It’s another strange night where I don’t think I’m going to sleep. I lay on the bed, hands tucked underneath the pillow. Painfully aware of the man lying beside me. My gaze is fixed, determined on the adjoining room and the twin beds. I can just make them out in the dim light cast from one of the lamps.I close my eyes, they’re aching. I can hear the sound of the twins breathing. It mingles with Kylars own steady breath. I dozed off during the journey in the truck and waiting for Kylar. But now it’s time to sleep, and make the most of the last few hours of darkness, it feels impossible to return to rest. My heart and mind are heavy. Going over all my mistakes from the last few months. I haven't been acting like myself. Or is it just more recently? I let out a soft sigh and hope that sleep will come and claim me. I know I haven't been myself since we arrived in Silver Stream. I kept Kylar at a distance before we went, but that was the turning point. I should have been thinking what da
Kylar There’s something deep seated and primal in the satisfaction I feel, knowing that Ava and the twins are back home and safe in Midnight Forest. They’re in my reach, and under my protection now. I feel confident that within this village, now that the threat from the Rogue’s has been contained, that they’re safe. Unless there’s someone else who intends to betray their pack, and everything that we work for together. I look back as we walk away from the house, Luca and my Father going over the fine details of the mission in the woods. They fall quiet and I realise they’re waiting for me to speak. ‘I think that we need to respect Ava’s wishes regarding Marie,’ I sigh and my Father, the Alpha, frowns. We both look back at the little house at the edge of the village, where everything we love is contained, for the moment.‘Let’s talk about it, back at mine,’ he shrugs and leads the way. As we go, three more Elder’s fall into step around us. My Uncle, Alexander, the current pack B
KylarThe door clicks behind me and I look across at Kate as she takes up the door lintel on the other side, copying my stance with her arms folded across her chest. Head tilted back to stare up at the stars. The sky is a beautiful dusky purple. The forest is filled with normal sounds from the village, the soft murmur of voices. The pad of a pair of young wolves running through the perimeter of our territory. Even if I couldn’t hear them, I could sense each and every member of the Pack in my thoughts. Except Ava, because she isn’t part of us. It feels like a velvet night, one that’s going to be soft and temperate. The whole world is holding its breath in a hush. But why? I didn’t think that I believed in Fate and prophecy, but maybe I’ve been such an asshole, that I deserve to find my Mate in the one woman who is beyond my reach.‘They want you to go back in,’ Kate breaks the silence and I look away from my sister. ‘I’m not going back in,’ I reply, certain. There’s a pause and I ca
AvaI cooked pizza for us all, using a dough that had been frozen before. The boys love adding their own toppings to their mini pizzas as I try to smooth out the cheese and passata without moving their creative masterpieces.. Lou’s pizza is a mess, piled high with toppings but she winks at me. I smile back, feeling, in many ways, that my life has settled so quickly back to something normal. As though I can almost forget the last few days. But Lou is pale and her movements are slow. Pretty soon I’ll suggest she goes back to Anton’s to get some rest. I don’t want her to exhaust herself, but I know how much she needed to see the boys. I feel that, deep in my bones. That need to really know that they’re alright. There’s a knock at the door and I wipe my hands down on a kitchen towel. There’s flour on my shirt and I don’t care. I’m too eager to get the door.It’s Kylar. It has to be Kylar, he’s come back and finally, I’ll have the chance to speak to him. To tell him that I’m sorry. I’v
It’s strange, but also weirdly comforting to have all four of the boys in the house. They’re excitable, swapping pyjama’s and showing off their favourite soft toys as they go to bed. I pulled two camping mattresses from the garage and Josh pumped them up. They’re in between my own son’s and they’re giggling as we leave the door ajar. Josh and I ended up taking turns sitting on the top step in the corridor, reminding the children to keep it down. Whenever it’s Josh’s turn, I’m stood at the front door. Looking out at the village path as it leads away. There’s no sign of Kylar. I go back, setting out blankets and pillows on the couch. Making up a bed for Josh. Josh makes a slow way downstairs, careful where they creak. Down in the living space he gives me a thumbs up. ‘They’re asleep,’ he smiles and I smile back. But it’s getting late, and I’m worried that Kylar hasn’t made an appearance.‘You alright?’ He asks and I nod.‘I was just hoping to speak to Kylar,’ I admit and Josh le
In the end, I follow my instincts. I run, pale blue sneakers throwing up the dry dirt from beneath the woodland path. I follow the route we once walked together. Heart pumping far harder than the jog should make it. I’m excited, but after our encounter this morning, more terrified than ever. I weave through the trees, away from the village. Feeling guilt with every step, that I’m out of sight of my children, again. There’s nothing I want more right now, than to be with my family. Kylar is part of that. I need him. I want him around. I can hear the flight of birds taking off as I startle them, and the distant sound of water lapping against the shore. A ripple that gets louder as I approach the beach against the lake. He’s standing there, like a shadow on the sand as he looks out over still water. It’s another hot day, the air is still and almost lifeless. It’s an oppressive heat and I can feel it over my body. A heat I can’t escape.Kylar glances back at me, still glaring.‘I said th
Kylar and I walk back through the forest, hand in hand. The world feels brighter, as though the weight has been lifted off my shoulders. The birds flit from tree to tree and we pause at the edge of the village. I look up at him, smiling quietly as he bends down to press a kiss to my lips.‘I’ll see you tonight?’‘Tonight,’ I agree, ‘the boys will want to see you…’ I bite my bottom lip, ‘I want to tell the, who you are,’ I suggest quietly,but maybe in a few days? I just want to get back to normal. Is that alright with you?’‘I want them to know,’ he moves around me resting his hands on my hips as he pulls me against his body, ‘but I can wait, Ava. I can be patient. This has to be done at the right time, I understand that.’‘Thank you…’ I smile again, moving onto my toes to press a kiss to his cheek. Being so close to Kylar makes me feel dizzy. Overwhelmed by the scent of him. Seren is purring, almost everything is right with out world once more. There’s just the forthcoming discuss
We spent an afternoon visiting what had been an empty house a few doors away. It was already clean and ready to go for Josh and his twins. It’s nearly identical to our own house, but Kayce and Rowan were obsessed with exploring every part of it with their cousins. Twice, I had to laugh at Josh because he mistook my son’s for his own. It’s scary how much they all look alike. I couldn’t laugh hard, because I know it’s a mistake I’m doomed to make myself. Maybe spending a lot of time together isn’t going to be such a good thing, if both sets of twins become a gang of cheeky, sugar fueled troublemakers. We cooked over in the holiday cottage, helping the boys from Silver Stream settle in.Then it was with great reluctance that I tried to pry Kayce and Rowan back home. In the end, there were far too many tears and Josh caved. Offering to have all four of the boys for the night. I looked between him, and the four sets of identical eyes, pleading with me, before I groaned. With them so r