ANDREW POV That dinner was an utter disaster and everything I hoped to accomplish backfired in my face. How can Simon think they’d be mates? Has he gone fucking insane? ‘You should have been nicer,’ Demitri, my wolf, comments from the corner of my mind. Scolding me for the millionth time tonight for my behavior. ‘Meh, meh, meh, meh, meh’ I mutter back with the roll of my eyes, not really wanting to listen to his supreme wolf judgement. ‘You’ve become a real dick lately, you know that?’ Demitri shoots back with a growl. Walking across the lawn, I climb the front porch steps, walking into the Alpha’s residence, finding my way to the kitchen. “Back so soon?” Matt drawls from the bar stool, where he currently sits eating a bowl of cereal. “Your master plan didn’t work? Shocker!” He taunts, as he crunches on another spoonful. “And how’s your plan for Charity working out?” I snarl back, each syllable like the lash of a whip. “I wonder if Fletcher’s plan is any better? We can call him a

NORA POV “Beautiful,” I whisper, my fingers running through his soft fur, completely mesmerized. The two of us in a world of our own. A subtle hum coming from his chest. “Are you purring?” I ask, a small smile splaying on my lips while Viola matches his cadence with her own. The wolf's onyx eyes meet mine, his tongue sticking out before it runs along my cheek. Sparks electrifying my skin along the trail as a squeal leaves my lips. I can’t remember the last time I laughed so purely, but it feels right and insanely easy. My legs cramp, so I stand as the wolf rolls over, a whine leaving his chest, watching my every move. I don’t know how I know, but I can tell that he is nervous I am going to leave. The fear I once felt at being in these woods evaporates like water on a hot summer day. “Don’t worry, I am not leaving you,” I tell him as I stretch out my legs. Viola pouting over the loss of contact. A wolfish grin overcomes his face as he pops onto four paws, prancing around me like a

XANDER POV Ares, my wolf, circles impatiently while I pace in front of the cabin door, waiting on my Beta to hurry his ass along. Staying true to her word, Alpha Elle has provided a space for my rogues. A part of her community that is no longer in use, that my collective is busy remodeling. What started as a mutually beneficial partnership has turned into a genuine friendship with the Alpha couple. ‘I swear if that buffoon doesn’t get his ass down those stairs,’ Ares growls, his patience quickly running out. ‘I will go up there and drag him down.’ “Can you stop looking at yourself in the mirror now?” I call up the stairs, as Fletcher appears with a devilish grin on his face. “What’s the rush, buttercup?” he asks, as he comes down the stairs, giving me a little wink and his patented smile that leaves girls swooning. “We’re late,” I remind him, touching my watch before turning toward the door, grabbing my keys from the hook. My hand on the knob, ready to walk out the door when he o

NORA POVViola hasn’t stopped whimpering or pacing since I sat down in the den with Charity and Elle. Only half listening to the banter between the other women in the room. My ears focused on overhearing Xander’s silky smooth voice traveling underneath the doorway.Each second that passes without hearing him feels like absolute agony. I barely know the man to be reacting this way, but regardless of how I try to stop it, I can’t.“How are you liking Silver Run so far?” Elle asks, her weird bi-colored eyes boring into me like she is trying to peer into my soul.“It’s beautiful,” I return, keeping my answers short and sweet, still unsure on how to take the Alpha, and her mate, Damon. Viola’s keeping her impressions of the two close to the vest, but Xander’s distractions aren’t helping.“How is it staying with Simon and Theo?” Charity asks, tucking her knees underneath her feet.“Great,” I say with a smile, unintentionally relaxing into the seat. “We haven’t gotten into a routine. It was v

THEO POVPRESENT DAY -THEO’S BEDROOM.Tears sit in my eyes as I retell Nora of the second worst day of my life. She remains speechless, taking her hand in my own, sympathy and understanding in her eyes.“I am sorry, Theo,” she responds, grabbing my hand and giving it a squeeze. “You deserve better, and Andrew is missing out if he cannot see that.”“Yeah, well…” I shrug, slightly defeated. The plan I created is turning to sand, slipping through my fingers and blowing away in the wind.“But I am still not understanding how I fit into this whole scenario…?” She questions, her memory loss slightly concerning…She wasn’t that drunk when I had spent time with her. Nor had a lot of time passed since I saw her on the patio, and her being found in the bathroom by Elle.“I am getting to that, but I want to clarify a few things first.” Shifting my body so I can face her, taking both of her hands in mine. “I know I have been extra handsy, especially around others.”Questions are swirling on her ton