AryaâWhat are the names of your family members?â I ask when we pull up in front of a mansion.He smiles when I ask this. âMy eldest brother is Kai, heâs our leader, and itâs his birthday today, his wife is Caterina. Then thereâs Konstantin and his wife Lilith, my youngest brother, Nikolai and hisâŠgirlfriend Nova.ââYou only have brothers?â I ask with a frown, and he nods. âWow, I would have loved a brother growing up.â As much as I loved being an older sister, I would have liked having an older brother who could protect me if needed.As if Dimitri can sense my nervous demeanour, he takes my hand and leads me inside a mansion smaller than my fatherâs but a hell of a lot grander. I didnât expect his family to have their very own hidden little town; it makes me wonder how theyâve come to be so well respected.âIâll be right there with you,â he says, snapping me out of my thoughts when we come to a stop in front of the large oak door. âIf you need to leave, tell me right away, and weâll
Dimitri/âAre you sure sheâs okay? Do you need me?â//âNo, âMitri, sheâs okay. She just passed out; I think it might be the heat.â//âOkay, but let me know if you need me.â//âThanks, brother.â/I know heâs talking bullshit because itâs not even hot outside, but I let him be. He would have told me if it was something he wanted me to know. I do hope Nova is okay, though. As for Konstantin and Lily - all I can do is sigh right now.Iâve just shown Arya the inside of the mansion, and now weâre walking the grounds. She seems to be at peace here; I can tell by the look on her face and the slight smile playing on her lips.âPenny for your thoughts?â I say, placing my hand on the small of her back. She breathes in and looks up at the late afternoon sky, then comes to a stop in front of me. âI would love to live somewhere out here like this; away from the city, away from Famiglia bullshit and expectations.âI pull her closer to me and lace my fingers with hers. âThat can still happen, you kn
Arya Oh, my God, why did I do that? What is it about Dimitri that causes me to act like a complete brat and crave his reprimand? I should just ask him to take me home right now and go bury my head in the sand. HomeâŠmy bedroom. I donât think I ever want to be in that room again, knowing what Dante had done to me in there. Actually, I donât know what to expect when I get home at all. âHave you heard from my father?â I suddenly ask Dimitri when we pull up in the underground parking of his penthouse. He nods. âI spoke with him while you got ready this morning. Dante is being kept alive in his basement, and your sister should arrive this evening. Both your parents have been made aware of what Dante had subjected her to, as well as what you were forced to endure.â I blanch and swallow hard. âThat means my mother will hate me even more now,â I say, discouraged. My mother already blamed me for Adilah getting traded, and now she would blame me for the abuse she endured. âIt wonât matter to
AryaDimitri is sitting opposite me at the breakfast table, but something seems off. Heâs been quiet since we parted ways for bed last night, and that silence has bled over to this morning.âIs everything okay?â I ask, breaking the silence, and his head whips up to face me, as if my words shook him out of his own thoughts.âYes, of course. Why do you ask?â I sigh and put down my utensils. âWell, youâve been deathly quiet this morning, and now it looks like youâve got the entire world on your shoulders.â He frowns when I say this, then sits back in his chair and crosses his arms. âI wonât be able to accompany you home this morning; in fact, I donât think Iâll be able to see you until tomorrow evening. My brother is sending Nikolai and me to DC to deal with someâŠissues.â He says.âOh, Mitya,â I say and shake my head. âWhy would that upset you? Weâve spent more time together these past few days than we ever have before.ââI know; but I wanted to be there with you when you faced your fa
AryaI was right about Nova; sheâs the sweetest, most genuine person I have ever met. Thereâs no hostility or fake niceties from her at all, not like with other people. When she speaks to me, she actually looks into my eyes and seems to not even notice the scars on my face. I want to be friends with her, but I hope my negativity hasnât pushed her away.But now, I have something else to take care of, and as I look up at our mansion, I steel my heart and walk inside. I have decided to speak with my father first as he needs to know about my plans, then Iâll face my mother and sister. Spending the weekend with Dimitri and being around his powerful family has done something to me; I hope that confidence shows in me now.Not only that, but something occurred to me while I lay in bed alone last night, something that I didnât want to be true, but I knew it was. Something that equally broke and hardened my heart. I need to put a stop to it now that I know the truth and Danteâs words make their
DimitriâThey mistook Nova for Arya after she left the Falcone mansion this afternoon.âAn accident - one that could have resulted in Aryaâs deathHow could something like this happen the second Nikolai and I step out of New York?! Why did this happen?! I watch as Nikolaiâs soul leaves his body the minute he opens that hospital room door, and guilt pools into my heart. His mate got harmed because of me, because they mistook her for mine. They both have blonde hair, so I suppose itâs true but still⊠How do I face Nikolai after this?âDimitri,â Kaiâs voice cuts through my thoughts, and I look up into his eyes. Heâs angry because this happened, but I have a feeling that he knows more than heâs letting on.âYou know something,â I say, and he nods.âThis wasnât because Arya is supposedly taking over; Dante DiMaggio orchestrated the hit.âWhen he mentions that name, confusion hits me right in the gut, and I take a step back. âDiMaggio? How? Heâs supposed to be locked up in Falconeâs baseme
