The long drive was silent, the soft snores of her friend, Van, in the background. From the sideview mirror, Emma had her eyes closed too, but Niquel could tell that she wasn’t asleep. Gladdy - it was a beautiful name for the baby. She was sleeping too, cradled safely on the arms of her lovely mother.   After a year, she hadn’t moved on from Dylan’s passing. It was evident in the way she behaved when he came up. Niquel was a walking reminder of him and seeing him in person must’ve been like seeing him once more. It was the only choice Niquel had, and it took everything in him to hold himself back from comforting her in his arms the way she liked it and assure her that it’d be alright – she wouldn’t have to endure anymore hardships because he was there. But it wasn’t as easy as it sounded.   In the cramped space, her scent was drove him crazy – the sweet fragrance of vanilla and freshly baked bread made his mouth

  “What made you change your mind?” Henry asked with a straight face. He was leaning onto the office desk, which had to be replaced after that day. It was about time too – it was probably the oldest thing in the office. “He stalked her,” said Hunter as if it was a completely normal thing to do. Wearing a light blue shirt, leather jacket, and dark blue denim jeans, with aviator glasses clipped on his shirt’s neckline – either he was going to the Angel’s Club or that he had a date – probably both. “That’s unlike you,” said Henry. “Will you take the mate bond seriously now?” Aidan looked him straight in the eye. “No.” “Asshole.” Henry must really like this girl to cuss – swear words rarely came out of his mouth. Hunter raised a brow at his broth

           Niquel watched Emma from across the street. She was seated in front of a coffee shop, waiting for him. He couldn’t keep himself from calling her last night just to hear her voice. And he almost hit his head on his desk when he asked her to meet up with him. As expected, she was about ten minutes early from their agreed-upon time. Typical Emma. He crossed the street. Emma was busy with her phone, scrolling through something with her brows furrowed in concentration. Just watching her triggered his beast awake. It wanted to feel her again, the mark on her neck keeping him in check. His senses let him know that there were women checking him out, but he didn’t pay them any attention. The supernatural beings knew who he was and unlike the humans, they kept their distance and minded their own business. Might as well – Niquel had no interest in any other women but

            Aidan was in Henry’s office. His feet were on the table as he leaned back on the chair, eyes to the ceiling and deep in thought. His mate was the first to reject a date with him and it didn’t settle well with his ego. He deduced it had something to do with his approach. Chances of keeping her within his reach might’ve just diminished because of a brash move. They barely knew each other. And he already let her know that he knew about her child. It would’ve rung alarm bells in her mind. “I miss mate,” said Arke. “Go to mate.” “It’s a Saturday, Arke.” He sighed and craned his neck to the side. “We can’t just show up in her front door.” “I want to see mate.” 

  Aidan, dressed in a casual black denim jean and low-cut shirt, and Hunter, wearing the same getup of black denim jeans and baby blue collared shirt, strolled into the building with powerful strides with their heads high, oozing confidence like they owned the place. The Alpha gave the lobby a sweeping glance. Men and women dressed in formal business suits, their appearances neat and professional, scurried on to their destinations – a meeting, to their desks, an errand; the janitor maneuvering a floor scrubber the only anomaly on the floor. Aidan hated the faint smell of arousal but reveled in the adoration of the humans around him who were secretly casting glances towards him and Hunter. As usual, his Beta was sizing up who his next target was behind his aviator glasses, an amused smile on his face. They walked to the center of the entire floor, where a circular glass table was, behind it three personnel, all