GALLAHAN’S POVThe tension left me as soon as Willa’s words registered and sank in my mind, and I nearly slumped like a ragdoll on my chair from the sheer relief they brought.A light feeling I could only call joy swarmed my core and enveloped my chest tightly.It felt great.And honestly? I haven’t had a taste of such pure and adulterated happiness since Gillian first called me Daddy.So, as I moved based on nothing but my emotions like I usually did, I drew Willa into a kiss with a hand holding her jaw. But I couldn’t contain the smile that stretched on my lips, which only grew bigger when Calisto loudly cheered.“Yay! Yay!”I broke the kiss, affectionately bumping my nose against Willa’s before completely pulling away.A hint of uncertainty laid beneath the apparent fond softness that lined Willa’s face. It was like a quiet plea, asking me to prove to her that her decision was right, to never make her regret it.She didn’t have to ask for it, though.There wasn’t a chance I would a
WILLA’S POVDays passed in a blur, and before I knew it, days had turned into weeks, and the weeks bled into months.In fact, three months had gone by, and I barely even felt it.Perhaps it was due to the infectious bliss of the twins that had only doubled since the particular family talk that happened in the dining area. Or maybe it was because it just felt so ridiculously right to have Gallahan around that it got me a little spellbound.In fact, it was terrifyingly fast and easy for him to meld himself into our home and into our lives. It was as if there had been a Gallahan-shaped void that existed all this time without our knowledge, and now he had reclaimed that void, rightfully slotting himself into place.He had even unofficially moved into my home, his clothes and other personal belongings taking space here and there. He rarely went to Moonshire now, only leaving the house when he deemed it was truly necessary.And while this setup was not what we had agreed on at first, I didn
WILLA’S POVFor nearly all of my life, I had dreamed of the moment I would finally meet my fated mate. But never in my wildest imagination did I ever think I would meet him in the middle of a violent battle, fighting for opposing and irreconcilable causes.And yet… Here I was.I stood frozen in place as my hold around my daggers loosened slightly.It seemed as if the world blurred into nothing, while time took on an odd shift, moving sluggishly in slow motion. But my heart defied the seemingly slow ticking of time as it thundered in my chest, clamoring for the magnificent wolf standing in front of me.His thick pelt that was darker than the gloom of the bloody night looked unfairly silky underneath the brilliance of the waxing gibbous moon. His eyes glowed a vibrant amber, so beautiful in their depth that they almost looked like an endless pool of liquid gold.“My mate,” I called out even though I knew my voice would simply drown in the noisy din of the battle.But the wolf seemed to h
WILLA’S POVHis lips were on mine before I could even utter a reply, and I responded eagerly to the kiss, feeling the rightness and perfection of the act.It felt like being completed even though there wasn’t a missing piece of me before. It just seemed like it moved my heart, mind and soul, putting my entire being to right.I couldn’t help but sigh into the kiss that was surprisingly slow and steady. I had expected him to kiss me with hunger and fervor, wanting to explore every inch, given the way he had been rough and impatient in invading my personal space earlier.“Han,” I gasped when he pulled away to lick, bite and suck on the side of my neck.He slightly moved his thigh that was lodged between my legs, moving it slightly to provide friction to my cunt.“Fuck,” I cursed, feeling a thick spark of pleasure ran through my entire body. I began to move my hips, chasing the same delicious friction he just gave me.I could feel his smug smirk against my jaw, and I would’ve wiped it off
GALLAHAN’S POVMy knot had finally abated after nearly a fucking hour, and I slipped out of Willa as carefully and as quietly as I could so I wouldn’t accidentally jostle her awake. Even pulling out nearly had me moaning, my sensitive cock twitching in interest.‘I am a man with a well-functioning head. Not a beast with nothing but instincts,’ I mentally reminded myself, willing the desire to bury my traitorous cock inside her hot and welcoming channel that felt so snug around me.I had to take a slow, shuddering breath to calm myself and my inner wolf.Willa whined softly in dissatisfaction as I shifted on the bed. She rolled around, turning to face me, her eyes closed and her eyebrows furrowed.The lines between her brows eased and disappeared once she had burrowed herself against my chest. The sight of it nearly made me burst at the disgusting affection that swelled inside of me. To make matters worse for my weakening heart was the fact that the contours of her body fit so well aga
GALLAHAN’S POVA dismal look marred Willa’s features, despite the tiny curl at the ends of her lips. She was looking down at the plate of stir fried noodles that were still mildly glistening in sauce.“The war is a polarizing topic,” she said at last. “So I was thinking while in the bathroom…”“Yes?” I urged on, taking a salacious tone with my voice.A withering glare from her got me grinning.“Maybe it would help if we ease ourselves into this conversation, instead of diving head first into a topic we are sure to fight about.”I hummed with a nod of my head. “So you’re suggesting having small talks?”A pink hue dusted the apples of her cheeks. “Yeah. I am. It allows us to establish rapport, I suppose. Makes us feel a little more comfortable. Maybe then we could slowly broach the sensitive topic without one of us immediately getting defensive and angry.”“That makes sense,” I replied, picking up one of the forks and handing it to Willa.She accepted it with a whispered ‘thanks’ and be
