Wolfish: Fateborne

by G. K. DeRosa

  I sucked in a breath, forcing my lungs to start pumping before I passed out. My wolf let out a faint whimper, and she nudged at my insides.

  “Sierra Wildstone, I know you know how much I love you. I imagine the bond must pummel you with my constant adoration, admiration, and desire, but just in case you needed a reminder, I wanted to give you a small token of my love. A human marriage ceremony isn’t something that most wolves celebrate, but I want to bind myself to you in all ways possible. I never thought anyone could make me so happy, so whole. I was nothing before you, mate. So, Sierra, my love, will you marry me?”

  Tears spilled over, and I dropped to my knees in front of him, draping my arms over his neck. He drew me closer, wrapping his arms around my waist. “There’s nothing I’ve ever wanted more, but there’s something I have to tell you first.”

  The hint of a smile curled the corners of his lips. “Okay, but don’t keep me waiting for too long, you’re going to make me nervous.”

  “I—I…” My eyes dropped to my stomach. Luna, help me, just say it! “I’m pregnant,” I blurted.

  His smile only grew wider. “I knew it!” He crushed me to his chest again, and the box bounced to the floor. The lid snapped open, and an emerald ring tumbled out. The sparkling gem caught my eye, and all the air whooshed from my lungs.

  “It’s beautiful,” I murmured as he bent to pick it up.

  “It’s my mother’s.” He ran his palm over the back of his neck. “That’s what took me so long just now.” He thumbed the door over his shoulder. Hunter rarely entered his parents’ old chamber. He avoided it like the plague. “Three days apart from you was too long, and I realized something. You left everything behind for me, you risked everything for me, and this was something I wanted to do for you, a small reminder of your human past.”

  “It’s perfect,” I whispered.

  He held the gold ring up in the light, the burning emerald the same shade as his eyes. “You, um, never actually said yes…”

  “Of course I’ll marry you, Hunter. I would’ve married you back in the infirmary when I was sixteen if it had been up to me.”

  He chuckled, the smooth sound a caress to my soul. I held out my hand, and he slipped the beautiful ring over my knuckle. It was a perfect fit. I glanced at the sparkly gem before my eyes climbed to meet my mate’s. A wave of happiness crashed through the bond, a heady mix of his and mine, filling my soul.

  “You said you knew—how?”

  “When I came back, you smelled different.” He shrugged. “I don’t know; I just knew.”

  “I can’t keep anything from you with this bond, can I?”

  He shook his head, that smile lighting up his eyes. “Nope, so don’t even try.” He kissed my forehead. “Why are you nervous?”

  “I just didn’t expect it to happen so fast…”

  “Well, you know I can’t keep my hands off you, so it was bound to happen quickly once you stopped taking Cass’s potion.”

  “I know, but I’m just worried we’re not ready.” Because my family was so shitty.

  He tipped my chin up, forcing my eyes to his. “Sierra, you’re going to be an amazing mother, and whatever comes for our child, we will protect him or her together.”

  I nodded, tears blurring my vision. “I love you, Hunter.”

  “You and this baby are my life, Sierra. I never thought I could be this happy, my heart this full, and it’s all because of you.” His lips captured mine, and he walked me back to our bed. As he worshipped my body, our souls intertwined and everything else faded away.

  We would be together forever and that was all that mattered.

  I really hope you enjoyed Sierra and Hunter’s story! As always, writing the ending is bittersweet, but as they say, the show must go on and so do the stories. So keep flipping to check out a sneak peek of my next series Vampish. You all remember a certain charming Royal, right? You’ll get to see Ransom’s story in this new series releasing on February 8 next year!

  And, don’t forget to join my FB group GK DeRosa’s Supe Squad to get the Vampish prequel story for FREE!

  Sneak Peek of Vampish: The Hunt

  The last week at Isle of Mordis sped by in a blur of final exams, written, and out in the field. My team rocked it, as was expected. I was the youngest team leader in Camp Kill history and also the first to graduate in just three years instead of the typical four. Was I proud? Yes. A little cocky? Sure, but I deserved it, right?

