For half a second I consider finding my way across the roof. Surely I can catch the end of bath time. But…then I will almost surely find a way to mess it up and plummet to my death.Which is…nonpreferred.I sigh, turning over on my side, hoping for sleep. I stare at the little cakes Margot left me for a moment, wondering if I should…“Ah, screw it,” I murmur, reaching out and taking a tiny cake, popping it in my mouth. It’s just a bite, and if it helps to send me off to sleep quickly so that my mind doesn’t curl down into a doom spiral of all the things I’m worried about…so much the better.I exhale, close my eyes, and pray for sleep. It comes quickly, even as I sort through my memories, some of which are more vivid tonight than they’ve been before…_ _ _**Midwinter, 5 and a half years ago**“What…what are you talking about?” Auden whispers, still shaking his head. “You’re not getting married.”I bite my lip, guilt racing through me. “I am.”“To whom!?”A smile starts but then fades
**Midwinter, Five and a Half Years Ago***“All right,” Auden says, pressing another kiss to my hair and then sitting up straighter, moving me gently away from his chest. “Let’s start over and try this again.”“Try what again?” I ask, sitting straighter, my wolf howling as he bends his long leg towards him, moving it around me and putting his foot on the floor with the other, standing up.“Try…this,” he says, gesturing around at our cups spilled on the floor, the dying fire in the iron stove. “Clearly, I’m doing a crap job at making my case if you’re still insisting on maintaining your engagement at this point –“I laugh, shaking my head at him. Because I was gone the moment we ran across the terrace, headed for the stairs. He doesn’t even have to make a case – I’m already here.But if he want
He shakes his head. “I don’t even know Angeline. She seems very nice – and fun. I think I will like her, I just…I can’t believe they’re having a kid.” He exhales, running a hand through his hair, staring off into the distance as he processes it.“Your first sibling,” I murmur, my brows rising as I sip the last of my whiskey and put the cup on the floor. “Do you want a brother or a sister?”He smirks and turns his eyes back to me. “I want you to stop distracting me.”I grin, caught. “But it’s such a fun distraction.”He laughs, leaning towards me and reaching out, wrapping his wide hand around one of my ankles. “Fun for you. I’m still tortured.”“Oh, come on,” I say, shaking my head and letting my red hair fall around my face. “We can discuss baby names. They could name your new sibling after
**Midwinter, Five-and-a-Half Years Ago**Auden just stares at her for a long, long moment. The most beautiful girl he’s ever seen, without a doubt. Here, in his arms, looking up at him with her clear blue eyes.Then, to his shock, her hands keep moving. He looks around for the mask – where did she toss it? But it’s nowhere. He’s distracted by the thought as her hands move over her hair, his eyes going wide as –As the color leeches out of it –Auden’s jaw is hanging open by the time she lowers her hands to her lap, grimacing a little. “Blonde,” she says, glancing upwards like she can see it – all the lovely sunshine hair tumbling from her head, landing halfway down her back.“What…the hell…” Auden whispers, completely rigid with shock.She grimaces. “You don’t like blondes?&
Auden kiss Everleigh fiercely, intent as his hand moves over the bodice of her dress, feeling the shape of her beneath the fabric. His hand slips around to her back, fumbling with the laces there as Evie kisses him back, their tongues pressing against each other in a way that makes him…absolutely insane.All the thoughts slip from Auden mind as Everleigh shifts in his lap, sliding her thigh over his so that she’s again straddling his hips, her face leveled slightly above Auden’s so that his head tilts back just as she kisses him. Somehow his fingers fumble with the strings, pulling at them, feeling them loosen –But he’s not sure how his hands manage that – because all of his thoughts are entirely overwhelmed by the scent of her filling his nostrils, the need he has to touch her skin, to get these stupid clothes off her, to see her – his mate – bare for him –Naked, entire
