LOGINDean’s POV
The sides of my jaw ached as we ran past the trees.In human form, my feet are bare and my sides screamed in protest of the brutal pace I set to keep up with the rest of my team, who ran beside me in their wolf forms. I needed to exert the restless energy that had pooled up in my body from all the intense emotions I was feeling.Being around Blackwell, around his people, and having to leash the part of myself that wanted to sink its teeth into every challenge and opposDean’s POVThe sides of my jaw ached as we ran past the trees.In human form, my feet are bare and my sides screamed in protest of the brutal pace I set to keep up with the rest of my team, who ran beside me in their wolf forms. I needed to exert the restless energy that had pooled up in my body from all the intense emotions I was feeling. Being around Blackwell, around his people, and having to leash the part of myself that wanted to sink its teeth into every challenge and opposition, was starting to wear down on me. I had come to a compromise with Lazarus, but my every instinct was at war within me. Aldric thrashed inside me constantly, making his displeasure known with how insistently he growled.‘We’re doing this for Gemma, this is the only way.’ I reminded him as my feet trampled on roots and dried twigs. He snapped at me in return before going begrudgingly silentThe camp came into view and I slowed my steps as the others went ahead. My lungs screame
Gemma’s POV I squinted hard, tapping a finger against my lip as I tried to decide what to do next. It was not an easy decision and I was not going to take it lightly. I stood there in nothing but a pair of black slacks and a white bra, trying to decide if the beige sweater would be better or the lilac blouse with the floral print. A lady had to make these decisions. I could go for the easier option and pick the black silk top but I didn’t feel like it was an all black day, I mused. I was so deep in my thoughts I didn’t hear the soft footsteps behind me. “The blouse would be perfect for your complexion,” A deep voice said from the door and I shrieked, rushing to cover myself from Simon’s laughing eyes. “Ever heard of knocking, asshole?!” I was beyond flustered and it was evident in the shrill note of my voice. “I have, but I like to keep things interesting,” he chuckled
Lazarus’s POVI was struggling to find the best position to fall into another sleepless night when the scent of a fresh pine forest hit me, and I stiffened.Dean Roland.I was out of bed in an instant, throwing on a T-shirt as I stormed out of my room. I saw red. How dare he show his face in my territory?I felt blind with an instinctual need to protect and defend my pack from the invasive Alpha, and in the moment rage clouded my thoughts as Alec snarled viciously in my head, urging me on. I was greeted by the sight of a crowd forming at the centre of the Pack’s square. They parted for me as I walked through the gathering, their bodies tense and ready to defend their lands.Dean came into view once I stepped past the last person in my way, and at the same time I felt my canines lengthen slightly in my mouth. The bastard stood there in all his naked glory, his posture relaxed and calm, with a mysterious smile playing on his lips.He didn’t
Dean’s POVThe silence almost felt like a living thing as we moved through the trees.We had shifted back at the pass into the woods, shedding our human forms in favor of our wolves for their better senses. There wasn’t a single sound coming from us as we quietly made our way deeper into the forest.We had to maintain the silence, our whole plan depended on how quietly we did things. One stray twig breaking could ruin everything.Aldric, my wolf, stayed crouched behind a rock, watching the valley below with his perfect canine vision. Down in the shadows, the markers that showed the boundary for the Blackwell pack stood still, their sleek wet stone surfaces reflecting the dim moonlight.Beside me, Marcus stayed low, his wolf’s soft panting coming in soft, small with clouds that drifted away in the night air. He didn’t say a word, but there was no need for him to. We had spent hours talking through this plan back at the main hall, making sure every move we made to
Lazarus’s POVThe rage roiling within me was a quiet thing as I moved with purpose towards my destination.I gritted my teeth as my pack members gave me wary looks when I passed by them, barely holding on to the urge to snap at them. They didn’t know what was going on. I had to remember that. Vincent was right. I had let my problems affect my pack, and now everyone was worried.I had to focus.The stone walkway to the High Priestess’s quarters were lined with iron lanterns, their flames flickering softly with the light evening wind.The air here was always different from the rest of the pack grounds. I used to sneak here before. When I was convinced that all I wanted was a woman behind those walls, untouchable and radiant in her beauty that held me prisoner.Sitting on the elevated ridge overlooking the sacred groves, the residence was built adjacent to the temple of the Moon Goddess, a place revered by every generation of the Blackwell line.
Gemma’s POVThe image of the man tied up kept me up at night. I had tossed and turned the entire time, fighting to get the whole thing out of my head. It was none of my business. The man could be an enemy who had been threatening the safety of this pack for all I knew. He could be someone from this pack under punishment for some heinous crime, and chaining up a person in a cage could be how they handled things here.It could be a number of things.What bothered me was the fact that I didn’t know who Simon was. The man was polite and charming one minute, but then in the next moment you’d find him holding someone hostage in some creepy underground dungeon.I didn’t even know his last name!For the rest of the night, sleep evaded me. Every creak of the floorboards outside my bedroom door sounded like an approaching guard and every shadow felt like Simon was watching me from the dark.Now, I stood near the tall book shelves, pretending to browse the hardcove