WILLA’S POVOf all people, my fated mate had to be Gallahan Wick.Was this a cruel trick? What did I do to deserve a man who, at eighteen, formed and led the Alpha King’s Culling Army to seize and loot human kingdoms, and capture, torture and subjugate innocent humans.His hands were not only tainted. They were soaked with the blood of hundreds of people, both humans and werewolves, and I had let the very same hands hold me so intimately.Guilt roared to life inside my chest all of a sudden, clawing at my lungs and heart. I felt like I had betrayed those who had entrusted the League of the Moon to fight the tyrannical regime of the Alpha King and his son.I knew I already did when I turned my back on my comrades in the middle of battle. But this was a whole different story, a different kind of betrayal.Gallahan was the real enemy. He wasn’t just a mere soldier of this war. Gallahan himself had led the crusade against humans, even fighting his own kind who couldn’t stomach his ideologi
GALLAHAN’S POVI already knew even before I opened my eyes that Willa was gone. That she had left without so much of a goodbye.I didn’t know whether to laugh in bitterness or yell in anger. I also didn’t know if I should be grateful that Willa spared me from a direct and personal rejection, or be outraged that she didn’t seem to think I was worthy of a proper one after I had claimed her as mine. Most importantly, I didn’t know if I had wanted her to stay or to actually leave to save us from another fight where none of us would win.Fuck… Of all people, why did it have to be her?My hand went to the juncture where my neck and shoulder met, feeling the absence of her bite on my skin.Damn it.
WILLA’S POVDays passed in a blur, and before I knew it, days had turned into weeks, and the weeks bled into months.In fact, three months had gone by, and I barely even felt it.Perhaps it was due to the infectious bliss of the twins that had only doubled since the particular family talk that happened in the dining area. Or maybe it was because it just felt so ridiculously right to have Gallahan around that it got me a little spellbound.In fact, it was terrifyingly fast and easy for him to meld himself into our home and into our lives. It was as if there had been a Gallahan-shaped void that existed all this time without our knowledge, and now he had reclaimed that void, rightfully slotting himself into place.He had even unofficially moved into my home, his clothes and other personal belongings taking space here and there. He rarely went to Moonshire now, only leaving the house when he deemed it was truly necessary.And while this setup was not what we had agreed on at first, I didn
GALLAHAN’S POVThe tension left me as soon as Willa’s words registered and sank in my mind, and I nearly slumped like a ragdoll on my chair from the sheer relief they brought.A light feeling I could only call joy swarmed my core and enveloped my chest tightly.It felt great.And honestly? I haven’t had a taste of such pure and adulterated happiness since Gillian first called me Daddy.So, as I moved based on nothing but my emotions like I usually did, I drew Willa into a kiss with a hand holding her jaw. But I couldn’t contain the smile that stretched on my lips, which only grew bigger when Calisto loudly cheered.“Yay! Yay!”I broke the kiss, affectionately bumping my nose against Willa’s before completely pulling away.A hint of uncertainty laid beneath the apparent fond softness that lined Willa’s face. It was like a quiet plea, asking me to prove to her that her decision was right, to never make her regret it.She didn’t have to ask for it, though.There wasn’t a chance I would a
WILLA’S POVThere had been times when my children’s questions had left me speechless. There had also been times when I simply didn’t know the answer.This time, it was both, and it seemed like I had lost my voice as soon as Gillian threw her question.But even if I could speak, I still wouldn’t know what to say anyway. Words were quickly slipping out of my mind, and those I could grasp didn’t weave into a coherent answer.Because really… How did one explain something so complicated and so difficult to a pair of young children without confusing them or hurting them?But I knew I had to give Gillian an answer, so I cleared my throat, hoping it would remind me how to make my voice box work again. Then, I spoke, regardless of the fact that my mind was still floundering for the right words to say.“I think,” I started, but I ended up pausing, my tongue flicking out to wet my lips. “I think everything your Daddy has done to humans is very bad and… and difficult to forgive or look past.”An
