NICOShe been gone but a few hours and already my wolf was miserable and so was I. I took the strand of her hair and placed it in the hollow space of the stainless-steel locket in the shape of a shield I purchased a day before. I liked the cold feel of the metal against my skin and knowing that I had a piece of her with me soothed the ache in my heart.The men waited for me in the living room. My servants rushed about bringing refreshments for them. Joe smoked one of his cherry cigars, despite me forbidding them to smoke in the house. He put it out quickly when he noticed me.Max had a thunderous expression on his face which darkened more every time he looked at Frank. Frank looked a bit better, the bruises started to fade to yellow and his face less swollen.“What I don’t understand is how you are still alive, Frank.” Max glared at the latter. “If this was indeed the Cartel that attacked you, they would surely have killed you. I find it very strange.”“They left me for dead, Max.” Fr
DARINA“Wha - what are you doing?” Mother came to in Zane’s strong arms.The young Beta still remained in wolf form looking at us his head askance.“Did you want me to drop you on the floor?” Zane frowned down at her. “You fainted.”She took one look at the grey wolf and screamed, grabbing onto Zane’s shoulders she climbed him like a tree.“For fuck’s sake, woman! He won’t bite. Titus, shift back and get dressed.”Mother pressed herself tighter against Zane’s body as the wolf returned to human form, picked up his clothes and with a wink at me left the room, still naked.Zane peeled Mama’s arms from his neck and set her down next to me. She could hardly stand on her trembling legs.“You see, I told you the truth.” I said and handed her a glass of water which she downed greedily. She sank down on a couch near the fireplace. Zane sat down next to her. I found it rather strange.“I promise you; we won’t harm you, Nadia.” He touched her arm and I was astonished at his gentle tone.She glan
“Trust me, it’s for your own protection. The unmated wolves are sniffing around for you, Nadia. But if you were my mate, they would leave you alone.” Zane said.“Are you going to mark my mother?” I pulled mother’s hand away from Zane and held onto her. There was no way I was letting him do that to her.“No, of course not. She just needs to stay close to me. I’ve moved her things to my bedroom. She’ll stay there with me. I’ll mark her with my scent.”“Excuse me,” Mama brought up her hand to silence us. “She’s just here. You don’t need to talk about me as if I’m not present.” Her mouth hardened as she looked from Zane to me.“I know you’re here, Nadia. But I am the Alpha and I’ve already decided.”Mama barked out a laugh. “Oh, that’s rich! You just expect us to do whatever you say and follow you blindly. I can take care of myself, Zane.”“I would like to see you try when a full-grown, horny male wolf wants you.” Zane laughed deep out of his belly.He was right. “Mama, best you listen to
NICO“Does that mean you’re here to stay?” Darina asked, her face lit up and I groaned. I hated to disappoint her.“No, baby girl. I came to talk to Zane. I want to ask him if he would be willing to merge our packs.” I watched her face fall as she turned away from me.“Oh, I see,” she said.“I don’t think you do.” I said and pulled her to my chest. Her back went rigid. “C’mon Darina, don’t freeze me out.” I hated it when she gave me the cold shoulder, it made me want to take her over my knee.“Let’s go back to the house. I’m sure Zane would be happy to see you.”“I brought Anthony along,” I said with a smile, “He misses your mother.”Darina’s face paled and she clapped her hand over her mouth.“What?” I was puzzled by her reaction.“Shit, shit, shit! We need to stop him.” She pulled me after her starting to run.“Hey, wait up. What the hell’s going on?” I swept her off her feet and she protested.“Nico, we need to stop him. Zane will kill him.”I didn’t put her down but walked faster.
