Amara's POV The SurpriseBy the time I had finished eating, showered, and dressed, Caden was nowhere to be found.I searched the entire house. No sign of him.Where was he?Just when I was starting to get frustrated, my phone chimed with a text.Come outside.Caden.I slipped on a pair of shoes and headed out the front door, curious.My jaw dropped.A horse-drawn carriage was parked in the driveway, decorated with a garland of flowers. Caden stood next to it, dressed in a suit and tie. He held a bouquet of roses in one hand and a picnic basket in the other.My face grew hot.He was insane. Absolutely, utterly insane.I marched up to him, crossing my arms.His eyes sparkled with amusement.I shook my head.He grinned.I sighed.Then, I grabbed the roses and kissed him.After All...It was a perfect day—blue skies, gentle breeze, the smell of fresh earth and blooming flowers. We strolled through the town, stopping for a bite to eat, admiring the architecture. He held my hand the entire
Amara's POV The days passed in a blur, each one filled with moments that chipped away at the walls I had built around my heart. Caden, Ryder, and Jaxon were proving themselves in ways I hadn’t expected. They were changing—slowly, steadily—but undeniably.Every morning, one of them would wake me up with breakfast, though it usually ended up being a playful argument over who would get the honor.“I made it first,” Caden would grumble, holding out a plate of toast and eggs.“Yeah, well, I made pancakes,” Ryder would counter, flipping one onto a second plate.Jaxon, always the wildcard, would slide a cup of coffee in front of me with a lazy smirk. “And I made sure you get caffeine before dealing with these two idiots.”I’d roll my eyes, but deep down, the warmth of their efforts settled in my chest like a quiet comfort.Throughout the day, they went out of their way to make sure I felt safe, taken care of—even cherished. Ryder would insist on driving me anywhere I needed to go, opening d
Amara’s POVThe morning sun streamed through my bedroom window as I stood in front of the mirror, adjusting my sweater. My hair was still damp from my shower, and I was debating whether to leave it down or tie it up when I felt a warm presence behind me.Before I could react, strong arms wrapped around my waist, pulling me against a familiar, solid chest.“Morning, princess,” Jaxon’s deep, teasing voice murmured against my ear.I rolled my eyes but didn’t pull away. “You do know there’s this thing called personal space, right?”Jaxon chuckled, his breath warm against my neck. “Never heard of it.”His arms tightened slightly, holding me close as he dipped his head. Before I could protest, I felt the sharp nip of his teeth against the sensitive skin of my neck.I gasped. “Jaxon—”He pulled back just enough to admire his work, a smug grin tugging at his lips. “There. Now everyone knows you’re mine.”I spun around, narrowing my eyes at him. “You marked me?” I reached up, touching the tend
Amara’s POVJaxon’s car rumbled beneath us as he pulled out of the school parking lot, one hand lazily gripping the steering wheel while the other rested on the gear shift. The afternoon sun streamed through the windows, making everything feel warm, golden—almost too perfect. I tried to ignore the way my heart sped up just being near him. “So,” he drawled, flicking his gaze toward me, “did anyone give you trouble about the mark?” I huffed, crossing my arms. “No. But thanks to you, Lily wouldn’t shut up about it all day.” Jaxon grinned, clearly proud of himself. “Good. I like knowing people see it.” I rolled my eyes, looking out the window. “You’re so possessive.” His hand suddenly left the gear shift, fingers trailing along my thigh. My breath hitched. “You like it,” he murmured, voice low, teasing. I swallowed, refusing to meet his eyes. “You’re delusional.” Jaxon chuckled, giving my thigh a gentle squeeze before returning his hand to the wheel. “Whatever you say, princess.”
