STORE"Wait, what?!" Seth's eyes widened as he heard the news from his aunt over the phone. "What do you mean the spell is ready? Did you actually prepare it?""The spell has been complete for a while now. I just wanted to ask how things are going between him and Mason," Desdemona spoke calmly on the other end of the phone."Wait. I thought you were never going to prepare it since you were against breaking a cursed bond for him," Seth said as he took the plastic bag from the store attendant."I can't go against Ste-phen. You, of all people, know how stubborn that male is," Desdemona retorted, and Seth sighed, knowing his aunt was right."Yeah, but..." Seth sighed. "I don't think he'll need it. There's a slight improvement. Ste-phen is obsessed with the boy.""You know very well that it will take more than a month to actually heal from a wound that deep in his soul. Ste-phen is a broken soul, far too broken. I'm afraid that soon enough, Mason won't be able to handle him."Seth's eyes s
Sethโs feet tapped impatiently against the floor, his gaze fixed on the transparent glass that covered the cafรฉ, overlooking the bustling street. His mind was restless as he glanced at his watch several times.โWhere the hell is he?โ Seth grumbled, crossing his arms over his chest.He drew in a deep breath, but it did nothing to ease the unease settling inside him. The memory kept replaying in his mind, and the more it did, the tighter the knot in his stomach became.He was oblivious to the stares he was receiving from the other customers, especially the womenโboth young and old. Their whispers pierced the air.Seth was a fine man. He was in the modeling industry, and despite rarely shooting himself, he had won several awards, with nearly every entertainment agency wanting to sign him.Women were ready to throw themselves at him, and of course, he took some of themโmostly on full moons to satisfy his rutโbut neverโฆ never had he had a girlfriend. And despite his auntโs scoldings, he st
Ste-phen eventually stood and left.Upon reaching the mansion, he headed straight to his room, only to find the bed empty. With a small frown, he checked Masonโs room. Empty.โYoung master left for school,โ Butler Ben informed him.Ste-phen sighed.Whatโs with the rush? Canโt he just take a goddamn break?As he turned to leave Masonโs room, his eyes settled on a strange wristwatch case sitting on the bed.His brows knitted as he reached for it. Taking out the watch, he examined it closely. He recognized the brand.And there was no way in hell Mason could afford it.At first, he considered it might be a gift Mason wanted to give him, butโฆ this watch was way too expensive.Thirty fucking grand.Which could only mean one thing.Someone had gifted Mason.Who?**********School.โOh no,โ Mason muttered under his breath, searching his bag over and over again. He crouched down at his desk, checking if he could catch any sight of it, only to get disappointed.It was Dexter's watch. The one he
______Ste-phen's OfficeโWho's Dexter?โBella's smile slowly faded at Ste-phen's question. She had thought the man had finally taken an interest in her, but instead, his eyes were on a male watch, not even giving her a glance.โWhat? Is that why you called me here?โ Bella asked, folding her arms.โI heard you know everything about the class, so tell me everything about the guy named Dexter.โBella stepped forward, placing her hand on the desk before him. She leaned in, knowingly letting the sight of her cleavage come into view.โWhat is going to be my reward?โ she asked.Ste-phen sighed, pulling out a paper. It was Bella's test sheet that had "FAILURE" written on it.โAccording to the Vice Chancellor, she wanted me to level up your mark. It turns out you are the daughter of Vince Hatter, the manager of the popular Black-made jewelry store, the most popular jewelry store in London. A rich familyโฆ huh?โBella scoffed, her voice dropping into an irritated tone. โSo whatโs your point?โโ
Ste-phen clicked his tongue. Damn it. He had thought Mason would lie to cover for Dexter, but he actually told the truth.Phewโฆ no punishment. Either way, it didnโt change the fact that Mason had accepted the gift.โDexter is your friend, right?