45

Violet’s POV
About Five Months Later
“No, and don’t say anything else-I mean it,” Caleb snapped, his voice sharp with authority. I narrowed my eyes, fighting the overwhelming urge to flip him off. Alpha or not, he was still my brother, and if anyone deserved a good middle finger, it was him.
With a dramatic sigh, I rolled my eyes as he stomped off, radiating his usual overbearing energy. Tomorrow marked another full moon-the second-to-last before my birthday. Like clockwork, Liam would be taken away for the two days leading up to the moon and the two days after. It was the same every month, but last time, his cries had pierced through the night, carried on the cold wind all the way from the pack’s jail. The sound had gutted me, leaving my heart in tatters.
We couldn’t keep going like this.
I prayed every day to the goddess, pleading for my wolf to awaken early, but my prayers went unanswered. Meanwhile, Lily was nearing her due date, her little boys set to arrive any day now. My brothers, of course, were secretly happy it was twins, but being the incorrigible rogues they are, they quickly shifted gears and started planning “the next one.” Pigs.
I was desperate to see Liam, but ever since we’d come clean to the pack, sneaking time together had become nearly impossible. Spies were everywhere, and the freedom we’d once had felt like a distant dream. I’d give anything to have those stolen nights back.
At least there was some silver lining-Liam had thrown himself into building us a house. Now that our secret was out, he could work on it openly, and I could even help without raising suspicions. Still, I felt trapped in the packhouse while he lived half a mile away, secluded.
The house itself was breathtaking, perched on a hill with sweeping views of the ocean. Nearly every room had a view of the water, and the sunsets were the kind poets write odes about. The air was crisp and clean, carrying a serenity I could only dream of. Liam had even installed a hammock at the edge of the property so we could lay there together, watching the sky turn into a canvas of fiery hues.
But that dream felt far away as I shuffled to the kitchen to help with dinner. My brothers would never stop treating me like a clueless pup. They had no idea how much I’d endured-the weight of secrecy, the constant worry for Liam, and the gnawing ache of longing.
As I stirred the flour, my phone buzzed. I snatched it up, a smile spreading across my face as I saw Liam’s message. It was a picture of him with my dad and his own, all three grinning while he held up a massive fish.
**Liam:** *Hope you’re hungry, baby. They might keep me away from you, but I’ll always take care of you. Caden will drop off the fish in a cooler, and Luke will clean it outside.*
My heart swelled. His smile, the sparkle in his eyes-I could get lost in them forever. I quickly snapped a selfie, puckering my lips into a kissy face, and sent him back a stream of hearts and kiss emojis.
And then it happened.
*”Mate.”*
The voice in my mind was soft yet commanding. My hands jerked, and my phone slipped, landing squarely in a bowl of flour. My heart raced.
“Oh goddess… is this real?” I whispered to the empty kitchen.
The voice didn’t respond. Panic bubbled in my chest, and I knew I needed privacy-fast.
“Uh, Thalassa , I gotta… do something upstairs. Yeah, uh, just leave this, I’ll finish later!” I stammered, already backing out of the room.
Thalassa shot me a quizzical look but nodded, and I bolted. I sprinted to my room, slamming the door shut behind me.
*”What have you done?”* the voice scolded sharply, brimming with authority.
My head jerked toward Jareth’s cot by instinct.
“Nothing! I swear, nothing! He’s just here for protection!” I blurted defensively, cringing as the realization dawned-my wolf could *smell* another male in my room.
Oh goddess. MY WOLF!
Over the next half hour, I lay on my bed, fumbling through a mental conversation with her. Her name was Blue, and she was… feisty.
*”I’m not mean,”* she snapped. *”I’m confident. And I’m here to toughen you up.”*
Great. Not only did she hear all my thoughts, but now I had a relentless critic living in my head.
*”We share a brain, genius,”* she added dryly, clearly unimpressed by my realization.
“Will you come tonight?” I asked, my voice trembling with hope.
*”Maybe. Soon. I don’t do schedules, but I feel the moon’s pull.”*
Her nonchalance infuriated me.
I called Lily, who waddled into my room a few minutes later, and I spilled everything. She agreed I still couldn’t be left alone with Liam at night-it was too risky. But she arranged for him to come to her house instead, hoping his presence might draw Blue out.
Before I could process it all, my brothers burst into the room, filling the space with their commanding energy. They barked orders, insisting I move into their house for extra protection. Guards would stand outside, and Jareth would sleep on the couch.
In the midst of their chaos, Lily groaned.
“Oh goddess, Lily, is it time?” Caden asked, his voice tinged with panic.
“No,” she grumbled, clutching her belly. “Just those stupid fake contractions. But they’re getting sharper.”
Her comment had Caleb grinning like an idiot while I just wanted them all out of my room. Once they left, I texted Liam until Caleb finally allowed us to see each other. Even then, we were chaperoned-Lily and Jareth stood watch while my brothers conveniently “made themselves scarce.”
Their rules were suffocating, but in Liam’s arms, even for a few fleeting moments, I could breathe again.
My brothers were constantly hovering around Lily, regardless of who was watching. Soon enough, they wouldn’t be able to tell me anything. My mate and I would kiss whenever and wherever we damn well pleased, without a care in the world.
