I have a Pa tr eon now, so if you haven't read all of my books, follow me there. My name is veliciah there.
LaraI nervously walk up to the SUV that’s going to be my home for the next couple of days while I’m traveling with Ashton. Ryan is going to take care of the pack while we are gone. And Sally? She thinks Ashton is going to train me up in the mountains. It makes me feel bad. Eventually, I need to tell her that Ashton is my mate, but…not today.Strapping my backpack over my shoulder, I check the contents again: a small med kit complete with fever pills and bandages, clothes for the cold air of the mountains, and some dry food - in case there isn’t anything we can hunt up there.Ashton, on the other hand, is packing the SUV with all sorts of equipment that looks like it’s straight out of an adventure movie. Tents, ropes, camping stoves – you name it. I can’t help but watch him as he moves around the vehicle. He looks like a man who knows his way around wild terrain, and it does strange things to my heartbeat.“All set?” He grins as he spots me watching.Almost unconsciously, my gaze flick
AshtonMy heart melts when I wake up and find Lara sleeping on my back in her human form, nestled into my fur. Her breathing is slow, and I decide not to move since I don’t want to wake her.Geez, am I falling in love already?We haven’t spent much time together, but the mate bond is sizzling hot, and I know I will eventually grow addicted to this woman. Never in a billion years did I think a woman like Lara could make me soft and affectionate, but with her by my side, I’m reverting back to the kind man I was before my father shaped me into the cruel Alpha he thought I needed to be. And I don’t hate it.I’m tired of my cold and intimidating facade when, in reality, I know that I can be...kind. Or maybe it’s too late for me? I’ve made so many mistakes—terrible ones, like choosing abortion and rejecting my first mate. But maybe there are second chances given to everyone?I believe I can be good. I just need a little help...I think?Okay, I don’t know if I can be a better man yet. For now
LaraI want Ashton to fuck me so badly that I don’t even wait for his response before I jump over him. We both tumble to the ground, a mix of laughter and gasps escaping us.“What are you doing?” he chuckles.“Wrestling you to the ground to take what I want!” I declare in a determined voice. “And guess what? You’re the one that I want, and I might also possibly want your cock.”“Only possibly, huh?” Ashton asks while watching me from below. I’m straddling him, but he doesn’t look bothered, and his hardening member tells me he really doesn’t mind. “You’re not certain?”My cheeks burn. “I admit nothing.”He keeps looking up at me with amusement dancing in his eyes, but I can also sense a hint of desire. Ashton wants me as much as I want him, but I can’t give in this easily. I won’t fall for his charm and pretty-boy eyes. Not yet. “Oh, and by the way, I caught you off guard, didn’t I?” I tease him.His lips twitch. “Or maybe I let you pounce on me?”I snort. “Please, we both know that I’
LaraAnother hiss leaves the vampire’s mouth, but before it can sink its teeth into my flesh, there is a thundering growl. Ashton, still in his beastly form, lunges at the creature with his fangs bared. He snarls and snaps at the vampire, who recoils in fear and drops me to fight the massive wolf.I scramble away from them, pressing my back against a tree as I watch the ferocious battle unfold. The vampire is fast, but Ashton is stronger. With a bitter growl, he bites down hard on the vampire’s arm. Its ripped off with ease and the creature howls in pain and recoils.But there’s no time to celebrate this small victory. More vampires are barreling towards us, fangs bared. I can’t stay frozen anymore; I know what to do.Summoning all my courage and energy, I let out a guttural cry and shape-shift into my wolf form. The transformation takes a heartbeat - one moment, I am standing human, and the next, I am on fours with fur bristling and sharp fangs.Even though I’ve never fought vampires
LaraAfter hours of running, I finally allow myself a break. It’s getting dark, and even though I’m miles away from my pack, I can’t continue running. My throat is sore, and my paws feel heavier than lead.It makes sense. Ashton and I reached our camping place by driving an entire day—a werewolf can’t run the same distance in just a few hours.And even though I’m aware the vampires could catch up to me, I don’t think they will since they want me to warn Ryan of what’s to come: a war between the werewolves and the vampires.I’m safe.But Ashton is not.He is dead.Immediate pain bursts through me. It feels like there’s a hole in my chest where my heart would be. I can't fucking breathe. I shape-shift back into a human to let my tears fall as I walk through the forest entirely naked. I’m not cold. I’m just sad and broken. How does one recover from losing their mate?Leaves crunch underneath my feet as I drag myself forward. I can hear a lake in the distance, but before I can reach it,
LaraLater the same evening, my dragon friend is eating some fish I caught in the river. He is tiny and I doubt he will finish everything I caught, but at least he won’t go starving.“Easy there, little guy,” I tell him while wandering deeper into the cave we found. “I don’t want you to eat too much and explode.”The dragon doesn’t even look up from the fish, and I giggle before shape-shifting back into a wolf. Since I don’t have any clothes, it’s more comfortable sleeping as a wolf, and this way, I can also keep my new friend warm.I find a place in the corner and close my eyes. I’m sure my dragon friend will join me soon…When I awake, the first thing I note is how peculiarly snug I am. The cave that was once hollow and vast now feels oddly close, as though the walls have folded inwards to encroach upon us during our slumber. Bewildered, I raise my head and look around, my eyes adjusting to the dim light filtering in from the entrance of the cave. It takes me a moment to comprehend
Lara After managing to convince my dragon friend to stay behind, I shift back into my wolf form and follow the scent of a nearby herd of deer. Their smell is fresh in the air and it doesn’t take long to find them. The hunt is swift. With the enhanced speed and strength of a wolf, I manage to quickly take down a large buck, biting deep into its side. After making sure the deer has passed, I drag it back towards my dragon friend, leaving a trail of scattered leaves in my wake. When I return, I see the dragon shifting uncomfortably from one foot to another. His eyes light up as he sees me dragging the deer. ‘Food!’ I shape-shift back into a human. “Yup, feel free to dig in—” The dragon rushes past me without warning, gobbling down the entire thing at the speed of light. His tail moves from side to side after he is done, and I see his back muscles expanding as he grows larger. “Um... Did you even taste that?” I ask him, baffled at the speed at which he devoured the deer. ‘More?’ He
LaraAfter Sally and Ryan has taken a look at Ashton, we are sent to a barn. Ashton is way too big to sleep anywhere else and according to Ryan, he needs to fully grow before he can take the shape of a human again. If he did it now, he would be a child, and that would be awkward, so I won't force him to shape-shift until he is ready. "Alright, big guy," I flick on the light in the barn and gesture at the big empty space. "You won't be cramped in here, and look, there is plenty of space for you to grow!"'This is home?' Ashton's voice echoes in my head, filled with innocent curiosity."Not quite, but it's going to be our temporary home until you are fully grown and ready to shift back," I explain, ruffling the scales on his snout. "Plus, I don't think you'd fit through the front door of the mansion."He gives a grunt of agreement and swivels his head around inspecting the barn. High ceilings supported by dark wooden beams extend above us. There is hay everywhere and Ashton circles arou