"Why would I be jealous?" he asked seriously. "Does the mate bond feel less for me than it does for Tyler?" he asked, searching my face for answers."No," I replied honestly, pursing my lips and seeing his point."Exactly. If you feel the same way about both of us, then I've got nothing to be jealous of. I think it would probably come down to schedules and availability... Which means you'll probably be stuck with me a lot of the time, anyway," Ryder said with a mischievous grin."What do you mean?" I asked, uncertain why I'd be stuck with him more often."My schedule is pretty hectic," Tyler revealed, his shoulders slumping as he said it. It was obvious the guy was under immense pressure.I took a deep breath and considered the proposal for a minute. I leaned forward, resting my head in my hands and groaning. Then I sat up again and regarded them both."I dunno guys. It's cool that you'll be okay with it, but I don't know that I can get it through my head that it's not like some massi
Wrong...It started well enough. The boys led me to an enormous entertainment room where Tyler already had snacks, blankets, and pillows set out, probably in anticipation of our earlier failed 'date'. The TV was huge and the surround sound really made the experience super immersive. I was eager to just lay back and chill, allowing my brain a break from worrying about my current problems.I was huddled beneath a soft, fuzzy purple blanket and we were watching a comedy, something funny and lighthearted and not serious at all. Probably Tyler's attempt to ease any tension between the three of us. Within 15 minutes though, I had Tyler's hand in mine, our fingers gently stroking and caressing one another, the sensation soothing and calming. On my other side, I suddenly had Ryder's hand on my thigh, and it was wandering ever higher and higher, though the movement was so subtle and slow that it was almost imperceptible.Tyler's touch was calming while Ryder's fingers felt exciting and thrilli
Tyler froze midway into sitting, his attention now focused in the direction of the voice. "We're in here" he called out, immediately straightening up. In contrast, Ryder slouched even further into the sofa with a resigned sigh. "Here we go," he muttered under his breath. I felt sick, my anxiety peaking. I was about to meet the Alpha and Luna of the River Gorge Pack. My mates' parents. I stood, squeezing as close to Tyler as I could without seeming weird. He obviously sensed my discomfort and wrapped an arm around my shoulder, giving me a light squeeze. The woman who casually strolled into the room was nothing like I had imagined. She was tall and graceful with a presence that filled the room. Her hair was a soft brown, probably similar to my own natural color, with streaks of silver that hinted at her wisdom and experience. Her eyes were a warm hazel color and they scanned the room, predictably landing on me with curiosity. "And this must be your mate?" she asked, her gaze shifti
I snatched it back as if it were on fire. "The fuck dude?" I murmured in shocked disbelief, but he only chuckled. "I just had to check the 'total slut' theory," he replied with a shrug. I glared at him. I was about to tell him how wildly inappropriate that had been, but then I figured that was probably the reaction he'd been hoping for. So I went in a different direction. "Wow... That was disappointing. But Tyler is your 'big' brother, right?" I asked hopefully, trying to sound as believable as possible. It was now his turn to gasp in shocked disbelief. "What?!" I shrugged. "I'm not sure what reaction you were hoping for, Ryder. I guess I kinda expected more," I went on casually as I pulled Tyler's jacket around myself tightly and gave Ryder a pitying look. I could see the wheels of his mind working, trying to figure out whether I was joking or not. Unfortunately, my acting abilities only went so far and the look of panic and discomfort on his face made me break character. I c
(Tyler's POV)I watched along with my mom and dad as Ryder escaped the room with Katelyn close in tow. My parents' faces were etched with irritation and disappointment that they hadn't been able to continue their inquisition, but the room was silent until Katelyn and Ryder's footsteps had faded away and we heard the front door close.I felt the weight of expectation pressing down on me. It was a familiar burden, but tonight it had taken on a new form."Tyler..." Mom began, a look of concern on her face that I had seen countless times before, but I cut her off."No," I stated, my tone firm yet respectful as my gaze shifted between them. I sat forward in my seat now, agitated. "I actually can't believe you would disrespect my mate like that," I shook my head in disbelief. "She's probably convinced she's unwelcome here now. She was so nervous to meet you and I tried to tell her it wouldn't be so bad, but you were exactly what she anticipated," I kept my tone calm and measured."Well at l
Ryder smiled, leaning over and capturing my lips in a kiss once again. I anticipated it this time, so I didn't pull away. Instead, I fell into it, allowing it to take over and lead me wherever it was going.He was eager and passionate, but surprisingly gentle at the same time. It wasn't what I had expected from him, but I wasn't disappointed. I felt his hand, so daring and bold only minutes ago, was now gentle and cautious, cradling the side of my face as his thumb softly caressed my cheek.The kiss deepened and I found myself leaning into him, my fingers raking through his hair and tugging him closer, wanting to get lost in him. The pull between us was relentless, drawing me deeper and deeper in until I couldn't remember where we were or why we were there. It was just me and him and this... this moment.Suddenly, a blinding light shone into the car, ending the moment abruptly.I squinted, looking in the direction of the light only to see Aunt Mara. She was bundled up in her purple ro
