Fantasy Gifts Blackwood Novels & Stories

“Of course, baby.” “Thank you, Mom! Could you help me pack?” Before I can answer, Mr. Blackwood steps forward. “Take this.” He hands her a gold credit card. “Enjoy.” Stella looks at the card, hesitating. “No, thank you.” “Don’t be shy, Stella,” Mr. Blackwood insists. “Everything I have is yours, just like Alex.” He is such a great actor. Being such a nice human being in front of the world. I wish I was so strong to kill him.

“Wait, say that again.” Noel typed out, staring at the box in his hands. “What is this?” “Black obsidian,” Eden said, grinning as he clasped a silver necklace on. “Fern gave it to us as a gift. You can do what you want with it.” “Us?” “Yeah, I have a matching bracelet.” He held up his arm to show the bracelet glistening. “They are a pair. Do you like it?” “It’s pretty.” Noel typed out, looking at the ring. “Are you sure I can have this?”

She took a look at it. "Instead of 18 roses, I'll give you 18 red gifts! You'll get one each day leading up to your birthday, and on your birthday, I'll make a giant cake for you to blow! Enjoy, my sweet birthday girl~" '18 gifts?' Zelle asked in her mind, tilting her head. ‘This is incredible! I'm curious as to who sent it. ' She took a deep breath and unwrapped the box, her face lit up with delight...

But there was acceptance too, and gratitude for this new beginning. Together, we unwrapped each gift. There were carved wooden wolves, crafted by the pack's most skilled artisans. Rare healing herbs I'd only read about in ancient texts. Precious pack heirlooms—symbols of my acceptance into the Blackwood lineage. The last gift was the smallest, a tiny box wrapped in silver paper. Inside was a mate-marking pendant, gleaming with the ancient Blackwood family symbols. Alexander lifted it carefully, his eyes meeting mine with silent promise for all the moon cycles ahead.

Inside was a folded piece of white paper. My breath hitched. Something wasn’t right. Something was very, very wrong. I unfolded it. And the moment my eyes landed on the words written inside… My body froze completely . “Did you like the first gift?” My heart skipped a beat. “This wine was my second gift to you as the Luna of Darkwood Pack.” My fingers tightened around the paper. “Hope you like it?” A cold chill spread through my entire body. “Besides, green looks good on you.” My breath came out uneven.

The paragraph went on. “…he kept them safe until their strength returned. Until the magic pulsing in their blood could protect them on its own. And when they could finally walk without fear, they left… but not before offering him a parting gift. One of power. One touched by darkness, but softened in the hands of the right soul.” I sat back, my fingers pressing against the spot where my babies rested. My thoughts whirled. So that’s how the Second Life gene got into the Blackwood line.

I was always just a means to an end. “What do you mean?” I’m inching toward the window now, away from Andrew, desperation clawing at my throat. “What kind of interests?” “Collectors,” Blackwood says simply, polishing another of his rings on his jacket. “People who appreciate unique, valuable things. Your offspring will be well cared for, I assure you. Fed, housed, trained…” “Trained for what?” “Entertainment. Protection. Companionship.” His oily grin widens. “Whatever their masters require.”

"You said, 'It looks really good on you. I'm glad I picked the right one. Then you passed out." His eyes widened a fraction. "I said that out loud?" "Mm-hmm." I smiled. "So my question is. Why did you gift this to me Mr Blackwood? From what I can see, this is a diamond studded necklace and I’m sure it’s very expensive. So why give it to me as a gift? Why give something like this to your assistant when you could give it to… I don't know, someone who actually deserves it more?" He turned his head away for a moment, his jaw tightening. When he looked back, his gaze was locked on mine—intense, and unguarded.

His gaze felt like an X‑ray, as if he wanted to look straight through me. I did not look away. I met his gaze with a numb calm. After a long silence, he smiled and pulled his hand back. He tossed the burn ointment onto the nightstand. “Fine. Go. But you must return on February sixteenth. It is my birthday. I want you to give yourself to me as a gift.” He leaned close to my ear, and his teeth brushed my earlobe. “You need to be clean and fresh.” I pushed down the nausea in my stomach and nodded. “Okay.”

His weathered hands turned the piece over, checking for authenticity, for damage, for any sign that it wasn't exactly what it claimed to be. Then he looked at the gift. Then at me. Then at Dominic. "You chose very well indeed," he said finally, his voice thick with accent and hard-won approval. "She's not just beautiful—though she is undeniably that. She's strategy wrapped in silk and steel. Intelligence disguised as elegance." He extended his hand to Dominic, and when they shook, I could practically feel the billions of dollars changing hands. "The deal is yours, Mr. Blackwood. With my compliments and my respect."