I discard my heels and run in my tights as fast as possible. 'Get her boys!' Zenith yells. John and James shift and chase me in their wolf forms. I run through the trees and slip, rolling down a rocky hill.My hair is messy, with leaves and twigs sticking out at many angles. I continue to run. 'Ryker!' I scream at the top of my lungs. Someone hazardously throws me down. I kick and punch them as hard as I can. A hand covers my mouth. The weight of a body holds me down. He is completely naked now, in his human form.'Shh... shh,' James whispers, stroking my face. I can't free myself. My movements are futile. 'Stop trying to fight me,' he whispers. Tears roll down my cheeks. 'Consummating the pairing already?' John laughs.'Fuck off, John,' he says to his brother. 'Why did you scream out for Ryker?' James asks. He slowly removes his hand, and I spit in his face. John laughs. 'You better put her in her place before Dad does, James! You know he won't tolerate her treating you like th
Alpha RykerI'm excited about spending the day with Astrid. Every day, she trusts me more and more. She is thankfully adjusting to werewolf life. After my shower, I knock on her door. There's no answer. I knock again. 'Astrid, are you awake?' I open the door. Her bed is neat and creaseless. She hasn't slept in it. Strange. I knock on the ensuite door. She isn't there either. One of her drawers is open. Inside, Astrid's clothes are strewn about. She must have been in a hurry. My stomach sinks. Her bag is gone. I sprint downstairs to the dining room. Seth and Mia are at the table with Kane, Hayley, and Vanessa. They all stand as I enter.'Has anyone seen Astrid?' I ask. They shrug and say they haven't. 'Is she still asleep?' Mia asks. 'No, she isn't there, and her bag is gone too,' I say in a panic. 'Ryker, I'm sure she's around somewhere. I'll mind-link the pack to keep an eye out for her,' Seth suggests. I call out for Astrid, running through the house, searching every room and en
'Alpha, you look tired. May I suggest you rest for the night?' Alice says. I nod, making my way to my room. Everything in my room sways. I grab onto the armchair and sit down. Kicking my shoes off, I wait for the swaying to stop. My door creaks open. 'Is someone there?' I ask, squinting at the figure I can barely make out.'It's me!' She says. 'Astrid? Is that you?' I ask and try to stand, but my balance is off. I feel a hand gently press against my chest. 'Sit down, Ryker. I'm here now. I'll take care of you,' she whispers. She straddles herself on my lap. 'Astrid, you came back.' 'Of course, I did,' she whispers as she slowly unbuttons my shirt. 'Why did you leave? Where did you go?' I ask. 'All that matters is that I'm here with you.' One hand caresses my bare chest, while her other unfastens my belt. Her lips brush across mine. 'Ryker,' she whispers lustfully, placing my hands on either side of her thighs.'Astrid,' I whisper. 'I want you to mark me, Ryker,' she whisper
Astrid'Astrid, you need to eat,' James says. Ignoring him, I keep my eyes on the stone floor. This will be my second night down in the cell. I've refused all food and never acknowledged James’s presence when he comes down to the cell.He punches the cell door angrily. I flinch in fright. I'm worried. 'Damn it, Astrid! Why can't you be a good little mate and do what you're told?' He yells.Hearing keys, James unlocks the cell. It creaks open. James picks me up and sits down on the bench, holding me tightly in his lap. I try to fight him off. I scratch his cheek. He slaps me hard across the face and wraps his arms tightly around me so I can't move. His nose nuzzles my hair and sniffs the back of my neck. 'Astrid, I could make you so happy if you let me,' he says.'You will never think of Alpha Ryker again if you give me a chance,' he whispers. I wriggle and squirm. 'After your first shift, I will mark you straight away,' he says. I stiffen at his words. 'No, I won't let you. You can
Alpha Zenith'I'm going to tell you a story, Astrid. And you're going to listen to every word,' he says. I glare at him but give him my full attention because I know he can make me listen if he has to, and I've been through enough.'Twenty-two years ago, Moonstone Crest was the strongest pack around. They hosted an annual mating ceremony, where packs would be invited from all around the world to potentially find their mates.''Unexpectedly, my pack, Shady Crest, had been invited. Unfortunately, my father was the Alpha and did not get along with the Alpha of Moonstone Crest. My father was willing to put his hatred for Alpha Bane aside, though, as he hoped I'd find my mate there. I could finally take over as Alpha if I did.''We attended the mating ceremony, and it was a spectacular event. However, not long after arriving, I smelled the most alluring scent I had ever smelled before - vanilla and honey. I followed the scent to no avail. I didn't understand why my mate's scent kept disapp
Alpha Zenith'The moment I see Alyssa, my heart races. I watch her for a while and notice she doesn't seem sad or depressed. Not the way I have been, every moment I've been away from her. She laughs and dances with everyone, she even clings to her Dad's arm, kissing him on his cheek. I don't understand. Why isn't she upset or angry at him? Why does she look so happy? I thought there had to be a good explanation.''Alyssa walks over to the food table, plucks some grapes and strawberries from a fruit bowl, and eats them. 'Alyssa', I whisper. She stops herself from reaching for another strawberry and looks around. 'Alyssa', I whisper again.''She looks around to see me hiding in the garden. Her lips part as she lets out a small gasp. She is shocked to see me. She scans her surroundings to see if anyone is watching her, then looks back at me. I gesture for her to walk over to me. She is very hesitant and is debating whether or not to approach me.''She bites her lip and gives me a small n
AstridIn utter shock, I can't believe what Alpha Zenith has just told me. He is my mother's true mate and murderer. I stand, run to the cell door, and shake the bars with fury full of anger. 'You killed my mother! You killed her!' I yell. Alpha Zenith smiles. 'Yes, I killed her! After everything, I did for her! I gave her a chance to reunite with me, and she threw it away like I was nothing, like I wasn't even worth the risk!' He yells.'You killed her whole family! You murdered them all in cold blood! She didn't want to be with a monster!' I yell. The look on Alpha Zenith's face changes from a smile to aggression. He unlocks the cell door and grabs me by the throat, holding me against the cold stone wall.'What did you call me?' He growls, squeezing my throat tighter. I try to loosen his hands from my throat. I can't breathe. Black dots appear in my vision, and he loosens his grip and speaks.'Call me a monster again, Astrid,' he warns. Boring his eyes with mine, I know he will ki
Alpha RykerWe arrive in the city, park outside Zenith Creations, enter the facility, and find an elevator. The elevator door dings and opens. We step out and spot a large door and enter. It's quite a modern, sleek waiting room. It even has a water feature on one wall. I approach the large desk to see a blonde receptionist on the phone. Leaning on the desk, I tap my fingers impatiently. The receptionist raises a perfectly shaped brow at me. I take the phone from her and throw it behind her.'Excuse me!' She says. 'That was a significant client on the phone!' She yells.'I don't give a shit who was on the phone. Where's Zenith? I want to speak with him immediately!' I yell. She picks up a phone and presses a button.'There is a vulgar man here, with two other men wanting to speak with you immediately,' she says. She covers the mic on the phone with her nail-polished hand.'What is your name?' She asks.'Alpha Ryker,' I snap.'Alpha Ryker, sir. Yes, okay. I will send them in,' she tells