KylarAva. After all this time, I finally have her name. I watch her vanish through the door into the back offices of the medical center. It takes all of my willpower to stay and not follow her. Sabre is growling at me, and I shut him down. She's afraid of me. She flinched when I reached towards her. Dr Ava Green is doing a good job acting confident and she’s brave enough to challenge me. But she’s afraid.I push Sabre away more firmly, kicking myself as I hear Ava moving around in the far office. My feet are burning, eager to follow her. I don’t want to let her out of my sight again. But I’m a grown man, and I could kick myself for my behavior this morning.Seeing her for the first time in all these years, was an assault to the senses. Elder Marie asked me to help the new Healer set up in the rundown medical center. I’m between mercenary assignments at the moment, enjoying my downtime back at the Village. Seeing my niece and nephew, Kate’s kids. I never imagined that I’d walk thr
KylarLuca is a pain in the ass. He’s been a pain in my ass my whole life. He’s a best friend that’s more like a brother and he’s saved me more times than I can count. I’d lay down my life for him, in an instant. But for the first time in my life, I want to punch him out. I want to rip his throat out and I’m glaring at him. Sabre’s growling, low and throaty hackles raised. Luca’s and Tandy are staring at me in shock. Tandy reaches out, touching the back of my arm and I flinch away as if she’s burnt me. ‘Woah, Kylar…’ her voice is soft, the calm but firm tone she uses when someone’s had too much to drink. But everyone in the pack knows better than to mess with Tandy, her wolf is bigger than most and her bite is one of the worst. She could have been a part of our mercenary unit, but insists she’d miss being home. I push away from the bar and pace across to the pool table, buying myself time to calm down. I take a drink. Focusing all my attention on not snapping the plastic bottle
Ava - TuesdayI feel like I’ve only slept a few hours, after passing out last night I was up early to start clearing through the storage cupboard in the middle of the two medical rooms. They each have a door that opens into it, but it only has a small window and the light is broken. I take a picture of the jumbled mess to send to Lou. She’d be horrified at the chaos. After an hour of pawing through boxes in the half light I give up and start throwing them into the medical room that I’m going to take as my own. The one that connects to the back office. The out of date boxes skid across the floor before I hear laughter. Nervous, I straighten up, dusting off my knees and carry an armful of old bandages out into the medi-room. There’s a tall man standing in the middle, grinning at me.‘You’re a good shot,’ he smiles. In one hand he’s holding a coffee cup, his free hand rubs across his cheek. I blink at him, taking in his dark hair and bright blue eyes. ‘I didn’t hit you, did I?’ I gr
AvaI breathe him in and he moves. He kisses me, soft and slow. Lips lingering over my own. Our breath mingles with tantalising slowness and my body is hyper aware of the touch of his hands against my waist. His fingers are curled around me, holding me in place. Pulling my hips towards him as he slants his mouth over mine. Our tongues tangle. I know that I should turn and run, but I just can’t make myself do it. He tastes better than I remember and I’m losing my mind. He teases me, seductive as he increases the pressure and strokes his tongue against my own. I’m lost. Sparks race through my body from the points that we touch, lips, tongues and mouth. My chest and belly pressed against his. Our hips and thighs nudge together as my hands hang limp at my sides. The loose plaid shirt half-falling down my arm. I’m kissing him back before I know it. Pressing myself against him. I can feel his skin burning against my own, the touch of his wolf aura against Seren. She’s whining with delig
KylarI walk down the path, back through the village. Moving away from anyone else I see on the path. For a Wednesday night it’s pretty busy. But I’m not fit for company. She kissed me back. I damn well know that she kissed me back.My blood is pounding through my veins. My vision is narrowed, focused on the raging beat of my heart and the tightness in my chest. I’m frustrated, pent up and I either need to fight, fuck or run. So I aim for the pack house and then take a right into the forest. I left my shirt back at the Medical Centre so it’s just my boots and pants that get thrown down to the side. I shift and let Sabre take over. He wants to run back to her. I refuse him. I’m not going back to be rejected again. She kissed me back! She wanted it as much as I did. Where do I keep going on with Ava? I run, with my thoughts a mess. A large grey wolf that towers over the others in the pack. I can’t help but circle back to the medical centre and the house on the edge of the village, th
AvaI can see the frustration all over Kylar’s face. But he just shrugs it off. ‘Well, I’ll see you at the bar then,’ he smirks, ‘because there arn’t many places that Luca will be taking you.’ Nerves tangle in my stomach, skipping all over the place as I force a smile. I can’t imagine anything worse, than getting a drink with Luca, and having Kylar in my line of sight. Just the thought makes my skin crawl. It makes me want to run. ‘Thank you though,’ I reach out, unable to help myself and touch his arm. He pulls away and I’m stung by the motion as he walks over to the door. ‘If I don’t see you tonight, I’ll see you tomorrow? For the delivery?’ I’ve spent all week trying to avoid Kylar, and now I’m trying to make him stay? What’s with that.‘Sure,’ he turns back, lifting a hand in a brief wave, ‘but I’m pretty sure I’ll see you tonight,’ he warns with a grin. One that sends sparks right through my body.‘It’s not a date,’ I follow after him as he traipses down the steps to the path t
AvaAlright, I’m jealous. I’m jealous and it’s completely ridiculous because Kylar has been the one trying to get close, and I’ve been the one putting up boundaries. Luca ushers me over to a booth and I slide in. Eclipse is busier than I expected, there are about a dozen other patrons. some younger guys hustling at the pool table, laughing as they swing the cue back and forth. There’s an older couple sit chatting away in the back, eyes locked on one another. Mates, I assume, because they’re comfortable, happy. Two women, maybe in their early thirties stand beside the retro jukebox, taking it in turns to select songs. Luca slides into the seat opposite me, hands laid out on the table, watching the bar over my shoulder. ‘So this is Eclipse?’ I look around. It’s an older building, and the wooden floors are bit sticky. It’s got dark paint on the walls and ceiling, bringing the space in and lending to a more intimate atmosphere than most dive bars. Because it definitely has that edge.
