Filed to story: Mated to the Alpha and His Beta Novel Free >>???
For the first time in my entire life, I felt ike something wasn’t missing.
The next time, I focused and felt my feet lifting off the floor, I was able to stay up for more than a minute. I couldn’t move yet, but it was a great start. I could tell my grandfather was pleased and proud. I was, too.
“Charlotte, I shall leave you and Lanie to finish up, I have some appointments that call my attention away.
But later, granddaughter, I’d like you and I to meet privately.
“Something important? I gulped a long drink of water. I hadn’t yet had any desire to drink blood, and frankly, that was the one vampire thing I hoped I never would.
My grandfather shook his head, but his lips quirked, “Every conversation with me should be deemed of the utmost importance. I am, after all, an Ancient.”
“Of course “I made sure to put on a serious face and gave him a curtsy “I treasure every single word that comes out of your mouth”
“Sarcasm does not become you,” Malachi said, but there was a glint of humor in his gaze He nodded at Charlotte and was gone in a flash.
Like, a literal flash, moving so fast it was almost like he blinked out of existence 1 shook my head in amazement “Will I be able to learn how to do that?” I asked apter Charlotte gathered up my hoodie and handed me another bottle of water. “Hydrate. You’re working yourself more physically than you realize. And yes, I should think you’d be able to learn how to do anything Malachi can do. Perhaps not with as much skill, but if he has the talent, it was likely passed along to you. You’re quite powerful, Lanie.”
“I wish I felt more powerful,” I told her honestly as I drained half the bottle. “I still feel like a stumbling jerk most of the time.
Clumsy.”
“Would you expect a baby to leave the womb and walk?”
I shrugged into my hoodie. “No, but-”
“You’ve only known about your vampire self for a short time, and in fact, have only been able to access its gifts since you turned eighteen. If u’d been told from bith what would come to you when you came of age, you’d have been prepared and still not immediately able to utilize all the talents.”
Charlotte shook her head, her lips pursing. Then she continued.
“It would have taken time even then. You’ve first had to wrap your head around being something different from what you’d always believed yourself to be, and in addition find ways to bring forth what was always hidden from you. If anything, I expected you to be much slower in learning than you are. You should be proud of yourself. I know your grandfather certainly is.”
Warmth circled inside me at the thought of making him proud. “Should we go again?”
“I admire your resilience, but no. I think you need a meal and perhaps a soak in the hot springs. Or a visit to the spa. Charlotte looked serious, but there was a lilt in her tone. “Or you might even wish to call your mates back to your quarters for your own private time.”
I blushed and pulled my hair on top of my head in a messy bun. “They’re busy today with their own training and workouts.”
“But I can sense your need for them,” Charlotte said casually like it wasn’t at all embarrassing that she knew how worked-up the training session had made me.
“Is that normal?” I asked under my breath.
She grinned. “Let’s grab a drink, and you can ask me whatever you want to know.”
Gabriela–
Once more, we’d dropped the children off at school, leaving me with no responsibilities Malachi doing only the Goddess knew what, while Xander, Zane, and Mason had gone off to amusements.
That left me alone.
I’d considered volunteering at the school. It would keep me close to my babies and give me some kind of purpose. I knew that Brightsky required its residents to contribute, and what other skills did I really have? I couldn’t be a Luna here anymore than I could’ve if we went back to Constantine.
Here in the vampire enclave, there might be a need for someone to oversee all the small details that kept the place running, but it was not my place to take that over. Plus, I had to admit that I wouldn’t even know where to begin. It was so vast and complex, not much like running a pack house and supporting my Alpha mate.
The bottom line was, I didn’t have anything to do, and it was wearing me down.
“I’ve never been a lady of leisure,” I admitted to Lenora.
She’d bumped into me outside the children’s school and invited me for tea again. I pulled my delicate teacup toward me and sniffed it. Something herbal.
Something even my wolf couldn’t identify from the scent. Carefully, I sipped and got a strong black.
licorice flavor.
Lenora laughed and broke her chocolate croissant into bite-sized pieces. “I fell in love with croissants when I lived in Paris, oh, ages ago. The pastry chef here trained in Paris, but even though these are delicious, it’s still not quite the same. I imagine there is much like that here for you, Gabriela. Much to appreciate, but much to adapt to. Let yourself have some time to yourself and to be in charge of nothing. You’ve worked hard for so long. Doesn’t it feel nice to let someone else do the heavy lifting for a change?”
I took another slow sip before answering. “I suppose so.”
“You don’t sound convinced. Look, if you truly wish to have some sort of job or task, I’m sure something can be assigned to you.
But once you take it, then these little dates with you and I will have to go by the wayside You’ll be too busy” She frowned. “And we’ve only just been able to renew our friendship.”