  There was one person that didn’t agree. Spark. Since I’d shot him down for a movie date night, things had been a little frigid between the dragon and me. The son of the great dragon alpha Fenix Skyraider did not take rejection well. The last thing I wanted was to end things on a bad note. If all went well, I hoped we’d be assigned as a permanent team when we went out in the real world.

  So squaring my shoulders, I marched over to the brooding dragon as he munched on a big bowl of cereal. I slid into the seat beside him and elbowed him in the side. “You ready for our last mission as trainees?”

  “Sure, why not?” he mumbled around a mouthful.

  “Maybe we can hang out tonight, to celebrate?” I reached under the table and my hand skimmed up his thigh.

  His fingers clamped around my hand as I moved further north, and a growl vibrated his throat. “I don’t think so,” he snarled.

  “Seriously, Spark?”

  He leveled me with a glacial glare, the typical warm golden hue of his irises like cut glass. “I don’t want to be jerked around, Nix. You’ve made it clear you don’t want anything serious so let’s just cut our losses now. It was fun while it lasted but once we’re back in Azar, we’ll both have plenty of opportunities to find someone new to mess around with.”

  My jaw hung open, all the words stuck at the back of my throat. I figured he liked me, but now, now I realized he liked liked me. “So you’re pissed because I want to keep things casual?”

  He ground his teeth together.

  “That’s what it is, isn’t it?”

  Spark kept his eyes glued to the fruity circles swimming around the bowl of milk.

  “I don’t know how to do a relationship, Rhydian.”

  He lifted his gaze, the iciness melting. It wasn’t often I called him by his real name. “You could try,” he muttered.

  This was true. But did I want one? It wasn’t that I didn’t like Spark or wasn’t attracted to him. It was that my whole life had been about one thing—finding the vampire that killed my parents and getting my revenge. Hell, that had turned into my career choice. And now, I was so close to succeeding. Would a boyfriend get in the way of that?

  “I’ll take your silence as a no.”

  “No,” I blurted. “I mean, it’s not a no.” I ran my fingers through my auburn mane. “We could try.”

  A ridiculous smile lit up the handsome dragon’s face, and I couldn’t help an identical one from creeping across my lips. He pressed his mouth to mine in a sneak attack, and it took all my restraint not to push him away.

  Once he released me, I threw him a narrowed glare. “Rule number one: no PDA’s in public.”

  He chuckled and slid his hand under the table, squeezing my thigh. “Fine, I’ll just have to get my fill of you in private then.”

  A swirl of heat unfurled in my lower half at the raspy edge to his tone. “Tonight. After we take first place in our final field op.”

  “Deal.” He shoveled another spoonful of cereal in his mouth, and I couldn’t help but smile.

  Everything would be fine. I could handle a little relationship on the side and still be a kickass sicari. Who said you couldn’t have it all?

  ***

  I leapt across the ravine, my nails digging into the hardpacked dirt. For the hundredth time, I cursed my non-existent wolf as I hauled myself up over the ledge. Claws would’ve definitely come in handy for that jump.

  “I’m coming with you,” Spark shouted from the other side. His wings snapped out, the emerald hue catching beneath the sun’s
rays and setting the shimmering scales ablaze.

  “No. Go back and help Selene and Archer with the other two. I’ve got this one.”

  His jaw tensed as he eyed the dense jungle ahead. “I don’t like it. The vamp seemed different than the others.”

  “Spark, please. Beta team is already ahead of us, and if we don’t nab our last three vamps before them, they’ll take the number one spot.”

  Our final mission had started in the middle of the island about an hour ago. Our task was to kill twelve vamps and return to Camp Kill before the other five teams. Unlike our normal training exercises, we didn’t have coms or tablets to help us today. We were each allotted only two weapons as opposed to our usual assortment of artillery. And like Spark had pointed out, these vampires seemed tougher than the usual starved line-up. Demetra was pulling out all the stops today.

