“You’re a demon.” Cassie pointed a finger at Noel. “She’s a Skinwalker. If they weren’t looking for wolves to run interference and break up the occasional murder and body dump in the desert, we wouldn’t have made it through the front door. Especially not after my loving mate ripped one of your agent’s throat out.”
Fucking hell. She’s brilliant.
“Your grandfather chose well. Pairing you up in a marriage to what I can only assume is a rival pack based on your coloring differences. You’re everything an alpha needs to be.” Cordelia looked to him. “And you’re everything a mate needs to be. Rash, fierce, and typically unthinking of anything except for his mate.”
“Thank you?” Lorenzo cocked his head to the side unsure if she complimented him or insulted him. “I understand how you felt back in the hotel room. What the fuck is going on?” Anger pushed him to the edge of his seat.
“A woman’s intuition.” Noel twirled her right index finger and a puff of pale blue smoke came and formed two wolves before Noel slashed her hand through the figures, dispersing them into nothingness. “Noel came to me before heading out. Told me I had to let the two wolves live long enough to join DIB. I trusted her, as she trusted me in backing me for a leadership role when she hastily turned it down.”
“I’m not a leader and I still don’t totally like our coworkers,” Noel scooped an apple out of a bowl on a long wooden conference table, taking a bite before Jack plucked it from her hands. “Hey!”
“Where was your woman's intuition then?” the cop teased.
I could like him.
“So, what you’re proposing is we live and all we have to do is turn the pack from their dirty dealings?” He held back his laugh of amusement, but just barely.
“You don’t think we can do it?” Cassie turned to face him, disappointment turning the outer edges of her eyes down.
That’s when it hit him. She wanted this. Cassie wanted to end the pack ways, and this was how she’d do it.
“You want this.” It wasn’t a question.
“I lost my mother at birth accidentally, but my father at my tenth birthday because of the way wolves operate. I lost you because two packs felt they had to war with one another rather than share land or be content with dividing it. Tonight, I lost my greatest secret when fear for a packmate consumed me. I have nothing left to lose but so much to gain. Our alphas agreed to peacefully step down to allow us to broker peace. This is that peace. For all of us. Even the last pack.”
“Last pack?” Jack tossed the apple into the trash. “Shit, who knew there was only one left? Any chance you’ll name them?”
Cassie jerked her head down. “While only a wolf could have sold us out - even one of packmates - I will not do the same. I have no intention of giving up the lifestyle our families have afforded to us, we don’t need to murder our way out of problems.”
Lorenzo knew neither pack would accept this. They’d challenge them, and while Lorenzo knew without a doubt he could take any member of his pack, he didn’t know Cassie’s pack beyond rumor. And I want to do it. Damn it. “I was a lot more rational before six hours ago.”
“Marriage will do that to you.” Jack clapped him on the shoulder. “Come on, I’ll get you a drink. I know wolves. You’re gonna need a lot to get through what you have to do next.”
“I didn’t say yes.”
“You did. You just didn’t use the words.” Cassie tried to hide her smile.
“You know, there’s someone else who clearly meant to say some words but didn’t.”
“Now? You want the first time I say them to you as your wife to be now? In a dungeon cell office surrounded by people I don’t know?”
He shrugged. “Gotta start somewhere.”
“Fine then. Lorenzo Turlino I love you. Aside from wanting to murder you for leaving me, I’ve loved you since the moment you spoke to me the first time and if you don’t want this for our packs, tell me and we’ll fight until we can’t anymore.”
The energy in the room shifted. Energy from Noel’s magic swelled like a tangible force in the room to knock them out if needed.
“Calm down, mixed breed. If my wife wants peace, at least between the DIB and our packs so we can stop living looking over our shoulder when we want to run, I’m in.” He stood, resisting every urge to stay seated and pull Cassie into his lap and kiss her. “I want that drink.”
“This is going to be hard.” Cassie blew out a breath the minute Jack and Lorenzo left. She loved her husband, but a part of her wanted him to object, to be the sane one on the room.
“What do you think you need to help?” Cordelia came out from behind the desk and instead leaned against it, getting closer to Cassie while Noel stayed by the table.
“I’m not going to kill you because you slept with him.” Cassie meant it. She’d been with other men. She couldn’t fault Lorenzo for doing the same just because they’d laid their feelings out in the open. How the hell did you go from despising the sound of his name to this? Love. Love was the answer. To all the questions.
“You can’t. But it’s nice to know you’re levelheaded.” Noel walked closer, also leaning on the small desk.
“We need to show them the benefit in not attacking first. They need to understand this is not a betrayal, but a partnership. Much like the one Lorenzo and I were forced in to earlier today.”
“Forced?” Noel cocked her head to the side.
“Believe it or not, Lorenzo fucked up and vanished without a trace. I spent just shy of a decade wishing his death in a handful of not lady-like ways.”
Both women laughed.
