Mated to the Chaos - Georgette St. Clair Page 0,20

take him from me yet.

But she was too late. Chaos rolled over Carlo like a lover, joining in the moment of power until Carlo jerked away.

“No.”

She reached for him, but he pulled back, licking his lips, tasting her essence, even as he glared hotly at her.

“I helped you, tesoro. I’m pleased to see you’re still alive.”

Chaos and Nanshe cried out in loss as he left the room, the door closing with a resounding thud.

Chapter Seven

Carlo watched the edge of the Moretti Pack lands with a careful eye, as he’d been doing the last three days. It was much easier focusing on that than the woman in his bed. Room. Bedroom.

He hadn’t allowed himself to touch Nanshe again. He recognized the touch of Chaos that spilled from her when he took her over the edge. He was lost in her, loving he cries, the intimate way he’d been able to speak into her mind without having to take his mouth off her delicious skin.

Her body was a wonder, even the small expanse of the space he’d seen.

He could be honest with himself that Nanshe was a beautiful woman, perfect in ways he never knew were possible. But the Chaos …

A shiver slipped down his spine at the thought of it. It was just like when he’d shifted the first time.

Carlo had been cocky that day, certain he’d survive and gain the power of the wolf. Battle and blood were nothing to him and death was impossible. He’d been Family before he was turned in the 50s, accustomed to a life where danger was a part of every day.

And then something entered the arena during his shift.

It was insidious, whispering to him of more strength, control, and power of untold measure. It sang to his blood, a homecoming he hadn’t realized he was missing. That was until it slammed into his body, just like the shift, changing him in ways the wolf couldn’t handle. It tore at his mind, too many memories rushing through his head.

He saw himself in foreign places, living a life unlike anything he consciously remembered.

Whispered touches. Death. Destruction. Agony.

It didn't seem like any pain he’d ever want to experience, and he’d fought it with everything he had. All he wanted was the wolf, the life of a Made Man, comfortable with his gun in his hand. What Chaos whispered was hell, and he wouldn’t let it come in.

He did everything he could to deny it.

But in return, Chaos took him instead.

His mind, his understanding.

To survive, Carlo had lost a piece of himself, and he never knew if he’d ever get it back.

That same touch reached out for him when he was with Nanshe, and he didn’t give it a chance to take over as it did before. He was determined to never lose his mind again. Perhaps he needed to explain it better to Nanshe—that it wasn’t her; it was what she held within her—but he was sure she would argue with him.

For her, it wasn’t scary; she knew what she carried. She didn’t understand what it did to him. Not really. How could anyone understand if they hadn’t experienced it? Yes, he’d lived his life wishing he could get what he’d seen younger wolves claim.

Romano was over the moon with Kalinda, and her higher magical position didn’t bother him. She was his, and she deferred to him when she could. His responsibilities had shifted to protecting her, but he was still the liaison with the Lombardi Pack.

Dominic had claimed Zoey, and the hard, crushing wolf had gained softness and a child with extraordinary powers. Zoey was a ray of sunshine no one could hide, and though they were still dangerous creatures who could be deadly, she’d influenced them all to take care of Encantado and the mages within it by any means necessary.

Pasquale, a hidden Alpha in their midst, found his place beside Giuliana. It was fortuitous, since Romano’s move had left an opening in Dominic’s structure where Pasquale could step in and maintain his own pack at the same time.

Even Heath, with all the wrongs he’d committed, had found his completion with Asherah all the while reuniting Silva with her sister and revealing the threat to Encantado. Lorenzo may have still been coming to terms with his friend after everything, but the two men were rebuilding their friendship.

And all of that didn’t even touch the power pairings created between mates as well as friends through association. Silva and Kalinda, Zoey and Romano, Isadora’s mix, and Kalinda