MasukCassandraIt 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
CassandraSomewhere inside this creature was the man I loved. I knew he would never hurt me. He just had to trust himself and our bond, like I trusted it. I had to. There was no other way. I wasn’t losing him. We’d been through too much to let anything come between us. I remembered how he saved me from Frank’s men, how desperately he fought the shifters. Everything he did was for me, for us. It was my turn to fight for us now.“No, I’m not going. You need me.” I gave him my wrist, seeing the hunger in his glowing eyes. “Take it. I trust you not to hurt me.” God help me, I was risking my life, but he was worth it.“You don’t know what you’re saying.” He swallowed audibly, his voice rough. His skin appeared unusually pale, with prominent dark veins. “I can’t control it!”Hands clawed at the sheets, muscles in his biceps strained as if he would bolt any moment. He looked like a cornered animal, eyes flitting towards the bedroom door only to return to me.“I believe you can.” I said, forc
The evening passed pleasantly enough. It was good to see my pack enjoying themselves, celebrating the start of spring and new life under a star-filled sky. I smiled as I watched them drink way too much, feasting on the delicious roasted meat and dancing like crazy. Music pulsed through the woods like a thousand heartbeats. The aroma of wood-smoke and meat drifted into the night air. That was the way it should always be. They were wild and free. Their exuberance was infectious, and before long, Cassie and I were joining in.“Come on, let’s dance.” Cassie pulled me towards the others. Loud whoops and cheers followed us. For a moment I forgot what I had become and let them drag me into their carefree circle. We drank and laughed. Sang and danced.As if I had never left.As if I had never lost my father, my wolf, my soul.Before I knew it, I had my arms around her waist and her head on my shoulder.“See, it’s not so bad. You’re alright,” she whispered to me, her golden eyes shining with l
ConnorJoel and I went upstairs to my office. I should have been outside, joining in the celebrations, but I just couldn’t face my pack at that moment. Couldn’t face Cassie.Joel closed the door behind us. Without asking, he went to the liquor cabinet, took a bottle of Scotch and two glasses. He half-filled the glasses and handed me one. I took mine to the couch where I sank down in the leather seat.“You were friends with Maxwell, right?” I remembered how the vampire lawyer’s death affected Joel badly. I toyed with the glass in my hand, swirling the amber liquid before bringing the glass to my nose. The familiar rye scent was much sharper than I remembered. My senses were even more heightened. Was it a good thing?“Yeah. He was a good friend.” He raised his glass in a toast. “To Maxwell.”“Did he ever… feed on you, Joel?” I sipped the drink, watching Joel over the rim of the glass.“Hell no!” Joel knocked back his drink. “Maxwell got his blood delivered from the blood bank.” He chuck
CassandraThere was something horribly wrong with Connor. It wasn’t just because I couldn’t sense his wolf. He was distant, colder. Like hell I was going to let this go. I will find out. Connor steered through the bustling streets of Las Vegas, stopping near the hotel in a dark alleyway. The stench
ConnorLater, we lay in each other’s arms under the Nevada starlit sky, breathless but sated, the world forgotten. I had forgotten how much I needed my mate by my side. Her soft body, her scent, I missed her so. And now she was growing my pup inside her. It still felt unreal. Of course I wanted a
CassandraWhat was I thinking? That he would be over the moon? That he would haul me into his arms and kiss the crap out of me? Yes. But he didn’t. He looked at me as if I had just given him the worst news of his life. And I hadn't even told him about his father’s passing.“Connor?” I whispered. “D
ConnorThere was no time to waste. For these brutal, bloodthirsty criminals, Natalia's body was the final straw, igniting their rage.Botero screamed out orders to kill, and the night erupted into chaos. My wolves moved like a well-oiled machine. I felt the adrenaline rush pumping through their vei







