Novels by Lino

ChloeI stared at Adiran, my heart racing.“What?” he repeated, staring at my stomach with wide eyes.Caden cleared his throat when neither of us appeared to say anything. “Chloe, I think he’s asking you a question.”“What?” I said, tearing my eyes away from Adrian’s shocked face.Caden sighed as if we were causing him pain. “I think Adrian is asking if you, you know,” he gestured towards my stomach.I turned back to Adrian.“Are you pregnant?” Adrian asked, his voice soft.I nodded.To my confusion, Adrian turned and decked Caden right in the nose. His first made a crunching noise as it made contact with Caden’s nose.“Adrian!” I screamed.Caden stagg

CadenPrince Adrian did not look good. He looked tired, to start off with but he was also sweaty as if he’d been running. Had he been running? That didn’t make sense – he was wearing dress pants and a button down. Those weren’t running clothes. There’s no way he’d been running. But if he hadn’t been running why had he been sweaty?Also, and most importantly, why was he at my sister’s wedding looking for Chloe?“Prince Adrian, Chloe isn’t here. She was invited, but she wasn’t feeling well. We all understand, of course.”He blinked at me, clearly not understanding the words I was saying. I sighed and rubbed my eyes. “Why don’t you come in here with me and we can get it all cleared up.”The prince followed me without complaint, a sure sign that he really wasn’t feeling wel

AdrianI knew exactly where the Blackstone Pack was, but getting there was a different story. It was hidden deep in the mountains, spanning hundreds of miles. There was so much space, and I didn’t know exactly where Chloe might be. She could be in the capital city, or she could be off in the mountains in a tiny cabin, away from the world. I hoped she was with people who loved her, but I wasn’t sure.I decided to go to the capital city first. It was the biggest city in the territory and where the Alpha lived. I didn’t want to see Caden, per se, but I had a feeling that wherever Chloe was, so was Caden. The thought sickened me, but there was nothing I could do if she’d decided to reunite with her old mate.I took comfort in the fact that she hadn’t broken her mate bond with me, so she couldn’t have reignited her mate bond with Caden. That was something, right? I alm

CadenI’d been surprised when Julie had come to me and told me that Chloe had approved the memorial for her mother. I’d half expected her to say no because she’d been the only one at the original burial. She’d been the only one who’d stood by her mother’s side.I realized after a moment that I shouldn’t have been surprised, though. Chloe was a far better person than I was, but I’d always known that. She really would be a great Luna if I’m able to convince her to be my mate again. I’d mostly given up on that dream, but a small part of me still hoped that she’d come back to me. Her and her baby. I knew I could be an amazing stepfather if she’d just let me. I already loved the kid, even though we were still several months away from meeting.I knocked twice on Chloe’s front door and waited. I heard some rustling from ins

ChloeLife settled after that breakfast with Caden. I didn’t know if Allison and Kaylee went around telling everyone about our conversation, but I got a lot less stares while I was out, even though I was visibly pregnant at this point.I’d taken a walk in the park early one morning and was taking a break on a bench when Julie, my mother’s ex best friend, sat down next to me uninvited.“Hello, Julie,” I sighed. I’d known this woman for almost a decade, but I couldn’t get over the fact that she had turned her back on my mother.“You must hate me,” Julie sighed deeply.I considered my answer carefully. “No, I don’t hate you, but I can’t reconcile the Julie who was my mom’s best friend with the Julie who turned her back on the same woman. Who does shit like that?”Julie winced at my words. “That’s fair, I suppose,”“What you did was really shitty.”“I know,” she sighed. “I am so sorry, Chloe.”I turned cold eyes to her. “I’m not the person you should be apologizing to.”Julie winced again.

