Taken (Sinful Series - book 1)

Violet

Violet recognized the flowery scent seconds before Alyssa stormed through the door of Landon’s office, only to halt unexpectedly as her eyes fell on Aidan. Her face distorted in pure anguish as she saw Aidan’s mating mark. Her eyes shifted to her wolf’s, who looked for Violet.

There it was.

The recognition of the pain Alyssa had knowingly inflicted upon Violet.

“Oh, shit,” Violet gasped as she recognized the source of such emotion.

They were mates.

“Karma,” Landon shot through the mindlink, focusing Violet’s attention on him. “For all I care, he can keep any or both of them. You are the only mate I want.”

“How did I get so lucky?”

Violet replied through the mindlink. Landon hugged her closer, before pressing his lips to hers. She tried hard not to make the situation any more explosive than it already was, and held back on kissing Landon. He didn’t. His tongue searched for hers and left no doubt who he had chosen.

Violet smiled against his lips only for Landon to tug on her lip with his teeth, making her shake her head at him. He straightened up but kept his hands around her waist, not letting her put any distance between them.

“I am not going anywhere,” Violet told him through the mindlink, earning a smile on his handsome face.

Rejection intensified the insecurities each individual carried, leaving them broken and guarding their hearts against any further heartache. It resulted in fierce protectiveness and passionate declaration of their intentions towards one another. It helped settle the fear, but never fully extinguished it.

“I know,” Landon had a smirk on his face pulling her deeper into his arms for emphasis.

Violet tilted her head. He was everything she could have wanted in a mate.

“All this time,” Aidan began, looking devastated. “Landon was telling the truth.”

Violet felt like intruding on the moment but Landon true to his word did not allow her to even consider leaving. Aidan focused on Erica and then at his mother, looking betrayed. “Oh, Goddess. I thought he was just being pigheaded that we share a mate.”

So he wasn’t the terrible twin Violet imagined him to be.

“He chose to ignore it,” Landon shot through the mindlink, Violet tilted her head in silent agreement.

“Landon, I am sorry little brother,” Aidan begun.

“Little,” Landon snorted unaffected.

“Landon,” Aidan started then sighed. “I never meant to offend you. It was endearing sibling thing, I thought you understood.”

“Endearing is Bro, or showing me you actually wanted me as a brother instead of ditching me first chance you got,” Landon explained.

“I am sorry that’s how you felt,” Aidan replied.

“But not for what you did,” Landon sweetly added.

“Boys,” Mama Wesley snapped them out of their argument. “We are not here to discuss your childhood qualms. We have to decide what we’re going to do about this situation.”

Her attention went to Erika, Alyssa then Violet, her eyes staying on Violet for longest.

“All I wanted for my boys to be happy. But it seems whenever one is, the other isn’t,” Mama Wesley continued. “It was so natural to accept twins have the same mate, so I never questioned it. I am sorry, Landon.”

Landon looked at her uninterested in her apology, “Is that why you told Jack to press charges?”

“Should I have allowed my son to assume a fake name and to disappear?” She questioned.

“How is having me do time in Pack Order any better?” Landon spat. “No. The way I see it, this,” Landon snapped, looking between Erika, Aidan, and Alyssa, “is none of my business. I’ve accepted my rejection and moved on. You can use my office, but that’s about the extent of my involvement. Let’s go, Vi.”

Violet headed towards the door only for Aidan to step in her way. She stepped back into Landon’s chest, refusing to be anywhere near Fake Landon as he begun to explain himself.

“We felt the sparkles. I would have never mated her had I know she was your Fated alone.”

Landon chuckled undoubtedly hearing her thoughts about Fake Landon then quickly sobered up.

“Because you believed we had one mate. You chose to mate her because she was there, ignoring any doubts you may have had. What happened to bros over hoes? Or over anyone for that matter?” Landon questioned.

“Lan,” Violet cautioned him not to say something he’d regret later.

“Vi, he needs to hear this before he makes up his mind who he wants to be with because he can have now two mates, for all I care. Knowing didn’t stop her. Erika chose you as much as you did choose her,” Landon told Aidan then addressed Erika.

“In a twisted selfish way, I should probably thank you. Without your rejection, Alyssa would not have given Lazulli second thoughts about mating Violet, and I would be stuck with you,” Landon harshly addressed Erika, the tears rolling down her cheeks. “I cried, too. A part of you dies after a while.”

“Lan,” Violet tugged him to leave.

“Right. I’ve drank my limoncelo, now it is their time to figure out what to do with their lemons,” Landon replied, then nodded to his mother, “Mother.”

He guided Violet out of the room and shut the door only to find Jacob leaning against the hall’s wall, waiting for them. He beckoned them to follow and just as they did, the door to Landon’s office opened and mama Wesley came through.

“Violet,” she called out, making them halt, requesting a word with Violet, but Landon refused to leave them alone. Jacob tactfully made himself scarce leaving them with mama Wesley. “I love my boys and the choices I’ve made were in their best interest, or so I thought. If Erika knew...”

