by Kyle, Celia
A few of their friends were still gathered but mostly by now, people were waving goodbye and heading off.
Avery watched Elias pull Minette close to his chest as they began to sway to the music. The band took up a haunting old melody and the baby cooed with gentle pleasure as Elias rocked her.
Avery turned from the fire to look out over the ocean. As she stood there, she felt the sand between her toes and the wind in her hair. It was as if a tingle of excitement ran from the earth into her bones.
She was a new woman, forged from the tragedy that had befallen her. She was not the carefree, daring woman who first met Elias on this beach, nor was she the serious, withdrawn person she had become when she lost her memory. Over those first few days after meeting Elias again, she had felt like two people. She’d feared that if she became one, she would have to let go of the other.
Instead, she became someone entirely new. Daring and adventurous, yes. Always. But now her sense of adventure was tempered, inspired by a deep appreciation of the way the world worked. She had knowledge that she couldn’t be sure of anything and for that reason alone, each moment should be treasured for its own uniqueness.
She turned back to the fire and saw Elias handing their baby daughter to the nanny. He held a hand out to her and she fled to his arms, jumping up to link her hands behind his neck and press her body against his.
Today was the anniversary of the day they had first met, right here on this beach, under the spell of this same music. Earlier today, they had said their wedding vows in the hotel gardens, a few of their friends in attendance as witnesses. Neither of them wanted a big ceremony, just something small that meant something to them both.
This moment, as they began to dance, was more important to them than a hundred ceremonies. On this night, under this exact same light, they had seen each other through the darkness and knew, from a distance, at a glance, that they were made for each other.
Every moment since then had only been an affirmation of that promise. Even the months they spent apart had only enhanced the connection between them, as both began to wither in the lack that was left behind.
“I love you, Elias,” she whispered against his lips. He gripped her waist, pulling her against him, and kissed her deeply. They paused the dance so they could fall into each other.
“I was lost without you, Avery.” He breathed her scent, lingering over her neck to bring his lips up to nuzzle her ear.
“I was the one who was lost.” She shook her head a little. “And you found me.”
He grinned. “Next time, I’ll track you twice as hard.”
“Next time?” She wiggled an eyebrow and his hands tightened on her waist.
“I only meant that if ever you should be gone from my arms again, I would never stop looking. Never give up hope. There will never be a next time—”
She put her fingers over his lips, shushing him.
“I know, my love. I know.”
They looked into each other’s eyes. Her dark ones drank in his golden light. The music swelled and their feet moved lightly across the sand, the flickering shadows dancing across their faces.
When little Minette began to cry, they both went to her. Avery eased the baby from the nanny’s hold and settled the small one under her arm, letting her take the breast as she made herself comfortable on the sand. Elias sat behind her, letting Avery lean on him and watching over her shoulder as she fed the baby.
Avery could feel the intensity of emotion in him, the fury of the lion that was fierce and loyal. It would never allow her to be taken from his arms again. She leaned back to kiss him as she cradled the baby in her arms, holding her snugly between them both.
The sun finally sank behind the sea and the breeze whipped along the sand. The musicians broke into a slow song, serenading the night into being.
Avery curled against Elias, rocking little Minette as they looked into the shadows dancing with the fire. They both felt the ancient beat against their skin and in their hearts. It did not need to be said, only felt, that a love like this could never be broken, barely ever even interrupted.
The bond between them was beyond mortal ties. It was as inevitable as the sunset over the water. As they had first promised on this beach exactly a year ago, this bond was forever.
* * *
Did you enjoy The Werelion Tycoon’s Forgotten Mate? Want to read about Galen finding his own mate? Keep reading for an excerpt from The Werewolf Tycoon’s Baby…
https://celiakyle.com/go/werewolftycoonsbaby-amazon/
It was amazing how fast a pregnant woman could run with the right motivation, and Lissa was very motivated. She bolted into the kitchen, barely avoiding one of the runners and she winced when Chef roared his displeasure.
Pregnant women do not belong in my keetchen. Go, go! Get out!
Of course, that same ornery chef slipped her a meal at the end of her shifts each night. Not one from the menu, but a dish he prepared just for her. The bambino needed good food to grow big and strong. Chef was a true Italian through and through.
She dipped past busy waiters and a sous chef or two as she rushed toward the back door. When she slipped past Chef, hoping that his gruff demeanor coated a good heart, she patted his back with a low apology and a few desperate words.
“Stall him. Please.”
The swinging door to the kitchen slammed against the wall, the boom overriding the sounds in the busy kitchen.
“Lissa!” Galen’s accented voice reached her and she forced herself to move faster, push harder to get free.
She shoved the back door wide, sent it swinging, and turned left toward the parking lot. The sun slowly dimmed, lessening her vision, but she could see enough to easily follow her path without tripping.
“Dammit, Lissa,” he growled. Growled like the wolf that lived inside him. She knew his beast was at the surface, that running encouraged the animal to hunt her, but she couldn’t help it.
She couldn’t go back with him. Not after…
Lissa cupped the roundness of her stomach, hugging the precious cargo she carried. She couldn’t let him get ahold of her. Not after all she’d heard, not after all she’d experienced in Greece.
