AryaI don’t know why being in Dimitri’s arms makes me feel safe, but it does. It’s confusing to me since I’ve known him less than a month but it feels like I’ve known him my entire life. I want to trust him, I want him to protect me and tell me everything is going to be okay. Right now, I don’t want to be anywhere else but his side. Does this make me sound crazy or dependent? I don’t know this man from a bar of soap, I’ve known him less than I’ve been acquainted with any guard back home. And yet….“Hmm, what are you thinking about so intently?” Dimitri asks as he wraps the large fluffy towel around my shivering body. I look up at him and shake my head as a ghost of a smile plays on my lips. “I was thinking how safe and protected you make me feel even though I don’t know you that well,” I say, then lay my head down on his chest. “Gosh, I sound so needy.”Dimitri wraps his arms around my waist and holds me tightly before he places a soft kiss on my head.“You don’t sound needy at all
AryaI open my eyes to a muscled wall of black and white tattoos on tanned skin, confusion making its way into my head. Where the hell am I, and why do I feel so damn comfortable? As the scent of Cedarwood pulls me under, everything that happened last night suddenly fasts forwards through my mind. After everything, Dimitri took care of me; he wants to protect me and keep me safe. The thought alone makes my heart sing.However, I don’t remember falling asleep in his arms, so how the hell did I get here? I peer up at Dimitri’s face through my lashes and smile at how peaceful he looks. His jaw is slack, lips slightly parted and that permanent frown seems to be ironed out of his brow.He’s so fucking gorgeous.But then that frown forms again, and he thrashes his head wildly to the side and murmurs something intelligible. His hand on my hip has now balled into a fist and a noise similar to a low growl emits from his chest. Beads of sweat have already formed on his forehead, and they are
Arya“What are the names of your family members?” I ask when we pull up in front of a mansion.He smiles when I ask this. “My eldest brother is Kai, he’s our leader, and it’s his birthday today, his wife is Caterina. Then there’s Konstantin and his wife Lilith, my youngest brother, Nikolai and his…girlfriend Nova.”“You only have brothers?” I ask with a frown, and he nods. “Wow, I would have loved a brother growing up.” 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 father’s but a hell of a lot grander. I didn’t expect his family to have their very own hidden little town; it makes me wonder how they’ve come to be so well respected.“I’ll be right there with you,” he says, snapping me out of my thoughts when we come to a stop in front of the large oak door. “If you need to leave, tell me right away, and we’ll
Dimitri/“Are you sure she’s okay? Do you need me?”//“No, ‘Mitri, she’s okay. She just passed out; I think it might be the heat.”//“Okay, but let me know if you need me.”//“Thanks, brother.”/I know he’s talking bullshit because it’s 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.I’ve just shown Arya the inside of the mansion, and now we’re 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.“Penny for your thoughts?” 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. “I would love to live somewhere out here like this; away from the city, away from Famiglia bullshit and expectations.”I pull her closer to me and lace my fingers with hers. “That 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. Home…my bedroom. I don’t think I ever want to be in that room again, knowing what Dante had done to me in there. Actually, I don’t know what to expect when I get home at all. “Have you heard from my father?” I suddenly ask Dimitri when we pull up in the underground parking of his penthouse. He nods. “I 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.” I blanch and swallow hard. “That means my mother will hate me even more now,” I say, discouraged. My mother already blamed me for Adilah getting traded, and now she would blame me for the abuse she endured. “It won’t matter to
AryaDimitri is sitting opposite me at the breakfast table, but something seems off. He’s been quiet since we parted ways for bed last night, and that silence has bled over to this morning.“Is everything okay?” I ask, breaking the silence, and his head whips up to face me, as if my words shook him out of his own thoughts.“Yes, of course. Why do you ask?” I sigh and put down my utensils. “Well, you’ve been deathly quiet this morning, and now it looks like you’ve got the entire world on your shoulders.” He frowns when I say this, then sits back in his chair and crosses his arms. “I won’t be able to accompany you home this morning; in fact, I don’t think I’ll be able to see you until tomorrow evening. My brother is sending Nikolai and me to DC to deal with some…issues.” He says.“Oh, Mitya,” I say and shake my head. “Why would that upset you? We’ve spent more time together these past few days than we ever have before.”“I know; but I wanted to be there with you when you faced your fa
AryaI was right about Nova; she’s the sweetest, most genuine person I have ever met. There’s 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 hasn’t 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 I’ll 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 didn’t 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 Dante’s words make their
Dimitri“They mistook Nova for Arya after she left the Falcone mansion this afternoon.”An accident - one that could have resulted in Arya’s deathHow could something like this happen the second Nikolai and I step out of New York?! Why did this happen?! I watch as Nikolai’s 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 it’s true but still… How do I face Nikolai after this?“Dimitri,” Kai’s voice cuts through my thoughts, and I look up into his eyes. He’s angry because this happened, but I have a feeling that he knows more than he’s letting on.“You know something,” I say, and he nods.“This wasn’t because Arya is supposedly taking over; Dante DiMaggio orchestrated the hit.”When he mentions that name, confusion hits me right in the gut, and I take a step back. “DiMaggio? How? He’s supposed to be locked up in Falcone’s baseme
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