Alec - My life has been nothing but pain. I gave up not just looking for my mate but in general a long time ago. My pack, my friends, not even my children can bring me out of this endless nightmare. My wolf runs things. But when I see Crista's face, I see an end to my misery. I'll stay silent no more. She is the light, and I'll do anything to protect her. Crista - One night of terror has sent my peaceful life into turmoil. My pack is gone, and so are my parents. I was only able to save my little sisters. But when we're found unknowingly crossing the border into the Incubi Pack, it feels more like out of the frying pan and into the fire. The alpha of the Incubi Pack is known across the world as ruthless. The Moon Goddess must have a sense of humor as my wolf whimpers mate' as his yellow eyes meet mine. This book is a spinoff series from the Bloodmoon Series. Characters and events in this book may overlap with Beta's Surprise Mate. The Incubi Pack Series: Book 1 - Alpha of Nightmares Book 2 - The Hybrid Alpha Book 3 - Dream Mate Anthology Short Story - Chosen Mate Anthology Bonus Story - Sicilian Holiday Anthology Short Story - The Quiet Giant's Mate Book 4 - Beta's Innocent Mate
๋ ๋ณด๊ธฐI shuddered as I smelled the flames, the distinct odor of burning flesh on the air. I could hear the screams in the darkness. The howls of pain echoing. Need to run. Need to get to safety. Need to protect them. Canโt let him find us.
โMommy!!โ โDad...nooo!!!โ the screams of my sisters wake me from my restless nightmare-filled sleep. I felt them shivering on either side of me as they clung to my ivory fur that was dingy from dirt, twigs, and leaves from running. Emilia whimpered in my head as I nudged Persephone first with my muzzle, then Delilah.
Iโm the oldest. Iโm supposed to protect my sisters. But how can I be the strong one when every time I close my eyes, Iโm haunted by the image of Ignazio ripping my fatherโs heart out of his chest and the sound of my motherโs screams of agony as she rushed forward on instinct to try and help her mate only to die too.
โNo one expects you to get over it. We just witnessed the destruction of our pack and the gruesome murder of our parents. All we can do is keep moving and find somewhere safe for them.โ Emilia encouraged me. I sighed, knowing she was right.
My sisters both trembled as they opened their eyes. Blinked as they looked around the dark, dirty cave Iโd stopped for us to rest only a matter of hours ago. I whimpered as I saw the tears in both their eyes. Like me, theyโd had nightmares about our parentsโ deaths, about the deaths of those we were closest to in the pack.
โWe need to keep moving.โ I linked to them. Delilah sniffled as she nodded, rubbing away the tears from her forest-green eyes, the same eyes of our father. It was hard to look at her face and not see our parents. She had dadโs eyes, but like me, she resembled our mother with dark hair, a heart-shaped face, and full lips. She was still in her green party dress from the attack. It was dirty and torn in spots.
We didnโt have time to grab anything as we ran for our lives. My sisters at least still had their party dresses since they werenโt old enough to shift. I had to turn to carry them. It was silly and undoubtedly stupid that I was sad to have lost my dress. It had been brand new. Iโd picked it just for the party.
Thales was returning from his studies in France. Heโd been sent to study and train with Luna Sherieโs brother Alpha Klaus before his first shift. The whole pack was eager to welcome our future Alpha back. And Iโll admit, like many other unmated females of age, I was anxious to find out if he was my mate.
Heโd always said gold looked good on me. Thatโs why I and choosing a shimmering soft golden a-line dress with spaghetti straps, V neckline, front ruched detailing at the bodice, with a flowy floor-length skirt. It was beautiful, but I didnโt even get to see Thales when the howls began warning the pack of danger. I donโt even know if heโs still alive.
โHow far do you think we will need to go to be sure weโre safe?โ Persephone questioned, wiping her hands on her shimmery blue skater dress. It was torn and not at all proper anymore. If she was to bend, someone would get a view of her underwear. Emilia growled at that thought. After all, Persephone is only fifteen. No one should be looking at her that way.
