Fairytale Flicker Read online

  Issa went from ex-stripper to intoxicant with one touch of an alpha. Spending years with her skin hidden, she gets the shock of her life after a wedding when a friend introduces her to a familiar face, and her body goes wild... again.

  Issa lived her last few years in shadows, going out with all her skin covered until she attended a friend’s wedding and bumped into the guy who started it all for her. He just wants a hookup, and she doesn’t want to play, so she leaves him and returns home after the wedding.

  Covered up after a nocturnal grocery run, she finds two men on her porch, and one is her would-be hookup. The alphas agree to court her, and she agrees to let them... with conditions.

  There is a rough start, an awkward mistake, and a truce before they can begin moving forward to join the magic that binds them.

  Daynette met her alpha years ago, then attacked the same night. She had no memory of the night but one adorable souvenir. When one of Issa’s mates recognizes the little girl’s distinctive features, he makes a call. Daynette’s world tilts as she ends up looking up into eyes that look exactly like her daughter’s. Oh boy. She really wished she could remember their time together.

  The characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.

  Fairytale Flicker

  Copyright © 2023 by Viola Grace

  ISBN: 978-1-990635-22-9

  ©Cover art by Angela Waters

  All rights reserved. With the exception of review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the express permission of the publisher.

  Published by Viola Grace

  Look for me online at violagrace.com.

  Fairytale Flicker

  Betas in Waiting Book 7

  By

  Viola Grace

  Chapter One

  Issa pulled her hood on, snugged her gloves into place, and looked at her face in the mirror. Her makeup was holding, and she looked normal, just like any normal beta.

  She stepped into her shoes and left her house to pick up groceries. She kept her hands in her pockets and walked through the winter streets, looking at all the couples who were walking together in the glow of the lights and reflections of the snow.

  She could feel happiness in the air. The winter festival was around the corner, and she just wanted to feel as close to normal as she could. Garlands hung on entryways, wreaths were on doors, and when she looked back, her own home blended in. It looked ready for festivities, but she didn’t have many people to celebrate with.

  She kept walking and heard snippets of music and television coming from the homes. A smile came to her lips, and she kept walking to pick up her needed food items to get her through the week an hour before the shop closed.

  She hummed to herself and watched the stars flicker and dance. The late-night concerts were letting out, and her street was popular for free parking. In the time she had entered the store to the point of walking home, half the street had cleared.

  Issa despised hearing the laughter of the folks getting back to their cars and the roar of the engines. She liked her life quiet, and the people she observed needed to be in love or infatuated. Anyone else agitated her after the change.

  She walked home with the soft rustle of her fabric bags brushing against her legs and frowned when there was a sleek sportscar parked behind a heavy jeep in front of her house. Issa paused and looked at her porch. Two men were visible sitting on her lawn chairs. They were oddly familiar silhouettes.

  Issa walked up to her door and unlocked it. They rose to their feet. She stepped inside, closed and locked the door behind her.

  * * * *

  Thacker looked at Remon. “That wasn’t the reaction I was expecting.”

  Remon snorted and shook his ridiculously good-looking head. “Nor me. I usually get a second look, at least.”

  Thacker raised his hand and knocked on the door. “Issa. We would like to speak with you.”

  She returned to the door and looked at them through lightly tinted sunglasses. “Why? You explained yourselves very well at the wedding. Not looking for a mate. Got it. You do you, and I will do me.” She looked at Thacker and then to his left. “Both of you.”

  Thacker cleared his throat. “We have reconsidered.”

  “Congratulations, but I believe no means no.”

  Remon’s car alarm started sounding, and Thacker felt his smugness at his back.

  Issa hissed and said, “Turn that thing off and come in. I have neighbours.”

  Thacker stepped inside when she opened the door, and Remon’s car silenced itself. “Nicely done.”

  Remon murmured softly, “Not just a pretty face.”

  They walked into the small, tidy house and looked around at the seasonal decorations. Issa lived in a warm holiday-scented cave, and it suited her.

  Remon closed the door behind him, and Thacker wiped his feet before taking off his shoes and walking into the space that had been designed with their hostess in mind.

  She looked at them with a glare and asked, “Can I get you water or anything?”

  Remon murmured, “Water would be great.”

  Thacker nodded. “Please.”

  Issa nodded. Her dark sweatsuit covered her body, and her gloves were still on. “Back in a moment. Have a seat.”

  Thacker watched her move soundlessly away in her thick socks. She liked soft things all around her. She would need a nest, unlike some of the other betas. He liked nests. His beast thought it was a fantastic idea. Remon’s beast could go fuck itself.

  He sat carefully on the couch, and Remon sat next to him. The couch creaked. Thacker asked, “Can you heal a couch?”

  “I have never tried.” Remon smiled and took the water glass that Issa returned with.

  Thacker took the glass and took a sip. It was filtered and tasted slightly sweet, but she hadn’t spit in it, so that was promising.

