NIRVANA “How did you manage to convince her to come with you?” I smirked at Knight. “I didn’t give her much of a choice.” He smiled at me, tracing my cheek with the back of his finger. “You never ceased to amaze me, sweetheart.” “They’re gonna be fine.” “I know.” He kissed me on my nose. “Our visitors are going to be here soon. Come find me later.” “Yeah. I’ll go find my best friend before she wrings her neck in the bathroom.” He shook his head in amusement before he left. We stayed at the pack house for a while while trying to build and strengthen the parameters of the compound. Dane’s expertise in his job might be our advantage. I found Kailin in her room, on the balcony, looking over the expansive vineyards. “How are you feeling? Still planning on murdering your mate?” “He’s not my mate,” she said dismissively. “Not officially, but he’s getting under your skin just right. In a good way.” “I hate you right now.” She shoved a handful of chips into her mouth and chewed them
KNIGHT “What is your plan for Kailin? It’s my business because she’s not only my cousin but also part of this pack.” “All my life, I’d never thought I would meet my mate, let alone at times like this. I didn’t stay in one place for a week. I always traveled for jobs. I didn’t like commitment because of the line of my work. The relationship is not for me.” “So you’re just gonna abandon her?” “She hates me. She hates who I am. She hates my work. I think it’s best for both of us. I’m not good for her. I will only drag her into my complicated and dangerous life. I’m sorry, but I can’t be with her.” The longer he said those words, the more his pain and struggle became visible—either from the pull of their mating bond or deep inside. He wanted to belong and be loved. “Maybe it’s time for you to quit what you are doing and start settling in one place. My cousin deserves someone better. She deserves to feel loved and respected and a mate who can provide for her needs. If you can follow o
NIRVANA I was so terrified I thought I was going to lose Kailin. If she was only human, she might not make it. I cried the entire time in the shower, washing off her blood on my skin. Watching her on the ground with blood all over her chest was the scariest thing I’d ever felt. I walked out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around me. Knight was sitting on the edge of the bed, seemingly in deep thought. “I’m going to the sight where Kailin got shot.” He didn’t even look at me. I didn’t know if he was blaming himself or if he thought that bullet was meant for me. “I’m coming with you.” His head snapped in my direction, eyes narrowing at me. “No way.” “Okay.” He seemed surprised by my reply. “What? After what happened to Kailin, I won’t be reckless anymore. Going to the tasting room was not reckless, and I thought we were safe here in the vineyards.” “Good.” He took a deep breath. “I’ll take Dane with me. We might check out where the shooting happened.” “I was thinking the
KNIGHT Dane and I followed the trail where Nirvana and Kailin left the testing room. They must have headed towards the vineyards. I knew Nirvana. She liked nature and beautiful sights for her painting ideas. “There’s blood around here.” The blood dried on the ground, and droplets were on the grass. “Yeah.” Dane scanned the area. “Did someone come here after the incident?” “No. I told Tucker to keep this site untouched.” I looked around and saw nothing but vast fields of vines. How could someone target one of them? “It’s done by a pro,” he confirmed my suspicion. “It did not come from the pack house nor that area.” He pointed north. “Exactly my thought. Nor from the woods.” “There.” He pointed at the Pinot noir vineyards. “Plants are tall. He could have hidden himself there for hours. Or, if he has a military background, he could go that far on the hill. I bet the latter because that’s what I would do. We have a good sense of smell. He wouldn’t dare trespass if he’s a werewolf.
NIRVANA “So that asshole Travis told his father about what we did in his house?” I asked Knight in disbelief. “Probably, and how he just came for payback.” Eyes filled with rage for revenge, McKaye growled out. “I should have just killed them all and made it look like an animal attack.” I looked at McKaye. “Yeah. Now, I regret letting them live. It’s all my fault my best friend just got shot.” “It’s just because you didn’t want blood in our hands, and we couldn’t have known they would retaliate. We thought we scared them enough to stop coming after us.” “Look what happened yesterday, Luka.” I pointed my finger at Kailin sitting next to Dane.” She almost died because of me. This time, the blood in my hands is my best friend’s.” I turned to Knight when he hadn’t said a word. “Go on. Just say it. Where’s the I told you so speech?” “This is not your fault, Luna,” West said. His words were supposed to make me a little better, but they made me guiltier. “They’ve been bullying us befo
KNIGHT “You should answer that,” Dane said. I had a feeling this call was something crucial. I answered the call. “Victor.” “I don’t have much time.” The moment I heard those words, I closed my eyes and prepared for the huge bomb he was going to drop. “The council just cleaned house.” Fuck. “What do you mean? Where are you?” There was no need to keep this call secret. One of the cons of being a werewolf was the enhanced hearing. Even a voice from the other line was like a loudspeaker. Dane and Nirvana heard everything Victor said. I put the phone down and put it on speaker. “I just left the council. They betrayed me. They voted me out as the head of the council. That son of a bitch called for a meeting without me. When I reported to the council, Eloh had already my chair.” The moment Dane heard what Victor had just said, he cursed under his breath. I saw with my very own eyes that he cared for Victor and could love someone. “Shit. Where are you, Victor? I’m coming to get you,
KNIGHT “Tell me then, I’m listening.” The way she said it, it concerned me. She was so relaxed on the couch while I wanted to kill everyone coming after her. Zarah turned to Victor. “By any chance, did they come in contact with Cyrius?” “Maybe during my absence, Cyrius paid a visit to Eloh, or maybe he was infected or mind-controlled. I have no idea. They removed me from my seat, Zarah. I want to kill them all.” “Because of me. It all comes down to me.” Nirvana kept blaming herself. Guilt was drowning her. “Hey.” I went to her and held her knees. “This is not on you. Months ago, you were just an ordinary girl wanting to manage a restaurant. This is why I didn’t want you in this treacherous world. I brought you in. This is on me. If I could—” “If you could, what? Reset? I swear to God, if you say that to me, I will break your face.” She wasn’t kidding. She was so angry she could smash my face. “I’m sorry, Nirvana. I love you, and I will die fighting to keep you safe.” “I know.”
