Quiet
Richard
“I don’t even think you are trying,” Val smirked at me and let me up.
“Why would I try that hard if I could be pinned underneath you instead?” I leaped up and picked her up from behind. That only got me an elbow to the face and a punch to my hip bone. She wiggled out of my grasp, ready to fight me again. But she was saved by the bell that came in the form of a particular manipulative pup.
‘Pups are not manipulative, you psycho.’ Maximus grunted. ‘And that’s my niece you are talking about.’
‘That talent will serve her well in life.’ I meant it as a compliment. That guy was always so defensive.
“We will need to finish this later. I’m being called for food service.”
“Where is my deadbeat brother? Can’t he feed her?" She growled at me and punched me in the gut. “It was a joke, Val."
“I know. So was the punch." She patted my chest and went over to pick up Oriana. Val made her little hand wave at me, and I shook my head in defeat.
“Some day, Luna is going to kill you." Daren teased me, coming up behind me. My friend’s groupies were swooning over him. Something I didn’t miss as much as I thought I would. It would be nice to have my personal groupie cheer me on, but she has volunteered at the hospital again this week. Ranada claimed she was doing well over there, and I would like to think she was telling the truth.
What I hadn’t told anyone is all of the years of Lissa destroying her body have made it extremely unlikely that she will ever have a pup. We tried anyway. Even used some hormone therapy, but nothing took. It had only been a few months. Not everyone was as fertile as my brother’s mate. We have been considering other options, but surrogacy is rare amongst wolves as no one likes another male’s scent on their mate, and something like IVF was rarely successful in wolves. Not really sure why that is. Most assume it’s because it’s interfering with the Moon Goddess’ plan. Ranada explained from a more scientific perspective that a she-wolf’s heat is a signal her body is ready for a pup. Without it happening naturally or made happen by drug therapy, it’s very likely her body can’t handle it. The drugs didn’t work on she-wolves who can’t carry, apparently. Not something I knew until now. Never had I before wished I was a human. This whole thing is easier for them, even though it is anything but easy to go through.
We agreed to give it a year to see where we are. Then, I might need to discuss the possibility of someone else carrying our pup with a certain sweetheart of mine. If every heat she gets pregnant, that will mean there are a hundred pups running around, and I don’t think even my brother would be happy with that. Not that he would say it. His saccharin attitude with them was enough to make one sick, and the she-wolves around here want to murder their mates.
“She loves me too much for that." I shot back, and Louis took the opportunity to take me down as I was lost in my thoughts. “Bad form, Louis,” I grunted.
“Hey, didn’t you always say that you have to be ready to be attacked at any moment?" He threw a kick that I blocked and countered with a punch. The whole exchange reminded me of a much simpler time in my life. When they both came at me, it brought me back to it even more.
An hour later or so, I heard Lissa in my head, ‘Are you boys done playing? Or am I sleeping alone tonight?’
’What time is it?′ Looking up at the sky, I realized the sun was almost gone.
’Time to come home.′ She teased me, and we called it a day. My muscles were screaming at me after the session. Even though things have been really good the last few months, no one wanted to slack off. I’ve been around long enough to know the second you let yourself enjoy the calm, something goes wrong, and you regret it.
When I got back in the house, Tobias was full puppy running up and down the stairs for absolutely no reason, and Val had given up trying to stop him. In her defense, he always wears himself out. It’s better not to argue. I’m not trying to get on the ankle-biter’s bad side.
“Shoes, Richard!" Val yelled from the kitchen.
“How did you even tell?" That woman had cameras everywhere. I know it.
“You stomp around like a crazy person. That’s how I can tell." She had a point. I kicked off my shoes and took them back to the shoe rack. We would need a bigger one soon. Gale had about a hundred pairs on it.
When I walked into the kitchen, Oriana was in her swing, bouncing around. She held her hands up as if she wanted to be picked up or she was on a roller coaster. Either way, it was adorable. However, Val yelled before I could get her, “Shower before you touch my pup, Richard. You reek of sweat, dirt, and cigarettes."
“One day, you are going to miss that scent when I’m gone." I kissed her cheek and attempted to hug her.
“I know I will." She swatted at me with the spoon in her hand. “But seriously. Go shower. Dinner will be ready within the hour."
“Alright, fine. After, though, my favorite niece and I have a date."
“You realize she’s barely six months old. She will not remember these date nights."
“But I will."
“No more mafia movies!" She shouted after me but chuckled. Val will give me shit about everything until the day she died. Happy there is no way I will outlive her with how reckless I am most of the time, so I never have to miss it. But she doesn’t mean it either. Any break from either pup was welcomed at this point. And any time I could get with one or both of them was the most valuable thing she could give me.
When I got back to my room, Lissa was waiting for me.
“Hey, Babe." I kissed her cheek.
“Will and Amiee finally left today. Thanks for assigning me send-off duty."
