Ivan carries me back to his room…our room, and we both shower. Thankfully, there is a seat in shower, so I don’t have to stand or have Ivan help me in there. Yeah, I kissed him, but I’m not ready for anything more than that. After getting dressed, Ivan helped me into the bedroom and onto the bed, then went to shower himself. I sit in the bed, waiting for Ivan to finish in the shower and think. I think about all the horrible tings that I’ve endured: the beatings, the rapes, the starvation, and the pain. The fact that I was turned into a rogue when I was 10 and that even when I was saved, I wasn’t really. I was just thrown into another kind of hell with Roy. I think about the mother that I can barely remember and how she left without taking me. How she left me with Roy, knowing what he was able to do to her, she left a 10-year-old in his care without a thought. How do you do that to your own pup? I don’t understand either my sperm donor or my incubator. I can’t call them
They had taken my blood to run tests while I was in the hospital, but it had been disposed of after they had completed their tests. So, I get to get stuck again.Yay, me.I know that it’s really weird that after everything that I’ve been through that I’m afraid of needles, but in my defense, nothing good has ever happened to be when I was stuck with a needle. I’d been injected with way too many things when with the rogues that even routine bloodwork is not going over well.“There’s got to be some blood left in the lab! You don’t need do to this,” I say, trying to convince Dr. Fern that he doesn’t need to take more blood.He looks at me, my body nearly curled into a corner and hiding behind Ivan and I see surprise followed by sympathy flow over his features. “You’re afraid of needles, aren’t you?”I try to put on a brave face, blowing out a breath. “Afraid of needles? Me? Why would you ask that?” Even as I’m talking, I’m trying to edge my way towards the door. I’m starting to
After lunch, Nova elects to take a nap. With how malnourished, abused, and freshly beaten up she was when we got her to the hospital, it’s a wonder that she’s able to walk around at all, let alone having to deal with everything that has been thrown at her recently. Especially without a complete connection to her wolf. She still gets tired easily and needs to rest frequently. I would have loved to have stayed in the room with her, just holding her while she slept. But we’re not quite there yet. Not since she’s come back from the hospital at least. And in light of everything that I’ve found out about her, I understand that I need to take things slow with her. So, even though Fang is pushing for me to stay and watch over her, I head to my office to try to get some work done. I’ve pushed off but the most urgent things to be with Nova while she’s been healing. I’ve got to get on top of things while I can. Unfortunately, I’m only in there for about ten minutes before there’s a
I’m in the middle of a dream about Ivan that I will never admit to having to anyone.He’s on top of me, inside of me, thrusting hard in and out of me. I’ve had sex before, though forced. Even under those circumstances, I was able to find some pleasure in it. But I’ve never found anything like this. It’s like he knows every place to touch me to make me moan.“Does that feel good, little rabbit? Do you like the way that my cock fills you up?” he whispers in my ear as he moves in and out of me. I can feel his breath fan against my ear, his voice a low rasp that goes right to my core.“Yes. Oh, Goddess! Don’t stop,” I moan, my hands tangling in his air, clutching at his arms, and clawing at his back.“Fuck, baby, I couldn’t stop if I wanted to,” he groans. “You feel too fucking good. This pussy is so fucking tight and you need to get up, Nova.”Even as good as he’s making me feel, that odd segue pulls me up short. “What?” I gasp, barely able to focus.Ivan looks at me, still pu
Roy’s story comes out in fits and starts between him being an asshole and having to stop because of the pain that he’s in. His wolf is still trying to heal him. It’s just not working. Is it bad that I’m finding satisfaction in that? The Goddess will have to give me some leeway here because I just can’t find it in me to be upset about it. The story that Roy told went like this: He was the second born of the beta of the pack. His brother, Robert, was given everything: all of the attention, all of the support, all of the power. (Huge eye roll from me, but I could feel Ivan tensing beside me. I know that Roy was glossing over shit and making himself the victim, but it seems that there is more to it. I’ll have to ask about it later.) Roy was left to fend for himself and he had always known that he would be a better beta than his brother. Roy had a mind of his own, ideas to help the pack succeed, and the ability to make people listen. Robert was just a people pleaser. He wo
I don’t know where I go after the confrontation with Roy. I walk out of the dungeon and I just keep going. My entire life, I had thought that there was something wrong with me. That I was the cause of my sperm donor’s anger and mistreatment of me. He had wanted a boy and was pissed when he got me. Maybe I was a pain in the ass as a kid, though I don’t remember it. I always did whatever Roy told me to do or just stayed out of the way. He scared me too much for me to do anything else. Did I just remind him too much of my mother? She had always pissed him off more than anything. Maybe that was part of it? But then to find out that I went through all of this abuse, anguish, and heartache simply because he was jealous of his older brother? It’s like every single one of the wounds that he has given me over the years have been reopened and I’m dealing with the pain all over again. It’s the most mind-numbing pain I’ve ever felt, and I’ve been through a-fucking-lot of pain. It