ChloeCaden appeared on my doorstep Sunday morning but to my surprise he didn’t have any breakfast with him. It’d become out routine over the last couple of months for him to bring breakfast by on Sunday mornings and share it with me.I opened the door with a frown. “Where’s the food?”He gave me a small smile. “I thought we’d try something else,” he said carefully.“What?”“Why don’t we go to the diner? You love their breakfast.”I opened my mouth and then shut it without responding. I could think of several reasons why I didn’t want to do that. For starters, I was visibly pregnant, and I didn’t need any rumors going around that the baby was Caden’s. Half the town already assumed it was his, and he was doing little to dispel the rumor. I also didn’t want anyone to stare at me because of what happened with my mom and Leah. I didn’t anyone’s sympathy. Not like that, at least. Not like I was a sideshow attraction.“I don’t know if that’s such a good idea,” I hedge.“Come on, Chloe. You’

Nina’s POVI stir awake to the warm press of Jaxon’s body behind me, his arm draped over my waist. His breaths are slow and steady, his chest rising and falling against my back. For a moment, I let myself linger in the stillness, the kind that’s familiar these days.The room smells faintly of cedar and lavender—Jaxon’s scent mingling with mine, comforting in a way I didn’t expect after everything we’ve been through. I glance at the window; the pale hint of morning sunlight filters in through the curtains, softening the sharp edges of the world outside.“Are you awake?” Jaxon’s voice is husky, laced with sleep.“Barely,” I murmur, tilting my head back to catch his gaze.His lips curve into a lazy smile, and before I can say anything else, he rolls me onto my back, his body pressing over mine. “Good,” he mutters. “Because I’m not done with you yet.”I laugh, the sound muffled as his mouth captures mine. It’s soft at first, a whisper of a kiss, but it quickly deepens, his hand tangling i

NinaThe house is quieter than I expected for a morning like this. The kind of quiet that wraps around you, soothing and heavy at the same time. I lean against the kitchen counter, watching the sun spill through the windows, painting the room in gold.Jaxon’s voice filters in from the living room, a low hum of conversation with Dominic. They’ve been working on some kind of strategy for the pack, a way to integrate the remaining members of the Silver Crescent seamlessly. Hearing him talk like that, so sure and steady, sends a warmth through me I didn’t think I’d ever get back.“Morning,” Callie says, slipping into the kitchen with a grin, her hair still damp from a shower.“Morning,” I reply, pouring her a cup of coffee. “You’re up early.”She shrugs, taking the mug with a small smile. “Couldn’t sleep. Thought I’d check on Griffin before breakfast.”“How is he?” I ask, even though I already know the answer. I saw him last night, and he was fine—better than fine, really, but I still nee

JaxonThe air is thick with tension, every breath I take tasting like the promise of blood and chaos. I stand at the edge of the tree line, staring at Elijah’s stronghold. It’s a fortress, tall and imposing, and every instinct I have tells me we’re walking into a trap. Doesn’t matter. We don’t have another choice.It is only three days since he last gave us the slip, but Nina and I agreed that the longer we wait, the more he reinforces. This is the right time to hit again.I glance at Nina beside me. She’s all sharp lines and cold determination, her jaw set, her hand gripping the syringe so tightly I’m worried it might snap.“Ready?” I ask, my voice rough.Her eyes flick to me, and for a second, the mask slips. I see the fear there, the weight of everything riding on this moment. “Ready,” she says, her voice steady despite it all.Rylan steps forward, his usual cocky grin replaced with something grim. “We’ve got this,” he says, his eyes scanning the treeline behind us. “They don’t sta

NinaJaxon moves to my side, his hand on my shoulder. “We’ll figure this out,” he says, his voice steady.I nod, but inside, I’m falling apart. Elijah’s right about one thing: time is running out.The smug bastard had slipped through our fingers like smoke, leaving behind nothing but chaos and a threat that sticks in my mind like a thorn.Jaxon sits across from me, his shirt ripped and bloodied. His knuckles are bruised, and there’s a cut across his jaw that’s still bleeding. He leans back in his chair, eyes shut, breathing heavily. For a moment, he looks like he might pass out.“Let me see that,” I mutter, grabbing the first aid kit from the table.He opens one eye, his lips quirking into something that might have been a smirk if he weren’t so exhausted. “You’re bossier than usual.”“Shut up and sit still.”I dab at the cut, my movements harsher than they need to be. He hisses but doesn’t pull away. “You don’t have to take it out on me.”“I’m not.” My voice shakes. Damn it. “I’m just

