TRIGGER WARNING: SEXUAL ASSAULT"I don't want to push you," Clayton urged gently, his voice filled with compassion, "but did you know him?" His words hung in the air, heavy with anticipation. Camden took a deep breath, gathering her strength to share another painful piece of her past. "I did," she replied, her voice tinged with bitterness. "He was my boyfriend." She let out a bitter laugh, filled with self-deprecation. "I thought I was in love. I thought he was so sweet and so hot, and I was just a stupid 16-year-old girl." Tears welled up in Camden's eyes once again, but they flowed silently, her pain etched across her face. "He told me he wanted to show me something and led me into the forest," she continued, her voice trembling with the weight of her memories. "I thought he had some elaborate romantic surprise planned, like the waterfall or some beautiful scenic spot like that. But I was so naive and stupid."Clayton listened intently, his heart aching for the young girl who had be
Sitting in the dimly lit room, illuminated only by the flickering flames of the fire, Camden's sobs had subsided, and her tears had ceased their flow. With her arms securely wrapped around Clayton's neck and his embrace around her waist, she finally felt safe—safe from her past, safe from her fears. "Thank you," Camden whispered into Clayton's ear, her voice barely audible. The weight she had carried for years felt lighter, as if shared between them. "I'll always be here for you, Cam. You can tell me anything. We can get through anything together, okay?" Clayton reassured her, his voice filled with unwavering support. Camden nodded against his shoulder, finding solace in his words.They remained entwined, finding comfort and strength in each other's presence. Time seemed to blur as they held onto one another, basking in the warmth of their connection. Eventually, Clayton sensed Camden's exhaustion, her body growing limp in his embrace. "Are you tired?" he asked gently, his voice a ten
Clayton awoke to the gentle sound of rain tapping on the windows, the soft rhythm creating a soothing backdrop to the peaceful morning. As he opened his eyes, he found himself greeted by the sight of Camden, her breathing steady and serene. A contented sigh escaped his lips as he realized how lucky he was to have her by his side. Snuggling closer to Camden's neck, he revelled in the intoxicating scent of her skin. His lips brushed against her soft flesh, leaving a trail of delicate kisses along her jawline, down to her neck and along her collarbone. "Mmmmmmm...." Camden moaned, her voice husky with sleep. "That feels good," she murmured, her eyes still closed. "Go back to sleep," Clayton whispered, his breath caressing her skin. "How can I sleep when it feels like a thousand volts of electricity is running through my body?" Camden responded, her sleepy voice laced with desire. Clayton's smile deepened, enjoying the knowledge that he made her feel this way.Camden rolled onto her side,
Camden awoke to the tantalizing aroma of freshly brewed coffee. She stretched, lazily opening her eyes, and turned to see Clayton bustling about in the kitchen. "Coffee?" he offered with a smile. Camden shook her head, feeling a pang of guilt that he had likely made it for her. "No, thanks, I don't really drink coffee," she confessed. "I prefer tea." Clayton's eyes widened in astonishment. "What?! Who doesn't drink coffee?" he exclaimed, clearly dumbfounded by this new revelation. Camden chuckled softly. "Well, I guess that would be me," she replied. "How do you wake up in the morning?" Clayton asked, still trying to take in this new information. "Well, I mean, the same way everyone else does. I open my eyes and then I'm awake." She laughed. "Fuck," Clayton grumbled as he rummaged through cupboards and shelves. "I don't think I even have tea." He said with a frown. "That's okay." Camden mused. "I'm sure I'll survive without it."Clayton's eyes sparkled as an idea formed in his mind. "
Camden shifted too, following Clayton back to the cabin. They once again leapt and bounded through the forest, enjoying their time together in their wolf forms. Clayton was faster than Camden, but Camden was more agile. The pair zig-zagged through the trees, playfully competing to be the first one back to the cabin. Their joyous yips and howls echoed through the woods, a testament to their deep bond.Suddenly, Camden let out a piercing howl of pain, causing Clayton to come to an abrupt halt. He turned around, his eyes scanning the forest, searching for his mate. He spotted her pale fur a little further back and bolted toward her to see what had happened. As he approached, his heart sank at the sight before him. Camden’s front right paw was ensnared in a bear trap, blood staining her fur. Clayton quickly shifted back into his human form. "Fuck!" he shouted, frustration and concern coursing through his veins. "Why are there fucking bear traps out here?!" Camden whimpered, trying her bes
Clayton grabbed a towel and began drying his hair, letting it hang loose to air dry. Camden lay in front of the crackling fireplace, feeling the warmth slowly seep into her body, her muddy toes peeking out from under the cozy blanket. "Cam?" Clayton called out. "Yeah?" she replied, her voice filled with weariness. "I'm making myself some coffee. Can I make you some hot chocolate?" Clayton offered. "Mmmm... Sounds good," Camden replied. "Well, actually, I'm making myself an Irish coffee, if I'm being honest," Clayton confessed. "It's been one of those days..." he sighed. "And it's only 2 pm..." Camden perked up. "Make it two Irish coffees," She stated, eager to feel the calm relaxation that the whiskey might offer. "Are you being serious?" Clayton questioned, knowing that she hated coffee and didn’t seem particularly fond of whiskey either. "Yup. Like you said, it's been a rough day."Clayton brought over the drinks, and Camden sat up, reaching out her good arm from under the blanket t
