Filed to story: Mated to the Alpha and His Beta Novel Free >>???
Zane–
ur rooms.”
“By the Moon,” I said at the sight of what Malachi had quaintly called “your This space, with only one room I could see, was bigger than Lanie’s entire cottage back in Stillwood.
We all stood in a comfortable living room already lit by a crac kling fire. Heavy leather couches and chairs surrounded the hearth, with thick rugs covering the stone floor. Multiple doors promised to lead to what I assumed were bedrooms or bathrooms.
Bookcases lined the walls, with old, leather-bound books piled high on every shelf, I also spotted some current paperbacks. A big screen TV was at the far end of the room, with a set of comfortable looking recliners facing oit.
The lighting was dim and came from sconces set in the wall, but as Malachi waved his hand and murmured a command, the room brightened.
“Brightsky runs on the most advanced technology, even if it does look like a medieval castle,” he explained. “That includes heating, cooling, lighting, and of course, security. Not only are you all entirely safe here because nobody knows it is here, in the unlikely event our enemies are able to find us, they will certainly find us unbreachable.”
Xander put Stella down, and she ran over to Gabriela. Malachi pointed to a set of doors open at the other end of the room.
“Gabriela, there’s a children’s room right there. Plenty of toys, fresh clothes, and a small selection of snacks, since I know little wolves must eat more frequently than some of us. It has its own ensuite, and you’ll find yours right next door. If you need anything, you can use the intercom system to ring for one of our staf Xander’s mother blinked rapidly but smiled at him. “Come on, children. Let’s go see what Mr. Malachi for us to play with When they’d gone, Xander turned back to Lanie’s grandfather. “How can you be so sure nobody knows thi place is here? I mean, it’s f ucking enormous”
“Ahh. Well, just because something is oversized,” Malachi grinned and gave all three of us guys a significant look, “doesn’t mean it’s obvious to everyone Brightsky is hidden from view except to those who are invited to it”
“Spells fail,” Mason said:
Malachi chuckled “Brightsky is cloaked, but not by a spell Oh, we do have our spellcasters put to work here, but they are not tasked with the sole responsibility of keeping us hidden We utilize a complex series of checks and balances to keep Brightsky a secret”
“You have a cloaking system set up? fd heard about tech like that, but we’ve never had access to it it’s one of the things I think my father was working with the Bumans to get”
we found out his plans to experiment on the hybrids. He caught my glance and shrugged.
now.”
“I overheard him talking once when I was a pup, but I never put two and two together about it until just Malachi nodded. “Your father may have been in cahoots with humans for many things, but our cloaking security is far more advanced than anything a mere human could come up with. Vampires are a race that is utterly vulnerable when we sleep, so it’s imperative to have protections. Different periods of human history have seen us hunted in ways wolves have never had to face. We learned long ago the best defense against getting staked while we dreamed was to simply never be discovered in the first place.”
My head spun. “I could use a drink.”
“Help yourself. There’s a full bar set up in the library, which is just through there. I know you wolves like to drink.” Malachi pointed to another door on the far side of the fireplace.
“I’ve heard you vamps like to drink, too,” Mason said roughly.
He seemed a little easier since his interaction with Melina in the gardens, but he wasn’t giving Malachi more than an inch of give at a time.
“Oh, we certainly do.” The Ancient vampire’s lips skinned back to reveal his curved and glittering fangs.
“But it’s most definitely not whiskey.”
“Mason, come have a drink with me,” I urged him. If I needed one, he needed one even more. It would soften the edges a little bit. And, although I understood and respected his concerns, I wasn’t as worried as he seemed to be.
If my Luna felt safe, and my Alpha prime felt safe, then I was going to trust them both and do my best to make my Alpha second did, too.
Mason grumbled. “Fine.”
iru “I’ll go with you,” Xander said. “I want to check out the rest of this place.”
“Make yourself comfortable. Consider this your home,” Malachi said. “Il would like the chance to have a few moments with my granddaughter.”
He paused. “Alone.”
Lanie–
I was a little surprised when my grandfather took both my hands in his. He peered deeply into my eyes. wondered if he was going to try to compel me. It didn’t feel like that was his plan, but I prepared for it anyway.
Instead, his expression softened, and he touched my cheek before letting me go and taking a couple of steps back.
“lam so happy you’re here, granddaughter. There have been times when I was certain you and I would never have the privilege of getting to know one another.”
“I can’t say I exactly felt the same,” I said honestly. “Seeing as how I didn’t even know you existed until fairly recently. But I am glad to have the chance now.”
His lips quirked on one side. “You’ve grown up so much, even in the short time since last we saw one another.”
“Short time?” I let out a rough chuckle. “It feels like an eternity has passed.”
“When you live for an eternity, anything other than a century feels like a short time.” My grandfather pointed to the big leather couch. “Sit with me?”
