XILLON

A flood of relief courses through my system when Finley comes in carrying his girlfriend. No longer will I need to worry about him moving in on my girl. It’s been hard keeping Xavier below the surface. I’ve caught both him and Annalise’s lingering looks at one another throughout this passing month. They have, however, stayed away from one another.

Finley got what was deserving of him yesterday, when he got knocked out by Dante. No doubt he was having one of those fleeting moments of being mesmerized by my girlfriend. His wolf, Nox, must really love him. Because he looked blasted awful yesterday. I should know. For I was the one to help get him to Cadance’s residence. Scoffing the whole way because Annalise was fussing over him, trying to get him to wake up.

Xavier perks up. Tail wagging, Xavier pranced around like a canine who had just been given a bone. ‘No more worries about that fool claiming our mate!’

‘Suppose you might be right, Xavier.’

All was well and right in the world until a growl forced its way through Annalise’s throat. Then all hell seemed to break loose all within mere moments. I did my best not to check out the girl as she leaped from Finley’s arms. I’ve only had eyes for one girl all my life, but damn, this girl was gorgeous. A close second to Annalise, because no one could ever compare to her.

Couldn’t help but move closer, as her scent wafted in my direction. I’m a man, so don’t ask me what kind of flower she smells like, but it’s intoxicating. Some kind of flower and hell, what is that? Chocolate maybe and ocean? She’s got creamy pale skin, and freckles splashed across her straight nose and high cheekbones. Damn, those striking emerald green eyes could leave any man hypnotized.

Could go on and on about her beautiful long thick, curly dark red hair and those long, thick legs and round ass that fit snug in those tight jeans she’s wearing, but damn. I’m cut off from my musings when Annalise proclaims she’s taking Lorna over to meet Yarrah. Quickly taking my place back by my twin sister’s side, I try to stand stoic, as if I had not been paying attention to their encounter.

Yarrah shakes her head, rolling her eyes and mind links me. ‘If you so much as touch that girl, I’ll beat your ass myself. Get your eyes and thoughts in check, brother. Man, I hate this twin bond we have sometimes. Damn horn dogs! That’s all of you males in this pack!’

Didn’t have a chance at a retort because seconds later Lorna was hugging Yarrah and flipping out as she had with Annalise. Wonder what her voice sounds like when she’s not squealing with excitement?

Moments later, I get that chance, as Annalise introduces us and she grabs a hold of my hand in a firm handshake. The electricity that shoots through my hand, up to my brain, then skyrockets to my toes, is even more intense than what I get when I’m around Annalise.

Xavier scratches and prods at me to be released. Forgetting all about Annalise, as he screams to be let free to claim his mate. ‘Mate! Mine! She’s ours! We must have our mate!’

‘You’re being a damn fool now! Tamper down Xavier! Annalise is our mate and you damn well know it!’

He growls as a response and tucks himself away. Retracting my hand from Lorna’s, I smile, give a slight nod and state, “Nice to meet you, Lorna.” Then go to stand by my love. Clutching her hips, bringing her tightly to me, and brushing my lips against her cheek.

Annalise puts her lips to my ear, nudging it with her nose, before, “What the hell was that?!”

Zane materializes in front of us with a huge grin on his face. “I hope you don’t mind if I steal Xillon away for a moment, Annalise. Have an urgent matter to discuss with him about Crissy.”

She rolls her eyes and pushes me towards him, and goes on her way with Lorna. Introducing her to Zariah and then taking her toward Xena.

Zane pushes me outside and looks around for anyone who may be listening in and after some thought, mind links me instead. ‘Have nothing to say. Just witnessed that entire scene that took place and thought I would save you from the wrath. Annalise looked like she wanted to castrate you and rip Lorna’s head off.’

‘What? No, damn, she’s fine! I’d love to fuck her! Coming from you, Zane? That’s a new one for me.’

‘Well, Lorna is hot, but she doesn’t compare to Annalise. She sure as hell doesn’t come remotely close to Crissy. It’s funny what true love can do to a man. I love Crissy. I think I always have. Annalise is my best friend. My love for her is something different. Didn’t realize what true love was until I allowed myself to settle down, you know.’

The world has ended if Zane is talking about true love. But he has a point. Lorna doesn’t come close to comparing to Annalise. She’s new and it has to be the hormones of a teenager taking over and riling Xavier and me up. Would do nothing to jeopardize our relationship. I’m convinced she is our mate, and I’ll hold true to that. If she turns out not to be my mate, I’ll simply reject my mate and be with her. She’s all I’ve ever wanted.

