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2024-11-01 01:53:08Related chapters
He Hurt Me, But He Needs Me Mate
ViolettaVioletta slept until nightfall, and when she rose, there was more color in her cheeks. I watched carefully as she rose and stretched. Her steps were steady and confident, and her own relief was evident in her small smile."Do you think we're far enough from the boundary to shift and hunt?" I asked. I wasn't stupid enough to blindly trust her again, but after that last attack, I knew I needed her input. I'd only been to Wisteria Wood once when I was a kid. We barely survived the first two days before we had to turn back and take the long way around."Probably. I don't really know where we are, but I don't feel...I don't think we'll find trouble as long as we don't get any closer while it's still dark."Feel? Why would she stumble over that word?"We?" I asked as I stood. "You're not coming unless you shift."I hadn't meant to snarl at her. I'd never planned to leave her. Not because I thought she would run, but because she was a magnet for trouble. Still, giving her a challeng
Last Updated : 2024-11-01He Hurt Me, But He Needs Me Betrayer
ViolettaWhether it was exhaustion or lack of blood, I did manage to get a couple of hours of sleep. Just as the sun started to creep over the horizon, we headed out. Like I asked, Ferrara pulled his power in, and even I was fooled. He wasn't hiding his wolf. That wasn't possible, but when I focused on him, he just seemed like an average wolf shifter.That would make things easier. My injuries were mostly healed, so I moved faster and easier on foot. Ferrara was never more than an arm's length away from me, and I liked that even less.He was also in a chatty mood."You didn't respond to my order to shift," he said casually as we walked. "Care to explain how that's possible?""Maybe I'm stronger than you."His growl told me that it was the wrong thing to say. "As I'm sure you've already seen for yourself, my wolf is broken. It doesn't function.""Since when? Did something happen in my pack?"I snorted. "Worried that your edict to torment me has backfired? You can rest easy. I haven't s
Last Updated : 2024-11-01He Hurt Me, But He Needs Me Mine
FerraraShe wasn't telling outright lies, but she wasn't telling the truth either, and that meant that she couldn't be trusted. Still, we made it through most of the day without attracting any rogue wolf attention.Occasionally, she would stop and stare. I did the same, but I never could see what she saw, so eventually, I stopped and just studied her. Nothing about her motivation made sense. She could have told me how to release the traps and in return, I would have given her the freedom she wanted.Maybe.I could just as easily drag her back to my territory when this was done. Did she think herself safer from me the closer we got to the witch coven?There was nothing that would keep me from her if I decided to keep her.Deep within me, my wolf rumbled. It was not a warning of danger, but rather a warning for me. Ever since Violetta had come into my life, my wolf and I had been at odds with each other. He wanted his mate.I wanted to protect my clan. At the moment, we couldn't both ha
Last Updated : 2024-11-01He Hurt Me, But He Needs Me Survivor
ViolettaI may have said it in passing before, but it was the first time I'd ever introduced Ferrara as my mate.To his credit, he didn't blink an eye. Not at the fake name or the confession of our relationship. Not even to the revelation that Marsh was a friend of my father's.A good friend."A mate! Look at you! Shane's sweet little girl all grown up," Marsh said with a mischievous glint in his eye. "A mate of Violetta's is definitely a friend of mine. I'm sure you have her well in hand. My little Violetta used to be such a hellion."My stomach turned, but I just laughed with him. To show even a little hint of distress would only give him more ammunition, and it was too late to signal to Ferrara to kill him so we could be on our way. There was something about Marsh I didn't like. Why was he so at ease chatting out in the open?"She's under control," Ferrara said mildly."I have no doubt. Why don't you join me at my place, and we'll catch up?"I tried to look regretful as I shook my
Last Updated : 2024-11-01He Hurt Me, But He Needs Me Host
