I knew what he was doing. I am not as naive as some people like to think. He changed the subject to his vineyard, so I’d not focus on how he’s been treated. I allowed the subject to change, but it doesn’t mean it is closed.
Ivan may have accepted his share of the responsibility for not believing my brother or his sister, but that doesn’t put the ranked wolves in the clear. My brother might be in another country, but he will get an earful about decorum and professionalism. He should know better how to deliver such news; smirking or coming off like he was joking is NOT it.I won’t be as harsh on Amelia. I’m sure she has tried her best. But she is a young mama with responsibilities that keep her from visiting Ivan often. I’m sure she’d love to see more of him. I’m also sure of everyone she knows her brother the best, and I get the feeling that when he digs his heels in on something, you’re more likely to move an actual mountain.However, my cousin does not get a pass. It’s been three years of Ivan not leaving his property unless expressly told to. It would be my cousin’s or at least Darren’s duty as the Alpha and Aleph to come to Ivan and stress that his house arrest was over. There should have been official documentation given to Ivan, so it wasn’t just him taking my dumbass brother’s word for it.As for the residents of the town where Ivan lives, they’ll learn quickly how rude it is to stare and make people feel unwelcome. How they have treated my mate is unacceptable. And I will not stand idly by and let them get away with it. I intend to take Ivan for a stroll through that town. I’d like to see the coastal town he’s called home all these years and the vineyard and winery. It will be a perfect way to put them all in their places.Now, as I knew the change in subject was to distract me, it was obvious, and so was the kiss. I’m a film major who has seen thousands of movies and written screenplays. Specifically, I’ve been working on a screenplay about my parents’ love story. So I know a cliche kiss someone to shut up and/or distract them moment when I see one. I’m just not calling him out on it because, duh, he’s kissing me with TONGUE!I’ve kissed plenty with Valter in the years we dated. We never went past that. Not even touching the outside of clothes. I’d swat him away when he’d try, as I didn’t feel comfortable with him touching me like that.I was always apprehensive about kissing as it felt like a betrayal of someone I hadn’t met yet and, worse, of myself. And now I’m wishing I’d never let Valter kiss me. Not that his kisses measure up to Ivan claiming my mouth and erasing any memory of Valter’s lips.Maybe it was the mate bond or Gioia, but either way, I felt emboldened by how his tongue explored my mouth and his balance of soft and firm grip on my chin. So I took the chance, wrapped my arms around his neck, and let myself slide into his lap, wanting to be as close as possible. And then I did something I’ve NEVER done. I swirled my tongue around his and sucked on it.This was a move I’d been told about. You don’t grow up with Zoe as a big sister or cousins like Katrina and André without learning a few tricks. I never used said tricks with Valter. I felt something like that shouldn’t be wasted on just anyone. And given his reaction, I’m glad I did.Being in his arms, I felt that growl in every cell of my body. I wanted to make him growl like that again. I wanted to make him growl my name like he did earlier but in desire. I know we’re sitting on the floor; anyone passing us would easily notice us. I didn’t care. This is a mate ball. It should be expected that once mates find each other, they will get physical. It’s not like we are doing more than kissing.‘I bet we could manage to slip out of this place and do more than kiss.’ Gioia suggested.I ignored her because there was no way we could get out of the ballroom without someone seeing us. Ivan is too recognizable even in a crowd. We’ll have to bid our time till midnight, and then we can leave. Though that begged the question, at midnight, where do we go? I’m staying at my cousin’s villa in a room I’m sharing with Delilah. And I assume Ivan is staying at his sister’s home.‘Okay, neither sounds like a good place to get our brains fucked out. After living with her mated sisters, Delilah doesn’t need that added trauma. And I doubt we want Amelia, Stephen, or their daughter to hear you screaming Ivan’s name.’ Gioia commented.She was a distraction, and now I can’t stop thinking about what will happen after midnight. It made it difficult to enjoy being in Ivan’s arms and our kiss. My distraction timed out well, with us both pulling back to catch our breath.His wolf must be coming forward. This close, I could see some gold in his brown eyes. I’m sure there is some silver in my eyes from Gioia being so far forward.“Regina… w…what’s going on here?” Valter sounded out of breath as he ruined the mood.The gold in Ivan’s eyes grew brighter, which could not be good. I rolled my eyes as I shook my head subtly.I contemplated how I would handle Valter and his intrusion when I heard a yelp followed by a thud behind me. I turned my head to see what happened and saw Valter wrapped in vines with Delilah glaring at him with her hands on her hips.“What did I tell you?” Delilah questioned.As Valter opened his mouth, an apple stopped him from speaking like a ball gag as more vines wrapped higher up his face. She didn’t want to hear his answer.“I said you could enjoy the party IF you didn’t bother Regina and her mate.” Delilah clicked her tongue in disappointment.“I’m very sorry for even letting him free to use the restroom.” Delilah apologized.“I’ll drag him back to the closet, where he’ll remain for the next couple of hours. Please enjoy the rest of your night with your mate.” She smiled before her eyes went wide as if she had finally noticed whose lap I was in.“Ivan?” She asked.“You look very dashing. I love that shade of purple for you. I’ll leave so you can return to getting acquainted.” Delilah smiled warmly.As she waved goodbye, the vines that confined Valter grew legs and carried him off. The crowd parted like the red sea as they watched curiously at the male being carried off by a planet and the smiling she-wolf following behind. It was truly a sight to see.“Was that Delilah Fayte?” Ivan asked.I chuckled and turned back to look at him. His wolf’s anger when Valter intruded had faded. Now I saw amusement in those brown eyes rimmed with gold.Good. I don’t want him to be angry. As annoyed as I am at Valter’s intrusion, I don’t want it to ruin our night. I also don’t want Ivan to do something that could cause trouble for anyone. Not that I thought he would, but his wolf might.“I am so sorry about him. He’s behaving like a total idiot. And if he weren’t the Gamma heir, I’d have nothing to do with him.” I apologized with a heavy sigh. “And yes, dating a fellow heir was not a good idea.”“It’s fine,” Ivan said.I know it was like two words; some might say that shouldn’t be enough to be comforting. But it was because this was Ivan. I know he doesn’t say more than he needs. And maybe if his tone were different, I’d take his short answer as a concern. But his voice was soft, so I knew he wasn’t being sarcastic or placating.“Okay. Then let’s not allow him to ruin our night.” I said.“We have another couple of hours till the party ends.” I smiled, remembering what Delilah had said. “How ever will we use that time?” I teased him as I leaned closer and kissed him.‘Good plan. We talked a lot already. I say we spend the rest of the party kissing and decide where to climb that maypole afterward.’ Gioia approved of my decision.And for a while, I thought Ivan liked this idea too. We’d returned to kissing, and it was bliss while it lasted. I don’t say ‘while it lasted’ in a bad way. But the music stopped, and a voice I was all too familiar with filled the air and caught our attention as we pulled back from the kiss.“As our evening is starting to wind down, we ask only those who have found their mates to come to the dance floor as a special song is played for those beauties that found their beasts.” André’s teasing voice filled the air, and I didn’t need to look to the stage to know my cousin probably winked at the end of his announcement.There were a few grumbles as people dancing with people who weren’t their mates left the dance floor. My cousin may not have the infamous reputation of his papa, but the name is enough to strike fear in most. No one would outright defy an Alpha, especially when they are a D’Amore. I sighed and used Ivan’s shoulders for balance as I got up and fixed my dress.“Shall we?” I asked, offering him my hand.“Can’t dance.” Ivan shook his head.“I don’t buy that for a second.” I shook my head.“Unless Madonie had different heir lessons than Incubi or Nebrodi, I know as an heir, you would have been taught to dance. Even as a Gamma, you’d have to know this to dance at such events.” I pointed out.“I didn’t say I wasn’t taught. I said I can’t.” Ivan shook his head.