DARINAI couldn’t fall asleep after Nico left although it was still so early and there was nothing else for me to do. It seemed like a pleasant day outside I decided to go for a walk. Zane and his pack were training on the grounds I heard them as soon as I went out. I walked towards the sound to watch them for a while.They were a sight to see, shirtless, well-muscled men sparring with each other, oblivious to the cold winter air. Zane trained with them, downing one opponent after the other. Even the women sparred, and they were just as formidable as the men.My eyes caught Anthony standing a way off under some trees, watching the men. I walked towards him.“Darina, you look well, glowing even.” He offered a slight smile, but his eyes remained unaffected.“Anthony, are you alright?” I knew he was hurting. “Have you spoken to my mother?”“It won’t change a thing, Darina. I know when I’m beaten.” He sighed, “I should actually just go back home.” His shoulders drooped standing there with
NICOThe improvements to the pack were astonishing, I hardly recognized the place. The Beta had met my demands and it pleased me to see the buildings restored, especially the school and the training grounds. Even though there were still snow on the ground I noticed the gardens and the roads have been cleared and I was glad to see the community vegetable garden was being tended.“What a shame to leave this behind.” Darius said.I had to agree with him, but I had made up my mind. There was no going back now.As soon as the car stopped Beta Grigori came to meet us.“Alpha, you’re back!” he greeted me with a smile. We shook hands and hugged like brothers. “I hope you are satisfied with how the grounds have improved.”“You did an outstanding job, Grigori. I am proud of you.” I said and meant it. He was young and clever and would make an excellent Alpha I thought.“Let me show you around, Alpha,” he said eagerly.As we walked around the pack grounds, he talked nonstop about how all the pack
DARINAI watched from my window as the cars rolled onto the property. Nico got out of the SUV and my heart leapt in my chest. I was so happy to see him that I ran full tilt down the stairs, threw the front door open and hurried towards them. He held his arms open for me and I flung myself into them.“You’re back!” I laughed, deliriously, not caring that I was getting stared at.He swung me up into his arms, kissing me until I forgot to breathe.“Ah, my sweet little mate. If you greet me like this every time I come back, I have to go away more often,” he laughed.“I’d rather you didn’t.” I whispered against his neck. When I looked at the small crowd gathered around us, they greeted me with bowed heads.“Luna,” they chorused.“Oh, hello.” I smiled at them. They were all so young.“Where is Zane?” Nico asked, “I expected him to come greet his new pack members.”I bit my lower lip, unsure how to tell him this. “Umm… Could I have a word with you in private?”“Did something happen?” he look
NICO The whole pack gathered at the training grounds before sunrise, waiting for Zane under the cold, violet sky. The three of them came just as the sun winked lazily in the east, rising slowly over the mountains. Zane took his place in the center holding the ceremonial cup and dagger. “Luna Nadia and Anthony, come forward.” Zane said. The two of them stood before Zane. Nadia was wrapped up in a thick fur coat against the cold, but in spite of that she still shivered. I heard her anxious heartbeat. Darina tugged at my hand. She’d never seen an initiation ceremony before. I should have explained it to her last night, but we got distracted. “Don’t worry, little fox. It’s nothing bad.” I told her over our link and she relaxed against my side. “As you all know, I have chosen Luna Nadia as my mate and Anthony is our…” he cleared his throat, “partner.” Nobody dared say anything, but I couldn’t hide the smile. “Alpha Nico and Luna Darina, come forward.” Zane glared at me, and I swallo
The atmosphere in the living room was tense as seconds ticked by waiting for Nico’s reply. His arm around my waist tightened and trying to calm him, I stroked his broad back, feeling the muscles contract under my palm.But then he spoke. “Zane, Mariana, I don’t want my children to grow up not knowing where they came from. I want them to know their grandparents.”I blew out a deep breath I never knew I held in. Nico looked at me and back at them. “All these years knowing what hell we’ve suffered at the hands of Constantin and yet you did nothing. It’s hard to wrap my head around it, knowing that I am your son.” The lines around his mouth deepened while he looked at Mariana.“I didn’t know everything, Nico. You know he never allowed us to visit.” Mariana stepped away from Zane who went to sit down with Anthony by his side. Anthony put a comforting hand on Zane’s thigh and Zane covered his hand with his own.Mariana reached for Nico. He made no move to go forward. “I never wanted to give
DARINAWhat was taking so long? “I can’t stand it anymore. They should have been here already, Sanda. Something’s wrong.” I was in panic mode, pacing around the living room.“Slow down, my love. Nico won’t let himself get caught. You’re making yourself ill.” Sanda smiled serenely back at me, lounging on the couch.“I don’t know how you can just sit there so calmly. We should have gone with Zane.”“Darina,” Mama came into the living room with Daciana on her hip. “Is Lycas with you, because I can’t find him.” Daciana held onto Mama’s neck with her little fist in her mouth, giggling at us.That boy would be the death of me. “I left him in the playpen together with his sister, Mama.” He must have transformed again. I sighed. Using the mind link, I sent out messages to the pack to help find my small wolf cub. “I have a mind to spank his little behind.” I said, storming to the front door.“Boys will be boys.” Sanda laughed. “He’ll turn up when he’s hungry.”“Someone lost a pup?” Nico filled
“Can everyone just calm the hell down!” I glared at Zane and Sanda. My grip on Darina tightened as I held her around her waist with her back to me, hiding my erection. She didn’t struggle but leaned back against me ever so slightly. “I get it, you are mad at me. I fucked up. Maybe.”That earned me a snort from Sanda and Zane’s eyebrows raised a few inches. He stood with his arms folded across his broad chest and I knew from the look in his eyes he was considering breaking a few bones.“But as soon as the dust settles and we’re all back at Romania, we can go on with our lives. Just like you wanted. No more humans trying to get us killed or wanting to use our pups for lab rats. No more Mafia. Okay?” By the gods! What more did they want from me?Sanda came towards me. “Idiot.” Her hands on her hips, she glared at me, “You should have trusted us.”“Sanda’s right.” Darina wriggled her way out of my grasp. “That’s not how you treat us, your mates. We don’t keep secrets from you.” She went t
