***POV:Cole***What the hell was I thinking, kissing her like that? She was vulnerable, open, completely exposed to me, and I immediately attack her. What must she be thinking? It’s been hours since it happened, and we are back on the boat heading home. I can’t even look at her. I am so embarrassed by my lack of control, but there is something about her that makes her completely irresistible to me. It’s like she calls to my soul in a way I have never felt before. I don’t know what to do with this, all these feelings that she is sparking. I wasn’t ready or willing to open that part of my heart again. It seems that whether I am ready or not, she is coming through.I sneak a sideways glance at her, she is at the back of the boat. Wind in her hair and looking gorgeous. Now that I know why she is broken, everything makes more sense. I get why she wants to stay with us and why she wants space. I know what if I don’t keep my distance, I might push her to leave before she is ready to go back
***POV Amara***We swim around for a while, relaxing, floating. He is on his back floating now, giving me a perfect view of his toned torso and those abs. I imagine myself kissing and licking him up and down his body. Get a grip Amara….but I can’t. I want him so badly it hurts. I want to float too but the undergarments that Imogen loaned me are too small and indecent looking for me to do that.It starts getting darker. Cole looks over at me. “We should probably get going before night falls. I know my way and all, but it is definitely far safer to travel this area in light.”“Makes sense, no problem.” I say with a smile.I watch him swim over to the boat and get out of the water, droplets running down his body. He looks over and once again catches me ogling him. I swim over and wait for him to turn his back before climbing up the ladder. For some reason I can’t quite grip right, and I struggle to get out of the water. He hears this and turns around to help, getting an eyeful of my clea
***POV: Amara***I go in the house quietly. I think about getting in the shower, but I can quiet my mind long enough to get moving in that direction. As the days have passed, I have come to the realization that Trent was just comfortable for me. I wasn’t actually in love with him. There isn’t much there to love if I am honest with myself. I think I was trying to convince myself that there was more to him than is actually there. He did hurt me though. But what stung more was the betrayal. His lies about his feelings for me and yet he still fucked Heather. Who knows how long that has been going on and how many times. Frankly. They deserve each other.The feeling of loss that I have for the child I was carrying is still there, but the ache gets milder every day. I don’t think I will ever get over that completely. The life of that kid would have been a mess with Trent and I as it’s parents, that’s for sure. So why, if I can rationalize all of this, can my head not allow my heart to let Co
***POV:Cyrus***It’s been weeks since the last time I left the colony. After I got back, I took a waiting Violet from the dock and ran directly to the packhouse. She was so scared, having me drag her, but I dared not tell her without telling Amara’s parents first. Their relief had been palpable. They were immediately soothed knowing their only daughter was safe. Their relief was marred by sadness at knowing she will not return in the foreseeable future and finding out that she is no longer expecting their grandchild. While no one who cares for Amara was thrilled at the thought of her being tied to Trent for life through a child, no one would wish a baby away. Violet was angry with me at first, thinking I should have done more to bring her back with me. That didn’t last long though, as she found comfort in knowing that her best friend had at least found good people to stay with.These past few weeks for us had been pivotal. Violet and I as a couple, we worked, we made sense. I felt lik
***POV:Violet***Time seems to be moving slower than ever right now. I am waiting for Cyrus in his apartment, anxious to know what happened with Alpha John. I hear the knob turn and I shoot up expectantly, only it isn’t Cyrus. Trent walks in, equally surprised to see me standing there.“What are you doing here?” We say to each other at the same time.He looks me up and own, with a mocking grin on his face. “Well haven’t you just made yourself at home here.”I defiantly stare back at him; I will not let him see any weakness. No need for him to know that at my core I am terrified of what he might be capable of doing. It’s not even totally his fault, but Alpha John’s reputation as a ruthless leader has definitely been cemented, and everyone knows that his only wish has been to root his legacy into his only living heir. Being in this private, enclosed space with him, only heightened that fear.“Cyrus will be back any minute.” I lie, I know he was going to the packhouse this morning, but I
***POV:Amara***Voices get louder on the other side of the barn, and I slowly get closer, curiosity getting the better of me. I can distinctly make out Cole’s soothing deep voice, although it sounds irritated right now. I peek around the corner, unseen. He is talking to one of the Sanderson girls from a neighboring farm. In the last couple of months of me being here, I have met most of their neighbors. For being so spread apart, they really have formed a fairly tight knit community, rooted in trading and looking out for each other. This particular girl Emma, she isn’t looking out for anyone but herself right now. She is standing as close to Cole as he will allow, looking up at him with big blue eyes, pleading.“Cole, just give us a chance, that is all I am asking. We could be so good together.”“Emma, you are still a kid, and like a sister to me.” He says to her gently, putting his hands on her shoulders and holding her at arm’s length. I can tell he is trying to be gentle with her b
***POV:Cole***We all gather around the large outdoor dining tables that my family has set up, with a fabulous spread put on by my mom and Imogen as usual. All of our closest neighbors, the Sanderson family and their remaining crew, the Thomas family, and the Hernandez family and remaining crew, were here. All in all, we were almost 40 all gathered together.We have gathered with everyone like this at least once a month once the dust settled on the end of the world. It helped us all to maintain outside contact, to trade, and just overall check on each other. One small step in maintaining a modicum of sanity and normalness amidst all the crazy.Amara sat across from me, although not by choice. With everyone gathered it really was like a small party, and everyone had selected their seats long before we had joined the table. Food started being passed around, chatter going in all sorts of different directions.Mr. Hernandez pulled out a piece of paper and was showing it to my father, and
***POV:Amara***Lunch was interesting. Everyone peppered me with questions from all angles and I did my best to answer them without divulging the biggest piece of information of all. Before I leave, I will tell them the truth about me and about the colony. I will do my best to explain all of the supernatural things they grew up believing were myths. I just can’t take the chance trying to do that now, not when I am not ready to leave yet.Everyone has now migrated down to the water, and it truly is like a party in full swing. The visiting families brought homemade moonshine. I was reluctant to try it but Imogen skipped over carrying a liter bottle of the stuff mixed with something red.“Amara, time to loosen up a bit girl. Here I brought you my special mix. Some Sanderson moonshine with fruit punch flavoring mixed in. We will have you feeling right in no time.” Imogen giggled as she thrust the bottle at me enthusiastically. I could see Cole, sitting on the dock, shirtless and delicious