Mated to the Alpha and His Beta

Leutene

Stonneti;@renched to touch the hem of Stella’s dress. | wanted to pull her into my arms, but | didn’t want Oscarehend settled for that small contact.

“What sodo you mean, all of our thoughts?” | tried to keep my voice steady, but her little face scrunched up

it the sound of my tension.

| was misle des mung to use my Luna energy, but | didn’t need much of it right now. The Moon Goddess was notizer to alavarises and the strengths she’d granted me worked through my own motherhood. Stella relaxed.

Theditton |

Theo icon warning about my varnpire side, but | certainly had never shared anything like that out loud with my daughter Stella might've simply been perceptive enough to guess that. It didn’t mean she was Ictually reading thcuouterOn the other hand... “Wolves doxtonomununicate via mind links. Usually, it’s mate to mate, or Alpha to Beta, but close elationships cac create a bond that allows us to speak mind to mind.”

“I'm aware of that tavadachesaid wryly.

Of course he was. A susanaladash of iration filtered through me. He knew so much, and | still barely knew

anything. | didn’t have receno tviviedian that now, though.

“Stella.” 1 focused chenet Wowon’t be angry with you if you’re a little confused. Are you feeling Mama’s

eelings? Guessing? Can youdeltay cjelodbok on my face, like when you told Abba his eyes looked scared?”

She shook her head. No bheneamwhatyou’re thinking

“When he asked you if you were reading his mind, did you tell him a fib?”

Solemnly, she waited a second, then anodded.

“Why would you do that? Fasked her, trubut thought already knew.

cute fudy with the pretty dress was already thinkin

Anat tumult hear that Abha was upset about some

“| didn’t want to get into trouble. And the

thinks. His thoughts, Stella comacted hemen.

able to do that, so i didn’t want to tell alm could, toob. Betoon.”Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g

*How long have you been able to do tra?”.

I'm not sure.

Heat flushed my cheeks. | was going to tuve anne

least some of the private conversations between my rate

Daddy, Papa, and Abba are thinking to each other

claim ng to-to if she was, in tact, listening in to at

and have you been hearing what Mama and

She covered her mouth with both hands wivin a hurry of of mites es escapedNo, ob, Mama Only one at a time: But once theard Abba thinking about how much he tesugutt Joy wwata noap hood: Only he didn’t say

poop, he said the bad word”

ty eyebrows flew up. “Oh, he did??

Yes. | try not to listen, becoused kinowie’s bad. But you’re all so loud,” she complained. “You, Daddy, Papapa, Grammy. Izzy and Allie, too. And thngecontit downstairs. And the people upstairs.”

he pointed a small finger at the cceinou. Snowwisted on Malachi’s lap to look him in the face. And you Malachi laughed and bouncco her cienti Steltalit not mide to make jokes like that”

Not joking!” There was that flash of stubbornness again, Stella crossed her arms and glowered at him es, the same color as his, shot out a samotnow that took a few seconds to fade.

My grandfather turned stem, andil caught chirpssef novicerrifying an Ancient really could be. “Good iris do not scare people that way it’s not arme pok. Stella You cannot be hearing my thoughts,

se Great Granddad is a vampire. That’s not how things work for our kind.”

is eves met mines had to take his word forismce: nad h o does about now vampires worked.

told you, | am not joking! Her voice wavered. Cleanty.nne was upset “Right now, you're thinking about ty mama’s mommy used to play jokes on pecole swien 50g was lode, just like me. And | look like her. And be playing a joke, because | look like my grandmaaaang youthink yarmpires can’t have their thinks come their head, but they can! Because | hear them

like

Pet

cas

he burst into tears, and | reached to gather her against reel Malucchi fooked shaken, then sorrowful. He : her back gently

hav

mys

m sorry, small one. | never meant to hurt your feelingss! believe you”

I

tella turned fear-stained cheeks toward him. Sniffling, she gave him wobbly, watery smile. | know you cause | can hear you.”

of o

How about now? What am | thinking?”

ford

hedrowned “Nothing”

locked at me. | was thinking, quite hard, but also trying to shield. So poosmile to bioch

mine stand how it’s possible for her in the first place.

Malachi stood. “This is extraordinary I’ve got some things to look into about this ut conte

the potantume, get refreshed, and Ill see you all at dinner.

um Hand How was going to explain this to my mates?

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