by G. Bailey
I laugh, “Despite how much you tried to keep me at a distance, I fell for you. I fell for the playfulness, the sarcastic remarks, the loving nature you gave Freddy and most of all how you looked at me sometimes.”
“How did I look at you?” he asks.
“Like you wanted to kill me and kiss me at the same time. I love you Jaxson,” I tell him.
His face lights up in a grin, and he stands up, pulling me with him and presses a gentle kiss on my lips. We hold each other for what feels like a lifetime before he lets me go.
"We have a lot to tell you, come on, lass," he says pulling me out of the room.
I stop to shut my door and ask him, "Like how you guys know each other?"
"Yes, and I know you’re not going to like it," he mutters with a little grimace at me. I raise my eyebrows, but I don’t reply, and instead, I walk in front of him.
Chapter Four
Winter
When I come into my lounge, it's to the sight of three incredibly hot guys sitting on my couches looking equally worried and looking like they could be selling the sofa with how attractive they are. All their faces light up when they see me.
Atti shouts, "Come sit next to me, Love." I let go of Jaxson’s hand and take the seat on the sofa, next to him. Wyatt and Dabriel are on the other sofa, and Jaxson leans against the wall. All their eyes are on me.
"Start talking," I say firmly.
Wyatt looks around before groaning, "I guess I'm telling her?"
"Yes." Dabriel answers, and I jump a little as Atti moves closer to me, putting his arm around my shoulders. I swallow the urge to lay my head on his shoulder. It’s unfair that I’m so attracted to them all. Jaxson is the stern one. Wyatt is more passionate, as much as Atti is playful. Dabriel comes across as protective and sweet at times. All of them are the perfect guys.
"We have known Jax our whole lives. You know I said we were all friends growing up. Jax was with us until we fell out." Wyatt says, and Jaxson growls loudly.
"Winter, we always knew that we would find a human. A unique person that could be our mate to share. Most of us didn’t believe we would find you alive or find you at all,” Wyatt says, and I have to force myself to answer him and not focus on the shared part.
"The prophecy?" I ask, and Wyatt nods, looking impressed that I figured that out.
“We don’t know if it’s true, but our births were the first proof in hundreds of years,” Dabriel says, and I nod remembering Atti telling me that they were all born on the same day. I wonder if Jax was too.
"Someone best tell me the damn thing, then," I reply, and Atti snorts in laughter.
"You could say please, lass," Jaxson says, and I smirk at him.
"Nope," I draw out the word.
He laughs at me while everyone else looks a little confused.
"I will tell you," Dabriel says and starts the prophecy.
The blue-sided human will choose a side.
When four princes are born, on the same day, they will rule true.
Her saviour will die when the choice is made.
If she chooses wrong, she will fall.
If she chooses right, then she will rule.
Only her mates can stop her from the destruction of all.
If the fates allow, no one need fall.
For only the true kings hold her fate, and they will be her mates.
Dabriel repeats the prophecy again, but all I can hear is the end part. They will be your mates. I know sharing a female is normal for wolves but is it for all of them? They don’t even get along. It’s not something I ever considered, and I admit it’s freaking me out a little as they all stare at me. One problem at a time, it’s not like they expect me just mate with them all now. At least, I hope they don’t.
"Hold on. You’re all princes, and if Jaxson was born on the same day as all of you," I stop when Wyatt nods at me.
"You think I'm your mate? All of you?" I ask.
Atti answers, "We know, even stubborn ass over there knew when he met you." He waves a hand towards Jaxson. Jaxson just glowers at him, but I see the tiny twitch of his lips.
"I can't deal with this right now. It's too much, I'm only human and," I blurt out. I can’t be with all of them, I don’t even know how to process that. I love Jaxson, and maybe my feelings for Wyatt are strong. I don’t know Atti and Dabriel that well, but there has always been a connection. I’ve always felt safe with them and lost when I was away from them. Each one of them feels like home to me, and it’s scary.
“I know humans don’t share, and it’s something you have to get used to, but….” Atti says.
“No. This isn’t an easy decision, and I need to think about it. I’m not saying no, it’s just a lot,” I say, waving a hand at them all.
