Family Overload

AVA

A week has passed since I successfully negotiated the peace treaty. Abel has finally stopped his snide remarks and ceased his constant pestering of Dominic.

It seems that Lyra’s insistence on having me was enough to make him realize he couldn’t compete. He barely lasted one round.

Waking up on the couch, I felt more sore than usual. We must have been a bit too enthusiastic.

My heat has come and gone without any complications. I’m grateful Dominic was there to notice it immediately, ensuring we were locked in our room for the duration.

A loud knock on our bedroom door interrupts the early morning silence. I drag myself out of bed to answer it. A guard stands there, holding a note. I take it from him and begin to read.

~Dear Ava, it’s been months since we last spoke, and we both know why. We’ve heard about your new mate. Despite our disappointment over your rejection of our ally, Alpha Black, we wish to extend our congratulations.~

~We’re looking forward to seeing you again in a few hours. Alpha Black will be accompanying us, which we assume won’t be a problem now that you have a new mate. Crystal will also be joining us.~

I sigh in frustration and instruct the guard to increase security in anticipation of my former pack’s arrival. I close the door and return to the bed, watching Dominic sleep peacefully.

I leave the letter on the desk and head to the closet to find a suitable dress for the day. I want something that will make a statement, a silent fuck you to them all.

After finding the perfect dress, I head to the shower. I scrub myself clean, trying to wash away the tension. I hear Dominic stirring and quickly wrap myself in a towel before returning to our room.

Dominic is awake now, watching me with desire-filled eyes as I brush my hair and slip into a matching green strapless bra and tiny thong. I can’t help but roll my eyes.

“Did you just roll your eyes at your king?” he teases, clutching his heart as if I’ve wounded him.

Ignoring him, I slip into a formfitting strapless dress. The bodice is a heart-shaped corset in a sunny yellow with black ribbing that accentuates my breasts.

The skirt is black, adorned with small yellow details that match the top. It falls to mid-thigh and features a side slit. I complete the look with a pair of nude four-inch heels.

After curling my hair and leaving it loose, I turn to face Dominic.

He’s staring at me, clearly taken aback by my transformation. “You clean up pretty well.”

I fill him in on the note from my family. Dominic quickly dresses to match me in a sleek black button-up shirt with yellow accents, black slacks, and black loafers.

As he fixes his hair, he looks so handsome I’m tempted to take him right there.

Once we’re both ready, we leave the room and head outside to inform everyone to be on their best behavior. We then return to the porch to wait.

Abel and Carly join us, their arms linked, before heading inside to prepare the dining hall. I turn to Dominic and plant a kiss on his cheek.

“Did you read the letter they sent?” I ask, my gaze fixed on the woods ahead.

“No, why?” He looks at me, confused.

I sigh before responding. “It’s not just my father and brother. My sister, her mate, and Alpha Black are coming too,” I say, hoping not to upset him.

“What?” His voice is laced with anger. “Why are they bringing your old mate?” He quickly contacts Abel and Carly to prepare the guest rooms.

I squeeze his hand reassuringly.

“How do you control your eyes?” he asks out of the blue.

I ponder his question. “It’s not too difficult. They change based on my mood or who’s in control. If Lyra’s in charge, they’re a deep purple. If it’s my vampire, my eyes are a mix of colors, and if I’m in control, they’re lilac.”

“The only time they’re gold or completely red is when my emotions are running high or, well, when I’m ~hungry~,” I add, shrugging.

I glance around for a moment. “Can I try something real quick?” I ask, batting my eyelashes at him. He laughs and nods in agreement.

I take a deep breath, focusing on my heartbeat, and imagine the wind, its sensation, its scent... and then I can actually feel it. I look at Dominic, who’s visibly stunned by what I’ve just done.

I can’t help but smile. “Pretty cool, huh?” I say, taking a deep, contented breath.

“Unbelievable! How did you discover this?” His eyes sparkle with awe.

“I stumbled upon it during a fit of anger a few months back. I was so furious, I wished for silence instead of the relentless rain. And then, just like that, the rain ceased and the sun began to shine.”

My heart races with the thrill of it all, but the excitement quickly dissipates when I spot a car pulling up to the house.

My sister is the first to step out of the vehicle. Her face falls when she sees me, for the first time in nearly a year. My brother emerges next, his expression one of confusion, mirrored by my father, who steps out third.

I lower my head in a gesture of respect, clasping my hands behind my back, half-expecting the devil himself to appear.

But it’s his beta, Louis, who steps out next, wrapping his arms around my sister. He surveys the house and the surrounding property before his gaze lands on me.

The scent of Alpha Black hits me as he exits the car. He strides over from the other side, placing a hand on my brother’s shoulder as I bow once more in respect to the alphas.

