Sally
“No,” I splutter, barely able to keep my voice steady. I’m afraid of Ryan, but I’m not a coward. There is a big difference. “Just no.”
Ryan tilts his head, those vibrant blue eyes sparkling with amusement. “Well, if you change your mind...” His voice trails off, leaving the sentence hanging in the air like an invitation.
“I won’t.” I stand firm, crossing my arms over my chest. It’s a defensive gesture, but it makes me feel safer and more in control, even though I know control is an illusion.
His smirk deepens as he steps back, releasing me from the heated trap of his body. His hand lifts from the wall above my head, and I’m confused.
“You... you’re just going to let me go?” I ask in disbelief. All that, and he is just going to respect me? Wow. I really didn’t expect that from the likes of him.
Ryan chuckles. “I’m as shocked as you are. I usually take what I want.”
“Then why didn’t you?”
His lips curve higher, forming dimples on either side of his stupidly sexy mouth. “I have no idea.”
“Huh?” I stare at him, and I swear my heart does a little backflip when he chuckles. He really is handsome, but our moment is interrupted by the sound of paws.
Ryan notices the sound, too, and arches an eyebrow at me. “Expecting company?”
I shake my head. “No, not really...”
“Hmm…seems like it’s my time to go, but before that, I’m curious about something—”
“This will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” Avery coaxes with his eyes roaming over mine. “Enjoy.”
Without asking for permission, he dips down his head and kisses me. I’m taken by such surprise that I can’t react. I just stand there, taking it until goosebumps spread over my skin. Under normal circumstances, I would push him away, but his lips taste so sweet…
Ryan’s mouth is controlling, and if this is kissing, then what have I been doing my entire life? This is so different - a life-changing experience - and I want more. So much more than this. I feel actual sparks come to life between us.
And when Ryan pulls back, I’m weak in the knees. We stare at each other for what feels like an eternity before we are interrupted.
Suddenly, the door is yanked open by force. I hear people, and soon, Ryan and I aren’t alone. Ashton and his Beta, Seth, bash into the kitchen, panting frantically. They are naked, which means they must have run in their wolf forms.
“You!” Ashton hisses at his brother and flies forward without giving a warning. “Stay away from her!”
Ryan winks at me. “See you later, little wolf.”
In a flash of movement, Ashton transforms into his black wolf, ready to strike Ryan. But the second he leaps for him, Ryan turns into a flock of bats that head for the door. Ashton is so shocked by the move that he just stands there, blinking at the disappearing bats.
“Black magic...” Seth whispers before turning around. He is usually quiet, so it’s weird to hear him talk, not to mention seeing him display actual emotions. “Are you okay? Ryan didn’t hurt you, did he?”
Before I get the chance to reply, Ashton rushes toward me and grabs my shoulders. “How the heck aren’t you dead yet? Ryan never spared anyone. What did you tell him? Secrets about the pack or something?!”
I stare up at him, entirely wide-eyed and still a bit dizzy from the kiss. “I...I didn’t tell him anything about the pack! We were just talking about clothes and hybrids and n-nothing else, I swear! I didn’t give up any pack secrets at all!”
Ashton narrows his eyes but calms down a little. “But why would he spare you?” he asks. “No offense, but you’re the Omega—he has no use for you.”
I stare at him, my lips unmoving. I want to say, “Excuse me?” but something about Ashton being the Alpha makes me keep my anger tucked inside.
Suddenly, a realization strikes me. I look back at Ashton dead in the eye and say, “Maybe that’s exactly why he didn’t hurt me. Because I’m...nothing to him.”
I don’t think I’m nothing in Ryan’s eyes; even Ashton seems confused by my response, but before he can question it further, Seth steps in.
“We can’t make any assumptions yet,” Seth says firmly. “Right now, we have more important matters to worry about. Lady Blair could be giving birth any moment now, and we have a rouge hybrid on the loose. We should take Sally with us and return to the mansion, Alpha.”
At first, it looks like Ashton wants to object to the idea. His eyebrows draw together before he finally casts his eyes on Seth, nodding. “Alright. We will bring Sally with us,” he says as he looks back at me. “It’s dangerous for you to stay here alone. Ryan has killed ten warrior wolves already. We don’t know his reasons for coming here, but we think he was plotting to kill you and shape-shifting into looking like you.”
I gasp. “He has killed ten warrior wolves all on his own?!” Why the heck did he spare me then? “And wait, can he shape-shift into people, too?”
“He did…he can,” Ashton sighs. “He is also a mastermind at getting what he wants. For example, you invited him inside, didn’t you?”
I blink. “Y-yeah, he said he needed clothes...”
