by Amanda Carol
I let out a sigh. It’s nice to finally have a place that’s not a stinky motel room, where the sheets on the bed are questionable. I decide that my new room can wait, and I walk over to the table with all the paints. I gather up the colors that I want to use and I can hear my brother in his room tuning his guitar as I walk over to the easel. There is a tiny stool next to it, but I shove it to the side. I’ve just been laying down for three days. Thankful that Hunter had charged my phone, I pull it out of my back pocket, turning on my playlist, and began squeezing paint onto the pallet: black, blue, green, yellow, and white. I bring the paintbrush to the canvas and begin to paint an image I can’t get out of my head.
“You ready?”
I jump at the sound of Declan’s voice. He’s standing in the doorway with his guitar case in hand. I must have lost track of time, which is what happens whenever I paint. One time I ended up staying up all night finishing up a painting of a cliff overlooking the ocean. School the next day was torture.
I regret nothing.
I take a step back, inhaling deeply to calm my erratic heartbeat, and look at the painting in front of me. I still need to make some finishing touches before it’s complete, but I don’t think it will ever do the real memory justice. I glance over at my brother before setting my paint down on the table and the brushes in water.
“Yeah. Let me clean up real fast and we can head out.” I smile as I make my way to the bathroom to wash my hands and give my brushes a good rinse. I place them back in the studio, then head downstairs to find my brother holding his guitar case and a case of beer.
“Just like old times, right?” He smiles, looking ecstatic.
I laugh. “Yeah, sure seems that way.”
I open the door for him, closing it behind us as we head down to the clearing where Zayne was training me to use the fire element a few days ago. Everyone is already there, including Hunter’s parents and a few other people I don’t recognize. People are laughing and having a good time. I’m sure tonight is much needed for everyone after the attack.
Looking around, I spot Knox sitting on a log with Grace between his legs. He’s got his arms wrapped around her. Kat is sitting down next to them with a red Solo cup in her hand. They seem to be in deep conversation. Abby catches my eye and she drags Ciera over to us.
“I’ve missed this!” She throws her arm around me and smiles up at my brother. “Are y’all going to do the song?”
I roll my eyes, although I can’t help but smile. Abby knows how much Declan and I like “performing,” as she would call it.
“You’re damn right, we’re going to do the song!” Declan walks over to the fire pit, setting his guitar case down.
He opens the pack of beer, handing one to me and then grabbing one for himself. We twist the tops off and, like old times, clank them together.
“Cheers, little sister.” He grins before taking a sip of his beer.
I roll my eyes again, doing the same.
“Alright, everyone! Please gather around.” Alexander’s voice booms through the crowd as people turn their attention to the Alpha.
As my eyes search the crowd, they land on a blue-eyed wolf, who is staring right at me. He is standing on the opposite side of the fire pit with Bennett and Zayne; all of them have a drink in their hand as well. I raise my bottle to him, and he does the same, flashing me his dimples.
“Thank you to all who set this up. I’m sure some of us could use a small break. Please enjoy yourself, and rest assured that Luna has made sure the grounds are safe tonight. Cheers everyone, to a good night!” He raises his glass, and everyone follows suit. “And, Mr. Foster, will you do the honors?” He looks at Zayne.
“With pleasure.” Zayne smiles, handing his drink to Bennett.
“Light that bitch up, Z!” Bennett shouts, which causes everyone to laugh.
Zayne cracks his knuckles and neck before creating a fireball. He throws it into the pit and the firewood catches the flames. It lights up the area around us, as the sun is setting, creating a soft glow.
Hunter makes his way over to us, his guitar case in hand, followed by Zayne and Bennett.
“Got her all tuned up?” Hunter asks my brother, setting his case down.
“Hell yeah. Spent all afternoon getting know her. She’s nice, dude. Ready to play?” Declan’s voice is filled with excitement.
Hunter looks to me and grins. “Yeah, let’s jam.”
