~Luke’s Point of View~When I blink we’re in the parking lot of the bar. I’ve never been inside, though I’ve scouted it heavily. “Harlow,” I scream, and immediately begin to dash around looking for her. I find Anna, quite literally with her wrist handcuffed to my sunflower. Harlow is dressed like a giant ladybug, and she looks silly. But still beautiful as ever. She was supposed to be taking pups around the pack for candy or something. I still don’t fully understand “trick or treat” though she tried to explain it. “Are you all right,” I scream, a bit too harshly as I reach for her face. Tears stain her cheeks as she sobs, then falls onto my chest.“They’re all just liars! I hate them all! They think I’m weak but I’ll show them I can fight,” she shouts, as she breaks into a full ugly cry. I do my best to soothe her, rubbing her back.Dante sighs in my mind, knowing that she is feisty all right, one of the things we like so much about her. But physically? She can’t do much and she kno
~Rowan’s Point of View~Shadows… ugh. I fucking hate Shadows. At least they’re predictable. “Oi! Are you even listening,” Declan barks, as he points to something on his computer screen. “You’re barking so damn loud how could I not,” I retort, crossing my arms in annoyance. I rarely work a job with anyone else. I’m nothing if not methodical, and I can’t go through my rituals and processes with a crowd. I damn sure won’t have someone looking over my shoulder.But also, I have no clue what he said. And I simply don’t care. I’ll let them think they’re helping me.“Calm down brother, don’t let the wedding get yer knickers in a twist,” Conor teases. Declan gives a low growl, and I take a step back from his desk. I’ve only been back a few days, and they act like no time has passed. Like I haven’t been completely absent for a whole year. Subjected to water torture, electroshock therapy and sleep deprivation just to name a few of my fun memories.What’s worse is they all bought the lie. They
~Rowan’s Point of View~I dash to the stairs near him, absolutely hating that while I can move fast, I’m not capable of levitating. It pisses me off greatly, because there’s little I can’t do.The male cocks his head to the side a bit, taking me in. I do the same now that I’m closer, and when my eyes rake over his body, my cock literally twitches. It catches me off guard, it's absolutely been dormant for years. I don’t even pleasure myself anymore, just taking satisfaction from my work.And my dick likes … a male? That can’t be right! But my eyes want to soak him in, his hair is long enough to fall over his ice blue eyes, his rugged square jawline, his high cheeks and pert red lips. When his tongue darts out over them, something flutters in my gut. Am I really checking out a fucking guy right now?While I haven’t had sex voluntarily, I’ve still looked at and appreciated many females over the decades. In my early 30’s I went through an aggressive addiction to pornography until I got to
~Harlow’s Point of View~~Two Weeks Later~I grin as I watch several kids struggling to roll a snowman with barely three inches on the ground. Since playing in the snow was free, it was one of the few luxuries I could have while in foster care. One constant I could count on that wouldn’t be taken away from me. A mere glimpse into having a normal childhood.My personal favorite was just eating it. Not like many places I lived had freezers, some might have had a small refrigerator but getting ice was a rare treat. One of the puppies nudges at my boot and I quickly bend to pick it up. I think they named him Bark but I can’t be too sure.“Who’s a good boy! Ohhhh look at your widdle ears,” I coo, nuzzling my nose into his face. He licks me and wags his little tail for all he’s worth. I wish I had a treat to give him, and briefly think about going inside for--“Here you go boy,” Luke says, from just over my shoulder as he holds out a large piece of breakfast sausage. I lean back into his wa
~Rowan’s Point of View~“Dark Thunder huh, you have many undercovers living there,” I question. Not that I know shit about shifter packs, but it shouldn't be hard to find if I have the name. Something just tells me that Luke is a Shadow, he has to be. They’d never allow one such as him to roam free, unchecked. The fact that he didn’t attack or try to drain me, that he was trying to take Otis alive… it all adds up. If he’s a thousand years old there’s no way they don’t know about him. How many like that could there even possibly be?“Yes, there are several living under the guise as a family, even two posing as high school students,” Councilor Quinn says, blowing a puff of smoke in my face. My dad grunts next to him on the large leather sofa, also sucking on a cigar as well.I rub my chin, realizing that if not for seeing this “Luke” fly, if not for seeing his red eyes, I never would have known he was a hybrid. They have his vampire side virtually hidden, so it isn’t surprising some cou
~Luke’s Point of View~*I can’t let it go, I swear she smelled like another male yesterday,* Dante whines. I shrug him off as I watch our sunflower dancing by the fire with Anna and some other females. The fire that Anna conjured up out of thin air, and no one seemed to think it was even the slightest bit weird. It still baffles me that all these different creatures can truly co-exist. Can be open about who they are, but I can’t. Even if it was okay, I don’t know that I could do it. Handle the looks, the stares. People constantly thinking I’ll flip out at any given moment and be the monster their fear tells them I am. If I wasn’t feeding directly from a human at least twice a day, I might very well be. In my younger years I lived for the looks, the stares. The fear and terror I elicited. How wrong I was, and how utterly foolish.*Let’s get her inside and naked. We’ll make sure she remembers who she belongs to,* Dante says, wagging his tail. I know she sees so many different males wh
~Luke’s Point of View~When the sounds of feet pattering picks up, everything in me says it's her. Dante agrees to shift, and when we’re on two feet, we dash through the woods. Within seconds, I see her. My heart thuds in my ears, and Dante growls through me. I’m not sure I even remember a time I was THIS angry.She’s carrying a small flashlight, and probably nothing else. No sort of weapon certainly.“Harlow, you are getting spanked until you can’t stand up. Do I have to lock you in a damn room,” I say, as I walk out from behind a tree about twenty feet ahead of her. She stops running and sighs when she sees me. Lowering the flashlight, she leans forward and puts her hands on her knees for a minute, and I let her collect herself as I stalk forward.“What the fuck are you doing? Were you outside the borders, do you not have any fucking idea how dangerous that is right now?? Do you get it?? The threats are literally all over,” I shout, my anger getting the better of me.She has to get
~Rowan’s Point of View~“What do you mean he’s gone,” I question, annoyed with the female standing in front of me. “I don’t know, his entire family left earlier today. Like their house is empty. Nobody at Dark Thunder knows anything,” she says, shrugging. I make a face, but pass her the wad of cash in my hand anyhow. I can’t take my anger out on some random she-wolf but right now my temper doesn’t understand that.I quickly teleport back to the bar, not knowing where else to go. I’ve lost Otis and now Luke. It isn’t acceptable. When I catch a floral scent near one of the doors that’s barely still attached to the ruined building, I follow it. It hadn’t been there the other night, but then again there were a hundred scents. Once inside I find there’s a table still in good shape, virtually untouched from the fire. It sits right in the middle of the rubble and it’s got a sheet of paper on it.“You can’t have me Caden, not now, not ever. Go fuck yourself.”I burst out laughing at the word
~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