Helena's back was against the wall.
Literally.
She had no idea it would be this tough to fight against two fellow pack members.
Stephen and Shawn.
It was like they were taking their anger out for her not choosing either of them after the break-up.
Helena dodged Shawn's flying kick to her face, then punched Stephen in the gut.
Both of them weren't impressed.
"You have to fight smarter, not harder." Stephen said.
Shawn agreed.
They moved in perfect unison, Stephen feinting left while Shawn struck from the right, their coordinated assault leaving Helena breathless as blows rained down faster than she could block.
Her ribs screamed in protest, her lip split, and when her back finally hit the cold dirt floor, both warriors stood over her with identical expressions of disappointment and something darker—something that made her wolf instincts howl in warning.
Both of them helped Helena get back to her feet.
"Again." Shawn said.
Stephen agreed.
Helena held a hand up. "Can we call it a day?"
Shawn and Stephen exchanged glances. Then they finally agreed to her request.
**
In the shower, Helena let the scalding water cascade over her bruised shoulders, each droplet a tiny needle against her purpling skin.
Steam clouded the glass as she closed her eyes, seeing flashes of Stephen's knowing smirk and Shawn's intense gaze.
Her fingers trembled slightly as she traced a particularly tender spot on her collarbone, wondering how differently those same fingers would feel if they belonged to either of the warriors. The thought sent an electric current through her that had nothing to do with pain.
**
Marcus was busy railing Priya from the front, which surprised him, given that she loved to take it from the back.
"I love you." Priya said between his thrusts.
Marcus didn't instantly reply his answer.
Earlier, Marcus was with Nicole in a hotel room, and she had professed her love for him. Marcus had instantly replied in agreement then.
"I love you too." Marcus said reluctantly though he hoped his wife didn't see the hesitation in his voice.
Priya's nails dug crescents into his shoulders as they crashed over the edge together, her soft cry mingling with his deeper groan, their bodies tensing and then melting in perfect synchronicity as the afternoon light filtered through half-drawn blinds.
**
Jake and Holly were in the latter's dorm room that she shared with Helena.
Suddenly, the door swung open, and the duo paused their debate over which literary genre was superior to see Helena dressed differently.
She was covered from neck to toe in skin-tight black leather like Catwoman.
Both Jake and Holly had their mouths open but only one of them got Helena's tongue shoved into their mouths and that was the hot nerd.
Holly was jealous. She wanted in. So she first kissed Jake then kissed Helena not knowing whether she was bisexual or not.
Helena's lips moved with hungry precision between them, her fingers tangling in Holly's auburn waves before sliding to grip Jake's collar, pulling them both closer until their shared breaths mingled in a heady cocktail of desire, confusion, and reckless abandon that left all three trembling against each other in the half-light of the dorm room.
Holly unzipped Helena's tight outfit, while Jake worked his magic with his lips on hers.
Bodies tangled on Holly's narrow dorm bed, a symphony of gasps and whispers filling the space between heartbeats. Helena's leather outfit peeled away like midnight shadows retreating at dawn, revealing skin flushed with heat beneath Jake's tentative fingers.
Holly's auburn hair spilled across the pillow as she arched upward, her lips finding the hollow of Helena's throat while Jake watched with darkening eyes before Helena pulled him down to join them in their dance of discovery and desire.
Just then, the door flew open again.
It was the actual Helena. "Jenna, what are you doing here?!"
**
The Enchanted Ones, the original vampires, and their prized possession; the all-powerful witch - all were gathered in the former's home turf.
"Let me get this straight." Kyle said to the witch. "You want us to take revenge against Marcus's Moonwalker pack on a whim?"
Priya frowned. "Not on a whim. But for a legitimate reason."
"And what reason is that?" Elliot asked.
The Enchanted Ones, a group of powerful vampires, gathered closer to the trio. They were eager to learn about the reason for revenge.
"Marcus needs to pay for dishonoring our marriage." Priya announced.
Kyle cackled. "He's unfaithful?"
"Yes, and that bitch Nicole has got to pay."
"How do you know it's her?" Elliot asked.
"I could smell her on him." Priya replied.
**
Ray was traveling on his private jet with his most trusted team members.
"We're finally gonna make the bitch pay." Drake said and the team joyfully agreed.
"I don't think we can take her on directly." Ray said.
His normally playful demeanor had vanished, replaced by a taut jawline and narrowed eyes that seemed to bore holes into the polished mahogany table.
His stubbled chin rested heavily on interlaced fingers, knuckles white with tension as the plane's gentle vibration hummed beneath them.
"Then we'll take her on indirectly." Drake grasped his boyfriend's hand and gently pressed it.
Ray smiled.