It’s almost midnight by the time we get Mia home and in bed. The day has flown by in a flurry of hospital gowns and panic. I tuck Mia in her crib and she falls asleep almost instantly. The doctor said the anti-histamine they gave her would make her sleepy. I just didn’t expect it to bethatfast. I’
“Laura,” I say immediately, shaking my head. “It had to be her. She was the only one who had access to everything.” “Her,” Archer says. “Andyou.” “Seriously, Archer?” I sneer. “You’re still trying to put the blame one me? Even after all of this evidence?” “What evidence?” Archer snaps. He thro
The next time I see the Hayes is Thursday at Nanny training. They’d been scarce on Wednesday and had let me and Mia have time to ourselves. I don’t know if it was out embarrassment or distaste but I was happy to be alone regardless. I’m waiting for them in Mia’s room for Nanny training that evenin
The remainder of the week goes by slowly and, somehow, without conflict. I haven’t seen Archer much since Nanny school on Thursday. He’s been hiding out in his room or bolting through the Pyramid to class. Neil and Steven have been home the most. I’m strangely starting to enjoy their company. Stev
“Oh,” I say quietly. “Okay.” Archer brushes against me as he leaves his room. He shuts the door behind his back and then walks down the hall to mine and Mia’s room. He tentatively opens the door and I mentally prepare myself for the worst. Pile of dirty diapers. Leash for the collar. Full on
The afternoon on the day of the Homecoming dance, I’m rudely awakened from my nap by banging on my door. Mia had also been napping. She stirs in her bed before opening her mouth and letting out a retched cry. I sweep her into my arms and stagger over to the door. I wrench it open and see a man in fr
I don’t dare ask who Tiffany is and why we have her barrette. I look back at Athena with big eyes. “Thank you,” I say. “I look amazing.” “Well let’s get you ladies dressed,” Gabriel stands, Mia in his arms. “And complete this transformation.” I shimmy into the dress. Athena helps me zip it thi
Archer drags me behind the stage of the auditorium. His grip is strong and bruising on my bicep. He guides me into a chair next to a bunch of other seated people. “Stay here,” he barks. Despite the alpha way he says it, I roll my eyes. He narrows his own at me before darting off. Mia stirs in my l
I’m happy because I have four hearts beating alongside mine.“Do you feel it, too?” I ask. “My connection to each of you?”I blink my eyes open once more. I want to see their faces, their reactions.Neil has his hand over his own heart. “It’s strange. It’s like part of you is inside of me.”“Me, too
In the darkness of my mind, I floated, surrounded by the comforting embrace of love. Distantly, I could feel another presence, one that grew stronger and stronger, the more I focused on it: my wolf.As I thought of her, she appeared before me as if I willed her into being. Maybe I did. We are in my
Damn alpha wolves and their heightened senses.“I’ve already made my choice,” I say. “Honestly, I think I made it a long, long time ago.”Archer relaxes marginally. Steven starts to smile.Neil turns to me, worry still on his face. “You say that now, Chloe. But the pull could be strong…”“I don’t ca
The eve of my birthday, I rest in bed and stare at my ceiling. It’s late, near midnight, but I still have my bedside light on.With my feelings shared and grown with Neil, Archer, and Steven, I didn’t expect to spend any night alone, especially the one right before the day that could change everythi
I awake to a sharp knock on my bedroom door. Neil’s arm is still draped over me but some distance had inched between our hot bodies in the night. I’m able to slink out from under his arm without him waking.Naked, I quickly stop by the bathroom to throw on my fluffy bathrobe. Then, after glancing ba
They.Beau glances at me and see my incredulous look. “What do I need to go out every night? Can’t a man just enjoy staying home for a change?”“You can do whatever the hell you want,” I say.“Good, then.” Beau slumps down on the couch. He stretches out, lifting his feet up and into my lap. “Now tel
For the rest of the morning, I desperately try not to think about Neil. Whoever he’s in love with, I won’t be offended by it. The hurt I feel has nothing to do with this new person. She must be great for her to have won Neil’s affections.The hurt is my own loss, my own problem. I let my feelings fo
After Steven and I have cleaned ourselves up with a quick shower, we fall back into bed together, giggling and laughing all the way. My now, Steven has discovered a few of my tickle zones, which he is exploiting. As revenge, I touch the places I now know make him shiver.For a while, nothing seems l
His hands fumbled with the buttons of his own shirt. Such usually steady hands are rendered useless by his nervousness.“Allow me,” I tell him. I lightly bat his hands out of the way before replacing them with mine on his shirt buttons. My times with Neil have served me well. I’m able to undo all th