T W E L V E .Dahlia.I scrambled out of Hades and Valerian’s grasp. Shock written on my face. Looking at them, however, they both looked so relaxed, which only worsened my panic as seconds ticked by.‘WHAT ARE YOU DOING?’ I mouthed. My eyes wide as I stare at them.‘MOVE!’ I panicked, scanning the room with my night vision in search of my belongings.“Ow,” I winced as I tried to move, only to regret it a second after when Atlas’ voice came through the door once again.“Dahlia, is that you? I’m coming in,” My eyes widened. I quickly and carefully tossed my swimsuit over my body, thankful they weren’t ripped into pieces or I’ll be dead.“Just so you know, that’s the best fuck we’ve ever had. See you later, little flower.” Hades’ voice echoed in my ear, sending chills down my spine.My heart thudded faster in my chest just as the door to the room burst open, and I froze.Oh goddess. We’re screwed.Atlas walked in tall and mighty as he always have, his eyes which were identical to mine sc
T H I R T E E N .FOUR YEARS LATER.Dahlia.“So, you ready to go?” Lola asked, smiling at me.We have been friends since forever. I wish she could come with me, but she insisted on staying for some reason.We went to high school together, went to college and picked the same university and now… it’s the first time we’ll be separated. At least for a while.“Yup.” I smiled back and pulled her in for a hug.“Remember to call me if you need anything, and I mean anything.” I added, looking into her eyes.She rolled her eyes. “I heard you the first time, Dahl. Now go, you need to catch your flight.”I sighed. “I know. I just…” I took a deep breath and plastered a fake smile on my face.“I’m going to miss you, Lola.”She laughed and slapped me in the arm.“Don’t tell me you’re going all lesbian on me now,” she joked and I faked gasped, wiggling my brows at her.“Who knows?”She waved me off and I laughed before heading outside our two bedroom apartment.I flagged down a taxi and got in, carryi
F O U R T E E N . Dahlia. My mind has been in other places for the whole flight. Sure I was mentally preparing myself to see the guys soon. I just did not expect it was going to be this soon. Besides, I wouldn’t know what to say. Hey, it’s me. Remember me? I was the school’s only virgin before you took my virginity. Ack, stupid, stupid, stupid. I bet they wouldn’t even recognize me, and I am having high hopes for that. My naturally dark brown hair has been dyed black. It has also grown longer and reached way past my waist. I have even spent countless hours in the gym to shape my body and I am proud to say my hard work has paid off. Now I look more mature, not the innocent little Dahlia everyone in the pack knows me by. Maybe once Atlas sees me, he would let go of the idea of his sister being ‘little’ anymore. I am not little. I’m a grown who has grown needs and desires. My heart is beating a thousand times faster. I feel like it’s going to explode any moment if
F I F T E E N . Dahlia. They pulled me to a flashy sports car. The roof is missing, but I figured it was one of those cars that automatically opens and closes the roof with some button or something. I was actually relieved they brought this kind of car. It would save me from the awkwardness of being in a tight, closed space with just the two of them. The ride over to my brother’s new house was quiet, but I was grateful for it. I noticed the guys exchange looks and glances every now and then, but I ignored it. Looking out the window, I closed my eyes and enjoyed the wind caressing my hair. For a moment, it was peaceful. Until the car came to a stop in front of a mansion. It looked neat and modern. Exactly my brother’s sense of style. I got out of the car without delay and moved to the glove compartment to retrieve my stuff but was stopped by a large hand wrapped around my wrist. “Let me help you with that.” I glanced over my shoulder. It was Hades. There’s a look on
S I X T E E N . Dahlia. “What did you say?” My lips quivered as I asked. My gaze was set on Atlas. Guilt covered his features, as if he knew this was coming. Atlas reached for my hand but I pulled it away before he could grab it. “In my office, Dahlia.” He said softly. My blood run cold as a thought consumed my mind. It can’t be. He must be joking, right? Nonetheless, I followed him to his office. I could feel everyone’s gazes digging into my back, but I chose to ignore it. Once inside, I turned around and faced Atlas head on. “Tell me.” Atlas’ eyes are dropped to the ground in front of me, unable to look at me in the eye. “Tell me, Atlas.” I repeated. His jaw clenched. Slowly, he lifted his gaze to look at me. “Mom died, Dahlia.” He finally announced. My stomach dropped. Everything around me stilled as time froze for a fraction of second. “H-How?” I stuttered. “Mates, that’s what happened.” He sighed, running his hands down his face. “When father
S E V E N T E E N . Hades. The second we saw her in the airport for the first time in four goddamn years, everything just seemed to fall into place. Finally, she’s back. And about damn time. Our balls have gone blue the first year she was absent in our lives. Atlas started sensing something was suspicious about the fact that we’re not getting any sexual action for months. We never told him we were fantasizing about sharing his sister every fucking day. When we got to the airport, we had arrived just in time to meet her. At that moment I knew… I just knew that I needed to have her. No, Valerian and I both needed her. We agreed that no other girl is good enough for us, but fuck it. I just had to go ahead and mess it all the fuck up. There she stood. Her hair was dyed black and cascaded down her waist in beautiful waves. Her eyes still sparkled with that same innocence she had back then. I noticed she started wearing light make-up, which suited her all the more. Then my eyes
