Sure enough, by the time Kylar moves away from me, I can see the shadow of Lou at the door. I pull it open and she steps in, giving me a hug. I squeeze her back and she offers up a half-smile. At the moment she has a dark blue pixie cut, she’s gorgeous as always, but having met the Alpha of the Pack, it’s like they’re opposites.‘You going to be okay?’ Lou pats my shoulder, looking up at me with big blue eyes. ‘Yeah,’ I glance at Kylar who’s pulling on his boots behind me, ‘going to be okay.’Lou kisses my cheek before stepping past the pair of us. She waits at the bottom of the stairs till we close the door. I let out the breath that feels like it’s trapped in my body. Taking hold of Kylar’s hand as we walk through the village together. There’s a light breeze and I can feel it pulling my hair out of the simple ponytail I’m wearing. Kylar squeezes my hand and I look at him, reassured. Even if it feels like my heart is sinking into my sneakers. I’m dressed in simple jeans, a tank
AvaI can only stare at Josh as I feel my heart breaking all over again. This time, not just for myself but for him. I’m not sure when my Father passed away, but he lost Bella at the start of their marriage, and now he’s lost his kids.‘We’ll ship out tomorrow,’ Kylar leans back in his chair and I look at him, with a pang of regret. He is the leader of the Mercenaries that Josh was talking about. So I guess it’s his decision. I’m going to miss him. How long was he away for last time? I’m being selfish and I look back at Josh who is nodding before he looks at me again.‘Will you come too?’ He asks quietly and Kylar speaks up again,‘No,’ my future Alpha replies and I glance at him. No? I don’t appreciate him answering on my behalf. I let out a breathe and look between the two of them again. Eager to answer on my own terms. I’m tongue tied and find myself staring at my hands. Trying to process everything that happens.‘I’d really like Ava to come back,’ Josh replies and I want to si
I finish my cocoa and Marie knows that I’m reluctant to leave. So it’s no surprise that Kylar arrives at the door and lets himself in. He’s wearing the same clothes but his dark hair is tousled. Green eyes focused as he carries in a bag and offers it to me with a small smile.‘I asked Lou to pick out some clothes for you,’ he tells me quietly and glances to Marie before sighing. ‘Marie clearly knows that we’re seeing each other,’ he touches his fingertips to his temple and I nod. Marie must be speaking to him telepathically. ‘Will you stay with me tonight?’ He asks, dropping his voice, even though it’s pointless and Marie can definitely hear.I give my nod of agreement and slip behind the screen again. I hear the pair of them return to the kitchen, collecting up the mugs and washing up. Talking quietly as the door closes behind them.Lou picked out a pair of short khaki pants that reach below my knee, and a black tank top. I check the bag, grateful to find a black bra and matching
The next morning is harder than I thought it would be. Our lives have been in so much turmoil since we moved to the village, that I understand why the twins are upset that I’m going away. Lou has agreed to live in the cottage in my absence, so I know they’ll be loved and well looked after. But their tears break my heart. They’re clinging to me, and I can’t help but think about all the changes we’ve been through. We moved out of the city and came here. Then the first week they were staying with Lou when I patched up the medical center. Everything must feel out of place for them.Kayce shows his hurt with anger, being cross with Kylar for taking me away. Kylar’s not even at the house, and it’s a struggle to explain that even Kylar doesn’t want me to go. It’s not something I can easily decode for a four year old and so I hug him tightly and promise I’ll be back as soon as I can. Lou ushers me out the door, but the sound of them crying on the other side is nearly enough to make me go
I feel like we have stepped back in time, and it hits like a hammer. Josh opens up the door for us, before giving me the keys. I look down at the keychain. A simple silver half moon. They’re my keys. The keys I left behind the day I was told get out. I turn them over, even the weight is familiar. The little scratches on the metal. I’m blinking back tears and Kylar, Sasha and the others are moving into the space, looking around.‘We can decamp here?’ Kylar looks back at me from the living room and I nod.‘Yeah, that's the biggest room…’ I pull myself back to the present and set the keys down in the little bowl by the front door. Where we always kept our keys. ‘There are four bedrooms upstairs,’ I explain, trying to keep myself matter of fact. This isn’t my home any longer. Even though nothing has changed from the day that I left. On one level I can understand that. Afterall, Bella was married, she moved into a little house with Josh the day after their wedding. After my Mum died,
I sink back down on my bed. I can hear voices downstairs and close my eyes. I flick on the radio once more, drowning them out. Just hearing Ryan is enough to raise my hackles, and hearing Kylar is all kinds of painful for so many different reasons. So here I am, back in my bedroom with the radio on, trying to escape my own life again. Why did I come back? The voices stop and a while later there’s a knock at the door. ‘Come in,’ I stare as Sasha pushes the door open.‘Hi,’ she lifts her hand in a wave and I really want to dislike her. She’s incredibly beautiful, tall and has a smile that lights up the room. There’s a confidence that she carries and I stare at her, wishing that for my medical degree and life experience, I could be more mature in this moment. ‘Hi,’ I reply and push up onto my feet.’‘The Alpha and Ryan left a little while ago,’ she’s searching my expression.‘Oh,’ I nod. Relieved. Hopefully Ryan won’t come back with any more nastiness. He’s such a prick.‘They’
A shiver passes between us, a single heart beat as Kylar inhales my scent. He runs his nose against the line of my jaw and I’m powerless, pinned against the wall. I don’t even want to struggle. I don’t want to put space between us, not now. Not when he is so close. Close to enough to share my breath with. ‘I needed to know that,’ his voice is low against my ear. I close my eyes, heart fluttering as I nod my agreement. I’d agree to anything right now. His body is pressed against my own, holding me in place. Just the low light from the desk lamp casts long shadows over the room. It’s soft and intimate. I can pick out the laughter track from whatever the team is watching down stairs, but over it all. I can hear my own rapid heart rate. I can feel his breath upon my neck as I struggle to breathe, caught by the intensity of it all.‘This is hard enough, Ava, without you being Rogue on me,’ he growls and his grip tightens. I look up at him, bottom lip trembling as I push my hips forwar
I didn’t sleep as well as I needed to. In fact, I don’t remember sleeping at all. I’m lying awake when my alarm goes off, staring into space. I’ve pushed Kylar away, I know that. He was in my room, kissing me, holding me. Sharing the closeness that I had been craving all day. I was the one who sent him away, put up the barriers and made the distance. It’s hard to roll out of bed but my feet hit the ground and I’m in the shower. I can hear movement in the other rooms throughout the house and wish I knew which room Kylar took last night. I want to apologise, to explain the reason for my temporary insanity. His suggestion that we Mate, that we Bond terrified me. It would excuse my behaviour, but at least it would explain it. I shower quickly and dress. Pulling my hair back into a simple ponytail. I’m wearing khaki pants, a dark vest and dark green and black plaid shirt to protect my arms from the forest. I slide my feet into a pair of combat boots, wiggling my toes around. Hoping tha
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