“Could you walk away from any of us, lass?” Jaxson asks me.
“I’m human, Jaxson. Wolves share, and that’s cool. But, that’s not how I was brought up,” I say, and he nods.
“We will discuss this another time, it’s been a long week for Winter to have to make any decisions,” Wyatt says. The rest of them look at me, but they seem to let it go for now as Wyatt suggested.
"You have never been only human, and you certainly aren’t now. I knew when I saw you. All people have auras, and yours is like nothing I've ever seen before," Dabriel tells me firmly. His words slow my panicking down a little.
"What is mine like, then?" I ask, a little curious.
"It's so blue, bright and yet stunning," he says.
"The blue-sided human?" I ask, and they all nod at me. "What does it mean?" I ask.
"We don't know," Atti answers.
"Why did you two fall out?" I ask Jaxson and Wyatt. Both of them go tense.
"You know. I told you about Demi. Demi was Jaxson’s sister," Wyatt tells me. I can't process everything as I turn wide-eyed to a tense Jaxson by the door.
"What about Fr-," I go to say, but Jaxson's shake of his head stops me from saying Freddy’s name. Oh my god. Freddy is Wyatt’s son.
Freddy is half wolf and half vampire. Why didn’t I see it before? It all makes sense. Now that I think of the little boy, I know it. The blond tips of his hair, the smirk he gives when he’s cheeky is just like Wyatt’s. I always thought he looked so familiar, and I blamed it on him being like Jaxson, but it wasn’t. It never was. How long has Jaxson kept this secret? I’m taking a wild guess that Dab and Atti don’t know.
"I would have saved her if I could have, Jax," Wyatt says tensely, holding the arms of my sofa like he is close to ripping it apart.
Jaxson doesn't say anything, I watch as Jaxson and Wyatt just stare at each other for a long time before Jaxson nods.
“For Winter. I can’t forget everything that’s happened between us, but Demi wouldn’t want this. You’re my brother,” Jaxson says.
“For Winter,” he responds with a nod of his head.
"Can we all hug now? I like group hugs." Atti says, and Dabriel whacks him on the arm. The tension leaves the room as everyone laughs.
"We have to leave tonight, Winter," Wyatt says, and Jaxson tenses up.
"No, I've just gotten her back, and she is coming back, to my pack with me for the night."
"My father, "Wyatt replies as he stands.
"Can wait. I need to see the pack," I tell Wyatt, who tensely nods. I know he doesn’t like the idea, but he seems to be giving me time.
"I have friends I need to see in the pack before we leave, is that okay?" I ask Wyatt as he watches me tensely. I walk over and wrap my arms around his waist and hug him. He hesitates a little before kissing the top of my head and pulls me closer.
"Yes, but Dabriel and Atti are going with you. They can bring you to me if you need to feed."
"I don't need to," I start, but Jax puts his hand on my shoulder.
"You are all welcome in my pack," he tells them.
"Sorted, now who is cooking dinner at your pack these days?" Atti asks, looking excited as I turn and I smile at him as he winks at me.
Chapter Five
Winter
The drive to the pack was a little awkward and partly scary because Jaxson was driving. The guys just didn't know how to speak to each other after years of no talking. Or at least that's what I think has happened. I can see them being friends once, brothers even.
"So, is it cool being alpha now?" Atti asks, and Jaxson looks back at him for a second. I hold the handle of the door as Jaxson swerves out of the way of a car. I take it back, I don’t want them to talk because Jaxson apparently can’t drive and talk without nearly killing us.
"Not exactly. The war has been going on so long, since my sister’s death and the deaths of many other wolves at the vampire king’s hand. When the war was declared, the pack got used to losing people, but now they are losing hope. Things are changing. The pack lost eight wolves in the battle, and we still don't know who killed Fergus in the first place. The pack is grieving and feeling lost," Jaxson replies. I put my hand on his arm.
"I liked Fergus, he never told on us when he caught us meeting up,” Atti says.
"That's because he wanted to come with us. We were seventeen and going to find girls. Fergus was younger and couldn’t talk to girls," Jaxson says.
