Rising Sun (The Awakened Trilogy Book 3)

by Amanda Carol

  Hunter starts crying, and I pull him toward me, wrapping my arms around his neck, giving him all of my love and strength. We’ve had conversations about his family, but I think this is Hunter finally coming to terms with his father’s death. He’s been so strong for the pack, for his mom, and I don’t think he gave himself time to grieve. After a few minutes of me just holding him, he pulls back, scrubbing a hand down his face and wiping the tears away.

  He inhales sharply, seeming to bolster himself. “You know, I was thinking about getting my mom some flowers and picking up her favorite meal from her and my dad’s favorite restaurant in town when we finally get a break.”

  I give him a small smile. “I think that’s a great idea. She’ll love that. I think it’ll be good for the two of you to do something like that together.”

  “I think so too,” he says.

  “So, how was the meeting?” I ask, changing the subject.

  “Good. We just talked about living arrangements. Oliver said more of his pack will be arriving in the coming weeks. Khari and Haku mentioned that they will be sending for some members of their packs soon, but wanted to wait until Oliver’s pack gets settled in. I also told them about our human friends coming to stay with us,” Hunter explains as he grabs my legs, pulling me off the stool, and setting me down on the countertop.

  My hands drop to his hips as he steps up between my legs and kisses me.

  “You know, you’re all one pack now,” I say between kisses.

  “I know, but I don’t want to be that Alpha. You know? It’s an adjustment for all of us, so for now, they are going to stay the Alphas of their packs, but come to me with any issues or concerns.”

  “I think that’s a smart idea. Who knew you’d make such a good Alpha? Oh, that reminds me!” I shout, pulling my phone out from my back pocket.

  “What is it?” Hunter asks, placing his hands on my thighs.

  “I’m texting Dani and Haylee and inviting them here,” I reply.

  I pull up our group chat and begin typing.

  Me: Hey, girls! I have a question…

  Dani: OK, we have an answer!

  Haylee: If it has anything to do with hitting Bennett, count me in! *muscle emoji* *laughing emoji*

  Dani: OMG! *laughing emoji*

  Me: LOL! Well, considering what I’m about to ask, you might just get another chance!

  Haylee: YES!!! Whatever it is, the answer is yes.

  I draw in a deep breath and begin typing the message.

  Me: You guys know what I am and what’s going down right?

  Dani: Some evil vampire bitch is hell-bent on unleashing actual hell on earth?

  I can’t help but laugh. Hunter looks at me curiously and I show him the message. He chuckles, then kisses my cheek as he goes to grab a bottle of water from the fridge.

  Me: That’s the condensed version, but yes. LOL.

  Me: Hunter and I talked about it, and we would really like it if you and the guys would come to the Compound. You are our friends and we want to keep you safe. I know that sounds shitty. We want to protect the world, but…

  I trail off there, not knowing how else to put that. We just don’t have enough room here for the world, but it will help me rest easier at night knowing that I have my friends here safe and sound.

  Haylee: It doesn’t sound shitty. We would love to come! We know you would bring everyone if you could.

  Dani: Of course. And Hails is right. We understand. When should we come?

  Me: Thanks ladies, and ASAP.

  Dani: OK, I will start packing now!

  Haylee: PLEASE tell me you guys have funnel cake? This baby wants it ALL. THE. TIME!

  Dani: More like YOU want it all the time. *laughing emojis*

  Me: Hahahahaha! Yes, we can get you funnel cake.

  Dani: That’s good, because Hails gets cranky when she doesn’t have her funnel cake. *eye roll emoji*

  Haylee: It’s true. Zach went out to the store to get all the ingredients to make it. *heart emoji* I think I’ll keep him alive for a while longer.

  Me: You’ve trained him well. *laughing emoji*

  Haylee: Damn straight! We’ll text you and let you know when we’re leaving. It might take us a few days to get work situated, but we’ll be there. Love you, Aria! *kissing face emoji*

  Me: Love you! *heart eye emoji*

  I smile and glance back up at Hunter. “They’ll be here soon. We just have to make sure we’re stocked up on funnel cake. Apparently, a pregnant Haylee craves it.”

