Author note

Hi, lovely readers.... I've been missing in action for some weeks now. I have a high-risk pregnancy, and after losing my first baby, I really want to take it easy this time. I feel a little better to write now, so I'm back with a very short novella for Flynn and Lucia. I'll be updating it when I can, depending on how I feel. I've been visiting the emergency room every week, so bear with me. I hope you like the novella, as I prepare to return with a new book. Thank you for your support. I really appreciate it. Below is the title and storyline for the novella. Title: Melting The Beta's Icy Heart Blurb:Lucia: I was twenty-two and had never met my fated mate yet, so I thought I would never meet him in this lifetime. In a twisted turn of events, I ended up finding my fated mate. It was none other than my frenemie, Beta Flynn Hawthorne. The only problem was that Flynn already had a mate, but she died, and our bond snapped into place at her funeral. There was no way Flynn was my mate. Th

Chapter 1~ Twisted fate

**Lucia's POV** The sun shone brightly in the sky, but it did nothing to lighten the sombre mood in the Crescent Moon Pack. A few weeks ago, we had a war, and although we had won, the consequences of the war were devastating. We lost so many... My heart clenched with pain, and I wiped the corners of my eyes as tears threatened to fall. I wasn't going to cry. I'm supposed to comfort Flynn. If I cried in front of him, it would just remind him of his loss. Flynn was the Crescent Moon Pack's Beta, and during the war, he had lost his pregnant mate. I hadn't seen him these past weeks. He had disappeared for a while... Flynn and I never got along. But that didn't mean I couldn't be there for him during this hard time... our families were close for years... I tried to reach out, but he never let anyone in. He didn't want to see anyone. The Alpha said he had to command him to eat something. Losing a mate was so devastating. I had not met mine yet, but I knew I would break if I l

Chapter 2~ Leaving

**Lucia's POV** "I'm sorry, Lucia..." I knew what the Alpha was going to say before he could say it. The look on his face gave him away. Flynn had refused to see me again. I had been trying to reach out to him for weeks. All I wanted was to explain myself. To tell him I didn't expect this to happen either. I wanted us to reject each other and break this forbidden bond. But he didn't give me the chance to see him... Actually, he avoided me as though I was a disease. I heard he never wanted to see me again. I don't know why... maybe because of the stupid mate bond, his refusal stung. I had no intention of becoming his mate. Not when I knew he already had a mate, and they loved each other so much. It hurt that he accused me of using dubious means to create a mate bond between us.It was the moon goddess who played a joke on us. And as time went by, my wolf craved for her mate. She didn't care about anything else... only that her mate was out there. But I knew we cou

Chapter 3~ Back home

Nine years later.... **Lucia's POV** "Congratulations, Doctor Lucia!" Cheers echoed around the room, and a bouquet of flowers was handed over to me. A warm smile crossed my lips as I stared at the people who I had worked with for the past two years during my internship program. When I graduated from medical school, I decided to stay for an additional two years in the human town and joined an internship program. Today, I was officially being given a permanent job at one of the biggest hospitals in the country. It was a good offer, one I would've taken if I hadn't decided to finally face my fears. After nine years of being away, I was finally ready to go back home. My parents, Raina, and everyone I knew always asked me when I would return. I knew I let them down by staying away, but now it was time to return to the people who cared for me. "Thank you so much," I said truthfully. "I've enjoyed working with you. However, I will not be taking up the new job offer. I'

Chapter 4~ Mark him

**Lucia's POV** "What's wrong with my son?" Flynn’s mother, Eliana Hawthorne, cried in the hospital ward. I had no option but to be in the ward because I was going to be one of the pack's doctors. My job just started earlier than I expected. "Was it you?" She glanced at me, her eyes filled with tears. "Did he become like this after he saw you?" Her words slashed through me the way a knife cuts through butter. They stung... "Aunt E... it's not like that," the Alpha came to my aid. "Flynn had been withering like this for years. We don't know what's wrong with him, so we've called for help from a witch. Hopefully, we can find a way to help him." "I really hope he will be ok. But what is she doing here?" Auntie Eliana asked. "She's the new pack's doctor," Raina responded firmly. "It's important that she's present for any patient, regardless of who they are." Doctor Natalie cleared her throat. "The Beta is stable, but we still don't know why he won't wake up. His wol

Chapter 5~ His anger

**Lucia's POV** 'Flynn is awake,' Raina's voice flitted through my mind, and I breathed out in relief. He had been out for two days, and I made sure I stayed far away from him. I didn't want to be around when he realised I had marked him and gotten rid of Jade's mark. Another reason was that I felt guilty. Now that I had marked him, I could feel some of his emotions slipping through the bond. He was in so much pain, even when he was unconscious. It hurt to know that I had added to that pain by getting rid of the only thing that reminded him of his mate. 'That's good,' I replied. 'You're needed here,' Raina said. She was referring to her house. Flynn had been moved there since his condition didn't require medical intervention. 'By who?' I asked, my heart pounding. I didn't want to face Flynn. Not now. 'There's something we need to discuss. Flynn is getting better, but his wolf has been deteriorating for a long time. He can't shift either. So we were advised b