"I am speaking about those who your sick family kidnapped. Where are they, huh? Are they even alive or have you just sucked them dry? When it comes to your savage habits, you obviously do not care who or what to feed on.""I honestly don't understand what you're implying. Our methods with wolves may have been rough, but there were never minors involved." What a colossal bullshit, right? Alexei Crud was her twin brother. They were connected on a very deep level, and it was impossible for her not to be aware of his operations, for her not to be involved. Her lies only enraged me more.Losing my shit, I jumped at her. Gripping her by her shoulders, I slammed her body against the nearest tree, demanding the truth. Not expecting my harsh treatment, she yelped with her eyes widened. Or maybe it was once again the mate bond's tingles which paralyzed her temporarily. Perspiration beaded her brow when our faces were just inches away. It was so difficult to remain concentrated, to ignore the ph
RescueMADALINA"What am I doing?" I asked myself internally. An awkward silence crept between us as we were standing in the middle of nowhere, enraged and frustrated.Like autumn leaves under frost, I was slowly dying. I felt the chill in my blood, coldness bringing the synapses of my brain to a standstill. Part of it was an odd pain which floored me when my ears fully processed the infamous sentence. The sentence which would set us apart permanently. The hearing sense sent the signal to the brain, shocking it to a great extent. Perhaps I would be fine with the rejection, if only the brain wasn't simultaneously attacked by the needy heart.I thought I didn't care about him. Gosh, he was so annoying that I just wished to repeatedly kick his ass. Yet the pain and sorrow of being potentially rejected by him wasn't something I could endure, and it wasn't something I could just sleep through night after night without anesthesia of false hope. Dang it, I was so doomed.He murmured somethin
CharmsAIDEN"Stupidest idea ever!" I roared at Remy and his suggestions to pretend I and Madalina were a couple. I tried to brush him off, but he was faster than me, took control of my body and announced some bullshit about honeymoons. Funny, how much damage could be done in two seconds."You'll thank me later." He waved his paw nonchalantly, the annoying smirk decorating his muzzle while everything inside me boiled with rage."Thank you?! For what?"I bellowed."Are you that slow, Aiden? Our mate has a thick shell but once we get through that electric fence she had built around her heart, you will see she's not that bad at all." Was this wolf ill in his mind? One would have assumed he was more cautious after the failed bond with the first mate, yet he proved to be even more reckless. And this wasn't some innocent female we were talking about. This was our number one enemy."Remy, did you hit your head? Should I recap the last couple of days to you?" I was stunned that he had already
The body blowMADALINALike a frozen statue, I stared at him with my eyes wide open. How could his presence and a couple of cheesy sentences paralyze me to such an extent? What kind of magic was it? Was this solely the bond's doing? When was it going to stop?! I didn't want it to go further than it should. It didn't feel right.What terrified me the most was the spiked blood pressure and increased heart rate when I stepped out of the bathroom and saw him talking to the maid. How stupidly she grinned at him, wetting her panties for that neanderthal jerk! Fuming internally, I wished to rip her heart off her chest. And then I realized it was the ugly jealousy which reared its head when I witnessed him flirting with another woman. Cue feelings of disgust with myself followed. I shouldn't care who he was making a move on. I really should not, and yet...As his finger curled around the loosed strand of my hair, the ice in me started to melt. Suddenly, the weakness in my knees threatened to
"Can't help it. You are so hot. I could just eat you alive." I almost laughed at his silly comment but reduced it to an innocent giggle. If only he knew..."To be honest, I am quite hungry tonight." I teased him, pressing all the right buttons to turn up the heat in the air."That's enough!" Aiden appeared next to us, his expression indicating that he was as pissed as a tiger poked into his belly with a stick during his nap. "Get your filthy hands off her, fucker!" He roared, grasping my confused dancing partner by his shirt and dragging him several meters away from me."Don't mind him, handsome. We have an open marriage." I rushed to them before the incident would turn into a fist fight. Aiden glared at me, the wrath exploding in him, and I blessed him with the sweetest smile I could demonstrate."Fuck this shit. There is no open relationship. I'll tear you apart if you even look at her again!" He refocused on the poor human, lifting him up in the air with a single hand. I gaped. Sur
Resilience**Flashback **~10 years after the attack on the Crud clan in Romania ~MADALINAAdrenaline pumped through my veins as I faced my brother, sword in hand. We circled each other, eyes locked, waiting for the other to make the first move. We did this countless times. From the day we fled from Romania and moved to Canada, our father did not spare us. Every single day before dawn we were trained in combat. Father trained us well. He trained us that well that at this point he no longer needed to interfere, just watched us from a distance.And just like every other day, it was Alex who made the first move. My brother was impatient, which often resulted in several reckless decisions. He lunged forward, and I deftly parried his attack. Our swords clashed, ringing out in the early morning air. We traded blows, each strike landing with a satisfying thud. Sweat dripped down my forehead, stinging my eyes, while my twin brother chuckled triumphally, assuming he had the winning position i