“Everyone can dance, and if you’re worried that you’ll step on my feet or something, don’t. I’ll be fine.” I assured him.“Regina… this is a bad idea,” Ivan warned, looking past me with concern at all the couples heading to the dance floor as the concert orchestra readied for the song.“I promise it will be fine.” I smiled as I tried to reassure him. “If you forget a step or are unsure, I’ll lead you. You won’t step on my feet or hurt me in any way.”“And them?” He nodded to the dance floor. “Even if I don’t fuck up. They will all stare.”I sighed. Ivan is far too self-conscious for a man this good-looking and sweet. I need to work on his self-confidence. It’ll take time, I’m sure. But one of these days, Ivan Furlan will walk down a street or into a room with his head held high and no fucks to give for what other people say, think, or feel about him.“Let them stare, Ivan. Though honestly, they should be more interested in looking at their mates than other couples. I know I will be.” I smiled when he sighed, knowing I’d won this battle.While I could ignore the looks, I know it’s not easy for him. So, as we headed to the dance floor, I squeezed his hand in reassurance. I didn’t take him to the very center of the dance floor. That would be putting him on the spot too much. However, I didn’t stick to the edge either. Sure, with our height difference, I can’t put my hands on his shoulders, but I won’t protest a reason to touch his chest.Valter is in so much trouble. And oh, I wonder what song André selected for this dance.
If Regina hadn’t been in my lap when that little shit dared to intrude, they’d be scraping him off the wall. And when I considered moving Regina to do just that, Delilah Fayte intervened. I watched in shock and confusion. I’m impressed with how the youngest Fayte turned out. I’ve heard plenty of the might of her older sisters, but I’ve not witnessed any of it. So seeing the soft-spoken Fayte, known as the sweet one taking Valter down with aggressive vines, complete with apple gag, was something. This was proof that you shouldn’t judge someone by what you see. Everyone has a depth you’d never know unless you look closer or provoke them. I froze when she recognized me. I was waiting for disapproval. I did commit unforgivable things during the war, including against Nebrodi. Alpha Tiberius, still weird to call him that, still won’t look at me. I won’t blame him. I was forced to kill the Nebrodi Delta couple to kill Tiberius’ parents. Even in death, I cannot forgive Gastone for killing
I didn’t buy for a second that the couple sincerely apologized. We only got it because of my rank and whom we were related to, which is bullshit. Being a Beta heir, being related to an Alpha, or in Ivan’s case, being related to a Gamma shouldn’t be why someone apologizes. They should apologize because what they did was cruel and unnecessary. But whatever, I’ll let it go. Ivan doesn’t want to hold a grudge about it, so I won’t either. Not like we’ll probably ever see them again. And now everyone at this ball knows what happens if they mess with me or my mate. That will save us trouble. And for those from Sicily, it will quickly get out that we are mates and to keep their mouths shut about my mate. I don’t think his sister was upset or offended that we are mates. I’d have to ask Ivan if she said anything in their link. I doubt she’d be displeased that he found his mate, no matter who she was. While it being me has the drawback of him having to change packs, he won’t be far. I’ve never
I wondered if Amelia told André about her offer for us to take the old alpha suite. I wouldn’t put it past my little sister to do that. It’s also possible that André thought of the option on his own. It’s good that he’s my Alpha, and I can’t lash out at him. He is far too vocal and open with people about sex. Yes, I heard him mention climbing gear as an innuendo to us having sex. I can’t help feeling like it’s going to go wrong. I should feel relieved that Regina said nothing has to happen and that she wants to spend more time with me. I should certainly be happy about the latter. And I am. I want to spend more time with her as well. She will want to be physical, or at least things wate to that, and when it comes time, she will do the same thing Zelma did. Being turned down for sex by Zelma was a minor sting. Her rejecting me didn’t matter. She’s not my mate. Regina turning me down would be a heartbreaker for me. That will be my mate outright telling me we can’t be mates. Sex is part