E I G H T E E N . Dahlia. I was behind Atlas when a tall, sexy blonde sauntered into the room with her head held high. Her blue sapphire eyes rounded in delight as she caught sight of the guys, or one of them. “Baby!” She squeaked and practically threw herself onto Hades, who catches her looking shocked. His eyes land on me and I quickly looked away. Tears burned the back of my eyes as I tried to look anywhere but at them. This sucks. I know, and I know I don’t exactly have the right to be jealous or anything but I just am. I can’t help it. Anger coursed through my every vein at the though of Hades betraying me. How could he? How could he take another girl to be his girlfriend? That should have been me kissing him all over beside Valerian. Believe it or not, the three of us had something special that night. I felt it and I felt it deeply. I cannot be mistaken. Somehow, we found our way back to each other and now this? “Sorry, did I make you wait?” She asked while making puppy e
N I N E T E E N . Dahlia. My eyes immediately went wide. A gasp already forming at the back of my throat but was stopped by none other than Hades. This dangerously sexy, alluring man who had lured me right into his trap. He was kissing me. In order to prevent me from doing something impulsive with my mouth, he covered it with his. The kiss was deep, intense, yet passionate in the same way I hadn’t really expected from him. Hades had always been the charming one of the two, and he always made girls fall hard for him before he eventually takes two steps back and stomps on their hearts, crushing them into bits of pieces until they are left almost unrecognizable. I struggled beneath him, trying to skim my way out of this hot mess where our tongues tangled and lips tasted one another like we have been deprived of something extremely essential to live. And I had just found out now, that it was his breath, his tongue, his lips, and hot tangled mess of a kiss that I’ve been missing
Dahlia’s POV:Tatum held me gently and softly as he led me into the woods. He said he wanted to show me something. So I shrugged and let him take me there. Where we are going I had no idea, but I trusted him. He’s my mate, after all. My wolf purred feeling his body close, his scent, his fingers intertwined with mine. My wolf especially loved his scent. The more he got close, the more she purred and my body burned with desire, a need. Glancing over at him, I felt my heart thump and throbbed at the same time, knowing soon I would have to reject him. Then, guilt washes over me. Immediately, I looked away. I internally sigh, pondering over what I should do next.I have to reject him. I cannot and will not live through a year keeping Tatum around with no real intention of accepting him as my mate. I made up my mind after I left the house and got off Hades’ lap. Yet, I felt guilty.Is this the bond flowing through my veins making me feel these things or is it something else?My wolf huffe
Dahlia’s POV:I held my breath when he leaned in and sniffed me. Please don’t recognize his scent, I pray over and over in my head as my heart thumped.But to my surprise, he pulled away as if it was nothing. He revved the engine before punching on the gas.I secretly let out a sigh of relief. Thank goddess he didn’t pick up his scent. I have no idea why I was so scared of him finding out, when I should be upfront and just tell him already. My wolf howled in my head, preparing for what was to come. I told her my plans. I was going to reject him. I was going to reject my mate.I couldn’t find the perfect time to do it because he was sort of in a beast mode since this morning, making me wonder what has gotten into him that got him so riled up.Looking over at him driving, his eyes straight and focused on the road, I felt the urge to ask. Then I looked away, deciding against it. However, each second that passed my conscious was surely eating me up.There’s clearly something going on wi
Chapter 58Danielle’s POV:“You’re late,” he snarled. I quirked my brows, puzzled by his sudden change in attitude. Still, I felt an urge to apologize because of how angry he looks. “I’m sorry,” I slump my shoulders. I hear him sigh as he walks over to me. He takes my hand in his, making me look up. “It’s fine,” he grumbled, but his the expression on his face told me he was really unhappy. I peeked at his face but he suddenly turned away. Strange. Every time I see him, a smile is always plastered on his face. I wonder if there’s something that got him so riled up today. Nonetheless, I let him drag me to some café. He went ahead and ordered two strong-ass coffee drinks without asking me. I shrugged, thinking he’s probably in too much of a bad mood to ask. I let my gaze linger to the glass beside the counter, and my mouth watered at the sight. They displayed cheesecake tarts and other varieties of pastries such as croissants, which is ultimately my favorite. I know Tatum wa