  “Fine,” he gritted out. “But be careful. You owe me a date tonight, and I’m not letting you die to get out of it.” He shot me a teasing wink as I shooed him off.

  “Go, go!” I watched him for only a moment as he leapt up, his wings extending and catching on the breeze. Spinning back toward the thicket, I raced into the woods. Though my wolf refused to emerge, at least she let me borrow her enhanced sense of smell. I’d been tracking this vamp since the helicopter dropped us off an hour ago.

  I inhaled deeply, and the musky scent made my nose twitch. There was something different about it. Most vampires had a very faint odor which made tracking them more difficult. They smelled sterile, lifeless. But this male… I sniffed the air again. His smell was more defined, more pronounced.

  Lucky for me. Sucky for him.

  I glanced at my wristwatch, at the ticking timer. We had until noon to make it back to headquarters, but that wasn’t enough. We needed to be first. And without the coms, it was impossible to determine how many targets the other teams had taken down until the official announcement. Every thirty minutes, Demetra’s voice filled the moist jungle air with the updates. As of the last one, we were in second place with Beta team in first. No way I’d let those guys win.

  I chopped my way through the tangle of vines with the help of my trusty friend, bardy. Unfortunately, I couldn’t exactly move silently with the constant thwack, thwack of greenery as I raced or hacked past it.

  I couldn’t spot the fanger anywhere, but my nose told me he wasn’t far. As his scent grew thicker in the air, I slowed. Tilting my head up, I scanned the dense canopy overhead. Vamps were excellent climbers and with all the towering trees an attack from above would be the smart move on his part.

  A flicker of movement caught my eye in the giant kapok tree ahead. Its massive roots sprawled out in front of me, and I kept my gaze up as I climbed over. With its strong branches and generous foliage, it would make a perfect hiding spot.

  A dark figure leapt from the tallest branch and landed across the way on the neighboring tree. I reached behind my back and muttered a curse when I remembered I didn’t have my crossbow. Dammit. With the two-weapon limit, I’d opted for the classic wooden stake which was sheathed to my thigh as my alternate. I had a pretty accurate throw, but at this distance it wouldn’t hit him with enough force.

  The vampire must have noticed my frustration because a head peered out from behind the thick trunk. Dark eyes drilled into me, and a cocky smirk tugged at the male’s lips. “What’s the matter, Red? You can’t climb?”

  My brows slammed together as I shot the bastard a narrowed glare.

  He moved further out from behind the branches and the hair on the back of my neck bristled. Darkness coiled around his form, shadows dancing along the perfectly cut surfaces. My wolf stirred. For the first time in as long as I could remember, I felt her. The shock of her presence distracted me, and the vamp took his chance.

  He leapt out of the tree, landing in a crouch about ten yards away. Black, bottomless irises locked on mine, and I could feel him pressing, probing against my mind. I tore my gaze away and focused on building up my mental walls.

  Take that, bloodsucker.

  I bent down and reached for my stake, concealing it behind my wrist as I straightened. Drawing my arm back, I inhaled a breath and steadied my racing heart. Just don’t move. I kept my eyes on the fanger, hoping he’d think he had me with his compulsion and took a step forward. Then another. A few more yards and I’d be within striking distance.

  Eyes still locked, I crept closer as we played out a deadly game of chicken.

  The corner of his lip twitched, and I refused to acknowledge how the ghost of a smile softened his sharp features, intensifying his attractiveness ten-fold. Most of the vamp scum dropped off on the island were starved, more beast than human. This guy… he could’ve been one of the sicari. He was tall, with broad shoulders and long, lean muscles, darkness coiling over every inch, and dressed in all black he perfectly matched our uniforms.

  He waggled a finger at me and clucked his tongue. “No closer, Red. I haven’t fed today, and you’re much too pretty to waste for a snack.”

  “Charming,” I bit back. As the word left my mouth, I realized how true it was. The more he spoke, the more human and less undead he seemed. Killing a monster was easy, but someone that filled the tense moment with lighthearted banter?

