THERESA“Keep going. Don’t stop,” I said, needing more.He obeyed, pushing himself inside to the hilt. I let out a satisfied cry. I savored each movement, each brush of his hips along the inside of my thighs, each hot breath that fanned across my face, each groan from his own pleasure. No detail was missed. At some point, it came to me that this was in the middle of the best sex of my life.“Harder,” I whispered.“I want this to last,” he replied, continuing his steady, paced movements. “You feel so good. If I go any harder, I won’t be able to hold back.”“Don’t hold back,” I said. I wanted it to last too. But my body and mind were not my body and mind in that moment. I’d been possessed by a need that outweighed all rational thought. I couldn’t rest until that need was fulfilled.The expression on his face was pained. And it occurred to me that perhaps he felt the same way that I did. What a pity that the best sex I’d ever had was about to end, and then it would never happen again. Bu
JULIA*29 years ago*When I was first introduced to the future Alpha Lance, I knew he’d be mine. There was no end of the earth to which I wouldn’t go to make sure of it. But I also knew he would be a challenge. His brother Gabe had been child’s play, just a little mouse I’d bounced around in my claws before swallowing him whole. Lance, on the other hand, was a mongoose. And he would not go down so easily.“Pleased to meet you, Julia,” he’d said, before turning away to other business. He’d barely even acknowledged my presence before turning to his father to discuss some other pack they’d been dealing with. I was an afterthought, a passing breeze, something beneath his notice.“And this is my little sister, Miriam.” Gabe brought my attention to a mousy, lanky girl, with a shiny black French braid that fell to her lower back, and appeared more over-grown ten-year-old than the fifteen years old Gabe had told me she was.“Hello,” Miriam said as she shook my hand. She tilted her head slight
JULIA*29 years ago*I quickly scanned my surroundings when the faint lights at the back of the packhouse revealed a shadow moving stealthily along the perimeter. I stilled, lowering my body behind the rock, locking my eyes onto the figure.It scaled the wall, climbing up the siding with the ease of someone who had done it before. As it ascended, its outline sharpened, revealing a wolf. By its massive size, it had to be a male. My gaze shifted upward to an open window. A welcome intruder? There was no other explanation for a window being left ajar in the middle of an Alaskan winter.Just as I’d anticipated, the wolf slipped through the window. Not even a second passed before it closed behind him.I smiled as I counted the windows, mentally mapping out the layout of the bedrooms. I was nearly certain whose window the wolf had entered. After I gathered my clothing and watch, I noted the time. Something told me this wasn’t a one-time visit. That wolf had been far too confident and famili
THERESAAfter the whole heat situation, I was at a loss. Some might call it spiraling, maybe entering the beginning stages of insanity. Parts of me felt deep shame. I’d basically taken advantage of the man, twice now! A man who made it very clear he had no interest in me. A man that my mom was actively attempting to seduce on my behalf… and here I was being an extension of her. Ugh!Why hadn’t I been stronger?Why hadn’t I bolted from his room the moment I’d woken in it?Why, after the many times I’d sleepwalked only to be stopped by a locked door, that was the one time it wasn’t?What kind of person does this twice? What kind of woman forces herself on a man who had already said no?I didn’t force him. I didn’t. He wanted it too.But if he wanted it, why did he resist at first?Because he has a conscience, unlike you.And not knowing how he felt about what had happened was driving me deeper into crazy. Of course, he had to know that heat made one senseless and incorrigible. It had to
THERESAI couldn’t help but snicker at the thought. Damien was practically a third brother to me, so I didn’t see him that way at all. But a part of me did find the idea funny. Tyce would be pissed. “Don’t guess!” I finally responded. “I’m not going to tell you.”“Fine fine!” she replied, waving her hand. “But unless you say otherwise, I’m just going to assume that you and Damien are sneaking around behind Tyce’s back.”“Assume away!” I replied, laughing again at the thought. Tyce did always act extra protective of me around his friends, especially after I started wearing a bra. While I loved my big brother, it was also fun to get a rise out of him sometimes. Although Gigi had that department covered now.We laughed a bit more and then Sophia’s face settled. She glanced me up and down, and pulled me in for another hug. “Seriously, Terr, I think you should reconsider keeping this from at least Tyce. I get why you don’t want to tell your dad…”“About Damien?” I asked, taken aback, assum
GINGERI woke to a gentle shake of my upper arm. “Baby,” the most beautiful voice whispered. “Wake up.”I turned to find Tyce standing beside the bed, my snowsuit slung over his shoulder. His soft smile made dissipated my grogginess. “What’s going on?” I asked. It wasn’t like him to randomly wake me in the middle of the night.“Nothing’s wrong. I just have something to show you,” he replied, holding the snow suit out to me. “Put this on.”Curiosity replaced sleep as I slid out of bed. Tyce helped me into the snowsuit, steadying me when I stumbled. We crept downstairs, pulled on our boots, and stepped outside.Crisp, frosty air pricked my cheeks. But I was instantly distracted from the cold as soon as I glanced up and gasped at the sight. “Oh my Goddess, this is amazing!” I exclaimed, taking in the night sky. I had seen the northern lights a handful of times, especially now that I was living in Alaska, but it had never been quite as vibrant and intense as it was that night. Neon ribbon
