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He followed the wolves as they led him through the pack meeting, past the curious and wary glances of the others. When they stopped in front of the fire, he leaned back on his haunches and bowed his head.

“Stand and reveal yourself and your intentions. Who are you and why have you come? Are you here to fight me, to try to overthrow me, to take my pack?” There was a slight shake to her voice, but he doubted anyone noticed.

He noticed, of course. He noticed everything about her.

They all revered her. Rion just wanted to be near her.

He thought about how she must constantly have to be on high alert, her nerves on edge. It made Rion wonder if she hadn’t mated becauseshe couldn’t trust anyone. He would make sure she grew to trust him.

Rion stood, sticking out his chest maybe a little more than necessary. But he’d been told it was his best feature. That, and his smile. He could flash some fang and probably have her begging for more. He lifted his eyes and met hers. Her narrowed gaze widened briefly in surprise, but she quickly masked it.

She felt it too.

The pull.

Mine.

“My name is Rion. I am a Sigma. I was abandoned by my parents when I was young and lost from my pack. I’m a keen hunter, a strong fighter, and can be of great use,” he said. His résumé didn’t sound too bad, not bad at all.

“Sigmas usually only join a pack to find a mate and start their own,” she says. “Is that your intention?”

“I haven’t been part of a pack for as long as I can remember. So I’d need you to teach me how. But I’m willing. And as far as mating goes...” He took one unthreatening stepforward and then another. This was his chance, maybe his only one. He wasn’t going to waste it. He lowered his voice so that only she could hear. “I’m here to mate... with you.”

To her credit, she didn’t flinch. She didn’t even blink. He waited.

And then she threw back her head... and laughed.

When she finally calmed herself down and let out one last lingering chuckle, she stepped right up into Rion’s space. “You? Mate with me?”

Okay, no lies, she was intimidating. Rion could see why she was the Alpha. But he found that sexy as hell. He swallowed. “Yes.”

She leaned back and looked him over, head to tail, assessing him.

“I’m not one to be mated with. But we have many others who would be suitable and attractive to you, I’m sure. Welcome to the pack, Sigma Rion. I am Aura, your Alpha.”

Aura.

Rion’s heart fluttered at the mere mention of her name.

He hadn’t intended to join a pack. He hadn’t planned to profess feelings for Aura on thisnight. But what’s done was done. Aura might not be willing to mate with him now. But he’d make her see that they were meant to be together. And soon enough... she would.

Epigraph

Sometimes I wonder what a celebrity sees in a normie, especially when it feels like they could have anybody. But that’s the author’s job, right? Make me, the reader, understand why someone like Ethan would choose someone like Amanda. Well, now I know. Because he can’t live without her. There isn’t, and never has been, anyone else for him. The heart wants what it wants.

—@irene.loves.love.books

I’ve been in the biggest book funk, not gonna lie. But I’m really glad I picked this one up. I found it fascinating how the author shows us that the person the world believes Ethan Rogers to be is nothing like who he truly is. And when Amanda tells him that she sees him broken, scarred, lost, and loves him for all of that, I had full-on fat tears streaming down my face. Fuck... to be loved that fully, that honestly...

—@aidentheguyreadsromance

Nineteen

celebrity romance

There is something sadistic about having to go to an 8 a.m. class the Monday after a long holiday weekend.

I got back to my dorm late last night. My parents insisted on driving me and dragging my brother and sister along, too. We stopped for dinner at my dad’s old favorite diner. And when I use the word “old,” it could actually describe the building, the decor, our server, and the meatloaf I ordered. Which is still sitting in my stomach this morning like a rock.