Chapter 29: Aislin

Chapter 29: Aislin

Gavin gathered his remaining packmates together in the pack cabin, though there weren’t many of us left. With Wendy, Philip, Barbara, and Casimir out of town, Niko and my father dead, and my mother in the hospital, it was just me, Billie, Albin, and Gavin. Four wolves from the ten that there initially was, two months ago before this had all started. Albin was bandaged up around his stomach, the gunshot wound swiftly closing, but still not in prime condition, while Gavin, Billie, and I were in various states of banged up from the fight. We looked like a sorry lot, and we felt like it, too.

With a sigh, Gavin stood before us all and crossed his arms in front of his chest. “There’s no easy way to say this. We can’t stay here. It’s not safe since David has Muriel in his possession and we no longer know where he and his followers are hiding. They could strike any moment to wipe us out and ensure that they complete the Lycan ritual without interruption. For that reason, Everett and I have agreed to relocate the remaining members of Grandbay into Eastpeak territory until further notice.”

Each word Gavin spoke made my heart sink further. I knew he was right, that we weren’t safe anymore, but I didn’t know what he intended to do for a solution and I wasn’t expecting it to involve Eastpeak. Everett’s name made me flutter and shattered me all at once. I caught my Alpha’s eye, deciding there was no need for secrecy when there were so few of us here. “You spoke with Everett about merging?”

Albin was the only one who seemed surprised by the idea. “What’s this about merging?”

“He called me earlier today,” Gavin said, then looked at Albin. “It was something Aislin and Everett discussed as a way to mitigate the risk of David isolating and attacking us.” Then his attention traveled back to me. “We’re not merging packs permanently. But we agreed we could both serve as Alpha over our own packmates while sharing a living space, at least until it’s safe to return home again.”

“I didn’t expect you two to come to an agreement,” I admitted.

“Our best chance of surviving is to work together.”

Maybe I underestimated the two of them. “Did you talk about… me?”

Gavin’s expression softened, his arms falling to his sides. “A little. I think it’s best that you talk to Everett when we get to his place.”

Our argument last night had burdened me all day, making me feel heavy. The tone of Gavin’s voice warned that their conversation might not have had a positive outcome regarding me. Suddenly, I feared that Everett had changed his mind about what he wanted, and that he was done with me.

“If we’re staying in Eastpeak, what about the humans in town here?” Billie spoke up. “Will they be in danger from David?”

“It’s possible, but… I don’t know how we can protect them and protect ourselves, too,” said Gavin.

“The Mythguard can keep watch, can’t they?” I suggested.

Billie nodded. “We should try that.”

“Okay,” agreed Gavin.

My faith in the Mythguard had faltered lately. But surely they wouldn’t be at risk being stationed here as much as we would. I wanted to believe that the Mythguard could still redeem themselves in my eyes, and I was willing to give them another chance, even if they had rejected me over and over again. It was time for me to be the bigger person.

The four of us loaded up into Gavin’s car. I didn’t ask how he’d reclaimed it after he had to abandon it the night of the attack. But evidence of the violence from that night was beaten into its chipped and dented exterior, the crumpled bumper and license plates bent in both the front and back. After stopping at each other’s apartments, houses, and the hotel to gather our belongings, we left Grandbay behind and arrived at Everett’s house in the cold, moonless night.

The door opened with Everett backlit in cool white light. Billie was the first to step inside, greeting him quietly, with Gavin’s hand on her waist, giving a nod to the Eastpeak Alpha. Albin followed with a polite hello, and then there was me, and the moment I met Everett’s gaze, my heart skipped a beat.

He looked tired. His long hair hung down to his shoulders and his cheeks were grizzled with stubble. Where usually his muscular body was stiff and alert, now it sagged under the weight of everything he had endured, his dull grey eyes evocative of a rainy day. Everett’s mouth tightened like he wanted to say something to me. Instead, he just gestured at me to come inside.

His packmates were all here too. Our two packs came face-to-face in their entireties, a strange mixture of the xenophobia of Eastpeak and amicability of Grandbay, yet it was our universal trauma that bound us together. Fatigue was shared between all of us. Lyssa was among the first to take us in, clutching Billie’s hands and introducing herself formally to the mate of Grandbay’s Alpha, and showing them to the spare bedroom that would be hers and Gavin’s. Albin sat down to speak with Everett’s packmates. That left Everett and me hovering on the sidelines with a million words to say to each other, and lead tongues that wouldn’t move.

