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VANESSA DAVIS
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My mother seemed to have aged gracefully, and it infuriated me more than I expected. She looked like someone who hadn't endured the wreckage she left behind, someone untouched by the destruction she caused. I forced a tight smile, biting down hard on the bitter insults swarming in my head, begging to spill into the open. She looked at me, her eyes already swimming with tears.
“My god, Vanessa, you’re all grown.”
I felt the words cut through me like a knife. All grown. What did she expect after twenty years? That I’d freeze in time, waiting for her to decide we mattered again? I swallowed the lump in my throat and replied, my voice clipped, barely holding back the sarcasm.
“Yes, twenty years apart does that. Uh, you look good. I didn’t know you had remarried.”
Her face flushed, a fleeting expression of guilt crossing her features before she looked away. “I’m sorry... I didn’t want to explain everything over the phone. Come in, meet Tom and the kids.”
Kids? The word hung in the air, heavy and suffocating. Kids. Plural. She had more kids. A whole new family. My stomach churned. I turned around to glance at Colton, who was leaning against the car, flipping through something on his phone, completely uninterested in whatever mess was unfolding here. Lucky him.
Thank goodness. If he were paying attention, I’d be mortified. How could I explain this without sounding pathetic? The guy has a good, loving family. Mine is in tatters—one quarter fled, one quarter buried in silence, and the rest of us trying to pretend the cracks don’t show.
I forced my legs to move, stepping into her pristine little house. The smell of pancakes hit me like a wall. It was warm and welcoming, something out of a Hallmark movie. A picture-perfect family morning. I almost laughed at the absurdity. Was this her new life? Waking up to make pancakes in a cozy kitchen for her shiny new family? The hypocrisy made my blood boil.
Ezra hates breakfast. Lionel sleeps through it after long hospital shifts. Dad skips it, like I do, though for reasons neither of us will ever admit. Breakfast was never a thing in our house because when Dad used to work as an officer Mom would say she couldn’t make breakfast for a bogus reason that seemed valid at the time. But here she was, flipping pancakes like some doting mother. A mother who abandoned her first children without a second glance. I shoved the thought away, forcing my face into neutrality.
“This is Tom—”
“Actually,” I cut her off sharply, my voice cold and even, “I don’t think I want to meet him. Can we just find somewhere to talk? No offense, Tom, but I can’t say anything nice to you or your children right now.”
Tom’s eyes flickered with what looked like understanding, which somehow made it worse. What kind of man marries someone who abandons their kids? He gave my mother a quick kiss on the cheek and ushered the two kids—no, not kids, they were practically adults—into the kitchen. They didn’t even glance my way, which said a lot about the woman I had gone through all this trouble to see.
“Come with me into the living room,” she said, her voice overly gentle, as though trying to soothe a wounded animal. “We have so much to talk about.”
The nerve of her. Acting like this was just another family reunion like she hadn’t ripped apart the very foundation of my life. I followed her stiffly, every step feeling like walking into a lion’s den. Except the lion was me, and I was ready to pounce.
We reached the living room, and she gestured for me to sit. She perched on the edge of the couch, smiling nervously as if this was some awkward first date. I stared at her for a moment, trying to keep the rage bubbling inside me from exploding too soon. But who was I kidding? I’m not someone who keeps her emotions in check. Not ever.
The only time I manage it is when I’m undercover. And even then, the second I’m out, I head straight to the boxing gym or therapy to unload everything I held back. So why the hell would I hold back now? For her?
I didn’t sit. Instead, I let it all out in a voice that was dangerously calm but shaking with every ounce of pain I’d carried for two decades.
“What the hell? You run off, after having three children, to start a new family and have two more? What is wrong with you? Do you have any idea what you put us through? You broke four hearts—mine, Ezra’s, Lionel’s, and Dad’s. And you have the audacity to sit there and smile at me like nothing happened? The only reason I’m here is to know why. Why the fuck did you do this?”
My voice cracked on the last word, and for a moment, I felt exposed. Vulnerable. I hated that. I hated her for making me feel that way. I crossed my arms, forcing myself to hold her gaze, daring her to say something—anything—that might make this make sense.
But she didn’t. She just sat there, her eyes wide and brimming with tears, her mouth opening and closing like she didn’t know where to start. And that silence? That silence made me angrier than any excuse she could’ve come up with.
