LOGINEdricAria did not sleep well that night.I knew because I barely slept either. Every time I closed my eyes I saw the fear on her face when I told her the truth, the way she had backed away from Leon before slowly, carefully, choosing to stay. When I finally drifted off, it was to the solid warmth of Leon’s body curved around mine and the quiet promise that we would handle whatever came next.Morning light was already filtering through the curtains when I woke. Leon was gone from the bed, but the sheets on his side were still warm. I found him standing near the window, already dressed, speaking in a low voice to someone on the other end of a call. He ended it as soon as he saw me sit up.“How is she?” he asked.“I haven’t checked yet.” I rubbed a hand over my face. “She took it better than I expected by the end. But she’s going to have questions. A lot of them.”Leon nodded. “Answer what you can. I’ll speak with her again if she wants. No pressure.”I dressed and went to the east wing
EdricAria had been restless all morning.She had color in her cheeks again and enough energy that staying cooped up in the east wing was starting to feel like another kind of hospital. When she asked if we could walk the grounds, I hesitated only a moment. Leon had increased patrols. The private gardens and the nearer paths were supposed to be safe. I told myself a short walk in the open air would do her good.I was wrong about how quiet it would stay.We left through the side entrance nearest her rooms, following a gravel path that wound between old trees and low stone walls. The air was cool and clean. Aria linked her arm through mine and breathed it in like something precious."This place is beautiful," she said. "Even if half the people in it look at us like we're a disease.""Ignore them," I told her. "Most of them won't say anything to your face."I should not have spoken so soon.We had not gone far when a small group of younger wolves, three men and two women, came down the p
EdricI woke to Leon's mouth on me again.It was still dark. The only light in the room came from the dying embers in the fireplace, painting everything in dull red and shadow. His tongue dragged slowly up the length of my cock before he took me deep, sucking with wet, deliberate pulls that made my back arch off the mattress. I moaned helplessly, hips twitching. My body was already aching from the first round, thighs sore, hole tender, neck throbbing with the marks he had left, but my cock hardened for him without hesitation.He pulled off just long enough to speak, voice rough with sleep and something darker. "On your hands and knees."I obeyed on shaky limbs. The moment I got into position, Leon moved behind me. His hands gripped my hips hard enough to bruise, fingers digging into the flesh he had already marked earlier. Without warning he pushed back inside in one smooth, powerful thrust. I was still slick with oil and his earlier release; the slide was easy and devastating. The su
EdricLeon did not speak much after he locked the door.The moment the bolt slid home, something in him shifted. The controlled Alpha who had been planning patrols and calculating threats gave way to something older and far less restrained. He turned to me with eyes that had gone dark, pupils blown wide, and the air between us thickened with pure intent.“Come here,” he commanded with his demeanor taking a three hundred and sixty degrees turn from how he was just a moment back.I barely took a step before he closed the distance. His mouth crashed onto mine, hard and demanding as if he had been starving, one hand fisting in my hair to tilt my head exactly where he wanted it. There was no gentleness in the kiss, only hunger and a sharp, possessive edge that made my knees weak. I could taste the residual anger in him, the jealousy, the need to erase every trace of Luka’s presence from the night before even if Luka hadn't even touched me.When he broke the kiss, his voice was rough. “He st
EdricLeon did not sleep after I told him about Luka and what he had said.He checked every lock in our rooms twice, sent a silent message to his most trusted betas, and only then returned to where I sat on the edge of the bed. The controlled fury in him was different from the political anger of the previous days. It was colder and more personal. When he looked at me, I could see the effort it took to keep the curse from rising.“He came to our door,” Leon said. His voice was quiet. “To ‘our’ door. While I was away.”“I know.”He crossed the room and knelt in front of me, resting his hands on my knees. The contact was deliberate, grounding. “Tell me again. I want to hear everything… every word and even his facial expressions.”I did from the alley weeks ago after I had first appeared at Luna Noir to the way Luka had watched me dance, the comments about old blood and potential, tonight’s visit and the casual way he had named Marcus and Seraphina as pieces already in motion. Leon listene
EdricThe days after the Vale family’s presentation settled over the pack house like a held breath.Seraphina did not leave. She and her parents were given guest quarters in the west wing “for the duration of discussions,” according to Elder Elara. I saw her in the corridors more than once, always poised, always polite, always watching. When our paths crossed she offered the same empty smile she had given me in the formal hall. It never reached her eyes.Aria noticed the tension even if she did not yet know its full shape.“People keep staring,” she said one afternoon as we sat in the small garden courtyard outside her rooms. She had a blanket over her legs despite the mild weather. “Not just at me. At you. And that woman, the tall one with the perfect hair, looks at you like she’s measuring a rival.”I forced a smile. “Don’t worry about her.”“I’m not worried. I’m annoyed.” Aria leaned her head against my shoulder. “You’ve looked tired since that meeting. Is Leon okay?”“He’s dealing
LeonThe first time I saw him move, I forgot how to breathe.Humans audition at Luna Noir all the time. They come desperate, hungry, chasing quick money or trying to impress supernatural clientele they can’t begin to comprehend. They shake their hips, roll their bodies, and hope I find them useful
EdricThe red paper on the door hit me like a punch to the gut.EVICTION NOTICE. Final warning! Seven days!I stared at it until the words blurred. Then I ripped it off, crumpled it in my fist, and pushed the door open. The hallway reeked of stale cigarettes and damp concrete, but all I could feel
EdricI don’t go back to Luna Noir.I tell myself that like it’s a promise, like if I repeat it often enough it will turn into something solid… something I can stand on when my knees threaten to give out.The sun is barely up when I leave the apartment, the city still yawning awake. Queens feels di
EdricI thought Leon had been exaggerating when he asked me why I let the ‘vampire’ touch me. I thought maybe it was a kink in the club.That was the first mistake.After the night he dragged me into that private room, after the bruising kiss, the way his hands shook like he was holding himself bac