Finally, he turned to me. “Can we talk?”

I realized that I’d wanted to talk to him all day, but at the risk of coming off as desperate or too eager to forgive him, I chewed on my answer first. “Sure.” I still didn’t know how this was going to turn out and wasn’t about to get my hopes up.

He led me back to his bedroom, the familiar arena where our relationship had grown the most, and where all of our trials had unfolded. I both hated and loved this room. It punched me in the heart to stand here.

Everett lingered in front of me, looking like he wanted to touch me, but refrained by keeping his balled fists at his sides. “I was wrong to lose my temper with you last night. I’m sorry,” he murmured.

As alleviating as it was to hear him say that, I still couldn’t shake the feeling that something worse was to follow.

“I’ve realized that our time together might be limited because of David, and I don’t want to waste it arguing when I could just compromise. So no matter what your decision is, whether you stay in Grandbay or with me in Eastpeak… I want to be with you.”

Unseen apprehension coiled around me like a snake, squeezing me so tightly I could barely breathe. I expected bad news, so hearing Everett say that seemed unreal, like there was a caveat attached to it that he hadn’t yet approached. I stared at him for long, silent seconds, waiting for more to come. But when he met my eyes and his visage softened completely, I recognized that he had finally lowered all his walls for me. He made himself vulnerable, telling me exactly what he wanted with no other stipulations, and now he looked to me for my decision. The ball was in my court. He had no control over what I would say or do in response, and it must have taken a lot of humility for him to accept that.

If only to prove his concession to me, Everett drew in a slow breath and said, “I love you, Aislin.”

Heat rushed to my face. I never thought I would hear those words from him—from anyone, really, but especially from him. It hit me so hard, it left me trembling. “You… You do?”

“Yes. I’ve felt it for weeks, but I was afraid to admit it,” he said. “I love you and I want you to be my mate. Wherever you choose to be in the end, I want to make it work. I can’t stand the thought of either of us being with someone else. You fulfill me in ways I’ve never experienced. You’re always teaching me how to be a better person and that’s what I need. I’ll never stop needing that, or you.”

Disbelief fixed me in place. Everything he said directly contested what I had expected from him. This big, stoic, independent Alpha who had never needed anyone else in his entire life suddenly needed me. Not only did he need me, but Everett wanted nobody else except me, too. We complemented each other in the way that we both had so much to learn, and nobody could help us grow better but the other. Maybe that was why we were fated mates.

“Aislin?” he urged gently.

I didn’t realize how long I’d been holding my breath until then. With a sharp inhale, I rubbed my bandaged arms and smiled weakly, still struggling to wrap my head around Everett’s confessions. “Do you really mean all that?”

“I never say things I don’t mean. You know that.”

Inexplicable shyness gripped me. I supposed I felt undeserving of Everett’s love at that moment, when I had spent the entire day doubting if we were even right for each other. I still thought that he might turn around and decide I was too reckless and stupid to be his mate. “What if something happens and you change your mind…?”

“I’m not going to change my mind without warning, Aislin. I’ve thought a lot about it already, and I know that even fated mates need to communicate. If something happens, we’ll talk it out. We’ll get through it. But I’m getting to know you better every day, and all that you are is still what I want.” Everett pushed closer, reaching out to take my hands.

His palms were soothingly warm. I couldn’t resist being drawn back into him, magnetized to the comfort of his chest. Through our connection, I felt that my slowly mounting happiness inspired by his words was reciprocated when I leaned my face against his pecs, just below his collar bones hidden by his t-shirt. My touch relieved him. Our physical contact repaired his damaged soul, bridging the gaps I made when I had left last night. His body relaxed, his arms sliding around my shoulders and holding me close.

“I want to give you everything you need,” I told him, my voice muffled into his chest. “Even if I’m still learning too, I want to try to be the best I can be with you.”

“It’s funny, but I thought I had everything I needed until you came into my life.”

Everett calling anything funny was unusual, but I guess that was the charm of it. I laughed quietly and his body quaked with laughter that matched mine.

“I’ll protect you and give you everything you need, too,” said Everett, burying his nose in my hair to kiss my head.