“Lissa!” His roar wrapped around her.
Yeah, Galen was pretty pissed. Yet another reason she couldn’t let him catch her.
The crunch of his expensive Italian shoes on the uneven gravel-covered ground of the alley told her how close he was to catching her. That couldn’t happen, not while she had breath in her body and life in her veins. She had too much to live for, too much to protect. The child in her womb rolled, seeming to stretch and press against the confines of her body. It was as if the baby knew his father was near. For all she knew, that was exactly right. She didn’t know much about werewolves, the world didn’t know much about werewolves, but she definitely knew about Galen Liakos. And she knew he wasn’t one to take losing with grace.
And that was what he’d done. He branded her with his body, and then she discovered the truth. The truth that made her leave him with hardly a second glance and nothing more than the clothes on her back, a small bit of cash, and her passport.
The rumble of a familiar bus reached her and she nearly stopped in relief. It was pure luck, as if the bus gods took pity on her and read her mind. As she rounded the last corner of the building, she nearly skidded on the uneven ground but managed to catch herself by grasping the brick wall. Her nails grated against the rough surface, and the sting of pain told her she’d broken more than one. But that small hurt didn’t matter, not compared to keeping her baby from harm. Still cupping her belly, she raised her hand and waved to get the bus driver’s attention.
“Wait! Please, wait!” Lissa met the driver’s gaze, pleading with him with her eyes, and begging him to wait just one more second.
She could practically feel Galen breathing down her neck, his scent enveloping her in a seductive blanket. But she couldn’t succumb to his charms once again. She had to think of some
one other than herself now. A small life she loved more than anyone she’d ever known depended on her and she refused to let her child down.
The bus remained in place, the door wide and waiting for her, and she dug deep, snatching up what strength she could and pushed herself harder. It took her one giant leap to finally dash into the old vehicle, and the moment she was within its confines, she begged to the driver once again. “Shut the door! Shut it before he gets in! Please!”
She wasn’t sure whether it was the hysterical tone of her voice or the pure terror in her expression, but something had the man behind the wheel following her order without hesitation. The double doors slammed shut a bare moment before Galen collided with the side of the bus. Large fists pounded on the metal and glass, and she wondered how much abuse they could take before they shattered and granted the werewolf entrance. The bus’ engine roared to life, the rumble overpowering the sound of Galen’s snarls and growls. The man glaring at her through the glass was not the one she’d spent two blissful weeks with all of those months ago. No, this was the ruthless businessman, the unforgiving head of the Liakos family, the Liakos pack Alpha, and president of Liakos Holdings.
He bared his fangs, pulling back his lips and flashing his elongated canines. Fur lined his cheeks, and his eyes were the unmistakable yellow of his inner wolf. In that moment he was pure alpha, pure dominance, and purely pissed… at her.
The bus slowly gathered speed as the driver ran it through its gears and demanded the massive vehicle respond. The entire time, Galen kept pace, his glare focused entirely on her as he ran. Lissa hadn’t feared him in Greece, not when she’d discovered he was a billionaire nor when she found out he was a werewolf. Even discovering he was an alpha hadn’t frightened her. But right then, right there, she was deathly afraid. Afraid for herself—she rubbed her stomach, attempting to soothe the child still within her—afraid for her baby.
They continued their rapid race down the street, the surrounding cityscape passing with an ever-increasing speed, until the world around them was nearly a blur. And still Galen kept pace with them. At least until two other large bodies came abreast with his racing form and tackled him to the ground, ceasing his pursuit. His bodyguards. They went everywhere with him. At first it’d been a novelty, something that annoyed her but her love for him overshadowed those feelings. Now, she was truly thankful the men were at hand. They were good at their jobs and never let Galen out of their sight. In his current condition, with his anger riding him hard, Galen would have chased the bus no matter the risk to himself. Wolves liked a good chase…
Snarls erupted on the street, and she knew he battled with the two other males. They wouldn’t be able to hold him down for long—even two against one. He was the Alpha for a reason. But for now, she had some breathing room. With a sigh, she relaxed against the grime caked bus floor. She had no idea what coated the ground, but she had more important things to think about. Such as her escape. She didn’t know how he’d found her, she just knew that she had to disappear once again.
“Are you okay, miss?” The driver’s voice was deep and caring yet tinged with unease.
Lissa swallowed hard, and forced herself to push aside the rising panic. “I’m-I’m fine. Just,” she took a deep calming breath. “Just an ex-boyfriend.”
“Looks like it’s a good thing he’s an ex. I don’t normally have problems with those wolves, but that one,” he shook his head, “that one looks like trouble.”
Trouble? That was one way to look at her relationship with Galen.
Deadly was another.
Lissa remained in place, catching her breath after that mad dash. She’d get up soon. When her heart no longer fought to burst from her chest.
The bus driver glanced in his rearview mirror, and then turned his attention back to her for a brief moment. “I can’t see him anymore. Why don’t you go ahead and slide onto that seat there?”
