Claire POV:College was not as fascinating as I had thought it would be. My classmates seemed to be just as rash and childlike as those in the high school. But it was the behavior of the professors that kept me going. I enjoyed listening to their lecture. I enjoyed reading the extra material they asked us to read but no one else did.If a professor said it was optional reading, I definitely read it. I asked questions after class, often getting disgruntled looks from my classmates. Sometimes I received irritation from the professors and teaching assistants too. But all of it was overshadowed by the simple fact that I felt watched.It had been a long time since I had felt like something was chasing me at all times of the day.At first, I had ignored it, thinking that Dad was correct, that I was just nervous and missing them. But then the feeling persisted. I knew what nervousness felt like. I knew how much I missed my family. But there was nausea that overtook me at certain times of the
Keegan POV:It was just another day in Luisca. And of course, it was raining. Sometimes I wondered if this small town was more suited for vampires than a full-blooded wolf like me. That being said, I was living in the lap of luxury, in a four-story house in the outskirts of the small town, surrounded by lush forests. I was only thirty and retired. I didn’t have much to complain about.How, one might ask. Easy, I trained the men and thugs of one of the biggest crime bosses in the country, Clement Slater.Eight years ago, I had stumbled across the man outside a restaurant. It had been a complete accident because I sure as hell didn’t want to drop an alpha wolf on his ass. I had always been averse to figures of authority, so I kept away from them rather than stir trouble. But the fact that it was a mistake hadn’t been seen by his bodyguards. They were on me in a split second. Thank god, Slater had a heart. Yes, shocker! Though, since then, I
Keegan POV:Why did the Moon Goddess hate me so much? She had Clement send the one element that would break me down—the woman of my dreams. Yes, I knew that it sounded cliche, but what kind of man wouldn’t dream about the woman?There she stood, with her hands on her hips, smiling at her daughter, and all I could think about was how long it would take for me to get her sweating. The woman before me was petite, slender, and breathtaking. Her hair was dark and long, flowing past the middle of her back. Her face was small and with lips that many women would pay for. Then her, body, I didn’t have to comment about how I reacted just by looking at her. Couldn’t she have some Clement in her? It definitely would have helped me remain professional if she was a hulking asshole like her father. I felt lightheaded. What was this woman doing to me? Easy. She was making me lose my senses and making me think about things that should be
Keegan POV:“Not all the men are like your husband,” I said unnecessarily defensively. It was stupid of me because it would be better if she hated me and I sounded like one of those guys who claim to be nice but are buttholes in reality. “You just happened to meet the wrong one.”She laid her bag on the bed, barely looking around before returning her attention back to me. She brushed past me and locked the door. “Well, look at what the wrong one did to me.” She lifted her shirt over her head and tossed it at me. I caught it unceremoniously before my eyes caught sight of her body. The entire left side of her torso was covered in yellow and black bruises. Seething, I turned away, unable to look at her. I threw the shirt back at her. “I will do an assessment of your injuries later. I am going downstairs to make lunch.”“Well, let’s get another thing straight. Don’t undermine my authority with
Keegan POV:Her lips met mine and I groaned. She tasted and felt so amazing. My hands rested on her hips as her mouth moved against my own. I closed my eyes, allowing myself one little kiss, and then I would stop it.I was so hard. Then she swept her tongue across my bottom lip, and I lost it. I moaned deeply, taking in her tongue—so sweet—into my mouth. My hands slid around her hips to grope her ass. I groaned again, pulling her body closer to my own. She moaned and it really hit. I was so dead. With a heavy sigh, I grasped her shoulders and gently pushed her away. She looked at me, wide-eyed and scared. She looked vulnerable and I read the rejection in her eyes immediately. “I’m sorry. I just—” Vianne paused, discreetly glancing down at my crotch and I cringed. “I thought you wanted me.”Though she apologized, she didn’t appear too broken-hearted about it. In fact, she looked m
Keegan POV:“I am not denying it,” she replied. “But you responded so enthusiastically and it seemed like you wanted a lot more. Then, you obviously remembered that you like your head on your shoulders.”“What was I supposed to do?” I drew my finger a halo around my head. “Do I look like an angel to you?”She sighed. “Look, it doesn’t mean I don’t like what I see.” Her eyes roamed slowly down my chest and lower still. “Or that you’re even wrong about the kiss. What I am saying is, I agree that it wouldn’t be a good idea. One of us has to be strong enough to resist. And from this moment on, that will be me. Now, what exactly do you like to eat?”I clenched my teeth. I knew that we needed ground rules. We were both all too aware that we couldn’t act on our impulses. Yet, even in the matter of a few hours, the tension seemed to grow between us, even when she tried t
