I woke up slowly and fought my way to consciousness as if trying to swim up from deep, dark waters. I was 9 again, there was smoke everywhere. People were running around trying to escape the fire, there were gunshots. I closed my ears, trying to shut out the chaos, someone grabbed my shoulders. It hurt.
I looked up at the face of the man, but it was all blurry. Then I was running again, I hid under a table and shut my eyes and ears again."Do not be scared, I will protect you......" Said a gentle voice. I turned and there was a boy, a few years older than me. He was hiding along with me while the smoke billowed around us. I woke up sweating from my nightmare, breathing hard. I checked my watch, it was still early.Five am to be precise. Most of the juveniles and younger wolves would have already started their training. But I was on a vacation. I could catch a few more hours of sleep. Though I could not sleep anymore.I lay in my bed and replied to a few emails,When I decided to visit the club, which was ironically called 'The Lycans', I dressed for the part.Emma had said this could be my impromptu bachelorette party, and we had a good laugh about it. We drove to the city along with Emma and another theta girl, Melanie.Bobby being all possessive mate had insisted on accompanying us, but we wanted a girl's night out. We were in the human part of the town where the presence of wolves was nil, and we could handle human males easily.Once in London, I was about to be mugged while returning late. All I needed were my claws. The look of terror on that prospective mugger's face was priceless. Harming a human is banned since we live in secrecy, we are not supposed to reveal ourselves. However, we can do so in self-defence and emergencies.I had decided to be a little risqué -I wore a black tank top that was meshed and a short red plaid skirt. Not too short, I preferred not to feel self-conscious or attract unwanted attentio
The door crashed open revealing a tall figure. He crossed the room in three large steps and came to rest directly in front of me. He was dressed in a tight black t-shirt and black cargo pants. His black boots were caked with mud, and he looked furious.'My mate!', my wolf sang in happiness while I stared at him in disbelief.His hand came up to gently stroke my cheek and I felt his lips on my hair as he removed my gag."You! You did this to me? " My voice cracked. It was more of a question than a statement."Thank God you are safe," he whispered.I looked up into his eyes, "Who are you?"I realized I did not even know his name. He smiled. I noticed he had dimples. My heart skipped a beat."I am sorry, we were never properly introduced. I am Lucian Blake of the Crimson Shadow Pack."'What a lovely name,' my wolf purred.My face was frozen, and I could not take my eyes off him. I had heard of his pack from Emma. There are two kinds of Alpha
I felt like a slut. I had just cheated on Mark!' I am horrible! ', I thought.'No, you are not, you kissed your mate as you should,' my wolf was pleased.'My wolf is a pervert,' I cursed myself.I finally slid off Lucian's lap and pulled down my skirt, folding my arms. I was looking out of the window. He kept his hand firmly around me. The area looked familiar; it was the state highway a few miles off the pack lands. Still, I was unable to form any connection with Rick and I had lost my mobile.Perhaps, I could plan an escape if I were careful. I turned towards him and spoke. "Lucian, I need to use the restroom, can you stop at some service station, please?" I made my most desperate puppy face. My wolf was resisting. She was trying to overpower me so that I would stay. He gave me a piercing look with those divine eyes. I noticed he had lovely lashes.'Please kiss him,' my wolf pleaded. I
It was too late to run. I looked at the approaching monsters as the first one stopped right in from of me. The doors opened, and I was engulfed in Rick's familiar scent."Alice! Thank God you are safe." Rick said from above my head, I was pressed to his chest in a relieving hug. I was quickly huddled into the SUV, sitting alongside Rick."Now, tell me what happened?" Rick asked, softly.I did not even know where to start. I told him everything, how I was drugged and kidnapped by the rogues and being rescued by Lucian Blake.Rick's face hardened. He was furious, I could tell. Rick, my only brother, was eight years older than me. When my father died in that inter-were fight, he was just 17. He used to be away for several training, high school, and other things while I was growing up. I spent most of my time with Emma and Bobby, who were near to my age.After taking over the pack, he had worked relentlessly. Due to our age gap and my being sent away, we did not get the o
Emma stared at me with a blank expression. "Wow!"She suddenly stood up and started pacing, then sat down again."Wow! This is so....so...""Fucked up?" I asked helpfully."No, romantic. This is so romantic." She said with a bemused expression."What? " I was sure she was going crazy."Well, you both are from enemy camps, who fall in love. Now you need to overcome the differences to be together. It's like Romeo and Juliet!" Emma said with a goofy smile."You and Lucian are like Romeo and Juliet of werewolves, it's all so Shakespearean." She said wistfully."Are you suggesting we both die in the end?" I asked.Emma was always kind of goofy, but this was madness even by her standards. I could barely hold my laugh."Of course not! What I mean is, this is fated. The goddess has matched you. It must mean something." I rolled my eyes," well, what do I do now? I have a fiancée in London, who is sweet, caring, and smart. Likewise, I had everything planned, but suddenly, I bumped into my craz
Alice's (POV) - Rick stared at me with an unreadable expression while I was being torn by several emotions. A mating bond is the most sacred bond for wolves. Once wolves find their mates. The male marks the female, it is followed by wild sex. After which the female marks the male.It can even happen together during the consummation. Once the mating is done, the bond is complete. They are bound for life. They share their life, feelings, mind everything. Finding your true mate is a gift or a trap, depending on how you take it. No one is allowed to interfere in the mate bond. It is against the law. The male can claim the female, even if she is from his dreaded enemy's camp."Well? Now can I claim my mate?" Lucian said impatiently.Rick held up his hand to stop him."You are in my territory. I will decide what happens, even if she is your mate, you cannot take her away without my approval."Lucian's green eyes flashed with anger. M
Alice's (POV) - I was sitting opposite the most gorgeous man I had ever seen. His green eyes stared intently at me. He had folded back his black shirt up to his elbows and I could not stop admiring his hands which were covered with taut muscles."Well, if you are done admiring me, can we proceed with 'the talk'?" He smirked, making a quotation symbol with his hand.I blushed. I do not think I have ever blushed in my life. We were seated in Rick's library/study. I had managed to convince Lucian to discuss our little 'arrangement'. Rick's study was soundproof, which would prevent our conversation from leaking out.Rick was quite apprehensive to leave me alone with Lucian. But he would never hurt me, I knew. Mates did not hurt each other."I wasn't admiring you!" I glared at him.His lips twitched, and he leaned closer and said softly," I can smell your arousal. Do not deny it."I blushed a shade deeper and cleared my throat."Let's sti
Alice "I have one more condition," I said, finally feeling a tiny bit bolder.He sighed again. "What is that?"I sucked in a breath, "I want to spend Christmas and New year with my family. I have been doing so every year. Therefore, I am here."I should have stayed in London, I thought."Hmm, is it important for you?""Yes, very significant," I said eagerly."As a Luna, your presence will be needed at the celebrations back in my place."My face fell."But I will make sure that you spend time with your family as well.""Thank you," I started breathing again.He bent down again and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, "you don't need to thank me, I just want you to be happy. I want to take care of all your needs"'As if I can't take care of mine,' I thought.Then, to my utter surprise, he kissed me on my cheek. It was not sensual, just a chaste kiss one would give to a friend or someone close. But it was en