It was a question, but more like an order. One she was more than happy to abide. With a groan she heaved herself to her feet, grasping a nearby pole to steady herself before finally settling onto one of the benches. She ignored the stares, the questions that lingered in other passengers’ eyes and the hateful glances shot her way. It was always that way in the larger cities. In places where wolves were less likely to congregate. Suburbia and small towns accepted werewolves without a problem. They were used to seeing them on two feet and four throughout the years. Inner cities, however…
“Miss?” The driver drew her attention and she focused on the kind, large man.
“Yes,” she nodded, “he’s a lot of trouble.”
“Is there somewhere I can drop you that’s safe? There’s a shelter on my route…”
A shelter. Yes, that’d be a good place to hide, to keep away from Galen while she figured out where to run next. The baby rolled and pressed against her, kicking her stomach as if in protest. She rubbed the bulge with a soft murmur. It was as if the child knew her thoughts and protested her desire to continue running.
She’d been running for months. How long now? Six months? Seven? The first night she’d given herself to Galen, she’d become pregnant, losing her virginity and gaining a child in one passionate act. When she’d woken that next morning, it was to find a beaming Galen looming over her, a wide smile splitting his lips. “Good morning, agapi mou. You have made me the happiest wolf alive.” He traced the line of her nose with a single finger and then tapped the end. “When you are prepared, we will rise and make our announcement to the pack.”
She’d furrowed her brow, confusion filling her. “What announcement?”
Galen ran his hand down her abdomen and finally stopping when he reached her lower stomach. “That you carry the future of the Liakos pack.”
And that had been the beginning of the end.
“Miss?”
The past had a way of drawing her in. Lissa shook her head, banishing those thoughts. “No,” she needed to settle this mess. “I’ll get off at the stop by my house.”
She couldn’t avoid Galen forever. Definitely not now that he’d found her. It was time to stop running and time to make a stand. He may rule the Liakos pack in Greece, but his title and status meant nothing in the U.S. She could confront him, and then send him on his way. There was nothing he could do to her here. At least, she hoped not. Because it was no longer just her life at stake, but also the life of her child. Galen’s Alpha bitch had made that more than clear.
You are safe for now because you carry his child. But the moment you do not, you will be discarded.
All too soon the air brakes on the bus whistled and thumped as they slowed the vehicle, and it rolled to a gentle stop at the all-too-familiar bus stop. She gave the driver a grateful smile, hoping to banish the frown from his lips and wasn’t surprised when it remained firmly in place.
“I’m not so sure about this, miss.”
“Everything will be fine.” Even she didn’t believe her own words.
Without a second glance, she carefully made her way down the steps and steadied herself when her feet finally rested on the sidewalk. The further along she got in her pregnancy, the harder it was to move around and retain her balance. The baby wiggled and stretched inside her, reminding her of his presence, and she gently rested her hand atop her roundness. “We’ll be home soon, little pup.”
Her home, not Galen’s. That was something she needed to keep at the forefront of her mind and remind Galen of when they finally had their confrontation.
She slowly waddled toward home, forcing a smile to her face as she passed the park and waved at the children calling out to her. She often spent afternoons there, watching the little ones play and laugh, as she hoped her child would someday. Not stopping, she drew nearer to her apartment. It wasn’t long before she was gripping the handrail of the stairs and carefully making her way up the steps to the second floor. She dug in her purse, easily finding her house keys, but before she could slip the key inside the lock, the door was wrenched open.
<
br /> And there he was, Galen Liakos, the man she’d run from for so long.
Olive skin, midnight hair, strong features and heavily muscled body… all so familiar. Even the gray fur that peppered his flesh and the yellowed eyes that overtook the normal chocolate hues were familiar. She knew his body almost as well as she knew her own. They’d touched, tasted, and loved each other for two weeks before it all came crashing down. And now he was back. Would he destroy her all over again?
Probably.
Fury coated his features, and she knew it was only a matter of time before his roars echoed off the walls. Rather than causing the spectacle in the middle of the hallway, she brushed past him and carefully made her way into her home.
“Galen,” she murmured as she passed.
Lissa didn’t miss his growl.
She would brave this out. She would explain her position, tell him exactly what would happen, and then he would leave.
“Melissa,” he snarled her name.
She ignored the violence in his tone and looked around her small apartment, noting its apparent emptiness. “Where are Stavros and Leo?”
“Leave others out of this mess! Do not say another man’s name in my presence!”
So very, very Greek.
Galen wasn’t done. “You will get your things and you will leave with me right now. This game is through.”
Lissa fought the nerves that threatened to make her tremble before him. “I wasn’t aware I’ve been playing a game. I left you, Galen. I left you and returned to the U.S.”
More fur coated his skin, sliding down his arms and onto his hands. “With my child.”
“No,” she rested both hands on her stomach, “with my child.”
Pure rage filled his features and his cheekbones sharpened, the low snap of bones easily heard in the suppressing quiet of the room. “Melissa, it is only because we shared so much that my beast has not attacked. You have disobeyed my orders and kidnapped the next Liakos pack Alpha and my heir. Any other wolf in my pack would be dead by now. ”
