Adrian's POVI find Pippa at the paddock, leaning on the fence and looking at the horses. Like me, she ditched her church uniform, and she looks beautiful and fresh in her strappy top and shorts. She looks exactly as I remember her before we went on the run. She looks like my Pippa.Hundreds of wolves showed up while we were locked in the cottage, and Monty sent his procurers out to get vehicles. They returned an hour ago with buses and a variety of trucks and the wolves are all chomping at the bit, rearing to get going.I didn’t ask any questions about the vehicles. I am a Lycan King on my way to war, and I can’t afford to let human morals get in my way. I won’t let Caspian take us – not because I care about myself, but because I won’t see Pippa in the dungeon, dying a slow death as my mother did. “You about ready to go?” I ask my mate and slip my hands around her waist.It feels different to touch her now. Natural. Normal even. I’m not afraid that I’ll scare her or do something that

Pippa's POV “I have very little control, Pips,” Adrian says, his voice a little husky. “I don’t want to…hurt you.” “Why-” the word gets stuck in my throat and all I can do is shake my head. “You’re a virgin. If I get carried away…it won’t be fun for you.” “I trust you.” “Well that’s good to know, but I wouldn’t.” “Will it get better if we wait?” I ask. “Doubtful.” “Hm,” I grunt softly and take his face in my hands. “Then it’s like this morning right? Might as well get it over and done with.” “That’s romantic,” he says. I don’t even laugh. “From what I’ve read, the first time isn’t fun for women anyway. I have no illusions.” He’s stares at me in shocked astonishment. “God, Pippa. It’s not a punishment.” I shrug. Now that my wolf is quiet and not forcing me to do things anymore, seducing him is much harder. I try to summon River hoping that she’ll take over again, or at least help me a little, but she’s sitting in the back of my consciousness, purring like a satisfied house c

Adrian's POV “You,” I say and instinctively put myself between Pippa and the strange woman. I am trying, and failing, to wrap my head around what I'm seeing. I know what happened here, I know what she did and I know what she is, but how did she hide it from me? “Yes,” she says with a sweet smile. “I’m glad to see my potion helped.” Oh my God. Pippa drank that concoction of hers. What if she poisoned my mate? I'm so shocked and frantic that it doesn't even occur to me that Pippa would be dead by now if she were poisoned. “What are you?” I ask. “I am a Cambion…same as Pippa.” How does she know her name. I never told her Pippa's name. I didn't even tell her when she was in the lobby, pretending to be the owner of this ramshackle hotel. I don’t know if I should try to kill her, grab Pippa and run or thank her and see where this goes. “What did you give her?” “Something that works. It's different for Cambion. The mating ritual doesn't always kill us right away. Sometimes, it can take

Adrian's POVI am not sure what to do with Ryker. I don’t know if I can trust him or not. What bothers me a little is that I can’t remember him at all. As far as I know he never visited me in the dungeons and Caspian never mentioned him when he came down to torture my mother. “How long have you been Caspian’s Beta?” I ask.“From the start. We killed Carter and his Beta together.”I press my lips together and nod. “And you expect me to trust you?”“Of course not,” Ryker laughs mirthlessly. “But I hope you’ll give me a chance to earn it.”“Okay,” I agree. “Why don’t you start by telling me why I should trust a wolf who killed his own Alpha.”Ryker’s expression darkens and he shifts around uncomfortably. “I…I’m ashamed to admit this, but Caspian fooled me. Carter was crue and unjust…I believed Caspian when he said he’d be a better Alpha.”I nod and start to chew the inside of my mouth. He don’t get the feeling that Ryker’s lying, but just a week ago a succubus managed to fool me into bel

Pippa's POVAs they’ve done with the rest of the rogues that keep showing up here, the pack simply accepts the two newcomers. The other she-wolves immediately take Chastity under their wing and lead her away to get her cleaned up. “This is all levels of fucked,” I say.“Hm,” Adrian agrees. “I wonder why Caspian is suddenly so interested in his bastards.”“Don’t use that word,” I say without thinking.“Bastard?”“Yes.”“It’s just a word, Pippa. I don’t see them as any less just because-”“It’s an ugly word for a baby.”Adrian nods. “Okay, if you feel so strongly about it.”“Tammy said the reason you mark us is to see if we’re strong enough to bear your children.”“Yes.”“But…are all these women strong enough to bear Caspian’s children then? Chastity doesn’t have a mate mark.”“It’s because Caspian is growing weaker. Much weaker than he even knows, I think. Omegas can mate with just about anyone. It would be interesting to see how old these… illegitimate children of his are. I bet none