Amara’s POVMy heart pounded so hard I was sure Jaxon could hear it. His words echoed in my mind—I think I’m falling for you.I swallowed, unsure how to respond. I wasn’t used to this—wasn’t used to him being so serious.Jaxon, the arrogant flirt. The teasing troublemaker. The guy who drove me crazy in every possible way.And yet, here he was—vulnerable, open, laying his feelings bare in a way I never expected.I didn’t trust my voice, so instead of speaking, I did the only thing that felt right.I kissed him.Jaxon tensed for half a second, then groaned against my lips, his arms tightening around me as he kissed me back. This time, it was slower, more deliberate—like he was savoring every second.When we finally pulled apart, he rested his forehead against mine, his breath warm against my skin.“That’s a dangerous way to answer, princess,” he murmured, his fingers tracing slow circles against my lower back.I exhaled shakily. “You started it.”Jaxon chuckled, his lips brushing agains
Amara’s POVI barely made it into my room before collapsing onto my bed, pressing my fingers against my still-tingling lips.What the hell had just happened?Jaxon had kissed me before, teased me before—but this? This was something else. This was dangerous.And the worst part?I wanted more.I groaned, burying my face in my pillow.Get it together, Amara.But no amount of scolding could stop the way my heart raced at the memory of his hands on my waist, his breath against my skin, the way he had looked at me like I was his.I exhaled sharply, sitting up and running my hands through my hair.There was no way I was going to be able to sleep.My phone buzzed.I grabbed it quickly, my pulse spiking when I saw Jaxon’s name.Jaxon: Are you in bed?I hesitated before typing back.Me: Maybe.His reply came almost instantly.Jaxon: That’s not a real answer, princess.I bit my lip.Me: Yes, I’m in bed. Why?Jaxon: Good. Now close your eyes and imagine me next to you.My breath hitched.Before I
Amara’s POVI wanted to disappear. Right then and there.Jaxon, of course, was absolutely loving this. His arm stayed draped around my shoulders, his fingers casually playing with the ends of my scarf like he knew exactly what he had done.Ryder leaned against the lockers, arms crossed, his grin way too amused. “So… did Jaxon finally claim you, or did he just get really hungry last night?”I groaned, burying my face in my hands. “I hate all of you.”Caden didn’t look nearly as amused. His arms were crossed, his expression unreadable. “It’s not funny,” he muttered, his sharp gaze flickering toward Jaxon. “You should have more control.”Jaxon smirked, pulling me closer. “I don’t want control when it comes to her.”My breath hitched.Caden’s jaw tensed. “She’s not a possession, Jaxon.”Jaxon’s smirk faltered just slightly, but he didn’t let go of me. Instead, his grip tightened.I quickly intervened before things got tense. “Okay, enough. We’re not doing this.”Ryder grinned. “Oh, this i
Amara’s POVI barely made it through my next class.Jaxon’s words—I’m not done with you yet, princess—played on a loop in my head. His touch, his kiss, the way he owned every moment with me… it was driving me insane.By the time the final bell rang, I was practically bolting toward the parking lot, hoping to escape before Jaxon could find me.Spoiler alert: I failed.The second I stepped outside, a familiar arm wrapped around my waist, yanking me back against a warm, hard chest.“Running from me, princess?” Jaxon’s voice was all smug amusement, his lips brushing against my ear.I shivered. “I—I wasn’t—”His low chuckle sent heat straight through me. “Liar.”I turned in his hold, scowling up at him. “You love tormenting me, don’t you?”Jaxon smirked, tilting his head. “Only because you look so damn cute when you’re flustered.”I groaned, shoving at his chest. “Just take me home.”“Gladly.”He grabbed my wrist and led me toward his car, opening the passenger door with an exaggerated flo
Jaxon's POV And in the darkness, with no one watching, I finally let go. My touch roamed, possessive and demanding, learning every inch of her body like a map, committing every curve and gasp to memory. My control slipped. My fingers dug into her hip, marking her soft skin. But she only arched closer. It wasn’t enough. I couldn't get close enough, couldn’t taste enough, couldn't give her enough of what I felt. It would never be enough. And in that moment, I knew. I knew I would burn the whole world to ash before I gave her up. I would break every rule, tear down anyone who dared try to take her away, and keep her safe no matter the cost. Because Amara was mine. And I would rather die than lose her. --- Amara's POV I couldn't breathe. His lips, his touch, the way his hips moved against mine—every part of him was fire, and I was burning. His touch was rough, desperate, his control slipping. I wanted it to slip. I wanted him to stop hiding, to show m
Jaxon's POV I stayed with her until her breathing evened out again, until the tremble in her hands stopped. But even then, I couldn’t shake the image of Alex’s hand resting on her lower back, the way he looked at her like she was something he had a right to touch.He didn’t.She wasn’t his to lean toward, to whisper to like he knew her heart.She wasn’t mine either. Not really.But God help anyone who thought they could take her.The second Amara excused herself to head to the infirmary for a quick check, I stood. My body was already tense, fists tight at my sides as I tracked Alex down the hallway that led to the east courtyard.He was alone—good. I didn’t want an audience.“Alex,” I called out.He turned, surprised to see me. “Hey, Jaxon. What’s up?”I didn’t respond. Just kept walking until I was toe-to-toe with him.He looked at me carefully. “Everything okay?”“No. It’s not.” My voice was low, steady. Dead calm—the kind of calm that comes right before the storm.His expression t
Jaxon's POV The sun bore down on the academy training grounds like it had a personal vendetta. Heat shimmered off the concrete in waves, and the clang of steel-on-steel rang out like a war drum. Students lined up in pairs, sparring and barking at each other like rabid dogs under the instructor’s glare. Dust clouded the air with every scuffed boot.But none of that mattered to me.Because all I could focus on was her.Amara.She stood across the field, squared up against a taller opponent, sweat dripping down the side of her temple. Normally, she’d be focused, graceful—even lethal—but today?Something was off.Her steps were slower, her reactions a beat late. Her face was pale, like someone had drained the life from her skin. I watched her sway slightly, blink too long between parries.My gut clenched.“Switch!” barked the instructor, and Amara stumbled back from the next attacker.No. This wasn’t right.I started moving before I even made the decision, weaving past students until I r
