NovaNikolai slams on the brakes as the words leave my mouth, and I can kick myself at my thoughtless words. He looks over at me with wide, horrified eyes and waits for me to explain.“What-”“It’s nothing like that, trust me! Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you, Nikolai; it’s just something I’ve been meaning to tell you.” I explain, feeling guilty to have sprung this on him right now, but he seems to accept my explanation and starts the car.“Next time, wait until we’re not in a moving vehicle, Nova,” he grumbles, nearing the penthouse, and I’m not sure if I should laugh or shut up, so I shut up.I help him get the dishes out before heading to the penthouse. The atmosphere in the elevator is thick with tension on the way up and even as we pack the food away in silence. How am I going to bring this up with him? How is he going to react once he knows my dirty secret? As soon as the last dish was packed away, Nikolai grabbed me by my wrist and pulled me inside the living room, where he s
Nikolai I’ve been awake for a while now, just watching Nova as she sleeps. This is where she looks the most peaceful, even if she has demons in her past. I used to think Kai was the strongest person I knew, but after what Nova has confided in me, I realise that strength doesn’t always mean being powerful enough to take out hordes of enemies. This girl has survived a lot and still sleeps peacefully with no nightmares, allows me to touch her without cringing away and is undoubtedly the kindest person I know. How did she not just snap and turn into a jilted Rogue? In my opinion, any sane wolf would have done that, but Nova isn’t exactly an ordinary wolf. I suppose we’ll find out later what exactly is buried in her subconscious. She stirs, and her lips form a little pout, which I lean down to kiss softly. I can’t believe how much she has come to mean to me after such a short space of time. Four years wasted thinking I could keep her safe when the safest spot was right next to me. I g
Nikolai After twenty minutes, Nova passes out again, and I can hear Kai and Caterina downstairs. /“We’re in my bedroom,”/ I tell them both over the link, and a few seconds later, they appear at my bedside. I look up at them, feeling the tears well in my eyes as I try to choke back a sob. This time I can’t save Nova by brute strength alone; I need help. “I don’t know what to do anymore; the eye…appeared again, and she’s been in pain ever since,” I explain, holding her closer to me and peering up at Caterina. “It spoke to me this time; called itself the past, present and future before mentioning that the Goddess knew who it was.” Caterina’s eyes narrow at this, and then she sits down on the bed next to me and places a hand on Nova’s shoulder. “Can I use my Sight on her and see what I can find out?” She asks. “Please, if it will help her,” I beg, nodding and covering her with the comforter. Caterina smiles as she's used to my nudity already, but I still run to my walk-in to grab a
NikolaiI can hear Kai approach me as I sit with my head in my hands, but I don’t look up when he sits down next to me.“Caterina is still conversing with Nova but has asked that she not appear again unless the Mating Ritual is completed. “Kai says, sitting forward and resting his elbows on his knees.I turn to look at him and sigh. “What is it with our mates being so much more than we thought?” I say and scoff, shaking my head. “I guess Arya will be the only normal one in the pack.”Kai chuckles at this quip. “Yeah, I suppose. But then again, we’re not exactly an average wolf pack, are we?” he says, then looks me in the eye. “Nova will need you when she wakes up. Her wolf has said that she will make certain Nova remembers what we spoke about this morning.”I nod. “I know, and I am definitely still going to claim her. But I just needed some time to think about what she just told us; it’s a lot to absorb all at once.” “It is, isn’t it? Imagine how it will feel for Nova when she wakes
NovaI watch Nikolai smiling from the passenger seat of the SUV, and I can feel myself literally turn to jelly. He’s dressed in a tight black t-shirt showing off his muscles and newly acquired tattoos on both of his arms and neck. I can’t keep my eyes off of him and feel like an absolute perv for ogling him like this. Goddess, my mate is gorgeous; how did I get so lucky to end up with him? Not only does he feel the same about me, but he wants to claim me.I’ll be a Volkova wolf in a few weeks' time!“You’re suspiciously quiet,” he says, grinning and then glancing at me. I can spot the amusement right through his black sunnies and roll my eyes as I try to keep the smile from my face.“I’m…just happy,” I say, biting my bottom lip and squeezing my legs together. I peer up, noticing the smile on his face as well, and he takes my hand in his before kissing the back of it. A blush covers my cheek as he continues to hold my hand while we drive to Kai’s nature conservation. Nikolai told me h
Nikolai “When was the last time you spoke to your Alpha?” I ask Nova when we walk back to the SUV. Today has been a day full of unexpected revelations, and to be honest, I have no idea how to feel after everything. But Nova needs me; she needs her mate to be strong right now. “I spoke with him over the mind link the day after you brought me back. He gave me permission to stay with you until the next full moon.” She says, looking everywhere but my way. “He also hasn’t found my friend, and Raven didn’t exactly tell me anything either.” Why is she being so apprehensive now? Did I do something wrong? I drop the picnic basket and grab her wrist, forcing her to look at me. “Is there something else you’re not telling me?” I ask. There’s something going on, something she isn’t being honest about. She sighs, then leans against the tree we stopped in front of. “No, nothing’s wrong. I’m just…thinking about things. A lot happened today.” When she says this, she looks down and then bites her
Nova After a shower that night, I simply crashed. Everything is weighing too much on my mind right now; the last thing I want to do is still think about it. However, my heart feels lighter at the fact that Nikolai now knows what happened to me - it means I can finally breathe easy. I woke up the next morning with my mind set on going to meet with Alpha Cain. He needs to know that I will no longer be working at his bar and leaving by the next full moon. I think he knows all of this already, but it will still be better to hear it coming from me. When I’m ready to get my day started, the smell of bacon draws me out of my room, and a smile crosses my face. It grows even wider when I go downstairs and see Nikolai busy whipping up a breakfast for us. He hears me approach and looks up, flashing me a smile. “And this, Nickybabe?” I ask when I walk over to him and slip an arm around his waist. “Decided to make my girl some breakfast; hopefully, she likes what I’ve prepared.” He says, then
