United

by Maggie Walsh

  “Well, you weren’t wrong there. I was a slut,” Aaron agreed.

  “Yeah, but you were a slut with a good reason. You were in pain and trying to find something to stop it. I should have stopped thinking about myself long enough to see what was really happening to you. Especially being groomed to be the next leader. I should have paid better attention. I am truly and deeply sorry for my actions, Aaron, and for every mean thing I said and did to you. I didn’t realize it then, but I should know better now and I never should have treated you the same way when we came here. My head was still in my ass. I am so, so sorry, brother and I hope that someday I can make it all up to you.”

  Aaron could see the sincerity in Storm’s face, and hear it in his voice. He didn’t want them to fight anymore. They were both older now and they both had found their mates, it was time to forgive and move on. “I believe you, Storm, and I accept your apology…and…I forgive you.”

  Storm’s eyes filled with tears at Aaron’s words. “I don’t deserve your forgiveness, Aaron, and I’m not asking for it because I don’t deserve it. But I do give you my word that I will do everything to make it all up to you and then maybe someday I will be deserving of your forgiveness.”

  Aaron stepped around the table and stopped in front of his big brother. Hesitantly, he wrapped his arms around Storm’s shoulders and hugged him. Storm stiffened up for a moment, then relaxed and returned Aaron’s embrace. “Whether you feel like you deserve it or not, you still have it. I’m tired of all the fighting and the distance between us. I know we still have a lot of talking to do and a lot of work to do, but I’m willing if you are,” Aaron whispered in his ear and then released Storm.

  Storm’s teary eyes met Aaron’s and he gave him a watery smile. “I want that, too.”

  Aaron wiped his eyes and smiled. “Good. Now, get the hell out of here so I can go back to being a genius,” Aaron said teasingly and motioned toward the door.

  Storm chuckled and walked backward toward the open door. “Just be careful, would you? You’re too important to this big family of ours. We need you, Aaron, and not because of how smart you are, but because of how much we all love you.”

  Aaron’s eyes filled with a fresh wave of tears and he swallowed the huge lump in his throat. “Go, before I can’t concentrate,” he whispered and gave Storm a smile.

  Storm nodded and left the room. He turned left out the door and found his mates standing there about twenty feet from the doorway. His eyes went wide at seeing them there. Bastian wore a big smile on his face and Noah’s eyes were brimmed in tears. He stepped toward Storm as he got closer to them. “Are you okay, beauties?” he asked in concern. Noah threw himself into Storm’s arms and Storm caught him. His little fae mate wrapped his arms and legs around Storm’s body and hugged him tight. Bastian pressed his body to Storm’s back and wrapped his arms around them both. He kissed Storm’s temple tenderly. “We’re so proud of you, mate. And we’re so happy for you,” Bastian whispered in his ear. He ran a hand down Storm’s side and cupped his ass, squeezing it. “Now Noah and I are going to reward you for being such a good mate,” Bastian growled in his ear and Storm moaned. Noah captured his lips in a heated kiss and Storm’s knees went weak. Bastian pushed them forward and directed them toward their suite.

  Raith and Micah stood at the opposite end of the hall watching the trio as they left. They both wore matching smiles. “I’m proud of Storm,” Micah said. “But nowhere near as proud as I am of Aaron. That took a lot of strength and courage to open those old wounds and let it all out, and then to forgive. I always knew he was a good man, but he just proved what an amazing man he truly is. You’re a lucky bastard, my friend,” Micah said and patted Raith on the back.

  “Yes, I am,” he agreed and moved down the hall. He stopped and turned to Micah. “Zane should be here shortly.”

  Micah waved him off with a smirk. “I’ll take care of it. I’ll tell him you and Rory are otherwise engaged.” Micah winked and turned away. Raith chuckled and went into Aaron’s lab. He had a mate to give some loving to.

  * * * *

  Bailey smiled as Lexi walked into the café carrying a dozen red roses. He placed his hands on the counter and leaned forward as Lexi approached. Lexi leaned over and kissed him. He pulled back and held out the flowers for Bailey. “These are for you, mate,” he said with a sheepish grin.

  Bailey took the roses and brought them to his nose, inhaling deeply. “Mmmm, they smell so good.” He looked at Lexi in question. “But why did you bring me roses?”