Amara’s POV The dawn broke over the pack territory, painting the sky in hues of bruised purple and hesitant gold, a reflection of the uneasy truce that had settled over us. The immediate threat of the entity’s direct influence had been severed, but the lingering tension remained, a palpable awareness of the storm that was yet to break. The raw line across my arm throbbed, a constant reminder of the price of our temporary reprieve. Weakness still clung to me, a lingering drain from the magical exertion and the severing of the unnatural bond. But beneath the physical fragility, a new resolve began to solidify, forged in the crucible of fear and sacrifice. We knew the entity would not remain silent for long. Its enraged shriek still echoed in our memories, a promise of retribution. The time of desperate defense was over; we needed to prepare, to gather our strength, and to meet the coming darkness head-on. Lyra and her warriors, their commitment unwavering, pledged to remain with us
Amara’s POVThe air in the library crackled with an almost unbearable tension, the chanting of Lyra’s mages a resonant hum that vibrated through the very floor beneath our feet. The swirling energies intensified, bathing the room in an ethereal glow, the ancient symbols on the floor blazing with an inner light. The weight of the moment pressed down on us, the precipice of hope balanced precariously against the abyss of potential failure.My hand trembled as I held the ceremonial dagger, its silver blade reflecting the frantic dance of candlelight. The unwavering gazes of Ryder, Caden, and Jaxon were fixed on me, their love a tangible force, a silent offering of courage and support. Tears streamed down my face, a torrent of fear, love, and a desperate grief for the sacrifice they were willing to make.“There has to be another way,” I choked out, my voice thick with emotion. “I can’t…”“You have to, Amara,” Ryder said, his voice low but firm, his silver eyes filled with an unyielding re
Amara’s POV The discovery of the severing ritual ignited a fragile spark of hope amidst the encroaching darkness, but the ancient text’s ominous warnings cast a long shadow over our preparations. The need for a convergence of powerful magical energies immediately turned our thoughts to Lyra and her pack. Their inherent connection to the wild, their unique blend of elemental magic, could be the key to fulfilling the ritual’s demanding requirements.A tense message was sent to Lyra, outlining the dire situation and the perilous ritual we intended to undertake. The inherent risk was undeniable, and the potential consequences of failure were catastrophic. We held our breath, the weight of our desperation hanging heavy in the air, unsure if she would be willing to risk her pack, and potentially herself, for our sake.Lyra’s response, when it finally arrived, was a testament to the strength of our fragile alliance and the depth of her own courage. She agreed to come, bringing with her her
Amara’s POV The discovery of the mark sent a shockwave of fear and a fierce surge of protectiveness through our small circle. The tangible evidence of the entity’s growing influence, the cold, alien symbol etched onto my skin, served as a stark and terrifying reminder of the danger we were facing. The whispered claim, echoing in the silence of our bedroom, felt like an icy tendril wrapping around my soul.My mates reacted with a primal intensity. Ryder’s protective instincts went into overdrive. He positioned himself physically between me and any open space, his silver eyes constantly scanning for unseen threats, his body radiating a fierce, possessive energy. Caden’s alpha command, usually reserved for pack matters, now extended to me, a low, insistent urging to stay close, to not venture out of their sight. Jaxon, his playful facade completely shattered, became a silent, watchful shadow, his dark eyes narrowed with a dangerous intensity, his hand often resting protectively on my ar
Amara’s POV The seed of suspicion regarding Gareth, once planted, began to take root and send tendrils of doubt throughout our perceptions. My mates and I observed him with a newfound scrutiny, every interaction, every subtle gesture now viewed through the lens of potential betrayal. His fervent pronouncements against the alliance with Lyra, his almost frantic insistence on isolating ourselves, took on a more sinister hue.We began to notice inconsistencies in his stories, gaps in his whereabouts during some of the “accidents.” He seemed overly eager to deflect blame, his denials too vehement, his gaze often shifty and evasive when questioned directly. The more we observed, the more a chilling picture began to form – a picture of a man subtly influenced, perhaps even controlled, by the malevolent entity.The realization was a sickening blow. Gareth was not just a pack member; he was someone we had trusted, fought alongside, shared meals and laughter with. The thought that he could be
Amara’s POV The escalating strangeness around the pack territory, coupled with the chilling weight of my nightmare and Elijah’s unsettling revelations, began to sow seeds of unease and even suspicion within the pack. The once-unquestioning trust that bound us together began to fray at the edges, replaced by nervous glances and hushed conversations.The withered section of the forest remained a stark and disturbing reminder of the encroaching darkness, a palpable manifestation of the malevolent entity’s growing power. The animals continued to behave erratically, their fear a contagious wave that rippled through the pack. Even the most steadfast warriors seemed on edge, their usual confidence replaced by a nervous tension.Whispers began to circulate, quiet at first but gradually growing louder. Some of the pack members, their fear overriding their loyalty, began to question the alliance with Lyra’s pack. The shared strangeness in the forest, the unsettling feeling of being watched – i