I told Kyran I needed to talk to Kael, suggesting he and Knox return to the river. His mental sigh conveyed his reluctance. 'Skyla, if you start always trying to console him like this, it'll never end. I promise you.'Kyran's directness caught me off guard, starkly contrasting his usual demeanor. It dawned on me that he felt comfortable expressing these concerns because it was just the two of us communicating. 'I'm a big girl, Ky. I'll be okay,' I reassured him mentally before heading to the tent.Inside, Kael was sitting rigidly, fully clothed and human, his eyes fixed on the ground. I tried to communicate mentally, but he immediately cautioned, 'No, don't do that. It'll give us both nasty headaches. Only communicate human to wolf in emergencies.'Desperate to talk, I made the painful decision to shift back. The transformation was excruciating, each bone and muscle contorting back into human form. When it was over, I lay in the dirt, naked and vulnerable, looking up at Kael's concern
As we arrived back at the house, Cassy burst out. Her usual exuberance dimmed when she caught sight of our somber procession. I softly told her, "Not now, Cassy. Please, give us some time?" Her eyes drifted to Kael, leaning against Ky's truck, utterly defeated, head tilted skyward as he covered his eyes with his hands, taking deep, labored breaths.Perhaps seeking solace or normalcy, Knox wrapped his arm around my shoulders. But the touch felt wrong at the moment, too much when everything else was so raw. I shrugged it off and saw the hurt flash across his face."Don't overthink it, Knox... just... not now, okay?" I whispered, my voice barely audible.From the corner of my eye, I noticed Kael watching our interaction, peeking out from under his hand. His presence, consistently strong and commanding, now seemed fragile, on the verge of shattering.Knox sighed. "Yeah, I get it. Squeaky wheel and all..." He began to walk away, but in a blur of motion, Kael was suddenly on him, pinning hi
Walking into the pool house, I found myself in a spacious studio-like room. A bed was tucked into one corner, while a couch and sitting area occupied the center. The small kitchen was on the opposite side. It felt like a cozy, secluded haven, away from the chaos of the main house.Still damp, Kael flopped down on the couch and dried his hair with a towel. As he did, his muscles flexed visibly. His stomach, arms, his entire physique was on display. I couldn't help but notice, and I felt a surge of attraction that was hard to ignore.He peeked out from under the towel and caught me staring. His smile, knowing and a little teasing, sent a wave of heat through me. I flushed and quickly turned away, acutely aware of my heavy breathing and other signs of arousal. I realized that resisting Kael would be much more complicated than anticipated.I took a seat in a chair across from him. He stood up, walked over to the fridge, and returned with a bottle of wine. He poured two glasses and handed
As the waves of pleasure continued to wash over me, Kael's tongue didn't waver. He savored each moment, prolonging the ecstasy until, finally, the intensity began to subside. He crawled beside me once he was sure I had ridden out the last of the waves. He smiled, a playful glint in his eyes, as he leisurely licked my juices from his finger.I must have looked at him oddly, because he paused and said, "What? You taste good."The kiss that followed was intense and intimate, the strange sensation of tasting myself on his lips sparking a curious thought in my mind. "What do you taste like?" I asked, my hand venturing towards the pronounced bulge straining against his shorts.He caught my hand just as I began to explore further. "As much as I would love for you to continue, save that for next time, okay? I'm already on the edge," he said, his eyes filled with desire and barely contained restraint.In response, I playfully pushed him onto his back, climbing on top of him. "Why did you sta
As I stepped out of the poolhouse, the resonating sound of Kael's commanding voice filled the night air, echoing from the direction of the pavilion. The tone of his voice, once light and playful during what his brothers mockingly called a 'safety meeting,' was now heavy with the weight of leadership. The situation had lost all semblance of humor.I approached the pavilion quietly, lingering at the back for a moment. Kael's eyes found mine across the space, and I saw a subtle shift in his demeanor, slightly lessening the tension in his shoulders. It made me wonder if my presence could truly bring him any sense of relief or comfort.In a moment of unexpected boldness, I moved away from the shadows of the back and walked straight to the front, sitting at the table where Kael was orchestrating his plans. Maps and notes were strewn across the table, a tangible sign of the chaos he was trying to control.Kael paused mid-command, relief flooding his eyes as they met mine. A small smile flick
As we finished setting the table, Ky entered the kitchen, accompanied by Naomi, the young healer who had helped me get ready for the Monroe townhouse. I felt a pang of sympathy for her, understanding now why the possibility of her visiting the townhouse was so significant to her.Naomi took a seat beside Knox at the bar, and Ky pulled me into the hallway. Kael momentarily paused, seemingly inclined to follow, but Knox interjected, "Seriously, Kael, give them a minute." With a low growl of frustration, Kael turned back to complete setting the table.In the hallway, Ky appeared lost, his emotions brimming over. I gently grasped his shoulders, making him look at me. "Ky, it's okay. I'm not upset. I just wish you'd told me sooner."Ky shrugged, a mix of emotions on his face. "I didn't know how, Skyla. Plus, being in a mate bond... it's complicated. Far more complicated than I thought it would be." He leaned closer, his voice a whisper. "She isn't my fated mate, Skyla, you are. And I'm str
