(Fourth book in the Her Wolves series) Teagan van der Merwe knew at least one thing in this life, you couldn't trust anyone. Not even your own flesh and blood. Exiled from her pack at the tender age of nineteen by her parents, all because she loved the wrong person. Harland. Her mate. They were cast out. Left to fend for themselves. As if they had any say in who the goddess chose for them. Mates were forever, another lesson she had learned. Harland was the only one who saw her for her. Now, nine years later, she was forced to go back to that hell hole of a place. Forced to face the demons she had left behind. Alone. What she comes to discover would shake her to the very core. Teagan would find a second mate. The last person on this earth she had ever thought would be hers. Bellamy Johanness. The heir of Desert Sun. And the man she had been betrothed to. *** “For you? For you I would slaughter them all. Every last person that has ever made you cry. I would burn this world to the fucking ground if it meant you were happy. Maybe I am exactly the kind of person you thought I was. But maybe, just maybe, that’s the kind of person you need in your corner,” His fingertips reached out and brushed a strand of hair out of my face. Beheld me with crystal clear vision. Saw through me. “Fuck all of them. So long as I have you.” I couldn’t stop myself. Felt my body moving forward, all on its own. The distance between us closed. Our eyes remained locked on each other. Everything stopped. Then his lips touched mine and everything fell right into place.
View MoreTeagan’s Point of View
At first, we tried to resist it, this constant push and pull between us. We both knew the ramifications of this bond. This mating tether that tied us together. In the human world, we would have been branded as weirdos. Society would have shunned us. Let us rot in our own filth.
Within the werewolf community, we would be thrown out of the pack. Labeled as rogues. Vagabonds that only deserved to roam the earth. With no real home and no one to help us. All on our own.
I was well aware of how unnatural this mating was. How utterly disgusting it might have looked from the outside. The option to reproduce, to have a family of our own, wasn’t an option anymore. That was another thing the two of us had to come to grips with.
The dreams we had shared to have a large family as children were now gone to ash.
Needless to say, we couldn’t resist it. It was near impossible, especially with our proximity. One misstep could lead to a world of problems for us.
Thus, we hid it to the best of our abilities. Late-night talks. Cuddle sessions when no one was around. It was difficult. It was hard to accept. But it happened and right now, I wouldn’t change a thing.
Yes, the daunting aspect of any relationship was a physical one. Sex was off the table for now. Not that Harland needed me for that.
Before we found out we were mates, he had had a ton of female attention. Left right and center. I on the other hand was still a virgin and happily so.
We were going to wait. Not just because of the dangerous situation but because of the ramifications that might occur if I ended up pregnant. It wasn’t a chance we were willing to take. Besides, our situation wasn’t one that I would want to give to any child.
A stable home of our own could be just another fever dream for us. For the future together was unknown but it was worth it. Seeing him smile and laugh was worth it.
Feeling his skin pressed against mine was worth it. All of it was dangerous. All of it could end up being our undoing but it was all so worth it.
Especially when Harland did things like he was doing now.
A mop of brown curly hair popped up as my door opened slightly. I was lying on my side, remembering two years ago to the day. How he had done exactly this.
Sneaking into my room with a cake he had made for me. Only this time around, there would be no nasty surprises. No shocking news and disgust that followed.
This time around, it was just the two of us in the house. But we still wouldn’t risk us getting caught by going out of this room. No. This was our little world. Our bubble.
“Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you!” Harland sang excitedly and lit the candles as he walked closer. With a backward kick of his foot, the door shut behind him. “Happy birthday dear Teagan! Happy birthday to you!”
“Hip hip!” I added in, a smile sitting snuggly on my face.
I was already sitting up straight, waiting for the goodies at the end of the rainbow. And not just the cake in his hands but the hands itself. His touch would make me melt time and time again.
Sometimes it took me off guard how much I craved him. Craved just being close to him. The love we shared could never be described.
“Hooray!” Harland replied and fell down on the edge of my bed.
