Chapter One

I gently moved a few stray strands of hair from her sleeping face the back of my index and middle finger tracing her cheek, quickly pulling my hand back running the same hand threw my hair. I knew no matter how much I wanted to hold her in this moment there was nothing I could do or say that could take her pain away. I know if she were to let me hold her it wouldn't mean anything to her the way it meant to me. I didn't want her to be alone but I could tell from the sounds and scents coming from her kitchen family members were going to be staying for awhile. Chatting back and forth, cupboards opening and closing they were completely unaware Rebecca had passed out in an upright position on the couch in the front parlor her knees bent to her chest and to the side with one arm gently resting on the arm rest her face lax, pale with red blotches. I could smell the salt from her tears she had cried. She must not be sleeping at night, Not a surprise. As I watched her sleep for what was only a minute or two I found himself wondering what she was dreaming about my fingers twitch wanting to touch her again so I could see what those tears stained lashes were hiding. Forcing away the nagging thoughts about her that ran threw my head as I made my way to the front door before I reached for the knob on the door I stopped one last time to look at her sad sleeping face and listening to the faint thrum of her pulse and thumping of her heart beat as she was napping on her couch. I took a deep breath picking out her scent that lingered in the air before I could reach the door when I smell the same familiar scent pushing from another direction-

"Connor! Hey wait!"

"Yeah uh what's up?" I turned forcing a smile

"Thank you for everything today, I'll let Bec know you stayed back to help" Krishna said

"No problem Kris If there is anything else I can do while you're Family is in town just give Natalie my assistant a call"

Kris smiled widely and I knew she was trying to stall me in staying a few more minutes even with me brushing her off all day. "I gotta get going though Kris I have a busy day tomo-"

"what are you doing tonight?" she said cutting me off

I knew answering her was risky and giving her any ideas that I could even be interested in her is dangerous.

"I'm heading back to the office now actually" I said looking down at my watch really quick

She slid past me and her small frame leaned on the door trying to block my escape. If only she knew I could rip the door off it's hinges with just a small tug of my hand sending her flying, But I wont...for now

"OH well then..um..I going to see if you'd like to get a coffee sometime? or dinner?"

She had her arms behind her back while leaning against the door her feeble attempt to seduce me only agitated me more it always does when a woman tries to throw themselves at me, boring and unamusing. I took a step back and darkened my gaze on her

I sensed this was going to be her intention from the moment I made eye contact with her at the funeral home. I had felt her gaze the moment I walked threw the doors along with everyone else wondering eyes as guests arrived to say their finale good byes. I could hear everyone's roaring thoughts, only there for the attention or to make a social appearance, some where screaming others were numb. All of it washing over me. It was draining. Coming back here to Rebecca's for the wake was not any easier.

I forced smile while I looked down at her, I could feel her pulse quicken. I knew she was going to be persistent.

Kris's scent and perfume burned my nose as I fought to hide my disgust I checked the time on my watch again

"I'll have to check my schedule"

That answer defiantly gave her more hope than I wanted.

I half smiled politely at Kris and she almost melted into a puddle right there at her sisters front door her cheeks were tinged pink as she looked up at me shyly.

"I'll guess I'll see you later then?" tilting her head to the side slightly, her blue eyes sparkled. blue eyes and eyelashes that matched her sisters

I give her a curt nod while looking down at her as she steps aside so I can finally take my exit. I didn't want to be rude, but I also do not have a single interest in Kris. I unfortunately am going to have to make it more clear.

