Elara's POVThe applause resonated loudly in my ears, nearly overwhelming as it reverberated across the courtyard in front of the health center. The crowd's cheers were a blend of appreciation and joy, their faces lit up with admiration as they focused on me.Standing there frozen and uncertain about how to react, my chest constricted with a confusing mix of emotions. I struggled to decide whether to soak in the warmth of their gratitude or succumb to the chilling sense of guilt that threatened to engulf me.I looked at Andrew, my lips slightly parting as I sought his insight. “Why are they applauding? What have I done to earn this?”Andrew, towering beside me, leaned down a bit so his voice could pierce through the noise and reach me easily. “They’re here for you, Elara,” he said, his golden eyes softening. “To honor your recovery and express their gratitude for saving their lives.”Saving their lives.His words lingered heavily in the atmosphere, crashing into me like a powerful wav
Elara’s POVThe journey to my room felt like an eternity. Every step Andrew took behind me was careful and steady, as if he intended to walk forever. Meanwhile, all I desired was to hurry to my room and slam the door behind me. My heart raced erratically in my chest, a blend of excitement and anxiety gnawing at me. His words echoed in my head, “I have something to share with you.”What could he possibly want to discuss that warranted his following me back to my room?How would the others at the pack house react upon seeing their Alpha accompanying the cursed wolf?No. I doubt they call me that anymore, thanks to my gallant behavior. To my surprise, the corridors of the pack house were eerily silent, devoid of the usual lively chatter. Perhaps everyone was still at the health center, or maybe the recent events had hushed them, sending them off to their rooms. Either way, the stillness heightened the discomfort between Andrew and me.When we arrived at my door, I unlocked it and entere
Andrew’s POVMy hands came to her face again, pushing her lips deeper into mine some more. I bit her bottom lip, sending her a signal and she opened up, letting my tongue plunge into her hot mouth as I resumed my dominant behavior.I have been craving this moment for a long time. I once thought that after our first time together, my need for her will disappear. But I was proved wrong. My need for her only intensified till I couldn't fully concentrate without thinking of her.Our tongues fought for dominance as I tasted her, relishing in her sweetness. But eventually I won, dominating the kiss while she succumbed to my touch.I wanted all of her at once. As much as I tried to control myself, the beast wanted non of that.I turned us around and this time had her against the wall, pinning her there as our kiss reached a feverish level for a few minutes, before we broke apart for air but our eyes never left each other's.Unable to help myself, I took her mouth once more but only for a sho
Elara's POV"Do you know how much I want you? You really don't. I want you so bad that I don't mind begging and pleading for you to take me like a wild animal. Unleash the beast. Oh fuck, I can't wait to have you inside of me." I said as I bit my lips.How doesn't he notice that I have always wanted him for a long time. Especially after our first night together. And now, the mate bond isn't even making things any better. I have never wanted anyone like I did him at that moment.Surprise colored his features after I spoke the words but his surprise couldn't overshadow my excitement. Instead it only made me more wet knowing my words could affect him. He was already rock hard, but I noticed the bulge in his pants twitch stemming from her pleasure ridden words, the pure naughtiness of them made his member pulse and strain against his pants and from all indications, he still wished to tease me some more, but he couldn't wait any longer.Because the next moment, he pulled my panties down in
Andrew's POVI quickly resumed pushing in slowly and it really helped that she was wet or it would have hurt a lot more. I continued my slow movements but soon forced my way through, embedding myself deep within her wetness.The pain was hair splitting but the huge amount of foreplay had helped. I quickly sensed her discomfort and stilled, giving her a chance to get used to being so full and stretched thin on my big cock.Elara took deep breaths and tried her best to adjust to the feeling quickly and when she was sure she had, she signalled me with a small moan and I began moving in her, slowly at first.In a matter of minutes, her painful moans had disappeared and was replaced with raw pleasure as I thrusted in and out of her in a gentle rhythm.I could already feel the build up inside me and it excited my wolf, but I refused to give into my primal instinct to take her at once.Elara moaned softly as she tried to get used to the wonderful feeling that her body was experiencing, she e
Elara’s POVI stirred to life, wrapping myself in the warmth of his embrace, content. My body was heavy, yet in a nurturing way, as if nothing outside this moment had any significance. A soft sensation with a gentle rhythm flowed across my shoulder: first soft, like a whisper of wind, then I recognized the rough texture of a fingertip tracing slow, delicate designs on my skin.A sleepy smile oozed across my face. I didn't need to open my eyes to know it was Andrew. The peculiar warmth of his touch, the regular rise and fall of his chest behind me, and the overwhelming pine and earth fragrance were all the reassurance I needed.I burrowed deeper into his chest, my head still spinning, and his arm pulled me closer to him, tighter, as if he wanted more of me, and his fingers stilled the playful patterns they'd been tracing."You're awake," he whispered, his deep voice rumbling through his chest, and something inside of me sizzled."Uhmmm," I replied, my voice muffled against his neck.I
