NORA POV “Doesn’t Nora look like a badass assassin, Xander?” Elle asks, breaking us out of our moment, as we drop each other’s hands, blushes crawling across our cheeks. “No,” Charity chimes in, a similar grin across her face. “She looks hot.” Repeating her previous comment, a conniving grin on her face. Her obvious tease doesn’t stop the growls from three overbearing males. Sending me playful winks, the girls’ giggles roll across the field until Xander’s deep, honey voice stops them. Shivers spreading over my skin at the sound of it. “Nora, is all of that and more.” A blush spread across my cheeks, meeting his intense stare, and before I know it, I am slipping away all over again. “Alpha?” Fletcher’s voice interrupts us. Without missing a beat, both of us turn to him with a growl. Raising his hands, “Sorry, damn,” but his trademark smirk still exists as he glances between us. “But….uh…” before his pupils gloss over in a mindlink. Apparently, whatever they need to discuss in priva

THEO POVWalking through the forest, all I can hear is the sounds of Andrew’s gentle breaths. The sound of our footsteps in the fallen leaves is the only noise I can distinguish. I am trying not to let my heart thaw, as I hold the orange paintball gun he gifted me.A stupid gift means nothing when he doesn’t love me back, and if he thinks it does, he’s naïve. Who does he think I am? ‘It is beautiful,’ Cerberus whimpers, my wolf already forgiving Andrew’s conflicted feelings. The weak bastard.‘That doesn’t matter,’ I argue with the roll of my eyes. Can this lovesick pup be serious? ‘Repeat after me. We cannot be bought.’‘No,’ he says assuredly, ‘you cannot be bought. I, however, am amenable to the arrangement.’‘Your pathetic,’ I sneer, but a part of me can’t stop the thaw in my heart at how close he stands. His scent of eucalyptus and mint wafting into nose, making me dizzy. Even with the anger, and awkward silence,“Are you going to ignore me all day?” Andrew questions, interrupting

XANDER POVAres and I have been on cloud nine since this morning. I swear it’s so powerful I am glowing, while a rarely seen grin sits on my face. Nora’s number is scrawled on a piece of paper safely tucked in my pocket. Her boldness in giving it to me in front of the others still has a blush sitting on my cheeks.‘It’s hot,’ Ares growls, both of us still worked up from the kiss on the field. Taking everything in my power to restrain myself from making her scream my name in the middle of the field.Shaking my head to quiet the thoughts, and get rid of the raging boner forced into these snug jeans. Taking the stairs into Fletcher and I’s cabin two steps at a time. Racing to get inside to plan our date on Monday…maybe Simon could help me? The old bastard, having helped with every other “date like” moment we’ve had….why stop the tradition?Turning the handle into the home, Ares starts rattling off different ideas and menu options. Both of us are so distracted and pumped up on adrenaline t

NORA POV PRESENT TIME— MONDAY MORNING- DATE DAY The alarm doesn’t need to buzz for my limbs to spring from the bed like an energizer bunny. A type of joy bubbling in my heart that I haven’t felt in a long time….Maybe since my parents have been alive. Yesterday was agonizing. Even one day without Xander felt like a century. It slightly worries me I am falling this hard and fast for a man I barely know, a man that has secrets, a man who has a temper. I know I shouldn’t, but it’s too late. I thank the Goddess Elle had the forethought to bring my hairstylist here. The timing couldn’t have been more perfect, as Saturday night was supposed to be a wash night, which I usually I do, and instead I could relax while daydreaming about a certain Alpha. It couldn’t have been better with our first date tonight around the corner. Looking at the clock, I notice that it’s only six am. Letting my feet wander into the bathroom, bumbling as I search for the light. Flicking it on, my eyes blinking rap

NORA POV As if my words were the key to unlock a beast within, forcing the self-control he held onto to slither away. His eyes darken to the deepest onyx. Sitting on his heels, he slowly removes his jacket, his eyes locked on mine while goosebumps form along my skin. Sitting up, I kneel in front of him, my fingers closing around the knot of his tie, loosening it until I can pull it over his head. Without trepidation, my hands working quickly as I undo the buttons, savoring the feel of his chest underneath my palm. Xander’s eyes haven’t left me for a second, and I swear the longer he watches me, the more my heart does backflips. Knowing the effect he has on my body, he covers it with light touches, igniting a firestorm of electricity within. Goddess, it’s hard to concentrate with him so close. I cannot even imagine the delirium I would experience if I could smell his scent, too. Finishing with the buttons, I push the shirt off his shoulders before letting my fingers dance against hi