Looking at Persephone hurt just as bad as looking at Delilah. Other than having our motherโs baby blue eyes, like mine, she looks so much like our father with her sandy blonde hair, cupid bow lips, and diamond-shaped face. โI donโt know, Perse. But we have to keep moving. We arenโt far enough beyond our pack border.โ I shook my head, rising to my paws and stretching.
This is the longest Iโve stayed in wolf form. And carrying both of them has been a strain on Emiliaโs back. โI donโt mind. It is our responsibility as the eldest and the only one who can shift.โ Emilia shrugged. โAre you sure you are ready to go so soon? Can Emilia continue at this pace?โ Persephone questioned. I nodded.
โYes. We can handle it. Get on.โ I gestured with my head for them to climb on my back. Iโm not the largest wolf out there. Dad and Alpha Silvano were huge compared to me, but Emilia is more prominent than momโs wolf. We all froze as the sounds of howls reached us. I took a tentative sniff of the air.
Madonie Pack.
โWe need to move.โ I instructed. Persephone nudged Deliah to my back before climbing on. My sisters gripping my fur as I pushed off and started running. Iโm usually relatively fast. I hold the record for she-wolves in our pack for running.
Iโm tired and have the added weight of my younger sisters. The only thing that kept me going right now was fear. Their howls were getting louder and their scents closer. I was trying to figure out how many were following us. I would guess at least six were on our trail.
Damn it. They are closing in on us. I canโt let them get us.
I press myself harder, trying to run faster. I know itโs pointless. They will catch up with us, and then we are as good as dead. I skidded to a stop as six wolves stepped out from the line of trees in front of me. โCrap.โ Emilia exclaimed. These arenโt the wolves chasing us. They smell different.
My sisters grip my fur tighter as I feel them shaking in fear. I donโt have to look behind me to know the Madonie wolves had caught up. I could smell them and hear their snarls. The wolves in front of me were growling, teeth bared, ready for a fight. And I donโt know if weโve been saved.
Sensing the two packs about to clash, I dodged left. I nearly got away unhurt. But one of the wolves managed to nip my right hind leg causing me to misstep. I stumbled and readjusted to ensure that I was the one that collided with the tree and not my sisters. My sisters tumbled off my back at the impact.
โCrista!โ My sisters shouted as they nudged me. I shook my head, trying to get back to my feet. My eyes were trained on the fight. Whoever these other wolves were, they were winning. Theyโd already killed three of the Madonie wolves, and soon enough, the others turned tail heading back in the direction of my pack.
I can worry about the Madonie wolves later. Now I need to worry about these unidentified wolves. Limping, I moved to place myself in front of my sisters. Growling, I shifted my stance, ready to fight. I wonโt let anyone touch my sisters. โWhen I give the signal, you grab Delilah, and you run. I will hold them off.โ I instructed.
โIโฆ okay.โ Persephone whimpered. I know she doesnโt want to run. She doesnโt want to leave me to fight them, not after seeing them kill three of the Madonie wolves. But she knows she needs to do what I say.
I furrowed my brow as the wolves moved back to the trees. There is no way they are just leaving. I was right as the six men walked back on wearing athletic shorts and, of course, no shirts. Nudity was common in the werewolf community. We learn from a young age to not think much about it. But this was different than seeing males in our pack after they shifted.
These men were strangers and bore scars that I wouldnโt think a werewolf would have. Unless they are scars, they had before they shifted. Unless the wounds are from wolfsbane or silver. Either way, it made them look scary and intimidating. One of them seemed to be in charge of the group as he stood forward from the group.
A sinister smile crossed his face as he eyed us. โWhat do we have here? A trio of she-wolves all alone. I say we kill the pups and have fun with the older one.โ he smirked, eliciting a laugh from the others. I snarled at him. Like fucking hell, I would let him or any of them have โfunโ with me. And none of them are going to touch my sisters.
I was ready to give the signal when a midnight black wolf that appeared to have blue streaks thundered out of the trees and chomped into the manโs shoulder, knocking him to the ground. My sisters gasped, as startled as me. I nudged them to start to back away, worried the five others would attack the black wolf. But oddly, they didnโt.