Elara's POVI sat up against the headboard, knees tucked into my chest, hugging my arms over them defensively. The said and unsaid words of Andrew lay heavy and stiflingly between us. The speck of hope that had laced my heart sometime back now felt so cruelly joked about.Andrew, who lay beside me just a moment before, now sat up with his elbows to his knees, running his hands through his dark hair. A soft sigh escaped his lips as he leaned back, placing his hands behind his head and shutting his eyes-to appear bothered.And it grated on my nerves.I studied him, waiting for something, an answer, an explanation, anything that could give meaning to his behavior. But when it was obvious none was coming, my furrowed brows continued to capture the frustration growing inside me."Andrew," I softly yet firmly uttered, "why do you not want anyone to know we're mates?He refused to answer, further fuelling my frustration by his silence. When he finally opened his eyes, they weren't soft and w
Andrew's POVIt was a chillier night than I had anticipated as I walked back towards the central building, the cold wind cutting into me. The far-off howl of a wolf echoed through the trees, clearly a rogue but it was a reminder of what terrors lay beyond our borders.But tonight, the threats weren't out there alone, they were in here as well, within the pack mixed with the very life I was attempting to create with Elara.I shoved my hands into my pockets, my jaw clenched as my mind returned to her. Her kiss still lingered on my lips, a mix of many things but frustration among them.She didn't understand, not at all. How could she?How can I possibly say this to her?The truth now felt like a burden, a heavier one than any that I'd ever carried. Elara wasn't safe. Not just because there were already individuals who wished to harm her, but because of what she was—my mate.To make our union known to the pack would be to put a bull's-eye on her back. My enemies would recognize her as a w
Andrew’s POVI threw on my shirt, barely managing to button it as Elara rushed into her jeans. Her hair was still messy, cheeks flushed from everything we just did, but the look in her eyes had changed. Worry had replaced pleasure. She knew me too well not to read the tension in my voice.She didn’t even ask what Greg had said again. She just grabbed her boots.“Do you think it’s Dorian?” she asked as she yanked them on.“I don’t know,” I muttered, heading toward the door. “But Greg sounded...off. And if it’s enough to make him call mid-morning like that, something’s wrong.”I opened the door, and the cold air slapped us like a warning. I reached for the keys to the Jeep, but before I could even hit the button, I heard familiar footsteps. Fast. Urgent.“Andrew!” Michael’s voice carried through the trees, Lora right behind him.“Thank goodness you guys are here.” I asked as we met halfway across the clearing.“We were relaxing close to the lake,” he said, breathing hard. “Got the sam
Andrew's POVThe moment I whispered those words into her ears I was greeted with goosebumps on her skin where my lips were and a shiver.I smiled at the effect that I was having on her. I can't believe I managed to survive so long without spending every waking moment beside her.With a hunger that rose deep from my stomach, I shifted and captured her mouth with mine eliciting a moan from her as she adjusted practically climbing into my lap.Without any much resistance, she opened her mouth to me as my tongue slipped into her and I groaned my delight as I enjoyed the taste of her.Her hand rested on my shoulder while the other wound around my neck drawing my head as she intensified the kiss almost making it bruising.But I loved it. Every single fucking moment. I nipped on her bottom lip and sucked it into mouth as she grinded against my hard on.“You're going to be the death of me Elara.” I muttered as I broke the kiss for a moment to catch my breath as I leaned my forehead against he
Elara's POVBy the time we all made it back to the cabin, it was well into the day. Bone tired, we all fell into position on a piece of furniture or the floor as we thought back to how the night had gone.I sat in the the couch with Andrew beside me. He drew me close to his side as he was scared that I would evaporate from his side.Michael and Lora took the other sofa in the room, practically sandwiched together. Greg chose the floor close to the wooden walls.“I can't believe we actually survived that.” Michael muttered as he looked between me and Greg.“Why will you say that?” I asked “I didn't know you had little faith in us.”“Oh c’mon, that's not I meant and you know it.” He replied giving me his full attention.I knew that wasn't what he meant. It was just that the look on his that still held disbelief just unsettled me and I wanted to tease him a bit.I sighed. “I know exactly what you mean.”“And?” He urged.“It was a miracle. What with the god rising and the way he was deter
