AgnesI gave up trying to dissuade Joel from taking me to see the lawyer. He could be the stubbornest werewolf on the planet, with Cassie at a close second. No mistake, she was her father’s daughter. Now we were waiting for Mr. Maxwell in the small waiting room. I wiped my damp palms against my dress. Even though the room was cool thanks to the air conditioner and drawn blinds, my anxiety caused me to perspire profusely. My floral dress stuck to my back like a second skin. Joel took my hand in his and squeezed it gently.“You have nothing to fear, Agnes. Maxwell knows his stuff. Just tell him everything.” As if it were that easy.I wished I could feel as confident. Joel gave me a reassuring smile, and I tried to smile back, but I failed.The door opened, and a tall, bony man rushed into the room. “Sorry to have kept you waiting. My goodness, Joel! I almost didn’t recognize you.” He extended his hand to Joel when we both stood, his glance flicking over my face.Joel shook his hand, gri
ConnorMiles was frantic, pacing and growling, clawing at my skin to be set free. He threatened to take control and run off to search for Cassie, but I finally convinced him it would be pointless. We lost her scent in an alleyway where I found her clutch. She could be anywhere by now.‘You let this happen, Connor! You never should’ve left her alone.’ He blamed me constantly, but not as much as I blamed myself.“Stop it, Miles. How could I have known Lyon would do this?” But I should have expected he would try something. He was cunning.I drove back to Wolf Creek after I called Joel. Once there, I summoned Eric to my study while I waited for Joel’s arrival. “What can I do for you, Alpha?” My gamma, Eric, walked into my office. “The borders are secure and there have been no sightings of rogues in the vicinity.”“I didn’t call you here to get a report, Eric. I must go to Miami for a few days, and I want you to oversee the pack.” Eric had been my father’s gamma and there was no better wo
CassandraThe two assholes took me to a house which appeared abandoned and locked me in a bedroom. At least it had an ensuite bathroom, although crawling with spiders and grime. It made me shudder to use the toilet, but what choice did I have?There was only one window in the bathroom and although I wasn’t all that big, I would never fit through that tiny opening. So there goes that plan. The bedroom window was boarded up from the outside, making it dark and creepy. I flicked the light switch on and off. No such luck. Gosh, I hate dark places.I was trying to follow where we went, hoping I'd spot something familiar when I got out. But the house was miles away from the town in a rural area. It would be difficult to find my way back to Wolf Creek. I wasn’t about to give up hope yet.‘I’m sure I’ll be able to guide us home. Wolves have an excellent sense of direction,’ Sage tried to comfort me. ‘You’ll just have to trust me.’“Yeah, bright spark. Any ideas on how to get the fuck out of h
ConnorFive and a half hours of being in a cramped airplane next to a grumpy Joel hadn’t improved my mood. I really wanted to see Rossi's villa beforehand to know what to expect. Fortunately, the rental car was ready and waiting for us the moment we arrived at the airport.“Maxwell isn’t answering his goddamned phone.” Joel complained. He’s been texting the vampire non-stop.I drove to the hotel that I booked earlier, which was a block away from the airport. “Forget about Frank for a minute and focus on what’s important. We must get Cassie back.” They kept sending regular pictures updating me on Cassie’s well-being. She seemed fine, but I didn’t trust them. In the meantime, I texted Eric with instructions to send our best trackers to keep me informed on Lyon’s movements, which might lead to where Cassie was being kept.Eric knew me well enough to keep quiet about it. I didn’t want the elders to find out about what was happening, and I didn’t want to raise the alarm. Panic causes chaos
LYONThere’s nothing more satisfying than knowing your plans are panning out to perfection. With Connor out of the way, there was no stopping me from getting what I wanted. Finally, Troy Wolfe will get his comeuppance, and I will get the gold out of that creek.“You look incredibly pleased with yourself, Mr. Lyon,” Eloise Jaffa purred against my neck, confident that it was her sexual prowess that brought a smile to my face. I wasn’t about to burst her bubble, not while she was lying hot and willing in my arms and the musk of her arousal perfuming the room.I palmed her full brown breast, pinching a mocha nipple between my thumb and index, relishing her moans of pleasure. Her long legs ensnared my waist, pressing her dripping pussy against my erection. She was perfect, always eager whenever I wanted her.“Oh, I am, Eloise. So exceptionally pleased,” I grunted, filling her tight channel with one hard thrust. The mental picture of Connor Wolf being probed and tortured by Rossi and his sc
AgnesI should have gotten a burner phone, I berated myself. What was I thinking? Now I have no way of getting in contact with Joel or Connor. Everything happened so fast, though. I’m still reeling from seeing Rossi’s picture in that file. Gods! My past threatened to catch up with us. Will I ever be free of Frank and his goons?“Aaah!” I tore my hair in frustration. Now they had Cassie, and God knows what awful things they were doing to my baby.No, I couldn’t sit here in this stifling house for one more minute. I had to find her. A wave of dizziness and nausea came over me when I stood up too quickly from the bed.With a groan, I sat back down, waiting for the sick feeling to pass. It had to be all the stress making me feel so dizzy and awful these last two days. I couldn’t keep anything down and the heat wasn’t helping, either.But I was determined not to let my health stop me. Connor mentioned a man named Lyon, and that was where I would begin my search.If Lyon saw Rossi as a riva
