Mihai woke up from the strangest dream in a strange bed in a strange room without a clue as to how he ended up there.

And it hurt so damn much to be awake.

He frowned up at the ceiling, trying to piece together the parts of his dreams that seemed to make sense. But then there were other parts that seemed completely out of the realm of reason.

He remembered being at Phaeron’s keep. He remembered Aaron winning in battle against his sister. He remembered running through the woods, blind, pure need running through him as he traveled long distances, stuck as a wolf, in order to find...

To find Sean.

There were other pieces. Attacking someone who looked like Sean—but surely, surely he wouldn’t attack Sean. Being blasted out of the air. Feeling that drive to hunt down Sean disappear.

None of it made any sense at all.

“How are you feeling?” a familiar voice asked, timid, breathless, and excited at the same time.

Mihai froze at the words and painfully turned his head to look at the man who, he assumed, had been watching him while he slept.

“Sean?”

The omega warlock smiled at his own name and sat forward, entwining Mihai’s fingers in his own. “Glad you’re back, Mihai. You said you would come join me here when you could—I hadn’t realized that it would be that quickly.”

There was a playfulness to his words that caught Mihai’s ears. He quirked an eyebrow. “Where is ‘here’, exactly?”

“The mansion,” Sean explained. “With all the free wolves.”

Mihai was here? Did that mean...?

He sat up and nearly growled in frustration as the magical weight of the dog tags settled on his chest, reminding him of his ties to the vampire king.

Phaeron’s dog tags. Meaning that Mihai wasn’t free.

Still, though, he felt lighter than he had in years. Like that oppressive sensation from the dog tags was now nonexistent—or at least lighter. Mihai’s hand went to his neck, just to make sure he wasn’t imagining things.

“I, uh, managed to dampen the king’s hold on you,” Sean said sheepishly, as if reading his thoughts. “I marked you as mine to counteract it.”

“Marked me...?” Mihai licked his lips, feeling his pulse quicken at the thought of being his.

Sean gave a sheepish grin. “It was the only thing I could think of. At least, until we figure out how to get those off.”

Mihai couldn’t keep the disappointment from his face. “You don’t know?”

Sean gave his fingers a squeeze. “Not yet. But I promise you that I’ll figure out a way.”

Mihai had heard plenty of empty promises in his time. From his father’s promise to keep the pack away from Phaeron to Aaron’s loyalty and more, there had been so many times that he had his hopes dashed on the ground.

Yet, there was something about the earnestness of Sean’s expression as he watched Mihai that led him to believe that he would follow through with this promise. And somewhere, in his chest, that hope continued to blossom.

Maybe more than hope could blossom between them. Mihai decided to see if it was possible.

He leaned forward and captured Sean’s lips with his own. The omega warlock was initially stiff, but soon melted underneath Mihai’s probing tongue and mouth. Sean tasted just as good as he remembered, and the smell of him surrounded Mihai like a warm blanket.

One that he wanted to snuggle up in forever.

Mihai pulled back, and Sean’s eyes fluttered open as he gave a breathy smile.

“Just as good as I remember it,” the omega warlock said, licking his lips. Like he was trying to taste Mihai as well.

“Thank you,” the alpha said, looking down at their clasped fingers. With his free hand, he combed a hand through his hair, mussing it straight up. “Thank you for everything.”

“Well,” Sean said, sitting back. He still looked starstruck from the kiss. “I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for you. I almost didn’t believe such a place existed for someone like me.”

“There’s always a place for someone like you,” Mihai whispered.

Sean gave him an embarrassed grin. “I didn’t think you’d kiss me after...well, everything.”

Mihai sucked in a deep breath. “Well, what did happen?”

“You don’t remember?” At Mihai’s shake of his head, Sean sat back with a frown. “We found you in the woods near here. You were like a wild animal out there. And you didn’t recognize me.”

Mihai reached out and stroked the side of Sean’s face. “I’m so sorry. I...wasn’t myself. And I don’t remember all of it.”

Just flashes of pain and running through the mountains, to the flatlands, and back to the hills around the mansion. Maybe it was best if he didn’t remember what had happened, in that case.

“I guess you finally followed the napkin?” Sean offered. “Because you did come here after me.”

Mihai laughed softly and shook his head. “No, I...I followed your scent.” Across an entire country, he had followed whatever whiff he had of Sean, whether that was on the wind or just blind luck that he had struck out in the right direction.

Maybe there was something else that had drawn him here. Like fate.

“You remembered what I smell like?” Sean asked in wonder. His thumb was now stroking the back of Mihai’s hand, and it was so very distracting.

“Of course.” He grinned at the warlock. “I don’t think I could ever forget that.”

Sean laughed, and Mihai pulled him in for another kiss.