"God, woman, tell me why the hell you contacted me after all these years. And how did you even find out where I live?" My voice cracked slightly, a mix of anger and disbelief tightening my throat.
She placed her trembling hands on her knees, her gaze darting away like she couldn’t bear to look at me. “I fell out of love with your father.”
I froze. The air seemed to still be around us. “You what?”
Her voice softened as if trying to soothe the blow she was delivering. “Your father and I mated when I was sixteen. I wasn’t... ready. I had just moved here, and people stared at me like I was an exotic animal anytime I mentioned I was a mermaid—well, a siren, technically. He was kind, and patient. We fell in love before we even realized we were fated together. After that, it was just... us. Always us. There was no space for me to figure out who I was. I lived in constant fear that he wouldn’t come back from his missions.”
Her words tumbled out, but they felt rehearsed, hollow. She wrung her hands nervously as if that could make it easier to say. “One day, when I was out shopping, I met Tom. A southern tourist, here to explore. We started talking, and it felt... different. Light. I didn’t tell him I was married, and when we—” she paused, lowering her eyes—“when we slept together, I realized how badly I had betrayed your father. Tom didn’t know, but the guilt was eating me alive. When he found out, he wanted to leave, but... I couldn’t let him go. He asked me to choose.”
“And you chose him.” The words left my mouth like poison, my voice shaking with suppressed rage. “God, I am so stupid.” Tears burned down my face, not for myself but for my father—a man who gave so much, only to lose everything. A man who still loved this woman.
“Vanessa,” she pleaded, leaning closer, her eyes glistening. “It wasn’t easy. It broke my heart, too. I loved him—your father—and I love you. I love your brothers. But Tom—”
“You knew him for what? Weeks? And you threw away decades for that? For him?” I gestured vaguely toward the kitchen, where her new family was probably laughing over pancakes. “Why did you contact me? Why now?”
Her voice wavered. “I... I called your company. I told them I was your mother, gave them details only I would know. They gave me your address.” She paused, looking at me like she was about to deliver the final blow. “Vanessa, my daughter—Kelly—she’s nineteen. She’s... she’s really sick. She needs a kidney. Mine aren’t viable, and Tom’s blood type doesn’t match. But you’re a universal donor. You could save her life.”
The world tilted. My stomach churned violently. I staggered back, clutching the edge of the couch for support before doubling over. I vomited into a nearby potted plant, the acidic taste burning my throat.“Vanessa, please—”“Don’t touch me!” I screamed, my voice raw and trembling as I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand. “You didn’t contact me because you missed me or wanted to fix things. You brought me here to save your other daughter’s life. Or that you have a grandson. You don’t even care how I’ve been, how your sons are doing, how Dad is coping—no, suffering—because of you. Do you even remember that the mate bond doesn’t break just because you left? You're not even divorced! You didn't have the guts to get the papers! Do you even know what you did to him? Does Tom know his wife is still tied to her soulmate? Both in bond and by state law?”“Vanessa, lower your voice!” she hissed, her eyes darting nervously toward the kitchen.“I will not!” I roared, my chest heaving. “You’r
★。\|/。★VANESSA DAVIS★。/|\。★My shoes and i are not made for the farm life. I don’t need to explore farms to know that to be the truth. The farm is huge, and a definite sign of generational wealth. According to colton, no one in the pack paid or built their house. His family did all that. They supply light, and water as well. All the pack members have to do is a pay a monthly sum, and help around the farm. Imagine getting a four bedroom duplex for three thousand dollars a month- which includes light, electricity, and water. That’s an insane deal if you ask me. How are the hayes family not broke with this sort of hospitality?The biggest houses on the land belonged to his family. His house has a total of seven bedrooms, from what i gathered, and I’m guessing so do the others. This excludes the two living rooms, two extra guest bathrooms, the basement, attic, library and office. This man is rich rich. My family aren’t poor, the only reason we have a house in manhanttan is because m