‘Look man. I know I’m the last person you want to be getting dating advice from. But don’t go there. Don’t let your mind wander. Annalise is the real deal. Besides that, if you hurt her, I’ll kill you. Even though you’re like a brother to me.’ He smirks, flings the door open and strides back to Crissy. Pulling her up to straddle his hips as he crashed his lips to hers.

Strutting back inside, I amble over to Annalise with my head held high. She’s conversing with all the girls and guys from our pack, as well as all the guys and girls from the ancient crescent moon pack. Yet Finley is on the outskirts looking in. Suppose he’s doing his best to stay as far away from Annalise as possible.

It’s crazy how most all the guys and even Calissa from the ancient crescent moon pack have established relationships with the few girls we have in our pack. Dante and Zariah can’t seem to keep their hands off of each other. They have this moonstruck glow about them any time they are close to one another. Jarek and Calissa have also grown close. Then you have Declan, who has captured Xena’s heart. Not that I like what’s going on with Yarrah, but she’s bouncing between the twin gamma’s of the crescent moon pack Sloan and Tavish. Would be the craziest thing if everyone wound up being mates.

Pulling Annalise into a tight embrace from behind, I nuzzle her neck with my nose, and whisper in her ear, “My apologies, sweetness. Please forgive what happened moments ago. My actions were uncalled for. Can’t even try to comprehend what happened. I just…”

She cuts me off by placing two fingers on my lips, smiles warmly and whispers in my ear, “It’s fine, Xillon. Now you know how it was for me when Finley and I met for the first time. Neither of us had any ability to control our actions. We are together and that’s all that matters. We’ll stick with our agreement, right? Be with one another, no matter what the outcome is. Rather, we are mates or not, we will choose each other.”

Sighing with relief, I grin, place a chased kiss to her cheek, then brush my lips softly against hers. Her scent of watermelon and rain soothes my senses, and I take pleasure in the zap of electricity that courses from our joined lips that shoots down my spine and warms its way to my toes. Our connection isn’t as strong as what I felt with Lorna, but we are together and that’s all that matters, like Annalise said.

LORNA

Never thought I would need to reject my mate, because Finley and I knew we would end up being fated mates. Our bond has always been magnetic and electrifying. So intense that by the time I was thirteen and him fourteen, we could no longer keep our hands off of each other. But now all of that has changed, after meeting Xillon.

When our hands connected, it felt like every nerve and cell in my body were set on fire. Most often I get the same feeling with Finely, but not so intensely. Xillon could never compare to my Finley, but damn, they could be twins. They look so much alike, body build, height, hair. It’s his hypnotic light grey eyes that have me completely infatuated.

Is it bad that I’m jealous of Annalise? With those long thick waves of luscious dark brown hair and light blue eyes. She’s lean with taut muscles and curvy in all the right areas that guys go crazy over. Whereas I’m built like a man. I’ve got an ass and boobs, but she’s so feminine and absolutely gorgeous.

Couldn’t bear to watch them loving each other any longer, so I searched the crowd for Finley. Why wasn’t he here with me? Better yet, why is he on the outside looking in, gritting his teeth, with anger marring his features? Am I being too obvious, or what?

He doesn’t even flinch when I wave for him to come over to me. Could be, because he isn’t even looking at me. He’s looking past me. Turning my head to look behind me. I see the source of his anger. Xillon and Annalise seem to get even cozier with one another than they were just a moment ago.

Xillon, whisks her up bridal style and carries her up a flight of stairs. Which, to my surprise, makes me want to stalk over to them and rip her head off. My wolf Skylar perks up and snarls, ‘He is our mate!’

‘No, Skylar. Finley is our mate. He always has been and always will be.’

My anger skyrockets tenfold when I glance back at Finley, to see him watching them until they are out of view. Shaking his head with a low growl forcing its way from his throat, he finally looks my way. His eyes widening as he realizes I caught his actions. No doubt I look murderous right now.

Skylar snarls and starts pounding at me to take control. ‘I am going to kill her!’

Twisting around, I sprint to the door, bang it open and start ripping my clothes off. After the long flight and drive to get here, I don’t have the strength to hold her off. Barely made it down the last step of the porch before transforming. We dart off towards the forest, howling with so much anger, eardrums could burst.