I was happy to. The many hours in the car should have made me eager to be up and moving, but my entire body ached from all the tension. Sinking into the comfortable leather was a relief, and I sighed out loud. His last words reminded me of what Charlotte had told me.
“I guess I’m going to find that out for myself,” I said.
He gave me an amused look. “What’s that?”
“Eternal life. Charlotte told me that she’s more than a couple of hundred years old, and that it’s likely I’ll be the same, since we’re both vampire-wolf hybrids. I’ll be honest, Malachi, I can’t really imagine it.”
“You don’t have to, at least not right now. And, perhaps you will get lucky and die at the end of what would be considered a normal lifespan for wolf-kind.” He quirked an eyebrow at me.
“Is that supposed to make me feel better?” I laughed, relaxing into the couch c ushions. “I guess that’s better than dying in a war or something else as bad.”
His expression sobered “I didn’t mean to make light.
“Mama?”
We both turned to see Stella in the doorway to the children’s room. Gabriela was behind her, tugging at the sleeve of her dress, but Stella was pulling away with uncharacteristic stubbornness.
“Need to talk to Marnal”
“It’s all right. She can come to me. Are you all right with the twins?”
“Of course.” Gabriela gavana Malachi cach a nod. “Call me if you need me.”
She shut the door behind her and Steita ran across the room to throw herself against me. I hugged liner, nning my hand over her handicappoond te face so ficould look into her eyes.
“What’s wrong, little love “I wanted you.” She leaned adais pressing her face into the front of ray shirt “Sometimes, that is all a child needs het intothe Malachi said.
Stella peered at him from under my anHallo, You re the strange man who’s going to help my rama.
“Stella” I chided embarrassed at her bits, stiut Malachi only laughed.
He held out his arms and to my surprise, Steelia went right to him. She settled herself on my grandfathers. pas easily as if they’d known each other former bases warmed by the sight, and, not so surprisingly, a little iddened. How different my life, all of our lives eighths have been, if I’d been a little girl who could sit on her andpa’s lap.
“This is Malachi, Stella. He’s your She giggled, cutting me off. “I know him t’member air nitrotrons foefore Mama He and I shared a look You were a very little girl then, my grandfather said paganefeetings wouldn’t be hurt if you didn’t member me.”
n: not telling a story, Stella protested, clearly offendeded No. of course you’re not,” he soothed quickly. With another giant at the cold. What did you mean hen you said that your mother needed my help?
Stella frowned. 1 Mamma needs your help because…because shes evamere and she co at Snes having trouble, and she needs you to help her ww how to Malachi nited has head studying hier is that so?!
and she thinks about it a lot like a bunch of buzzing bees, all in heral taopped 161 the spot between fer e Lave never denyttang ke that to you Adamit i cantar your thoughts.”
Startles i ut t ang noi lo show at a teding I was coming to discover wis common amen tynaudunter grogatotion I can hear ad of your Leutene Stonneti;@renched to touch the hem of Stella’s dress. I wanted to pull her into my arms, but I didn’t want Oscarehend settled for that small contact.
“What sodo you mean, all of our thoughts?” I tried to keep my voice steady, but her little face scrunched up it the sound of my tension.
I was misle des mung to use my Luna energy, but I didn’t need much of it right now. The Moon Goddess was notizer to alavarises and the strengths she’d granted me worked through my own motherhood. Stella relaxed.
Theditton I Theo icon warning about my varnpire side, but I certainly had never shared anything like that out loud with my daughter Stella might’ve simply been perceptive enough to guess that. It didn’t mean she was Ictually reading thcuouterOn the other hand…
“Wolves doxtonomununicate via mind links. Usually, it’s mate to mate, or Alpha to Beta, but close elationships cac create a bond that allows us to speak mind to mind.”
“I’m aware of that tavadachesaid wryly.
Of course he was. A susanaladash of iration filtered through me. He knew so much, and I still barely knew anything. I didn’t have receno tviviedian that now, though.
“Stella.” 1 focused chenet Wowon’t be angry with you if you’re a little confused. Are you feeling Mama’s eelings? Guessing? Can youdeltay cjelodbok on my face, like when you told Abba his eyes looked scared?”
She shook her head. No bheneamwhatyou’re thinking “When he asked you if you were reading his mind, did you tell him a fib?”
Solemnly, she waited a second, then anodded.
“Why would you do that? Fasked her, trubut thought already knew.
cute fudy with the pretty dress was already thinkin Anat tumult hear that Abha was upset about some “I didn’t want to get into trouble. And the thinks. His thoughts, Stella comacted hemen.
able to do that, so i didn’t want to tell alm could, toob. Betoon.”
*How long have you been able to do tra?”.
New Book: Veiled Desires of the Alpha King Novel
Dayson was the alpha of the largest pack in North America. Powerful figures from other packs sought to offer gorgeous girls as potential mates for Dayson. He steadfastly rejected these advances, he was not a pawn to be manipulated. But eventually there came a mysterious girl he could hardly say No. Who was she?