40. Evelyn
40
Evelyn
T he weekend arrived, and my frustration had built up to a boiling point. Training helped, but it felt like we were getting nowhere.
We knew something big was coming, with both Morgana and Ryker’s father predicting a new era of power. Yet, everything else seemed stalled.
That day, we all sat in the strategy room, absorbed in various tasks, and I wanted to scream.
Chad, ever perceptive, must have sensed it. He suddenly stood up, sauntering over to the sound system with a mischievous grin. “We need to let loose,” he declared, cranking up the volume.
The music’s beat filled the room, and Chad started dancing, jumping onto the sofa with infectious energy.
I whooped, grabbing Alister’s hand.
He surprised me with his moves—smooth, precise, almost as if dancing was his secret hobby. Guess, I shouldn’t be surprised since he had lived through countless music eras.
Maybe there was a reason for that dance studio after all.
Rafe, although more reserved, joined in with his characteristic gracefulness.
“This is not a time for dancing,” Lucien grumbled, his face a perfect picture of disapproval.
I laughed, twirling past him. “It’s always time for dancing! Come on, Professor Party Pooper, show us your moves!”
Lucien’s eyebrows shot up. “My moves? I assure you, my ‘moves’ are reserved for more intellectual pursuits.”
“Boring!” Chad shouted.
I grabbed Ryker’s hand, pulling him into the fun. He stood stiff, like a statue carved from granite, eyes dark and unyielding.
I leaned in close, whispering into his ear. “You know it’s okay to let loose occasionally.”
He nodded slightly but remained rooted to the spot.
So I joined Chad, Alister, and Rafe and decided just to dance and fully embrace the music and the moment.
“Evelyn, what in the world are you doing?” Lucien grumbled.
“What does it look like? I’m dancing, dummy!” I retorted, shaking my hips for emphasis.
He grimaced, but I caught a flicker of amusement in his eyes.
“Our girl has her unique style.” Chad laughed. “Show him your twerking skills, little witch. Nobody can resist that!”
His smile was infectious, and I complied eagerly, much to Lucien’s apparent horror.
“I fear I may need to bleach my eyes after witnessing that…performance,” Lucien muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose.
I stuck my tongue out at him and turned back to the others.
Alister showed us more of his mouth-watering dance moves, each one making my pulse race. Chad, Rafe, and I eagerly tried to copy him. Soon, we were all moving together, our bodies wild and carefree in blissful chaos—a rare moment of joy amidst our ongoing turmoil.
As we danced, I felt my mood begin to shift within me, the weight of our situation creeping back in. Alister noticed the change. He moved closer, placing a gentle hand on my shoulder.
“Don’t let the darkness consume you, little phoenix,” he murmured, his voice barely audible over the music. “These moments of joy are what give us strength to face the battles ahead.”
I nodded.
He was right.
Rafe grabbed my hand, and we danced together until Chad playfully wedged himself between us, making me laugh as we moved in a weird trio. Alister joined in on one side, and soon we were a tangle of limbs and laughter.
Then Chad leaned in and kissed me.
I didn’t pull away.
I felt his hands slide down from my waist to grab my hips firmly before pulling me closer to him; the heat of our bodies merging as one.
A cough broke the spell.
Lucien stood at the edge of the room. “It’s time for me to leave,” he announced, his tone flat but his eyes betraying a mix of emotions.
“Don’t go, Lucien,” I said, but he was already out the door.
Chad grinned eagerly. “I say we move this party to the bedroom.”
My eyes widened, and Rafe blushed.
Alister raised an eyebrow, a mischievous glint in his eyes. “Remember, we’re all here to please you.”
I looked at him with furrowed eyebrows as my cheeks grew hot.
“You guys are impossible,” I muttered, but I couldn’t keep the smile off my face.
Rafe cleared his throat, still looking a bit flustered. “Perhaps I should call it a night.”
“Aw, come on, Angel Boy,” Chad teased. “Live a little!”
Rafe managed a shy smile. “Maybe another time.”
He left the room, his cheeks still tinged pink.
“Chad!” I chastised him.
