I walked up the dirt road and took my shirt off to wipe the sweat from my face and I saw the car parked in the driveway. I stood looking at the rental and tried to decipher what type of man rented a flashy convertible. I tucked the end of my shirt into my waistband and walked inside, Adara’s plus one was here. I took a deep breath. I didn’t know how I was going to walk into my own house and face this other man, a man that probably already had feelings for my wife. ‘Be calm, don’t be yourself,’ I said to myself as I entered the kitchen.I stopped in my tracks and almost laughed out loud. I could hear them talking in the kitchen. Adara’s plus one was Caitlyn. I knew what I was about to do wouldn’t win me any points with Adara, but I couldn’t help it. I walked to the fridge and took out a bottle of water.I could feel them looking at me as I stood there and emptied the bottle and threw it in the trash. Adara would be annoyed because I didn’t have a shirt on and Caitlyn, well, Caitlyn w
“He’s in a good mood,” Caitlyn said as she looked around the office. I almost snorted out loud but composed my features in time. James was an asshole for letting me suffer through this alone. Some Beta he was.“How can I help you ladies?” I looked quizzically at Adara and she shrugged. She wanted to be in my office as much as I wanted to be back in the realm of death. She obviously hadn’t told Caitlyn about the problems we’d been having and I would use that to my advantage.“We thought we’d take you to lunch,” Adara said and I sat back and smiled. “But if you’re too busy we understand,” she added quickly.“I’m never too busy for you,” I said and looked Adara in the eye.I smiled at her as Caitlyn got that “aww” look on her face and I knew if she could, she would roll her eyes at me, probably strangle me. I stood up from behind my desk and grabbed my phone. I opened the door for them and led them to the elevators.“You should invite James to join us,” Adara said and I smiled. There was
Jessica clasped her hands together on the table, her eyes twinkled for just a second as she took a sip of her drink before locking her gaze on Caitlyn once more. Malachi had a smile he was trying to hide and I knew it was coming.“Well, aren’t your legs just like a McDonald’s,” Jessica said as she stared at Caitlyn.I choked on my drink from laughing and trying to swallow at the same time as James laid his head down on his arms and laughed. Adara nudged me in the ribs and it was the first time she’d touched me in weeks. That one touch gave me hope, even though I was laughing obscenely loudly.“What?” Caitlyn asked, frowning in her confusion. “Is that a fat joke?”James laughed louder and I couldn’t control myself anymore either. Jessica’s face remained impassive as she looked at Caitlyn. I could see Malachi was fighting the urge to laugh as well.“I can’t decide which one you’d like to jump first though,” Jessica said and Caitlyn blushed.James’s face was red and he pulled on my sleev
After lunch, Malachi drove back to Jessica’s office to drop her off at work. He parked in the parking lot and turned towards Jessica. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”“I won’t be the one in white,” she said and Malachi smiled.“I don’t care.” Jessica leaned forward and kissed him. “I love you, Jess.”“I love you too, old guy.” With that Jessica got out of the car and didn’t look back once as she crossed the street and disappeared inside her office.Malachi drove to his own office and finished up with the last of his cases before the wedding and then he’d be on honeymoon with Jessica for four weeks and he’d given Lynne off for those four weeks as well. For the first time in twenty odd years, Malachi’s office would be closed for business.“Yes,” Malachi said at the knock on his door.The door opened and Lynne walked inside. “Mr Sinclair?”“Yes, Lynne?”“I wanted to say congratulations for tomorrow,” she said and placed a wrapped box on Malachi’s desk.“Thank you, Lynne, but this really wasn’t n
It was 3 a.m. and I couldn’t sleep, I had been rolling around in my bed all night. I had left Adara and Caitlyn in the living room where they’d been talking. Adara was a little bit nicer to me with Caitlyn in the house and I wondered how long that would last once she left again.I got up and went downstairs and put the kettle on for coffee. I took my coffee to the study and put the laptop on. I opened my email and I started typing. It sounded cliché as I reread it but that was the truth.“Adara,I could say I’m sorry a thousand times and still it wouldn’t be enough to undo the hurt I caused you. To say that I regret it would probably be a good place to start, but there are some of my choices that I don’t regret. I regret lying to you and hurting you, but I truly believed at the time that I was doing the right thing for everyone.I needed to know that he wouldn’t come after you or the kids, because you are my weakness and I could put my emotions off and be able to live without you, but
“Do you want me to climb on your back?” he asked me and I nodded my head. He pulled at my fur as he struggled to climb on but he managed and I stood up. ‘Where are your parents, kid?’ I wondered to myself as I started walking slowly forward.“My name’s Aaron and I’m going to call you Rex!” he said and I shook my head.“What about Super Wolf?” he asked me and again I shook my head as we walked through the forest. I was heading towards the lagoon where I heard distant music.“Okay, how about Chief because you’re really big and you’re a hero!” he said and I thought, ‘what the hell’, so I nodded and he hugged me from behind around my neck. I walked around the cabins that were situated just beyond the Second Lake and kept walking.He was telling me about his dog, whose name was Rex, and his school, his friends and how a wolf was now his favourite animal. I kept walking and I saw the distant flashing lights, red and blue. I felt relieved that maybe they realized he was missing and they were