His eyes rake over me, taking me in from head to toe. I finally break the silence, eager to get this over with.

“Hello, Father, Alpha Chris”—my brother has assumed the alpha role—“Alpha Black, Crystal, and Louis. I trust the journey wasn’t too taxing. I know it’s quite a drive. Please, come in.”

I gesture with my arm, stepping aside to let them pass before Dominic and I trail behind. He shoots me a quick, reassuring smile.

We enter the house, allowing Abel and Carly to introduce themselves. “I hope you enjoy your stay,” Carly offers, before excusing herself.

Dominic leads the way to the front of the room, with me in tow, and leans against the fireplace mantel.

“So, Ava, where’s this mate of yours? I’m dying to meet him,” my sister blurts out before her mate silences her with a gentle reprimand.

I survey the group before me. People I have no love for. My tormentors. Yet here I am, extending them respect, striving to be the bigger person. I sweep my hair aside, revealing my mark.

Alpha Black growls at the sight. “You actually found someone to mate with you? I mean, you’ve become quite attractive…” His voice is a mix of pain and desire.

His eyes continue to undress me. I take a deep breath and let the others carry on their conversation.

“Honey, he won’t stop staring. It’s making me really uncomfortable,” I link Dominic.

His gaze flicks to Alpha Black. “He wants you. It’s plain as day. I mean, he wasn’t wrong. You are attractive. But he won’t lay a finger on you, and if he tries, I’ll deal with it.”

He shifts his weight as my family begins to argue amongst themselves. I move closer to him.

“Could you do something for me? Could you look at me and tell me what color my eyes are?” I ask him through the link. I turn to face him and he pretends to adjust my hair as he studies my eyes.

“Well,” he murmurs, his voice laced with worry, “this isn’t how I planned to break the news. Why have they changed to your mixed color?”

“It’s him. I told you, he’s making me uneasy. I felt them start to shift and moved over here so no one would notice.” I search his eyes, and he studies me before taking a deep breath.

“Well, here goes nothing,” he says, attempting to sound reassuring, before addressing our guests in a steady, soothing voice.

“Many of you are aware that Ava joined my coven shortly after leaving your pack. She’s made a home here, and we all value her skills and dedication. That being said, no one here is permitted to belittle her.”

He looks down at me as I begin to transform. My brother and father regard me with revulsion, while my sister appears merely puzzled. But my former mate and his beta look furious.

Dominic places a hand on my shoulder when he sees their reaction, but honestly, it’s not as bad as I’d anticipated.

“As you can see,” he says calmly, “I’ve turned her into one of us. She’s a hybrid now. As I mentioned, her skills are invaluable and respected, so she’s been granted immortality.”

I glance at my brother. He’s just as livid as Alpha Black now.

“Forgive me, brother,” I declare, my tone steady and tinged with joy. “But your response is puzzling. Why are you so bothered?

“I’m no longer a member of the pack—and Alpha Black, I’m no longer your mate—so why should you care what creature I’ve become?”

I take pleasure in their agitation. They’ve despised me all their lives, and now suddenly, I’m significant. All I can think of is karma.

“So, you’d prefer to be a vampire over a wolf?” Crystal taunts, smirking as if she’s made a cutting remark. “You really believe they’re superior?”

Dominic, growing irritated, dismisses their self-righteous attitude with a soft scoff.

I shrug. “I don’t mind what I am as long as I’m content. I adore my wolf, but she’s fine with this. She even prefers it now.” And let’s not forget the bonus of getting to sleep with this irresistible vampire behind me.

Crystal appraises Dominic, her eyes lingering. I’m astounded. She belittles me, yet ogles my mate?

Dominic coughs, interrupting her blatant admiration.

Crystal chuckles. “Alpha Black mentioned you’d been with one. Is that why they turned you? To serve as the coven’s plaything? I know ~he~ can’t be the one sleeping with you—he’s too attractive for you.”

I roll my eyes, then lean back against the fireplace.

“Yes, I have been with one,” I respond nonchalantly. “Considering, once again, I’m a hybrid and not Alpha Black’s mate, I don’t see why it’s relevant.”

I turn away, losing interest in the conversation, choosing instead to listen to the familiar sounds of men sparring outside.

Dominic must sense my disinterest, as he attempts to divert further questions by instructing a guard to escort our guests to their rooms.

~“Once this is over, I’m going to keep you in bed for a week,”~ he teases in my mind.

~“Why not take me to bed now, darling?”~ I flirt back through our link. His eyes sparkle and he gazes at me as if he’d take me right here and now if he could.

I turn to him and stretch, lifting my chest and revealing a hint of cleavage for his eyes only. I adjust my dress and drape my hair over my mark. Dominic’s mark is hidden beneath his shirt.

