My birthday falls at the very end of August, which meant my parents had to make a choice when I was little. They could either send me to school early or hold me back a year. My mother made the decision for meโshe wanted me home just a little longer, wanted one more year of me being her baby before I started my training.So when I finally started school, I was the oldest in my class. I was always the oldest. It made me 19 when I graduated, nearing 20. And it meant I wasnโt in Iraq for long when I turned 21.I was lucky enough that my birthday landed on my day off. I got a long video chat with my family and two care packages.One was from homeโthree king-sized Snickers bars (my favorite), a fresh razor and shaving cream, pictures from family events, air fresheners (thank the Goddess because Nickโs feet could kill a man), playing cards, sunscreen, and my two absolute must-haves: hot sauce and seasoning salt.The second care package was from my old pack buddies. That one was a lot raunchie
The scent I wake up toโmint mixed with cedarwood and bergamotโis the most intoxicating, grounding, and utterly familiar scent Iโve ever smelled. It wraps around me like a whispered promise, comforting and electric all at once.Why do I know this scent?It tugs at something deep inside me, pulling at memories I canโt quite reach. But none of it mattersโnot right now. The only thing that matters is finding the source.I throw off my covers and bolt out of bed, completely unconcerned with the fact that Iโm wearing nothing but a form-fitting tank top and tiny sleep shorts that barely count as clothing. My hair whips behind me, wild and unbound, but I donโt care.Nothing matters but the pull.I rip my door open and practically fly down the stairs, ignoring the sounds of my family stirring in confusion. My mate is out there. I can feel him.The moment I burst onto the porch, the cool morning air does nothing to quell the fire raging in my veins. I inhale deeply, spinning in a slow circle as
I have never been this nervous in my entire life.I mean, Iโm a werewolf, an alpha, a Marine who has seen combatโthere isnโt much that should faze me. But knowing that Iโm about to take my mate, my fated mate, the she-wolf of my dreams on our first date?Iโm a wreck.I fumble with my tie in the mirror, my hands clumsy and uncoordinated, my brain running in circles. I have no idea what to do with myself. How do I breathe normally? Am I standing weird? What if I go all goo-goo-eyed on her like I did when we first saw each other in the medic tent at Camp Selene?What if I say something stupid and completely blow my chance?What ifโNick groans from behind me, his voice full of exasperation and amusement. โDude. Stop. Youโre spiraling. I can see it happening in real time.โHe bats my hands away from my tie and starts tying it for me, muttering something about how he should start charging for emotional labor.I take a shaky breath, my reflection still looking stressed as hell.โI donโt know
I wake to pleasure zinging through my core. Lips are wrapped around my clit, sucking hard, as fingers push into my opening.โLaurelโฆโ I breathe out. My hands fly to the back of her head, holding her in place as I pull my legs up and rock my hips against her mouth. She curls two fingers inside me, flicking her tongue against my clit in time with the thrusts.Laurel smirks up at me, her face glistening with my wetness. โGood morning, baby.โโFuck, yeah, it is,โ I purr, tugging her mouth back to my core.She chuckles against me, her tongue swirling as she increases the pressure of her fingertips.โPlay with those titties, baby.โ Her words are punctuated by a sharp bite to my clit. A strangled moan rips from my throat as my hands slide from her hair down my body.I cup my breasts, kneading them as she watches.Laurel hums her appreciation, the vibration sending shocks of pleasure up my spine. I pinch my nipples between my fingers, rolling them as heat floods my belly.โOh, Goddess! Laurelโ
We were supposed to have a month at home. I know that sounds like a long time to some people in the military, but after spending 13 months in combatโknowing we were about to go back for another tourโit didnโt feel like enough. We needed time to reconnect with our families, clear our heads, and brace ourselves for the return to war.But things were heating up in Fallujah. Again.There had always been daily skirmishes. Our soldiers were constantly running operations, trying to keep people safe. But now, the insurgents left behind after the first battle were growing bolder. Small-scale attacks were multiplying across the region. It was only a matter of time before a second full-scale battle broke out.A week before we were set to return to baseโthis time to Camp Pendletonโwe got the call. They wanted us back early. They needed to get us reintegrated, run us through training again, and prep us for deployment sooner than expected.Bhakti and I had been getting closer, and I could feel her c
I barely register Commander Clove barking orders through the medical tent. "We got injured coming in! ETA five minutes. Three reds, two yellows, five greens, two blacks. They're a mix of human and wolvesโcheck the tags before you treat. Paribartana, take your team and set up triage, then scrub in for surgery. Fleet, get three surgical suites prepped. You all know your assignments. Move!""Aye, sir!" We echo in unison.The chaos begins immediately. Reds need immediate surgeryโgut shots, chest wounds, massive blood loss. Yellows are critical but stableโsevere burns, major fractures, soft tissue damage. Greens can walkโtheyโll need splints, stitches, pain management. And the blacksโฆ the ones we canโt save.I can handle blood. I can handle battlefield medicine. But I still canโt handle them.I force my hands to keep moving as my team sets up. We know the drill. We've done this too many times before.But all I can think about is Liam.Heโs been gone for two days. Two days of silence. Two da
