Fated Desire: A Paranormal Romance Novel (The Twisted Destiny Saga Book 1) (3 page)

He watched her reaction and she seemed as confused as he was.
She doesn’t know what she is?
He saw the hurt in her eyes and like earlier, for some reason, he couldn’t bear to see her ill at ease. He loosened his grip on her arm and told her gently. “Let’s just get this fixed up, okay, gorgeous?”

“Cora,” she told him.

Cora? A beautiful name for a beautiful woman.
“I didn’t think Seekers revealed their identity.”

“You’re helping me. I figured I owed you that.”

He flashed her a reassuring smile and reached for the vial, trying his damndest to keep his eyes on hers and not her gorgeous and way-too-appetizing tits.

“That wound is deep. You’re not showing any pain.”

“One of the perks of the job,” she told him. “It feels like a scratch.”

He nodded his understanding. And then he gestured to the vial. “This
will
hurt. A lot. Trust me. I’ve had to use it on myself. And, baby, I can take a lot of pain. The
perks
of being an Alpha wolf.”

She closed her eyes tightly and told him, “Do it.”

He held her arm steady and poured the purple liquid along the length of the wound. He waited a few seconds for what he knew would come. She screamed. He was surprised that it wasn’t a womanly shriek. No, it was something primal. Animal, even. It wasn’t a far cry from the howl of a wolf.
Damn.
He put the vial down, still holding her right arm steady. Her eyes snapped open and they met his. He saw tears glistening in her eyes. Before he could react, her hands suddenly gripped his arms, her nails digging ferociously into his exposed skin as she fought against the excruciating pain.

He grunted from her assault but let her continue.
Fuck, she’s strong.
And then he reacted without thinking, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her tightly to him.

“It’ll pass in a few more moments,” he breathed into her hair. “Just hold on, darlin’.”

Finally her screams ceased and she released his arms and pulled back, awkwardly. She reached for the gauze on the table, but he gripped her arm, stopping her.

“It’s healed.”

“What?” she said, glancing at her arm. There was nothing there. No blood, no scar. It was as though she’d never been clawed. “Oh my God.”

“I know Seekers heal fast, but
this
fast?” he said, actually shocked by what he was seeing. And, he wasn’t an easy man to shock.

She pulled her arm from his grip. “No, it normally takes longer. I don’t understand,” she said, getting up from the couch. Her eyes were wide with shock.

“Don’t knock it, darlin’. Be grateful.”

Her gaze snapped to his and she took his words in, nodding with a sweet smile. “Right.”

Her eyes strayed to his arms—the bloodied marks there, courtesy of her nails. She cringed and stepped into him. Her fingers brushed over the marks gently. “I’m sorry,” she murmured, looking up at him. She gasped when she did. “Are you gonna shift?” she asked, worriedly.

“What?”
Shift? Why is she asking me that? I’m not gonna fucking shift. I’m an Alpha. I have incredible control over my wolf.

“Your eyes…they’re glowing. Gold.”

She stepped closer. Instinctively, he reached out and gripped her waist. And he was shocked by the look in
her
eyes. “So are yours,” he told her. “Silver.”

“Shit.”

“You know what this means?” he asked her, knowing full well himself.
She is the one.

She nodded. “Yes, but it’s not possible. You’re a wolf. And I’m…something else.”

“You hate the idea of being mated to a wolf, darlin’?”

She shook her head. “No, I….” she trailed off.

And then her lips were suddenly on him, on his arm, kissing the marks she’d made. His body shuddered.
Fucking hell.

He pressed his hand to her chest, forcing her back. “I…it’s too close to the full moon…I can’t…this heat…you need to leave,” he choked out, his chest heaving with exertion from breathless arousal.

“Ryan,” she rasped, gazing up at him. “I…can’t. It’s too…strong.”

“I know,” he panted. “Fuck.”

And then his lips crashed against hers. His hands fisted in her hair. She responded quickly, kissing him back urgently and forcefully as his mouth devoured hers. His hands gripped her waist and he sank onto the couch, pulling her onto his lap so that she straddled him. She moaned as his hands slid under her shirt, running up and down her back, then to her stomach, her tits. He couldn’t think. There was just need. Desire. Fucking fire.

