I made sure everyone was invited to the movie night. Farris was sent to the swampier areas to ensure everyone got the message. I equipped him with a backpack full of movie theater-style candy boxes, microwave popcorn, and cute invites I had printed. It took me only five minutes to put everything together, but the looks on the kids and even the adults' faces as I handed out the 'invites' made it seem like I had planned it for years. The joy and surprise on their faces were priceless. No one ever put this level of effort into anything around here.Farris, always enthusiastic with my instructions now that I knew his name, made a big deal out of both me and the movie night at the omega camps. His excitement was apparent to even the most reluctant omegas, and as a result, more pack members showed up than I had ever seen. Even a few past deserters appeared at the gate, cautiously asking if they could participate. I hoped I could convince them to stay by the end of the night.As the sun
I could tell he was fighting the usual demons. "You have to stay in control here, Phin. Sex is another one of your vices, and you know it. I'm not saying having sex is wrong, but don't trick her, okay? Treat her like she's treating you. Then it isn't a vice." "Do you have a condom?" he asked quietly. "Ask Teddy where he put your stash when we cleaned out your room," I replied. "I'm happy to see you were being somewhat smart about it." Phin kicked the dirt. "I didn't want to bring a kid into the world like I was. I want my kids to know both their parents, like you do." Being his alpha meant that even though he'd wronged me, I still felt the depth of his despair. It was hard to stay mad at him, feeling how strained and conflicted he had always felt. Teddy wasn't handling how I was going about it well, but I knew I had to trust my intuition here. Phin wasn't a bad guy. He just never had a good person directing him and teaching him right from wrong. I knew he needed something more
The airboat sped across the water. Cassy clung to me for dear life, her ear protection banging against mine every time we hit a bump. It was starting to get dangerous, so I shifted her away from me to prevent it from happening again. She panicked and pulled me closer."Stop, or you'll make us crash," I said through the mind link."Slow down!" she pleaded."You know I can't in one of these," I replied, feeling the boat's powerful vibrations under us. But she was genuinely scared, so I had to do something. I pushed her down to the lower seat as she protested. "Just trust me," I insisted.Reluctantly, she moved to the second seat. I draped my legs over her shoulders to keep her steady, pinning her back against the seat. She wrapped her arms around my calf muscles and gripped tightly. Strangely, this seemed to calm her down a little. It probably looked strange, and we couldn't do it with more of the pack members around, but at least I had figured out how she could handle the airboat bett
He gripped my hips as he thrust into me on the old wooden table in the shack. Every push sent a new kind of intense pleasure through my body, but something was missing."This isn't under the moonlight," I gasped.Without missing a beat, he lifted me effortlessly, my legs wrapping around his waist as he carried me outside. The night air was cool against our heated skin, and the moonlight bathed us in its ethereal glow. He laid me down on the ground, and we were lost in each other instantly.The passion driving our movements changed constantly, alternating between rough, primal need and sweet, tender love. His rhythm was relentless, driving into me with a force that took my breath away. I loved it, how rough he was being. I craved the way he dominated me, holding me down as he took me. Claimed me. "Harder," I begged, my nails digging into his back as he complied, each thrust more powerful than the last. "Yes, like that."He growled against my mark, his accent slipping through. “Tu l’
As we prepared to leave, she jumped up onto the boat and pulled my legs over her shoulders, her mischievous grin making my heart skip a beat. She was never this excited about the airboats. I leaned down, putting her ear protection on and adjusting it carefully. "This is the weirdest way I've ever driven one of these, but I like it, I guess," I said, chuckling."Does it make it dangerous?" she asked, the concern returning to her eyes.I laughed, shaking my head. "Non, cherie. It's just different. Actually gives me more balance, me."As we sped back to the packhouse, I could feel her excitement growing. She was starting to enjoy the ride, the thrill of the speed, and the wind whipping through her hair. She felt safer with my legs wrapped around her. This way, I was holding onto her as she held onto me. It was so cute and so awkward.Pushing the speed a little more, I felt her grip tighten around my legs. Her laughter was carried away by the rushing air.I let the boat idle and asked if
The hurricane was closing in, and I had no real idea how to prepare the pack for such a storm. Teddy was rapidly giving me mental instructions, guiding me through every step. I could tell he wanted me to impress Phin and show him that I could lead effectively. I was thankful for his support because I initially planned to have everyone run north to the Monroe land. Instead, we were battening down the hatches, planning to ride the storm out here. This was going to be my first hurricane right on the coast, and I was freaking out. Like, really freaking out.Phin was impressive. He helped, moving around with Teddy like the guy I'd heard he could be. I'm relatively sure I'd never seen him sober before. Now, I was seeing it firsthand. He was organized, efficient, and commanding. Everything an Alpha should be. It gave me a strange sense of hope for him and this pack. Even if I was in charge currently, he was still the bloodline Alpha. They were Bays. I was a Monroe. Farris returned, repo
