Taming His Mate: Monster Gentlemen's Club (Monster Gentleman's Club Book 6) by Poppy Aster

Author:Poppy Aster [Aster, Poppy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-09-29T00:00:00+00:00

8

ISABELLE

I’m not sure what I feel as I watch my father’s ashes mix with my mothers.

It’s not sadness, that is certain, but I don’t find any joy in it either.

What truly surprises me, however, is when Luka reaches for my hand. His touch is tentative, at first, just a brush of the back of his hand against mine. When I don’t pull away, he slides his hand around so our palms touch, and then he threads our fingers together. It’s all light touches until he squeezes.

And I squeeze back.

It’s a small thing, but my heart swells when I do it.

My little spark of happiness is short lived when Samael comes up to us. He’s my father’s younger brother and next in line to become Alpha, according to my coven’s customs. Samael looks nothing like my father, and I’ve often wondered if he perhaps a changeling, switched at birth. Where my father was fair haired with pale blue eyes, Samael is dark, although his eyes are the same golden shade as mine. My father was tall and regal, while Samael is shorter with a stockier build. Their personalities also couldn’t be more opposite, groomed to be the much less important second son, rather than a snobish alpha.

He bows deeply to Luka and then turns and gives me the same treatment, which surprises me. I’m used to being invisible, unless I’m needed to play a part in my parent’s desire for power and greed. His acknowledgement and reverence stun me for a moment before I remember myself and drop into a clumsy curtsy.

“You have done us all a favor this night,” Samael admits. “Alaric was a plague to this coven. He and his mate’s thirst for power affected everyone. Our cousin was also caught up in a scheme to kidnap the Alpha’s mate and paid for his fealty with his young life.

“As the next in line, I will step into the role of faction alpha and head of our coven.” He turns from Luka to me and bows his head, “I am sorry, niece, that we did not protect you like we should have. I will live forever with that shame on my shoulders and hope that someday you may find it in your heart to forgive me.”

Turning back to Luka he supplicates himself to him as well, “We were all threatened in much the same way Isabelle was. That doesn’t excuse our shameful lack of action, but at the time none of us knew how to help her without risking our own necks.”

Luka’s beast growls and I quickly step in front of him. “I know better than anyone how they are—” Were. The fact that they are gone now hasn’t sunk in yet. I wonder if I’ll ever feel anything for them, because right now I feel absolutely nothing. “Their threats were not idle; you had every right to be afraid of them.” I lick my lips. Since we’re being honest, I add, “I’m not sure if I can find it in me to forgive you completely, though.

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