LOGINShare
138
Last Updated:
2025-01-11 06:14:30
Related chapters
He Hurt Me, But He Needs Me 139
ViolettaMy wolf wasn't coming.Rooted to the spot, I desperately called for her again. Around me, blood and violence reigned. Wolves leapt down from above us. We were grossly outnumbered, even more so because my wolf wasn't coming.This had never happened before me. There were times when I couldn't call to her. Times when I refused to call her, but when I did, she always came. Every single time.I could feel her. Feel her stress and her fear, but she was choosing to ignore me. Choosing to stay put.Saul's roars reached me, and I turned to see four wolves piled onto him. Finn broke free from his in time to join in on the fray, but it wasn't long before he was dragged away again. Everything was happening in slow motion, but it was only seconds.Once those seconds turned into minutes, it would be over. My mate and my friends would be dead.What are you doing? I screamed at my wolf. We have to help them.Desperately, I tried to force her to me, but she didn't budge.Look at them.Her voi
Last Updated : 2025-01-11He Hurt Me, But He Needs Me 140
Ferrara"The amount of time your mate spends unconscious is concerning," Saul said dryly.I shot him an annoyed look. It had only been two days since we returned. When Kenzi had returned, Jenson and several of my guards had started toward us in SUVs, which was fortunate. Carrying an unconscious Violetta back when Maeve was willing to so boldly kidnap her was not something I had relished. Especially considering the rough shape we were all in. It had taken us a day to gain the energy to move, and it would have taken us twice as long to return if we'd been carrying Violetta.The six vehicles and three dozen guards had been welcomed."You wouldn't be walking if it wasn't for her," I reminded him as I looked up from the journals in my lap. It was early in the morning. I'd gotten a few hours of sleep and had two meetings that I needed to attend later in the day, but every free second I had was by Violetta's side. Lunessa and Irene both assured me that she might sleep for a few days to reple
Last Updated : 2025-01-11He Hurt Me, But He Needs Me 141
Violetta"No," Ferrara hissed as he pulled me into his arms. "Fuck, Violetta, how the hell could you think that? You're amazing. Beyond amazing. We'd be dead without you.""You don't understand how it felt. When I realized that I could connect to everyone in the pack, that I could take their energy, I knew that I could drain them and take this mountain. No one should have this kind of power. No one should feel this way.""You gave it back, Violetta. You would never hurt anyone."How could he say that, knowing the blood that was on my hands? The wolves that I had killed for my father. Emerson. His death wasn't by my hand, but it was because of me. Death came so naturally to me."Stop it. I know what you're thinking, and that is not on you. You did what you needed to do to survive and stop the torment. This is different. You have a healing magic.""It's not healing. It's just energy. I can see all the threads within you, and if I were strong enough, I think I could do what Janelle can d
Last Updated : 2025-01-18He Hurt Me, But He Needs Me 142
Violetta"You can't do anything to me," I whispered as I stared at the powerful witch. "Your magic can't touch me."The Crone rolled her eyes. "You're many things, Violetta, but mostly you seem to be an idiot. If I wanted you dead, I could have stabbed you through your pretty little eyeballs when you were unconscious in my day room."Keep an eye on her, I wrapped the towel around my body. "Ferrara might kill you for trespassing.""I strongly suspect that pup will be the death of me, but it will not be today. You're too curious about your mother, and I'm the only one with answers. Unless you'd like to ask Maeve Frost." A cold smile spread over her etched and withered face. "I'll let you get dressed and alert your mate. I'll be with the witches when you're ready to find me."She evaporated with the steam, and I sagged against the sink. "Violetta," Ferrara bellowed as he broke down the door. "Are you all right? I felt your panic."Could I not even get one quiet day with my mate? "The Cro
Last Updated : 2025-01-18He Hurt Me, But He Needs Me 143
Ferrara"You're asking me to share secrets of my pack within the first month of my leadership," Elonso said with narrowed eyes. "You must not think very kindly of my intelligence."I schooled my features. The video chat was going about as well as could be expected. London was, as always, on my side. After everything he'd seen and experienced recently, I knew he would be, but he also had reservations. I could tell he hadn't forgiven me for Lunessa, but it wasn't my fault the witch hadn't stayed.Elonso, to his credit, hadn't immediately decided to clutch at Maeve like a lifeline. Whether he liked it or not, Emerson would have influenced him. I just didn't know how much."I am not asking you to reveal the secrets of your leadership. Simply what you know of Emerson. You were not under his spell. I'm sure you've gleaned a few things.""And how are Cindy and Janelle?" he said casually as he leaned back in his chair and stared at the camera."Cindy is welcome to leave whenever she wishes. I
Last Updated : 2025-01-18He Hurt Me, But He Needs Me 144
ViolettaFerrara held my hand as I joined him outside of Irene's little cottage which had, suspiciously, grown twice as big as the last time I saw it. "Been doing a little construction?" I asked lightly."We've had so many witches stay recently that Irene became annoyed at the size of her house. Jenson had it expanded.""Seamlessly."Ferrara smiled. "He's good at construction. How do you think The Confections bar was put back together so quickly?""And he'd do anything for Irene?""Why are there so many wolves in my pack who will not acknowledge their mates?" he said in exasperation before he squeezed my hand. "Are you certain you're up for this tonight?"It wasn't the first time he'd asked as we drove over here, and I nodded. We needed information, and quick. It didn't matter that my jolt of energy upon waking up was already rapidly waning. Maeve was decades ahead of us. We needed to get there faster, and the Crone was the only one I knew who had information. Who could help us.Magic