Dahlia’s POV:Sauntering down the staircase, I spot my brother Atlas making coffee when he looks up and smiles at me.“Good morning,”I make my way over to the kitchen, glancing around looking for trouble.“Where’s your lovely luna?” I asked mockingly. Actually, I regretted calling her that because now I wanted to puke.Atlas took a sip of his coffee before answering.“How should I know?”I arched a brow.“She goes out in the middle of the night to who-knows-where, she never tells me anything,” he shrugged, sipping from his coffee as he sat on one of the stools at the island. I examine his appearance. His hair is disheveled, looking like someone had run their hands roughly through it and there were visible scratch marks on his neck. Those cannot be mistaken for an accident. If anything, he’d been in a sexcident all night long.“Really?” I scoff, my eyes looking pointedly at the visible scratch mark on his neck. He noticed and laughed, then goes to say something when his gaze went over
Valerian’s POV:I blinked my eyes. The sunlight pressing softly on my face had me pulling my brows in confusion and irritation.“Too bright,” I murmured under my breath, groaning as I turned over and buried my face in the pillow.Who the fuck pulled the curtains so early in the morning? I groan, annoyed that someone came into my room and messed up my fucking morning.“Good morning,” A soft, tiny voice whispered into my ear, making me jolt awake and look into her direction. My eyes widened at the side of a goddess. Her blonde, curly hair cascaded down her body in beach waves. Her freckles were more visible in this light, and her eyes twinkled beautifully as they reflected the sun’s blinding light. Cherry on top, she’s naked. So fucking naked as my eyes roamed down and further, right where I remember tasting her last night.Wait. I vaguely remember going to this room, and…Oh, yeah. It was Hades who asked me to trade places with him and even get someone to make me look like him as cover
Dahlia.It was just like that movie I saw the other night, where the woman plays coy and continuously provokes the man until he is no longer able to take it, and decides to take the prize for himself. Compelling her to give in, making her crave for more than just a tease here and there. I was that girl. Right here, right now, I want every inch of his body even if it means committing a sin. The world is sinful in its own damned, selfish ways. What is one, harmless sin, more?I lock my thighs around him, wrapping him as if I was afraid he’d escape and run off to some mating ceremony, getting mated to a girl that is not me. I won’t allow it.He’s mine. I growled as I met each of his thrusts. As he pounded into my flesh, I rocked my hips against him, just as desperate, just as passionate as the lust swimming in his beautiful eyes.I have never seen eyes like his, or Valerian’s. Not even Tatum’s is as unique, and I find myself drawn to them every damn time. It is why I can’t resist him.
Dahlia.I spent the day with Tatum, feeling like I’ve known more about him than I could in a lifetime. He told me all these fun stories, he’s even good at jokes, too. Even better trying to make a straw still standing on his tongue leaning his head back. He’s quite the joker, and I’ve never seen this side of him before. The first time we met, I was too distracted to actually see him for him. He’s my mate, and I know it’s the right thing to do; giving him a chance. After all, my biggest long-time crushes are unavailable now, leaving me all alone and trapped with this buzzing feeling, a part of me that craves them with every square inch of my body. I wanted them, but they were not meant for me. I tried wrapping my head around that fact by meeting up with Tatum when he rang me in the morning. He’s quite adamant in taking me out on a date, and he said it so sweetly and charmingly I couldn’t say no.Afterwards, he even walked me home and shared some funny stories with me on the way. I feel
Chapter 53Hades. I looked everywhere in this big-ass mansion, roaming around upending every nook and cranny of this place when I have to. Much to my dismay, I found nothing.Fuck. I ball my hands, feeling them shake uncontrollably by my sides. I couldn’t shake off the anger that’s bubbling inside me now and I want some sort of release. Leaning against the stone wall in this big-ass mansion, I swivel in my heel before landing a powerful, rage-filled punch on the wall. It cracked a little, but I didn’t give two shits if it cause the whole wall before me to collapse. Hell, I’d love to see the whole kingdom crumble if it meant finding her here. If it wasn’t for the Alpha King threatening to cut his funding and withdraw all his vital investments from our pack, I wouldn’t be having this fucking problem. And there’s the matter with my father, who indebted everything to him in the first place, making us a dependent pack. Let’s not forget his adamance in my marrying any she-wolf and providi
Valerian’s POV“Cover for me.” My brows raised.“Come on, man. It’ll just be until I find Dahlia.” I growl at him in frustration. When Dahlia walked away, he dragged me in this room and asked something of me that I promised myself never to do.“No fucking way.” I would rather make myself look like the old man in the wheelchair, sitting idly with a cigar in his fucking mouth.“No one will notice! Besides, you and I both know we look really alike if we try to look like the other.” I sighed. He’s right. We call ourselves brothers, rarely twins. But there’s no escaping that our features are fucking identical.“Fine, fine. Only until you find her.” I growled, watching as the smirk returned to his lips.“Very good, then. I’ll call her in.” Like he said, a woman with pencil straight hair and formal clothes marched in. I look at Hades in annoyance. He knew I fucking didn’t like it when a woman other than the little flower touched me.She must have noticed my displeasure as she laid her bag