Elowen's POV My heart pounding in my ears, a mixture of excitement and trepidation coursing through my veins. Ranon's intense gaze sent shivers down my spine, and I knew in that moment, I was his for the taking. This wasn't about love or commitment; it was about desire, raw and untamed. "You're stunning," he breathed, his eyes roaming over my body, making me feel exposed yet empowered. I bit my lip, a nervous habit, as I reached for the zipper of my dress, my fingers trembling slightly. "Let me," he said, his voice a low growl as he stepped closer. I nodded, my breath catching as his fingers brushed against my skin, sending sparks of anticipation down my neck. With a swift motion, he slid the zipper down, the fabric of my dress pooling at my feet, leaving me clad in nothing but a delicate lace bra and panties. His fingers traced my spine as he whispered against my lips, “You’re playing with fire, sweetheart.” “Then burn me,” I breathed, daring him. A low growl rumbled in
Elowen’s POV The morning air was crisp, carrying the scent of damp earth and pine as the first rays of sunlight peeked through the trees. The sound of the river, gentle and steady, filled the silence between my uneven breaths. I was still here. Still tangled in Ranon. The weight of his arm draped over my waist, his warmth pressed against my back, his steady breathing fanning against my neck. His scent—smoky, wild, undeniably him—wrapped around me like an inescapable trap. Panic surged in my chest. I needed to leave. Carefully, I shifted, trying to slide out from beneath his grip, but the moment I moved, his arm tightened, pulling me flush against him. “Running?” His voice was thick with sleep, rough and lazy, but there was amusement in it too. “I thought you were tougher than that, sweetheart.” I clenched my jaw. “I’m not running.” “Liar,” he murmured, lips brushing my bare shoulder. My body betrayed me, a shiver running down my spine at his touch. Damn mate bond.
Elowen's POV The day passed in a haze, but every step, every glance felt like it had been dragged through the mud. I couldn’t stop thinking about last night, about Ranon’s touch, and the storm of emotions swirling in me. As much as I tried to push it away, the bond was there, undeniable and sharp, digging into me every moment. I found myself outside by the academy grounds, needing to be alone, away from the whispers and the weight of everyone’s gaze. My heart was still a mess, tangled with guilt, anger, and an overwhelming desire to run. But the bond wasn’t something I could outrun, not anymore. As I walked, I didn’t hear him approach until it was too late. Alaric. “You look like you’re about to self-destruct,” he said, his voice dripping with that familiar mix of condescension and false concern. I didn’t bother turning to face him. “I’m not in the mood, Alaric,” I said sharply. Alaric’s laugh was dark, mocking. “What? Not in the mood for what? For someone to remind you that you
Alaric's POV The night was quiet, too quiet. The usual noise of the academy felt miles away, drowned out by the pounding of my heart. It wasn’t just the silence that had me on edge—it was the overwhelming need to see her again, to feel that pull I couldn’t shake. The mate bond had become a storm inside me, relentless, and tonight, it felt as if I could no longer fight it. I paced back and forth in my dorm room, my thoughts scattered, my body burning with a hunger that was unfamiliar and terrifying. I’d tried to go out with the intention of distracting myself—training, even trying to get some rest—but it was all in vain. The thought of her consumed me. Her scent, the way her eyes burned with defiance, how she stood there, unaffected by my insults, yet I knew she was far from indifferent. Her resistance only made her more intoxicating. The doors to the academy creaked open in the distance, and I could feel her presence before I saw her. My breath hitched. Every instinct inside me s
Alaric's POV My mouth found hers again, our kiss desperate, hungry. We moved together, our bodies pressed against each other, her skin soft and hot against mine. I felt her hands move lower, her fingers brushing against the growing length of my cock. She was teasing me, testing me. And I was about to lose my fucking mind. I pushed her against the wall, pinning her wrists above her head. Her breathing was ragged, her cheeks flushed. The way she looked at me—it was like she was daring me to go further, to claim her. She was a siren, calling out to the darkness inside me, drawing me deeper into her web. And I couldn't deny her any longer. I took her by the hips, lifting her up and sliding her body against mine. She gasped, wrapping her legs around me, her arms around my neck. Our lips found each other again, kissing hard and deep, a battle between two forces that could no longer be denied. I carried her to the bed, laying her down, my body hovering over hers. Her skin was warm aga
Elowen’s POVThe door clicked shut behind me, and I leaned against the wall, taking a deep breath. My heart was still pounding, but it wasn’t from fear or nerves—it was exhilaration. I had him exactly where I wanted him, and it felt damn good.I had expected some part of me to regret what had happened between us, to feel guilt or shame for how I’d let the night unfold. But instead, I felt satisfaction, a quiet sense of triumph. Alaric, with all his strength, his arrogance, his ruthless nature, was falling into my trap. He wasn’t as untouchable as he thought. He wasn’t the perfect, cold-hearted asshole he tried to project. No, beneath that veneer was a man who couldn’t control the pull between us, a man who was already starting to care. The thought made me smile to myself as I walked down the hallway, my steps light, almost playful. He was fighting it, I could tell. He was trying to resist the bond between us, trying to convince himself that it didn’t matter, that he didn’t need me.
