I grabbed his shirt and pulled him in for a kiss, melting in his familiar taste and scent. His hands tenderly crupped my face, teased my neck, threaded through my hair and grabbed the back of my head like so. I shivered with anticipation, moaning into his mouth. He pulled back, panting, looking conflicted. "Phoebe?""What?" I kissed the corner of his lips, pressing myself against him. While he struggled to put his thoughts to words, I took off my hoodie. My nipples strained through my crop top, vying for his attention. I kicked off my shoes, taking slow steps backwards to his bed. My last time here was when I lost my virginity to him. It was an embarrassingly stupid memory but I wouldn't change Reed for anything else in the world. "Are we going to stand around all night?" I asked, tugging the top over my head.Reed made a small grunting noise as his eyes followed my hands and settled on my chest. I toyed with the band of my skirt, tugging it down. Naked, I trembled at his gaze, kno
95Riding my bicycle downtown, I came to Mama Owens. She looked the same, old and eccentric, tending to her precious flowers. Mama Owens glanced my way, noticing my gaze on her. I gave her a small smile, placing my leg on the pedal. As the bicycle slowly moved away, I noticed another figure with dyed red hair in the flower shop. Could that be Morgan? I pedaled away before I could confirm.Connor and I agreed to meet up in the public library to study for our exam coming up in two weeks. I parked my bicycle and locked it in place. Pulling on the strap of my bag, I entered the Library. Unlike usual, it was occupied. It seemed everyone was putting an effort to studying really hard. I spotted Connor hunched over a text book, airpods in his ears. Dropping my bag on the table, I settled in a chair next to him. He took off his airpods, giving me a smile. "You're late," he admonished. '"Sorry, I woke up late.""Were you up watching film series again?" "I needed to unwind." I rubbed my neck
The cruise vacation was not as fun as Uncle Al tried making it out to be. I've tried everything on his vacation list and eaten all the delicacies the ship had to offer. "Can we go home now?" I asked one more time. "Nothing excites you anymore, princess. Why did you grow up so fast?" Uncle Al sighed, sipping his cocktail. The two of us sat near the pool, watching kids jump into the pool. Lathered with sunscreen, we sunbathed and ate the tiny fruits and sipped wine. I eyed the plate of sushi on the table beside me with interest. "Did you fight with dad again or something?" I asked him, taking a bite of the sushi. "No. We aren't fighting. He is just busy with work.""Do you think Dad loves me? Do you think he blamed me for mom's death?""Where is all this coming from?" He sat up and turned on his stomach. His backside was a shade paler than his frontal. Pulling his glasses down the bridge of his nose, he said, "He loves you. Juniper has a unusual way of showing his affection.""Can
I woke on the soft grass, cheeks stained with tears. My gaze flicked to the moon goddess sipping tea in the centre of the garden. I pushed myself up to my feet and marched up to her. "What was that about?" I asked. "I showed you a snippet of what you wanted," came her response. "It does not involve Reed and Connor dying."She pursed her lips, watching me with a wary look. "That is strange. Perhaps you blame your mates for your current predicament.""No." That's impossible. A ridiculous idea. "I do not and I never have."Her tone turned grave as she said, "The world you saw came from the abundance of your heart." "No. Don't lie to me. This is a ruse to make my demand and leave your home.""Then make your wish and be done with it."Past the glamour, the Moving Goddess had a pallor complexion and appeared tired, almost sickly. Her hazel-colored hair fell in waves over slim, pale shoulders. I sat at her feet, taking in deep breaths. I needed to make a decision with a clear head. "Cou
"There is an agitation from the neighbouring Packs," Connor suddwenly said over breakfast. His gaze slid over to me. "They claim they experienced witchcraft."Troubled, I dropped my spoonful of cereal. "Are they sure it's witchcraft?""They definitely do. A number of men are raising their voices and insinuate that you have something to do with it.""Just because I have a witch ancestry does not mean I did it. Besides, I don't have my powers." I showed my palms as if they held proof of my ineptitude. "We have to prove that to them. They won't take our word for it unless they see it for themselves," Reed sighed, shaking his head. He browsed through magazine, waving an half eaten toast. "How? Throw myself off a building?""No need to go extreme. We could do a public test, showing everyone that you are as human as human can be," Connor said. "How?""It's just this test we do to captured witches we find wandering in our territories," Reed offered. "It's archaic but it functions."My sto
"How was your work out?" Reed called out, slouched on the sofa in the living room. He played Princess dress up and tea party with Ginny and Rue Rue letting them braid his hair, put make up on him and paint his nails. "I don't even know how I'm still alive." I groaned, feeling like a noodle. My legs quivered as I forced each to take a step until I collapsed on a chair. My muscles groaned and I whimpered. "No more." "You are so unfit," Claire tutted. "How do you witches go about fighting demons with such weak muscles?" "We have endless supply of magic. Well, I used to." "This is why you all are so easy to kill." "That's offensive," I defended. "Try having everything at your fingertips and see how you'll be lazy with a flabby stomach like me." "Do not bring your stomach into this," Reed cried. "I love it just the way it is." "Aww." "Pay attention, Princess Uncle Reed," Rue Rue said, nudging him with the flowery small faux kettle. "The King is going to choose you to be his bride
