-NIA’S POV-
“Come on, Nia. Get in the water.” Brooke encouraged as she came out of the Grecian pool with beads of water trickling down her curvaceous figure. Her perfectly toned and tanned 5’6 body was on full display in an olive bikini.
We were in the backyard of my Mom’s Dutch colonial house having girl’s time. Her amber eyes regarded me with concern as her soft, slapping feet padded across the warm, traditional tessellated tiles.
“I'm not in the mood.” I groaned, lying on the white lounge chair with my sunglasses on, baking in the afternoon sun.
Brooke grabbed the yellow towel from the lounge chair beside me. “Stop moping over Dalton. He'll come around.”
I glanced at her as she flipped the bulk of her wet, dripping blonde hair over her left shoulder to blot out the excess water.
“He disappeared for a week and won't take my calls. He could be serious about me cutting off my Dad.” I sulked with hurt and sadness rippling in my heart.
My inner wolf was also depressed and longing to see her mate. Had it not been for Beta Chase, Brooke’s older brother, I would not have known that he had left for a business trip.
Brooke chuckled as she spread the same towel on the chair and sat down, looking at me pitifully. “That Alpha boy loves you.”
“It's been a dreadful week without you, too,” I complained. I had missed being able to run to her with my drama and to get her advice. “With Dalton gone to the convention and you to your cousin's wedding, it was boring.”
I was downright miserable.
“Well, I'm back now and I've got great news!” She beamed, taking up her sunscreen from the round poolside table.
Absorbing her excitement, I perked up in the chair and turned sideways, piqued with interest. “What-what?”
“I met my mate.” Her eyebrows raised with extreme joy as her lips spread into a full smile.
“Eeeeee!” I squealed, feeling so happy for her. “Don't hold back the details. Tell me everything.”
She cleared her throat, tapping down her exhilaration, and began a sappy ranting. “He’s handsome and thick.” She uncapped the tube and began rubbing the sunscreen along her slender arm. “We go out to the most expensive restaurants. He’s always all over me and sends me the cutest text messages.” She switched to the next arm. “Girl, he makes me breakfast in bed. He treats me like a queen and he’s loaded. Plus, he showers me with gifts, and he’s going to help me open my accessories store.”
“Who is he?” I queried, fully turning to her and picking up my glass of mimosa.
She laughed merrily. “I'm not ready to share as yet. We’re taking it slow.”
“Uh! That’s not fair. I tell you all of my business.” I mumbled with disappointment and laid back down with the glass in my hand, sipping my drink.
Just then, her phone buzzed with a beep. She picked it up and her face lighted up again. Her deft fingers began working. It had to be a text.
“Is that him?” I asked, taking another sip.
“Uh-huh.” She responded without looking at me and adjusted to lie down with her long legs stretched out on the chaise.
“Awww…..my best friend's in love.” I taunted.
She giggled and ignored me, sinking into her conversation. Dalton and I used to be like that. The good memories pained my heart because I miss those special times with him.
Brooke and her mate messaged back and forth for a while. At least one of us had our relationship going well. At this point, Brooke was my only friend. I never had many of them because of my leaf-shaped ears with tiny golden hair that they used to mock me about in high school. Brooke stuck by my side during those two torturous years. Her mother, Carolle, was a teacher. Her Dad, Walden, has a mechanic shop while Chase is on a pack salary as Dalton's second in command.
On the other hand, my Mom owned a large, exquisite restaurant and my Dad had a construction company. He also buys old buildings and auctions them off to wealthy businessmen with aspirations of constructing profitable establishments under contract. My Dad was one of the reasons for the rise in tourist attractions, employment, and development of our pack.
“Hey!” Brooke threw a towel at me.
“Hmmm.” I hummed, after realizing I had drifted off, giving her my attention.
“Can I borrow your credit card again? I’ve got a date with him and I wanted to look super hot.” She asked, timidly. “I have to make an impression.”
I humphed. “Seems like you got a high-ranking wolf as your mate.” I darted a mischievous smile at her.
