BITTERSWEET PART 1: GHOST AND GIANNA

Ghost/Divan

Gianna's head rests against the tiled wall, and she tries to catch her breath. My cock is still inside of

her, loving the way her pussy is still twitching around me. The utter bliss coming from her mark has

me feeling the happiest I've ever been in...well, since before I left here.

Everything about this was perfect; from the way she came to me, went down on her knees for me to

us finally admitting our feelings to each other. I never thought I'd feel this happy, never thought I'd

be worthy of someone's love like this.

She opens her eyes and I can see the contentment shining in them. A hint of a blush covers her

cheeks, and she bites her bottom lip

“I think we should clean up,” she says with a cute giggle. “Or I won't be able to make that mac and

cheese you wanted.”

I chuckle and kiss her forehead, breathing out a long sigh. “Thank you, Gianna,” I say with my eyes

closed. Something tells me that I don't even need to elaborate on what I mean, because she gives

me a look that explains it all.

We finish up in the shower, with Gianna going ahead and putting on only a tiny nightgown before

heading back into the kitchen. I watch her walk away with a smile on my face and slip on a pair of

gray joggers and no t-shirt.

I wish I could explain how different I feel after literally facing my demons while under that spell. The

closest I can get to is I feel...lighter, like a boulder has dropped from my back. I can breathe better

and think clearer.

You don't realize how much your past trauma affects you until you let go of it.

She's busy stirring something in a saucepan when I walk into the kitchen, so I lean against the door

and cross my arms while admiring her. This is my favorite thing to do by far; just watching her do

something she loves.

Beautiful is too much of a simple word to describe Gianna; she’s fucking exquisite.

“I can feel you staring, you know,” she says, turning her head to face me with a gorgeous smile. “See

something you like?”

I grin at this. “Hmmm, more like I'm seeing something I want to devour,” I say, walking over to her

and slipping my arms around her waist. “It's not fair that I didn’t get to have a taste of you.”

“There's plenty of time to taste me later,” she giggles, then gasps when I nibble on her neck. “Divan,

that's...oh, that's distracting me.”

I move my hands lower and loosen the belt around her nightgown, knowing she's naked

underneath. Then I slip my hand in between her legs and run my finger down her slit, smiling when I

feel how wet she already is.

“Focus on what you're doing, sweet girl,” I say, twirling my finger over her swollen clit while my

other hand pinches her pebbled nipples. Her breaths come in quick and she stands on her tiptoes

while I work her body into another orgasm.

It doesn't take her long, either.

“I told you that will come with time. Right now I have to focus on not falling asleep at the drop of a

hat,” I say, chuckling. “Why don't I leave the names to you, hmm?”

His eyes light up when I say this and I swear I fall even more in love with him.

“It would be an honor to name my children,” he says, pulling me close to him. “Thank you for

leaving it to me and trusting me.”

He hasn't stopped thanking me for any small thing I do for him, and I know most people would find

this annoying. But I love it; knowing what he came from, I appreciate how he thanks me even if I

don't need to be thanked.

“I love you,” I say, those words never growing old.

"And I love you,” he responds, taking my hand and kissing the back of it.

It's nearly six pm, but the air isn't chilly at all. In fact, it is quite warm this evening so I know Luna

Mia and Xiomara will have their children with them. Oh, Ares is the cutest little man and Xiomara's

Maxine is so beautiful — I can see why Beta Maxim dotes on his little girl.

We reach the pack house gardens and notice that everyone is present already. Luna Mia sees us and

walks over to greet us with Alpha Nikolaos close behind.

“Did Divan not want to come out again?” the Alpha asks with a chuckle, and Divan practically beams

with pride.

"Just appreciating my wife and unborn child, sir,” he says while placing a hand on my belly. Alpha

Nikolaos nods and pats his shoulder before pulling him away from us.

I know he’s proud of how far Divan has come, but apparently, this has made him even more

fearsome on missions. He doesn't stay away for months on end anymore, either.

"So, how are things?” Luna Mia asks as we walk over to the other girls. “Divan seems even more in

love than yesterday.”

"Oh, he’s like a puppy,” I giggle and wave to Eden, who has just spotted me. “But I couldn't be

happier; this is everything I hoped for.”

Eden meets up with us just as I say this, and I see the longing in her eyes when she glances at my

belly. There's still been no traction with her and Romano, which is really sad. Everyone else seems to

be happier with their partners, but not the two of them.

Wonder what it could be.

The dinner is a relaxing affair and when the full moon is above us at its crest; the men decide to go

for a run. There seems to be an odd current in the air, just as the moon crests, and I can't pinpoint

what it could be.

Looking around at everyone else, it seems they are feeling it as well, but I shake it off when I see the

magnificent beast approaching me.

Divan’s large gray wolf huffs at me, its blind eyes looking at me with reverence before he takes off

after the others. Howls sound in tandem and they send shivers up my spine, knowing they're the

men who are protecting us.

It also makes me feel a sense of pride knowing I have one of the strongest men at my side, who also

happens to be soft only for me.

“Gianna,” I'm snapped out of my reverie when Demi approaches me with wide, terrified eyes. “Can I

speak with you, please?”

I blink at how odd she's acting and look around at the other women who don’t seem to pick up on

Demi's anxiety. When I nod, she doesn’t even give me a second to respond before she pulls me

toward the forest.

"Demi, wait,” I say when we're literally out of earshot of the others. “What is this about—"

"Something happened tonight,” she interjects, turning toward me. “When the moon crested...

something...”

I narrow my eyes at her, trying to understand what she’s talking about. "Did you feel the odd

sensation, too?”

She nods frantically and continues to pace the floor. “It wasn't just an odd sensation to me, it was...it

felt like a string pulling me toward someone. I felt hot all over and my wolf just wanted to get me...

to him.”

I suck in a breath and my hand covers my mouth when her words start to make sense. Luna Mia

explained how and when you meet your mate and what she’s just described.

"Oh! Oh my Goddess, does Levi feel it too? Does he know?”

She stops pacing and stares at me; the heartbreaking look in her eyes crushing me. Why does she

look so guilty when her mate is—

“It's not Levi,” I say, my eyes widening and I take a step towards her. “Demi, who is your mate?”

Demi bites her bottom lip and wraps her arms around her middle as if to comfort herself. Then I

spot the tears as she says the name of the person...the reason for her guilt.

“It's Liam, Gianna...it's Levi's brother.”