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THE BED WAS AMAZING. I was thrilled that I was able to sleep on something so heavenly in my final days. Today, I was going to spend with my guys. I’d left a note on the table last night, asking each of them for two hours today. This time needed to be spent doing things that counted. Two hours with each of them wasn’t nearly enough, but it would have to do.
I carefully dressed in a pair of jeans and a pretty pink sweater. I did my hair and makeup before slipping on my booties with a slight heel. Today I was going on five dates. I wanted to look good for each of them. I wanted them all to feel special. I needed to connect with each of them on a different level, and that could only be done if I was allowed time alone with them.
“Are you ready?” I asked Hawk, who was staring out the living room window.
He turned to look at me. “You look nice.”
“Thank you.”
“What’s this about, Azalea?”
This was exactly why I chose him to be first. If I put him last, I was going to be nervous all day. I would be worried he would figure out what I was up to. I needed to spend time with him when I was fresh and could shield my mind and hide my concerns. “This is about us connecting without any interference. This is about us getting the chance to know each other better.”
“I think we know each other very well.”
“Not like that,” I chided. “No sex. Just the two of us.”
“And then just the two of us with everyone else?”
I nodded. “Yes. We’ve been through a lot these past few weeks. While I love sex with you guys, I want to hang out and just be friends for a few hours.”
“I would like that. What would you like to do?”
I shrugged. “I was thinking we could go to the café for breakfast.”
“Okay.”
We left the house and went down to the single restaurant in town. It was small, and the owner was a good friend. Hawk and I splurged, ordering waffles smothered with strawberries and freshly made whipped cream.
“What’s this really about?” he asked.
I smiled and reached over to wipe some whipped cream from his lip. “It’s about us getting to do something normal. Think of it as a date.”
“A date?” he asked with a small smile. “I don’t know if I have ever really dated.”
“Why not?”
He shrugged. “I don’t trust easily. To date means to open myself up to someone. Your father was always warning me about getting too close to anyone. He told me to trust my instincts. I’ve done that, but unfortunately, that keeps everyone at arm’s length.”
“I think after my mom left him, he felt that was how he had to be.”
“You’re right. I didn’t know him then, but the last few years that I did get to spend with him, I picked up on that feeling of loss. I don’t think it was like a great love, but I felt his ache.”
“He was lonely,” I stated.
“In a way, yes.”
“Did you guys ever go into town and pick up women?” I teased.
He grinned. “You are the last person I’m talking to about that.”
“Obviously you weren’t a virgin. You had a life before me.”
“I had sex before you, but I don’t know that I had a life.”
“You’re thirty-five, right?”
“I am.”
“Didn’t you ever think about leaving here and starting a life somewhere else?”
He slowly shook his head. “I left and I came back. This is where I belong. You are who I am supposed to be with. That’s all I need.”
We finished our breakfast before walking back home. As was customary for a date, he kissed me goodbye before we went inside. Sky was next on my list. His power of reading my mind made it important I sandwiched him in right after Hawk. I didn’t want him to pick up on anything and hoped I was in the right frame of mind to spend time with him.
“Hey,” I said when I found him in the backyard.
“Hey yourself.”
“Ready?”
“What exactly did you have in mind?”
I looked around the backyard. “Why don’t we go for a walk?” I said. I knew he loved the quiet and communing with nature.
“As us?”
I smiled. “Yes. I find it much easier to talk when I can use my mouth.”
And it was a lot easier to guard my thoughts when I didn’t have to use wolf speak. He nodded. “I’d like that.”
“Should we go up here or do you want to explore a new trail?”
“I’m not sure there is anywhere we haven’t been,” he said with a laugh.
“Very true.”
I took his hand, and together we slowly walked along the trail I had traveled so many times before. We didn’t talk as we walked. We didn’t have to. I liked that we could enjoy the quiet and peacefulness of the forest together.
“How was your shopping trip yesterday?” he asked.
“It was a lot of fun. I really enjoyed spending time with the two of them.”
“You want to tell me why you decided to do it yesterday?”
“It was something I’ve wanted to do for a while. I’m tired of putting everything on hold because there is drama or something that requires my immediate attention. Yesterday was about reconnecting with Nia and getting to know Kya a little better.”
“And today?”
“Today is about getting to be with each of you.”
“Is this about your mom leaving?” he asked as we moved to sit down on a huge rock.