Connor‘Let me shift! I’m fast!’ Miles roared in my head. He might not be faster than a bullet, but we were risking it. Desperation to get back to Cassie outweighed our own safety. But on the off chance we didn’t make it…‘Joel! It’s a trap! Get out of here!’ I yelled through the mind link while shifting into Miles. ‘Go back and save Cassie!’I heard Joel cursing through the mind link, yelling at me, refusing my orders. If they catch him, we’re all done for.“Impressive,” Rossi said, looking down at me from the landing. “Unfortunately, I can’t let you get away. You were expensive.”Expensive?Miles lifted his massive head and snarled at the old man. Then he turned and launched himself at the French windows.Simultaneously, Rossi ordered his men, “Shoot, but don’t kill him!”A deafening salvo of gunfire shattered the silence. Glass exploded as Miles barreled through the large windows. Bullets whizzed over his head. Some found their mark high on his left shoulder and right flank. But Mi
CassandraThose two idiots had a huge argument over what to do with me. While they were busy, I pried open one window in the bedroom with some effort. The opening was boarded shut from the outside, but if I tried hard enough, I would have been able to loosen one just enough for me to squeeze through.And I would have succeeded too had Max not burst into the bedroom to check up on me.“Hey!” He grabbed me by the scruff of my neck, lifting me like a toy. “Trying your luck again, are we?”Hearing the commotion, Alex appeared to intervene. “Max…” his tone held a warning.“Bitch was trying to escape. I’m tying her to the bed.” Next minute he threw me down onto the dusty mattress and pinned me down with his weight. “Give me the zip ties!” he snarled at his brother.I struggled and cursed at them, but they secured both my wrists to the bedpost.“There!” Max grinned. “Now we can get some decent sleep.” He pinched my cheeks together and blew me a kiss.I almost threw up in my mouth. They left
ConnorMy dad occupied my office like he owned it. Partly, it irritated me because it was my office. I was the alpha of Wolf Creek now, not him. I shouldn’t feel intimidated by him, but I did. It was like I was sixteen again, standing in front of him to be scolded.He sat behind my desk, dark eyes glaring at me over his steepled fingers. “You’d better come clean with me, son. I want to know every detail.” His deep voice held a dangerous undertone.“How do you know Zachariah Lyon?” I challenged him, despite my whirling emotions. “Explain that to me first, then I’ll tell you what happened.”His reaction was immediate with barely contained violence. “Don’t test me, Connor!” He slapped his hand on the desk and papers and pens flew off. I ground my teeth together to keep from flinching. “I trusted you to handle the pack and from what I’ve heard…”I knew I was poking the bear, but…. “You shouldn’t listen to malicious gossip, Dad.”“And you’re stalling, Connor!” The chair fell back with a cr
Cassandra“Hey, Cassie, haven’t seen you in a while,” Henna plopped down on my bunk. “Where have you been all this time?”The sisters, Julie and Marci, joined her, and we exchanged hugs all round. I beamed a warm smile at them.“Gosh, I am so happy to see you guys.” And I was. I missed having friends a lot more than I realized. The only one missing was Tracer. I saw Locke sitting with some younger children and waved at him. he waved back, smiling shyly.“We thought you were too good for us now that you’re going to be luna.” Marci said with a hint of envy. Julie rolled her green eyes at her sister.“What? Are you kidding me? I could never forget you.” I felt bad for not trying to mind link with them. Connor had taken up so much of my thoughts that everyone else faded into the background. Of course, not to mention all the other drama… “So much has happened. I’ll tell you all about it, but I want you to meet my mom.” I waved to Agnes and scooted over for her to sit next to me, which she
ConnorDisgusted with the blood coating my body, I watched the warm water flush it down the drain. The small comfort I felt as the water massaged my tense muscles was short-lived. Knowing that the rogue attack was just the beginning, there was no time to revel in minor pleasures like taking a shower, eating, or even sleeping. My body craved sleep almost as much as it craved Cassie. Her scent still lingered in my room and my overtired mind felt her presence as if she was right there with me in the shower and my cock ached with need.I pushed the desire back, got out, dried off, and dressed comfortably in shorts and a tank top. My pack warriors waited for me to speak to them. They needed to know what we were up against. I was positive Lyon would attack soon, now that his mercenaries had paved the way. We suffered some significant losses, and it was unfortunate. But my pack had powerful fighters that will defend their territory to the death. He won’t win. Not for as long as I was breathi