NIRVANA I woke up gasping. It seemed that I was having a dream, but I couldn’t remember what it was, and I had no recollection of how I came to be in this unfamiliar room or this bed. I was not in our bed nor at the pack house. Then I remembered we were in the office talking about Cadogan, and Victor called until we argued about turning myself into the council. Zarah. “Oh, my God.” I got up from bed and went to the door. Thankfully, it was unlocked, or it left it that way. As I looked around, the house interior appeared suburban, and then the strong scents of cinnamon, musk, and herbs hit my nostrils— I could be a home spray, reeds, or a diffuser. I stepped out, barefooted, tiptoeing to find the exit. “Good. You’re awake.” I jumped at the voice behind me. My hand flattened on my chest as I turned around, trying to calm my heartbeat. “Where do you think you’re going?” Zarah asked flatly. “What did you do to me? Why am I here in your house?” “Follow me.” She gestured. She
NIRVANAThree months laterThis man wrecked me in every way possible, in a good-to-be-true way. The private island Lycan Alpha King Sebastien owned was more beautiful than he described, and we were here for the third day of our honeymoon. Yes, honeymoon. Knight asked me to marry him again, and I said yes before he could finish popping up the question. And here I was in bed, legs spread at his mercy. His searing gaze burned my skin. He stood at the foot of the bed, naked, and my hungry eyes devoured him. He was perfect from head to toe, and those muscles and his long thick erection in his hand with a small drop glistening in the slit of his crown.I licked my lips, squirming in bed. Knight knew precisely how to drive me crazy. My hands fisted above my head. No matter how I struggled, the rope laced with magic he used to tie didn’t even budge—no thanks to the book of spells my mother’s own. Dylan sent me a box full of my mother’s books and tools. Knight found out about it, and he u
NIRVANAI smiled at Carter. “Yeah. I’m a werewolf.”“You look wonderful, Vana. If he’s over you, come find me.”“Cut the shit, Archie.” Knight chuckled as he hugged Archibald. “Glad you could make it.”“I would not miss for the entire world,” Chance was the one to reply.Kain and Dane were engrossed in their conversation at the corner.“Hey.”Kain hugged me. “I thought we lost you.”“So do I.”“We wouldn’t be here without you.”“You all keep saying that when it was more of a team effort.” I patted Dane on his arm. He remained at Kain’s pack of assassins to protect Kailin and our allies. “You take care of my best friend, or I will rip your throat out.”“You can stop threatening him.” Kailin, in her beautiful blue gown, came and kissed me on the cheek. “I will be the one to rip his throat out if he betrays me.”The tapping of a spoon on the glass caught my attention. The whole pack house went silent, and the music stopped. Our attention went to Victor, Lennox, and my grandfather, who no
NIRVANAI shuddered at the loss of his thick dick inside me.“On your knees, Nirvana.” He growled. His breathing was rougher.“I don’t bow nor kneel to anyone, but sure.” I was too eager to do as he commanded me to, so I moved to my knees and faced him.“Open your mouth for me.” His eyes almost glowed. His jaw locked harder, every part of his body tensing.I opened my mouth as he gathered a fistful of my hair and gripped it, pulling me closer to his erection.“Now suck me.” He flexed his hips as he shoved his cock past my lips.I took it too eagerly, one hand gripping the base, the other on my knees, balancing myself on the bed. I swirled my tongue around him, sucked, and stroked him.My mouth stretched around his girth. I struggled to breathe through my nose, my eyes watering as I tried to accommodate him without gagging.“Relax your throat. You can take all of me.” He pushed my head into his cock, and quickened his thrust until a guttural groan erupted from his throat.He threw his
KNIGHTI stopped at the edge of the bed and watched Nirvana strip off her clothes one by one. Nothing fancy, even her skin tone bra, but her body, though, the sexiest and hottest fucking thing I’d ever seen, always would be and forever.She was on the last thing, her cotton panties, and there she was, the same body and curves I’d felt many times against mine, and the same woman I fell in love with over and over again, smiling at me as she spread her legs wide apart, revealing her always smooth and waxed pussy.Her cheeks flushed as she slid her hands between her thighs, and a low groan rumbled from within my chest as she let go of a shuddering moan.I found myself gripping my erect cock, stroking it. Locking her searing gaze against mine, she lay on her back, inviting me into bed. She didn’t have to do that because I intended to join her and make her feel what I longed for over a week.I crawled into bed, joined her, and braced my forearms on either side of her shoulders. Then I held
