One Year

Vegas POV

What I wasn’t expecting was the mate bond to be stronger with her than it was Thea.

It took every ounce of strength I had to not rush her the moment I smelled her amazing Lavender scent and whatever else sits underneath it that I can’t place yet. Clean. Warm. Familiar in a way that makes my chest feel tight. it calms Echo instantly.

This already going bad.

The fact that only her scent has Echo reacting says more than any seer ever could.

Five years. Five years and he hasn’t relaxed this fast for anyone.

She’s feisty and she fights back and that means loss of control.

That isn’t an option because no control means things go wrong and someone dies.

She thinks her bringing her friend will change something but all it did was give me a different way to control her.

Not because I want leverage over her. Because if she starts spiraling she’ll need something familiar to anchor her. That’s what I tell myself anyway.

I can’t get those eyes out of my head, her eyes make her look like a goddess. The pale blue against her skin doesn’t even look real. It looks like something made up to tempt stupid men into making stupid decisions.

“I’m sorry about my daughter Alpha’s she’s not used to not having control over her life, she’s been like that her whole life” her dad says.

I smirk.

“Don’t worry Alpha Taylor I understand this a lot to take in, I’m sure once we get back to our pack she will feel less like a prisoner” I say.

Prisoner.

The word sits wrong in my chest.

Because the truth is I know exactly why she feels that way.

If somebody tried to drag me away from everything I built, I'd fight too.

Truth is I’m hoping she doesn’t run, because control is all I know and everything around me needs to be controlled that’s the only way to keep everyone alive.

People hear control and think power. Control isn’t power. Control is counting exits. Control is knowing where everyone is. Control is making sure nobody ends up buried because you relaxed for one second.

She’s beautiful and the more I try not to think about her the more I do.

The defiance in her eyes, the sharp tongue, the not backing down.

She should be scared. That would make this easier.

When she finally comes down with her friend and her luggage, I have one of my warriors take her stuff to the truck.

“You’re in the car with Virgo and I” I say to her.

She looks at me and I can see the way her body stiffens.

“Actually I think I won’t, sorry mate but I would rather not be suffocated by whatever that is” she says gesturing between Virgo and I.

Interesting. Most people lower their heads. She gets mean.

“You’re going to make this difficult aren’t you?” I ask.

She shrugs her shoulders.

“That really depends on you” she says turning to walk to a different truck.

I reach out to grab her arm.

“If I were you mate I wouldn’t touch me again, I may not have a wolf but I’m the best warrior in this pack” she says and I pull my hand back.

Best warrior?

With no wolf.

That shouldn’t impress me. It does anyway.

When she goes to climb in the truck a group of warriors run over to her.

“Kalani is it true? Are you really leaving?” a girl asks her.

“Yeah kiddo unfortunately you’re all stuck with Adonis” she says smiling.

They all groan at her response.

“He makes us run too many laps and he’s always yelling” a young male says.

She laughs and gods her laugh is beautiful.

Get it together Vegas, control.

“I will miss all of you so much” she says crying.

“Olly make sure you watch those feet during your spars, I will be checking in” She says.

They all love her and she is seemingly a big part of this pack which scares me for when we get home.

For a second I understand why she fought so hard.

This isn't just a pack.

It's hers.

These people don't look at her because she's the Alpha's daughter.

They look at her because she matters to them.

People don’t look at us like that. Nobody runs toward us. Nobody cries because we’re leaving. Nobody complains about training and laughs while doing it. Shadow Pack hasn’t looked like this in a long time.

What kind of change will she bring.

Change is dangerous and the mission is keep her alive, we don’t have the luxury of nurturing a bond that isn’t guaranteed.

Because if she starts changing our pack… that means she plans on staying. And I still haven’t decided if that thought terrifies me or not.

“She might be different” Echo says.

Hope. That’s all Echo ever wants. Hope and a mate and all the things our bloodline keeps proving we don’t get to have.

“I don’t have the luxury of waiting to find out” I say back to him.

That’s the difference between us. Echo still thinks wanting something makes it possible. I learned a long time ago wanting something doesn’t stop you from destroying it.

I watch her take her friends hand and get into the truck with her and close the door.

Virgo walks over to me.

“She hates us” He says low.

I look over at the truck.

She should.

The problem is I don't like it as much as I thought I would.

“Good, then maybe she will live long enough to break the curse, she’s 20 so that means we have one year Virgo” I say.

His jaw tightens.

He runs his hand over his face.

“I can’t stay away from her for an entire year Vegas” he says.

That gets my attention immediately because Virgo doesn’t admit weakness.

I turn to face him.

“Well figure it out because that’s where we are right now” I say.

One year. One year of distance. One year of pretending she isn’t ours. One year of trying not to repeat five years ago.

I walk to get in the truck with her and her friend.

Virgo climbs in behind me.

She sucks her teeth when we get in.

“This is not space” She says.

Interesting. She didn’t ask if we were riding with her. She assumed she already deserved space.

“I never said I was giving it to you, I said you were riding with us that wasn’t up for debate” I say.

Her eyes narrow.

“This is so stupid, you are already suffocating” she says and puts her headphones in her ear.

My eyes stay on her for a second longer than they should.

Suffocating. That’s an interesting word.

Her friend just looks between Virgo and I.

“Well at least you’re hot” she says before putting her own headphones in.

Virgo snorts.

I stare out the window.

That’s the problem. People always think dangerous things are easier to survive when they look good.

This is going to be a very long year.

And somehow since Thea… A year sounds way too long.