Theron’s POV The first time I laid eyes on Elowen, I knew she was trouble. Not in the careless, reckless way most women were—but the kind of trouble that could unravel a man, strip him of his defenses, and leave him begging for more. And that was exactly why I should have stayed away. But I never was good at making the right choices. Tonight, she was different. She wasn’t just the cold, untouchable girl I had always watched from the shadows. There was something darker in her, something more dangerous. And gods help me, I wanted to know what had put that fire in her eyes. I found her alone, standing on the academy balcony, staring at the moon as if it had personally betrayed her. The glow cast silver streaks across her hair, highlighting the sharp angles of her face, the delicate curve of her lips. I leaned against the railing, just close enough to catch her scent—wild and intoxicating, like midnight storms and forbidden things. "You look like someone who just won a war,"
Alaric’s POV I should have walked away. I should have let her go, let her drown in whatever twisted game she was playing. But I couldn’t. Not when her scent wrapped around me like a vice, not when her voice slithered into my veins, poisoning every rational thought I had left. She was my mate. And she was ruining me. Her fingers skimmed over my collar, teasing, taunting. Her lips hovered just inches from mine, and my wolf howled in frustration, demanding that I close the distance. "Maybe you should stop resisting, then," she whispered. Fuck. I clenched my jaw, every muscle in my body screaming for restraint. But there was nothing left. She had stripped me bare, torn through every wall I’d built between us. "You think this is a game, don’t you?" I growled, my grip tightening around her arms. She only smiled, slow and dangerous. "Isn’t it?" That was it. That was my breaking point. I yanked her flush against me, crushing my lips to hers in a brutal, punishing ki
Elowen’s POV The grand dining room of the Blackthorn mansion, a space usually echoing with the confident pronouncements of alpha lineage and the clinking of expensive silverware, was bathed in the warm, almost syrupy golden glow emanating from the ornate crystal chandeliers suspended high above. The light cast long, dancing shadows on the dark, polished marble floor, making the already imposing room feel both opulent and slightly theatrical. The massive mahogany table was laden with an extravagant spread, a testament to the Blackthorn family’s formidable status and their almost ritualistic adherence to providing the best. There were platters piled high with glistening roast meats, bowls overflowing with vibrant steamed vegetables, fragrant mounds of spiced rice, and, my secret indulgence, a basket overflowing with that subtly sweet, honey-glazed bread that I could never quite resist. But despite the tempting array before me, food was the furthest thing from my mind. The air in the
Elowen’s POV Later that evening the sky was a breathtaking canvas, painted in the soft, fading hues of lavender bleeding into rich gold as the quiet hush of dusk gently draped itself over the sprawling academy grounds. The usual cacophony of training—the sharp clangs of metal colliding, the echoing shouts of students pushing their limits—had long since faded into the peaceful silence of twilight, leaving a serene stillness in its wake. I sat on a small, surprisingly soft patch of grass near the edge of the main sparring field, my knees drawn up to my chest, my fingers absently plucking at a stray blade of grass, its delicate texture a small distraction from the swirling thoughts in my head. I wore one of Ranon’s sweatshirts, a familiar comfort—oversized, incredibly warm, and carrying his unique, intoxicating scent, a blend of spice and something wild. The cool evening breeze whispered across the open field, sending a slight shiver through the exposed skin of my neck, but it wasn’t
Elowen’s POV The morning sun, a merciless, judgmental eye in the clear sky, beat down upon the ochre dust of the academy’s main training grounds, its harsh glare starkly illuminating the makeshift arena. A restless sea of students, their faces a mixture of apprehension and eager anticipation, swirled around the perimeter, their hushed whispers and nervous fidgeting creating a palpable hum of tension. The air itself felt thick and heavy, saturated with the mingled scents of sweat, tightly coiled nerves, and the barely perceptible undercurrent of latent magic that always permeated this place. I stood alone just outside the designated sparring circle, the worn leather of my training gloves feeling strangely alien against my clammy palms. Meticulously, I adjusted the straps, the familiar weight a small, tangible comfort against the frantic, erratic hammering of my heart. The tumultuous events of the past few days—the unsettling, intrusive encounter with Lysander, Alaric’s fiercely pos
Elowen’s POV Sleep had been a fickle, unwelcome guest, teasing the edges of my consciousness throughout the long, restless night without ever offering true respite. My mind had been a battlefield of conflicting emotions, replaying the charged moments of the previous day in an endless loop—Alaric’s possessive kiss, the raw, untamed fury that had blazed in his eyes when he’d finally turned away from Lysander, and the persistent, dull ache in my chest, a knot of anxiety that had stubbornly refused to loosen its grip. I sat on the edge of my bed now, the soft cotton of the sheets feeling strangely cold against my skin, watching the first tentative rays of sunlight tentatively paint the eastern sky in hues of pale rose and soft gold. The sprawling academy grounds outside my window, usually bustling with early morning activity, were still shrouded in a delicate, ethereal mist that clung to the shadowy edges of the ancient trees, lending the familiar landscape an almost dreamlike, otherwor
