***POV:Cole*** Amara… I can’t stop thinking about her. She is the most stunning woman I have ever seen. I won’t go there, I just can’t. This world we are living in, I have to focus on my family and keeping them safe, no more distractions. Early on I was counting Ashlyn in my family, but apparently a long-term girlfriend had no place here. I gave her all of me, and in the end, she left me shattered. Ash was not who I thought she was, that’s for sure. Amara may be different, but I am not willing to put my heart out there to find out. Besides, with everything she has just gone through, that makes her pretty much untouchable. I am busy all day, tending to the animals, checking our traps, just doing our daily chores. Something got through some of our fencing where we keep our cows, so now I have to patch that up. I am finding it hard to stay focused on my task though. Part of me wants Amara gone and out of my life, and part of me wants her to stay. She has some strange pull over me, but I
***POV:Amara***I have to get a control of my emotions and this damn mate pull. I went from trying to do something nice for Clara and Mike to salivating over Cole through the window and being caught in the act by Imogen. I wish I could just shut down all my emotions. It’s like I am volleying back and forth between overwhelming heartbreak to inexplicable desire. As wolves, we are supposed to have full trust in Moon Goddess and who she chooses our fated mates, but why did it have to be a human, and why did it have to be now? I just can’t wrap my head around Trent and Heather, and the long-term betrayal. I can’t shake the feeling of loss of a child that will never be born. And yet still, the pull to Cole is there, getting stronger every day. It doesn’t help that he is ridiculously delicious to look at. He is a serious man, but seemingly a kind and loving one when it comes to his family. I just have to stop thinking about him. If I am being honest with myself, it’s not even just about Co
***POV:Amara***I wake up in the morning feeling more rested and at peace than I have in a while. I’m so warm and comfortable, and then it dawns on me that there is someone in bed with me. I turn around and come face to face with Cole, laying there in all his perfection. He seems to still be asleep, his chiseled face perfect, his light brown hair tousled so sexily as if he meant to make it look that way. I put my hand near his face and just lightly trace his lips with my fingers, his full soft perfect lips. The same blasted sparks make their way through my body and Cole stirs. I immediately pull my hand away.That’s enough indulgence, time to go back to keeping my distance. I start slowly scooting away from him to get out of the bed when suddenly he puts his arm around my waist and pulls me toward him. Kaylah is intolerable at this point. My wolf is wild with desire for her mate. If I let my guard down for one second, I have no doubt she will take over and jump his bones. Cole nuzzles
***POV: Trent***It’s been days and days of searching now and coming up empty. One of the boats went back to The Colony to print up flyers with a picture of Amara to put up next to our survivors’ lists in every city and town. I don’t have high hopes for it, but it does offer a reward for finding her alive and includes instructions for leaving a message on the flyer. I do worry what the humans will think of seeing something like a printed flyer with a photo on it. This is something they think is no longer possible. We can’t worry about that. We must use every resource we have to find my future mate and my heir. It is a long shot, but I have to try everything. If it wasn’t for the fact that Alpha Carlos had not felt her tether to him snap, there is no way all these wolves would still be willing to go through all of this effort for one girl, future alpha or not.Days keep passing when we finally get a break. We find her family’s boat at the docks located near the camp that Heather met m
***POV:Violet***I have been looking forward to seeing Cyrus so much, that I feel guilty for allowing myself to get distracted away from worrying about Amara. While it is devastating to my heart that she hasn’t been found yet, at this point I am starting to believe that she simply doesn’t want to be found. I know Cyrus is feeling guilty for promising he would find her and coming back empty handed.Am I crazy for starting something with Cyrus? Our packs have been against each other for as long as I can remember. He just seems so removed from that. He is different, he is a good man. It certainly doesn’t hurt that the man is hot as hell, but that truly isn’t even the original source of attraction. I sit and wait for him to come out of the locker room area. I notice another boat docking. Heather is on the dock waiting. Trent must be on this one, she is always trailing after him like a lost puppy. A few minutes later I see him getting off the boat and head towards Heather. Irritation painf
***POV:Cyrus***Finishing up getting myself ready to take Violet out, I am more nervous than I expected to be. It actually feels like this may be the most nervous I have been about a woman. It’s not like I am inexperienced, a bit rusty and out of practice perhaps, but definitely not new to the game. I got around in my younger days more than most, before the world came to a stop. After all that went down, my priorities changed, and hooking up randomly just seemed pointless. I needed more. There was no need to waste time on the wrong people. Violet is everything but wrong, she is all things that are right, she has all the potential for more.I am wearing a tight-fitting cream-colored V-neck t-shirt, and some dark jeans. Trying to go for casual but put together so she knows I made an effort for her. I even put some cologne on, I cannot recall the last time I did that. Not much call for cologne in the apocalypse, I laugh to myself. I walk out of my apartment, going through a mental checkl
***POV:Cole***It’s been almost a week since I spent the night in Amara’s bed. While nothing happened with her, I haven’t been the same since. She occupies my every waking thought. The woman is consuming me. I have kept my distance as much as possible. I see her most nights at the dinner table, sometimes I stay out working in the fields purposely coming in late to avoid her. The only time I allow myself the guilty pleasure of her company is in the mornings. Something about our quiet morning coffee exchange makes it impossible for me to give it up.I was supposed to have gone scavenging days ago, but it’s been raining continuously every day making it more dangerous to leave the farm. While I don’t mind getting wet, and will even work outside in the rain, I will not travel in the storms. There are already so many other unknown variables out there, I don’t dare tempt fate even further. I must go soon, if for no other reason than to get Amara some properly fitting clothes. I try my hardes
***POV:Amara***Sitting on the porch, letting myself slip further and further into relaxation, watching the sunset over the water. Suddenly I see Cole coming towards the house from the barn in nothing but a towel. Is it possible that I have now devolved into full on delusions about the man? He looks dangerous, he is practically naked and within my reach. I can’t make myself look away. His body rivals that of an alpha wolf, he is tall, well built, and super defined. He has a few tattoos and a beautiful golden tan. Perfection.He stops at the top of the porch steps, looking glorious with the light behind him, making his skin glisten even more. I may be drooling at this point. Kylah, that hussy of a wolf of mine isn’t helping matters at all. She is fighting for control and wants to come out and play with this beautiful man in front of me.He gives me a self-assured sexy smile, opens those full lips, and says “Amara.”I stare open mouthed and can barely manage a response. “Cole.”He smile