TEDDY The storm was bearing down on us, and Cassy was determined to get everyone to safety. We headed out to the bayou land together, knowing that convincing the most stubborn omegas to come in would be a challenge. The last time we had an old lady refuse to leave, she ended up dead. We couldn't let that happen again.Cassy managed to persuade even the most resistant omega to come up. Her determination and empathy radiated, and they agreed to follow us back to the packhouse one by one. As we arrived, the storm hit with a force that shook the ground beneath us. Essie had returned, and I could tell Phin was happy about that. Through the bond, I could feel Cassy's anxiety rising. My little city girl was out of her depth, facing a hurricane head-on for the first time.I made my way to the old beta wing attached to the packhouse, where I found Phin. He looked up as I entered. "How's it going?"I decided to be honest. "Cassy's handling it well, but she's freaking out over the storm like
Teddy fell to his knees as I started to lose it. He buried his tongue inside me, and I cried out. My hands tangled in his hair, and I momentarily worried that I might have pulled some out.He was moaning and growling against me. I came hard, my body shuddering as he continued to lick me, his tongue working in and out as my body writhed and vibrated through the pleasure.He looked up at me with a satisfied smile, wiping his mouth as he crawled back on me. He kissed me, and I could taste myself on his lips. "Do you have another round in you?" he moaned against my mouth.I nodded eagerly. "Several more," I growled as I raked my nails down the back of his arms. He buried himself inside me, hard and fast. He had been soft and slow before, but now he was rough, primal. "Oh, fuck yes, fuck," I cried out.He covered my mouth with his hand, reminding me of the thin walls and the many people in the house. I nodded, and he tried to pull his hand away, but I grabbed it and whispered, "Don't suf
KNOX - I pushed open the door to the house. Teddy followed behind, whistling some tune already stuck in my head. We'd left the twins with Phin. Koda and Marilee had been inseparable, and honestly, Phin seemed like he had things under control.I never thought I would say that, but it was true. He was doing pretty damn good handling this one. So far, anyway. Inside, the house was quiet. Too quiet.Teddy glanced around. "Where is everyone?"We stepped into the living room, and Cassy was lounging on the couch. She'd finally woken up, and I'm sure Mom had gotten all the kids out to give her some peace. I could barely register it before Teddy sprinted across the room and scooped her into his arms. He kissed her like the world might end if he didn't."Geez, get a room," I muttered, rolling my eyes as I leaned against the doorframe.Teddy shot me a grin over Cassy's shoulder. "Gladly," he quipped, lifting her effortlessly as she let out a playful laugh. He headed toward the hallway, carryi
PHIN - I walked along the edge of the bayou at daybreak. Koda and Kage trailed behind me, their steps careful as they took in the surroundings. I had to remember that they were essentially city boys. Cypress trees loomed above us, the Spanish moss draping down like nature's curtains. They were in awe."Today, I will show you boys some ways you can help out around here." I turned to face them. "There's always plenty to do, and it's a good way to get to know the land better."Kage grinned. "I've been waiting for this. What are we doing first?""We'll start by checking the crawfish traps," I replied. "Then maybe give Viv and Morna a hand with the feast."Koda glanced back toward the house. "Is Marilee coming too?""She'll join us later," I said. "Right now, she's helping her Mama in the kitchen."We made our way through the marsh, avoiding the softer mud. The air was thick with the scent of wildflowers and wet earth. As we reached the traps, I saw they were packed full of crawfish, thei
SKY - I stood in the kitchen, surveying the crazy mess of toys scattered across the floor. The twins, Nola and Huck, had transformed the entire house into their personal playground. They had an uncanny ability to find mischief in every corner at just a year old.I should have expected it just from watching their fathers. "Nola, that's not for chewing," I called out as she attempted to bite down on the remote control. She looked up with a cheeky grin, her tiny teeth flashing. They were teething and trying to chew the entire house up.Kyran chuckled beside me. "She's got your inquisitiveness, you know."I nudged him playfully. "And your knack for getting into trouble."Kael emerged from the hallway, carrying a laundry basket overflowing with tiny clothes. "Has anyone seen the other sock to this pair?" He held up a lone blue sock adorned with little wolves. Huck's favorite."Check under the couch," I suggested. "That's where Huck hides his treasures."As if on cue, Huckley waddled over
