NICOI liked the way her face and ears turned pink when she blushed. Her body was so responsive to mine, no matter how she tried to deny it, to fight it. She was my mate, she belonged to me body and soul. I just had to get her mind to accept it, and when she does, I will mark her.My wolf purred with satisfaction at that thought, he was smitten with Darina. Yeah, love… I was careful to call what I felt for her love. Desire, lust, passion, possessiveness, and obsession, all of those. Love was dangerous. Love got you tangled up and broke you, made you weak. My mother was the perfect example of what love got her. A disgrace – me – and a mate that abused her, trampled her to the ground. No, love was out of the question.Vasile and his men were done with his installation and waited for me in my office. I held Darina’s hand, not wanting to let her out of my sight. Fuck, she was gorgeous! I couldn’t get enough of her, her scent, the feel of her skin under my hands, the way she sucked in her
DARINAIn the Rolls Nico pulled me against him.“You look gorgeous.” he said, an intense expression on his face as he took my chin in his hand, his voice low.“Umm… Thank you.” I said, my mouth suddenly dry. Those slanted emerald-green eyes of his were drawing me in again, making me feel like I was boneless.Nico had a rakish way of dressing, the buttons on his dress shirt left undone, his tattoos peeking through. His ginger hair was slicked back, but he had a day’s worth of stubble on his face, and my body remembered the feel of it against my bare back. A lazy smile lifted one side of his lips like he read my mind, his nostrils flared somewhat.His thumb lightly caressed my lips for a moment but then he broke contact, and I released a breath I didn’t even realize I was holding in. He placed my hand on his left leg and I felt the heat of his skin through the light linen of the pants that strained against his thighs. His arm went around my naked shoulders, the dress was strapless.“You
The drive back went by far too fast and in some ways not fast enough. Nico had me sit on his lap the entire time, torturing me with his hands and kisses. He had the screen up at the back of the Rolls for privacy. Not that it would stop Ricci from knowing what Nico was up to, I thought or tried not to think about it.“Baby girl, you’re so wet already,” he hummed against my neck, his fingers moved my underwear to the side to part my lips. “You’re driving me wild.” He groaned as I bucked against his fingers. “Easy now, we have all night.” he chuckled, removing his hand, and leaving me panting, my head lolling against his shoulder. I couldn’t resist him even if I tried.He was good at control. He controlled me like he controlled his body, driving me almost over the edge and then retreating. I felt the bulge in his tight pants straining against my butt, but he remained restrained. I wanted him to lose control, to regain that bit of power which I thought I had over him. I stroked him throug
NICOI pretended to sleep, listening to her breathing. She was angry as hell, and I didn’t blame her. I acted worse than an animal to her, but to my defense she drove me crazy with her little game. I wanted her to be real, no pretending. But what did she do? Tried to manipulate me. Does she really think I’m so stupid?She lay as stiff as a board in my arms. I inhaled her scent, calming my wolf who paced in my head, trying to force his way out. He wanted to console his mate. I forced him back. She wasn’t sleeping. Her back was to me, everything about her was so soft. Her mane of gold lay across my chest like silk, that sweet cherry wine scent of hers enveloping my senses. I let my hand glide over the velvet skin of her thigh, and she sighed. How badly I wanted to tell her that she was the only woman I’ve ever let into my bed. Not Maria or any one of the others had ever been inside my bedroom. This was my private space. But she belonged here with me.I cupped her breast, loving the soft
“Are you serious?” she asked wide-eyed.“Yes, he’s mine.” I said, “And you should be careful of him.” I watched her, she frowned and shook her head.“But he’s so sweet and tame.” She said, “Why do you have a wolf?”I laughed, “Believe me, he can be a killer when he needs to be.” I sat down on the bed next to her, stroking my hand down her back. “He can rip and tear and disembowel a man in less than a minute. He protects what he loves, Darina, and he is loyal.” I felt her shiver at my touch or was it my words?“Loyal? To you?” she asked.I nodded. “He likes you.” I said, watching her blush.“But why do you have him?” she frowned, biting her lip and I wanted nothing more than kissing those rosy lips until they were bruised.“He’s always been with me. But enough about the wolf. Come with me.” I stood from the bed and pulled her by the hand. She resisted me and I glowered at her.“Are you going to punish me?” Her grey eyes accused me, but I heard her pulse quicken like a frightened bird’s
DARINA I hate him! He is worse than a Devil. Making me feel bad that I tried to manipulate him, and I fell for it. I am such an idiot! What’s worse is his words hurt me more than any other thing he’d done to me. Care for me? Ugh!I threw my pillow against the mirror. I couldn’t stand to see my own pained reflection staring back at me. He only cares for money. I’m just one of the things he owns. Like the horse and the wolf. And yet… there’s something about him, a connection between us, or maybe I’m just imagining it. Maybe I wished there was. Did I want there to be?But there could never be anything else but a physical attraction, because he was a monster, using me for his own pleasure.“Damn you, Nico!” I screamed out, hoping he would hear me. My feelings were so confusing. I needed to get out of here. Get away from him. I wasn’t strong enough to fight him or Sal, but I was quick. Sal had to bring me food and he cannot close the door, because only Nico can open the door from the insi
NICO“Constantin!” I growled out in disgust. The wolf I never thought I would see again except in my worst nightmares stood right there in front of me. Maria clutched his arm and looked up at him as if he was her saving grace.“If it isn’t the little bastard wolf.” Constantin leered at me; his teeth bared in a threatening smile. “And so, we meet again, Necolai.” He spat on the ground in front of my feet. “Thought you could hide away forever, did you?”I glared at Maria. “What are you doing here, Maria?”“Zmeya made me an offer I couldn’t refuse, Nico. You were the one that chased me away because of that bitch, did you really think I would just roll over and go away?” she laughed at me, mocking me. “And then I met Constantin. He told me all lot of interesting things about you, Nico.” The way she looked at me, like I was a piece of shit the cat brought in had me balling my fists, claws threatening to cut into my flesh. The wolf wanted out. Hell, I wanted to let him out.The other guests
DARINA“You can sleep, Darina. I will stay here until Nico comes back. I just hope he won’t be too angry with us.” Katherina sighed. Sal went back to the mansion to wait for Nico to come home from the party.I felt like crying, but it hurt too much. “I won’t let him punish you or Sal, it’s all me.” I managed to say.Katherina pressed my hand softly. “He won’t hurt you, Darina.”Yeah, maybe not just yet, I thought, but stayed silent. I was woozy from the pain medication, and I closed my eyes and fell asleep.Katherina’s startled yelp broke through my slumber. I pried open my swollen eyes to see three men dressed in black barge into the room. One closed the door and stood with his back to it.“Who are you and what do you want?” Katherina jumped up. She ran around the bed to reach for the bell to call a nurse.“Not so fast, Doll!” The largest of the three grabbed her by the waist, stopping her from reaching for it. She screamed and he backhanded her. She fell next to my bed. I moved a tr
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