FerraraThe lies had slipped so easily out of her mouth, but while Marsh invited Finn to stay for dinner, Violetta started to shake. I knew what she was thinking. My wolves hadn't made it back.Interesting that she would worry for them so.I knew that my wolves were fine. I would feel if they were dead. Finn had lied. I couldn't tell Violetta that. I also didn't know why.We spent the next two hours as guests while Marsh happily relayed stories of little Violetta that set my teeth on edge and tested me in every way possible.Violetta, meanwhile, never blinked an eye.Afterward, I quickly shut down Marsh's suggestion that we sleep in the cabin. When he mentioned we could all shift and sleep together, I felt the first sign of Violetta's fear and panic."Violetta's wolf does not come out unless we're home," I said, playing the role of the controlling mate.Marsh was clearly frustrated, but I didn't budge. It was obvious he wanted Violetta. Did he really think I would share her?Had someo
Last Updated : 2024-11-01He Hurt Me, But He Needs Me Linger
ViolettaI kept my back to Ferrara when he returned and pretended to be asleep. We both knew it wasn't true, but he quietly stretched out behind me and laid a hand on my hip. I almost gave him a warning growl, but his touch did help settle my wolf. Her anxiety at being alone on Marsh's land was suffocating.I hated how he made me feel. Calm. Centered.Desperate. Needy.Furious.The man gave me whiplash, and now, I had his kiss to haunt me. His real kiss. Not just the ones I sometimes had in my dreams.Somehow, with him behind me, I managed to slip off into sleep. I had no idea how much had passed before my wolf's panic had been bolting upright.Next to me, Ferrara had already started to pull me against him when a blade shredded the tent, and Marsh's face loomed near. He was streaked with blood and had a crazed look in his eye."Something wrong?" Ferrara said tensely."Stupid bitches think they have a say in what I can and can't do," he snarled. "This one is mine. Shane gave her to me,
Last Updated : 2024-11-01He Hurt Me, But He Needs Me Resist
ViolettaI hated not knowing where we were and having to follow the instructions of a stranger.Finn had risked a lot to see us to safety, though. So much so that Ferrara didn't think he was safe in Wisteria Woods anymore. He gave the young man instructions back to West Ham with a message his guards would understand.When Ferrara returned, Finn would have a chance at joining a pack. I was a little sorry that I wouldn't be there to see it happen."That would be a pretty targeted question for me to ask, wouldn't it?" Ferrara responded.Shivering, I turned my back and slipped off my wet shirt. We were in a cave that, according to Finn, was part of a system of rock dwellings. He believed the caves would lead straight to the witch's den, but he hadn't explored them. He said he'd only tried to go further once when he became ensnared in a spell trap. It was two agonizing days before a witch released him and warned him away.Ferrara had commented that it was awfully nice of them for a group o
Last Updated : 2024-11-01He Hurt Me, But He Needs Me Act
FerraraThe minute her hands touched my chest, I saw the flash of heat in her eyes. The warmth penetrated the fabric of my shirt, and her mouth opened just a little.That was all I needed. Capturing her lips in mine, I kissed her urgently as I backed her into the rock. Just before her head hit the stone, I cradled her head, and it was my knuckles that smacked against the rough surface. I didn't care.My tongue swept in, taking what was mine, and as soon as I tasted the sweetness of her mouth again, my fury grew. How could she be so fucking delicate? So goddamn innocent?How could I crave her this much knowing what she was?Growling, I tore my mouth away and stared down at her. Wet large and hesitant eyes stared up at me, and I was lost in her. "Turn around," I ordered. "I want you pressed up against me."Quietly, she obeyed. As soon as my fingers moved down her soft belly, she shivered and squirmed against me. I could smell her arousal, and my own body tightened in kind.Mine.She was
Last Updated : 2024-11-01
Latest chapter
He Hurt Me, But He Needs Me 108