I parked in my spot in the hotel parking lot and looked at all the cars that had already filled it. A lot of Jessica’s guests were booking in that morning, and the reception area was bustling with people. I walked over to James as he greeted guests with a smile and directed them where to go.“Malachi said he wants to see you as soon as you arrive,” James said to me. He had a clipboard in his hands and I could see that most of the guests had already arrived. We were at full capacity that weekend.“Good morning to you too. I see we’re starting the day off right,” I said with a smile.“Oh yeah, it’s just awesome.” James grinned and I left him to carry on. Malachi wanted to see me and I wondered briefly if something had happened. Everything was done, the guests were there, the food was there, the flowers and cake had arrived, everything had gone off without a hitch.I took the elevator up to my office, feeling better than I had a week earlier. Adara had spoken to me, she’d touched me and
I headed downstairs again with plenty of time to spare and walked down the hallway towards where James and Shoran were standing by the doors that led to the conference room we were using for the ceremony.Jessica had kept it simple but beautiful. The tables stood on either side of the make-shift aisle and we had erected a small stage for the ceremony with about five steps leading up to it. Her colors were emerald green and silver. They blended together well and I could see Jessica in every choice she’d made. The whole setting suited Malachi as well and I knew they would make it forever.Shoran bowed her head at me, but her eyes were angry when I finally reached them. I hadn’t missed it and inwardly I smiled. Shoran was loyal and I would never call her out for it. Adara was her best friend.“Shoran,” I said as I nodded my head at her and James laughed.“Stop it, he’s trying,” he said to her. She opened her mouth to say something but then closed it again.“No, say what you want to say,”
Malachi and Jessica made their way to the dance floor as they danced together. I gave it two minutes and then stood up. This was where I gave my blessing by cutting in and dancing with the new bride. Malachi had done this at my wedding and it felt odd that I now had to do it at his.I tapped him on the shoulder and Jessica looked at me. “Seriously,” she said to me as I started to dance with her as Malachi watched.“Get used to it Jessica, this is wolf tradition, the Alpha always cuts in. It shows the pack that you’ve been accepted by me and that you have my blessing. Without it the pack won’t accept you, even married to Malachi,” I said to her and she looked at me, narrowing her eyes.“Don’t,” I said to her and we started laughing. “Welcome to the family, Jess, keep him on his toes.” Jessica’s smile was one of pure happiness.“Oh I intend to,” she said. “Do you want me to tie Lauren up and put her in the closet?” I huffed out a laugh.“It’s okay, I’m pretty sure she’ll stay away from
Malachi and Jessica walked around the corner and I was speechless. She was absolutely beautiful. “Wow Jess, you look perfect.”She rolled her eyes at me but smiled. “Dude, I know, but thanks, you don’t look so bad yourself.” I laughed and hugged Malachi tightly as he slapped me on the back. I signaled for the music to begin as I turned towards the door.Lauren took my arm as the music began and she leaned in close against me. I pushed her away by slightly lifting my elbow so she couldn’t walk that close to me. I felt Adara watching me as I walked up the steps with her and walked across the raised dais and took my position on the other side.Jessica and Malachi started walking down the aisle holding hands when Jessica suddenly stopped. “Screw it,” she said and kicked her shoes off. She left them in the aisle and saw Carl looking at them.“Hey Susan!” she said loudly as his face turned red and continued barefoot until they stood in front of Richard who was officiating the wedding. You c
I headed downstairs again with plenty of time to spare and walked down the hallway towards where James and Shoran were standing by the doors that led to the conference room we were using for the ceremony.Jessica had kept it simple but beautiful. The tables stood on either side of the make-shift aisle and we had erected a small stage for the ceremony with about five steps leading up to it. Her colors were emerald green and silver. They blended together well and I could see Jessica in every choice she’d made. The whole setting suited Malachi as well and I knew they would make it forever.Shoran bowed her head at me, but her eyes were angry when I finally reached them. I hadn’t missed it and inwardly I smiled. Shoran was loyal and I would never call her out for it. Adara was her best friend.“Shoran,” I said as I nodded my head at her and James laughed.“Stop it, he’s trying,” he said to her. She opened her mouth to say something but then closed it again.“No, say what you want to say,”