“Christ, darlin’.”

She purred with pleasure as his tongue licked her neck, tasting her, just like the wolf that he was. He nipped her gently, along her shoulder, her collarbone, and then the tops of her tits. He didn’t bite hard enough to break her skin, but he was fighting himself just to hold back with her, to tame the wolf within. It’d been a long time since he’d been with a non-wolf and it was a struggle not to unleash. But he couldn’t. Only another wolf could handle him like that.

He ground his cock between her legs and she yelped at the feel of him. He eyed her and saw a medley of disbelief and fear on her face. He knew why. He was big.

He grinned. “Don’t worry. You’re more than ready. I can feel your heat against me, darlin’.”

He reached for her tank top. But as he started to peel it from her body, he stopped abruptly, as a rush of cold air swept through the room.

“Fuck,” he muttered, releasing her shirt and glancing behind her. “Vamps aren’t welcome here.”

He groaned as she scrambled off his lap hastily. She fixed her shirt and spun around to face their intruder.

But the intruder didn’t spare her a glance. His fierce gaze was too busy drilling into Ryan.

Ryan rose to his feet in response to the silent challenge.

“Luca,” he spat with distaste. “You always did have the worst fucking timing.”

“Did you taste her?”

“Depends what you mean by that.”

Luca growled and lunged at him. Ryan’s eyes shone. This time with the sign of a shift.

“Stop!” Cora cried.

They both heeded her words and took a step back from one another.

“She is
mine
,” Luca growled.

Ryan’s eyes narrowed and he snarled, “I beg to differ,
brother
.”

“Brother?” Cora cried.

CHAPTER 4

Ryan stood in his shower, trying to cool his body down as the ice-cold water rained down upon him. Christ, stopping like that with Cora had nearly killed him. And then the confrontation with Luca right after? Fuck, he’d nearly lost control of the wolf. His body was feverish with heat and need for her. He’d
never
felt anything like it in his life. Not even when the full moon rose. His eyes narrowed at Luca who stood in the bathroom, his back to the shower. He could feel his disapproval and barely-contained rage emanating from him.

“Is this your new mission in life? Cock-blocking me, Luca?”

Luca released a frustrated sigh and asked, “How did this happen? How did she come to be here?”

“She killed two of Michael’s wolves. She thought they were mine. One of them clawed her.”

“So, what? You gave her the antidote and then thought you’d fuck her for your troubles?”

“Shut your fucking mouth!”

Luca spun around, surprised that his comment had affected Ryan at all. “I’ve struck a nerve?” he asked, incredulous.

“Don’t talk about her like that.”

“You care for her? This isn’t just about the full moon being so close?”

Ryan ripped the shower curtain aside. Luca snatched a towel off the rail beside him and threw it to him. He caught it with ease and wrapped it around his waist.

“Her eyes were glowing for me,” he told him, as he ruffled his hair to dispel the excess water.

“What?”

“As were mine.”

Luca shook his head. “Impossible.”

Ryan’s eyes narrowed. “I smelled you on her when she first walked into my bar.”

“So you knew she was mine and you still tried to take her?”

“No. She’s a Seeker. I figured she’d crossed paths with you on the job and tried to kick your undead ass, or something. There was no bite, so I didn’t think anything more of it.”

“She is
my
mate, Ryan.”

“An Alpha’s eyes glow like that for only one—their true mate. You know that.”

Incensed, because he knew Ryan was correct, he slammed him against the bathroom wall, the force of his assault causing the tiles behind Ryan to shatter at the impact.

“She is King Vazra’s daughter, Ryan!” he bellowed. “The princess of the White Realm. She is betrothed to
me
!”

Ryan forced himself to feign shock at his words.
I know exactly who she is, you fuck. And she is mine.
The daughter of the King of the White Realm. It explained her incredible healing abilities.
And
the fact that she’d survived the wolves’ poison made sense now too.
Fuck me. She’s finally found me. After all this time she’s finally here.

