Here I Come

AVA

I’ve been living with my mate for a few months now. We’ve kept our mating a secret from those outside our coven, aware that my identity could stir up trouble.

Dominic, however, has plans to host a ball. He wants to publicly announce our union, hoping it will bring us peace.

My transformation hasn’t been too harsh, and Lyra seems content. We now have the freedom to run and train with the others daily. Most of my time is spent with the fighters and guards.

Carly and Abel rarely visit, and Dominic still harbors resentment for their past actions.

My former pack continues to lurk, keeping a close eye on me. I do my best to disregard them, but I know I need to confront them soon or they’ll attempt to reclaim me. They’re oblivious to my mating because I’ve been masking my scent and mark.

Dominic suggests we invite my family and ex-mate over. He wants to formally introduce me as a hybrid and their new queen.

Despite my hybrid status, most of the coven has welcomed me warmly. They seem thrilled to finally have a queen. I can now sustain myself on either food or blood, which is convenient on days when Dominic and I choose to stay in bed.

Dominic and I have been researching my wolf—trying to understand her unique appearance and my ability to manipulate the weather under extreme stress.

We discovered through a blood test that my wolf is the same one that was assigned to the fourth original. She inherited his powers upon his death, granting me this unique ability.

She was overlooked in the past due to her small size—people mistook her for a runt and killed her.

Dominic has been incredibly supportive over the past few months. He and Lyra spend their days chatting about random things. Their conversations bring them joy. I usually tune out their chatter unless it’s something significant.

Lyra loves to flirt. She teases him, then disappears when he responds to her advances. I don’t mind, though, because it means I get to enjoy our intimate moments alone.

Today, I’m assisting the guards in the dungeon. Dominic dislikes the idea of torture, deeming it barbaric and risky, but I don’t share his sentiment.

I rarely have to resort to violence to extract information. Most are already terrified of me—I mean, I ~am~ both a wolf and a vampire.

I get dressed in a pair of black and gray ripped jeans and a tight red shirt that accentuates my figure. I pull my hair up into a messy bun and put on black combat boots.

Dominic is still sleeping, so I leave a kiss on his forehead and a note saying I’ll be back later.

After grabbing a quick breakfast of orange juice, toast, and an apple, I head to the yard to watch the men train and listen to the women gossip.

I know some of the women are unhappy about Dominic having a mate, but none have dared to challenge me yet.

A loud thud from the training area catches my attention. Two men are engaged in a fight, refusing to back down, while a crowd watches. I clap my hands to draw everyone’s attention to me.

The men continue to fight, so I intervene, flipping one onto his back and tripping the other.

I dust myself off and keep an eye on them, ensuring they don’t resume their fight. “What’s going on here?” I ask, maintaining a calm yet firm tone.

I hear Dominic approaching from behind. He must have heard the commotion and seen me intervene. I can sense his anger, but I wait for an explanation.

“Can someone explain what’s happening?” I ask again, this time using my alpha tone. Dominic watches from a distance, observing the scene.

“He’s sleeping with my girl!” one of the men shouts. I glance at the women behind me, all feigning surprise.

“She’s not your girl! She just wanted a good time, and she got it,” the other man retorts.

Dominic grins at me as I handle the situation. I kneel beside the men, addressing them as if they were adolescents.

“Listen to me, both of you,” I say. “It doesn’t matter who she belongs to. You’re here to train. Don’t let a woman tarnish your reputation. If she truly was your girl, she wouldn’t be sleeping around.”

I stand up and address the women. “I don’t care who it is. What you do in private is your business, but don’t let it disrupt the coven.

“I won’t stand for anyone undermining us. These men have enough on their plates without being distracted by women.

“I don’t want to have to say this again,” I assert, my voice firm.

I assist the men to their feet, instructing them to continue their training. As I depart, a scornful voice echoes behind me.

“Who does she think she is? Sure, the king might be her mate, but he still enjoys a good fuck with me occasionally.”

Sensing my irritation, Dominic starts to approach me. I shoot him a warning glance to stay put and he complies, leaning against a tree, visibly annoyed. I inhale deeply and spin around.

The woman who spoke is tall and thin, with striking red eyes and long silver hair. The other women titter, delighting in the scandalous chatter.