**Midwinter, Five and a Half Years Ago**I move my hand slowly up and down Auden’s cock, reveling a little at the feel of it thick and heavy against my palm even has half of my attention is on his mouth, moving fervidly over mine. I moan – just a soft, throaty noise - completely overwhelmed by him. The size and sheer power of this Alpha –God damn it but I want him. Heat builds low in my body, a fluttering tension growing in my core.Auden’s hips flex, pressing himself tighter against my palm, stroking the length of that fantastic cock against my hand as he leverages himself above me, his weight held up on his forearms as he finishes kicking his pants off, leaving them in a heap at the other end of the couch.He pulls his mouth away from me for a moment, panting, looking down into my face. And I see him hesitate, even as I continue to stroke him. His eyes flutter shut for a moment as I move
He snarls, pleased, a predator now as he thrusts himself hard into me, claiming me with every stroke. My entire body shakes as I gasp again and again, what’s left of my mind ringing with the truth of it – with how fucking good and right it feels to make myself his, to give myself completely to him, to his pleasure –I feel it, somehow, building in him as it builds in me. My breath is nothing but fervid little gasps as he pounds me harder, his hand wrapped in my hair, pain mingling with pleasure as I dig my nails into the flesh of his back, begging him for more. I curl against him, my entire body tensing with every stroke, and I feel him watching me – taking pleasure in my helpless gasps as he strokes again and again –He growls, a command as I come to the end of it and I moan – heavy and true, my eyes pressed shut, my teeth finding his shoulder as that tension winds so tight –His fingers press
I blink awake, staring at the ceiling of my castle room in the dark, grief rushing through me alongside awe.Because that dream…it was so vivid. Like I was…there, feeling everything in the moment like it had been real. The feel of his skin against mine, god damn it, I felt it. It was like…a memory relived, more than a dream.I sigh, turning my face to the side, looking over at Margot’s good-dream cakes, wondering if the name is a lie. Because while the events of that dream were fairly fantastic and I have woken all limp and languid as if I really did just have the best sex of my life…God, but that’s cruel. To give me an experience that was so real, to which my actual life will never, ever live up. My wolf howls, wanting me to close my eyes so I can go back to that dream – but I shake my head, knowing that I can’t.How had the little cake
“It went off without a hitch, Ev!” she says, laughing and smacking my shoulder, delighted. “Seriously, you are a skilled woman – both in terms of using that powder and…what I convinced Mahl you could do in the bedroom, when properly incentivized.”I burst out laughing, letting my head tilt back with it, relief rushing through me as much as humor. I mean, I figured everything went okay when I didn’t receive any drastic summons this morning. But hearing it from Margot’s own lips is its own relief.“The powder lasted all night?” I whisper, leaning closer.She nods eagerly. “I had to scrub it, Ev, you put it on good. Honestly, do you think my hair still has a bit of a blonde sheen?”I glance at it and then give her a playful shove on the shoulder as I laugh, realizing that she’s kidding. “Don’t be silly.”“Oh, I’ll be as silly
I yawn as I walk slowly through the halls, heading for the great hall where the majority of the Lunas of this castle will be gathered, alongside their children, as is traditional after the Night of the Stag. Some Alphas will come too, but most will stay in bed.And it’s not that I’m necessarily dragging my feet to get there because I’m dreading it or something. I’m just still quite tired after an eventful night.Luckily for me, the day after the Night of the Stag is a long and lazy day where everyone in the palace takes it easy. The children play with their toys together in the hall, Lunas hang out and lounge around gossiping, and Alphas take the time to sleep off their drug-fueled orgy.Everyone just takes the day to do what they need, which is very nice.Viv and I took a long cozy nap after our extended chat about why kindness matters even when it doesn’t reflect your inner feelings. It wasn’t enough, c
I laugh, looking around at my family, eyebrows raised. “Finally?”“Yes,” she murmurs, Niall nodding in agreement. “You finally let daddy scent mark you and you smell much better.”I straighten in my chair, my eyes flashing to Auden, who laughs low and rich, shaking his head at me.Shit. I – I didn’t even put together that of course the kids were going to notice that I smell all over of Auden now until I get a chance to wash it off.God, thank heavens the children are the only ones I’ve seen so far.I laugh too, shaking my head, suddenly anxious to get in the tub even as I lay my cheek on my daughter’s hair. “I didn’t realize I smelled so objectionable before.”“Not ob-jection-bul,” she murmurs, taking a deep and happy breath, turning her face to bring her nose closer to me. “Just better. Daddy s
“And then,” Vivi murmurs, sitting on my lap with her mouth full of toast and butter and jam, reaching for her glass of juice. “Aurora’s mother took my bow away and said I wasn’t allowed to play with it anymore if I was going to keep scaring Aurora –“I grimace and look over at Auden, who sighs and cocks his head to the side, clearly regretting his choice of gifts for the Night of the Stag.Niall stares daggers at his sister from his chair, shaking his head at her. “You were so mean to Aurora and now we won’t be invited back!”“Even if they invite me back, I won’t go,” Vivi murmurs, turning to offer Coco a whole sausage from her fork. “It’s boring there.”“Vivs,” I murmur, reaching out to stop her from giving him so much food at once – but Coco gobbles the sausage down fast, the meat folding in half and going
