NIRVANA
“Anyone there?” I bent over to see who was on the other side but saw no one. Until a giant brown wolf appeared that almost gave me a heart attack.
With my breathing stuck in my lungs, my heart pounded so hard, and my feet seemed rooted to the ground.
My gaze was still glued to the wolf, and I had no idea there were wolves around here.
And then the cracking sound of something broken pierced my ears— it sounded like bones crunching and excruciating. Goosebumps erupted all over my skin.
Shocked, my eyes bulged out, but I couldn’t manage to blink or breathe until my lungs almost exploded and my chest began to heave.
The wolf deformed before my very eyes. The bones cracked, and from the four-legged animal, it turned into a two-legged naked human in just mere seconds.
It was not real.
I was just dreaming, or the shadow was playing tricks with me.
This was impossible.
“Oh, no, no.” Shivering, I stepped back with my shaky knees and immediately crashed into something huge, like a tree trunk, making me yelp in shock.
I jerked back, my heels tripping off, losing my balance. Before I could fall and land on my ass, big hands reached out, enveloping me like a warm blanket.
“Easy.” The familiar, pleasing, deep ramble somehow eased me. “You shouldn’t be here alone.”
I looked up, stared with wide eyes over a profound sense of shock, and met his forest green gaze, his eyes electrifying under the moonlight, almost mythical. My chin trembled as I choked out a gulp of air into my lungs. I closed my mouth.
“Breathe, Nirvana,” he said calmly, eyes raking through my face. “Or you’ll pass out.”
I swallowed hard and shook my head.
“Hey.” His voice was laced with concern, enough to convince me he was sincere. He swiped hair on my face, tucking them behind my ear. “What happened?”
“L-let go of me,” I whispered in horror.
“You’re shaking. Let me take you back to the house.”
“Just let me go.” I gripped his arms with my trembling hands.
“You look like you’ve seen something around here. You’re in shock.”
“Get off of me, Knight. I mean it.” With all the weirdness and something supernatural, I saw tonight that terrified and shocked me, I took all my strength and pushed him on his chest.
“I just wanna help you.” He gaped in disbelief. His expression unfolded a sense of dread.
I scoffed. “You’re joking, right? Earlier tonight, you can’t wait to get rid of me. Why are you here all of a sudden? I don’t need your help.”
“Nirvana.” His voice seemed filled with misery, almost believable.
“Like what you wished for, I’m leaving early in the morning. If I could find a flight tonight, I’m already out of your hair right now.” My knees wobbled as I walked away from him, but it wasn’t from an unexplainable thing I saw. It was from anger.
“You’re leaving without telling Kailin.”
“This is what you want, right? You think I’m a bad influence and not rich enough to be your cousin’s best friend.” I stopped and faced him. “I couldn’t think of anything I did wrong. Kailin and I have been friends since college, but you clearly hate my presence in your miserable kingdom.”
Before I could walk far, Knight was on my heels, reaching out, grabbing my wrist, and whirling me around. He pulled me against him, took the back of my head with his hands, and growled— an animalistic growl with a heated look in his eyes. “You think this is easy for me.”
I wanted to laugh out loud, but I was more confused than I had the strength to comprehend what he said. Yet I was so mad right now I began to shake.
“I, Knight Orion Blackwell,” he started chanting, which confused me even more. “Alpha of White Moon Pack, reject you, Nirvana—”
“I wanna chop your head off and use it as a soccer ball because right now I’m infuriated at you, you weirdo, arrogant, selfish son of a bitch!”
KNIGHT Shit. Things went out of hand quickly. She had just seen Gage shift, and she was terrified. Who wouldn’t be? She was human and only aware of our existence in fantasy, fiction books, and movies, and our representation was a terrifying beast that ripped human parts apart. And I pissed her off. It was better that way. She was away from our dark and dangerous world. She was better off out of my life. The longer she stayed at the vineyards, the harder it was to stay away from her. The pull was so strong it drove me crazy in just a little time I sat with her. She better hate me than drag her into my world. I dialed Alpha Califf, one of my allies. He had one of the biggest packs in the world, a witch coven, and the Lycan Alpha King at his disposal. “Knight, how’s life?” Califf found his mate, a lycan princess, Shadow Hawks, and they were stronger and fought enemies together. If I was being honest, I envied him that he had a stronger mate. Shadow was also a half-witch gif
KNIGHT “Yes.” I nodded glumly. “She’s better off without me. She’s—” “Human? Yeah. And the intoxicating mating pull was nothing I’d ever felt before. It was so strong I couldn’t control it, and it started to drive me insane.” “Poor thing. I won’t help you, Knight. You’re being selfish. Werewolves and Lycans can have human mates. It works just fine.” “Really?” I met her gaze. “What’s the lifespan of a human? She grows old, and I barely age. I can’t go through that. When my father died, my mother took her own life. And they were both werewolves and were strong, but my mother couldn’t handle losing her mate. She couldn’t handle the pain.” Every time I thought of having a mate, I saw my mother’s lifeless body in her bed as she took poison to end her life. “Is that why you don’t want a mate?” “Yes. We will both suffer in the end. Considering how weak humans are.” “You’re wrong. When Shadow lost her wolf and her ability, she did everything to fight against Aciano. She may not have wh