Last Updated : 2025-01-18He Hurt Me, But He Needs Me 145
FerraraThe Crone, it turned out, was not the wealth of information we had wanted. Katherine had left, against her orders, to be with her mate, and other than a few phone calls, the old witch had not seen her young protégé until Katherine returned with Violetta and Shane in tow. When Violetta had described her memories, the Crone had simply rolled her eyes and said it was hardly that dark and dramatic, but she admitted that her visions of a darkness consuming the mountain had begun not long after that."You could have done more to help her," I accused her. "Instead, Katherine was murdered, and Violetta was raised by her insane father.""Everything that I did put her in the path of you. Short of allowing her to die, which I could have, vow or not, this was the only course of action that would give her a fighting chance. Now, I will tell you what I know about a ternary. After that, all I can do is help Violetta learn to control her magic before Maeve catches up to her. It will be up to
Last Updated : 2025-01-18He Hurt Me, But He Needs Me 146
ViolettaAlone in the bedroom, with the waxing crescent moon visible in the window, I took a deep breath and focused on my wolf. All day I'd been distracted by her. My normally small and quiet other half of me shimmered with magic. I could feel her happy and wolfy playful smile as she rose within me. Naked, I closed my eyes and called to her.She came without hesitation. It was almost enough to make me cry during the change. When she refused me, I feared that she'd always refuse me, that she'd concede to my magic from here on out.On all fours, I stretched and shook as if I could get rid of the excess energy inside of me. Then I headed over to the mirror. She looked mostly normal. Still small and scarred, but her coat looked a little thicker and healthier.At least I wasn't shimmering in magic."Violetta?" Ferrara said quietly as he opened the door. "I can feel your anxiety. Are you...oh, hello beautiful."My wolf loped happily over to him and immediately leaned against his legs. With
Last Updated : 2025-01-18
Latest chapter
He Hurt Me, But He Needs Me 205
ViolettaI did as much good at Indigo Peak as I could while I was there, but few of the wolves were happy to see me, so I spent most of my time in my room reviewing Maeve's books in an attempt to help Finn get organized. I ignored all the massive journals the crazed woman had collected. I was no longer the ternary, and they had nothing to do with me.Lunessa, Irene, and the other witches helped identify the small faction of witches who'd been working against Maeve. Most of them were imprisoned. Some were in the field when Lunessa stole their magic. And some were dead. There were enough that, in a few months, the land might be healed enough to start growing again, just in time for spring.At least, that was the hope.Leaving Finn was difficult. I didn't know where he was mentally, but I knew Indigo Peak needed his help, and he would provide it.And when Amelia returned with us, tears in her eyes, I tried not to get involved. Finn was making a mistake, but he would realize that. In due
He Hurt Me, But He Needs Me 204
ViolettaImmediately, I stepped inside the circle and felt the magic drain away. "I don't have magic anymore, but even if I did, none of this is for me. It was for a deranged woman to hold on to a memory of when she thought she was in control. She's dead now, and I don't need this place to know that I had a happy family once. And I don't need to bring any of that up. I have enough happiness in my immediate past."Finn stared at the home as the flowers started to wither and the wood started to break down. Its age was catching up to it. "I could burn it to the ground," he said darkly."I think you should. I love that you wanted to give me a choice, but this place doesn't mean anything to me, and it's a symbol of Indigo Peak's troubled past. Burn it and make way for the future. You're going to be an amazing alpha, and if you'll let me, I'll come visit often to check in on you. I'm going to miss you and Amelia.""You're more than welcome, Violetta. I'll demand your visits, seeing as how I
He Hurt Me, But He Needs Me 203
ViolettaI woke up alone. For a moment, I thought I was back in Maeve's grip, chained to the wall, listening to Finn's cries as they tormented him. Tears pricked my eyes until I heard a voice in the room."Violetta."The hoarse whisper calmed me, and I took a deep breath. I was not alone. Maeve was dead. I'd been certain that Ferrara had been in the room with me at one point, but he was gone now. Sitting up, I looked over at the other bed. Lunessa looked only marginally better than she did before as she smiled at me. "You did it."When she started to cough, I rolled out of bed and made my way to her. Snuggling up next to her, I grabbed her water and held it up to her. "So did you. Lunessa, the amount of magic you displayed was insane. How are you?""Depleted," she admitted as she sipped her water. "And scared that I might not bounce back.""How did you do it?"She sipped the water more and leaned against me. Less than a year ago, she was the Maiden, a witch who'd saved my life once, e
He Hurt Me, But He Needs Me 202