GALLAHAN’S POVI had never once doubted, much less regretted, all my choices and actions when it came to the war that erupted from my path of vengeance against humans. Not even when I met Willa.I had stood firm back then. I hadn’t even faltered about my stance even after I met her again. Sure, I had put an end to it to have a chance to be together, but I had made sure that my cause remained intact. That the conditions agreed during the parley were still completely aligned with my convictions.But now…Staring back at Calisto’s innocent eyes that reflected his pure, untainted soul… It made me uncomfortable. Like my skin was no longer my own. Like my rib cage had shrunken into a size that could no longer house my lungs. Like my heart was alarmingly slowing down while my blood rushed like an angry river in my veins.It was… odd, and I hated it.The discomfort even left an acrid taste in my mouth, but it didn’t really hinder me from answering Calisto’s question.“Because… I was hurt, Cal
WILLA’S POVThe way Gallahan’s face fell upon hearing Gillian’s answer would’ve been comical if not for the way his eyes clearly dimmed as if life had been sucked out of him in a blink of an eye.In the next heartbeat, though, his body was taut as a bowstring, his anger visible in the lines of his frame. His bluish gray eyes were stormy with thinly veiled emotions.Knowing how he didn’t have the best command over his own emotions, I felt somewhat proud how he hadn’t snapped and raged about how William had slung mud onto his image and name to Gillian.I had half expected him to immediately bombard Gillian with questions, demanding to know what William had said about the matter exactly. The other half thought that he would defensively deny and call William a liar and all other colorful names he could probably think of in a fit of fury.But he did neither.Perhaps he had learned a valuable lesson of restraint after making Gillian cry the last time. It soothed my lingering upset and anger
GALLAHAN’S POVWilla herded Gillian into the adjoined kitchen and dining area without waiting for a response from anyone. I trailed behind them, shifting Calisto in my arms so he could settle against my hip comfortably.Wordlessly, Gillian clambered onto a chair by herself, and once she was properly seated, she made it a point to burn holes on the dining table table with her intense little stare. “Any particular request?” Willa asked, heading straight to the kitchen and opening up the fridge and her humble pantry for something to feed us all.But as I was about to put down Calisto on the chair next to his sister, he began to whine, “But I already ate with Memaw and Pepaw! I just want to play now. Can I? Please? With Daddy?”Willa and I exchanged glances, and I shot her a furtive nod as if to say ‘I’ll handle it.’She seemed to understand this, so she gave me a nod before returning to her task of preparing a quick but healthy breakfast for us.“Daddy,” Calisto said, tugging at the fro
GALLAHAN’S POVIt had been three days since my altercation with William, and I was back again in Willa’s home, hoping that enough time had passed for her anger to abate and for Gillian’s fear to disappear completely.So here I was, standing in the middle of the living room where the damn fisticuff transpired, Willa and Gillian nowhere to be seen.Perhaps I had come too early. After all, it was still the early hours of the morning. So they might still be sleeping upstairs.I didn’t want to disrupt their slumber, though, not wanting to receive more of Willa’s ire.Feeling resigned, I sighed. I found it a tad bit silly over how I, a big man whose reputation could scare anyone in this continent, had my tail tucked between my legs all because of my mate.“Guess I’ll come back later,” I muttered to myself in defeat.Then, out of nowhere, Calisto’s voice reverberated within the walls of the living room as he called out, “Daddy!”His happiness and excitement were evident, and they did wonders
WILLA'S POVTight.My chest just felt so tight with anger.Yet I could feel my heart roar like a tempest in my ears.The hunger pang that had troubled me since earlier? It disappeared in a blink of an eye, replaced by an uneasy coiling in my stomach.Tension pulled every muscle of my body taut, and I could barely find it in me to focus on Gillian when my fury was overwhelming me like an unforgiving tsunami wave splashing down on me.“Shut it,” I snapped at Gallahan.Fucking hell.Even though Gallahan and William were in a horrifyingly concerning state, I still didn’t have a lick of compassion to give them at the moment.They had brought this to themselves with no care for the child in their midst.“Leave,” I hissed at them.“Willa,” William said softly, his voice sounding a little odd, likely because of his broken nose.“I said leave. Both of you. If you have any shred of decency left in you after traumatizing my daughter, leave. You know the way out. So leave. Now.”In my arms, Gilli
GALLAHAN’S POVI wasn’t an empty-headed man. I was well-educated, and I held a good degree of self-awareness. But I was long aware of the fact that I had a very short temper and that I had a very abysmal control over my emotions.Heck, I had a long list of instances where I lost grip on rationality, snapped, and acted purely on rage.So really, it wasn’t so out of character for me to immediately scowl upon seeing the sight of William setting down a sleeping Gillian on the couch when I got to the bottom landing of the staircase.And it surely wasn’t atypical of me to be immediately rankled when William adjusted his stance, standing in an angle that shielded my daughter out of my view, as soon as he realized it was me.So, almost on instinct, a low rumbling sound, reminiscent of a warning growl, reverberated out of my mouth.It set off William, his pale green eyes taking on a deeper and more vibrant shade. He returned the sound I made in kind, baring his teeth as he did so.“Take a step