I parked in my spot in the hotel parking lot and looked at all the cars that had already filled it. A lot of Jessica’s guests were booking in that morning, and the reception area was bustling with people. I walked over to James as he greeted guests with a smile and directed them where to go.“Malachi said he wants to see you as soon as you arrive,” James said to me. He had a clipboard in his hands and I could see that most of the guests had already arrived. We were at full capacity that weekend.“Good morning to you too. I see we’re starting the day off right,” I said with a smile.“Oh yeah, it’s just awesome.” James grinned and I left him to carry on. Malachi wanted to see me and I wondered briefly if something had happened. Everything was done, the guests were there, the food was there, the flowers and cake had arrived, everything had gone off without a hitch.I took the elevator up to my office, feeling better than I had a week earlier. Adara had spoken to me, she’d touched me and
“Do you want me to climb on your back?” he asked me and I nodded my head. He pulled at my fur as he struggled to climb on but he managed and I stood up. ‘Where are your parents, kid?’ I wondered to myself as I started walking slowly forward.“My name’s Aaron and I’m going to call you Rex!” he said and I shook my head.“What about Super Wolf?” he asked me and again I shook my head as we walked through the forest. I was heading towards the lagoon where I heard distant music.“Okay, how about Chief because you’re really big and you’re a hero!” he said and I thought, ‘what the hell’, so I nodded and he hugged me from behind around my neck. I walked around the cabins that were situated just beyond the Second Lake and kept walking.He was telling me about his dog, whose name was Rex, and his school, his friends and how a wolf was now his favourite animal. I kept walking and I saw the distant flashing lights, red and blue. I felt relieved that maybe they realized he was missing and they were
It was 3 a.m. and I couldn’t sleep, I had been rolling around in my bed all night. I had left Adara and Caitlyn in the living room where they’d been talking. Adara was a little bit nicer to me with Caitlyn in the house and I wondered how long that would last once she left again.I got up and went downstairs and put the kettle on for coffee. I took my coffee to the study and put the laptop on. I opened my email and I started typing. It sounded cliché as I reread it but that was the truth.“Adara,I could say I’m sorry a thousand times and still it wouldn’t be enough to undo the hurt I caused you. To say that I regret it would probably be a good place to start, but there are some of my choices that I don’t regret. I regret lying to you and hurting you, but I truly believed at the time that I was doing the right thing for everyone.I needed to know that he wouldn’t come after you or the kids, because you are my weakness and I could put my emotions off and be able to live without you, but
After lunch, Malachi drove back to Jessica’s office to drop her off at work. He parked in the parking lot and turned towards Jessica. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”“I won’t be the one in white,” she said and Malachi smiled.“I don’t care.” Jessica leaned forward and kissed him. “I love you, Jess.”“I love you too, old guy.” With that Jessica got out of the car and didn’t look back once as she crossed the street and disappeared inside her office.Malachi drove to his own office and finished up with the last of his cases before the wedding and then he’d be on honeymoon with Jessica for four weeks and he’d given Lynne off for those four weeks as well. For the first time in twenty odd years, Malachi’s office would be closed for business.“Yes,” Malachi said at the knock on his door.The door opened and Lynne walked inside. “Mr Sinclair?”“Yes, Lynne?”“I wanted to say congratulations for tomorrow,” she said and placed a wrapped box on Malachi’s desk.“Thank you, Lynne, but this really wasn’t n
Jessica clasped her hands together on the table, her eyes twinkled for just a second as she took a sip of her drink before locking her gaze on Caitlyn once more. Malachi had a smile he was trying to hide and I knew it was coming.“Well, aren’t your legs just like a McDonald’s,” Jessica said as she stared at Caitlyn.I choked on my drink from laughing and trying to swallow at the same time as James laid his head down on his arms and laughed. Adara nudged me in the ribs and it was the first time she’d touched me in weeks. That one touch gave me hope, even though I was laughing obscenely loudly.“What?” Caitlyn asked, frowning in her confusion. “Is that a fat joke?”James laughed louder and I couldn’t control myself anymore either. Jessica’s face remained impassive as she looked at Caitlyn. I could see Malachi was fighting the urge to laugh as well.“I can’t decide which one you’d like to jump first though,” Jessica said and Caitlyn blushed.James’s face was red and he pulled on my sleev
“He’s in a good mood,” Caitlyn said as she looked around the office. I almost snorted out loud but composed my features in time. James was an asshole for letting me suffer through this alone. Some Beta he was.“How can I help you ladies?” I looked quizzically at Adara and she shrugged. She wanted to be in my office as much as I wanted to be back in the realm of death. She obviously hadn’t told Caitlyn about the problems we’d been having and I would use that to my advantage.“We thought we’d take you to lunch,” Adara said and I sat back and smiled. “But if you’re too busy we understand,” she added quickly.“I’m never too busy for you,” I said and looked Adara in the eye.I smiled at her as Caitlyn got that “aww” look on her face and I knew if she could, she would roll her eyes at me, probably strangle me. I stood up from behind my desk and grabbed my phone. I opened the door for them and led them to the elevators.“You should invite James to join us,” Adara said and I smiled. There was