This is the first time since I met Ivan that I wish I had the ability to mindlink him. I need to know what he thinks of my “family” because these people give me the creeps.Honestly? Harley is the only one who isn’t giving me the heebie-jeebies.My mother is way too emotional for this. If she had really cared about me, where has she been for the last ten years?And my “sister?”Like I said before, we’re obviously not blood-related. Lucy has to be Harley’s daughter from before he met my mom because my mother is lily-white, and Lucy has the most beautiful mocha skin I’ve ever seen. Her tone nearly matches her father’s exactly.Besides, Lucy looks like she’s the same age as me, and I know my mother wasn’t with anyone but my father at that time. He barely let the female out of the house.Lucy chatters on at my left about her pack and all the clubs and social activities she’s a part of. Luna Annelise is speaking with my mother, and Ivan and Alpha Derek seem to be getting along well with Ha
The rest of lunch is tense. Oh, everyone is cordial and conversation continues with very few hiccups. The men of the table trade war stories. Harley seems to like fighting – I mean really like fighting. There isn’t a single story that he tells that doesn’t have him kicking someone’s ass. It’s slightly disturbing. Especially with the way my mother stares at him with adoration. I mean, I really like Ivan, may even be falling for him. But she stares at Harley like the sun’s rises out of his ass. It’s nauseating. Almost like she traded in a world that revolved around Roy – because he was abusive – to revolving around Harley – because he isn’t. We’re about halfway through the meal when Jude and Lucy walk back in the room. Truth be told, I had expected her to reject him. I mean, the fear that was rolling off her in waves did not bode well for the start of a relationship. But when they walk back in, it’s a completely different story. Jude is walking close to her,
I can see the exact moment my mother—Kamryn—realizes she can’t talk her way out of this. That I don’t believe her.That none of us do.Both Ivan and Erick beside me are pissed, muscles taut and ready for action.Bryson’s usually affable face has hardened into a stone mask, and he’s now standing behind Harley and Kamryn in case they try anything.Luna Annelise’s face is pale with rage, while Alpha Derek’s has gone red with the same emotion.Jakobi is the calmest of the group, but he’s hypervigilant, his sharp eyes never ceasing their scan of the room.Jude has completely hidden Lucy behind him, his fangs bared as he protects his newly found mate. I can’t see my step-sister behind him, but I can feel the worry and fear radiating from her.And me?Hell, I’m just resigned to the fact that the only people who were supposed to protect and care for me never followed through. That the ones who actually did weren’t blood-related at all.Kamryn is just like Roy.Oh, she might not have beaten me
There’s something off about Harley, Kamryn, and Lucy. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but I don’t like the way they interact with Nova. Harley seems genuine enough, but the way Kamryn and Lucy cling to Nova—so emotional, so overly happy—it just rings so fucking false. I don’t like it. I don’t like that my mate may have more difficulties ahead because of her absolute shitshow of a family. How did such an amazing female come from an asshole father and a mother who is… whatever the fuck Kamryn is supposed to be? The Moon Goddess truly moves in mysterious ways. But it isn’t until Kamryn tries to blame my father for why she didn’t report Roy’s abuse that Fang has had enough. This stupid bitch is blaming everyone but herself. She was a victim for so long that she still sees herself that way. She’s blaming everyone else for her own actions! he snarls in my mind, and all I can do is growl in agreement. It’s Nova calling her out on her bullshit—along with the disgust and anger I pic
We don’t see Lucy and Jude again until dinner that night.They walk into the dining room practically floating on air, and all of us instantly notice the change in their scents. A quick glance at their necks confirms what I already knew—they’d marked each other.Seeing the mark on Lucy’s neck does something to my insides, twisting them in a way I don’t immediately understand. It takes a second to name the feeling.Jealousy.My hand drifts to the mark Ivan gave me, fingers tracing the imprints of his canines in my skin. It might not have been what I wanted at the time, but now?Now, I wouldn’t trade this connection with Ivan for anything.As if sensing my thoughts, Ivan’s hand joins mine on my shoulder, his fingers twining with mine before he brings my hand to his mouth and presses a kiss to it. “We have plenty of time, little rabbit,” he murmurs.I just nod, unable to voice what I’m feeling—and what I want to happen because of those feelings.Once everyone is seated, the servers place
I had tried hard not to be worried about the fact that Nova didn’t want to be inducted into our pack with Lucy. I wanted to have access to her all the time. Not just for safety purposes, but also because I’m just fucking obsessed with her. She’s my mate, so sue me. But I could tell from the link of our incomplete bond that it wasn’t because she was scared, like she used to be. In fact, there was yearning in her so deep that it seemed to come from her soul. To belong. To be wanted. So I couldn’t understand why she didn’t want to become part of the pack with her step-sister. But I don’t push. She’s been through a hell of a lot here in the last couple of days. My own insecurities don’t need to be added to that. Dinner with Lucy and our crew goes well. Lucy is a lot less chatty and animated than she was originally in that way that rang false to all of us. Now, she seems relaxed, calm, and acting like herself. And her sense of humor is going to give Jude a run for his money.
I wake to kisses along my neck and a hand creeping over my thigh.I grin, loving the feeling of Ivan’s skin against mine. I don’t think I’ve slept in actual clothes since we completed the matebond last week.Our mate is insatiable, Bite yawns in my head.Don’t act like you don’t love it, I say, biting back a moan as Ivan shifts my thigh over his leg, opening me up for him. I can feel his erection pressed against my ass and can’t help but shiver at the feeling of him against my body.“I know that you’re awake, little rabbit,” he whispers in my ear. “You only shiver like that for me when you’re anticipating what I’m going to do to you.”I try to pout that my fun was spoiled, but his fingers sweep across my pussy, finding me wet and wanting, and I completely forget about teasing him.“Always so wet for me,” Ivan growls in my ear.“I can’t help it,” I breathe out as I arch my back into his chest. “Just your scent makes me needy for you.”I can hear the smugness in his voice as he responds
“Dude, have some respect for yourself and your title. What the hell are you doing around here in a fucking tank top?” I growl at Jude. “And a manbun?! I told you the next time I saw you with that, I’d hack it off with a butter knife.” Nova giggles beside me, and I can’t help but turn a smile on her, even though I’m annoyed by my second-in-command. Goddess, this female has turned me into a sap, but I wouldn’t change it for anything. “You will NOT be touching my mate’s hair!” Lucy says indignantly, hands immediately going to her hips. “It’s okay, baby. He’s just jealous that I’ve had my mate mark longer. And I’m wearing the tank top, asshole, to show it off,” Jude taunts as he sits at the breakfast table, pulling Lucy into his lap. “Seems like it’s something that you like doing, too. Since when was the last time you wore a crew-neck shirt instead of a button-down for work?” “At least mine has sleeves,” I grumble, knowing he has a point and very much not liking it. Jakobi and Erick a
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