" Later " I replied walking away

Once the door closed I took a huge breath to clear my nose of her scent. I don't know why it annoyed me so much. I walked down the walk way hitting the unlock button of my key fob in my pocket sliding into the drivers seat the leather groaning as I settled in pressing the ignition and pulling away. On my short drive back to my place I thought about how awkward it was that Kris wanted to go on a date, I mean the last we seen one another was when Rebecca and Dorian eloped down to Arizona to her family's Country ski Lodge to have a small wedding that was 10 years ago. Nikolai came with me for the formality's but the night before the ceremony Nik demanded Dorian speak with him. When Nik didn't come back with Dorian I knew something was up. Dorian's face was pretty fucked up, from what I gathered they got into a huge fight over his choice to legally marry Rebecca. That night when I linked Nik he said he couldn't stand by and watch as his brother made a mistake like that. Nik stood firm on his belief that humans and wolves weren't meant to be together that only the Moon Goddess had to power to decide if a human was worthy to be bonded to one of us. I thought it was a bit hypocritical of him since he was okay with seducing women for fun, but choosing to have a relationship with one was blasphemy in his eyes.

Has it really been 10 years since Nik has been gone? where has Krishna been up until all this? I thought twins were inseparable, as far as looks went they both have curly red hair reaching just below their shoulders, creamy complexions, blue eyes, average builds and both stood about 5'0 with curves in all the right places. Scent wise they were slightly different Krishna is Jasmine and amber, while Rebecca's is Cattleya orchid and amber. both of them having warm scents with matching undertones so deciphering one from the other took some time. I wondered how long Kris had been in the city and how long she planned on staying so I can keep a safe distance. I kept to myself when it came to Dorians life but after Nik took off I found myself around them more than I had in his past relationships. All the times I was around them Kris was always there, but I kept my distance. I plan on keeping up the same appearance. I didn't want the idea of me forming an attachment to the other twin to become a topic of interest. The chances of finding your fated mate is so slim but it's not zero so having to break things off with a human let alone the twin of the sister he was married to was to high of a risk to expose us. I pondered over the past as my face was twisted in thought as I drove the streets threw Seattle to get to interstate 5.

I pulled into my parking garage, once parked I locked my car and made my way to the elevator to ascend to the top floor of my Building. Not many people knew I owned this building since when I bought it I payed a little extra to keep the transaction and my information private if anyone came looking they wouldn't find anything linking me to it. The bell dinged at each floor. After the 20th ding I contemplated putting in my own elevator. The scents in here are nauseating.

My head warrior was standing against the wall next to my door as I walked up. I breezed threw the door way so fast that I didn't even hear Leo ask me how my night was. My mind was else were right now, I needed a drink and this tie was bothering me.

Once inside I had the whole view of Seattle that normally brings me right back down from a rough day but for some reason not today, not right now. My head was throbbing from the pressure sitting at the back of my mind clawing away at me. Walking over to the wet bar I removed my watch, the chain around my neck and my moonstone ring, unbuttoned my sleeves and rolled them to my elbow reaching for the bottle of 12 year then facing back to the skyline saving the 18 year since it takes a hell of a lot for our kind to feel anything from such a small amount of alcohol and I didn't want to waste the good stuff...just yet anyways. As I stood in front of the seamless glass windows that looked over Seattle my chest slowly started rumbling.

Dorian was dead.

He was gone, but the events of his mortal accident just puzzled me more. there was no way he should have died the way he did. His death was a perfect accident, almost to perfect. So perfect that nobody could deny the post mortem facts not even his wife. She is oblivious to the real truths that surrounded him, his death and the city we lived in.

The whiskey burned the back of my throat. I could feel my head coming out of the fog and anger was slowly taking over.

To the world Dorian was kind, educated, well dressed and with his slight accent made him undoubtedly a real eye catcher. His marriage could make anyone envious always doting after his wife making sure all her needs were met even starting a business with her. From the outside looking in his life was perfect. What you seen was what he wanted you to see nothing more, no extra shit. Dorian and Nikolai are my family we kept each others secrets even the dark ones. They are the only one's not afraid of....

My brows pinch together.