“What?” He feigned ignorance. “More for me,” he whooped as he grabbed me in his arms.
I laughed.
Was I ready for this?
Absolutely not.
Did I want it?
Absolutely.
“You know the saying, right?” Chad said.
“What saying?” I asked.
“The one that says: once you go shifter, nothing else is better.”
I snorted. “That’s not how it goes, Puppy.”
“Definitely not,” Alister interjected. “It’s: once you go vampire, the night’s your eternal fire.”
Chad cringed. “That sounds just lame. Please never repeat that.”
“You guys are idiots.”
“Yes, but you looove us,” Chad added.
I smiled and ruffled his hair.
“Let me just check on Rafe,” I said, disentangling myself from Chad’s arms. “I’ll be right back,” I added.
Chad pouted playfully. “Don’t take too long, or we might start without you.”
I rolled my eyes but couldn’t help the smile that tugged at my lips.
As I padded down the hallway, the music from the room faded. I found Rafe about to head out.
“Hey,” I called, closing the distance and grabbing his hand. “I just wanted to check on you. You left pretty quickly back there.”
Rafe’s eyes met mine. “I’m fine, Evelyn. I just…needed some space.”
“Was it too much? The dancing, I mean. And…well, everything else?”
“I enjoyed the dancing. It’s just…” He trailed off, his cheeks flushing slightly.
“Just what?” I prompted gently.
Rafe sighed, running a hand through his hair. “You know I was an outcast, right?”
I nodded.
“Well, I’ve never had a girlfriend or even kissed someone before. Besides you, that is.”
I felt a pang of guilt. In our moment of carefree joy, we hadn’t considered how it might affect Rafe. “I’m sorry if we made you uncomfortable. That wasn’t our intention…and I don’t have much experience either, just so you know.”
He shook his head quickly. “No, no. You didn’t make me uncomfortable. It’s just…”
I rubbed his shoulder tenderly. “Hey, it’s okay. We all have our own pace, and our comfort levels. There’s no pressure, you know that, right?”
He nodded, his expression softening. “I know. And I appreciate that. It’s just…sometimes I feel like I don’t quite fit in. Like I’m too…different.”
My heart ached at his words.
I reached out, taking his hand in mine. “Rafe, you fit in perfectly. Your gentleness, your kindness–they balance us all out. We need you, just as you are…I need you, just as you are,” I amended.
His fingers intertwined with mine, a small smile playing on his lips. “Thank you, Evelyn. I…I need you all too. More than I ever thought possible.”
“You’re my fated mate,” I blurted out.
Rafe’s eyes widened, a mix of surprise and something else—hope, maybe?—flickering across his face. “You…You knew?”
I nodded slowly. “Goddess Hecate told me I had five fated mates,” I said, hoping he would be okay with sharing. It was a lot to ask. “I was just waiting for the right moment…and I was scared.”
He reached out, his fingers ghosting along my cheek. “Why?”
I leaned into his touch, closing my eyes for a moment. “Because everything in my life has been chaos since I came back. And this. Us. These bonds. They feel too good to be true.”
When I opened my eyes again, Rafe was smiling softly.
“I understand. I feel like that too. When I met you,” he whispered. “I just…I didn’t know how to tell you. I was afraid you wouldn’t want me.”
I wrapped my arms around his neck. He pulled me closer, his forehead resting against mine.
After a moment, I cupped his face in my hands, my thumb tracing across his cheekbone.
“Rafe, how could I not want you? You’re kind, gentle, and so incredibly strong. You’ve been through so much; I could never have done any of this without you… and, heck, the Academy would have burned to a crisp.”
Rafe nodded, his smile genuine.
“Can I kiss you?” he asked.
I nodded, suddenly nervous.
He gently caressed my cheek as his lips found mine, soft and tentative. The kiss was slow, exploring, sending a gentle warmth spreading through my body.
Rafe’s lips were soft, his touch gentle yet passionate.
It was different from Chad’s eager enthusiasm, Alister’s practiced finesse, and Ryker’s claiming. There was an innocence to it, a sweetness that made my heart flutter.