NinaThe tension in the air is so thick, it feels like we’re moving through molasses. The SUV stops just short of the perimeter of Elijah’s territory, and everyone’s quiet. Dominic’s hands grip the wheel tightly, his jaw clenched. Lucas is in the backseat, checking the weapons one more time, his movements too sharp. Rylan is silent, his gaze fixed out the window, as if willing himself into a different headspace.Jaxon’s beside me, close enough that I can feel his warmth. He leans in slightly, his voice low. “You good?”I nod, my throat dry. “Yeah.”He doesn’t look convinced, but he doesn’t push. “Stick close to me,” he murmurs. “If something goes south—”“It won’t.” I cut him off, sharper than I mean to. “We’ve got a plan.”He stares at me for a second before nodding. “Alright. Let’s stick to it, then.”Dominic kills the engine, and the darkness around us feels alive. It’s like the trees themselves are holding their breath, waiting. We step out, weapons in hand, moving silently. Elija

JaxonI’m not sure what I expected when we came together tonight. Maybe a few more words, more arguing about how stupid this whole thing is. But it’s just the two of us, sitting in the quiet of Nina’s room, and I can feel the tension hanging between us. She’s not ready to forgive me. I know that. But right now, I don’t care. We’ve got bigger shit to deal with.“Jaxon.” Her voice is quiet, like she’s trying to keep everything in. I can tell she’s thinking a million things, but she won’t say any of it. She never does when she’s worried.I turn to face her, shifting on the bed to face her fully. “What’s going on in that head of yours?”She hesitates for a moment before looking me in the eye. “I’m scared. You know that, right?”I nod slowly. “Yeah. I can tell. Hell, I’m scared too.”She rubs her eyes, looking worn. I wish I could take all the weight off her shoulders, but I know I can’t. Not now. Not with Elijah breathing down our necks. “I’m not afraid of the fight,” she says, her voice

JesseEveryone was going crazy.But they were going crazy for good reason. Matt was still with people who wanted to seriously hurt him.I was angry but trying my best to hold my anger back as best I could, not wanting to alarm everyone. When I was angry, everyone would know it.Matt had a temper, but my temper was more dangerous. I was always more dangerous than everyone here.They all knew it.I knew it.It was something I wanted to make sure everyone understood. The more they feared you, the less trouble they would give you.Sighing softly, I sat down at the table, thinking about how this rescue mission was going to go. It was going well. I was determined to make it go well.“Jesse, what are you thinking about so hard?” Rain asked, talking with a mouth full of food.How could someone who could be so smart do something so stupid sometimes?No, that wasn’t fair of me to say.All of us were on edge after everything that happened since Matt was taken. It had only been a few days.“Our r

RainMatt was still missing. It had been two days and I was a fucking nervous wreck over the fact that he was gone. Then again, all of us were nervous that he was gone.I remembered the conversation I had with Colby the other day. He had been sitting in his bed, sulking. It was so strange to see him sulk because this wasn’t normal behavior for him.“Hey Colby,” I said, slipping into our room.The two of us had ended up sharing a room for a while now. It was great to have Colby as a roommate. He understood me and didn’t lose his temper like Matt tended to do.Jesse just scared me at times. He was one my best friends but he scared the shit out of me.“I’m fine.”“Yeah, sure. Your fine and I’m able to shut the fuck up for more than ten seconds.”Colby burst out laughing, causing me to grin.“See, I made you laugh!”“Rain, it’s impossible to stay serious when you are around.”“You're welcome,” I said, plopping myself down on his bed.He bounced slightly, giving me a look when I made mysel

MattI had been out and about, just having a normal day. Nothing was going wrong.There hadn’t been any threats from my pack members, so I was letting my guard down. This was my fault. It was the last thing I should’ve done, yet I didn’t realize until the last moment.One moment I’m standing, and the next someone is coming up behind me, injecting something into my neck. I slapped my hand on my neck, swearing under my breath.This fucking sucked.“Fuck,” I muttered, the smells of my old pack washing over me.This sucked so much.It was all I could think. K about.Fighting wasn’t an option. My body was falling, and it hit the ground with a loud thud, making me wince.There was laughter from whoever was around me. Was no one seriously seeing this? And if they were, why didn’t they help?Wait.I had been on an empty street.The people dragged me into a creepy van, which was more than stereotypical. Can you imagine them dragging me into a van, which was one of the most stereotypical things