"Yeah, that would’ve been a problem, not that we were very good at getting girls anyway," Atti says with a little laugh.
"If your chat-up lines are anything like they are now, then I can see the problem," I say, and they laugh.
"I always had to speak for them, they never got girls," Jaxson says with a smirk.
"Come on, we are not that bad." Atti whacks Jaxson’s arm, and he laughs.
"You once told a girl that you thought her mouth looked big. That was the first thing you said to her, she threw her drink at you as a response," Dabriel replies dryly. I turn to him, and he flashes me a little smile.
"Okay, that was a bad day, but it was the only thing nice about her," Atti admits.
"That's terrible," I laugh.
“I know this is going to sound bad, but how many people have you guys slept with?” I ask. I probably don’t want the answer, but it’s a little annoying that they seem far more experienced than I am. I’ve slept with two guys. One was a guy from school and my first time, but we didn’t work well together, so we broke up. The second was my asshole of an ex, who liked to sleep with other girls. It was different with him because he was good in bed, but I guess it was his experience with other girls that taught him how to be good.
“I don’t want to answer that,” Jaxson says looking away.
“Only a few,” Atti says, and I turn to see him looking away.
“Dab?”
“No one. Angels can only sleep with their mate, I always intended that to be you,” he replies, and I look at him in shock.
“Show off,” Jaxson mutters as I blush.
“Why didn’t you wait? Not that I’m mad or jealous,” I say, knowing it does sound jealous.
“For wolves, it’s difficult not to have a sexual relationship sometimes for a release. I didn’t want to go mad and end up mating with Esta. Nonetheless, the prophecy was ancient, and who knew if you actually existed?”
“Yeah, what if we met you, and you had a husband and two kids?” Atti asks. I sense the guilt when I turn slightly to face him.
“I see your point. I don’t think I could put my whole life on hold for a story,” I tell him. None of them reply, but I do get it. I can’t say I’m not a little jealous that anyone got to be with my hot men first. Wait, they aren’t all mine, or are they?
We soon get to the line of trees that marks the perimeter of the pack, and Jaxson drives us through after giving permission for Dab and Atti to come in. The pack doesn't look any different, the same cabins and the same paths. The main difference is that there are no kids running around, and the people smile sadly at us as we drive past. Jaxson drives the car in front of the main cabin, and we all get out. I let Jaxson take my hand and lead me to the front door. It’s weird to think that he is alpha now. There are two wolves, standing guard outside like before. One of them is black and the other is slightly smaller and brown. They nod at Jaxson as he walks us past, Atti, and Dabriel following closely behind us. We walk into the lounge, and I see Anna standing next to the fire. She is watching it and doesn't seem to notice us come in.
"Anna," I say gently, and she turns to face me. Her face is red from crying, and her bump is so much bigger than when I last saw her. It hurts my chest to see her looking so vulnerable and lost.
"Winter, oh god," she says with a shocked smile, and I let go of Jaxson to run over to her. She pulls me into a big hug the second I'm close enough, and we embrace for a long time. I even feel her baby kick my stomach.
“I shouldn’t have let Esta take me away that night. I should have saved you,” she says.
“I’m okay, Anna, are you?” I ask her.
“Some days, not always. I have a few months left before this baby comes, and I have to be prepared,” she says softly, a little crack in her words is all that I can hear to suggest it’s hard for her to say.
“Fergus would be proud of you, he was a good man,” I say echoing the words that I told Jaxson earlier.
"Winter?" I hear being shouted behind me and Anna lets go of me. I turn to see Freddy jump over a sofa and crush me to him. Damn, did he get bigger? He’s almost as tall as me now. I kiss the top of his head of brown hair, the blond tips reminding me who he is. Freddy smells so much like Jaxson, but there’s a hint of something else. I can’t explain it, but I couldn’t tell before. It must be a weird new vampire thing. Can I even call myself a vampire? I’m not really, I’m just different, and like Freddy, I guess.