  “I’m glad you think so.” He shot me a smirk, flashing pearly-white incisors. “I was hoping we could be friends. The name’s Ransom by the way, rhymes with handsome.” He sketched a bow, eyes never deviating from my own.

  I snorted on a laugh. And was immediately horrified by the sound that had erupted from my lips. Vamps weren’t funny. They were cruel, soulless killers. Stop engaging with the target, Phoenix.

  As he rose, he continued, “You see, I don’t belong here with these animals. Perhaps you could tell me the quickest way back to Nocturnis?”

  “Unlikely.” My fingers tightened around the stake concealed behind my back as I casually leaned against bardy. “Because you see, Ransom, you’re the only thing standing in the way of me graduating with a perfect score.”

  “Ah, you sicari are all the same. Murder, stake, kill.” He rolled his eyes dramatically. “This is quite a conundrum then. It seems as though only one of us is destined to leave this island.”

  “Damned right,” I hissed.

  “It’s a shame. I would’ve liked running into you in a dark alley in Nocturnis.” Again, that damned smirk, then he ran his tongue over the pointy tip of his fang. “Another time then, Red.” He whirled around and vamp-sped through the encroaching trees.

  To be continued on February 8th, 2022! And you can preorder Vampish: The Hunt now.

  * * *

  Want more from the world of Azar? Join my Facebook group, GK DeRosa’s Supe Squad for tons of sneak peeks and insider info and your free Vampish prequel story!

  * * *

  While you’re waiting for the next series, check out my completed series, Darkblood Prison, to find out more about Vander’s past with Azara :)

  Or check out my new series on Kindle Vella, Hitched Live with episodes publishing weekly if you’re into supernatural dating shows and schmexy bachelors ;) The best part is you get to vote live and help me write the story as I go!

  Thank you, all you wonderful readers! You guys are the best :)

  Also by G.K. DeRosa

  Darkblood Prison (World of Azar)

  Darkblood Prison: Demon On A Dime

  Darkblood Prison: Demon Double-Agent

  Darkblood Prison: Demon At Large

  Darkblood Prison: Demon Dark Lord

  * * *

  Royally Hitched Series (World of Azar)

  Royally Hitched: The Fae Prince

  Royally Hitched: The Fae Twins

  Royally Hitched: The Fae Princess

  * * *

  Darkblood Academy (World of Azar)

  Darkblood Academy: Half-Blood

  Darkblood Academy: Supernatural Slayer Squad

  Darkblood Academy: Demons

  Darkblood Academy: Prophecies

&nb
sp; * * *

  The Hitched Series (World of Azar)

  Hitched: The Bachelorette

  Hitched: The Top Ten

  Hitched: The Final Five

  Hitched: The One

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  The Vampire and Angel Wars (Stand Alone Series)

  Wings & Destruction

  Blood & Rebellion

  Souls & Salvation

  * * *

  The Vampire Prophecy (Stand Alone Series)

  Dark Fates

  Dark Divide

  Dark Oblivion

  * * *

  The Hybrid Trilogy (Spin Off of the Guardian Series)

  Magic Bound

  Immortal Magic

  Beyond Magic

  Magic Bound: The Hybrid Trilogy The Complete Collection

  * * *

  The Guardian Series

  Wilder: The Guardian Series

  Wilder Destiny

  Wilder Revelation

  Wilder Legacy

  Wilder: The Guardian Series The Complete Collection

  Acknowledgments

  A huge and wholehearted thank you to my dedicated readers! I could not do this without you. I love hearing from you and your enthusiasm for the characters and story. You are the best!

  A special thank you to my loving and supportive husband who always understood my need for escaping into a good book (or TV show!). He inspires me to try harder and push further every day. And of course my mother who is the guiding force behind everything I do and made me everything I am today. Without her, I literally could not write—because she’s also my part-time babysitter! To my father who will always live on in my dreams. And finally, my babies, Alexander and Stella, who bring an unimaginable amount of joy and adventure to my life everyday.