As happy as I am to know he never had sex with Zelma, I’m still pissed at that bitch. How dare she give him a complex about his size. To make him think no one could or would want or be able to handle him. Just because she’s a weak little bitch doesn’t mean the rest of us are. She wasn’t made to be with him, so it’s for the best that she couldn’t handle him. That doesn’t mean I won’t smack her or at least give her the evil eye if I find myself in Silverclaw visiting Isis. ‘Worry about his ex and the complex she gave him later. Focus on our mate and get him past this obstacle between us and the ride of our lives!’ Gioia encouraged. I know she’s right. We are totally on the same page. Before the sun rises, Ivan will understand that nothing about him could scare me away. I know it will probably take longer to get him past his issues. There is no magical way to erase self-confidence issues. Not even the mate bond has that kind of power. But I will spend every day fighting to shut down
I didn’t think anything could be sexier or a bigger turn-on than her words and acceptance. I was wrong. Regina Petridis, practically naked, begging me to touch her, is the sexiest thing I’ve seen or heard. I knew if I touched her, I wouldn’t be able to stop. I’d stop if she told me to, but that should be a given. I saw how her legs trembled and decided to take this to the bedroom. I shouldn’t have been surprised to see the master bedroom was redecorated with an over-the-top opulence only Alpha André would dream up. It was very different from what had been in this room before. The massive room felt smaller with the oversized ornate white and gold canopy bed with matching nightstands, dresser, and vanity. The most I can say is that the bed is bigger and would hold up to me being in it and the activity I have in mind. I assume that Alpha André set this whole thing up. It’s the only explanation for all the candles lit up the room and the purple petals on the bed. I’m not sure how I fe
‘My nose itches. I want to itch it so badly.’ A deep voice grumbled in my head. It sounded like they were far away or something. ‘You’ll wake her up.’ An equally deep voice answered. I twitched my nose, trying to place the voices. Neither belonged to Gioia. Was someone in the room? No, they didn’t sound like André or Darren, and if Valter had the nerve to come into the gist suit at the villa after last night, I’d stone him. Last night! As it all clicked, I heard Gioia laugh, and then a masculine laugh joined her. I didn’t go back to André’s villa last night. I went upstairs to the alpha suite with Ivan. The memory of last night hit me in vivid detail. I remembered stripping in the sitting room, him carrying me to the bed, coming twice on his fingers, sucking his dick, riding that monster dick… my pussy pulsed at that memory, and marking each other. I opened my eyes and realized I wasn’t on the mattress. I vaguely remember falling asleep and snuggling against Ivan. So how did I end
Because a visit from André any other day of the week wouldn’t be bad enough, he had to show up during an awkward first morning with my mate. And he had to go on about being family now, and I think I suppressed my shudder well. Nothing personal, but the idea of being related, even in spirit, to the D’Amore family is unsettling. Then he mentioned condoms, which I didn’t see last night, and laughed at us while he walked out. ‘We were too occupied to look for condoms. Plus, Regina was rather insistent on not delaying.’ Cain shrugged while I stared at her stomach as if, miraculously, I would know if she was pregnant. I know pregnancy doesn’t happen overnight, but I also know that once is all it can take. How unlucky would that make us? Though would it be unlucky? We are mates, and while we still need to work out logistics, most couples want a family. My sister wanted a family and has struggled with her fertility issues. I am a terrible brother, mate, and person for even thinking it would
