The wings flutter to and fro in the dark, sprinkling dusty scales in the circles of light. I am struggling to resist, but I am equally tempted to reach the light. I am drawn to it.
And then, it’s so bright, and I am flying too close to the sun, dazzled by the light, melting from the heat, its warmth, weary in my endeavor to stay airborne. I am so warm, the heat… it’s so stifling, overpowering. It wakes me.
I opened my eyes, feeling hot and bothered. I fluttered my eyes and soon came to my senses. I am draped in Reed Xander. He’s wrapped around me like a victory flag. He was fast asleep with his head on my chest and his arm over me, holding me close. One of his legs was thrown over and hooked around both of mine.
He was suffocating me with his heat, and he was heavy. I took a moment to absorb that he was still in my bed and fast asleep.
Tentatively, I lifted my left hand and touched his back with my fingertips. Deep in his sleep, I heard the faint distressed groan, and he stirred. He nuzzled my chest, inhaling deeply as he woke. Sleepy, blinking ocean blue eyes met mine beneath his tousled, sexy mop of hair.
“Good morning,” I murmured, still enchanted with his beautiful features.
“Good morning you,” he said, his voice soft like velvet. “Sleep well?”
I blinked before a deep shade of pink tainted my cheeks. “Yes.” Exceptionally fine.
He moved slowly, unpeeling his limbs from me as he got his bearings. I was aware of his erection pressing against my hip. My expression didn’t go unnoticed by him, and he smiled a slow sexy smile at my wide-eyed reaction.
“I am going to the washroom, but we need to talk.” He leaned down and nuzzled my ear with his nose.
“You are very hot,” he said, and for the second time, I flushed in front of him.
“You are not bad yourself.”
“What time is it?”
“It’s 7:30.”
“What?” Reed quickly stood from the bed and started searching for his jeans.
“Asher should be waiting for me. He must be thinking I ditched him. Are you smirking at me?”
“Yes.”
He leaned down such that we were touching nose to nose. “Later.”
And again, the words were pregnant with unspoken promise. I nodded; I had to tell him anyway. His phone started ringing, and without any doubt, I knew it was Asher.
“Yes, Asher, I am on my way. Yes, wait, five minutes.” He hung up the phone and left the room hurriedly.
After Reed left the room, I dragged myself from bed and walked towards the bathroom.
A stupid grin was plastered on my face, and I flushed, remembering I just slept with my mate. Just slept. My inner conscience snapped at me, wearing its long, not-so-beautiful spectacles.
On the other side, my wolf was contained and happy. Hell, even I was happy.
After I finished bathing and dressing up, I climbed downstairs. After so many days of continuous worrying and fear of unknown enemies, we can at least get peace of mind now.
“Hey, Mom,” I greeted her cheerfully. She smiled her rare smile. She looked happier than her usual self after the doctors confirmed that my father was out of the coma but still unconscious due to weakness.
“Hey Emmy, wait at the table. I just finished cooking breakfast.” My stomach growled in acceptance. I walked towards the dining table and sat beside August.
He looked tired and exhausted, and I doubted if he slept last night.
“Why are you looking like some sick, lost zombie?”
He looked in my direction annoyingly before diverting his gaze back to the papers.
“Here, I have already checked the borders and talked to the other alphas. Nobody has seen the witches or suspected anything weird. But still, I am patrolling the borders myself.”
“Then, you still need to learn, brother, how to change shifts between the changing hours. And can you tell me why there was no wolf on the borders near the cliff?”
Our mother brought the coffee and sat on the other side of the table. I took a sip and immediately relaxed. August looked as if caught red-handed but tried to act normal.
“How did you know there was no one in that area?” he asked in bewilderment.
“Because last night I was there.” I shrugged and continued enjoying my coffee. August and my mother looked patiently at me, waiting for me to explain.
I put the empty coffee mug aside and sighed. “Let Reed come first. It’s a long story.”
As if waiting for my response, Reed entered the house and looked straight at me. For a brief second, his eyes met with August but then again stopped on mine. He greeted my mother before sitting beside her, opposite me.
I bit my lip in nervousness. Suddenly, I felt anxious to tell them where I had been.
August tapped on the table impatiently. Okay, Esma, now or never.
“I met Hecate.”
All of them looked at me as if I was some exotic species that had just arrived on this planet for my vacation. I ate my cheeks to suppress my smile. Their reactions were totally picture-perfect reactions.
“They wanted to meet me alone, and they didn’t mean any harm. I told them we also did not want any war and told them to stay out of my territory,” I blubbered and reached for the bowl to take some breakfast.
“You went alone,” August said, finally breaking the silence. He stood at his table, and I knew he was not happy about it.
“Who the hell do you think you are? Not only did you put your life at risk but also didn’t care to tell any one of us,” August snapped.
“If you were me, you would have done the same thing. Also, if something happened to me, I knew you would be there to look after the pack.”
“Don’t you start with that...” Before August could have completed his sentence, the door sprung opened revealing the one and only witch I love as my sister—Diana.
“When will you start listening to me?” Diana tried to scold me, but her smile failed her. I ran to her and hugged her tightly.
“Oh Diana, you never fail to surprise me.” I took her hand and dragged her to where we sat. “Mom, this is Diana, who I told you about.”
“Hello, Mrs. Rockwood.” Both ladies shook hands before Diana kissed Reed’s cheek. Before Reed could hug Diana, August snatched Diana by her hand and held her possessively in his embrace, and glared at Reed.
Diana flushed, and I could see her cheeks turn red.
“Mine.”
Fuck.