Five Years Ago: Kylar’s POV
I just wanted to be closer to her. She stood up, moving away from the crowd and I feel the lurch of my wolf, Sabre. He wants to be with her, to scent her wolf. To taste her. It’s a feeling I can appreciate. She’s wearing a light green satin dress. It falls from a halterneck exposing the curve of her spine and sitting perfectly above her waist. I want to rip it off of her. But I temper the impulse. I follow her, watching as she weaves through the crowd like a ghost. Moving through it so easily, her slender frame vanishing between the heaving mass of people. Something I find more difficult, my shoulders bumping into a couple as they whizz past. I don’t care. I feel focused, like I’m walking into a skirmish. Hairs lifted over my arms and tickling the back of my neck. She’s alone. Stood by the bar, focused on the waiter who can’t help but notice her too. Maybe she doesn’t see the way his eyes flick over her beautiful face then, down to the swell of her breasts. But I notice. Sabre growls a warning at the bar staff, but it’s far too busy for the man to notice. Mine, Sabre wants to rip the man’s head off for looking at. I force him down again. I can’t take my eyes of her as she waits, shifting from foot to foot. Her gaze is distant, focused on the trees. There’s something sad about her. Something that makes me take a tighter grip of Sabre, encouraging him to calm. He whimpers, pacing. Damnit. Her shoulders lift in a sigh and she turns to look across the dancefloor. It’s not like she’s crying, but there’s something in the way her soft lips are pressed together. A surge of protectiveness washes over me, stronger than the waves of lust I’ve felt since setting eyes on this woman. I didn’t think that was possible. I’m not normally someone who acts on lust. I don’t pursue women. I don’t have time for a relationship. I’m never around, and whatever partners I’ve had in the past, they get bored waiting and they stray. But I see her and I feel like something has grabbed hold of me, and it’s holding tight. Maybe I could be around for her. This is fucking ridiculous. I pull up beside her at the bar, and I’d do anything to wash away that sense of sadness that’s touching her aura. I want to make this woman smile. I tug at the knot of my tie, pulling it loose. Here goes nothing.‘It looks like you want to get away?’She’s startled, but she turns to look at me. It’s like a punch to the gut. Up close I can see the flecks of amber in her chocolate coloured eyes. She’s so beautiful, with a pointed, stubborn chin that promises that she’s trouble. She’s determined and maybe even a bit feisty. Mate! Sabre shouts again and I shove him out of my thoughts. Whatever is going on with this girl, I doubt she’ll react well to being dragged away by a possessive wolf. I want to get this right. When she agrees to follow me, I don’t hesitate. I take hold of her hand, the small fingers lost in my own. She’s warm and my heart rate is going into overdrive.Every primal instinct screams at me to take her, to mark her and make her mine and I fight it. It takes all my focus and effort to hold onto my thoughts, to control the wolf within. Years of practice come in handy, Sabre has saved my neck more times than I can count. But with all his recklessness and impulsivity, I’ve learnt to temper his demands and think my way out of a tight spot. The last thing that the Silver Stream Pack are going to want is me taking a mate in the middle of their dance floor. Before too long we’re out in the woods and the scent of her hits me. Soft and sweet, vanilla mixed with something just a little spicy. She’s attracted to me. I look back at her. I can hear her uneven breath, see the pulse flickering against her neck, even in the dark. I can feel my body tighten, blood rushing to all the right places as I turn to face her. She followed me and I still can’t believe it. But looking down into her face and those wide dark eyes, I can’t help but wonder if she feels it too. This burning sense of destiny. Sabre is brushing up against her wolf. Rubbing against her neck and he’s growling, low and possessive and whoever her wolf is, she’s loving it. I can smell her arousal. I stare down at the woman who reaches my shoulder and it feels right. This is the face I’m meant to see for the rest of my life. I don’t even know her name. But she doesn’t answer my question, when I ask for her name. She’s braver than I thought and her hand lands upon my shoulders. Sparks of lightning move through my body. I feel the heat of my erection start pressing against my fly. She kisses me. For someone that looked so sad, that seemed so nervous to be standing with a stranger, she’s kissing me. A small part of me is suspicious. It’s not like I don’t have enemies. I can name a dozen wolf packs that might want me to be compromised. But this feels right. She lingers, and I can sense the shift of her weight, she’s going to leave and I can’t let that happen. I take hold of her and take control. I kiss her. Hot and hard and hungry. My hands are lost in her hair, stroking over her body. I want all of her at once, and at the same time, to take my time. But she struck a match when she kissed me and now we’re burning. I don’t want it to stop. Every breathy little gasp and moan is fuel to the fire. My mystery woman begs me not to stop and it’s more than I can take. She’s light, easy to carry as I pin her to the nearest tree. I need my hands. I need to touch her. I grab her behind and groan against her mouth as she responds. Her skirts are hitched up and I can scent her more clearly, that definite bead of arousal and desire, spurring me on. My cock is hard, straining against my pants and I can’t get close enough, quick enough. But I’m fighting with myself, telling myself to take it slow. That taking a stranger roughly in the woods, isn’t the way to start a relationship. Fuck. I really am losing my mind. I’m rocking against her, and we both want the same thing. She makes another one of those little groans and I’m lost. This is insanity. ‘Keep making noises like that, and I’ll have to take you now,’ I kiss her hard. Teasing her lips until their swollen.