Nova fell asleep leaning against me in the car. She’s still recovering and her crying jag left her exhausted. If I hadn’t been so worried about Nova and what seeing me killing her father in front of her would do to her, Roy would have been dead before he had gotten to say half of the shit that he did. How? How did my father allow Nova to go back into his care without checking in on her? By all accounts, even his own, Roy is a shithead. The biggest fucking piece of trash that I’ve ever seen. He should have been taken care of years ago and Nova been brought to live in the packhouse as a member of the former beta family. Instead, Nova was left alone and at his mercy for years. While she sleeps, I can’t stop touching her. Nothing pervy. I have my dignity and honor as an alpha and a male that doesn’t take advantage of she-wolves. But any exposed skin, skin that when against mine causes the fated sparks to bloom everywhere…well, that’s a bit different. My fingers brush t
I carry Nova to our room, taking the stairs as smoothly as I possibly can. I don’t want to wake her. She’s already been through so much in her short life and she deserves the respite that sleep can give, even if it’s just for a little bit. I’m nearly up the second set of stairs when I hear footsteps coming up behind me. I stop and turn to see who’s there only to see Jude. And he looks pissed. Eyebrow cocked, I turn back to him, Nova still and quiet in my arms. Jude pulls himself up short when he sees her passed out against me. He hurries up to me and whispers in his low, growly voice, “Get her to bed and then meet us in your office. We’ve got things to talk about.” I don’t even have to ask him who “us” is. I know that it’ll be him and my other three best friends. The same friends who also happen to be in charge of our pack with me. Giving Jude a nod, I turn and move a little faster up the stairs. I don’t know what’s got them pissed, but I know that it’s better to cut it o
My mates and I are standing on a large floating platform in the center of the harbor. All the boats have been cleared for today’s ceremony, and the entire pack has gathered along the shore to witness the official welcoming of their Luna and Lune.The platform is made of strong, transparent plastic, giving the illusion that we’re standing directly on the water. Flower petals and floating candles drift both on the surface and around the edges of the platform. A camera positioned at the far end captures the event and projects it onto screens placed throughout the crowd so everyone can see what’s happening.Nova looks stunning in her midnight blue ball gown, her hair swept into a messy bun. Thin straps frame her exposed matemarks, and the dress is low-cut in both the front and back, revealing creamy swaths of skin. The bodice hugs her tightly, while the skirt flows freely into a long, lacy train that shimmers in the sunlight.Cody wears fitted pants and a tailored gunmetal gray vest—no sh
“I really don’t want to do this,” I murmur, tugging at the hem of my skirt again.“Girl, if you don’t stop messing with that skirt, you’re going to unravel it. Stop it!” Lucy punctuates the last word by smacking my hand.I stick my tongue out at her but stop fiddling. Honestly, I think the only reason Lucy isn’t as nervous as I am is because she’s too busy managing me.At least, she doesn’t seem outwardly nervous.But I know her butterflies are causing a full-blown tornado—just like the one twisting in my own stomach.We’re heading to the Hartwood Pack, where Lucy and Cody are from. It’s been two weeks since we brought Cody home.Alpha Timothy was pissed when he realized we had “absconded with one of his most valued packmates.” He threatened to call down the Council of Alphas, press charges against our pack, and even force Ivan to step down as Alpha.All of that might have been intimidating—if it hadn’t taken him four days to even realize Cody was gone. Add in the fact that the three
The second Ivan and Cody establish their matebond, a ripple of power, connection, and pleasure sweeps through all three of us. Bite howls in my mind, the sound echoed by two other wolves—Fang and Howl. Our bond is complete. The three of us are tied together, not only by fate, but by our marks. There is no one—and nothing—beyond the Goddess herself that could tear us apart. “Holy shit,” Cody says. Ivan chuckles. “You can say that again.” “Holy shit,” Cody and I both say at the same time. We all laugh at that. Looking at my mates, I can’t help the affection that thrums through my heart at the sight of them happy together. “Let me get you guys a towel,” I say, slipping off the bed. “And the wet wipes,” Ivan calls after me. I grab both from the bathroom and bring them back so Cody and Ivan can clean up. “Thanks, Estrella,” Cody says as Ivan leans forward to kiss the top of my head. I move to the head of the bed, watching them as they get themselves together. Ivan heads into the