"I was so scared that Uncle J was wrong, and you weren’t alive. I tried to find you in the fight, but I had to get rid of a vampire in the house who wanted to kill me. I did find my swords, and I saw you out the window. I saw that stupid, big vampire take you away. I missed you," he says, crying into my shoulder. I hold him close to me, feeling more than a little sad that the first time he saw his father was when he was carrying me away, he doesn’t even understand what happened.
"Oh, Freddy. I'm so sorry I scared you. You know I wouldn't leave you if I didn't have to. I was having a long sleep because the vampire you saw saved me, and I couldn't come back to you." I tell him.
I hear a muffled reply, "You’re not leaving now, are you?"
I look over at Jaxson with pleading eyes. I can’t tell him I have to leave for a while again. Dabriel and Atti are staring at Freddy, and I know that they won’t let this go.
"Freddy, let Winter sit down. It's been a long day," Jaxson’s deep voice says. Freddy does and takes my hand in his. I sit on the sofa, and Freddy sits as close to me as possible, without getting in my lap. Jaxson seems to find this funny because he is openly smirking.
"Uncle J?" Atti questions Jaxson who nods as an answer.
“I didn’t realise you had a child, Anna.”
“Freddy is Demi’s son. Jaxson has brought him up.”
“I didn’t know she had a child.”
“Yes, when she came back from the vampires she was pregnant. She told us she had a relationship with another wolf that was kept there, but he died.”
“Interesting, and I’m sorry for your losses, Freddy,” Dabriel says to Freddy, who stares at him.
“Uncle J was like a dad, anyway,” he replies, and Dabriel tenses. Atti is looking at us in apparent shock but quickly hides his reaction as I shake my head at him. The room goes into a very uncomfortable silence.
"We need a private chat," Dabriel says darkly, and Jaxson glares at him.
"Freddy, go and get Katy and Harris."
"I'll go and cook something for us all," Anna says, walking from the room. Her usually happy self is gone, and I'm scared I won't see it again.
"You’ll be here when I get back?" Freddy asks me, and I nod. He moves away and goes out the door. Everyone watches him leave.
"Is that Wyatt’s son?" Atti asks loudly when i
t’s been a few minutes since Freddy left, and there’s no chance of him over hearing us.
"Yes, "Jaxson replies. The one-word answer floats around the room, and we all don’t know how to respond.
"Are you going to bother explaining why Wyatt doesn't know? How a half-breed is even possible?" Dabriel asks, moving to stand in front of Jaxson. I’ve never seen Dabriel angry before, his wings flutter behind him, and his skin is faintly showing symbols. Both of them start staring each other down, as they are the same height. When I see Dabriel’s wings starting to spread out, and Jaxson’s eyes start glowing, I know I have to intervene. I move in between them as the power in the room becomes frightening. I see Atti moving closer, most likely to stop this if it goes too far. It's a tight fit with Jaxson at my front, our bodies pressed tightly together. Dabriel's hard body is pressed against my back, and it's hard for me to even focus on what we were arguing about: Freddy, Wyatt's son.
"Jaxson, I know you didn't hide Freddy from Wyatt because of anger. I know because you love him like your child, and you wouldn't ever hurt him like that. They just want to know and help you. Dabriel is worried about Wyatt," I tell Jaxson who looks down at me. His eyes slowly return to their normal green, and he nods. I take a deep breath, I was worried he wouldn’t listen to me.
I hug him carefully and let him keep me in his arms as I turn around. Dabriel is looking down at me, I'm surprised there is so much passion in his eyes. My breath catches as I'm sure I can smell how much he wants to kiss me right now. As much as I want to kiss him. I’ve always felt this desire for him, it’s overwhelming and sucks you in.
"How is he alive?" Atti asks breaking the eye connection between Dabriel and me. Dabriel moves away, his arms crossed tightly across his chest as he stares at Jaxson above me. Jaxson keeps his arm around my waist as he talks.
"I don't know. When he was born, we didn’t know what to expect. I was sure he would die. He didn't.”
“He smells and looks just like a wolf. The only giveaway is his aura. I guess you never let an angel see him,” Dabriel says.
“He hasn’t left the pack. He is a regular wolf. In fact, he’s stronger than all the wolves near his age, he has immunity to silver, and can heal super-fast," he tells them, and they look a little shocked.