I stared at the carbon copy of my mate, unsure of what to say. The strength of his muscles was evident by how the material of his clothing stretched tautly over his body. Dark, faintly damp hair hung shaggily over his forehead and there was the faintest curve to his nose as if it had been broken at one point. His mouth was firm and set in a straight, unyielding line. It was amazing that the man could look so much like Killian at first glance yet exude such a different aura. Killian was strong and caring, while Viktor was...dangerous? A part of my mind acknowledged that the rocky, uninviting atmosphere of the ravine seemed to suit him, and I found myself reassured to know that, by Josephine's admission, he was not the psycho rogue wolf that I’d been led to believe. However, he was still an unknown quantity and needed to be treated with caution. Clearing my throat, I gave the lamest greeting possible while Josephine stared in shock and disgust surprised by his unexpected interventio

I awoke, my senses immediately informing me that I wasn't in my own room. The surface beneath me was too hard, the sheet too scratchy. I felt... numb, as if drifting on a cloud. Was I dead? I hesitantly opened my eyes, wincing as the bright light assaulted my pupils. A large expanse of white greeted me through the veil of my lashes. Hmm... No, definitely not dead, unless the afterlife had a crack in the ceiling plaster. And I certainly wasn't at home. My bed wasn't this uncomfortable. The infirmary? Possibly. Licking my dry lips, I tried to swallow. A bad chemical taste assaulted my tongue, and I yearned for water. I glanced down, hoping for a glass of water by the bed, but something pulled at the skin on my throat. As I lifted my hand, I felt the gauze that was there and tried to recall what had happened.A slight rustling sound drew my attention, and I cautiously turned to see Killian sleeping in a chair beside me. Dark circles under his eyes gave them a bruised look and stubble

Oh no! My relationship with Killian was finally on solid ground and I didn’t want anything to upset it. "Viktor, don’t tease him like that! Killian, I don’t know why he’s behaving this way." My gaze darted back and forth between the two men. "Don’t you, Hailey?” Viktor mocked. "I’m starting a new pack. I need a female and you’d suit me just fine." Gasping at his boldness, I struggled to my feet and placed myself in between the two, my back firmly pressed to Killian chest. I could feel it starting to rumble. "But you’re his brother, part of the pack. You can’t claim a pack member’s mate!" I hoped he was joking. There was a glint in his eye, which made me think he simply had a weird and ill-timed sense of humor, but still... Viktor reached out towards me as if to grab my arm and pull me away from Killian. His gaze was hot, and he seemed intent on having me, no matter what the consequences. Suddenly, he veered his hand off course and flicked the end of my nose. "Gotcha!" He burst ou

Relief flooded me as Edward, the distinguished gentleman at the B&B, ushered me inside. "We're glad you made it safely, Ms. Watson. Follow me, and I'll show you to your room.""Adriana, please," I chirped, flashing my most winning smile. A hint of a smile played on his lips in response. "Adriana" wasn't exactly my jam, Ria was more my speed, but men seemed to fall for the whole "Adriana" thing, and a wannabe hard-nosed journalist like me wasn't above using that to her advantage."Melody, then," he chuckled. "And you can call me Edward. Follow this way." Score one for Ria, I thought smugly as I trailed behind him. My professors had drilled it into our heads: getting on a first-name basis with interview subjects was key to unlocking their secrets. Edward might not be a formal interview, but I wouldn't mind gleaning a tidbit or two.He led me to a cozy room, and as I thanked him, I caught him stealing a glance. I knew exactly what he saw: a five-foot-four frame that defied the "short" l

I shoved another breadstick into my mouth, chomping down on it with frustration. I pictured Mr. Bastian right now, probably grilling his employees about what I wanted to know. Most likely, he'd tell them to shut their mouths and not breathe a word to me. Bastian's Gallery was a dead end, that much was clear.My call to the lawyer, Leon Aldrich, half an hour ago hadn't exactly been a ray of sunshine. He'd been grumpy that I hadn't checked in last night, claiming concern for my safety. Sure, I explained about being tired and the bad roads, but deep down I knew the real reason for his bad mood.Aldrich seemed to be waiting for me to vanish with the hefty cash advance he'd given me and never be seen again. He clearly wasn't a fan of me or my assignment to investigate Viktor Donovan. I could practically feel his judgment radiating through the phone. He probably thought I was unqualified for the job, but Mr. Greyson, the one paying the bills, had chosen me. The sour look Aldrich sported wh