NICOA few days earlierJohn wasn’t kidding. That blast knocked the shit out of me, also, burned off my clothes. I guess I should have moved further away before I pressed the button. Then I heard Sanda scream, and it took all of my willpower to stop the wolf from rushing back to comfort her.Our mate was in anguish, and he fought me with everything he had to go there. She was crying, screaming my name. I dug my nails into the earth and clamped my jaw shut not to cry out. The wolf turned his back on me in disgust.We’ll go back when it’s dark, hide in the stables. I tried to placate him, but he huffed and turned away. My blood turned to ice when I heard the men screaming for Darina to stop. Oh, no! She ran towards the burning wreck! That was when the wolf took over. There was nothing holding him back. He rushed towards the blaze, but the heat was too much. Whining he backpedaled.But then Sanda came, and I heard her say that no one could survive that. I reigned the wolf in hard. Patie
The day of Nico’s funeral came, the day all of us dreaded. Zane, silent as a ghost, moved about the mansion, looking but not seeing, touching things but not feeling. I had no words for him. Because I felt the same. Mama knew better not to touch me or look at me with pity. She only did that once and I snapped at her. I needed to be strong for my babies and for Sanda. She needed me more than ever. More than once I found her in the bathroom, hiding in a corner, crying. I’ve never seen my dear one so broken.“What makes it so hard for me, is that I could do nothing to protect you or Nico.” She said through her tears, “I’ve failed both of you.”I took her into my arms and stroked her tear-streaked face. “Nonsense. Stop this. If we have to blame someone, blame Nico. His arrogance got him killed. Nothing else.” I kissed her trembling lips, closing my eyes, because I didn’t want her to see how deep the hurt was that I felt.So many cars, so many people coming to his send off. All of his assoc
DARINAMen running, women screaming and above them all I heard Sanda’s voice lifting into a howl. I crushed the twins to my chest, wide-eyed and terrified. My legs wanted to run, to see what was happening, but my brain refused to cooperate.Katherina ran to me, clutching her belly. “Darina! Oh, my God!” She fell down at my feet, sobbing.I was frozen like a statue with the twins in my arms. They cried just as hard as Katherina. She looked up at me. “His car… oh, my God, his car…”Something snapped into place in my brain. “Whose car?” Nico and Sal went out early that morning. I put the twins down next to Katherina and my legs carried me out of the house.When I saw the inferno in front of me, I sank boneless to the ground. “No. No. No.” I couldn’t believe it. Not Nico. Not my mate.Sanda ran to me, her face contorted with anguish. “Darina, he’s in there. We have to get him out.” She screamed at me, but my ears refused to hear.“It can’t be. No.” I clawed at the earth beneath me. Sanda
NICOHours earlier“Are you sure about this, Boss? I mean, why do this now when everything is going so well? We’ve destroyed our enemies and we have control over the city once more.” Sal tried his best to convince me to discard my plans. Although he did everything I asked him to do, he wasn’t happy about it. Which was fine by me, he didn’t have to like it.The meeting with my associates went well. Business was picking up and the money rolled in. Problems with the cops and the feds were minor. Most of them could be bought, it was just a matter of the right price.Sal and I were having lunch at a bar in London, going over the plans for my death.I touched Sal’s shoulder. “Yes, Salvatore. I am doing this for my mates and my pups. Zane is right, I don’t want this life for my children.” I twirled the glass in my hand, staring at the golden liquid. Besides, I owed it to my pack because of all the trouble I caused.“But you lived for this, for our business.” Sal groaned, “I can’t do this wit
DARINA I can’t believe the arrogance of this man! Acting like he is invincible or immortal for that matter. Sanda followed Nico around like a watchdog, she never says it, but I know she loves him with every fiber in her body, just like I do. Thank the gods for the twins, because I would lose my mind worrying about Nico and our safety.“He just received another threat, I heard when he answered his cellphone.” Sanda came into the nursery where I had just bathed the twins and put them in their cribs. “The voice was disguised, like they used some kind of machine.” She plopped herself down onto the rocking chair, holding Daciana’s pink unicorn on her lap.My hands stilled on the clothes I folded. “Sanda, if you continue trying to be his bodyguard, you’ll make yourself sick. If anything should happen, there’s not much we can do about it, is there?” I made my voice sound casual, but my stomach clenched with anxiety.She glared at me like I was crazy. “Don’t patronize me! You’re just as worr
“You have officially lost your mind.” Salvatore spat out his cigarette. “What the fuck’s wrong with you, Nico?”“Lower your goddamn voice.” I growled at him and pulled him after me down the steps. “I don’t want the girls to hear us.”He pulled his arm out of my grasp. “Well, I think they should. Talk some sense into your…”“Salvatore!” I let my Alpha aura wash over him and he submitted at once, dipping his head in deference. “Let’s take a walk to the stables.”He followed me, silenced by my authority. It started to rain, and I lifted my face to the cold, grey sky. I would miss this place. This was the first place where I felt I belonged.Sal drew his hand through his dark mop of hair. “Please tell me you’re not serious.”“Dead serious. I want to fake my death. But it must look believable.” I went into the stables, inhaling the warm scent of hay and horses. There was no way I was going to leave my horse here.Salvatore looked at me as if I had grown horns. “How the hell do you expect m