The night sped by in the blink of an eye, but I relished every second I was ensconced in Silas’s arms. It hadn’t taken long for me to table my concerns about what seemed like ancient history with the magnetic male close by, and we spent the rest of the evening making up for lost time. At any rate, it was the following morning now, and my other half was already dressed and practically halfway out the door when I’d opened my eyes. He’d paused momentarily to give me a passionate kiss as I groggily sat up, and my body came alive for him once more. Groaning as I let my hands snake around his tapered waist, he lamentably ripped his head back after another drawn-out minute, swearing to do his best to finish early today so that we could replicate our actions from last night. I tried not to pout with the loss of his body heat as he eased himself out of my embrace, but that wasn’t easy to do as his next statement stole my breath with the reminder of how soon our departure truly was. “We’ll h

The deluge only worsened as Silas weaved through the thick trunks and overgrown underbrush, but his pace didn’t falter. I didn’t know where Saint was, not daring to lift my head long enough to find him through the storm unfolding around us. The denim of my jeans was soaked through by now, and I felt the water as it seared against my flesh, but I knew it had to be so much worse for Silas. Sure, his wolf had thick, inky black fur, but the acid rain drenched him almost entirely with no barrier of any kind to stop it, the bitter wind only exacerbating the situation as it worked in tandem with the heavy shower coming down on us by the bucketful’s. Keeping my eyes scrunched closed as I held onto my mate for dear life, I didn’t understand that he’d finally found the cover he’d been striving for at first, not until Saint was gently coaxing me off the huge wolf. Unclenching my muscles, I stiffly clambered down, grateful for Saint’s proximity when I stumbled on my wooden legs, and I took a m

I would have expected for Saint to be fending off the new additions to the fray ensuing among the weather-beaten trees, but I hadn’t planned for the shaggy brown wolf to confront Vance either. The Omega gave me a hasty once over as the battle raged on around us once it became obvious the newcomers had turned the tables by joining our side, the huge charcoal-gray wolf aiding my mate in chasing off the other Alpha. I was certain Silas would’ve trailed the cowering beast if I hadn’t been injured, but as it was, he rushed to check on me the second our unanticipated allies had provided the opening, both creatures almost as big as Silas’s own animal, I noted. One glance to my left confirmed the death knell was ringing for Vance, the long-furred shifter who’d assisted me clamping his lethal teeth around the blonde wolf’s windpipe in a vicious hold, and I watched as the life drained out of the male, feeling nothing but relief at the ending of his life. Silas remained in his wolf form as Sa

Silas stole my concentration momentarily as he encouraged me to drink the steaming cup of tea, and I gladly adhered, the ache already receding as he took a seat next to me. Gage was perched on the edge of his chair again, but his knee still bounced, giving away his continued agitation. I could hear Saint chatting away with Atlas about the benefits of the tea infusion, but I was zoned in on Gage as he finally answered, “After you saw the wolves overwhelm me, I was left for dead as they chased after you. Atlas came across me hours later and gave me the option of exchanging my humanity for a chance to live, albeit as a different species.” My mind was running rampant as competing sensations flowed through me, and I didn’t know how to respond. As it turned out, my reply wasn’t necessary because he went on in a cold voice, saying, “I’ve been worried sick about you. Just ask Atlas. I’ve been driving myself crazy trying to find you, to fulfill my promise, and now I see it doesn’t matter.”

Silas tore into the enclosed room in a flurry of energy, but the angry wolf barreling straight for Gage made him shift into his own animal, leaving me with little space to avoid the water or the brawling wolves. “Stop! Silas, Gage!” I shouted, but their continued clash swiftly informed me I was wasting my breath. Weighing my options as Atlas jumped into the fray, I questioned whether the pool was acidic as I tried to find a way out of this mess. I realized the dark gray wolf was attempting to break up the fight, but I didn’t get the chance to consider anything else. Gage’s shaggy brown wolf was thrust back as Atlas forced his way between the snarling wolves, and the momentum came crashing right into me, sending us both into the pool of water that I’d been heretofore avoiding. As luck would have it, I didn’t feel anything other than uncomfortable to be drenched from head to toe in the lukewarm water, but Silas had shifted forms in an instant, jerking me from the liquid. Gage’s sput