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
"Oh my god!" I let out a moan, stretching out my legs in pure relief. Over ten hours in a car, no matter how big the car is, i s still uncomfortable. I honestly don't know how Hardin isn't crippled from driving all the way to New Orleans to pick me up."If you ever leave like that again, I'm going to set everything you own on fire!" A familiar voice snaps with anger that instantly brings a smile to my face."I missed you too, Jackson." I quickly drag him into a hug. The fact that it's dark out now, doesn't stop him from being here, or any of us being able to see."I'm going to hug you back, but I'm still angry at you." He grumbles, doing exactly that. I squeeze the life out of him for about ten seconds, before stepping away.Hardin won't jump my throat over a hug, but he has limits on his control."What happened?" Jackson scowls, crossing his arms. Is he trying to intimidate me? I thought with amusement."My wolf chose to run seven hundred miles, instead of ripping that little dickhe
"We're going to the lake, do you want to come?" Jackson asks, planting a large rucksack on the counter. "Yeah, sounds fun." I agree, having not been on the pack land exploring yet. 'Do you want to come to the lake with us?' I ask Hardin, deciding to just communicate telepathically. 'I have to train the teens, maybe another time?' He responds. Helping Jackson fit the water bottles into his bag, I hand him a tub of sandwiches from last night. "I actually have a few things to do, it completely slipped my mind." I tell him. "Oh, can it not wait?" Jackson frowns. "It can't, I'll come next time, have fun!" I smile, already exiting the kitchen. Jackson is stubborn, if I stick around he'll convince me to go with him. I head upstairs to change my clothes before making my way outside. "What are you doing?" Hardin furrows his eyebrows slightly in confusion as I approach him. "I wasn't going to have fun without you." I say, joining him at the front of the crowd of teenage wolves. 'Than