She clasped her hands in a prayer sign and mouthed the words, “Please, please, please.” Her expression got even more desperate.
I shrugged. “Fine. Of course.”
She burst with gratitude and then offered a solution to my problem. “Listen, when your guy's acting up, this is what you should do.” I listened attentively as she fed me the advice that I had been eagerly awaiting.
By the time she was done, I jumped from the lounge chair and wrapped the towel around me.
Brooke raised up on her elbows, questioningly. “Where are you going?”
“I'm going to go shopping.” The words rushed out. “I have tonight to prepare for.”
With that, I left her shaking her head as I dashed across the terrace to get things ready.
-
Later that evening……
Parking my black Spyder Ferrari underground of the skyscraper building of Wattampere Powermasters Corp., I took one last look at the rearview mirror. I breathed out a long breath after being satisfied with my makeup and buns and waves combo hairdo.
I grabbed some extra stuff from the passenger’s seat. Then I got out of the car to take the elevator to the presidential floor, six stories up.
Usually, around 6 p.m., most of the staff would have left or be on their way out if this place operated like my Dad’s. Security was lax. The opulent floor was mostly tranquil. Only executives were on this level. No one was rushing around, talking loudly, or anything.
Straight ahead of the elevator was the CEO’s office. Two executive assistant desks were on either side of the mahogany veneer double door. The black aluminum desk nameplates made their titles obvious. The heavily pregnant blonde was on the office phone while the auburn-haired one was compiling some files. Although their snarky eyes were on me.
Each sized me up, running up and down my mid-length, double-breasted camel, trench coat, and strappy high block-heel sandals. I wasn’t empty-handed. I had a bottle of champagne in my right hand and in the other, a lunch bag with chicken quesadillas. The way to a man’s heart.
Walking towards them, I passed the glass-enclosed conference rooms on the left and the right. I locked eyes with Aisha. She tilted her auburn head with an upturned nose and humphed.
The ladies didn’t expect me to quicken my steps and burst open the CEO’s door. Blondie dropped the phone and Aisha flung the files over her shoulder and bolted after me.
Dalton’s head whipped up from the laptop in front of him and butterflies swam in my gut. At the same time, his assistants grabbed my arm and we wrestled.
“You can’t go in there!” Blondie gritted and pulled my right arm.
“I’m sorry, Alpha. We’ll handle her.” Aisha apologized, running in front of me to push my chest.
“Security!” Blondie yelled on repeat, refusing to unhand me.
“Dalton!” I cried, fighting them with all I’ve got.
My mate hissed his white teeth and raised an imperious hand, shouting. “Christa, Aisha, get out!”
Their jaws dropped from shock.
Christa snickered with displeasure. “Cheap slut.”
Aisha scoffed condescendingly and they left, closing the door behind me.
Dalton leaned back in his large, leather, gray chair. He raked the flat fringes of his blonde hair back and scowled. “Why are you here? You know better than to come to my job.”
Ignoring his grouchy mood, I sashayed over and placed the wine bottle and lunch on the long, black desk. I got behind him and began massaging his shoulders. He closed his eyes and his head tipped back on the headrest. His body relaxed under the feel of my fingers. He released a long moan that did things to my insides.
A pleasing smile came to my lips.
“I brought your favorite,” I whispered softly and sweetly in his ears, and went around the front of the desk to open the lunch box. I held up the white food container and singsonged, “It’s chicken quesadilla!”
His cobalt eyes flickered down my body and his nostrils expanded. He seemed conflicted as he sat forward and rubbed his forehead. “Leave it and go. I’m busy. I have a late meeting.”
My hands lowered with a stab of disappointment. I frowned and my heart wept. “You just returned from your trip yesterday. We haven’t seen or spoken to each other in days and I miss you.”
Undeterred, he eyed me contemptuously. “Don’t you know how ultimatums work?”
“You can’t be serious.” I gaped at him.
