Mason The second Ellie slips out from between us, Aspen swings around behind me and traps me in his arms, grinding his hard-on into my ass. I’m not sure if he’s expressing genuine interest or if it’s just his way of keeping me from going after my girl. It’s also not something I have space for in my brain right now. I pull away but he holds on tight, his hot breath in my ear. “Come on, stay and dance with me. She’s safe with Asher and you’re not going to win any points by smothering her.” “Fine. One dance and then I need eyes on her.” I compromise. “She’ll be back before the next song is over, anyway.” He says confidently. The twins may be hot as fuck, but their personalities are night and day. Maybe that’s why I find Aspen attractive but can’t stand his brother. If things were different, I might even be interested in him. But right now, the only one I care about, the only one I can’t live without, is Ellie. So although I’ll admit it feels good to have aspen pressed up a
Asher I recognize the girl hanging from the tree right away. Even with her long raven hair covering her face, I know it’s her. Gemma Tresoire. Unlike Aspen, I never dated anyone. I had plenty of one night stands, both of us using each other to get what we needed then walking away.. Until Gemma. She wasn’t my mate but something about her had me coming back for more unlike anyone ever had before. Then she met her fated mate and we parted friends. Seeing her lifeless body hanging from that tree now, I wish I’d never looked at her twice. I foolishly thought that if whoever murdered Courtney did it to get to us, anyone I knew would be safe, because I’d never gotten close to anyone. Except Gemma. I should have known better, I should have warned her somehow. But what would I have said? Aspen’s former girlfriend ended up dead and I’m worried you might too? She’d think I was a fucking lunatic! “What do we do here, Ash?” Aspen whispers so no one else can hear. He knows exactly wh
Elena Exhaustion, so deep I feel it in my bones. That’s the only way to describe how I feel after the events of the evening. Well that and a sense of disbelief. It’s all too horrendous to be real. As I shower off the sweat and stench of death that is probably only imagined, I force my mind to focus on the lesser of two evils. Mason. He broke me in ways I can’t even explain to myself. So why should I care about his feelings? I’m blaming it on the mate bond. Still, the look on his face when he caught me with Asher tonight split my heart in two. I never want to see his beautiful features marred with so much pain ever again. I certainly don’t want to be the one to put it there. You would think that makes me soft, caring about his feelings that way. But the fact I never considered what my betrayal of our bond could do to him probably means I’m really the heartless bitch I’ve tried so hard to become. Yay me. That’s a moral dilemma that requires way more of my brain capacity tha
Elena After kicking Mason out of my room, I need a minute to collect my racing thoughts. To be honest, I’m freaking the fuck out! I may have acted appalled at his indecent proposal, but the truth is, my mouth watered at the thought of tasting him that way. I take an extremely cold shower and take my time getting ready for the day. I know he’s still here. It’s like I can feel his energy buzzing in my veins, feel his presence as clearly as my own. My room reeks of him and it’s doing nothing for my self-control. I’m about to pull on my clothes but I only get my jeans half way up when I yank them back off, the material too itchy against my skin. Despite the cold shower, the back of my neck is sweating and my clit throbs with need. I could fight it. I should fight it, but if I don’t sate this need, it will ride me all day. Climbing back into bed, I burrow myself deep into my Mason-scented sheets. I roll around in the silk material, coating my body in his scrumptious whiskey and leathe
Elena “Ah, Elena! I haven’t seen you since you were wee high.” Alma makes a motion toward the floor with her hand. “You’ve become a beautiful young woman. You look just like your mother.” “Thank you, Alma.” I kiss her on both cheeks and take the seat across the table from her. Mom serves her tea then sits beside me. Mason is leaning against the sink, sipping his coffee. We’re all the picture of calm, behaving for all the world like my mother didn’t just catch me naked with his head between my legs. But inside, it’s awkward as hell. “No reason to be embarrassed, child. We’re all adults and we all know what happens between mates.” Alma winks at me before turning her attention to my mother. “Isn’t that right, Luna?” Mom makes a choking sound and my head snaps to her. She gives me a little shrug but her face is bright red. I have a strong suspicion I don’t want to know what she and my dads got caught doing so I change the topic quick smart. “So, mom said you were here to see me. Is
Mason Kaden’s grim announcement brings an abrupt end to our conversation. “Show us.” The Alphas say, already pushing Kaden toward the door. My almost-but-not-quite revelation is completely forgotten as they rush back to the scene, hoping to preserve any evidence left behind. I don’t hold out much hope that they’ll find anything useful, but that’s okay. My information will keep. But just because the Alphas aren’t here to hear it doesn’t mean I’m going to keep it to myself. Ellie needs to know what I know and she needs to know now. And I want both those fuckers mascarading as her mates to be there when she learns the truth. “Aspen and I are going to see if we can help at the scene.” Asher says, trying to nudge his brother toward the door. “Why?” Everyone turns my way wearing matching confused expressions. So I elaborate. “Why are you so anxious to help investigate deaths in a pack you’re just visiting? I mean, it’s not like you have anything to gain, right?” The taunt i
*Trigger Warning: Reference To Self-Harm Elena “I realize there’s some shit going down right now and we probably need to stick around until your dad’s return. That’s fine. But your sexy ass is in my bed tonight.” Asher rumbles in my ear when he realizes I’ve forgiven him for keeping secrets. “Not fucking happening.” Mason growls but I ignore him. “Oh yeah? And where exactly would that bed be? I thought you were staying with your dad and I think we’ve established he’s not my biggest fan.” I remind him. “I said it’s not fucking happening. Wait! What?” Mason’s anger shifts from me to Michael West when my words sink in, like he’s president of my fan club and the twins’ dad is his next conquest. “Why doesn’t he like Ellie?” “Our dad doesn't like anybody.” Aspen blows him off then answers me. “There’s a small cottage on my dad’s property. We’re staying there. You won’t ever have to see him.” “What’s this ‘we’ shit, Asp?” Asher shoves his brother ‘s shoulder playfully. “I said
Elena I end up giving Mason some half-baked excuse about poor timing when he asks why I haven’t rejected him. He knows it’s bullshit but he has the good grace not to call me on it, sensing I’ve had enough turmoil for one day. But I know I’ll have to face the truth eventually. I just need more time to figure out what the truth actually is. I’m not ready to have that conversation with Mason because I’m scared to even have it with myself. If I’m being completely honest, I think some small part of me never gave up on the idea that he would come back for me. Down in the darkest depths of my soul, there’s a tiny flicker of hope that never burned out, that burns still. For him. And what’s worse? I think he knows it. I see it in the way he looks at me sometimes, studies me like he can see right past my steely façade. He felt the bond we shared long before we were mates as deeply as I did so it only makes sense he would know what I’m feeling now. It’s just so fucking unfair! I still wan