Thank you for reading!
Zoe’s POV I stood at the luggage carousel biting my nails while I waited to pick up my bags. Guilt was gnawing at my insides as I recalled the way I’d left Dillon this morning. Should I have at least said goodbye? No. I shook my head to clear the doubt. He knew going in that I didn’t intend to accept the bond. Saying goodbye would have just led to rehashing the same old argument between us. At least this way, I left with good memories instead of the bad ones that had plagued the last two years of my life where Dillon was concerned. Plus, it felt good to take a little revenge. He should know what it feels like to be used then wake up alone. “Mate loves us! We should go home now!” My wolf growled again. Cinna had been hissing and snarling at me since I left the cabin this morning. The whole time I’d been with Dillon, she had been unusually quiet, almost as if she was afraid to interrupt the moment. Still, I could feel her presence front and center all night long. I wasn’t re
Dillon’s POV I let Dorian run for hours, hoping it would help dissipate some of the pain and frustration we were feeling. When he was finally exhausted, we returned to the packhouse, shifting back and grabbing some clothes from the plastic bin on the front porch. But I couldn’t go in. I was in no mood to see anyone so I wandered around to the back terrace and plopped down on a bench facing the garden. The view was gorgeous but all I could see was Zoe, writhing in pain on the ground a few feet in front of me, where I'd found her that night two years ago. The night I’d broken her heart without even knowing it and ruined our future together. Pulling out my phone, I opened a text to her and sent her a message. Surely she’d landed by now and she would see it come through. But after a few minutes, she still hadn’t read it. So I sent another and another, pouring my heart out to her and begging her to call me so we could work things out between us. Last night was amazing and I knew she
Blair’s POV I watched Dillon walk away, enjoying the view. The man always did have a fine ass! Not that the rest of him wasn’t as equally delectable. I sighed at the memory of the last time I’d seen him naked. That night in his office, the night I made the video I sent to Zoe. I thought for sure seeing the two of us together would mean the end of her little infatuation with him. Seeing the proof that she was nowhere near the kind of woman Dillon needed and that he’d already found that woman in me should have shattered whatever feelings she had for him, with or without the mate bond. But apparently the bitch still didn’t reject him. That was fine though. I was never one to give up easily when I wanted something. And I wanted Dillon. At least Dillon and I were talking again, That was a step in the right direction. I had been furious when he said we couldn’t see each other anymore, all to protect his prissy little mate’s feelings when she didn’t even want him. But I knew his self-
Zoe’s POV My first foray into life outside my pack had been going remarkably well for the most part. When I decided to go away to school, I knew I wanted the full college experience so I accepted a room on campus. Fortunately, it was a single room with an en suite so I didn’t have to share, but it was in the thick of student life and that made me happy. Mattias had introduced me to some of his friends and they all seemed really nice and welcoming. Most of them were studying shifter medicine as well so hopefully I would have no shortage of study buddies, too. They had already added me to their text group where they organized study group meetings or social outings so I could join if I wanted to. I had also been fortunate enough to land a job at Ashmouth Medical Center as a Medical research assistant. Mattias knew the research fellow and recommended me for the position. I didn’t need to work but the job would expose me to research methodologies that would be helpful in my classes and,
Dillon’s POV It was the same thing everyday since the day she left, and today was no different. My daily routine never wavered. Wake up, lead training, morning huddle with the Alphas and Beta, then spend the rest of the day in my office working on security and patrol protocols. I looked forward to the first part of my day. It was a distraction. It required focus and face to face interaction. It was the rest of the day that I dreaded. Because once I was alone in my office, I couldn’t think of anything but her. Opening the photo gallery on my phone, I scrolled through my photos of Zoe. She had no idea I had so many pictures of her and I cringed at the thought of what she’d do to me if she found out. I cupped my hand over my junk protectively at the mere thought. My mate had a vicious side. My mate. We were nowhere near solidifying our bond and with how easily she left me, I had my doubts we ever would be. But still the word made me smile. Zoe’s gorgeous face stared back at me from
Dillon’s POV My leg bounced nervously in my seat as the plane touched down in Ashmouth. Despite the fact that I was a Gamma, a fierce warrior, butterflies fluttered in my stomach as I considered what I was about to do. Zoe didn’t know I was coming and I knew there was a chance she would refuse to see me. I never asked for time off so the Alphas were a little surprised when I’d told them I needed to leave town for a few days. They didn’t hesitate to agree though. Under my leadership, security was a well-oiled machine, And Derek, my second-in-command, had everything well in hand. So here I was, about to lay my heart on the line for the girl who’d already stomped on it more times than I could count. If that made me a fool, oh well. I would be a fool for her any damn day of the week. I grabbed my carry-on from the overhead bin as soon as the plane doors were open. I had no idea if I would be here for a few hours or a few days but I always traveled light. It made it easy to head str