▄︻デ══━一 COLTON HAYES💥 I knelt beside my father, the midday sun streaming through the cracks in the barn walls, casting sharp beams of light onto the straw-strewn floor. The warmth of the day made the air heavy, mixing the scents of hay, manure, and the sharp tang of Mila’s labor into something almost suffocating.Mila lay on her side, her flanks trembling as she fought through another contraction. Her sides heaved with the effort, and she let out a low, guttural moo, her eyes wide and rimmed with pain. My father crouched beside her, his hands steady and sure as he murmured soft reassurances.“Easy now, girl,” he said, his voice low and soothing. “We’re almost there. Just a little more.”The sweat on my brow had nothing to do with the heat of the day. I wiped it away with my sleeve, glancing at my father for guidance. Despite his calm exterior, the furrow in his brow told me he was concerned.“She’s struggling,” I said quietly, watching as Mila tensed again, another contraction rippl
★。\|/。★VANESSA DAVIS★。/|\。★Rachel was complaining about Ezra, and how he’s taking Benny on a week trip out of the city. Without her. She’s upset because she can’t do anything, if she goes to court Ezra will win. He knows the best lawyers, and it also doesn’t help that one of the best divorce lawyers is Lincoln. Our older brother. I listened as much as I could while the heat was trying to melt me. God, I’m gonna need another shower. Why the fuck is it so hot here? And Colton’s house has no air conditioning. It has fans. But what good will those do for me?“- I’m so frustrated. Can’t he just talk to me? What is wrong with him?”I sighed. “Rachel, I am stranded in this town for the next few months. I cannot be the buffer between you and Ezra. Talk to my father, he might be able to help. Or here’s an idea, Rachel give him some space. Ezra is feeling hurt and vengeful right now. The only reason he’s trying to think rationally is because you two have Benny. Let him take Benny for the br
▄︻デ══━一 COLTON HAYES💥As expected sending my brother and sister to get Vanessa didn’t go as well as it should. The whole day i did my work, i was thrown by a wild horse into a mud pit for the pigs. This is what happens when your family invests in every thing. We have a chicken coup, pigs pen, horse barn, cows, bulls, dogs, people. Like fuck. And the crops. The crops as well. Which leads to insects, and a million more problems. Let me tell you right now i am exhausted, but i love it. This is a day’s work. A slow day at that. I returned home soaked in mud, and smelling rank when my brother ross road up in a horse. The sun had set long ago, and i was fucking tired, and hungry. I’d skipped lunch for good reasons. The reasons all being that i had too much to do i couldn’t take a moment to eat. What the hell was ross doing here anyways?His house isn’t close to mine.“You won’t believe the ass on your guest.”I would have dropped my jaw if i wasn’t trying to avoid getting mud into my mou
★。\|/。★VANESSA DAVIS★。/|\。★No mainstream channels, and he turned me down? The nerve. To even say I’m the girl guys fuck before they find their missus right. I am so fucking pissed off. I could seduce him. I could totally fucking do it, I haven’t even tried. He doesn’t know. I would have made his night. Instead, I’m here watching the local news while he eats his dinner. I sighed, I shouldn’t even be upset. He’s nothing special, but his comment irks me. Why the fuck did he say that? That’s not a compliment at all, it’s a fucking insult to me. Like I’m Missus wrong?I glanced around the room. He’s not wrong, actually, if you consider my boundaries and the sort of shit I’m into, I’m not for the faint of heart. I picked up my phone and went through my company group chat. The people on my floor were discussing the latest cases. God these are so intense. Trafficking, the mayor’s daughter was taken last night. Holy damn, that’s fucked up. They have to find her before she’s moved out of
★。\|/。★VANESSA DAVIS★。/|\。★I wasn’t sure how long I was there in the bathroom stall, trying to calm myself down as my brain was going haywire. My heart was beating so fast, and I was crying. Eventually, I was able to reel it in and step out of the stall. I turned on the tap and splashed some water on my face. I looked at myself in the mirror. Taking in my clothes, my body language, and the sadness I could see in my eyes. I need to put on a good poker face. The stall next to the one I’d been in popped open, and a girl walked out. Tall, beautiful dark skin, black curly hair, brown eyes, busty, and dressed in a floral dress. She reminded me of me if only I were taller. “You okay, honey?”Had she heard me crying? She must have. She came towards the sink to wash her hands and I shook my head.“No, I’m having a crappy day.”She offered me a sympathetic smile. “Anything I can do?”“I don’t suppose you know where I can get wasted?”She grinned, her eyes twinkling with mischief. “Honey I