“I do love him. I have always loved him, but we were forced into this marriage and our packs bristled a bit, but they were all at the ceremony and they all ate and drank and even danced together at the reception. What you’re offering us is much the same. We stop fearing the extinction of our lines like DIB has done to other wolves. Many of the older males are going to fight the idea, but fall in line. They respect me as their new alpha. They pledged themselves to me right before the wedding.”
“Then you’re prepared to enforce punishment if they don’t?”
“Absolutely.” Cassie hated that she didn’t so much as pause to think. She didn’t though. No one should lose their parents the way she did. “I’ve lived my entire life knowing every single person I loved was always just a silver bullet away from death.” She ignored the chills that broke out over her arms. “I might have said you needed us, and we didn’t need you because the wolves don’t need DIB. I do. I need the violence to stop. I need fear and money driving our every action to stop.”
“It’s nice to see you’re all in.” Cordelia nodded to Noel. “Very good choice. We’ve worked for over three years to find any alpha to pitch this too.”
“Glad to know I was highly selected.” She laughed, the weight of the world slowly settling in on her shoulders. “Where’s the dotted line I’m supposed to sign on?”
Epilogue
Disgusting hot Vegas wind blew over his run. Still, Lorenzo ran.
He could hear the smack of paws against into desert earth far closer than he liked.
Come on, don’t let another wolf catch you.
Lorenzo’s taunt pushed his wolf to action, causing him to kick up even more dust as he ran through the sweltering heat.
The sound of paws stopped. Lorenzo paused, just for a second, and a second was all it took for the other wolf to slam into him, dropping him to the ground as if he weighed nothing. Pain spiked through his shoulder, forcing him out of his wolf form.
“Jesus, I don’t like that shit.”
Laughing, Cassie shifted before she dropped the veil of magic around her and began visible. “You’re just mad Noel hasn’t given you one of these.” Cassie fingered the moon necklace around her neck.
“Damn straight I am. You getting to go invisible whenever you damn well please after that thing gets charged with moon energy is downright unfair.”
“I’m
the faster runner. It made more sense for me to go on raids.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” Lorenzo pulled her closer, absolutely aware of how naked they both were from shifting. Tugging her just a little closer, he groaned as her hand went down his chest. A gentle touch grazed his hip bone, drawing blood completely south.
“Race you back!” She shouted as she pushed away, always shifting.
“You little cheat!” Lorenzo focused on the wolf and hit the ground with all fours paws, more than ready to chase after the woman he let get away one before.
Enjoyed this story? Be sure to leave a review! Want more in the DIB world? Check out Noel’s and Jack’s story!
About the Author
USA Today Bestselling Author Lexi Ostrow fell in love with the written word in second grade when her school librarian started a writing club. Born in sunny southern California she's spent time in various places across the country and is spending the next few years up north thanks to the Coast Guard. Mom to a far too adorable toddler, and a menagerie of pets, she spends her days missing beignets and live jazz when she isn’t writing.
Writing is in Lexi’s blood. Getting her degree in creative writing and her master's in journalism she couldn't wait to get a chance to put her fantasies down on paper. From paranormal romance to thriller there isn't a genre she doesn't love to spend her time reading or writing. With her BA in creative writing from UCR and her MA in multi-media Journalism from Emerson College, she's ready to take on the literary world one novel at a time.
Reading and writing are her first loves, but her passion for shopping, love of yummy food and her love for all her many pets are not far behind. Lexi is an enthusiast Whovian and DC Comic Show lover who isn't afraid to talk someone's ear off about them. She hopes to one day help other readers fall in love with writing as she did.
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Guardians Series
Alliance of Silver & Steam Series
Christmas Wish Series
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Paranormal Mafia
A Magical Hunters Academy Short Story
Nicole Zoltack
About Paranormal Mafia
Calli the vampire has been dating Clover the dryad for a year now, and she can’t hold off any longer. He wants to meet her dad, an incubus. What can do wrong? Ah, how about everything?
1
“You know,” my boyfriend Clover says, “it’s been almost a year since we’ve started dating.”
We’re hanging out in my bedroom. I live in a small house with a few other female paranormal hunters.
That’s what Clover and I are—paranormal hunters. We both attended and trained at Magical Hunters Academy. Now, we work for HEX Unite—Hunters, Slayers, and Executioners Unite. The organization has a two-fold goal—to keep the paranormal community safe and secret from the unsuspecting humans.
We do our part, all of the hunters, by hunting down evil paranormal creatures who are destined to go to Magical Prison. It’s not always the easiest of jobs, but honestly, I love it.
I'm resting on my stomach on my bed, my feet in the air as I paint my nails a blood-red color. Clover's sitting at my desk, turning to face me. We've been talking for hours now. Honestly, that's what most of our dates consist of—us talking here or at his place or going for long walks while talking. Sometimes, we'll change it up and go to a movie only to then eat at a restaurant and talk there.
We, ah, have some issues we’re still working through, but that’s to be expected, I think, given what we are.
