My next update is Tuesday, thank you for reading!
Chapter 12 - Accountability~Luke’s Point of View~“I can only conclude that the females of today are certifiably insane,” I mutter, rubbing my chin. The two females in the room both give me death stares, but especially Penelope, a Greek half witch half wolf hybrid who is posing as my mother. It’s obvious she doesn’t much like me, and I can’t blame her. She hasn’t even scratched the surface yet of knowing me: once she does, she may not ever look me in the eye. But her job here is probably more important than mine so I have to kiss her behind to no end. She keeps my secrets. Without her spells, everyone would know what I am. Imagine sitting in a crowded lunchroom and all of a sudden people smell a vampire. It would be a nightmare.I also have a “dad” who is a panther shifter named Stan. But the Alpha requested he immediately take up with the guardians who protect the pack’s borders. So he’s gone a lot. But it also gets him an “in” with all the gossip the higher ups have. Laughter eru
~Harlow’s Point of View~There aren’t going to be a whole lot of days this year where I can get away with a summer dress, so this is it. I look down at a mint green knee length dress with white polka dots and lace trim that I pulled from the rack. It's probably the prettiest thing that’s ever been against my skin. It even cuts a bit low, revealing some cleavage I seem to have gotten recently.I gape at my reflection in the mirror and literally don’t even recognize myself. In the last few months I’ve easily gained thirty pounds. It's amazing what happens when you can actually get food whenever you’re hungry. And Goddess knows I’m eating more than my share these days.Since my entire body has filled out, thankfully my belly pudge isn’t even that noticeable. For now. Yeah, it's just a muffin top. Curvy is just a word for females to feel sexy but that’s not me. I’m happily chubby because it means I’m not starving.My eyes move to the cute black boots against my dresser. I’m not entirely su
~Harlow’s Point of View~What the heck am I doing? Ohh damn these hormones! I thought I had them under control, but I’m apparently no match for Luke Payne. I’m likely just some warm body to him, there’s no way he cares about me.Right now I’m not sure it matters. Can I be one of those females that doesn’t have any emotion attached to being with a male? It’s just… scratching an itch right?Because Goddess I itch more than the time I got poison ivy!My mind whirls as I lead him outside, without a clue as to where I’m actually going. For a moment I think about going out in the woods where I get my morning package for Skip, but something tells me not to. I push out a door on the opposite side of the school that’s away from the woods, into an empty parking lot. For fire drills, everyone is supposed to go out front, unless they are being bad or just leave completely. Goddess why does it feel so good to be bad? Or maybe just do as the bullies who I hate do? Maybe just this once I can see wha
~Luke’s Point of View~Absolute shame hits me along with the fresh air near the football field. I dash into the woods, knowing I’m seconds from losing it. All of it. Having Godrey’s wrath reign down on me all because I had this moment of weakness.I knew that touching Harlow would be bad, no… heaven. She would be utter heaven. But my control… that… That was on the line. I was literally a second from ruining my entire existence. What I should be doing is confessing, I know several Shadows are here right now. I should call for help, come clean. I need to feed and the idea I could be having a warm human right now pushes me even further to the edge.But I don’t want just any human. I sure as hell don’t want a male. Only one that reeks of sunflowers and sun, has a kiss that’s like a straight shock to my dick and tastes like no one else I’ve ever experienced. And I haven’t even had her blood.No, I simply can’t. I know without a shadow of a doubt if I taste Harlow, I probably won’t stop.It
~Harlow’s Point of View~“You doing okay hun? You seem a bit distracted tonight,” Angel says, giving me a small smile. I shake myself a bit, knowing that the council witch is basically a human lie detector. She’s also served as a shrink to me of sorts, making sure that I don’t have any lasting effects from my attack. She’s been so knowledgeable with all of my thousands of questions. I really do look forward to our weekly appointments.“I’m okay. School’s been a lot. I’ve also been anxious for my scan tonight,” I say, knowing that it’s a big one. She nods with understanding and thankfully buys my explanation. I mean, it isn’t a total lie.“I’ll go ahead and renew the spells I have in place on you before you go, to keep things hidden. But pretty soon your body is going to change too much and it’ll be obvious. We’ll keep the scent hidden indefinitely as long as we can so it only smells like you,” she says, rising to her feet. I don’t answer her, because it's nothing I don’t already know
~Tate’s Point of View~My heart races and the blood in my body practically heats to a melting point every time I’m near Harlow. But tonight, sharing her ultrasound with her, was everything. I could tell it was to her too. Good thing I’d been pacing in the hallway like a lunatic waiting to see her for an hour.Colt is restless in my mind, already having played out the entire night in his head. I just need to convince her to go along with it.*We almost had her last time,* Colt says, whining and hanging his head.The full moon is in a couple days, so naturally all unmated males are keyed up. But that’s an excuse for us feeling this way; because obviously it’s just Harlow. We’re like this every time she comes out here, and I know that as her pregnancy progresses, she’ll only have more and more appointments. As I turn to stare at her, I simply can’t help the butterflies in my gut, and the stupid smile on my face.“So uhm, you in a hurry to get back at all,” I ask, as I wipe my mouth. The
