Ava’s POV
I’m lying in his arms, wearing his dress shirt. It was getting cold despite the summer air. I guess it’s pretty late. The boom of the distant party has stopped echoing through the forest. I can still hear people talking, but it’s a quiet murmur punctuated by the occasional ring of laughter. But we’re in our own world, and it’s perfect here. Beside the lapping waters of the river, still pink in the moonlight. I was dozing, naked upon the grass with his arm wrapped around me. But he noticed he was cold and sat up. Without a word he was on his feet, and stretched up with a smirk, retrieving my panties from where they’d hooked over one of the branches. I would have blushed, but I’m too tired to even feel embarrassed right now. Too tired and too caught up in the moment that I never want to end. Even as I tell myself that this is crazy, and he’s just a rebound. Seren huffs at me and I ignore her cynicism. She thinks that it’s more than just a one night stand, but my heart hurts far too much to believe her. I wriggled back into my panties and the silky green dress, as he pulled his pants back on then sat back down beside me, offering up his shirt. The dress was backless and strapless and with a nod, I accepted his shirt, pulling it over my shoulders. Grateful for the thin layer of warmth that it traps against my body. Sitting down beside the stranger, he nudged me with his elbow, then his knee. My cheeks were burning and I glanced at him, struggling to meet his gaze. How do you talk to someone that you’ve only just met…and who knows you more intimately than anyone else ever has? Sex with Josh was never like what just happened between us. Have I been doing it wrong? I want to ask the man beside me, my lips part and I look up at him, meet his gaze and my question faded away. He bent, kissing me once more and I know, deep in my core, that this is the most magical night of my life. It’s beautiful, thrilling and terrifying all at once. I don't want to say the wrong thing, I don’t want to break the spell we’re under. He kisses me and I lose myself against him, clinging to his body with my leg wrapped around his hips. Skirt tangled around my knee as he alternates stroking my back and pushing the loose hair back from my face. But his actions are sweet, tender. We’re both clinging to the sense of fantasy, that we can stay lost in the woods forever. But I’m tired, and no matter how much I want to stay awake, our rampant work-out has drained the last of my energy. I have a hundred questions, but they just don’t seem as important as the man before me.I try to memorise every part of his face, the brilliant shade of green in his eyes. The stubble that's covering his jaw. The feel of his skin beneath my hands. He’s warm, and he’s wrapped his arms around me. I’m pulled closer and closer until I’m cuddled against him. Basking in the afterglow as the moon watches over us both.‘You’re not…’ his voice is low and husky against my ear, ‘you’re not seeing anyone?’I close my eyes. For all the protection and safety I feel against the stranger, his words had splintered my peace. I press my lips together, trying to stop the way that they tremble. Damn it, his question took me by surprise and my eyes are burning. Stinging with the tears I’ve not been allowed to cry.It’s been a beautiful, impulsive night, but with a single question the day comes flooding back. I thought that I had locked it all away, forgotten it in the intensity of sex with a stranger.‘Hey?’ He bends his head, pressing a kiss to my forehead.‘I don’t want to talk about it,’ I summon the breath to speak. And it’s the truth. I can’t think of anything worse than talking about Josh right now. As though saying anything aloud, might summon him. I don’t want to see him again. I don’t want to see my Sister. I don’t want to think about whether I’m with someone. Because this morning I was Ava and I knew my place in the world. At Josh’s side. Sure, it wasn’t perfect, but I’ve known him all my life. We’ve dated since High School. It was Bella’s ceremony today but I was expecting Josh to propose before I left for Medical School. But all those dreams have died. I can’t be with a cheater. I won’t be with a cheater. Maybe that’s why I’ve done this tonight, to make sure there’s no way back. Because Josh won’t forgive me for sleeping with someone else.‘You don’t have to talk about it,’ he’s frowning as he speaks, and I can sense his disappointment. Seren feels it from his wolf and she whines. She wants to share everything with this stranger, to meld with him so our thoughts and feelings intertwined. There’s no way I could ever do that with a stranger. Josh always wanted to try, but it was a step of intimacy too far, and Seren was never keen to share herself with his wolf. Not the way she’s begging to be with the strangers’.I feel a lump in my throat, a tightness in my chest and I try to breathe. Only the man to hold me tighter as I bow my head against his neck.