When we finally pulled apart, both of us were breathless.
For a moment, we just stood there, lost in each other’s gaze.
“Thank you for checking on me. It means a lot.”
Rafe left, and I made my way back to the others. That’s when I saw Ryker in the hallway waiting for me. His large arms were crossed, while he leaned slightly on the wall, his sharp unyielding gaze focused entirely on me.
“I didn’t want to disturb you.” He nodded towards the front door where Rafe had left.
“I appreciate that,” I mumbled.
He strode towards me—his body moving like a predator, muscles coiled, his t-shirt stretching across his massive chest.
I might have whimpered as he scooped me up and I climbed that tree like a hungry monkey in search of bananas…Yes, the pun was not lost on me.
“I have to leave. Urgent business for my father, but I should be back by morning,” he mumbled as I wrapped my legs around his waist, hooking my feet at the ankles and my arms around his head, keenly aware of his hands on my ass keeping me up.
“I understand,” I mumbled before crashing my lips against his.
He let out a deep growl as our tongues tangled in a fierce and possessive kiss, a stark contrast to Rafe’s gentle touch. I felt my back hit the wall, his hard body pinning me in place. I could feel every muscle and every hard edge as he continued to devour my lips.
“Fuck,” he growled low in his throat. That primal sound alone soaked my panties and my body heated with desire. His other hand slid down my side, gripping my hip as he held me in place, then rocked his hip slightly forward, his large cock hitting exactly where I wanted him. He was so freaking big and hard. I moaned into his mouth, my hips grinding against him in response.
When we finally broke apart, both of us were panting. Ryker’s eyes were dark with desire, a low growl rumbling in his chest.
“Mine,” he murmured, his voice rough with need.
I nodded, unable to find my voice. My body was on fire, every nerve ending alive and tingling.
Ryker pressed his forehead against mine, his breathing slowly returning to normal. “I have to go,” he said, though he made no move to release me.
“I know,” I whispered, running my fingers through his buzzed-cut hair.
He closed his eyes, leaning into my touch. For a moment, the fierce, intimidating shifter looked almost vulnerable.
“Be safe,” I told him, pressing a soft kiss to his cheek.
Ryker nodded, slowly lowering me back to the ground. His hands lingered on my waist, as if reluctant to let go.
“I’ll be back soon,” he promised.
I watched as he turned and walked away, his powerful frame walking out the door. My heart ached at his departure, a feeling of emptiness settling in my chest.
Taking a deep breath, I tried composing myself before returning to Chad and Alister. My body was still humming from Ryker’s touch, and I knew they would notice.
As I approached the strategy room, I could hear Chad’s laughter and Alister’s smooth voice. I paused at the doorway, taking in the scene.
Chad was sprawled on the couch, his shirt discarded somewhere along the way. Alister sat in an armchair, looking handsome as ever, but there was a glint in his eyes that spoke of mischief.
“There you are!” Chad exclaimed when he saw me. “We were starting to think you’d abandoned us.”
I rolled my eyes and stepped into the room. “As if I could ever escape you lot.”
Alister’s lips curved into a smirk. “Is that a complaint, little phoenix?”
I flopped down next to Chad on the couch, grinning. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”
Chad immediately pulled me close to him, nuzzling into my neck. “Did Rafe and Ryker get you all wet and ready for us, little witch?” he murmured against my skin.
I blushed, not sure how to navigate all of this yet.
Alister leaned forward in his chair, his eyes fixed on me. “Is Rafe alright?”
I nodded. “Yeah, he’s fine. Just needed some space.”
Chad lifted his head from my neck. “So, now that everyone’s okay, can we get back to the fun part?”
“And what exactly did you have in mind, Puppy?”
His grin widened. “Oh, I’ve got a few ideas.”
Before I could respond, Chad’s lips were on mine, hot and insistent. I melted into the kiss, my hands finding their way to his bare chest. He growled low in his throat, the sound sending a shiver through me.
When we finally broke apart, I caught sight of Alister watching us intently.
Chad’s hand slid under my shirt, leaving a trail of fire on my skin. “I say we take this party somewhere more comfortable. What do you say, little witch? Ready to see if the vampire here really has an eternal flame?”