I watch Cody—his chest rising and falling as he catches his breath, eyes glazed over from orgasm. His shoulder-length black hair is fanned out across the bed, giving him a dark halo. His bronze-colored skin shines with sweat, and those chocolate brown eyes are begging for me to touch him.So beautiful. I mean, fucking gorgeous. It’s why I called him lindo.I’d thought hard about what nickname to give him. Nova’s was easy. Seeing her that first time at The Warren in the bunny costume, all timid and shy—she reminded me of the little rabbit she was dressed as. She’ll always be my little rabbit.But Cody and I didn’t have that kind of “meet cute.” Not even close. Still, I needed a name for him, something that felt right.It was Fang who suggested lindo. Clearly, our mate has Hispanic roots, and using that in his nickname felt like a way to honor that.Look at him, Fang says in my head, voice thick with awe. Spread out and waiting for us.Let’s not make him wait, I reply, and lean down to
Howl is going insane inside of me. He wants Ivan. I want Ivan. And we’re finally going to get him.I suck at Ivan’s skin, making a hickey in the spot where I want to put his matemark—right next to Nova’s. One of his hands grips my hair, the other wraps around my back.“Bedroom. Lube.” The words come out strangled with need.Mate! Fuck mate! Bite mate! Make him ours! Howl’s words echo through my mind, getting lost in the frenzied need that pulses between us.I’m working on it, Howl. Calm the fuck down so I can focus on him, I snap back.He smells so good. Feels even better. Fuck, Howl moans, and I know exactly what he means.I know Ivan wants us in the bedroom, but I can’t make myself move. Can’t stop touching him, kissing him, losing myself in him.Thank the Goddess for Nova.“Come on, boys,” she says, grabbing both our hands. “Let’s get to the bedroom. I want to see the two of you laid out before me.”It’s her touch that finally breaks the trance. Her words remind me there’s more t
The desire in Cody’s eyes is hot enough to burn the clothes right off my body.His hands immediately go to my waistband, and his lips crash into mine. I hear the seams protest as he rips my clothing from my legs, his mouth dominating mine.But something I’ve learned in the short time we’ve had Cody with us is that, while Ivan likes it when I submit completely, Cody enjoys the push and pull—he wants to earn that dominance.So I give him as good as I get. Tongue, teeth, and lips collide at the same time his hand moves between my legs and finds me soaking wet.“Fuck,” we both moan against each other’s mouths.Cody’s eyes flick over my shoulder, locking with Ivan’s in a heat so intense I can practically feel it.“Get her shirt and bra off for me. I need to taste her,” Cody orders.I’m about to sass back—because I can take off my own damn clothes—but then two things happen at once: Cody uses his werewolf speed to drop to his knees, throw my legs over his shoulder, and suck my clit into his
“I change my mind,” I rush out, breathing heavy with anxiety. “I pick truth.”Cody cackles from the passenger seat. “Not how the game goes, Estrella (star). You picked dare, so dare it is.”I can feel Ivan’s odd mixture of amusement and worry through our matebond as he leans in through the window. “You’ll be fine, little rabbit. Just go slow. The brake’s on the left. Look where you want to go—your body will follow.”Why am I doing this?Oh yeah—because my asshole best friend and mate thought this would be a great dare.I’m sitting in one of Ivan’s cars in the packhouse driveway. Not only do I not know how to drive, but I’m also expected to drive for twenty minutes without hitting anything. Did I mention this is one of Ivan’s most prized possessions?A Ferrari 812 Superfast in metallic black.Not coincidentally, his favorite car.When his grandfather passed, Ivan got a modest inheritance and invested it in the stock market. He did well—really well. With that money, he bought all his car
It would be easy to let the kiss with Ivan get hot and heavy. Howl is—well, howling in my head, and the matebond is pressing on me to finish it. And damn, I love the texture of his skin against mine: the roughness of the day’s growth he didn’t shave this morning, the angularity of his jaw.It’s so different from kissing Nova—in an intriguing and mind-blowing way.And then there’s the feeling of his callused hands running up my arm and his muscled body pressing against me.Yeah, it would be so easy to fall deeper into this kiss than I think either of us is ready for.So instead of giving in to what I know we both want, I pull back, only to find Ivan staring at me with fiery desire in his gaze.That is doing absolutely nothing to calm the hard-on I’ve got in my pants.Or the angry wolf in my head.Why would you stop? Howl whines.Just… give me some time, okay? We’ll get there. I promise, I tell him.He grumbles but settles, lying down in my mind to watch our mates. He wants the bond com
Cody beat me to the clearing because of Nova’s trick.Normally, that would piss me off, but Fang and I both like that we have a mate who can best us. Occasionally.Plus, Nova gave me the consolation prize of seeing her tits. I’ll still count it as a win.Cody doesn’t gloat—he just has a smug-as-fuck grin on his face as we set up the picnic.I didn’t have much time to prepare, but I’m still pretty proud of myself. I brought all the foods Nova had told our omega, Amelie, that Cody liked, along with several things I know she enjoys too. It’s a mix of lunch and breakfast foods, so I packed orange juice and champagne for mimosas.I grabbed several blankets and pillows—anything to make it comfortable.This place, with its crystal-clear water and canopy of trees, has always been one of my favorite spots.My parents brought me here when I was a kid, along with Jude’s, Bryson’s, and Erick’s families. It’s where the guys—plus Jakobi and me—used to hang out as teens and throw parties. More than a