Ferrara"Ferrara," London said in a low voice. "You are growling at the kitchen staff."Immediately, I pulled myself back. A dozen wolves stared at us, frightened. "My apologies. My thoughts are elsewhere," I told Finn. "Please continue."The staff cleared their throats. "We have access to large herds here, and we used to use the witches to magic the land to provide for the wild game so we could eat fresh all year. With the magic repurposed," one wolf said carefully, "much of the game fell ill. We tried to preserve meat, but our previous alpha believed in eating fresh and shut us down."Finn frowned. "I believe in eating fresh but also storing when prepping for leaner months. I'll speak to the witches about healing the land once more, but I won't know how long that will take. Do you have the supplies to cure the meat?"One wolf nodded. Finn looked over at us. "Do I have your permission to use some of your soldiers for an immediately hunt before you leave?"We all nodded, and the staff
He Hurt Me, But He Needs Me 201
FerraraFinn's eyes were red, and his wolf's power still spilled out of him as he sat stock still in the chair at a large conference table. Food was spread over the table, but it didn't look like he'd eaten any of it. Blood was still dried on his skin, and his clothes barely fit him.Two submissive wolves hovered uncertainly at the table, and as soon as we walked in, he dismissed them. They'd scurried out of the room like they'd been shot, and the doors slammed shut behind us."I cannot be alpha," Finn growled. "Not of this pack."I met his gaze head on and lifted an eyebrow. "It's a little late for that. You killed the previous alpha and slaughtered anyone who challenged, which, from what I can tell, included her second, third, and at least ten of her top guards.""I didn't realize that they were challenging me," he said tightly. "Do I have to die to relinquish my new position?"London, Elonso, and I exchanged looks and pulled out chairs at the table. I sniffed at the food. "Doesn't
He Hurt Me, But He Needs Me 200
FerraraPulling free from our captors, London and I raced up the hill. He got to Lunessa and yanked her from the stone before I could reach Violetta. A large, mutated wolf pounced at Violetta, and I dove into him. Teeth and claws raked into the flesh of my human form, but I ignored it. There was only one truth. If I didn't get to Violetta, she would be torn limb from limb.Shifting faster than I'd ever shifted in my life, I turned and raced back to her. With a roar, I pulled her chains from the rocks with my paws and turned back to her."Ferrara," she whispered and sank into the ground. "I'm sorry. I don't think I can walk, let alone shift. Help Finn."Finn didn't need my help. He was ripping through wolves at an alarming rate. I wasn't even sure he knew what he was doing.Violetta flinched, and I turned as another wolf tried to pounce. Ripping my claws into their flank, we tumbled, but as soon as I found my footing, I returned to her side.If she couldn't shift, she would be vulnerab
He Hurt Me, But He Needs Me 199
ViolettaThe outer ring of rocks on the hill were etched with symbols and held offerings to the elements. Water from the largest river on the mountain. A feather willingly given from a bird. Earth enriched and blessed. And fire sparked from the kindling of the land.Words from the spell rose up in my head as I was marched through the circle. Below me, an enormous audience had gathered. Most of the wolves were grotesque and foaming at the mouth. It seemed to take all of their energy to be still. Those who weren't mutated seemed so small, but there was nothing innocent in their gaze as they watched.In the silence, I heard someone roar Lunessa's name and then mine. Turning my head, I watched in horror as Ferrara and London were hauled to the front of the audience and forced to their knees. My gaze locked on to his, but there was nothing either of us could do.My chains were attached to one of the inner rocks, and on the other side, Lunessa, also dressed in white, was chained to the same
He Hurt Me, But He Needs Me 198
ViolettaI hadn't seen Finn all night, not since they dragged me away. I was taken to a completely different part of the building, three floors up, and chained to a different wall with a bed.Cozy.Instead of resting for the ritual, I pulled myself as close to the window as I could possibly get and stared outside. It was the same side of the building, the same view of the ritual circle. No new information presented itself, but while I was trying to find an escape, I was also searching for Ferrara.I could feel through the bond that he was close. Alive. Getting stronger every hour that passed. Hope flared inside of me.When the sun rose, the door opened. Three wolves and three witches stood before me. "Time to prepare," one of them said, her voice laced with excitement. She put a white dress on the bed.I glanced at it and snorted. "If you're hoping this is some kind of virginal sacrifice, I have bad news for you. I have been well-loved and well-fucked.""Don't be ridiculous. The magic
He Hurt Me, But He Needs Me 197
FerraraThere were at least fifteen dead wolves at our feet. Adrenaline surged through me, but I was losing too much blood. London could barely stand. A familiar male werewolf loomed over us."Ferrara. London." He spoke with a harsh rasp that further identified him. Dolan. Maeve's second-in-command. We never interacted much because Dolan rarely left the territory. Normally, her third traveled with her, something most alphas practiced, but Dolan was a different breed of wolf. Apparently, he enjoyed disciplining. There were rumors that Maeve had wolves in confinement for lifetime prison sentences, and Dolan liked to make them bleed, wait for the heal, and then rip them open all over again."I see you left your whipping station," I said hoarsely as I stood. My legs shook so badly that I nearly fell over again. "Just how many wolves did you bring to take us?""I have twenty more rogues on their way here," he said in a bored tone. "My alpha has commanded me to give you a choice. Continue t
