Sorry for the short chapter, readers! Longer chapters resume later!
I’ve just dropped Cherie off at the penthouse with her promising to stay home for the day, now I’m back in my study on the estate. Last night I stayed wrapped up in her, but even after she left my bedroom and her scent lingered, it didn’t push away my apprehension about today’s meeting.I’ll be choosing a bride for Vicente Reyes - a sacrifice to bridge the gap between two powerful packs.When I spoke to my father about this yesterday, he advised me that sometimes sacrifices need to be made so wars don’t break out. It reminded me of Viktor’s words the other evening after our run together.“While the clubs are under strict renovation for the next month, you need to make sure our staff still receive their salaries. They’re good and trustworthy, you don’t want to lose them,” he says and I make yet another note.“Security will need to be pushed up as well; these fuckers snuck in in the dead of night to plant the bombs. Luckily Alexei could salvage the CCTV footage and we caught the asshol
I’m up front in the black SUV with Luka at my side and Viktor in the back with Inessa. The poor girl got dressed up this time and is staring out of the window with her head held high. Her belongings weren’t much, and it was quite sad to see her only bring one small duffel. Then again, her family refused to come along to say goodbye, so I wonder what exactly has been going on in the Baranov household. Bringing the SUV to a stop in front of the restaurant I had booked, we get out and I pull Inessa to my side. She gives me an apprehensive look and then allows me to steer her toward the front door. “Viktor, stay by my side. Luka, you and Alexei keep an eye; we cannot afford another fuck up like last time,” I say, and they nod before walking off to their respective places. I spot Vicente sitting off to one side with a younger man next to him. They’re deep in discussion, with the younger one arguing in Spanish: he thinks this is a bad idea and does not trust us at all. /“Elias Reyes; t
I open my eyes and stretch, the scent of bergamot and vanilla still permeating everything in the living room. There’s a blanket thrown over me and a pillow under my head so I’m guessing I fell asleep here during our Star Wars marathon. Last night’s shenanigans with Creed pushed some of the doubts away, but I still had a niggling feeling in the back of my head telling me he’s not as serious about me even if he is my mate. Can mates cheat on each other, though? What Arlen went through with her lover and what I’m going through with Creed could be different. I mean, hers might just have been pure lust when mine is a fated bond blessed by a Goddess. I inhale deeply and my eyes snap open when the unmistakable smell of coffee and bacon finally break through my Creed-Scented haze. Straining my hearing, I hear another heartbeat in the penthouse, and a smile slips onto my lips. Giggling, I get up from the comfy sofa and walk towards the delicious smells, the small smile dropping from my face
If I thought I was nervous earlier, it doesn’t touch on how I feel now knowing Creed is on his way here to pick me up. My hair is hanging down my back and when a shiver runs up my spine, my scalp itches. Gods, I need to calm down! It’s just a date!My back is to the elevator when I hear the doors opening and my heart drops to my knees. Three footsteps across the floor come to an abrupt stop and I hear a sharp inhale of breath. Swallowing deeply, I turn around to face my mate, and my heart leaps into my throat. His hair is tied up in a bun in the middle of his head while some loose strands cascade over his shoulders and his beard is shorter but trimmed to perfection. Dressed in what can only be a custom made black tuxedo and smelling even more delicious, his crimson eyes are wide as he looks at me. “Zakhvatyvayushchiy…” he growls as he walks towards me. He takes my hand and draws it towards his lips, placing a gentle kiss on the back. “You’re breathtaking.”“Thank you,” I say, willin
I tried to keep my feelings in check the entire evening, and tried to focus on her words while maintaining a good conversation flow. She never initiated touch, I was always the one to reach for her hand or to touch her lower back.It was going well until she decided to touch me. From the moment I left her penthouse this morning, right up until I saw her in that dress, I’ve had this intense urge to lose myself with her. I don’t know what it is; definitely not the moon or Haze. Even Nocte is quiet.Gods, this dress. It’s like the only purpose it has is for me to rip it from her gorgeous body.“Now?” she gasps, her hands immediately going to the railing behind her. “Creed, we can’t-”“Why not?” I say as I lower my lips to hers. “Why can’t I have a taste of my mate right now?”She tears her eyes away from mine towards the corners of the elevator. “What… what if someone sees us?”“No one will see us,” I say, placing a soft kiss on the side of her jaw, running my lips over her skin. “No on
Creed’s eyes are wide as he takes in what I have just told him; he blinks a few times, then scoffs incredulously. “Are you sure about this, Cherie? I don’t want you to feel pressured when I say things like that. Fuck; you probably did feel pressured, didn’t you?”I shake my head and smile up at him. “No… I know it’s been a few days but I’m ready for this. Everything you’ve done so far has proven to me you’re serious about this… about us,” I say. He touches my chin and places a light kiss on my lips. “Nothing would make me happier than to claim you as my Luna, Cherie; but there’s something I need to discuss with you first.”Taking a step back, I look up at him with a frown. “That sounds serious,” I say, and he offers me a small smile. “Let’s get cleaned up and talk about this in bed, okay?” he says and doesn’t elaborate further. Instead, we clean up in silence and get out of the shower with something unspoken hanging in between us. -NOW HE’S DOUBTING YOU BECAUSE YOU SPOKE ABOUT BEIN
I say goodbye to Cherie and walk towards my car, ready to get my day started. To say that I didn’t expect Luka showing up with Inessa is an understatement, but the girl seems to have it in her head that I am her protector now.She’s had a bad feeling about Vicente and his plans for her, and although I feel the exact same way, I cannot go back on my agreement with him. Things with Vicente and his pack are fragile like a bomb, so I have to tread carefully with this.Inessa will be the one to pave the way to peace; she needs to learn that.You’d think I’d be floating on a high after my evening with Cherie and our breakthrough, but no. As much as I loved everything about last night, I need my wits about me today. I’m making sure everything is ready for our departure next Friday and there’s a meeting with Elias Reyes today.We’re discussing him being integrated into the pack as Viktor’s mate.Viktor is as apprehensive as anything about his mate bond with Elias, but it’s something you’d exp
My stomach is coiled tight with nerves as I watch the gates to the BloodCrest estate swing open. I haven’t seen Creed in almost four days but last night he asked me if I still want to help out with the New Moon Festival preparations.Stupid me who has missed him even though he called me often, obviously jumped at the opportunity to be close to him again. Now I don’t know if I should have said I was busy or made up an excuse; not that he would have believed me, though.“Why are you so stressed out?” he asks with a smile in his tone. “I’m not the Alpha of a rabid pack, you know.”“It’s not that!” I exclaim, and it sounds more like a squeak. “I’m just… nervous, okay? All your family members will be there, and some will probably look at me like I’m an outsider.”Creed brings the car to a stop in front of the mansion, unclips his seatbelt, and then turns to me. “An outsider? My pack knows I’m bringing my mate here today. They’re more than excited to meet you, Cherie,” he says as if I didn’