Next update is Monday!
~Harlow’s Point of View~I nod at Jett as he again follows me to class. French class, no less. I stop in the doorway and see Luke’s seat empty, and it just hurts all over again. The note of my nightmares still sits on the floor, half under my bed. I peeked at it poking out last night a hundred times but I couldn’t bring myself to read it. Finally, I cried myself to sleep and today my face more than shows it. “Awe lover boy left you finally? He didn’t want a fat beached whale knocked up by someone else huh? You look like shit. Good luck getting a male now,” Gigi states, passing me as she stares up and down my body.I have no energy for her today, and the fact that she still doesn’t know who the father of my baby is. It absolutely pisses her off not to know, and that gives me a small bit of satisfaction. No one outside of the Shadows, Skip, Caden and Luke knows I was assaulted. I can only pray it stays that way. For all anyone else knows I had a one night stand.“You look like a $2 who
~Tate’s Point of View~“I don’t know if he ever saw me. All I know is I never met anyone matching Anna’s description of Caden,” I say, running my hand over my chin with great irritation.“We need someone undercover at this auction. Last count we’ve got over two dozen dead or missing males and a dozen missing females. That’s just what’s been reported… rogues rarely are unfortunately. I’m going to bet that’s where the females will be, the rest is still up in the air. At least I’ve never seen males in these types of things,” Shane snaps, falling into the large chair behind his desk.“You need a fairy, someone to match their power. Get one of my uncles. Rich, powerful, arrogant as fuck. They’d fit the bill to a T,” I offer, dropping my hands on the desk and leaning in.My wolf stirs, hating the idea there are so many young girls being sold off. Even remotely imaging what kind of sick bastard buys a human being. “It has to be a Shadow, someone who’ll fully get the gravity of the situation
~Harlow’s Point of View~“I want … to see Caden now,” I grit through my clenched teeth for the tenth time. The male tasked with babysitting me and the half dozen other terrified females barely spares me a glance.“Nobody cares what you want brat,” he finally grunts.I pull my knees up to my chin, disgusted by the threadbare dirty mattress beneath me, but grateful to at least have my heavy winter coat since the basement I'm in isn't exactly heated. Some of the girls have little clothing. It's impossible not to nag this male for answers but it's obvious he doesn't know much, and that's being generous.“I'm pregnant too, only a month along though,” one of the girls whispers, making my eyes go wide. She's just in a thin nightgown, likely snatched out of her bed. She has to be at least a year younger than me, and quite malnourished.I quickly take off my gloves and offer them to her, though I'm definitely keeping my coat. Two girls on the other side of the room loudly cough, and it makes
~Rowan’s Point of View~“I don’t need this shit today,” I whisper, as I watch my brothers all pile into a limo. When I see my mother kiss Declan, the happiness that radiates off her face is unmistakable. She’s always wanted a daughter, and I guess after today she’ll finally have it.But it's a distraction I don’t need right now. Not when I still desperately need to find both Luke and Otis. My family has spies literally everywhere, and I got a few tips in the night on Luke I’m hot to follow up on.There’s no getting Luke out of my head. He’s in my dreams and my dick reminds me constantly that it needs to find him. If there’s even a chance he’s thinking about me, I have to know.“I’ll be meeting with the wedding planner while you go to pick up your bride! I can’t wait to get her input for everything too,” mom gushes, as she pinches Declan’s cheek for good measure. He sighs, but hugs her for the third time in just as many minutes.When we’re all in the car, nobody wants to be the first to
~Harlow’s Point of View~My legs wobble as I close my coat tighter around me. I stand utterly horrified, gaping at a room full of well dressed, and clearly wealthy men. They’re enjoying drinks, cigars and typical male banter. Though they’re not looking at sports or fighting, they’re looking at naked girls young enough to be their daughters. Or granddaughters.A girl no more than 16 trembles on a stage, in nothing but a skimpy thong. I knew Caden was keeping girls, but seeing this… seeing them literally being sold… I just can’t fathom it. It’s absolutely sickening.“Right there! Seven million to the gentleman down front,” the announcer shouts. Everyone applauds as the girl looks around in absolute horror. Everything in me says to run to her, grab her and then… do what exactly? Before I can hold my next thought, the male who bought the girl is already on stage and taking her. I cringe when I see Caden across the room, now in a suit though he doesn’t have a tie on, applauding the loudest
~Rowan’s Point of View~“Too late,” I whisper, as I stare at my brother Mikey’s smokey remains, now flaking away into ash. This isn’t how our kind are supposed to go, and now Mikey’s sins will remain unresolved for all time. Our parents are going to be absolutely furious. Surely they felt his familial bond sever as we did.It also means that the head of the family would now be Conor; unless he refuses it, then it goes to whomever marries first. What a clusterfuck!It’s obvious he died violently, there’s blood everywhere and it's just damn gruesome. Something shiny and maybe… reflective is near his neck. We’ll have to inspect that later.Any relief I might have expected to feel at his death, doesn’t really come. An attack against a McGrath is a big fucking deal. It means our family will go to war, literally wipe out any trace of his murderer from the earth. Their entire family, hell anyone they’ve ever talked to. We show absolutely no mercy!“Who … did it,” Conor roars, as we attempt to