Clayton turned back around, his eyes meeting hers, a mixture of surprise and eagerness in his expression. "Are you sure?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. Camden nodded, a blush rising in her cheeks. A surge of anticipation coursed through Clayton's veins, and with an enormous smile, he took her hand, hurriedly leading her outside. "Let's go, before you realize you're acting crazy and change your mind," he teased, his voice filled with excitement.They ventured out into the rain, the icy drizzle making contact with Camden's naked skin, eliciting a gasp from her. Clayton removed his sweatpants, hanging them on a nearby tree. Then he adjusted the water temperature for the outdoor shower, ensuring it was just right. With a mischievous grin, he pulled Camden under the spray with him. She shivered as the warm water cascaded over her, her body responding to both the chill of the rain and the heat of their intimate connection. Clayton couldn't resist the magnetic attraction between them, pullin
Camden burrowed into Clayton's neck, relishing the warmth and comfort of their intertwined bodies. His scratchy beard tickled her nose as she nuzzled against him, finding solace in his presence. She curled into a ball of pure bliss and fulfilment, her injured arm draped over Clayton's chest. In the tranquil aftermath of their passionate union, a sense of serenity washed over them.Clayton's smile beamed with genuine happiness as he looked down at Camden, his heart overflowing with love. "I love you," he whispered, the words carrying the weight of his emotions. Camden, her eyes closed, basked in the tender moment, her expression radiating contentment. She felt the profound truth in Clayton's words, and her heart responded in kind. "I love you too," she murmured softly, her voice filled with sincerity.Shifting slightly, Clayton rolled over onto his side, his gaze fixed on the woman lying beside him. The sight of her flushed face, damp with perspiration and adorned with a rosy hue, capt
Matt let out a sigh, wanting to be done with the conversation now. "Just make sure you keep your end of the deal. I'm doing this for Cam... and for what we used to have," he said, his gaze drifting off momentarily as if lost in memories. "You know, I considered going with you, but I know how threatened you feel by me," Matt teased, trying to keep a straight face but unable to do so. Clayton scoffed and chuckled. "I might actually miss you, Matt. Not the part where you trailed after Cam like a lost puppy, or the way you'd watch her move, or the way your hands lingered on her a little too long..." Clayton went on, leaving Matt with a sheepish expression on his face. "But I'll miss you.""God, Clayton, I'm not going to die! Well, actually, I might if they ever find out that I knew about this and never said anything... But let's hope that doesn't happen. Just figure this shit out, okay? If I can help the two of you in any way, let me know, but something tells me this journey doesn't involv
Instead of leading him to the lounge, as Clayton had anticipated, he led him back to the kitchen. The change in setting made the conversation seem more serious. More threatening.Matt took a seat, followed shortly by Clayton, who sat directly opposite him. Matt didn't beat around the bush. "You know I know," he stated. It wasn't a question. Clayton shrugged, seemingly unfazed. Matt sighed before continuing, "Where are you guys going?" he asked, his tone firm and serious. "We don't know yet. We still need to decide. I only just found out about all of this," Clayton replied, feeling a bit annoyed. It was pretty unreasonable of Matt to expect them to already have a plan when he had literally only found out all this life-changing stuff a few minutes ago. He felt like he needed a minute to reflect and to think it all through."Clayton, I'm not fucking around when I say this... If you hurt her, I will fucking end you. We might not be mates anymore, but I still feel responsible for her and p
Camden couldn't help the tiny sob that escaped her lips. To think that Clayton had wondered his whole life whether his parents had loved him broke her heart. Her pregnancy hormones were kicking into overdrive and she could feel that she would start to spiral soon if she didn't regain her focus, so she pressed on, hoping to lighten the situation with a little levity. "Also," she went on, wiping a tear from her eye, "I figured while I was getting the inside scoop on your family history, I'd ask about your real name," she explained. Clayton perked up, very interested to hear what she was about to reveal. "Well, I didn't ask about your first name. I don't know... I felt weird about it. I felt like too much would change if I had to start calling you something else now on top of all this other stuff and I know you as Clayton and it—" she was rambling on when Clayton cut her off. "What is it?" he asked, unable to disguise his curiosity. "Wolfe," she revealed with the tiniest hint of a smile.
