Gentle Scars Read online

  Gentle Scars

  To Be Claimed Saga #2

  Willow Winters

  Contents

  Also by Willow Winters

  I. Lost Puppy

  Prologue

  1. Vince

  2. Veronica

  3. Vince

  4. Vince

  5. Veronica

  II. Wolf in Pain

  6. Grace

  7. Dom

  8. Grace

  9. Lizzie

  10. Lizzie

  III. Broken Heart

  11. Devin

  12. Veronica

  13. Grace

  14. Lizzie

  15. Grace

  16. Veronica

  17. Vince

  Also by Willow Winters

  About Willow Winters

  Copyright © 2021 by Willow Winters

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Cover Design: Lori Jackson Design

  Also by Willow Winters

  To Be Claimed Saga

  A hot tempting series of fated love, lust-filled secrets and the beginnings of an epic war.

  * * *

  Wounded Kiss

  Gentle Scars

  Primal Lust

  * * *

  Valetti Crime Family Series:

  A HOT mafia series to sink your teeth into.

  * * *

  Dirty Dom

  Becca came to pay off a debt, but Dominic Valetti wanted more.

  So he did what he’s always done, and took what he wanted.

  * * *

  His Hostage

  Elle finds herself in the wrong place at the wrong time. The mafia doesn’t let witnesses simply walk away.

  Regret has a name, and it’s Vincent Valetti.

  * * *

  Rough Touch

  Ava is looking for revenge at any cost so long as she can remember the girl she used to be.

  But she doesn’t expect Kane to show up and show her kindness that will break her.

  * * *

  Cuffed Kiss

  Tommy Valetti is a thug, a mistake, and everything Tonya needs; the answers to numb the pain of her past.

  * * *

  Bad Boy

  Anthony is the hitman for the Valetti familia, and damn good at what he does. They want men to talk, he makes them talk. They want men gone, bang - it’s done. It’s as simple as that.

  Until Catherine.

  * * *

  Those Boys Are Trouble (Valetti Crime Family Collection)

  * * *

  You Are Mine World

  * * *

  You Are My Reason (You Are Mine Duet book 1)

  You Are My Hope (You Are Mine Duet book 2)

  Mason and Jules emotionally gripping romantic suspense duet.

  One look and Jules was tempted; one taste, addicted.

  No one is perfect, but that’s how it felt to be in Mason’s arms.

  But will the sins of his past tear them apart?

  * * *

  You Know I Love You

  You Know I Need You

  Kat says goodbye to the one man she ever loved even though Evan begs her to trust him.

  With secrets she couldn’t have possibly imagined, Kat is torn between what’s right and what was right for them.

  * * *

  Tell Me You Want Me

  A sexy office romance with a brooding hero, Adrian Bradford, who you can't help but fall head over heels for... in and out of the boardroom.

  * * *

  Small Town Romance

  * * *

  Tequila Rose Book 1

  Autumn Night Whiskey Book 2

  He tasted like tequila and the fake name I gave him was Rose.

  Four years ago, I decided to get over one man, by getting under another. A single night and nothing more.

  Now, with a three-year-old in tow, the man I still dream about is staring at me from across the street in the town I grew up in. I don’t miss the flash of recognition, or the heat in his gaze.

  The chemistry is still there, even after all these years.

  I just hope the secrets and regrets don’t destroy our second chance before it’s even begun.

  * * *

  A Little Bit Dirty

  * * *

  Contemporary Romance Standalones

  Knocking Boots (A Novel)

  They were never meant to be together.

  Charlie is a bartender with noncommittal tendencies.

  Grace is looking for the opposite. Commitment. Marriage. A baby.

  * * *

  Promise Me (A Novel)

  She gave him her heart. Back when she thought they’d always be together.

  Now Hunter is home and he wants Violet back.

  * * *

  Tell Me To Stay (A Novella)

  He devoured her, and she did the same to him.

  Until it all fell apart and Sophie ran as far away from Madox as she could.

  After all, the two of them were never meant to be together?

