I licked my lips and managed to call out, "Josephine, you have to get help. I... I think Natalia might be dead and I’m pretty sure my leg is broken.""Aww, now isn’t that a shame," Josephine said as she carefully picked her way down to me. She dusted off a rock and sat down, cocking her head sideways and staring bemusedly at me. "You know Hailey, I’ll never understand what Killian sees in you.""What?" Josephine's words took me by surprise. Natalia might be dead, and she was just sitting there! "Josephine, you’ve got to check on Natalia. She might still be alive and if we can get help in time,""You’re so...so ordinary. Boring. Why he ever agreed to be mated to you is beyond me," Josephine continued, ignoring my plea for help. "Oh well, you’ll be gone soon and then I’ll get him back. He always comes back. Guilt can work wonders on a man with a conscience."Realizing that Josephine wasn’t going to do anything to help Natalia until she’d had her say, I tried to focus on the conversatio
I stared at the carbon copy of my mate, unsure of what to say. The strength of his muscles was evident by how the material of his clothing stretched tautly over his body. Dark, faintly damp hair hung shaggily over his forehead and there was the faintest curve to his nose as if it had been broken at one point. His mouth was firm and set in a straight, unyielding line. It was amazing that the man could look so much like Killian at first glance yet exude such a different aura. Killian was strong and caring, while Viktor was...dangerous? A part of my mind acknowledged that the rocky, uninviting atmosphere of the ravine seemed to suit him, and I found myself reassured to know that, by Josephine's admission, he was not the psycho rogue wolf that I’d been led to believe. However, he was still an unknown quantity and needed to be treated with caution. Clearing my throat, I gave the lamest greeting possible while Josephine stared in shock and disgust surprised by his unexpected interventio
"No Killian don't!" What happened next was a blur of movement. Killian leapt towards his half-brother and Viktor jumped back, phasing into his wolf form even as he moved. In the blink of an eye, the two males were engaged in combat, growling and biting each other, while I clung to a tree trunk, watching in horror as the situation dissolved into a primitive battle. It was a terrifying sight, yet some ancient part of me thrilled at the idea of the powerful males clashing in battle over me. my heart pounded and blood rushed through my veins. Shaking my head, I tried to suppress the feelings inside me and clear my thinking. I wasn’t some animal waiting to be won by the strongest male! This was barbaric and I had to stop it. Frantically, I looked around for something that could be used to separate the two, but of course, there was nothing to be found. Returning my gaze to the scene in front, I stood transfixed. Snarls filled the air as teeth flashed and claws slashed. The two were equa
I awoke, my senses immediately informing me that I wasn't in my own room. The surface beneath me was too hard, the sheet too scratchy. I felt... numb, as if drifting on a cloud. Was I dead? I hesitantly opened my eyes, wincing as the bright light assaulted my pupils. A large expanse of white greeted me through the veil of my lashes. Hmm... No, definitely not dead, unless the afterlife had a crack in the ceiling plaster. And I certainly wasn't at home. My bed wasn't this uncomfortable. The infirmary? Possibly. Licking my dry lips, I tried to swallow. A bad chemical taste assaulted my tongue, and I yearned for water. I glanced down, hoping for a glass of water by the bed, but something pulled at the skin on my throat. As I lifted my hand, I felt the gauze that was there and tried to recall what had happened.A slight rustling sound drew my attention, and I cautiously turned to see Killian sleeping in a chair beside me. Dark circles under his eyes gave them a bruised look and stubble
His jaw tightened as he thought about the situation. "It’s all my fault. I should have believed what you told me, what everyone tried to tell me over the years, but I guess I didn’t want to hear it. In some ways, Josephine was like my little sister when we were growing up. Later, I thought there was something else, but it was familiarity and a misplaced sense of responsibility. I know I should be sad that she’s gone, but I’m not. The Josephine I thought I knew never really existed." I wanted to ask more questions, but Helena arrived and shooed Killian outside while she delivered medication, checked my leg, and fixed the dressing on my neck. Helena was efficient, but in my opinion, had no bedside manner. I endured the woman’s fussing by watching outside. Killian was talking to someone, just couldn’t see who. From the look on his face, he wasn’t pleased. Hitching myself up in the bed, I earned a scolding from Helena but gained a better view of the activity outside. he was talking...
Oh no! My relationship with Killian was finally on solid ground and I didn’t want anything to upset it. "Viktor, don’t tease him like that! Killian, I don’t know why he’s behaving this way." My gaze darted back and forth between the two men. "Don’t you, Hailey?” Viktor mocked. "I’m starting a new pack. I need a female and you’d suit me just fine." Gasping at his boldness, I struggled to my feet and placed myself in between the two, my back firmly pressed to Killian chest. I could feel it starting to rumble. "But you’re his brother, part of the pack. You can’t claim a pack member’s mate!" I hoped he was joking. There was a glint in his eye, which made me think he simply had a weird and ill-timed sense of humor, but still... Viktor reached out towards me as if to grab my arm and pull me away from Killian. His gaze was hot, and he seemed intent on having me, no matter what the consequences. Suddenly, he veered his hand off course and flicked the end of my nose. "Gotcha!" He burst ou
Viktor's pov Grease smeared my hands, even after I scrubbed them with a grimy rag. Pulling down the hood of my beat-up truck, I tossed the filthy cloth into the overflowing garage bin. "Filter's changed, Ben. Anything else?" Ben Miller glanced up from the counter, his gaze lingering on me a beat too long. "Nope, that's it for today. Thanks for coming in, Viktor. You're a lifesaver." "No sweat," I shrugged, shoving the greasy rag deeper into my pocket. "Extra cash is always good. My new house is a bottomless pit, apparently. Needs new plumbing already." Ben scratched his neck, studying me with a furrowed brow. It wasn't the first time I caught him doing that. Why a young guy like me, Viktor, would choose to settle in a one-horse town like Stump River was a mystery to him. Not that I hated the place, but its limitations were glaring. Zero nightlife, just the dusty saloon and Wednesday night bingo at the church. The closest city was a two-hour drive away. Young people fled Stump Ri
Relief flooded me as Edward, the distinguished gentleman at the B&B, ushered me inside. "We're glad you made it safely, Ms. Watson. Follow me, and I'll show you to your room.""Adriana, please," I chirped, flashing my most winning smile. A hint of a smile played on his lips in response. "Adriana" wasn't exactly my jam, Ria was more my speed, but men seemed to fall for the whole "Adriana" thing, and a wannabe hard-nosed journalist like me wasn't above using that to her advantage."Melody, then," he chuckled. "And you can call me Edward. Follow this way." Score one for Ria, I thought smugly as I trailed behind him. My professors had drilled it into our heads: getting on a first-name basis with interview subjects was key to unlocking their secrets. Edward might not be a formal interview, but I wouldn't mind gleaning a tidbit or two.He led me to a cozy room, and as I thanked him, I caught him stealing a glance. I knew exactly what he saw: a five-foot-four frame that defied the "short" l