“She did,” Landon interrupted.

“She never told me,” Mama Wesley continued.

Violet bit her lip trying not to point out the obvious. She should have listened to her own flesh and blood before accepting anyone’s truth. Landon nodded his head in agreement. Violet rolled her eyes at him. She would have told him to stay away from her thoughts, but then again he could dig in whatever he wanted. It was at his own risk if he came across her 2do list.

“Now we’re talking,” Landon shot thought the mindlink. “Wanna compare lists?”

“Landon is the highlight of my days,” Violet quickly said out loud, before the silence got any more dreadful.

“And nights. Landon is the highlight of my days and nights. Nights especially,” Landon shot through the mindlink to her, earning himself a small shove from Violet to stop distracting her.

“I haven’t seen that mischief on his face for years. Thank you,” Mama Wesley caught up on their mindlinking and perhaps had a pretty good idea of where their thoughts were headed. “When I heard he is mated, I brought in some old pictures.”

“Can I make copies?” Violet asked immediately.

“Yeah,” Landon’s mother replied. “How about this afternoon?”

“This evening?” Violet offered knowing she was heading to Velvet.

Mama Wesley looked at Landon for confirmation, who rolled his eyes.

“Make it early. I don’t sleep well without Violet,” Landon replied.

“I think she knows,” Violet teased him.

“Not like that. I meant I really sleep better with you,” Landon replied then added, “sex is just the icing on top. What? It’s not like she didn’t walk in on us.”

“Early evening, it is then,” Mama Wesley replied and returned back in Landon’s room before anyone of them to had the time to respond.

“Her name is Lesley,” Landon told Violet making her snort.

“Sorry, Lesley Wesley,” she repeated.

“You’re right, Mama Wesley sounds better. Maybe keep it a secret for special occasions,” Landon offered.

“You have to give her some credit. Your folks gave you the same opportunities as Aidan,” Violet replied.

“You mean, Fake Landon,” Landon teased her, making her chuckle.

“Let’s not keep our Alpha waiting,” Violet entered Jacob’s office, leaving Landon in the hallway. He chuckled, following her and shutting the door close.

“Wesley, I heard you have quite the mouth,” Jacob teased, before succumbing to deep chuckles.

Violet blushed at the reference, but Landon proudly smiled.

“Songs could be sung,” Landon boasted.

Violet rolled her eyes at him and snatched the takeout bag from his hand, depositing it on Jacob’s desk. Jacob quickly cleared enough space for its contents.

“It’s my food,” Landon argued.

“It was. Now you are sharing,” Violet declared his punishment then explained, “Eat before it is all cold. There’s enough for two. I have to run to Velvet. Lan will catch me up tonight if there’s something you need from me.”

Jacob nodded, already stuffing his mouth with the pastries.

“Lan, eat before Ryan smells the food,” Violet told him

“Vincent is coming with you to Velvet,” Landon told her.

“Of course, you’d ask him,” Violet teased, touching his nose then waving at them before exiting the door.

Landon

Landon decided he should better follow Violet’s advice while there was still food left. Jacob was busy inhaling his food, and Landon knew it would not be long before it was all gone. Landon felt like a character in those old black-and-white movies, where the husband goes to work with a metal lunchbox and a hand-written note. Only Violet modernized the script with take-out and heart scratched into the plastic container.

Mated life surely had its perks.

“Was the food the only reason you called us over?” Landon asked once he piled enough food on his plate.

“It was the most pressing,” Jacob admitted still busy with his food. “You know, Violet used to bring food or even cook for us.”

“Before me,” Landon chuckled at the veiled accusation that Landon was the reason why that was no longer the case.

“Priorities change,” Jacob played it off casually then suggested, “But if you want to revamp that tradition, Ryan and I will gladly attend. Violet is a keeper.”

That she was.

“Oh, and next time, just lock the damn door,” Jacob said in a stern voice, but the confectionary sugar all over his lips and hands made him sound comical. Landon nodded finishing the pastry in his own hands. Next time there better not be interruptions.

“These are good,” Jacob unfolded the bag to better see the address of the bakery. “Who knew? Maybe I should order from there for our next meeting.”

“Hmm,” Landon licked his fingers before taking another yummy treat. Violet had outdone herself.

“Should I be concerned?” Jacob nodded towards the Beta’s office, reminding Landon his family was there.

“Ma’ tricked Violet with old family photos. They are staying the night, then leaving at sunrise,” Landon still did not know how to feel about his mom actively spending time with his Violet. Landon was conflicted. A part of him wanted to share his childhood memories with Violet, and another just wanted to keep her away from his family and friends, just so that he could enjoy her wonderful company alone. Whether that made him selfish or ashamed, he did not know. All we cared about was Violet. So if photos were what she wanted, he would gladly indulge her. Then they should be returning north – the faster the better.