NIRVANA“No freaking way! That’s impossible.” My eyes grew wide as I stared at them one by one.“Is it, though?” McKaye said. “We trained for months.”“To fight that freaking monster?”“Your bloodline is some kind of link to an ancient warlock from Greece,” McKaye explained. “And you were the only one who could kill that son of a bitch.”“Yeah. My mother’s side from my grandmother were witches.”“And you don’t have a gift?” Knight asked me hesitantly.“No. Why? Should I?”He glanced at Zarah.“You’re a witch, Zarah. Can’t you jag my memory or something?”“It doesn’t work that way.”“Then I’m sorry to disappoint you, guys, but I don’t remember fighting an evil warlock named Cyrius.”“What about him?” Kaleb, the beta, tipped his chin at the alpha.Alpha Knight finally groomed himself, looking hotter and smelled so good.I couldn’t help but smile, and every time I looked at him, my heart skipped a beat. “No.”“You’re lying.”“Excuse me?” I arched a brow at him.“I can hear your heartbeat
KNIGHTWhen Kailin called urgently via our link, I thought someone was in trouble again in the tasting room, like the twins.I had struggled the past week without Nirvana, but I never gave up searching for my mate. Scratch that. I once considered jumping off the cliff, and there may be a minuscule chance she would appear and come to save me. But somehow, her promise kept my sanity intact.Everyone helped me check for the lost women or unclaimed bodies in every morgue in the region, but none of them was Nirvana, and I couldn’t find a record of her death either. I felt so relieved and hung in a thinner thread as the days passed, and there were still no signs of her.The underworld was back to normal— no more viruses or killings, thanks to my mate, and my uncle was offered a job at the council while I barely hung in there and not dealing with my loss. I barely slept, or I found myself in the woods mourning. I lost some sense of self-love and belongingness. I couldn’t work, and I hadn’t
NIRVANA“Grandpa! Where the hell have you been?”“Vana?” His eyes widened like he’d never seen me in years. He ran in my direction and squeezed me into a tight hug. “Oh, Goddess. Thank Goddess.”I chuckled as I hugged him back. “It’s only just been a week, Grandpa. You’re overreacting.”He looked me in the eye from head to toe, cupped my head, and kissed me on the cheek, and he was about to get all teary-eyed.“We don’t do that, Grandpa. Where have you been, anyway? I was worried when you did not pick up my call.”“What do you mean?” There was pain, confusion, and relief in his eyes.I slumped my ass to his couch. “You’re acting weird. What’s going on with you? How’s the pack anyway?”He came sniffing me, making me freeze. “You’re a—”“A werewolf?” I scoffed. “Yeah, since birth. Duh. You taught me how to shift. Don’t tell me you suddenly forget about it.”There it was again, the staring, and then he smiled. “I’m proud of you, kiddo.”“Of course, I just sold two pieces of my paintings
KNIGHTGasping for air, I woke up on the ground. The blood’s bitter, sweet, metallic taste dried on my mouth.A shudder of terror rocked through me as I got up. It felt like a new day, or nothing happened last night.Trees stood tall, leaves dancing against the soft breeze. Sunlight streaked from the sky.I saw broken trees on the ground from a distance, a reminder that something had happened around here last night.“Guys!” I went to Califf, shaking him. “Cal, wake up.”He sucked in a breath, staring at me. “What happened?”“I have no idea.”Luka and McKaye stirred and froze as they realized we were still in the forest.“What the hell?” McKaye looked at his naked self.“Did we win?” Sebastien dusted the dirt off his body.Alpha Frye came from behind us, confused, eyes roaming around. “I think she did it.”“Fuck. Nirvana. Where is she?” Terror filled my chest. “I can’t feel her.”“We’ll find her.” Michael, Grady, and Ryden went separate ways to find Nirvana.“Nirvana!” I called her nam
NIRVANA“Asina? Wow. You are gorgeous.” I was surprised to see her standing before me. For the first time, she showed me herself— a beautiful and tall woman with straight long, dark hair, brown eyes, and a smile that could bring men to their knees. She was truly captivating, a real strong heroine in a white flowy dress. “Am I dead?”“About to if you won’t wake up.”“I can’t. There’s too much pain and loss. I can’t do this, Asina. I’m too weak compared to his power. He killed everyone I loved, and I want to die along with them. I give up. And you leave me alone there.”“Nirvana, you take it all wrong. You don’t need me to win the battle against Cyrius. All you need is your courage, your strength, and your heart.”Frustrated, I sobbed as I fell on my knees. “He is powerful to stop, and you’re telling me to use my heart and my strength? I don’t have strength anymore. I can’t even level a percent of his power.”“Because you believe you can’t.”“Are you kidding me right now?” I growled in