LYDIA I had taken three rides to reach Nightshade territory and for the rest of the journey, I had to manage my foot. It took two days before I arrived right at the gates of the packhouse that once belonged to my family. It looked so different. Perhaps I had been away too long but I remembered the gates to the iron colored black and wreathed to adorn the passageway of the giant mansion that housed the minimum of fifty important werewolves. The hierarchy went from the Alpha and his family to the beta of the pack, powerful sentinels, Deltas, and of course the elders. What however stood in front of me was a giant twin oak door that looked sturdy. I rubbed my finger against the smoothened wood and by the goddess, it felt thick. I doubted a single soul would hear me even knock. I didn't let the thought drag me down however. The new gate was probably erected as a better means of protection. I knocked on the door. A task that hurt my hands and eventually a part of the door flicked open.

LYDIA He nibbled and licked with his lips and teeth, every touch melting my defiance and liquefying my sanity. The surrounding office melted away, the sounds of the guards on the other side of the door ceased to exist, and there was only him. Pulling me closer, he molded my soft frame to his unyielding one. Feeling him thick and hard, thrusting against my soft stomach, I moaned. I gasped into his mouth, and, echoing my groan, he plundered deeper, licking and tasting while our tongues danced and dueled. Clasping my butt in one swift movement, he pulled me against his hard cock, kneading and thrusting in imitation of the act. My core pulsed in response, an emptiness wanting to be filled, to be taken. Inside, my wolf pranced, yipping and howling, rubbing against my skin, wanting to be close to this man. He broke the kiss and circled his tongue on my neck. The hunger in his mouth was evident as his saliva trailed down my skin. I felt his teeth sink into my skin and that was when common

LYDIAI thought I heard the door click. It made me look behind me. There was no one there. It was probably just the wind. I noticed the sky had gotten dark. I looked back at Vitale who looked more like a wounded wolf. His features were shadowed and you could tell that my snarky reply bothered him. With a long sigh, Vitale sauntered back to his table. Picking up a lavender, orb-shaped paperweight, he tossed the weight from hand to hand, most probably mentally replaying every detail of the last half hour. “So…” I drawled, throwing myself into one of the chairs opposite him to prove that I wasn't bothered by him. A desperate bid to sell my story. My mouth was curved up in a feral grin, my leg drawn up jauntily across one knee. “You are my mate. I kissed your soul and you mine. I’m nearly sure of it, ” I said, lowering myself into the opposite chair. “My wolf and yours called to each other. The bond has started. Fragile, but it’s there.” He gripped the orb, exultation throbbing through

ALEXIOS My eyes fluttered open. The room was dark and I was covered in sweat. Turning to my left, I flicked a switch plastered to the wall and the room came alight."Another nightmare," I mused as I stepped out of the bed and towards the lounge. On the table was a glass, half full and a jug filled to the brim. I collapsed on a sofa and downed the clear liquid all while wondering why my brain didn't seem to want to let go of the thought of Loretta. We were no longer mates. Rightfully so. And she was gone. Why then was she the one that dominated my thoughts? I wondered... I wondered if I was worried about her safety. I didn't want to dwell in the spiritual affairs of my people but werewolves were fond of believing that dreams happened to be fractures of the future that the goddess shows those that she loves. The dreams... A sex dream... Yet, it felt .ore like a nightmare because there was someone else. A man. I wished my thoughts didn't lean in that direction but they did. I wondered

FIONA The Rose mansion had never been so apprehensive. There were servants running lefts and right but there was something that connected their crazed running; Alexios 's quarters. Curious as to what was happening, I approached one of the busy servants and pulled her in. "What seems to be the trouble?" I demanded.The frightened servant gulped, her eyes although red were glazed with tremors of worry. The workers in the Rose mansion were only this bothered when Alexios was in a foul mood. "The Grand Luna asked us to pack up for her and the Alpha. They seem to want to travel. I'm not really sure." The girl answered me, being sure to bow but it didn't mean much to me this time around. Once upon a time, they probably did it out of respect but right now, they probably did out of pity. You could see it in the slouch that accompanied that defiant bow. The news had spread wide and fast that I was no longer the prospective mate of the Rose pack. After Curtis' stunt on my behalf, the supernat