Happy New Year! Let the parent trapping continue, lol.
I discovered a great deal about Samuel during our little adventure together, and the experience was nothing short of enlightening. For one, I quickly realized just how incredibly sharp he was. He proudly shared with Tristan what he had been listening to on his phone—an audiobook titled “Washington: A Life” by Ron Chernow. I remembered grappling with that book during my senior year of high school at seventeen. Yet here was Samuel, just nine years old, diving deep into material that had only come to me much later in life. You might be tempted to dismiss it as merely an audiobook, presuming he couldn’t quite grasp the complexities within. But when we started discussing it, I was taken aback—he understood the nuances far better than I had at his age. In contrast, poor Tristan was visibly bewildered, bless his heart, struggling to keep up with the conversation. Fortunately, Tristan was a master at finessing social interactions; he skillfully redirected the dialogue, averting the spotlight
I hadn’t considered that washing Tristan’s face might have reminded him of what he was missing—a mother. My heart ached for that little boy, and my anger bubbled over at the woman who had abandoned him. My son may not have had a father, but that wasn’t because Nigel had walked away. Their losses were different yet profoundly similar. When Tristan expressed his feelings about my actions, comparing them to how other moms behaved, I felt an overwhelming urge to hug him tightly. I wanted to comfort him just as I had comforted my son when he felt the absence of his father in his life. ‘Of course, you want to make him feel better. He’s our new pup.’ Kira so easily claimed Tristan as our pup. ‘Not discussing that.’ I dismissed. I watched my son, Samuel, as he observed Alex and Tristan with a sadly familiar expression. He tended to have that look when he saw any of his friends back home spending time with their fathers. I wanted to hug my son until we both felt that we didn’t grieve his f
Baby steps. I accepted even the tiniest step forward as a victory. The first victory was when Holly trusted me with Samuel. The second victory was being the one who drove Holly and Samuel to their hotel instead of Alsion. The third victory was when Holly agreed to dinner with me. It was dinner with our sons, but I didn’t belittle my victory. And the fourth victory was that she had been flirting. Or at least I thought she had been flirting. It could have just been my wishful thinking, but instead of flirting with her playful jabs, she meant them to be mean. She was always hard to read. Time and distance hadn’t made that any easier. That didn’t mean I gave up. That was my chance to finally act on what I had known for years. I wasn’t going to let it slip by. Don’t think for a minute that I hadn’t noticed how Holly had actively avoided touching me. She was under the impression I didn’t know we were mates, so she tried to avoid touching me so I wouldn’t feel the bond. Too bad for her, but
Dinner with the Whitland men, particularly Alex, was a monumental mistake—a B-A-D BAD idea. I could feel the tension between Alex and myself from the moment we arrived. Tristan, the endearing and charismatic little boy, lit the room with an infectious energy. I’d never seen Samuel take to someone as easily as he had with Tristan. It was unusual to see my son open up so quickly to someone. For instance, it had taken Samuel a full month to warm up to Maverick. But with Tristan, things were different. It was as if they were old friends reunited after years apart. Their conversations flowed effortlessly, filled with laughter and animated gestures. Samuel’s laughter rang out, bright and cheerful, as he shared stories and jokes with Tristan that seemed to come from a genuine bond. Isaiah was the only person I had witnessed Samuel display such liveliness with. Their connection had been an immediate spark—something I had hoped to see with others, but this relationship with Tristan felt eve
My heart swelled with incredible warmth as I sat at a quaint picnic table on the patio. The evening air was fragrant with the rich aromas of fried chicken and collard greens wafting from the kitchen, mingling with the distant sounds of bustling traffic on the busy corner nearby. Holly sat across from me, her laughter dancing lightly in the warm breeze. Our boys joyfully devoured their plates, chatting about everything under the sun. It was the perfect family moment. Yet, a bittersweet longing tugged at me, even in the vibrant atmosphere filled with laughter and the clinking of dishes. If only I could reach out and take Holly’s hand, feeling her warmth envelop mine, the way I yearned for her to truly acknowledge what lay simmering beneath the surface of our friendship. But I knew I had to tread carefully. Holly had been hurt by love already, so she was skittish. Every step had to be deliberate. I couldn’t risk scaring her off, not when the potential for something more tantalizing l
WHAT DID ALEX JUST DO!? ‘Kissed you. I know it’s been a while since you experienced the thrill of a kiss, but I doubt you’ve forgotten what one feels like.’ Kira smirked, her tone dripping with mockery. I could have told her to shove it, but that wouldn’t have changed anything. My question wasn’t just about the kiss itself but the profound implications it had set in motion. I couldn’t deny the electric jolt of the mate bond coursing through me after that moment. I’d avoided contact with Alex all evening, determined to hide our connection’s truth. Unlike an ordinary human, Alex had been entwined with the supernatural for twelve years and understood the significance of what had just happened. The look on his face spoke volumes; he realized he’d made a monumental mistake in kissing me. Despite the undeniable bond, that kiss was one of the most reckless choices he could have made. Nigel had been the only man to kiss me, and I had no desire for anyone else afterward. How dare Alex infrin
