Eclipsed Empire (The Wolves of Crescent Creek, #2)

by Tessa Hale

Pain racked my body, but it wasn’t from the many wounds. It was much worse. It was the agony of rejection.

Word though. Betrayal cuts deepest

I’d barely gotten the sentence out before Locke’s fist crashed into Ender’s jaw.

Glad to keep the "punch Ender because he is being a cunt" trend going. Fucking deserves it.

An arrow piercing one man’s chest. A wolf leaping through the air and snapping another’s neck. A bullet hitting someone right between the eyes.

Ender our Hawkeye wonder?? Puck and Kingston! RESCUE!

Angus was the one dangling in the air now. Brix held him off the ground by his throat. “I am going to bathe in your blood,” he snarled, the knife tattooed by his eye flexing with his fury.

Yes daddyyyy

My lip curled in a snarl. “This stuff can be faked.” The healer showed no fear as she met my glare. “This woman has been through hell on Earth more times than I can count.”

YES HERA. Tell him. Love her already. Ender needs a slap in the face

More injuries glowed in a pattern that could’ve been beautiful if it weren’t for the pain and destruction it signified. Hera lit up Wren’s body by time of incident, different areas glowing and scars illuminating along with things we couldn’t see.

SUCK ON THAT ENDER. Think she is faking still? LOVE getting his POV for this

Locke leaned into me and nuzzled my neck. “I’ve got you.” That was easier to hear because Locke had never wavered. He’d always been right there with his quiet strength and reassurance.

Damn right, that's my flannel wearing dream boi!

Puck’s lips pressed to my temple. “Will you let us take care of you? Find that strength again?”

The healing power of orgasms has entered the chat

Puck bit into the skin where my shoulder met my neck. The moment his teeth slid into me, everything was more.

Mate mark #1! A bit sd it is Puck and not Locke. Hopefully he is next!

The brand would be the most sensitive part of me until it faded weeks from now. I found myself yearning for that permanent mark, the one that would link Puck and me together forever.

Wait it isn't permanent? Damn. Curses. You got me all hyped for mate bonds just to tease me.

Something about the typically quiet man taking charge had my blood heating, even as that shiver engulfed me. It was the juxtaposition of it all. And the power.

Ditto babe. Holy hot.

D had kicked the guy’s stool out from under him and sent him crashing to the floor before eighty-sixing his ass. It was beautiful.

I bow down to Dina. That would be beautiful

There he sat on the stool, easy, casual. His hair was grayer now, but the slope of his nose was so similar to mine. “Hello, Little Flower. I’ve missed you.”

BARF HOW DID HE FUCKING GET IN HERE?!?!

“What? No greeting for your old man? No hug?” Bastian challenged, his eyes twinkling. “The only hug you’re getting is a blade between the ribs,” I snarled.

PREACH. Fuck this evil fucker

Bastian bared his teeth at me, his canines lengthening. “You’ll pay for that. Pay in blood and flesh. Your child will be my heir. Marcelle can’t wait.” Bile surged up my throat.

BARF BARF BARF

“Submit,” he snarled. Then, a new voice joined his. It was familiar but darker than I’d ever heard it before. “The hell she will.”

FUCK YES ENDER LETS FUCKING GO

He glared at me, his eyes flashing. He didn’t speak right away, but the entire world slipped out from under me when he did. “You’re an empath.”

BRIX KNOWS!!! EEEEEEEE

“Forever,” he snarled. “Forever,” I echoed. Brix slammed into me so deeply that it was its own brand. His teeth clamped down on my shoulder as I mirrored the gesture on him.

AND THE CROWD GOES WILD! Mate bang, mate bang, mate-ity bang, I said a mate mate mate-ity bang!

It was a heart with a knife through it. Pleasure and pain. Brix cupped my face. “Because you made me feel again. Made me know I was seen.”

Conrats to Brix for being bond number 1! Bummer for Locke since he as always been a homie lol hope he gets his turn soon

He cleaned me, dried me with a towel they had stored in one of the trees,

I wonder how much money they spend annually on clothes and linens just stashed in the woods. Gotta be a lot, right? Always needing replacing and shit too, yeah?

