TALIA The day after my date, I woke up to my alarm shaking me out of the dead of sleep. After I'd gotten it shut off, I rolled over, feeling uncomfortably overheated, and threw the covers off me. The cold air felt like heaven against my damp, flushed skin. God, I was horny. And then I knew—I’d gone into heat again. Once again, my skin was sensitive to every touch. As I slid my hands along my legs and stomach, I couldn't help but let out a desperate groan. I ached with so much need to be touched, caressed, and filled. What a pity that I hadn’t invited Tom over after dinner. He could have been lying in bed next to me right now, relieving the desperate, swollen throb between my legs. I’d made a huge mistake acting so virtuous when that didn’t serve me at all. I began recalling my dream. Just like last time, it’d been so vivid. I recollected all the details of Alex’s amazing body. God, why had I ever wanted to reject him? He was so ripped, and the way he kissed me, so passionately, so
TALIA The next day, I returned to work feeling much better. I was working the late shift that day. When I came in, Valerie pulled me aside. “You were in heat yesterday?” she asked. “Does that mean you have a mate?” “Yes, I do,” I admitted, realizing there was no way around it now. “Then what was that whole thing with Tom? Why were you going on dates with Lucy’s cousin when you have a mate?” I sighed and said, “Because I want to reject my mate. I don’t want to be with him. Lucy was just trying to help by finding me a replacement mate.” She raised her eyebrows and said, “Well, there’s a story I’d like to hear.” “Maybe another time.” Lucy came in not too long after me, late as usual. Punctuality was clearly not one of her positive qualities. I mostly worked the front of the house while she helped Valerie put together pastries in the back. After we closed for the evening, I walked with Lucy toward the packhouse since I had to walk in that direction to get to my apartment anyway. “W
TALIA The next day, I was on the early shift and was more than ready to leave when I punched out at one thirty. I had my regular personal training at two that day where Xander and I worked on meditation, and he taught me different fighting moves in my human form. “Tomorrow, I want us to start training in your wolf form. I’ll be here supervising, so you shouldn’t worry about your wolf doing anything crazy. I’ve been trained in de-escalation and containing savage wolves. But usually, wolves only become savage when you live mostly in that form, so you really shouldn’t worry. Plus, I’m sure the meditation has been helping.” “Okay,” I agreed, not wanting to tell him the real reason, preferring he believe his own explanation. “Great. I’m starting to think that might be part of the reason you’re not improving. It might be because you’re suppressing your wolf form, and that’s where us werewolves get our strength. It’s not natural to live only in your human form.” I nodded. “Have you gone
TALIA Alex stared at me for a long time. It was completely silent as we looked into each other’s eyes. Finally, Alex responded, “Okay, Talia, I will let him back. I’m sorry I banished your friend.” He paused and took a deep breath. His eyes filled with emotion, and he continued, “But I hope you understand why I did it. When I saw the two of you together, it was the most painful thing I’d ever experienced in my life. Goddess, Talia, I’m in love with you. I know we haven’t known each other long, but I would do anything for you. To me, you are perfect. And seeing you with someone else—I can’t think of anything that could hurt more except maybe you dying. That’s the only thing I can think of that would hurt me more.” I sensed his pain, the same pain I felt the day that it happened. It wasn’t as sharp this time, clearly having dulled with time, but it was still there. He was still hurt by the incident. “Thank you for letting my friend back into your pack.” I took his hand in mine, feelin
JASMINE Being a warrior was becoming harder, and I really began to question whether it was worth it anymore. Blake was always so encouraging, and the way he believed in me was infectious. But after spending the day with Charlie harassing me during physical training, strategy, and planning class, and cleaning the gym as part of our warrior duty (where Charlie made me clean the toilets, as usual), we had sparring as the last part of the day. I couldn’t wait to finally be done in two hours. He started the session off as normal, telling us to go for a mile run, and then he had us do a round of burpees, jumping jacks, and push-ups before he paired us off. I was surprised when he didn’t have me do extra of anything, thinking that maybe the rest of the day would go smoothly. He paired me with a guy named Rob who I mostly got along with. We went through all of the different moves as he barked them out, and he didn’t even make a single negative comment to me! The session couldn’t have been go
JASMINE After dinner, I drove over to Talia’s apartment, wondering what she wanted to talk about. She met me outside, brought me upstairs to her floor, and let me in. “Sorry, I don’t have much furniture yet,” she apologized. “Why don’t you take a seat at the kitchen table, and I can make some tea.” “Sure, tea sounds good,” I replied, looking around the apartment as I entered. It was very bare, with close to no furniture and no decorations, giving it a cold and lonely feeling. As she put the kettle on, I asked, “So what did you want to talk about?” She let out a deep breath. “You rejected your mate, right?” “Yes, I did,” I replied, my high suddenly squashed, flinching at the reminder, the lingering pain making itself present. “Oh, sorry.” She bit her lip and furrowed her brows, clearly noticing my reaction. “It’s okay. You didn’t know.” “Does that mean it still hurts?” “Yeah.” I sighed at the dull ache within me. “How long has it been?” “About a year now.” “Oh,” she said. Aft
BLAKE The weather was frigid, and it was the week leading up to Thanksgiving—the whole pack was in a festive mood, with the winter holiday season kicking off. While we didn’t celebrate Christmas, we were still influenced by human culture, watching their TV shows and movies. Many pack members had adapted the Christmas customs by setting up decorated trees in their homes and putting lights up outside for the winter solstice and New Year’s. It was a joyful time of year, and this winter would be more special than usual for me. I was with Jack one evening, doing a loop outside the border in our wolf forms during my patrol run, when we took a break to chat. “You know, I don’t like how they just kidnapped and killed Jimmy, and we haven’t seen or heard anything since. It’s making me very suspicious,” I mindlinked Jack. “It is pretty sus,” he agreed. “I’ve reached out to the other packs, but there haven’t been any other incidents since.” When he didn’t respond, I glanced over to find that
BLAKE *** Five and a half years ago *** It was mid-March, and my father had finally agreed to put off transitioning the alpha title to me until I completed college. I’d be leaving for Siberia in less than six months. While I should’ve been relieved, I couldn’t see past the pain that’d taken over my entire mind and body. I was completely possessed, with no relief in sight. It was just dark, always dark. It hurt so much most days that I was sure my chest would cave in. When I’d breathe in deeply to stop the caving, it was as if my ribs were puncturing my lungs. What was the point of living anymore? The woman who’d finally brought light and relief to me after I’d tolerated years of my father’s abuse was gone from this earth. The woman who’d been carrying my pup, whom I’d promised to protect and foolishly allowed to go to battle with me. I deserved this anguish. I hadn’t protected my mate. I hadn’t protected my offspring. And now I was supposed to protect an entire pack? I was completel