Hakeem visibly stiffened, and while I was overjoyed that I managed to coax an actual reaction from him, I needed to keep my game face on. He and Oliver weren’t the only ones surprised, though. The entire table was gawking at me. Nox included, though his look of surprise had a harsh edge to it that I
This couldn’t be real. In no reality would Oliver ever do me any favors. Either he was out of his mind, or I’d been knocked out and thrown into some other world. Besides, there was something that didn’t quite add up. “Is he not at my old house?” I asked him. He and my mother had bought their house
Technically, it wasn’t a lie. As I anticipated, Hakeem caught the keys with ease and started the engine by pressing a button on the remote. It took some serious effort not to gawk. When the hell did cars get that feature? I slid into the seat, my stomach doing backflips. I’d put off seeing my fath
Gravel crunched beneath the weight of the tires as we pulled onto an unpaved road. There was no sign indicating this was even a viable route, but the GPS on the car’s screen seemed adamant we turn down it. A vast expanse of silence formed between Hakeem and I. Given his naturally quiet and observan
His golden blonde hair, which I’d always been envious of, was braided down his back. “Your father was a warrior.” Hakeem stated in that calm, soothing voice of his. It wasn’t a question, but one of his many observations. I didn’t look away from my father as I replied. “One of the best.” Hakeem c
While my mind recognized my father and the love he had for me, my body had long been conditioned to avoid all forms of physical contact. “You’re alive and you’re here.” He exhaled, his massive chest heaving with each breath. He let out a warm chuckle that shook his beard as he said, “…and you’re bl
It was still scalding when Hakeem and I dug in. “So, Hakeem. I’d like to hear your story now, if you don’t mind. It’s not often that I’m curious, but your situation is unique to say the least.” While I inhaled the stew my father made, Hakeem recounted the last week at the Lycan camp’s and how I’d
We spent another hour at my father’s cabin, ignoring the nightmare that was the past four years. Instead, we delved into my childhood, where the memories weren’t coated in acid, but were bittersweet. The entire time, I held back the pain that struck my chest like a bolt of lightning, smothering the
Kalix froze. In fact, I was pretty sure we all froze. “My wife is pregnant?” “Yes.” Natasha nodded. “With my baby?” “No, the mailman’s.” She snorted, wiping the tears from her eyes. “Who else would it be?” “I’m going to be a father?” A giggle bubbled past her lips. “That’s typically what happe
I recognized the look on Kalix’s face whenever his sister and Shayla were in the same room. The mixture of awe, terror, and bliss was unlike anything I’d ever felt before. We had everything we could’ve ever wanted and would do anything to keep it that away. “Where’s Natasha and Hakeem?” Shayla aske
Nox’s P.O.V. Six Years Later “You no good cheater!” I heard my mate belt from across the backyard. Her father’s boisterous laugh followed, drawing my eyes. The two of them stood in the stand pit off to the side of the pool and were currently hitting a volleyball back and forth. Jada and Brinley w
I threaded my arm through his and patted his hand. “Well, now you can focus on other things.” A gleam of nervousness filled his eyes. “So, is everything ready for tonight?” Shayla often mentioned how flustered she’d get by Kalix’s smooth charm, but she was the only one who failed to see how nervou
Mom beamed, tears blossoming in her eyes as she threw her arms around our shoulders. We clung to her side chuckling when Jada raced forward to blot her make-up with a microfiber cloth. “I’m sorry, I’m just so happy. I never thought I’d get to see this moment. Goddess, I’m so grateful. I’ve got both
Lilac’s P.O.V. Three Years Later “This itches.” I grunted, picking at the lace clinging to my rear. “Mark my words, I’m going to have a rash on my ass by the end of the night.” “No scratching!” Shayla smacked my hand away, a playful grin curling at her lips. Since disappearing on a little trip w
“Your aura has never been brighter.” She murmured quietly in my ear, a bright smile warming her face. A few minutes later, Diego called our names and invited us onto the stage. I laced my arm through Nox’s and followed his lead. No less than six cameras were stationed on us, each one set at a diff
The tension faded from her shoulders as she nodded. “Thank you for being there for me. I never meant to put you in a spot. Anyway, you came here for a reason, right? Don’t let my tears chase you off.” “You sure?” I paused, “It’s not exactly a light topic.” “None of our conversations this past wee
Lilac’s P.O.V. One Week Later “How have you been?” Natasha turned from where she sat on the balcony and smiled softly. Pain lingered behind the action. I should know considering I’d made that same expression a time or two. She motioned me forward, gesturing to the chair beside her. I sat down fo