Alissa groaned, her head feeling fluffy and odd. She worked her thick tongue around her mouth that felt dryer than an overcooked chicken. Rubbing her eyes as they felt heavy and glued together trying to unstick them. Nothing felt right. Cracking an eye open she could barely make out where she was. It was light, bright like sunlight but the room was dark walled. A figure moved making her sit up, regardless of how she felt. “Easy, lass.” A hand on her shoulder had her struggling away. “Get off!”“Lass, it’s me, it’s Malachi,” a deep, Scottish laced voice announced She stilled. “Malachi? What are you

Malachi rolled his shoulders as his footsteps echoed down opulent hallways. He knew where he was going even without the wolf leading him. He’d been here many times, sometimes a visit, sometimes being summoned. Today… well. It was different. He inhaled deeply before stepping into a room, seven chairs lined up on a platform. As a pup he strived to be sat on one of those chairs one day, now, he had no wish. “Alpha McBayn, it’s a pleasure,” the High Lykos greeted. Malachi’s stomach rolled. Sure, a pleasure. “I come bearing the news that your… request,” he spat the word, “has been carried out.” He lowered his gaze a little, not really wishing to look at the men before him. But he couldn’t for long… he had to act within expectations.Expectations he always hated. He wished he was back on his boat. Away from all these shitty politics. Rufas frowned, “Request? What do you mean?” he asked.“Alpha Luca Wuffaman along with his pack have been removed,” Malachi swallowed the bile swirling in

Alissa wrapped her baby in another blanket, she was worried about the upcoming journey and hated the idea of leaving her home country. “Ready?” Michael asked, Peta balanced on his hip. Alissa looked to her bags and nodded. “It's going to be fine, we're going to love Canada.” Alissa suspected this was for her benefit as well as Peta's.  “Intruder.” Malachi came into view. “You have to leave now, someone's coming” panic flooded through Alissa, she grabbed a bag as Michael dropped Peta to the floor and picked up the others. They threw the bags into the car and placed the pups into the back seats. Alissa happened to look to the edge of the grass, seeing a honey wolf appear.  Alissa began to run, she pounded her feet against the gravel then grass. She flew at

Alissa heard a familiar voice shouting below, she ran to the stone bannister looking down towards the four men wrestling the new comer. Alissa gasped and ran down the stone steps, taking two at a time. She leapt into his arms, the wool blanket slipped from his shoulders as he wrapped his arms tightly around her waist supporting her weight. “Michael,” she breathed into his shoulder. “I thought you were dead.” “Close to it,” he muttered. They embraced like their lives depended on it, tears of relief streamed down their cheeks. “Get the man some clothes,” Malachi's voice barked behind them. Michael released Alissa, it was then she realised he was naked, she blushed and averted her gaze. He looked down to her, taking her in properly. “The baby,” he gasped, a panic

His hand fastened tighter over her mouth, preventing any breath to escape. She wriggled and struggled in his hold only for a panic to blind her as his other hand came up, his fingers pinching her nose. He was going to smother her. She stamped her feet down, struggled and fought with all her strength. She shook her head, desperate to get his hand dislodged enough for her to suck in a breath.She would not die today. Black crept into the edges of her vision so she struggled harder only for her head to spin from exertion with no oxygen. She stamped her foot down, landing squarely on his but it didn’t release his hold. He was infallible, regardless what she did nothing was working. She was running out of time. In a last ditch attempt, she threw her bo