“No. Maybe. I don’t know. I think I’m a very lucky person to be surrounded by all these wonderful people in my life. I don’t take advantage of it. I take you and the rest of them for granted. I just assume tomorrow will be good enough. I don’t want to do that. I want to take advantage of today.”
“We aren’t going anywhere,” he said. “Your mom leaving, well, that’s on her. I don’t know what that’s about, but we aren’t going to do that.”
“I have no doubts in my mind,” I assured him. “I just wanted to appreciate you guys. I want you to know how special each and every one of you are to me.”
He leaned over and kissed me. It was a sweet kiss full of hopes and promises. We spent another hour perched on our rock talking about everything that came to mind before we returned to the house. Radolf was sitting at the table, drumming his hands on the edge when we walked in.
“Is this a breakup thing?” he blurted out.
“What?”
“Are you breaking up with each of us? Or is this like one of those stupid shows where you give one of us a rose or something?”
“I’m not breaking up with anyone and I have no roses,” I told him.
He frowned like he didn’t believe me. “Just go,” Sky said. “Quit being a little bitch.”
The idea Radolf could ever be a little bitch was comical. “Where are we going?”
“I was thinking I could put together a picnic,” I offered.
He still looked skeptical. “Fine with me.”
I put together some basics, along with his favorite cheese. Then we set off to the lake. There were several families at the park enjoying the nice day. Radolf and I walked around to the other side that offered nothing exciting for the kids and promised privacy.
“What’s all this really about?” he asked as he spread out the blanket.
“You guys are all very skeptical,” I told him. “This is just me and you hanging out. There is nothing sinister. I sometimes feel like we get caught up in the shuffle of life and don’t get to actually spend quality time together.”
“All right, I’m cool with that. It’s been a long time since I just sat and stared at the water.”
“I have to admit I probably do it more often than I should.”
“Is there a rule that says you can’t enjoy looking at water? I’m sure Berrion does it all the time.”
I laughed. “I don’t think there is a rule, but I tend to sit here and think about life. I can get lost for hours.”
“It’s calming. I kind of like it.”
“You like water? Isn’t that a contradiction to your power?”
“My fiery nature doesn’t hate water. It’s just the way I’m programmed. I tend to run hot. I don’t know what it’s like to just sit by water. If I’m around water, it’s usually because I’ve sparked a fire that needs dousing.”
“Does that happen often?”
“Not anymore,” he said with a grin. “I had a bit of a dangerous youth. It’s why I became a fireman. I needed to learn how to control the fire.”
“It’s hard to imagine you fighting the very thing that burns inside you.”
“It gives me the upper hand. I needed to learn the control. I know when I can use a spark or when I can really let her rip.”
“That’s actually a very good lesson. If any young pups show up with the same power, you will definitely have to be the one to teach them how to control their power. The last thing we need is a forest fire tearing through town.”
When our date was over, we shared a sweet kiss before I went in search of Ares. He was busy working downstairs. “Ready to go?” I asked him.
“Where are we going?”
“What are you feeling up to?”
He shrugged. “I was going to go for a run today.”
“I’d like to go for a run. Let me go change.”
I jogged upstairs, anxious to do a little running with him. He was by far the most athletic out of all of us. I was looking forward to the challenge he would give me. I tied my shoes and headed back downstairs. He had changed into a pair of shorts and a tank that hugged his muscular chest while showing off his sculpted arms. I didn’t miss the many scars that scissored over his skin. The man was a fighter and had the scars to prove it.
We left the house at a steady clip. It wasn’t long before I started to lag behind. “Come on, Azalea. I know you are in better shape than that.”
I was panting through the pain, but I pushed myself a little harder and managed to catch up to him. We did a full circle around town before falling into the grass at the park. “You are brutal,” I groaned.
He laughed and slapped my ass. “We are going to have to have these little runs more often.”
“I’ll die.”
“Nah, you’ll feel better for it.”
I rolled to my back and looked at him. He was sitting with his knees bent looking none the worse for wear. “I haven’t seen you go for a run before.”
He shrugged. “I do it when I can. I was thinking about putting some gym equipment in the basement. Would you mind?”
“Absolutely not. As long as you don’t ask me to work out with you.”
He put a hand on my stomach. “Working out can be fun.”
“I’m going to leave all the fun to you.”
“I should also teach you some self-defense moves. With you being the alpha, you are likely to be targeted. I don’t want anyone attacking you and catching you off guard.”
“I can fight okay,” I said.