JoelLater that afternoon, I went to the basement where we held Frank. Troy had the space dived into four small holding cells on the rare occasion we needed to hold someone. Mostly, there were no survivors left to be imprisoned. It was dark down there, just the way I liked it. As I walked down the steps, his fear filled my nostrils, and I drank it in with pleasure. I wanted more than just his fear. Connor forbade me from killing Frank. I didn’t object. Killing him would be too easy. After what he did to Agnes, he needed to suffer. She didn’t have to tell me what he did. What he left on her body told me everything she didn’t want to say.He whimpered when he saw me standing in front of the bars, pushing himself further into the corner. I didn’t say a word. Watching him being terrified, sitting in his own filth, gave me some measure of satisfaction.“What do you want?” His voice shook. “W-who are you?” He narrowed his eyes, peering into the darkness.“You’re him, aren’t you? Cassandra’s
Connor“Maybe Lyon fled the state,” Joel offered his opinion. “He probably heard you escaped and knowing we would come after him, he fled.”I didn’t think so. “There’s no way news of Rossi’s death reached him this fast, Joel. No, he’s waiting until we drop our defenses and then strike.”Eric, Joel and I were in my office discussing further strategies. So far, nothing has happened. We haven’t been attacked, but I still felt uneasy. I didn’t want the females and elderly out of the bunker before I was sure there was no danger. I’ve sent out my best trackers to search for the shifter and his pack. Did he even have a pack? I didn’t have enough information on them and that was biting me in the ass. If my father were here, he would be disappointed. Know your enemy. That was the first rule of war.This was all my fault. I had allowed the mate bond to distract me, among other things. My pride got in the way. I might as well be honest with myself. I wanted to prove I didn’t need outside help t
CassandraI must have been in shock, or maybe I still was. Connor's act of ripping that awful man's dick off as if it were nothing forever seared itself into my brain. The look on Connor’s face – it was like looking at a different person. Not a person, a demon.‘He deserved it,’ Sage reminded me, her voice harsh.I sat quietly next to Connor at the back of the SUV, letting him hold me, my mind numb.It wasn't until we were driving away, watching that place burn, that Frank even crossed my mind. Where was Agnes?I clutched Connor’s arm in a panic. “Connor! My mother! Where is she? Where’s Frank? We must find them. They…” My chest felt tight, couldn’t get enough oxygen in my lungs. I gasped, my vision blurring.Connor pulled me onto his lap, pressing my head against his shoulder. “Cassie, breathe. Your mother is safe. She’s safe.” He kept repeating those words until it got through to my brain. “She’s with Joel.”“What about Frank? Is he dead?” I hoped not, because I wanted to be the one
ConnorTwo men with their firearms drawn came running around the corner of the old warehouse when they heard the SUV pull in. Simultaneously, Cassie’s petrified screams pierced the stillness of the morning, and my soul almost left my body.Miles took control, fueled by Cassie’s urgent cries, ignoring the shouts and chaos around us as I let my warriors handle the men. Nothing could keep us from our mate. No doors, no men with guns. Miles burst through the steel doors as if they didn’t exist.Our eyes took in everything at once. Cassie lay on top of a crate, her yellow dress torn, wrist and ankles bound. Helpless and naked. The sight was like a knife twisting in my gut. There was a man behind her, pants down at his feet, his erect cock in hand.“What the fuck…” He stared at Miles with open-mouthed disbelief.Miles lowered his head, red eyes fixed on the man. The rumbling growl started deep down in his belly and grew in intensity as he padded towards him.‘I will rip that thing off.’ Mil
CassandraAll this time I held onto the hope that maybe Sage was right, Connor would come to save us. But now even that slight hope was fading, and I feel fear tightening its steely fingers around my mind. Sage stayed quiet as well, and her silence scared me even more.I didn’t trust Frank. When he took Agnes, I knew that glint in his eyes. He was going to hurt her. I just knew. And she was terrified. I smelled it, and it was nauseating. What if he killed her? I got increasingly scared as time went on.No, no, he wouldn’t. I tried to convince myself that Frank was much too much of a narcissist. He valued his own life more than anything, and he needed to bring that money back to his criminal boss. Our only hope was that the pack would come to save us. Yes, yes, I held onto that sliver of hope. It was only a matter of time. Right?Alone with four horrible men that discussed me like I was their next meal, I sat huddled in a corner, my hands and feet bound with steel wire they found lying
ConnorEver since we left Lyon’s place, Joel acted differently. He insisted on driving, but his hands trembled on the steering, his face set in stone, keeping his gaze fixed on the road. He didn’t answer me when I asked him what the matter was, but it seemed as if he were in pain.The gate swung open as we approached, and the guard at the gate acknowledged us briefly. “Ms. Agnes and some strangers are at your house, Beta Joel. I’ve alerted the gamma.”He had hardly finished talking when the SUV sped off, spraying dust and gravel all over. Neither of us spoke. The boy didn’t mention Cassie, and I was going out of my mind. So, this was why Joel said the pack needed us. But it wasn’t the pack. It was Agnes.There was a large man standing next to the parked car on the front lawn. When he saw us, he made a beeline for the house, but Joel was out of the SUV before you could blink.Joel grabbed the man and smashed him with overpowering force onto the car’s roof. Bones cracked along with the