Keegan POV:“Hello,” Vianne said, not even bothering to look up at him. “You’re not from around here,” he said, still ogling and smiling. “I would remember you.”What an idiot. Could he sound more obvious? Vianne wouldn’t fall for that shit and she didn’t disappoint. She looked up, her face cold. Then she continued to unload the cart as if she hadn’t heard him. I controlled the growl that threatened to escape. “My wife and I moved out here a while back,” I said, pulling her to my side since the man was still looking at her with unveiled lust. “Oh.”His eyes lingered on her chest and then swept up to her hand, stopping at her wedding ring. Finally, his gaze settled on her face, gaping like an idiot. What the hell is his problem?I looked Vianne over. She had managed to cover up the bruising. I couldn’t tell that anything was there, but he wasn&
[Warning: This chapter contains racy content. Please read at your own risk.] Keegan POV: She was aching like I was. Her eyes widened as she realized she had said that out loud. “Vianne, I want you. I never said that I didn’t,” I admitted. “I have been aroused since you got her. Believe me.” “It’s not that,” she said, taking a deep breath and exhaling harshly. “I haven’t felt this way,” she gestured to each of us. “Towards anyone… in a long time.” The second part was the aftermath… almost forced. Her teeth clenched before she continued. “I am having a hard time ignoring it and I don’t exactly look good right now.” She presented her still bruised body. “Forget it.” She turned away again but I stopped her, pressing her back against my chest. “You are beautiful,” I said, my lips skimming her ear. It was time to show her that despite the bruises, she was still beautiful. She looked away from our reflection. The tough act crumbled around her when faced with what happened and how she
Claire POV:College was not as fascinating as I had thought it would be. My classmates seemed to be just as rash and childlike as those in the high school. But it was the behavior of the professors that kept me going. I enjoyed listening to their lecture. I enjoyed reading the extra material they asked us to read but no one else did.If a professor said it was optional reading, I definitely read it. I asked questions after class, often getting disgruntled looks from my classmates. Sometimes I received irritation from the professors and teaching assistants too. But all of it was overshadowed by the simple fact that I felt watched.It had been a long time since I had felt like something was chasing me at all times of the day.At first, I had ignored it, thinking that Dad was correct, that I was just nervous and missing them. But then the feeling persisted. I knew what nervousness felt like. I knew how much I missed my family. But there was nausea that overtook me at certain times of the
Keegan POV:I heard the baby monitor beep and squinted into the darkness, hoping it was nothing. The clock read three in the morning and this was a usual time for Vianne and me to wake up every morning. One of many. I sniffed and looked over at Vianne, who was curled on her side, still facing me. Her eyes were screwed shut and she was definitely awake, but she didn’t want to get off the bed. Understandable. She had a little shifter for a baby and it was safe to say nothing fun came from breastfeeding our son Kyle. He was still small, needing to wake up every few hours to be fed and bathed. Vianne, who despised breast pumps ended up sobbing in relief when I bought one this time around.I looked at the monitor again and saw that our son was wide awake, blinking and cooing at the camera with a gummy smile. He was a jolly child but he still needed to be fed and changed. I slipped out of bed and turned the alarm on the monitor off. I found Vianne smiling groggily at me and chuckled. “Go b
[Warning: The chapter contains explicit sexual content. Please read at your own risk.]Keegan POV:I heard the chime from Vianne's cell phone and knew it was Claire. She checked it, laughing."She asked if we were at the cabin yet.""Well damn, she gave me away." "A cabin?" "I said it was only a couple of hours by car. And it's pretty secluded and we'll have it all to ourselves." She laughed and kissed my cheek. "You don't have to convince me. It sounds perfect and that explains why you only brought us one bag for a three-night stay." I growled and pulled her hand to my mouth. "We won't be leaving the cabin for much. And being naked all weekend is mandatory." "Yes, alpha," she purred.Fuck. Did she have any idea what her saying things like that, in that fucking hot voice of hers did to me? I groaned when I felt her free hand rub between my thighs. "Oh fuck," I hissed and released her other hand. Both of my own gripped the steering wheel, desperately trying not to fucking kill us
Keegan POV:Minutes later, Vianne stood on a chair as I stood in front of her, holding onto her hips so she wouldn't fall. Behind her were Claire, Tory, and several other single women, all looking up as Vianne waved the small bunch of flowers overhead. Twice Vianne faked it, making them laugh and scream at her.Finally, at the end of the next countdown, Vianne threw it over her shoulder. I looked to see who caught it, finding a wide-eyed Tory holding the bouquet in her hands. However, seconds after, Clement passed her, grabbing the prize and handing the flowers back to my wife.There were several laughs and Tory groaned, chasing him toward Vivian who was too busy trying not to laugh. Then he went back for Claire. Good, I knew he was on my side."I can't believe your dad," Vianne said from her perch. She looked down at me as she waited for everyone to settle again. "You're enjoying yourself aren't you?" I shrugged, not apologizing for my wandering hands. My fingers were barely grazing