I feel Abby nudge me as the guys grab their guitars out of their cases. I turn to her, and she gives me a knowing smirk and wiggles her eyebrows.
Yep, Abby is feeling pretty buzzed, just like the good old days.
Declan takes a seat on a log by the fire. As I take a spot next my brother, Ciera plops down on the other side of him. Hunter and Abby take a seat at the other log next to us, Hunter taking the closest spot next to me.
“What are we playing first?” Hunter asks, pulling a pick out of his pocket.
“You know ‘Give Me One Reason’ by Tracy Chapman?” Declan pulls out his own pick and looks at Hunter, who nods. “Alright, then. You ready, sis?” He turns to me, and I nod.
Then they both start strumming the beginning notes of the song.
It’s been such a long time since I’ve sung like this, but I’m surrounded by friends and family. And the nerves that have suddenly taken over disappear as soon as I start singing the first verse.
“Damn! Blondie can sing!” I hear Bennett say between verses.
I’m starting to feel the rhythm, swaying to the beat, tapping my fingers on my knees. People have gathered around and are clapping to the beat as well. I glance at Declan when his favorite part comes up, the guitar solo.
He has his eyes closed, bottom lip tucked between his teeth, in total concentration. Abby stands, bringing me with her and we start to dance around like we normally do as we finish the song up. Everyone claps and hollers when the guys bring the song to a close.
“That was amazing! You guys rock!” Kat raises her hand for a high five.
I laugh as I slap my hand against hers.
“Yes, that was brilliant.” Grace peers up from the ground.
Knox kisses the side of her head before he agrees with her. I smile and thank them and make my way back over to where I was sitting. Declan is playing softly next to Ciera, and I smile seeing how happy he looks.
As the night goes on, Declan and Hunter play songs and I sing. Then the guys just play, and people dance around the fire. Throughout the night Hunter and I steal glances at each other, and whenever they take a break from playing, we talk.
It’s starting to get late and people are starting to head back to their respective cabins. Abby and Zayne have to take Bennett back to his, because he’s drunk and keeps trying to leap over the fire. Grace and Knox already disappeared a while ago, and Kat has taken off to check on Sparkles. Declan and Ciera are the last to leave. Declan tells me he’s going to walk her back to her cabin first before going back to ours.
Hunter and I sit in silence for a while after they leave.
Then he picks his guitar back up and starts strumming the chords to my favorite Lynard Skynard song, “Simple Man.” I start to sing the words as he gets to the first verse.
As I’m singing the song, the lyrics remind me of Hunter. He’s a simple man, who is just trying to please his dad but also trying to do the right thing. He’s always torn between being the man he wants to be and being the man his father wants him to be.
I want him to follow his heart and to be satisfied with himself, with who he is meant to be.
Our eyes lock as he finishes playing the song. I’ve moved closer to him during the song without realizing it. He sets his guitar down next to him, without breaking our eye contact. His gaze flicks down to my lips as his left hand comes up and he gently places his fingers on my chin tilting my face up to his.
He leans forward slowly, moving his hand to cup my cheek, and his lips brush mine. My heart beats hard in my chest as I breath in his scent of oc
ean and cedarwood. His fingers reach around into my hair as he tugs me closer. His tongue caresses my bottom lip, and my lips part, allowing him to take the kiss deeper. He growls as I lean further into him, running my hands through his hair. Our kisses become more urgent, and my body starts to come alive with every sweep of his tongue against mine. I moan softly as Hunter reaches forward and pulls me onto his lap so I'm straddling him.
I can feel his hard length against the softest part of me, and I rock my hips against him. He growls low in his chest, and I can feel the vibrations all the way down to my core, as his fingers tightly grip my hips. He breaks the kiss, bringing his hands up to cup my cheeks as we both attempt to catch our breath. I rest my forehead against his; my hands are still tangled in his hair.
“What are you doing to me?” he whispers against my lips before kissing me softly again.