NIRVANA I felt so cold, my chin trembling. I was in my pajamas, barefooted, and walking in the woods alone in the dark. I couldn’t remember how I ended up in this place, but I had a feeling I was lost. I wrapped my arms around my body when chilly air seeped through my bones. My body shivered, and my breath steamed as I mindlessly walked through the dirt path. Then, a big gray wolf appeared before me. I stood frozen. My heart hammered as its dark eyes narrowed, and the rings around the irises glowed golden as if it just found its prey. I’d never seen a wolf so big before, taller, more robust, standing with pride, its fur shining against the darkest night. The wolf prowled, growling, exposing its long, sharp, white fangs. “Don’t hurt me!” I jolted up in bed from a dead sleep, drenched with sweat, still catching my breath. My heart pumped so hard in my chest till it was so uncomfortable. And my dream felt so real. “Oh, thank God.” I wiped off the beads of sweat all over my for
NIRVANA “Knight is visiting Blackwell Firm, and since I’m his assistant, I came with him and used his card to book a suite for myself.” I couldn’t help but chuckle. “You book a suite for yourself?” “That’s what we agreed upon, or I’ll leave the vineyards, stay with you, and find a job.” “Huh.” That was all I could say. “He’s loaded anyway. He has a penthouse here. He can stay there or book a suite for himself, but I didn’t.” Of course, it wouldn’t be a surprise, but Knight, besides his nasty, gruesome attitude, seemed grounded. Before I could reply, a knock on the door interrupted us. “That’s our coffee.” Kailin rose to her feet and went to the door. Since she was my roommate, she still had keys to our apartment, even if she left months ago. I was about to get up when I heard a familiar voice from my small living area. I was curious to know if it was still a remnant of my dream. I went to see if what I heard was right. “Be nice, or I swear to—” Kailin warned Knight when they
KNIGHT “What the hell is wrong with you?” Kailin was still pissed at me. I didn’t know what was wrong with me. It seemed that every time I saw Nirvana, the world stopped spinning, things suspended, and my mind went blank. The pull between us was getting stronger and stronger. I started to lose my mind, and it seemed that I was the only one who was affected. And it fucking drove me insane. “Don’t challenge me again, Kailin.” My warning didn’t seem to budge her. “You don’t wanna see me mad. And I’m still your alpha.” “Then tell me, why do you hate her so much?” “I don’t hate her.” “Then why do you act like she has some kind of infectious disease when she’s around?” “I don’t wanna talk about it. You can stay here if you want to. I’m just going to visit the firm. See you at lunch.” I was already walking towards the door when she held my arm. “What?” She sighed. “I apologize because you’re my alpha, but not as my cousin.” “Apology accepted, but don’t ever challenge me again, espe
KNIGHT “Mr. Blackwell, welcome to Case Restaurant.” He offered his hand. “Thank you.” I shook his hand hesitantly, but he was in a pack. I could smell that. “Oh, you two have met.” My cousin had just arrived, or she was already here. “Yeah.” I was still confused, and the man didn’t introduce himself. “I’m Case Woodrow.” He smiled as he must have seen the look on my face. “You’re the owner.” My pulse accelerated. I looked at Kailin, and she just shut her mouth. “Yes, son. And you’re an alpha.” “Yes. White Moon from California.” I paused for a moment to gather my bearing. “Can we speak in private?” “Of course. My office is downstairs. Follow me.” He gestured as he led me the way. Before Kailin could follow Case, I held her wrist. “You knew?” “Obviously, I can smell him.” I tightened my grip around her. “Are you going to tell me about this?” She met my gaze, and I instantly saw the guilt in her eyes. “I promised Case I won’t tell what we are to his granddaughter.” Case open
NIRVANA I checked the time on my phone— it was supposed to be lunchtime on the reservation. I had already been in the restaurant since morning, but Kailin hadn’t arrived yet, nor did her grumpy hot biker cousin. To be honest, I was excited to see his annoying, handsome face, so I sent a quick text to her. “Mara, has Kailin arrived yet?” She’d been working here for five years and knew my best friend. “Yes, and Mr. Blackwell.” A small smile appeared on her lips. I knew what it meant. Even the blind could see how attractive Knight was. “I saw them went to your grandfather’s office and the beautiful woman.” “Beautiful woman?” My brows knitted. A sliver of jealousy pierced my heart. “Yes.” “Okay.” That was all I could say before I went to knock on my grandfather’s office. I still felt the pang in my chest when the door opened wide. Grandpa, Kailin, Knight, and the beautiful woman Mara talked about were there. She was indeed beautiful in her thirties, but I’d seen her before. “Oh,
NIRVANA “Never. Knight’s always focused and a little bit aggressive, but he’s respectful, protective, and loyal to default. Forgive his manner, Grandpa Case, Zarah. My cousin is a lot, but he’s very respectful. Lately, he’s been temperamental.” “I completely understand, honey.” “It’s all right, Kailin. Your cousin is under a lot of pressure,” said Zarah, agreeing with Grandpa. “Excuse me for a moment.” I got up. “I’ll go find him.” “Good idea,” Zarah and Kailin said in unison. “He’s probably in the parking lot, honey.” I went out towards the parking lot. He was there pacing before the rental car. I hadn’t got closer, yet he somehow sensed me. He stopped and turned to me, still wearing a confused look on his face. “Look, I know you hate me, but you can tell me now if I shouldn’t join you over lunch. I don’t want to make it more awkward than it already is, and I don’t want you to look disrespectful in front of Zarah. I will understand.” I stopped before him, and he just stared at