PHINWatching my daughter cling to Koda like her entire world depended on him tore me apart inside. She was too young for such an intense bond, and the worst part? It was my fault. My failures as an Alpha and as her father had pushed her toward this. I couldn't undo it, but the guilt was eating me alive.Knox cleared his throat. "Alright, time for us to head back," he announced as he looked at Viv and me. "The kids need to say their goodbyes."The moment he said it, the air shifted. Koda's grip on Marilee tightened, her tiny arms wrapping around him even more fiercely. Panic flared in their eyes, a sudden realization hitting them hard. It was like a switch had been flipped. It was sad they had not even thought about being seperated. This is why I wished Leila had waited a little longer. How will they handle it? They cannot be glued to one another forever. I wanted to be with my mate and had to wait. Teddy wanted to be with Cassy but had to wait. It was just a part of it. A part they
Finally, Kage took a few hesitant steps toward us. He crouched down, his face still uncertain, but then, with a quiet smile, he reached out and gave me a gentle shove, trying to pull me into the game. I barked and ran toward him, nipping playfully at his hand. He laughed softly, and for a second, it was like old times. Just the two of us, playing like we always had. But then he hesitated again, glancing over at Marilee, and the awkwardness settled back in. Kage tried to join in, tried to wrestle a little with us, but I could tell his heart wasn’t really in it. After a few more halfhearted attempts, he gave up, standing back up with a sigh. He watched us for a moment longer, then turned and walked back toward the adults, his shoulders slumped. I watched him go, feeling guilty. I should’ve been there for him, should’ve pulled him in, but it was so hard to focus on anything other than Marilee right now. She was everything in that moment—her laughter, her bright eyes, her hands running
KODA - Everything felt different. The moment I shifted, the world around me grew bigger, louder, more alive. It wasn’t just me anymore. It was my wolf and me, together. My senses sharpened, picking up every sound, every movement, every shift in the air around me. I could hear the soft rustle of leaves, the water flowing in the Bayou, and most of all, I could smell Marilee close by. Her scent was sweet, warm, and safe. She wasn’t scared at all. “Koda! You did it!” Marilee’s voice was full of excitement. When she ran over, her fingers slipped into my fur like it was the most natural thing in the world. I leaned into her touch, letting my wolf take over for a moment. I felt every stroke, every soft scratch along my neck, and it made my tail wag before I could stop it. I’d done it. I’d shifted. For her. For Marilee. Her hand moved gently through my fur, scratching in a way that made me want to lie down at her feet and never move again. I wanted to be her wolf, to protect her, to alwa
PHIN - Marilee clung to me, her little body still trembling from everything that had happened, but I could feel her relaxing. Finally, she pulled back just enough to look up at me, those big brown eyes wide and curious."Daddy, Koda said he got his wolf. Can I see it? Please?"My stomach dropped. Letting Koda shift in front of her made me nervous as hell. He was too young. Sure, the kid had shifted already, but that didn't mean he could control it. Wolves didn't just pop out on command like some damn party trick. Especially not when they were barely twelve.I opened my mouth to tell her no, that it wasn't safe, but those eyes. Damn it, how could I say no to those eyes? She had me wrapped around her finger, and she knew it."I don't know, sweetheart," I muttered. "Koda and I need to have a few conversations first, okay? It's a big deal, and he's still learning. But maybe."Marilee's face lit up. Koda was right there the second I put her down, taking her hand like it was the most natur
PHIN - I couldn't get enough of her. After all the shit I'd said, all the ways I'd made her feel small, the only way to make it right was to show her how much I needed her. Not as some quiet background presence but as my equal. My everything. So I worshipped her the way she deserved. Her every curve fit perfectly against my body. This was me making up for every stupid remark I'd ever said. Her chestnut hair spilled over the pillow as I traced her skin with reverence, trailing kisses over her neck and down. I could feel her surrender, but it wasn't submission It was trust. Trust I had to earn back. "Je t'adore," I whispered. "You're everything, mon cœur." (I adore you... my heart) She let out a breath, arching into me. This wasn't just about sex anymore. This was something primal that connected us on a level I couldn't explain. As we moved together, I felt her wolf. It was faint, like an echo, but she was there. Viv hadn't heard her in so long, but now... Now she was stirrin
TEDDY - We hadn't stood there long when a noise echoed through the trees. Crashing, banging, something big tearing through the brush. I tensed immediately, my instincts kicking in as I exchanged a look with Knox. Then, something streaked past us. A blur, fast and low to the ground. A white blur."What the hell was that?" Knox asked.I didn't wait to answer. My wolf surged, pushing me forward, and I took off after the white blur. Knox was right on my heels. Whatever it was, it was moving fast, darting through the trees like a flash of lightning.The chase lasted for miles. We ran hard, faster than I'd run in weeks, our wolves pushing to keep up. My muscles burned, and every sharp turn through the woods made my mind race. The scent it left behind was faint but undeniable. Wolf, but something else too. Something unfamiliar.It wasn't until we were halfway to the Bayou land that the thing finally slowed. We cornered it near a narrow clearing, and I shifted back to human, my lungs burnin