★。\|/。★VANESSA DAVIS★。/|\。★Riding the bicycle back to the farm late at night, with my eyes fuzzy was not a good idea. I had to paddle slowly. I’ve walked down the busy manhanttan streets while drunk off my ass before. I made it hope in under two hours from the club, and i only got hit on four times, and pepper sprayed two guys. I do not recommend going home by foot or alone when drunk, and i do not recommend riding a bicycle down a hiker trail in the middle of the night. It is unsafe. I have to keep my speed slow to avoid death.I came across Colton, he was tugging the body of a sheep. How much cattle do they own?Colton spotted me in the dark, his eyes glowing like bright lights. “What the.... are you out of your mind?” He tossed the sheep onto a pile of dead sheeps. From the gasoline, and the matches on the ground i think he’s planning to burn them. He’s dug a hole so they don’t to the trees, and dry twigs and set the entire forest ablaze.“Oh my god, cowboy!” I turned, lifting m
★。\|/。★VANESSA DAVIS★。/|\。★Colton’s arm around me was warm, his body heavy with exhaustion as he breathed evenly against my shoulder. I had spent last night, and this morning taking care of him, making sure he ate, took his medicine, and actually rested for once in his life. He was always the one looking after everyone else, but I could tell this time had hit him hard.He was sick, drained, and barely hanging on before I forced him to let go and rest.I was just beginning to feel like things had settled, like I could relax for a moment, when my phone rang.I tensed, glancing toward the coffee table where my phone buzzed. I carefully reached over, making sure not to wake Colton as I picked it up.The name on the screen made my stomach drop.Dr. Reeves.Something about the sight of it, about the late hour and the still-pouring rain outside, sent a shiver down my spine.I swallowed hard before carefully untangling myself from Colton’s hold, slipping out from beneath his arm. His brows
▄︻デ══━一 COLTON HAYES💥 The rain hadn’t let up.I lay still, listening to the rhythmic drumming against the roof, the occasional gust of wind rattling the windows. It was that steady kind of downpour that blanketed everything in a quiet hum, making the world feel smaller, cozier.I turned my head slightly, eyes landing on the clock glowing on the nightstand. 5:58 AM.Normally, I’d already be out of bed, pulling on my boots, shrugging into a jacket, plopping my hat on, and heading outside before the sun had even fully risen. There was always something that needed doing on the ranch—animals to feed, fences to check, tasks that didn’t care if I was sick or exhausted.But today was different.Because for the first time in a long time, I wasn’t the first one up.And I wasn’t alone.Or at least, I hadn’t been.The bed beside me was empty, the sheets cool where Vanessa had been curled up against me just hours ago. A small crease in the pillow was the only evidence that she’d been there at al
▄︻デ══━一 COLTON HAYES💥 There's pain, lightness, there are things I can't describe about myself in this moment. Because I was sinking. Not into sleep—sleep was something I welcomed. This was different. A deep, aching exhaustion that ran through my bones, making my limbs feel heavy and useless. My skin burned with fever, my head a foggy mess, and yet, my thoughts wouldn’t stop running.How the hell did I get to this point?I’d worked hard before. Harder than this, even. I’d gone days without proper rest, waking before the sun and collapsing into bed long after it had set. It wasn’t new. It wasn’t anything I hadn’t done before.So why did it feel like my body was giving up on me now?I let out a slow, shuddering breath, my throat dry and tight. My muscles still ached from the day’s work, and I could feel the heat radiating off my own skin. My head pounded, my stomach twisted, but it was the exhaustion that weighed me down the most.I knew when it started.The moment I saw the storm ro
★。\|/。★VANESSA DAVIS★。/|\。★Balancing the tray carefully, making sure I didn't spill anything.. The broth smelled rich, the steam curling into the air, and I was grateful that my dad had walked me through making something decent.When I reached the knob to Colton's room, I nudged the door open with my hip, stepping inside. The storm outside made the room dim, the only light coming from the bedside lamp I had turned on earlier. The rain drummed softly against the window, the occasional rumble of thunder in the distance.Colton was still out cold. Well, not exactly. He seems like he's unconscious, but I can tell a part of him is still fighting off that sleep. What a dumbass. I say that sweetly though. I think a guy like him needs a stubborn girl to tell him what to do. He was lying on his back, his breathing deep and steady, his face slack with exhaustion. His damp hair clung slightly to his forehead, and even in sleep, I could see the tension in his shoulders—like his body had forg