GINGERI stripped down as quickly as I could, while the unrelenting cold bit at my exposed skin. That was the second reason I hated going into my wolf form.“So sexy.” Tyce whistled once I was completely bare. But I gave him the show for barely a second before I morphed into my wolf. My nails stretched into claws, fur sprouted from newly formed hair follicles, and my bones rearranged themselves into my canine form. My paws landed on the fluffy snow.“So fucking cool.” Tyce grinned with pride. “If we ever go into battle, it’s game over once they get a look at you.”I tilted my head in insecurity. Sure, I looked scary, but once they got over the initial shock, I’d be taken down in seconds. Even though I was training with Sara regularly, I was also getting my ass beat regularly. It was only thanks to my new werewolf superspeed healing that my skin color wasn’t black and blue. But I was determined. I would keep training, even if it killed me.“What’s wrong?” Tyce asked, furrowing his brow
NIKOLAIWhen I stepped into the gym Saturday morning, ready to take over training from Sasha, I immediately noticed something was off. Half the group was missing.I scanned the room, my brows knitting together. “Where are the women?”Sasha barely looked up from adjusting the wraps on his wrists. “Your girl took them.”I stilled. “My girl?” I repeated, leveling a pointed look at him.His lips twitched into a smirk. “Theresa.”I exhaled sharply, rolling my shoulders to keep from reacting. I wanted to smack that look right off his face, but I held back, reminding myself that I’d promised myself to be a better friend.“Ha. Funny.” My voice was flat. It wasn’t funny. Not even a little. “Where are they?”“Outside.”Without another word, I turned on my heel to figure out what was going on. I pushed open the heavy entryway door and was greeted by a chilling wind biting the exposed parts of my skin. It was certainly not warm today. I followed the tracks in the snow to what was likely a field d
TYSONThe skies finally cleared, the winds died down, and the storm passed. It was time.Beta Liam had some of the warriors running through the final pre-flight checks, double-checking the fuel levels, inspecting the wings, and ensuring the plane was ready for takeoff.One of the warriors crouched beneath the fuselage, draining the fuel sumps to check for water or debris contamination. Another inspected the landing gear, kicking at the tires to ensure proper inflation while running a hand over the struts, searching for any cracks or stress points.Liam himself was at the nose of the plane, running his fingers along the edges of the propeller blades. Behind him, another warrior climbed onto the wing to test the ailerons and flaps, making sure they moved freely without obstruction."Pitot tube looks clear!" one of the warriors called out, tapping a gloved finger against the slender probe on the wing.Liam nodded and moved to the engine cowling, unfastening the latches to check the oil l
TYSONUpon our return, we sank into the seats that had practically become our second home in my office. I mindlinked Liam, telling him to stop by when he had a moment.He entered within minutes.“Good news, Alpha. I checked the weather reports and flight conditions. The skies will be all clear tomorrow morning. We’ll be able to head down to Anchorage. I’m making sure the runway is cleaned off and the plane is fueled as we speak.”"Beautiful," I replied, nodding in approval."We’re back on track," Nikolai said as soon as Liam left.For the first time in days, I allowed myself to relax—just a little. We had a plan. We were moving forward.But something still nagged at me."I don’t get it." I furrowed my brows. "Why take Terri and Gigi? Were they just easy targets? But why? What does someone want from my pack?"Across from me, Nikolai shifted in his chair. His gaze flickered to the side before settling back on me.Unease crept up my spine.Then he cleared his throat. "Tyce," he began.I
TYSONWhen we reached the penitentiary, I yanked open the back door of my car. Joe flinched but didn’t resist when I grabbed his arm and hauled him out. He moved stiffly, but he didn’t fight. He’d be stupid to.Nikolai followed as I dragged Joe into the cement building. We passed rows of cells, the few prisoners inside watching silently. A guard stepped aside, his face impassive, as I pulled open the heavy metal door leading to the basement and forced Joe through.The temperature dropped as we descended the narrow staircase. The dim, flickering lights cast jagged, erratic shadows along the damp cement walls, making them seem alive. The steps creaked beneath our weight. The harsh stench of fear mixed with the odor of bleach and stale air.Once we made it to the bottom, I shoved Joe into an old wooden chair that was darkened by stains from those who had sat there before him, most of whom had never walked back out.“Stay,” I commanded with my alpha aura.Joe whimpered and his body locked
