Chapter 1

Book 4

^FOUR WEEKS LATER^

Lilitha stirred from her slumber, nestled in Damon’s embrace as the sun began to set.

She was comfortably snuggled against his chest, taking in his familiar scent.

“Good evening,” Damon whispered softly.

With her eyes still closed, Lilitha stretched her bare body against his, a smile playing on her lips.

His breath tickled her ear, causing her smile to widen into a grin.

As she opened her eyes, she was met with his captivating jade gaze.

She ran her fingers through his long, red hair, pulling him closer for a kiss.

Even though she had only been back for four weeks after her unexpected journey to Mainstry, it felt like she had been here for an eternity.

The tallest branches above them swayed gently in the breeze.

The setting sun painted the leaves, rocks, and even Damon’s eyes and horns in a fiery red hue.

The melodious chirping of birds filled the air.

To her left, a large python hung from a branch, its tongue flicking in and out.

Damon’s eyelashes were dark and thick, his eyelids heavy with desire as he gently bit her lower lip.

Lilitha reached for one of his horns, pulling him closer to kiss its ivory length.

She traced her lips along it, then sucked at the tip, causing Damon to shiver and pull back, his eyes dark and his cheeks flushed.

Their attention was drawn to Carmella’s shriek echoing from the trees, followed by Mateus’s deep, hearty laughter.

The sound filled Lilitha with joy, knowing they were as content as she was.

Being part of the clan had become a truly wonderful experience.

With a grin, Lilitha rolled away from Damon.

“Come on. Let’s join them.”

But Damon wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her back against him.

He playfully nibbled her earlobe. “Not yet.”

Lilitha threw her head back, laughing as he began to tickle her throat with his tongue.

She tried to pull away, but he held her firmly, causing her to choke and sputter with laughter.

“That’s not fair!” she protested.

He finally let her go, and she quickly sat up, rolling him onto his back and pinning his shoulders to the ground as she straddled him.

He flashed a playful grin at her.

“Do what you will, Diablon witch. I’m in your power.”

Lilitha returned his grin, then leaned over to lick and suck at his horns again, the ivory warm and smooth against her tongue.

She didn’t understand why she was so drawn to them.

Perhaps it was something in her Diablon nature.

They stirred a wildness in her, just like the feel of his arousal, igniting a heat within her that made her nipples harden, her skin break out in goosebumps, and a burning desire between her legs.

Damon moaned beneath her, squirming as she pressed her weight onto his shoulders.

Eventually, she let him go.

He grabbed her hips, looking up at her with a pleading gaze, his muscles rippling beneath his skin as he panted.

He reached for her breasts, but Lilitha pulled back before he could touch her, standing up.

She brushed a leaf off her arm and dusted the grass off her buttocks.

Damon propped himself up on his elbows.

“Where are you going?”

Lilitha flashed him a mischievous grin.

“Close your eyes.”

“Why?”

She gently pressed her fingers against his eyelids.

“Just close them.”

He complied but grabbed her wrist before she could pull away.

“Where are you going?”

“It’s a surprise.”

He let her go.

“All right.”

Her heart pounded with excitement at the thought of the endless hours of fun that lay ahead.

Lilitha darted through the trees, calling over her shoulder, “Catch me if you can!”

“What!” he yelled back.

Lilitha laughed.

“Lilitha!” he called after her.

Over the past four weeks, Lilitha had grown accustomed to the uneven, prickly terrain, making it easy for her to navigate through the trees.

The sound of sticks and leaves crunching under her feet echoed through the forest, while large, veiny leaves brushed against her.

Thin branches whipped against her body.

“Lilitha!” Damon’s voice boomed.

Lilitha tried to run faster, but it was no use—he was quickly closing the gap.

The sound of his heavy footsteps and the way he effortlessly broke through the branches was intimidating.

He sounded like a charging bull.

If she didn’t know him, she would be terrified.

She glanced over her shoulder, her foot caught in a root, and she stumbled—

“Got ya!”

Suddenly, she was swept off her feet and into a pair of strong arms.

Lilitha let out a cry as Mateus hoisted her over his shoulder.

“Mateus!”

He carried her through the trees to a small clearing.

Carmella was there, grinning widely, her long black braids cascading down to her hips.

The sun had set by now, but Lilitha’s night vision allowed her to easily see her surroundings.

Mateus, chuckling, gave Lilitha’s butt a playful smack.

“Hey!”

He spanked her again, then smoothed his hand over her left buttock.

The blood rushed to Lilitha’s head.

Mateus kept his tail coiled at his back, the sharp tip safely tucked away so it wouldn’t hurt Lilitha.