โ Ste-phen asked, his unreadable gaze locked onto Masonโs.โYeah.โ Mason nodded, shifting back to leave. โI better head back to class.โโAnd he kissed you that night.โSte-phenโs words made Masonโs hand freeze mid-step. Oh no. He knew.โWhat do you meanโฆโ Mason turned to look at Ste-phen, but the man was already standing in front of him, making him nearly flinch. Shit. I will never get used to this.โIs that what you call a friend? Someone who invited you to a party, made you drink, and then took advantage of you?โ Ste-phenโs voice was low as he placed a hand on the wall behind Mason, trapping him. โYet you call him a friend?โPanic rippled through Mason, his mind shutting down. โYes,โ he murmured.Ste-phen smirked. โAlright. How about you invi
*******Ste-phen was restless as well, regretting letting Mason slip from his grasp. He could have just taken him right there and shown him what it meant to be his, but he had been too angry, thinking about how Mason had dared to defend Dexter earlier.A friend?Ste-phen let out a low scoff, glancing down at his own throbbing dick, pressing hard against his trousers. Mason was just starting to experience his rutโone that was slowly developing. Ste-phen had noticed it the day he mounted Mason in his half-shifted formโthe way Mason had met his brutal thrusts without fear--daring to scream for more.The memory was amusing. He imagined Mason begging him, and oh, he couldnโt wait. Mason would come back to him, right?Right?As time passed, Ste-phen grew impatient. Mason wasnโt coming. The rut was weak in him, not as intense as a normal one. Was his little mate planning to jerk off through it?Or worseโwas Mason planning to let another guy mount him? Or maybe Mason would mount a girl to sat
*******SETH'S APARTMENTโWow, he said that?โ Seth gasped as he placed the meal he had made on the table for both of them.Ste-phen only scowled in response.โThatโs quite a shock, actually. Perhaps you should start going easy on the boy. Remember, heโs human. Your possessiveness might begin toโโโEasy?โ Ste-phen cut in, arms crossed over his broad chest. โHow easy do you expect me to go? You, of all people, know I'm damn soft with Mason Allen.โSeth scratched his head with an awkward smile. Ste-phen was rightโฆ A mating bond for a Lycan came with intense possession. And for Mason as a human, not to have broken under Ste-phen's pressure until now meant Ste-phen was, in fact, soft with him.But stillโฆMason was just a boy, struggling to make a life for himself. Even though Seth didnโt know all the details, the kid looked like someone who had been through a lot.โPerhaps you should try tuning it down a little bit more,โ Seth suggested.Ste-phen scoffed. โI thought you'd be a good help, b
___Ste-phenโs room.Mason was pinned to the bed, his chest pressing against the soft sheets. His hands were cuffed behind his back, his eyes blindfolded, and his mouth gagged. He couldn't see anythingโonly feel Ste-phenโs frame looming over him.Mason wanted to complain. He wouldnโt lieโhe was scared as hell.It was indeed a punishment. He couldnโt touch or moan properly.Thrust.Mason muffled a cry against the bed as Ste-phenโs cock drove deep and hard into him. Pain shot through him.It was rough.Ste-phen pulled out, then plunged back in violently, without a trace of gentleness. Behind the blindfolds, Masonโs eyes squeezed shut, his toes curling as Ste-phenโs grip on his hips and hair tightened, holding him in place.He rammed into Mason, fucking him in a fast, hard pace. Within moments, Mason fell into the trance of ecstasy, drowning in the pit of pleasure.This was punishmentโhe was powerless to do a thing. It was cruel torture. But, strangely, it felt good.He must be insane.H
Epilogue โ One Year LaterThe forest pulsed with life.Soft beams of moonlight filtered through the trees of the Moonstone Grove, dancing along leaves and casting sacred light upon the ceremonial stones. Music drifted through the airโlow, harmonic chants of the old tongue blending with flutes, drums, and the sounds of celebration. Lanterns floated between tree branches like fireflies.It was a night of unity.A night of destiny.A night when the past was finally put to rest.Mason stood at the heart of it all, surrounded by wolves, elders, friends, and family, all gathered in a wide circle. He was dressed in silver ceremonial robes trimmed with blueโthe colors of peace and courage. Around his neck hung a pendant of a half-moon, the symbol of a chosen mate.He glanced across the clearing at Ste-phen, standing tall and proud in charcoal-gray robes embroidered with gold threads. His golden eyes never left Masonโs, not even for a moment.There was nothing but love in his gaze. Deep, unsha
