Making Memories
Theo
“Fuck,” I whisper as her head hits the pillow and I drop to a knee beside the bed, raking a hand through my hair. Fuck!
I stare at her, resisting the urge to comb my fingers through her blond curls. I hesitate before reaching over and brushing my knuckles down her cheek. The taste of her lips remains, the feel of her touch lingers…
Sorry, Blondie…
Sighing softly, I drag myself to my feet, gazing down at the unconscious woman. Her breathing is even and steady now; that faint crease between her brows is gone. I step back, my chest feels too tight, my skin too hot, my wolf pacing restlessly in my mind.
Fuck.
The room holds her scent, dangerously sweet and intoxicating, and my pulse won’t slow down, no matter how hard I try to calm it.
It was meant to be one quick kiss. I shouldn’t have let it go that far.
Turning away, I press my palm to the wall, breathing slowly, trying to focus on anything other than the memory of her lips moving against mine, the soft, sexy sound she made when she thought she was dreaming, the way her body fit against me so damn perfectly.
It was solely meant for returning her voice. But, for one reckless heartbeat, I stopped being careful, instead letting myself enjoy that kiss. She was awake, and I let my guard down.
And that’s what scares the hell out of me. Because I wanted it. I almost didn’t care about the consequences – almost.
I glance back towards her, letting the image of her in her gorgeous nightwear join my treasury of memories of her.
She won’t remember this, and it has to stay that way.
I square my shoulders, forcing the cocky mask back into place even though no one’s watching, even though my hands are still shaking just a little.
I almost fucked up. I can’t afford to make such a reckless mistake.
But it’s not easy, not when she’s fucking perfect, in every goddamn way… I close my eyes as I reach for the doorknob.
Take care of yourself, Sweetcheeks.
“You’re leaving in three days for Russia.
I’m not happy, but I’m glad you didn’t go with Al straight away,” Ma says to Jayce, who’s sitting on the floor in front of her, brushing his fingers over his guitar strings as she plays with his hair.
She’s been giving him extra attention ever since he’s been home after leaving the Academy.
I don’t even want to fucking think about how she’s going to feel after she finds out I’m a ‘traitor’.
My days are numbered. Leo and I are making a plan, and it’s going to be put into action before Jayce leaves.
To make it real, to make it hurt.
Get used to it, you’ll be bringing them way more hurt than that, I tell myself.
“I’m needed there, I’ll make sure to call often,” Jayce replies quietly as I grab a handful of nuts from the jar I’m holding.
“Yeah, you better. It sucks that you’re going,” Katara says from where she’s curled up on one of the armchairs, watching an anime. We’re all at the Blood Moon Pack for a couple of days until Jayce leaves.
There’ve been plenty of feel-good moments and then several sad ones. For me, it’s harder than I fucking thought it would be. Knowing that this is it. The very last time we’ll spend time as a family. All of us together.
I look over at Gramps, who is sitting on the other armchair, with Grandma curled up on his lap.
They don’t look a day over fifty, and despite their age, they’re still so in love.
Dad is sitting on the other end of the coach Ma is on, smiling over at her, giving her space to fuss over her first baby.
I snicker internally; we’ve teased him nonstop about how Ma’s been treating him since he’s leaving.
Renji is playing a game of chess with Ares, whilst Carter is flicking through a book.
We left Puerto Rico the morning after the wedding, and my final exchange with Heaven still plays and replays in my mind constantly. She didn’t know it, but it was the last time I’ll see her…
She’s a distraction, one that I’ll visit in my memories when the burden of the world feels too heavy to shoulder.
The Morning after the Wedding
“Oh my Goddess! You got your voice back?!” Allie’s voice reaches my ear.
I bite into the toast and cock a brow, turning to see the commotion.
Heaven’s standing there in a purple minidress, her hair pulled into a very high ponytail, a few strands of hair left out to frame her face.
And the light hits off her gloss and large earrings.
I watch her, waiting for her response.
“Yes, I did.”
I turn as Raihana, who is drinking coffee, drops her mug, sending it shattering to the ground as she rushes to her daughter’s side the moment she hears her speak.
“What! How?!” she asks, pulling her into her arms.
“I have no idea. This morning, I woke up and was just muttering something, and it’s back.”
Phew.
I let out a breath I didn’t even know I was holding. Hearing her talk… Fuck, it feels good.
Sienna screams as she runs at her, hugging her as some of the other women join, all ecstatic.
I smirk. Now, to make sure I play my part.
Getting up, I walk towards her, and she looks at me, her large eyes raking over me, a little slower and a tad too fucking confident with her mother right there.