‘I guess…whatever had you looking like you wanted to get out of that party, isn’t so easily cured,’ he murmured and I can’t help but laugh. The sound nervous as I fight back my sense of sadness. I won’t let Josh and Bella ruin this for me. I don’t want to be sad. I don’t want to mourn the future I thought I had this morning, or the relationship that no longer exists. I sniff and wipe my eyes on the back of my hand.‘I’m sorry…’ I murmur and I feel the tension thread through his body. I expect him to push me away, but he holds me tighter still, as though he’s reluctant to let me go.‘You can just rest…’ he replies, quiet as a pair of fireflies drift over head, spinning and dancing in twinkling bursts of light beneath the stars. Everything still looks pink and rosy beneath this moon.‘You must be tired too…’ I let out a slow breath, and move my fingers down over his chest. My own heart is racing, I wasn’t expecting to feel the beat of his moving so rapidly against his chest. I look up at him, confused and he merely leans down to kiss me again.‘I don’t want this night to end,’ he admits and his voice sends a shiver through my body. I was exhausted, almost asleep but with a simple sentence there’s heat coursing through my veins again. It’s like he’s a drug, fuelled by the moon above.‘So let’s make sure that it doesn’t,’ I reply and press myself against him. My hips are rolling against the length that’s quickly growing hard again. I’m not usually someone who is reckless, or impulsive. But I’ve already dived into the ocean with this man. Already ventured beyond the point of no return. There’s no point trying to get out of the water now. Not when all I want to do is drown in him and forget, once more, all the reasons I want to run away from my heartache and not look back.It’s dark when I wake. His arm is heavy around my waist, protective and comfortable. I should be this comfortable with a stranger, but I can’t deny my own sense of peace. Of safety in his embrace. My face is pressed against the grass and I stretch out, slow and aching from a night under the stars. He doesn’t stir, only breathes heavily against the back of my neck. It’s kind of cute. But I’m struck with the strangeness of what I’ve done. Never, I never imagined that I could have sex with a strange man, nor that it could be so good. What does that make me? Does it mean something about who I am and what I enjoy? I feel anxiety, worry and imagine the judgement of a thousand eyes looking on.I remind myself that I’m a consenting adult, and I don’t owe anyone anything. I shouldn’t even feel guilty about Josh, but some part of me does. I’m panicking and I know it. I’m easing away from my handsome stranger before Seren stirs and can stop me. Because I know she would want to stay. To meet the
Ava - Present DayHe’s just as gorgeous as I remember him. Maybe even more. He fills up all the space in the doorway, blocking out the light. I can’t breathe and I’m scrambling, desperate for something to say. I’m a professional damnit. I’m a doctor, and a Mother and as much as I try to cling to my identity. I’m thrown back to the night that we met. Mate, he growled and heat hits like a bucket of scalding water. Washing over me like a wave. I open my mouth. I’m lost for words as I turn and do the only thing I can. I run. I retreat back through the cabin, realising too late that there’s no exit. I’m not going to crawl through a window. I might crawl through a window!The heavy tread of his footsteps follow me. Echoing on the bare floor boards. Unless I really do jump through a window, I’m trapped. Grown woman, I tell myself. I’m a grown woman. I need something to excuse my behaviour so I grab my empty coffee mug and spin back around to face him. ‘Empty!’ I announce and shake it, littl
With the Wolf Pack village falling away behind me. I slam off the music, the sexy throb of the song doesn’t really suit my mood. I’m panicking. I can feel it in the tightness of my chest, my racing heart and sweaty palms. Midnight Forest is going to be my home. I know that. I can feel it in my bones, in my soul. But how can I live there, with him?Unless I leave? The idea sees me slow the car down, foot lifting from the peddle. I can’t breathe. I’ve been away from other werewolves for so long, I don’t want to give that up. I stop the car, leaning my head on the wheel. I want to raise my kids with other wolves. I want them to know their heritage.I don’t want them to know their father. A small voice whispers, why not? I grip the wheel and set off again. I can’t be late to collect them from kindergartenl. The village is a good thirty minute drive down country lanes until I reach the nearest human town. I pull up, scrambling out of my car, slamming the door behind me.My boys are stan
