TARA Before long, we were at Aidan’s home, the one we stayed in during the time when ours was flooded, and Nadia had settled down in her old room. It was crazy how we already had our rooms in Aidan’s house, but then again, I was sure that was what Aidan actually wanted. I didn’t find myself being opposed to the idea. Aidan walked behind me as I made my way over to my room with one hand in his pocket, the other one squeezing the back of his neck, and his eyes directed at the floor. “What?” I asked when we stepped inside the familiar environment, and I momentarily forgot what was going on as a shudder ran through me on remembering. This was where Aidan and I had sex. That was when he walked in on me changing, giving off all that big alpha energy about my scars, and then kissing them like they were the most perfect imperfections he had ever seen. I still remembered how he felt as he moved inside me, how every cell in my body lit up like bulbs on an abandoned street, how devastatin
AIDANThe door to the room opened, and I didn’t need to look up to tell that it was Tara coming in. The many things I’d come to memorize as uniquely hers—her light footstep, her scent, and just that air around her presence, gave her away, and my eyes snapped up to find her. Stunning.Drinking her in was like drawing a long breath of fresh air, and the lazy smile that was gracing her face was reward enough for how hectic shuffling after Nadia for an entire day was. Christ. The kid had some energy to burn. And Tara was the real MVP because, how did she keep up with our kid?“How was your day?” Tara asked, now that i was just the two of us with Nadia most likely asleep, and I nodded, motioning for her to close the space between us. I was already on the bed with my back to the headboard, and Tara was still backing the closed door, her hands wringing the knob.“Climb in and I’ll tell you all about it,” I muttered, speaking past the rush I felt from her presence alone, and she advanced, c
TARAI didn’t think I was going to enjoy the loss of Aidan’s thickness at the back of my throat, but once I was settled over his half-sitting position on the bed, pussy on full display in front of his face, and his even thicker hands started to caress me from the back of my knees up to my inner thighs, my body started to say different.“It’s not nice to keep a girl wai…” the rest of the words smashed to bits in my brain, scars completely forgotten as his lips closed around my already sensitive clit and the first devastatingly slow stroke of his tongue dragged across my slit, awakening the millions of nerves scattered all over my body. “Christ,” I murmured, eyes doing a three-sixty spin in their sockets before dropping closed as I hardened my grip on the edge of the headboard.Aidan kept his pace slow, not aggressively eating me out even when I rocked my hips over his face, chasing the highest reach of the bar that Aidan set. As slowly as his tongue and lips swirled, licked, and slurpe
TARAFor the days that came after that, I couldn’t go past a few minutes without thinking about all the unholy things Aidain did to and with my body in his room that night, and neither could I stop my body from shuddering whenever I recalled how dark and heated his voice had gone when he commanded me, owned me, and treated me like his property.By the time we were done, both spent, and many hours after I had put Nadia to bed, the side of Aidan that I’d come to know and love returned to me, stroking my scars, reassuring me with his words, taking care of my body, and cleaning me up, minutes before I drifted into absolute bliss.This was our new routine, only that we added so many dates to the list…and the flowers as well as the shopping supplies.What could I say? A girl was getting spoiled, and she wasn’t complaining.Aidan went through with his promise to get me at least ten other flowers before I could choose a favorite, even going overboard because I truly lost count of how many flo
TARAThe otherwise perfect date had been ruined by Kayla’s appearance, so me and Aidan called it a night early. Not that we couldn’t continue with our evening, pretending to not have noticed her, or choosing to ignore her outrightly, and not that I was worried Kayla would go and find Nadia, but my evening had already been soured with not just the topic of the dangerous Stonewolves wreaking their havoc now, but also with seeing Kayla’s face in Vermont Pack.I needed to go back to Jenna’s to be with Nadia and put her to bed, and Aidan understood this, as he drove me to her apartment, just fifteen minutes away from his inviting home.“I need to go over some more details with Jace before I call it a night, but call on me when you’re ready to leave, and I’ll come pick you guys up, okay?” Aidan spoke once we reached Jenna’s, and my mind broke away from the thoughts for a second, snapping back to the present.“There’s no need for that. We’ll call for a ride, Aidan. Handle your business,” I a
TARAAs soon as I crossed the entrance door to Jenna’s living room, her petite frame was the first thing I saw leaning by the door that connected her two rooms, and I halted, freezing like a teenager caught returning from a party she was forbidden from attending, intoxicated on all the wrong things.To make light of the situation, I teased her, saying. “Hi, Mom.”The lights were switched on now, and yeah, she looked everything like the angry mama in the sleepwear, red hair messily piled up on her head, while I looked like the rebellious daughter.Jenna only studied me for a few more seconds before her face scrunched up in disgust, only that I could see through it to know that it was faux, one hand coming to waft an imaginary smell away from her nose.“You. Reek. Of. Sex!” “Jeez, Jenna,” I bellowed, eyes wide in horror as I kicked my shoes off, crossing the room to where she stood. “Don’t say those words with Nadia in the next room hearing you,” I cautioned, and Jenna only waved me aw
