Leila POVHearing Marcus’s banter with my brothers warms my heart and I feel as though happiness is radiating from me, that everyone around me must be able to see it and feel it. He fits in here. Another powerful shifter, well able to put it up to my family, and strong enough not to be threatened by them.Much as he likes to pretend he doesn’t enjoy spending any more time with people than he absolutely has to, I know he likes them in his own sort of gruff, intolerant way. And he has taken good care of this pack of wolves since he arrived, even though he gives out about them at every opportunity. He and Rex are very alike, stern and serious most of the time, but with a heart of gold. He bonded with Cooper over a mutual protectiveness of Hayley, and I know there is nothing but respect between them over their respective parts in watching over her when she first landed in Grey Ridge.And as for Nathan, I think he finds his antics frustratingly entertaining. It’s like watching the bold beh

Marcus POV“Hayley’s Luna ceremony,” I spit out, speaking the vile conclusion that everyone has come to, but nobody wants to say out loud. It’s either that or the wedding. Cooper snarls in my direction, but there’s no real heat in it. He's pissed off at the situation, not me.“Anyone have any other ideas? Any that don’t involve dangling my human mate in front of him like a carrot?” He brushes a hand back across his messy brown hair and looks at each of us one by one, hoping desperately, but not really expecting, that someone might have come up with a better idea. But he's met by silence and furrowed brows.It’s the best opportunity we have, and he knows it. As Luna of an allied pack, everyone would expect Lucia to attend, along with her father, Alpha Anderson. And what with both Hayley and Cooper there, along with the entire Jones family, surely, it’s too good of an opportunity to pass up. It would be hard to resist trying something while everyone that he hates most are gathered in t

Marcus POV Fairy lights have been draped along every imaginable surface, tree and building around the packhouse, and there are pillars and urns spilling over with masses of pure white flowers. Marie has outdone herself; the lodge and the gardens look magical. The entire pack is patiently waiting for the ceremony to begin, so we slip in the back and hurry to the front row, where the rest of the Jones family is seated. Before we sit, I make a show of pressing a kiss to her forehead and holding her tight, while I scan the area, looking for signs that anything is amiss. Everyone is on edge. I give Leila’s hand a quick squeeze as her anxiousness seeps into the bond. Nobody knows what’s going to happen, even if something is going to happen at all, but we’ve baited the trap as best we can, and now we wait. They’ve purposely left security lighter than they have done over the last few weeks, under the pretence that they want as many wolves present at the ceremony to welcome Hayley officially

Marcus POVLeaning back against the bar, I wait for my whiskey. Normally I’m a beer drinker, especially if I'm out in the town that I'm in charge of, but tonight I’m feeling on edge. Hopefully, this will help. The party is getting a little wilder now. These crazy wolves were obviously just pretending to be civilized for the duration of the ceremony. As the moon bathes the wide-open space in its calm reflective glow, the volume of the chatter and laughter rises, getting more and more raucous. I cringe as I see a barmaid filling a tray with shots of tequila and carrying it out to one of the tables. I’m glad I won’t be the one cleaning this mess up in the morning.Cooper strolls over and leans across the bar to place his order. He rests his elbows on the counter and sucks in a deep breath, eyes closed. Steadying himself. He looks exhausted, and this is as close as he’ll get to taking a break from the dancing and the socializing for the rest of the night.“How do you cope with this?” I as

Leila POV“What the hell was that?” Toby whispers incredulously, rubbing his sore head and staring blankly out the windscreen at where the giant bear had been standing only seconds ago. I’m still looking around frantically, hoping to see his animal’s large brown form lumbering into the trees, when the drivers door is pulled clean off its hinges with a loud screech, before being flung across the road. A large tanned hand reaches in and grabs Toby by the front of his slightly grubby blue shirt. His arms flail out in front of him attempting to grip onto the steering wheel but it’s already too late. I gasp in shock as Bodhi leans down and with one tug, snaps the seatbelt and hauls him out the door. I blink in disbelief and look at his now empty seat. Did I really just see that happening? He was gone so quickly it was like he was never there. I shake myself from my dazed stupor and scramble out of my seat, moving quickly around to the back of the car where Bodhi has Toby pinned against th