Clayton couldn't help the smile that spread across his features. Despite everything Camden was telling him, he couldn't help but feel joy in this one, singular moment.Camden was also wearing a small smile, happy to see his happiness, but simultaneously worried about what the future held for them all."I knew it was a boy," Clayton whispered softly, gazing into Camden's eyes which looked back at him with uncertainty. She nodded. "She said we'll have a girl too. But the girl won't have this... gene, or whatever you call it," Camden replied, sounding a little relieved. Clayton's smile grew even wider and Camden's heart all but burst as she saw his eyes twinkle with excitement at the prospect. "How lucky are we?" he asked, his voice low but filled with anticipation and love. "Well, that has yet to be determined because there are so many things we need to take into consideration here, Clayton," Camden replied, grounding Clayton back in reality. "Like what?" he asked, the momentary high be
Camden followed, trailing behind him as he settled back down at the kitchen table once more. His anger and frustration were all but palpable and Camden felt guilty for having brushed him off and ignored him just now. "How much did you hear?" she asked as she settled back down in her seat. "It doesn't matter. Start from the beginning," he instructed, taking a deep breath as he tried to relax. Camden figured there was no point in trying to sugarcoat things or beat around the bush. It was his truth and he deserved to know. "I told you, I had an... experience. I don't know if it was a vision, or if it was a dream, or if it was something that really happened, just on a different plane of existence. To be honest, I don't want to get too philosophical about it, because it makes me uncomfortable. But I know it happened, and I know it was real because Matt just proved it," Camden explained, fiddling with the sleeve of her wet hoodie. Clayton said nothing, only watching her, waiting for her t
"Sorry... I'm sorry," Clayton immediately apologized, seeing how his reaction had startled Camden. He quickly got up and went to the sink, grabbing a cloth to stop the beer from dripping down onto her lap. "I'm so sorry, babe," he continued to apologize as he soaked up the spilled beer from the table, "I was frustrated. You guys aren't telling me what's going on," he tried to explain, but he knew it was a poor excuse."I need to make a call," Matt announced as he headed out of the kitchen. Light lightening, Camden was up, chasing after him desperately while she left Clayton to mop up his spilled beer and mope as he continued to be ignored."Stop!" she cried, tugging at Matt's arm as she caught up with him in the lounge. "Camden, please... this is hard enough as it is..." he said in a small voice. It was then that she noticed that his eyes were glistening as if he were on the verge of tears. Her anger and panic began to dissipate as he stood in front of her, unmoving."Please..." Camde
"So, when are we leaving?" Matt asked as he stripped off his soaked sweater and pulled a beer out of the fridge. "Want one?" he offered Clayton. "It's not even 6am!" Clayton exclaimed in disbelief. "It's been a rough night," Matt replied with a shrug as he snapped the can open. Clayton regarded him for a moment then relented. "Okay, fine," he agreed, gesturing for a beer from the fridge. Matt smiled and handed him one before taking a long drink of his own.All the while, Camden sat at the kitchen table, fiddling with a pamphlet about the Standing Stones. "You alright?" Clayton asked, resting his hand on her shoulder as he stood behind her. "I dunno..." she admitted, continuing to toy with the pamphlet. "You're soaked, why don't you go take a shower or at least get changed into some dry clothes?" Clayton suggested, brushing a drenched lock of hair behind her ear.She sighed, but made no effort to move, still pressing and folding the paper in front of her. "Baby?" Clayton murmured, brus
"Matt?" Camden whispered, shaking him lightly. He groaned and furrowed his brow, as if annoyed by the intrusion. "Matt?" she whispered again, but suddenly she heard Clayton's voice ringing through the air. "Camden?"She looked up, searching the perimeter of the circle for Clayton. Spotting him, her heart skipped a beat. He stood beside the circle, torn between rushing in and waiting for some kind of confirmation that the ritual was over.Camden wasted no time; she rushed to him as fast as her legs could carry her. Leaping over the salt circle, she jumped into his arms. He caught her eagerly, but his face suddenly fell as he exclaimed, "Babe! The circle!" worry etching his features. "It's fine," she said. "She broke it. There," Camden pointed behind them to a clear break in the salt before smothering him in kisses."I was so worried about you," Clayton murmured, holding her cheeks and looking into her eyes before pulling her to him in a fierce hug. "I'm here. I'm fine," she assured him
Camden sat quietly, contemplating everything she had just learned about her mate and what the implications were for her. She drained her glass of wine with a series of long, deep gulps, only to find that it had been refilled as soon as she moved her hand away from her lips. She let out a small incredulous laugh. "Okay, so quick recap here. Clayton is from a bloodline that dates back to the beginning days of werewolves, he can shift into a werewolf, in the traditional half-man, half-wolf sense, my son will also have this ability, and the whole world will want to kill them for this? Did I miss anything?" she asked, pursing her lips as she waited for Selene's response."Yes. The bloodline cannot die. The end of the Lupi Noctis bloodline will be the beginning of the end for all werewolves," Selene added gravely, her gaze piercing through the dim light of the stone circle. "Their existence is intricately tied to the balance of the natural and supernatural world. Without them, the balance w