****************************************************** The scent of mahogany and aged tobacco clung to the air like an old ghost, curling through the velvet-draped study as Zeno paced across the floor. A storm roared in his chest, but his steps were calmโmeasured, even. He hated when he lost control. The smashed wineglass glittered in the corner, a silent reminder of that slip. He pressed a finger to his temple, breathing through his nose, then exhaled with a soft hiss. โTell me again,โ he said, his voice icy smooth. The man standing by the doorwayโa lean figure in a gray suitโcleared his throat. โMr. Black is asking questions in Rosedale. Heโs already spoken to the Lennox family.โ Zenoโs jaw tightened. โAnd?โ โTheyโre cooperating.โ Zeno turned sharply, the sudden movement startling. โOf course they are. They lost a daughter. Theyโll do anything to cling to the hope of justice. But why now?โ He stared down at the floor as if the wood grain itself might offer answers. โTwo
The ward turned silent. Too silentโone could hear a pin drop.Mason could hear his heartbeat racingโtoo hard, too fastโand he thought he might really faint right then, but that wasnโt his concern right nowโฆWhat in the motherfรปcking world had Ste-phen just spilled out?Ste-phen winked at him, and Mason felt like gouging those eyes outโperhaps even cutting off his tongue too.โWeโll see again, Mrs. Allen,โ Ste-phen inclined his head gently and began leaving.Then Yaraโs laughter broke the silence, her eyes shut as she almost collapsed back on her bed.Ste-phen, who was about to touch the door, froze and glanced back at her.m, wondering why she suddenly find him funny.โYour boss is so funny.โMason, getting the hint that his mother hadnโt believed Ste-phen, quickly rushed to shove him out before he could say anything else.Yara blinked in confusion.Ste-phen, who staggered outside, shot a glare at Mason as the door slid shut.โWhat the fuckโฆโโShh!โ Mason quickly clamped his hand over
โขโขโขโขโขโขโขโMason.โ Yaraโs voice snapped Mason back to earth.Mason, whose lips were parted in shock, shifted his gaze from Ste-phen to her.โHey, Ma,โ he chuckled awkwardly, glancing back at Ste-phen just to make sure he wasn't hallucinating. But the male was right there, lounging on the chair beside his mother with his arms folded across his chest.Again, he questioned himself.What in the world was Ste-phen doing here?โAre you planning to stay there and watch? Come on, sweetie.โ Yara smiled so brightly it warmed Mason's heart.Mason stepped inside with the lunch he had bought for himself and his mother. Now it felt awkward. He wondered if Ste-phen might be hungry.Ah, rightโSte-phen doesn't like to eat outside.While Mason set the food before his mother, his heart raced in his chest as he could feel Ste-phenโs gaze on him the entire time.Ste-phen hadn't spoken a word.โFinally, Mason! I got to meet the one taking care of youโyour boss. The one behind the sudden brightness in your ey
____โYou seriously think this will work?โ Xander asked as they both sat in the cafรฉ having lunch.โI don't know, Xander. We can only hope,โ Dexter replied, unsure of his words as well.โYo! What's up, guys?โ Jericho and the other boys came over to join them. Lately, Dexter and Xander hadnโt been too active, and the others were getting worried.They had even canceled their upcoming show, and knowing how much these two loved dancing, the rest couldnโt help but try to figure out what was going onโuntil they got the gist. Mr. Luther was in town.Settling down with them, Jericho who didn't hesitate like the others, broke the silence."I heard your fatherโs in town, Dexter."Cole, on the other hand, simply stared at Dexter with an unreadable expression.