Elara’s POVThe first breath I took was like drowning in light.Not air—light. Thick and sharp and everywhere. It filled my lungs, my veins, my mind.Then I came back.And everything hurt.My eyes snapped open. The world rushed in too fast. The ruins. The silence. The blood on my hands. The echo of Andrew’s voice still whispering my name.He was holding me.His arms were wrapped around me like he was afraid I’d disappear again.“Andrew,” I croaked. My voice didn’t sound like mine. It was softer—richer. Like something else had laced itself through me.He jerked back just enough to look at me, his face streaked with blood and ash and tears. His lips parted in a shaky breath.“You’re awake,” he whispered. “Elara, you’re awake—”“I’m okay.” I wasn’t. But I had to say it for him.He exhaled and pressed his forehead to mine. “You scared the hell out of me.”I touched his jaw. “You offered your life.”“I’d do it again.”He kissed me, quick and desperate. It wasn’t gentle. It was real.I clun
Lora’s POVThe world cracked.Not metaphorically. Not in the dreamy, nice and poetic way people say when things fall apart.I mean the altar—centuries old, cursed by blood and time—split down the middle with a sound like the earth itself had screamed.I flinched as shards of stone flew past my face. One grazed my cheek, warm blood sliding down before I could even register the sting. But I didn’t stop moving.“Elara!” I shouted, weaving between the broken stones and bodies. I saw her in Andrew’s arms, limp and deathly still, and something in me nearly shattered too.Not her. Please, not her. She was my best friend and the last thing I wanted was for her losing her life in this wretched place.Then Greg—no, the thing that had been Greg—turned toward me. His eyes weren’t his anymore. Red and empty. His smile too wide, very wrong and completely twisted.My heart pounded, fists clenched. The god had taken him. It had used him.But now?Now even that thing was looking like it wanted to devo
Andrew’s POVThe moment Elara expended her power trying to keep the god locked, it seemed like everything had stopped to focus on this particular moment. I stood screaming her name as she tried to do the impossible. But when I watched her falling, I couldn't take it anymore."Elara!" I tore through the red-glowing haze that had blanketed everything. My feet slammed hard into the ancient steps, sliding as I reached her. She was limp. Her skin had gone pale, almost gray, and her eyes fluttered like she was on the edge of leaving me. “Stay with me, dammit. Elara, breathe.”She didn’t respond. Her lips trembled, breath catching in shallow bursts.The air cracked above us—the sky splitting as the Blood Moon hit its peak. I looked up.And saw it.The gate was open. Not just some door or portal. This was ancient, raw, and alive. It was jagged light framed by black mist, spinning slowly in the heavens above the altar. And from it, something moved, a hand reached out.The forgotten god.Did
Elara's POVThe scream that tore from my throat didn’t feel like mine.It came from somewhere deeper—bone-deep, soul-deep. My back arched against the pulsing altar, and the red light crashing down from the Blood Moon carved through me like I was paper. Everything inside me felt like it was breaking apart. Shattered pieces of a girl who used to be Elara.Then I heard him."Elara!" Andrew’s voice cut through the chaos.I clung to it.The pain was still there, like I was being ripped from the inside out, but I clung to the sound of him. It grounded me. Reminded me of who I was. Of the nights we used to spend togetger as a couple. As mates. Of the way he whispered my name when no one else was listening.I blinked through the red haze and found him kneeling beside me, hands cupping my face. His eyes wide. Terrified. His thumb brushed the tears off my cheeks, and I leaned into the touch like it was the only thing keeping me alive."You’re still here," I choked out."I’m not going anywher
Andrew’s POVThe world went quiet.It shouldn’t have. There was chanting all around me, the sky roaring with thunder, cultists pacing like wolves ready to tear the altar apart. But all I could hear was the sound of her heart breaking.Elara’s eyes were locked on me—pleading, desperate, furious.And I’d faltered.Fates, I’d faltered.The girl beside her—the replacement—was glowing now. Not metaphorically. Literally. The altar pulsed under her knees, and I could feel the magic reaching for her like it had once reached for Elara.This was the moment.One path ended in her survival. The other? Salvation for the rest of the world.I didn’t move.My chest felt like it was splitting in half. The prophecy I didn't know much about seemed not to care who she was. It just needed a vessel. And now it had one.But she wasn’t Elara.“You said you loved her,” Michael’s voice tore through the tension, sharp and shaking. “So act like it.”I blinked.“She’s dying,” Dorian said again from behind me. Cal
Elara’s POVI couldn’t feel my hands.Not because of the chains—they’d long since numbed my wrists. It wasn’t even the dark magic humming through the stone under me, or the pulsing weight of that fake moon bleeding into the sky.It was the woman.Her.The one Dorian dragged in like an offering. The one who looked like me. I didn't know how he managed to do something this sick all on his own but it had my hackles rising.She stumbled, dirt in her hair, blood down one arm. Her eyes met mine—and I saw myself.I froze.My mouth went dry.No.No, no, no. I have to get to the bottom of this.“What is this?” I croaked. My voice was rough, scraped raw from screaming earlier. “Who is she?”Dorian smiled, cold and smooth. “Insurance,” he said. “A vessel the altar will accept willingly.”“She’s not me.” I pointed out trying to figure out exactly was going on.“She’s enough,” he said. “The Blood Moon doesn’t care for names. Only bloodlines. Only sacrifice.”Behind him, Harrow stood silent, arms f