Adrian M. Knox.There it was again...that word, 'Alpha'. He had once again managed to convince her, as a clean slate, to call him in that way. Christ, was there ever a time when he detested his title like now?"Ru-Ruby, wait!"He called as he arrested her wrist forcefully to pin her in his arms."Let go!""Let me explain."His voice sounded desperate, but he wasn’t asking.“You truly do not have to.”She dismissed.“No, I do, please.”He whispered in her ear, and her body shuddered against his.“Let me explain.”His words came off sultrier than they should. He hadn’t had much of a sex drive for the past month—since the hotel incident, but he could easily envision pinning her to the wall and spreading her apart for his pleasure.He could envision pouring himself into her to erase all traces of the scum she said she was with. He wasn’t within his right to feel jealous, but his wolf growl seemed to come through despite his stifled anger at the memory of her words."Explain what, exactly?
"Who is Elaine?"The question slips from me once the two are done briefing each other, and the ride proceeds.It was whispered, but due to the silence inside the car, he still heard me."Elaine is my mate.""Oh...will I meet her?""I was hoping not, but it seems she is still in town. She is waiting for the university intake.”"Oh, she is quite young then. Uh, you must be proud of her. Most wolves aren't gifted academically."He chuckles."I was.""Was?""She betrayed my trust."Silence hangs in the air after his soft words. I want to ask more, but truthfully, it feels as if it is none of my business.An argument between mates is known to bite the interferers in the ass, so I should stay out of it.I should, but…"Am I her replacement? Is that why you came to Chrysalis? Because she betrayed you? Am I supposed to make her jealous or remorseful enough to redeem her in your eyes?"Shit, I shouldn't have asked that."No."His answer is quick, too quick for any relief to find me.“Alr- ”"B
"The snow is starting to pick, Adrian. Do you think it's such a good idea to head into town like this?" "Don’t ask me that; say that you are worried about my driving skills." He responds cavalierly as again the car swerves slightly on the icy road. "You keep losing control of the wheels!" "There was a stray bunny the first two times!” He defends loudly—is it possible for him to be a bike expert but poor at driving? "We have a perfect driver at home. The man we came with." He doesn't respond to my reply; merely smiles. “What are you smiling at?” “You said ‘at home’.” I almost roll my eyes; did I never use the phrase before? Again, I turn my gaze outside to the snow-covered trees that we drive past. Anything feels safer than staring at the road as he drives the truck poorly—it makes it worse that the snow falling doesn’t seem to lessen in intensity. "Do I have any friends?" I ask as I contemplate turning on the radio. "You do, unfortunately." "Unfortunately?" I question.
"Is there a furnace in the room? If there is one, I can take the couch."I offer to her question on sharing, but Adrian shakes his head adamantly."I'll sleep on the couch; you take the bed."He offers."Sweet of you, shy lovers, to assume that there is a loveseat in the room. We traded them in for single sofas just last week.""Fuck...."Both of them turn to face me and my potty mouth."I...meant that in my head, not... sorry."I mumble the apology when all else fails."We’ll figure ourselves out."Adrian utters as he takes the offered keys and places his hand all too naturally on my waist to guide me."Dinner is at six. Do you prefer room service or dining with the rest of the guests?""We’ll dine with everyone.""Lovely, you can dial the front desk to change at any time. Don’t forget to bring your clothes to the front desk for laundry. You should get them by the door tomorrow."“Right. Do you offer any sweatpants?”I ask, recalling that neither of us had a change of clothes.“Yes.”
"You always did have a way with your tongue."Adrian utters in a cold tone that matches his face poorly."Are… are you crying?"I ask as I near him, my hands raising on their own to cup his beautiful and wet face."You died in my arms... how can you expect me not to cry."He whines before pushing into my unconscious embrace.For some reason, he feels like an innocent child with tears streaming down his face…I don’t...think I have seen a man cry before; and for him, I only felt his tears.So he really did cry.I do not know why that makes me happy; perhaps a sign that I do not only come with the flavours of misery."You realise your cock is still pressing against me as you cry? I mean, pick a-"'Struggle', 'pick a struggle' is what I mean to say, but tears cloud my eyes at the unfamiliarity of the moment and the slight whimper and sniffles coming from his throat.I should ask what happened with Dominic so that I find out if he also has his memories, but instead, I lean into his warmth
Adrian M. Knox.The scent of watermelon and red wine burned itself in his lungs the more he pressed her closer to him—it was dizzying and delicious; even her blood that hung onto his teeth held the taste of refreshing watermelon sangria.His hands that gripped her back slid down to the curve of her ass to lift her so he could swing inside her more easily.She was so warm and tight that he couldn’t envision a more perfect fit for his length, so much so that his pace picked without his conscious attention; the only thing that irked him about her the moment was the hoodie she had on; he needed to get rid of the grey-A dull sting pressed itself onto his shoulder, but he could barely feel the pain until he turned to her and noticed the redness of her teeth, then the tears brimming her eyes as she clung on to him as if he were her last breath.She bit him like a little vampire—adorable, simply, exquisite—everything about her remained exquisite. If only he had known about these sides of her
Ruby Mallory Clive No…Adrian. My racing mind dizzies my vision before a sense of nausea washes over me. The scent of blood is so repugnant that I can feel my mouth water in preparation to hurl, but I can't! I mustn’t! "Adrian..." I utter with trembling lips; even the goddess knows it is not the snow's chill that quivers them. I dare not touch the appendage, lest it be useful for evidence, but instead, I rush up the stained steps to fall still at the sight of Leon and the Alpha outside the blood-stained house whose door has been torn from its hinges. Leon holds the Alpha to keep him from entering the house that looks as if it were decorated for Halloween, especially with the several body bags being loaded into a dark truck with tinted windows. The two of them break into a passionate-looking argument that Leon controls with a forced hug to the much larger framed Adrian, whose back begins to shake as if he is weeping. He has been crying a lot of late, but this time, I cannot help
"You- you sent them to Adrian's mother?"I ask Elaine, finding it wholly impossible to maintain a straight tone that doesn't show my disbelief, but even the rage in my bones at her stupidity causes me to stand.Her gaze escapes mine as she takes a step back."She dead because of you? If you are angry, attack me, fight me! Don’t send my parents to kill the Alpha’s loved ones all because-”A loud scream escapes me.“You clumsy bitch, what did his mother ever do to you?"The shock on Elaine’s face looks genuine.Yet, despite that, I can’t help but want to scratch her face off. She has the nerve to detest me and call me the daughter of a murderer when she is the one collaborating with the man who killed her father.What is this hypocrisy?"She isn't dead. They just took her somewhere safe. To-""Are you three years old? When you tell an evil fuck a weakness, do you expect them to nourish it? Adrian’s mother is dead; her body was torn limb from limb. I saw her hand, I saw the body bags the