Aunt Mara could probably see that I was, or at least had been, having a bit of an internal struggle. She stood up and walked over to me, wrapping me in a big hug. "You're a big girl, Kate. You need to take control of your own life now. All I want is for you to be happy."I hugged her tightly, feeling a mixture of emotions. Relief, excitement, and a touch of sadness at the thought of leaving her and the home I'd grown so comfortable in."I'll miss you," I whispered.She pulled back and looked at me with an encouraging smile. "I'll miss you too, hun, but this is a good step for you. You're starting a new chapter in your life. I'm proud of you."We spent the rest of the evening chatting aimlessly and I told her all about the setup at the twin's house and how I would have my own room. She agreed that that was probably a good idea due to our unique circumstances.She went on to share stories from her own past, offering wisdom and advice that made me feel more supported in my decision, and
When we arrived at the Valentine house, Ryder carried my suitcase in, while Tyler helped me out of the car. As we walked into the home I realized that my heart was thumping furiously in my chest and the hand that Tyler wasn't holding was trembling ever so slightly. I was clearly nervous, but I took a deep breath and tried to calm myself.Everything would be fine. This was a fresh beginning with my mates and so long as I had them, I would be fine.The smell of flowers hit me as soon as I entered my new room and I saw a vase of beautiful fresh flowers on the dresser opposite the bed. They were a mixture of vibrant colors that instantly perked me up."Well, I guess welcome to your new home," Tyler said, giving my hand a gentle squeeze as we loitered in the entryway.I saw Ryder had placed my suitcase on the bed and he returned now from the en suite bathroom, declaring that I should have everything I need."But if there's anything else you need, just let us know, okay? We want you to be
The evening passed by in a blur of exhaustion. After dinner, I volunteered to clear the dishes, seeing as the twins had cooked.It was easygoing because all I really had to do was pack the dishwasher, and I was grateful because I was absolutely exhausted.After I had loaded the last plate away, I turned to the boys and told them, "I think I'm going to head to bed. Sorry guys, it's been a crazy day and I'm really tired."Both Tyler and Ryder looked disappointed."You don't want to just chill and watch a movie with us?" Tyler asked hopefully.I shook my head as I stifled a yawn. "Any other day I would have said yes, but right now I really just want to get into bed. I'm sorry.""I suppose it has been a pretty crazy day for you. We can do movies another night," Tyler suggested with a reassuring smile before Ryder grabbed me by the wrist and yanked me towards him."See you in the morning," he murmured before kissing me goodnight. Nothing too raunchy, thank God.No doubt he just wanted to b
I took a deep breath and began, "Harlan, the Alpha's son at my previous pack, hit me, so I hit him back," I explained, trying to keep my tone measured as the memories of the incident began to stir up anger and resentment inside me. "Obviously that's an offense," I went on, "and the punishment would usually be death or exile, but I wasn't 18 yet, and fortunately a few people stood up for me and told them I was provoked. So I got lucky and no punishment was ordered."Tyler was still glaring at me, waiting for me to go on."My family is quite prominent in the pack because my father is the Beta, so, of course, they were horrified and appalled by my actions. They didn't care why I did it, only that I had done it. I got the whole, 'You're no child of ours' speech and got to hear how disappointed they were in me after all that they had done for me. So, needless to say, as far as they were concerned, when I turned 18 I was no longer their problem, they wanted me out," I went on to explain, fe
Tyler looked at me intently, his eyes searching mine for any signs of hesitation or dishonesty. "Is there anything else you want to tell me, Kate?" he asked, his tone serious.I shook my head. "No, that's it," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady.He frowned slightly. "Are you sure? We can't have secrets between us.""I promise, Tyler. There's nothing else," I assured him, feeling guilty. I hated keeping things from him, but there truly was nothing left to reveal.Tyler sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I need to think about this a little more. We need to come up with a solution before this becomes an even bigger problem."I felt a lump form in my throat. "I'm really sorry, Tyler. I didn't mean for it to blow up like this. I honestly thought no one here would ever find out."He stepped forward and pulled me into a hug. "It'll be okay. We'll figure it out," he murmured as he kissed the top of my head.I nodded against his chest, taking comfort in his arms.After a moment,
Tyler and I remained in the clearing a while longer, silence settling over us as we each got lost in our own thoughts. The sun was still high above our heads as a refreshing breeze swept through the trees, allowing the leaves to whisper to me as they always seemed to do.“Tyler?" I finally murmured hesitantly. "What if... What happens if we can’t convince the pack? What if we do everything we can possibly think of, but they still reject me?”The question gnawed at me as I considered what my future might look like if that were the case. I would have nowhere to go...Tyler was quiet for a moment, his eyes distant as he considered the question. Then he turned to me, his gaze steady and unwavering. “Well, obviously, I hope that won't happen. But if it does, I guess I'll have to renounce my position as Alpha.”I shook my head as I frowned. “But then what will happen to the pack? Your father can't be Alpha forever. And Ryder has alrea—”Tyler cut me off, “That won't be our problem. Someone
The world around us seemed to fade away as we lay there, the forest a private sanctuary for our love. Tyler's touch was gentle and reassuring, his kisses slow and tender. The anxiety and fear that had gripped me earlier was gone from my mind, replaced only by Tyler and the connection we shared.As our kisses deepened, Tyler's hands moved with gentle care, exploring my body with a reverence that made me feel important... appreciated... loved. My own hands followed suit, tracing the lines of his muscles, committing every detail of his body to my memory.The forest floor was soft beneath us, the scent of the rich earth and the fallen leaves and pine needles filling my lungs with each breath I took."Are you sure?" Tyler whispered, his breath warm against my ear. "There's no rush."I nodded, my heart filled with love and affection for him. "I'm sure," I replied softly. "I want this. I want you."His eyes searched mine, looking for any hint of uncertainty. When he found none, he kissed me
The afternoon air had cooled significantly as I stood in front of the kettle, waiting for it to finish boiling so that I could make Tyler and me a nice hot cup of coffee.He hovered behind me, his hands resting on my hips and his breath warm against my ear. "I can't wait to mark you," he whispered, his voice sending shivers down my spine. I giggled, enjoying the closeness between us."Let's just get through the Lunar Eclipse Celebration, okay?" I replied with a smile as I added sugar to our mugs.I'd been so nervous about the celebration, but now, it seemed kind of trivial.As I lifted the kettle to pour the hot water, Tyler's hands roamed up, under my shirt, his skin warm against mine as he wrapped his arms around me, holding me tightly. I turned my head slightly, catching his playful grin. "You're making it hard to concentrate over here," I teased, but I didn't really mind.Just then, Ryder strode into the kitchen, his footsteps light but unmistakable. "Hey," he greeted us casually,