Emma awoke to the sound of giggling, and the quiet chuckles of a man. Lying on her side, she cracked an eye open, and through the partial opening of the heavy draperies of the canopy bed, she saw the father of her child holding Gladdy in his arms and do a ridiculous step dance – a series of side steps and forwards and backwards, while making faces, which made Gladdy giggle and coo. Niquel had a nursing cover draped over one shoulder, and would bring his face too close to hers just so her tiny hands could hit his cheeks as she toothlessly smiled up at him. They could’ve been like that – a normal family – had he never left. She would’ve accepted him regardless of his nature, without any anger or doubt in her heart. Because as much as Emma tried to push him away, she knew within herself that she wanted Gladdy to grow up with a father figure.

              “We’re trying but nothing’s turning up, Alpha,” reported the head of the tracker team that Aidan assigned. “None of our contacts have encountered the scent and the covens are unsure if it’s the effects of a potion.” “Quit giving me excuses, Walker,” he replied through gritted teeth. His eyes flickered from to a deep shade of red as his beast fought to emerge and threaten the tracker. Restlessness – the longer this went on, the harder it would be for Aidan to keep his wolf under control. Arke needed to mate, and truthfully, so did he, but unfortunately for the both of them, not only was their mate human and therefore non-understanding of werewolf customs, the Dragon King was in their midst and he doubted his enemy would let her be alone with him. “I expected more from you.” The

    Her thick lashes curled against her blushing skin as she sucked in a breath. Aidan dipped his head, warm breaths fanning her neck. She had the most intoxicating scent Aidan had ever encountered. It set her apart from all other women he had been with, and he had no intention of letting the Dragon King have his way with her. It was far too late to renege on his claim – he would make her his for good just as he must. Even if his pride wasn’t in complete agreement, his ego couldn’t take letting the overgrown lizard have what belonged to them since birth.   A growl rumbled from his chest. Arke was please with her docile stillness. Surely the bond was doing wonders on her body simply from being this close to him. “Emma,” he murmured as his lips descended on her tender skin. Tingly sparks crept under his skin, fueling images in his mind that would serve to excite her.   She gasped and grabbed his arms. His gums itched

    “She hang up on me,” said Hunter with a look of disbelief. “Of all my years … no one had ever done this to me!”   He sent the rogue flying towards the ceiling. Another came for him right after, and he quickly reached out to break his windpipe, bringing him down on his knees. It was far from enough to calm him down at this moment. His fists went down on the rogue’s face as he shouted, “Why. Are. Humans. So. Fucking. High. Maintenance!”   A hand stopped him from landing another punch on the rogue’s broken nose. He looked back and saw that it was Aidan, whose eyes were gleaming a deep dark red. The Alpha was simmering in anger, but he was being more patient than him by giving the girls some space, which was an unlikely trait. Was he actually guilty about the whole thing? They were in danger for fuck’s sake! If they left the mansion, they’d be stepping out of the barrier which had been keeping them alive for a week

  He could keep a serious relationship, couldn’t he? He used to sleep with numerous girls and took none of them seriously, but he could be loyal and caring and sensitive ... to his mate. “What’s wrong with me?” he questioned. He treated her like one of his past times, letting his ego answer for him. For fuck’s sake, he wanted her to stay with him and do things with her – whatever she wanted because all he could think of were of a sexual manner. “What was that!” Haisek roared. He emerged from the dark corners of his mind and showed himself, teeth bared. “Go after her.” Hunter tried to raise his wall. “I just gave her what she wanted,” he said weakly. “This isn’t what she wants.” “Well, shit, Haisek … I d