Sorry that it has taken so long to get this chapter out. My day job has been more demanding the last couple of days.
I know how hard it is for Henrik to discuss his phobia of flying, least of all the source. I’m glad he was willing to open up to Zoe about it. Our immediate family knows what happened, which, by all accounts, is many people. However, they don’t know because Henrik told them. They know because Dad or Mom told them. Of course, how the story is told varies depending on which one told you. Dad always downplayed what happened and made it sound like Henrik was weak. Mom said something closer to what happened, but despite her good intentions, she still made Henrik sound weak. We both knew she never meant it that way, but in her efforts to not paint her mate in a bad light, she sacrificed Henrik’s dignity. Not many people asked Henrik directly, and those who did never got much of an answer as he didn’t want to discuss it. I didn’t tell people about it either. Partially because I knew Henrik didn’t want me to and partially because the one time I told someone I made Dad sound like the monster
I can’t believe their parents didn’t give them any training for being a ranked member of a pack. This whole conversation has made up my mind that I am going to detest my father-in-law and will likely turn him to stone the second I meet him. I may attempt to give him the benefit of the doubt, but the first time he says or does something that puts Gunnar or Henrik down or is sexist, he’s going into stone time-out. But worrying about how I’ll deal with him is a concern for another time. Gunnar and Henrik have agreed to come to Nebrodi and become the new Betas. That’s what’s important. I knew they were worried they weren’t prepared for the role, but it’s okay. Kat will give them all the training they need on the job, and I’ll be there supporting and helping them the whole time. Now, I need to get Henrik comfortable on a plane. My offers to ask Zio Alec or Isis still stood, but Gunnar was right. They aren’t a permanent solution. Given everything my brother went through in the fall out of
I want to let you know that I am NOT a dancer. Mom tried hard to teach me at least basic dance steps, not to embarrass the family at balls. I’ve stepped on my share of toes because no one would accept when I told them I could not dance. I’m not sure why it’s surprising that a guy my size isn’t a good dancer. Gunnar usually mucks it up, too, but he does it intentionally to get out of dancing. As a singer, I can read sheet music and follow a beat and rhythm, but singing differs from dancing. My feet can’t follow the beat, so I tend to stand still or walk when singing. So, I was sure my part of this ‘show’ wasn’t nearly as entertaining to Zoe. At least she didn’t comment on the obvious difference in skills. I could remove my clothes, but not with all the showy dance steps. ‘You’re doing fine. So, stop overthinking.’ Gunnar said in our link. ‘Easy for you to say, twinkle toes.’ I snorted and nearly tripped on my own feet while taking off my pants. ‘See.’ ‘Heads or tails?’ Gunnar ignore
Fuck was it hot when they moved me without a verbal cue and started to strip me. It was the hottest way to get naked I’ve experienced so far. And while I couldn’t do more than grab Gunnar by the hair, I did get to lick Henrik’s abs and stroke his dick. Every touch from them had my body buzzing. The mate bond is an intense thing when it’s just one, but fuck I was on sensory overload with Gunnar and Henrik touching me. My breasts aren’t generally a sensitive spot, but fuck me, did Henrik prove that false. In the past, I wouldn’t have gotten so revved up by someone rubbing my tits. I probably could’ve cum with just Henrik touching my breasts. It’s wild how his touch affects me. So when you add in Gunnar, especially the way he used his tongue on my pussy it was a seriously intense and satisfying experience. Neither of them required a lot of instruction. Gunnar only needed a little correction as he was so close to having that magnificent tongue where I needed it. But once I told and guide
HOLY SHIT! Henrik and I have had some threesomes in the past, but it was never like this. There was one woman who wanted to attempt this formation. It all came to a halt when she realized around the time Henrik got the tip in her ass that she couldn’t handle the two of us in that close proximity. Zoe is the only woman that’s been able to handle it. I will admit it was weird because there was just a layer of tissue that separated us, so I felt every movement of Henrik’s dick. So fucking weird. And to set anyone with twisted minds straight, this isn’t Game of Thrones or some fucked up twincest gay or bisexual porn. That did not turn me on. Zoe turned me on and how her ass clenched around my dick with each thrust and then how intense that was when she came. I didn’t know why I did what I did. Okay, that’s a total lie. I knew exactly why I marked Zoe. I did what is natural for a werewolf to do. The natural order of things after finding your true mate is the mating process. Which we all k
If I had come from any other family, I’d have freaked out when I marked Henrik and felt flames in my veins. By all other accounts, the marking part of mating should be intense, but it never is described to feel like your blood has been replaced with white-hot flames. But I’m not from just any family. I am a member of the Petridis line. Our mark is a phoenix for a reason. Our family is known for being born in the flames. Just as I know my parents’ love story, I know the story of their marking. I know they were engulfed in flames when they completed their bond. The fire didn’t harm them, but the room was totaled. There is still a faint smokey smell in that room, even all these years later. I never thought something like this would happen to me. After all, there wasn’t a pattern to when such a thing would happen. It didn’t happen to Nonno and Nonna when they mated. And there weren’t actual flames when I marked Henrik, but inside my body, I felt them, and I know Henrik felt them, too. Wh
