AaryaPouting, I clutched my husband’s pillow in my arms. Sleep had proven elusive in his absence; I’d grown accustomed to his comforting presence and cuddles during the night. His pillow, however, was a pitiable substitute for the warmth of his hot and strong body against mine.I buried my face in his pillow, relishing his scent. A mere two hours had passed since Xander’s departure, but it felt like an eternity. His scent is the only thing calming my solemn mood. Obsessed? Perhaps. But it no longer bothered me; I had surrendered to this infatuation.I huffed and stood up, giving up on sleep. I don’t think his pillow and the sheets aren’t cutting it anymore. I want to drown in his scent.Stepping into our walk-in closet, I switched on the light and gravitated toward my husband’s clothes. A grin formed as my gaze landed on his shirt. I discarded my silk nightgown and changed into Xander’s shirt, bringing the sleeves up to my nose.Ahh... It’s like a drug! Do I seem a little weird right

AaryaThe main gate slammed shut, and I allowed myself to drift back into my slumber, my thoughts lingering on my wonderful husband. But my eyes snapped opened when I heard the door open again. I looked at the time and realized it had been over twenty minutes since Xander left. Who opened the door? Is Xander back?Although I tried to sniff for scents, I got nothing. My senses were far from as sharp as a werewolf’s. Yet, I could distinctly hear activity on the ground floor. My body instinctively shifted into high alert. A protective bubble came around me, isolating me from potential danger.I remembered Mr. Bates’s warning; someone was after me, and I needed to exercise caution. I tried to mind-link Xander, but he had a block up. Shit!What do I do?My heart jumped as I heard something drop, the sound echoing ominously in the silence. Was that my dinner plate?What should I do? Steven! Yes. I quickly mind-linked him. I heard some gruff noises in our link. Ugh!‘Steven,’ I shouted in our

AaryaI plopped down on the bed. My body felt weary and achy, probably from the stress and the recent events. Is this normal? Urg! I miss Xander. I just returned from neutral territory, but I’m already ready to go and help them. But I knew I had responsibilities here in the pack, and I couldn’t risk leaving. Besides, my instincts told me that Xander was safe; I had to trust them.Walking into the packhouse, I decided to immerse myself in work. Waiting around for Xander was challenging, and I figured I could at least make productive use of my time. I smiled when I saw that my desk had been placed opposite Xander’s. Luna typically had her own office, but since I was still learning the ropes of managing the pack, I had asked to share an office with my mate temporarily.I walked to Xander’s desk, my fingers trailing the oak desk. Images of Xander sitting here, commanding and dominant, filled my mind. His muscles rippled as he wrote or moved, the subtle flexing of his Adam’s apple as he spo

AaryaI smiled as I gazed at the photo of my family. The image of happiness was captured in a single frame. Xander had carefully placed it among the collection of remarkable moments we had experienced. My parents were holding hands in the picture, their eyes filled with adoration as they looked at Amit, Atul, and me. It was taken on a relaxing family day right before I departed for America.A tear trickled down my cheek, and I gently traced the contours of their faces in the photo. “Maa, Baba, Aap nana, nani banne wale hai. Aur Bhai, aap log mama banne wale ho,” I whispered, feeling the weight of their absence. (Mother, father, you’re going to be grandpa and grandma. And brothers, you’re going to be uncles.)Fond memories of my family flooded my mind, and I chuckled sadly at the thought of their excitement had they been alive to share at this moment. “I hope I can be as excellent a parent as you were,” I whispered, seeking their blessings and strength for the journey ahead.I turned ar

AaryaI hummed happily as I prepared my enormous sandwich, stacking it high with Indian pickles, chocolate sauce, and a generous dollop of mayo. I bit and moaned in delight. Yummmmm. I couldn’t understand why everyone looked at me with disgust at my peculiar cravings. Throughout these past months, I had developed cravings for all sorts of food combinations, but this one was my absolute favorite. Oh God, I loved it so much.Xander, my ever-attentive mate, had made sure the house was filled with all the things I craved. He had learned his lesson after that midnight blueberry run. He has been the most caring, protective, and loving mate. He took all my tantrums without any complaints. No doubt he still annoys me sometimes, but I love him to the core for being him. Since I am in my sixth month of pregnancy, he has become even more protective.He had also managed to make time for me and our pup, irrespective of all his work. Alex and Sean had taken on additional responsibilities for the com