MasukElise POVThe grounds were beautiful. The grass was soft, lush, and immaculate. You could tell that Blaze had pride when it came to maintaining his pack. As we walked, Blaze took hold of my hand, my own easily enveloped in his. I could feel the calluses on his palms and fingers. He worked hard, and that made me admire him even more. Warmth spread through my body. His hand was firm, and he kept me close, his stance protective. I wasn't used to this. I couldn't deny I liked it, though. There was no hesitation in his face, no embarrassment. It was like he was showing me off and was proud of it. But I couldn't help comparing myself to the other shifter women we saw around us. They were slender, gorgeous, and practically supermodels, whereas I was average with freckles and a plus-size body that refused to lose weight no matter how hard I tried. How could he possibly like me when he looked like a damn model himself?I feel awkward as we pause in front of a particularly beautiful red-ha
Elise POVI should have been offended, but instead I stared open-mouthed at the girl who’d spoken so brashly, unable to come up with any sort of comeback as she accused me of being a hooker and then in the same breath, told me she would sleep with me if she was a lesbian. I didn’t know whether to be flattered or insulted.This girl was dangerous and had no filter. “That’s my mate and Luna you’ve just insulted Chloe,” Blaze snarled, and I saw the girl’s mouth drop wide open and her eyes widen.A flicker of remorse crosses her eyes. She looks embarrassed now. She hurries to explain herself, looking at me apologetically. “Shit, I’m sorry, bro. You’ve been like a damn monk all this time I figured you’d finally snapped before your dick fell off in frustration.”My lip twitches, and I turn away slightly to hold back my laughter. Bro? This had to be Blaze’s sister, then. She looked a few years younger than him, possibly close to my age, but she was also funny.She was hard not to like, e
Blaze POV“Somebody’s preoccupied,” my sister Chloe teased, leaning forward and fixing her eyes on me, “penny for your thoughts? You look like you’re about to burn a hole in the wall by the doorway,” she added with a grin.“I’m waiting for someone,” I grunted.Once again, my eyes slid towards the doorway even though I tried to be subtle about it. I wasn't doing a very good job of it. She flipped her wavy blonde hair over her shoulder and narrowed her eyes.“Who? None of the hussy’s who’ve thrown themselves at you have ever been permitted to sit at the table next to you. Don’t tell me you’ve fallen for one of those sluts,” she groaned out loud, looking disappointedly at me, “I know you men have needs, but for fuck’s sake find somebody who’s not a walking STD.”My sister had never been one to mince her words. “Damnit, Chloe, do I look like a man who sticks his dick into any willing hole?” I snapped.God she could be infuriating at times. “Aren’t you a man?” she shot back, not cowed
Elise POV“I’m not ready yet,” I blurted out and immediately felt foolish as he stared at me blankly.Way to go, Elise. Could you come across as any more stupid? “Not ready yet?” he repeated dumbly, and I awkwardly shifted on my feet, staring at the ground with hunched shoulders.Why was it so difficult to blurt the words out? I wasn't exactly asking too much, was I?“To be marked, to mate,” my voice trailed off as I braced myself for the hit, the insults, or the anger sure to follow my statement. It doesn't happen, and my eyes rise to look into his.Blaze's finger hooks beneath my chin and slowly raises it. My eyes meet his, and I’m stunned to find that his eyes are soft, his smile gentle. There’s no malice or anger in his expression at all.Just hurt that I thought he might hit me. “I have no intentions of doing either of those things just yet,” he told me softly. "I want you to be ready, and I want you to be willing."I flinched even though it was stupid. Hurt swept over me. He
Blaze POVI’ve never been so enraged in my entire life. Seeing my mate so helpless as they humiliated her, as they tore her dress and exposed her back, had ignited something so dark inside of me that I was ready to kill the two of them with my bare hands. The only thing preventing me was the worry that my mate would be frightened of me if I did.I couldn't bear that. I might be a ruthless man with a dark reputation, but my mate should only ever see the goodness in me. The side that would show her just how much I adored and loved her. The soft side of me that my men very rarely saw.I walk with her in my arms, my wolf purring at the close contact, listening closely for the sound of approaching footsteps, but nobody is stupid enough to come after me and risk losing their lives. She holds on tight, her eyes filled with something akin to wonder, and I breathe in her scent, letting it calm me.She smells so delicious, a mixture of gingerbread and cinnamon. My mouth waters. Alpha Tristan
Elise POV“Bastard,” a voice roared, and I opened my eyes and stared dazedly at Blaze, who had intercepted the whip and was now clutching it tightly in his hand, blood trickling down his arm.My eyes widened in shock. Why was he protecting me? I was a nobody, an omega, a useless shifter without a wolf.Had he lost his mind? He was injured now, and I felt guilty. He should have just let them whip me. “Let go,” Seraphine hissed, trying to pull the whip back and failing miserably. “This is none of your concern,” she shouted as I knelt there, Tristan letting go of me to assist his precious Luna.Seraphine stumbled as Blaze refused to let go of the whip, pulling it closer to him, his eyes so frightening that I flinched, grateful he wasn't looking directly at me. He was even more intimidating than Tristan had ever looked. “Alpha Blaze,” Tristan spoke carefully as I stayed perfectly still, not daring to move, “what is the meaning of this? My business has nothing whatsoever to do with yo