ColbyThe day started normally. I was at a council meeting with Jesse, the two of us trying to deal with what seemed to be petty issues. When it was over, he said he was going to stay a little longer to finish up on some work.I came home to an empty house. No surprise. Rain was still out coaching, and Lia was out with Simone, the two of them having a girls' day out.Who wouldn’t want to have a day off after working as hard as Lia had for the past few weeks?Yawning, I set to making myself something to eat when I heard some noise outside the front door. Stiffening, I ran out and then found a note.The note said that they had Matt.Matt had to go out today to run some errands. We were all doing our own thing, so they must’ve taken that chance to take Matt.He was gone.Swallowing, I was trying to comprehend the fact that his pack had him. No, his former pack.Matt was a member of the Moonveil pack. He was one of us, and we were going to protect him no matter what.But this happened on

LiaSomething was going on.I don’t know what was going on, but something was going on.People were hiding things from me, and by people, I mean my mates. Rain kept looking at me, and it seemed like he was ready to burst. It was obvious he was hiding things from me, but what was that something? It was what I couldn’t figure out quite yet.“Hey Rain,” I asked, plopping myself beside him.It was obvious from the look in his eyes that he wasn’t expecting me and that he wasn’t thrilled for me to be here. It was because he was hiding something.Rain was as obvious as ever.He squeaked, smiling at me. “Uh, hey Lia. What’s going on?”“I’m off for today. How are you?”“I have to coach the kids' team today. They are doing well and I think they are going to make the championship!”I smiled. Rain was genuinely excited about it, so I was trying my best to be excited for him. But the problem was he was hiding something from me, and I needed to find out what it was!He was the worst at keeping secr

JesseThe two of them were up to something. Rain was someone who wasn’t able to keep a secret if his life depended on it. You could tell him that it was life and death, but he would still insist on telling the secret.Sometimes it was amusing, but other times it was annoying because I didn’t understand why Rain couldn’t keep a secret. But the point was, I know he and Matt were up to something.I raised an eyebrow, crossing my arms as I leaned back in the chair. "Rain, don't try to pull that crap. You're acting all guilty. What are you hiding?"He wiped his forehead, eyes darting around like he was looking for an escape route. "It's nothing, okay? Just... don't—""Don't what?" I interrupted, a smirk playing on my lips. "Don't ask questions? Don't pry into your business? Come on, this is me we're talking about. You can't get away with this."Rain groaned, slumping down in his seat. "Okay, see—”“What are you doing?” Matt asked, appearing out of nowhere.I smirked. “Trying to get your se

ALLISON.“Yes,” I answered breathily.Wesley didn’t waste any more time and pushed his cock inside my mouth. I whimpered around his girth as Daniel’s pace grew faster. The bed shook as he pounded on pussy. He pulled his member out until only the tip remained before plunging it back inside, balls deep.“Uhhmm!” I moaned deliriously as Wesley did the same with my mouth. He grabbed my hair while slid his cock in and out of my lips, using my mouth as his own pleasure toy. I loved it so much, how they used my body to feel good and at the same time, making sure that I would get the best pleasure of my life.Daniel growled as his tempo grew faster, his thumb rubbing on my clit while pistoning his member into my folds in frantic thrusts. On my side, River was still using my hand to jack himself off, making me lose my mind.My body tingled with unbearable pleasure. I screamed around Wesley’s cock as I felt another mind-blowing orgasm ripping all over my body. I tensed, my toes curling as I cam