"How do I look?" Reed turned from the mirror, tugging on his suit. "Beige does suit you." I helped adjust his tie right and ran my hands along the lapels. The clean scent fresh pine clung to him. "You look very handsome."He gave me a lazy and loving smile, brushing his neatly combed curls back. He pulled me close to him, his hands eagerly roaming down the curve of my ass. Before I could discourage him, his mouth swooped in to steal a kiss. His kisses began softly, then built with intensity that forced to match. I broke the kiss before it lead to retiring in bed. "We've got work to do." I kissed his cheek, ignoring the small jut of his lower lip. "You can have all this when you get back.""I'm going to have up against that wall, and on your knees in bed.""No problem. I could even twerk for you if you'd like.""Let's go ruin some bitches." A glint shone in his eyes as he engaged in his fists. "No. Remember the plan, Reed. Fight only as your last resort.""Sure, love. I'll come back
"I want a piggyback, Daddy," Rue Rue begged with a childish whine. "Are you sure you can't walk any further?" Liam asked, keeping an eye on her as she dragged her legs along. "I can't. I can't. Look, my legs are spaghetti now.""I will give you a piggyback ride on our way back. Look, your sister is having fun." The duo watched Ginny pick the wild flowers along their path. "But I want you to carry me now.""Hey, let's play Gingerbread Man," the father teased.Rue Rue squealed, bursting into a run through the forest. "You can't catch the gingerbread man."Liam jogged after her, pretending to be a hungry fox. "I'm going to get you."I tried to keep my smile at their antics but failed. The forest plains were unusual to my smooth loving feets. Claire was kind enough to keep me company and barrage me with encouraging words as if we were having one of our sessions. "I think I want a piggyback ride too," I breathed, stopping to catch my breath. Hunched over, I gripped my knees and breathe
When Morgan left, it felt like life pushed me back into my reality. Wiccan terminologies and slangs I thought I had forgotten came out of me as Morgan and I chatted, and reminisced about the good old days and the things that happened in my absence. The house buzzed with everyone talking about their day, well except Claire. She stalked Morgan out of here. A mail arrived an hour later, requesting all Alphas to be present for a meeting that evening. The sudden call turned the atmosphere tense as everyone realized the cause and could only imagine the outcome. I catered to the potions and charms Morgan made, keeping them in a safe drawer in my room. The strong colors showed the potency and strength the potions held. It would be possible to protect the house and everyone in it with these alone. “Are you hiding in here to cry now that your friend is gone?” I laughed at Jess words as she walked in into the bedroom. “Reed and Connor said to check in on you. They would have done so themselves
I pulled Morgan into a hug once more. It felt as though he might disappear if I take my eyes off him or let him go. He laughed and held me steady, reassuring me. I drew back and took another look at him. He dressed in casual clothing and boots but his exhaustion was clear as day on his face. “If I knew I would be missed this much, I will stay away longer,” He joked, his gaze shifting to the giggling babies. “Aw, babies. Any of these happen to be yours by any chance?”“No.” I picked up Pete from the hastily made bed of soft towels and pillows. “This little guy is Pete and the other is Theo.”He shook his head and refrained from carrying the baby. “Babies are cute to look at but I don’t know how to care for them. That is Ace’s job.”“Try it! He’s soft and cuddly.” “And easy to drop.” He rejected the offer once more. “When will you start popping out yours?”Turning Pete to rest on my chest, I threw Morgan a scowl. “Why are you here anyway?” “Wiccan envoys from Arth decided to drop by
The construction of the safe house came along faster than we expected. Rhys and Liam worked as contract construction workers in a private company. Their knowledge was useful in gathering materials and putting in the work to build the shelter. I tried to help by lifting tools and joining materials together. When my usefulness was outdone by the werewolves’ strength and speed, I resigned to working with Orion to get more provisions. As we began to offload the groceries into the car, the shadows suddenly spread across the ground. The wind picked up, bringing with it a storm of dust. As I shielded my face, my clothes pulled against me. I helped Orion get into the backseats of the car to hide out. “I don’t believe this change in weather was included in the weather forecast this morning,” he said, coughing. My nose itched as I looked at the dark sky. The clouds covered the sun, blocking away rays that attempted to escape. The sand storm might have been overlooked by the forecast team,
“Where have you been?” I grabbed the demon by the collar of his shirt, demanding. “I asked you a question, you damn demon!”“Go easy on the shirt. It cost me a lot.” He grabbed my wrists, loosening my grip on him. “I ventured a little farther and got captured.”“What? Who did it?” I noticed the dark blood prints on his shoes and knees of his white trousers. “Why is there blood on you?”“Calm down, Princess. Some of it isn’t mine.” He sighed heavily, running his hands through his hair. “I took a small vacation back to hell to regain some of my awesomeness.”“Quit saying shit and tell me what happened.” I offered him a glass of water then wondered if demons needed to drink water at all. Lucas drank greedily, and wiped his mouth when he finished. “Some crazy witches caught me, the ones serving the ‘Lord’ and tried to use me to do their dirty work.”“Tried?”“They used me to do their dirty work, okay? Murder, extortion, anything you can think of. It was awful not having a free will.”