“As a wolf, but what if you are in the city and attacked by some punks? You can’t go wolf on them.”
“Good point. I guess I just assumed I could kick their ass.”
He jumped to his feet and pulled me up. “Hit me.”
“No!”
“Hit me. Trust me, you aren’t going to hurt me. I want to see what kind of punch you are packing.”
“Ares, I’m not going to hit you.”
Out of nowhere, he shoved me hard. I stumbled backwards, my arms flailing. “What the hell!” I shouted.
“Come on, let’s see what you got.”
I frowned and lunged at him. I swung, knowing it was futile. He caught my hand and jerked me against his chest, spinning me around and putting me in a headlock. I kicked his shins, but he never budged.
“Ares.”
“Use your elbows,” he ordered.
I tried to ram my elbows into his ribs. “I can’t.”
“You can. Do it.”
I sucked in a breath and used all my strength to jab my elbow into his rib cage. He released me with a grunt. “That’s it. You don’t pussy around when someone has you. Hurt them. Don’t be afraid to hurt them bad. Break a rib or two if you can.”
“I don’t plan on getting into that situation.”
He lunged again, this time taking us both to the ground. His body stretched out over mine, effectively pinning me completely. I struggled under him. “You big lug, get off me.”
He kissed me before rolling to the side. “We’ve got a lot of work to do.”
I rolled over and crawled over him, pinning his hands under mine. “You are a bully.”
“I’m trying to show you how to defend yourself. If any other man touches this sweet little ass, there are five of us that are not going to be very happy. I need you to be able to defend yourself long enough for me or one of the other guys to save this fine ass.”
He jerked his hand away from mine and squeezed said ass, grinding my body against his. “Then you can teach me later. I am sweaty and need to shower before I go on my last date.”
“Date? Is that what we are calling this?”
“You can call it whatever you want, but I’m calling it a date. Even if you did kick my ass.”
I slid off him. He got up and helped me up. We walked home with his arm around me. Berrion was still out on patrol when we returned. I took advantage of the time and showered away the sweat from my workout with Ares.
When I went back downstairs, Berrion was waiting for me. He had dressed up a little, which made me smile. He was the youngest and tended to be the most sensitive and definitely the most romantic. He handed me a small bouquet of wildflowers.
“Thank you,” I said and inhaled the scent.
“You’re welcome. Now, is this date of your choice or do I get a say?”
“We can do whatever you want.”
“Good, then let’s go.”
“Go?”
“I have a surprise for you.”
I couldn’t begin to guess what he had in mind. We walked the opposite direction of town. It was outside the Evencrest territory and not a place I often went. “Where are we going?”
“If I tell you, it’s no longer a surprise.”
I let him lead me deep into the forest. We came upon a clearing with a red checkered blanket spread out next to a small creek. “You did this?” I asked.
“I did. I even brought wine. Have a seat.”
I sat down on the blanket, watching as he poured us each a glass of wine. “This is amazing. It’s so pretty back here. I don’t think I’ve ever been to this spot.”
“I made a clearing. I love to sit here by the water. The park is a little too busy for me to have any real fun.”
“What do you mean?”
He looked toward the creek. A second later a small fountain of water erupted. I was mesmerized by it as it fell back into the rushing water. “That.”
“I get it. You are getting in touch with your watery side.”
“It’s a good place to unwind and work out some frustrations.”
I noticed a spot alongside the creek that was slick with mud. “You flooded the creek?”
“Accident,” he murmured.
I laughed. “Understandable.”
“I like to come out here and read—and don’t tell the guys, but sometimes I even nap. The water always lulls me.”
“It’s a nice spot. Your secret is safe with me. I’ll never tell anyone.”
“But if you ever want to find me, you can come out here. You are always welcome.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
We sipped the wine and enjoyed the sound of the trickling water. Every once in a while, he would create a waterspout before soothing it down once again. Just being with him made me feel like I understood him that much better.
When we returned to the house, the guys had made a big dinner. We spent the evening sipping more wine and enjoying each other’s company. Kya was staying over at Caden’s, which meant we had the house to ourselves.
I invited the guys into my bed, but the sexual tension wasn’t there. There was a sense of belonging and peace as they cuddled next to me. I could hear their steady breathing as they faded off to sleep. I had to fight back the tears. This could be the last time I would ever have this with them. The day had been perfect. I couldn’t have asked for a better way to spend one of my last days on earth.
