Novels by Josephine Smith

The drive back to the Stark mansion was surreal as if the world outside the car had softened at the edges. Ethan had called snow plowing services to clear out our path and from there, it was easy driving.The storm had passed, leaving behind a stillness that felt almost reverent. The sky was a crisp blue interrupted with bits of clouds being pushed away by a desperate rising sun.There were still bits of winter gloom in the ambiance but it didn't feel so to me. I couldn’t stop smiling.It wasn’t the well-measured smile I had grown accustomed to putting on, it was real. Something delightful was bubbling up from deep within me. A first in years.My fingers danced absently over my lips, still tingling from Ethan’s kiss. My whole body hummed with the lingering warmth of him, the weight of his hands, the gentleness of his hold.I had made the choice. And now I sat here, giddy and restless, my heart fluttering like I had swallowed an entire flock of butterflies on a sugar high. Did butterfl

He finally looked me in the eye. “I still do,” he softly admitted, sitting up to straighten his back as he faced me once again.I couldn't help it, staring at his lips. He was suddenly so close for me to consider touching them honestly. The breath I let out was shaky. My insides tingle.What was I to do with this? With him. With the way he wasn’t pushing, wasn’t demanding. Wasn’t taking. I reached to touch his face, gently caressing his cheek. He leaned into my touch and the air crackled between us.For so long, I had been waiting for the other shoe to drop. For him to say the kiss in that study was a mistake or it wasn’t supposed to happen. I would have believed it, after all, he was under some odd influence from my authority.But instead, he was waiting. He was giving me the choice and waiting for me to take it. Meanwhile, I was being so foolish getting caught up in my head with the idea that he didn't want me. Bond or not, Influence or not, Ethan wanted me.I smiled at him, my hear

CHAPTER 43“I’ve never had a mate.” Ethan began.My breath caught softly in my throat. A frown tugged at my brows. I raised my head slightly, just enough to see his expression. His eyes were hazed and seemingly distant.“Really?” I whispered.He leaned his head back against the seat, staring far ahead into nowhere in Particular. “Not in the way you have.” His lips twisted slightly. “The bond is supposed to be put in place way before we meet the one meant for us, right? That’s how it works for most wolves.”I nodded slowly. “Yeah pretty much.“He hummed. “But, I was born without the bond.”I blinked. “What do you mean? I thought everyone had a mate.“Ethan shrugged. “Being an Original is a lot of things. Strength. Longevity. Power beyond what most Alphas can comprehend. But it also means, "Solitude.” He trailed off, exhaling through his nose. “It means I’ve spent years, decades, without that connection.“The reality of his words sank in. Decades? I knew Originals aged differently, but

“This would be the perfect moment to whip out those blankets,” I shivered from the frigid air biting my skin. I was left in just my undershirt and tights and the thin materials were offering little protection against the creeping cold.Ethan didn’t say anything. Instead, he reached for a thick pile of blankets on the rear parcel shelf. I didn’t notice they were there, neatly folded in one spot.He loosened a black fuzzy one from its fold and draped it around my shoulders. The momentary closing of the space between us left me flustered. For a minute, he was too close and then he was not.The car was quiet, save for the howling wind outside and the rustling of the blankets. I pulled mine tighter around me, trying not to look at him. It was hard not to give the way his arms flexed as he settled a blanket around himself and the slow, controlled breaths he took as he moved.He was a sight, buried under the darkness of his dead car, buried under the snow, he was still quite a sight. A beaut

“Of all the times a snowstorm could hit,” I grumbled shakily to myself, my teeth chattering as another shiver wracked my body.“It doesn't really respect schedules,” Ethan remarked playfully.I only hummed In response, holding my body tighter hoping some warmth would flourish within me. Nothing happened. Wasn't this the perfect moment for any other of my powers to come alive? Hopefully, one that could stop me from freezing.“you're cold,” Ethan pointed out and I shot him a look, quirking an eyebrow.“Oh really? How'd you come by such a guess?“ I bit back, slightly annoyed.Ethan's gaze flickered to me, sharp and assessing. He ignored my sarcasm. “It's abnormal.”Would he stop staring? I scooted further into my seat, curling my lip in distaste. Something about the situation was prickling my nerves with irritation. “I noticed,” I said with my jaw clenched.“Do you think it's a Melbringer —” he began but I wasn't up for any sessions of speculation.“I can't think right now, Ethan. There

“I can't,” he retorted, tapping a button I guessed was to switch on the heat. I guessed so because my seat suddenly felt warmer.I leaned into the leather chair, letting the tension roll off my back.“So you say yet you can pinpoint my feelings to a thought,” I hummed out a sigh pressing my head against the window.He flexed his grip on the steering wheel. I wasn’t sure why I watched but his hands were awfully tight with tension. “It just comes naturally because we're —” he paused and for a minute, silence haunted us.“Connected,” I say absentmindedly. The word slipped from my mouth, soft and uncertain.“I wouldn't say, connected,” Ethan quickly responded as he drove. I turned to study his profile, the set of his jaw, the muscle ticking in his cheek.“Why not?“ My voice was quieter now, hesitant.A loud heartbeat passed. Then another and finally, after the third heartbeat, he glanced at me. “You're awfully good at keeping your distance, it’s hard to feel connected with you.“I didn't w