He slowly glides his hands down my body, fingers grazing along the sides of my breasts, tracing my every curve. I can still feel his arousal against me, making heat flare in my veins and tightness form low in belly. My hands leave his hair and I cup his cheeks, breaking the kiss. I swipe my thumb across his bottom lip. He sighs and closes his eyes. When he opens them, they glow a brilliant blue.
“That was our first kiss.” He smiles up at me.
I chuckle, then lean down and kiss him once more.
“C’mon, let’s get you back to your new cabin.” His voice is breathy and rough.
He stands, sets me down on my feet, and walks over to put the fire out. Then he grabs his guitar, laces his fingers with mine, and walks me back to my cabin.
It doesn’t take long for us to reach the front door of my cabin. Hunter sets his guitar down on the porch as he grabs my waist and pulls me to him. I wrap my arms around his neck as his hands drop lower on my hips. He leans down and kisses me again. It’s less urgent this time. His lips move softly against mine, as if he has all the time in the world. When he breaks the kiss, he rests his forehead against mine.
Oh, my God. I almost forgot. I take a step back and a curious look crosses his features.
“Can you shift into your wolf?” I ask him. “I’d like to show you something.”
I bite on my bottom lip as Hunter does what I asked without hesitation. His black wolf sits back on his haunches, blue eyes locked with mine. Sucking in a calming breath, I focus on using the link like the white wolf taught me.
Thank you, I think to him, and his ears perk up. For everything. I had a good time tonight.
I finish just as he shifts back into his human form and stalks toward me. He crashes his lips onto mine, parting my lips with his tongue. He’s getting no protest from me whatsoever. I grab onto his shoulders as a moan escapes my lips. He groans as he pushes me up against the side of the cabin. He places his hands on either side of my head against the wall, caging me in. I drop my hands to his hips, curling my fingers through his belt loops and tugging him forward. He growls as he grabs the back of my neck, tilting my head back to gain better access. He trails kisses along my jaw, then down my neck, nipping and then licking to ease the pleasant sting.
“For God’s sake, at least wait until I'm inside!” Declan’s voice breaks us apart.
Hunter remains facing me for obvious reasons that I’m sure he doesn’t want my brother to see. I don’t even want my brother to see. I can feel his breath against my neck, making my core tighten. I breathe in his scent of ocean and cedarwood, trying take in a steadying breath to calm my erratic heartbeat.
I’ve never been kissed quite like that before.
I am on the verge of an orgasm just from a kiss.
“You two can carry on now. Make good choices.” Declan steps through the front door, pausing just before closing it. “Oh, and Hunter, if you’re planning on staying, I’ve got condoms. I’ll leave some in my sister’s room. Good night, you crazy kids.”
With that, he shuts the door behind him, and I can feel my face flush all the way to my roots.
Hunter chuckles softly.
“As much as I would love to get inside you, now is not the time,” he whispers, making me shiver in the Louisiana heat.
He pushes himself away from me, taking a few steps backward. My legs are still so wobbly from the intensity of that kiss that I’m leaning on the cabin for support.
“So, you got a new power?” Hunter smiles at me, flashing me those damn dimples again.
“Seems like it. At least now we know what was causing the headaches. It was my new power. The white wolf told me to trust my instincts and open myself up. Apparently, I was in my own way.” I shove my hands in the pockets of my shorts.
He quirks a brow. “White wolf?”
I study him for a moment, not sure if I really want to open up about what happened to me when I was out. But I trust him, so I walk over to the steps and sit down. He sits down next to me and takes my hand, lacing his fingers with mine. I take in a deep breath and tell him all about the white wolf and my journey. He tenses up when I tell him about the invisible creature, but when he finds out it’s me, he squeezes my hand. When I’m finished, he brings my hand up to his lips.
“Thank you for sharing that with me,” he murmurs.
I rest my head on his shoulder and close my eyes. Suddenly, I’m exhausted, which is surprising considering that I’ve been asleep for three freaking days.
I feel him place a gentle kiss on my head. “C’mon, let’s get you inside and in bed.”