  Issa rocked on her heels with her hands in the bunny pouch of her sweatshirt. “Why are you two here?”

  Thacker set the glass down on the coffee table. “We have discussed and agreed that while the initial reaction was to deny that we wanted a mate, in the two weeks following the wedding, we realize that we were wrong.”

  “How forward thinking of you.” She stood calmly with her sunglasses on.

  Remon sat back. “Would you please remove the lenses?”

  “No. I applied makeup to go out and haven’t taken it off, so I look weird.” She crossed her arms. “Now, what do you want?”

  Thacker leaned forward. “You. We want you.”

  She turned her head toward him. “You really don’t. Your beasts want my magic. That’s the attraction. If I hadn’t transformed two years ago, you would still be looking at me like I was gum under your shoe.”

  Thacker blinked. “I never...”

  She jerked her head toward Remon. “He did. He was my trigger.”

  Remon blinked. “I don’t remember speaking to you before.”

  “Oh, you didn’t? I was giving you a lap dance at the Torn Sapphire. Your hands were everywhere, and your eyes glowed. A week later, my skin went freaky, and I was forced to retire.” She shrugged. “I joined the book club six months later.”

  Thacker cocked his head and thought about the boneless way she moved. “Stripper?”

  “Yes, for three years.” She inclined her head. “Until my sudden retirement.”

  Remon squinted. “I still don’t remember you.”

  “I know. I wouldn’t expect you to. You were hammered.” She shrugged. “Good tipper though.”

  Thacker scowled. “Why did you do that?”

  “Do what?”

  “Strip?”

  “Oh, my parents couldn’t afford my education, so I paid my own way with evening work.” She shrugged. “I nearly had a sociology degree before I got sparkly. Then, my educational plans were fucked. Thanks for that.”

  Remon paused. “It wasn’t on purpose. I don’t even know how it’s possible.”

  “You scratched me.”

  He blinked. “I what?”

  “You scratched me right under the left breast and drew a long line down my torso.”

  Thacker watched his friend’s eyes widen as he recalled the moment. “You remember.”

  Remon ran his hand behind his neck. “Yeah. Management charged me through the nose because I took one of the favourites off the floor.”

  Issa nodded. “Right. That was the night. I was off for a few days, and when I returned, the sparkling started.”

  Thacker frowned. “We would like to offer ourselves to you as mates.”

  She smiled politely. “No, thank you. I am managing on my own.”

  Remon frowned. “You move in the dark, heavily covered with makeup to cover your skin, and you think that is fine?”

  “My needs are minimal. Budgeting I can last here for twenty years. With the ability to work from home, I can make the funds I need to keep the house up. I’ve got this.”

  Thacker cleared his throat. “Not to be indelicate, but what about your heats?”

  “I can manage them with toys.” She shrugged it off.

  Remon nodded. “So far. Can you give me your phone?”

  “Why?”

  “So I can put my number in it. Thacker will do the same. If there ever comes a time
when your DIY efforts aren’t sufficient, call either of us, and we will be here as quickly as we can.”

  “I won’t need it.”

  Remon nodded. “We understand, but humour us. Now that we are on this path, we are rather serious about it.”

  Thacker nodded and said softly. “We are going to continue preparing a home for you until you are ready to join us.”

  She sighed and handed her phone to Remon. When he finished, he handed the phone to Thacker.

  Thacker put in his information with his first and last name. “We are going to be looking for a place for all three of us with some privacy and an area where you can wear what you like on a daily basis. No more bundling up in sweats unless you want to.”

  She paused and reached for her phone. “Thank you. That is a tempting offer.”

  He handed her the phone and rose to his feet, leaning to whisper in her ear that he would provide her with the softest nest and warmest things. She could finish her courses and get her degree. He kissed her cheek and leaned back. He had started courting his beta.

  Remon stepped toward her and aimed for her lips but got her cheek. He settled for nuzzling her cheek and neck before they took their leave.

  Thacker could taste her on his lips as he got into his vehicle. His phone sparked to life as they drove away, and he answered hands-free. Remon asked, “Do you think she will call?”

  “She will call. I tried to seduce her with words I thought she would like, so now we get to see if she liked them. Good thing we bought that house just in case.” He paused. “What did she used to look like?”

  “Golden skin, dark brown hair, eyes like a golden doe.” Remon chuckled. “I actually remember scratching her and getting fined by management. They took her away from me.”

  Thacker chuckled and headed for his new home. “We have to get her to agree, Rem. Not just seduce her into doing what we want.”

  “Seducing is easier.”

  “Not for a mate. You want her willing and to associate you with security and pleasure.”

  “Fine, Thack. You be security. I will be pleasure.”

  Thacker smiled. “We each need to be both. If we do our job, she won’t favour one of us over the other. There will still be a primary and a secondary, but hopefully, there won’t be too much difference in the way she treats us.”