“They should have left months ago,” I grumbled. It was awkward having them around as long as they were and potentially dangerous. Gale made a case for it, and Anthony caved. She thought that, with more time, she would have convinced Cayden to leave so she could be closer to her family, but he wouldn’t budge on the issue. Not sure who I thought was right or wrong in that fight. Both sides had their points. I’ll admit that I tricked Lissa into being part of the sending-off party with Gale as we said our goodbyes the night before.
“You owe me one, Richard." I pulled her against me, “One what?"
“I thought that would be a sexy thing to say, but you are disgusting right now. Why didn’t you shower downstairs?" She wrinkled her nose at me, and I kissed her all over her face until I found her lips. It was so easy to get Lissa to change her mind. Come to think of it, I think that might be one of the fundamental problems in our relationship. This woman has no convictions.
“I was hoping you would keep me company."
“Were you now?" She raised an eyebrow at me, and I picked her up, throwing her over my shoulder. I had an hour until dinner and about double that time until my date. So, depending on how hungry I am after feasting on my mate, I will decide if I sacrifice dinner to take her again or throw on clothes and pretend I’m a productive member of society.
Dinner won out—not because of me but because of Lissa. Apparently, Val was making her favorite dinner: pot roast. By the time we got there, most of the house had already gathered.
“It is Wednesday, Pup." I poked Oriana’s side, and she giggled. It was such a sweet sound.
“Richard, she has no idea it’s Wednesday." Gale gave me a strange look. Why was she always giving me shit about this? And it wasn’t the way Val did. Gale did it with such contempt in her voice.
“I beg to differ. My girlfriend definitely knows what day it is." I gave her a spoonful of my mashed potatoes, and she clapped her hands. This was one of Oriana’s favorites.
“Well, I certainly know it’s Wednesday." Anthony was very appreciative of date night. Greg took Tobias for a few hours, and it gave him time to fuck his mate in peace. Sitting in his booster seat, Tobias looked half asleep. The race he was running against no one earlier paid off.
“Don’t even think about it. I have laid claim to Oriana for movie night." She started banging her bottle on the tray of her high chair, and Val gave her the mom look to stop it. It was amazing how quickly the pups responded to each of the girl’s looks.
The evening was nice, like so many others we have had lately. I didn’t think it was possible for me to be domesticated, but I was getting there. Can you believe it’s been months since I hid a body?
Cayden
I ignored the pull of the mate bond, but having her like that in front of me, I couldn’t deny that I wanted her. I was starting to think I could love her. Or at least I lusted for her. That was a start, and I was ready. This time when I fucked her… I would complete the bond.
She slid the straps of her dress down her arms and let it slide to the floor. I dropped my shorts and pulled her against me. “Fuck, I want you.”
“Then take me." She said with a wicked smirk. “And don’t be gentle about it.”
Low in my throat, I growled at her, my desire, pulling her against me roughly. I rubbed my cock against her pussy that was waiting. She barked back at me with a very satisfying moan.
Being with her was different. Sparks from her skin fueled me, making me explore her everywhere, trying to find a spot that didn’t have the sparks. While I was not gentle at her request, I was slow about it, savoring the feeling for as long as I could. Reaching down, she guided me inside of her. I wrapped one of her legs around my waist, then the other.
I finally felt complete. Fixed. Stronger. Faced with my pack again, I would kill them all. The power of this pack, of the woman I called my mother, made me stronger. I could even fuck Gale with more force than I fucked anyone with before. I had my aura back, and I was as addicted to it as I was to her.
On every thrust, her breasts would bounce. I took one in my hand and kissed her with every feeling I had inside my body. As I knew she was ready to orgasm, she asked me to mark her. Just like she did every time. With her question, my confidence in this drifted away. Could I really do it? Should I? Did it matter anymore? If I didn’t, eventually, I’d lose her. I had some time till I would say I was utterly in love with her. But it didn’t matter. That would happen. Mates always loved each other. Don’t they? Yes, I am-
’Wait. Let’s be sure.′ Finn instructed me, and this time, I listened to him. I made the mistake of ignoring him once while inside a woman, and I couldn’t do that again. I dragged my teeth down her neck and pulled at the skin. “Please." She begged me.
"Soon,” I told her, and she nodded her agreement before convulsing around me. As I felt myself unload into her, I collapsed to the side of her and pulled her with me. “I just need more time.”
“Sure. I understand." I smiled down at her, and she lifted her head up to kiss me. Her support seemed fake to me, but I hoped it was not. I hoped she understood. It had been almost a year since we met, but there were still some things I needed to work out with her. Like, what were her expectations? Did she want a family? Did she want to stay here forever? But if I brought up these topics, she changed the subject.
“What is it you want in a mate?" I asked her, lacing my fingers with hers.
“What do you mean?" She gave me a weird look.
“I think everyone needs something else from their other half. What do you need?”
“Doesn’t the Moon Goddess tell us that?"
“Maybe. Doesn’t mean she’s always right." Her eyes widened in shock. “Gale, I’m not all that religious.”