The sound of footsteps and snapping branches signaled Damon’s arrival.

He skidded to a halt behind them. “Hey! She’s mine!”

Mateus turned to face him.

Now, Lilitha was directly facing Carmella, whose dark eyes sparkled up at her.

“Says who?” Mateus shot back.

Lilitha squirmed in Mateus’s grip, and he set her down.

The two alphas were glaring at each other.

Damon’s eyes were narrowed, his tail lashing.

They were all naked.

It was a new experience.

Lilitha instinctively crossed her arms over her breasts, then let them fall to her sides.

Oddly enough, it was starting to feel more uncomfortable to be clothed than unclothed.

They’d all seen each other.

They’d all ~known~ each other—thoroughly.

It was another testament to how much she had changed over the past four weeks; how much she had become a part of the clan.

How much they’d become a family.

Damon and Mateus lowered their horns, growling at each other.

Mateus’s tail was now swaying, long and sinuous and deadly.

“Stop it!” Lilitha wasn’t used to the fighting, and this seemed serious.

She raised her hands, stepping toward Damon, but Mateus wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her against him.

“If you want her, come and get her,” Mateus challenged.

“Mateus.” She tried to pry his arm off her, but he only tightened his grip.

Damon’s tail snapped with a crack, a deep growl rumbling in his throat.

“Where’s Silus?” Lilitha’s voice was laced with panic, knowing their leader could put an end to this.

“Come.” Carmella’s voice whispered in her ear, her hand firmly gripping Lilitha’s arm, pulling her from Mateus’s hold and guiding her to safety.

“What are you doing?” Lilitha protested, trying to break free from Carmella’s grip. “I have to stop them. They’re going to kill each other!”

“No, they’re not,” Carmella replied, her voice steady and calm. “They’re alphas, Lilitha. This is what they do.”

“But—”

Carmella placed a hand on her shoulder, cutting her off. “Trust me.”

Her voice held a stern note that silenced Lilitha.

Carmella settled on the ground, stretching out her legs and flipping her hair back, appearing completely at ease as she leaned back to watch.

Lilitha stood beside her, her heart pounding, her body so tense her thighs ached.

The two alphas circled each other, teeth bared, tails whipping, their horns glinting in the moonlight.

A sudden image of one of them with a slashed throat flashed in Lilitha’s mind. She tried to step forward, but Carmella grabbed her leg.

“Leave it,” Carmella commanded, her voice a low growl. “Sit.”

Lilitha sank to the ground beside her.

Carmella’s hand tightened on her knee. “Watch.”

The two alphas continued their standoff, glaring at each other from beneath their lowered horns.

Damon’s red hair cascaded down his back and chest. Mateus’s dark hair was wilder, knotted and clumped on his shoulders, leaves and twigs tangled within.

Their hands raised, curved into claws.

Lilitha gasped as they lunged. She tried to rise, but Carmella pulled her back down.

Lilitha screamed as their horns clashed, the sound of ivory scraping against ivory filling the air.

They growled and snarled, punching and tearing at each other, their teeth bared as if they wanted to rip each other apart.

Mateus was massive, his reach far greater than Damon’s.

“Damon!” Lilitha cried out as Mateus landed a punch to his gut.

Damon fell to his knees, spat, then sprang back up, shaking his head and snarling, his fury amplified.

He crouched low to the ground, his clawed hands ready to gouge out Mateus’s eyes.

Lilitha glanced at Carmella, who looked utterly bored.

She yawned.

Lilitha turned back to the fight, holding her breath as Damon charged.

She quickly realized her fears were unfounded.

What Damon lacked in size and strength he made up for in sheer ferocity.

He was a blur of speed and savagery, dodging Mateus’s lunges, deflecting his punches, slashing at his face.

He moved so quickly, he left marks and gashes on Mateus before Lilitha could even register how they got there.

But Mateus was no pushover, his heavy punches and the sheer force behind his strength driving Damon to his knees or sending him reeling backward.

Their growls, snarls, and roars echoed through the trees.

To anyone listening, it would sound like two monsters tearing each other apart.

And in truth, that’s exactly what it was.

Mateus tried to ensnare Damon in his massive arms, likely hoping to crush him, but Damon slipped away.

He whirled around, teeth gnashing, snarling, then pounced.

Mateus jumped back, his hand lashing out, his nails raking across Damon’s chest.

Blood was everywhere.

Lilitha glanced at Carmella again.

They charged at each other, their horns locking as they wrestled.

Then Mateus fell with a heavy thud, pulling Damon down with him.

And just like that, the fight was over.