I pull my shirt off over my head and throw it onto the nightstand. I kick off my boots and tug off my jeans, finally collapsing onto the bed with a heavy sigh.I bet if it were Ike here, he would have no problem luring Cleo into his bed. I know what I wanted to do, but what if she got mad? You're never going to know if you don't try.My eyes drift over to Cleo when she walks out of the bathroom a few minutes later. I sit up and scoot towards the edge of the bed. I was kind of wishing I'd left my clothes on now. I felt exposed, even though Cleo is wearing nothing but a pair of black underwear and a large t-shirt. Her hair is dripping wet and making a huge dark spot on the back of her shirt."Are you just sitting there staring at the wall?" She asks as she tosses her towel onto the floor and approaches the bed. The corner of my mouth lifts up in a smile, but I don't say anything. I don't know how people do this all the time. I worked up the nerve perfectly fine before to kiss her, but n
She sits on the edge of the bed, pulling the comforter around her body and burritoing herself up before laying down facing the window.I sigh and run my hand over my face. This wasn't how this was supposed to go. Why couldn't I have just kept my dumb fucking mouth shut? Just tell her why you're really so worked up about this whole wolf thing. It might make her understand a little better. Oh, now you're being rational and helpful?I sat on the edge of the bed, my mind racing. I don't want to look like I'm making excuses for acting like a dick. You're explaining to her why you acted like that. I have a feeling she will be more understanding than you expect."Cleo... can I tell you something?" I ask hesitantly into the tense hotel room. I heard her take a slow, deep breath, and then twist so she was still wrapped up, just facing me and watching me with a very annoyed look on her face. I preferred the loving and cute Cleo I'd been riding around with all day."Okay..." I reach over and tur
It was funny, I stopped thinking of Amara altogether because every time I did, I would spend days obsessing over her. Feeling guilty for not being able to save her, wondering what kind of person she would have been. But now all I can think about is how glad I am that Cleo is here. It's like she shouldered some of the pain for me.I can't help myself; I feel myself running my hand up her ribcage and at the edge of her breast. She shudders a little, and I feel myself grinning. I trace down and along the hem of her shirt, which has ridden up just under her chest to expose her entire lower half and stomach. I inch it up a little.I shift so I can lay Cleo down on her back. I hover over her and lean down to bury my face in her neck. I could die right here and be happy. I began placing soft kisses on her skin, getting more and more excited with every gasp she made. I move and kiss her lips, and grunt when she kisses me back hungrily in response. I force her head back a little by pushing my
"Are we almost there?" I ask for what seems like the thousandth time. This was taking longer than I thought it would. I was getting extremely antsy sitting in this damn car.Not to mention I had to pee really bad, but Nate had said no more stopping. He said he wanted to get the drive over so he could relax. He did seem a lot less tense when we had been in the room alone versus when we were in the car."We're here." Nate says finally in a grumbly voice. I think I was starting to annoy him. I looked out the windows eagerly, trying to figure out where "here" was.It looked like a normal neighborhood.I looked at the buildings as we slowly crawled past them. Duplexes squished together with cars in their driveways, a gas station, and then a large building with about four floors that I guessed was an apartment complex. That's where we were pulling in right now.It was smaller than the building I used to live in, probably half the size. But still nothing to stick your nose up at. It had more
I could tell she was underwhelmed by my place.I mean, it's not like I was expecting her to be impressed, not after seeing how her other mate lived."I only use this place to rest in between trips." I say after a moment of silence. I walk to my couch and flop down on it, leaning my head back and closing my eyes. I don't want to see the disappointment and pity on her face anymore.I tense a bit when I feel her sitting down next to me. I open one eye and feel my face heating up when we make eye contact."I don't know why you're acting like a baby. We all live different lives." I chuckle and close my eyes again. Of course she would say something like that. Even when I doubted her kindness, she never made me feel like less of a mate. "How often do you usually come here? And how long do you stay? When was the last time you were here?""I come every few months, or if I get hurt or sick and need time to rest. I came back... two months ago because my Alpha needed me to find you.""Why did he
"He's too young. He doesn't even know what's going on.""Just because he's young doesn't mean he can't feel the bond between them. Look at him. He's miserable and it's because of us.""Do you really want him to be mated to some rabid panther?""I want him to be happy."I felt myself jolt awake suddenly. I sit up a little, rubbing my temples and trying to center myself again.What was that?That wasn't like any dream I've ever had before.I couldn't see anything, only heard voices. Voices that sounded like my mom and dad. It felt more like a weird foggy memory.And what were they talking about?"You're awake." I jump a little at the sudden sound of Nate's voice. He's walking through his bedroom door. He's fully dressed, a long-sleeved black shirt that hugs him perfectly, more black jeans, same black boots. He has a dark gray beanie pulled over his hair that he slides off and throws onto the edge of the bed."Hello." I say softly. I'm still distracted by the weird dream I had."I brough