Hurriedly, he held out the cake for me. Wanted me to blow out the candles. Make a wish in the process. Hopefully one day one of them would come true. That we would escape this place and find a home together.
Until that day came, we would live this secret life.
It was worth it. Utterly so, seeing as he was right here with me. Pressed in close around a chocolate-covered cake. Face riddled with happy lines. My stomach did a few flips.
Taking in a long breath, I blew out the candles. Made my wish like a silent prayer. It was up to the goddess now. All of it was up to her. She had chosen a hard battle for us to endure.
But endure it we shall.
“Happy birthday my love,” Harland breathed and picked up my hand from the cover. Kissing it softly, he smiled as he pulled away. “May there be many more to come,” He mused, that dashing smile of his still on his lips.
The normal sparks of our contact flourished down my arm. Settled in the pit of my stomach where it spread out into my lower limbs. Into places I hadn’t yet explored with him.
The urge to take him at every twist and turn was becoming harder and harder by the day. Even now, it took everything inside of me not to go at him. Smash our lips together and let our bodies do the talking all morning long.
“Happy anniversary as well, my darling,” I replied, reminding him of what had taken place two years ago. How we found out we were mates and how utterly petrified the both of us had been.
But exactly one year ago, on my 18th birthday, we took the plunge and decided to give this a go. Give us a go.
Scooting closer to him, I cupped his cheek with my palm. Adored the sight and smell of him for a moment longer. Breathed him in.
“So, are you going to sit there the entire day or are you going to get into bed?” I asked, fluttering my eyelashes in the process.
Harland gave me a toothy grin in reply and placed the cake on my bedside table. With a huff and a fuss, he was beside me. Crawled into the blankets and placed one of his arms around my waist.
“I brought two spoons as well. Want to share some cake in bed with me?” He asked, a devilish grin spreading across his face. I huffed out a laugh and nodded.
“You know me so well, don’t you, Mr. van der Merwe?”
“I do, Ms. van der Merwe. Now hush up and enjoy your cake. Josephine went to a lot of trouble to make it for you.” He almost scolded as I dipped my spoon into the side of the cake.
This cake eating in bed had been a tradition since the dawn of time. My parents had done it. My grandparents had done it. Now I shared it with Harland. Which was wonderful in and of itself, if not for our sticky circumstances.
“You bribed her to make this?” I asked, referring to our old scullery maid.
She was a burly woman with gnarly teeth. A sailor’s tongue. But a heart of absolute gold. We had known her since we were children. My parents knew her even before then. The old bag gave us advice on our birthdays. Never cake.
“Not really. She was the one who surprised me with the thing. I was ready to go and buy one, like always but she stopped me. According to her, you deserve something special on your day.”
I raised a brow at him. This was unlike Josephine. Very much so. It was worrisome. “Do you think she suspects-“
Harland only leaned in and kissed the side of my head. Hushing me in the process. His concern, or lack thereof, was comforting in a way. Out of sight, out of mind. Today wouldn’t be ruined by our despair. Instead, we were going to focus on the positive.
“I have another surprise for you. This one I specially chose. Once the cake is done, get dressed.”
“Another little surprise for my birthday. I am a lucky girl.”
***
As we walked through the house, almost all of the staff members uttered Happy Birthday to me. It was lovely. Warm smiles. Shallow nods of the head. They were more than happy to see me as we went outside.
Harland was right beside me. Smiling. Beaming. But never touching me. Our secret was still our own and it would remain that way for the rest of our lives if we chose to stay in Desert Sun. Which didn’t seem likely anymore.
I wanted his hand in mine. Wanted to feel his warmth pressed up against my body. The urge to run my hands through his lush dark brown hair was unthinkable. But as we passed more people, the distance between the two of us grew larger.
Finally, we emerged from the house. The sun was a blistering ball in the sky above us. Mid-summer in Namibia wasn’t the best time of the year. Everything was stifling hot. Almost unbearable.