I’m either going to die from embarrassment thanks to Gioia and her lack of a filter or pleasure because, wow, even with his fingers, Ivan makes me feel things I didn’t think were possible. I’ve been exposed to stories of my sister’s and cousins’ sexcapades. So it’s not like I’m a stranger to kinks of all kinds. I didn’t realize I’d be the sort to get off on him watching me get off. Though I don’t think my fingers could or will ever get me off half as well as he does. Thankfully I didn’t have to hear about Alexander’s conquests. The only time I heard about one was my birthday, and it disgusted me, disgusted me even more when he showed up at my party with the bitch, and she announced they were together. Liar…er Lia is damn lucky I hadn’t gotten my wolf yet. If I had, she’d never have been a problem. My mama and sister held back because they are Betas. I’m only an heir, so it’s no skin off my back if I stoned that trash. ‘Will you stop thinking about that dumb bitch? She’s not in the pi
The bathroom mirror reflected Evie and me standing side by side, and for a moment, I couldn’t help but marvel at how surreal everything felt. My soft pink lace dress hugged my figure, the delicate floral appliqués shimmering faintly under the warm bathroom light. The fitted bodice gave way to a flowing A-line skirt, and the soft curls of my hair framed my face, half pinned up at Evie’s suggestion. It was rare that I felt this beautiful, but tonight wasn’t just any night—it was Valentine’s Day, and for the first time, I had someone to share it with. Evie adjusted the sweetheart neckline of her lavender mermaid gown, and I turned to watch her. The dress hugged her figure like it was made just for her, the appliquéd beads catching the light with every slight movement. Her brown curls cascaded over her shoulders, soft waves framing her glowing amber eyes. She caught me staring and smirked, her cheeks flushing faintly. “You’re staring again, you know.” “Can you blame me?” I teased, step
It was well into the evening when persistent knocking pulled me from blissful sleep. My body felt heavy, and I blinked in confusion, slowly realizing that Sophie’s bare back lay beneath my hand. Memories of our bond flooded back—her teeth at my neck, the thrill of becoming mates. The knocking came again, sharper this time. As I lifted my head, I noticed Sophie sleeping peacefully, her dark hair splayed around her. I almost ignored the sound to stay curled around her warmth, but my wolf, Noria, grew annoyed. My phone lay dead on the sofa; I had missed any calls. Reluctantly, I slipped from her side, pulling on some clothes and tying my messy hair into a ponytail. I glanced at my reflection—happy but tired. I shut the bedroom door quietly and moved to the front door, where the knocking continued urgently. I peered through the peephole and recognized my parents, Andrew and Roxanne. A wave of unease washed over me. My parents rarely showed up unannounced. Taking a deep breath, I open
Evie placed her hands on either side of my head, trapping me against the door. My heart fluttered, filled with anticipation. Her gaze dropped to my lips, the questions swirling in her mind. Before she could speak, I gripped her sweater and pulled her closer, our torsos bumping together. A soft gasp escaped her, and our restraint snapped. We kissed hungrily, with a fervor that bordered on desperation. All the pent-up longing, the nights I’d lain awake in France, imagining my mate and our first night together, now guided every motion. The taste of her lips intoxicated me, and I sighed against her mouth, letting her slip her arms around my waist. A strangled moan escaped my throat when her fingers skated under my sweater, brushing the warm skin beneath. Between kisses, we shed more layers. First, my sweater, then hers, tossed onto the floor. A flush heated my skin when I realized I was standing here in my bra and pants. Under normal circumstances, I might have felt self-conscious, but E
I stood in the doorway of my apartment, my heart pounding so loudly that I was sure Sophie could hear it. The overhead lamp cast a warm light across the living room, illuminating the scattered evidence of my messy lifestyle—music sheets, guitar cables, and a precariously tilted cello case. She and I had come all this way—quite literally, on her part—and the reality that she was truly here, in my space, felt surreal. Sophie’s breath fanned across my cheek as she leaned in, and the tension in the air crackled with electric anticipation. My pulse raced, every inch of me straining toward her. The fresh scent of her skin—warm and a little sweet—curled around my senses, chasing away the lingering chill from outside. Her gray-blue eyes searched my face, and I realized she was waiting for me to close the final gap between us. I whispered her name, unable to control the tremor in my voice. The corner of her mouth quirked with the slightest hint of a smile, and I felt a surge of daring race th