NIKOLAI“Joe Shmoe,” Tyce spat from the driver’s seat. We were back in his car for the fourth—or maybe fifth—time in two days.“His name is Joe Shmoe?” I asked, raising a brow.“Joe. Joe nobody. Joe should-be-fucking-ashes.”Once again, Tyce was knuckling the steering wheel with his foot hitting the gas far too hard. At least the weather conditions had improved, and the roads were freshly plowed. But the tension inside the car may as well have been a storm in itself.The barely contained rage was rolling off Tyce in thick, heavy waves. Even as someone that wasn’t part of his pack, I could sense his alpha aura. He was in it to kill it at this point.I understood. The moment I’d smelled this man’s—if you could even call him a man—scent, I’d wanted to lose control too. My fingers twitched, aching to wrap them around Joe’s throat.“We need to keep him alive,” I said, just as much to myself as to Tyce.“That motherfucker doesn’t deserve it,” Tyce snapped, his anger palpable.“I don’t disa
NIKOLAIThe warriors continued to battle the terrible conditions well after Tyce and I had given up, working late into the night. But, in the end, they had no better luck than we had. Any scent of a werewolf that may have existed at some point was wiped away by the storm. Sophia was gone, vanished along with her scent.“You look like shit,” Tyce remarked the moment I stepped into his office the next morning.I dropped into the chair across from him with a heavy sigh. “I haven’t slept in two nights.”Tyce lifted his head, finally making eye contact. His sharp gaze flickered over me. After a long pause, he leaned back and folded his arms across his chest. "You really do care about her, don’t you?"I nodded in confirmation.Silence settled between us as we both sank into our chairs. Tyce lifted his coffee mug, taking a slow sip. I drank mine too—more out of habit than necessity. The caffeine had long stopped working, but at least it gave my hands something to do.Tyce finally broke the s
NIKOLAITyce’s hands trembled at his sides. His shoulders rose and fell unevenly, like he was barely keeping himself together. For a moment again, he looked young and lost, like a boy whose world was unraveling piece by piece. But he quickly shook his head and straightened his shoulders."I’ll do my best. I promise." Tyce’s voice was raw, quieter than before. His fingers flexed at his sides before he turned away, blinking hard. I recognized the move. The sheer, bone-deep exhaustion of trying to keep it together when everything inside you was falling apart. Finally, he turned back and said, “Give me something with her scent on it. Alpha Nikolai will help too.”Sophia’s father rushed back into the house, returning seconds later with a winter hat. He handed it to Tyce, who passed it straight to me.I took a deep breath, inhaling the Sophia’s scent, locking it into memory before handing it back.I was sure Tyce felt the same as I did. Someone had reached Sophia before we could. And now, s
NIKOLAIThe silence between us stretched thick and suffocating, broken only by the rhythmic tapping of Tyce’s fingers against the wooden desk and the occasional muffled sound of a voicemail message cutting in and out.Every few minutes, he tried again. Calling. Mindlinking. His expression flickered between frustration and outright fury every time the connection failed.Each passing minute felt like an hour.Tyce was relentless. Again and again, he dialed, pressing on the chosen contact of the moment, only to be met with the same voicemail box recording. Calling and mindlinking like a maniac.I couldn’t deny I wouldn’t have done the same. I just didn’t have the same means to attempt contact. So, I determined, my job, albeit impossible, was to attempt to keep him calm.Honestly, I wasn’t doing any better. My mind screamed for action, but all I could do was sit there, forcing myself to remain still. I kept blocking out the worst-case scenarios. If I let myself think about Terri in the ha
GINGERAs I woke, I fought against a dull, aching exhaustion pressing down on me like dead weight. My eyelids felt impossibly heavy. My mouth was dry, my head pounding. Every muscle in my body throbbed with soreness, as if I’d run a marathon the day before.This has to be the worst hangover of my life.Slowly, the fog in my mind began to clear. I inhaled the scent of crisp air and wet earth. Was I outdoors? I groaned, trying to roll over. A sharp clink echoed through the silence.My eyes snapped open.Coldness nipped at my skin—no, at my fur. My stomach dropped as my sluggish brain scrambled to make sense of it.The room—was it even a room?—was cloaked in darkness, the only illumination coming from the faint glow of my red night vision. The outlines of my surroundings took shape: cold, empty space, stone walls, and metal bars blocking the only exit. The scent of damp earth and frost hung heavy in the air.I tried to move, but the harsh clink of metal stopped me short. I looked down. M
TYSONI finally understood what it meant to straddle the edge of sanity and madness.I hadn’t slept in days. The world around me felt surreal, like I was walking through a dream—or nightmare. Every time I bumped into a wall or grazed a piece of furniture, I’d catch myself wondering why I hadn’t just passed through it. I felt like a ghost, a shadow of myself. Losing Gigi was like losing my purpose. Without her, what was the point of any of this? I scrolled through our old messages, rereading the last text she sent me:Gigi: Love you, send you some snaps laterAs if the words might change. As if they could tell me where she was now.But the screen remained the same. No new messages. Just a string of my frantic ones.They say the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. Well, here I was, proving it. I must have called and texted both Gigi and Terri a thousand times. At this point, my fingers were moving on autopilot. The result