“Nia, go home.” Dalton insisted, going back to his laptop.
Persistently, I reached across the desk and drew the laptop away from him, slamming down the monitor.
Rage overtook him. He jumped out of his chair and aggressively latched onto my right hand with a bruising grip.
“What the fuck did you just do?” He let out a slavering snarl. Angry veins popped on his forehead with vicious bulging eyes promising to make me pay for that.
My whole body trembled in fear and my legs screamed run, run, run!
-
-NIA’S POV-Those words were like a hard blow behind the knees. I buckled forward and loomed over the desk. My left palm slammed down on the hard surface to not fall flat.“Stop being such a pain in my ass.” Dalton gritted with a glare hoarding disgust. Not even the mate bond could calm the storm in his blue orbs.I stared at him in shock and perplexity. I breathed heavily as dread began crawling down my spine.“This is not you.” I countered, staring hard into his eyes to fight the gripping fear. I swallowed my panic and added, “It’s like you are someone else these days.”He blinked himself back to reality and released my hand. He sighed in exasperation and dragged both hands down his handsome face. Then he sank down in his large chair, watching me with a tinge of remorse as his features softened.I straightened, despite the tremors going through my body, and hugged myself. Dalton realized how mortified I was and came by my side. He turned me to face him and cupped my face.“I’m just
-NIA’S POV-“Open this damn door!” Dalton roared after banging down my apartment at eight in the night. “Nia!”Although my wolf growled at me, I decided to ignore Dalton as I lounged on my almond-linen, upholstered sleeper sofa in my small living room. I laid on my side with my head resting on my knuckles, and a light yellow corduroy cushion beside my chest while watching the latest episode of my favorite series ‘Dish the Dirt.’Being Alpha meant that he would get away with that ruckus. No one was going to call the police or ask us to be quiet because Alphas controlled the entire region. Instead, the nosy tenants will pretend to mind their business while eavesdropping.“I’m giving you one last chance, Nia!” He commanded with authority. The door handle rattled vigorously, and I heard a kick that swayed its hinges.I rolled my eyes and turned the television volume to the max. Dalton hasn’t figured out that his alpha tone won’t work on me.“I’ve had a really fucked-up day, Nia!” He boome
One week later………-NIA’S POV-“I'm so sorry for your loss.” Elder Eunice gave my hands a gentle squeeze. I looked down on the seventy-year-old, gray-haired woman who had previously given a heartfelt eulogy. The inner ends of her black eyebrows raise and pull together on her pale, slightly wrinkled face. Apparently, she had cried too.I sniffed and managed to pry one of my hands away from her to wipe my sore, red, burning eyes with the white handkerchief that was damped from my tears.On this sorrowful day, a bunch of mourners dressed in formal black attire flocked and moussed the entire lower floor of my parents’ home. I was standing in the living room, keeping close to my distraught and weeping Mom.“I wanted to recommend that you bring Kathryn to the community center for counseling sessions. Losing a mate is quite hard, and she’ll need our help for her wolf to recover.” Elder Eunice feebly suggested.“Yes.” I agreed, patting under my moist eyelashes with the tip of the handkerchief.