  * * *

  Second Chance (A Novella)

  No one knows what happened the night that forced them apart. No one can ever know.

  But the moment Nathan locks his light blue eyes on Harlow again, she is ruined.

  She never stood a chance.

  * * *

  Burned Promises (A Novella)

  Derek made her a promise. And then he broke it. That’s what happens with your first love.

  But Emma didn’t expect for Derek to fall back into her life and for her to fall back into his bed.

  * * *

  Read Willow’s sexiest and most talked about romances in the Merciless World

  * * *

  This Love Hurts Trilogy

  This Love Hurts

  But I Need You

  And I Love You the Most

  * * *

  An epic tale of both betrayal and all-consuming love...

  Marcus, the villain.

  Cody Walsh, the FBI agent who knows too much.

  And Delilah, the lawyer caught in between.

  * * *

  What I Would do for You (This Love Hurts Trilogy Collection)

  * * *

  A Kiss to Tell (a standalone novel)

  They lived on the same street and went to the same school, although he was a year ahead. Even so close, he was untouchable.

  Sebastian was bad news and Chloe was the sad girl who didn’t belong.

  Then one night changed everything.

  * * *

  Possessive (a standalone novel)

  It was never love with Daniel Cross and she never thought it would be. It was only lust from a distance. Unrequited love maybe.

  He’s a man Addison could never have, for so many reasons.

  * * *

  Merciless Saga

  Merciless

  Heartless

  Breathless

  Endless

  * * *

  Ruthless, crime family leader Carter Cross should’ve known Aria would ruin him the moment he saw her. Given to Carter to start a war; he was too eager to accept. But what he didn’t know was what Aria would do to him. He didn’t know that she would change everything.

  * * *

  All He’ll Ever Be (Merciless Series Collection of all 4 novels)

  * * *

  Irresistible Attraction Trilogy

  A Single Glance

  A Single Kiss

  A Single Touch

  * * *

  Bethany is looking for answers and to find them she needs one of the brothers of an infamous c
rime family, Jase Cross.

  Even a sizzling love affair won’t stop her from getting what she needs.

  But Bethany soon comes to realise Jase will be her downfall, and she’s determined to be his just the same.

  * * *

  Irresistible Attraction (A Single Glance Trilogy Collection)

  * * *

  Hard to Love Series

  Hard to Love

  Desperate to Touch

  Tempted to Kiss

  Easy to Fall

  * * *

  Eight years ago she ran from him.

  Laura should have known he'd come for her. Men like Seth King always get what they want.

  Laura knows what Seth wants from her, and she knows it comes with a steep price.

  However it’s a risk both of them will take.

  * * *

  Not My Heart to Break (Hard to Love Series Collection)

  * * *

  Tease Me Once

  Tease me once... I'll kiss you twice.

  Declan Cross' story from the Merciless World.

  * * *

  Spin off of the Merciless World

  * * *

  Love the Way Series

  Kiss Me

  Hold Me

  Love Me

  * * *

  With everything I've been through, and the unfortunate way we met, the last thing I thought I'd be focused on is the fact that I love the way you kiss me.

  * * *

  Extended epilogues to the Merciless World Novels

  A Kiss To Keep (more of Sebastian and Chloe)

  Seductive (more of Daniel and Addison)

  Effortless (more of Carter and Aria)

  Never to End (more of Seth and Laura)

  * * *

  Sexy, thrilling with a touch of dark Standalone Novels

  * * *

  Broken (Standalone)

  Kade is ruthless and cold hearted in the criminal world.

  They gave Olivia to him. To break. To do as he’d like.

  All because she was in the wrong place at the wrong time. But there are secrets that change everything. And once he has her, he’s never letting her go.

  * * *

  Forget Me Not (Standalone novel)

  She loved a boy a long time ago. He helped her escape and she left him behind. Regret followed her every day after.

  Jay, the boy she used to know, came back, a man. With a grip strong enough to keep her close and a look in his eyes that warned her to never dare leave him again.

