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
As I remained beside Knox, his moments of wakefulness intermittently breaking the silence, I couldn't help but dwell on the possibility that Kael might have used intimacy to assert dominance over his brothers. Yet, I also remembered his vow to wait for his mate. It was a complex tangle of motivations and actions.Knox's voice broke through my contemplations. "Every time I wake up, you seem more troubled. What's on your mind, Sky?"I hesitated before asking, "You don't have any secrets, right? No hidden girlfriends I should know about?"He chuckled lightly, assuming a playful tone. "Nope, that's Ky's story, not mine."But I needed to know more. "Knox, are you a virgin?"His body tensed at the question, and he answered flatly, "No."His response hit me hard. I sat up to face him, noting his discomfort. "We don't have to talk about it now," I offered."No," he insisted, sitting up slightly, showing signs of healing. "It's important, Sky. I got caught up in several situations I shouldn't
I settled into a more comfortable position beside Kael, ready to dive into stories of my past. "Well, let's start with the basics. The shack you saw was the only home I ever really remember. Mom homeschooled me for the most part. I went to school briefly in second grade, then again in my senior year, until Dad forced me to drop out."Kael, struggling with each breath, managed to ask, "Did you always know...?" He tried to sit up to face me, but his body protested. "...that you were a werewolf?"I handed him a glass of water. He sipped it but coughed and spat most of it out. "Pretty early on, I guess. Dad shifted in front of me several times, and Mom had to explain things to me. I think I was about five."His eyes, clouded with pain, looked at me with curiosity. "Why were you in school in second grade?"I sighed, a flood of memories washing over me. "My dad got caught passing bad checks at the liquor store and ended up in jail for six months." I paused, reflecting on that time. "It was
Cassy's voice was soft, filled with a hint of nostalgia. "I remember some of those fights. I was just a kid, but they were intense. Dad changing the rules about feeling mate bonds on pack land... it did help. The fights didn't completely stop, but they weren't as bad."Ky looked at Cassy, a mixture of curiosity and concern in his eyes. "So, how long are you sticking around?" he asked.Cassy started organizing the food on the counter. "Just for dinner. Then I'm heading back to the hospital with Mom. She's... she's not doing great, Ky. Dad's condition is really taking a toll on her."Ky's expression softened. "Yeah, I can imagine. What about the twins? Are they eating with Ezra tonight?"Cassy chuckled. "Yeah, Mom reinstated Ezra. She's the only one who ever really got through to them. Well, to you three as well, from what I've heard."Ky ran a hand through his hair, letting out a sigh. "The twins shouldn't be in the middle of all this mess. It's better they're with Ezra."Cassy began t
As Kael and I moved together to the bed in the heart of the tower, I gently tugged him down towards me, lying back as he positioned himself carefully above me. His caution was evident, his movements tender and mindful, as he supported his weight on his elbows, his lips meeting mine in a series of soft kisses.Drawing back slightly, I looked into his eyes. "What's holding you back?" I whispered, urging him to let go of this hesitation.He smiled as he leaned in to kiss my neck. "I just don't want to hurt you, Sky," he murmured against my skin, his breath sending shivers all over my body.His lips followed his fingers on my stomach as he pushed my shirt up. With deliberate slowness, his fingers traced the waistband of my jeans, teasingly inching them down with each pass.Before I fully comprehended the progression, he had my pants eased down around my hips, his mouth moving upwards to my chest. My breath caught as he gently pushed my bra up, his attention amplifying with every kiss.The
As his slow, rhythmic movements brought me closer to the verge, his kisses became more emotional and more passionate. He paused, his breath hot against my ear. "Sky, tell me how you want this to happen. The second you climax, I'm right there with you."In between my ragged breaths, I managed to murmur, "Can you... like this?" But he whispered back a gentle "no."He pulled out and instructed softly, "Turn around." Positioning myself on my knees, leaning over the bed, he entered me from behind. A sharp cry escaped my lips at the sensation. His arms enveloped me as he leaned forward, kissing my shoulder tenderly. "I love you," he whispered as he reached around, bringing me closer to climax with his fingers while maintaining a slow, deliberate pace.I unraveled completely, the power of my release intensified by him inside me. Sensing my muscles tensing around him, he sat back on his heels, drawing me on top of him. He kept his arm wrapped tightly around my waist as his body tensed beneath
I curled up under the blanket, tucking myself close to Kael's warmth. Leaning in, I kissed him softly, whispering with genuine concern, "Please sleep for me." He gave a slight nod, his eyes heavy with unspoken promises and lingering fears.As sleep claimed me, I was enveloped in a dream unlike any other. Leila sat in a radiant forest bathed in an otherworldly light on the edge of a shimmering pond. Her light and melodic laughter filled the air, illuminating the space around her."I didn't expect you to decide so quickly, my child," she said, her voice echoing around the luminescent woods like streams of water.Tears began streaming down my face as I sat near the pond, each adding to its glow. "I'm sorry, I just didn't want to hurt them," I managed between sobs. "Yet, you still did. Funny how fate works, isn't it?" Leila mused.I whispered, the words heavy with uncertainty, "Did I make the right choice? I feel like I did, but then I almost feel like...""Like you didn't give Knox or K
(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