Damien’s black wolf reached the top of the hill first. He could already see the crowd gathered in the square of this part of the city. It was ironic how the events turned out and the challenge was going to take place right on the border. The mending of the bond they did was practically useless now since he would see the outcome of the battle, even from such a distance he would be able to tell if one of them died. Now the mended bond would only mean pain, more pain for him. If she died, he would be torn apart. If she ran away, he would feel the lack of her, the yearning, and eventually the slow painful severing of the bond. How was he supposed to tie himself to another woman if both him and his wolf longed for her? And if she won and stayed? He was supposed to choose a Luna. He wouldn’t disrespect his future mate by sneaking around, being tangled with Ada in the sheets. She had made it clear she had no interest in being his Luna. And yet his wolf didn’t regret mending the bon

Uncle Aram growled at him. “Not now!”Ada realized that the warrior had been looking at her. Alpha… She was supposed to make decisions now. She had killed her father and now she should sentence that man to death. One more death. Her hands had become coated in blood in just one day. Blood of her own family, of a friend. She couldn’t. Blood of another man that she had known since she was a pup would be on her hands soon too.She felt her legs moving on their own. Before long she was away from the crowd. Running. She didn’t know where. Home! Her house. She had a suitcase packed just in case. Money and documents. She would be gone. An airplane. The next flight. Anywhere… She was running up the hill, when she heard a familiar voice. Ellen… She was up on the hill, right on the border.Something hit her side and next thing she knew she was on the ground on her side, Damien’s wolf towering over her. He immediately shift

1 month and 1 week postmortem – MarkedAda was smiling at the video on her phone. Ellen’s marked neck.“Can you see it? Can you see it?” came her squealing voice. There was too much teenagery excitement in it.Ellen switched back to showing her entire face to be met with Ada’s soft smile.“Is it as good as they say it is?” Ada asked a mischievous smile tugging at her lips.“Pfft, if you think you’ve had a good orgasm, you’ve had nothing!” Ellen laughed.It had become an unspoken rule to avoid Damien’s name, so she wasn’t going to make a joke about her nights with the young Alpha.Ada rolled her eyes at her young cousin. She used to babysit them, now she was a marked woman.“How is living with Arsen? Did that custom table arrive in one piece?” Ada asked.“It is beautiful. The artist is so talented! And living with Arsen is grea

5 months postmortem – Seeking AffectionAlexandra’s smell was wrong. She smelled of something sweet, flowery, almost fruity. Or like trees that bloomed in the spring and smelled sweet hinting at the fruit that would be birthed from those flowers. Ada’s scent was different from hers. Ada smelled fresh and powerful. Avalanche… that was Arsen’s description. Chilly dawn in the mountains… that’s what she reminded Damien of.The hem of Alexandra’s dress got caught between two chairs and he caught a view of her legs. Same skin color, same height, even legs looked familiar. Those legs that he would lick and nibble in the moonlit bedroom. He watched the witch bend over and free her dress. That ass. He wondered if digging his fingers into her flesh would feel the same. Same plump ass. Was it as smooth as Ada’s? Alexandra wasn’t as toned, there was softness to her. Feminine softness. He didn’t mind at all. She wa

Next morning Ada lay in the cold large guest bed listening to the changes in shower stream patterns. She could tell when it hit the tiles and when he stood under it. She sensed him moving under the hot water but at times the noise didn’t change telling her he was standing there immobile. She wondered if he always took long morning showers or that day was an exception. She deepened her breathing imitating sleeping and tried to calm her heart rate. He was very quiet, his steps careful, the clink of the doors hushed and she was sure he didn’t put on his shoes until after he was in the elevator.She turned to look out of the window. It was 6:30 in the morning, she would wait before mind-linking Emil.She stood in front of his bedroom door feeling like it was made of titanium laced with silver. It could be as impersonal as the rest of his condo she convinced herself. Her bare feet walked down the hallway. The smell of fresh coffee hung in the air and there was m