  It’s dark and twisted.

  But that doesn’t make it any less of what it is.

  A love story. Our love story.

  * * *

  It’s Our Secret (Standalone novel)

  It was only a little lie. That’s how stories like these get started.

  But with every lie Allison tells, Dean sees through it.

  She didn't know what would happen. But with all the secrets and lies, she never thought she’d fall for him.

  * * *

  Collections of shorts and novellas

  * * *

  Don’t Let Go

  A collection of stories including:

  Infatuation

  Desires in the Night and Keeping Secrets

  Bad Boy Next Door

  * * *

  Kisses and Wishes

  A collection of holiday stories including:

  One Holiday Wish

  Collared for Christmas

  Stolen Mistletoe Kisses

  * * *

  All I Want is a Kiss (A Holiday short)

  Olivia thought fleeting weekends would be enough and it always was, until the distance threatened to tear her and Nicholas apart for good.

  * * *

  Highest Bidder Series:

  * * *

  Bought

  Sold

  Owned

  Given

  From USA Today best selling authors, Willow Winters and Lauren Landish, comes a sexy and forbidden series of standalone romances.

  * * *

  Highest Bidder Collection (All four Highest Bidder Novels)

  * * *

  Bad Boy Standalones, cowritten with Lauren Landish:

  * * *

  Inked

  Tempted

  Mr. CEO

  Three novels featuring sexy powerful heroes.

  Three romances that are just as swoon-worthy as they are tempting.

  * * *

  Simply Irresistible (A Bad Boy Collection)

  * * *

  Forsaken, (A Dark Romance cowritten with B. B. Hamel)

  Grace is stolen and gifted to him; Geo a dominating, brutal and a cold hearted killer.

  However, with each gentle touch and act of kindness that lures her closer to him, Grace is finding it impossible to remember why she should fight him.

  * * *

  View Willow’s entire collection and full reading order at willowwinterswrites.com/reading-order

  * * *

  Happy reading and best wishes,

  Willow xx

  Part I

  Lost Puppy

  Prologue

  Veronica

  * * *

  No one is meant to live forever. Even immortals. As a vampire, I knew one day my life would be over. I imagined it would be due to violence.

  Not because I fell in love.

  “Promise me you won’t take the drug anymore.” Vince’s voice is tight, his plea desperate. The bloodied tears that stain my cheeks fail to stop.

  I chose this. I did it for him. For us. If there’s a chance for us to have a real life together, one where I won’t grow old … One where I could possibly have a child … it’s for love. I never asked for a mate. In all my decades, I never felt this deep need.

  Just as I never asked to be immortal, and now …

  “Promise me, Veronica.” All I can do is slowly nod my head.

  I’ve turned into a fool for him. Become weak for him. I would do anything for him.

  “I promise.” I whisper the words I know are a lie. No one is meant to live forever and this had to be done.

  “I will give you everything you need. I promise you, my love. It could kill you.” I sniffle and kiss the crook of his neck. His gentle embrace brings a warmth to my chilled blood. “I would die without you.”

  He says that, but expects me to live when he’s gone from this world. He’ll understand. He must. He’s my mate and he’ll forgive me.

  “I love you, Veronica.”

  “I will love you forever, Vince.”

  Our forever.

  Vince

  Weeks before

  The first moment I felt my mate

  * * *

  How the hell did Devin do it? How could he leave his mate after feeling this?

  My fingers ball into fists as I stand on the stage, stiff and all but snarling.

  A burning shock lingers in my blood, chilling my skin with a cold sweat and willing my limbs to go to her. To my mate. My heart races, adrenaline coursing through me as the pull to go to her is overwhelming. By order of my Alpha, I’m ignoring the instinctual demand, just as he did last year. With every second my feet stay planted on this damn stage, the pit in my stomach grows larger, twisting and churning. My dry throat closes, threatening to suffocate me. The aching need devours me. I’m practically fucking weak and useless.

  I need her.

  How the hell did he ever wait for the offering? How could he resist when she was so close and he felt this?