I remember when Dorian got the idea to enroll into Seattle University College I guess he was bored with the way our lives had become. He convinced Nikolai and myself that due to the changing of times we could no longer get away with not having an education. So with a few strings pulled we became Freshman transfers from a different college and spent every single day going threw the mundane tasks of being a college student while we studied for our various bachelors degrees. we even rented a small apartment together. That was of course before he met Rebecca and moved in with her during our senior year. Dorian choosing her over and over again drove a wedge between him and Nikolai. I believed for a long time that Dorian only did it to piss off Nik. I even tried to bring Nik around to the idea of it just making sense to humans that they move in together but he wasn't having it. Nik then proceeded to throw himself into dangerous situations causing attention and making a name for himself in the human community. Of course he had no problem asking me to sweep it all under the rug which I did willingly to keep us all protected. It was easy since damn near the whole city was in my pocket. After two years of Dorian and Rebecca being together it was clear that it he wasn't doing it to piss off Nik, I think Dorian actually loved her. My stomach dropped and turned to knots.

When Rebecca asked me to write a small eulogy for Dorian I was taken back that she picked me and not Nikolai. sure Dorian was my best friend but Nikolai and Dorian were brothers it made more sense that he did it. When I skillfully asked her why not Nik she simply said she couldn't reach him and her patience ran out waiting for a response. It didn't surprise me, Nik was elusive so you couldn't find him until he wanted you to. He really never let the fact Dorian choose a human as a mate go so I'm sure when he herd her voice on the voicemails he purposely ignored her. So I prepared the best eulogy I could for our Dorian. Being careful sharing words that simply describe my best friend, I made sure to use human emotion that it would appear to all in attendance in the room everything I said would convey as the truth.

"Dorian is my best friend and Dorian was a great husband brother and confidant. Dorian would have given the shirt off his back for anyone. His decision to start a business with the love of his life was noble and courageous. He was liked by all who met him and loved by all who knew him. He made sure his life was spent doing things he enjoyed and being with people who he loved. He was taken to soon. Dorian will be missed."

He is missed I hear mumbled in the back of my head

The double life that he so diligently preserved was now at risk of being brought to light and I knew people were going to ask questions, both supernatural and human. although having to pretend to be completely human was easy having so many years of practice. Though covering up for him might be a bit harder. After 800 years with the creature now I was suddenly questioning the life he lived. I mean was Dorian really loved by all? I know for 475 years or so he and I would say we weren't. We were the stuff nightmares are made of terrorizing lives while hunting down and eliminating the entire Pendragon lineage. almost 500 years is a long time to hunt but once the last Pendragon was extinguished we vanished into thin air. I convinced Dorian to lay low and live a semi human life here. We decided hiding among the humans while staying out of the history books by name was the best way to prove to Odin and Freja that I deserved my humanity. We fought in many human wars threw out history which made it easy to co inhabit among them, the women that warmed our beds threw out the 4 1/2 centuries. It was easy never forming attachments over the years because the one thing we could never give them was children. but Dorian one day took it upon himself to settled down with a chosen mate and went threw the motions of life with her. He only did it three times Rebecca being the 4th. I quickly decided being a Rake was a better option. I don't understand the point when we are immortal. Their fates were all the same, even though Dorian and I both have the power to change it by marking a human it meant they would become a Lycan, they would then share our DNA immediately extending their life for hundreds of years. Dorian never marked a single chosen mate though and I couldn't understand why he wanted to put himself threw loosing someone after growing to love and care for them just to slowly watch them die. how he could keep choosing that life was beyond my comprehension. The only time he gave me any kind of answer as to why his response was " I enjoy their human fragility and being in charge of protecting them becomes a daily task". After the second girl though he became involved with Vampire cults. I cant remember how many times I warned him that opening that door would be his undoing. He was risking them finding out about his human lover and using her against him. Instead of heeding to my advice he then decided to make me swear I would protect any chosen mate weather he marked them or not. I agreed, not long after though that's when my humanity over the years started fraying at the seems. Maybe he knew something by making me promise to look after them, because when the news broke about Dorian my first reaction was getting to Rebecca and keeping her safe. And that's just what I've been doing. Tonight is the first night she's not crashed here since he passed, and I cant help but feel guilt that I left her this evening without letting her know.

