Aria’s POV
Daryl’s emotions hit me like a tidal wave, overwhelming through the bond we shared. My mate was a mess-sad, angry, confused-all swirling together like a storm I couldn’t calm.
The mate bond allowed us to feel each other’s emotions, whether joyful or broken, and right now, Daryl was shattered.
I tried reaching out to him through the mind link, but he’d shut me out, a wall firmly erected between us. Leo had done the same.
Gigi whimpered inside my head, longing for our mates. She could feel their turmoil, especially Daryl’s.
He was the most affected, and I couldn’t bear the thought of him suffering alone. Leo, too, felt distant through the bond, and that worried me even more.
I rushed downstairs, my heart pounding, hoping to find them. As I entered the living room, all eyes turned to me.
Luna Macy and Elaine sat quietly, tears glistening in their eyes as their mates, Alpha Liam and Beta Greg, consoled them. The room was heavy with tension and sadness.
Mara had already filled me in through the link about what had transpired.
“Where are they?” I asked, unable to hide the urgency in my voice.
“They’re out in the woods,” Mara answered, her voice tinged with sadness. “But Aria, I don’t think it’s the right time to go after them. Daryl isn’t in the right frame of mind.”
My brow creased in defiance. “I’d be damned to leave my mates when they need me the most. They won’t hurt me, Mara. They need me now more than ever.”
Without waiting for her response, I stormed out of the house. Gigi eagerly followed their scent, leading me deep into the woods, straight to the spot with the lake and the beautiful flowers-our secret haven.
Memories of our first night together flooded my mind, the intensity of that moment still fresh in my veins.
The closer I got, the stronger the bond’s pull became, and I knew they were there. I could feel Daryl’s torment, but also Leo’s concern. My heart ached to soothe them, to take away their pain.
When I finally reached them, my heart skipped a beat. Daryl and Leo sat by the lake, their heads low, lost in their thoughts.
The tension in the air was thick, but the moment they noticed me, everything shifted. Daryl’s eyes were dark, filled with both need and confusion, his wolf hovering just beneath the surface.
I didn’t hesitate. “Shh, it’s okay, Daryl,” I whispered, my fingers running through his hair as I held him. “I’m here. We’ll figure this out. You don’t have to carry this burden alone.”
Daryl’s eyes locked onto mine, a mixture of hunger and desperation filling them. He didn’t say a word, but he didn’t need to.
The bond between us flared, sparking something primal. In an instant, he was on me, pushing me down gently onto the grass, his body hovering over mine.
Leo stood to the side, watching silently, his own need evident in his gaze. His hand stroked his already hard cock as Daryl’s mouth found my breasts.
The touch of his lips sent waves of heat through my body, the passion between us igniting like a wildfire.
Daryl was relentless, worshiping my skin, sucking and biting just enough to make me moan with need.
Leo’s breathing grew heavier as he watched, and I could feel his arousal as if it were my own.
Daryl trailed his kisses lower, down to my belly, and then between my legs.
His mouth was on me in an instant, his tongue flicking over my clit, sending sparks of pleasure shooting through my veins. I arched my back, my hands tangling in his hair as he skillfully drove me wild with every lick.
“Daryl! Oh my Goodness!” I moaned, barely able to contain the intensity of it all.
“That’s it, brother,” Leo groaned from behind me, still stroking himself. “Make her cum on your tongue.”
And I did. My release came like a flood, and Daryl didn’t stop. He drank from me, savoring every drop, before moving back up to kiss me.
I could taste myself on his lips, and it only fueled the fire inside me more.
“So fucking delicious,” I whispered, and Daryl gave a small nod in agreement, his eyes filled with hunger.
Without another word, he thrust into me, his thick cock sliding deep inside, making me gasp in pleasure.
He didn’t wait, didn’t hold back. Daryl took me hard, his desperation clear in every move, as if he was channeling all of his pain into the act of loving me.
Leo stepped closer, watching as his brother moved in me with such intensity. His eyes burned with lust, and soon he was beside us, his cock inches from my mouth.
I reached for him, stroking his length before taking him in my mouth, sucking hard as Daryl pounded into me from below.
It was madness. The pleasure was overwhelming, and soon both of them were close. Daryl came first, his hot release filling me as Leo spilled his load into my mouth.
I swallowed every drop, my own orgasm hitting me like a tidal wave, my body trembling with the intensity of it all.
Afterward, we collapsed together, our bodies tangled as we caught our breath. Daryl’s head rested on my chest, and Leo lay beside us, still stroking my hair.
“I needed that,” Daryl murmured against my skin, his voice heavy with emotion. But I knew he wasn’t just talking about the sex. He needed the closeness, the bond, to remind him that he wasn’t alone.
We decided to stay in the woods that night, sleeping in the small cottage near the lake. Daryl wasn’t ready to face his parents, not yet.
***
The next morning, we returned to the pack house. Serai was still there, her presence a reminder of the storm that was brewing.
Daryl, Leo, Mara, and I gathered in the boys’ room, trying to make sense of everything that had happened.
“I can’t believe they kept this from us,” Leo muttered, pacing the room. His frustration was evident, though he was trying to keep it under control for Daryl’s sake.
Daryl sat in silence, staring at the floor. His hands were clenched into fists, the weight of the revelation pressing down on him like a heavy burden.
“I don’t understand,” Mara added, shaking her head. “Why wouldn’t they tell us about this? About the prophecy?”
“Maybe they thought they were protecting us,” I offered, though even I wasn’t sure. Everything was so confusing, and the threat of Daryl’s grandfather still loomed over us.
Daryl finally spoke, his voice low but filled with determination. “They should have told me. I deserved to know.”
Leo and I exchanged a glance, and Mara’s face softened as she reached out to touch Daryl’s arm. “We’ll figure this out, Daryl. We’ll get through this. Together.”
Daryl’s gaze shifted to me, and I gave him a small nod of encouragement. Whatever was coming, we would face it. As a pack. As mates. As family.
Continuation