ログインHARPER~~~By afternoon, the agonizing burn in my back had subsided into a dull, manageable itch. I got off the clinic bed, carefully rolling my shoulders, and moved towards the mirror to examine my back.To my surprise, the angry, red whip marks were fading into faint pink lines right before my eyes. Dr. Alistair was right. I was healing at a faster rate than any other shifter.The door clicked open, and Dr. Alistair walked in, reviewing a digital chart. I quickly lowered my shirt and slowly turned around.He looked up, his eyes widening slightly as he saw me awake."How are you feeling, Harper?" he asked. "Any discomfort?"I shook my head and managed a small smile. "None. And you were right, about my strange healing abilities. The scars are almost gone."He slipped on a pair of latex gloves and gestured to me. "May I?"Without another word, I turned and lifted my shirt. He examined my back for a long time, his gloved hand brushing over the spot where the scars had been."Incredible,
HARPER~~~"Ancient?" I whispered, my voice sounding foreign to my own ears. "What do you mean, ancient? I'm a wolf. I've always been a wolf."Dr. Alistair didn't answer. He simply gathered his files, his brow furrowed in deep thought."I will be back to explain better," he said with a kind smile. "In the meantime, try to rest."He exchanged a nod with the triplets before leaving, his assistant following right behind him. The door clicked shut, leaving us in a silence so thick it felt like velvet.I shifted, wincing from the pain on my back. The room was suddenly too small. Mason, Ryder, and Dallas were hovering near the foot of my bed, their massive frames radiating an overwhelming, earthy heat.Despite my obvious anger towards then, I couldn't resist breathing in the intoxicating scent that always seemed to cling to them; the pure, Alpha male scent that always sent my heart into raging staccato."Harper," Mason started in a soothing low voice. He took a step forward, hand outstretch
HARPER~~~CRACK!The silver-plated whip tore through the air, biting into the flesh of my lower back. A shrill scream ripped from my throat, bouncing off the damp, stone walls of the dungeon.My arms were pulled taut above my head, my wrists bound by thick iron chains bolted directly into the ceiling. Ruby had ripped off my hoodie, leaving me exposed in just my bra and jeans, my skin burning under the damp chill of the cell and the searing pain of the whip."Harder, Marcus," Ruby's voice purred from the other side of the iron bars.I raised my head, sweat and tears stinging my eyes as I glared at her through the tangled mess of my hair. She was leaning against the stone wall, her arms crossed over Mason's dark dress shirt, a cold, venomous smile playing on her lips."Look at you," she mocked, stepping closer to the bars, her gaze raking over my trembling form. "You really thought you could come back here and ruin things like you've always done?"The whip cracked against my skin again
MASON~~~The mahogany desk in the middle of the Conclave was large and spacious enough, but it felt like a cage as I sat there, listening to the leader of the council, Vance, speak in a low monotone.I leaned back in my leather chair, steepling my fingers as Vance pushed a thick folder onto the center of the table.To my left, Ryder was aggressively tapping a silver pen against his knee, his inner wolf practically clawing at his skin from sheer boredom. To my right, Dallas sat perfectly still, his sharp, calculating eyes tracking every micro-expression of the twelve elders facing us."The proposed alliance with the Black Oak Pack is our most logical next step, Alphas," Vance spoke, his raspy voice filling the tense room. "With their warriors absorbing into our outer perimeters, our borders will grow twice as powerful. We will finally establish a definitive line of defense.""We don't need their warriors to protect what's ours," Ryder growled, his voice a low, threatening rumble that
HARPER~~~The morning sun didn't bring warmth the next day. It only brought forbidden memories of last night's encounter with Mason.I backed my car into the driveway of the lodge, turned off the ignition and stepped out. My back ached, stiff from the cheap motel mattress, and my mind was messy with things I shouldn't be thinking about.Shoving the thoughts of Mason and the electric touch of his hands from last night deep into a corner of my mind, I marched up the steps.I had a lot to do today. I needed to clean my cottage so I wouldn't spend another night in a motel, and then figure out how to navigate the nightmare my life had become.I slid the brass key into the lock and twisted it. It didn't turn. What the fuck?I frowned and jiggled it, forcing it to turn until the metal nearly snapped. Nothing. I pulled back and looked closely at the deadbolt. It was brand new. What the hell was happening?"Looking for a way in, fatso?"A sharp, giggling laugh cut through the quiet morning a
HARPER~~~I couldn't decide between screaming for help or just bolting out of the room.Mason had shed his suit jacket, rolling the sleeves of his dark shirt up his forearms. He looked too large for the cramped, dingy motel room, radiating a cold, magnetic aura that made the walls feel like they were closing in on me.When he suddenly took a step forward, the words forced out of my mouth. "What the hell are you doing here?" I asked harshly, clutching the blanket up to my chest. "How did you find me? How did you even get into my room?"Mason didn't look remorseful at all. A slow, infuriatingly handsome smirk spread across his face."You didn't exactly blend in. Your battered sedan sticks out like a sore thumb, and you're still carrying our scent, whether you like it or not."He took a slow step toward the edge of my bed. "As for how I got in? Let's just say the receptionist was more than happy to hand over a spare key. All it took was a smile and a little white lie about being your b