I was flattered that Lenora enjoyed my company so much, but that couldn’t stop the itch of needing to be useful thought of seeing if the school needed a carer “You do love being around the children Your entire face lights up when you speak of them.” She smiled.
“It would keep me close to them” I said quietly “Just in case.”
Lenora’s eyes widened. “Oh, my friend, surely you cannot still believe your grandpups could be in danger? Not here in Brightsky.
I mean not from anything outside.
I looked up sharply at her words. “But from inside?”
“Of that.se not,” Lenora said with a light little laugh that sounded almost forced. “I would never suggest that. It’s that…”
“Tell me. I leaned closer. “If you know something I should know, tell me. I swear I feel like I’m the last to learn anything since we got here. They all just-”
I stopped myself.
I didn’t want to admit aloud, not even to my friend, that since we’d arrived at Brightsky, my been so busy with all of their own new adventures that they barely included me.
family had “Even the children come home babbling about their teachers and new friends, and they’re growing so fast…soon they won’t need me at all any more than their father does.”
There. I’d said it aloud.
I waited to feel the relief of unburdening myself, but only felt guilty.
Lenora covered my hand with her cool one, fingers gently squeezing.
“Of course you’re feeling a little out of sorts. You’re living with a vampire-wolf hybrid who’s learning how to fully use all of the powers. Think of it as being around a live wire. The closer you get to it, the more likely it is that you could get a shock.”
“Lanie is dangerous?” I tilted the word into a question, although it felt more like a statement.
Lenora coughed lightly into her fist. “Well, we’re all dangerous, are we not? Or can be? I don’t want to worry you. She’s your daughter-in-law, after all. I know you care for her.”
“I love my family,” I said fiercely. “But I will do whatever I have to in order to keep them safe. If she’s dangerous, Lenora, please tell me.”
Lenora shook her head, her eyes widening again.
“Oh, no, I certainly didn’t mean to suggest that you need to fret about it. Being here in Brightsky, she’ll be carefully monitored as she’s being taught. Should anything go awry and we have no reason to believe it would well there are checks and balances here to prevent any trouble. Now, let’s talk about something more pleasant I hate to see you look so worried.”
“Yes” I said faintly and tried to shove away my concerns. I concentrated on her gentle, innocuous gossip.
It wasn’t working I was still very, very worried Lanie–
I was never going to get over how cool Eighty-Seven was Charlotte meant to take me to the cute little cafe for some tea and pastries, but it was super crowded, and we decided instead to grab something from one of the food carts and take it to a little grove on the far end of the “street.”
“Isn’t that your mother-in-law?” Charlotte pointed toward the cafe window.
Gabriela sat at a small table, lifting a teacup to her lips. The woman with her had her back to the window, so I couldn’t see who it was, but I was glad Xander’s mother had been spending time with her friends.
I waved, but she didn’t see me as a few people passed in front of the glass. My stomach was rumbling, so I followed Charlotte to the food cart and ordered some steak kebabs. I eyed the small crimson bottles with labels featuring only a single red droplet.
They didn’t need a name for me to know what was in there. I didn’t ask for one.
“Will I need to drink blood?” I asked Charlotte when we’d taken our food toward the small picnic arca along the far wall. A mural of trees created a trompe l’oeil effect, but it would never be as nice as being ina real forest.
She settled onto some soft grass that turned out to be real.
“Grow lights,” she explained when she saw my eyebrows shoot up. “And…possibly. You eat regular food already, and always have. So, while you would most certainly tolerate blood, it doesn’t seem likely that you’ll ever require it absolutely for your nourishment. You might have a craving now and then. Perhaps if you get pregnant again”
Charlotte pressed her lips together against a smile before she added, “do you think you’ll have another pup soon?
“I don’t know. Three little ones has seemed enough for now, but I do think about it. Yes.”
Unconsciously, I rubbed a hand over my flat belly I tore into the steak kebab.
“Of all the supernaturals, vampires and wolves are the most sensual With having both bloodlines tunning through you, it should be no surprise that you’ve got those urges Charlotte laughed softly, shaking her head as her eyes gleamed “Dragons are a little less greedy when it comes to sex Because they like to accumulate things, they tend toward, oh well Dental She paused to cover her mouth with her hand to hold back a flurry of giggles It had been a long time since 7d been able to giggle with a gritand “You mean?” Tacked casually She nodded Greyson laes to tease and deny “So…he denies you? Or you deny him?”
“I deny him,” she said quietly, eyes darting around to make sure we were alone. Tve never really told anyone élse about this before. That he likes me to edge him, over and over, but not allow him to come. He like me to be in control, and I really like that, too.”
I thought about being blindfolded and tied up by my mates, and heat rushed through me.
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?