Alaric’s POV The sprawling halls of the academy, usually teeming with the restless energy of burgeoning shifters and the hushed whispers of arcane secrets, were quieter than usual, a deceptive stillness that belied the turbulent emotions churning within me. Distant echoes of lingering footsteps faded into the stone, the last of the students retreating into the relative sanctuary of their dormitories. I stood outside Elowen’s room, my fists clenched tightly at my sides, the rhythmic pounding of my heart a heavy drumbeat against my ribs. She hadn’t said much after I’d practically dragged her away from Lysander’s unsettling presence in the cafeteria. The words hadn’t been necessary. That look in her eyes—a complex tapestry woven with threads of confusion, a subtle hint of guilt, and an underlying current of frustration—haunted the edges of my vision. I knocked once. A soft, hesitant tap that felt strangely out of sync with the turmoil raging inside me. The heavy wooden door creaked i
Alaric’s POV My fists were still trembling, the residual adrenaline of the confrontation coursing through my veins. I could feel the dull throb of the scrape on my knuckles from where they’d connected with Lysander’s arrogant jaw—a sharp, satisfying impact that had barely scratched the surface of the consuming fury that still burned within me. How dare he touch her? How dare he look at her with that possessive glint in his eyes, as if she were some prize to be won, something to conquer? The possessive rage was a living thing inside me, a primal fire threatening to consume me whole. My wolf was clawing just beneath the surface, snarling and restless, demanding blood. Demanding retribution. Demanding justice for the blatant disrespect. But beneath the burning rage, a flicker of something colder, more unsettling, remained. She’d looked… scared. Not of him. Of me. I replayed the chaotic scene over and over in my mind as I stormed down the deserted corridor, the air around me prac
Elowen’s POV Next morning the academy's cafeteria hummed with the chaotic symphony of midday: the incessant clatter of ceramic trays against metal surfaces, the low murmur of countless conversations weaving together, punctuated by the occasional burst of unrestrained laughter erupting from various clusters of students. I had sought refuge at a secluded table near the far wall, a steaming cup of lukewarm tea clutched in my hands, my thoughts adrift somewhere between the intricate strategies discussed in Professor Vance’s tactics lecture and the stolen, breathless intimacy of our rooftop rendezvous. The triplets were currently immersed in mandatory combat training, a rigorous session reserved for high-ranking shifters, and I had deliberately chosen this quieter hour to slip away, craving a moment of solitary contemplation. For once, the relentless demands of academy life seemed to recede, leaving a fragile semblance of peace in its wake. That fleeting tranquility shattered the moment
Elowen’s POV Before I could even form a coherent response, he captured my lips with a fierce, possessive hunger, his hands moving with a renewed urgency, exploring every inch of exposed skin with a desperate need. The lingering tension from our sparring match dissolved into a raw, primal desire that mirrored my own burgeoning need. His knee nudged my legs apart with a subtle command, and he settled his weight more fully against me, the hard ridge of his arousal pressing insistently against the slick heat gathering between my thighs. A sharp gasp escaped my lips, my body arching instinctively into his, a silent plea for connection. I needed him, wanted him, with a ferocity that eclipsed anything I had ever felt before. With a low, guttural groan that rumbled deep in his chest, he entered me, filling me completely. His pace was slow, deliberate, each thrust a measured exploration, the rhythm designed to stoke the already blazing fires within me until they burned hotter than the midda
Elowen's POV “I love this version of you, Ranon,” I whispered, my voice husky with desire. “The one that’s not afraid to want me, to claim me.” He looked down at me, his amber eyes blazing with a fierce, possessive light. “Then I’ll show you all of me, Elowen. Every single part.” His gaze dropped to my lips, lingering there for a breathless moment before returning to my eyes, filled with a raw intensity that made my heart pound. He shifted, his weight pressing more fully against me, the hard planes of his body a stark reminder of his strength, his possessiveness. “You feel it too, don’t you, Elowen?” he murmured, his voice thick with a desire that mirrored my own burgeoning need. “This… connection between us. It’s different. Fiercer.” I nodded, unable to articulate the complex emotions swirling within me. The bond I shared with all three of them was unique, a tapestry woven with different threads of affection, passion, and unwavering loyalty. But there was a raw, untamed in