TARA Jenna and I stood in front of the pack’s retreat complex on an already sunny Saturday morning, seeing Nadia off to her first day of football practice, and well, it was quite an interesting morning. Jenna was all smiles, encouraging Nadia to crush all her teammates even if it was just her first practice, and I was an entire other case. Nadia had suddenly picked up the interest the evening after we ran into Aidan here, and I wouldn’t have been as shocked if the new hobby interest was cheerleading or even football with a team of girls, but Nadia had stuck to her desire in playing football with all male kids team. I was not going to stop her from trying out what interested her, but it made me ask myself some questions, as most mothers would, seeing as this wasn’t the first time Nadia was choosing to do something that most young girls at her age wouldn’t be interested in. “Come on,” Jenna said, pulling me by my arm away from the complex entrance, and out of my thoughts. “We don’
TARA Someone else could have been fooled by Kayla acting as if she knew nothing about the text I received on my day off, but even if I hadn’t suspected her, it was still her number that sent me the message. “What text?” I repeated her last question out loud, chuckling lightly, already irritated at the fact that she was ruining my brunch with Jenna who was still fuming across the table, but trying her hardest to remain quiet, letting me handle my business. Beneath all that calm, I could see that Jenna was charged, ready to act if push came to shove with Kayla. Kayla shrugged at the question, and I shook my head. “Why are you in Vermont Pack right now, Kayla?” I asked, trying to look for any logical reasons why she would abandon the comfort of her pack to be where no one wanted her. I genuinely wondered. Was it because of Aidan? Or was it for the fact that she saw me after all these years, and found out that she failed in her plan to keep me and Aidan away or ruin our family. “
TARA The attack from the Stonewolves had become stale news. People freely went about their businesses now, so it was no hassle for me to go restocking Aidan’s kitchen with foodstuff one week after everything happened. I had to admit, it wasn’t easy feeding a man the size and stomach of Aidan, but what was a girl to do when he took care of her and their child with so much dedication? Aidan could as well eat portions meant for me and Nadia combined and doubled, and he still wouldn’t be satisfied. It was why the foodstuffs in his house never lasted more than two weeks without needing a restock. His love for food was what made me conclude that it was why Aidan could not only whip up meals that could pass for a chef’s standards, but could also make actual fancy meals! Back to shopping. I loved the activity’s semblance of serenity, so this was a win win. And since Nadia was with Esme for the Saturday afternoon, it was the perfect way for me to spend it. With the trolley in han
TARA Everything Aidan said made sense. They were going to try to reverse the Stonewolves’ curse, and if anyone would have the resources to do so, it was going to be Aidan, whether in Vermont Pack or Attica. But if that didn’t turn out to be successful, we would have to stick to other means of protection, and that included our wolf sides. I wasn’t much of a shifter. I couldn’t even remember the last time I saw my wolf. After everything that happened all those years ago, I couldn’t help but feel more vulnerable than safe when I wasn’t in control of my physical body. Not after I’d been stabbed in the back, almost taken out at the hospital where I should have been recovering, and having to spend years trying to heal those wounds. I knew my wolf was capable of protecting me, but I just had to get to trust myself on that again. And I had to do it for Nadia too. If she was going to have a chance at being in tune with her wolf side, she had to actually experience her wolf side. No one was
AIDAN As soon as Tara and Nadia were out of sight, I did the first thing that came to mind. Made sure the multiple entrances to the house were well secured from intruders and activated the security alarm system around the house. I was back in my spot before Tara came back out, hoping that this plan I had in my mind worked. Having Stonewolves spring up where they both lived was a chance I wasn’t willing to keep taking. Not after the scared look on Tara’s face whenever they were mentioned, bringing back the trauma of her experience with them that prevented her from being able to close her eyes to sleep for months before now. “How badly was Jace hurt?” Tara asked, cutting through my thoughts with the sound of her voice, eyes trained on me from across the kitchen island as she picked on her cuticles, nervous about the welfare of her friend, Jenna, and Jace. I shook my head, voice low as I watched her advance. “He’s out cold.” The outline of her neck held in a gasp as she asked with
