loved me. But with Bryce, it’s like the pack family took on a whole new meaning. It’s not just me and Whit. Although, I don’t think it ever was. It was how I was perceiving it. Now it’s our family and we’re integrated with the pack. Not separate units. One big group.
I’m working on my jealousy toward Caspian. I’m not jealous of him, rather when he’s with my mate. Whit knows. He can’t miss it. He feels it in his chest whenever Caspian shows up. My bond with my mate is solid, but that doesn’t mean the shifter in me doesn’t rise up and want to stake his claim every time the other male is around.
Whit and I walk to the front of the pack house after our run as our wolves. It’s nice to connect as our animals. It keeps them settled inside us.
“Are we still going to see Irus today?” Whit asks.
“Yeah, he isn’t letting us cancel again.”
“To be fair, we did have a good reason.”
I chuckle. “That we did.”
After Bryce came to the pack, while I was still being held with Caiden, Whit took him to see Yvonne and she put that super strong block on his mind so no one could see it was the team who rescued him. Even with his young age, he understands how he isn’t to talk about what we do and to tell others the story the pack knows when they ask how we found him. He loves that he has a secret to keep. He said it makes him feel like a grown-up.
We were supposed to see Irus the day after Christmas. I wanted to thank him for everything he did for Caiden and me. But as we were getting ready to leave, Solomon showed up and finally met Bryce for the first time.
Of course, Sol riled him up. Of course, Bryce had fun shooting magic at Sol. And of course, Carter and Cash had to get in on the fun. That led to some destruction in the pack house and Lealla telling the adults they should have known better. She told them it was their job to fix it. It also led to Bryce finding a new friend in Sol.
Bryce didn’t like his friends getting in trouble, so he used what magic he had learned and helped repair things. Then Whit and I sat him down and explained how he wasn’t to let the others get him to use his magic like that. That he had to learn to contain it and use it for good, not in a brawl with Sol and the other wolves. We didn’t yell or punish him but explained some boundaries. By the time all was said and done, it was too late to see Irus, so we rescheduled for today.
Whit squeezes my hand, knowing exactly where I just went. I’ve been getting lost in my thoughts lately. He understands but also reminds me when I need to be present, like when we’re almost to the front doors of the pack house. Bryce will be happy we returned. Cassie has been amazing watching him for us so we can get little breaks. Not only are Whit and I newly mated and still getting used to our dynamic, but we added a child to the mix. It’s a lot of adjusting. We’re going to repay the favor and watch Quinn for them. The boys will love having sleepovers, even if they live right next door to each other.
As we approach the house, I notice something on the front steps. Whit does as well and tenses beside me. He drops my hand and begins to build his magic. The closer we get I realize it’s a being in a heap on the front steps of the house.
I crouch down and slowly roll the being to their back as Whit stands on their other side, ready to attack if need be. If it were one of the pack out here hurt, someone would know. I’m not sure how no one noticed this being here, especially with the security we have, unless they just showed up.
The male’s back lands flat. His hair is dark and matted to his head, appearing to be caked with dirt and grime. I’m not sure what the true color of it is. He has on dirty jeans and a black long-sleeved shirt. I shake his shoulder trying to get him to rouse.
He blinks then deep brown eyes are on me. He licks his dry lips. “Camden?” he whispers.
Those eyes. That voice. I’ve met him before. “Aiden?”
He grips the front of my shirt in a tight fist as his eyes squeeze shut and his body curls inward. A whimper passes his lips, letting me know Aiden is in an immense amount of pain.
Whit kneels on the other side and together we help Aiden sit up. Seconds tick by before he’s able to relax slightly and his eyes find mine again. His lips part again and it’s then I notice something Aiden didn’t have the last time I saw him.
Fangs.
“Help me,” he pleads brokenly.
Want More?
Want more of Michelle Dare’s paranormals? Next up is Aiden’s Awakening! If you haven’t already caught up on the other books in my Paranormals of Avynwood series, it starts with Wake’s Claim. Don’t forget to grab the free story of Ari and Rion’s wedding day, A Very Avynwood Wedding. Stay up to date by joining Michelle’s reader group on Facebook or by signing up for her newsletter.
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Other Books by Michelle Dare
Young Adult Titles
The Ariane Trilogy
The Ash Moon
The Somber Call
The Crucial Shift
The Ariane Trilogy Box Set
Paranormals of Avynwood
Wake’s Claim
Ford’s Fate
Kylest’s Reign
Solomon’s Surrender
A Very Avynwood Christmas
Brayden’s Return
Tempting Titus
Denying Davian
Ladon’s Desire
Craving Camden
Aiden’s Awakening
Adult Titles
The Iridescent Realm
The Azure Kingdom
The Pine Forest
The Fuchsia Lakes
Arrow Falls
Where I End
Where I Am
Arrow Falls Box Set
Salvation
My Salvation
My Redemption
The Heiress
Persuading Him
Needing Him
Adoring Her
The Vault
Uncuffed
Unreserved
Vault Box Set
Standalones
Daylight Follows
Floating
Christmas on the Rocks
The Unattainable Chief
Pleasurable Business
Her Forbidden Fantasy
About the Author
Michelle Dare is a USA Today Bestselling Author. Her stories range from sweet to sinful and from paranormal to contemporary. There aren’t enough hours in the day for her to write all the story ideas in her head. When not writing or reading, she’s a wife and mom living in eastern Pennsylvania. One day she hopes to be writing from a beach where she will never have to see snow or be cold again.
michelledare.com