Once everyone has left the room and the doors are shut, Dominic strides over to me and kisses me passionately, one hand cradling my neck and the other gripping my hip. We hear the front door but neither of us care enough to break away.

I hear Abel and Carly chuckling at our inability to keep our hands off each other for even a few hours. Dominic pulls away first, resting his forehead against mine.

We both crave more, but we can’t right now. But it’s going to be a challenge to focus all day when he can so effortlessly arouse me, and I do the same for him.

He groans. “What am I going to do with you, Ava? You can’t just say things like that or I won’t be able to resist you.”

I can still hear Abel and Carly laughing as I give him a gentle kiss and slip away from him. “Who said I want you to resist?” I tease as I walk toward Abel.

I sense Dominic approaching from behind, about to grab me, when I kick off my heels and run, lifting my dress. Carly joins in the fun while Abel laughs at the sight of the king chasing his young hybrid mate like children.

I grab Carly as a shield, then dart into the indoor training room. I press a finger to my lips, signaling the men inside to stay quiet.

A few moments later, Dominic enters the room and scans the area, unable to pick up my scent amidst the sweat and other masculine odors. I hide behind a bench in the corner.

“Where is she?” he asks. No one responds, though some shrug before resuming their sparring. I peek around the bench and see him walk past me. I seize the opportunity and leap onto his back, pulling him to the ground.

I adjust my dress to ensure nothing is exposed, and before he can grab me, I stand and run toward the door. This time he catches me. We both laugh at my playful antics before his lips claim mine again.

“What happened to ‘not when the pack is here?’” I tease. I feel him lift me up, our lips still locked, and carry me into the locker room. Unconcerned about who might see, he exposes himself, holding me with one hand.

He pulls my underwear aside and we become one. Our lips remain locked, my moans swallowed by his mouth. The sounds of men sparring and showers running in the background.

He takes me with urgency, aware that our guests will soon be joining us for dinner and conversation.

Men emerge from the showers, catching sight of me pinned against the wall, taken by the king. “I don’t give a damn who sees us,” Dominic murmurs in my ear. “You’re mine. God, you’re so tight.”

We both understand the need for haste, so he maintains a fast rhythm, knowing it will bring us both to climax quicker. He kisses my neck, thrusting in and out of me.

I climax around him as he intensifies, reaching his own peak, pressing me hard against him and holding me there. He withdraws, revealing my wetness as he tucks himself away.

He kisses me softly then carries me to the showers, washing me so no one will detect my arousal. But they’ll still catch the scent of sex on him.

He sets me down and takes my hand as we exit the locker room, reentering the gym. Abel spots us and bursts into laughter.

“Wow! You two couldn’t even wait a few hours with your guests before needing to get it on? These poor guys, walking in on their king and queen in the locker room. And not quietly, I might add.”

The men chuckle as Dominic, feigning indifference to Abel, adjusts my hair while I do the same for him.

A baby’s cry catches my attention, so I kiss him and head for the door.

Dominic lingers with Abel, and I overhear him say, “Can you blame me? She’s mine. I’m going to have her whenever I can. She’s irresistible. And it doesn’t help when she teases me in front of her family.”

I wait by the door, laughing as Dominic drapes his arm around Abel’s shoulders. “Did you know this woman flashed me in front of her own family and ex? What am I supposed to do?”

He locks eyes with me before walking away, leaving everyone, including me, in stitches.

Most of the coven is pleased to see us so happy. They say I bring out his softer side, and they’re glad he found someone who loves him unconditionally, even knowing I had to be turned.

We’re openly affectionate and playful, and the coven enjoys seeing Dominic let his guard down. Many have never seen this side of him until now.

I leave the training room and head to the kitchen. A nanny is trying to soothe one of the crying babies.

I pick him up and dismiss the nanny so she can attend to the other children, letting her know to inform the mother that I have her baby.

I return to the living room, the baby now quiet in my arms, and settle by the fireplace. Dominic sits opposite me, just observing.

“Why are you always helping with the kids? I love it, but why?” he asks, genuinely curious.

I pause, gently stroking the baby’s hair as he falls asleep on me. “I guess because they’re so innocent. I’ve always loved watching children. Even in my pack, seeing the kids play brought me joy.

“They don’t have to endure what I did growing up. I love the idea that despite my own hellish life, I can make theirs better. Showing them nothing but love, care, and compassion.”

I hand the sleeping baby to the nanny to put in the nursery, then sit back down, lost in thought.

“What do you think about having your own?” Dominic asks for the first time.

“I don’t know. I mean, I would love to have my own, but it seems unlikely—not that it matters if it did. We’re not exactly careful, never have been, and yet it’s been eight months and…nothing.

“If it happens, it happens,” I say calmly, “but I don’t need a baby to make me happy. I have my mate and the love of all the children here.”

Dominic watches me, content.