LOGINShare
Ch. 29 Hope
Last Updated:
2024-10-29 19:42:56
Cara AndersonThank you for reading!
Related chapters
A Cruel Fate: Her Gamma's Regret Ch. 30 Her Fool
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
A Cruel Fate: Her Gamma's Regret Ch. 31 Dillon's Story
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
A Cruel Fate: Her Gamma's Regret Ch. 32 Bad Girl
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
A Cruel Fate: Her Gamma's Regret Ch. 33 Meant To Be
Zoe’s POV Mattias stepped aside to let Dillon and I out of the sample storage room then closed the door behind us. Silence enveloped us, none of us willing to address the elephant in the room, or should I say “in the air” in the form of Dillon’s scent all over me. I decided it was up to me to end the awkward stalemate. “What made you come to the lab this late, Matti?” I wondered. “I was looking for you! You were supposed to come back to study after work, remember?” I nodded at the reminder. “Then this guy came around asking for you, claiming to be some long lost boyfriend you never mentioned. I was worried about you.” I narrowed my eyes, sending Dillon a death glare but he just shrugged it off, looking utterly pleased with himself. “Like I said, boyfriend, “ He pointed at himself smugly, “not your job to be worried about her. It’s mine!” “Dillon! Be nice!” I scolded. “If it weren’t for Matti, we’d still be stuck in there. “I didn’t mind. I was actually enjoying myself.” He lean
A Cruel Fate: Her Gamma's Regret Ch. 34 Bitten
Dillon’s POV I couldn’t drag my eyes away from the sleeping angel next to me. Every rational bone in my body screamed that she shouldn’t be here with me right now. It wasn’t safe. But love wasn’t rational, and fuck if I wasn’t stoked to have her close to me. Loving Zoe had been a constant pastime for two years before our bond snapped in. And for me. that love never wavered, despite our contentious relationship and my questionable choices. But as deeply profound as those emotions were, they paled in comparison to what I felt for her now. Back then, her addictive scent was nothing more than a faint trace in the wind compared to the irresistible floral bouquet that taunted me now. Back then, I hadn’t known what she tasted like, all peaches and cream with a hint of brown sugar. I hadn’t known what it felt like to touch her, her soft skin gliding like silk under my hand. I knew all those things now, and there was no going back. “Mmm, Dillon.” Zoe’s breathy voice purred in her sleep
A Cruel Fate: Her Gamma's Regret Ch. 35 Don't Give Up
Zoe’s POV “Stay in the car, Zoe!” Cinna warned as I reached for the door handle. “Mate said to stay in the car!” “I never was very good at following orders. Just ask my brother.” I mouthed back, stepping out onto the curb and closing the door as quietly as possible. Dillon and I weren’t marked so I couldn’t tell if he was hurt or not. But I still had my woman’s intuition and it was practically screaming that something wasn’t right. If Dillon was in trouble, I couldn’t sit back and do nothing. I would just have to deal with his mantrum later. I followed the path he’d taken around the building, creeping slowly. Looking around for a makeshift weapon, I picked up a jagged piece of wood I found lying around. It would have to do because even I wasn’t foolhardy enough to go in there empty-handed. A melted door hung open a few feet away, telling me that’s how Dillon must have entered. But as soon as I reached it, voices drifted my way. “Since you obviously know nothing of value, your on
A Cruel Fate: Her Gamma's Regret Ch. 36 A Mate's Betrayal
Dillon’s POV The months flew by. Week after week of chasing dead ends across the country. Every time I thought I might sneak away to spend time with my mate, another lead would pop up out of nowhere and I would have to take off again. It would be worth it if said leads actually produced something useful, but they never did. Zoe and I texted occasionally and managed to squeeze in a rare phone call but our contact was few and far between. We had no idea what the Dark Fae might know about us or the technology they possessed so staying off the radar was paramount if we ever hoped to find them. A task that seemed more and more hopeless as time passed. I wanted to believe Zoe understood my need for radio silence and the reason I couldn’t contact her. But more and more it felt like she was pulling away. And who could blame her? I hadn’t exactly been the model mate from the beginning. And now I was barely a mate at all. “What is that sour, brooding look for?” Derek jibed, breaking the sp
A Cruel Fate: Her Gamma's Regret Ch. 37 Frat Party
Zoe’s POV I cried the day Dillon took me back to university and drove away from me. I had cried the day I walked away from him without a word, boarding a plane to Ashmouth, and I cried the day he left me there again. I finally let myself feel the horror of seeing my mate almost murdered before my eyes. I also took the time to let the reality of my near death experience sink in. And again, more tears. But mostly, I cried because something about the way he left felt so final. When Dillon and I first recognized our bond, I rebelled against the idea of being his mate with every fiber of my being. I couldn’t fathom a day would come when I would actually trust him with my heart again. But now? Now I was beginning to suspect there might never be anything in life I wanted more. That thought terrified me. Because just as I was starting to believe we might have a future together, one filled with sizzling kisses, soft caresses, and the comfort of my mate’s arms, a future where Dillon looked
Latest chapter
A Cruel Fate: Her Gamma's Regret Author's Note
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
A Cruel Fate: Her Gamma's Regret Epilogue
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
A Cruel Fate: Her Gamma's Regret Ch. 22
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
A Cruel Fate: Her Gamma's Regret Ch. 21
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
A Cruel Fate: Her Gamma's Regret Ch. 20
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
A Cruel Fate: Her Gamma's Regret Ch. 19
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
A Cruel Fate: Her Gamma's Regret Ch. 18
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
A Cruel Fate: Her Gamma's Regret Ch. 17
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
A Cruel Fate: Her Gamma's Regret Ch. 16
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