  Hunter laughs as he settles back in between my legs. “Well, that, we can arrange. Plus, I’ve already got a plan for who’s staying with who.”

  “Care to share with the class, love?” I say, doing my best Ares impression.

  Hunter gives me a pointed look, then laughs. “That was pretty good, but I still can’t stand the cocky bastard.”

  I chuckle, but Hunter continues.

  “I was thinking of putting Dani and Kyler with Abby, Zayne, and Oliver, and having Zach and Haylee stay with Grace and Knox. Zach told me that sometimes Haylee’s morning sickness can get pretty bad, and Grace is really good at making those herbal teas.”

  “Sounds like a good plan, Stan. Let’s go tell them before we meet Ares for training,” I say.

  Hunter grips my hips as he pulls me off the counter, and I slowly slide down his body. His eyes flash for a moment as our bodies become flushed together and his fingers brush my skin.

  I stand on my tiptoes as he leans down to kiss me. One hand rests on my hip as the other cups my ass, and I let out a soft moan when his tongue starts to swirl with mine. His fingers dig into me as he pulls me closer, and I can feel this moment starting to have an effect on him just as much as it does me.

  He pulls back before either one of us starts ripping clothes off.

  “I will never get enough of you,” he growls.

  “Same,” I whisper back breathlessly. “We should leave, because if we don’t, then we’ll really be late.”

  Hunter groans. “Part of me couldn’t give a flying fuck, but the other part knows that I won’t be able to touch you later if we’re late. I mean, I definitely want both, but we won’t have my mom or any other interruptions later, and…” He pauses, leaning down to kiss the sensitive spot behind my ear. “I love taking my time whenever I’m inside you.”

  He slowly backs away from me, and it’s my turn to groan.

  We walk outside to find Ares sitting on the railing.

  “Did you think that I would have forgotten about our little one-on-one session?” Ares jumps down from the railing with ease and saunters over to us.

  “Of course not,” I reply, although I was kind of hoping that he would.

  “Good. But fortunately for you, my siblings and I need to leave for a few days. My father, Zeus, likes to throw a week-long birthday bash.” Ares rolls his eyes.

  “Aww. Tell him I said happy birthday,” I say sarcastically.

  His lips turn up slightly. “You remind me of Aphrodite. It would be considered fun if dear old Dad didn’t throw a week-long birthday bash every month.”

  “Wow, you lot sure like to party,” Hunter mumbles.

  “Dionysus likes to party, and so does Zeus. My kind of party is a bloody war,” Ares replies as Hunter and I exchange a look.

  “Since I will be gone, Aria, I will give you one week to prepare to spar…” Ares pauses as his eyes lock with mine. “…with me, in which you must beat me.”

  My mouth drops open as I stare at the God of War, but then my brain begins to work on overdrive and I’m struck with probably one of the best ideas I’ve ever had.

  Ares smirks. “Good luck, love.”

  And with that, he shimmers away.

  “No,” Hunter growls, stepping around in front of me, his eyes glowing brightly. “You’ve seen the way he spars. Declan had to heal Blaine because Ares broke his back. I mean, I hate Blaine, but he didn’t deserve that.”

  A smile forms on my lips. “I hav
e, which is why I have an idea. But I need to talk to my brother.”

  I lace my fingers with Hunter’s to calm him down as we make our way over to the barn, and I proceed to tell him my idea for defeating Ares.

  “Are you sure you’re ready for this?” I ask Aria when we get to the clearing.

  Today, we are playing a modified game of capture the flag. We only have a few more days left to train, so we thought of a little game to switch it up. It’s Aria and the witches, plus Abby and Declan, against the wolves. The witches and Abby are helping Aria and her brother get to the flag, while the wolves will act as Ares.

  “Absolutely,” she says confidently.

  She quickly steps in front of me, almost causing me to walk into her. She grabs my face, pulling me down to her so she can kiss me, even going as far as nipping at my bottom lip.

  Fuck, I love it when she takes control like that.