Waking up in Kael's arms felt like a small sanctuary amid the chaos of recent events. His embrace was a mixture of comfort and protection, a silent vow that he wouldn't let anything harm me. I could feel the tension in his body, the restless energy of a mind that hadn't shut off for even a moment."Did you get any sleep?" I whispered, noticing the distance in his eyes.He flinched slightly, suddenly pulled from his thoughts. Looking down at me, there was a weariness in his eyes. "Not really," he admitted, his voice a quiet rumble."You need to rest, Kael. Seriously," I said, concerned.He offered a half-hearted shrug. "I will. Eventually." There was a resignation in his voice, a silent acceptance of the burdens he shouldered.As I tried to sit up, I realized Ky and Knox were missing. Kael, sensing my unasked question, quickly filled in the blanks. "Ky's with Naomi. Told him to take the day off. Knox is covering for him, along with his own duties. He'll be back by lunch."I settled bac
As Kael drove the ATV back to the packhouse, his grip on me was unyielding, his face an unreadable mask. His silence was heavy, filled with unspoken thoughts and emotions. Beside me, Knox's groans of pain cut through the tense air."There was something on the sticks they used," Knox gritted out through clenched teeth, "I can feel it. Something's not right. I'm not healing."I glanced back at him, his face contorted in pain. "Kael, stop the ATV," I urged.Kael brought the vehicle to a halt. Without a word, I hopped out and climbed into the back with Knox. Kael watched us for a moment before resuming the drive, his face still set in that hard, unreadable expression.Knox shifted, resting his head in my lap. His hand was clamped over a festering wound on his side. I gently moved his hand away, gasping at the sight of the wound. It was like nothing I'd ever seen before. A seething, burning injury like acid had been poured into it."Wolfsbane," Kael said over his shoulder, his voice low an
(KNOX POV)Teddy called later that day. I could hear the hesitation in his voice, which was rare for him. "Knox, I just heard Essie's been seen near the old rogue housing units by the beach. They said she is staying in the stray house near the edge," he told me. He didn't have to say more. I knew exactly where he meant.It was the same place I had taken her before when things were spiraling out of control.I didn't want to bring anyone with me, especially not Sky. The memories of how deep I had fallen, how Burk and Fletcher manipulated me into that dark pit of sex addiction, were too raw. She didn't need to see that side of me. No one did. This was something I had to face alone.The truck's engine roared to life, the same one I'd driven that night years ago. I prayed she'd recognize the truck, which would trigger something in her or at least make her talk to me about that night.As I pulled up to the house, my heart pounded against my ribs. The place looked as rundown as ever. I sa
(KNOX POV)Sitting at the kitchen table, my phone buzzed with a notification. It was a message from the pediatrician's office about Oxxy's upcoming surgery. They asked about insurance information and the final payment arrangements. I didn't hesitate to respond that I'd pay cash. Money wasn't an issue when it came to Oxxy's well-being.The reply came almost immediately, but it wasn't what I expected. They mentioned needing some papers signed and, since I wasn't the custodial parent, they would need his mom's signature to proceed.My heart sank. I stared at the message, trying not to panic. The thought of needing Essie's involvement made my stomach twist. She had been out of the picture after running away from the rehab, and now they were saying we needed her? It felt like a slap in the face.Sky entered the room and noticed the strain in my posture. "What's wrong?" I didn't say anything, just handed her the phone. After reading the message, she sighed and ran her fingers through my
(KNOX POV)"We found him."The delta's voice crackled over the radio, and everything around me seemed to freeze. Still, I couldn't fully relax. I needed to see him with my own eyes. Needed to know he was safe."Where?" I shouted into the radio, desperation pushing my voice louder than intended."By the pond," came the reply. "He's just sitting there, Knox. You need to get down here."I didn't wait for more information. I shifted and sprinted through the woods, driven by the overwhelming need to reach him. My heart raced, thoughts spiraling through every possible scenario. The idea of him being out there all alone and the what-could-have-happened scenarios if we hadn't found him made me sick to my stomach.Seeing him nearly brought me to my knees as I reached the pond. He was perched on a large rock, his little legs swinging back and forth like he hadn't just scared us all half to death. Relief hit me so hard that I almost stumbled, but I kept moving."Oxxy!" I called out, rushing tow