But standing in the middle of the driveway was a brand new SUV. A sleek black boxy car with a lifted suspension. Custom number plates that read ‘Tea 001’.
I looked at Harland in sheer surprise. Kept myself as composed as I could. I wanted nothing more than to throw myself in his arms. Hold him close.
“A car? Seriously? That is a little out of the box, don’t you think?” I exclaimed and punched his arm playfully.
Harland beamed down at me.
“Nothing but the best for my little sister!”
7 Months Later Teagan's Point of View "Who has the baby bag!" Ulrich screamed, flitting from room to room as he scrambled to get the one thing he was tasked with. "Already in the car," I mumbled, slipping out of my soaked nightgown. Although I doubted he heard me. No one could hear me above their panic right now. Who thought the baby would come in the middle of the night? Not fucking me. Not when I had finally figured out a way to sleep with such an enormous stomach. "Did you install the car seat like I asked?" Bellamy screamed back. I could hear him in the living room. He had forgotten to set up the spare cot downstairs. Thought now would be a good time to do it. Rolling my eyes, I slipped into a clean dress. Didn't bother with underwear. They were going to come off, anyway. "I can't find the fucking car keys! Who had them last?" Harland screamed. The house was echoing with their voices. Bounced around relentlessly. So it was no help to remind him that they were on the
Bellamy's Point of View"Where is he!" I screamed down the moist hallway. Down here in the earth, everything was damp. Which was strange, given we were in the middle of a desert.But that wasn't the problem right now. The problem was Felix. The bastard wasn't anywhere near the cells. Hell, his scent wasn't even here, which meant he had never made it down here to begin with. "Heir, sir, Alpha," The guard nervously stammered, sweat beading on his forehead. "From the list in the office, he was brought here right after you asked. The last man on duty here even swore he had booked him in."He had lied, no doubt. Or this little maggot was. Either way, Felix had never been here. No doubt thanks to all of his bribery. "Find him! The enemy is on our doorstep and you let our only fucking bargaining chip escape!" I roared and spun on my heels to march back the way I had come in. We had evacuated everyone in the town within an hour. Left only shells for homes and shops. Mariland and Keagan
Teagan's Point of View"Get most of the civilians to the ranch! Don't trust fucking any of the guards! The moment they try something funny, kill without mercy." Bellamy all but screamed as we stopped in front of the house.The two cars that had followed us from the desert were barely full, compared to when they left with us in the first place. So many of Bellamy's men had turned. Or died. "What do you want me to do?" I asked, clinging to his arm. Watched as his face shifted. Took in everything around us all at once.Those caramel eyes turned towards me. Blinked slowly."Why did you call my brother?" Bellamy asked in a whisper that no one else would be able to hear.Not with all of the commotion taking place around us.I stiffened. Twitched my eyes away from him.I knew he was going to be upset. I just hadn't thought it would come so soon. Not when we were still in crisis mode."Because I would rather take his help than see any of you in a grave. We need his man-power and he is more
Teagan's Point of ViewWe headed out into the eastern part of the desert with several guards in tow. The ones who stayed behind with Felix were informed of the situation and instructed to keep him shackled at all times.Killing him wasn't an option. Not until we could safely get Jonah back. The moment we had him or deemed him-I swallowed down the lump in my throat, shoving the thought that he might already be gone to the back of my mind.Bellamy was never going to forgive himself if he didn't say goodbye to his father. Especially after the note Jonah had left in his last file.As if he knew he was walking into his death."There... On the dune just past that large outcropping." Ulrich said from the passanger side.He was looking west now. Scanned the horizon fervently with the stars shining down on us.Out here in the middle of the night was the best time. With no light pollution, the air was clear. The Milkyway a shiny symbol above us.But in the direction Ulrich was looking, someone
