Elelira POVI was nervous about meeting Lachlan’s Lycan, hoping the decision wasn’t going to hurt Val in the long run, but the moment Killian took over Lachlan’s body I had the wind knocked out of me as I was pounced on, falling backward onto the mattress. My entire body was overcome by the pull of the mate bond, my skin erupting into mind-numbing sparks. I couldn’t think about those worries any longer. I couldn’t think about anything. I was all sensation and euphoria like I never felt before. The bond inside us, that had once called out to Lachlan, but deadened with my deprivation over time, was jolted back to life. My whole body felt like it was singing from his touch. Does he feel this too?“Mmmh,” the Lycan controlling Lachlan’s body purrs, making his chest vibrate against mine.Goosebumps rise up on my skin, and Val, the pushover, purrs back. I can’t blame her. It’s too hard to fight the bond when he is touching me. "Hi," I managed to mutter out in an airy voice."Hi, Elelir

Lachlan POVShit, shit, shit. “You tell me not to mess this up, then you go and scare her again like that!” I screamed at my Lycan in my head, facing the wall so Lira couldn’t see the anger on my face and think I was mad at her. “We had her! Her walls were finally coming down! Did you not learn anything after the kiss earlier? We agreed not to do that shit until she trusts us!”“I know,” he cried weakly, terrified seeing the look on Lira’s face after she moved away from us, hurrying to kneel at the end of the bed in a meek stance. We’ve seen that look plenty of times. We lived in war and battle all of our adult lives. That appearance is all too common for those who survive something truly horrifying. That was the look of terror that grips a person when nightmares that are all too real resurface, driving a person to the brink of madness and fear retakes them. We did that. We made whatever nightmares plague her mind resurface, all from our touch. I thought the mate bond would be en

Lachlan POV I fell asleep watching Lira, mesmerized by everything about her. When my eyes eventually got too tired to stay open any longer, and sleep was heavy on me, that was when Lira started to scream in her sleep. It was horrifying. Watching her go from peaceful tranquility, her angelic features relaxed and lovely, to seeing her wear a mask of pure terror, her screaming and cries jolting my heart was almost too much for even me. I don’t know how she stayed asleep through it all. I tried to wake her, worried she would break her jaw from clenching it so hard, or she would hurt herself by scratching at her skin too deeply. She wouldn’t wake, no matter how loudly I called to her or how much I shook her, trying to be careful not to touch her directly. The last thing I wanted was to touch her and make her even more terrified of me, but when Killian suggested doing just that, I had no other option. He came forward, as I didn’t trust myself not to scare her if she

Elelira POVI had the most marvelous morning that I can ever remember having before in my life. Shortly after Lachlan left, a maid scurried into my bedroom with a teapot, some pastries and fruit to snack on until breakfast. I didn't expect Lachlan to follow through. I thought he just wanted me to stay in my room.I sipped hot tea by the large bay window in that chair that had been calling to me since I first stepped into the room. The fire was brought back to life by the same maid that brought my tea, warming the room while I watched the sun rise up in the sky over the sea and send the ocean into a glittering array of vibrant colors. I was a little disarmed having woken up in Lachlan's.... well, really Killian’s arms, but the rest of my morning was relaxing and comfortable. Cherum and Mimi came once the sun was awake, and encouraged me to open all the birthday presents given to me by Lachlan, as well as our wedding presents. There were so many gorgeous items of clothes, accessories

Lachlan POV “Lira,” I said in a measured, warning tone, feeling a heat inside my chest and a ringing in my ears. I try to reach out for her, ignoring the feeling building inside me, but she sneers, moving to avoid my touch. A growl escaped me, my anger breaking through my stunned reaction. Her calling me a whore, then avoiding me, like I was filthy or something, hurt far more than her slap. I barely felt the sting of her hand slapping against my cheek, but I felt the pain of her words shredding my pride as an alpha. Killian is howling at me to calm down; to apologize, but I can’t register his words through the haze of my anger. Cherum puts a protective hand on Lira’s shoulder, pulling her back towards him like he was ready to tear her further away from me if needed. This fuels my anger more, making it scolding white hot as it rages inside me. “You want to condemn me for being a whore, and protect the actual one?” I felt my canines and teeth sharpening, my ange