Dillon’s POV “What is this place anyway?” I asked, risking the wrath of a clearly still fuming Zoe. “It’s where we keep our research samples.” She answered bluntly, the scowl never leaving her face. “Ooh-kay. Then why do they have it locked down tighter than Fort Knox?” I ventured another question. Zoe huffed, exasperation a mild term for her current attitude. She ran her fingers through her hair a few times while she contemplated even bothering to answer me. I slumped down on the floor beside her, stuffing my hands in my pockets to ward off the urge to touch her silky locks myself. “Medical research is tightly regulated. Any loss, damage, or mix-up with samples could set a study back years. That’s a lot of time and money lost, not to mention the consequences for patients whose lives might depend on the treatments being developed.” “Makes sense when you put it that way.” I acknowledged. “I was fortunate to even be allowed back here. It was a privilege Dr. Knolls trusted m
Zoe’s POV It was happening again. No matter how hard I tried to maintain a safe distance between us, to keep the stone walls solidly in place around my heart, he always managed to find a way through. And fuck was this ever worth it! I moaned as Dillon’s tongue found mine, massaging it softly as his hands gently roamed over my curves. But Dillon wasn’t gentle. He’d proven that several times over the night he’d fucked me into the next week, driving my body to heights I didn’t know were possible to reach. So no, Dillon wasn’t gentle and if it wasn’t the real him, then I didn’t want it. I wove my fingers through his soft, dark curls and yanked hard. Dillon groaned in pleasure as I pulled his head back and grazed my teeth down his neck. “I love it when you’re feisty, baby doll.” He murmured in that deep, sexy tone that made my toes curl. “And I love it when you don't treat me like a fragile doll. Fuck me like you mean it Dillon or not at all.” I chided, pulling back to meet his gorg
Hello Lovely Readers! Once again I want to thank you all for supporting my work! I hope you enjoyed reading A Cruel Fate: Her Gamma's Regret and The Warrior's Wild Mate as much as I did writing them. I may not have time to respond to every comment and review, but I read them all and take every word to heart. So if you have time, please let me know what you though, either in the review or comments section. I would appreciate it so much! As for what comes next, I will be working on The Legends of Glass Lake Series which will focus on the next generation of the Glass Lake as well as their friends and allies' children. Book one is still untitled but will focus on Mason Cross and Elena Stone as well as introducing new characters. I hope to begin publishing the first few chapters in early January and hope you'll join me for the ride. That's a wrap for Derek and Julia. For now. We'll see them again soon! Much love, Cara
Julia’s POV 5 Years Later “Hurry up! We’re going to be late!” I called to Derek, trying to rush him along. Kat, Reegan and Ryan were holding a birthday party for their two year old son Liam and we were running behind as usual. With our own two year old and four year old, going anywhere as a family was a lot like herding cats. Everyone was either moving in different directions or refusing to move at all. Currently, it was the latter. “I can’t get Lexi off the toilet, sweetness.” Derek’s exasperated voice called back. We were potty-training our daughter and Derek loved to say she was a typical woman, once you got her in the bathroom you couldn’t get her out. I crept down the hall to check on their progress and had to choke back a laugh at the conversation they were having. “Please, Lexi-Lou, show dada what a big girl you are! As soon as you go potty in the toilet, we can go to Liam’s party and you can have cake and ice cream!” He bargained. “But, I not a big girl, dada. I your b
Julia’s POV Pain seared through the raw nerves where Derek’s fangs pierced my neck. Marking was usually done in the heat of passion, a pleasurable distraction from the pain, but Derek hadn’t waited for that and I couldn’t care less. I loved that he was so desperate to make me his, he couldn’t wait to sink his teeth into me. The sharp sting was a reminder that he was really there and I was really his, that it hadn’t all been a wonderful yet finite dream. But the pain went as quickly as it had come, mutating into a sensual thrill that ignited my lust while turning my bones to jelly. Derek groaned in pleasure as our bond solidified, pulling me tighter against him to hold me up as my knees weakened beneath me. A long languorous moan fell from my lips as Derek swirled his tongue over his mark. Then suddenly, a whirlwind of love, devotion, lust, and a fierce possessiveness hit me square in the chest, knocking the air from my lungs. I’d believed Derek when he’d said he loved me, but this
