Aiden watched in confusion as Simon tilted his head back and howled to the sky. He had never heard such a long and purposeful howl before and within a few seconds, others began to join in, too. The noise sent chills through him, making his hackles stand on end, but not through fear. He had this strange feeling of acceptance inside of him, threatening to make him swell with pride. He had never felt like that before and as Simon trailed the howl to a close, Aiden felt a touch of loss, as though he had just lost something that he needed in his life.
Simon began to walk forward and Aiden saw that he had been guarding Ben, who was lying on the floor in his human form. Pain was riddled across his face as he lay there watching him, standing over his gruesome winnings. As Simon approached, he lowered his head to the floor, then followed with his front legs, then his belly
"Help me up, please, Sarah. I need to sort this out. He's as stubborn as you are," Ben said."Oh no, that's entirely on you," Sarah laughed.Pain shot through him as Sarah and Aiden lifted him to standing and helped him walk to a bench at the side of the village square. Wincing, he sat down and looked at the faces around him."Aiden, seriously. You have a big decision to make. I know you've never had a lack before and you're probably wondering what planet you've just landed on, but rules are rules. When an Alpha dies, that role is passed to their eldest son and it continues down the family line like it does with royalty…""There you go. Give it to his son, whoever he is. Where is h
"You can't leave the pack to Thunder, Aiden. You just can't," Charlie said.Thunder's face was smug and filled with fiery determination as he smirked at Aiden."Aiden? You can't.""Any other claims for Alpha?" Simon asked."Aiden. They need change, not Thunder," Charlie said."If I do this, I need to start here and you'll be in Hastings and…""I'll come here. I'll stay here with you, I mean. If you want me?" Charlie said."Are you sure?" He asked. Charlie watched Aiden with a heart filled with joy as he walked between groups of Red Dawn members, meeting and greeting them with a huge smile on his face. She knew it was probably a front but nobody but her and Sarah would be able to tell."He's come a long way these last few weeks, hasn't he?"Charlie looked at Sarah, her eyes entering with tears of joy. "He has. I knew he was special when I first met him but the things he's told me and what he's grown into in such a short time has blown my mind. He was so hard-hearted and now all I see is a wounded man who would love unconditionally if he found the right person.""He will, one day. Just be patient with him, honey.""Have you decMetamob Chapter Forty-five
Jarrah forced his feet to move faster as he walked through the Elven forest. He would have run if he could have done, but he needed to look somewhat natural as he made his way to the portal. It was bad enough that he was the one having to report back to Edmeed. The last thing he wanted to do was to attract unnecessary attention, especially with what was going on. “Jarrah! It’s been absolutely ages since you visited us.” His heart hit the roof of his mouth as his feet froze mid-step at the sound of Adilyn’s voice. Of all the people that could be lurking in the forest, it had to be her. “Hey, yeah, I was just on my way to see you,” he lied, turning to face the nymph. Her beauty knocked him for six, as it alway
Swatting sprite filled flowers away from his face, Edmeed ran as fast as his old bones would carry him. The king would be furious with him but there was no other choice. He had to find Sarah and her mate and convince them to help. It was the only way to protect his beloved Faerie from the Black Seel. Edmeed sucked in a breath as he reached the portal that would take him to Salisbury. He didn’t even bother to Feel for humans as he charged through, hitting the rough grass at a run and almost toppling over. He was getting too old for midnight missions to the human plane and too breathless, too. He picked his robes up and held them against his waist as he ran down from the Power Stones, mentally swearing at himself for not changing to human attire before leaving the castle. There hadn’t been time for changing, but he regretted not making the time as his spindly naked legs s
Aiden's loafers stuck to the beer-sodden floor as he made his way up the stairs to the balcony, trying to find a better view of the floor below. Spotting an opening against the railing, he made his way over, cringing at how reluctant the floor was to release his shoes. With a mental note to wipe his feet as soon as he got outside, he rested an arm on the balcony rail and began his search. His eyes darted across the floor like an owl searching for a meal in the dead of night. Aiden took in everything he saw, each sip of a drink, each drunken kiss, each sleight of hand as it lifted a wallet from an unknowing pocket. He had been following his target for weeks. Every meal he had with his wife and kids, every cringe-worthy date with his two mistresses, and every lap dance at some seedy club, he had been watching. Aiden didn’t usually bat an eyelid at the requests of his contractors or his marks,
Aiden pulled his hoodie tighter against the morning cold and readjusted his rucksack. Why is it always so damn hard? It’s just a knock, he said to himself as he stared at the house across the road. She was at home. He could sense her. He forced his feet forward slowly, prolonging the feelings of resentment, fear, and pain that had started to bubble like a cauldron in his stomach. “It’s just a knock. You’ve done it many times before, and it’s always been fine.” It was his homecoming mantra. Not that Sarah's place was home, but it was the closest he had to a home, and probably, ever would have. Aiden spent his days living in hotel rooms, using backpacks as wardrobes. He was used to hiding away from the world. It was part of his job.
Stepping out of the car, Aiden scanned the darkness as he followed the two sombre-looking suited capos. As he approached the entrance to the Spanish-style Malibu villa, he watched the unblinking, stationary security cameras curiously. He knew Rafael Hernandez well enough to know that his security was as good as Fort Knox and seeing the cameras had been turned off was troubling. “Wonderful for you to visit. It has been too long, my friend.” Rafael said. Aiden shook his extended hand and was instantly pulled into a manly hug. “You've been working out, I see,” Aiden said, clapping the grey-haired gentleman on his back. “Of course! How else do you think I keep up with all my fine young ladies,” Rafael said, directing his hand for Aiden to take a seat.