This chapter follows a young Elder Luke (Luke Hastings) 30/40 years prior to the main story. It was a very different time when things were not so accepting. This POV shows the beginning of how Elder Luke became the man he is today and why he holds the strong values he does - known by Aria as one of the deadliest men in the pack.  ~~~~ Fifty-two. There were fifty-two books I needed to reshelve today. Several more than the day before, even more than the day before that. It meant I would need to work late today in order to finish this in time. At least I had the entire day to get through it. With a sigh of resignation, I grabbed my trolley and began the journey to the back of the library where I would start the process, giving small smiles to those I made eye contact with along the way. This was the life of a librarian. Day in… day out… Not to say I didn’t enjoy my work. On the contrary, I immensely loved what I did for a living. Bu

“Pretty name,” Miles said, sliding into the driver’s seat. “Where to?”“My apartment isn’t far. If you could drop me off there, I would appreciate it.”Miles promptly started the ignition of the car and began driving per the instructions I gave him. It wouldn’t be a very long journey but I used every second to think over all the little details in my head. Making sure there was absolutely no room for error.Because errors could mean death.However, the entire time I could feel the gaze of some of the men in the back, making my skin crawl uncomfortably. I knew what they were thinking about me. I could tell without even looking. A pretty, vulnerable girl alone in their car? Yeah, it didn’t take a genius. But interactions like this were just a part of the job. I was used to it.We arrived at the location I requested before too long had passed and I turned to Miles with a now more timid smile.“My place is just around the corner…,” I started, brushing some of my long black hair behind my e

“Come in,” said a deep voice on the other side of the door. I’d only had to wait a few seconds for his response after knocking, but I wished there hadn’t been a reply at all. More than anything else, I just wanted to walk away. I wanted him to not be there waiting for me in his office. But that wasn’t the case. After leaving the construction site, I’d done only the bare minimum in fixing my appearance before coming here. Showering within a few minutes and changing into some more appropriate clothing as quickly as possible. After all, I wouldn’t be able to show myself in the state I’d been in after the accident. There was no backing out now. With one final deep breath, I pushed open the door and faced the man I knew would be there. Even in the dim light of his office, I could still make him out clearly as he sat behind his desk. His clean-cut dark hair and expensive suit only adding to his imposing presentation, his blue eyes having a way that made you want to squirm away under the

With a thud, the dagger hit its mark perfectly. Only… it wasn’t a threat like I was expecting. No lurking assailant. …No, it was a tree. Shit. Truthfully, as I went to retrieve my weapon, I couldn’t help but feel somewhat relieved. This wasn’t the streets, nor was this a mission requiring deadly force. I was at a goddamn party. What the hell had gotten into me tonight? It was if rational thoughts and behaviours were absent. What if the sound I’d heard was simply an animal who wandered in from the forest nearby? But… that feeling of something being wrong. It was rare for my gut to be incorrect. And right now, my instincts were still screaming at me that something was happening, that something was approaching… that someone was…. Here. Another sound of movement behind me instantly made me react, only now it was significantly closer. In fact, it was right behind me. I knew if it were only a patron from the event, they would have called out to me or made their presence known befor

“Alright, a little game sounds fun,” I finally replied. “But you’ll be disappointed to learn there is no ulterior motive in talking to you. You’ve just piqued my curiosity, is all.” I tried to laugh it off but Kieran didn’t seem to notice as he immediately set his drink down, his expression turning serious as he looked me over. Almost as if I could feel him scrutinising every little detail about me. But that confident look of his… It took all I had to just calm my heart down, the nervous thumping inside becoming so loud that I was worried he’d hear it. For a man who could seemingly read me so well… could he really pull this off? “Your eyes give you away a lot,” he started, leaning forward enough that I could still hear him as he spoke in a low voice. “Don’t get me wrong, they’re very pretty, but they also betray you.” At this proximity, his scent was beginning to overwhelm me. His compliment wasn’t helping either. I’d never been affected by small things like that before, but with