I felt awful. A person being happy about someone else’s misfortune has a price. Having a conscience does little good and gives little benefits but it pays. It pays to have people be indebted to you. Okay, that’s enough with this terrible monologue. But I was right. Those two blondes are twins. The cab stopped in my familiar, middle class town. I stepped into Jess’ clinic and found it empty. There was no sign of struggle or blood. Taking a deep breath, I pushed myself into thinking she stepped for a moment. Making use of the private bathroom, I showered and changed into some dress I found in a lost and found box. The bell at the door jingled as the door creaked inwards. I stopped mid-twirl and stepped towards the entrance. “Doc is out at the moment,” I said, sweeping my hair into a messy ponytail. “Oh, it’s you guys.” “You sound disappointed to see us.” Connor carried in a gift basket while Jess held a bouquet of fresh flowers. “Where did you go earlier?” “Out and about.” I look
"Is that a limo?" The nail file fell to the clean tiled ground with a sharp clang. I gawked at the sleek black, long vehicle parked in front of the clinic. I scurried to the door, gawking at the extravagance. When Alpha Simon said he would send transport, I did not think he would send a flashy one. This was highly unnecessary. What if my mates were present? How did they even find me? “Jess? I’ll be back in a few.”“That,” she pointed at the limousine. “…is for you?”“Surprisingly so.” I turned to grab my purse. “Could you not tell Connor and Reed about this? Ill let them know myself when I get back.”“But what if they drop by?” she asked, darting another look at the vehicle outside. The suited driver stepped out of the car, and came around to wait at the passenger’s door. “Make up an excuse. I am sorry about this and thank you, Jess.”“But where are you going?” she yelled as I dashed out of the clinic. “Be careful.”Climbing into the vehicle, I waved her bye. Settling in, I came f
The day to intrude on Alpha Simon came sooner than expected. I took a cab, growing unsettled by the minute as the vehicle entered the next town. I had the cab pull up in front of the town's hall. When I got off, my plans suddenly seemed childish. What was I thinking? How am I supposed to find an Alpha in a town of many people? What was I going to do, walk in and ask for a Simon? There could be a thousand Simons in this town for all I knew.I watched people come and go, unable to tell the difference between them. They could all be normal people, wondering if I was the weird one. I brushed my hair out of my face, irritated by the afternoon breeze. I really should not be here. Pulling out my phone, I looked for a cab to get me back home. A shadow cast over my figure as someone fell in step beside me. "The Alpha bet you would be here but I did not believe him."Startled, I flinched at the low voice and looked at the bearer. It was the Mohawk dude from the other day. His piercing gaze sh
"Reed explained the situation to me. I do agree it's important to calm everyone down." She peered at me with a firm gaze. "I believe you have been explained to how the process goes." "Yes," I replied. "This might be a source of discomfort to you, baring yourself to wolves at a time like this. Don't worry though. The test will take place before the council and some by this time next week." I nodded in understanding. "I can't wait to get this over with." "If you don't mind me asking, have you come in contact with any witch since your banishment from Arth?" "No, none." "Strange," she mused. "Pardon me but when Arth is this quiet, its people are up to no good." "I like to think they are just healing from the mess. Besides, they have a serial killer bound. They are probably preoccupied with investigating than planning another attack." "Let's hope so." Her grave tone tugged at my nerves. Connor grabbed my hand and gently squeezed. I might have been banned from Arth but my friends h
In bed, I curled up in Reed's arms, browsing celebrity gossip on his phone. The evening found the Pack House quiet after the departure of Simon and his men. Connor, Jeremy and Rhys went to make sure they were truly good from our lands and scurried around for signs of another invader. Simon have no other information other than what he wanted from us: me. From his manner of speech, it seemed to be something of grand scale. If it was, Alpha Simon should know that I do not bear powers that made a witch a master of the elements. Before I retired, I sent Lucas on a spying mission. He had been keeping an eye on the imprisoned witches who continued to work in secret. I paused in my reading, feeling Reed's hands venture under my night gown and massage my breast. It reminded me of how long it has been since we last made love. With everything that has been going on, it seemed like the last thing on anyone's mind. Besides, the kids are right next door. I could hear them reading a book with Lia