I had been repeating the same bitter mantra to myself ever since Holly slapped me and stormed out of the restaurant last night: “Stupid. Stupid! STUPID!” Each repetition drove the knife of regret deeper into my gut. In an impulsive moment, I leaned in and kissed Holly without thinking. Now, it felt like a colossal mistake. I imagined what my wolf, if I had one, would say. His gruff voice, that sounded like Logan, would tell me that my lack of foresight had ruined everything. The image of Holly’s shocked and pained expression weighed heavily on me. I needed to make things right, but I had no idea how. Tristan sensed the tension. The usually chatty boy was silent on the ride home—a significant change. When we arrived, he paused at his bedroom door and said, “Dad, you need to apologize to Mrs. Boland. If you care about her, you better grovel. This is on you.” After he left, I contemplated the weight of my actions. I had slept poorly, tossing and turning, thinking of how to make amend
I had a love/hate relationship with my cousin. Sometimes, talking to him would make everything seem better. Like how after our phone call, I found myself feeling more at ease, the weight of my stress lifting slightly. Then there were times when he butted his nose too far into my business. When my phone rang not long after my call with Clarence, my instincts whispered that this call had something to do with my cousin. When I glanced at the screen and saw Logan’s name flashing, a knot tightened in my stomach. I reluctantly answered with a resigned sigh and a frown etching my brow. “Good morning, Alpha Logan. I apologize for not stopping by yesterday. I was busy with travel and dealing with the legal matters regarding Ali...” I began but was quickly interrupted. “I didn’t call for your apologies. I wasn’t worried about it. That was Finn and Clarence. Patrol reported seeing you cross into the territory, and of course, Alison mentioned that she saw you,” Logan replied. “Okay. So, w
I let Alex guide me, my heart pounding in anticipation as the heat built between us. But then doubt crept in, and I froze, digging my heels into the floor. The air grew heavy with confusion and pain. I stepped back, my back hitting the vanity, breath hitching as the truth unraveled. When I looked up, it wasn’t Nigel’s face I saw, but Alex’s. My heart lurched. How had I let myself believe it was Nigel, conjuring the man I’d lost instead of facing the one before me? Alex’s brow furrowed, his concern evident. “Holly… what’s wrong? I thought… you told me to ravage you, but now…” His voice was careful, uncertain, as if afraid to break the fragile connection between us. “No. No, I told Nigel. You’re not Nigel.” I shook my head violently. My hand flew to my mouth, the weight of the words crushing me. My knees threatened to give out as I looked at him, his face no longer the comfort it had been just moments ago. My voice rose, trembling with emotion I couldn’t control. “You’re not Nigel.
Holly sat at the vanity, her back to me, and I couldn’t look away. The intricate lace of her dress hugged her shoulders, drawing my gaze to her curves. As she adjusted her hair, her movements were graceful and mesmerizing.When she finally turned, the dress flowed elegantly above her knees, the neckline dipping just enough to quicken my pulse. Her rich brown hair, swept into a stunning braid and bun, framed her face, making her blue-gray eyes shine.She caught me staring, and I couldn’t pretend otherwise. The way her dress shimmered in the light made everything else in the room fade away. Holly wasn’t just beautiful; she was breathtaking.Holly caught me by my tie with a smirk and tugged me to her. I knew it was an open invitation. I would’ve been a fool to decline such an invitation. I closed the distance, capturing her lips. Kissing Holly was heaven. Her breath hitched, and I swallowed her gasp as the kiss deepened, my arm wrapping around her to press her body into mine. We fit toge
I sat at my vanity, applying the final touches to my makeup, fully aware of Nigel leaning in the doorway, watching me. His gaze was warm, reverent even, and I could feel his love like a physical thing in the air between us. He’s always looked at me that way, like I’m the most beautiful woman alive, even though I’ve never seen myself that way.Growing up as a tomboy running wild through the Adirondack mountains with the Ironfur heirs didn’t leave much room for vanity. Nigel knew that. He tells me I’m beautiful every chance he gets and insists that I’m sexy, too. I always call him a liar, but I know the blush on my cheeks and the soft smile I can’t suppress each time gives me away.He’s stayed by my side through everything, even when I told him he didn’t have to. Eight years of trying and failing to bring a pup to term. I told him once I’d understand if he wanted to leave me, to find someone who could give him what I couldn’t. He refused.“I don’t care if we ever have a pup. You’re all