FerraraThe infirmary was a very different scene when we arrived. It was surrounded by guards, with Cruz and his men hauling the crates out. At the sight of London, they stopped. He murmured a few words to them, and they continued. A few shifters in the infirmary had gathered to watch. From their eyes, I had a feeling that they hadn’t even known the crates were in there.“Maria, I apologize for the inconvenience. If you and the others working here could just stay for a few minutes, Cruz will have a few questions for you. Then you’ll all be allowed to take an hour-long break while we do some maintenance around the facility,” London announced.An older red-headed woman nodded and immediately began corralling some of the others. Cruz joined them, and London led us to one of the offices. He closed the door and used the phone to call his tech guy. It only took a few minutes for Saul to login.“Are you sure we don’t need to bring him down here? What if she tried to hide the files?” London s
He Hurt Me, But He Needs Me 107
ViolettaA sudden and uncomfortable invisible tug jerked me to my feet. Spinning around, Finn was immediately on guard. I’d dropped the thick file folder off in my room, and we’d explored some of the territory before we’d stopped for a drink at the Snake River Valley brewery.Around us, the other wolves, most who’d been friendly, but a couple who’d watched me with narrowed eyes, stopped talking.“It’s not them,” I told Finn as I rubbed my chest. “It’s Ferrara. Something is wrong. Where’s the infirmary?”Everyone started murmured at once until an older man stood. “I can take you.”It was a short run, one that I was able to do on foot, and when we arrived at the infirmary, Ferrara and Saul burst out. Upon seeing me, they stopped short. “What’s wrong?” I demanded. “What happened? Are we fighting?”“We were locked in a closet.”“You…what? You were locked in a closet?”Ferrara nodded, and I rubbed my chest again. “I felt panic from you.”His handsome face lit up as his lips curved in a slo
He Hurt Me, But He Needs Me 106
Ferrara“I can’t believe I’m finally meeting you. I have read every single one of your papers. I’m sure you don’t remember this, it was a few years ago, but I reached out to you when I wrote my dissertation on rapid gene mutation,” Makayla gushed as she pulled out a key. The healer looked to be in her early twenties, and from the moment we walked into the infirmary, her eyes held stars.All for Saul. I knew he continued his research and submitted papers, but from the way this young woman was reacting, he was a little bit of a rock star in his field.“I do remember,” Saul smiled. “If I recall, your dissertation was about gene mutation during the mating habits of certain mammals. It certainly caught my eye.”Immediately, her cheeks flamed. “Yeah, that was kind of the point. I really just wanted to ignite some interest in my field by making it a little bit spicy, you know? I mean, I think science is sexy, but it’s a hard sell for young students, and sometimes you find that grad school is
He Hurt Me, But He Needs Me 105
ViolettaAs soon as the door closed, London straightened and cleared his throat. “I am not unfamiliar with Emerson’s brand of violence and torture. I have told Ferrara that I can have people available for you to speak with.”“He mentioned. Thank you, but I’m good.” Cocking my head, I studied the alpha. Snake River was the smallest of the packs, but that didn’t mean that London was the weakest of the alphas. From the little that I had seen, his pack was a tight-knit community, and between how far his brewery and distillery distributions reached, I knew that they weren’t lacking in money. Still, there was something odd about him. Something I couldn’t quite decipher. “What makes you familiar with the things Emerson likes to do behind closed doors?”“That is a story for another day. For now, let me just say that I will not shed a tear over his loss.” He pulled a file out of the desk. “My grandfather was a writer. He studiously journaled his entire life, and I made it a personal project of
He Hurt Me, But He Needs Me 104
FerraraFor one unsettled moment, I realized that Violetta wasn’t there anymore. One moment she was staring into my eyes, and the next, it was her wolf.Happy, content. When she bowed to me, I realized she was even playful. It was a side of her wolf that I’d never seen before, along with the fact that I’d never seen her wolf without Violetta.I didn’t know what to do. A frantic part of me was worried that Violetta had disappeared completely. It wasn’t unheard of for wolves to give up their human selves completely.Was that what Violetta had done?We hadn’t had a chance to stop and take a breath in months. So much had happened. I just wanted her to talk to someone, a professional, and sort through her feelings.Her wolf nuzzled me, and I reluctantly gave my wolf more control so they could run and play. The hours passed, and when she collapsed and rolled on her belly with a happy smile, I shifted. Sitting in the grass, I held her head and softly stroked her ears. Despite the length of t