“Religions are based on faith. The Moon Goddess is real. We know that.” She had a point, but still, something told Finn and me not to trust it. What type of Goddess would let me suffer as she had? What lesson did that teach me?
“Fine. That doesn’t mean mistakes aren’t made. Maybe your first years in this realm led you to become someone that the Moon Goddess didn’t intend you to be. Then your mate could actually be all wrong for you. How would you know?" I felt changed in this life, although I didn’t remember the others. Something about it didn’t feel familiar.
“I don’t think it works like that, Cayden. They are the other half of you. One soul split into two. You can’t be complete without your mate."
“You don’t think it’s possible your other half makes you a worse person? What if you were fated to be evil? Being with the other half of your soul would make you worse." Did she really not see any of this? That it was a risk?
“Why would the Moon Goddess fate anyone to be evil?" Knowing her brother, I wondered how she could believe it was impossible.
“I don’t know. Just was asking if you think it’s possible." I backed down. This conversation was going nowhere.
“You know what I think your problem is?" The way she asked that irritated me. Why did everyone think I had a problem?
“I’m sure you are going to tell me."
“You overthink. Take a leap of faith,” Gale said, and it sent me flashing back to Justine. She said the exact same words to me that night when I told her we shouldn’t sleep together and that we might not be mates. “Cayden?"
“Cayden, I know we are mates. I feel it. Take a leap of faith."
’Cayden, don’t do this. Something is off.′ Finn pleaded with me. Then she took my cock in her mouth, and I was a goner.
“Never mind, Gale,” I said and shook my head. She cuddled into my side, and I wrapped one arm around her. She smelled like orange blossoms to me. They were my favorite flower once. But they weren’t now. That made me uneasy.
Her dismissive attitude to my question is the one thing holding me back. That and the fact that she liked the finer things in life made her come off as shallow and vain. I had nothing as far as that went.
Greg
“How is this race even fair?” Ranada laughed at me. I had the four pups lined up in the living room with a piece of tape as the starting line.
“It is purely for my amusement,” I informed her. “Would you like to place a bet?”
“You’re awful.” She shook her head and laughed. “But I’m definitely betting on Tobias. The kid already walks.”
“So does Elizabeth.” I reminded her. Bethany’s development was a little slower than Elizabeth’s, so she hadn’t walked independently yet. I assumed it was because her mother was an omega. Their pups are always behind the ranked wolves’ pups. But it wasn’t concerning to me as it was to Ranada, as they always caught up. She worried it was because her mother wasn’t here anymore. I didn’t believe that, though. Bethany would take on the world when she was ready.
“Not as well. Besides, he can also shift.”
“And he tired himself out running around earlier. He is not well rested for this race.” I explained further.
“Greg.” She rolled her eyes and sat down with me.
“I have clarified to everyone that crawling is the only option.” I leaned over and kissed her.
“Because they all understand the rules.”
“Hey, they haven’t even started yet? They are waiting for the signal. Besides, we have the smartest pups in the pack. I’m insulted on their behalf. And you bet against our own pups, so you insulted them, too.” That said, Tobias would most likely win. He was the oldest and most advanced by far.
“Alright, pups. On your mark, get set, go!” Victor immediately started to crawl backward. Tobias stopped moving forward to turn him around. Instead of trying to win, he kept realigning with the group to get them to move forward.
“A true alpha,” Ranada whispered to me. In the end, Tobias came in last, but the pup won in my book.
“Now I don’t know who won, though.” I threw up my hands. “I guess we need to restart this whole thing.”
“I think this race wore them out.” Elizabeth brought me a book, and she crawled into my lap. Bethany cuddled up to Ranada, and Tobias directed Victor back to the group. He was working hard at learning but was only six months old. I think. Ranada would know and yell at me for forgetting again. If I wasn’t there for his birth, I would believe he’s always been here, so keeping track is hard.
“I hate you,” Ranada growled, crushing my hand. “I’ll make you pay for this.”
“I think you fractured my hand. I’m paying for it.” I kissed her temple, which got me another growl.
“Touch me again, and I’ll kill you. Slowly. I’m a doctor. I know all sorts of ways.”
That was my favorite line the day my son came into the world. Why did I need to remember the exact timing? I could do the math if I needed to. He was perfect at any age.
“Guess it’s story time.” All these stories are the same. Happy ending. Everyone learned a lesson. I wonder when pups learn life is more complicated than any such story. This book might as well have been a sedative. I had a floor mat full of sleeping pups.
“We could leave them here?”
“I’ll take them one by one. Ask Val what she wants to do.”
‘Kitten? I have a pup that belongs to you sleeping on my floor.’
‘Please don’t move him.’ I could hear her exhaustion. Or maybe it was something else. Something I didn’t want to think that hard about. She might call me Uncle Greg, but in my mind, she was my first pup. No one wants to think of their pup that way. The two pups she produced made it impossible for me to lie to myself, which was bad enough.
‘No plan to. I can keep him until he wakes up.’
‘Thank You, Uncle Greg.’