Having him so close stirred something deep inside me, like every receptor in my body had been suddenly awakened. More than once, I heard Hunter purring, and I swear, it sent a shiver straight between my legs. Liam and I had become increasingly physical in the last few months, testing boundaries-doing everything but the main event.
“Could Liam roll around on my bed before you send him off?” I asked, and although I didn’t feel pathetic, it did sound like something I would say when I was at my wit’s end. He laughed and got up, before anyone could respond.
A crash rang out, followed by a broken lamp. I sat up, and Jareth leaped to his feet, alert.
*Mate,* Blue’s voice was almost commanding.
Before I could fully process it, Hunter sprinted down the stairs, leaping onto me, licking my face. He’d done this a million times in my life, but not in over a year.
“Oh shit! Bad Hunter! No! Bad!” Lily yelled, hurling whatever she could grab.
Jareth was instantly between us, shifting before I could blink. My heart raced as tears spilled down my face, terrified that one of them would get hurt. I wasn’t thrilled by Jareth’s presence, but I cared for him and his family deeply-never would I wish harm upon him.
“Hunter, please baby, just calm down, okay? Calm down, baby,” I pleaded, dropping to my knees. His head lowered to meet my eyes, and I thought about running outside, but that would only escalate things. The guards outside could hurt him, and I couldn’t risk that.
“Go upstairs, Violet, now. Barricade the door with a dresser,” Lily’s calm voice reached me.
Mate, Blue’s voice cut through my panic again.
I stared at my mate, the agony of the moment threatening to tear me apart. This pain wasn’t fair to either of us, and I needed it to end.
*Please, please shift. Do anything you can to end this pain for him. I’m begging you,* I pleaded in my mind.
“Oh no! Not now! Oh, you Ashfords have the worst timing,” Lily groaned as she stood. I gasped when I saw the puddle beneath her.
Jareth’s wolf growled low at Hunter, who had retreated to the corner, seemingly calming. I rushed to Lily’s side, gripping her hand as she squeezed back.
“Go. Open the door. Tell him to go outside,” she panted.
I reached for the handle, but before I could touch it, the door burst open, and several guards stormed in.
“Don’t hurt him, please! He can’t help it!” I screamed, my voice breaking as I pleaded.
Hunter growled, but stayed in his corner. My wolf stirred within me, and I fell to my knees again, closing my eyes as the room erupted into chaos. Guards shifted, furniture shattered, and Lily was hurriedly escorted out.
*I’m doing all I can, but tonight might not be the night, so this will hurt like hell,* Blue warned.
*I’ll do it! Anything! I’ll take the pain, just let it end! Please, please,* I begged.
Suddenly, a fiery wave coursed through my veins, making me collapse. Growls surrounded me, and I knew Hunter was close. Through the pain, I was rational enough to know that if another male touched me, Hunter would surely kill everyone.
In the midst of the chaos, my mother’s face appeared above me. I was aware enough to know that if she wasn’t careful, Hunter would rip anyone apart who came near.
“Mama, it hurts,” I shrieked as she caressed my face, her hands pulling at my clothes, which felt like they were suffocating me.
“I know, baby girl, but it’s temporary. You’ll finally have Liam. Just think about him. All the happy times. Let go, your wolf knows what to do,” she soothed.
*We’re getting there, Blue shouted.*
I couldn’t speak anymore, the pain too overwhelming as my body shifted-bones and organs rearranging. Bile rose in my throat, but it halted abruptly.
Strange noises filled my ears as my senses heightened. The grass beneath my skin faded, and then, my mother rolled me onto my side. I blinked, and her figure became sharper, clearer.
A howl split the air, and I knew in my soul it was Liam’s. For a fleeting moment, everything was still. My paw was there, a sandy-colored paw.
*Mate,* Blue’s voice now held authority.
Liam’s scent filled my nose, and his warmth wrapped around me like a blanket of safety. A nudge at my belly made me sit up, but as a wolf, my new legs betrayed me, and I tumbled.
Hunter was there instantly, his head pressing gently against mine. His warmth comforted me, and Blue even let out a giggle, blushing.
We had promised each other not to waste a single second longer than necessary, and I meant it. Once Blue had gained balance, we stood, lowering our necks to our mate.
Eyes watched us, but I didn’t care. This moment was ours. I had dreamed of this pain, the bond with my Liam and my Hunter, my heart and soul now intertwined with them forever.
A low growl rumbled from Hunter, and a thrill shot through me.
*Mate, we are yours,* Blue purred, settling into peace.
A sting at my neck made me gasp, but I welcomed it. His warmth flooded through me, and I felt the union, his blood joining mine. I felt weak and strong all at once-his strength sustaining me.
Applause echoed around us, but all I wanted to do was growl. This was *our* moment, private and sacred.
Hunter’s tongue licked the wound, sealing it. My body hummed with near-complete satisfaction.
*I don’t like these humans watching,* Blue snapped, getting to her feet.
Hunter tilted his head, confused.
*Chase me,* Blue teased over our mind-link.
She trotted away, still adjusting to her new form, but playful despite the rush of being marked.
*Five seconds, little mate. That’s all I’m giving you,* Hunter growled, eager.
And just like that, I was ready. My call echoed into the night air, and I was ready to finally be with my mate-*our* mate.