  “It’s a little old-fashioned, but it’s my attempt at apologizing for my fuck up,” Lexi explained.

  Bailey looked at him in confusion. “Fuck up? What fuck up?”

  “What I did last night was unforgivable,” Lexi said sadly and looked down.

  Bailey’s eyes went wide in fear and his bottom lip began to quiver. Lexi looked up when Bailey didn’t respond and his eyes went wide at the hurt in Bailey’s eyes. “Pretty baby?” Lexi said anxiously.

  “Last night was beautiful. I…”

  Lexi’s eyes softened as what Bailey thought he meant dawned on him. Lexi jumped over the counter and wrapped his mate in his arms. “Not that, pretty baby. Never that. Gods, that was amazing. Last night was the best night of my life. It was the most beautiful thing I have ever experienced, and it was all because of you, my love.” Lexi kissed him tenderly on the head.

  Bailey pulled back from Lexi’s embrace and looked at him. “Then what do you mean?”

  “I meant, because I forgot to give you your birthday present,” Lexi said apologetically.

  Bailey’s eyes went wide in shock. “Oh. Lexi, I don’t need a present. I had the best birthday ever,” he said happily and hugged Lexi’s waist.

  “So I guess that means I can return it then, right?” Lexi said with a smirk. Bailey pulled back quick and looked up at him in horror. Lexi chuckled and kissed him lightly. “So do you want your present now?”

  Bailey slapped his arm and laughed. “Tease. You really didn’t have to get me anything, but I’m glad you did,” he said and gave Lexi a cheeky grin.

  Lexi gave him a big shit-eating grin. “Uh-huh, I thought so. Come on, you troublemaker.” Lexi grabbed his hand and pulled him from behind the counter. He pulled Bailey to the door and stopped. “Wait, we need to cover your eyes, it’s a surprise.” Lexi stepped behind Bailey and wrapped one arm around his waist and the other hand covered Bailey’s eyes. “Can you see anything?” he whispered in Bailey’s ear.

  “No.”

  “You wouldn’t lie to me, would you?” Lexi asked teasingly.

  “Never about something like this, but I can’t make promises about other things,” Bailey said and then chuckled.

  “Oh wise guy, aye? Well I oughta,” Lexi said in his best Three Stooges impression and tickled Bailey.

  Bailey laughed loudly as he squirmed. “Stop. Okay, I give.”

  “Say it,” Lexi teased.

  Bailey huffed in feigned annoyance. “Fine. Lexi is the most wonderfulest, most hottest man on the planet. Oh damn that man of mine is fine.”

  “Shit, pretty baby. I was just going for an uncle, but that will do.” Lexi laughed. “Ouch! Shit, baby,” Lexi said when Bailey elbowed him in the gut.

  “Can I have my present now?” Bailey asked in excitement.

  “Absolutely,” Lexi said with a smile and turned them around. He pulled his hand from over Bailey’s eyes and yelled, “Surprise.” Bailey opened his eyes and frowned. They were still standing in the café and there was no present in front of him. “So, do you like it?” Lexi asked. “If it’s the wrong size or it’s too small, I can exchange it for something bigger.” Lexi snickered.

  “Um…Lexi. I don’t see anything,” Bailey said with a hint of sadness in his voice.

  Lexi spun him around, grabbed his face between his hands, and stared intently into his eyes. “Are you blind? Oh no, don’t tell me I fucked you blind last night. Shit, that means we’ll have to do it aga
in to reverse the damage,” he said seriously and then smiled wide.

  Bailey smacked his chest as he laughed. “Shit, you suck.”

  “Yes, I do, and I’m pretty good at it, too, wouldn’t you say?” Lexi teased and wiggled his eyebrows.

  “Lexi,” Bailey growled in frustration.

  “Okay, okay. Turn around,” he instructed. Bailey sighed in annoyance and turned around. Lexi placed his hands on Bailey’s shoulders. “Okay, so tell me what you see.”

  “I don’t see anything,” Bailey huffed.

  “Such a drama queen,” Lexi teased. “Tell me what you see.”

  Bailey huffed again. “Fine. I see the café. There’re tables there, benches there, the counter over there―”

  “Happy birthday,” Lexi whispered in his ear.