Consciousness returns slowly.First, itโs smellโa mixture of antiseptic, blood, and something familiar. Something warm, safe, comforting.Then, soundโthe soft whoosh of footsteps, the murmur of voices just beyond my reach, the steady beeping of machines.Then, touchโthe dull throb of pain in my right side and the warmth of somethingโsomeoneโpressed against my left.Finally, sight. My eyelids flutter open, and I blink against the harsh glow of the halogen lights.The medical tent.IV lines snake into my arm. Machines surround me. My bed is boxed in by three curtain dividers, offering a semblance of privacy. I shift slightly, trying to ease the ache in my musclesโPain lances through my right side, sharp and immediate.I freeze. My breath hitches. My chest tightens in response, and for a moment, panic spikesโThen I feel it.A body curled against me, warm and steady. A familiar scent. Lotus flower and vanilla.Bhakti.Her dark lashes flutter, and within seconds, her warm, sleep-heavy gaz
Liam had no idea what I was planning when we arrived at couples' housing on base in Germany.Our supervisors knew. Base command knew. Hell, even the kid who drove us here seemed to know.But Liam? Completely clueless.I suppose thatโs my fault.Weโd agreed we wouldnโt mark or mate each other until the six-month timeline was upโand we werenโt even halfway there. He was probably too afraid to assume that this house meant anything more than a convenient place for my โofficialโ role as his caregiver.I was going to dispel that notion real quick.The second the driver leaves, Liam starts talking."Little shit! I don't like how he looked at youโ"But I canโt wait any longer.Grabbing his uninjured shoulder, I yank him toward me and crush my lips to his, devouring him with the kind of hunger Iโve been suppressing since the moment he woke up in the medic tent.I shove him against the wall, my hands tearing at his clothes. He wonโt be needing them for the rest of the time weโre here anyway.I
Age 21Charlie closes the door, still cackling as Rose leaves after introducing our new playroom. โI thought you were going to have an apoplectic fit with all those innuendos Rose keptโโBefore she can finish, I spin her around and press her against the wall, capturing her mouth in a heated kiss. My erection presses urgently into her stomach as she moans against my lips, instantly responding to my touch. The sparks from our mate bond ignite over my skin as my hands slip beneath her shirt, trailing up her abs to cup her tits.Charlie arches into my palms, pushing her full breasts further into my grip. Growling, I pull away from her mouth to latch onto her mate mark, sucking at the mark of our unity. She cries out in pleasure, nails digging into my shoulders.โEver since we stepped into that playroom and I saw the sex swing, itโs all I could think about,โ I rasp against her skin. โI need you. Now.โโYes,โ she breathes out eagerly.I lift her effortlessly, her legs wrapping around my wais
Age 21โDarlings! Iโm so excited to see you out and about after the mating frenzy! And weโre designing a sex room, I hear? I love it!โ Rose bursts through the door, enthusiasm radiating off her. Sheโs one of the best designers in our packโand her special talent? Sex rooms.Rose is also part-owner of The Sanctuary. As a mating gift for two of her favorite clients, she's designing a private playroom for Zak and me. It's funny that a petite little she-wolf in her fifties would have such a particular hobby, but to each their own.And honestly, the rooms at The Sanctuary are stunning. Even the dungeons have class and sophisticationโbeautiful textures, secret compartments, furniture that's as comfortable as it is restraining. The color palettes alone are breathtaking.If anyone can understand exactly what we need in our playroom, it's Rose.โHi, Rose! Itโs so good to see you again!โ I step into her open arms, returning her huge hug.โMy dear girl! Youโre positively glowing! Of course you are
Age 21โZak, dude! Calm the fuck down!โ Brandon sounds completely exasperated, but he can fuck right off, and I tell him exactly that.โWeโll see how you handle everything the day before you become Beta,โ I mutter, shooting him a glare.Iโve been bouncing off the walls all day. Tomorrow, I'll officially become Alpha of the pack, and Charlie will finally find out sheโs my mate. There's no doubt in my mind she isโIโve always known she would be. But having to wait for her to feel it, too, is killing me.Weโve been dating since her birthday, just over two months now. Honestly, it's not that different from the time weโve always spent together, except now I get to kiss her whenever I want. Not that Iโll ever say that to her againโapparently, itโs a line from Sweet Home Alabama. Charlie absolutely loves that I accidentally quoted that movie and begs me to repeat it in a cheesy Southern accent every chance she gets. As much as I love her, I swear Iโll poke my eyes out if she makes me watch tha