โDonโt worry about it,โ Dexter mumbled curtly.โWhy did you cancel the dance show then? Is he still against it?โโI said donโt worry about it!โ Dexter snapped, making Jerichoโs mouth snap shut. Dexter stood up abruptly, the others' eyes foll
โPens up.โMrs. Katherineโs voice resonated through the classroom. Most of the students groaned under their breath. It was the last exam, and it had been pretty tough for them.Very few were able to complete their work, including Mason and Twilight.Bella sulked throughout. She no longer sat or spoke with Twilight and minded her own business.Dexter, on the other hand, had changed seats and was awfully quiet the whole time. He and Mason hadnโt exchanged a single wordโnot even once. But Mason was still curious. Dexter had mentioned him being in danger, and then the shooting incident happened.Even though Ste-phen refused to tell them who was behind it, Mason couldnโt stop wondering.โDexter?โ Mason called in a whisper, careful not to let Katherine hear so she wouldnโt mistake it for cheating.Dexterโs movement paused, and without a word or even a glance, he rose from his chair and walked over to Mrs. Katherine to submit his work.Mason sighed. Dexter must be really mad at him. Perhaps
Moore clenched his phone tightly, his heart racing nonstop, lips quivering.โMr. Black, letโs talk aboutโโThree beeps echoed in his ear, indicating the call had just been disconnected. Sweat beaded on Mooreโs face, his eyes darted around the room as though searching for somewhere to hideโฆ but there was nowhere.He was alone.And now, sooner or later, his heart was going to be ripped out of his chest. The thought made his knees buckle. He felt stupid for ever playing with Ste-phenโs words.His son was dead. He couldnโt even grieveโhe was next.His trembling fingers slid across his phone screen, dialing a number. When the person on the other end picked up, he yelled:โFuck! Thank God youโre not dead. Prepare any possible way for me to leave this country right away. I donโt care how you do it, I need to leave now! Iโll pay you anythingโjust find me a way immediately!โThe voice on the other end responded, โSir, you could follow the goods you're about to ship to Korea. If itโs urgent.โR
โขโขโขโขโขโขโขโขTwilight let out a cry as she climbed to her peak, Seth's fingers thrusting in and out of her wet core while his tongue flicked over her sensitive nub.The heat coiled in her stomach, her mouth parting in a silent moan before the sensation exploded within her, making her collapse back onto the bed.Her breathing came in heavy bursts, chest heaving as she struggled to steady herself. Her eyes were shut, a hint of tears pricking the corners.Her heartbeat pounded so loudly she couldโve sworn Seth heard it.She felt a kiss on her jaw, prompting her eyes to flutter open and meet Sethโs dreamy gaze. He brought his fingers to his lips and licked them clean. The sight was so sensual, Twilight had to bite her lip to suppress a moan.โFirst time?โ he asked softly, his eyes gentleโTwilight could see stars in them.โMhm,โ she nodded, and his brows arched.โReally?โ He clearly hadnโt expected that answer. She nodded again, and something primal flickered in his eyes.Twilight mightโve gon
Twilight was drying her hair when Seth stepped in as well. Her eyes lit up at the sight of him, and she immediately dropped the towel and approached.โSeth, how did itโโSeth grabbed her waist, slamming his lips against hers, shoving her words back into her throat with a hard, passionate kiss. Twilight melted in his arms, letting his warm tongue slide into her mouth.Her sweet moan echoed through the room, her hand sliding onto his neck, threading her fingers through his hair.He grabbed her by the waist, lifting her as though she weighed nothing. Her back met the wall with a soft thud, her breath catching in her throat as her towel slipped down, pooling at her feet like a whisper.โSethโฆโ she breathed, her voice trembling with need, but he didnโt let her speak.His mouth was on hers again, harder this timeโdesperate. As if he needed to remind himself she was real. As if heโd lose his mind if he didnโt taste her right then and there.Her legs wrapped around his waist, locking him in.