  Bailey got quiet for a moment as the wheels in his head spun. Then what Lexi was telling him dawned on him and he gasped, as his jaw dropped and his eyes opened wide. He spun to face Lexi. “The café?” Lexi smiled bright and nodded his head. Bailey stared at him in shock. “Y-you, b-bought me…the…c-café?”

  “Yes, pretty baby. It’s all yours.”

  “But how? When? How the hell am I gonna…? Shit, I haven’t even finished high school yet. How am I? You bought me the damn café?”

  “You don’t like it. Damn. I knew I should have gotten something bigger.” Lexi chastised himself.

  Bailey’s eyes got wider. “Bigger! No, no, no. This is plenty big. Lexi…I can’t believe you bought me the café.” Bailey’s voice softened.

  Lexi cupped his cheek and looked adoringly into his eyes. “I know how much you love to cook and your dream is to someday own your own restaurant. Well this is a start. What better way to learn about the business than with firsthand experience?”

  “But how am I gonna do this? I don’t know how to run a business,” Bailey said in a panic. He breathing was getting erratic as his heart pumped faster.

  “Hey,” Lexi said and hugged him. “It’s okay, pretty baby. Shhh. Listen, Gypsey will continue to manage the place and you will continue to work here. You take your time and learn every aspect of the business. Gypsey will teach you, he’ll mentor you. You can take online business courses if you want after you graduate next week. You have the backing of the pride and of the Alpha. We will all be here to help you and support you in whatever you need. Gypsey is planning on retiring in a few years and he said that he would stay on until you’re ready to take over,” Lexi explained calmly and soothingly as he rubbed Bailey’s back in a hypnotic rhythm.

  “You thought of everything,” Bailey whispered and cuddled against Lexi’s broad chest.

  “I tried. Micah was thrilled to sell it to me to give to you as a present. He couldn’t be happier that someday, when you’re ready, it will be all yours. He said he can’t wait until the day comes when you open your restaurant. He expects to be the first customer.” Lexi continued to speak softly while comforting his mate.

  “I don’t know what to say, Lexi. I’m shocked and scared. I don’t want to let you down.”

  “You could never let me down, pretty baby. The only way I would be disappointed is if you didn’t try. No one is expecting you to take over now. No one is pushing you to do anything you don’t want to do or are not ready for. You take your time, learn the business, and if you decide it’s not for you, then that’s okay, too. It’s still in the pack and we’ll find someone else to manage it when Gypsey retires. But I want you to know, there is no rush. You told me you never felt like you had a home or roots before. I want you to know that you do now. Here with me. With the pack. You will always have a home and roots now for the rest of your life.” Lexi kissed his head gently and gave him a little squeeze.

  Bailey sniffled and looked up at Lexi with tears in his eyes. “Thank you, Lexi. Thank you for giving me a family and a future. Thank you for believing in me,” Bailey cried, and hugged Lexi tighter as he buried his face in Lexi’s chest.

  “Always, Bailey, always.”

  Chapter 11

  “So what happened to you and Rory while visiting Zane?” Micah asked Raith as they walked into the kitchen.

  “Didn’t Zane tell you yesterday when he came?” Raith asked.

  “No, Zane didn’t show,” Micah said and walked over to Jesse as he stood at the stove mixing something. He wrapped his arms around his waist and kissed his neck.

  “Damn. That man needs a life,” Raith huffed and sat at the center island.

  “Do you think he’s okay?” Jesse asked as he turned in Micah’s arms. Micah gave him a quick kiss and they both faced Raith.

  “Yeah. I think he’s okay. Where we had to go to find him, time works different there. Rory and I thought we were only gone for two days, but here, we were gone for seven.”

  Jesse’s eyebrows rose. “Where did you go?” he asked.

  “Up,” Raith said with a smirk.

  “Up, as in up up?” Jesse said in astonishment as he pointed toward the ceiling.

  “Yup. Where we were was pretty nice, too. It’s not all clouds and white like we’re always taught to believe,” Raith explained.

  “Wow,” Jesse whispered.

  “So what happened?” Micah asked. He was amazed at where Raith had gone, but in this fast-changing world of theirs lately, he wasn’t surprised.

  “Zane was telling us that there is a band of Nephilim that are demons. Pretty big dudes, too, from what Zane said.”

  “Yeah, Phenex and Ryland were telling us about the demon Nephilim. Is that who Zane thinks is Malachi’s next move?” Micah asked.

