He turned from the puzzle and crawled into her lap reaching up for a hug which she gave him with no hesitation. She cradled him gently and knew that if she could make him happy then she could make a child of her own happy too. She could be a mother and give Dayton what he desired most in the world, a complete family.
“I love you, Liam,” she whispered, painfully aware that she’d never said the words to him before. It made her sad that she’d held them back from this beautiful little boy.
“Don’t be sad, Aunt Freya. I know you love me. I can feel it in here.” He pointed to his chest. Then he placed his hand on her chest and smiled shyly. “You don’t hurt here anymore. That makes me happy.”
She swallowed hard and cuddled him closer, gently caressing his cheek. She knew about his abilities now, knew that this precious little thing had sensed her pain and tried to help her. It awed her as well as made her feel guilt that she had unconsciously subjected him to her negative emotions. She hadn’t done it deliberately but he had still felt it.
“It makes me happy too, Liam,” she whispered softly. “You are such a special little boy. I am honoured to have you as my nephew.”
He beamed up at her. “I love you too,” he smiled giving her another hug before he clambered back down to finish his jigsaw.
Freya helped him, lying down beside him as he worked through the remaining pieces and laughed in delight when it was finally completed. Her eyes shone with love as he clapped his hands and did a little victory dance, so proud of himself. In that moment she knew that she could do this amazing thing. She could give Dayton the children he desired and she could love them just as much as she loved Liam. The thought made her heart thump wildly in her chest but it was excitement that rushed through her and she found herself laughing as her nephew taught her just how easy it was to love if she really wanted to.
Freya went looking for Dayton. She felt like a child herself, full of hope and excitement. She wanted to tell him what she’d discovered about herself, wanted to see his eyes light up with happiness that she was letting down another barrier that held her emotions so rigidly in place.
Following his scent, she found him outside talking with his sister beside her house. Other wolves stopped to glance in her direction but looked away almost instantly, as if they had determined she was not a threat. It gave her a sense of belonging to know the pack expected to see her among them.
That feeling paled into insignificance when Dayton’s head turned suddenly and their eyes met. The warmth in his deep blue gaze was undeniable, his pleasure at seeing her written across his handsome face. The smile he gave her faltered minutely before he turned back to Cedar and said something to her.
The blonde wolf’s pale blue eyes met Freya’s for an instant and then she answered her brother in an equally low tone and headed back into her home. Dayton turned and strode across the compound towards her.
Freya met him half way and immediately wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled his head down to hers. Her kiss was almost desperate in its need. It appeared to surprise him but he recovered quickly, wrapping one arm around her waist to drag her bodily against him while his other hand slid under her hair to grip the nape of her neck firmly.
He met her kiss with a hunger that matched hers. He didn’t appear to care they were standing in the middle of the compound with people watching them. He took control of the kiss, his tongue hot and wild inside her mouth. She could feel the hard ridge of his erection pressing against her, the tension in his body as he literally devoured her mouth with his.
It was wild, frantic and so incredibly delicious she moaned into his mouth and tried to pull him closer. She wanted to growl her disappointment when he pulled his mouth from hers, firmly holding her back when she tried to protest. His eyes were almost black in colour, his jaw clenching hard as he looked down at her.
“Kiss me like that again, honey, and some of the more vulnerable members of the pack are going to get an education they most definitely are not ready to receive yet,” he said hoarsely, his voice thick with need.
His words startled her and she glanced around to see a handful of teenagers watching them avidly. She growled loudly in their direction and the group of boys vanished in an instant. Dayton’s loud laughter filled the morning air.
“Well I suppose that’s one way to get rid of them,” he chuckled lightly. “We’re usually a little gentler on them than that, might be something to remember for the future.”
Freya flushed and leaned her forehead against his chest. She’d fucked up again. “I’m sorry.”
“Hey.” Gentle fingers tilted her chin up until she met his eyes. He was smiling at her, affection in his gaze. “They’ll dine out on that for at least a month. The sexiest female vampire ever growled at them. The simple fact you actually noticed them at all will give them kudos in the pack.”
That made her frown, she had no idea what he meant by that.
“I’m reliably informed that our youngling males have had a long standing competition going to see which one of them could catch your eye first,” Dayton laughed. “Granted, they were probably hoping for something a little less aggressive but they’ll take what they can get.”
“They’re idiots,” she snorted, finally catching his meaning. “They’re children and wolves at that. Why would I even look at them?”
“They’re horny youths who see an unattainable beautiful woman in their midst. They can’t help dreaming big. The fact you’re unattainable is what makes you so alluring to them. You do know that you’ve been around this compound for years and probably haven’t even spared a glance at the majority of the pack. You belong and yet you don’t. You’re an oddity, something to be curious about.”