AvaHow I’m going to keep the existence of my twins a secret, I don’t know. It’s impossible, I realize as I drive back to the village. So I can’t. At some point he’ll realize that I have children. The village isn’t that big and it’s not like I can hide from him. I can’t shake off the memory of that Alpha energy either. So chances are, he’s important to Midnight Forest Pack. I pull up outside the house the Elders put aside for us. It’s cute, with three bedrooms upstairs and an open plan downstairs. I know the second I walk through the door, I’ll be tripping over the boys' toys. I’ll feel compelled to tidy up, so I turn straight for the Medical Centre instead. The house will have to wait. I’m still wearing my skinny jeans and a worker’s shirt over a long white vest. I roll the sleeves up, climbing back up the steps to the cabin, taking note of all the cobwebs that cover the overhang. I grimace, I’m not the biggest fan of spiders, but I’ll have to take a broom to that at some point so
KylarAva. After all this time, I finally have her name. I watch her vanish through the door into the back offices of the medical center. It takes all of my willpower to stay and not follow her. Sabre is growling at me, and I shut him down. She's afraid of me. She flinched when I reached towards her. Dr Ava Green is doing a good job acting confident and she’s brave enough to challenge me. But she’s afraid.I push Sabre away more firmly, kicking myself as I hear Ava moving around in the far office. My feet are burning, eager to follow her. I don’t want to let her out of my sight again. But I’m a grown man, and I could kick myself for my behavior this morning.Seeing her for the first time in all these years, was an assault to the senses. Elder Marie asked me to help the new Healer set up in the rundown medical center. I’m between mercenary assignments at the moment, enjoying my downtime back at the Village. Seeing my niece and nephew, Kate’s kids. I never imagined that I’d walk thr
KylarLuca is a pain in the ass. He’s been a pain in my ass my whole life. He’s a best friend that’s more like a brother and he’s saved me more times than I can count. I’d lay down my life for him, in an instant. But for the first time in my life, I want to punch him out. I want to rip his throat out and I’m glaring at him. Sabre’s growling, low and throaty hackles raised. Luca’s and Tandy are staring at me in shock. Tandy reaches out, touching the back of my arm and I flinch away as if she’s burnt me. ‘Woah, Kylar…’ her voice is soft, the calm but firm tone she uses when someone’s had too much to drink. But everyone in the pack knows better than to mess with Tandy, her wolf is bigger than most and her bite is one of the worst. She could have been a part of our mercenary unit, but insists she’d miss being home. I push away from the bar and pace across to the pool table, buying myself time to calm down. I take a drink. Focusing all my attention on not snapping the plastic bottle
Ava - TuesdayI feel like I’ve only slept a few hours, after passing out last night I was up early to start clearing through the storage cupboard in the middle of the two medical rooms. They each have a door that opens into it, but it only has a small window and the light is broken. I take a picture of the jumbled mess to send to Lou. She’d be horrified at the chaos. After an hour of pawing through boxes in the half light I give up and start throwing them into the medical room that I’m going to take as my own. The one that connects to the back office. The out of date boxes skid across the floor before I hear laughter. Nervous, I straighten up, dusting off my knees and carry an armful of old bandages out into the medi-room. There’s a tall man standing in the middle, grinning at me.‘You’re a good shot,’ he smiles. In one hand he’s holding a coffee cup, his free hand rubs across his cheek. I blink at him, taking in his dark hair and bright blue eyes. ‘I didn’t hit you, did I?’ I gr
AvaI breathe him in and he moves. He kisses me, soft and slow. Lips lingering over my own. Our breath mingles with tantalising slowness and my body is hyper aware of the touch of his hands against my waist. His fingers are curled around me, holding me in place. Pulling my hips towards him as he slants his mouth over mine. Our tongues tangle. I know that I should turn and run, but I just can’t make myself do it. He tastes better than I remember and I’m losing my mind. He teases me, seductive as he increases the pressure and strokes his tongue against my own. I’m lost. Sparks race through my body from the points that we touch, lips, tongues and mouth. My chest and belly pressed against his. Our hips and thighs nudge together as my hands hang limp at my sides. The loose plaid shirt half-falling down my arm. I’m kissing him back before I know it. Pressing myself against him. I can feel his skin burning against my own, the touch of his wolf aura against Seren. She’s whining with delig