~Tate’s Point of View~I rear back my fist and lunge myself at Orion, the male who’d be trusted to keep Harlow safe. But a hard fist stops me abruptly, as I feel a stiff large body at my back. I don’t have to guess it’s my grandfather, Quinn. Especially when I see the expensive sleeve of his suit stretched out, his large hand clasped around mine.“There was nothing he could do. We couldn’t have possibly predicted Harlow would kill literally one of the most prolific murders on the planet. Fuckin’ proud of her though and good riddance,” Shane defends. Orion runs his hand through his pretty boy hair as I fume anyhow.“The guy who got her was like… turned on by the fact that she killed him. I kept trying to bid but after a while the announcer ignored me. Probably getting a cut but come on, fifty million? I have no idea who he was either, probably crawled out of some hole,” Orion says.“She has to be scared shitless,” I say, as I pull my hand down and shove away from my grandfather. There i
~Harlow’s Point of View~“Ouch,” I snap, as a female hits my fingers with a ruler. A damned ruler! What am I five and getting into the cookie jar?“Don’t you dare talk back. If you do that to daddy, you’ll pay dearly. He’ll make sure you can’t walk for a week. I’ve never seen him baby someone THIS much,” she huffs, practically in a hiss.I press my lips into a tight line as I feel Bunny kick. She’s given me so much strength, and I know everything I do for the rest of my days is for her. So I can’t be stupid here. Not until I know what I’m fully up against.And I’ll be DAMNED if I call that fat penguin freak daddy. Even for all his weird kinks, that's something I could never see Luke demanding. Ick!I’ll be further damned if I’m going to have my baby here. This house is gorgeous but it feels almost like a funeral home. I visited one once when I was briefly homed with a human family, and it was absolutely the creepiest place ever. A crypt outside with mummies would be less intimidating.
~Rowan’s Point of View~“What’s wrong,” a male asks, as Harlow winces and touches her belly. She breathes through it.“I’ll get the doctor,” another male says. My entire world spins out of control and I nearly snarl, pushing down the intense need to bat them all away as my beast wants to do. People are touching our mate, putting their scent on her and it’s only me that should be caring for her.“She’s fine and stubborn, she insists on staying,” I say, and snake my arm around my little acushla, pulling her away from those gawking at her.“Rowan, this is Lilly and her mates River, Hunter and Skylar. They’ve helped me so much with my pregnancy and helping to find out about my family. They’re really the absolute best,” Harlow says, standing up straight once her pain subsides and waving her hands.My defenses immediately go up, sensing the magic of a very strong witch nearby, though it's been doing that since we got here. It’s making me nuts. There are far too many in a concentrated area.“
~The day of the charity ball~~Harlow’s Point of View~“Rowan, we don’t have time,” I giggle, as my mate licks my clit in the most torturous way. He knows damn well neither of us cares about time. When we get going, there’s no stopping things. Everyday with him has just been better than the next and I’ve never been more convinced I’ve absolutely found my true fated mate. Of course Hope in my head constantly panting and drooling is also making it all the more apparent.*Just relax,* Hope insists, lost in the feeling, the warmth and comfort of our mate. Each moment is too precious, especially when he goes out so much at night, and I have no idea where he’s going. I know so little about his “work” and while it feels like it isn’t my place to ask… it's killing me.But then he comes back and holds me, kisses me then more. And I forget I’m angry, I lose myself to him each and every time. “There’s time,” he breathes, and I gasp realizing he came inside me earlier this morning and I haven’t s
~Luc’s Point of View~“Fuck I had no idea there were so many. They look like a damn bee hive of dumb blood suckers,” Tate whispers.I roll my eyes and scrub my face, holding my position in the clouds. I can’t argue with his words, knowing this was once me. Leading the charge of mindless newborns at that. You couldn’t have told me a damn thing, I was absolutely convinced I was invincible in those days. Really… most of my days. We whisper to each other and try to identify a leader, but can’t manage it. None seem capable of flying, which is a damn huge positive. Though it took me many years to perfect it and manage to stay up for more than a few minutes at a time.Tate’s hot breath is just in my ear, his weight on my back is a lot… the male has certainly never missed a meal. Though having a vampire side to me makes my body almost stay a certain way I hate. I can lift weights, do whatever exercises I want, I can’t build muscle and keep it the way a normal human can and that’s always pisse