I stop a few feet away from her and fold my arms. “Damn, Blondie, congrats…” I say, and then step closer, leaning in to whisper in her ear. “You sure you didn’t make a deal with him again?”
I step back to look her in the eye, and she frowns slightly, shaking her head. “No. I didn’t. I’m telling the truth. I woke up, and my voice was back. You don’t know anything?” she asks, perplexed.
Relief washes through me, and I smirk, relaxing. “No. But I am going to ask him how that is fair. He’s never reversed any agreement he’s made with me, and yet the bastard gave you your voice back,” I scoff.
She smiles, tossing her ponytail. “Well, I guess I’m lucky then,” she says haughtily.
I nod. “Well, either way, it’s neat,” I say. Allie looks at me, narrowing her eyes.
“You really had nothing to do with it?” she asks.
I cock a brow, becoming serious for a moment, and shake my head. “I didn’t even consider it. Once a deal is made, it’s made. But it’s awesome that it’s back.”
When Allie nods, her suspicion fading, I slowly move back as Uncle Rayhan and Dad come over to congratulate Heaven.
Turning away, I glance back at Heaven one final time as she nods at something Uncle Rayhan has said, a smile on her lips.
The plan worked.
Perfect.
I toss a cashew nut into the air, catching it in my mouth.
My brothers had asked, too, if I was the one who got it back for her, but I denied it. No one needs to know.
“When are Damon and Robyn getting here?” Grandma asks.
“Oh, soon, Artemis was getting her hair done,” Ma explains with a smile.
Artemis and Asher are home as well and have been spending most of their time here. I can’t lie, I’ve been observing Asher and Carter like a predator does its prey since Jayce’s comment.
What I wouldn’t give for a look into their minds.
But they’ve not given me any clues, or that might just be Carter being extra careful, knowing we’re probably observing him.
I snicker. “Shame Asher hasn’t come early. Is he getting his hair done, too, Carter?” I ask.
Carter turns and gives me the coldest glare ever. “And why the hell are you asking me? Ask him,” he retorts.
Jayce glances up as Renji grins and Ares scoffs.
Gramps raises an eyebrow. “What am I missing?”
“Nothing,” Jayce intervenes as I smirk.
Carter sits back. “Not much, no. I am curious about something else, though. You and Heaven seem to be quite close now.”
I smirk. “Now don’t be jelly that I have a clever witch as a buddy,” I answer.
Ma laughs. “She is a clever one; I do think she’ll surpass Raihana, too,” she says.
The other adults nod. “She’s only seventeen and is already doing so much,” Grandma adds.
Nice try, wanker, I say to Carter through the mind-link.
He simply gives me a dirty look but doesn’t reply.
I chuckle quietly to myself as I pop an almond into my mouth.
The doorbell rings; ah, here they are.
“It’s open!” Dad calls. The door opens, and a few moments later, Uncle Damon enters the lounge with Aunty Robyn beside him. Artemis and Asher are right behind them.
“Hey!” Artemis says as she drops onto the sofa beside Dad.
“The hair looks great,” Dad compliments her.
“Thanks, Uncle,” she says, turning her head so he can see it properly.
“I haven’t seen you with that thing for a while,” Uncle Damon says with a grin as he gestures towards Jayce’s guitar. “You should play us something.”
“I’ll pass. I’m a tad rusty,” Jayce replies as he strums the guitar.
“Oh, he’s perfectly good with it,” Ma disagrees.
Aunty Robyn pats my knee, and I groan, forced to sit up to make space for her to sit down.
“Don’t be lazy,” she says with a smile, helping herself to some nuts.
“I am allowed to be lazy, I work hard,” I say.
She cocks a brow. “Do you? What have you been up to since you came home?” she asks.
“Now, you’re just calling me out,” I say, tossing another cashew up into the air.
The sleep potions are all out, and as much as I hate to admit it, I could have done with some more. I have to admit they became addictive; the thought of a good night’s rest is a temptation I couldn’t resist. “I’ve been sleeping. It’s important.”
Although it wasn’t that I tried to go to sleep ASAP, thoughts of Heaven stopped me often enough. I know whenever she’s online because I fucking stalk her. Like a psycho.
“You’re going to lose,” Asher says to Ares as he takes a seat close to them, looking at the board between Renji and Ares.
“And since when have you been good at this game?” Ares asks. “Don’t underestimate me.”
“And don’t overestimate yourself,” Carter adds, looking over his book at Ares.
“Damn, Ares, you’re losing. Wasn’t I right?” Asher taunts as Renji chuckles, making a move.
“Sorry, man,” Renji says apologetically.
“You boys are so loud,” Katara grumbles.
“They really are,” Artemis agrees, as if she ain’t as damn loud as we are.