I settled down at the kitchen table as Aunt Mara handed me my cup of coffee in my favorite mug. A very large one with an opossum on it that said 'Every day is trash day'. She was still huddled up in her robe as she took a seat opposite me, tugging at the fabric to cover the exposed skin around her neck. The little wooden home wasn't particularly warm, but to make up for it, the sound of the rain on the roof was more soothing than any other sound in the world. It drummed on, setting a soothing backdrop while my mind wandered back to Ryder's lips. "So!?" Aunt Mara pressed, hunching over her coffee mug and looking at me with wide, expectant eyes. "So?" I replied evasively. "Oh my God, Katelyn! Do I need to drag it out of you?!" she asked, desperate for more information. She was perched on the edge of her seat, her eyes glittering with excitement while she wrapped her hands firmly around her pink coffee mug. "What if it went really badly and you're sitting here smiling like some kin
I looked up and saw aunt Mara busying herself in the kitchen now. I was fairly certain she was trying to distract herself from all the memories of Uncle Heath as I saw her rubbing tears from her eyes."You okay?" I asked, coming to stand beside her at the kitchen sink.She nodded as she wiped a tear from her eye. "It's just hard sometimes, you know? I really loved him" she whispered, her eyes welling up with shiny tears once more, but she wiped them away and took a deep, steadying breath."I'm okay. I'm okay," she repeated, as if trying to convince herself.I wrapped my arm around her, hoping it would offer her some semblance of comfort, but how do you comfort someone who's lost the only thing that truly mattered to them?Aunt Mara turned to me and we hugged. She held me tight as she stifled a sob."Sorry, honey..." she apologized, pulling away and wiping her eyes again, with the sleeve of her robe this time."You've got nothing to be sorry for," I assured her as I rubbed her back.Sh
(Katelyn's POV)I stared at the closed door for a moment after Helen left, my mind spinning with her story. The fact that she’d been stuck with The Council since she was young and basically groomed to serve them and their needs felt like a slap in the face. If I didn’t fight back, that could be me. Or worse, it could be my baby.A slow, burning anger churned in my stomach and I exhaled through my nose in an attempt to calm myself. The last thing I needed right now was another telekinetic meltdown in the middle of the fucking Council headquarters.Ryder and Tyler hovered close by. Tyler reached out and gently touched my arm, his gaze flicking to the door Helen had just exited through.“You okay?” he asked, the concern clear in his voice.I shook my head as I tried to bite the anger back. “She's stuck here. She literally doesn’t have anywhere else to go. And that’s exactly what The Council wants... for me... for others like me. Forced into compliance and cooperation because they leave u
(Katelyn's POV)We stepped out of the council chamber and into the hallway, the doors clicking shut behind us. My head felt dizzy, like I'd been spinning around and around in circles and now that I'd come to a stop, the world didn't seem to get the memo and continued to turn beneath my feet.An attendant, who’d been waiting nearby, nodded her head respectfully and began walking without a word, clearly intending for us to follow her.The place was surprisingly quiet for being so large. There was no echo of footsteps against the polished floors, no hum of distant chatter. I guessed it was the thick curtains and the huge framed paintings that were to blame. Absorbing all the sounds and swallowing them whole, leaving the space dead.Ryder and Tyler flanked me just the same as before, but the tension in their shoulders seemed to have eased somewhat. Still, they were silent as we walked, as if any sound we made might disturb the hush that hung low and oppressive over our heads.We followed
(Katelyn's POV)I felt a little more confident once I knew that not every single person in this enormous room was out to get me. A man's voice, rough with age, spoke next from somewhere in the second row. I had to tip my head a bit to pinpoint him because of the angle and the unusual acoustics. He was tall and lean, with silvery hair pulled into a low ponytail, and when he lifted his hand to speak, his knuckles stood out like ridges. “Your powers, Kate...” He paused, as if to confirm I wouldn’t mind the nickname. “May I call you Kate?” But he didn’t actually wait for an answer. “Your powers are obviously unusual. Have you met any others with abilities similar to your own?”I hesitated. It felt like a trick question. Was I supposed to know about Helen? Or was her existence and her tie to The Council supposed to be some kind of secret?Without thinking, my gaze briefly flicked toward her, but she said nothing and her face remained completely neutral.Obviously that didn't help at all,