I laughed, even as desire coiled in my belly. “You’re ridiculous.”
“That’s not a no,” he pointed out, waggling his eyebrows.
I looked between Chad and Alister, my heart racing. Part of me couldn’t believe this was happening. Another part was eager to see where it would lead.
“Let’s go,” I said, standing up and holding out my hands to both of them.
Once we got to Alister’s room, Chad wasted no time pulling me into another kiss.
His hands roamed my body, leaving trails of heat in their wake. I moaned into his mouth, pressing closer.
I felt Alister move behind me, his hands sliding around my waist. His lips found the sensitive spot just below my ear, and I shivered.
“Beautiful,” Alister murmured against my skin.
Chad broke the kiss, his eyes dark with desire. “So damn beautiful,” he agreed.
I felt my cheeks flush at their words, a mix of embarrassment and arousal coursing through me.
We tumbled onto the massive bed, Chad immediately pulling me on top of him, his hands roaming my back as he kissed me deeply.
I arched into their touches, overwhelmed by the sensations. Chad was all heat and urgency, while Alister was cool precision. The contrast was intoxicating.
Alister smiled, bringing my hand to his lips for a soft kiss. “Tonight is all about you, little phoenix. About pleasing you.”
Inexperienced as I was, the idea thrilled me. I nodded, unable to find my voice as desire coursed through me.
Chad’s hands slid under my shirt. “Can I take this off?” he asked, his voice rough with need.
I nodded, lifting my arms to help him. As soon as my shirt was off, Chad’s mouth was on my collarbone, trailing hot kisses down to the swell of my breasts. I gasped, my fingers tangling in his hair.
“You’re perfect,” Chad breathed.
Alister hummed in agreement. I leaned back against his chest, my head falling onto his shoulder as Chad’s mouth feasted on my breast.
I reached back, tangling my fingers in Alister’s hair. “Please,” I gasped, not even sure what I was asking for.
Chad grinned. “As you wish.”
In a fluid motion, I was on my back, with Chad hovering over me. Alister was quick to claim my lips in a searing kiss as Chad’s hands trailed down my body.
I felt Chad’s fingers at the waistband of my pants, and I lifted my hips to help him slide them off. Alister broke our kiss, his eyes roaming my now nearly naked body.
“Like a work of art,” he murmured.
Chad parted my fold exposing me to him fully. “Such a pretty pussy,” he murmured.
Before I could feel self-conscious, Chad’s mouth was on me his tongue found my center, and I cried out, my back arching off the bed.
Alister’s hands were on my breast, kneading gently as he captured my lips once more. I was lost in the sensations, my body on fire from their touches.
“You taste so good, little witch,” Chad said, his voice husky.
I could feel the pressure building, my body trembling as Chad pushed me closer and closer to the edge. Alister broke our kiss, his lips trailing down to my neck.
“That’s it, mate,” he murmured against my skin. “Let us hear you.”
His words, combined with Chad’s skilled tongue, sent me over the edge. I cried out, my body shaking as waves of pleasure washed over me.
My magic surged, and suddenly, my wings burst forth, knocking Alister off the bed.
“Oof!” he grunted as he hit the floor.
I was too lost in my orgasm to fully register what had happened.
As the aftershocks subsided, reality slowly filtered back in. I became aware of my wings, spread out across the bed, and Chad’s muffled laughter.
“Well,” he said with a grin, “that’s one way to end things with a bang.”
Alister chuckled as he joined us back on the bed.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
I nodded, still a bit dazed. “Yeah, I’m…wow.”
Chad smiled. “So, does this mean you’re ready for round two?” he asked cheekily.
I grabbed a pillow and smacked him with it, laughing. “Give a girl a minute to catch her breath. I think it might be my turn to reciprocate.”
“Not tonight,” Alister said. “Tonight is all about pleasing our mate. We are more than satisfied.”
I looked at Chad, whose smile was blinding.
He knew I was his.
His fated mate.
As we lay there, tangled together, I felt a warmth that had nothing to do with physical pleasure.