Elias "Okay, okay," I say, laughing as Amy pulls me by the hand. We've been talking about her art show for weeks and now that the day has finally come, she's like an excited little girl. "Come on!" she jokes, but I'm just as excited as she is to see the culmination of her semester's work displayed in a real gallery. Just before we go in, I stop her, pulling her toward me. "I just want you to know how proud of you I am," I tell her, tucking a stray lock of auburn hair behind her ear. "You haven't even seen the exhibition yet," she replies, a grin spreading across her face. "I already know it's going to be amazing. That much is obvious," I reply with a grin. She smiles, and then, on impulse, I bend down and swoop her up, my hands catching her under her knees and her shoulders. "Elias!" she squeals as I carry her inside, much to her surprise and delight. The moment I step into the gallery t

Desiree The gallery is already bustling by the time I arrive, plenty of familiar faces greeting me as I make my way into the space. There are so many people there it takes me a while to spot Damian, but when I finally do, I pause. He's chatting animatedly with a young blonde woman I don't know and as I watch them, I'm struck by something all too familiar. The half-cocked smile, the sparkle in his dark eyes, the way he leans in a little too close... I'd know that stance anywhere, not least of all because it's usually directed at me. But as I observe him interact with the gorgeous woman in front of him, an unexpected thrill courses through me. Surprising even myself, I find a certain excitement in watching them flirt. The notion takes me aback momentarily. There's an undeniable curiosity sparked by watching the two of them and as I observe their easy rapport, a part of me wonders about the uncharted territories of my desires. The traditional mating rituals of the Thorntree pack means

Damian The days after the gallery event unfold with a peculiar weight, something I can't seem to shake, along with the memory of Sophie's smile, of the way her skin felt against my hand. I try to push it away but the memory of her doesn't fade like I hoped it would. If anything, it's only getting stronger with each passing day. There are times I've almost wanted to tell Desiree, just to get it off my chest. But the thought of hurting her is like a knife through my own heart. And there's something else. Strangely, my attraction to Sophie, while it's distracting in some ways, has also made me more drawn to my mate than ever. The last three nights we've made mad, passionate love, exploring each other with a fervor we haven't experiened since we were first mated. It's like Sophie has awakened something new in me, an animal heat that, rather than pulling me away from Desiree, only makes me desire her all the more. And somehow, it's not just me that's feeling it. Just this morning, as we

Damian The night air is crisp

DesireeThe fairgrounds light up as I approach, casting their red-orange glow over me. I was planning on staying in tonight, even though Damian tried to get me to join him. At the time I'd declined the invitation, opting instead to stay at home with a good book and a bottle of wine. But as the night wore on I found myself missing Damian. After so many years together, it was a welcome reminder of the way we felt when we first met - not being able to get enough of each other. But then again, that's been happening a lot lately. On my end, I put it down to the fantasies that have been playing in my mind ever since I saw him with Sophie. And on his end? I can only assume flirting with her reawakened the animal in him. All the better for me. I tried just waiting until he got home, but every minute that passed by had me longing for him more. In the end, I decided to leave the book, which I couldn't concentrate on anyway, and surprise him at the fair