TARA “I can’t ask you to come with me, Tara. Not when Nadia is all alone at her training,” Jenna said, the second we got outside the restaurant, her eyes still brimming red with unshed tears. It had been only months since Aidan and Jace first came into Vermont Pack, but I couldn’t blame Jenna for falling head over heels for Aidan’s beta in such a short time. I mean, the same thing happened with me and Aidan. As much as Jenna seldom talked about the dynamics of her relationship with him, I knew she cared deeply for him, but she still had other’s interests at heart, even when she was currently breaking with the news about Jace being hurt. “Jenna,” I breathed, scared shitless, and worried to my bones for both my friend and my daughter. “Will you be okay?” She shook her head once, her eyes full and almost spilling over. “I have to be. Be on the lookout, and avoid them as much as you can, okay? Get Nadia to safety and stay indoors till you hear it’s okay to come out.” I nodded, pulli
TARA Someone else could have been fooled by Kayla acting as if she knew nothing about the text I received on my day off, but even if I hadn’t suspected her, it was still her number that sent me the message. “What text?” I repeated her last question out loud, chuckling lightly, already irritated at the fact that she was ruining my brunch with Jenna who was still fuming across the table, but trying her hardest to remain quiet, letting me handle my business. Beneath all that calm, I could see that Jenna was charged, ready to act if push came to shove with Kayla. Kayla shrugged at the question, and I shook my head. “Why are you in Vermont Pack right now, Kayla?” I asked, trying to look for any logical reasons why she would abandon the comfort of her pack to be where no one wanted her. I genuinely wondered. Was it because of Aidan? Or was it for the fact that she saw me after all these years, and found out that she failed in her plan to keep me and Aidan away or ruin our family. “
TARA Jenna and I stood in front of the pack’s retreat complex on an already sunny Saturday morning, seeing Nadia off to her first day of football practice, and well, it was quite an interesting morning. Jenna was all smiles, encouraging Nadia to crush all her teammates even if it was just her first practice, and I was an entire other case. Nadia had suddenly picked up the interest the evening after we ran into Aidan here, and I wouldn’t have been as shocked if the new hobby interest was cheerleading or even football with a team of girls, but Nadia had stuck to her desire in playing football with all male kids team. I was not going to stop her from trying out what interested her, but it made me ask myself some questions, as most mothers would, seeing as this wasn’t the first time Nadia was choosing to do something that most young girls at her age wouldn’t be interested in. “Come on,” Jenna said, pulling me by my arm away from the complex entrance, and out of my thoughts. “We don’
TARAAs soon as I crossed the entrance door to Jenna’s living room, her petite frame was the first thing I saw leaning by the door that connected her two rooms, and I halted, freezing like a teenager caught returning from a party she was forbidden from attending, intoxicated on all the wrong things.To make light of the situation, I teased her, saying. “Hi, Mom.”The lights were switched on now, and yeah, she looked everything like the angry mama in the sleepwear, red hair messily piled up on her head, while I looked like the rebellious daughter.Jenna only studied me for a few more seconds before her face scrunched up in disgust, only that I could see through it to know that it was faux, one hand coming to waft an imaginary smell away from her nose.“You. Reek. Of. Sex!” “Jeez, Jenna,” I bellowed, eyes wide in horror as I kicked my shoes off, crossing the room to where she stood. “Don’t say those words with Nadia in the next room hearing you,” I cautioned, and Jenna only waved me aw
TARAThe otherwise perfect date had been ruined by Kayla’s appearance, so me and Aidan called it a night early. Not that we couldn’t continue with our evening, pretending to not have noticed her, or choosing to ignore her outrightly, and not that I was worried Kayla would go and find Nadia, but my evening had already been soured with not just the topic of the dangerous Stonewolves wreaking their havoc now, but also with seeing Kayla’s face in Vermont Pack.I needed to go back to Jenna’s to be with Nadia and put her to bed, and Aidan understood this, as he drove me to her apartment, just fifteen minutes away from his inviting home.“I need to go over some more details with Jace before I call it a night, but call on me when you’re ready to leave, and I’ll come pick you guys up, okay?” Aidan spoke once we reached Jenna’s, and my mind broke away from the thoughts for a second, snapping back to the present.“There’s no need for that. We’ll call for a ride, Aidan. Handle your business,” I a
TARAFor the days that came after that, I couldn’t go past a few minutes without thinking about all the unholy things Aidain did to and with my body in his room that night, and neither could I stop my body from shuddering whenever I recalled how dark and heated his voice had gone when he commanded me, owned me, and treated me like his property.By the time we were done, both spent, and many hours after I had put Nadia to bed, the side of Aidan that I’d come to know and love returned to me, stroking my scars, reassuring me with his words, taking care of my body, and cleaning me up, minutes before I drifted into absolute bliss.This was our new routine, only that we added so many dates to the list…and the flowers as well as the shopping supplies.What could I say? A girl was getting spoiled, and she wasn’t complaining.Aidan went through with his promise to get me at least ten other flowers before I could choose a favorite, even going overboard because I truly lost count of how many flo