I let our lips find one another’s before wrapping my arms around his shoulders as he scoots forward to be closer to my body. He cups the back of my neck as his tongue slowly licks at my bottom lip before he bites down on it, making me chuckle as a response before we continue kissing.
I pull away as I hear leaves crunch behind me and I turn around to see nothing but the trees swaying as a breeze sweeps through the woods. What’s wrong ?
Did you hear that ? I whisper as I continue to look around for some source of the noise before Joey cups my cheek to turn my head to look back at him again.
It’s probably the wind, he whispers before connecting our lips again. His hands start to slide down from my neck to set on top of my waist before sliding into my back pockets to pull me closer to his body. I set my hands on either side of his neck before running one through his silky, soft hair.
I hear a twig snap from behind me before I push Joey away again to look around me. I heard it again.
He pulls me closer to him as I keep looking around me for anyone hidden behind any trees, but come up empty again. I turn back to my mate thinking that it’s probably just my imagination messing with me. Our lips connect again and I smile against him as I rid my mind of anything besides him. Everything except my amazing mate with his electric blue eyes, strong muscles always holding me tight, and his piercing smile that can quickly make me feel butterflies erupt in my stomach.
He slid his tongue into my mouth and I lose myself in the passion as my hands are furiously gripping his hair as I want him more. I want him now. All I’ve ever wanted is this man sitting in front of me.
We break apart when we heard ruffling from behind me and Joey instantly stands up and pushes me behind him as I place my hands on his waist as his eyes shift into their electric blue to get a better look at what’s going on. I can feel myself shaking behind him as it’s silent as he looks around.
Joey ? I whisper, suddenly not having enough courage to talk too loud because someone must have been watching us.
I don’t see anyone, he tells me before turning around and wrapping his arm around my shoulder as he looks behind me for any sign of anyone that is there or might’ve been there and left. Once he scans the entire perimeter a few times, we start to make our way back to the quarter house.
Do you think there was something there ? I ask him.
He shrugs his shoulders as his face contorts into confusion as he runs through the whole situation in his head over-and-over again to figure out what it could’ve been. I think there was someone. If it was another wolf, I should’ve been able to smell them or hear them leave, but I guess I was so distracted that I didn’t.
Could it have been an animal ?
He shakes his head. No, they wouldn’t be able to get over our fence and if they did, our back fence is electrified so they wouldn’t have made it all the way over.
I nod my head as I gripped his hand in mine as we see the quarter house in our distance and once we walk in, we’re greeted with breakfast from Melissa. Lila decides that we’re all going to eat outside, so we all go out and spread out on the grass or at the tables. Joey and I sit at one of the picnic tables while everyone else occupies other spots.
Don’t you feel like we’re having a foursome now ? Joey whispered, trying to not let Isaac and Oliver hear what he’s saying even though their super far away from us.
I choke on my drink with a laugh and shake my head at his ridiculous statement. If you think it’s a ‘foursome’, then I have no idea what you three are doing while I sleep.
He chuckles. You know what I mean.
Isaac and I have both been having some trouble adjusting after all of this, so I think it’s good that we’re sticking together, I tell him.
He nods his head. I completely understand it, I just would also like to have some alone time with you as well.
We will, I promise you.
Once breakfast is done, Joey follows Cody into our bedroom to talk about something pack-related. I stay back with Melissa to help her do the dishes since the two of us haven’t been spending too much time together.
I zone out for a bit as I scrub a plate while I just think of all the things that Joey and I have been through since this point in time. We started out as enemies due to his homophobia that he was able to move past after he realized that being with his mate was more important than any reputation he could’ve imagined.
We moved to a normal relationship where I was absolutely clueless to his nonhuman side, which is now very familiar to me and even something I have to get used to since he is the alpha of the pack. We then moved to where we had to deal with our special bond, which made it hard for me due to me not having special healing abilities like my mate.
While trying to even figure out what was different about our bond, Joey gets clawed by a rogue that ultimately hurts me in the end as well. We then move to the stage where we know that we are ‘true mates’ and have the most intense bond than any other relationship in years.
I come back to reality when I flinch from being splashed in the face by soapy water. I jump back in surprise as I look up at Melissa who’s giving me a confused look. What was that for ?
I was talking to you, but apparently, I was just talking to myself, she says before going back to drying the bowl that she’s holding in her hands. I notice her troubled look and set my plate down to give her my full, undivided attention.
What’s going on ? I ask her, reaching out to set my hand on her shoulder.
She opens her mouth to speak but closes it when she can’t find the words. I lightly push her so she’s facing me and she looks up at me before setting the bowl down to fidget with her fingers. I don’t know, I just think everything just caught up to me.
I nod my head. Like what ?
Like my best friends could’ve died and… and I wasn’t there for you when you needed me the most, she says as I can see tears welling up in her eyes. I’m just so sorry, Kade, I’m so sorry.
I shake my head at her and reach forward and grab her in a hug. Don’t you dare be sorry, just you being here and caring is enough for me. We all went through a traumatic experience, so I understand you not wanting to talk about it or hear about it.
She starts to cry into my shoulder and I stroke her hair as I try my best to calm her down. I hear footsteps approaching the kitchen, but I ignore it as she continues to apologize to me. I’m s-so sorry.
It’s okay, I promise, I whisper.
Everything alright ? Joey asks as him and Cody walk in, who looks concerned for his mate that is currently crying in my arms. He walks up behind her and sets his hands on her waist as she barely acknowledges him. I keep my left hand running through her hair as I slightly rock us back-and-forth to try to distract her from what she’s thinking about.
Yeah, it’s alright, I tell them as she backs out of my arms a bit to wipe at her eyes and lean back into Cody, who still had a concerned look plastered on his face. Melissa lifts her face and her eyes meet Joey’s.
What’s going on ? Joey asks, reaching out to place his hand on her shoulder.
I-I’m sorry. The first day that Kade was gone, Cody had left the room and you started freaking out and I didn’t do anything. I just watched and I didn’t help you. I’m so sorry, I failed you when you needed me.
Joey shakes his head. No, I shouldn’t have even done that. I should’ve been level-headed in that situation to find a proper solution and I wasn’t, so I’m the one that’s sorry. You did absolutely nothing wrong, I promise you.