‘Do it,’ she dares me and my heart just about stops. I draw back, staring down at her ‘Take me,’ she breathes and I bow to kiss her again.I grip her bottom again, turning her, laying her down on the soft summer grass. The smell of it fading behind the scent of her. The sweet sadness of her aura mingling with her desire as she wraps her arms around me. Her hands are on my chest, dragging out that deep, primal protective nature again. Something I didn’t know I had in me. I’m a warrior. I take orders, and I protect my pack. I’ve never been known for a softer side when it comes to strangers.I smooth my hands over the lush curves of her breasts, stroking back and forth till her nipples are pulled into pebbled points. My lips are against her neck, kissing, sucking and gently grazing with my teeth. I want to sink my canines into her skin. Every light nip is as much as I dare, a game in denying myself. Sweet exquisite torture as I taste her on my tongue. I reach up, pulling free the bow at the nape of her neck, seeing the halterneck of her dress unfastened. I’m kneeling over her hips, looking down into eyes that reflect the night sky and the blood red moon.I’m not a horny teenager anymore, but I’ve never wanted someone so much. Sabre has never been so determined to take another wolf. I can feel him clawing at me, restless. Demanding that I sink into her body already. But I draw down the fabric that covered her breasts and bend to press my mouth against the strapless bra. The lace matches the panties I can feel against my groin. I work it with my tongue till it’s wet, and push it roughly back and forth over her breasts. She arches beneath me. Hips lifting against my crotch. It’s more than I can stand. I bend, tugging at the heel of my dress shoes to see them discarded. Lost in the bracken. There are little white flowers poking through her hair. She looks like a goddess, surrounded by stars as she lays in the grass. Lips parted, eyes half-closed, but she’s watching me. I burn under that gaze, unfastening my belt and then my pants. I shove them down my legs. I can’t remember a time I got undressed so quickly.My cock is swollen so hard it almost hurts. I run my hand over the tip, and it beads against my fingers. She gasps, lips parting. Tiny pink tongue extending to touch the corner of her mouth. I meet her gaze and she holds it, swallowing. I want to taste her. I can feel the wetness that is pooling between her legs, it’s rubbed against my pants already. The lace was no real barrier. She reaches out, daring and bold and ever so sexy as she catches my hand and pulls it towards her face. She extends her tongue again, this time licking the bead of desire from my thumb. Is she some kind of witch? I’m lost, totally, utterly under her spell.I forget that I wanted to lick the soft skin between her thighs and I let Sabre take over. With a growl I’m bent over her. I kiss her again. Hand curled tight in her hair, holding her still as I ravage her mouth. I pull aside the soaked white lace of her panties, and feel her soft, slick and hot against my hand. I line myself up and force myself to breathe, to pause. To give her the final choice. But she grips me tight, her fingers curling into her hips as she makes a soft plea against my neck, sending shivers down my spine.‘I want this,’ she whispers, and my last thread of doubt and sanity are stripped away as I slide within. Forever lost and bound by my choices.Ava’s POVI didn’t know that sex could feel so good. A tiny part of me worries that it’s just because this man is a stranger. That I’m enjoying the thrill of risk. But I know it’s more than that. His hand is on my hip as he pushes slowly within. My body is tight, walls clenching around him as I gasp. He feels hot, hard and enormous. I gasp, adjusting to the size of the man, feeling myself stretch in accommodation. There’s no pain, only a delicious sense of fulfillment, a strange completeness. He pauses, head bowed against my collar, his breath against my skin. Is it possible to love a stranger? He’s waiting for me, I know it, I can sense it. I can feel his care and consideration as the muscles beneath his skin are tightly bunched. The same hesitation before he joined us. I turn, kissing his cheek. I know he doesn’t want to hurt me. ‘I’m alright,’ I murmur against his skin and feel the ripple of desire shiver over his skin. As though all the muscles tighten for a heat beat before rel
Ava’s POVI’m lying in his arms, wearing his dress shirt. It was getting cold despite the summer air. I guess it’s pretty late. The boom of the distant party has stopped echoing through the forest. I can still hear people talking, but it’s a quiet murmur punctuated by the occasional ring of laughter. But we’re in our own world, and it’s perfect here. Beside the lapping waters of the river, still pink in the moonlight. I was dozing, naked upon the grass with his arm wrapped around me. But he noticed he was cold and sat up. Without a word he was on his feet, and stretched up with a smirk, retrieving my panties from where they’d hooked over one of the branches. I would have blushed, but I’m too tired to even feel embarrassed right now. Too tired and too caught up in the moment that I never want to end. Even as I tell myself that this is crazy, and he’s just a rebound. Seren huffs at me and I ignore her cynicism. She thinks that it’s more than just a one night stand, but my heart hurts f