I lift my head as he stands, bringing me up with him. He walks me back to the door and kisses me softly.
“Good night, babe.” He smirks at me before shifting into his wolf.
He trots down the steps, but before he gets too far, I use the link to wish him a good night. He turns and winks at me before running off toward his cabin.
I smile to myself as I walk inside and up to my new room. My jaw drops as I turn on the light. I have a full-size bed; the comforter is white with a soft pink throw. There are twinkling lights, much like the ones that light the pathways outside. Of course, these aren’t magic, but it’s still magical-looking.
There’s a white dresser up against the wall, and I have a closet. I walk over to the dresser and open the drawers, surprised to see that it’s full of new clothes. I guess that’s why Abby and Luna have been going into town a lot lately. My heart swells. They have always looked out for us. I remember Luna told Declan and I at the funeral that if we needed anything, to let her know. She even tried to send us care packages while we were on the road.
Pulling out some sleep shorts and a tank top, I change my clothes and lay down on my nice new bed, letting out a contented sigh. This is so much better than a crappy motel bed. I pull the covers up to my chin and let sleep take over.
“C’mon Blondie, you can block better than this! Anticipate my move!” Bennett brings his booted foot up to deliver a swift kick to my abdomen.
I block the first kick, but miss the second. His foot connects with my stomach and I fall flat on my ass. I lay on the mat in the training room, hoping the ground will open up and swallow me whole. We’ve been here over a month now, and I still can’t block kicks to save my life. Punches, sure, but not kicks. I groan as Bennett stands over me.
“Get up,” he commands.
I scowl at him, then get up and look around the room. Declan is sparring with Blaine while Knox watches closely. Knox is a hard-ass in the training room, completely different than when I see him when I go to train with Grace. Blaine reaches out and strikes my brother in the throat, but Declan recovers quickly, rushing forward, wrapping his arms around Blaine’s midsection, and tackling him.
Bennett snaps his fingers in front of my face bringing my attention back to him. “Focus. Let’s try it again. Watch my movements.”
I inhale sharply through my nose, annoyed at how commanding Bennett gets when we train together. Whenever I’m not training with Hunter, I’m in the training room with the others. Knox and Bennett switch off training me, and today is Bennett’s turn.
&nb
sp; I focus on him, watching him as he brings his foot up again. Seeing the movement a moment before it happens, I successfully block it. Then I notice the switch in his legs as he brings his opposite foot up, aimed for my chest. I block the second, grabbing his boot and twisting, making him fall on the mat. I let go of his foot, but I don’t have time to celebrate because he’s back on his feet and he goes to throw a punch. I grab his wrist and turn, pulling him forward so his front is flush with my back. I throw all of my weight forward as I pull him over my shoulder. He lets out a grunt as his back hits the mat.
A commotion pulls my attention and when I look over, Declan and Blaine are in each other’s faces, chest to chest, giving each other the death glare.
“That is enough!” Knox shouts sternly as he steps in and pushes them apart. Axton walks over and shoves Blaine toward the doors.
“What is your problem, Blaine?” Axton says just as they get to the door.
Blaine whirls around. “Them. They are my fucking problem.”
Axton rolls his eyes as he plants a hand on each side of Blaine’s shoulders, and spins him back around. “Take a walk, man.”
I glance down at Bennett, who is still laying on the mat.
“Alright, training is over. I’ll see you guys bright and early tomorrow,” Knox shouts over the music.
Everyone slowly grabs their gym bags and exits the training room. I help Bennett up as Taylor Swift starts to play.
“Taylor Swift? Really?” I raise my eyebrows as I look around the room, only to find Bennett dancing along to the song.
“Do not hate on T-Swift. I love her.” He grins as I stare wide-eyed at him.
Declan starts to laugh, and Knox rolls his eyes and leaves the room. Bennett dances toward the stereo before turning it off.
“Wow. I can’t believe you listen to Taylor Swift. It’s like I don’t even know you.” I grab my water bottle and follow the guys out of the room.