Auden glances at me one last time as he reaches the door and I pull the dress over my head, hastily standing and tugging at my laces. I duck down next to his bed, ready to hide as instructed, and he nods to me, pulling his bedroom door open and then heading for the main door.I sit down hard on the floor on the far side of the bed, ducking my head so that I can’t be seen above the mattress, my arms twisted behind my back and tugging as best as I can at the stupid strings that will tighten my bodice.When? When will they invent dresses that women can put on without aid so that they can keep their clandestine night adventures to themselves!? “Papa!” Vivi cries. Auden laughs and says something back as Niall likewise shouts his hellos. I smile – I can’t help it – the sound of their voices going right to my heart.My sweethearts, my cuties. God, I haven’t thought about them in…hours.I
Auden lifts his hips fast and rough, pressing his cock up into me one final time. I moan, grinding myself down, my hands pressed to his chest beneath me, my arms trembling as I go to pieces around him, my inner muscles clenching hard as the tension within me comes to its breaking point and begins to unspool.I gasp again and again as that heat pounds through me, my arms giving out and my body pitching forward as my eyes fall shut. Auden’s there in a moment, catching me against his chest and turning me slightly so that I lay on my side. He murmurs something soft but I don’t hear it – or can’t comprehend it – or something - whatever. My brain is again mush and I can’t find the energy to care.Auden shifts behind me for better leverage, his hips slapping hard against my ass a dozen more times before he, too, groans and stills, coming to his end as a few curses slip from his lips. My body responds, my back arching painfully as I press my ass more ti
We lay there for a long few moments in silence, I think just letting our bodies learn the feel of each other in repose, basking in this new warmth. He ducks his head slightly, rubbing his stubbled cheek against my hair in a very fond, wolfish gesture. I can’t help my growing smile, raising a hand to his chest and letting my fingers spread out over his soft skin.God, who knew it would be this soft?Or maybe I did.Maybe I dreamed it.My wolf gives a scanty little howl of joy, curling up in a little crescent shape with her nose tucked under the edge of her tail, completely content.“I’ve thought about this,” he murmurs, letting his body curl around me more completely, pressing a kiss to my hair.“Really?” I whisper, lifting my face a bit to look up at him, grinning.He stills for a moment, frowning down at me. “You’re going to break my heart if you say you haven’t.”I laugh, smacking him lightly on the chest and lowering my face to press my cheek again to his nice warm skin. “So, what
My breath deepens as I keep my eyes on Auden, my fingers deftly working at the leather of his belt, sliding the end through the metal clasp and then tugging it, working it free of the pin. When I slide the buckle free, my hand moves to the button beneath, quickly popping it free of the fabric.Auden watches my face as my hand works, his expression very serious, very…solemn.Like this is some kind of great ceremony.Like this is…a point which when crossed we cannot go back. Which, I suppose it kind of is.But we’ve already crossed at least three of those points already. Honestly, I’m so far in with this man that…this tiny step? This last little leap?It just feels inevitable. Natural and right.Auden’s hand moves slowly up my arm as my fingers work at the series of little buttons on his fly, slipping each one free. He keeps his eyes on mine, even as my hand slips around to his side, my thumb again running along the waistline of his pants. When I reach his hip, I press the fabric down.
“What are you doing?” I gasp.“It’s easier this way,” he murmurs, settling down on top of my legs. He pauses for a second, but then his fingers wrap again around the edges of my dress, pulling it down a little lower so that half of my booty is exposed.“Auden!” I gasp, my head flying up.“Calm down, Everleigh, this is strictly medical. I just need to see the extent of the bruise.” His voice is low, entertained.“Oh, I hate you,” I murmur, tucking my head back down against my arms, my cheeks flaming.“No, you don’t,” he murmurs, making me smile. A soft scraping sounds, the lid of a jar being unscrewed, and the balmy scent of mint and eucalyptus fills my nose. “This will be cold.”I sigh and nod, consenting to it, thinking that sounds quite nice against the hot ache growing in my lower back. But I still gasp at the first t