Brix’s thumb skated up and down my arm as he scanned the room. “Wren is an empath.”

Cat's outta the bag now

Locke looked at me with reverence. “The headaches. They happen when you’re emotionally overloaded.”

Of course Locke gets it first he is the best ever. Fuck I love him

“You spoil her,” Ender mumbled. “And you don’t?” I challenged. “You built her a pussy palace. And I caught you singing her a lullaby a couple of days ago.” Ender’s cheeks pinked. “She likes that song.”

1) pussy palace killed me again haha 2) stahp that is too fucking cute

The chocolate exploded on my tongue, mixing with the rich ice cream and fluffy whipped cream. I couldn’t help the moan that slipped free as my eyes closed.

Classic foo-induced moan trope has entered the chat and now they're all hard lol

“Don’t come,” Locke ordered. “Puck isn’t done with his meal.”

*chokes on food* holy fuck. Boss me around, flannel daddy

My pants came quicker as Puck’s tip bumped my entrance, and Locke’s teased my rear. Puck slid in, letting out a groan of tortured pleasure.

IT'S WHAT YOU WANT BUT THERE'S TWO OF THEM

A lock with a heart in the middle of it. My nose stung as I found the answering mark on Locke’s neck.

Lol a lock for Loche, alrighty then

“The fox shifter who tried to grab Wren,” I answered helpfully. Brix’s expression went as cold as ice, pure silver bleeding into his eyes. “You mean the fox shifter who’s about to have his skin peeled from his body?”

Daddyy. Lol love me a “torture every threat to my mate” boi

Ender was right there with him, his amber eyes now a brown so dark they were almost black. He surveyed the pathetic shifter in the trunk. “Who’s ready to remove some organs?”

Psycho twins can double team me any time

I stared at the man known by many as simply The Archer, a man who made his way in the world as an assassin.

I've been the archer I've been the pray. Who could ever leave me, darling? But who could stay?

“Your hard-on is poking me in the ass,” Puck snarled at Brix. “Then you shouldn’t have hogged Wren last night. Sacrifices must be made,” Brix said,

Hahaha good morning wood is never not funny

“Oh, no, you don’t, Mr. Pussy Palace,” I snapped. Juan leaned over to Locke. “Did she just say pussy palace?”

Never not laughing at Pussy Palace XD

If I didn’t ink her, I’d fuck her instead.

Both? Both. Both is good.

“Tell me if it’s too much,” Brix said, his voice low. “I will.” I wouldn’t. I’d already walked through fire. This would be nothing.

We all know women are WAY better at sitting for tattoos. Boys are such babies lol

The most beautiful artwork I’d ever seen now graced the tan and marred flesh. It only took me a second to recognize my wolf—her dark-brown fur with the patch of white. Wrapped around her was a jet-black wolf. Brix. It was a protective pose, but he didn’t stand in front of her. He was a show of force at her back. Throughout the artwork were tiny silvery starbursts.

GORGEOUS

“I hope it was a good more because I think I’m going to want you to do that again.”

Tattoos are an addiction for real lol

“Hand between those thighs, Kitten.” Her lips parted, her nipples pebbling. Interesting. My mate liked to be ordered around.

Okay saaammeeeee. And Ender can order me around all day and night baby

Cressida flung her wet hair over her shoulder and glared at Wren. “I’m going to kill you!” “Oh, you can try. Just like you tried to get the jump on me with your little bitch crew here. But you’ll fail at that, too.”

No bitches be getting the drop on my girl!

The only sounds were those of Dara and Siena, whimpering now. I looked from them to Cressida to Wren, gaping. “Did you give them…swirlies?” Wren shrugged and straightened her corset. “Bullies should get the bully treatment.”

HAHAHA ABSOLUTELY ICONIC SHIT FROM WREN OUR BADASS BITCH

The words were just out of my mouth when I felt a prick in my neck. I tried to swat it away, but it was too late. I was fading. And when someone caught me, they said, “I can’t wait to make your life a living hell.”

FUUCCCKKKKKK!!!!!!