Nate was right in saying his alpha wasn't like any other Alpha. Because he definitely wasn't.Right when Nate opened the door, the smell of weed smacked me in the face. I could hear a machine gun and male voices yelling."Look who it is!" As soon as we walk into the living room a blonde haired man is crashing into Nate and pulling him away from me and towards him. Remember last time a male was too close with our mate? Don't add that to my list of things I have to be paranoid about."About damn time." Nate and the man shove each other around for a moment, both grinning the entire time. "We've all been waiting." I tear my eyes away from the pair and look to the rest of the room.Across one side of the room was a large sectional that took up most of the living room. It was dark brown and looked comfortable and well used. There were three other men sitting on it, two were entirely focused on whatever game they were playing, eyes glued to the giant flat screen TV and thumbs flying over the
"So that's her, huh?" Zane asks me the second I close the door behind us. He puts his blunt out between his fingers and puts the roach in his pocket. He starts walking down the hallway, and I follow after him. "She has crazy energy." He chuckles a little."You wouldn't be talking shit about her if you'd seen her kicking all those werewolves asses." He nods his head, smiling."I would've loved to see that." We're quiet for a moment as I follow him to the building's office in the front lobby. It's just a small room where Zane keeps all his financial stuff and official documents. There's not even a desk or anything in it, just boxes and folders of papers everywhere. "I'm looking for a specific box, should be marked M.P." Zane says once the door is closed and locked behind us. He walks past me and starts in the far corner, lifting box lids and picking through papers."What's in this box?" I ask as I follow his lead and start looking through boxes too."Reports." I shoot him a look. He's b
"You little shit, get your ass back here." I laugh from my spot on the kitchen counter, watching Nate chase our naked child, Liam around the living room with a yellow bath towel clutched in his hand. Liam stops then, turning around to grin at his dad. He was only three, but was already extremely mobile, and had a smile just like his dad's. "Are you going to help me?" Nate sighs, glaring up at me as Liam yells and resumes running around like a mad man with his arms up in the air. I shake my head a little, pointing to where Liam is now standing on the couch. He grins at his dad, who finally swoops in and grabs him in his arms, wrapping the towel around him tightly as he does so. "Ha! Got you!" Nate declares as he wrestles Liam so he's upside down in his arms. He squeals with delight as Nate carries him like that back towards his room to put clothes on, calling him a weakling the entire time. But Liam loves it. He loves his dad, and he loves playing and "fighting" with him.I smile a
Why is it so often when I'm waking up in the morning, I'm in pain? I groan, stretching my arms above my head and blinking away sleep. I wince as harsh daylight assaults my eyes. My head pounds, and I bring a hand up to rub at my temple."Fuck." I groan, sitting up and leaning against the bed's headboard. I look down at where Ike is facing away from me, towards the wall, hugging himself and with no blanket. Nate is on the other side, also facing away, burrioted up in the entire blanket. I fall forward and start to crawl between them to get out of the bed. I stop when I feel a hand grabbing my ankle. Nate's green eyes are already staring at me. He's rolled over and untucked himself from his blanket tomb. "You're not going to make me chase you again, are you?" I furrow my brow, sitting in a crawling position, trying to think why I would run away. "Oh." I say when I finally realize what Ike had done to Nate last night. I didn't actually see anything, but I remember one of Ike's hands
I leave Ike at the bottom of the stairs, taking Cleo into my bedroom first and laying her down gently. She starts wiggling around, smiling and rubbing all over the sheets. Weirdo. I go back for Ike, who is pulling himself up the stairs, or trying to. He's got one hand on the second step, his other on the first. "Can I help you?" I ask, bending down to wrap one of his arms around my shoulder and putting my arm around his middle. "Here we go." He mumbles as I half drag him to my bed.I let him fall onto it, barely avoiding Cleo, who has taken her leggings off finally and is laying like a starfish on the bed. I sigh. I turn and flip the light off, kicking my shoes off as I do. Off come my pants and shirt. "Move." I huff, closing Cleo's legs and scooting her to one side of the bed. "You too." Ike listens for once, but only because he wants to be Cleo's big spoon. I roll my eyes and fall into the empty space beside them.I lay on one arm, staring at the ceiling for a moment before clo
