When I first decided to write a mature-rated man x man / boy x boy story where they two main characters slowly develop a non-sexual, non-romantic relationship... I wasn't sure how it would be received.

So to every reader who has followed this tale to its end, and to those who've reached out and let me know you enjoyed it - this story is for you.

Thank you.

If any of you have thoughts or feedback you'd like to share, feel free to let me know!

Badass Omega begins a year or so after the end of this book, including the bonus story.

I came up with the idea for this story first, and it was always meant to have a happy ending.

Then - well - inspiration struck, and I ended up writing the other story first. But they can be read separately, and I consider them two independent books and not part of a series.

But just imagine...if I had written this one first, and then started Badass Omega... How much would you have hated me?

It turned out to be a story about two people who are very flawed, but still strong and worthy of love. 

Who believe they might be bad beyond the point of redemption, broken beyond repair, undeserving of love - but discover that they are not.

Who find hope for the future inside themselves and through the support of their new, chosen family.

And finally, find a way forward together, a little bit at a time. 

This one turned out simultaneously darker and less violent than my other book. Maybe because Kit was younger here, and both the mains had so few good people in their lives. 

The next story will be shorter and full of action, more in the style of Badass Omega. So if you preferred that, you might want to give this next story a read...

Charles's relationship with Hunter - where he's given up his autonomy in return for something he interprets as affection - is fairly common in this genre, but in this story we begin years into the relationship, after he has started experiencing the negative consequences of his choice.

He's been swept off his feet by his wealthy boss, and given up much of himself to please him.

I wondered how a character like that might leave an unhealthy relationship... Would he be able to, without a knight in shining armour swooping in to rescue him?

And how would he manage being someone else's guardian and emotional support?

In the end, it takes a catalyst in the form of an angry 16-year-old werewolf to make him take ownership of his life and his decisions, and then finally an active role in changing them. 

Kit is younger in this story. He starts of numb and grieving, but underneath that, he's both furious and naive, lashing out without really considering the consequences. 

As the story progresses, he grows more understanding and accepting of his own and other peoples' flaws, and finds a way to channel his anger into focusing on the future - on doing something meaningful with his life. 

Eventually he embraces being a werewolf, and starts working through some of his issues. 

Kit doesn't stop sleeping around, and Charles doesn't stop being submissive, but they discover that they want to do those things on their own terms.

Charles takes control of his life, discovers he can have love without sacrificing his own will.

Kit discovers that he's not his mother, and neither is his uncle. That he can love her and still avoid her fate. 

They had to find a way to help each other, forgive each other, and move on together.

Badass Omega seems to me now like a story about Kit sprinting for his life through an obstacle course in the dark, chased by monsters he was trying to outwit, and finally seeing that the only way to break free was to turn and face them.

Lovely Bastards seems more like the tale of Kit and Charlie at the bottom of a deep, dark pit, slowly clawing and dragging themselves up bit by torturous bit, slipping and sliding down again, nails bleeding and dirt falling into their eyes, before realising that to make it out they had to rely on each other.

It was fun to write the difference between someone who enjoys being submissive but is not necessarily into pain, like Charles, and someone assertive but at the same time self-destructive and masochistic, like Kit. 

These two characters were so infuriating, because they're both genuinely jerks (selfish and manipulative), and yet also trying their best and failing (and then failing better), so for some reason I still like them, though they make it difficult sometimes... 

I wanted to make them both insensitive enough that you wouldn't feel sorry for the pain they went through, and at the same time just human enough that you couldn't help but sympathise anyway. 

I don't know whether I succeeded, but I'm happy to have finished the story, and thankful to each and every reader who gave it a chance.

Keep reading for a teaser from my next story, Robin Red!

If any of you were disappointed by the lack of incest and omegas in Lovely Bastards, fear not, you're about to get all that and more... ;)

Robin Red (BxB)

A meaty fist connected with his gut and Red barely had time to tense his abs and bring his forearm up to block the next hit.

He twisted away, putting the wall at his back so that they couldn't attack him from behind, and raised his guard.

The three alphas left standing were all bleeding, breathing heavily. They did not look amused.

"You little cunt," one hissed.

He was the tallest, and Red recognized him as the one whose designer glasses he had crushed. Now he was crimson in the face, bleeding from several cuts, stiff gelled hair poking out in every direction.

Red himself was panting, and focused on catching his breath instead of replying.

Another one suddenly moved to hit him - the omega angled his body but let the punch land on his side, sliding forward through the opening in the man's guard.

He drove the butt of his hand up into his face, breaking his nose with a "crack!" and punched his solar plexus with his other fist.

The suit toppled and another dove at him - Red ducked under his arm and jammed his elbow in underneath his ribs, before catching him with an uppercut under his chin.

The guy collapsed, knocked out.

Red cocked his eyebrow at the last one. His muscles were trembling now, the exertion catching up with him.

"Give up?" he asked.

"Fuck you!"

"You tried to - how's that working out for you?"

He wouldn't usually taunt his opponent - it wasn't prudent - but something about this guy really rubbed him the wrong way. 

The alpha growled, glowering at the shorter man. Then he backed up. Red could see the end of the alleyway past him, his way out.

Three alphas and two betas - panting, slumped to the ground or limping, injured.

And Red Rivelle, a single omega, knuckles bloody, arms shaking - still standing.

Maybe I could actually make it out of this.

That was when another figure in a dark suit appeared at the mouth of the alley, and an achingly familiar scent hit Red's nostrils like physical blow.

Only one whiff and he gasped, flinching back as a flush spread over his body, nerves lighting up. A warm tingling raced through his limbs and he could smell his own sweet pheromones, vaguely, spreading through the narrow space as he focused on keeping his legs steady.

His heat. It wasn't due for days - and he was in an alley with three - now four - alphas, their heads turning his way, eyes glazing over, already heavy breathing growing ragged.

Oh no.

"He's mine," a low, dangerous voice growled. 

The suits scattered before him, helpless to resist the his command as he stepped towards the sweat- and blood-streaked omega. This new alpha seemed younger than the rest, broad-shouldered but lean, and no taller than the other men.

Yet in that moment, there was no doubt who was the most powerful.

It had been over four years since Red had felt this way, since he had last seen that shadowed face bent over his in the dark, tasted that musky scent in his mouth.

"Robin," he croaked, knees buckling.

Strong arms caught him as he fell, stiff fabric crinkling, enveloping him in the heady scent he remembered. Red moaned thickly, looking up at once-familiar dark brown hair and grey eyes.

It had been four years. But when Red met that gaze, his whole body shuddered.

Only one person had ever made him react so strongly, made his heat hit him this hard, made him lose control of all his senses and all his sense.

His younger brother, Robin Rivelle.

Robin Red will be a shorter story, of about 15 chapters, and the first one is already up! Read the warnings, an enjoy :)

//Fletchley Rose