Page 36

VIOLET

Hypersensitive from the events of the last week, I stretched in bed, under the furred arms tossed over me. It’d been a lot of mindless fucking. A shiver crested down my spine, but overpowering the sensitivity was the hollow feel in my stomach. Some food would be fantastic. Graham lay face up with the back of his arm sprawled across my belly. I ran my fingers through the fur on his arm and nudged it until it fell at his side. His chest didn’t stop its rhythmic movements, and his large maw faced the opposite direction of me. I nudged Simon aside similarly and he let out the lightest snore.

I scooted to the bottom of the bed and again stopped to peer back at them still sleeping. Thank the Moon Goddess. They needed their rest after taking care of everything.

Flutters invaded my chest.

They’d been so gentle and caring and just overall amazing.

I tucked strands of my nest-like hair behind my ear. The clean, spring-like smell clinging to me told me I’d been bathed. My hazy memories blended into multiple lust-filled days. I’d been bathed repeatedly. And fed.

Thank Goddess I didn't have to go to the bathroom other than to pee. It would make sense that all my energy was wrapped up in fueling me with all the fucking. The Moon Goddess really thought of everything.

My knees buckled as soon as I stood. I got my balance, and my thighs groaned in protest. Nope, not just my thighs. Make that every inch of me.

I shuffled to Simon’s drawer and pulled on a shirt and exited the bedroom, closing the door quietly behind me.

I headed toward the kitchen. A duffle bag sat on the coffee table in the living room, untouched, and full. Seeing it brought the moments before my heat to the forefront.

Maggie had seen me in heat mode. I pressed my palm to my burning face. I shuffled into the kitchen to find a platter with fresh fruit. I plucked some cut-up melon and popped it into my mouth.

They’d been so gentle and sweet with me. Those frustrating flutters passed through my chest.

Forgiveness seemed like such an elusive concept. My mind didn’t want to forgive them, but my heart throbbed for them. I’d agreed to giving them a fair chance. Maybe I owed it to myself to loosen up a bit. Especially if I based it on how they’d behaved since finding out I was theirs; I had nothing to complain about.

Could I hold their past against them?

I groaned. That wasn’t fair of me but tell that to the hurt festering in my stomach. If I turned my back on it, it was easy to ignore, but I didn’t want to shove it under a blanket. I wanted to poke it until it burst. Only then would it heal, and we could start fresh.

I needed fresh air. Rubbing my neck, I dragged my feet to the front door. The floors were incredibly clean, but I needed to get me some slippers to keep here?—

Now I was making plans for our future?

I yanked the door open with more aggression than necessary. The cool breeze blew my hair back. Closing the door behind me, I took a few steps to plop myself on the final step.

In the past, I’d had random thoughts about having a fated mate. No, not even that, just having a mate, be it chosen or fated. All because I wanted peace and tranquility. I believed I’d have someone quiet and sweet—nice.

Instead, these brutal males were my fate.

The Moon Goddess had likely given me only two of them because they were such a handful.

Dirt crunched under someone’s footsteps. I whipped my head in that direction. Amber stopped feet away from me, her eyes wide. They went to the door and then to my face and then back again.

“He’s been here , with you ?”

Amber, the female that meant so much to Simon. The one he loved. My lips thinned and my wolf perked up. I should rake my claws through her body. Get her out of the way. I shook my head and pinched my arm.

I stood and approached her until we were feet apart. The cement path under my feet was a little cold.

Her nostrils flared. Good, she smelled him on me. She should hurt for coveting what was mine?—

That was jealous-psycho me talking. Simon loved this woman. I exhaled slowly.

“Bring up your issues with Simon when he’s awake,” I mumbled. I gave her my back to walk away. I would just wake him up and tell him about her coming. He could do what he pleased once I did that. But at least I wouldn’t live with separating them on my conscience.

But he made his stance clear. He chose me.

My stomach lurched.

The devotion he’d shown me. The gentle, sweet words . . . I didn’t necessarily doubt them, but he’d loved her. He still loved her. Those feelings didn’t just disappear once a true mate was found. From my understanding, the emotions felt toward a true mate were incomparable. A shift in axis. You’re meant for another person on a physical level. The perfect match.

The text message I’d read on his phone rolled around my head causing a sour taste in my mouth. Walking away was good. I was making the right choice in letting Simon handle her.

My wolf didn’t seem to agree.

Dirt crunched behind me, and I turned in time for a slap to flash across my face. My gasp mingled with the loud smack. I stared, stunned.

We both stared at each other, still for a single moment. Her features contorted into anger and her eyes narrowed. She was going to attack me. With that single thought, she sprung.

I swung at her, but she avoided it. She came back at me with an uppercut. My jaw popped and blood burst from my nose. Her next hits came with rapid fire speed. My temple, my collar bone, my face. Blood pooled in my mouth.

I lay on the ground, stunned.

“He doesn’t fucking want you.” Her words pulled me out of my shock, and I avoided her kick to my stomach. She redirected and slammed her boot into my temple. My sight spun and my stomach lurched. Vomit crawled up my throat.

“He’ll thank me for ridding him of you, bitch.”

I lurched to the side and dug my fingers into the dirt to drag myself a few feet away. It was enough of a moment to scramble behind the old, worn car to the left of the porch. Shifting wasn’t an option because I could already hear her coming. I’d only shifted twice, so my movements were sluggish and awkward. My only way to survive this was to run to the house, back to my mates.

Bounding to my feet, I dashed out from my hiding spot. Weight from behind dragged me to the ground. My chin slammed into the dirt. I grunted from the force. Pain spread across my face. I just knew everything would be throbbing painfully tomorrow—if she didn’t kill me.

I bucked until I managed to get my arm out from under me and I lashed my hand out, managing to scratch her face. She yelped. If I didn’t get away, she’d succeed in killing me since she was much stronger than me. I rolled to my stomach and kicked my foot back, hitting something. By the sound of her breath exploding out, it must have hurt. I clawed my fingers into the dirt, using it to drag myself up.

She grabbed my calf and shoved me onto my back, straddling me in the same motion. Her fists pummeled my face. Agony bloomed under her fists, and I screamed, trying to curl into a ball, but unable to with her on top of me. I didn’t stop fighting.

I angled a fist at her stomach, and she grunted, but all that move did was enrage her. She went for my face, pounding the side of her balled hand into my cheek, temple, cheek. The copper taste of blood spread on my tongue.

Moon Goddess, no, please, I had so much left to experience.

My ear began to ring. I wouldn’t stay conscious much longer. A roar rocked through me. The enraged sound dragged me out of the haze.

Like avenging death angels, Simon and Graham appeared in their monstrous forms. Amber was snatched off my body.

My head lulled to the side to keep them within view.

Graham sank his claws into her ankle, and they worked together to literally tear her in half. Blood splattered in all directions. The car, the ground, their fur. I tried to move but everything burned like I was a big bruise.

Amber—or the pieces of her—landed with a thud.

Simon stepped on her head and an eye popped out. My stomach lurched and I closed mine tight to block the gruesome sight.

A gasp caused me to look past them. A crowd had gathered, watching with abject horror. Graham threw a detached arm to the side and paced around me, his large, morphed body moving on all fours as he scanned for threats.