A knock on Eve’s door a few hours later caused her and Arec to jump. Eve grinned at him before she called, “Who is it?” “It’s Bella,” she said. “Is Arec in there with you?” “I’m here, Bella,” he called. “What’s up?” “The others sent me to ask when you would be down,” she said after a moment. Arec glanced at Eve and grinned. “Tell them that we’ll be down soon and to have a large meal waiting for us,” he called. “We’re going to be starving by then.” Eve giggled and reached up to twine her fingers in his hair, drawing him to her for a kiss. Thirty minutes later, Arec and Eve walked into the kitchen. They held hands and grinned at the others gathered around the table in the room. “It’s about time you two came down,” Ray grumbled. “Don’t mind him,” Bella said, elbowing her brother in the ribs. “He’s always grumpy when he’s hungry.” “Well, I wouldn’t be hungry if they hadn’t taken so damn long,” he said, rubbing his side. Turning to look at Arec, he added, “I hope it was w

Arec and Eve spent the rest of the day together until the sun started its descent on the horizon. She looked toward the orange ball of light as it dipped below the horizon. Sighing, she said, “I guess that means it’s time for me to return to that room.” Arec followed her gaze and nodded. “I’m afraid so,” he said. “But after tonight, you won’t have to stay there for a while.” Eve wrinkled her nose and said, “Yeah, but I’ll have to do it again next month.” “And I’ll be waiting right outside the door as I’ve been doing,” Arec told her, picking up her hand and lifting it to his lips. She smiled at him and asked, “You know you don’t have to do that, right?” “And let you go through this transformation alone?” he asked, shaking his head. “I don’t think so.” “You’re so good to me,” Eve told him, leaning over to brush her lips over his. “You’re my mate, and I love you, Eve,” Arec told her. “I love you, too, Arec,” she said, smiling at him. “That will get us through anything, rig

Arec stopped in his tracks as the other man stood from his crouched position in front of the door. The other man grinned at him and asked, “You didn’t expect to see me here, now did you?” Looking at Arec before glancing at the werewolves, he added, “You can change back. They won’t attack you for now.” Arec hesitated as he looked at the werewolves surrounding the man. Then he grimaced and shifted back to his human form. “Hello, Samuel,” he said. “I should have suspected something like this, but I never thought it would be from my own family.” His brother chuckled and said, “You should have known better than to have gotten involved with a werewolf.” Arec raised an eyebrow and nodded toward the werewolf pack surrounding his brother. “You should talk,” he said, crossing his arms over his chest. The werewolves growled low in their throats, but Samuel growled back at them, causing them to quiet. “This is necessary to get your… girlfriend back with her own kind and for you to co

Arec listened for any sign that Eve was rampaging as he walked to his room, but the hallway was silent except for his footsteps. He paused when he reached his door, listening for any sign of Eve inside. He heard a faint noise, then a scratching at the door. A faint whine from Eve on the other side of the door brought a smile to his lips, and he whispered, “I’ll be right in.” He opened the door and stepped into the bedroom. Eve leaped at him, licking his face. He laughed as he put his arms around her. “I missed you, too,” he said, nuzzling her fur. He glanced toward the window and added, “It’s almost moonset. I hope you’re ready to change back into your regular form.” She yipped, causing him to laugh. “I hope it’s not painful for you,” he said, walking toward the bed. Eve followed him and jumped on the bed. He sat beside her and leaned against the headboard. She rested her head against his stomach as he rubbed her ears. They remained that way until Eve shifted and whined.

“What?” Arec asked, hurrying toward Eve and taking the paper out of her hand. He scanned it and looked at Michael. “Mother has issued an official invitation to Eve to come to the family compound,” he said, holding the paper up. Michael walked to his brother and took the paper from his hand to read it. Arec put his arm around Eve’s shoulder. Lowering the paper, Michael looked at them and asked, “What’s the plan?” “Go and meet your family,” Eve said. “I don’t think I have any other choice.” Arec shook his head and said, “I don’t think that’s a wise idea, Eve.” Eve took the paper back and skimmed it again. “It doesn’t look like I can get out of it, Arec,” she said, shaking her head. Arec strode toward her and took the paper out of her hand. Crumpling it in his fist, he said, “You do have a choice, Eve, regardless of what my mother thinks.” Eve shook her head and said, “I don’t want to cause any trouble between you and the rest of your family.” Arec laughed without mirth and