Since when did marking include fire? I felt it in my veins when Zoe marked me. At first, I thought it was just the surge of power. All markings have that. When both parties have ranked blood, that surge is greater. Therefore, I wrongfully assumed it was because I’m of alpha blood, and she’s beta blood. That’s what I was feeling. But when she weakly moved to mark my brother, I realized that wasn’t it. I was still feeling the effects. I felt like I was on fire from the inside. I started to piece it together when I saw the blue glow surrounding Zoe and Gunnar. I looked at my skin and saw the light, too. Was there fire in my veins? A fire so hot that it burned blue. That couldn’t be good for me or any of us. It certainly couldn’t be normal. I didn’t get to try and work out what was happening. Zoe passed out, and we needed to make sure she was okay. Zoe was the priority. Besides, my brain was too hazy to think about the fire. I had to borrow energy from Pollux to get out of bed. I needed
It was a relief that Gunnar and Henrik were feeling better. I’d started to get worried when they hadn’t woken up. This is why I’d started singing that lullaby; it helps calm my nerves. And I needed to calm my nerves. They hadn’t woken up, and I was worried that something had gone wrong in our marking and caused some damage that Papa hadn’t caught. If Henrik hadn’t woken up shortly before Gunnar, I would call Papa back to the room. I wouldn’t take any chances with their health. I’m certain they both felt my relief when they finally woke up. I didn’t know what happened with our marking, but I will find out. No matter how much they said it couldn’t be, it had to be my fault. The only reason flames would try to spark is because I’m a Petridis. The fact that they couldn’t properly manifest was on me. Figuring out what went wrong with the manifestation of the flames is an issue of later. We needed to meet with Alpha Dorian and settle the matter of Séréna before I go into heat. Gunnar and H
“Once upon a time long, long ago, at the dawn of werewolves, there was a werewolf called Petridis whom loyalty served and fought alongside Darkness and Light to protect their territory. It was thought Petridis was slain during the battle, but during a blue moon, he rose from the ashes of the fallen, his fur a glow in blue flames.” I began the story for the hundredth time since last year. I know what you’re thinking: what Disney kiddie version of the origins of Incubi did you walk into? You’re still in the right place. The birthday boy and girl have asked me to tell the blue moon story for their cousin Isaiah and Maverick. Why is Maverick here six years after his surprise visit for my and Henrik’s Beta ceremony? Because he’s basically in witness protection. His jackoff dad and psycho half-brother think he’s dead. Finn and Lorna took Maverick in, and when Desmond comes sniffing around, they send him to the various packs we Kilbourns live in to ensure Desmond and his bastard Cormac con
They say time flies when you’re having fun. I’ve had PLENTY of fun between the ages of eighteen and twenty-six, and let me tell you, those eight years did not fly by. So maybe that phrase should be more specific on the kind of fun it’s referring to because these last two years since I met my mates and gave birth to our twins feel like a blink. ‘Or maybe you were having the wrong kind of fun. Fucking around with those other males wasn’t fun. Fucking around with our mates…now THAT’S fun. Spending time without pups is also fun.’ Viatrix snorted. When I’d left home for that trip with Papa and Alexander, I’d hoped to find my mate. Gunnar and Henrik were nothing I expected or thought I’d ever want in a mate. They are arrogant, mouthy, and, at times, downright rude. But they also won’t take my shit. They call me out on my faults and love me not despite my faults but because of them. I didn’t realize what I always needed wasn’t my total opposite. “Iron sharpens iron, sweet pea.” Gunnar taun
It’s been seven months since our beta ceremony. We’d been doing all the tasks Kat assigned us leading up to our ceremony. It was her way of easing us into our roles. However, all bets were off after the ceremony. Kat piled more and more work on us. Thankfully, there were two of us, so we could handle it. I couldn’t be mad that she was giving us more work. It meant she trusted us, plus it took work off her plate as she closed in on her due date. By the time Kat had her surprise twins, we had taken a lot of duties off Kat’s plate. With Zoe and the other ranked members, we ensured the memorial festivities went off without a hitch. Of course, people asked where their Alpha and Luna were, and the pack was thrilled when Zoe addressed their absence in a speech announcing the birth of the twins. A month after Sal and Carletta were born, we moved into the five-bedroom, seven thousand-three hundred ninety-five square foot villa. We agreed to honor the Fayte family, so we didn’t want to make ma