  “He said he wouldn’t put it past Malachi to use them. They are essentially like demigods. One step down actually. They don’t have anywhere near the power of a demigod like Malachi, but they do hold some power. The demon ones have found a way to join their powers, to use together, like we can use all of our together,” Raith continued.

  “So basically they are like me, only evil?” Jesse asked.

  “About that. You and the demon Nephilim both have angel and demon blood within you. But your angel blood didn’t go bad, like the original demons who created the Nephilim. And you have fae blood and fae powers, which they do not.”

  “So am I at the same power level as they are or are they more powerful?” Jesse asked, great concern written on his face.

  “We’re not sure. Zane said he has only met the angel Nephilim, not the demon ones. All he knows is what he’s been told. He said he would get some information and come to see us, but if he’s not here yet, I don’t know what the problem is. He may have had to move the sisters again,” Raith offered.

  “How are the Moiria?” Micah asked with a small smile.

  “They’re doing great. They can’t stop going on and on about how brave Dare was and how he saved them. I think all three of those ladies are smitten with our dragon brother,” Raith said with a laugh.

  “It was a very brave thing he did. We all owe him our thanks for saving them,” Micah said.

  “If it weren’t for Dare, we would all be without each other right now,” Jesse said sadly and wrapped his arms tighter around Micah.

  “Thank the gods he was able to save them and we’re all still here. I wouldn’t know what to do without you, baby,” Micah said and kissed the top of Jesse’s head.

  “If we don’t stop the Nephilim, you may still find out what that feels like.” Zane’s voice came from across the room. They all turned to look in his direction. Zane sagged against the wall near the doorway. Blood dripped down his face, his eye looked like it might be permanently damaged, he was holding one arm close to his body with the other arm, and his pants were ripped to shreds, showing his legs weren’t any better than the material covering them. Raith jumped from his seat and ran to him.

  “Zane, oh my gods, what happened to you?” Jesse asked as he ran for the sink and wet some towels. Raith wrapped an arm around his waist and he carefully walked him to a chair that Micah pulled out for him. They both helped Zane into the chair as J
esse came over with a bowl of water and some wet towels. Jesse knelt on the floor at Zane’s feet and Zane’s eyes went wide. He started to panic and tried to stand up, but his torn body wouldn’t let him.

  “Zane, stay down before you do more damage,” Micah warned while placing a hand on his shoulder to hold him down.

  “This is wrong. The Heart should not be kneeling at my feet. I should be kneeling at yours,” he said in a panic.

  Jesse looked at him in shock. “No one should be kneeling at my feet. And I am not kneeling at yours. I am trying to help you until Aaron gets here. I assume Raith has already called him using the mating link to get his ass home.”

  “Yeah, as soon as we saw you. He’s on his way. Zane, what the hell happened?” Raith asked.

  “I’m sorry, Heart, but I can’t have you kneeling there,” Zane said in near hysteria.

  “Oh for heaven’s sake,” Jesse said in exasperation and stood up. “What’s the big deal? I’m just like I always have been, only more amped up. I can still help someone in need, especially one of my family members.”

  Zane’s eye went wide at Jesse’s declaration. “You called me family,” he said in awe.

  “Well duh,” Jesse huffed and rolled his eyes as he crossed his arms over his chest. “You are family, Zane. You’re Rory’s cousin, so you are a member of this family.”

  “I hope you still feel that way when I need somewhere to live,” Zane whispered.

  “What? Why would you need somewhere to live? What’s going on?” Micah asked.

  “The demon Nephilim attacked. I fought them alone for a few minutes before some of the angel Nephilim arrived to help. We were getting pretty beat up. They should never have been able to best their angelic counterparts, but they were a lot faster and stronger than they should have been. Zeus himself showed and the demon Nephilim disappeared. They disseminated like vampires, which they shouldn’t be able to do. Zeus was afraid for the sisters’ safety. He thinks Malachi is tracking me somehow and that’s why they keep finding us. He has taken the sisters to the one place Malachi absolutely cannot go, his home. The angel Nephilim will guard them, but Zeus thought it was a better idea for me to get away from them. He took the sisters and left. I stood there thinking about where I should go when three of the demon Nephilim returned and tried to grab me. I fought with everything I had. When I got out of their clutches, I cast a spell to blind them long enough for me to get away and I came here.”