Joy blossomed in my heart. It felt so right to be with him. “I’m glad you’re my fated mate. I love you, Everett.”

The sheer bliss living in our connection exploded right then. I felt everything he did, and vice versa, and right now our shared happiness ricocheted off one another like lasers between two mirrors until it filled the entire space with blinding light, and it was so warm and revitalizing, it healed us both. I pulled back and craned my neck, brushing my nose against his chin. Everett touched my jaw and tipped my face closer until we kissed, and we stood together like that for minutes, relishing each other’s presence.

The reassurance of his love despite my doubts was enough to make my decision for me. I wanted to spend the rest of my life being as close to him as possible. Never did I want to leave his side. My aspiration was to be the best mate I could be for him, to help him lead effectively and see Eastpeak flourish. And with me in Eastpeak, I could ensure that the alliance with Grandbay remained strong. Besides, it wasn’t like I’d never see my friends and family again. They would be just next door. Everett felt these revelations through our connection. I could tell by the way he clutched me closer, accepting my unspoken choice.

We needed a break from the solemn aftermath of the attack, and I could think of no better way to move forward from it than with Everett. His hands traveled down my sides and cupped my butt. His touch alone birthed a hot, fluttering fire in my body, our fated bond once more igniting with desirous intensity. I wanted to show him how much I loved him.

Everett led me to the bed, leaning me down onto it until I was reclined on my back. His body settled between my thighs, immediately picking up a rhythm of grinding his hips against mine. Fingers dragged along the dressing on my arms, touching lightly, aware of my sensitivity, until reaching my hands. Then he clasped his fingers in mine and pressed me into the mattress, tucking his nose below my ear and kissing my neck. His stubble deliciously tickled my skin. With each hard press of his body, I felt the bulge in his jeans swell. My body craved him.

When he stood up, I didn’t want our bodies to separate. But he only peeled away from me to remove his shirt and undo his pants. I tolerated the distance by doing the same, starting with my pants, but he was naked before me and hungrily dove back down, pulling off my shirt. With each second, he grew more desperate to feel me. “I don’t think I could live without you now,” Everett breathed against my neck. “Without this.” He squeezed my breast, catching my eye with a heady stare.

“I’m pretty addicting, aren’t I?”

“God, are you ever,” growled Everett.

It seemed like forever since I’d been able to joke. My confidence returned, knowing how badly Everett wanted me.

“I need to be inside you.” Everett’s lips closed around mine while his fingers drifted to my groin, sliding into the slick wetness between my labia. His rubbing fueled my fire, roaring my lust back to life. “Is this for me?”

“Yeah baby. This is all yours,” I purred, leaning back.

He didn’t need to be told twice. Everett grabbed my inner thighs and opened me up wide, stroking my pink lips with his cock. I loved the way his hips rippled, and how the veins sitting just under his skin pulsed with excitement. The beautiful, sharp edges of his manhood wreathed in dark blond fuzz left me dripping. It amazed me that as much as I was his, he was all mine too. Hooking my ankles around his hips, I drew him in, begging for him to enter me.

Everett leaned forward, supporting himself on his elbows on either side of me. His body took on a steady throb as he pushed inside me. All at once, I felt him fill me. I sighed as our union drew us closer. He kissed me everywhere, up and down my neck, along my jawline, on my cheek and then my mouth, where he shoved his tongue inside and batted against mine. I suckled on his, enjoying the taste of him. He enveloped me in his musk and sweat. The sounds of his grunting filled my head, intoxicating me. I could lose myself in him, every time we were together like this. He made me forget everything wrong in the world.

Our pace quickened with shared pleasure. Tightness in my body warned of my quick ascent toward climax, and my short breaths and tender moans urged Everett to come along with me. He bit my lip, thrusting faster to keep up with me. The desire had pent up so intensely between us that it exploded within minutes.

I was left panting, dizzy, and overcome with ecstasy that seized my body the same time as him. He released inside me, bringing our orgasm to fruition, and I slipped away into dreamlike bliss beneath Everett.

“I love you,” he said between breaths. “Ais, I want to mark you.”

It wasn’t just the blistering love chemicals of our sex that made it so appealing. It was the natural chemistry we shared, our fated bond achieving finality. “Mark me,” I murmured to him, kissing his cheek.

I was ready to become his.