He may not ever remember what happened to him while he ran across Pristat under Phaeron’s influence. And he vowed then that, regardless of what happened next, he wasn’t going to ever leave the omega warlock that gave him hope for a better future.

***

THE NEXT FEW DAYS PASSED by in a blur for Mihai. Other than a day of rest and eating the largest meal of his life that first day—and that he promptly vomited because he ate too much too quickly—Mihai was put to work in the mansion, making sure that it ran as smoothly as possible. He was shocked to find Pyt here as well.

“Hello,” the Drelos had said with a wink. “Good to see you’ve found your way here.”

Mihai stopped and looked at the elf incredulously. “What are you doing here?”

Pyt smiled serenely. “It’s my house. Why wouldn’t I be here sometimes?”

Why wouldn’t he, indeed. Mihai realized that the Drelos never stayed at the mansion for very long, going across Pristat to help populations of werewolves, elves, humans, and more against the vampire king’s iron-fisted rule. He’d be gone for a day, come back for one, and then be gone for several. Mihai was getting used to it.

And there was Sean, who never seemed to leave the alpha werewolf alone by himself. Not that Mihai minded, but it seemed like the mansion was crowded enough to where they didn’t have any time alone. As such, their interactions never went further than stolen kisses in the corners.

Mihai wanted so much more with the omega warlock. And it seemed like Sean was keen to do the same. Every brush, every surreptitious glance between them felt like a secret they were keeping from everyone else. Not that they would have minded, but Mihai didn’t want the pressure from outsiders telling him how to approach this budding relationship with the warlock.

At night, they would go their separate ways, Sean to his room and Mihai to his own. It felt like they were stuck in a cycle of the same thing, day in and day out. And Mihai never got the chance to act upon his desires.

He was ashamed of it, actually. That he’d be so concerned about whatever was happening between him and Sean, when his pack was still out there, being led by Aaron in his absence. They still wore their tags. They were still within Phaeron’s grasp.

If something happened to them, he’d never forgive himself. He often thought of Nathalie and what she would be doing. He hoped she was all right. Somehow, once Sean found a way to remove his dog tags, he’d go find his pack and set them free.

He was thinking about his pack in the dining hall when Sean and a group of free wolves sat down across from him with their dinners. Damn, still not alone. Mihai felt an overwhelming sense of wanting to take Sean aside and make him his.

Sean shared a shy smile with him, probably feeling the same way. Mihai felt his cock stir at the desire that raged through him.

“It’s a full moon tonight,” the warlock mused. “Does that do something to werewolves? I’d heard stories about that growing up.”

That would explain why Mihai was feeling so territorial right now. He’d lost track of time while staying here, but his body didn’t.

The wolf next to Sean—a delta by the name of Greg—gave an amused snort. “The full moon does everything to us werewolves. It makes us more aggressive. More lustful. And we’re apt to shift at any point.” He waggled his eyebrows at both Mihai and Sean. “Especially if emotions run high.”

Despite himself, Mihai blushed.

“So you’re powerful then, too?” Sean asked. “Like you’re at your strongest then?” He put his chin in his hands, looking contemplative.

Mihai nodded. “Yes. The full moon gives us the most power. Why do you ask?”

“I’m wondering if there’s a way I can get those dog tags off you tonight.” Sean shrugged, even as a thrill of excitement went through Mihai’s veins. “You’re more powerful. And I’ve been learning a few spells that may help. Martin had his spellbook with him when he was visiting.”

Mihai leaned forward. “You think it’s possible?” He had to try hard not to get his hopes up.

After all, it seemed too good to be true.

Sean grinned conspiratorially. “I think it’s definitely possible. If your powers are aided by the full moon, then maybe you can break Phaeron’s hold on you. After all,” his smile widened, “I’ve already marked you as mine. You just need a nudge to push the spell over the edge.”

“Be careful though,” a voice said, and the entire table looked up as Pyt sat down with his own bowl of soup for lunch. The Drelos picked up a spoon and pointed to Mihai. “The full moon could also make Phaeron’s spell stronger.”

“I didn’t realize you were back,” Sean said, sitting back and crossing his arms.

Pyt shrugged. “Aquarina seems to be all right for the moment. I freed some mermen who now owe us a life debt. It will be useful in the future. But I wanted to be back for the full moon.” He peered at Mihai. “In case something were to happen with our visitor.”

Mihai bristled at the accusation, but he knew that the elf was just being cautious as elves were apt to be. It had to do with their longer lives and wise countenances. Even still, it hurt Mihai to think that he was considered a threat.

Then again, as he felt the weight of the dog tags around his neck, he was still considered the enemy.

He licked his lips. “Let’s try it,” he reasoned. “It wouldn’t hurt to try, right?”

Pyt speared him with his gaze. “Oh, it could hurt very much, Alpha.”

Mihai hoped the elf was wrong.