I smile, listening to my boys, occasionally interrupted in their jabbering story by Lou who explained what they’d been up to. They sound like they're having fun, but I miss them badly. At least after the delivery tomorrow I can spend the evening with them. I glance back at the bar before walking away, still smiling into the phone. It wasn’t a date and Luca ditched me. It’s uncomfortable sitting opposite Kylar so I do want any sane person does. I start walking home. I’m watching the blossoms as I go, giggling along to the twins adventures before Lou calls time for bed. I tell them how much I love them, that I can’t wait to see them before hanging up.My phone slides back into my bag and I finish off the journey to the edge of the village. But someone is following me. I walk faster, grateful for my boots and the tread they’ve got on the fallen blossom. I hold my purse on my shoulder, fingers gripping it tightly. But I’m a wolf, should I just shift and snap their head off? Who would be
It was a rare moon that tied with the Winter Equinox and the Human celebration of Christmas. A tradition that I have always embraced for my children. Afterall, they spent their first years immersed in human culture. Yet Christmas Eve, with snow falling thick and fast through leafless trees, was when Kylar and I married. My residency was completed and felt as though it was part of a life I’d nearly forgotten. Between our children and the medical practice, I’ve been busy enough and can’t imagine fitting in any additional responsibilities. The sky was white with snow clouds but the trees were covered in fairy lights that twinkled in a gentle golden glow. I’m excited, butterflies filling my insides, as though I didn’t see him yesterday.I’m stood at the back of the pack house, in a beautiful satin dress that clings to all of my slender curves. I’ve styled my hair down in loose curls, just how he likes it. I should be nervous, but I’m not. The dress has a mermaid train that kicks out
The second morning of the trial turned out to be the last. Much to the relief of everyone within Midnight Forest, and I imagine Silver Stream as well. The sky was clear, but cloudy. A storm brewing on the horizon, black clouds swirling around the distant forest. A storm we sat within the centre of. The air heated and uneasy as we waited in a calm filled with fraught anticipation.I sat beside Kylar, trying not to pay too much attention to just how incredible he looked in a slate grey tailored suit and black shirt. I still can’t believe that he is mine, that he is my Mate. But despite how awful events have been, I am so incredibly happy to be beside him. With Kylar, I feel at home. With my children, I feel complete.We waited, sitting back among the rows of hundreds of Wolves. Kylar was sitting upright, scanning the tree line for any more trouble. Every now and then I would catch a glimpse or a sense of a Midnight Forest patrol. I knew that there were a lot of Pack members, because I
AvaI’m grateful, and very relieved when about an hour after he passes out, Kylar stirs. He sits up, blinking at me. Frowning, the top of his chest dotted with beads of sweat as his body fought off the nasty infection from the fangs of a werewolf. He stretches out and I sink onto the sofa beside him passing him a glass of fresh water to sip.‘How are you doing?’ I look him over, but it’s clear that the effect of the silver in his bloodstream has worn off. It really does affect us badly. I can understand why he tried so desperately to free Elsbeth from the magically imbued cage, but it wasn’t worth the toll on his body. But that’s my Mate, as wonderful and intelligent as he is. He often thinks with his heart instead of his head. I smooth his hair back as he drinks as though he’s dying of thirst. Technically he is, his body will be working on overdrive to restore the blood that was lost.‘Thirsty,’ he replies, voice gruff. ‘The Queen was here?’ He peers at me, heavy brows drawn toge
Without any more time to think, I’m thrown clear of the Star Bitten Brother. I skid over the dirt and I’m on my paws again. I let Sabre take control. The Brother might be huge and even a decent fighter, but he hasn’t made it his career to be a hunter and a killer.I’m on him again, aware that the second has been brought down by a pair of black wolves with silver streaks. I can hear the human, shrieking voice of Elsbeth, an irritation in the back of my mind as I snap at my foe. He twists, sinking his teeth into my leg but I’m on him. He’s hurt me more than anyone has managed in years, but I won’t make the same mistake twice. I lunge, catching hold of his neck again and snap. He drops, soundless beneath me. Dead to the ground and I land on top of him. I kick away at his body, putting distance between us before I morph back.Luca’ is wrestling with Elsbeth at the edge of the nearest Prison block set with silver. She’s in human form again and he’s changed back, trying to catch her ha