I’m Callidora Cruorem, but don’t you dare call me that. I’ll flash my fangs at you, but don’t worry. I won’t bite unless you ask me to.
Call me Calli instead. I’m a vampire with blond hair, and yes, I put on a lot of makeup. I don’t want to be a pale monstrosity, and I'm not just any vampire. I'm a living one.
Clover, on the other hand, is a dryad, so he’s all about life. At least I’m not one of those dead, turned vampires, right? I never died, so there’s that. My boyfriend runs a hand through his deep green hair, which looks and feels like moss and might actually be moss but I’ve never asked. He fixes his brown eyes on me.
“A whole year, huh?” I ask, finishing painting my last nail.
I carefully twist the nail polish shut, sit up, and eye Clover as I blow on my nails to help dry them faster.
“Not yet,” he says. “In a week. Right when we are eligible to ask for a vacation.”
Time off. It doesn’t happen often. Evil never sleeps, after all.
“Any ideas what you want to do for our anniversary?”
“Yes,” he says eagerly.
I grin and bite my lower lip, careful not to fang myself. “What do you have in mind? A surprise?”
“No, nothing like that. You’ve met my parents, my family.”
I nod, my heart sinking. All of a sudden, I’m dreading this conversation.
“Your mom is such a sweet woman,” I exclaim. “And your sisters…”
“They’re saplings yet.” Clover laughs at his joke, but they are a lot younger than he is. They’re a bit… overbearing. His mom told me they’ll calm down when they have more roots, once their roots grow. Given how calm and serene and stoic Clover is, I can’t imagine he had ever been like that, but his mom hinted heavily that had been the case.
And his dad had been even more stoic than Clover. He hardly said a word to me. I'm not sure if he likes me. Then again, I'm not sure that he likes anyone, so what does it matter? All that matters is what Clover thinks of me.
But if he meets my parents, will that change?
Probably. You should’ve seen the looks on the other students’ faces when they learned I’m a living vampire.
I know humans tend to judge each other a lot, form opinions about each other for the stupidest of reasons. Unfortunately, the paranormal community has some issues too. I can't help who my father is. No one can.
But for once, Clover looks really eager, and I do not want to disappoint him. “So you want to…”
“I’d like to meet your parents,” he says proudly. “Unless you don’t think it’s time yet…”
I smile broadly. “Let’s just see what my mom’s up to, shall we?”
At least that shouldn’t be too painful.
I hope.
Mom and I get along really well. Most of the time. I mean, all girls have a love/hate relationship with their moms, right? Only it's not really hate between my mom and me. It's more like love/anger. Sometimes, she'll be a bit judgmental. I might not wear quite as much makeup around her. She's a vampire and very proud of that fact, so she has no idea why I try to avoid looking like one. I've explained it to her a bazillion times, but it just goes in one ear and out the other, if it even goes in the one ear at all.
After determining that my nails are dry enough, I grab my phone and call Mom. Right when I think she’s not going to answer, she goes.
“Calli, darling,” she coos.
Uh oh. She’s in a good mood.
“Mom, where are you?” I ask, trying not to sound suspicious.
“I’m on vacation.”
“Where?”
“Are you in trouble?” she asks.
“No. Why would you think that?”
“You aren’t asking for your father, are you?”
“You two are fighting again?” I groan. Typical.
Her non-answer is answer enough.
Fangtastic.
"I'm guessing you don't want to tell me, which means visiting you next week is out." I brighten. "Unless you think things will blow over before then?"
“Not likel
y. Not this time. Give me a month. How about that?”
“Ah, yeah. Sure. Fine.”
“Are you sure you aren’t in trouble?” she asks, her tone turning away from the breezy I’m fine, darlin’ to a more motherly tone that she usually has with me. It's only been since I graduated from the academy that she's tried to be more a friend than a mom.
“I’m fine. I’ll call you later, okay?”
I hang up.
“Mom’s a no-go.” I blow out a breath and grin at Clover even though I know this is so not a good idea. “I’ll try Dad.”
Clover gives me a look that’s a cross between sympathy and eager puppy dog, and I crook my finger, urging him to lean forward so I can kiss the tip of his nose. He can be so sweet sometimes. I’d do anything for him.
Clearly.
I’m about to call my incubus dad after all.
And he answers on the first ring. Was he waiting for a call?
“Calli,” Dad says, his voice booming like always.
“Hi, Dad.” I clear my throat. “Ah, what are you up to?”
“Oh, you know, a little of this, a little of that.”
Given what he is, this or that can be rather… ugh. I don’t even want to contemplate it.
“What about you?” he asks. “I’ve heard that you have a boyfriend.”
My eyes open wide, but I shouldn’t be surprised. Dad has a lot of friends, and his knowledge base is vast.
“A dryad, right?”
“Yes.” My throat burns as I clear my throat again. “Do you think that maybe you could meet him next week? We’re going to have a vacation or at least a few days off, and we thought—”
Supernatural Syndicate: A Limited Edition Collection of Magical Mafia Stories Page 14