Ava Five Years Ago‘Say it again!’ It’s Zac that snaps at me as I drop onto my knees before him. I scramble upright, Josh is beside me, trying to help but I push him away. I don’t want to be touched. I don’t want to be touched by him. When did he last fuck my Sister? My twin? My married Sister. I look at my boyfriend with red-ringed eyes and back away, scrambling towards the door. I turn to face them, fighting for composure and some strength.‘Ava!’ My father’s voice thunders through the room, his Alpha energy radiating through the space and it’s all I can do to stay standing. The whole pack house must be able to hear. My cheeks are burning, ears ringing. It feels like they’re bleeding they’re so hot and sore. I grip my hands into fists, pressing so hard that the nails cut into my skin. Trying to centre myself.‘I’m pregnant,’ I gasp and look between the three men. What had I hoped for? Some sliver of compassion? Some understanding? I’m only twenty one. I’ve made a mistake. I was dr

Ava - Winter‘Will you stop fussing over me?’ The sharp tone’s of an elderly woman broke through the busy emergency room.I’m lent over the nurses station, coffee in one hand, pen in the other as she worked through the forms of my last patient, Mr Foster. I’m frowning at the form, tired after a nightshift, but just a few more months and my residency will be finished. Lou’s sat down beside me, fingers clicking with speed across her computer. Every now and then she peeks up over the edge of the station at the busy room, swears beneath her breath and gets back to work. It’s not often that we’re scheduled to work together, but whenever we are, it’s always busy. I’m quickly ticking boxes and scribbling notes, so that later when I need to complete the full paperwork, I can remember what happened, my diagnosis and the recommended treatment. I smother a yawn behind my hand and Lou jabs me in the side with a sharp finger.‘Your shift just ended, go home,’ she mutters and a few of the closest

I follow Kylar down through the tree’s away from the medical centre. I know I need to keep an eye on the time, so that we don’t miss the delivery of medical equipment that needs installing, ready for the opening tomorrow. I follow the scent of fresh pancakes from the Pack House, my coffee in hand. But it’s the scent of Kylar that overwhelms me. I want to wrap myself in it. Want to indulge in my time with him. Last night was more than good, it was amazing. All the little day dreams and half-memories I’ve had about the time we had together, didn’t even come close to reality.There is an intensity that I feel with Kylar, even working alongside him for the last few days has seen my skin prickle with awareness. I’m quiet, unsure what to say, nervous about the man who spent the night in my bed. The Father of my children.He leads me down towards the lake where the apple blossoms are slowly spinning away on the clear water. The Pack is situated in the curve of a mountain, they look as th

I drive across town, feeling the flip of my insides again. I’m nervous and that’s crazy. Because in a lot of ways Kylar and I have moved beyond dating. We’ve had sex. We’ve had a lot of sex. I also feel that I have a good sense of who he is, day to day. We’ve been working together for the last week. He’s methodical, determined, driven. I wish that I wasn’t late, but Kayce woke up from a nightmare. I wanted to be there for him, to comfort him and settle him back down to sleep. I hate being late, and it adds to my nerves as I pull up at a strip mall a little way down from Sorrentino’s. I climb out of the car, picking up the little clutch purse that Lou has thrown at me. I was just going to bring my usual bag. A large, leather satchel that’s filled with everything I might need during the day with my twin boys. Instead, I have a little gold clutch and I’m fiddling with the chain strap that loops over my body. I can see Kylar standing outside the restaurant, and I’m glad that I let Lou

I try reminding myself that tomorrow is a big day. The opening of the medical centre. It will be the first time the Elders gather to meet me again, after my initial interview with the council. It’s the first day, the centre will be open and ready to receive patients. That no matter what, I’m due back on shift at the Western Hospital to start making up shifts for my residency. Despite everything that I know and all the sensible choices we could make, the long hours of the night are lost to us both. We make love. Slow, mind numbing, skin tingling love. After Kylar ravishes me with his mouth, he joins us. Our bodies pressed together in an aching undulating rhythm. I’m spiralling beneath him, coming undone far too fast. I wanted to stay awake, but inevitably slept, wrapped up in the safety of his arms. I woke in the night, his fingers trailing a path down my spine. Wordless I turned and kissed him. We made love again, in the darkness before moving back to the bathroom and the shower.