“She is
mine
,” Luca said as he released him and stepped back.

“She almost brought out the wolf in me, Luca.”

Luca’s gaze snapped to his. He knew how much control Ryan had over his wolf. He understood exactly what he was telling him. “You’re sure?”

“Of course I’m fucking sure. And you barging in like that? I was seconds away from wolfing out.”

“I’m sorry. I couldn’t let you bond with her.”

Ryan took an angry step towards him and growled, “I can’t allow you to either.”

Luca snarled back at him.

And then something suddenly occurred to Ryan, so he asked, “How did you know?”

“I…read her thoughts. I saw…”

“What?”

“I saw you making love to her, sharing blood, bonding with her.”

“You saw that in her thoughts?”

“Yes,” Luca admitted.

“She wanted it then. She wanted
me
.”

“Not just you.”

“What?”

“I came to her in a dream and she was
very
…receptive.”

Ryan snarled at him and thrust his fist into his face, propelling him through the open bathroom door and across the bedroom floor. “You tried to manipulate her with your bloodsucker mind tricks?” he thundered, striding towards him.

“I was trying to show her the truth.”

“You compelled her!” Ryan accused.

Luca jumped to his feet and shook his head. “I cannot compel her.”

“What? You’re the Vampire Prince, the son of Nathanial, King of the Dark Realm. You can compel anyone outside of the family.”

“Not her.”

“Because she’s Vazra’s daughter?”

Luca shrugged his shoulders. “Perhaps. I do not know.”

Ryan growled, frustrated at the situation. He pulled on a fresh pair of jeans and a black t-shirt.

He stopped short suddenly and sniffed the air. “She’s gone.”

Luca concentrated for a moment and then asked, “Do you hear that?”

Ryan nodded. “Her bike. She’s taking off.”

“And this time it has nothing to do with your abrasive bedside manner.”

Ryan’s eyes narrowed. He snatched his leather jacket off the back of a chair and slipped it on. He stepped towards Luca and held out his hand and said, “Just take us to her. Now.”

“It’s been a while for you. It might make you sick.”

Ryan shrugged his shoulders. “I’ll take my chances.”

Luca scoffed. “Spoken like a true Alpha.”

Ryan just rolled his eyes at his brother’s comment and braced himself for the sickening feeling of vampire teleportation, a gift only the royals possessed.

CHAPTER 5

Cora stepped into her apartment and shut the door quietly behind her so as not to wake Brad. The last thing she wanted was a confrontation with him right now. She was already in enough of a state as it was. She couldn’t believe what had happened in the last few hours. One minute she’d been perfectly safe and content leading her human life—well, apart from the searing migraines, of course. But then Luca had confronted her, telling her that she belonged to him, that she had to return to her old life. He’d penetrated her thoughts and her dreams. She wasn’t a fool. She knew vampires had the ability to enter dreams. She’d thought it was only possible for them to do so to their victims—those whose blood they’d taken. He’d been right then: there was a connection between them. It wasn’t a blood connection. That meant only one thing—it had to be a magical one. But how?

The dream he’d entrapped her in had awoken something primal in her. It’d sparked the desire for the hunt. It was the Seeker in her that she’d tried to repress for the last five years. And that had led her to the wolves and, subsequently, to Ryan’s biker bar. The connection between them, the pull, was not unlike that between her and Luca. But, with Ryan, it was even more primal. It’d been impossible to fight.

She wasn’t a slut. She was a virgin for goodness sake. She didn’t sleep around. And yet, she’d been in the arms of two men in the last few hours, begging them both to fuck her. At least it’d only been via a dream with Luca. But when he’d pinned her against the wall of the alley earlier, she’d wanted him to take her then as well.
I’m out of control.
The worrying thing was that so were they. A Vampire Prince and an Alpha out of control around her? She couldn’t think of anything more dangerous.

“Where the fuck have you been?” Brad’s voice thundered suddenly, cutting through her thoughts.

