JASMINE I arrived at Paige’s house at seven with a Tupperware filled with honey barbecue wings and a plastic-wrapped meat and cheese board that Jack had put together after he got home from his warrior duty. I told him it was completely unnecessary, but both he and Tyler insisted, both probably a little too happy that I had made a friend. Goddess, was I really that hopeless? “Jasmine! Welcome! Come in!” Paige greeted me, taking the items from my hands as soon as I walked in. I followed her into the kitchen where she added what I brought to the spread. “Wow, this looks great! You didn’t have to make so much food! There’s only four of us!” “I know. The meat and cheese board was actually my brother and his mate. I was at their house before I came here.” “Oh, how’s Tyler doing?” Paige gave me a pitying look, and I instantly understood what Tyler meant. I’d also despise it if people looked at me like that. I hated feeling weak. I knew Paige meant it as a look of empathy, so I didn’t let

TALIA “Your coffee, beautiful.” Alex kissed me on my cheek as he handed me a mug of coffee. We were standing side by side at the kitchen counter, cooking breakfast together, making pancakes. “Merci beaucoup,” I replied, smiling, taking the mug from him, and taking a sip. “It’s perfect.” “Perfect coffee for my perfect mate.” He winked. “Let me bring my mom her tea. I’ll be right back.” “Maybe I should bring it to her instead this morning,” I offered, my stomach quivering. But I needed to make things right and stop avoiding the situation, no matter how uncomfortable. It had been very awkward since I’d moved in, especially since she hadn’t exactly been introduced to me in the best way. And things had only grown more awkward with the disappearance of his sister. “Are you sure?” He pulled me toward him so I was facing him, his hands at my waist. “She’s your mom, and we’ll be living together. I should make more of an effort to have a relationship with her.” “It would mean a lot to me.

JASMINE “Oh my Goddess, Jasmine, you look beautiful.” A tear trailed down my mom’s face as I turned in my wedding dress for the photographer outside of our house, a white fur stole wrapped around my arms to keep me warm. This had to have been maybe the third time in my life I’d ever seen my mother cry. She was usually so cold, but today she was acting very motherly for once. “She’ll make a wonderful luna,” my aunt said to my mom. “I remember the day I married your brother Lance. It was such an exciting day. You know, I saved myself completely for him. I was a virgin on my wedding night.” “You’ve already told me this, Julia.” My mom lifted her eyes to the sky in a look of annoyance. “Isn’t it so nice to save yourself for marriage, Jasmine?” My aunt smiled at me. “I bet you’re so excited for tonight and the wonderful gift you’ll be giving your soon-to-be husband.” My entire body burned with embarrassment, and I had no idea how to respond, shocked she'd say that. “Julia, don’t talk

JASMINE Toward the end of the night, Blake and I made our way to the bridal suite so I could change into my going-away dress. We were planning to have one final dance and then leave to begin our honeymoon. “Can you help me undo the back of my dress?” I asked as we entered the suite. “With pleasure,” he replied, standing so close behind me I could feel his body heat. He lowered his mouth to the back of my neck, gently kissing it down to the buttons of my dress. He brushed his hands across my shoulders to find the top button. My breathing shallowed at the intimate gesture. “Do you think we have time for a quickie?” he whispered in my ear as he unbuttoned the back of my dress. My stomach fluttered at the thought. “Not with how long you take,” I replied playfully. “If you prefer quickies, I can definitely make that happen for you. Fast, slow, medium speed. Your wish is my command. I can do them all.” I laughed. “I think I want it slow tonight. It’s really special.” “I can guarantee

ALEXANDER My father and sister were both pretty fucked-up, but, damn, Blake was sick. Because we had to make do with what was available in the casino, which wasn’t much, Blake had a bunch of his warriors holding the members of the Bois Sombre Pack down while he tortured them. They were both fully naked after being forced into their human forms. Chef’s knives were brought in from the kitchen, and Blake tested each one of them out on the men’s torsos until he figured out which one was the sharpest, their ensuing screams widening his smile, his eyes gleaming. “You know what I should be doing right now instead of torturing you motherfuckers?” Blake asked menacingly. They both struggled against the men holding them down, expressions like deer in headlights. “I should be enjoying my wedding night. But since you assholes interrupted it, you’ll just have to enact it for me.” He laughed evilly. “Normally I wait a few hours until we get to the main event during my tortures. But I promised my n