Cold shoulderAIDENI emerged from the restroom, my stride more confident than when I had entered. Not that I would lack confidence before, but the events with Madalina took an unexpected turning point. I acted on impulse, mostly driven by the carnal needs of my wolf. Damn, she made me so mad, jealous, possessive and horny at the same time. I couldn't stand seeing her with another man, especially when his filthy hands gripped her around her hips. At that particular moment, I just lost my temper completely and the beast in me wanted to tear the fucker into a million pieces.She did it on purpose. But why did she provoke me? When she had pushed me away before, I thought the desire which I felt was just one-sided. Back in our room, she had made it crystal clear that she was not interested in exploring the real power and purpose of our mate bond. So, I tried to move on. Despite Remy's angry growls, I chatted with the local gals. But then Madalina arrived, and she wasn't impressed with my
Trust disruptedMADALINAI awoke to an excruciating ache tormenting my head, the room incessantly spinning around me. I feared I might have to rush to the bathroom and engage in an unseemly conversation with the porcelain throne. Regret washed over me for foolishly indulging in copious amounts of tequila, a beverage I seldom consumed. Gingerly adjusting my position on the bed, I massaged my temples and surveyed the room.Noticing the folded blanket on the sofa and Aiden's absence, I groaned inwardly. The memories from the previous night flooded my mind, causing me to cringe with embarrassment. I had been unduly harsh towards him, and even worse, I had lied. I didn't actually regret intervening and preventing him from rejecting me. Why did I say that? Perhaps I wanted to lash out at him because I was feeling utterly confused.But was it fair to hurt him that way? And was he hurt, or didn't he care at all? After all, it was his fault. He shouldn't have touched me in the ladies' room. Th
Shifting perspectivesMADALINAMy stomach was upset, and my mouth was dry. Apparently, my body underwent a range of reactions due to the most important event of my new life. I would be the center of attention, all eyes filled with judgment on me. Even before, I never enjoyed public events or parties, and rather let my brother fulfill such a role. Alex was an extrovert like no other, never experiencing an increased heart rate or sweating when giving out a speech. And although I wasn't afraid of speaking up my mind, my attitude was more... military oriented? I was not good at sugarcoating or putting on a perfect-smile façade. And yet, that was exactly what I was about to do tonight.I stood before the mirror, my gaze fixed on the reflection staring back at me. Who was this woman and what did she do with Madalina Crud?Carrie had chosen for me a stunning long dress with bare shoulders in the shades of dark red. It was definitely a departure from my usual style of leather pants and milita
When I first learned about Carrie's idea to throw a big welcome party for Madalina, I was a little hesitant. Ever since we arrived at my pack, my mate has faced a barrage of unwarranted prejudice due to her different background. No one dared to confront her or me directly, but the silent whispers were there. People stared. At me. At her.It was mostly due to all those horrible crimes her family was responsible for. Her family had tortured lone wolves, treating them like slaves. Sadly, even my mate took part in it, blindly manipulated by her parents. Though with each new day, I could see how much she regretted all her past actions. I may have gotten a second chance at love, but Madalina got her second chance at normal life. And she was going to prove to everyone that she no longer was the ruthless, stone-cold werewolf slayer.The atmosphere buzzed with anticipation as the preparations for the grand evening were in full swing. Decorations adorned every corner, bringing vibrant colors an
Unwelcome newsAIDENUpon Jerome's resignation, I was faced with an enormous workload that made me truly grasp the extent of his responsibilities on my behalf. An Alpha was like a lost puppy without his Beta. Despite Scott shadowing Jerome for many years, he struggled to fulfill the role with the same efficiency. Regrettably, Scott was caught between his previous Gamma duties and attempting to assume the Beta position. Our pack was huge in size, and leading it was never meant to be a solitary endeavor. It necessitated a cohesive team, which, unfortunately, I did not have.Days started to merge, and I couldn't tell the difference between light and dark, granting me less and less time for my mate. And I hated it. I hated leaving Maddie alone, even though I could count on Carrie to keep her company. But it would be irresponsible of me to just ignore the escalating situation in my pack and simply lock myself in the room with my gorgeous woman. I was an Alpha and sometimes I needed to put