I stand there, unresponsive, pretending to observe another group of men sparring.

“He’s amazing in bed, so assertive and forceful. He told me he wishes I was his mate, not that wolf girl. Just a few days ago, when she was with the guards, he took me to his office and had his way with me. It wasn’t the first time.”

She continues to spew lies. I know Dominic didn’t sleep with her. I would have sensed it or smelled it on him. I link Dominic so he can hear her fabrications.

“I never laid a hand on her, baby,” he assures me, his voice sincere. “You know you’re the only woman who can satisfy me.”

I chuckle. “I know, love. I’m just letting you know the rumors that are circulating.” I might be angry at her insolence, but I know she’s full of crap. I pivot to walk over to Dominic, but the woman pipes up again.

“Look at her, trying to win him over. But he’ll never truly belong to her like he does to me.” She snickers, oblivious to the fact that Dominic just heard every word she said.

Furious, I spin around and march over to the group of women. All the men halt their training to watch me.

“Could you repeat that? I think we’d all like to hear it again,” I challenge the woman, my voice stern. Dominic edges closer, but maintains enough distance to let me handle it.

Her friends’ expressions fall, and they all stare at their feet. Except her. She glares at me defiantly.

“I ~said~,” she snaps back, “that the king enjoys fucking me when you’re not around. You might be his mate, but you can’t give him what I can.”

A crowd starts to form around us. Even the guards have stopped to watch. But I refuse to back down. I won’t be that weak, victimized wolf again.

I brush myself off and stare her down. “And what’s that? You must be incredibly naive if you think it’s sex or intimacy. I mean, I’m sure everyone here has heard us having sex multiple times by now.”

I take a seat on the table next to them and continue to ridicule her. “And if he fucked you before me, why would I give a damn? Considering I’m the only one he fucks now.”

The crowd murmurs and chuckles, and I raise my hand for silence. I can feel Dominic’s pride radiating through me.

But she just smirks. “Why would he want only you when he’s had better? I mean, the only reason he’s with you is the mate bond. If that were to break, you wouldn’t even be here. No, you’d be fucking Abel instead.”

Without reacting, I observe her impassively. I can feel Lyra growing angry and wanting to break free, and Dominic is begging me to ignore her and join him in bed.

I can’t, though. If I let this woman walk all over me, it will never stop.

“And what’s wrong with that? You’ve slept with Abel before, right? I mean, what I did before I found my mate doesn’t change the fact that he’s mine and I am his. Though I didn’t fuck Abel. He just wishes I did.”

Dominic chuckles behind me, knowing it’s the truth.

“So what?” she retorts. “That doesn’t change the fact that I’m fucking your mate every day, pleasing him endlessly.” She grins as if she’s victorious, and everyone around her gasps and whispers.

I laugh. “Well, that’s just pathetic. You think I believe anything you say? See, I know how Dominic is in bed, and it’s not a quick fuck-and-go thing.

“But let’s just say he did fuck you—what does that make you other than his plaything? I mean, you have nothing.

“The ladies you’re trying to impress are frightened now, and the guys you sleep with have all heard you claim you’ve been with me. So, what’s the point of saying you’ve been with the king?”

The crowd falls silent, their eyes darting to Dominic, waiting for him to step in. He simply shakes his head, giving me the floor.

“I said it because it’s the truth. He desires me, not you. He pleads with me to sleep with him when you’re not around.” She glances at Dominic, but he just returns her gaze with a puzzled look.

“So, sweetheart,” I say, chuckling. “You’re begging for quickies when I’m not in sight?” I stay seated, relishing the moment.

“Hell no. I have no idea what she’s thinking, but I definitely didn’t sleep with her. And as you pointed out, I’m not a quick man.”

He smirks at me, his eyes darkening with lust. “She couldn’t handle what you can. Why would I sleep with ~her~ when I can find you and take you wherever I please?”

I turn back to the girl. Her neck veins are pulsating with rage.

“Why are you lying?” she wails, looking at Dominic.

I slide off the table. “Alright, this has gone on long enough. I have things to attend to. You know how I can tell you’re lying? I would sense it if he was with someone else—and I’d be able to smell it.

