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
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
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
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
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
Three more weeks. Just three more agonizing weeks until Teddy could mark me and I could finally claim my mate.We'd managed not to cross the line, but the burning desire that had consumed me since we found each other was relentless. The only time he didn't stop me from touching him had intensified the need, making it the sole thing on my mind most of the time.It was impossible to forget the way his body responded, the way his eyes flashed with that wild hunger before he realized what was happening and jumped up to stop me.That fight afterward was epic, magnified by the fact that we were at my house when it happened. Only a few halls down from where my brothers were asleep. I realized that night it was entirely possible to have a screaming match while whispering.Still, we kept our promises to my family, keeping boundaries intact. But those promises felt like chains, holding me back from what I craved.What were three more weeks compared to the torturous ten months we'd endured?Eve
The truck rumbled along the dirt road. I glanced at Teddy, noting the pistol on his belt and the machete hanging from his hip."So, what's the plan tonight?" I asked. If he already had those things on him, tonight would be interesting.He shot me a sideways look as a grin spread across his face. "Gotta check the traps. Thought you might want to come along, you.""Of course I want to!" I beamed.I loved going out on the boats with him. Airboats weren't my favorite, but the regular ones? Those were always a blast.Life with the Bayou pack had its quirks, one being their lack of traditional income. Most of the time, they catch their food rather than buy it. Tonight's adventure involved checking the lines for fish and alligators.We pulled up to the pack house, a sprawling structure that seemed like twenty houses cobbled together into a never-ending shack. Some parts were two stories high, others three, all interconnected. Even so, most pack members just jumped onto their balconies inste
As we pulled up to the last snare, his posture changed. "It's big," he whispered. He was right. It was almost ten feet long and so thick I could hide behind it. Thankfully, it was too large for him to want to wrestle. After dispatching it with the pistol, he effortlessly flipped it up into the boat.Getting the alligator meant we caught it and several giant catfish, which had not happened since the last hurricane. Teddy was ecstatic, obviously proud he could provide the pack with a good meal tonight. He had already sent a mental message to everyone, getting them ready for a gator BBQ. Considering they'd been living on glorified roadkill, I knew this would quickly become a party.It always frustrated me that I couldn't hear him when he talked to the pack. "Will I be able to hear you once I'm marked?"He shrugged and grinned. "I think so, but no reason to worry about it, Mon Loup. After you're marked, we'll never be far enough apart to need it."We'd finally figured out how to create