  “I put dibs on the lap dances.”

  Thacker laughed and accelerated onto the highway. “You think she will be climbing onto your lap if she isn’t getting paid?”

  “Ouch. I am charming, you know.”

  “You are pretty to look at, and the girls come running. They run faster when you wave money at them.” He paused. “Do you remember what she felt like?”

  “Soft. Really soft. Made entirely of silk.”

  Thacker sighed. Seeing her made of swirling pearlescent magic at the wedding had been one thing, but not being able to touch her because the other ladies of the book club were on guard was another. She was one of their protected members. She had no built-in defenses. In the silk dress with her body glowing in the light, he had known what she was the moment he saw her. Remon had been right behind him, and when Remon told her they weren’t interested in a mate, she smiled politely and walked away, hips swaying slowly.

  Right now, he knew something she didn’t, and he was going to cheat his ass off to get her to call.

  Her heat was nearly here.

  * * * *

  Issa was reading when she felt the first warning tingle of her heat starting. She went to her drawer full of toys and made sure they were all charged up. She didn’t want to face her heat without her toys.

  A bouquet of flowers was delivered the next morning, and when she put her face into the flowers, her belly clenched, and her sex slicked a lot. She gasped and looked at the scent-bombed bouquet. “I thought the other one was the sneaky one.”

  Issa checked the note, and it simply said Think of me—Thacker, and now, she wasn’t going to be able to do anything else. Her body started to throb, and she twisted as she pressed her thighs together. She sent him a text that just said, You Bastard.

  He replied a few minutes later. Call me if you need me.

  She whined and headed for her bedroom and her collection. If it didn’t stop today, she would need to make that call. Bastard.

  Chapter Two

  She was hot, anxious, and sullen when the vehicle pulled up to collect her. She had called Luna for advice, and Wren had jumped in on the call. This was her path.

  She had her go-bag with sweats and comfy socks, along with several pairs of sunglasses and her makeup. Three vibrators came along in case she needed them in the car.

  Issa watched her would-be mate exit the vehicle and walk to her door. His text had been explicit. He would collect her, condoms would be in constant use, and she would return to her home the moment her heat was over and she asked for it. This was assistance, not kidnapping. He had instituted his own conditions, and this pickup was one of them.

  She saw his nostrils flare and pupils dilate when he caught her scent, and he nodded, took her bag, and walked her to his vehicle, holding the door for her as she slid into the sports car.

  He closed the door after tucking her in and walked around the car. He slid behind what was obviously a custom seat and buckled up as the vehicle roared to life. Inside, it was nearly silent.

  He calmly pulled away from the curb and took a path through the city she wasn’t used to.

  When they hit the open road and the vibration of the vehicle did devious things to her sex, she moaned and arched her back.

  Remon snorted. “Why did you wait?”

  “Why are you here?”

  “I sensed something when we talked, and that requires the talents of my beast, not his.”

  “What?” She held herself very still as he drove.

  “You are a virgin. He is very clear on that. He is never wrong, so I had to be here.” His fingers flexed on the wheel.

  “I don’t understand. Why?”

  “He has a strong prey drive, and since we haven’t had a female in heat before, he is afraid of injuring you or even attacking you. I have no prey drive and am better with virgins.” The leather of the wheel creaked.

  Her mouth went dry. “I called Thacker.”

  “We know. But this is new territory for all of us. If I screw up, you can still go to him. If it works, I will have more with a woman than the first time. You can choose me later.”

  She gritted her teeth as a wave of lust ran over her, and she panted as the heatwave passed.

  “What triggered that?”

  She let out a humming moan through her teeth before she said, “Not a clue. I think it was you saying I could go to Thacker and then go to you.” It was hard to focus. Her thighs slipped and slid together, and she knew her sweats were a mess and her scent was choking.

  She fumbled and opened the window a crack, letting the roar of air scrub her scent out.

  “What are you doing, Issa?” His voice was hard to hear with the sound in the car.

  “Getting the smell out.” She focused, and the window went up. “Nononononono.”

  “It’s all right, Issa. My beast is more cued to movement and visuals, as is Thacker’s. The scent is just in case we are in the dark and we are exceptionally stupid.” He spoke through gritted teeth and muttered, “So, he was right about the scent for you. Figures. He’s always right.”

  She turned her back to him and watched the landscape roll by as they drove into the hills. “How much longer?”

  “Six minutes. It can be four if I speed up, but he will think something is wrong.”

  She panted softly and counted the seconds in her head. “You were football friends with Caber and Melbourne?”

  He laughed. “Not a sports fan?”

  “Go sports!” She pumped a fist in the air.

  He snorted. “Yes, Thacker and I were football friends with Caber and Melbourne. Oh, and Walker.”

  He was throwing names at her that she would recognize. Names that would be familiar and evoke alphas taking care of betas. Clever.