Raphael


    The bloodsucker, Evan, scrunches up his nose. "Trust me. We will die if we teleport back to Lunaris. It''s filled with demons and... Basically, the entire city is inside some sort of magical force field. I don''t know what is happening over there, but it would be suicide to teleport there now. We aren''t strong enough to handle that many demons." I exhale slowly, feeling guilty because I left Leonora there. My pack is there too, but Leonora is family.


    F**k.


    Why did I have to be so rude to her?


    Leonora is in love with me-I''m not blind.


    But I have a mate, and Leonora''s attempts to woo me have gotten annoying. She will wander naked into my room by "ident" or do other stupid s**t to gain my attention.


    Herst little game was to ckmail me with Ste''s secret. It was Leonora''s chance at gettingid. Of course, I didn''t keep the deal and snapped at her afterward.


    I wonder if she is mad at me?


    Definitely hurt.


    "Then what is the n?" Ste asks. "We can''t let innocents die to the demons, but I''m definitely not a demon yer."


    My eyesnd on my mate. "But you could be after you''ve turned twenty and fully awakened as a silver wolf. It''s a few days from now, right?"


    Ste peers up at me, the sweet little thing. She tries to appear unaffected when I lift my eyebrows at her, but the faint blush on her cheeks tells me she remembers the darkest hours.


    The little vixen took advantage of me and grew aroused, and even if she had s*x with Evanter, I think she is attracted to me.


    I should get a haircut.


    "If we wait a week before we go back to Lunaris, won''t plenty of people already have died?"


    "Yes," I answer her honestly. "But it''s better to grow stronger and have a chance at defeating the demons rather than rushing in and justmitting a full-fledged suicide." "For once, I actually agree with the mutt."


    I send Evan a re, and lightning zaps between us. He is supposedly the brooding, silent type, or he was. The bastard is changing for the sake of Ste, and... Maybe I should try to change too?


    My eyes travel back to my petite mate. She has a determined set of eyes and red hair, which is gorgeous. Frail.


    But you should never judge a book by its cover. Ste is a silver wolf and potentially much more powerful than me.


    Or not.


    I mean, I''m pretty damn capable as an alpha too. I can repel magic;tely, I''ve been practicing entirely destroying it. Make spells vanish with a click of my fingers.


    "So, are we just supposed to wait around?" Ste nces between us. I can feel her concern like my own. "What if I don''t get any stronger?"


    "No, of course, we will train you before then," Evan rifies and clears his throat while making an awkward grimace. "And mating with one of us will make the people involved stronger. I''m not trying to force you into choosing someone, but it would be nice to start thinking about it. As soon as the mate-bond kicks in, you should mark one of us."


    Since I''m feeling like a wild card, I speak my mind. "Or both."


    Both Evan and Ste stare at me like I''ve grown two heads. Does that idea freak them out that much?


    Wow.


    "Uh..." Ste wet her lips. "Could you repeat that?"


    I sigh. "Look, I already know you''re going to choose Evan, alright? You''ve been nothing but hostile with me, and I get it-you don''t like me. Yet I rather share you than be pushed entirely to the side." Evan growls, and I watch his eyes turn red. "Well, I''d rather have the whole thing-I don''t like sharing at all."


    "That''s because you could potentially have Ste all to yourself, but try putting yourself in my shoes-wouldn''t you try anything to keep her in your life? She is pretty damn amazing."


    And definitely too good for me. I crave power and wish my pack to grow much more potent. I''m a selfish bastard.


    Yet I''m still a man, and I''m not blind-Ste is f*****g gorgeous.


    Pale skin and tiny freckles syed over her skin. Doe-eyes, and even though she speaks her mind often, she also sometimes acts timidly. Biting her lower lips in a way that makes me want to kiss her. Kiss her.


    When did I be such a wimp?


    Probably when she was dragging herself against me like a werewolf in heat, stroking my muscles like they were the s**t. I''ve been touched by countless other women, but it hits differently when it''s your mate. Ste and Evan are continuing the conversation. I think the vampire said something after I spoke. I don''t know. I''m not listening.


    My eyes are on the vampire. He is a good three inches taller than me, six-foot-five to my six-foot-three, yet I don''t think Ste can mind that much. She is tiny, for f**k''s sake, and I''m not small. But damn, Evan is fit too.


    I should train harder, get that haircut, and use my alpha genes to at least grow bigger muscles than that bloodsucker. Maybe Ste would want me if she found me more attractive?


    I could use this week to focus on my body...


    But I also have to change who I am.


    Ste isn''t shallow; she seeks a connection. The only problem is that I need a f*****g miracle because I don''t know where I went wrong. Why is that vampire so goddamn special?! "Raphael?"


    I blink.


    Ste is looking up at me. "Did you hear a word that I said?"


    I shake my head.


    She actuallyughs. Laughs! It''s the first time I''ve made her smile like that, and I don''t mind, even if it''s aimed at me.


    "Evan and I are going to practice self-defense by theke. We asked if you wanted toe? I know you have your pack, but... You''re kind of stuck with us right now."


    After seeing that smile, I would follow this woman anywhere. Those eyes and the crinkles? f**k. I''m thinking with my second brain and find my mate sexier now that she isn''t frowning. "Sure, I wille..." I tell her and attempt a smile.


    Ste smiles back but doesn''t say anything.


    The vampire is glowering in the background, but I don''t care-I was invited by my mate. Evan will just have to s**k it up.


    Ha.


    Suck it up. Bloodsucker.


    Wait, that''s not even funny. I will have to get my head evaluated. I''m just feeling giddy because finally, Ste isn''t trying to get rid of me but inviting me to be part of her life. Involving me in training might just be Ste seeing a chance at getting stronger. She doesn''t think it means anything.


    But boy, is she wrong.


    Because in my eyes? Well. This invitation to train by theke with Ste is an opportunity to enter her heart. Let the love trianglemence-I''m ready to battle.