"You know what her parents told me earlier?" Ike tilts his head to stare at me. I shake my head. "They told me, that this is the last time they'll be seeing Cleo." I freeze at his words. My eyes dart around to try and find the two in question. "Don't bother looking for them. They went back to their place and are leaving first thing in the morning. They aren't even planning on saying goodbye." He shakes his head at me. "I mean, why come in the first place?" He scoffs, finishing off his drink. "Just to rub it in her face that you exist?" He's staring at Cleo, muttering to himself now really more than talking to me. "Did they say why?" I nudge him to try and get his drunk ass to focus. He kind of blinks and shakes his head before looking back to me again. "They said they couldn't stay or come visit her because of the rules of being part of The Circle," He scoffs at their title. "And that she couldn't visit them because if anyone knew they had a daughter out there they'd try and make he
My peace with Cleo is ripped away by that fuck head Thomas, who snatches Cleo away over his shoulder and yells something about loving tequila. Had he just been waiting for the perfect chance to steal her away again? "Oh my god." I rub the bridge of my nose and make eye contact with Cleo as she sits up on Thomas to grin at me like a child. I lean back and cross my arms as I watch him take her to a group of guards. "I got her!" He yells in victory. The guards cheer and whoop in excitement. "Your mates have had enough of your time!" Zach proclaims as Thomas sets Cleo down. "And besides, it's your turn to chug something!" I groan, and I'm about to rush over and stop her, but I halt when Ike and Parker walk up to me from their spot in the crowd. "I wanted to introduce you two." Ike says, stopping in front of me. I'm half sitting, half standing, midway to snatching Cleo away from the frat boys. I glance at her for a second and see her snapping the neck off a bottle of tequila. I sigh,
"Why do you people insist on doing this to me?" She complains as I carry her away from her group of fans. "It's just easier than arguing with you." I reply. She makes an offended noise, struggles to sit up for a moment, and then flicks me on the back of the head. I roll my eyes, hiking my shoulder up a little into her gut and smiling at the noise she makes. I approach a table that's empty on one end and set Cleo down in a chair. "Wait here." I look her in the eye to make sure she's paying attention, and then turn to track down some water.I spot coolers near one of the tables closest to the fire and make my way through chatting and drinking people. I didn't realize how many people were a part of Ike's pack now a days until they were all converged together like this.I finally make it to the line of eight coolers and start opening them to find one not filled to the brim with liquor. Finally, I get my hands on a cold bottle of water. There was only a single cooler with them in it; ty
Fuck that guy. Fuck him. I fucking hated him. He was fucking dick. I wanted to shove his face into the ground and rub it in. I ran through the trees, pine needles whipping at my panther's face as we escaped, past the pack's borders, further and further into the forest. My rage drives me to run for almost three hours before my panther finally stops, gasping for air and muscles aching. He finds a stream nearby and hunches over to take a long drink before we head back. What did I think was going to happen? I mean, I knew who this guy was, or at least what other's told me about him. And no one had anything good to say, not so far. They all said he was mean, and petty, and demanding as hell. He abandoned me in the woods to fend for myself when I so small, I couldn't even remember it happening. But the way he looked at me, pissed me off. Like I was scum. Like I was the one who should be begging for forgiveness. He was the asshole.But as we start running back to our pack, I can't st
I look away from the lively party scene after a moment, back to the table behind me. "Ooo." I snatch an unopened bottle of tiny blue vodka someone had left behind. Hoped they hadn't planned on coming back for it. "Excuse you." I make a whining noise when Nate is snatching the bottle from my lips before I can chug it. "Drink this instead." I sigh at the cold bottle of water he's put in my hand. "If I must." I crack the top. "You must." He plops in a chair beside me, sighing heavily and watching me drink. "Where have you been?" I ask once I've twisted the top back on the now half empty bottle. "You've been gone a really long time." I raise by brows at him, and the corner of his lip lifts up a little."And that drove you to drink?" I laugh loudly. "No, I just felt like it was time to get drunk." "Right." He nods, eyeing me. I blink innocently at him. "Can I say something?" I blurt out as he watches me. He ticks his eyebrow. "I think your dad is a fucking chode." He shakes his hea
"You better chug that shit!" "Come on bitch!" I jump in the air, yelling with Noah and Thomas at Zach, who was halfway through chugging an entire bottle of peach flavored vodka. "Don't be a pussy!" I punch him in the arm, a grin spread across my face. He pushes me off a little, flipping me off and continuing to guzzle the artificially flavored rubbing alcohol. "Let's go!" Thomas yells, throwing his half full beer on the ground in overly excited celebration at his friend finally reaching the neck of the bottle. Zach holds his hand up, and we all stare at him silently in eager anticipation for a moment, until he finally pulls the empty bottle away and makes a loud "ah" noise like it was a refreshing drink on a hot day. "Suck it, sluts." He slurs, grinning at us and throwing the bottle on the ground. I laugh, clapping my hands and stumbling back a little. "You thought I couldn't do it." He points his finger towards me, wiggling it a little in my face. I grin and clap him on the shou