Se connecterNeil. He approached with a smile that could melt icebergs. Mel stayed glued to my arm like a conjoined twin. It both irritated and grounded me simultaneously.“Neil! So lovely to see you.” What the hell else was I supposed to say?He held his hand out for me to take, which I did, without thinking. He held it for a moment too long. There was heat in his eyes that I pretended to ignore. “Cassie. Wow, you look amazing.” As an afterthought, he glanced at Mel. “Hi Mel.”“Neil,” she answered. Flat, just bordering on impolite.The compliment landed harder than I would like to admit. Darn it.Aargh! It’s just something people say, Cassandra. No need to get all hot and bothered. But I still blushed. “Oh, thanks.” My free hand rested on my baby bump. “It’s been a while. You’re still at the Academy?”“Yeah, still the same thing.” He scanned the room. “So, I don’t see Connor anywhere. Is he still coming?”“Luna,” Mel interrupted before I could reply. “Alpha Harald is waiting for us.”A memory fla
CassandraMiami.The last place I thought I would ever return to. Just thinking about it made my stomach twist with dread. Too many bad memories. Sometimes I still have nightmares about Frank. But he is dust and bone and could never hurt me or my mother.I still wanted to know what happened to Connor and my dad when they went to Rossi’s place. To this day, neither of them wanted to talk about it. Joel’s grim expression was a sign that he wasn’t looking forward to attending the summit meeting at Alpha Harald’s pack. Maybe he too had too many bad memories.He could have stayed home. Actually, I would have preferred it if he did.Dad insisted on driving even though I knew he hated it. Ray and Mel were cozy in the backseat, murmuring to each other. At least they have each other.My heart longed for Connor. The bed was big and empty without him. Did he miss me? Was our mate bond so broken? Would he ever come back to me? Have I lost him to that vampire brat?Sage uttered a low growl at the
MilesGoddess, it was glorious to feel the familiar, coarse texture of fur against my skin again. I hungered to return to the pack, to scent my mate and pup, but Connor remained trapped under the haze of Regina’s hypnosis.His presence was a cold, hollow echo, lacking the warm, vibrant spark of his soul. Fear that I may never reach him gnawed at my gut, but I shoved it into the darkness of my mind, desperate to wake him. ‘For our mate’s sake, Connor. Fight to get back to me.’ I prayed he would hear my plea.Moving my massive frame in the cramped, airless room without shattering something felt nearly impossible. The two women retreated behind the bed, their caution understandable. Most would run at the sight of me.“Wow, I underestimated your size, Miles. Best sit down,” Regina said, her voice dry as I knocked a ceramic vase off a side table, the sharp clatter of its destruction ringing against the floor.“Congratulations, Mother,” the girl scoffed, her eyes shifting warily as she trac
CassandraI called the elders to the conference room, and now they were looking at me with questions in their eyes. My dad sat next to me, his presence a warm comfort. Ray and Melissa also came. Their faces pinched with concern. I had spoken to them earlier about my decision to tell the elders what exactly was wrong with Connor.“Where is Alpha Connor? Shouldn’t we wait for him?” an elder asked.“Yes, that is why I called you here.” Letting my gaze travel over them, shoulders back, back straight. “I am temporarily relieving the alpha.”“Luna, with all due respect, you already have your duties to fulfill as Luna of this pack,” Elder Paul dismissed me with his tone. He turned to Ray. “This is highly irregular. Where is the alpha? Did something happen? Beta Ray, please fill us in.”Ray looked at me with an apologetic smile. “With your permission, Luna?”Of course, they would rather hear it from a male rather than me, a female. I thought things would be different now that Connor replaced
MilesHow long have I been asleep?It's so dark, an absolute blackness that swallows all sight.Where was I?Connor?Sage? Cassie?What happened? Oh, wait! I remember. The cave. A blinding flash, and then... nothing.The first time I came to Connor was gone. I was in a dark place, so deep and lightless that even my wolf eyes couldn't pierce it. A chilling cold seeped into me, an empty, lifeless void.Was I dead?Oh Goddess! Did Connor die? “Connor?” I called out, my voice swallowed by the suffocating silence. “What is this place?”I was weightless, drifting in a silent limbo. Time lost all meaning, stretching into an eternity.Then, a faint tug, a gentle pull. It drew me back, pulling me into Connor's mind.“Yes, yes! Of course he wasn't dead! He's an alpha.” Relief washed over me, a surge of pure joy. “Connor, it's me, Miles. Your wolf. I'm back.”But when he didn’t answer me, I was afraid.I panicked. Ran around in circles only to come up against an impenetrable barrier, again and
“You!” my enraged father’s voice shook the room. “I warned you, son!”I’ve never seen Joel so out of control. Connor could banish my father for attacking him – or worse!The unexpected attack had momentarily stunned Connor. I acted fast before he could retaliate. Getting between them was the only way to stop them because no matter what, they would never risk hurting me.“Connor! Wait! Daddy, it’s not what you think…” I pushed back against my father’s chest, feeling his heart racing like a runaway freight train.“Cassie, move!” Joel snarled, his rage boundless. “Don’t you dare cover for him.”“No! Not until you get your wolf under control.” I met his fierce gaze with the same intensity. “Calm down. That’s an order!”Joel grumbled, but his wolf withdrew control, acknowledging my status. I exhaled a slow breath. Thank goodness. I didn’t want to pull rank on my father, but in this case it was necessary.The two men I loved stood glaring wordlessly at each other. Connor wiped his bloody no
“We’re going out tonight,” Connor announced after we put Aiden to bed. “Wear something casual. But not too revealing,” he warns with a stern voice.“Oh, really?” I said, snaking my arms around his neck. “I was thinking of wearing my little black dress. You know the one that…”“Barely covers your as
Cassandra“Honey, you must eat something.” Agnes refused to let me be. “It’s been three days. You’re making yourself sick.”Werewolves don’t get sick. “Mom, I’m not hungry. Just leave me alone. I am tired.” I kept seeing Connor’s face when he left that apartment. Stacy’s death devastated him. He 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 frien
Not a soul stirred in the house as I snuck down the stairs to meet Melanie outside. It was just past midnight. Aiden was in my bed, snuggled up with his favorite teddy bear, and Joel’s peaceful snoring was a good sign.Melanie and two of Erik’s best fighters waited for me outside at Joel’s car, a n