I removed the tie I had around my neck and un buttoned the top four buttons of my shirt. The fact everyone around me was so sad about Dorian Stone dyeing only solidified how good he was at keeping all the skeletons in his closet. This whole City was talking about his tragic death and how a beautiful soul was gone too soon. the video evidence of his car crash was on repeat for the last two weeks, the first week it included the countless rolls his car took then the second week it was only the car on its roof smashed to shit after it settled. the Media had been digging anything out to make big stories on his death and how innocent drivers like Dorian were victims of reckless driving. Reckless. Innocent people like Dorian.

If they only knew the truth. But the city being nearly Half human's and the other half, if not a little more being Supernatural beings we had to blend in with them. I could tell the wolf community was taking this harder than the rest and the media breathing down everyone's neck didn't help

How is it that the media knows how to spin a tale that can make even the ordinary extraordinary. His death though It very much had to appear ordinary. The wards placed threw out the city to protect our secret lives can only change human memories so much. The permanent residents are no exception so its up to me to give the city what they need to hear when things like this happen. Only the humans in the city don't know its being ran by a Primordial Wolf. As time went on ive made sure that the torch gets passed to another worthy successor of like mind. Politics are huge in this era the mayor and Governor are in "charge" of things on the state and city levels while I pull stings from the shadows were I have always lived. I rub my chin after taking a big swig from the bottle in my hand feeling a slight stubble from today I'll no doubt shave off in the morning.

Being alone makes my mind calmer. But I'm never truly alone tonight is no exception. I can feel tingles in the back of my mind so I make sure to soak up as much of the lulling silence in my penthouse before reality comes knocking. The stillness in my living room is welcomed from all the constant small talk at Rebecca's house for Dorians wake. Having to touch everyone's hands after Rebecca's mother Malinda introduced me to guests and the array of questions, comments and ogling of all her friends and friends of friends that ill never have to see again. Being forced to see things from their pasts and futures started to take a toll on me within the first hour. By far most annoying part was the the god damn constant touching and hugging while all their scents mingled in the small house made me quiet and grunting most of the afternoon. I had snuck out to the back yard periodically where most of the men had been hiding. It honestly was the only way I was able to stand being there for the whole thing it also helped me dodge Kris.

About time we came back home idiot I hear Fenris my Primordial wolf mutter and groaning as he stretches out his claws scraping at the veil between us

ah my ray of sunshine is waking up now, I frown as he is about to give me a lecture for all the shit he has to be shut out for, I don't usually keep him locked up in the dark but when I am going to be around a lot of humans I have to keep him away to save face incase he takes control and decides he wants to kill everyone.