Instead, the men all bowed their heads in submission. As the wolf stepped off the man, shifting without a thought to his nudity. He was tall, wiry but certainly muscular with almond skin, rich curly black hair, an electric blue mohawk, and a rectangular face with deep sapphire blue eyes. I kept my eyes on his face, still ready for a fight.
With a jovial grin, a bizarre juxtaposition to the blood on his face, he winked at me. Without a word, he walked into the trees and returned moments later wearing a pair of black athletic shorts carrying more clothes in his hands. โGo behind the tree and shift. You can wear those.โ he commanded, tossing the clothes as me.
Cautiously I lifted the clothes in my jaw and back up, forcing my sisters to back up with me. โDonโt even think about running, darlings.โ he added with a laugh. Fuck. I had intended for us to run. โWhat will we do?โ Persephone asked as Delilah hugged her. I sighed, setting the clothes down before shifting back to my human form.
โThe fuck was that about, Andrรฉ? You didnโt need to attack me, you bastard.โ the sinister man growled, apparently finally getting to his feet. So our savior, so to speak, is named Andre. โDonโt speak, Santi.โ Andrรฉ growled, and I knew he was an Alpha. Is he the Alpha of this pack? No, I donโt know of any Alpha Andrรฉ in Sicily. โDonโt take your time, darlings. Tick tock.โ Andrรฉ called out his tone far too happy for the underlying threat in his words.
I sighed and quickly put on the black shorts and gray tee I was given. I took my sisters by their hands and stepped back on. โIf we have crossed into your territory, we apologize. Please just let us move along. We will leave your territory without issue.โ I said, bowing my head. โSorry. But I canโt grant that. Only Alpha gets to decide what happens with trespassers.โ Andrรฉ shrugged, glaring daggers at Santi.
Whoever their Alpha is, they fear him. I can tell because all six other men cringe, growing smaller at the mere mention of him. โAnd he will also be punishing the six of you for thinking you can undermine his authority. Iโd say I wish you luck. But Iโm personally hoping for a public flogging. Iโll make popcorn.โ Andrรฉ grinned, his tone chipper.
โWhat the fuck kind of place did we end up?โ Emilia questioned. โThatโs a good question. I donโt know if I want to find out.โ I frowned.
โNow then. Manners. Nonna was always a stickler about that. Wouldnโt want her to come back and haunt me.โ Andrรฉ chuckled. โI am Andrรฉ DโAmore. And you three?โ he gave an exaggerated bow. โDonโt tell him our names.โ Emilia said. โI donโt have a choice. We are outnumbered. And heโs obviously of alpha blood.โ I sighed. โIโm Crista Fayte. And these are my sisters Persephone and Delilah.โ I answered.
โThree Faytes. How interesting.โ Andrรฉ smiled, sizing us up. โWelcome to the Incubi Pack, darlings. Now come along. My father will want to see you, then he will decide your fates.โ he snickered at his own little pun. All the blood drained from my face as I felt my sisters cling tighter to my hands. Incubi Pack!? The pack run by Mad Alpha Chesed? The Alpha who lost his humanity and only a monstrous beast remains!? We are so dead.
I canโt believe we are going on a week-long vacation. Iโm happy for the time to relax. And if Iโm honest, to be away from everyone. My sisters have been overbearing recently. I know they are trying to be helpful, but even if I am starting to resemble a beached whale, I am not an invalid. I can still do things for myself. So a week away from them will be nice. And the same for Isadora and the other ranked she-wolves. I like each of them, but if they arenโt treating me like a child, they give all this advice from their pregnancies. And I appreciate it. I truly do. But I am not them, and they are not my mamma. This trip happened just in time because I was inches from ripping Isadoraโs face off. She is a wonderful woman. I love her; I do.
