Filed To Story: Fated is Overrated Novel Free by Brenda Minnaard
** 5 years later **
“Kay, Kelly, slow down!!” I yell across the field at my little rascals, who are roughhousing with their little cousin (who is an equal rascal, don’t get me wrong). “You know, I should have known that with your genes they would turn out to be total firecrackers. Especially our little princess” Zane laughs, while pulling me to him by my waist and kissing the top of my head. I turn my head towards him and plant a kiss on his lips. “You mean YOUR genes made them to be such firecrackers. Cheeky little firecrackers, I might add” I throw back at him, chuckling. Honestly though, I couldn’t be happier with my children, they are the absolute best, most adorable children. They have quite the personalities, but that is what I love most about them. Looking back, I can’t believe I was so afraid to have pups. I wonder whether or not they will be Lycans or dragons, but only time will tell. Life has been busy, but absolutely amazing. And above all – I couldn’t be happier. I have my family, I have a bonus family, and I have my babies. Damon and Nadia had a pup of their own, and I love how close their little one is with ours.
I have been splitting my time between my duties at the dragon kingdom, and at the Lycan kingdom. There will always be issues arising, of course, but overall things have been peaceful. There have been no wars between kingdoms at least. My relationship with the other Kings and Queens now in charge is good, even the current Vampire King. Felix has taken over the magic kingdom, and we remain good friends. Although he is still a bit on the flirty side sometimes, I never respond to his advances. I am happy with my mates. No, I am beyond happy. They are everything I thought they could never be initially, and everything I thought I never needed. Or, well, “needed” is a big word for an independent woman, but I adore them and love them with all of my heart. My dad has found love again! Janita is her name, and she is his second chance mate. He was concerned at first that Damon and I might not approve, but I couldn’t be happier for him, and neither could Damon.
Xena and Zion have taken up a new hobby – running after their grand pups. Kay and Kelly keep them on their toes, that is for sure. I don’t think I have ever seen Xena and Zion as exhausted as they do after a day of babysitting. But, their relationship with Kay and Kelly is incredible, and it is heartwarming to see. Kay and Kelly have yet to figure out that their grandma can see through their little lies, and Zeke, Zane and I have been laughing our hearts out watching that unfold. Xena plays along with their little lies sometimes, just to see how far they will go. It’s safe to say they would do pretty much anything for some chocolate chip cookies. Our little cookie monsters. My dad and Janita are also crazy about our little cookie monsters, and they too look exhausted after a day alone with the little gremlins. But they adore them endlessly regardless. All of the grandparents spoil them rotten every chance they get.
Zeke and Zane have been the absolute best husbands and fathers any woman could ever wish for. They weren’t lying when they said they would do anything for me. They continue to prove to me every day that I am their number one priority, together with our pups.
What I mean to say is.. I guess fated isn’t always so.. overrated.
Jason POV
“Get your *ss down here, NOW!!!!” Melissa bellows from down the stairs, and I can’t help but let out a deep, frustrated sigh. How did my life end up this way? How on earth did I end up with the pack slut, rather than a fated mate or the woman I was in love with for years? I have been beating myself up in the past years about how everything went down with Lola. Especially after we came across her at the mall, with the way Melissa treated her. I’m still beating myself up over how I didn’t intervene back then, but I was rooted to the spot at seeing her just like that again. That beautiful face of hers with those stunning green eyes had and has been haunting my dreams all this time. And admittedly, I was jealous of the guy she was with. He didn’t smell like a wolf, but I had no idea what he was until Nadia told me later on. After she told me he was Lola’s brother and her mate, I felt even more stupid that I didn’t stop Melissa, thinking I might still have had a chance with her. Until I heard she was mated to the Lycan princes, though. Any hopes and dreams I had of her and I ending up together in the end got shattered right then and there. I have made my peace with it now, though. Once I realized she is the dragon Queen, as well as mated to the Lycan princes, I realized she was never meant to be mine.
That being said, I had hoped I would have found my fated mate by now. Ironically, none of the guys besides Jeremy have found their fated mate. It’s like the moon goddess is pissing on our parade herself. Ashton has taken a chosen mate, Chris is still single. He never admitted it to anyone, but I think he had a huge crush on Lola. He seems lost in thoughts and very distanced from everyone around him most of the times, but when Lola’s name is mentioned, his ears visibly perk up. I don’t know whether to feel sad for him or consider him a sad person, as he will never get to have her. Just like me. “NOW!!!!!!!!!!!” I hear a deafening scream coming from downstairs, almost piercing my eardrums. Jay growls loudly in my mind, he is definitely not a fan of Melissa. He has hated her from the start, and has even threatened to rip her throat out at times if I don’t leave her. I’m starting to think I should have trusted my wolf’s judgment sooner. ‘Gee, you think? Stupid human’ Jay growls lowly. We have been at odds together ever since he came forward. I wonder what it would be like to have a wolf who is on the same team. ‘I am on the “not a dumbass” team’. ‘Says the dumbass wolf who scared off the only woman I ever loved’ I retort. I know he loved her too, and that he has been beating himself up over it. But, what goes around, comes around. ‘Speaking of what goes around.. Your slutt… Ehhh, lovely girlfriend called you down. In such a loving, caring way too, might I add’. D*ck.
