Troy I fought with the monster that lived inside me. I hated him, hated what he remembered, the things he made me feel, and I couldn’t stand being awake when he was. It was easier just to fade away to sleep as I sometimes did when my wolf surfaced. All I wanted to do was to protect Quinn from the monster. As soon as she was out of there, I’d let him go so I could sleep again. It had been years since he woke up but I hadn’t forgotten the things he had done, the evil he was capable of doing, all the pain and suffering he had caused. The moment Quinn walked into the basement, I woke up and I started wrestling with the dark thing inside me, doing battle with myself so I could get her out of there safely. I finally managed to do it properly when he got ready to strike her. “Get out,” I hissed through clenched teeth. “He will kill you.” Quinn’s eyes jerked open and she gave me a look so filled with sadness and understanding that my heart tore to pieces. I never wanted her to know. No o

Troy I left Quinn next to the pool and went back inside. Doctor Jacobs wanted to come by with her blood test results, and I had a hundred others things I needed to get done before the full moon and our visit to my father. Sighing, I went into my office and started to go through the mountain of paperwork accumulating on my desk. Who knew a life of crime and debauchery came with so much admin? I picked up my pen and started to sign the contracts for my legal businesses, then went through my sports book and accounts. Simeon would double-check my work, but I had gotten so good at it that he rarely needed to correct me. It was nearly time for lunch when Doctor Jacobs knocked on my door. “Come in,” I said and started to gather the scattered folders on my desk. “Hey, hey,” Doctor Jacobs said and walked up to my desk. Something was up with him, despite his attempts to keep his tone of voice lighthearted. I could see the tension simmering right under the surface. “Doc,” I replied and got

Troy I ordered a fresh round of drinks and I sat back while I watched Quinn try, and fail, to talk to Caroline. Whatever Donovan did to Caroline, clearly had an impact and she went out of her way to avoid Quinn. After half an hour of chasing her through the club, my dejected mate returned to the table. “Now she suddenly won’t talk to me.” Quinn huffed and picked up her wine. “There was a time I begged her to leave me alone, and she never would.” “Donovan probably ordered her to stay away from you.” “It wasn’t her fault. I provoked her. My actions were uncalled for.” “I know, I heard, and it was totally called for. You need to tell me why you want to help her so bad.” “I wish I knew.” “Are you going to let this go?” Quinn shook her head at me. “It’s like…I have this nagging voice in my head, telling me that we need to get her out of here.” Shit. Understanding dawned like lighting hitting me. Everything clicking in place like puzzle pieces. “Your talents are emerging along with

Quinn I stayed in the hospital until the morning of the full moon. Serenity kept coming back, every night at the same time, to continue our healing sessions. Every time, I wished for death. The last one was the worst, and I told Troy that I wouldn't do it again. I'd rather die. To my utmost relief and surprise, Serenity agreed. The city was in an uproar, and most people chose to stay home while the police searched for the bomber of Club Ninety-Nine. On the morning of the full moon, they came by to question Troy and me. He tried to prepare me for the interview, but I was a twitchy, nervous wreck by the time to detective shoed up. Troy did most of the talking. He was just vague enough not to give the existence of werewolves away, but still answered as honestly as he could. “My fiancée’s grandfather has a grudge against her family. Look him up. Xander Shelby. I’m sure you’ll be…enlightened by what you find,” Troy told the detective. “Do you expect me to believe Miss Maree’s own grand

Quinn“Uhm,” I stared at Troy.Was I supposed to say something back? Something with the same depth and meaning as the words he just said to me?“Do you accept me as your mate?” he asked, a small smile playing around his lips.“Uh- yeah.”He chortled, a soft throaty sounds that sent a shiver down my spine. “Say, ‘I Quinn Siobhan Maree, accept you, Troy Bailey, as my one true mate.’”“Only that?”“Hm-hm.”“I, Quinn Siobhan Maree, accept you, Troy Bailey, as my one true mate.”Something happened. The air around us flexed, wrapped us in a protective bubble, removing us from this world. Nothing outside our bubble mattered. Only this. Only us.I felt it. Our souls weaving together, our destinies intertwining, our hearts uniting, the thread that bound us together growing into an unbreakable bond.Troy shuddered and his eyes flashed in the darkness. Then he gripped my upper arms, leaned over, and viciously bit into the soft spot just below my collarbone.The pain that shot down my right side