LOGINNatashaThe house was in absolute chaos, which meant it was a perfectly normal Sunday afternoon in the Volkov household, and I wouldn't have had it any other way.I watched our four children tear through the main room in some elaborate game that seemed to involve a lot of shrieking and laughter."Mama, tell Viktor he can't change the rules halfway through the game!" Anastasia complained, her hands on her hips in a gesture so reminiscent of me that Mikhail had laughed the first time he saw it."Viktor, stop changing the rules." I called out from where I was setting the table for dinner, knowing full well he wouldn't listen because our oldest was as stubborn as his father."The rules are fine!" Viktor protested. At sixteen, he was nearly as tall as Mikhail and spent most of his time training with the other young warriors, but he still loved playing with his younger siblings when he thought no one was watching."The rules are terrible." Twelve-year-old Dmitri announced, and then the arg
NatashaThe pain started just before dawn. It was a deep cramping in my lower back that woke me from restless sleep, and I knew immediately what it was even though this was my first child. I was a healer and I had helped deliver enough babies to recognize the signs. I reached over and shook Mikhail's shoulder, trying to keep my voice calm even though my heart was racing."Mikhail, wake up. It's time."He was on his feet in an instant, looking around wildly as if he could fight the labor pains off for me. "Time? Already? Are you sure? What do you need? Should I get Elena? The midwife? Both?""Breathe," I told him, even as another contraction rippled through me and I had to grip the edge of the bed. "Yes, get Elena and the midwife, and maybe some clean towels and water, but don't panic. We have time."He pulled on his clothes in a rush, nearly falling over in his haste, and I would have laughed if I wasn't trying to breathe through another wave of pain. "I'll be right back. Don't hav
MikhailI noticed every change in Natasha’s body, cataloging each one like a treasure, and I couldn't help but stare at her constantly.Pregnancy made Natasha even more beautiful than she had been before and I hadn't thought that was possible. The first sign was her breasts, growing fuller and more sensitive, and then came the soft rounding of her belly that started so subtle I might have missed it if I wasn't paying attention, but I was always paying attention to my mate."You're staring again." She said one morning as she dressed for work, catching my eyes in the reflection of our small mirror."Can't help it," I admitted, moving behind her to wrap my arms around her waist, my hands settling on the small swell of her stomach. "You're carrying our pup. How am I supposed to not stare at that?""Most men don't find their pregnant wives so fascinating." She said, but she was smiling and leaning back into me."Then most men are idiots," I said, pressing a kiss to her neck. "You're glowi
NatashaIt started with my morning tea tasting wrong, and then the smell of the healing herbs at the center making my stomach turn in ways they never had before.I thought perhaps I was coming down with something, except I was a healer and I knew I wasn't sick. My breasts had been tender for days and sensitive enough that even Mikhail's gentlest touch made me wince.I had brushed it off as lingering effects from my heat until I realized my heat had been nearly a month ago and these symptoms were getting worse, not better.I was standing in the healing center's supply room when it hit me and I had to grab onto the shelf to steady myself because suddenly, everything made sense.I couldn't breathe properly and my hands were shaking as I pressed them to my stomach."Natasha?" Elena's voice came from the doorway. "You look pale. Are you alright?""I think—" I started, then stopped, because saying it out loud would make it real and I wasn't ready for that yet. "I need to check something. C
NatashaMy heat hit me in the middle of a healing session and it was a wave of need so intense I nearly collapsed. One moment I was treating a sprained ankle and the next my entire body was on fire, every nerve ending screaming for one thing and one thing only. Mikhail."Are you okay?" My patient asked, concern in his voice."I—I need to go," I managed, already stumbling toward the door. "Elena! Elena, I need—"She took one look at me and understood immediately. "Heat. Go. I've got this."I barely made it out of the building before the next wave hit, and I grabbed onto the wall for support, my legs trembling. Through the bond, I felt Mikhail's immediate response. I felt his alarm, then understanding and pure hunger.I'm coming, He sent through our connection. Hold on, love. I'm coming.He found me five minutes later, having abandoned his training session mid-drill. The moment I saw him and smelled him, every rational thought fled my mind."Mikhail," I whimpered, reaching for him desp
NatashaThe drive back to pack territory felt too short, the bubble of our honeymoon popping the moment we crossed the boundary. I felt the shift immediately. The awareness of other pack members nearby, the weight of responsibilities returning and the reality of what we were coming back to."You okay?" Mikhail asked, reaching over to squeeze my hand."Yeah," I said, though my stomach was doing nervous flips. "Just adjusting. It's different now, you know? We can't hide anymore. Everyone knows.""Is that a bad thing?" He asked carefully."No," I said quickly, and I meant it. "No, I'm tired of hiding. I just know it's going to be awkward. Some people are going to treat us differently.""Let them," He said firmly. "We have nothing to be ashamed of. The council approved our mating, Dimitri gave his blessing, and we're legally bonded. Anyone who has a problem with it can fuck off."I smiled at his protective tone, feeling it echo through our bond. "Easy for you to say. You're not the one w
NatashaMikhail's lips were on mine and nothing else existed.I was kissing him. I never thought this would ever happen in this lifetime.His lips moved against mine with a hunger that made my whole body ache. His hand fisted in my hair, holding me exactly where he wanted me. I didn't know how it
NatashaMikhail and I stood there in the wreckage, my arms wrapped around him from behind, both of us trembling for different reasons.He trembled out of anger and I did out of fear and shock.I could feel his heart racing against my chest, the tension slowly draining from his body as the rage ebbe
NatashaThe moment I heard the hooves thundering up to the castle gates, I knew that Mikhail was back.I was half hidden behind one of the stone columns in the entrance hall like the coward I was, watching as everyone assembled to greet him. Dimitri and Seraphina stood at the front looking every i
NatashaI was good at being invisible. Years of practice had perfected the art of moving through rooms unnoticed, of helping without drawing attention, of existing in the spaces between other people's lives. I was the quiet healer. The helpful sister. The woman no one really looked at twice and it







