"What's wrong with you? Why are you so happy?" Jackson immediately grins, appearing out of thin air as I enter the kitchen the next morning.Shifting back a little, I give a shrug and look away. "Do I need a reason to be happy?""No, I've just never seen you so....oh my god, you had sex!" Jackson exclaims with the biggest laugh.Immediately I groan, dropping my head into my hands. I'm not ashamed or anything, I just prefer to keep my private life, well, private. Jackson has absolutely no boundaries when it comes to his personal life, he'll tell anyone anything."How many times? What position? Wait, do I want to know that? Yes I do!" He answers his own question, bouncing around like a toddler for candy."Kalli!" He calls after me, appalled as he realises that I'd began walking away the moment he started asking questions.Deciding to eat later, I head to Hardin's office. I thought I'd feel normal, that my reaction wouldn't change around him. But the second I actually approach the door,
~ Katalayha's POV ~The tension in the air could be cut with a knife, partially sexual, partially frustration, and perhaps a little awkwardness. Maybe that's my fault, I haven't said m uch to him the entire journey into the city.Why can't I just say something?The relief that I feel when his car finally stops, surely isn't normal. I get out as quick as I can, hoping that some stale city air will wash out the tension."Do you regret it?" He suddenly asks me, grabbing my forearm to stop me heading into the mall.Turning, I stare up at him with a frown. Of course I know what he's talking about, yesterday. He isn't angry, just curious, and hoping that my answer is no."No, I just feel...awkward." I manage to get out, my eyes flickering from his to the mall and back again, like something is interesting.Hardin glances down at my lips with a slight frown, it's obvious something is bothering him too."You worry that things are expected of you now?" Hardin nods, sighing, like this is the las
It had been two days since the shopping trip, I'd spent most of that time with Hardin, talking, getting to know each other. I don't think either of us have had this before, Hardin has been honest with me about his past relationships, although I wouldn't say it was a relationship given that he never really wanted it.For the most part, I find myself settling comfortably into the whole mate thing. It's easier now that we actually talk, I mean, the bite may have played a part in making me want him, but it's not just desire. We're not blurting out our deepest secrets and pain or anything like that, more like getting to know the now version of us rather than the old version. Unlike Hardin, I don't have much to say about my time before him."Stop!" I squeal, covering my face as I attempt to shield myself from his attack."Alright, alright." Hardin muses, backing off.I peek my eyes open, loosing all trust in him for a brief moment as I wait for him to do something. He doesn't, so I lower m
"These should fit you." I say, placing a couple of items of clothing on the bed, they're Hardin's of course.My brother isn't small, being of Alpha blood he's naturally large. Slightly smaller than Hardin, but still big for his age. We're eighteen, and the guys a giant compared to most males his age."I don't want to cause more problems between you and your mate." Kage finally talks, his voice far deeper than the little boy I remember."He's not as scary as he looks." I say with a small smile."Didn't look that way to me." Kage comments.My smile falters slightly."The panic attacks started a long time before my teenage years, I spent most days in a constant state of fear...Hardin has never lost his temper like that, it took me by surprise." I quietly explain.I don't want to go into detail about my childhood, but I also don't want Kage to hate Hardin, I don't want him thinking that Hardin treats me cruelly. He doesn't, that's the first time he's truly been angry with me, and with jea
"There was a man...he...he..." My entire body trembles as tears roll down my face.Gripping the thin blanket tighter around me, I duck my head and sob. The lady tries to soothe me as she rubs my shoulder, hushing me with a gentle shushing sound."I'll get you some clothes, the police will be here soon." She kindly says.I nod, sniffling as I cry. I felt the couch move as she stands, and for a minute I cry softly until she returns. The tears making my eyes burn, I was thankful when she returned with something for me to wear."Here you go sweetie, the bathroom is just on the right." She says, handing me a small pile of clothing.Sniffling, I nod my head and stand up."T-thank you."Once I'm in the bathroom, I drop the blanket and quickly get dressed. Washing away the tears with cold water, I pat my eyes a little to ease the puffiness.Humans are gullible, always have been and always will be.Listening closely, I wait for the lady to exit the front room, until she passes the door I'm sta
Pressing myself subconsciously further into the warmth that envelops me, soaking it up as greedily as I physically can.That smell.Something inside my brain seems to click, and my eyes snap open faster than I can say boo.Jumping to my knees, I fling my arms around his head and crush him against me, not just for his warmth but because I've missed him. The worry of him being angry with me is unsettling, I just want to be close to him right now. What if he doesn't want to be near me?"I'm missed you so fucking much." I hear, muffled into my hair scraggy, smelly hair. Hardin didn't care that I smell like filth, if he did, he wouldn't be touching me at all.Surprised by his words, I pull my head back slightly to look at him, but the look in his silver eyes only pains me."Are you crying?" I whisper, my own voice cracking as I stare into his watery eyes.He's always so strong, so Alpha male, taking care of everyone else first. To see him so vulnerable, it breaks my heart in ways that I do
"Have you ever been anywhere except pack land?" I voice my curiosity as we tour the french quarter, part of it anyway. The historic vibe that it gives off, Its intriguing. Just to look at the buildings and the design of everything, it's obvious that it's old. It seems to breathe with life of its own, the music and culture keeping it alive. "I've been places, always for business. I've never had time to explore or travel, it's not something Alphas do." Hardin responds with a slight shrug."What if that's what I wanted? Would you come with me?" I ask, still distracted with the people day drinking and live music in the street. Kind of like the heart of the place."Is it what you want?" He questions, slight concern showing through his voice.He assumes naturally that I want a life that he may never be able to have, travelling around the world, enjoying life to its fullest...he worries that if it's my dream, I'll leave.Is it what I want? I question myself silently."I don't know." I tell
Hours pass, as tired as I am I simply couldn't sleep. The nagging feeling bothering me, like I just needed to get something off my chest. Eventually I give up on sleep and turn over, staring at Hardin as he sleeps. This is the first time I've ever been able to watch him sleep next to me, it's quiet calming. I watch him for a while, the room pitch black but I could see perfectly fine, the nagging feeling growing stronger.Exhaling heavily, I fling the sheets off me and move closer to Hardin. Resting my arm over his stomach, I lay on my side facing him, nuzzling my face into his shoulder. His breathing is heavy as he sleeps, mouth slightly parted, so it takes me by surprise when his hand rests over mine. As if somehow in his unconscious state, he's aware of my movements.My heart warms, that same feeling returning.For the first time all night, I close my eyes and feel the tiredness slowly taking over. I begin to drift, when it strikes me.My eyes snap open, and I immediately sit up as