Back at the house, I found Christine in the kitchen again, bustling around with three other women, all prepping lunch. They moved with the ease of familiarity, clearly accustomed to working together. Christine greeted me with a warm smile."Hailey, meet my daughters, Chloe and Elena." She gestured towards two young women in their early to mid-twenties, both bearing a striking resemblance to her.The only difference was their brown hair, untouched by the streaks of grey that adorned their mother's. Next to them stood Chloe's friend, Natalia.Natalia offered a shy smile, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. Her pale blue eyes and average build made her blend easily into the background. A quick assessment told me she was likely a lower-ranking pack member, content to follow the lead of others. No challenges there.We exchanged greetings, and I quickly joined the women in preparing lunch. Chloe and Elena, both married with two children each, explained that their little ones were off w

The door creaked open, letting in a sliver of moonlight that sliced through the smoky gloom. A tall figure stepped into the bar, his black leather jacket seeming to swallow the meager light. He moved with the quiet grace of a predator, each step deliberate and measured.A hush fell over the bar as if someone had thrown a thick blanket over the room. Every head turned, every conversation ceased, as if pulled to the newcomer by an invisible force. The clinking of mugs, the murmur of voices, all faded into the background as the tall man surveyed the scene with a predatory gaze.His eyes, like chips of ice in the dim light, swept over the room, taking in every detail, the hunched figures, the nervous glances, the weapons laid carelessly on the tables. A faint smile played on his lips, a flicker of amusement in the face of their wary respect.He moved with the unhurried confidence of a man who knew he commanded the room, even in the den of those who themselves hunted monsters. He stopped a

Sunlight pricked my eyelids, painting stripes of gold across Killian's bare chest. I burrowed deeper into the warmth of him, savoring the lingering phantom kisses on my skin. My mind spun with the echoes of last night, a kaleidoscope of sensations I never knew existed.Being with Killian was like stepping into a forbidden forest, each touch a whispered secret, each kiss a promise of something primal and wild.His voice, rough and sleepy, rumbled in my ear. "I know you're awake, little mate."I cracked open an eye, a smile playing on my lips. "Am I?, I feel asleep in a damn good dream, because I don't feel like going anywhere."He chuckled, his fingers tracing a path up my side, settling his hands on my breasts. Goosebumps danced across my skin. "Oh, I can make reality even better," he murmured, his voice a low growl.A shiver ran through me, and I peeked up at him, my heart skipping a beat in my chest. His eyes, the color of a stormy sky, held mine, and for a moment, the world narrowe

The smell of frying eggs hung heavy in the air, a stark contrast to the weight of Christine's words. She was whipping the mixture with a vengeance, her normally calm demeanor replaced by a simmering anger directed at the absent Josephine. Over breakfast preparations, I confided to Christine that Killian thought Josephine needed a friend. "That girl," She spat, her voice thick with disdain, "plays her cards like a seasoned gambler, and the men fall for it every time.""That girl can put on the best act around the males and they buy it every time, hook, line and sinker! I can only imagine the tale she spun for Killian. ‘I was just trying to be friendly. Everyone misunderstands me. And I’m still so broken up over Viktor.’ Bull! She’s mad because Viktor lost the challenge and now she isn’t lady of the house.” Christine was getting worked up and beating the eggs faster and faster as she spoke, the sticky mixture threatening to fly over the edge of the bowl."Killian, of course, is blind t

I've always been pleased with my wolf's appearance. My fur is thick and silvery, with touches of black near the tips of my ears and tail. I think Killian and I make a handsome couple, his solid black contrasting nicely with my silver.Julie was prancing, eager to begin her run, and I quickly followed her, carefully noting all that I encountered. The air was crisp and clear, carrying on it intriguing scents while the ground was slightly damp and spongy underfoot, providing a good grip as we raced along.I darted my eyes from side to side, taking in all the sights, my ears pricked with curiosity. It had been several days since I'd been out in wolf form, and it felt incredibly good to be back in the wild.Understanding that I would want time to absorb my surroundings, Julie politely stopped at a number of spots along the way. I yipped my appreciation and sniffed the ground, trees, and bushes, my wolf's brain sorting and storing the various scents while making a mental picture of the land