SHIT! my eyes widen as I'm hit with another pang of guilt knowing Rebecca was left alone now with nobody but her nosey sister and over dramatic mother who from what I've herd and seen many times has a particular way of keeping her daughter's close at all times. She never let Rebecca out of her site all day at the wake, contently asking her if she was alright drawing attention to Rebecca every time. Today being the first time I met her I understood exactly why Dorian said he kept his distance from her, I felt something off when she touched me but it was more like a strong feeling I didn't actually see anything. The wanted to snap at her family during the end of the wake when they were quietly talking about how Rebecca got off easy since they didn't have any children she only had to mourn for a little while and not for the child's life. No doubt were they hinting to her childhood since Rebecca and Krishna lost their father before they were born. Dorian had talked to me in depth about her life, there wasn't much I didn't already know about her. I wanted to shield her from their venom but they were speaking low enough only the people involved and my wolf hearing was able to pick up what the conversation was about. If only they knew it wasn't Rebecca's fault she didn't have any of his children. Dorian came to me when he knew Rebecca wanted a family he asked me to remove it from her mind and replace it with anything else. Removing that biological urge wasn't permanent I could give it back but it would require my head to be close enough to hers while also touching her. When Dorian asked that of me of course I went into her mind for him but what I didn't tell him was I didn't remove her choice or want for a family I only locked it away just incase. removing a feeling or memory forces me to keep it locked away in my own mind and for some reason I just couldn't let Fenris be that close to apart of her like that. Dorian didn't stop at just my help in her mind, he made sure she couldn't physically conceive somehow he was able to poison her womb with some kind of herb he learned about to make from a witch in the 1700's. Although I doubt she would have wanted children with him once she found out what we were, not to mention the lengths he was willing to go threw to make sure she wasn't able to bare children. as far as I knew he never told Rebecca about us or anything even close to the truth. He even made me swear to never breathe a word to anyone, ever. Skeletons clawing at the door he kept so nicely locked away were threatening to break it down now that I was the sole possessor of all of them. I have to much other shit of my own to deal with and now I have to find a way to be close enough to Rebecca for a long enough time so I can give her back her life so she can live a normal human life and have normal human children with a normal human man. The perfect dream. shaking my head to banish all these dark thoughts. MY chest felt tight thinking of Rebecca.

Thank the gods she escaped with her life but sadly at the cost of his.

"quit brooding your making MY head hurt" Fenris grumbles

Incoming call

Natalie Vega

"Hello, Mr. O'Neill is this a good time?"

"its fine what do you need?"

" I was just wondering if you checked your email yet?"

"No I haven't gotten to it yet, what is there something I need to see?"

"The proposal from Mr. Romero he attached everything you need and says it urgent I'm sorry I wouldn't have called otherwise"

"she should have just sent a message instead of calling " mumbles Fenris

"I'm meeting with him at 10am tomorrow correct? I'll speak to him then after I look this over"

"uh yes sir that's correct, again I'm sorry for bothering you"

"Its no problem Ms. Vega is that all for tonight?"

"y-yes sir that's all, Sorry for bothering you I hope you have a good night!"

click. I rake my hands over my face I hate when she apologizes a lot I pay her to keep me on track that's what a personal assistant is for to call me when nobody else can reach me so I get important messages or make sure I'm still alive. I guess for humans "catching feelings" comes with the territory with their opposite sex even though she has no idea I'm not all human.

sigh

Leo is on the other side of the door I can smell him, Fenris alerts me

knock knock knock

Come in

"Good evening Alpha just checking in"

"Leo I'm relieving you for the night head home and get some sleep"

"Alpha unfortunately ill be staying all night, there has been a few persistent phone calls and an alarm trip this evening nothing to worry about as of yet, I just wanted to let you know"

I close my eyes tightly, and take a big mouthful of the whiskey I still have in between my fingers.

"its Laura isn't it?" as I turn to face Leo from across the room

"yes Alpha but I can assure you she wont be bothering you tonight though"

"I'm going to handle that. she has known for two weeks we are not getting back together"

"well what women would want to walk away from all this?" he chuckles

Leo gestured to me standing in my 2,100sqft penthouse suit placed at the top of a 937ft skyscraper building siting not far from the space needle with water front views and open floor plan layout, with seamless glass windows for pure breath taking views.

"Yeah who could walk away from this" hush you prick

I knew exactly what Leo meant, even though Fenris is an arrogant, egotistical asshole with a God complex, I was the one who built this place to be a statement and much to my recent distaste many women have been able to see it. Mostly in the early mornings as Leo walked them out never to come here again.

"well Laura was told it from the beginning it wasn't a long term arrangement"

"should I contact you if the issue persists?"

"no Leo use force if you have to, understand?"

"my pleasure Alpha, let me know if there is anything you need" he turns and walks out the door he came

what I need is a shower and to check on Rebecca, but its late and I don't want her sister to see I'm calling her.

mmmm Bec smells nice Fenris interjects

"yes, she does doesn't she"

"oh we are talking now?"