It’s dark when I wake. His arm is heavy around my waist, protective and comfortable. I should be this comfortable with a stranger, but I can’t deny my own sense of peace. Of safety in his embrace. My face is pressed against the grass and I stretch out, slow and aching from a night under the stars. He doesn’t stir, only breathes heavily against the back of my neck. It’s kind of cute. But I’m struck with the strangeness of what I’ve done. Never, I never imagined that I could have sex with a strange man, nor that it could be so good. What does that make me? Does it mean something about who I am and what I enjoy? I feel anxiety, worry and imagine the judgement of a thousand eyes looking on.I remind myself that I’m a consenting adult, and I don’t owe anyone anything. I shouldn’t even feel guilty about Josh, but some part of me does. I’m panicking and I know it. I’m easing away from my handsome stranger before Seren stirs and can stop me. Because I know she would want to stay. To meet the
Ava - Present DayHe’s just as gorgeous as I remember him. Maybe even more. He fills up all the space in the doorway, blocking out the light. I can’t breathe and I’m scrambling, desperate for something to say. I’m a professional damnit. I’m a doctor, and a Mother and as much as I try to cling to my identity. I’m thrown back to the night that we met. Mate, he growled and heat hits like a bucket of scalding water. Washing over me like a wave. I open my mouth. I’m lost for words as I turn and do the only thing I can. I run. I retreat back through the cabin, realising too late that there’s no exit. I’m not going to crawl through a window. I might crawl through a window!The heavy tread of his footsteps follow me. Echoing on the bare floor boards. Unless I really do jump through a window, I’m trapped. Grown woman, I tell myself. I’m a grown woman. I need something to excuse my behaviour so I grab my empty coffee mug and spin back around to face him. ‘Empty!’ I announce and shake it, littl
With the Wolf Pack village falling away behind me. I slam off the music, the sexy throb of the song doesn’t really suit my mood. I’m panicking. I can feel it in the tightness of my chest, my racing heart and sweaty palms. Midnight Forest is going to be my home. I know that. I can feel it in my bones, in my soul. But how can I live there, with him?Unless I leave? The idea sees me slow the car down, foot lifting from the peddle. I can’t breathe. I’ve been away from other werewolves for so long, I don’t want to give that up. I stop the car, leaning my head on the wheel. I want to raise my kids with other wolves. I want them to know their heritage.I don’t want them to know their father. A small voice whispers, why not? I grip the wheel and set off again. I can’t be late to collect them from kindergartenl. The village is a good thirty minute drive down country lanes until I reach the nearest human town. I pull up, scrambling out of my car, slamming the door behind me.My boys are stan
AvaHow I’m going to keep the existence of my twins a secret, I don’t know. It’s impossible, I realize as I drive back to the village. So I can’t. At some point he’ll realize that I have children. The village isn’t that big and it’s not like I can hide from him. I can’t shake off the memory of that Alpha energy either. So chances are, he’s important to Midnight Forest Pack. I pull up outside the house the Elders put aside for us. It’s cute, with three bedrooms upstairs and an open plan downstairs. I know the second I walk through the door, I’ll be tripping over the boys' toys. I’ll feel compelled to tidy up, so I turn straight for the Medical Centre instead. The house will have to wait. I’m still wearing my skinny jeans and a worker’s shirt over a long white vest. I roll the sleeves up, climbing back up the steps to the cabin, taking note of all the cobwebs that cover the overhang. I grimace, I’m not the biggest fan of spiders, but I’ll have to take a broom to that at some point so
KylarAva. After all this time, I finally have her name. I watch her vanish through the door into the back offices of the medical center. It takes all of my willpower to stay and not follow her. Sabre is growling at me, and I shut him down. She's afraid of me. She flinched when I reached towards her. Dr Ava Green is doing a good job acting confident and she’s brave enough to challenge me. But she’s afraid.I push Sabre away more firmly, kicking myself as I hear Ava moving around in the far office. My feet are burning, eager to follow her. I don’t want to let her out of my sight again. But I’m a grown man, and I could kick myself for my behavior this morning.Seeing her for the first time in all these years, was an assault to the senses. Elder Marie asked me to help the new Healer set up in the rundown medical center. I’m between mercenary assignments at the moment, enjoying my downtime back at the Village. Seeing my niece and nephew, Kate’s kids. I never imagined that I’d walk thr
KylarLuca is a pain in the ass. He’s been a pain in my ass my whole life. He’s a best friend that’s more like a brother and he’s saved me more times than I can count. I’d lay down my life for him, in an instant. But for the first time in my life, I want to punch him out. I want to rip his throat out and I’m glaring at him. Sabre’s growling, low and throaty hackles raised. Luca’s and Tandy are staring at me in shock. Tandy reaches out, touching the back of my arm and I flinch away as if she’s burnt me. ‘Woah, Kylar…’ her voice is soft, the calm but firm tone she uses when someone’s had too much to drink. But everyone in the pack knows better than to mess with Tandy, her wolf is bigger than most and her bite is one of the worst. She could have been a part of our mercenary unit, but insists she’d miss being home. I push away from the bar and pace across to the pool table, buying myself time to calm down. I take a drink. Focusing all my attention on not snapping the plastic bottle