A New Kind of Family #3
Goddess, I want her. I want her more than the air I breathe, but she deserves something unforgettable. She deserves to see how important she is to me.
“I’m sorry, Shade. I got carried away,” I gasped, trying to catch my own breath as I watched her. “I don’t want you to feel pressured into anything you aren’t ready for.”
“I’m not. I want to be with you, Caelan. You’re my mate.”
Hearing her say that nearly did me in. I kissed her again, pressing my forehead to hers as we separated.
“Goddess, I love to hear you say that,” I whispered. “But we should wait.”
“We should?” she asked incredulously.
“Yes. I want this to be something special for you. Something romantic and incredible like you deserve. Something worthy of one of your romances,” I murmured. “When I finally take you, I want to feel like I’ve earned it.” “You don’t have to earn it, Caelan,” she countered. “I’m already yours.”
I whimpered, struggling to control myself. “Soon, my love. I promise. Very, very soon.”
She smiled, looking a little disappointed. “The waiting won’t get any easier.”
“I know,” I replied, leaning in for one last good night kiss before I reluctantly pushed myself off her with a sigh. “But it will be worth it. I’ll make sure of it.”
She sat up and watched me with eager eyes as I backed away. Her hair was a tousled mess and her dress was bunched around her thighs. When she ran her tongue across her bottom lip like she could taste me, I almost jumped on her again.
“Good night, Shade,” I managed, my voice strained as I fumbled with the doorknob.
“Good night, Caelan,” she whispered. ***
Early the next afternoon, I sat in my office staring at a very official-looking letter carrying the black seal of Dark Moon.
They wouldn’t.
I opened it, rage filling me as I scanned the contents. My fist slammed down on my desk, the wood cracking beneath it.
“Dillon, my office. Now!” I called over the mind-link.
Moments later, the door burst open, and my beta hurried inside.
“Caelan, what’s going on?” he asked warily when he saw the look on my face.
“Read,” I grunted, shoving the letter in his direction.
He grabbed the paper, scanning the contents quickly before looking up at me in confusion.
“Is this for real?” he queried.
“It would appear so,” I growled.
“Why would they do this?” he wondered.
“Because Alpha Huxley wants Shade for himself,” I spat in disgust. “He knows about her powers, and he’s determined to have her for his own so he can use her. Whether she wants it or not.”
“Seems awfully risky on his part,” he sighed. “This could start a war with Harvest Moon.”
“That’s what he wants,” I snarled. “He knows he could never take us on directly, but if he defeats me in a challenge, he becomes the pack leader. If he gets his rotten paws on her, he’ll be able to utilize his alpha command to make her use her abilities.”
“You knew this was a possibility,” Dillon murmured, tossing the letter aside. “Her father was a surprise, but we expected Huxley to try something. You’ll just have to remind him of his place. Gonna have a hell of a fight on your hands between the two of them.”
“I’ll do whatever it takes,” I growled. “I won’t let him have her. I won’t let either of them have her.”
“Are you going to tell Shade?” Dillon asked, giving me a calculating look.
“Yes. She’ll be there,” I sighed. “I don’t want her finding out last minute. That will only make things worse.”
“Well, she’ll probably be upset and worried,” he said as he turned to leave. “I’ll give Taffy a heads up.”
“I’d appreciate it.”
He left me alone with my thoughts, but I knew the longer I sat and stewed, the more furious I would get. Huxley’s challenge needed to be answered immediately, and the wheels set in motion. I had to get in front of this before it all came to a head.
“Shade, are you in your room?” I called through her newly formed mind-link.
“Yes. Do you need me for something?” she replied.
“Just stay there. I’ll come to you.”
I huffed in irritation, taking one final look at the letter on my desk before I stormed out of my office. I tried to calm myself as I climbed the stairs to the fourth floor, but I was still fuming by the time I reached her door.
Shade was sitting on the couch, her legs delicately draped across its arm when I entered. She placed her bookmark between the pages of an old book before closing it and setting it down on the table.
She looked so content that I almost hated myself for having to ruin her good mood.
“What is it, Caelan? What’s going on?” she pressed, clearly sensing my unease.
I sat down next to her, taking her hand. I needed to be close to her, to breathe in her scent just to keep myself from exploding.
“There’s been another challenge,” I admitted quickly, not seeing the point in dragging out the inevitable.
“Another challenge?” she questioned, her eyebrows knitting together in surprise. “Who else would challenge you for me?”