Dimitri Arya fell asleep almost immediately after the shower. Even as she tried to act brave and confident, today was an emotionally draining day for her. In the short period of time Iâve known her, sheâs always been gentle, so the fact that sheâs taken two lives in the space of 24 hours still has to register with her. She will need me when sheâs realised that she now has blood on her hands. /âMitri, are you there?â/ The voice of Nikolai comes through the mind link. /âYeah, I am. How's Nova? Is everything okay?â/ /âSheâs awake and healing, so things are looking positive for now. Listen, Nova told me something about Arya, something she picked up on.â/ My heart drops when he says this, but I tell him to go on even as I dread to know what that little librarian has discovered. /âFear, thick and suffocating, was rippling off of Arya when she went to drop her off at home. It was almost as if she feared going home for some reason.â/ I sigh, pulling Arya closer to me and kissing her fo
Arya Itâs been almost a week to the day that I killed my father and Dante, nearly a week since I took a life without a wavering heart. And almost a week since the blood wonât wash from my hands. I see it as clear as day, but nobody else does. It stains my hands, even as I eat, even as I touch Dimitri and stroke his face. I donât know how to get rid of it; no matter how much I scrub my hands raw, the stains remain as if it has soaked deep into my skin; my tattooed shame. Dimitri said that it still has to hit me, that the repercussions for taking a life is each death chipping at more of your soul. Heâs done it for years, and itâs still not an easy thing to do, whether the person deserved it or not. Did that advice help? Hell no, it didnât, but I needed to hear it. If taking a life is still a difficult feat for an Enforcer, then perhaps my guilt is normal. âMistress, Mr Volkov is here,â one of my men tells me, and I permit him to allow entry. As much as I wanted this to be Dimitri,
Kai Nearly fourteen years of the Convergence, with every year being as successful as the previous one. Our packs have lived in harmony for this long, with no wars or antagonising from smaller packs; everything was peaceful. However, as I look down at the RSVP in my hand, I am not sure if it is anger or fear coursing through my veins. After fourteen years of replying NO, the European Five have finally decided to join the Convergence. I have been sending invitations out of courtesy and expected a negative response, but the fact that all of them responded yes has a cold sweat running down my back. I hope it is simply nerves and that, once again, my feelings arenât right. âWhat are you thinking of so intently?â The voice of Caterina cuts through the haze of my thoughts. I look up from my desk. I am almost sure that the older she gets, the more beautiful she becomes, and I find myself falling for her all over again on a daily basis. I smile as she walks over to me, wearing a tiny blac
Konstantin I look up at the mansion I used to call home and sigh. After another two years, I have returned empty-handed and with no news. Kaia is still missing, with no word and no sound even in Europe. I know I should simply let it go, that perhaps the fucking witch killed my only daughter the minute she took her, but I cannot give up hope. Not when I promised to bring her back home. She has turned eighteen now, the same age as Kaiâs eldest, and Iâm not sure what to think. Years spent without her parents and in the grip of a witch who has undoubtedly twisted her mind. I donât know what to expect anymore; in fact, I donât know what more to do. The front door opens, and the only one who hasnât given up on me rushes out to meet me. Her eyes glisten with unshed tears, and I hear her sobbing against my chest. âNo more, Kon, pleaseâŠwe need to stop this,â she says, then peers up at me with a heartbroken expression. âYou need to come home now.â I shake my head. âI still didnât find her-â
NikolaiI knew as soon as I set my eyes on Nova that she would change the entire trajectory of my life - and I wasnât wrong. Not only has she changed my life for the better, but sheâs added more colour to it. And I donât mean the whirlwind that is my son, Sage.Every aspect of our lives changed drastically when we discovered that Novaâs womb had been healed and that she was pregnant with our firstborn. Her pregnancy was not an easy one, so after Sageâs birth, we decided to keep it to one child only.Yet as I watch her sleep with one hand on her swollen belly, I wonder where the hell that decision went.âTime to wake up, little Rogue,â I try to coax her awake, but she swats my hand away. âNoooâŠâ she complains, covering her head with a pillow. âI barely slept last night.ââBullshit, you went to bed at seven and kept me awake by imitating a chainsaw all damn night. The one who really deserves sleep is me!â I say, ripping the pillow from her face and watching as her face reddens.âThatâ
