CALIFF She was like drugs. Addicting. I couldn’t quit. Her little stunt made me hard. Then she decided to walk away. Did she really think I would just let her go because she said so? She should know by now that I was a greedy asshole. “Shut up.” I smashed my mouth against hers, dominating her. I instantly felt home, her warmth, the sensation, and the softness of her lips. Every cell in my body tingled. My cock went steel-hard. No matter how much she tried pushing me away, I knew she couldn’t deny her desire to get fucked tonight. And she could just use her super-enhanced strength to slam me against the wall and escape the shower room. Instead, as if she couldn’t get enough of me, she gripped my hair tight, my scalp stung, and the pain sent a spark down my balls. A fresh load of adrenaline rocketed through me, lighting up the fire inside me. We may be both exhausted, but at least we slept satisfied. I moved my lips against hers and slid my tongue into her mouth, tasting her.

CALIFF “Do I look okay?” Everlee looked at herself. We went for a quick shopping last night. Right now, she was wearing a blue dress. She always looked beautiful and sophisticated, and she shouldn’t have doubted herself over her sense of fashion. Mason had always dreamed big for his unica hija. That was why he approved of her relationship with me, but having lunch with the Lycan royalty and the King who saved her mate intimidated her or could be one of her dreams, and she wanted to look nice. “You look beautiful, babe,” Calder said, who wore a two-piece dark Italian suit. “So, are you guys ready?” My gorgeous mate just walked downstairs, which took my breath away. She chose a simple white midi dress, which never looked simple. It popped out the color of her hair and eyes with an irresistible sparkle. She complemented it with white shoes and a clutch. “Aren’t you gorgeous?” I kissed her forehead. “So do you, Alpha.” I wasn’t supposed to buy for myself, but they forced me to do s

SHADOW The lunch went well. Zarah left home for a meeting with the High Priestess. The least I expected was to sit next to Everlee, let alone laugh with her, but in the shallow and ambitious woman I used to know, there was her sweet and thoughtful version. I saw beforehand how she took care of her mate. She was once Califf’s woman, so she should not be around me. I should despise her more for her father’s betrayal and marching to our compound to kill me, but that was in the past. She seemed to have grown so much. She wasn’t the bitch I used to know. In fact, watching her suffer before her mate hurt me as well. “Hey.” She stood at the door. “Thanks for this.” She looked fantastic in a new black party dress. “You’re welcome.” I coated my eyelashes. I’d watched a lot of tutorials but still couldn’t perfect it. It shouldn’t be complicated, but I still did a terrible job. “My father has a lot of money and doesn’t mind me spending a few dollars of his wealth.” “He seems a good father.

CALIFF “Who would do something like this to her?” Margaret looked at Everlee. “The right question is why?” Everlee blinked at where she tossed out her inquiry. “Then why? She did nothing wrong. Why is she targeted?” “Because of him.” She pointed at Sebastien. “And she’s powerful, and when she masters her gift, she can be indestructible, and her father is well-connected, and she’s the heir to the throne.” “And just like her parents, she’s a threat to the werewolves, witches, and the Lycans because it had been thousands of years since a Queen ruled the Lycan world, and Shadow was an easy target.” “So it’s her fault that she’s born to royal blood? That’s unfair.” Everlee swallowed hard and began crying. “I was just dancing with her—” Calder pulled her in his arms and hugged her. “She’s gonna be okay.” “I don’t think so, Calder. She’s getting paler, and she’s barely breathing. She threw up but hasn’t woken up.” “I want the name.” Sebastien’s voice was deadly, with no hint of emot

CALIFF Sighing, I looked down at the tray full of food. I was losing all the hopes I had. If there was one thing I kept holding on to and never let go, it was my marriage, and Shadow remembered me— us. Given that she hated me and the anguish— I saw it in her eyes. And that meant something— she still felt something for me. Hope surged deep inside me again despite everything we went through. “I’ll go first.” Zarah went ahead in the hallway. I followed her and stayed behind the wall. “So you’re still here,” Shadow said sarcastically. “Oh, right. You’re sleeping with His Majesty.” “I know you’re hurting, Shadow,” Zarah told her calmly. “You don’t know what I feel. You haven’t—” “Lost someone dear to me? I do, Shadow. I’ve lived long enough to watch my parents die, and my brother die, and everyone I cared about. The men I loved and your mother, and the reason why I distance myself from everyone, from your father, because I’ve endured so many heartaches in my life.” “So you want pi