LOGIN"You're back!" Zoey mumbled from beneath the heavy weight of files stacked in front of her face as she walked into my office with Vivienne following behind, carrying nothing."I wonder why you get to take days off whenever you please." Vivienne rolled her eyes, picking a single file from the pile Zoey struggled to carry.I watched her flick through it, roll her eyes and place it back on Zoey's pile."You know you could've just helped with these, right?" Grunting, Zoey rolled her eyes before dropping them on the table with a loud thud.I exhaled.So much work to do."Well, that's your job, not mine." Vivienne sneered.She might have become a better person and taken accountability for her previous actions, but it hadn't changed her character in any meaningful way.Only that she was now a little more tolerable, having stopped being an outright bitch."Where were you off to this time?""Somewhere." I answered.
Aurelia’S POV"Please don't bother about it." Dane immediately added, taking my hands into his. "This shouldn't place any pressure on you whatsoever."Pressure.The idea of marking Dane and making our union official wasn't a pressure. It was bound to happen either way.It was something we'd gone back and forth on over and over again.There was no need to be scared. It was bound to happen.Right.Hopefully before the next crimson moon.After the incident with Amelia, I knew I was in safe hands with Dane. Our wedding shouldn't be difficult and besides, quite a number of people already knew we were together. Yet there was still a part of my heart that dropped whenever the thought crossed my mind.Making things official with Dane was the sweetest thing that could ever happen, but the thought of the huge responsibilities that came with it?I shook the thought from my head and forced a smile. "Will you call one of your doctors to take me off the drip?"I had to leave. To rest and to process
Dane’S POVGoddess, no!I ran my hands through my hair, head spiralling, gaze fixed on her on the bed. Naked, weakened and scarred.All because of me.For three days, I had lost my sanity. Done terrible things to her. Things I'd have never imagined doing."Fuck!"I buried my head between my palms, guilt washing over me like a constant shower.The one person I had sworn to protect with my life was lying on the bed, weak from having endured everything I'd done to her in my state of insanity."Hmm…" A silent whimper left her lips. Her eyes twitched.I stood still, rigid.My mind wandered. Whether to run out of the room or to stay and face her. But how would I live with myself when she opened her eyes and saw the monster who had inflicted all those wounds on her?If so much as a flicker of fear crossed her face, I knew I wouldn't be able to live with myself.I'd be miserable."Dane?" Her soft voice called, weak but clear enough.My heart dropped to the bottom of my chest, pounding hard ag
The minute I stepped out of the car, I rushed as fast as I could into the house—even though my fastest was me limping against the wall.And just as I’d thought, the moment the doors opened, a brutal wave of cold crashed through me. Icy.I pushed through, shivering through the walls until my eyes fell on a huge figure, balled on the ground, groaning in pain.“Dane…” I called, shivering.I crouched on the floor next to him, his body as icy as the Artic.His fever had gotten worse. Even more intense than whatever happened in his office. Yet he told me he was better.Lied to me that all he needed was rest and even when I insisted on staying by his side all night, he refused.Lied that what I saw was the entirety of it.“Why?” I cried, immediately wrapping as much as I could find all over him but nothing calmed his icy skin.I knew what must be done.“No…” His teeth clattered violently. “I’ve put you through a lot, not anymore.”“You lied to me, Dane!” I yelled, lifting my shirt off as col
"Did a truck run you over?""Ah!" I screamed, hands clenched against my chest as I struggled to catch my breath. "You fucking scared me, Koralie." I spoke, voice weak."What's up with you?""I really need to change my password." I ignored her, slumping slowly onto the couch as I winced in pain.Every part of me ached. Every inch of my skin.I'd dropped Dane off at his house, hoping he'd get enough rest from all he had been through, then come home to an empty house, rest enough and possibly recover before heading to work… even though I knew deep down that it would be impossible.He had warned me about his primal fever, but if I were to do it all over again, I would willingly give myself to his beast.As long as it made him feel better."What the hell happened to you?" Koralie yelled, brows furrowed as she sat next to me on the couch, her gaze trailing across the wounds on my arms and legs.I shifted uncomfortably, adjusting my clothes, but Koralie slapped my hands off."Fuck, ouch!" I
The moment my lips met his, the last thread snapped.Dane's hands found my waist instantly, gripping with a force that stole the air straight from my lungs. The heat radiating off his body was staggering, like standing too close to an open flame and every inch of my skin felt it.Beneath my palms pressed against his chest, his heart slammed violently.Not the steady, controlled rhythm I knew.Something else entirely.Something beastly.His mouth crashed against mine before I could breathe, consuming every thought in my head. His hands moved with a restlessness I had never felt from him before, gripping and releasing and gripping again, like he couldn't decide whether to hold me still or pull me closer.Like he was fighting so hard to restrain his wolf.He pulled me closer. He lost.I could feel the fever pouring into me through every point of contact as my body burned. Through his lips. His hands. His chest pressed hard against mine.His beast was surfacing.I felt it the moment it fu
I paused.My pulse pounding against my chest. Louder and louder as the seconds passed.I held my breath. Unsure of what to do… but one thing was certain. I didn't want to be next to her.Didn't want to face her.And neither did my wolf.I'd never been the type to be intimidated by a woman, but Amel
Aurelia'S POV"You can't just barge in here…""Bring her out!"Axel.His voice roared from outside my office. Tense."This is a corporate environment, please behave sir…"Insanity.How could he barge into my office? Like a madman who escaped from rehab?I groaned. Seething as I rubbed my temples. F
Dane'S POVTwo days had passed, yet I couldn't get over it… over her.Her body, the way she moved seamlessly against me. Like we were one.Her warm soft skin against mine. The constant pulling between us while her claws dug through my skin, piercing. Hot.The way her slick folds welcomed my entire
Koralie was back in town. And with that excuse, I was able to avoid giving in to Dane… myself.I drove as fast as I could to her apartment. My AC on full blast to soothe my burning soul.I opened the door."Aurelia!" She screamed, jumping into my arms like she hadn't seen me in years.But something