Keegan POV:Sensing my eyes on her, my daughter offered me a smile and wave. She blew me a kiss, which I caught mid-air, making her giggle. I winked and turned to Vianne who was watching me."You've been an amazing father," she whispered, tears filling her eyes. "I want to see you with a baby in your arms, sleeping on your chest."I leaned in, brushing her hair aside to whisper in her ear. "I want to see your belly grow with our son or daughter, watch you sit in a rocker as you breastfeed, and listen to you sing a lullaby-like you still do with Claire. I hope you never stop singing like that, sweetheart.""As long as I have someone willing to listen, I won't." She kissed me then, prolonging it with a sweep of her tongue along my lips. "I love you, so much, Keegan."I smiled as I went back for another kiss. "I know." She laughed, smacking my gut with her hand. "I love you, too. It's a good thing you do though. I would hate to be the only one."Something caught her attention over my sho
Keegan POV:"I'll get you!" I handed Claire to Vianne and followed the asshole. Why was it that Claire always asked the most uncomfortable questions when he was around?I heard my mother ask what was wrong from behind me. "He's still struggling with how smart our daughter is." "Did I hear something about baby sister or brother?" I heard several people laugh as I chased Ricki around a table. "It's not my fault she figured out what happens during a honeymoon!" "She didn't even know we were going to one!""Sorry," he said, laughing as he twisted away from my reach. "It didn't take much for her to work it out when I told her she couldn't join you." I growled and tried to grab him. "All you had to say was to ask me or Vianne." "Sorry!" I laughed and shook my head, knowing it wasn't really his fault. I just wanted to give him a hard time. I would smash some cake into his face later anyway. "Alright," I said, clapping a hand on his shoulder. "I'll let this go, but not before I tell th
Keegan POV:My baby girl looked like a mini beauty queen. Dressed in a white dress, she was eating up the attention, the gown covered in lace and tiny crystals. Her dark curls held small flowers and sparkled as she threw petals every few steps. She gave me a wink that had me rethinking strategies of keeping her locked up the moment she became a teenager.She was going to break so many hearts.As Mom and Dad made their way down the aisle, both smiling widely, I knew we made the right choice for me to come home for this.The music changed as my parents took their seats, both giving me a small hug before they sat. I looked up toward the entrance where I knew Vianne would appear, anticipation sizzling through me. As the music took on a softer quality, I saw a hint of white.My eyes ran the length of her; she was gorgeous, perfection and mine.The dress highlighted her beautiful body, making her look like a dream come true.Beside her Clement looked nervous as he stared at his feet, to mak
Keegan POV:Tess. She winked over my aunt's shoulder. Somehow, I knew my friends would find a way to be with me on my wedding day. My aunt, oblivious to me, went inside the wedding tent and Tess made her way to me."Don't you look handsome," she said, lifting her hands to fix my bow tie. "I'm glad you're here," I said softly, not wanting to be overheard. She smiled and shrugged. "We wouldn't miss it for the world." "Please tell me Edwin is in disguise.She knew why I asked. Though he wasn't widely known as the man that took over Clement's organization, he had made the news a few times already.“He let his beard grow out and changed his eyebrows. Even I had a hard time recognizing him,” she whispered, still smiling. "Where is he?"She cocked an eyebrow. "I'm the boss today, so he's somewhere around here following my orders."I laughed and wished I could hug her. "Thanks for coming," I said. "Who else is here?" She tried to play it off, but I could see right through her. Some of the
Keegan POV:I should have known. It hurt to know that she didn't seem to feel the bond I felt toward Claire."You feel it acutely because she is your mate’s daughter. It is an unbreakable bond. That's not to say I don't love her already," she added in a soft whisper."You do?""Irrevocably," she said with a smile. "How could anyone not love a pup like her? She's so beautiful and we share a hobby!" She laughed at that and I realized I had nothing to worry about with her and Claire. I couldn't tell her the whole truth, but I had to say something to ease her curiosity."She was running from an abusive boyfriend when we met," I said, coming up with a different cover story as I sat beside her. I hated the lie falling from my lips, but it was a price I paid to keep my family safe. "It was one of the reasons why Troy told you to wait a few months ago. He came looking for them after all this time."She nodded. "And that situation is resolved?""Yes," I said, kissing her temple. "I can't tell