The King opens proceedings with a short speech before he and his wife take their seats on one side of the platform. My Father remains in the middle, waiting for hush to fall again before he asks for the first of the Rogue’s to be brought forward. There are nine elected elders from different Packs, representing different areas of the North America’s what will conduct the interviews of the Rogues, for everyone gathered to witness. Part of me hopes that this will be over in a day, but I know it’s more likely to take at least a week.Werewolf justice is often swift and brutal, but calling together a full conclave with royalty in attendance, always slows proceedings down. In reality, I find it hard to concentrate. I can see Ava watching my Father intently, and then as the gathered Elders take up their own seats on either side of our rulers. What she is either trying to ignore, or hasn’t noticed. Is that the Queen and the Goddess's representative among us, has not looked away from her,
Kylar There are more Wolves and Alpha’s in the Midnight Forest than I ever thought was possible. Our Village has always served as the main hub for the region and it has a decent number of guest houses in case of an event. Yet they’re all full, and so are the guest accommodations in each of the subsidiary villages. I haven’t had as much time as I, or Sabre would like to spend with our Mate over the past few days, or the twins. I feel like I’ve spent all my days driving or running through the territory to meet the Sub’s that head up the different villages. They’re Wolves that might be considered Beta’s. I know most of them as friends, something I’m grateful for.If something ever happened to Luca, I’d still have backup. Even better, is the organisation of our military strength. It’s why I always have such a good pick of skills to fill out my missions. I try to bring along someone from each Sub once a year. To make sure we’re all staying in contact.What it means, is that our command
I knew that the Village was going to get busy with the imminent trials of the Rogue’s. So, although I had a month of shifts to fit in at the Western Hospital, I rearranged my shifts to drag them out. It’s going to take me the better part of Autumn to finish my residency, but it’s worth it.This way, I’m also never away from my boys for more than one night at a time, something I’ve struggled with. Even knowing that Kylar is staying in our little house. I’m still caught with a thread of fear whenever I step out the door and leave them behind, with their Father. I introduced them to Kylar, properly as my boyfriend. They were over dramatic, playful, grossed out and found the idea that I had a special friend hilarious. Then Rowan wrapped his arms around me, possessive and wouldn’t let go. Until his brother started picking up his toys and he didn't want to share his latest tyrannosaurus rex.Yet once I had explained that Kylar really was their Father, the boys stared at him. I shared a
I feel complete in a way I find hard to explain. I stretch out on the bed, marvelling at the man before me. As though I could luxuriate in the view of him all night. I smile to myself, rueful. That really isn’t an option. Not with the twins due home after their movie night. I bit my bottom lip as he moves over me.I reach up, wrapping my arms around his neck. I can hear his thoughts in my mind. They’re down right dirty enough to make me blush again. I’m giggling, because I’m happy. Strangely, deliriously happy to have been claimed by Kylar.You don’t think we have time to make love again? He teases me with his thoughts as he bends to kiss me again. Grazing his lips over mine in a gentle caress. Maybe my body temperature is still spiking from the hot water, but he makes me feel so effortlessly dizzy. I reach out with my own thoughts, closing my eyes. Enjoying the touch of his kiss against the side of my neck. Hyper aware of the sensitive patch of skin on my neck, where his mark will c
Kylar’s movements are deft and confident as he unfastens the buckle of his belt, letting it fall away. His pants are down the strong muscles in his legs, pooling on the floor as he steps out of them. Someday, I have to tell him how much I love seeing him barefoot. I didn’t think I had a weird obsession with it, but I love how he’s already lost his socks. He hasn’t taken his eyes off me and my heart gives rapid little pumps of excitement. I stand beneath the waterfall, body hot, adrenaline still coursing through my veins. My mouth is dry, but my hair is slicked back from my face. I can see myself in the mirror behind his shoulder and I gulp.My eyes are darker than I’ve ever seen him as he advances, his erection jutting out from his body. He’s hard and ready as he steps behind the shower screen. He hasn’t said a word and I look up at him, breathless, tongue tied. He advances and I backway, pushed by the force of his Alpha presence. Like the weight of a waterfall bearing down on me