ALLISON.By the time we returned home, I was tired. I barely had time to process everything before Emily greeted us at the door.“Amaris is already asleep. She spent the entire evening doing a SpongeBob marathon,” she informed me with a small smile.Wesley clapped his hand.“I knew she’d grow up loving cartoons. I should’ve bought her that SpongeBob onesie when I had the chance,” he said.“You still haven’t let that go?” River shook his head.I smiled at their banter before turning to Emily. “Thanks for watching her. I owe you one.”She waved a hand.“Nah, just make sure to invite me over for dinner next time.” She winked and made her way out, leaving me alone with my five men.Moments later, I found myself submerged in warm, soapy water. Daniel worked shampoo into my hair, his fingers massaging my scalp, while Wesley soaped my right leg gently.“You did great today,” Wesley said.I smiled, leaning into the sensation of River gently scrubbing my back.“I didn’t do much. I just accepte

ALLISON.Later, we went back to our old house to eat some lunch. Liam stood by the stove, his sleeves rolled up while he was cooking. Meanwhile, Amaris was sitting on the kitchen stool while playing with her doll. She swung her legs while watching Liam stir some vegetables.“Daddy Li, I want waffles!” she announced.Liam paused, his green eyes widening slightly as he turned to face her.“You want waffles for lunch?” He glanced at me, silently asking if this was okay.I leaned down and kissed Amaris on the cheek before ruffling her soft curls.“Why don’t you try eating some veggies for a change, Ami?” I asked.She scrunched up her nose and stuck her tongue out. “Yuck!”Liam snickered, clearly amused. “Alright, alright. I’ll make you some waffles.” Then, he turned to me with a smirk and winked. “I’ll just add some fruits to make it… uh, healthy?”I sighed, pressing a hand to my face.“She totally takes after me,” I sighed.Daniel chuckled from across the kitchen, nodding as he looked at

ALLISON.Somehow, I was reminded again of the question our father asked us in that fateful day at the river…“What are you willing to do for the person you love?”As I stared at the stones and wooden cross that marked his grave, I found myself smiling because after everything, after the battles, the sacrifices, the loss, and the victories… I knew my answer had remained the same.“I did everything I could for love, Dad,” I whispered, gently laying down a bouquet of yellow tulips, his favorite.Beside me, Sullivan knelt and did the same, only his bouquet was of amaryllis flowers which was our mom’s favorite. He stayed silent for a moment, his fingers brushing against the wood of the cross, before he exhaled deeply.It has been two years since the war ended. The bloody battle that tore through the Outworld, leaving scars on both the land and the people. It took time, so much time to rebuild everything that has been broken. Many people died, but a lot of them survived. Still, it didn’t me

ALLISON.“Allison, stop!”Somewhere, I could hear distant voices, calling me. But the rage I was feeling inside was louder than anything I have ever heard before. So, I didn’t stop. My flames grew hotter as my anger.“Allison!”Then, suddenly, I felt an arm around me, wrapping me, pulling me. At first, it wasn’t enough to stop me. But another pair of arms latched around me, forcing to stop. There were too many of them, strong big arms that wrapped in a tight embrace. I shrieked. I struggled, clawed, lashed out. But they didn’t let go. They held on, even as my fire burned them.Then I heard their voices growing louder and louder…“It’s okay, Allison. We’re here.” Daniel.“Come back to us.” Liam.“You did it, baby. It’s over.” River.“You’re safe now.” Mason.“We love you, Allison. Please.” Wesley.Their names rang in my mind as they continued to whisper soft words in my ear.“Allison…”The word sliced through my rage like a silver bullet. I gasped as reality crashed back into me. The f

ALLISON.Quinn was already there, clutching Sullivan’s twitching form, tears streaming down her face. Celestine ignored me. She took a slow step forward, tilting her head as if considering something.“He is at my mercy now. And I can make this agony last for as long as I want.” Her lips curled into a ruthless grin.She lifted her hand and curled her fingers into a fist, tugging to some invisible strings in the air. Sullivan screamed. His body arched, his hands clutching at his chest as if something were ripping him apart from the inside. It broke me to see him like this.Quinn sobbed, tightening her hold on him. “Stop it! Please, stop!”But Celestine wasn’t done. She turned her piercing gaze to me.“Come with me, Allison. Do that, and I will end his suffering.” Her voice was almost gentle now, coaxing.I shook my head, my entire body trembling. I wanted to believe her. I wanted to believe that I could save him. For the past few days, that was what I have been clinging to. I thought I