~Harlow’s Point of View~“I’m sorry what,” he asks, and his face is absolutely priceless. I scold myself when I realize what I just said and shake my head with embarrassment.“Goddess I didn’t mean… uhm… I mean like everything you do just seems so effortless. You move with such ease like you’ve already mapped it out in your head,” I say, somewhat stumbling over my words like an idiot. I look off into the distance, feeling my cheeks heat. The hot water doesn’t help.Like you could think straight sitting in the lap of a hot warrior with a massive erection!! HUUUGE!I mean elephant trunk huge!! That isn’t normal! I’ve seen plenty of naked males and none were close to this!“Oh that’s just my training,” he says, and I can feel him looking at me. I start to pull back, sensing how awkward this is, but his arm snakes around me in the best way. It's quiet for a long minute, and I have absolutely no idea what to say. It’s all I can do to not panic. No, to hell with that, it's literally all I
~Tate’s Point of View~*We shouldn’t be here,* Colt grunts, as he thunders through the woods. I can only agree. I’m practically faint with the memory of her touch, her breath, her everything.I’ve never been more sure of the fact that Harlow is indeed my fated mate. Just thinking about her practically naked on my lap…*Make a right, you’ll see us,* Hunter shouts over mind-link, as my wolf abruptly turns.When we break through and into the clearing, I see literally the entire council assembled, and my dearest grandfather barking orders. There are at least a dozen Shadows. Ugh, gonna be a long damn night. For the entire council to be out, together? Not good. They rarely involve themselves in our day to day.“Tate! Where have you been,” my father snaps, with my mom by his side. He’s harder on me than any other of my siblings and since we’re the youngest, yeah it pisses me off. But I do like rising to meet his demands in a way. It’s a tit for tat and based on the stories I’ve heard about
~Luc’s Point of View~*What…what are we doing,* Dante asks, though he’s not physically trying to stop me. He’s too curious, more than. We’ve never even remotely responded to a male like this.When I lick around the piercing through the tip of the fairy’s dick, he groans. My body responds and I’m somehow even harder than when I first kissed him. It’s all so impossibly forbidden, for more reasons than one.Of course I’d dabbled in men off and on, I had to see what the fuss was about. But they were never the same as a woman’s soft curves, their shy giggle… The way their tight heat grips me and sucks me in. The way I’d fantasize about getting her pregnant… okay that was mostly Dante… but still.*And that’s why Harlow was literally perfect for us,* Dante insists, though he’s far too relaxed thinking about this male right now.Goddess what would it feel like to fuck this male? Has he even done that? Something tells me he hasn’t.*I don’t know what’s happening but something is screaming… mat
~Luc’s Point of View~~The Next Night~*Behind you,* I shout, over mind-link. The warrior drops, and the vampire flies right over him unable to stop his momentum. I dash to him, grab his head and rip it clean off. I quickly drop the head as the body twitches at my feet.*Fuck this one was bad,* Dante whines, as we struggle to catch our breath. Normally a fight doesn’t take so much out of us, but this one, this time… they were ready for us. It was a complete blood bath and while we were outnumbered four to one… we’re far more organized and trained. Well the other Shadows are, I’m still making it up as I go. Unfortunately, we lost two warriors and I have to carry that burden. “We didn’t have the element of surprise. But if they had advanced warning why the fuck didn’t they flee? Dumbasses,” Gaelin sighs, gasping for air himself. He is a hybrid fairy/witch and it took a lot of balls for him to come out tonight. But finding new ways to lure newborn vampires has called for drastic measu
~Harlow’s Point of View~“Ohhh,” I groan, trying to practice the breathing that Dr. Snyder taught me but it's so hard to concentrate. “I’ll take her,” Rowan says, as I feel his strong hand grip my arm.“The hell you will,” Tate fires back, as they argue once more.“What is all the shouting,” a loud voice booms.Hope growls through me, demanding we protect our baby from the threat. I jerk my head back to see a well dressed male in the doorway, he’s a vampire! He eyes Rowan and licks his lips slowly. CREEP!“She’s in labor,” the female shouts. The vampire shakes his head, as if HE is somehow put out.“Can we not just have a nice calm evening,” he mutters. “Godfrey, not now with your shit. Leave the humans to the human things,” Tate snaps, practically dismissing him. Hope preens at our mate, telling the big bad vampire he’s not afraid. Tate’s in a tux too, Goddess he looks delicious.*He’s a vampire Shadow,* I tell Hope, though she doesn’t care. He’s still a filthy bloodsucker, and no
