Rhiannon finished the report in record time because fortunately, everything was quite organized, so she only needed to talk to Maddox about the materials needed for the construction of the new houses. She was so focused as she walked through the warehouse that she didn’t notice that someone had been watching her for a while, and when she turned to leave, she was met head-on by a firm and once again strong body.Aidan caught her before she fell backwards to the floor, and Rhiannon closed her hands over her arms to brace herself, but the small burst of heat that seemed to render them both mute was enough to make her pull back, clearing her throat.“Aidan! How can I help you?” she said raising her eyebrows and addressing him with the same composure she would maintain with any other lycan.For a second she could see the sadness and disappointment in Aidan’s eyes, but he just looked away before speaking.“I, um...” he tried to concentrate. “I wanted to thank you for saving me, and... don’t

Theo Silvano turned just in time to see the last Lycan he thought would dare to look for him get out of a car, but after all, he had lost the favor of the former king, and that one was already dead anyway.“I heard that you didn’t want to lower your head,” said the lycan derisively arriving next to him while he buttoned the jacket of his elegant suit.“I heard that you didn’t either,” Theo responded, holding out his hand. “Saito Nader... The great General Nader! I confess I didn’t think I’d see you before I left.“That’s because you’re not going anywhere,” assured the general returning the gesture in greeting. “I mean... unless next time you want to face the fangs of your freed wolf.”Theo lifted his chin with a curious gesture as he looked at Nader’s hand that was pointing toward the back seat of his car. He ordered his own vans, which were ready to return to Brazil with the rest of his court, to stop and climbed into General Nader’s car. He didn’t say a word as he was directed to th

“Are you sure?”Aidan smiled mischievously, raising an eyebrow.“Anyone would think you don’t want it, Gallagher. Is that the case?” he asked.“Oh! Don’t get me wrong. I’m more than happy to accept it, but...”“You’re not sure Rhiannon feels the same way,” Aidan said in understanding.General Gallagher let out a sigh and laughed. “Her pride has sacrificed a lot lately, so maybe she won’t be too offended.”“Well... if a gets upset, put it to her this way: either she uses it to help the lycans in her packs or someone else will use it to help those who still subdue their wolves.” Aidan leaned forward in his chair. “You were my Strategy teacher, Gallagher, and we both know this will be a war of attrition, resources could make all the difference.”General Gallagher smiled. He even looked proud to hear him talk like that, and before Aidan could persuade him any further he simply pushed that button and watched the long red bar grow into a beautiful green line.“Done!” he exclaimed, and they

It was time to fight, evidently, but Aidan felt paralyzed. His father’s betrayal had hurt him to the core, but he’d barely had time to process it because Maddox had sent the rest of his thoughts to him with such force it seemed impossible for him to react.Accepting that Maddox had dared to lay a single claw on Rhia was unbearable, but it was worse knowing that he had as much right as Aidan did, or, rather, as many chances... No, no, that wasn’t right either because Maddox hadn’t made as many mistakes as he had.“You’re Rhia’s other destined mate…” he murmured.Maddox laughed, taking an offensive stance. “And you’re cute, but I don’t like threesomes.”He watched Maddox twirl the Keqzhara in one hand as if the spear was an extension of it before launching into a clean, frontal attack. Aidan called Akela for a full transformation and dodged the first thrust of the Keqzhara as the sole of his boot slammed directly into the back of his knee, sending him rolling on the ground but getting u

“Ready to go, champ?”When Alanna opened the door to the nursery to finally give them the queen’s safe conduct, she found three released wolves and two lycans lying on the floor of the nursery, with sixty children all over them listening to the big bad wolf’s tales.They even looked cute! But as soon as they heard Alanna they stood up right away.“Let me guess. I’m not going,” Aidan muttered.“You guess right. You could take up fortune telling,” said the lycan woman sarcastically, “but before you throw a tantrum, Rhiannon had nothing to do with it, it was General Gallagher’s orders. He says we don’t know what Nader is really planning, and it’s imperative that Rhiannon is involved, so it’s easier to protect one than two.”“I understand,” Aidan said, leaning a forearm against the door of the nursery. “Then I'll take care of the team for the lib—”“That will have to wait,” Alanna interrupted him, taking off a backpack and slinging it over his shoulder. “Until Maddox returns you will do h