NovaWe get out of the car when we reach my underground parking and I notice another SUV stop behind us; must be Boris and Ivan. Arya was extremely quiet on the drive over no matter how much I spoke - it was then that I realised that I actually talk a lot. Balls.“I don’t have much to grab still; just the rest of my clothes and shoes; nothing else is worth much value and the place was furnished when I moved in,” I tell her when we walk up the stairs to my apartment. I had called the landlord to tell her that I would be breaking my lease, but she’s welcome to keep the two-month deposit. She wasn’t really happy, but what can you do?“Are you used to not having much of value to you?” she asks when we reach my apartment, and I shrug.“I’m an orphan and have been by myself since I can remember. I’ve learned not to put value onto things anymore; they just tend to hurt you.” I say, sounding like the poster girl for Rogues.Arya scoffs sadly when I say this. “I put too much value in my looks
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 aren’t right. “What are you thinking of so intently?” 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 Kai’s eldest, and I’m not sure what to think. Years spent without her parents and in the grip of a witch who has undoubtedly twisted her mind. I don’t know what to expect anymore; in fact, I don’t know what more to do. The front door opens, and the only one who hasn’t given up on me rushes out to meet me. Her eyes glisten with unshed tears, and I hear her sobbing against my chest. “No more, Kon, please…we need to stop this,” she says, then peers up at me with a heartbroken expression. “You need to come home now.” I shake my head. “I still didn’t find her-”
NikolaiI knew as soon as I set my eyes on Nova that she would change the entire trajectory of my life - and I wasn’t wrong. Not only has she changed my life for the better, but she’s added more colour to it. And I don’t mean the whirlwind that is my son, Sage.Every aspect of our lives changed drastically when we discovered that Nova’s womb had been healed and that she was pregnant with our firstborn. Her pregnancy was not an easy one, so after Sage’s 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.“Time to wake up, little Rogue,” I try to coax her awake, but she swats my hand away. “Nooo…” she complains, covering her head with a pillow. “I barely slept last night.”“Bullshit, 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!” I say, ripping the pillow from her face and watching as her face reddens.“That’
DimitriI watch the sun set over Paris and sigh, knowing this would be our final night here. Arya’s paintings and art have become world-renowned, and in that, we haven’t been able to focus much on ourselves. The last few years have been a whirlwind, so much so that we haven’t been able to focus on ourselves or starting a family together. Sure, everyone back home understands, and so do I, but I can’t 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 can’t 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. “Hey, Mitya,” 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. “Arya, what-”
AryaWe couldn’t do much after Kai’s revelation last night. So now we’re all standing in the Hall of the Five, welcoming guests as if nothing is wrong. So far, I’ve met Alpha Bastien and his two mates, his sister, the beautiful Alpha Azura, Alpha Ryker and his Beta Ruin and Lilith’s 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 ladies’ 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 Five’s symbol delicately embedded in gold.“Everything okay on this side?” Dimitri asks as he walks toward me. He’s looking quite dashing in a custom-made Tom
Arya/“Hey, Arya, are you up yet?”//“Come on, please tell us you’re awake already! It’s noon!”/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.“Argh, go away!” I exclaim while holding the pillow to my face. “I wanna sleep! Leave me alone!”I hear Dimitri chuckling next to me, and then he pulls the pillow from my head while I can do nothing but protest. “I think the women want your attention, Princess,” he says, shaking his head.“But I’m exhausteeeed!” I pout, folding my arms. “How can they expect me to be bright-eyed and bushy-tailed after spending my wedding night with a Volkov?”He laughs again, then gets up and straddles me with a mischievous look in his eyes. I can’t help but peek up at him and run my hands down his perfectly chiselled body.“Hmm,” I say appreciatively, and he rolls his eyes.“Get your ass out of bed, Princess; we have a long day ahead of us,” 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 Dimitri’s chest after the fifth round, the only death that can be reported is mine. This man is insatiable, truly and wouldn’t let up after he Claimed me with his bite. The bite itself wasn’t 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 don’t 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 I’m no longer human, Dimitri still had a tungsten ring with a black gemstone made for me. Everything is just completely perfect. “What are you thinking about so intently?” Dimitri’s voice cuts through my thoughts, and I look up at him. “Just how perfect everything has been for the last three days,” I say, bre
AryaMy heart is full and bursting right now: everyone has accepted me as part of the pack! I must admit that it’s 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 didn’t even need to do it, since I’ve 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.“Okay, 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,”“Oh, d
Dimitri It’s 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 Nova’s wolf is newly acquired as well. I had forgotten the feelings of my first shift, so my advice wouldn’t 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. “Hey, are you okay?” I ask, placing my hand over hers, which seems to be trembling. “What’s wrong?” She peers up at me and gives me a tight smile. “I haven’t seen everyone since the attack at the cabin. I remember being confused, and I think I said something hurtful, so I don’t know how to face them. Do they hate me?” She says, then places both her hands on her lap a