~Harlow’s Point of View~“Rowan! Fancy meeting you here,” a voice says, as Rowan tries to move us into the hallway leading to the bathroom. My face is flushed completely red from his intense kiss, and I’m still breathless. I feel my mate’s strong and large frame completely tense next to me. I jerk my head to look at Rowan, and his jaw is clenched. I squeeze his hand, reassuring him.*That’s weird for him,* Hope says, confused. “Sally,” he grits out, clearly annoyed.*Ew! I hate her, whoever she is. Assert your dominance over our mate. I don’t like the familiar way she’s eyeing him,* Hope insists. I plaster on my best fake smile, perfected after many interactions with Rowan’s family.“Hello, I’m Rowan’s fated mate Harlow,” I say, though I don’t make any attempt to shake her hand. If he hates her, I’m not putting her scent on me.“Fated mate,” she squeals with big eyes. Several others maneuver around us, and it's obvious we’re in the way. “Yes,” Rowan snaps, as he pulls me tighter. Sa
~Rowan’s Point of View~“What’s wrong,” a male asks, as Harlow winces and touches her belly. She breathes through it.“I’ll get the doctor,” another male says. My entire world spins out of control and I nearly snarl, pushing down the intense need to bat them all away as my beast wants to do. People are touching our mate, putting their scent on her and it’s only me that should be caring for her.“She’s fine and stubborn, she insists on staying,” I say, and snake my arm around my little acushla, pulling her away from those gawking at her.“Rowan, this is Lilly and her mates River, Hunter and Skylar. They’ve helped me so much with my pregnancy and helping to find out about my family. They’re really the absolute best,” Harlow says, standing up straight once her pain subsides and waving her hands.My defenses immediately go up, sensing the magic of a very strong witch nearby, though it's been doing that since we got here. It’s making me nuts. There are far too many in a concentrated area.“
~The day of the charity ball~~Harlow’s Point of View~“Rowan, we don’t have time,” I giggle, as my mate licks my clit in the most torturous way. He knows damn well neither of us cares about time. When we get going, there’s no stopping things. Everyday with him has just been better than the next and I’ve never been more convinced I’ve absolutely found my true fated mate. Of course Hope in my head constantly panting and drooling is also making it all the more apparent.*Just relax,* Hope insists, lost in the feeling, the warmth and comfort of our mate. Each moment is too precious, especially when he goes out so much at night, and I have no idea where he’s going. I know so little about his “work” and while it feels like it isn’t my place to ask… it's killing me.But then he comes back and holds me, kisses me then more. And I forget I’m angry, I lose myself to him each and every time. “There’s time,” he breathes, and I gasp realizing he came inside me earlier this morning and I haven’t s
~Luc’s Point of View~“Fuck I had no idea there were so many. They look like a damn bee hive of dumb blood suckers,” Tate whispers.I roll my eyes and scrub my face, holding my position in the clouds. I can’t argue with his words, knowing this was once me. Leading the charge of mindless newborns at that. You couldn’t have told me a damn thing, I was absolutely convinced I was invincible in those days. Really… most of my days. We whisper to each other and try to identify a leader, but can’t manage it. None seem capable of flying, which is a damn huge positive. Though it took me many years to perfect it and manage to stay up for more than a few minutes at a time.Tate’s hot breath is just in my ear, his weight on my back is a lot… the male has certainly never missed a meal. Though having a vampire side to me makes my body almost stay a certain way I hate. I can lift weights, do whatever exercises I want, I can’t build muscle and keep it the way a normal human can and that’s always pisse
~Rowan’s Point of View~“Uhm…what are these,” I hear, from just in the bathroom. I move to the door to find it open, and Harlow is gaping at the sink counter. I rub my chin and admonish myself for being in such a hurry.“I uhm… they’re piercings. I took them out because I didn’t want to scare you our first time,” I explain and quickly gauge her reaction. She looks beyond confused and it's completely adorable. She’s just in one of my muscle t-shirts, and it stretches over her little belly perfectly. We slept in half the day, and I guess we both really needed it.“For … where,” she asks, her face totally blank. I rub the back of my neck, feeling embarrassed. I’m never embarrassed, it's completely against everything a McGrath stands for. But this teenage girl who holds my heart in her hands…well her opinion means everything to me.“I got it done on a whim. If I leave them out another day or so the holes will probably heal. I’ve probably already left them out longer than I should’ve,” I sa
~Harlow’s Point of View~“Hmmm, more, more…” I mumble, rubbing between my legs. *Yes! Ohh this is so good, SO good,* Hope cries out. I work my clit and move between it and my wet center, desperately wishing for something to really fill me up. Remembering the feel of Rowan yesterday, how damn masterful he was with me. Luke was certainly good but Rowan went down on me like a starved bear needing honey. The sound of a foot step shakes my entire body and I grab for the blanket, knowing that I’m in bed completely naked. With Hope’s help I can see my way around the dark now, though I know it’ll be sharperr after our first shift. “Just me macushia,” a deep voice says. Then a warm hand cups my cheek. I look up into Rowan’s eyes, and he’s clearly hungry…*Starved! Ohhh let’s do it,* Hope squeals. *Isn’t it too dangerous? What if he bites us,* I warn, as the bed dips and I move a bit to give him room. “What does that mean,” I ask, knowing it's something Irish. He gives me a warm smile and