“You made me lose a bet,” Alanna said quietly, approaching Maddox as they walked toward the site Brennan had indicated on the Asthan reserve.Maddox laughed. “No one told you to bet against me.”“I bet on you! That’s the worst of it! No, scratch that, the worst is that Hiro beat me! That fool!Alanna grumbled, giving Hiro, who was walking a hundred meters in front of her, a murderous look.“And what exactly did you bet on?”“I said you’d beat Aidan up,” she said with a sigh, “but you controlled yourself pretty well.”Maddox cocked his head and raised an eyebrow in amusement.“Probably my killer instinct is just not as developed as yours.”“You’re kidding, right? He's your competition!”“Noooo! He's not my competition, and Rhia is definitely not a trophy,” the lycan clarified, and Alanna snorted with annoyance.“But you're her mate. You have the mark...”Maddox stopped, making Alanna stop as well, and they waited until Rhiannon, Hiro, and Brennan had moved farther away.“Look. No one r

Setting foot on Welsh soil again was a relief in Rhiannon's heart. The hardest things were yet to come, but still she felt she could be at peace for some time, at least that was what she had gained from that treaty she had signed with Nader.In the main community they were building everything was going smoothly. They had enough funding to give the refugee families all the support they could possibly need, and there were already eighteen perfectly functioning companies, run by lycans loyal to the queen, which were working specifically to sustain that project.Rhiannon had not once dared to protest Aidan's “donation”. In the end, her pride could not be stronger than the welfare of the families in her care.As soon as he had rested a bit from the trip, she put on work clothes and went out to see how everything was going. She helped in moving materials, taking care of the children, and finally with the distribution of food and basic needs supplies.“Wait, I'll get it for you in a minute,”

“Do you have fleas?” Alanna asked seeing the steady, nervous way Rhiannon was moving her foot.“What...? No!” she replied, turning back to the small room where Aidan and his wolves were working.She hadn't slept all night. She had taken more than three cold showers but the only thing she could think about was that kiss with Aidan.Across from her, in a small enclosure set aside for that purpose, he and his wolves were working with small children. They would come in with their parents and Aidan would explain the procedure to them because yes, they even had a procedure. Trying it with one of the kids had been enough to know exactly what they had to do.“Is everything all right?” Alanna asked.“So far it is. Raksha helps get the wolves out, Corso and Akela contain them, and Aidan calms them down. Who knows what he says or does but they calm down in no time!” sighed Rhiannon, crossing her arms.Just then the Wolf of the Goddess was dragging a young wolf out of an eight-year-old boy. The p

The road wasn’t rough, or at least it didn’t seem so. Under normal circumstances it would’ve taken them less time but the Alpha Lukas’ pack seemed to be taking their time to reconnoiter the grounds and enjoy the journey to their new home.The construction crew had opened up a dirt trail to the new community, but all the cars they were moving in had to go slowly if they didn't want to lose their axles in the bumps in the road.The nearest community they had passed through had already settled. They had stayed there a full day and it only had seven small children, so Aidan didn't have so much work, but almost all of them gathered around to watch him return the wolf pups to the little lycans in the pack. There was no denying he had something that made them feel at ease, or maybe it was the wolves, though the Alpha had been careful not to let the two of them go out together in front of anyone.They continued on their way as dawn broke on the second day, and perhaps it was too early yet, bu

“Akela, help me. See if Raksha wants to talk to you.”Aidan felt Akela stir inside him uneasily, trying to communicate with Raksha, but there was nothing.“I don't understand what's wrong with her... She's like... in shock!” the Alpha muttered taking her chin and looking into her lost eyes.“And what did you expect?” growled Akela. “She spent almost six hundred and fifty years held captive in this place, and you just brought her back!”“And what could I do? This is the safest place we had closest!” Aidan argued.“Rhia... for the Goddess’ sake, answer me!”From Rhiannon's lipsonly a choked moan came out and Aidan grunted helplessly. Well... if being in the Watchtower had put her in that state, perhaps what she needed was a biggest incentive to come out of it.He lifted her in his arms and strode steadily toward the west tower. He climbed the twenty floors up as he felt Rhiannon's heart suddenly jump and race. And her eyes finally seemed to wake up the very second he pushed her into the