Their growing attraction for each other has them crossing a forbidden line.
Twisted Mates, an all-new best friend’s brother, fated mates, paranormal
romance from bestselling authors Crystal J. Johnson and Felicity Vaughn is
now available!
When you’re the only daughter in one of the most powerful shifter families in the pack,
everyone has a single expectation of you: find your mate.
But Alexia Rush has always exceeded expectations. While she’s always wanted the
kind of love that’s fated by the goddess, she’s also interested in living her own life. But
after earning her degree and landing her dream job, she still hasn’t found the one. As
much as she hates to admit it, she’s starting to think she never will.
As a last resort, she completes the sacred cleansing ceremony before stepping into a
room of eligible shifters, hoping to feel that pull. She never expected that she’d be led to
her best friend’s brother and now, future king of the pack, Kai.
Xander Slade planned to never return to his family home after the death of his mother.
He has no desire to live under the same roof as the man who made his life miserable.
But when his little brother rejects his newfound mate, he can’t find it in him to leave. And
thank the goddess because there’s a dangerous stalker on the loose.
The difference in age between Xander and Alexia meant they were never close. Yet
time and life-threatening circumstances have a way of closing the gap. And their
growing attraction for each other has them crossing a forbidden line, leaving Alexia to
wonder if the goddess really knows best or did fate get it all twisted.
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Alexia
Fifteen Years Old
It is so beyond creepy down here, and I know that’s the last thing I need to be
thinking about at a time like this. But I quite literally cannot focus on anything else but
the way that mounted wolf skull on the damp gray stone wall is glaring down at me. It
doesn’t matter that it doesn’t have any eyes, just two bottomless holes where its
eyeballs would have been. It’s still staring at me, and I don’t like it. Not when it’s dark in
here and I’m surrounded by the bones of the shifters who have gone before me.
Why do we have to bury our dead in the catacombs beneath the mountains? I
mean, yeah, I guess it’s kind of cool that no one else besides our pack knows they’re
down here, even with everyone who travels through the Blue Ridge Mountains every
year. That means no one can ever disturb our loved ones who have passed on, so
that’s a plus. But damn, it’s so cold and quiet and I just know there’s cave crickets down
here, and if one lands on me, I won’t be responsible for my—
“Hey,” my best friend whispers insistently before elbowing me in the side and
waving her hand in front of my face. “Earth to Alexia. Why are you staring at the wall?”
I shake my head, clearing my thoughts, and drag my eyes away from the skull to
meet Carrington’s gaze. I grit my teeth and tamp down my irritation. It embarrasses me
when she waves her hand in front of my face like that; it feels like she’s bringing it to
everyone’s attention that I’m “zoned out.”
But I can’t get annoyed with her today. Of all days, I can’t let my emotions get the
best of me. My best friend is going through the absolute worst time of her life right now,
and the reason we’re in the catacombs isn’t to go on a ghost hunt.
Her mother, the queen of our pack, Olivia Braxton, died three days ago.
She’d been diagnosed with cancer two years ago, and it had been so painful to
watch Carrington and her twin brother, my other closest friend, Malakai, lose the woman
who had raised them to be the strong, independent, beautiful souls they are.
So yeah, needless to say, today’s not the day for my pet peeve to come bubbling
to the surface. Good thing I love my best friend more than life itself.
“Sorry, I was just thinking about how creepy it is down here,” I admit.
She shivers. “Yeah, it is. I can’t wait to get out of here and get back home. I’ve
had enough of everyone.” My eyebrows dip and she tilts her head to the side. “Present
company excluded of course. You should come back home with us. We can watch
movies and gorge on ice cream. I got your favorite.”
I crack a smile. “Rocky road?”
“Of course, what else?”
“But won’t Clayton want y’all to have some privacy tonight?”
I ask, glancing over
at her father, who is obviously still reeling over the loss of his wife, shaking the hands of
the Shifter Assembly elders as we prepare to file out of the catacombs. Thank the
goddess.
Carrington shakes her head.
“He just goes up to his office and looks through old
photo albums or works on his computer. He doesn’t want to be around anyone right
now. Kai and I are getting lonely.”
