ORLAI didn’t know the wolf standing on all fours right in front of me, but it was truly a magnificent beast. Eva’s curiosity blended into me as well, and I felt an urge to get even closer.Its rippling muscles indicated that it was surely a male. I felt his presence from the moment I went out to start my run, but I didn’t know that he could sense me as well.His russet fur was unlike anything I’d ever seen before. While most of his body was covered in it, the fur on his belly was a soft silver that shone brilliantly in the moonlight. Certainly, this wasn’t an ordinary wolf. I could taste his strength and power.Deep in my mind, I asked Eva, “Who is he?”Before she could offer a response, the wolf got off all fours, while still looking at me with undisguised interest. As he rested on his strong hind legs, we nearly moved back because we saw just how big he really was. Most werewolves were bigger than humans in their hybrid form, mostly reaching heights of at least six feet. But this w

ORLAFire. Ash. Burning flesh.My whole body was on fire again. It was eating me up little by little. Taking all I had until I was no more.I couldn’t speak because my throat had been burnt apart by the flames. My screams had been reduced to nothingness.It was over for me . . .‘ ‘ ‘Sharp pain burst behind my eyelids, and they flew apart. I sat up immediately, feeling nauseous. I got off my bed and dragged myself to my bathroom, where I proceeded to empty the meager contents of my stomach.After that, I pulled myself into the shower and doused myself in ice cold water. My skin still felt like it was burning. My throat itched, and my head hurt.As I sat in the shower, memories of what had transpired in the night flowed into my mind. The run. Maverick. The mysterious woman that had almost killed me by simply raising her hands.I put off the shower and stepped out of it. Was Maverick alright? I couldn’t remember what had happened after he’d carried me.He’d carried me. He took me into

MAVERICKA nagging feeling stayed with me all through the day to the night when Everett’s little party had begun to pick up.Music had already started ringing in my ears by the time I woke up from my impromptu sleep that apparently had lasted for 5 hours. It was just getting deep into the night, and the crickets were already chirping outside.I went over to the bathroom to freshen up, and afterwards, checked my wet nakeed self in the mirror. One look in it almost made me decide to stay absent from the party. Everett would probably not speak to me for a week if I didn’t attend.I had actual eyebags. The line of my jaw seemed sharper than usual, as though it was simply waiting to burst out of my flesh. It wasn’t related to my eating habits, but because my near constant state of panic had riled Conri up as well. The slightest escalation would send us into a transformation if things continued this way.My insomnia had been really bad these days, particularly since the disappearance of tho

ORLAI placed the creamy white envelope on my bed, before flopping down on it as well. “I don’t really feel like attending.”Ella gasped. “You can’t be serious. He came down here to invite you himself. Besides, I thought you had gotten over your little feud with him?”“I never had a feud with him. I just didn’t like him very much.”“Ooh, past tense. Do you like him now?”My skin heated up. “No way! He’s . . .”“Totally hot and super rich.”“Not my type, and besides, I have a boyfriend, remember?”Ella raised a brow sarcastically. “You mean Ryker? No offense, but everyone thinks that the both of you are done.”“What?”“Yeah. Especially since Ophelia told people that Maverick brought you home one night while you were half-naked and all.”I pressed my palms to my cheek and bowed my head to cover my face as I cringed so deeply that I felt it to my bones. “I told you. It wasn’t like that! We were attacked and he just brought me home.”“Yeah, and you were in nothing but a shirt that was de

MAVERICKEver since I was nothing but a boy, I’d always longed to have people around me. Maybe it was because of the circumstances surrounding my life, or how I’d practically been born, and then cursed to have those that I loved taken away from me. Maybe that was why the older I grew, there was a hole in my heart that only companionship could fill. Maybe that was why I chose Everett, Blair, Tom, Derek, and Avery. So that I wouldn’t have to face the world alone.Like tonight.Members of the three wolf clans had gathered, as well as other creatures from other supernatural races. They all came to pay their respects to my late parents. Or so, I hoped. I knew of families that were here to also see if I would take one of their daughters as a prize. Others were probably trying to see if I had any weaknesses that could be exploited. So, so many of them.I wasn’t a fool. I knew that those who actually respected my parents were the ones who preferred to keep to themselves and only show up when