(Katelyn's POV)The doors swung open with a soft thud, revealing an amphitheater-style room with rows and rows of older men and women watching us from elevated seats.They were all Elders, each face lined with years of experience... decades, maybe even fucking centuries for all I knew. Here they sat, their faces stern and composed.It was almost surreal. There were about fifty of them, I might guess. Fifty people who were basically going to determine my future on my behalf.Can't say I liked the sound of that at all.Tyler, Ryder, and I stood at the center of the space, where a single wooden chair awaited me. Just one. Obviously they hadn't anticipated that I'd be bringing an entourage.My heart clenched in my chest and I swallowed hard, hoping I wouldn’t choke on my own nerves.In the front row, I spotted Helen, Roderick, and, much to my disappointment, Simon. Helen nodded and gave me a small smile in greeting, while Roderick kept his expression neutral, though I could see his eyes s
(Katelyn's POV)The cab pulled up outside a weathered, ivy-clad building on a quiet street in New Haven, Connecticut. From the outside, it looked like an old academic institute. Just the type of place someone might come to pore over dusty manuscripts or discuss obscure theories with professors who wore tweed jackets. But I knew better.This was The Council’s headquarters, masquerading as the “Institute for Cultural Anthropology” to the human world. I'd heard about it, but I never thought I would actually get to see it in the flesh.My stomach churned as I stepped out onto the sidewalk. The air was crisp, carrying a hint of autumn even though it wasn’t quite the season yet.Behind me, Tyler and Ryder followed closely, their postures tense and alert, flanking me like a pair of protective bodyguards. It was an odd comfort, knowing I wasn’t walking into this alone. But the weight of what lay ahead pressed down on me like a lead blanket.“Looks normal enough,” Ryder muttered, eyeing the st
(Katelyn's POV)"You're okay," Tyler whispered over and over again, but I wasn't sure whether he was talking to me or to himself.“What the fuck was that, Kate?!” Ryder's voice demanded.I shook my head, against Tyler's chest, still trying to come to terms with where I was and what was going on here."I... I just..." I tried to reply, but my voice was weak and hoarse.Tyler kissed the top of my head, his own breathing uneven as he gently stroked my hair, still holding me against him in a death grip. "Sshhh... Sshhh..." he hushed me, shaking his head as he rocked me back and forth."Never again. Never a-fucking-gain. Okay? You're never doing that again, Katelyn," Ryder's voice was sharp and firm, leaving no room for argument or debate. "Never again..." he repeated, sounding more exhausted now.It took a few minutes for me to regain my bearings as Tyler continued to whisper soft reassurances in my ear, rocking me back and forth against his chest like a child.I heard the sound of footst
(Katelyn's POV)The airplane’s engines droned softly as I stared out the window, the world below reduced to quilted patches of green and brown earth divided by winding roads.New Haven, Connecticut... The Council Headquarters. We were still a few hours away, but the gravity of what awaited me felt like a noose around my neck.I adjusted my seatbelt for what felt like the hundredth time and closed my eyes, leaning back into my seat and letting my thoughts drift back over the last two days at home. The two days I’d spent trying, and failing, to harness my telekinesis. The two days that had left me feeling more exhausted, more frustrated, and more anxious than before.I’d wanted so badly to figure it all out before I faced The Council. I’d tried everything I could think of. At first, I tried to recreate the conditions of those emotional surges, thinking maybe I could trick my mind into somehow flipping that internal switch. I thought about arguments. About fear. About sadness. But nothin
(Katelyn's POV)The next day started off like any other, but with the new weight and responsibility of pregnancy pressing down on me. I'd made a call to Dr Connors's offices to try and get a better idea of how far along I was and we managed to gauge that I was about three weeks in. She said they would be able to confirm by checking measurements and all that stuff at my first scan, but for now, I was three weeks in. Three out of forty. It somehow felt like too much and not enough at the same time.Shortly after the call, Alpha David's voice called from upstairs. My blood went cold and the twins and I exchanged worried glances."Jesus, do you think he overheard that?" I asked, feeling like a deer caught in the headlights.Tyler shook his head. "I doubt it..." but still, he looked as concerned as I felt.The fact that David had bothered to call us upstairs personally, rather than sending Tyler a message like he usually did, didn’t escape me. This time, he’d taken the effort to personally
(Katelyn's POV)Ryder's hand lingered on my stomach for a moment, but then he sighed and dropped it."So... What do we do now? I mean, I guess this thing is happening. Do we have to start picking names and shit?" he asked, his eyes filled with fear and uncertainty.I shook my head. "I don't really know. Can't say this has ever happened to me before. I don't even know how far along I am... I kinda freaked out and left the doctor's office before she got to tell me..." I admitted."Well, you should probably find out," Tyler suggested, slipping his hand into mine and giving it a squeeze. "A timeline might be helpful here."I shrugged. "Yeah, I guess you're right. I'll try get hold of the doctor's office tomorrow to see if she can give me more details. She said something about an OBGYN. I think she gave me a referral or something. Maybe Jen knows more of the details. My brain was all over the place," I explained, feeling a little stupid for not paying more attention to something so fucking