-NIA’S POV-All my insecurities started drumming up, and my anxiety flew through the roof. Every part of me began shaking, but I had to see it to truly believe it.Slowly, I ascended the other five steps that brought me to the closed attic door. Grunts and moans continued in a jamboree.“You've been riding this dick for ten minutes.” The man groaned. “Milk my fucking cock.”“Hmm.”My shaky hands reached for the door handle. I took in a deep breath before I turned the lever and gradually opened the door to my heartache.There he was.From a side view, Dalton sat on the couch naked, his head laid back on the backrest. He had his eyes closed as Brooke, my best friend and the Beta's sister, straddled him, grinding and rapidly bouncing her naked body on him.Slapping sounds accompanied her moans. On the floor was a bottle of Baileys and their black clothes and underwear scattered in several directions. I stumbled backwards trying to keep my footing.Although there were no chest pains in th
-NIA'S POV-Being the center of the commotion disturbed me, and I became nervous since everyone was gazing at me. My hands trembled at my sides.“I fucking warned you not to make a scene.” Dalton snarled, eyes blazing.“Dalton, explain this!” Alpha Harrison demanded.“She's obsessed with him.” Brooke coyly aired for everyone to hear. “He used to fuck her but since he found out I was his mate, he dumped her. But she can't get over him.”Degrading comments began to circulate. Everyone gaped at me, so surprised and disappointed.Luna Francine pursed her lipstick-encased lips. “Nia, you will meet your mate one day. You cannot interfere in their relationship.”“Young lady if you wish to live, I suggest you know your place. He is an Alpha and the likes of you will never have someone like him.” Harrison pointed to his son. “I don't understand why your cock has no standard.”“I'm his fated mate. I don’t know what’s going on here, but please believe me that I'm his Luna.” I argued, desperately
NIA’S POV-Crash!Bang!Whack!Thud!It wasn't my alarm that jolted me up in bed in the wee hours of the night. It was a crashing disturbance, followed by heavy footsteps thumping up the stairs and then along the hallway.What's going on?Groggily, I raked tangled, black strands from my face as I discerned that people were in my Mom’s house. It hadn't clicked for my body to be alerted. In a dreamlike state, I stared in the dark through half-cracked eyes.The disturbance stopped. Quietness reigned once more, befriending my drowsiness. My lids closed. Sleep slowly dominated me. I flopped back on the bed.It's been three days since the funeral, and I've cried so much that my body was weak and tired. Life was insignificant with my unhealed heart agonizing from the rotting mate bond, but for my Mom, I pressed on. There was nowhere for me to discard this unbidden pain, grief, and disappointment. So, I moved back into my old bedroom again, keeping close to my mourning mother. We needed each
--NIA’S POV-Letting out disgruntled puffs of breath, the barbaric rogue crouched beside Mom’s inactive, slender body. I struggled to throttle the echoes of my darkest fears.I wrestled against Layton’s grasp. I wanted to stop Gossart, but Layton gripped my throat, squeezing the air out of me. Gasping for breath, I clutched at his hands, digging my nails into his skin and tearing his flesh. It was useless.Gossart picked up my Mom. When the monster stood, his bumpy eyebrows rose slightly at the sight of me. He traipsed towards me. Coming to a stop, he gurgled his throat and spat slimy saliva on my forehead.Layton chortled.My red-rimmed eyes jittered restlessly and watched the horrid scene even though they were getting blurry. I coughed and wheezed, feeling less and less air. My heart beat so fast that I could pass out any minute. My struggle grew feeble and subsided.“Money,” Gossart growled monstrously like Hulk, turning to Brooke, and cradling my limp mother in his arms. “Now.”Br
-LYKOAN’S POV-Loneliness was a monstrous enemy with deadlock tendrils that sucked the sprightliness of one’s will to live. However, tonight was a special night. Years of pain and misery would finally come to an end. For I, the man known as the Lycan Diabolyn, was cursed.Nightfall arrives quickly when you've lived a long mateless life. Hours were an empty void, and the silent times that fell in between were horrendous.Tonight was the ashaze night that accompanied the igneo moon. Indeed, it was the dark hour of my demise’s big finale. After years of searching the earth for all the magical ingredients required for the Nasphyxia of Soul ritual, at last, I’ve done it.The glowing, full moon hung high in the dark sky above the sacred old reliquary temple grounds. The stars were so bright that their illumination brewed optimism within my soul.It had begun.The ancient chants of the Quinto Quintessa Witches graced my ears. The five voices blended harmoniously with the natural sounds of th
