Maisie

My bedroom was large, taking up nearly half of the East wing. A queen sized bed sat at the center with lush drapes and sheets. I had a walk-in closet that currently sat empty, save for a few changes of clothes that seemed to have been left behind by a guest. My bathroom had a jacuzzi and partitioned sections and everything was pristine and glittering and so painstakingly, out of my world.

The ceiling to floor windows overlooked the water fall outside and I found myself walking, sliding the window aside to glance over the balcony.

Back pressed against the door and finally alone for the first time since everything went to hell, I sagged, letting the full weight of it all finally crush me.

I sat on the floor, book of rules in hand, wondering just what the hell happened.

Did Regina and Jenny throw me under the bus? Was it all planned? Why would they do that to me? Did they never actually care about me all along? What was a lie? What was the truth? Who was on my side?

I felt so lost. So weary.

I just wanted to curl in a ball and cry for hours. But my eye sockets had dried out.

There was only so much I could do. I had to move forward with my life, ensure I survived so I could have a future.

What was my future? It seemed to be constantly changing. I had worked hard to get that scholarship so I could leave the pack and change the direction of my life.

But it seemed I had, somehow, indirectly, by getting bit by the Lycans, changed my life. I was no longer a member of the Night Shade. What did I now want for my future?

Only one thing occurred to me at that point.

I had to survive.

Everything else could come right after. I had to survive the transition first, and then, I would let myself dream of more. Like I once used to, when I was a child.

It all seemed so distant while I slaved away in the pack. But now, everything seemed within reach. I could make something of myself now, without too many constraints. I could truly live my life. I would live.

And to do that, I needed the Lycans to help me survive.

And so, I opened the book sitting on my thighs. It occurred to me then as I began reading, that in the most twisted ways possible, Regina and Jenny’s plan worked.

***

Halfway through the front page, I realize I’m well, and truly doomed.

***

Lycan males have instincts, senses, dominance, possessiveness and sexual urges dialed up to extreme levels. That you’re already living in their space makes you a claimed female, with or without yours or their consent, and while many express a level of control, they are creatures hardwired to act on instinct first. Which already places you at a disadvantage.

The core principles (read these first):

• Lycan males interpret scent, touch, eye contact, movement, and even your breathing through a primal lens. Their baseline is "mine to claim/protect/fuck." (Gross)

• Consent matters, but their instincts move faster than their brains. Clear, consistent signals prevent "I thought you wanted this" situations.

• Once they decide you smell like theirs, the switch is hard to flip off.

#The Rules (Live By These or Learn the Hard Way)

1. Scent is Sacred—Do not cross-Contaminate.

Never wear their clothes, sit in their favorite chair for long, sleep in their bed, use their soap/shampoo unless you explicitly want them all over you.

Your scent mixing with theirs="I’m open to being marked and claimed." One whiff of you on their pillow can trigger a full rut.

I paused, horrified. No wonder Quinn went crazy.

2. Touch Only When You Mean it.

No casual hugs, shoulder bumps, or lingering hand brushes. A Lycan’s skin hunger is intense. Even a ’friendly’ touch registers as foreplay or submission.

If you initiate touch (especially neck, wrists, waist, or thighs), they will assume you’re inviting mounting. Keep physical contact brief, or non-existent if you can help it.

Oh no! Little wonder Jericho looked that way when I touched him like that by the waterfall!

3. Eye Contact Has Levels.

Brief eye contact is polite.

Holding their gaze longer than 3-4 seconds (especially while smiling or with dilated pupils) = challenge or invitation to dominate.

I have done this. So many times. Oh no! Oh no!

Looking up at them through your lashes while biting your lip? That’s basically begging to be bent over the nearest surface.

Oh my god. How crude.

4. Running Makes You Prey.

Never run from them, even playfully. Their chase instinct is hardwired and overrides higher thinking. "Catch and claim" is the default response. If you need to leave a room, walk. Quickly.

My mouth fell open. This was probably why they bit me! I’d done nearly half the things on the list! It was almost as though I was dangling a bone in front of a starving dog.

5. Clothing Signals.

-Red, especially deep crimson or blood red, is a massive trigger for many Lycans. It screams Go. In other ways, it indicates blood. Which pumps their heart faster, and sparks bloodthirst. Or more simply put, a thirst to sink their canined-fangs into your neck. Or sink other things into you.

At this point, I was just asking for it. I glanced down at my blood red dress. I was a walking hazard, shooting signals that I was ready to be taken. My cheeks flushed with alarm. Goddess, I was so screwed.

-Tight or revealing clothes around the house=you’re advertising. Loose, modest layers are safer.

-No walking around in just a towel or oversized chest. Unless you really, terribly want to get fucked.

6. Food, Drink, and Gifts.

Accepting food right out their hands or sharing plates=Intimate bonding.

Letting them feed or cook for you regularly is a hard NO. Lycans tend to feed their mates right before they fuck them. It is essential to ensure they are in good health for mounting and conception.

My jaw fell again. What on earth...

Now, rejecting their gifts outright can wound their pride, but accepting things too eagerly signals you like them.

7. Heat/Rut/Full Moon Warnings.

During full moons or when any of them is close to rut, keep extra distance. Their control is extremely fragile. Your normal "I’m just being nice" can flip the switch to feral.

It is also important that you lock your doors during this time. They will respect your privacy... I think.

I was trembling with fear by now. She thinks?!What did she mean by ’she thinks’?! I ran over to the door in wild panic and bolted all six locks into place, taking the extra measure to wedge a chair behind the door, panting really hard, before returning to the book.

8. Words Matter More Than You Think.

Avoid compliments. Or phrases that allude to ownership like "I’m your", "It’s ours", "Do your worst", "I feel safe with you", "You’re so strong" unless you mean them sexually.

Playful teasing ("you wish") can be read and interpreted as flirtatious. No words with double meanings. No innuendos. Be literal and direct.

9. Personal Space is Territory.

Do not rearrange their things, move their belongings, or linger in their personal rooms without invitation. Scent-marking their space, even accidentally, is particularly dangerous.

10. Jealousy Triggers.

Do not flirt with, touch, or spend too much time with other males (Lycan or not). Even innocent conversations can spark a display of dominance.

If you’re going to speak to one privately or go out with a different guy, announce it to the group first, clearly, and state boundaries clearly. Lycans will overstep and impose once they feel threatened. But if you point out clearly what your boundaries are, they will respect it. (Results may seriously vary).

I was seriously beginning to doubt the author’s reliability.

11. Submission vs. Defiance.

Baring your throat, even slightly indicates submission or acceptance of dominance.

Constant defiance is regarded as foreplay, and in some cases, extremely arousing, depending on how attracted they are to you.

Whew. No problem there. I doubted they were attracted to me in any way, shape or form. I was pretty safe in that department, at least.

12. The Nuclear Rule.

If you are not ready to be fucked, marked, knotted, and potentially bonded for life, do not send any combination of the above signals all at once.

One or two slips might get you a warning growl. Three or more and they will assume you’re in heat.

Final Warning: These are hard to abide by, so you probably should not live with Lycans.

Well, it wasn’t like I had a choice.

I flipped over to the next page and stiffened.

#Part 2. Now That You’ve Been Claimed—What You Should Know & How To Keep Things Spicy—

I slammed the book shut and hurled it to the side so fast. My heart was racing for some reason, like I had been caught doing something bad. My skin prickled and tingled with an odd awareness.

I stared at the book for a long moment. I wasn’t claimed, but my fingers were trembling pretty hard with the urge to pick it back up and read the next page.

I wondered what was wrong with me.