“Dark Moon,” I grumbled. “Alpha Huxley has issued a challenge for the right to mate with you.”
Her face paled. “But…you’re already fighting my father. You can’t fight Alpha Huxley too.”
I knew she could tell by the grim expression on my face that was exactly what I intended to do.
“What?! No, Caelan! You can’t!” she cried, throwing herself into my arms. “What if something happens to you?! I won’t stand there and do nothing. I can’t lose you.”
I held her close, my chest swelling as I realized what she was saying. She cared for me, maybe as much as I cared for her. I pressed a kiss to the top of her head.
“You won’t,” I promised. “As long as I get to hold you when it’s all over, I can get through anything.”
Teatime
SHADE
A FEW DAYS LATER
“Oh, Shade! I’m so happy you were able to join me for tea!” Luna Maty said as she rose from the little round table in the drawing room. “I’ve been looking forward to this for a while now. I can’t tell you how thrilled I am that Caelan has found his mate.”
I smiled as she took my arm, leading me over to the tastefully decorated tabletop. White linen and fine china cups had been set out for our teatime, along with a three-tiered platter of decadent little sandwiches and treats.
I had a moment of panic as I stared at the elegant setting.
How formal is this supposed to be? Am I even dressed appropriately? I don’t know the proper etiquette for this kind of thing. Goddess, please don’t let me embarrass myself.
“Thank you, Luna Maty,” I replied as I perched on one of the chairs.
She took a seat next to me, smiling brightly. “Please, we’re family! Call me Maty, or, if you’re ever comfortable enough with it, you could call me Mom.”
I nodded, though I didn’t know if I’d ever be comfortable enough to do something like that. It felt as though I’d be betraying my own mother if I called another by her title.
“My goodness, you look so much like your mother,” she said in a hushed tone.
“I do?” I questioned.
I honestly never thought that I had much resemblance to my mom. Sunny looked more like her than I did.
“Oh yes! You’re the spitting image of her.” She sighed sadly. “I miss her dearly. She was one of my very best friends. Her visits were one of the things that I looked forward to the most.”
“Did she visit often?”
“Oh yes. She came all the time, and sometimes she would bring you girls with her,” she replied. “She loved you both fiercely. You were her pride and joy. Even when things were bad with your father, she said she never regretted becoming his mate because it brought her the two of you.”
I gave her a sad smile. “I don’t remember as much of her as I would like,” I admitted. “But I do remember always feeling loved. It was just warmer in her presence, like being wrapped in a soft blanket just because she was near.”
“She would be so proud of you, Shade,” Maty said. “She always wanted her girls to grow up to be kind and caring. But most of all, she wanted you both to be strong, to be the sort of wolves that would stand up for others. The kind of women that others could look up to and emulate.”
“I don’t really think that I turned out how she would’ve wanted,” I replied as I stared down at my clasped hands resting in my lap.
How could my mother be proud of what I’ve become? I’ve killed. I’ve been powerless where it probably counts the most. I couldn’t even stand up for myself. I let my father dictate everything I thought or did and use me like a weapon for years. I’m not what anyone should aspire to be.
“You are exactly what she would’ve wanted,” she countered passionately. “You’ve been through a lot. Things no one should have to experience, but you came out the other side, still a strong, vibrant, beautiful young woman who would give her life to save another.”
She took my hand, patting it gently.
“You are exactly the kind of role model young she-wolves need. Brave. Resilient. Kind. Mark my words, you’re going to be an inspiration to little girls in this pack for years to come.
Your mother would be so proud, and I couldn’t be happier to have you as a mate for my son or as the one to inherit my title. ”
Tears welled in my eyes at her words. I wanted to make my mother proud. I wanted to make Luna Maty proud. She had so much faith in me, and I wouldn’t let her down.
I will do everything in my power to be the absolute best luna that I can possibly be.
***
I stood on the edge of the training field after finishing my tea with Luna Maty, watching Caelan train for the upcoming challenges. I tilted my head, setting the basket I brought with me at my feet as my eyes eagerly followed his every move.
He was so focused on striking the practice dummy that he hadn’t even noticed my presence yet, not that I minded. Seeing him in action was a treat. His movements were fluid and precise, each blow sharp and powerful as it made contact.
Desire pooled in my belly as I admired his shirtless, sweaty body. Moisture glistened across his chiseled back and sculpted chest, droplets running along the hard contours of his form.