“You can’t choose your relatives,” Jacob sensed his aversion to them.

“You can’t run away from them either,” Landon sighed.

“That bad?”

“We are not the Howler’s version of a family. We don’t do hugs or heat-to-hearts. We fight, steal mates, and suffocate each other quite literally. You know, the good stuff.”

Landon’s sarcasm spoke volumes. If it was anyone other than Jacob, Landon have mellowed out the truth.

“Then thank Goddess, Violet is a Howler,” Jacob jested, paying himself, the Howlers and Violet a compliment, and silently validating Landon’s perception of his family.

“It must be because of their Beta,” Landon teased him right back.

“Good one,” Jacob pointed out. “I like this Beta version of Landon. Less prickly and much more compliant.”

“It’s the mating, not the title that transforms the man,” Landon argued.

“That will earn you some more good food,” Jacob teased pointing the take-out bag. “I am happy I don’t have to worry about Violet and you. Any predictions of who he’d choose?”

“That would imply I care,” Landon shrugged uninterested.

“But if you had to speculate?” Jacob pried into the matter.

“If he is smart, he’d pick Alyssa,” Landon answered. “Erica is in the center of it all. She didn’t just want me. She wanted also the title and Aidan. So she conveniently bought into the whole shebang, twins shared a mate. So when his claim on her didn’t stay, they blamed me for not accepting them as my mates. Nobody believed me when I told them she was mine, and mine alone. After some time Erica accepted I am not going to come around, so she rejected me. She even made Aidan reject me as if I am his mate or something.”

“She did a number on you,” Jacob agreed.

“I wanted to ditch the pack, my family and even my own name. Jack was my ticket out and thanks to dear ol’ ma’ he wouldn’t make me some fake papers. I trashed his office. Ma convinced him to file charges, and I ended up serving my sentence in Pack Order,” Landon finished his story. “Who is to say Erica’s decision to pursue the title and Aidan didn’t set things in motion? Sure, she screwed me over, but also doomed Alyssa to not meet Aidan on time, thus setting her up on the path to Karim?”

“You want to punish Erika for Violet’s rejection, not because she didn’t choose you,” Jacob concluded.

Landon nodded.

“Violet doesn’t like it when Erika looks at us,” Landon continued. “I have no interest in Erika. But Vi is expecting trouble from her.”

“It amps up your protectiveness of Violet.”

“Not that I need a reason to be overbearing,” Landon chuckled. “I’ll feel better knowing you have someone on her, so she doesn’t corner Violet.”

“Violet can handle her,” Jacob replied.

“But she doesn’t need to,” Landon corrected him.

“Consider it done.”

“Good,” Landon replied. “What I don’t understand is how two Betas who are on friendly terms did not introduce their mates to each other?”

“They were not that friendly,” Jacob replied. “It might have seemed that way to you if you were on the outside looking in. You were never close to Aidan.”

“Right,” Landon ate the last pastry. “I talked to Vincent. You should offer him Pack Order.”

“The deal is not mine to give.”

“Nolan will sign over the Battalion, but where does his loyalty lay,” Landon paused. “I am not certain.”

“I say we give him a juicy story and see how far he will spread it,” Jacob outlined his plan.

Violet

Vincent fell into step the moment she walked outside.

“Landon deputized you for this afternoon,” Violet teased him.

“Must be guilt from knocking me out,” Vincent jokingly explained. “I heard you like the bakery. You’re welcome.”

“So you are the foodie,” Violet concluded. “Is that why you are coming to Velvet?”

“Singles, baby, singles,” Vincent showed her a wad of one dollar bills.

“It’s only a couple of hours,” Violet explained vaguely.

“Yeah, about that,” Vincent hissed. “I called Gareth. You’re fully booked.”

Violet was surprised. If anything she expected cancellations. Vincent walked her over to a car and drove away. Velvet came into a view a moment too soon.

Violet quickly found Garett, who nodded towards the back and gave Vincent a keycard to the security room. Violet rolled her eyes when Vincent popped out for a quick plate before heading into the security room.

“Dancing?” Violet asked.

“No, but a package was hand delivered for you,” Gareth told her and once he saw the dread on her face, he knowingly smiled. “It’s not what you think.”

Violet had mixed feelings about the schedule and the package until she recognized the smell of wild berries.

“Landon,” she whispered opening her room expecting to see him only to find a big black box. She saw the attached card, “Enjoy, Lan.”

As she opened the box she could catch his scent over the tissue paper. Her fingers lifted a very soft, black dress, which was incredibly sexy in its simplicity and modesty in the front and the sexy lace trailing down over her spine. It was a sleeveless beauty, leaving her mating mark, declaring she was Taken. Landon might not be in Velvet tonight, but he made sure Violet thought of him every single moment. If she had to admit it, it was darn sexy, knowing he had taken time to pick it out for her. Violet slipped it on only to discover her work in Velvet took an unexpected twist. Like never before did she want to leave at once and have Lan remove the black dress off her.