next update will not be until Tuesday, thank you for reading!
~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
~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
~Harlow’s Point of View~~End of April~“Boss, there’s a little cute piece of ass here asking for you,” I hear, from somewhere just inside.I blow out a hard breath, doing all I can to keep it together. It doesn’t matter. They’ll see me sweating, hear my heart racing. Can’t hide a damn thing from shifters. But this is too important. This is past rock bottom, out of options. There’s no one else that I can turn to. Hell, I don't even know if I can turn to … him.Desperate is a bad look but especially on me.“She looks a lot younger than your usual,” I hear, as I roll my eyes. Heavy footsteps and the sounds of laughter flitter into my ears from different sections of the building.The blood in every crevice of my body seems to shoot between my ears, nearly making me think the ocean is in my head. Or my heart is about to explode. No one knows I’m here, and no one would miss me anyhow. They could toss me off a cliff, toss me into a fire pit. “What’s her name,” a deep voice asks, and I bare
~Harlow’s Point of View~~Warning: Assault~Just play it cool, act like nothing is different. I mean, so far it isn’t anyhow right? Goddess I’m such a bad liar, it never ends well.I keep my head low as usual as I wander into the house where I’m supposed to live, but dread coming into more and more. But I got a J-O-B today!! Things are going to change.I sigh as I see pups are running all over, long past their bedtime. I’ve tried my best not to get too close to any of them, but sometimes it’s hard. It isn’t their fault, none of this is.When I see the bed that’s supposed to be mine is empty, I breathe a sigh of relief. Snatching my nightgown, I quickly handle my business in the bathroom and get ready for bed. For the first time in a long while, I feel hopeful. I feel like a better future isn’t too far off. It doesn’t hurt that I’m going to bed on a full stomach for once.Just as I lay eyes on my bed again, there are two toddlers in it, passed out cold. I make a face and hang my head.
~Tate’s Point of View~*This is just fucking sick. I hate stuff like this. I hate that we didn’t get to kill the bastards that hurt that girl,* my wolf roars, trying to calm down. I can only agree. You just don’t hurt someone who can’t defend themselves, and especially not a young girl who doesn’t even have a wolf. It’s beyond sick.“I want to find the families of those males, and tear them to pieces too,” I mumble, under my breath. That crime scene was horrific, though I have seen much worse.My eyes can’t move from the victim that is currently across the yard, my heart breaks for what was stolen from her. But I also have to wonder, what’s ahead for her? It’ll be a long recovery. Surely the male holding her can’t provide what she needs.“He can’t just take her, councilor Black wouldn’t go for that. We could be trading one bad home for another. She’s obviously an orphan. My wolf says they’re not related,” I groan, irritated. My wolf Colt nods in my mind, confident in his scenting abi
~Harlow’s Point of View~“There,” Lilly says, as she tucks me into the softest bed. I zoned out through getting cleaned up, somehow trusting her to be gentle. I thought I might freak out when she touched me, since she had to get everywhere, but I didn’t. I just wanted so desperately to be clean but I knew I couldn’t find the strength to do it on my own.While I’ve been looking at her now for awhile, I don’t know as though I really noticed her. She’s stunning with light blonde hair and perfect skin. Bright eyes that are kind, a touch that’s just somehow instantly soothing. Her cheeks are a bit red, her manner is calm and inviting. She looks exactly like what the perfect mom would be, if I could imagine one.“I know that talking about what happened is going to be the last thing you want to do. It doesn’t have to be tonight, but you will need to be interviewed. One of my mates is the head investigator, and he’ll be very easy to talk to if you’d like,” she offers. My lips tremble as I tr
Council of the Supernatural and Shadow Warrior’s Headquarters~Mid May~~Godfrey’s Point of View~“Oooh wake the dead!! This is my favorite game,” I squeal, clapping my hands together. The three faces staring back at me are stern and not impressed. But oh who cares what those losers think! I’m allowed to be excited!“Godfrey, this is a mass murderer with a God complex that is completely unpredictable. He was punished with a thousand years in a box for a good reason! It's only been about eight hundred years and we are not equipped or prepared to deal with setting him free. This is NOT a game,” Dina says, huffing in my face.I narrow my eyes at the fairy, unphased. We voted on this, she was overruled. SORE LOSER!“I’m thinking of changing my vote,” I hear, and turn to stare at Angel. “Too late little witch! That’s not how we do things! I have already declared that the vampire will be under my watchful eye. Any misstep and I’ll take his head myself,” I say, and push past all the whiner
~Luc’s Point of View~~Mid August~Surely Godfrey didn't bring me back from the dead to dress me in tattered rags? The male clearly has lots of money. Though obviously lacking in taste. He wants me to look like a vagrant? A street beggar who has soiled himself and gotten into a fight with a rat? My wolf snickers, thinking about some of Godfrey’s ridiculous garments. But of course, I can’t mock him now, not in front of his mate.“Hold still okay, we may need a longer length, high waters are so not in,” Sunny says, shaking her head and pointing.“High what? I don’t believe I've covered that phrase yet,” I question. My accent is heavy, speaking without it is too hard. But they keep trying to get me to lose it. English is new to me, but I know many languages and I’m picking up quickly.She turns me slightly, so I can see myself in the mirror. While we had some reflective glass in my time, it was nothing like this. A full view of the entire length of my body is truly something. As a vain p
~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
~Rowan’s Point of View~“A word before ya go,” my father bellows, and I cringe though I don’t show it. I turn back to Harlow who looks petrified, but trying to hold it together. I hate to leave her, even for a second. “Go ahead, I’ll use the bathroom,” she offers, and I point toward a powder room several doors down.“Wait right here for me, I won’t be long,” I whisper, though I know even in his office behind his desk my dad heard it. I reluctantly watch her go, then partially close his door. Though I’m still standing across the room from him, there’s no way I’m leaving this spot. “Say what you want to say,” I tell him. He’ll give me warnings, tell me whatever. It won’t matter. I cross my arms.He slowly taps his finger on his desk, the way he always does when he’s making a point or wants to seem intimidating.“Don’t let this mate business cloud your head boy. You still have a very active assignment ya seem to have forgotten,” he says, and I ball my right hand into a fist and count t
~Harlow’s Point of View~“I’ve just never seen so many different flowers,” I gush, reaching for another that smells divine. Hope has awakened more in me than I ever knew possible, and I haven’t even shifted yet. Everything is stronger, brighter. Louder.And of course…*Hmmm look at mate, so sexy,* Hope coos, as I watch Rowan bend over to tie his shoe. Such a simple act, simple and normal. But every damn hormone in my body wants me to rush him, knock him on the ground and mount him like a fucking animal.*Well, it IS a good idea,* Hope chirps. I blow her off, and look down at my feet. I probably should get some clothes, though I already love smelling like him. It’s hard to convince my mind I’m really free of that warlock freak. Rowan has told me he was killed by the Shadows, but he’s still haunting my dreams. Not only that, Caden is still out there somewhere. Even though I know he would be suicidal to try and come after me, it’s more than that. I think about those other girls, sold of