DimitriI watch the sun set over Paris and sigh, knowing this would be our final night here. Aryaâs paintings and art have become world-renowned, and in that, we havenât been able to focus much on ourselves. The last few years have been a whirlwind, so much so that we havenât been able to focus on ourselves or starting a family together. Sure, everyone back home understands, and so do I, but I canât help but feel a sliver of disappointment at where our lives have led us.I want a family with my mate; I want us to settle down and get our lives together. However, I canât force this on Arya. But I know that I will need to speak with her about this soon. Even as my wolf knots her each time we make love, nothing has come of it. Is it my fault? Is my body too weak?A head leans against my back. âHey, Mitya,â came the voice of my angel, alluring as usual. I turn around to face her, about to offer her a fake smile, when I see the tears in her eyes and her bottom lip trembling. âArya, what-â
AryaWe couldnât do much after Kaiâs revelation last night. So now weâre all standing in the Hall of the Five, welcoming guests as if nothing is wrong. So far, Iâve met Alpha Bastien and his two mates, his sister, the beautiful Alpha Azura, Alpha Ryker and his Beta Ruin and Lilithâs half-brother, Alpha Fenriz, unfortunately without his Luna Marina.They all seemed lovely, but Caterina has asked me to not let my guard down, especially after what Kai told us yesterday. Ah, I suppose I should start calling him Alpha Kai from now on, hey?I look around the beautifully decorated hall and smile, knowing the other ladiesâ hard work has paid off wonderfully. With its glass ceiling so the moonlight may shine through, the red and black drapes and candles adding to the colour scheme, Autumn flower arrangements and the marble floor with the Fiveâs symbol delicately embedded in gold.âEverything okay on this side?â Dimitri asks as he walks toward me. Heâs looking quite dashing in a custom-made Tom
Arya/âHey, Arya, are you up yet?â//âCome on, please tell us youâre awake already! Itâs noon!â/My eyes flutter open to the voices booming in my head, and I groan, trying to drown them out with a pillow to my head.âArgh, go away!â I exclaim while holding the pillow to my face. âI wanna sleep! Leave me alone!âI hear Dimitri chuckling next to me, and then he pulls the pillow from my head while I can do nothing but protest. âI think the women want your attention, Princess,â he says, shaking his head.âBut Iâm exhausteeeed!â I pout, folding my arms. âHow can they expect me to be bright-eyed and bushy-tailed after spending my wedding night with a Volkov?âHe laughs again, then gets up and straddles me with a mischievous look in his eyes. I canât help but peek up at him and run my hands down his perfectly chiselled body.âHmm,â I say appreciatively, and he rolls his eyes.âGet your ass out of bed, Princess; we have a long day ahead of us,â He says, then plants a kiss on my forehead and
Arya They say a Volkov mating ceremony always ends in at least one death, but as I fall down on Dimitriâs chest after the fifth round, the only death that can be reported is mine. This man is insatiable, truly and wouldnât let up after he Claimed me with his bite. The bite itself wasnât painful at all; it felt like a missing piece of my soul being put back. After that, everything felt natural and beautiful, even our animalistic sounds that echoed all around us. The ceremony was beautiful, too; I donât think I ever cried as much as I did when Caterina read the vows and her prayers. Apparently, ours was her very first ceremony, and it left her in tears as well. And even though Iâm no longer human, Dimitri still had a tungsten ring with a black gemstone made for me. Everything is just completely perfect. âWhat are you thinking about so intently?â Dimitriâs voice cuts through my thoughts, and I look up at him. âJust how perfect everything has been for the last three days,â I say, bre
AryaMy heart is full and bursting right now: everyone has accepted me as part of the pack! I must admit that itâs still odd to think of myself as a werewolf or shifter of any kind. I, a once arrogant and proud Mafia princess, accepted into a great family such as this.I must be dreaming.Not only that, but Caterina removed the scars from my face! I nearly passed out from the shock when I saw my reflection! She didnât even need to do it, since Iâve come to terms with my scars, but seeing my old face made me realise how much I have missed it!Call me vain, but I missed my own beauty. But this time around, I know that I will not be as arrogant as I used to be since every woman standing next to me is exceptionally beautiful. Although right now, I am feeling extremely self-conscious standing naked in front of them as they try to give me advice.âOkay, Arya, I want you to close your eyes and look at your wolf; make eye contact and do not blink. She will know what to do from there,ââOh, d
Dimitri Itâs a full moon in two days, and Arya has just woken up after being in transition for five days. During her slumber, everyone took turns keeping her company while I was out. Nova was incredibly overprotective of her, something that I loved and yet became extremely annoyed by. Nikolai and I agreed that Nova would be the best person to train Arya when it came to shifting since Novaâs wolf is newly acquired as well. I had forgotten the feelings of my first shift, so my advice wouldnât match up to what Arya would feel. Now, as I watch her finishing off her sandwich, I can feel nothing but anxiety coming from her. âHey, are you okay?â I ask, placing my hand over hers, which seems to be trembling. âWhatâs wrong?â She peers up at me and gives me a tight smile. âI havenât seen everyone since the attack at the cabin. I remember being confused, and I think I said something hurtful, so I donât know how to face them. Do they hate me?â She says, then places both her hands on her lap a