(KNOX POV)As soon as I returned to the house, the pressure hit me like a physical force. Something was wrong. Really wrong. The packhouse was eerily quiet. I barely had time to process the change from dead still to chaos before Ky rushed up to me, panic radiating off him."Knox, we lost Oxxy."That knocked the wind out of me. My heart started pounding so hard it felt like it might burst. "What do you mean you lost him? How could you let him out of your sight?" The panic in my voice was undeniable, but I couldn't help it. The fear was already taking over, squeezing at my chest like a vise.Ky's eyes were wide with fear. "I'm sorry, I just... I turned around for a second, and he was gone. I thought he was just running back to the house, but he's nowhere Knox. We can't find him. Where the hell could he have gone? It was less than a minute."The blood drained from my face as the reality of what he was saying hit me. Oxxy was missing. I immediately jumped to the worst possible scenari
( KY POV )I watched Cassy practically force Teddy into his truck after she tossed Phin in the back seat. I stepped toward her, hoping to say something that might calm her down. Before I could say anything, she spun around. "Before you lecture me, you need to go talk to your two lookalikes inside before I kill them!" she yelled.She quickly caught herself and apologized. "I'm sorry for yelling at you, Ky. It's just... They need to get their shit together. This isn't the time to act like kids."I sighed, taking a few deep breaths before heading inside. If I was being honest, I was tired of it too. We had three kids now, and this constant chaos couldn't keep happening. We had to figure out how to handle this before it tore us apart. Or they had to grow up in the kinds of messes we did. As I made my way to the packhouse, my thoughts drifted back to Naomi. I had been in love with her for nearly a decade. We were marked and bonded, and I was ready to spend my life with her. But then she
SKY POVI was doing everything I could to help Knox handle Oxxy, but it felt like trying to put a band-aid on a gaping wound. Knox was beyond frustrated with himself for allowing Oxxy to see the fight and hear everything accidentally. After sending Oxxy to his room to gather his cars so they could play together on the porch, he paced the room."I can't believe I let him see that, Sky," Knox muttered. "He's just a kid. He shouldn't have to deal with this damn mess."I watched as he tried to pull himself together, knowing how much this was tearing him apart. I reached out, taking his hand. "We'll make it right, Knox. We'll make sure Oxxy knows he's safe with us. He seemed okay?"Before he could respond, the door opened, and Kael stormed in. "What the hell happened?"Knox didn't hesitate. "Phin said his Dad used black magic to block finding out who Oxxy's father is. We got into it. Cassy left to drive Phin and Teddy back to the Bayou land.""She drove them back? Alone? As volatile as the
(KNOX POV)We returned from the run, but what we needed to do was still heavy on my mind. As we approached the packhouse, I braced myself for the conversation with Cassy. I knew she wouldn't want to hear anything about Teddy's past, especially when it involved someone else, but we couldn't avoid it any longer.When we walked into the living room, Cassy was already on edge. I could see how she held herself, tense and ready for a fight. "Cassy, we need to talk," I started, trying to ease into it.She didn't give me an inch. "About what?" she asked, her arms crossed defensively."It's about Oxxy… and Teddy, and everything that happened," I said, knowing this wouldn't go well no matter how I worded it."I don't want to talk about Teddy being with someone else, Knox. I can't.""I get it, Cass," I stated. "But we need to figure this out for Oxxy's sake. Wouldn't you want to know if he was the... Wouldn't you care?"She stared at me, anger flashing in her eyes as she started to pace. "You th
KNOX POVSky found me asleep on the floor in Oxxy's room, curled up beside his bed like a helpless puppy guarding his toy. I had one arm draped over his small body, trying to offer comfort. Probably more for me than him. He was content, totally unaware of my messy thoughts. I hoped it would always remain that way. He'd been through enough already to have to also handle adults with big emotions.Oxxy was snuggled up in his bed, his tiny malnourished body barely taking up any space, his breathing even and calm. I didn't know how long I'd been there, but it must've been a while because the hard floor beneath me was making my back scream."Knox," Sky whispered as she knelt beside me. "Do you want to go for a run? I think it will do you some good."I blinked awake, my eyes heavy with exhaustion. I knew she was right. I needed to clear my head. "Yeah," I muttered, rubbing my eyes. "Let's go. But don't wake the other two." The last thing I wanted was for Kael and Ky to join us. I needed to
(KNOX POV)Cassy sat across from me, twisting around a loose thread on the couch. "Teddy's convinced Oxxy isn't yours," she finally said. "He thinks Oxxy's actually Ferdinand's."I stared at her, struggling to process what she was saying. "What? That's impossible.""They found out after that Ferdinand was also sleeping with her," she continued, not looking at me."Who's 'they'?" I asked."Essie and Phin were involved. Pretty intensely, from what I've gathered. And I'm pretty sure Teddy was in on it too, even though he won't admit it outright."I felt like the ground had been ripped out from under me."There's no way Oxxy isn't mine, Cassy."Cassy sighed, finally looking at me. "Knox, they were all pretty close. Maybe too close. I don't think they were trying to hide it. Teddy told me that Essie and Ferdinand were... well, let's just say they weren't just friends."I shook my head, refusing to accept what she was saying. "Oxxy looks like me. If he were Ferdinand's, he wouldn't have bl