“That’s fair.” A thought that’s been dancing through my head all day—between
musings over the creepy wolf skull on the wall and how sad I am about Olivia—sneaks
back in. “Can I ask you a question?”
“Sure,” she says as we follow the rest of the pack out of the catacombs, the
sunlight getting closer as we step around flat stones and stray branches in the pathway.
“Where’s Xander?”
Xander is Carrington and Kai’s half-brother, Olivia’s son from her first marriage.
Jack was her mate and king of our pack, but he died in a tragic accident a long time
ago, leaving Olivia devastated. But a few years after, Olivia married Clayton, the twins
came along, and Xander was no longer an only child.
I’ve been glancing around, wondering why on earth he isn’t here. At twenty-
seven, he’s twelve years older than us, so it’s not like he’s a friend, but we were at least
friendly. And I know he adored his mother. Even when he left home, he always made
time for her. They kept in touch, and she was planning lunch dates with him all the time. How is it possible he didn’t come to her funeral and interment?
Carrington slides a strand of hair that’s broken free of her slick bun behind her
ear.
“I don’t know. I thought he would be here, but... no one has heard from him.”
“No one has heard from him? Since when? Does he even know she passed
away?”
“Yes. Dad called and told him as soon as it happened.”
“And he just... didn’t come?” I whisper, horrified at the idea of just not coming to
my mother’s funeral. Granted, I understand that no-contact is a thing in some families.
But when you have a good relationship, like Xander had with his mother... to just not
show up? It’s unforgivable.
She nods and bats away a tear before it slides down her face and ruins her
impeccable makeup.
“He never liked being in the house with all of us. We got to see
him, but only on his terms.”
“I’m sorry, Care.”
“Don’t be. Xander is an adult and makes his own choices.” She tangles her
fingers with mine and I give her hand a squeeze.
Warmth spreads along my side and I find Kai falling into step next to me. Unlike
his twin, he’s a mess. His sandy blond hair stands in all directions and his green eyes
are void of emotion. He yanks on his black tie as he keeps his attention straight ahead.
“How are you holding up?’ I ask.
His shoulders barely move when he shrugs. “I’m here.”
Without hesitation, I slide my free arm around his waist and pull him against me as
we walk. He’s only a couple of inches taller than me, so I can easily lay my head against
his shoulder. I probably should have asked first, but sometimes, I just act before
thinking. And right now, I guess I’m just thinking with my heart.
“I’m so sorry, Kai. I just want you to know I’m here if you need me. Anything. All you
have to do is ask,” I say, looking up at him, hoping he’ll talk to me but understanding
completely if he doesn’t.
One side of his mouth tilts up, causing a deep dimple on the same cheek.
“Dangerous words, Rush. I might try to cash in on a—”
“Don’t you dare say another word, Malakai,” Carrington says with a playful edge to
her voice.
He bumps my hip with his and winks down at me.
A cluster of butterflies swirls around in my stomach. I’ve known the Braxton twins
my entire life, but it’s only recently that I’ve started seeing Kai in a different light. It’s
hard to pinpoint when something changed. Maybe it was seeing him play on the
basketball court or when he gave a particularly well-researched speech in history class.
Then again, it could be his sage eyes that always glint with mischief or the muscles he’s
developed from working out.
No. No, no, no. It doesn’t matter how hot Kai is. He’s my best friend’s brother and I
would never let him cause a rift between Carrington and me. Even so, I can’t control
that my thoughts go rogue once in a while and turn to him.
But not today... not now, when Carrington and Kai’s world has been flipped
upside down. My job is to be here for them, make sure they know they aren’t alone.
Especially after today.
The death of a pack ruler will change everyone’s lives, but none
of them will feel the impact of the queen’s loss like my friends will. It isn’t just the loss of
their mother. It might sound dramatic, but their childhood sort of died with her.
When we
leave here today, their training will begin. It won’t ever be exactly as it used to be, and
one day, one of them will be the new ruler. And the fate of the entire pack will fall
squarely on their shoulders.
Who will it be?
Whoever finds their mate first.
For more information about Crystal J. Johnson, Felicity Vaughn, and their books; visit
their website:
https://crystalandfelicity.com
Happy readings!
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