Keegan POV:
She went into detail about the fight, questioning Brant’s infidelity and the lies she had discovered. The timestamp was over three years ago.
“I am heading to my mom’s with Claire,” she said. “Thank god Tory is visiting Nan. I couldn’t stand her seeing me—” she choked back another sob, “—like this.”
And this continued, cataloging her injuries, explaining what had caused it. The asshole had stopped hitting her face… much. He chose instead to hit where the clothes could hide her bruises. She went on to explain why she endured it.
“I need to find a way to keep my family safe,” she said at the camera, almost like a plea. “He threatened mom and Tory. She’s a kid. I can’t let him touch her.”
I heard said sister sob and tumble to the floor.
Another video started and the entries spanned over three years of abuse. “This is
Keegan POV:“Dennis,” Claire squealed, running into his arms the moment she saw him at school. He caught and spun her around and kissed both of her rosy cheeks. She giggled, squirming in his grasp before wrapping her arms around his neck. “I missed you. Is Grandpa here?”“Sure is, princess,” he said, letting her down. “He is in the car.”“Yay!” she screamed as she ran toward the car. After greeting Clement, she spun an amusing tale of a boy that had kissed her while pushing her on the swings. They even shared an extra juice box and vanilla pudding. ‘She is only six! Who is this boy? Where does he live?’I didn’t ask because Vianne seemed very amused. I would get Claire alone and ask for all information pertaining to this boy. I scowled. Apparently, I was muttering under my breath because Vianne leveled me with a glare. I mouthed, “She is only six!” At
Keegan POV:I was positive I had overreacted to Dennis’ words. I was filled with tension since watching that damn video like I had been coiled like a spring all day with Clement breathing down my neck. Add on the realization of my feelings for Vianne and Claire, and I was itching for a fight.I needed to blow off some steam. I passed by Vivian and Clement’s room and heard Vianne and her mother still talking. I knocked softly and waited for someone to answer.“Hey,” I said when Vianne pocked her head out, her eyes red from crying. “Hey? What is the matter, sweetheart?” I cupped her face in my hands, pressing my lips over each of her eyelids.She shook her head. “I will tell you later,” she whispered. She pressed her lips against mine almost hesitantly. “My mother is telling me some things…”I froze, suddenly afraid that Vivian would tell her what I felt. What If she tried t
[WARNING: The last part of the chapter contains explicit sexual content. Read that bit at your own risk.] Keegan POV: I nodded and bit the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing. Clement Slater was still tearing up. His daughter had finally shown another emotion toward him besides anger. No wonder he was all choked up. “Now, show me what my daughter can do,” Clement said seriously. Vianne clapped happily. “Yay! Sparring. Let me change first. Be right back!” She ran down the stairs quickly, leaving Clement and me alone. His glare was back. Obviously. Clement advanced quickly, placing his hand on my shoulder. “Do not fuck this us, kid.” His hand tightened. “You are not going to find another one like her. Trust me.” I nodded and then he punched me in the gut. He hadn’t held back, knocking the breath from my lungs, making me gasp for breath. “You didn’t think you would get away without a bit of punishment, did you?” I shook my head and grunted as I got to my feet. “I didn’
Keegan POV:“Alright,” she said as she tiptoed to kiss me once. She playfully grabbed my ass when Clement’s back was turned, telling me to hurry up. I checked the living room to find Dennis on the phone with someone, likely a woman since his voice had that smooth quality he usually saved for them. In the hall, I passed Victoria who pretty much looked pissed as hell. I knew it wasn’t aimed at me, since the day before she had been nice to me while hunting for the best place to build a treehouse.I lightly knocked on Claire’s door. “Come in,” she called out loudly. I opened her door and found her in front of the full-length mirror I had gotten her for her arrival. This was a first. Every morning had been a battle to get her out of bed. She hadn’t looked up at me but sighed at her reflection.“I’m not any bigger,” she said softly. She turned to one side and seemed to stick out her chest fo
Keegan POV:The tears Vianne held back finally fell as she started to rock them in place. After a few moments, I carefully took Claire from her and passed the distraught little pup to Clement who had gotten us to help in some way. “Take her for a walk,” I whispered. The moment Claire left with Clement and the others, Vianne collapsed in my arms.“I thought I hid it so well,” she cried as her arms circled around me. I held her for a few minutes as she tried to pull herself together.“Do you know if he—” I said as gently as possible. “—ever struck her?”She shook her head fiercely. “I placed hidden cameras throughout the house and checked the footage daily. He was good to her.”“Vianne,” I whispered. “I know he hurt you, hit you when he was angry. And I know you said he hadn’t done anything when you last escaped, but did he ever ra—” I co
Keegan POV:She gave a shy smile and blushed. “I am sorry I had to put him in his place,” she said with a shrug.“You had a fantastic way of doing it,” Lily said. “I’m Lily, Jarred’s wife.” Vianne looked confused for a moment. Lily smiled. “No one but our closest friends know what we are married. And according to the state, we are not, but we are mated according to wolf tradition. We’re mates.”“Oh,” Vianne said. “Veronica Cox.”“How did you manage to get this one to put a ring on your finger?” Lily started to say, shaking her head. “You have to be capable of miracles.”Vianne smiled brightly. “Are you trying to say Keegan got around?”“No, she is not,” I said, taking her hand. “Let’s go inside.”“That’s the second time you managed to avoid the question,” Vi
[WARNING: The first part of the chapter contains explicit sexual content. Read at your own risk.] Keegan POV: “Vianne,” I growled. “I don’t want to hurt you, but I need it hard and fast right now.” She nodded against my shoulder and bit me. I grunted and slammed her against the tiled wall. “Come here, please,” she cried out as I lifted her off her feet. “Now, now!” I growled out her name as I thrust deep inside her. I didn’t allow her any reprieve from the intrusion, stroking inside her, barely in control of my actions. I just wanted, needed to have her. If it would end soon, I would take and take until I was a permanent memory in her mind as she would be in mine. I would bite her and etch myself in her skin. I was determined to make sure she would, at least, never forget me. One of her hands slid off my shoulder and in between our bodies, teasing her own nipple. I grunted at the sight and changed the angle of my thrusts so that she slid up with every move forward I made. As she
Keegan POV:“Don’t doubt yourself,” I said with the shake of my head. “I am not upset about anything you said. It’s more that I don’t want you to compare me to him.”“You’re nothing like him,” she whispered.“But you were scared of me when I opened the door.” The headlights behind us again intruded on the moment, but Vianne didn’t seem to notice them.“No. Not because I think you would hurt me. Just that I would mess up what we have going.”I opened up my arms for her. She quickly scrambled into my embrace, her fingers immediately seeking my hair. I loved when she did it without hesitation. I rose with her tightly pressed against my chest.“Nothing will make me turn away,” I said, nuzzling her ear and neck. “Every… couple fights, baby. But this time, it’s my insecurities that are upsetting me. Not you.”