Derek’s POV The drive back to Glass Lake territory was the longest of my life! With every passing mile, a new worry assaulted me. Winning Julia back was far from a sure thing. I still didn’t know if she really slept with Eric. The thought of him putting his hands on her luscious body or sticking his cock in her tight, hot pussy infuriated me! But it also scared the shit out of me, because if she did fuck him, it meant she had already moved on. Julia Kane was stunningly gorgeous, fiercely loyal, and stubborn as hell. If she decided she was done with me, there would be no changing her mind. The thought of her slamming the door in my face left me equal parts terrified and depressed as fuck. A future without her felt so bleak, cold and empty. But the more I thought about it, the more dejected I became. If she’d been the one to find her mate, and agreed to give him a chance so easily, let me walk away without a fight, I’m not sure I would have given her another chance either. B
Derek’s POV Eric’s taunt sent me into a red fucking rage! I wanted to slice his dick off with my claws and shove it down his fucking throat. Julia was mine! MINE! And nobody fucking touched her but me! I suspected they’d slept together in the past and the thought of them doing it again gutted me. I’d put everything she’d done before me out of my mind, just like she’d done for me. But Julia Kane had carved her name on my heart, branded it on my soul, and nobody else could have her now! “Derek, stop!” Julia screamed, stepping in front of Eric. “It’s okay, sunshine.” Eric chuckled, wrapping an arm around her torso. “He’s so pissed he can’t see straight. I doubt he could land a hit if he tried.” “Not helping!” Julia hissed at him over her shoulder. “Step back and cool off!” Damien barked, his steadying hand on my shoulder. I was fucking furious and my chest heaved violently. I balled my fists at my sides, trying to restrain my beast but my body swayed in Eric’s direction. My
Julia’s POV “So you come out here everyday to collect samples?” I asked Trista as we tramped through the forest together. She was explaining her research on forest sustainability and showing me how she collected test samples to see how different trees and plants responded to different fertilization compounds. It was part of her postdoctoral work and way over my head but still fascinating. Although I had to admit, listening to her enthusiasm for the subject left me feeling a little left behind. Zoe had left for college right after high school and Kat had midwife training. Trista was well on her way to saving our habitat and I was still deciding what I wanted to be when I grew up. That thought led me to wonder what Amber’s aspirations were. Was she going to college? Did she have plans to do something important with her life, medical research like Zoe or maybe become a doctor? Was she smarter than me? From there I found myself diving head first down the rabbit hole of all the
Derek’s POV “Fuck man! I don’t know what to say.” Dillon had ceased trying to strangle me to death and had moved on to pacing a hole in the office floor. “I mean she’s my sister. I can’t stand the thought of her heartbroken and alone. But after finding Zoe, I know what it’s like to meet your fated mate. I could never expect you to give that up.” “Amber, could you please excuse us. I’d like to talk with the Gamma alone for a minute.” I tried asking nicely with little hope it would get me very far. “Oh no! Absolutely not! I’m your mate. There is nothing you can’t say in front of me.” She actually stamped her foot at the end of that little speech. “Of course, I can say it. I just don’t want to!” I explained, grabbing her arm and dragging her toward the door. “:Let’s go, princess.” “What? No!” She squawked in protest. “You’re my mate! You can’t tell me no! That’s not how it’s supposed to work!” She whined the whole way but I wasn’t giving in. Once I managed to deposit her outsi
Derek’s POV I was losing my ever-loving shit! How could she be moving on already? Out partying, dancing, smiling like she wasn’t missing me at all. Meanwhile, I was so twisted up in knots, I couldn’t think straight. And what the fuck did she mean by ‘fucking someone isn’t the same as getting to know them’? Who’s fucking who? She couldn’t possibly think I was fucking Amber. I knew it happened often with fated mates but surely not when they were already in love with someone else. I owed it to myself and Amber to get to know her, Just like Jules told me to do. But she couldn’t possibly think I’d get over what we had and hop into bed with Amber that quickly. Okay sure. That’s who I used to be. But that was before Julia Kane came along and turned my world upside down. I was a different person now and even if things didn’t work out with Julia and me, I wasn’t sure I could ever go back to being that guy. Not when I knew how disappointed she would be in me. That thought made me sick
Julia’s POV “I think I'm going to visit Forest Trails for a few days. I met Trista the last time she and her Alpha were here and I really liked her.” I was sitting in the living room of the cabin my brother and Zoe had moved into, trying to stop my turmoil from leaking through our sibling bond. Based on the way Dillon was watching me like he would a wounded animal, I wasn't sure I was succeeding. Zoe gave me a knowing look, but thankfully said nothing to my brother about the suspicions I saw shining in her eyes. “It’s been weeks since they were here and you never said a word. Why now?” Dillon’s tone was accusatory, telling me he’d already sniffed out my ulterior motives. “”Hmm?” I put a finger on my chin in a pensive expression. “Maybe because you’re all mated up and hiding from the rest of the world.” He shot me a beleaguered look. One that said he did not appreciate my snarky attitude. Zoe giggled at his put upon expression but instead of the same exasperated huff I got fr