Weโve reached the third trimester of Cristaโs pregnancy, and if memory serves, this will be the more uncomfortable trimester. The first trimester was hard on Crista, and as her mate, I felt her pain and did what I could to take some of it. But no mate bond can stop morning sickness. Still find that a strange phrase, a complete oxymoron from anything Iโve seen. I thought Iโd seen plenty of morning sickness during Lilianaโs pregnancy with the twins and also from a less up-close experience during Izzyโs three pregnancies. Crista, however, suffered far worse. Doctor Anselma Laurito diagnosed her with hyperemesis gravidarum, severe morning sickness. Thankfully, with proper monitoring and ensuring Crista stayed hydrated, we could make it through that first trimester. And by the start of her fift
I shook my head, willing my blush away. I was failing, but I was trying, damn it. “Anyway… Tiberius sent me a surprise from our family home.” I gestured to my mamma’s gown.“And of course, I’m for Crista wearing this. It was our mamma’s dress. She met our papa in that dress and took the Beta oath in it. She promised it to Crista when we were just kids. So she should wear it tonight.” Persephone snorted.André’s eyes lit up as he looked at the gown. Gently setting down the black dress, he picked my mamma’s dress up like he was holding a priceless jewel.“This is… oh, it’s gorgeous. The craftsmanship is exquisite. Nonna Gwen had taste. It’s heavenly… ethereal. It’s sexy while still demur. It just screams Crista, host of Light.” André gushed before gently putting the dress down.“Now, why are we arguing?” André looked from
A lot happened, and it all happened so fast. It wasnโt even two months ago that I was getting dressed up for Thalesโs welcome home party, heart fluttering as I wondered if we would be mates. My mind raced with thoughts of becoming Luna of Nebrodi rather than Beta. All that quickly changed when Madonie attacked us. Thales was killed. His parents, my parents, all the ranked wolves were killed. All but Tiberius, my sisters, and me. Though they did a number on Tiberius and had some nefarious plans for him based on what heโs told me after waking up from his coma. โYou werenโt wrong on that feeling youโd be a Luna rather than a Beta.โ Emilia shrugged. โInstead, weโre Luna of Incubi and mated to a much better-looking male than Thales.โ Her nose twitched slightly as she made the comparison. I rolled my eyes. โItโs rude to speak ill of the dead. Thales was cute as a boy, and Iโm sure heโd grown to be a handsome man while studying abroad. But even t
โOf course. Rather hard to not have an alliance with my mateโs father and twin brother.โ Tiberius shrugged as he flipped through the papers. Darren nodded, scanning the documents a bit more thoroughly. โOf course, Alpha. We intend to also maintain an alliance with Bloodmoon. I am unsure if that is in your plans or Tiberiusโs for your individual packs. But given I am from Bloodmoon and retain connections there, Andrรฉ and I intend to write up a formal treaty with Alpha Logan for our packs. We plan to present it to him before his wedding in November.โ Darren explained. Iโm not surprised he wants to keep an alliance with his former pack. Given that the Bloodmoon wolf is connected on some ancient cosmic levels with Darkness and Light, I already had that in mind. โI cannot speak for Tiberius, but yes. Damon faxed over a rough draft of our treaty to Logan this morning.โ Tiberius shrugged. โKatrina suggested we make the alliance too. She assumed you and Andrรฉ
Sitting in my office at the town hall, I found it hard to focus. So much has happened. So much has changed. And it all happened in what both felt like a blink but also forever. Itโs only been a month since our victory over Ignazio, and things are still settling down. Itโs strange to think that a chance encounter turned my world upside down. โIt was not a chance encounter.โ Darkness snorted, his voice faint from beyond the wall that contained him. I sighed in concession. Darkness is right. Nothing about what happened was by chance. Everything happened by design. As the hosts of Darkness and Light, it was only a matter of time that Crista and I would be drawn to each other. Ironic that Melania wanted to prevent us from coming together, yet everything she did only pushed us down that path. Her enlisting Ignazio to do her bidding, having him attack the Nebrodi to take Crista, starting a war with my pack, all of it brought Crista and me together.
"Alpha of Nightmares" by J.R. Ward is a thrilling paranormal romance novel that centers around Nyx, a strong-willed wolf shifter, and her magnetic attraction to a mysterious alpha named Axe. As Nyx navigates the treacherous world of shifter politics and battles her inner demons, she must also confront Axe's dark secrets. This page-turner is packed with action, steamy romance, and surprising plot twists that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. What secrets will Nyx uncover about Axe and how will it impact their relationship? Find out in this gripping novel.
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