Andrei The video plays. I knew instantly, it’s Kayleigh’s birthday getaway, in the mountains of Colorado. One of my favorite memories. A memory I consider a dangerous drug to reminisce. “Andrei. That’s in Colorado. At the mountain resort.” Kayleigh bows her head in embarrassment. Blush runs across her porcelain cheeks. She steals another look at Cillian who is currently throwing dagger stares at both Kayleigh and me. “I know. I’m sorry.” I’m left with no words to say. I gaze at her to sense her emotions but she averts her eyes and peers at a fuming Cillian, instead. Frankly, I am caught off guard and puzzled. My choices are to let the video continue playing and have everyone witness Kayleigh’s little rendezvous with me. Or go ballistic, break the laptop to stop the video, but risk getting punished for my violent actions and stay a night in isolation at one of the manor’s rooms. The latter is not ideal because of my need to shift into my hybrid wolf form every night. Judgin
Cillian It’s been two days. Two days since the last time I held her in my arms. Two days since I last saw her devastatingly beautiful face. Two days since my heart went numb from the anguish she caused me. Two days that I’ve been dying repeatedly every time the video of Kayleigh and Andrei plays on repeat inside my head. Two days that I’ve been coming to the patrol rest house to hide and avoid Kayleigh during the days and only going back to the manor at nights. Two, fucking, long days drowning in the abyss of heartache. And I know it’s just going to go downhill from here. “Boss. You, okay?” Gunner cuts in my thinking and self-pitying. “I’m fine.” “Well, if you’re fine, then maybe, now is the day…” “The day for what?” “That you eat something and take a shower, maybe.” “I shower every day, asshole.” “Just kidding. Here, have some beef jerky. Your bones are starting to stick out.” “I’m good. Not hungry.” I do shower regularly, I just lost my appet
Kayleigh “I’m pretty sure, The Seer’s vision of a rising powerful werewolf points out to Kayleigh. What could be more powerful than an Alpha Luna? The looming wolf war, that’s no secret. But the two wolf-pups that would unite enemies… Kinsley’s baby… Who could be the other?” Gio has been relentless trying to figure out who’s carrying the other wolf-pup. We’ve been discussing The Seer’s reading from two days ago. In all honesty, I do not want to revisit any memory from the tribunal because they all lead to the most painful one. Discovering that Cillian got Kinsley pregnant. I never thought that all our dreams of building our future, with our family, little pups, and traveling around the world together were reduced in a puff of smoke in a matter of minutes. I have never regretted something in my life until I was faced with the video of Andrei and me, canoodling like lovers, in the mountains of Colorado. I have no excuse. I should have been more mindful. I should have been more fai
Kayleigh “Gah! Just talking about it is draining me.” “But at least you have Andrei. He seems to be stepping it up. Big time. I’ve always been team Andrei, just so you know.” Very true. Gisella has always favored Andrei over Cillian. “Yeah, that’s right. It’s been really nice having someone I can rely on other than you and Gio. I feel like I take up too much of your and your twin's time. Andrei has been a big help. With the blood thingy and just about everything. He'll be at your place for dinner, if that's okay. He just had to meet up with his dad about some pack issues, I guess." Since the tribunal, Andrei has been constantly checking and taking care of me. “Yeah, that’s fine. Nikolai will be there, too. Also, you know, it's not a bother for me and Gio. We love that we can help out. By the way, I heard Andrei is being considered for the arranged marriage deal. With Cillian being out of the pool, Fathering a pup and all, Andrei is the most eligible alpha heir for the task. A
Cillian “What the hell, Cillian. Why are we here? I said to drop me off at my home, not at Gio’s place. Are you deaf? Let’s go.” She groans as I pull over in front of Gio and Reagan’s place. Gio and Gisella, being the rich wolves that they are, were able to rent these posh rentals sitting right next to each other. They have their separate apartments. Their homes are pretty neat and are located in a secluded area, on top of the hill, overlooking the Gasconade River. “No, Kensington. You’re going to do this for me. I stuck with you and covered your ass from your dad. Do this for me or I swear to the Moon Goddess, I’m going to drop you like a hot potato.” My stern voice lets her know how serious I am about this favor I am asking of her. “I told you, I can’t. I have to be somewhere tonight. I have some cravings!” She sighs and pouts. “Like what? Didn’t Reagan get you a bunch of beef jerky and all sorts of dried meat this morning?” “Yeah, but that’s not the only cravings I
Cillian “What now?” Gio grits his teeth, his jaw tightens, looking infuriated. “Oh, hey. Is that how you greet your new brother-in-law? Why all the hostility? Aren’t we all family now? You, me, Kinsley, and the baby. We owe it all to Reagan’s marriage to you. So now, we’re here to show solidarity and support.” I swallow hard as I make a light conversation with my new brother-in-law. “No, thank you. Get your faces out of here before I make you.” Gio scans my face. “Come on, man. It’s about time we get to know each other. How about I order some pizza or Chinese food? What do you say? Aren’t you at least a bit curious about Reagan’s people?” I bit my bottom lip to keep myself from bursting into laughter. Gio looks like he’s about to shit his pants in annoyance. “No. I’m not. I don’t fucking care that you’re her brother. You’re still the asshole who made Kayleigh cry. Get the fuck out of here.” Shit. I was worried he’d bring up something like that. He is overly protective of Kayle
Cillian The second wolf-pup --- that alone is a conversation starter. Kayleigh and I have been careful, we've made sure to always use protection. Well, except for once or twice that we were too consumed with our lust and passion. But she said we were on her safe days those times. “Think, think, Cillian… you sure you’re not hiding anymore baby-mamas?” My infuriating brother-in-law interrogates me like a freaking litigator. “What the fuck? I told you, not me.” I cross my arms across my chest and lean on the side of my vehicle. “Well, I don’t know. You told me you were committed to Kayleigh, I almost believed you. Well, until Kinsley’s pregnancy. So… who knows how many other wolf-pups you’ve fathered?” “Fuck you!” “Hard pass. I only reserve my dick for your sister.” “Dammit. That’s disgusting. But no, pretty sure no baby-mamas.” “Except for Kinsley, right?” “Goddess. I can’t wait for you all to learn the truth.” I mumble under my breath, “Truth about what?” Gio narro
Cillian Andrei growls, loud enough to startle Kayleigh. She pushes me off from her body, probably guilty that she didn’t try to stop our kiss sooner, or that she received my kiss with zest. I catch her wrist and tug her back towards me, but fail. “You and I, we’re far from over. You know it. I know it. Fucking Andrei knows it.” I say in a voice that almost sounds like I’m pleading. Maybe, I am… pleading. “It’s too late for those sentiments, Cillian. It’s too late.” “No, it’s not.” “I’m declaring Andrei as my chosen mate at the Moon Festival on Saturday.” Before I could respond to her, Andrei takes forward strides. He’s coming for me. I turn my whole body to face him. Powered by rage and a broken heart, I dash to the hybrid with a plan to finish him today. We run towards each other but I twisted around before he can land a punch on my body. I elbow his back, between his shoulder blades, and the blow throws him on the cemented pavement. I’m fuming in anger. How