NIA’S POV-“That's not what he thinks,” I riposted.“Don’t be fooled by the other Sigmas.” Tameka angled her head to gaze menacingly at me. “We’re letting you hang around until the boss comes to his senses.”I frowned and questioned, “Is it that, Tameka? Or are you afraid that I’ve taken your spot in Lykoan’s world—that you are being cast as a mere shadow in the back?”“What it is—is that you need to learn your goddamn place.” She sneered, eyes cold and full of malice. “You act innocent and naive. So disgusting.”“And what place is that? You know Lykoan and I are mates,” I responded breezily. “That makes me the most important person in his life.”She chuckled bitterly, short and forced. “At least I can afford my own, but what can you afford? Tears? Are they golden like your ears?”I shook my head, gritting down on my back teeth to resist saying something cruel. That one definitely hit me. Her words stung, but I acted unfazed and deterred.“Can we be civilized about this, Tameka? It's
LYKOAN’S POV-“Hey, hey. Hey, hey,” Gawain chanted, bobbing his head. “Yes mama, shake it for me.”At a brothel in Mojave, Bakka, we booked a room to kill time. Barefooted on the Persian rug, three brunette dancers jutted and jiggled their hips in the middle to ‘Too Sweet’ by Hozier. We sat disguised like regular Trenchland slums on a fuchsia semicircular couch, supposedly charmed.The Sigmas made it look easy pretending to be so giddy over these women. The guys were duly entertained with their wanton eyes glued on the ladies, giving them compliments with laughter. Freeman flicked a coin at the girls whenever they gave him a booty shake.Ray-Hart was downstairs in the over-crowded, orgy lounge at one corner with prostitutes while keeping an eye out on everyone who entered the two-story end of terrace house.Red, orange, some shades of pink, and dark brown wood. The same colors were everywhere. Cigar, liquor, sweat, sex, and the faintest whiff of fried pickles were triggering my gag ref
-NIA’S POV-Stopping in my tracks, I swung right around abruptly as fear struck me deep. My gaze met darkness, but a hot breath fanning my neck made my body tremble slightly.Someone was here with me. Why couldn’t I see him?This was not a vision. Feeling the sting from the pinch that I gave myself on my cheek validated that I was wide awake.This was nerve-wracking.Lykoan’s security was top-notch. No one would be able to get into the mansion unless they were a Sigma. Could this be a prank? It seemed like something Tank would do."Who are you?" I growled, wary of the silence and disliking the awry anticipation.He chuckled darkly, but remained hidden in the darkness, "Are introductions really necessary when I came to steal a glance at you?""Stop with the game and show yourself!" I shouted, forcing myself to appear strong and brave despite the dread coiling in my gut.“Hm-hm-hm.” He chuckled once again.Following the voice, I swung my head to the right. Standing a few feet down the h
NIA’S POV-"You're much prettier when you're desperate for me." Lykoan’s eyes were shining with lust and excitement, and I was almost bursting at the seams.A devilish smile touched his lips before he split a diamond gap between my legs and pushed his head through to descend his mouth on my pussy.My eyes rolled up into my head.Fuck.He licked me from my entrance and up to my clitoris where he swirled his tongue, causing me to buck up against his mouth.He retracted his head to move his hands to my hips to keep me steady. My hand gripped his hair to keep him between my legs. It felt so good. I throbbed for more."Fuck, your taste is delicious." He groaned before his lips fastened back onto my pussy. He licked and thrust his tongue inside me, making sure he got every morsel of me.I sucked in a gasp as he let out a breathy chuckle, the heat of him swirling against my drenched folds. I tried to clench my legs together, but it was no use now as his hands wrapped around the tops of my th
