NIRVANA My heart was in my throat as I watched something like a mini tornado spin before me, but nothing was flying besides my hair, and then Zarah came closer. She looked like she was walking inside the golden, shiny magic weaved. And then it disappeared. “I’m a witch,” she said to convince me. “If you don’t believe me, I can show you something about your parents.” “Is a witch supposed to be riding a broomstick or wearing a hat?” I was still denying everything I was seeing because it was just impossible. “She can create a portal and appear wherever she wants.” “So you’re also a werewolf?” I scoffed at Knight. “Yes. He’s my alpha,” said Kailin proudly. Alpha. McKaye called him alpha, but it didn’t mean anything, right? I laughed again. “You guys must be under the influence of drugs.” “Do you know your ex is a werewolf?” “What?” Kailin asked in surprise. “I never met the guy. They began dating as soon as I left for California. Is he? How did you know?” “I caught his scent l
NIRVANA “He’s not!” I glared at Kailin. “This dickhead? This arrogant son of a bitch is my soulmate? No freaking way! I don’t accept it! And I don’t believe in that mate thing. This is insane.” I left the kitchen when the silence became deafening. “You can’t deny the mating bond, the pull, Nirvana. This is what it is,” said Zarah. “Well, I’m not one of them. At least, not right now. So, I’m out that setup or whatever the Moon Goddess has cooked up there or wherever she is. Why him anyway? He hates me. He kicked me out and treated me like garbage.” All of a sudden, I remembered what he said to me before I interrupted him. “Why? Because I’m not like him? Because I’m only human who happened to be blonde. Well, get this. I hate him, too.” “Don’t say something like that, Nirvana.” Zarah just freaked out as if I pulled out a pin of the grenade in my hand. “Why? Because he’s a freaking werewolf and an alpha, whatever does that mean. I don’t give a damn about any of these. Three days ago
NIRVANA “Honey, what are you doing?” Grandpa asked immediately. “Be careful. He might not be in control of himself anymore.” “I don’t know, Grandpa. Maybe, to calm him down.” I stopped before Knight. All I saw were his dark, sharp claws shining in the daylight. God, it was real. I saw the claw marks on the wall. It was big and deep. My heart was hammering in my chest, but if I could stop his pain, I would try my best before he could sink those sharp claws into my skin. My limbs were shaking. My teeth tattered as I put a hand on his rigid shoulder. “Be careful, honey.” “Knight.” I put a little pressure on his shoulder when he no longer heard me. “Knight, how can I help you?” “It fucking hurts!” He began sobbing. “It fucking hurts. I can’t stop it. I’m so sorry if I hurt you.” “Hey.” Trembling, I kneeled before him and placed both hands on his shoulders. “I guess I was shocked and maybe mad at you. I don’t understand any of this, but I didn’t mean what I said. I swear. How can I
NIRVANA “Hey. You need to sit down. You’ve been through hell in the last three hours. Take it slow. It’s not a sprint.” Kailin forced me down the chair and gave me a glass of water. “I need to learn about you guys. Your strength. Your weakness. What made you vulnerable so I could avoid it.” I looked at Grandpa. “It’s okay.” He nodded. “So, the silver can really hurt you guys?” Kailin had a funny look. “How did you know?” I shrugged. “Well, I didn’t know what I saw in the vineyards, but at the same time, I was not drunk that night. So, I did some Googling. I didn’t find anything useful that you guys exist, but is it true?” “So a part of you believes that supernatural beings like us exist, but you still deny what you saw.” “I don’t wanna end up in the mental hospital because who would believe me if I told someone I saw a wolf turn into a human.” I drank the water. My hands were still shaky. “I’m so sorry you have to go through that alone.” Kailin put a hand on my shoulder and s
NIRVANA I was in the hallway when I felt like whatever Kailin said was a big deal. “Complete the what?” “You’ll find it out soon.” Kailin was smiling meaningfully as she dragged me towards my bedroom door. “Go check on Knight.” “Whatever.” I got in my bedroom, and the alpha of wolves was still passed out in my bed. “You should get something to eat.” “Okay. If you need anything, let me know.” “Wait.” I held her wrist. “He’s not gonna shift into a wolf in my bed, right?” “No. He’s in control. He would never hurt you.” “Fine.” I grabbed the chair and sat next to Knight. Kailin left and closed the door, leaving me alone with a supernatural creature. Knight was still asleep. He looked magnificent shirtless and got a view of his incredible physique. He obviously worked out religiously to get into this shape. Even with disheveled, messy hair falling onto his forehead, he was so handsome that he took my breath away. I wasn’t sure if this was the effect of our bond thing or if I was ju
KNIGHT “Oh, you’re awake.” Kailin pretended to be surprised. I was pretty sure she heard me talking to Nirvana. “How are you feeling, son?” There was still a worry in Case’s eyes. “You should know that she didn’t know what she was doing.” “I’m good, Case. I deserved it after what I did to her. It’s all good.” “I was mad, terrified, and immensely shocked. Everything just dropped on me, and he is fine. You don’t have to defend me, Grandpa.” Her laugh dried in her throat. “And I see what’s going on here. You’re more concerned about his well-being than your own granddaughter.” “He’s the alpha, Nirvana—the leader of the pack. Your grandfather is just showing him respect,” Zarah said. “It’s fine. Really. Thank you.” “So what? People bow for him, kill for him?” “Yes,” Kailin answered confidently. “And he will do anything to protect his pack, give up his life for us.” She slowly turned to me, both shocked and amused. “So he wants me to submit to him? Not gonna happen. Besides, I’m no
KNIGHT “You are maybe her mate, but she doesn’t trust you. So, it protects itself,” Zarah said. Kailin grinned. I thought she had something funny to ask. “So if he, like, touches without her consent, the mark will protect her?” “Yes,” Zarah confirmed my theory last night. I didn’t have any bad intentions. It was just out of curiosity, but it still protected Nirvana. “Well, shit.” Kailin had a lot of fun learning about her best friend. “With bad intentions,” Nirvana added with little emphasis on the word bad. “Then we’ll put it to a test.” “No!” Zarah, Case, and I said in unison to Kailin. “Don’t even try, Kailin,” I warned her. “We don’t know what this mark is capable of or the extent of its power.” “But it didn’t happen before.” Nirvana shrugged. “Because no one has ever tried to hurt you,” I told her. “Yeah, I guess so.” She rubbed the site of the mark on her neck. “So you’ll gonna have another mark soon, then.” Fuck. I hadn’t entirely thought about that. I just wished
NIRVANA The goodbye between my grandfather and me took a while, and I became emotional even though I would be just in California. Knowing what I learned about their world changed my life forever, and there was no going back. I had to accept that this was my life now. “I don’t know we’re traveling by a private jet.” I stepped inside. It looked brand new, but something caught my eye. A coat of arms is printed on the upholstered chair. “The Alpha King lent me his jet,” Knight said. “He told me to take precautions.” I turned to him. “What do you mean? Who’s Alpha King?” “It’s nothing. Sebastien is a lycan, an alpha of all alphas of Lycan, and he’s Zarah’s boyfriend. He’s in New York with his daughter.” “What’s a lycan?” “They’re like us, but their wolves are bigger and stronger.” “So they knew?” “Just a couple of people I trust. We can’t tell anyone about what you are.” “You have to tell me whatever you find out about me, Knight. I came with you because my grandfather trusts yo