“Even if he did beg you and didn’t have time to act on it, I would know. We share each other’s feelings, so if he’s in the mood, I’m aware.

“Listen, as I’ve already told everyone here, I don’t mind what you do as long as it doesn’t weaken the coven. But you deliberately spoke against me, trying to paint me as a love-struck fool blindly following her master.

“I don’t care about your issues, nor do I want to know, but if I hear you disrespect me or your king again, I won’t hesitate to discipline.” I gesture for everyone to return to their tasks.

I stroll over to Dominic, and he wraps his arms around my waist, kissing me softly. As I loop my arms around his neck and reciprocate the kiss, I feel eyes boring into the back of my head. I know the women are all glaring at me.

Dominic notices and lets me go, summoning one of the guards before spinning me around and clearing his throat. “Maybe my queen wasn’t clear enough?”

Everyone halts and turns to Dominic. The women look dejected and furious.

His voice echoes across the training fields. “This coven has always been peaceful, never one to fight amongst ourselves. But it seems some of you don’t know when to drop the attitudes.

“I won’t tolerate this any longer. Ava is my mate and your queen. She literally ~just ~said~ not to disrespect her or me, and yet a group of you immediately became hostile as soon as she turned her back.

“I don’t care who you are, cut the crap or face the consequences.” He begins to dismiss everyone and leave, when the same woman rolls her eyes and flips her hair, acting as if none of this applies to her.

Before he can react, I seize the woman by her throat and slam her onto the table. Her friends all recoil in shock.

“Which part of ~show some respect~ did you fail to comprehend?” I yell, holding her down. “You disrespect not only me, but your true king. Isn’t he the man you were after just ten minutes ago?”

“What are you talking about! You’re just mad because I spoke the truth.” She spits at me. The group watches cautiously as Dominic grows increasingly angry.

“Then explain why you rolled your eyes and flipped your hair as soon as the king finished speaking. Or can ~they~ explain?” I glance up at the group of women, all stunned and silent.

The woman grabs my hand and digs her nails into my shoulder. As blood drips from the wound, I let her go, grab her by the hair, and toss her onto a mat.

“You want a fight? Fine by me.” I shrug, ignoring the pain. Dominic positions himself behind the mat, waiting to see how the girl reacts.

“Fine. I won’t hold back, little wolf girl.”

She lunges at me, but I sidestep and pivot, kicking her in the back and causing her to fall. I observe her movements as she rises and lunges again. I dodge and knock her down once more.

She springs to her feet, her long nails slashing through the air towards me. I shield myself with my forearms, absorbing the brunt of her attack, and swiftly kick her knee out from under her.

As she crumbles, I extend my claws and strike her arm, relishing the shrill cry of pain that escapes her.

I seize this chance to pin her down again, my hand closing around her throat. My legs trap her arms, my weight pressing down on her chest, making it hard for her to breathe.

“Surrender!” I demand, my voice a low growl. She struggles beneath me, and I press down harder on her throat, her face flushing a deep red.

“I said ~surrender~!” I snap, my alpha wolf surfacing.

But she continues to resist, her nails digging into my thigh. I slam my knee onto her arm, hearing the sickening crack as it breaks. Her screams fill the air as I meet her gaze, watching her gasp for breath.

I can see she’s trying to fool me, pretending to be on the brink of death. I’m not buying it. I use my other leg to snap her other arm. Her screams intensify.

“This ends when you surrender or die. Choose wisely,” I warn her, my gaze locked with hers as she sobs beneath me. She kicks out, trying to dislodge me, so I lift her by her throat.

She’s trapped. She can kick all she wants, but she can’t fight back. Soon, she’ll pass out from the pain or lack of oxygen.

I maintain my grip on her throat, silent. She flails in the air, trying to land a kick, so I let her go. She attempts to break her fall with her broken arms, and screams as they shatter further.

She struggles to her feet and tries to kick me, but I catch her leg and hurl her back to the ground.

“Just quit. You can’t win. And honestly, this is getting dull,” I tell her, shrugging nonchalantly.

She glares at me, fury burning in her eyes, but then she drops her gaze, accepting the truth. “Fine, I surrender!”