~Rowan’s Point of View~“Uhm…what are these,” I hear, from just in the bathroom. I move to the door to find it open, and Harlow is gaping at the sink counter. I rub my chin and admonish myself for being in such a hurry.“I uhm… they’re piercings. I took them out because I didn’t want to scare you our first time,” I explain and quickly gauge her reaction. She looks beyond confused and it's completely adorable. She’s just in one of my muscle t-shirts, and it stretches over her little belly perfectly. We slept in half the day, and I guess we both really needed it.“For … where,” she asks, her face totally blank. I rub the back of my neck, feeling embarrassed. I’m never embarrassed, it's completely against everything a McGrath stands for. But this teenage girl who holds my heart in her hands…well her opinion means everything to me.“I got it done on a whim. If I leave them out another day or so the holes will probably heal. I’ve probably already left them out longer than I should’ve,” I sa
~Harlow’s Point of View~“Hmmm, more, more…” I mumble, rubbing between my legs. *Yes! Ohh this is so good, SO good,* Hope cries out. I work my clit and move between it and my wet center, desperately wishing for something to really fill me up. Remembering the feel of Rowan yesterday, how damn masterful he was with me. Luke was certainly good but Rowan went down on me like a starved bear needing honey. The sound of a foot step shakes my entire body and I grab for the blanket, knowing that I’m in bed completely naked. With Hope’s help I can see my way around the dark now, though I know it’ll be sharperr after our first shift. “Just me macushia,” a deep voice says. Then a warm hand cups my cheek. I look up into Rowan’s eyes, and he’s clearly hungry…*Starved! Ohhh let’s do it,* Hope squeals. *Isn’t it too dangerous? What if he bites us,* I warn, as the bed dips and I move a bit to give him room. “What does that mean,” I ask, knowing it's something Irish. He gives me a warm smile and
~Harlow’s Point of View~“Rowan sent you to get me,” I question, checking out his brother. One of Rowan’s guards stands next to him and nods. “He’s had a rough night and well, his body needs a bit of time to recover,” Declan explains. I make a face, wondering what that really means.The idea of leaving the safety of Olivia’s house to sit in the cottage alone with a family that hates me for murdering their son makes me absolutely sick. I’d have no way whatsoever of defending or protecting myself.“Why can’t I just stay here,” I insist, frustrated. Also, if my mate is in distress, he needs me!“They’re predicting tonight may be another almost full moon, sometimes it can last more than one twilight,” Declan insists. I’m terrified knowing if he wants me to go, I’m going. He could take me like Mikey did.He reaches for my hand and I jerk it away. I quickly realize Hope did that, not me. I relish the feeling, but I’ll need to get used to not always controlling my body.“All the more reason
~Harlow’s Point of View~“Oh I couldn’t,” I say, covering my face from embarrassment. “Come on!! This is a hot thing a lot of females do! A pregnancy boudoir shoot. It’s normal,” Olivia says, trying to pull my hands from my face.I gape at the see-through blue scrap of lace fabric she’s holding up, and shake my head again. Sure, her mate is upstairs with her babies, and won’t exactly see but… a photo anyone could see. Goddess what would Luke think of me in this? Or Tate?*Get those other males OUT of your head! I know you had crushes on them but we have a real male and our true fated mate,* Hope insists. I sigh, knowing she’s right but there’s just some reason I can’t shake them. Even though Luke hurt me, even though Tate should hate me… I still care about them. I care about their opinions of me.“It’s just for Rowan. You know he’d probably take another male’s eyes for looking at what’s his,” Olivia gushes, like that’s something to be proud of. Sure enough, Hope nods in approval.O
~Luc’s Point of View~“You again. The witch is a lot prettier,” Otis whines, falling to sit in the sand. Well he’d certainly love the Greek paradise that has welcomed me to stay. Tempting, but no one is her. Not even close. The women there did nothing for me.I drop beside him and sigh, then rub my face. I literally feel as if I’m going through physical withdrawals from Harlow. Then there’s that damn male from a few nights ago that I can’t get out of my head.*We must find our sunflower! She has to be terrified,* Dante whines, curling into a ball.The Shadows epically failed to get her and protect her. Now that the McGraths have her, there’s no telling what they’ll do. Blessedly, they let her doctor visit, and confirm she’s all right. She even said she’s in good spirits, though I don’t see how. She’s so close to giving birth, she doesn’t need this stress. She should be at the packhouse, safe and relaxed. I have so much damn anger surrounding how she got taken, and all that’s followed
~Harlow’s Point of View~“Hey…” I hear, making me smack my lips and sigh. My body feels absolutely limp and relaxed. Almost like I’d had sex all night. But I didn’t. I pop one eye open to see Rowan looking down at me with great amusement. I like seeing him relaxed too, it’s been quite tense since I met him.And ya know, killed his brother. Well, I’m not losing any sleep over that.“It’s probably pretty common for people to fall asleep during a massage,” he says, with a small grin. I gasp and sit upright, seeing that the room is empty except for us.“Aw damn. I really was enjoying it, I didn’t mean to pass out,” I claim, realizing my boobs are practically heaving out of the towel that’s wrapped around me. I quickly try to fix it, but he certainly gets an eyeful. I can’t help but look down at his … yup, he’s hard. I grin and tuck the material back in my cleavage. He clears his throat.It was impossibly nice to fall asleep in his arms and wake up in them. Though he was gone when I’d gott