Teagan's Point of ViewThe end note left my mind reeling. Shot a wave of dizziness through my body. Jonah knew. Knew about Harland being here and about Ulrich. Knew that we had taken some of his files. And he had done nothing about it. Actually counted on the fact that we might come snooping again.Now he was somewhere in the desert, likely dead, from what the note implied."We have to tell Bellamy." I breathed, feeling my lungs quiver with each word.Ulrich's eyes shot towards mine. Eyebrows nearly touched his hairline. "There is no fucking way I'm letting you go down there by yourself. We might not be able to hear what is happening but I can assure you, it isn't going to be pretty." "His father can be somewhere out there fighting for his fucking life and you just want to keep that from him when we can try and help?" I screeched, balling my hands into tight fists.A sheepish look passed over his face then. One of pain as well. "It's not like the guy is winning the Father of the Yea
Teagan's Point of ViewHarland moved closer to me on instinct. Shifted his weight to his dominant leg. Geared himself up for a confrontation if the need arose."What do you mean he can handle himself? Why would he have to?" I pushed more, feeling a shift of energy all around me.Felix gave me another long and cruel smile. Took one step forward before I noticed several men behind him. All tall and menacing. Brooding hulks that engulfed the space we stood in.None of them looked familiar. Or even scented to me that I knew them."Let's just say that Jonah isn't the only one fighting for his life right now." My heart slammed into my throat. Bellamy. He was talking about Bellamy. Harland sensed my urgency. Spun around and pushed me lightly to the staff door on the other side of the kitchen. "Go. I can handle this." He urged, fear lacing his voice.He was my mate and I loved him dearly. But he wasn't the best fighter around. Ulrich, on the other hand, was.I nodded and broke for the door
Teagan's Point of View Even with everything aired out, Harland barely looked my way. His shoulders were still sagging. Hair fell into his eyes. And whenever I tried to make eye contact with him he would look away the moment he noticed. The air wasn't clear yet. "He is going to be away for two days. I say we haul up in the pack house and start digging for whatever we can find on him. I told him I'm your new assistant, so he won't question my scent. Harland can lead the run tonight so that no one questions your absence too much. Get the shit and-" Bellamy shook his head in the driver's seat. Locked eyes with me in the back of the car. At least Harland had agreed to drive with us instead of walking. "No. I'll go lead the run. They won't expect Teagan to be there, seeing as the news of her pregnancy has spread like wildfire. Jonah can smell Harland in the house when he gets back because by then we will have everything we need to dethrone him. Just make sure that Felix doesn't j
Ulrich's Point of View Their family was fucked up. Beyond fucked up. Made me thankful that I had grown up in the foster system. Drama on drama on drama. Like there was no end to it. But it shaped Harland and Teagan into who they were. Gave me the greatest blessing I could ever have. Teagan. Our baby. A future where I didn't have to kill or maim. A stable home. Well, it was going to be a stable home the minute all of this madness passed. Died down. Which wasn't going to happen anytime soon, I was sure of that. "Harland. Wait up!" I screamed and followed him down the driveway. If he heard me, he gave no sign of it. Continued marching toward the gate and away from all the shit this place gave him. "Harland!" I tried again and upped my pace. Broke into a sprint. When I touched his shoulder, he whirled on me. Those were tears in his eyes. Snot peeking out from his nose. He was crying. And I could feel his pain as if it were my own. "Something wrong?" He asked, wiping his face
Teagan's Point of View Jessebelle brought out tea and coffee for everyone. Stood at the door and watched as the drama unfolded. Her little smirk of satsifaction upon seeing Mariland's distraught face was enough to make me smile as well. "Now then, we have something to drink. The mood in the room seems to be less intense. Care to explain what happened?" Bellamy asked, placing his coffee on the small table in the middle of the room. We were sitting around the living room like we were friends. Discussing the weather and upcoming plans. Like we weren't hoping the other would just fall over and die. Keagan sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. Placed on leg over the other. His eyes slid my way. Took me in with a remorseful look that had my bones aching. Was he ever as bad as Mariland? Not really. But he permitted it and that was all the confirmation I needed to not pity him. "When we mated, we tried for years to have a child. Jonah was freshly made the Alpha of Desert Sun and h
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