Ashton rolls his eyes. “Fucking hell...it was all a plot to get inside, Sally! Ryan can’t enter people’s homes without them inviting him inside. He is part vampire.”
“And how was I supposed to know that before he told me that?!” I finally snap. “He looked like you and said you were brothers, so I don’t know; maybe you should have told me you have an evil brother?!”
Ashton looks taken aback for a moment, but then his eyes harden. “I didn’t think you would ever get to meet him, Sally. And I didn’t want to scare you.”
“Scare me?!” I sputter. “So you don’t think I was terrified when he came here and randomly asked if he could drink from me?”
Now it’s Ashton’s turn to look shocked. “Wait, he ASKED to drink from you? He didn’t just go for it? And wait...he told you he was part vampire?”
“Yes, he did! And no. He asked if he could drink from me, and after I said no a couple of times, he backed off. Then you guys came here, and hell broke loose.”
Ashton and Seth look equally stunned and exchange glances before Seth levels me with a look. “And there was no mate bond or anything of the sort?”
“Uhh, no?” I glare at him. “I won’t be able to feel the mate bond with anyone since Ashton rejected me, remember?”
Ashton winces at that but doesn’t look sorry. In his eyes, I was too weak for him. He wouldn’t take me as his mate, and neither would he keep our child. Instead, he has claimed someone else as his new mate, and yes, he can do that because he is an Alpha!
But what about me? I’m an Omega! The only way for me to feel the mate bond again is to find myself a second chance mate, which doesn’t always happen. Sometimes, you have to personally ask the moon goddess for a second chance mate at her temple, and that’s miles away. Ashton would never let me go there!
“Well...err...” Seth awkwardly clears his throat. It’s clear that he finds this conversation uncomfortable. “We better get going. You have a car, yes?”
“Idiot,” Ashton mutters. “Of course she does. Sally can’t shape-shift since she has no wolf, so how else would she get around?”
“I... um...” Seth gives me an apologetic smile. He isn’t mean like Ashton, and I smile softly at him before looking back at Ashton with daggers in my eyes.
“I will take the car to your mansion, Alpha,” I say in a sad voice, even though I would rather stay behind because who in their right mind wishes to see the pregnant woman your fated mate chose before you?
Being Ashton’s nanny will be one hell of a rollercoaster of emotions, but perhaps living in his mansion is safer. I have no idea what Ryan wants with me, but one this is for sure: that man kissed me like a man deprived of air. Why did he do that?
Sally I park my car right outside Ashton’s mansion and look up at the tall building with a jarring feeling in my chest. This is the place where Ashton and I made love. This is also the place where he rejected me and ordered his men to take me to the pack doctor to have an abortion. It’s painful being here, like a death sentence, really. Sighing, I get out of my car and enter the building, freezing when I see a beautiful pregnant woman wearing a white dress. She must be the woman Ashton thought was a much worthier partner than me. I can see it in her eyes, the absolute confidence. She purses her lips and walks towards me, chin held high. “You must be Sally the Omega,” she says. It’s clear that she doesn’t think much of me. “I’ve heard so much about you. You’re to be our new nanny, yes?” “Yes, I’m—” “Don’t talk! Just nod for yes or shake your head for no. I won’t have a measly Omega talk to me. You are way too weak to be taken seriously. Do you understand?” I blink at her for a mo
Sally It’s been a long week working for Lady Blair. For a second there, I thought the week would never end, so after I’m done with my shift, I’m so relieved. I’ve cleaned every nook and cranny of this huge mansion. I’ve spent an incredible amount of hours doing it, too, but tomorrow I’m free. And it’s much needed. I walk briskly to my room on the top floor. The room is dimly lit, with spider nests in every corner. It needs to be cleaned, but I’m too tired for that. I bury my head in the pillow and let my walls crash down. All day, I’ve been forced to put on a brave front, but not here. Now that I’m alone, I’m free to let the storm blow over. I no longer have to pretend I’m unaffected by all of this. I can cry in peace and let my walls cave down. And who can blame me for sobbing like a baby? My life is terrible! I’m living in the same mansion as the mate who rejected me. His new woman is my master. She is pregnant. I’m to become their nanny. Do you know what the sickest part i
SallyRyan’s voice, sultry and teasing, washes over me. “Did you like it when I dashed us through the forest?” He has this insufferable smirk plastered on his face, radiating such over-the-top confidence that I’m half-tempted to knock him down a peg or two.But, fuck it, the truth is I loved it. I loved the feel of him - all muscle and raw power - as he cradled me close against his chest and tore through the trees with his surreal vampire strength. Every gust of wind blasting against my skin made me feel electric with life, but hell would have to freeze over before I would admit any of this to Ryan.Despite his god-like appearance and vampire charm, I still don’t fully trust him. Taking me out on this date is probably him trying to make me trust him to betray me later. Maybe even persuade me to betray my pack at some point? That won’t happen, though. I’m just here to have fun.“Not too shabby,” I say, managing to keep my face impassive and lips devoid of any smile—no sign whatsoever t