"sure I don't see why not" I chuckle at him

I can feel him push the veil away and come to the front and press on my skin making my chest tight and fur sprout on my arms

"Now now, Fen you know I had to, there were to many temptations today to just walk in there and let you be awake"

"That's BULLSHIT and you know it I have self control!"

"Self control? you fossil you wouldn't know self control if it bit you!"

" Well maybe if your temper wasn't as bad as mine we would make better choices!"

"oh now its my fault?"

Fenris goes quiet which usually makes me nervous but I guess after todays events and being locked down longer than I have ever done to him he just needs to brood it out

I set the empty bottle down on the counter just for it to slip off the edge and smash to the floor

I could have caught it but instead I watched it in slow motion drop to the floor my eyes glowing red as I slowed time down as it let me watch every single crack form on the glass as its own weight broke itself down

hmfp Idiot

I roll my eyes at my wolfs response just for him to growl at me for calling him a wolf temperamental much?

maybe before my meetings tomorrow I'll text her and see if she is okay.

As I head to my room for a shower leaving the bottle shattered on the floor in the kitchen has me thinking I really don't thank my staff enough maybe a raise will be in the cards this fall. I turn and continue threw the open living room and up the stairs passing my home office, 5 spare rooms ignoring the enticing scent from one of the rooms I finally made my way to our room. I open the door to our pristine designed bedroom passing the king size bed that is also over looking Seattle. I walk into the bathroom that is also a sleek design with cold features of black and white marble and stainless steel fixtures . I turn the shower on and walk back to the sink and brush my teeth while I go over in my head tomorrows list of to do's as the mirror starts to fog up lightly at the top.

I finish brushing my teeth blindly and as I'm turning to leave the bathroom and walk into my bedroom noticing I left the incident report and autopsy results from Dorian on my bed this morning I grab them and head to my closet and walk over to place the papers in the top drawer of a built in dresser to find the watch box from my first Rolex I wore today Dorian, Nikolai and I purchased matching ones when Rolex was released in 1957 we had no idea at the time how much of a fashion statement names would be by this time. I take it off my wrist place it in its box and close it hoping to never open it again.

Fenris stirs as I think of Dorian and he sighs heavy knowing he has lost his child again. That's right Dorians wolf was none other than Sköll. I head back to the bathroom but not before grabbing my pants to empty its contents putting my phone and wallet on a desk to charge when Dorians Talisman and Moonstone ring jingle in my left pocket I pull them out noticing his talisman has a hairline crack that is not noticeable with the naked eye. Fenris howls loudly in my head as I walk heavy to the closet again to put them in the top drawer under the Rolex box to be out of site out of mind. finally I make it back to the bathroom steam rolling out from the open glass walls of the shower as I walk I begin to strip off my briefs and my mind wonders a bit farther to the last time I willingly had a woman over. Stepping into the shower to clear some head space. Over the years the urge to bury myself in a woman has felt nauseating so I've been letting Fenris take over once I've had enough of them, fucking anyone that's not my mate makes my stomach churn. But I drink enough to get over the edge, it wasn't always like this for me though. I have an extremely large apatite when it comes to sex. But for some years now its just not been the same. I close my eyes and place my palms flat against the marble wall leaning and letting the water cascade down my back hoping it will relax me even a small amount.

in the next room Connors phone lights up

Incoming Call

Rebecca Stone

Missed Call

Rebecca Stone

35 minutes have passed as I dry my self tucking the towel around my waist exposing how sharp my Adonis belt is. As I enter my room the air from the hot bathroom to a cool bedroom made me sigh, the silk sheets waiting for me I smile sleepily as I drop my towel on the floor, I crawl to the middle and flop down with my entire weight pressing into my mattress. I exhale deeply with one eye open looking at my clock.

2:45am shit I better get some sleep