  She pulls back, smiling at my heated expression. I swear, if no one else was here, I’d be pressing her against a nearby tree and having my way with her…and I should probably stop those thoughts, or it will make this match uncomfortable.

  “Don’t hold back.” She smirks as she walks backward away from me.

  Down, boy, I scold my lower extremities. We’ll have her soon enough.

  She walks all the way down to the other side of the clearing, where her brother and Abby are waiting for her.

  “Damn, son! Someone is going to get that noodle wet tonight!” Bennett laughs as he walks over to me.

  I roll my eyes. “Not again with this noodle bullshit, Benny. We’ve had this conversation. Don’t make me whip it out to prove to you once and for all that my dick is not a fucking noodle.”

  Bennett laughs even harder and throws his hands up. “It’s just that easy. But maybe it’ll do you some good. You seem a little tense.”

  “Well, if someone would stop interrupting, I might be a little less tense.” I stare pointedly at him.

  “I don’t interrupt,” Bennett scoffs.

  “Yes, you do,” I say in unison with a voice I recognize.

  I look over and see Knox walking by with Grace. She chuckles as he takes her over to stand with Kat and the other witches.

  “Pfft. Whatever.” Bennett ignores us.

  “Are we going to get this started, or we just going to stand around like pussies all day?” Blaine asks, sauntering over with Sloane.

  Behind them are Kai and Jasper, the latter rolling his eyes at Blaine.

  Sloane looks at me apologetically before walking down to her position. She will be one of the ones sparring first with Aria as she makes her way down to me. Well not to me per se, but to the flag. We have our strongest fighters in the back, which consist of me, Knox, and Bennett. Aria will be fighting to get to the flag, but she will also have the witches’ help. It’s a teamwork strategy, but I have a hard time wrapping my head around sparring with her. She’s my girl, so I don’t want to hurt her, but I know she’ll hurt me if I don’t give it my all.

  “Keep it up and you will just stand around like a pussy.” I stare Blaine down.

  He glares at me for a moment until he ultimately submits.

  “All right, wolves, huddle up,” I command.

  The shifters all come over and stand around me in a small circle.

  “The goal today is simple.” I turn around slowly. “Guard the flag, but once your back hits the ground, you’re down. Do not, under any circumstances, get back up. This is about trusting our pack to keep the flag guarded, the flag being Aria when the time comes. This is not only a test for her, but for us as well. Understood?”

  “Yes, sir!” the pack shouts, but I notice that Blaine hasn’t said anything.

  I look directly at him, catching his gaze. “What was that?”

  He clenches his jaw. “Yes, sir.”

  “Let’s get to work,” I tell them.

  The pack gets into position. Sloane, Jasper, and Kai take on the first wave, followed by Clyde, Caleb, and Gunner. Then we have Haku, Khari, and Blaine, while Oliver, Knox, Bennett, and I are the final line she has to get through.

  My eyes meet Aria’s from across the clearing.

  I open the link. Bring it, baby.

  See you soon, she taunts before turning the link off.

  Then she takes off at a sprint toward the pack, her brother right behind her.

  She slides under Kai’s legs, springing up to her feet behind him and kicking his back hard enough that he flies forward, his face smacking right into Declan’s fist.

  Kai’s down.

  Declan faces off with Jasper, while Aria battles Sloane.

  I’m too busy watching Aria to even care about Declan.

  Sloane punches Aria hard in the jaw and is about to kick her right in the stomach but, Aria blocks the kick perfectly, grabbing Sloane’s foot twisting and spinning, causing Sloane to fly in the air. Sloane lands hard on her back, indicating that her fight is over.

  Declan finishes Jasper off and they move to the next wave.

  Aria leaps into the air; a boulder comes up under her feet and she lands on top. When her foot slips off the edge, I go to take a step forward, but Bennett puts a hand up.

  “Give Blondie a moment. She’s got this,” he reminds me.

