Helen POVI realized it as soon as I said it out loud: I was free the way Justin was now free. There were no chains to bind me. No rope around my ankles or zip ties around my wrists. The door was wide open with no guard to stop me.I could run out the door and keep running until I blended back in with the pack who I had left behind. No one here would likely come looking for me after what I'd done to Justin. His father, Alpha King Juden, had only threatened my life if I didn't seduce him---and I had done it."I'm free."Justin was still breathing. He seemed to just be in a very, very deep sleep. What if I left him here for his father to take care of him? Was there any way he could find me again?I hadn't even told him my real name. He thought I was my sister. Diana. No one would go running their mouth about me to him either because I was overlooked completely in my own pack as a mixed coat Tiger Lily no one wanted.My own fated mate had thrown me over for my sister.I focused on my shi
Justin POVCool air blew over my body and I wondered where the breeze was coming from because there was no window in my room.I was kept away from all possible means of escape. My father, The Alpha King, knew better than to give me a way out; my beast craved freedom almost as much as he craved sex with the virgin offerings sent to him with every full moon.I opened my eyes to see something completely new to me: the outside world.Since I was old enough to shift, I had not been allowed out of my chains or out of the mansion which served as my cage. My father didn't want to risk losing me to either instinct or pure power since my beast was stronger than any wolfen form.My body was clothed only in a pair of shorts I wore for the sake of modesty in my rooms. I didn't remember putting them on so someone else must have dressed me, moved me, freed me.[Mate!] the beast inside me roared.Yes, I had been freed by my mate.I could recall the moment my chains broke with complete clarity -better
Helen POVJustin! I stared at my mate through the veil of my hands, my body stinging all over from the debris thrown on me.How had The Devil found me!?My first instinct seeing the last Lycan before me again---was to run.I dismissed the urge as soon as it came through my head. His legs were significantly longer than my own and I had seen him move faster than me even while chained.The next idea which came to mind was to deny who he thought I was---who he believed he knew I was but did he know? Could he know?Lycans were rumored to have all kinds of gifts, but I knew his vision wasn't perfect in the gloom which we'd met in. The darkness inside his room had been almost complete.My heat had caused many of my own memories to be hazy. It was a fair bet Justin didn't have much more clear memories of me."Thank you for your help, Alpha!""Alpha?" he asked, looking at me in puzzlement as he crouched to join me where I huddled in the walkway, "I'm your mate. Justin. Did they strike your hea
Justin POVI wasn't sure why the female smelled so strongly of my mate if she wasn't my mate.There was none of my own scent remaining on her body which meant she had either bathed very, very thoroughly or she was telling me the truth: she was not my Diana, but, instead, Diana's treacherous sister Helen.I couldn't come up with a reason why she might lie to me; her fear was palpable as she encouraged me to go to the outdoor eatery to wait on her to retrieve my mate and hers. She seemed confused about her instructions until she retrieved her cellular phone.The call she made went to a messaging service. I was annoyed, but she seemed relieved. Again, I had no idea what to think of things. All I knew was this woman smelled so much of my mate yet not at all of me. How would that be possible?I'd bit my mate during the mating. I remembered my teeth sinking deep into her muscles and how I'd lapped at the wound until all the edges were fully sealed by my healing saliva.If I focused, I could
Helen POVThree waiters came out to the table with the bottles of wine -four of them in total, one I knew was meant for me while three were there for Justin- alongside the wine glasses which were stacked into an intricate pyramid.They made sure the glasses touched just so on their edges before pouring the bottles of wine one flight at a time. The bottom layer was a deep red cabernet sauvignon, while a rich merlot was poured into the glasses atop it, and the third flight at the peak was made up of a beautiful Malbec imported from Argentina.I asked for the Malbec for my bottle because I knew it was a fine wine---so I thought it must be lower alcohol content because why would people drink a fine vintage only to become drunken fools?Justin didn't seem to have ever had wine in his life. He asked so many questions the waiters were all offering him suggestions as they finished the challenge set-up.I could tell from the looks he was garnering, he'd captured their affection as easily as br
Helen POVI couldn't bear it if I was rejected a second time. My second chance mate was better than my first fated mate had ever dreamed of being---if he left me, I'd die from a broken heart or I'd throw myself off a mountain one.Death would be the only tolerable option if I couldn't have Justin with me again.My breasts were full, aching. My nipples were stiff peaks against his chest. His hands squeezed my ass as he ground his cock against the wet pulse at my core. I locked my ankles over each other just as he claimed my mouth with his own.Our kiss was hot enough to set the world on fire; I didn't care who was dancing with us around the bonfire because Justin had lit me up inside, holding me together only long enough to bask in the feeling of me burning down in his arms.Every breath was saturated with heady wine; I'd never known wine was something to be savored before.Malbec seemed to be a drink with a subtle hint or rich red fruits, passion, and a smoky essence I associated with
Helen POVJustin kept me speared in place with his strange, golden gaze until I must have completely lost my mind.One moment I was crouched beside my naked lover, enjoying the burn of muscles used to excess the night before; the next moment my body had shifted into that of my wolf, Joy, and I was racing through the forest as fast as my four feet could carry me.I didn't pause to think or look back to see if Justin was going to follow me. I knew I had most likely stolen his beast from him which he couldn't help except hate me for doing.My heat must have come over me a second night. That was the only explanation which made sense to my overheated, overtired brain.I couldn't process a world in which I lost total control of my inhibitions to nearly mate with a Lycan in front of my village then to literally mate my Lycan in the forest on the ground no better than the animals we were on the inside.Why hadn't I been able to control myself? What was wrong with me? Was it the wine? Was it a
Helen POVMy parents were staring with their mouths open while my sister laughed outright, clapping her hands as if I had presented her with a new toy. I knew Diana was going to say something terrible before she even spoke. I only wished I could warn Justin, but all I could do was look at him with pleading in my eyes.[I hope he doesn't decide to hurt her,] Joy thought and I tried to tell Justin to keep himself quiet with my expression."YOU got a second chance mate?! Oh this is rich! I can't believe it! Does he not own any clothes? I think that's the towel we use to rub down after shifting. It smells very strongly of wet wolf."Justin, to his credit, didn't do more than raise a brow at my family. I was balanced on a razor's edge of anxiety waiting to see if he would explode all over them in rage, but he didn't!"We met during the full moon," I explained as simply as possible."How?" my mother demanded.I could tell from the stubborn look on her face she was going to insist on an expl