Cronan is angry. Angry that after years of waiting, he's mated to the one wolf he never wanted.
Fen is stuck. Stuck in a state of purgatory that he doesn't know how to escape from.
After learning of his mate's crimes, Cronan never expected to see h...
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Abel's dark eyes were the first thing I spotted when I woke up. He sat on my chest and stared down at me with curious little eyes.
"Awake?" The ginger-haired boy asked me with a whisper that wasn't quite right.
"I'm awake," I confirmed and stretched my arms.
His face broke out into a grin which managed to lift my mood slightly. Admittedly, I'd been down since I left Oakwood. Since I left Cronan.
The night kept replaying in my head on a never-ending loop, dragging me lower and lower. It didn't help that our mate bond was still intact and driving my wolf up the walls, beckoning me to Cronan's side. I figured that was partly because we'd spent so much time together. It felt strange not to be in his orbit anymore.
I missed it, but at the same time, I didn't. It was an equally confusing and contradicting feeling. I missed waking up next and spending time with him, but staying with him, knowing it wouldn't go anywhere wasn't something I could do. I knew myself well enough to know I wouldn't be able to handle it gracefully.
I tried to keep my emotions in check. I did, but there was only so much I could keep a lid on before it popped off. I couldn't realistically walk around him, live with him, and sleep with him while knowing that there would always be a border in the way. Maybe I was selfish but I wanted it all. I wanted the game nights, dinner dates, and early mornings, but I also wanted the mate mark and the bond along with the overflow of warmth and feelings that came along with it.
I sighed to myself. This wasn't the type of thought I wanted or needed to have.
"Let's get food," I suggested to the two-year-old as I moved him to my side so I could sit up. That was short living of course. He wasted no time returning to my lap.
"Food?" Abel repeated with bright eyes.
"Food," I confirmed with a nod as I lifted him up and climbed off the bed. "We can find your sister while we're at it."
Being the excited toddler he was, Abel wrapped his arms around my neck and immediately pointed toward the door. I wasted no time carrying out of the room and down the hall toward the kitchen, the only room I was confidently capable of finding without getting lost. I was still getting used to the pack house here.
Ambrose stood in the kitchen with Lola and a bunch of other kids surrounding him, but his attention was focused on what was taking place outside of the house. Or rather, who was there.
Laken stood with a basketball in hand and a group of older kids by his side, completely unaware of the stare he was receiving.