  And she does. She climbs back on top and Kat guides her along. Declan is taking on three Alpha wolves right now. Gunner and Clyde start to get the advantage, but Aria leaps down off the boulder, landing on Gunner’s shoulders. She locks her legs around him, then throws her body back, bringing him down with her.

  He’s down.

  Caleb grabs her from behind, but she uses her legs to push herself back. She sticks her hand out, summoning the air element to force them even harder backward. Caleb’s back hits the ground before he has time to react and he releases her. She springs to her feet, just as Declan is able to knock Clyde down.

  “Damn, Hunter. Your lady is fierce,” Oliver comments.

  I don’t reply. I’m too focused on her. She’s about to go toe-to-toe with Haku and Blaine. Haku is three times her size, but Aria is quick, dodging all his punches. Grace steps forward, giving her a hand by using the water element. She traps Haku in a bubble of water, and after a few moments, she releases him and he falls to the ground, gasping for air.

  Haku falls over backward, and his fight is over.

  Blaine has his arm locked around Aria’s neck in a strong chokehold. This is the fight I was worried about. I know Blaine fights for blood, but Aria isn’t the same girl he sparred with a few weeks ago. She’s more focused and centered now. She jerks her body forward, bringing Blaine over her shoulders. He doesn’t release her; instead, he tugs her forward as he comes down. But she anticipates this move and twists her body with the help of the air element. His back is on the ground, and she’s on her feet standing over him.

  That’s my girl.

  Khari takes out Declan, and that just leaves Aria to get the flag with the help of the witches. Bennett, Oliver, Knox, and Khari surround her, and she plants her feet firmly on the ground. She glances around at the four of them, and they all rush her at once. She jumps, but instead of falling back down, she flies over them. I glance over and see Abby guiding her with air, setting Aria down gracefully behind them.

  Aria screams, forcing her hands outward, sending a shockwave through the ground, effectively taking all four of them out at the same time.

  Fuck me, that was hot.

  She slowly turns to me, and a smirk forms on those pretty lips of hers. Although the sight of a cut above her eyebrow and a bruise along her jaw and neckline pisses me off. I hate seeing her hurt, but I push those thoughts aside.

  It’s her and me.

  The demigoddess and the Alpha.

  “Don’t hold back, baby,” I taunt her, walking forward and stepping right up to her.

  I see her shoulder twitch and I know exactly what she’s going to do.

  She swings a punch with her left hand; I catch her wrist, but I know her. I catch her other
wrist in my other hand then push both of her arms behind her back. The movement forces her body flush against mine. I look down at her, our noses almost touching as our eyes lock. Her breath hitches as I lean down, my lips just a breath away from hers, but I keep my hold tight on her while I lean down by her ear.

  “I thought I told you not to hold back?” I whisper in her ear.

  I can feel the shiver that works its way through her body.

  She tilts her face up, and I feel her breath on my ear. “I’m not.”

  She headbutts me; pain shoots up my nose and into my sinuses, causing me to release her hands. I shake it off and block her kick before it connects to my chest.

  We fight in hand-to-hand combat, both of us blocking each other’s moves.

  The problem with Aria and I sparring is that we’re so perfectly matched. Both of us are equally skilled, agile, and powerful. She uses the air element to push me back, but I bend my knees, angling my body and digging my boots into the dirt to stop the force from knocking me on my back.

  She forces her hands out to create another shockwave, but I leap into the air right before it hits me. A gust of wind flips me around but I still manage to land on my feet. I don’t even have time to react, because Aria is rushing forward, and before I know it, her legs are wrapped around my waist and we both go tumbling forward. I lock my legs, only ending up falling to my knees instead of my back.

  Her weight is lifted from me, and I look up just in time to see Blaine tackling her to the ground so hard that her head bobs off a boulder like a pin ball. Anger courses through my veins as I get to my feet. I see Declan, Kat, and Grace all rushing over to Aria, but my sights are on Blaine. That asshole just doesn’t know when to fucking quit.

  I open the link to the pack, except for Blaine. I love that I have the power to link whoever I want to together. It comes in handy, especially at a time like this.

  Stay back! I command, and those who were rushing over to see if Aria is all right stop.