~Dainin~Over dinner, the ballroom hummed with soft conversation amongst the tables. Many debated how John’s Rogue army traveled through their lands undetected. It was impossible for any living being, especially a large group of Rogues, to have no scent and make no sound. A few Alphas, with packs closer to the human towns, reached out to their allies asking if they’d noticed anything strange.“Let’s hope someone will have information to share soon,” Dainin’s wolf sighed. He was eager to know exactly what they were up against.Dainin watched a group of the newly appointed Alphas approach Tessa’s table with grave expressions. “I’m sure they didn’t expect their first conference to drop a war at their feet,” Dainin’s wolf pointed out.“Well, I guess this is one way to put their leadership skills to the test,” Dainin added, admiring Tessa's patience as she gave each of them her undivided attention. Many Alphas would never bother with helping another pack leader. They hoped a pack would fail
*Mature Content*~Tessa~Tessa felt the back of her legs connect with the mattress as their kiss became filled with passion. She attempted to reach for Dainin’s belt, but his hand caught her wrist in a firm hold. Nipping her lower lip between his teeth, Dainin pulled away with a growl that made Tessa’s heart beat wildly.“I’ll tell you when you can play,” he spoke low, forcing her to meet his heated gaze. When his hand released her wrist, she obediently left it at her side and closed her eyes. As a reward, Dainin palmed her ass, giving it a firm squeeze that sent her hips surging forward. “Good girl,” he praised darkly with a kiss, and goosebumps rose on her skin in response to his dominance.Through hooded eyes, Tessa watched him slowly unbutton his shirt, exposing his toned body, before dropping to his knees before her. He guided her hands over his chest to rest on his shoulders, allowing Tessa to admire every exquisite feature Dainin had. He seemed to be admiring her as well.Dainin
~Tessa~ In the early morning hours, Tessa wandered into her office. She was skimming through all the reports Dainin’s pack sent over before they arrived in Maine. “There has to be something we’re missing,” she thought, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Tessa glanced at the clock on her desk to find it was only four am. She stretched, wishing she was still curled up with Dainin, especially after the night they shared, but her mind would not let her rest. It was buzzing with different motives John might have against Dainin’s pack and if they overlooked anyone as a suspect from White Sand. She was about to go through Dainin’s folder again when she heard a light knock on the door. “Come in,” she called out, already knowing who it was. Zander stepped in with a grim expression. “It’s a little early to already be down in the dumps, isn’t it? Is Cadence giving you the cold shoulder,” she teased, placing the folder down with a smirk. Her face immediately fell when her cousin remained
~Dainin~ It was the middle of the afternoon when the sky opened, releasing a light drizzle over the crowd. The onlookers in the stands, and the warriors on the practice field, rejoiced as the cool rain gave them a break from the relentless humidity. Everyone from Dainin’s pack joined Blue Ridge to watch hundreds of the region’s warriors work their way through the rigorous tests and obstacles. It was not only a test of strength but also teamwork. The Warriors taking charge of the group needed to prove they deserved a higher rank in the guard. Dainin wasn’t surprised to discover Tessa designed this system after forming her Elite squad. He overheard the other Alphas praising her methods. Dainin knew firsthand how stubborn males can be and for an Alpha to set aside his pride to give her credit was a big deal. “We should consider making one of those squads too,” his wolf chimed in with excitement as they watched a few wolves from his pack take charge. Some were even females. His warrior
~Tessa~ Tessa stood frozen in place as she watched Dainin’s wolf retreat into the woods. “What have I done,” she asked her wolf but was met with silence. Tessa couldn’t blame her for being angry. She had been begging Tessa to talk things out with Dainin all day, but she stubbornly refused. Now her decision may have cost her everything. Dainin’s rejection of her touch fueled her need to feel him, to be reassured they were still connected. Tessa desperately opened their bond but was met with a rush of hurt and betrayal. Her hand grabbed at her chest as the pain overwhelmed her, causing her knees to buckle and tears to instantly fall from her eyes. She did this to Dainin. She made him experience these terrible feelings by not trusting him. Everything was moving in slow motion and Tessa didn’t realize she was holding her breath until a hand grasped her shoulder. She gasped for air and when her spotted vision cleared she met Zander's apologetic eyes. He opened his mouth to speak but se
~Dainin~ Dainin could feel Tessa trying to contact him, but he had given his wolf full control to run off their anger and hurt so they could face this with a clear mind. Tessa may as well have ripped his heart out, yet Dainin wondered if he would have doubted her if the roles were reversed. "Still doesn't excuse her behavior. She should have just asked us," his wolf interjected. He wasn't ready to let it go. "All that talk of honesty and trust was just that. Talk. For once don’t be so level-headed," he snarled, clawing a nearby tree and turning it to splinters. Dainin knew if he ever wanted his wolf to calm down, he'd have to stay quiet and go along for the ride. He knew better than to argue when a wolf's emotions were involved, especially an Alpha. *** After hours of running in the rain, Dainin's wolf finally felt the need to return to the house. A group of wandering pack members had returned from Blue Ridge but didn't dare make eye contact with him. "They must have witnessed w
~Tessa~ It felt like Tessa had been running through the forest for hours. She had been separated from Zander and felt like she was stuck in limbo. After deciding to scratch a mark into each tree she passed, Tessa discovered she’s been following the same path for four laps now. This solidified her suspicions that magic was at play here. Somehow, she was trapped in an illusion and needed to find her way back to her territory. The more concerning fact was that her link was cut off from the pack and Dainin. She could feel their connection through the bond, but it wasn't enough. Tessa wished he were with her and missed him more and more with every passing second. Finding herself lapping the path for the fifth time, Tessa noticed the clouds finally began disappearing to reveal a pale moon and it felt like she had just been pulled out of a haze. “Alpha! Are you there," Cadence’s voice screamed in her head, causing her wolf to wince and growl at the sudden intrusion, but they were grateful
~Dainin~ Darkness surrounded Dainin while his body burned with volts of electricity coursing beneath his skin. He had no idea how long he had been trapped in this hell. His body could have been floating in the never-ending abyss for days, or even months, with only his erratic heartbeat reminding him he was alive. The white noise was keeping him disoriented and he couldn't tell which way was up or down. Although Dainin couldn't feel their connections anymore, thoughts of Tessa and his pack kept him calm. He needed them to keep his mind off the absence of his wolf. His silence, ever since Dainin regained consciousness, worried him and he prayed, that whatever the woman did to him, didn't erase his wolf forever. Without warning, Dainin felt a pounding pressure in his head causing him to internally scream in agony. His mind was suddenly ripped away from the darkness and into the light. When his blurred vision cleared, Dainin saw he was in a cell. He immediately searched for signs of d