He Hurt Me, But He Needs Me 103
Violetta“He broke out of his window,” Saul said in a low and tight voice as we walked into the guest room where Finn was staying. “He woke up, and I was ready with a soother, but before I could get him to drink it, he shifted. I was between him and the door.”“He chose to break through the window rather than hurt you. That’s a good sign,” I said as I stared at the broken glass. “Is Amelia feeling better? She can track him.”“What makes you say that?” Ferrara grunted.“Really? I know there’s been a lot going on, but surely, you’ve got eyes.”Ferrara looked even more puzzled, and Saul smiled quietly. “As it happens, she’s already gone after him. Kenzi and I can look after Violetta while you follow her and make sure Finn is all right. I will alert London about his window.”Ferrara looked at me, but I waved him away. With a short nod, he turned and left. Kenzi jumped up on the bed and sighed. “So, it’s true? He really does belong to Amelia? That’s a shame. He’s a cutie.”I rolled my eyes
He Hurt Me, But He Needs Me 102
ViolettaI slept for sixteen hours. Hungry and confused, I rose from the bed. One side of it dipped, and I spun on my hands and knees and growled.Ferrara grinned. “I do love you in that position, but I imagine you might have other things on your mind right now.”“God.” Relaxing, I ran my hand along my face and tried to brush aside some of the confusion. The bed had been heavenly. And stable. It was nice to not be tossed and turned all night long, wondering if your dinner was going to come up or if your wolf was going to come out. “You’re dressed.”“I’ve been up since this morning to check on the others. I felt you waking up, and I didn’t want you to be alone. I assume you’re hungry. If you want, I can bring you up a tray of food while you get your bearings.”I considered the offer but shook my head. “I really want to stretch my legs and maybe let my wolf out.”“Are you sure?”I understood his concern. There was a time when I wouldn’t let my wolf out for anyone, and now when I let her
He Hurt Me, But He Needs Me 101
FerraraIt was a miserable week on the merchant ship. Saul and Amelia were both seasick, and Violetta, Finn, and Kenzi struggled to keep their wolves from panicking and shifting. Violetta and Kenzi, I could control through the pack bond, but Finn was beyond my reach until we were back on neutral territory. I should have taken the bond back before loading the ship, but this wasn’t an issue that had occurred to me.Eventually, we just had to drug him.Cindy was too weak to shift, and Janelle had spent most of the trip clutching a small jar of dirt she’d smuggled on. By the time we reached London’s port, we were all exhausted.“Half of you look dead, and the other half of you smell as if you should be dead,” London greeted me with a wrinkled nose. He glanced at Finn. “Oh. That one is dead.”“You try being on a ship for a week and tell me how you feel,” I growled as I pulled Violetta close. The bunks were barely big enough for me, so I hadn’t been able to have my mate sleep in my arms for
He Hurt Me, But He Needs Me 100
ViolettaMy wolf gave me exactly three seconds of warning, which was the only reason I’d managed to crouch down before the dark shadow bowled into me. We tumbled down the hill, and I landed with the wolf on top of me, claws slicing through my shoulder.Someone shouted my name, but it wasn’t any of my pack, despite being surrounded by them. They were all busy shifting as more wolves came out of the woods.Emerson.We’d followed the scent of chemicals straight to the densely wooded area between Emerson’s territory and the town.Even now, my nose told me that we still had a few miles to go before we found the explosive. As Emerson made his way down the hill, I doubted that someone was lagging with the explosive. It was a trap, set in motion by a witch who hadn’t betrayed Emerson after all.Damn. I was too trusting.“Enough,” Emerson called out, and the wolf moved off me. I caught a glimpse of their eyes in the moonlight.Elonso.He was one massive wolf.Following his alpha’s lead, he ste
