They’ve said countless times that they’ve done things that they’re not proud of, even committed the occasional crime, but I’m not sure I want to know to what extent their criminal activities run.
And not just because of my five mates, but because I fear what I might end up learning about my dead parents. It’s one thing to know that your parents were criminal mob bosses and another to fully comprehend the choices they made and the lives those choices cost.
For I know without doubt, that there was a cost.
Things are different now. There’s peace between the three largest wolf mafia families; Cortesse, Rossi and Lee. All because of a mating bond and a tiny bit of magic. When I took Enzo Rossi and Kalen Lee as my mates, it ensured that peace. Not that I knew it at the time. I only knew that I was drawn to them, in the exact same way as I was Rehan, Camden and Wren.
My five gloriously handsome mates…
I hear the car before it even turns onto the street. I’m still surprised that Enzo went with them this morning. He doesn’t exactly get on with the others, though he’s certainly trying. The engine turns off directly outside and my heart skips slightly at the idea of seeing them again.
Getting to my feet, I recover myself and wrap Luna in an extra blanket—downstairs can get a little cold this time of year—and then I’m heading out the door and down the stairs to greet them at the door.
I reach the bottom step just as the handle turns and the door opening wide, I’m engulfed in Wren’s arms.
“Hello Loops,” he murmurs into my hair, as he reaches down between us to offer his finger to little Luna. The others make their way into the house just as a pig dressed all in pink trudges mud onto the rug, the children chasing it through from the garden.
With a sigh, I call to Evangeline, “no pigs inside!”
I only feel slightly guilty for insisting that the pig lives in the shed. I feel worse for Mrs Mackney’s ancient rug.
“But he’s not a pig, Piney!” Evangeline retorts.
She’s right, but it changes nothing. Until Castalia manages to work out how to turn him back into a human, he’s sleeping in the shed. I really can’t understand why she’s not figured it out yet. It’s not like this is the first time she’s turned someone into a pig, but the poor man has been a pig for about a year now. I’m beginning to think Castalia might just like having a pet pig.
“CAMDEN!” Evangeline squeals with excitement. “Come see what we’re doing in the kitchen!”
Camden winks at me as Evangeline drags him in the direction of the kitchen, though not before she can glower at Enzo. As much as she’ll never admit it, Evangeline and the rest of the children absolutely adore Enzo. Though not for the reasons children usually love adults. Usually they love them for the sense of security they inspire or their kindness… But with Enzo, the children love how easily riled he is. They absolutely love to tease him. And they do it ruthlessly.
At first, I thought it might last a few weeks, then I thought months, but now I’m pretty sure it might never end.
“Have you had a good day, love?” Wren says, stealing my attention back to himself.
Wren is probably the least willing to share of all my mates. If he could, he’d keep all my attention for himself.
“Can’t complain,” I tell him easily. “The children have been planning for Halloween.”
His eyes sparkle as he hears the way I say the word Halloween, more like it’s a curse than a holiday. It’s not that I don’t usually enjoy the holiday; normally I’d be just as excited as the children. But as a new mom, a very sleep deprived mom, I would like just one year where I don’t have to deal with the crazy shenanigans that are bound to erupt. Every day at the Silver Springs orphanage is hectic at best, sometimes utterly catastrophic. So when the holidays come around, all hell breaks loose and not usually in a good way.
Of course, my mates think I’m overreacting. They think it will be great fun to go trick or treating for our little Luna’s first Halloween. But boy, do they have a shock in store…
Because Halloween at the Silver Springs orphanage is anything but ordinary.
I Hate Taffeta
“P iney!” Ariella squeals, rushing through from the living room, her hands full of pink material.
With a groan, I push Wren in front of me so I can hide behind him. I know exactly what Ariella wants, and there is NO way I’m about to give into her demands. For one thing, that material is such a hideously bright pink that it makes me want to puke.
Not to mention, it’s taffeta!
I am NOT about to try on a fucking pink, taffeta, princess dress! I’ve been trying to weasel my way out of it all week. With a chuckle, Kalen takes baby Luna from me, dropping a quick kiss on my cheek, before heading into the kitchen with Rehan. Disloyal bastards!
Even Wren is looking down at me like I’m being silly as I cling to him, hoping perhaps foolishly that he’ll protect me. Enzo steps forward behind me, his hand going to my waist and his mouth to my ear.
“Try it on and I’ll make it worth your while.” His voice has a suggestive husk to it and it sends a shiver through me.
“How?” I whisper back, biting down on my bottom lip.
“How do you think?” he returns.
I have all sorts of naughty ideas running through my head, everything from him ploughing his dick into me at a delirium inducing pace to his head between my thighs as he licks at my clit. His fingers tighten on my side as he rocks his hardness against me.
“I’ve been thinking about fucking you since breakfast.”
My breath catches in my throat as I bite back a moan. Enzo is going to be the death of me. Wren is looking down at me, his own eyes hooded, and I know where his mind is going too. With just a whisper, I could convince them both to take me to bed right now.
Except, I can’t because there’s a cute little orphan looking up at me expectantly, a hideous dress in her hands.
“FINE!” I give in, pulling away from my mates. “Lead the way, Ariella.”
Enzo winks at me, and I make a mental promise that I will hold him to his promise. I’m going to make him pay for this, in orgasms and plenty of them.
“I think you’re going to love it,” Ariella says.
Like hell, I am!
Ariella climbs the stairs in a hurry. As one half of the creepy twins, she probably knows that I’m already looking for another escape route. The twins know everything! Even the future…
“I think you’re going to look amazing.”
“Hmm…” I don’t want to completely ruin her excitement. I’m not quite that much of a bitch.
“Your costume is perfect for you. It’s a costume fit for a princess!”
Of course, the girls are clinging to the fact that I’m supposed to be wolf mafia royalty. I wouldn’t mind if they dressed Luna up as a princess. That would be cute! This, on the other hand, not so much.
Entering my bedroom, I take the dress from Ariella and step into my closet to change. I guess I can wear the dress, so long as they don’t force a tiara on my head. God, I hope there’s no tiara…
With a deep breath, I remove my clothes and pull the dress in front of me so I can look at myself in the mirror. Goodness! It’s awful. As a child, I was never much of a girly girl, climbing trees with muddy clothes and scrapes on my knees. And I’m not that different now. If you’re looking for a girly girl, I could list twenty or so Silver Springs residents. I, however, am not one of them.