*** Manzitti ***I settle on my bed before I call Helen. It’s our first phone call as a dating couple and excitement bubbles up in my stomach. I have condemned other men for behaving like this but now that I have found my mate, I will never chastise them ever again because the feeling is immense. I am falling for her.I tap her photo in my phone, and revel at the beauty that will be mine and I send a little message of thanks to the almighty Moon Goddess. She had made me wait but they say the best things are worth waiting for. Only when I’m finished admiring her do I press the call button.I feel genuine nerves for the first time in my life as I wonder what I should say to her? The line rings twice before Helen answers.“Hey, Shortie, did you miss me?” Fuck! I am so lame, why didn’t I just say ‘hey, how are you doing’ or just play it casually?However, I feel like my dreams are coming true when she answers me. “I miss you more than I could ever tell you, Manzitti.”I let out a massive

“Did Papa tell you why he chose this ring, Ale? Did he tell you the story behind it?”I shake my head; he had just said Sal would know the message from her father and I didn’t question further.“When Yaya (Nan) died, she left the ring to me, but Papa said it was too precious for a small girl since I might lose it. I insisted Yaya had left it to me and it was my responsibility. Within three days I had lost it, and I wailed like a banshee. I accused people of stealing it, I thought my papa had secretly taken it and hidden it away. I had every drawer out, I searched every nook and cranny trying to find the ring, but it was nowhere to be found.”I can picture her tearing the house apart, her face red with frustration.“I was dHelenstated. I loved my yaya and her parting gift to me was now lost because of my pig-headedness and my aversion to trusting others. My father said there was a lesson in everything that we go through and that I should trust the people who love me to have my best int

*** Manzitti *** Helen looks amazing. She has a black dress on that scoops low, showing me her ample bosom, and then it has a full skirt giving her a beautiful hour-glass frame. I have been hard for her since I clapped eyes on her and it’s not just a physical reaction. I love her mannerisms, the way she gets flustered when she is nervous, the way her eyes get bright when she’s being playful. I love the red on her cheeks and the way she looks down when she is feeling unsure. I am falling in love with her and it's scary and yet empowering too. I am scared to love her, and she is scared to be physical with me. So, if Helen can be brave and face her fears then I will too; besides, I don’t think I have much choice. I couldn’t begrudge her my love and I don’t think I stand a cat in hell's chance of withholding it either. She has made a delicious meal and I mean to ask if she enjoys cooking, but I am so distracted by her pink lips and the lingering sweet scent of her arousal. After dinne

*** Slayne *** I can’t feel Lizzie anymore. She has been whimpering but now she is silent, I can’t feel her presence within me, and I am scared. I need Ivan back. I need to see him, not his wolf. I need to tell him everything that I feel for him. I have never told him how much he means to me because I thought if I didn’t acknowledge it, it would hurt less when he left. For the longest time, I thought that him leaving was inevitable. The mate bond did not keep my mother here, why would it keep Ivan here, tethered to me, the girl no-one had stuck around for? Except he has, despite the fact that I am a fucked-up mess, despite the fact that I hurt him and failed to give him anything, he stayed until I pushed him so far away it was threatening to destroy him. I have never allowed him in, never allowed him to get too comfortable. I have never even told him how much I love him. I am such an idiot, because I do love him. I have loved him for the longest time, but my fear forced me to hide

*** Manzitti *** As I wake up in a flooded warehouse, I struggle to remember where I am and why I am here. My whole body aches and I cannot feel Roman at all which can only mean one thing: those chains holding me down must be silver. I have no idea what time it is or how long I have been here. I am soaked to the bone and my face feels like an anvil has been dropped on it, while the silver prevents my werewolf's fast healing ability from kicking in. I had been driving home after spending the evening with Helen. I was elated at how well everything was going between us, and I had already started to formulate a plan for what would happen if Helen and Summer agreed to come and live with me. I admit I was distracted; happiness does that to a werewolf. One moment I was travelling along the mutual border between Onyx River and Silver Shore and then the next it felt like my car had exploded. I hit my head and then woke up here. “I’m awake and ready to talk. Who are you and what do you wan