I really put myself out there, didn’t I? I told Holly everything—the whole story laid out, no secrets. Now, it was just a waiting game to see how she’d respond. She hadn’t said no and wouldn’t return to Ironfur directly after the memorial service. The fact that she was even considering going on a date with me felt like a win in my book. When I offered to drive her to pick up her rental car, she didn’t hesitate. She was all for exchanging numbers, too—something the boys had already sorted out among themselves. I was glad they got along so well. I didn’t want to manipulate anything between them, but having Samuel on my side could definitely help me win Holly over. If I ever had doubts about being with her, the way Tristan already cared about her made me stop and think. The day after everything happened at the ranch, Holly faced the memorial for Davis and Loretta in Bloodmoon. I wanted to be there for her, but I figured respecting her need for space would be better. I was comforted know
Our conversation flowed so easily. It only hurt a little when I thought about Nigel. I could look back at how he got jealous when Finn wrapped me up in a big hug without a care in the world the day I brought Nigel to meet everyone with humor and nostalgia instead of heartache and longing. It was adorable when Nigel got all growly and demanded Finn stop manhandling his mate. He felt stupid for getting jealous, especially after I put Finn in his place. Then Alex had to go and focus the conversation on what I was avoiding… us. Even Kira found his question difficult to answer. Obviously, we knew he was weaker, but it was not his fault. He was human, while I was a werewolf. We’re naturally on different strength levels. He’s stronger than he was when I left. I didn’t need to spare to know that. I’m a combat instructor. I can tell by looking at someone and if they’ve improved. Being weaker than me doesn’t make him unattractive. But how to word that? ‘If you ask me…’ Kira began, her voice ca
Holly’s laughter, a vibrant sound that seemed to dance in the air, was the sweetest music I had ever heard. Even though she tried to stifle it behind her hand, the joy in her eyes sparkled brighter than any note could convey. I was acutely aware that beneath this light-hearted moment loomed the weight of the serious conversations we still needed to have. I couldn’t predict how long her cheerful spirit would last, so I mentally tucked this precious memory away like a treasured keepsake. I knew our talk would turn heavy, perhaps leading her to walk away again. If that happened, I wanted to reach back into my mind’s archive and find comfort in replaying the sound of her laughter. “The twins would argue that if they were going to get their asses kicked, the charity should be for the arts,” Holly quipped, shaking her head as her laughter gradually waned, leaving behind a warm afterglow. “Fair point,” I replied, a smile tugging at the corners of my mouth. “As long as the proceeds contrib
I had always worried about my son Samuel’s health and safety. He was my miracle baby, a bright light after the darkness of loss and grief in my past. With every breath, I feared losing him, haunted by memories of my previous pregnancies that ended too soon. Though Samuel had been healthy since birth, that didn’t ease my fear of something happening to him. Given my history, you can imagine the whirlwind of panic that erupted within me when David said Samuel had been hurt. My mind flickered to Alex, but I quickly pushed those thoughts aside; delving into that worry felt too much. Instead, I fixated on the dread of my child suffering, my heart racing with every thought. Rationally, I knew he would be okay. Mikali was there. Even if he hadn’t been a healer by gift, he was a doctor. If I had proved anything in the last twenty-four hours, it was that I was an emotional train wreck. Rational thought hadn’t gotten through. I tried reaching out to Samuel through our family link, but I wasn’t
I had been thrown from horses plenty of times throughout my life—an occupational hazard that came with working on a ranch. However, this time, it wasn’t me who was in danger; it was Samuel. In a split second of instinct and determination, I leaped off Cyrus to shield Samuel from the impending fall. Although Samuel was a werewolf, I knew he was just as vulnerable as any human child until he reached the age to awaken his wolf. The weight of responsibility pressed heavily on my shoulders, especially considering my already precarious relationship with Holly. If her son had sustained serious injuries while I was supposed to be keeping him safe, I knew my chances of ever winning her trust—or her heart—would vanish in an instant. I wouldn’t have blamed her for being furious. After all, Samuel was her number one priority, just as Tristan was mine. Any parent in her position would have felt justified in being outraged with someone who allowed their child to get hurt. That said, Holly wasn’t
Kira had howled her displeasure the further we got from the ranch or, more importantly, from Alex. She was a wolf. Kira didn’t get it. She couldn’t seem to understand how I felt. The selfish bitch had only thought about herself and how she wanted a new mate. I know ‘pot calling the kettle black.’ I was also selfish because I had refused to think about what having a second chance mate could mean to anyone beyond myself. It would have offered Kira comfort and renewed strength, which had diminished when Nigel and Leo died. Then there’s Samuel and Tristan to think of. Both boys have been raised missing a parent, and if I were to accept Alex, we’d be giving the boys the parent they are missing. Even if Alex says he doesn’t want to replace Nigel, I’m terrified of him replacing Nigel with Samuel. Samuel only knows Nigel through stories. It broke my heart to think of a future where Samuel would forget Nigel was his father and refer to Alex as his dad, which brings me back to being a selfish