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Beta - The Bayou Boys 67
TEDDY Lying next to Cassy, the room felt impossibly small, like the walls were inching closer with every passing second. Cassy had drifted off to sleep, her breath steady and calm. But my mind was anything but. Thoughts twisted and turned, refusing to settle. I had always known Cassy was special, but this… this was something I couldn't have imagined. The Moon Goddess? How was I supposed to wrap my head around that?I slid out of bed, needing space and air. The room felt too close, too suffocating. The moon outside seemed too bright and accusing like it knew the thoughts running wild in my mind. Because it did.She did. I went to the window, leaning against the cool glass with my forehead pressed to it, trying to gain some clarity.Leila, I thought, reaching out desperately. Why didn't you warn me? Why didn't you tell me this was coming? My thoughts weren't calm. They weren't measured. They were frantic and pleading. I felt like a man caught in a riptide, struggling to stay a
Beta - The Bayou Boys 68
PHINIt had been a week since Viviana arrived, and I couldn't remember feeling this at peace in all that time. A calm settled over the Bayou pack, a sense of rightness that I hadn't felt in years. Viviana had brought more than just herself into my life; she'd brought a balance I hadn't realized I was missing. We spent our days together, learning the rhythms of each other's lives and finding comfort in the simplest routines.Viviana made everything feel natural, as if we had been doing this—being together, raising Marilee, building a life—for years. It was easy to fall into this new reality, to let myself believe that the past was finally behind me. No more ghosts of my father's mistakes haunting my every move, no more wondering if I'd ever find someone who truly understood me. With Viviana, it felt like I'd found that missing piece, and I didn't want to let it go.But as perfect as the week had been, there was still that nagging fear, that voice whispering doubts in the back of my min
Beta - The Bayou Boys 69
PHIN The Bayou was shrouded in twilight. As I walked along the worn path toward the docks, the scent of brackish saltwater and moss was thick, like before a storm. Teddy's scent was unmistakable, mixed with whiskey.He'd been keeping to himself more lately, and that never meant anything good.I found him where I expected, down by the docks, hunched over a pile of nets he was supposed to be mending. He had a bottle of whiskey sitting next to him, the amber liquid nearly half-gone. His hands moved methodically, threading the rope through the tangled mess, but it was clear his mind was somewhere else."Teddy," I called out as I approached, trying to keep my tone light, though my chest tightened at seeing him like this.He glanced up at me, the lines of worry etched deep into his face, but he didn't stop what he was doing. "Phin," he acknowledged, his voice rough from a mix of alcohol and whatever was eating at him.I sat down beside him, close enough to feel the tension radiating off
Beta - The Bayou Boys 70
I wandered through the packhouse, ensuring everything was running smoothly for the night. The smell of dinner lingered in the air, and laughter echoed from one of the rooms down the hall. It was one of those rare, calm moments when nothing was wrong, no fights were brewing, and everyone seemed settled. That in itself felt like a miracle. I glanced out the window and saw Phin heading down to the docks. Teddy was down there. Drinking, of course. I sighed. I trusted Phin would talk to him, but I couldn't shake the feeling that he was pulling away. Teddy's been off lately, but he wouldn't talk about it. That was a conversation for later, though. As I made my way through the house, I caught sight of Viviana sitting quietly on the back porch, her hands resting in her lap as she watched Marilee play. Something about her posture was different, more relaxed, yet there was a lingering tension in her shoulders. I decided to join her. "Hey, Vivi," I said softly, sitting beside her. "He
Beta - The Bayou Boys 71
PHIN I watched Viviana's hands tighten on the steering wheel, her knuckles going white as the truck jerked forward and stalled out for the fiftieth time.She let out a frustrated breath and sat back, her eyes closed. I tried to hide my amusement, but it was impossible. Seeing her, usually so composed, struggling with something as simple as driving was... well, kind of adorable."Don't laugh," she muttered, glancing at me from the corner of her eye.I held my hands up in mock surrender. "I'm not laughing, Vivi. Just... observing."She shot me a look that could have frozen water. "You're not helping."I leaned back in my seat, trying to keep a straight face. "I'm helping by not saying anything. You're doing great. You've got this."The truck lurched forward, the engine stalling out again, and I bit back a chuckle as she slammed her hands against the steering wheel in frustration. We were barely a quarter mile down the dirt road on our land, and it was becoming increasingly clear that
Beta - The Bayou Boys 72
VIVIANA I can't help but grin when I glance at Phin's laptop, perched on the desk in our shared bedroom. I got an idea during the movie we watched last night. I had seen this cute, romantic gesture...A woman had changed her partner's screensaver to something sweet, a little love note. It made me think of the inscription Phin wanted on our rings. It was a small thing, but surprising him like that felt like a fun way to show him how much I appreciated the little things. He was always doing little things like that for me.But technology was still foreign to me. I was in my late thirties and had never used a computer, let alone Phin's laptop. I needed help, and Cassy was always my go-to for things like this. She'd practically grown up with gadgets in her hand, and I knew she'd know how to navigate Phin's computer without any trouble.When Cassy agreed to help, we sat down together, laughing as I fumbled through the laptop's unfamiliar layout. She clicked through the settings to find whe
Beta - The Bayou Boys 73
VIVIANA Phin turned around, his eyes almost sad as he closed the door behind him. "You sure about this?" he asked, but the question was more a formality than anything. His whole demeanor had already changed, and I could already sense the shift in him. The Phin who doted on me, who loved me so tenderly, had slipped away, replaced by the man from those videos.I nodded, though a part of me wanted to hesitate. "I'm sure."Without another word, Phin moved behind me, gripping my waist firmly as he directed me to the edge of the bed. There was no gentle caress or tenderness in how he handled me. He pushed me forward, bending me over the mattress in one swift motion. His grip tightened, and I knew then that this was what I had asked for. The raw, dominant side of him that didn't ask for my input."Hands on the bed," he ordered, his voice low and commanding. "Don't touch me. Just keep them there."I did as he said, pressing my palms flat against the comforter, feeling my heart thud in m
Beta - The Bayou Boys 74
CASSY The door creaked open, and I smelled the alcohol before I even saw him. Teddy staggered in from the docks, his movements clumsy, his boots dragging across the floor. There was nothing warm in how he looked at me. His skin was flushed, his breath heavy with whiskey. I knew this version of him too well.The one that drank to forget, the one that came back wanting things I couldn't give him.He walked over and tried to pull me into his arms. "Loupy," he muttered, leaning down, gripping my waist. "Come here."I pushed him back gently, stepping out of his reach. "Not like this, Teddy. You're drunk."He swayed slightly. He hated being told no, especially when he was like this. "What do you mean, 'not like this'? I'm your mate.""I know you are, but I'm not doing this when you can barely stand. You need to sleep, not… this."He frowned, moving to pull me closer again, far more insistent this time. I backed up, keeping the space between us. "Teddy, stop. We're not doing this tonight."
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