraThe bad-boy mafia guy circled me like I was his dinner or maybe dessert. I didn’t like it.“Look, I have nothing to do with whatever you have going on, Mr. Botero. So, I will greatly appreciate it if you would just let me leave.” I had to try. Right?“Are you a fed?” he asked, his tone me
ConnorDust and smoke made it hard to breathe, each breath worsened by the sharp taste of chemicals. It burned in my nostrils, my eyes, even my brain. Overriding all other smells, the stench of blood and death hung heavy in the air. Blindly, I stumbled to the blocked exit, my fingers examining the
CassandraWhy do criminals like black cars? Just a random thought that popped into my head as they manhandled me into one of those ugly, black SUVs with tinted windows.“Look, if it’s money you’re after… I hate to disappoint.” I sounded calmer than I felt. Somehow Connor was involved in all of what