Standing in my childhood bedroom in Paris, I considered canceling my flight for a Valentine’s Day mate gathering in Silverclaw. My father insisted I wouldn’t meet my mate if I stayed in Les Hurleurs Sanctifiés, the pack I grew up in. At twenty-one, I was well past the age when many wolves find their mates; friends had found theirs by eighteen or nineteen. My mother encouraged me, saying the bond was worth the effort. So, as Valentine’s Day approached, I gave in and booked my flight to Portland, Oregon, the nearest major airport to the Silverclaw Pack in Washington. It all made sense on paper: attend the mate gathering, meet wolves from other packs, and perhaps walk away with the partner fate had promised me since birth. In my heart, though, I was nervous. What if it turned out the same as all the other mate gatherings? What if I left, still feeling that lonely ache in my chest? I pushed away the thought as best I could. The flight was long—from Paris to Amsterdam and then to Portland
Winters in Bloodmoon have always been beautiful, but it’s the kind of beauty best shared with someone else. I had no someone else. I was alone in my tiny apartment, in that awkward in-between place where my wolf demanded companionship I still hadn’t found. I’m eighteen, living on my own for the first time, enrolled at the University of Portland for music…and mateless. It was lonely in ways I couldn’t describe to my friends. At university, my classmates saw a seemingly normal freshman, a girl with a bright smile, wavy brown hair, and a knack for the cello. They didn’t see how my wolf, Noria, prowled inside me, restless and craving that fabled mate bond. It was a Friday night, one I should have spent partying or doing anything with friends. Instead, I planned an evening of tragic solitude. I’d just flopped onto my sofa, halfheartedly scrolling through N*****x. My reflection in the dark TV screen caught my eye first: hair tumbling past my shoulders in loose brown waves, warm-toned skin w
Dear Readers, Love has a way of surprising us—especially when fate steps in. Thread of Destiny is a story about friendship, longing, and the magic of fated mates. It’s a sapphic paranormal romance that blends the thrill of unexpected love with the warmth of a second-chance connection. If you’ve been following my stories, you may already be familiar with Evie and Sophie. Evie Rock is the younger sister of Rohan Rock, whose love story with Shikoba Thorn unfolded in Cult of Love (featured in The Genius Delta). Sophie Blanchett was first introduced as the French nanny caring for Rohan and Shikoba’s twin daughters. Their paths crossed in the past, but they were just side characters in someone else’s love story. Now, it’s their turn. Evie also made a small cameo in Her Second Chance Mate, and some of you may remember last year’s Valentine’s novella, A Moonlight Valentine, where love took center stage. This year, fate is weaving a new thread, one that connects two hearts who never expected
Dear Readers, Thank you for taking the time to read this Anthology. I hope you have enjoyed all the stories it contained. With the conclusion of The Hybrid’s Vampire, we have come to the official end of this Anthology. I will take the rest of November off to work on a project. You can follow me on social media to stay current on what I'm working on. I will return to Goodnovel in December with Her Second Chance Mate, Alex Whitland and Holly Boland's story. Bring tissues! See you son and thanks for all your support! Bryant
As we entered the hall, I locked eyes with the various members of our family, and my vampire bandmates posted up around the room. Someone I knew was truly loyal to us was watching all the exits, which made me feel safer. The elders and their sons were already waiting on the stage. Christian, Elton, and Otto spotted us and hurried over with concerned expressions. “What’s wrong?” I asked, skipping any small talk. “Something feels… off,” Christian whispered, beckoning us to an alcove away from others. “Define off,” Sage said. “Beyond that, your families and the vampires are on high alert and watching all the exits?” Otto folded his arms. “They were weird all day. What’s up with that?” Elton asked. “Back to what’s off.” I nodded my chin to Christian. “Our dads and grandads. They... I can’t place it, but they’ve been acting weird the closer we’ve gotten to the ceremony.” Christian whispered. “Spit it out, kid.” I hissed. “Auðr.” Sage elbowed me. “I’m gonna need you to elaborate.