Lachlan and I walked alongside one another down the dock beside his personal ship. I used to walk here frequently in the past. I stared up at it as we walked by his ship, wondering what it might be like on board. I had never set foot on it before. I’m wondering if it is much like Jack’s ships I’ve grown accustomed to. “What a lunch, huh?” Lachlan says, bumping softly against me. “I know. I’m sorry about that.” I was the one who invited them to eat with us. I feel bad for extending the offer in my naivety. “You shouldn’t be sorry, Lira. Everything was calm and peaceful until he decided to change that.”I grimaced. “I’m sorry because I feel like I shouldn’t have invited him to be there in the first place. Poor Joe. He was even left abandoned after Jack chose to leave for whatever reason.”Lachlan scoffs. “The boy was indeed put in an awkward position. Don’t worry too much. Cherum is taking him to the warrior training grounds now and showing him the ways to become a warrior.”“Really

Jack POVStupid, stupid, stupid. I can’t believe I acted so stupid. Beretta was right. I didn’t want to admit it. I didn’t want to see the proof of it. There is no denying it now. Not after I behaved so badly. My Ela isn’t my Ela at all. She is his. She was the one I angered. Not the alpha who has far more composure than the rumors suggested. She was the one who got angry at me.When she growled at me, I felt my heart shrinking inside my chest. The cold sweat that broke out on my skin had me itching for a drink. I wanted one, but that young lad earlier had already pointed out to Ela before lunch while they were on the beach that I had been wetting my lips more than I should have this morning. I couldn’t take out my flask. Not in front of her. Not while she was defending the man that was proving to be my greatest adversary at every turn. I thought her mate, her husband, would be a lesser man than me. I had hoped it was so.It seems I was wrong. So wrong. Just as wrong as I had bee

Cedric POVThis is intolerable. Absolutely intolerable. Why? Why did I tell him yes? He has been trying to get me alone all day, and now I’m reduced to hiding in the servants' bathhouse, simmering in a hot pool of other peoples’ filth to prevent the man from tossing me over his shoulder and hauling me back to his room to complete what he has wanted for so long. To mark me. When we snuck off this morning together while Alpha Lachlan took over training the warriors in Meldec’s place, things got a bit heated between us while floating in the sea. We were swimming alone near a hidden beach on the other side of the cliffs, lost in one another as we teased and splashed in the shallow depts. Our fooling around and innocent touches turned into not so innocent touches. He would caress my fins in their most sensitive areas, especially my tail. I would move my tail into his bare pelvis, a thrill shooting through me seeing the impressive reaction he had to me.All it took was one look and I w

Elelira POV “Lira,” a deep, rough voice whispers into my ear, making the tiny hairs on my neck stick straight up as sparks move under my skin. “It’s time to get up.” I groan, rubbing my face against his chest, trying to cling to sleep. I have never slept better than I have in the past few weeks with Lachlan by my side. It’s become the norm for him to coax me awake like this every morning, because all I want to do is stay in bed and let the soothing comfort he brings me give my body the rest that it hadn’t had in so long. “You’re going to miss training,” Lachlan urges me, amusement thick in his voice. “So,” I mutter. I roll away from him with a groan when he laughs. “You pouted for the entire day the last time I didn’t get you up for training.” I felt his arm snake around my waist. I melt against him, the sparks soothing my disgruntled attitude. “I love seeing you pout. If you really want to sleep in, I’ll let you sleep.” I groaned, pushing the blanket down my body. “Fine.” D

Jack POV“I told you not to ask,” my beast hisses at me, worried about the fragile peace I already have between myself and this pack. He did tell me to drop it, but I had to get it out. I had to try one last time, or I would regret it.At least I thought I would. I feel a different kind of regret now, though I don't know how to interpret it. I don't think I'm ready to. What I'm ready for is a drink. I need to wet my lips desperately now.I reassured Ela that I was still more than willing to take on the task of going to defeat her uncle. I want him dead too much to let my wounded ego deter that. It’s personal for both Ela and myself, just like it is for most of my crew. All our lives would be different if not for that bastard Wayne. I would be every bit an alpha on land as I am at sea if it weren’t for him, with my mate by my side, not having to face the constant torture of guilt and shame, and the ache of loss. Wandering back towards the beach, alone, since Ela left me in that barra