All Chapters of When Monsters Mate: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

Lydia’s POVAt first, I didn’t know where to put my hands.One rested awkwardly on his shoulder while the other hovered in the air like I was debating whether to touch a live flame. But eventually, as Leonidas adjusted me higher on his back without complaint, I let myself lean in. I wrapped my arms around his neck, gently, carefully, and allowed the warmth of his body to steady me. My forehead rested against the back of his shoulder, and for the first time that day, I exhaled without thinking of how I sounded.His back was broad and solid beneath me, his steps confident, unbothered by the extra weight. And though my cheeks burned in quiet embarrassment, there was a strange peace in it too, being carried. Not because I was weak or helpless, but because I was tired. And for once, someone noticed.I let my eyes drift shut for a moment, listening to the crunch of his boots against the forest floor, the occasional rustle of leaves above us, the soft night air brushing against my skin.Then

Lydia’s POVRina stayed for an extra week at the Alpha’s castle, and it had to be one of the best weeks of my life. We laughed until our stomachs hurt, explored the halls and hidden corners I remembered from Kaela’s orientation, and ate like royalty. For someone fully human, this place was a surreal blend of nightmare and fantasy. She called it “Beauty and the Beast meets Dracula’s mansion”, and she wasn’t far off.She wasn't allowed to take pictures- Leonidas's strict rule, but that didn’t stop her from pocketing a few souvenirs. A bronze napkin ring, a velvet ribbon from the library scrolls, a feather from one of the rooftop nests. “Just in case I start thinking I dreamt this all,” she whispered with a grin as she slipped the ribbon into her coat.But reality eventually called her home. Work was piling up, and her mother, still in and out of the hospital, needed her. As much as I wanted her to stay, I knew I couldn’t keep her. When she left, it was another flit of goodbye tears, ano

Lydia’s POVI once read that when you fall in love, it doesn’t always come with fireworks or declarations, it’s often quieter. A realization that someone’s presence matters more than you expected. That the idea of losing them is unbearable.That’s exactly how it felt watching Leonidas now, saying nothing after everything I had just poured out. My heart was racing, pounding against my ribs like it was trying to break free. My hands trembled. My entire body trembled. I didn’t want silence from him. I wanted something, anything, to quiet Kaela’s voice in my head telling me I didn’t belong. I needed to hear that I wasn’t just temporary. That he would still want me after all of this was over. The way I wanted him.And I did. Gods, I wanted him so badly. The feelings I had for Leonidas ran so deep, they felt embedded into every part of me, every breath, every thought. Watching him from a distance these past few days, without speaking, without touching, had been torture. Especially because t

Leonidas’s POVLydia was still trembling in my hand. The subtle, continuous fidgeting of her fingers told me everything I needed to know, she was scared. And it made my blood boil. No daughter should react this way to the mere mention of her father. But knowing what kind of man Darian Morvain was, it didn’t surprise me. What angered me was the fact that he still had this kind of hold on her. That his shadow still reached her here, in my territory.When we reached the door to my office, Lydia stopped suddenly and tugged at my arm. I glanced over my shoulder and saw her shaking her head, silently pleading not to go in.I turned fully to face her, throwing a brief look toward Cassian and Kaela, who had followed close behind. I gave them a short nod, a silent command to go ahead of us. They moved past and disappeared through the doors.“Hey, little flame,” I said softly, catching her chin with my fingers. “Look at me.”Her gaze lifted slowly, watery and full of dread. I hated seeing her l

Lydia’s POVIt had been three days since I found the mystery box in my room, three long days filled with unease and a constant sense of dread. I kept glancing over my shoulder, my mind spinning with questions. But one thing was painfully clear: someone else knew about the bracelet. And that someone was inside Leonidas’s house.I didn’t trust anyone here. No one except Leonidas. That was why I’d decided to ask him about it. Only problem? I hadn’t really seen him since that night three days ago. Sure, I caught glimpses of him now and then, always in passing, but he was constantly surrounded by his clan or locked in meetings with his council, prepping for the ball and the fist-fight event. In short, he was booked and busy.Still, every morning and evening, without fail, he sent me flowers and sweet handwritten notes apologizing for his absence. They always made my heart ache a little more. I missed him fiercely. Sometimes I wandered into his room just to breathe in his scent, but even th