LOGINKurt POVI leaned over the back of the couch and kissed Ruby’s neck. She sighed slightly as she leaned into me, the book in her hands drooping.“How has your day been?” I asked her.Ruby shook her head. “Same as yesterday.”I frowned as I sank onto the couch next to her. Joe was at the fireplace, lighting a fire; it was very cold in the house. I supposed that with Ruby bundled up in her blankets, she hadn’t felt how cold it was. When I took both of her hands in mine, though, they were like ice.She didn’t look at me, but I could still see the grief written in the lines of her face.If we only knew why Zach had suddenly moved out of the house… it was only two days since that beautiful moment on the mountain, but Zach refused to speak to Ruby, refused to see her, refused to explain why.My wolf howled in mourning to see my mate so heartbroken. I glanced at Joe, hoping he’d have some answers that I didn’t. But just as when we’d left the house that morning, he seemed just as helpless. I k
Zach POV“Yes, I think this would be a great spot,” I said, nodding as I looked at the derelict buildings my pack owned. There were some old Omega barracks close to the town center, ones that had been condemned after the new apartments had opened.“Should we begin tearing down the old buildings?” the head of my construction crew asked.I nodded. “Even if we go for a different spot for the aquatic center, these buildings need to be taken down. They’re a fire hazard.”My wolf was unhappy about leaving the house this morning. After Ruby’s success on the mountaintop and how pure and sweet the magic that surrounded us had been, I wanted to make the images we’d seen come true.We had spent most of the evening going over old plans Joe had made years ago for a town aquatic center—and most of the night engaged in some pleasant exercise.It was doubtful that Ruby was pregnant; logically, I knew that was good. We weren’t in the right spot to adjust to the added complication of a baby in our rela
Joe POVWe were back at our usual spot, the plateau of rock. It was mid-afternoon, the day after the party. I would have liked to have taken the rest of the day to just be together and relax, but when we got home, Ruby was agitated and wanted to start practicing her magic again.“I’m not going to be able to stop the fires from causing more destruction if I can’t control my magic in normal situations,” she’d said.So now we were out here. It was a good day for it, clear and bright, with not a cloud in the sky. The sunlight felt warm, even up here on the mountain. Ruby paced along the rocks, looking for something. She seemed distracted and uncertain. It surprised me. Why was today so different from yesterday?“Are you alright?” I asked finally. “I know you talked with Jessica today. Did she say something to upset you?”My wolf growled at the suggestion. But even as I said it, I knew that it wouldn’t have been Jessica. My mind flashed to my mother. If anyone had reason to make Ruby doubt
Ruby POVIt was too much; it wasn’t enough. I wanted this to last forever. I could die in their arms, and I’d be happy to go, if it meant that this moment would be written in my soul for the rest of eternity.When our orgasms hit, they hit all at once. The pleasure swept through me, making my eyes roll into the back of my head. I felt my mates shuddering around me, felt as their cocks throbbed, felt the heat of them as they released. They continued to pump, prolonging the pleasure as each of them cried my name like a prayer.The snap of magic grew stronger. I felt it pulsing through me like a second orgasm, stronger than the first. My own pleasure was increased threefold as I felt the waves rock through each of my mates. They all knotted, their cocks growing bigger, filling me even further. My orgasm hadn’t faded, and the feeling of their knots inside of me pushed it higher, more powerful.Kurt collapsed over me, pulling his cock from my mouth. His lips and teeth grazed over my sweati
Ruby POV“Let’s get you warmed up,” Zach said as his hands coursed over me.The delicious heat left behind in their wake flooded through me. I didn’t even pay attention to what the room looked like as we all shed our clothes in a haze, tossing them away as we made our way to the bed.The condoms came out, and I eyed them while Kurt kissed my neck and Joe knelt between my legs. Zach’s hands continued to explore me, tracing the curves and dips of my valley. It was all so overwhelming I hardly knew what to do with my own hands. I wanted to touch them all, feel their hard muscles, trace patterns over their tattoos and scars, take them all at once, and watch them come undone for me.It occurred to me that without the heat birth control, there was a higher chance of the condoms failing. Another part realized that the heat came on so strong and sudden this time because I failed to get pregnant last time. But most of all, I didn’t care. I didn’t want to be away from them, not when I knew our
Ruby POVAfter Ali attempted to bully me, my three Alphas kept me close to them at all times. I was grateful, even though I’d gone into this thing hoping to prove my bravery by not needing them to do just that. As it turned out, people were generally pleasant, but I’d spent so long trying to stay invisible that any attention was exhausting.People kept leaving their garbage on surfaces where they didn’t belong—on tables or chairs rather than the trash cans we’d provided. I started to tidy up some of the worst spots, hating to think of how bad it would get for the Omegas once everything was done.Kurt wrapped his arm around my waist and tugged me to his chest. “People will think that means you want them to leave,” he murmured in my ear.“I can’t stand the mess,” I murmured back. I wanted to melt into his arms, but there was too much noise and too many people. The truth was, I wanted them to leave. I wished that this party was over, or at least that I could leave it.Actually… why cou
Ruby POVMy calves felt like rocks, and my shins had spikes of pain running up and down them, so I slid down the tree and collapsed in a heap on the damp earth. The night was still too warm. Even though I was by this time soaked in sweat, there was no relief from it. I shrugged off my heavy pack an
Jessa POV I was frozen to the spot, unable to even open my mouth to scream or beg for my life. It laughed, a hissing sound that made the short hairs on my arms stand on end. It stepped forward, reaching out its clawed hand. As soon as it touched me, pain ripped through my body. I twisted away, scr
Zach POV“So, we’re tracking down a woman who has taken off from town before and has said she doesn’t want to stay here, is that right?” I asked, my expression and tone bored as I waited with Joe for the others to arrive. We were at the trailhead where Ruby’s car sat. Seemed like a good place to st
Joe POVMy normal relaxing early-morning run wasn’t so relaxing when I had to worry about climate change. In November, we should have frost in the mornings, at the very least. We should have some snow. Instead, the roses were in full bloom, the farmers were still pulling in green beans and peas, an