Notre DameMADALINAIt has been a whole week since I moved to Black Forest pack, but nothing has changed significantly.My mate was incredibly busy, leaving our room early in the morning and returning at night. His Beta stepped down and he now had only his Gamma to support him. Aiden's father tried to help too, but it wasn't common practice to see a retired Alpha interfering in the pack's business. Moreover, it would shed a bad light on Aiden, putting him in the position of not being competent enough to lead the pack if daddy needed to hold his hand.. Eventually, it would motivate ambitious males outside the pack to come and conquer the place, seeing Aiden as a weak element that could be easily challenged and eliminated. Status was everything in the werewolf's world.Aiden spent the entire week searching for a proper candidate for the Gamma position. He wanted to promote the current Gamma to Beta. That man seemed to be one of a few who were loyal to Aiden and openly supported him desp
"Go back to your own kind. Leave our pack before facing further humiliation."I cleared my throat before speaking, controlling the fiery rage that tortured me. Oh, the fantasies that danced in my mind - to give her a taste of her own venomous words, to unleash that never-ending thirst in me, and sink my fangs deep in her flesh until she begged for her life. To punch that nasty mouth and show her true fear.But could I afford such scandal on my first day among werewolves? As much as I wished to make her pay, I concluded she simply wasn't worth the trouble with my mate. I came here to be a better person.Hence, I put my old habits aside and kept the fight on a verbal level."Oh, wow, thank you so much for your unsolicited prophecy! How fortunate I am to have you... whoever you are, enlighten me about my inevitable fate. Your concern for my well-being and humiliation is truly heartwarming. Clearly, your wisdom knows no bounds. Perhaps I should bow down and seek your guidance on all life
Fire tangoMADALINANerves fluttered in my stomach when his family first approached me. Will they grimace in disgust? Will they be bothered by the presence of a vampire? I had all those questions clawing at my mind, terrifying me. But what I experienced... it was something entirely unexpected.In a flurry of introductions and warm smiles, my unease began to dissipate. I stared at Aiden's mother, who exuded a genuine kindness which I found both comforting and bewildering. Not like my own mother, who only veiled her real personality under a sweet, innocent face. My mother carried the mask of kindness, pretending to be a good person, a victim of horrible crimes for which, after all, she was primarily responsible. But the warmth in Amelia's eyes and the way she squeezed my hand indicated she was genuinely happy for her son and accepted me as I was.Aiden's sister, Carrie, was a vibrant young woman. Her presence required attention as she effortlessly owned the room with her wild and loud p
"I'll get some drinks. It's time to celebrate." Carrie winked at us and rushed to one of the Omegas, splashing instructions."Okay, I guess." Maddie placed a light kiss on my lips to ensure me she would manage to survive my family. I didn't need to worry about her. My mate wasn't any shy damsel in distress. If anyone annoyed her, she would deal with it. I promised her not to be away for long and left her with mom and Carrie.On the way to my office, I met my dad. He had arrived at Black Forest pack before us."Jerome knows." He informed me shortly. I sighed, feeling how a big lump formed in my throat. My Beta had already learned about the death of his son.~~~~~~~"We are currently providing shelter for over a hundred lone wolves. The majority of them have already applied for asylum but some haven't decided yet. They still consider returning to their original village once all is settled. Anyhow, we can't accommodate them all permanently. We are running short on resources. But the disc
. Bitter tollAIDENMadalina squeezed my hand when we passed through the main gate to my pack. The Black Forest pack was one of the largest packs in Yukon, providing a home to thousands of people, mostly werewolves. We had several witches among us, as well as humans. Overall, it was a great place to live in. Despite the isolation within the mountains, our civilization thrived.The air carried the scent of freshly bloomed flowers, intermingled with the sweet aroma of home-cooked meals waffling from the houses. The streets were alive with the joyous spirit of community, as people strolled leisurely, their smiles radiant and genuine. Children reveled in their innocence, their laughter echoing through the pathways, while the sun cast a gentle glow upon their carefree games.We lived in peace, surrounded by beautiful nature, and I couldn't wait to show it all to my beautiful mate. Therefore, I was stunned when we finally arrived at my pack and the streets were empty. Gone was also the melo
Raindrops farewellAIDENI was glad that my mate agreed to live with me in my pack. I understood the depth of sacrifices she had undertaken to be with me. Her departure from her family was due to forbidden love and it led to her being estranged by her own parents. They cut off any future physical contact with her and although she tried to be strong and not to show it, I knew it bothered her tremendously. At least her brother, despite being a sick psychopath, stood by her side.And now, I was going to be her family and I would do anything to make her happy.When I returned to the safe house together with Madalina, the place was emptied. Only my father stayed with a couple of soldiers. He was eager to meet my mate and shook her hand a bit too enthusiastically that I had to remind him to keep it cool. As surprising as it was, my dad was very open-minded and didn't care about Madalina's origin. I assumed after all he had to go through in his life, he understood how precious true love was.