She spun towards the sound of his voice to see him emerging from the bedroom, into the living room, wearing nothing but a pair of flimsy boxers. As her eyes swept over him, she realized that there was absolutely no attraction there. She didn’t feel anything towards him, except disgust for what he’d done to her. How was it that this was the first time she was realizing it? That there was nothing between them? Somehow, she was awake now. Wide awake. It had to have something to do with Luca tapping into her magic. But how could she say anything now? She’d been with two men tonight.
Dammit!
And brothers?
Urgh.
She felt sick.

“I needed some air,” she answered.

“Then open the window like a normal person. This neighborhood is dangerous and a little woman like you out there at this time of night is a prime target.”

“I can take care of myself,” she said, brushing past him into the bedroom.

As she moved past him, he gripped her arm and jerked her towards him aggressively. “Your jacket is shredded.” He looked her over. “And you’re covered in dirt.”

She wrenched her arm from his grip, just managing to hold back her power.
Shit, it’s right at the surface now. My control is waning. It’s all Luca and Ryan’s fault. They brought this out in me.

“I fell off my bike,” she lied.

She crossed to her wardrobe and reached for another similar biker jacket. If there was one thing she had plenty of, it was leather. It was a remnant from her old Seeker days. It provided protection from hits and falls alike. It wasn’t just for the bike. She pulled out a pair of boot-cut jeans and a pale blue, V-neck t-shirt. And then she set about changing. She peeled off her pants and slipped on the jeans quickly. She felt Brad watching her as she slid off her shredded jacket and her dirtied tank top, until she stood there in just her bra and jeans.

And that was when he lunged at her. He pressed her against the dresser and she grunted as her back jarred against it painfully.

“Stop,” she said, pushing him back.

“No. Tonight you give it up to me, Cor. I’ve waited long enough.”

He pushed his full weight against her and she struggled against the need to push him away versus losing control of her power.

“No!” she cried. “Don’t do this, Brad. I don’t want this.”

“Just relax, baby. You’ll like it.”

A sudden chill swept across the room and she knew immediately that
they
were there.
Both
of them.

“I believe the lady said ‘no,’” Luca’s voice boomed through her bedroom.

Shocked, Brad released her and spun around. “Who the fuck are you?” he thundered.

With Brad no longer blocking her view, she could now see Luca and Ryan standing just a few feet away. She saw the blackness in Luca’s eyes. He was pissed.

And just looking at Ryan and that flash in his eyes told her that he was furious and actually on the verge of shifting.

“That’s no way to treat a lady, especially not one so pure,” Luca spoke again.

“Apologize,” Ryan growled.

“What I do in my own home is none of your fucking business. She’s my girlfriend. I’ll fuck her if I want. Now get out of our apartment.”

Ryan’s hand shot out so fast that Cora barely even saw it before he wrapped his fingers around Brad’s neck and held him off the floor.

“He’s human,” Luca cautioned him. “Ry,” he urged. “Control the wolf.”

“I told you to
apologize
, you fuck!” Ryan snarled.

“Ryan, please don’t,” Cora called to him.

His eyes met hers. They softened instantly as they looked upon her. He let out a low growl of frustration and then released Brad roughly. He crashed to the floor, clutching his neck and gasping for breath.

“Get out,” Cora told Brad, much to everyone’s surprise.

They all gazed at her, stunned by the coldness in her tone.

“What?” Brad asked, climbing to his feet.

“This
thing
between us is over.”

“What? Because of these freaks?” he asked, gesturing wildly between Luca and Ryan.

Ryan made a move towards him, but Luca threw out his arm, holding him back.

Cora folded her arms across her chest and said, “Perhaps.” She saw the looks of surprise on Luca and Ryan’s faces. “But you shouldn’t be too concerned, given all the whores you’ve got at your beck and call all over the city.”

“You’re reading him?” Luca asked, impressed.

“Yes,” she said, keeping her gaze on Brad. “I know everything,
baby
. Get. Out.”

She turned her back and reached for her tank, not relishing the fact that she was standing before all three of them in just her bra and jeans. As she slipped her t-shirt on, she could feel Brad approaching the bedroom door. She even felt Luca’s hand shoot out and grip his arm.

