Oliver's POVI feel like killing Maeve with my bare hands. How dare she stalk Maya? I’ve been keeping my distance to protect her, only to find out this morning that it was all for nothing. Maeve came here to seduce our warriors for information. In a wolf pack, gossip spreads like wildfire, of course people talked.I immediately told Luke and Darius to put a trusted tracker on her. I want to know where she is at all times. I also instructed Darius to increase contact with covens in other states. Maeve needs a new home, and fast. I need to speak to Reina, too. I have to know if both of them need to be relocated, or if Maeve is the only threat.My heart pounded as I ran from my coven to the packhouse. Maeve might not be particularly strong, but she’s still more experienced than Maya, or so I thought. Watching Maya react instantly to defend herself was thrilling. She didn’t hesitate.But Maeve won’t give her that much time the next time she attacks. Maya was right, we should have told her
Maya's POV I stood tall inside my dome, my voice steady.“He came to me. I didn’t take him from you. You never had him, so don’t act like I stole your boyfriend. You don’t have to do this. Just let it go. Find someone else.”I paused, then met her gaze with full conviction.“Oliver is my mate. I was created for him. A higher power decided that we belong together. This is out of your hands. Leave me alone. I won’t warn you again.”I let the words sink in, then added quietly but firmly, “I’ll be sure to tell Oliver about this when I see him tonight.”My heart was racing, but my voice stayed calm, as if I believed every word I had said to her. She didn’t take it well. With a furious shriek, she lashed out, extending her claws and striking at my protective shield. She circled me, slashing again and again, relentless in her rage. It went on until her movements slowed, her energy finally waning. She was furious, frustrated, and I could see it in her eyes. This wasn’t over. She wouldn’t be
Maya's POV Oliver is nervous, I can tell, even though he hasn’t said a word. Lately, he’s been pulling away from me, keeping his distance for reasons I don’t understand. I asked my mother about it, and she assured me that his feelings haven’t changed. She knows what’s going on, but she won’t tell me. All she said was to focus on my training and nothing else.But something’s wrong. I’ve felt it for days now, someone is watching me. Their eyes follow me, a cold, crawling sensation that I can’t shake. I know this feeling too well. I lived with it constantly in my old pack. I had to stay alert, trust my instincts. They’ve saved me more times than I can count. The only time they failed me was with Kayla and her gang. Sometimes, when I ran to escape them, I ran right into their trap.I wish someone would just tell me the truth. Whatever it is, it’s starting to wear on me. Both my mother and Oliver know something, and their silence is driving me crazy.Still, I’ve made a lot of progress lat
Ashton's POV I stepped under the warm spray, and the moment Lauren joined me, it already felt perfect. I lifted her up and slid her back down my body, lowering her onto my lance. Lauren gave a low moan as I slowly lowered her down until she had taken all of me. She wrapped her arms around my neck and gave me a deep kiss as I slowly started raising and lowering her.After breaking the kiss, she took control. With her legs still wrapped tightly around me, she began to move on her own. She wanted more, faster, harder, but when I didn’t give in, she took matters into her own hands. Her legs tightened around me as she leaned her head back, moving faster, her arms still wrapped firmly around my neck. I leaned my head down to pull her nipple into my mouth and give it a hard tug. That was all she needed to fill the room with a loud moan as she then raked her nails on my back. I dropped her nipple as I started pushing up as she came down, and I knew she was close. Her legs were already shak
Ashton's POV It’s been a week since I found my mate, and I don’t know how I’ve made it this far without her constantly by my side. I crave her, her touch, her scent. They calm something in me I didn’t even know needed soothing. When she’s not with me, I count the minutes until I can see her again.Today, I’m finishing work earlier than usual. I want to go with Lauren to watch her sister train. Normally, she and Meliza would have gone together, but Meliza left with Gabriel three days ago. It’s the first time the sisters have been apart, and I know it’s been hard on all three of them. Probably hardest on Meliza, since she’s alone now at Black Moon.The good news is that she and Diane, Gabriel’s younger sister, got along well immediately, while they were here in Red Crescent. They’re both twenty, and Diane decided to return with them to help Meliza settle into her new pack. Watching them leave was tough. All three sisters were in tears, and Diane looked just as emotional. She drove her
Oliver's POV I worked through the backlog as quickly as I could, considering it was several days’ worth of paperwork. Unfortunately, I also had three meetings to attend today, which didn’t help matters. The files had piled up long enough, there was no avoiding them anymore. I just needed to get through this last meeting, and then I could finally call it a day.I didn’t bother with dinner, just grabbed a blood bag from the fridge. I was ready to leave, itching to be done, but I had to see the day through first.Anyone in the coven can request a meeting, as long as it concerns coven matters, usually to raise concerns or address issues before they turn into real problems. The issue with this final meeting, however, was who it was with. Maeve.She was originally human, turned into a vampire eight years ago. She’s lived here for the last three, ever since we rescued her from that rogue group we dismantled. The leaders of that group were eliminated during their pursuit of the witch who now