I make my way out of my bedroom and head downstairs slowly. I’m not exactly in a rush. I know why she is yelling at me like a banshee. It’s Chris’ Alpha ceremony, and since many surrounding Alphas are attending, she is hoping to find her fated mate in one of them. Honestly spoken, I hope she does too. That way I won’t have to break up with her myself after tonight. “THAT is what you’re wearing?!” she looks at me with a wrinkled nose, as if I am a hobo and she a Queen. Ironically, the only actual Queen I have ever known never looked at anyone as condescending as Melissa does. I glance down at my jeans and shirt, what the hell is wrong with this? “Uhm, yes?” I reply annoyed, to which she just rolls her eyes. “Let’s go. Don’t embarrass me” she replies, before storming out the house. Goddess, what did I ever see in this woman? As we reach the main hall leading to the room where the event is held, I feel Jay pacing around in my mind nervously. I don’t pay it any further heed, as we search around the place to find the other guys. I sigh thinking back to the old days, where I was always together with my sister and Lola, rather than with these knuckleheads. Nadia moved to the dragon Kingdom after she and Damon marked each other. Which makes sense, but I miss her terribly. She and Lola were my best friends and although I f*cked up, I pray that one day we can all go back to being on good terms. Not that I am on bad terms with my sister, but I barely get to see her anymore. She and Lola get to hang out with each other all the time, together with their children.
I am brought back from my reverie when I slam into someone. Looking up, I see I have bumped into a man I have never met before. He is probably from one of the visiting packs. “Sorry” I mumble, but the man doesn’t pay me any heed, he is fixated on something behind me. Following his line of sight, I see Melissa has also frozen on the spot, and is staring at him like a deer caught in headlights. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out what is going on, this man is Melissa’s mate. Before I can even register what happened, I hear the man speak up loudly “I, Kyle Carrera, delta of ravenwood pack, reject you Melissa as my mate”. Melissa drops to the ground, clutching her chest and wailing loudly. I have witnessed rejections here and there, they are so f*cking brutal. I pray to the moon goddess that I will never get to experience one myself. I wonder how Melissa knows the guy, though? ‘Who cares. You should dump her while we’re at it. Go to the main room!’ Jay urges me, and I can’t remember the last time he was so chatty whilst not being a complete d*ck to me. Is he even… wagging his tail?! ‘Shush human let’s go!!’. As I approach the main room, the most alluring scent of strawberry and vanilla comes drifting into my nostrils. My eyes are drawn to a beautiful woman standing amidst the crowd, as Jay is prancing around in my mind yelling ‘MATE!’.
Nadia POV
Finally, I see my brother entering the hall. The main reason Lola and I came here today was out of respect to Alpha Culio, as he has always been a good Alpha. Lola also came here on official business as the Lycan Queen and although she would not admit it, I believe there is a personal touch to it as well for her. I know she and Chris were best friends as children, but I don’t think that is the reason she wants to attend today. She seems really serious for a social call. For me, though, I also came to see my parents and brother, of course. We have drifted apart ever since he started seeing Melissa, and even more so after I moved to the dragon kingdom. We used to be best friends, together with Lola, and it breaks my heart thinking back to those days when all was good. Coming back here sure reinforces the feeling. Speaking of the devil, or should I say develin (is that a word?), I don’t see Melissa by his side. Oddly enough, my brother doesn’t even seem to notice me, although he is staring right at me. I hear a small gasp next to me, and I turn my head to see what is going on. Iris, Damon and Lola’s cousin, is taking in sharp breaths, as her eyes are glued ahead. Her eyes darken and I turn my head to follow her line of sight, only to see she is staring at my brother. Suddenly, it clicks in my mind. Jason isn’t staring right at me, he is staring right at Iris.
New Book: Returned To Make Them Pay
On her wedding anniversary, Alicia is drugged and stumbles into the wrong room—straight into the arms of the powerful Caden Ward, a man rumored never to touch women. Their night of passion shocks even him, especially when he discovers she’s still a virgin after two years of marriage to Joshua Yates.