SallyIt’s been an hour since Ryan and I arrived at the club, and so far, I’m not enjoying my time. Raven and her friend, Jessica, are sitting on either side of Ryan, and both of them seem interested in the handsome hybrid.“And then Laura said she would try to drink her blood from a wineglass next time...”My eyes narrow as I listen to Raven’s story. She and Jessica are regular vampires, but Ryan’s hybrid status doesn’t seem to scare them. Quite the contrary. They are VERY into him, and Raven is currently squeezing his muscular arm through his shirt as if she owns the man.“I see,” Ryan says without looking at any of the women sitting beside him. Instead, he is studying my face as if searching for something. A reaction, maybe?Well, then he will be left disappointed because he won’t be getting one from me. I don’t care that he is surrounded by women. Not one bit. The more the merrier, right?‘Aren’t you jealous?’ Ryan asks through telepathy.I swallow thickly before thinking my answe
Sally When I walk up to the mansion after my night out with Ryan, I’m not too surprised to see that Ashton is waiting for me by the gates. I had a feeling someone would go and check on the guards. Ashton crosses his thick arms over his chest. “Where the hell have you been?! Do you know what time it is?” He is using his Alpha tone that’s made me shake in fear a billion times before. But I’m not consumed by fear, not tonight. I’ve spent hours with Ryan, someone who is far more dangerous than Ashton. So, it’s honestly a waste of time being afraid of my Alpha. So, instead of being afraid of Ashton, I’m irritated by his presence and roll my eyes. “It’s really none of your business.” “Oh, it is my business!” he spits out. “You’re a member of my pack, and you’re also working for me—I own you and demand to know where you’ve been!” My eyes narrow. “I was at the rave club downtown.” “The vampire club?!” there is a vein on Ashton’s forehead that looks about ready to burst. Poor guy needs t
RyanI’ve never been in love. Why? Because I don’t age. I’ve lived for...I don’t know how many years. I just know that I’m stuck as a twenty-five-year-old guy forever, and because of this, I decided never to make a woman mine. I don’t want to watch them age. It would hurt too much.Instead, I told myself that my mother and half-brother were the only two people I needed in my life. But my mother was murdered by my half-brother’s pack a year ago, and my half-brother? Well, he is no longer considered a close friend of mine. I call him little brother to tease him, but in reality, I’m the older one. Not that it matters. After I’ve murdered him and his pack, I won’t have any relatives left.But lately, there’s been one person I can’t get out of my head. Sally the Omega has been haunting my thoughts for days now. It’s strange; I’ve never felt this way about anyone before. I’m the bad guy in the story for crying out loud! I don’t do feelings.But here I am with a different woman in my arms, a
Sally“Don’t you want to hold your baby?” the pack doctor asks Blair for the second time.“Uh, no?” Blair responds from her bed and laughs. “I mean, I’ve been pregnant for two months already. Can’t I get a freaking break?”The doctor looks stunned.Blair has just given birth to a beautiful daughter inside her own room. The whole childbirth took less than an hour with the pack doctor’s magic. Blair isn’t in any pain at all, which must be why the pack doctor is so surprised about her unwillingness to tend to her own baby.I’m not surprised. Not even a little bit. Blair never had a maternal aura about her, and I am aware that postpartum depression is a real issue for many women after childbirth. It can manifest as intense feelings of sadness, anxiety, and exhaustion that linger long after the baby is born.But this isn’t postpartum.Blair is just a diva who doesn’t have time for babies. She is already typing on her phone, probably planning on drinking now that she isn’t pregnant, while t
SallyTAP TAP TAP!I can’t help but sigh when I hear the tapping on my window. Ryan coming over whenever Ashton isn’t around has become a regular occurrence, and I don’t even need to turn around to know it’s him. For the past week, he has been persistently asking me to let him in, and of course, tonight, when the pack is out hunting the demon bear wreaking havoc, Ryan has decided to seize the opportunity.Gently, I lift Gwyneth from her crib and sigh. She giggles as Ryan taps on the window, and I give her a stern look. “Don’t encourage him,” I scold, “he may be your uncle, but believe me, inviting him in would not end well.”“It would be perfectly safe to let me inside!” Ryan argues. “Besides, there is a big demon bear out there, and if you let me inside, I could protect you!”I can’t help but snort at his statement. “Oh please, Ryan. Last time I checked, bears aren’t capable of opening doors. And as for protecting us...well, let’s just say we need protection from you.”He pouts, and