★。\|/。★ VANESSA DAVIS ★。/|\。★As I left Colton's room and thought about the last place I'd seen a first aid kit. Ah! Downstairs. Ah! The guest bathroom. My bare feet against the tiles were cold, and my clothes were slightly wet from having to help Colton in the shower. My nipples were hard, and poking against the simple fabric. The guest bathroom was colder than the rest of the house, the tiles cool beneath my bare feet as I tip toed in front of the cabinet. I opened the doors, my fingers skimming over bottles and boxes, scanning labels as quickly as I could. Headache relief. Sore throat lozenges. Fever reducer. I grabbed the last one, turning it over in my hands. Expiration date looked fine. Hopefully, it was still good enough to help. Still, I hesitated. I wasn’t a doctor—I didn’t want to give Colton the wrong thing, especially when he was already running hot. My dad would know. Pulling out my phone, I tapped on his contact and hit dial. It didn’t even ring twice before h
★。\|/。★VANESSA DAVIS★。/|\。★Colton was dangerously close to falling asleep in the tub.His head rested against the edge, his shoulders slack, body sinking further into the water with every slow breath. His chest rose and fell in a deep, steady rhythm, the warm steam curling around us.I wasn’t sure how long we had been in here, but I knew if I let him doze off, he’d wake up stiff and sore—or worse, slip under the water entirely.I dipped the cloth into the water and wrung it out, letting the droplets trickle down my wrist before pressing it against his shoulder. The heat of his skin against the warm fabric sent a shiver through me, but I ignored it, focusing on cleaning him.“Hey,” I said softly, dragging the cloth down the length of his arm. “You need to stay awake.”Colton made a low, unintelligible noise, barely lifting his head.I rolled my eyes. “You’re not making a great case for yourself, cowboy.”Another lazy hum.I sighed and pressed the cloth against his chest, wiping away
★。\|/。★ VANESSA DAVIS ★。/|\。★ The storm had caught me off guard, soaking me in the few seconds I’d been outside. I didn't even realize it rained here. Which is kind of stupid on my part because it should have been very obvious that weather conditions can change over time. I'd just gotten used to the heat- okay I wasn't used to the heat. But I'd gotten a good sense that it was always gonna be hot. Today proved me wrong. Now, back in my bedroom, safe and warm, I shivered slightly as I peeled off my wet clothes, grabbing the first dry thing I could find—a large shirt that fell mid-thigh and a comfortable pair of underwear. I made sure my phone and bag were safe. I grabbed my cell and picked up a towel. I ran the towel through my damp hair before padding barefoot into the living room. Outside, the rain poured relentlessly, drumming against the windows, the wind howling like something out of a horror movie. I sighed, rubbing my arms to chase away the chill. Darcy would have to
★。\|/。★VANESSA DAVIS★。/|\。★I sat on my bed, my laptop in place as I read through the post I'd written just moments ago. /Metropolitan MuseHey, Muse Squad!I’ve seen falling stars before—small streaks of light cutting across the sky, gone before you can even make a wish. But last night? Last night was different.Dusty Creek continues to surprise me. I expected quiet nights, crickets singing in the distance, maybe the occasional hoot of an owl. I didn’t expect to witness an entire sky full of falling stars, each one burning bright before vanishing into the darkness.At first, I thought my mind was playing tricks on me. I stood outside, watching as the sky came alive, and for a moment, I felt like I was somewhere else—like I was part of something bigger. Have you ever seen something so breathtaking that it makes you pause? Like the world is trying to remind you that magic still exists?That was last night.Falling stars, a sky painted in silver and fire, and a strange feeling in my
▄︻デ══━一 COLTON HAYES💥 The horses were settled now. Some were grazing lazily, others lying down in the shade, tails flicking at flies. A few still looked a little off, but it was nothing like before. Since I’d switched out their water, they were slowly getting better—no more sluggish movements, no more dull, glassy eyes. That was a win in my book. I gave one of the mares a gentle pat on the neck, watching as she nuzzled the grass with her nose before taking a lazy bite. The sight made me smile. Moments like this were why I loved this place—quiet, steady, no unnecessary bullshit. Which is why the sound of arguing made my jaw tighten instantly. I turned, recognizing the voice immediately. Samson. For a second, I considered ignoring it. I was already tired of his bullshit for the day. But then I heard the other voice—lower, nervous, unfamiliar. Curtis. I hadn’t spoken much to the guy, but I knew him well enough. Young, hardworking, and my father's favorite for a reason. He’d been