“Not so fast,” he told Brad.

She spun around and her eyes narrowed at Luca. “Leave him be. He’s human.”

“Exactly, my princess.”

His eyes bore into hers and she heard his thoughts:
I must erase his memory of this confrontation. It puts us all at risk. Ryan displayed his strength. He has also seen my fangs. It risks exposing all of us to the human world.

She nodded. “Okay.”
Go ahead.

He smirked at her as he told her with his thoughts,
I am impressed that you can now communicate with me.

“Guys!” Ryan protested, clearly getting what was going on between them. “Rude.”

“Sorry, brother,” Luca said.

“What the fuck is going on here?” Brad demanded, trying to free himself from Luca’s hold.

Luca ignored him. “How much would you like me to erase?” he asked Cora.

She drew in a breath and gazed at him sadly. “Everything. Every memory of me.”

He nodded. “As you wish, my princess.”

With that, he left the bedroom and dragged Brad out into the living room with him.

Ryan crossed to her as she pulled on her new leather jacket. “I’m sorry.”

She shrugged. “It was for the best.”

He sniffed her suddenly, drawing her scent to him.

“What are you doing?” she asked with amusement.

“Just checking.”

“Checking what?”

He met her gaze as he told her, “Luca said you were pure.”

“Pure?” she asked, confused.

“A virgin,” he clarified. “I didn’t pick up on it before…the heat…between us…masked everything else.”

She looked away, embarrassed.

He lifted her chin gently, forcing her to look at him. “It’s nothing to be embarrassed about.”

She shook herself out of his grip and told him with a grin, “I’m glad I stopped you from shifting. I didn’t want wolf hair all over the apartment.”

He laughed.

“What color are you?”

“White.”

Her eyes widened with surprise. “I didn’t know there were
any
white wolves. I’ve come across several and they were all dark. One tonight was auburn.”

“I don’t think I like the idea of you
coming across
so many wolves. At least I know you haven’t slept with any of them.”

She shook her head. “I forgot how possessive wolves can be. Especially the Alphas.”

His eyes clouded with desire. “Once a wolf finds his mate, all bets are off, darlin’. He never lets go.”

“A wolf has to claim his mate first,” she reminded him.

“You know a lot about my race. I like that,” he said, stepping closer to her.

She tensed at his closeness, the heat between them overwhelming her once again. “How big are you?” she asked, trying to cut through the tension between them.

He smirked at her and grabbed her hand. He pressed it to his dick. “I’d rather
show
you instead of telling you, darlin’.”

She gasped as she felt him, rock-hard, through his jeans. She pulled her hand away quickly, blushing furiously. “I meant…the wolf.”

He chuckled. “I know. Maybe one day I’ll shift for you and then you’ll see.”

Their conversation was interrupted by Luca returning. “It’s done and he’s gone. Let’s go.”

Ryan nodded and stepped back from her.

“Go where?” she asked.

“You want answers, don’t you?” Luca asked.

She hesitated. She didn’t want to be pulled back into the supernatural world. But it was a bit too late now. She didn’t exactly have much of a choice. “Yes. Fine.”

“I will take you to my estate.”

“Excuse me? I don’t fucking think so,” Ryan protested.

“The library, Ryan?”

“Fine. I’ll join you.”

“The Council resides at my estate,” Luca warned him.

“You mean your nest?” Ryan bit back with derision.

“Council,” Luca insisted.

“Vampires don’t tend to like my kind. Seekers are their enemies,” Cora warned Luca.

Ryan nodded in agreement. “Exactly.”

“I can guarantee your safety. You
were
a Seeker, but you are also my bride. They will not harm you. I can assure you.”

Ryan scoffed. “Bride?”

“What about Ryan? Vamps and wolves don’t tend to get along.”

“He will be fine, my princess. I give you my word.”

“Much appreciated,” Ryan said with dripping sarcasm. “Saves me from having to rip their heads off their damned undead bodies.”

Luca snarled, but Cora moved in between them quickly and held up her hands, preventing another fight from occurring. “Stop it. Let’s just go,” she said, heading through the apartment.