Age 21โCharlie, calm the fuck down. Youโll be fine. Itโs not like you're doing anything life-changingโjust committing the rest of your life to your pack,โ Dev jokes, grinning at me.Mom glares at him, spraying my hair with another blast of hairspray. โDev, I swear if you're just going to be a pain in the ass, you know where the door is.โโOh, come on,โ he laughs, entirely unaffected by her scolding. โIโm just trying to lighten the mood. See? Sheโs stopped shaking. Now sheโs just annoyed with me.โI see Luna Clara hiding her smile, but my mom doesn't even bother hiding her laughter.โMother!โ I gasp indignantly.โIโm sorry, Charlie. But honestly, Devโs not wrong. The idea of you running away from being the center of attention? Thatโs just too hilarious,โ she says, clearly amused.I glare at Dev through the mirror. โThatโs it. Why are you even here? Donโt you have your own suit to put on?โLauren, whoโs finishing my pedicure, chimes in. โYeah, if youโre just going to be a pain in the as
Age 20โฆโCharlie,โ I moan, opening my eyes to find her lips wrapped around my morning wood. Her cheeks hollow as she sucks hard, taking me deep down her throat. My fingers instantly twine into her hair.โOh, fuck!โ I grit out. She swallows around my cock, her throat muscles squeezing tightly. โCharlie, baby, that feels so fucking good!โShe hums in response, and I'm completely lost. My hand fists in her hair as I start gently thrusting upward, fucking into her welcoming mouth.My head falls back, sinking into the mattress. Her mouth is fucking bliss. Charlieโs the only she-wolf who's ever been able to take me all the way down, and it's pure paradise. I start off slow, savoring every sensation.โGoddess, Charlie,โ I groan. โI've dreamed about you being in my bed again. I've dreamed about your lips wrapped around me again. But this time, youโre moving at my pace.โHer dark brown eyes flick upward to mine, fully blackened with lust. Her arousal thickens in the air, proving sheโs enjoying
19 years oldโฆI wake to the sound of the dom leaving the room. Guess heโs heading out to get stuff for aftercare. Fuck, my entire body is sore from the restraints, but that was the best sex Iโve ever had. Whoever that mistress is, I want her again.Iโve never felt so much pleasure from a blowjob. The way she took my cock all the way down her throatโsomething no other she-wolf has ever done for me. Holy fuck, it was amazing.And then watching her ride me, those deep brown eyes locked on mine, her heavy breasts bouncing right above me. Goddess, I wanted to dominate her so badly. Iโve been learning how to be a switch for over a year now. Sometimes, my alpha instincts demand I dominate my partner, but other times, when responsibilities pile up, I crave having control taken away from me.Watching this she-wolf dominate me was incredible, but now I want her beneath me. Maybe I can convince her to do another session, one where Iโm the dominant. I wonder if her dom is the one who arranges that
Age 20โAre you sure this is something you want to do, Charlie?โ Adam asks me.He keeps trying to talk me out of it, saying itโs challenging for someone who truly loves being dominated to become a switch and take on the dominant role.But something inside tells me I need to do thisโthat my mate bond will require it. โIโve told you, Adam. I feel like the Goddess is telling me my mate and I will both need to switch.โ I look up at him, fluttering my eyelashes as I rest my head on his chest. โAnd Iโve only got a year until I can find my mate, my sweet dom. I need to learn as much as I can before then.โHe chuckles softly, placing an affectionate kiss on my forehead. โWell, I guess that takes me out of the running as your mate, pet. I will be the only dominant in my bedroom.โ His hand slides up my bare side, moving to the see-through lace of my bra. He pinches my nipple between his fingers, twisting until I moan.His voice whispers huskily in my ear, his cock thickening against my leg. โAre
Age 18โฆI canโt believe Iโm doing this. I canโt believe Iโm doing this. I canโt believe Iโm doing this.These words repeat in my head as I sit in the client room at The Sanctuary, staring at the checklist Dom Adam gave me. A week has passed since my eighteenth birthday, officially making me an adult in the human and paranormal worlds alike. My birthday gift to myself is a membership at The Sanctuary, a local werewolf BDSM club. Tonight is my first session with my dom, and Iโm desperately trying to hold myself together.As a werewolf, I've always had a high sex drive, but once my wolf emerged at sixteen, my resolution to save myself for my mate went out the window. Iโm not as strong-willed as I hoped, especially since Iโm in love with two of my three best friends, who are constantly in states of undress due to shifting and training. And there's only so much relief toys can offer.Iโve experimented with a few warriors-in-training from other packs and some local humans, discovering I like
17 years oldโฆZak!A desperate wailing through the mindlink wakes me from a dead sleep. Normally, our mindlinks are muted during sleep unless there's an emergency, like an attack or a summons from the Alpha. But this cry is so filled with anguish, it pierces through immediately.Before I fully grasp what's happening, another panicked link hits me.Zak! I need you!It's Brandon. He sounds terrified, like he's been crying.Brandon? Where are you? Are you okay? What's going on? The questions flood out urgently as I leap out of bed, scrambling into shorts.I'm at the waterfall. They're dead, Zak! Mom and Candy... They're dead!I fly down the packhouse stairs and burst outside, shifting the instant fresh air touches my skin. Screw the shorts. Screw everything except getting to Brandon as fast as possible.I tear through the forest, making the twenty-minute hike in under ten, ignoring the branches and thorns ripping at my fur and flesh. The only thing that matters is reaching my best friend.