NIA’S POV-“He didn’t even touch me,” I pointed out, hoping it would be enough to soothe his territorial fervor. When it didn’t, I rolled my eyes. “I would rather see his cold lifeless body beneath my foot.”A slow, sinful smirk appeared on Lykoan’s handsome face as he set my ass down on the glass top of the table. With his eyes penetrating mine, he took my hands into his and brought them to his lips.So bewitching.A useless moan teetered from my lips as he swirled his moist, hot tongue around my fingers. My breaths ejected in a staccato beat, melting me.“You touched him with fingers that should only touch me.” His voice was a low, attractive growl as he tenderly grazed my knuckles with his lips. “He was eye fucking the entire time and…and was too fucking close to you.” His nostrils flared, and he continued to act like a big, handsome, pouting baby. “Why did you hold on to him even when he was releasing his damn pheromones like a skunk.”His hand flashed behind me to swipe the glass
NIA’S POV-“There’s a special place in hell for complete shitbags like you,” Beauchamp grumbled, snarling his lip in disgust.I hoped Vydon didn't touch my mother. Yet, my stomach churned as resentful thoughts filled me that he probably did. My blood roared. My body shuddered from the acme of my rage, brisk and boiling.Overlords deserve to be locked away for good. No. They deserved the gridiron."I didn’t dabble,” Vydon swore, raising his good hand in mock surrender. He understood exactly the concerns I battled inwardly. “Gossart hunts people who do not pay Ozric back, and he is also an avid collector of krait snake venom in Streppes. Their family line is famous for the garstini drink that's made from larvae roots and venom. It makes their blood acidic and corrosive to others upon contact. Drawing their blood is a no-no. They will never be wolf's meat.”Guns. We’d have to use weapons on them.Still, I didn't trust his words. My steely gaze trained on him, slowly sketching his face on
NIA’S POV-Before anyone else could react, I quickly maneuvered myself with a left roll, which positioned me on my back. With a hard tug on Vydon’s black tie, I dragged his upper body forward to loom over me just as the bullet pierced into his back.Thump.A murderous growl erupted from Lykoan. I glimpsed dark clouds in his eyes covering the burning lilacs. Clouds with thunder, dilating rapidly for that sonic boom and lightning strike.At the same time, Julius hooked his arm around the henchman and wrenched him away from the Overlord, while Beauchamp’s hands gripped down Vydon’s shoulders, veering him to sit back in his chair, and hindering him from moving.The henchman was quick to swing back, catching Julius with a cheap shot to his jaw before he drop-kicked the guy in the gut, sending him flying back. The henchman jumped on his feet, going hard at Julius.“How dare you!” Lykoan roared. It was a deep feral bellow from his partially ascended wolf.With fast movements, Julius went low
NIA’S POV-"I apologize, Lykoan. Perhaps I was out of line for assuming that you might share her with your new associate.” Vydon cockily referred to himself. “That’s what we do."Lykoan’s wolf bristled. I quickly adjusted myself on his lap and clutched him, stationing my hands on his lower back to calm Sultan down."I don't exist for your enjoyment, Vydon," I seethed through my teeth to set the record straight. “None of us do.”He waved his hand dismissively and smugly declared, "Hybrids that cross our borders are not free property. They know what it means to come to Idaho, and my pack members take full advantage of that."Horrified at the thought, my throat went dry. Why would hybrids intentionally subject themselves to the Trenchlands knowing what the Overlords would do to them?"That is a sick practice," I reproached, shaking my head as nausea crept up my throat and I squeezed Lykoan tighter."I’m blown away at how you have been hiding from us. It's so sad that I couldn't have foun
NIA’S POV-Lykoan's lilacs glowed lightly. The wolf within him sneered and snarled. He certainly did not appreciate Vydon’s eyes looming over me as his lips curled into a sinful smirk.Overlords like this one tend to flaunt their power to defend the worthiness of their positions, especially since the dominant realms frowned on their existence."Vydon, you and your man will come this way." Lykoan gestured toward the vineyard estate.Apparently, Lykoan had sniffed out that Vydon brought his henchman on the flight. A younger and bigger, blonde-haired man with silver teeth cracking through his mean scowl, jumped out of the Black Hawk chopper in black leather chaps and a gray vest.Beauchamp landed an aggressive slap on Vydon’s back so that he stumbled two steps forward, but did not fall. The Overlord ground his teeth and whipped his head to the side to glare at him.“Try it.” Beauchamp dared him, cocking a brow up with his broad form intimidating.Vydon exhaled slowly before averting his