Mama and Papa, of course, had already had their turn. Regina eagerly hugged us, happy that our children would be close in age. Ivan smiled and nodded with a firm handshake to Gunnar and Henrik. Next was my brother and Delilah. This was our first time in the same place with everything going on. Alexander hugged me and offered Gunnar his hand. “I haven’t formally introduced myself. Welcome to the family. I’m Alexander, and if you ever hurt or piss my sister off, I won’t provide medical assistance.” Alexander delivered his greeting with his serious face, confusing my mates as they shook his hand. “Are you fucking with us?” Gunnar asked. “Cause either way, if we piss Zoe off, we know the consequences, a stone timeout.” Henrik laughed. Delilah rolled her eyes and hugged me tightly, or as tight as someone with a belly as big as hers could. “I’m so happy for you, Zoe. You’ve found your mates, and now we all get to be truly family.” “Oh please, even if you were never my brother’s mate, we
There are a million ways tonight could have gone. Many things could have gone wrong, from meeting the extended Kilbourn family to telling Gunnar and Henrik about the pregnancy and their ceremony. At the airport, it went bad because Alfred was an asshole who needed to learn to keep his mouth shut. If Finn hadn’t gotten involved back at the packhouse, Alfred would have learned the hard way that there are worse things that can happen than being turned to stone. I’ll admit I was looking forward to seeing André, Zio Alec, or Mama put Alfred in his place. Sure, it was probably for the best that Finn did so. It still would’ve been far more entertaining if it was one of my family members. Alfred thought there was danger here when they landed, misguided fool. Any threat in Sicily would never be directed at the boy but at him for his stupidity. So, it would’ve been nice for him to learn that lesson. I thought that would be the end of it. Finn had commanded him not to speak unless in praise. Pr
Leave it to our dad to open his mouth and insert his foot so deep his toes are coming out of his ass. Are our suits our style? No. Are they something we’d pick for ourselves? No. Are they possibly just a bit too much? Maybe. Have we made a complaint about them beyond the fit? Hell fucking no. It doesn’t matter that André designed these suits to pair with Zoe’s gown. Knowing the designer is someone I don’t want to cross helps, but that’s not the point. We are in Nebrodi, and this is how things are done. Our suits are aligned with the styles of all the other ranked males. Dad should know better than to mock the customs of a foreign pack. He’s the one who told us always to be respectful while visiting another pack, as you never know who you could offend. And he’s just offended the wrong people. I wanted to see how he’d escape this if he could. The D’Amore family has yet to show they are the easily placated type. Even if he could somehow get out of trouble with some apologies and com
I knew Dad would say or do something to make Zoe angry. It was inevitable. Plus, I think she’s been itching to stone him since she first heard about his lack of involvement in our upbringing. So, it was never an if but a when that she’d stone him. While Lorna’s nephew's arrival with them was unexpected, there was no reason for his behavior. I don’t know what circumstances brought Maverick to Finn and Lorna’s doorstep, but there wasn’t a need to act like he was in danger here. It was disrespectful as fuck. It’s like he thought Nebrodi, Madonie, or Incubi would want to hurt the little kid. That was unacceptable, and he’s damn lucky Zoe was the only ranked member of the packs here. Dad and I may not see eye-to-eye on many things, but I don’t want to see him dead. And I’m about ninety percent sure that dead or at least hospitalized is what he’d be if he had pulled this shit and it was any of the D’Amores present. He should know better. Thankfully, we weren’t riding in the same car as Da
Watching Gunnar and Henrik interact with their nephews and nieces, despite the long separation, was a heartwarming sight. I had always known they were good with children, having witnessed their interactions with the heirs at Ironfur and here. But seeing them in this familial setting, I was certain they would be exceptional fathers. We had discussed the possibility of having children, but it was a different feeling to think about it as a near-future reality. I tried to hide my relief when they confessed they both hoped to be dads sooner rather than later. I managed to stop myself from touching my belly. I’d already been doing my best not to think about the positive pregnancy test I took this morning. Kat had been nagging me for a few days to take one and showed up in my office this morning when I was doing some last-minute work and had me take it. I haven’t been able to tell Gunnar and Henrik yet. I figured I’d wait till we got through to their family’s arrival. I wanted them to know
I knew the Petridis family learning about our talents would come out eventually. Just as I knew Henrik’s would instantly be accepted as Zoe and her parents are singers. There hadn’t been many occasions for me to show off my skills unless you count strip teases for Zoe or that happy dance the day after the family dinner when that hag Ersilia lost her head. Now that the bitch is dead, I was looking forward to things getting to a new normal. No more long days trying to track her down. The hunters, fuck it’s weird that hunters were on our side, were able to explain how Ersilia stayed hidden from being scented or magically tracked. Angels! Mother fucking ANGELS! I’d never seen one till I got a look at Bert. He was the only angel the hunters left alive for questioning. I don’t know if all angels smell the same, but Castor and I committed the scent to memory. I don’t understand why the angels were working with Ersilia and won’t till the hunters get Bert to crack, but if they were involved i