Broken 'Angel'! (Mates And Enemies Series, #2)

A 'Dreamy' Beginning.

The best moment for a dreamy, new beginning is when your two hearts feel complete, become one and start beating like one.

~afternoon, Shining Full Moon Pack, pack house’s yard~

Tia’s pov

“MATE!” we say in union with few meters separating us.

The world I knew until now disappears for good the next second and then gets born again, but he is different, not like the old one. This world is full of Derek and me, us!

My body is sore, it has taken fire and I feel nothing expect from it, but I’m aware of few things for sure, even though I’m too lost in Derek and I care about nothing else…

Sparks overflow my body and my bare skin, which was cold some minutes ago, is now hot from completion, my heart feels like she has gotten double from the bond and beats for two from now on, my brain has gotten stuck on Derek, my legs shake like jellies, my lungs doesn’t work anymore and Tory has lost control.

Everything and everyone around us faint and we get in another world, in a tale’s, and it is only us, we are alone and the voices, music and sounds stop.

I don’t know how much time later I see him smiling excited and a bigger, brighter smile appears on my face mimicking his breathtaking one. His big, sweet eyes, which I always loved to admire, don’t look so dark brown anymore and their green color around the iris is brighter. He always was the most handsome man in my eyes after I understood we are mates, but now he seems like a god to me. I think I had forgotten how unbelievably handsome he is, although there was no day and night I wouldn’t think, remember and dream of him.

It’s like no day has passed, he is still the same man I loved, but at the same time everything is more intense, I can’t explain it, I’m unable to think absolutely anything for now. I guess I feel this way, because the bond is now more official than before and much stronger as well, the emotions are just amazing.

I stay motionless without taking my eyes from his, and my stomach tightens and then explodes from the butterflies without any warning. My soul screams Derek’s name again and again nonstop, and my excitement, relief and happiness deny leaving me.

I have already lost communication with everything around us and I am focused on him. My senses come back to me extremely slowly and this happens only for few seconds, because Derek makes a step towards me and I lose the ground under my feet. It is obvious he does it instinctually and he is in the same state of mind I am, but the smaller distance distracts me immediately.

I don’t understand how, but I do the same thing after him and make a short, timid step to him and I manage to take a breath, even if it isn’t enough to fill my lungs. His chocolate scent diffuses in my blood too soon, the courage, strength and composure wake up again inside me and I realize for good what is happening between us. I mean I knew it already, but I can truly believe it without doubting me and the reality because of my nervousness, worries and insecurities.

Derek wants me… I was stupid for being so concerned and scared. Wendy was right, he has eyes only for me, he always had, from the first moment and now we are finally free to start our new, common life.

My heartbeat turns painful, but at the same time extremely pleasing when Derek decides to make another step towards me, and then another, and another. I have no idea how many seconds have passed when he stops few inches from me, but what I am certain about is that a new, massive wave of sparks run all over my skin in every step of his.

I forget how to breathe when he finally stops too close in front of me and our scents get mixed until they become one. We lose our selves in each other, our eyes become our mirrors, our heartbeats get perfectly synchronized and our love surrounds us and becomes our shell.

Our eyes keep on being locked on each other’s and a superior power pushes me to make the last, catalytic step to close the gap. The pull is just unbearable and by far nothing I could have ever imagined, this is how strong it is. Derek pulls me close to him like a magnet, everything on him affects me in a unique and undefeatable way and I follow my instinct unable of holding myself back for more.

I make the final step and he sighs heavily in relief. His warm exhale feels like a soft caress on my face and I sense my cheeks blushing instantly. Our bodies almost touch, the sparks exceed every limit, they make me ready to pass out from the emotions and I hesitate to continue.

It feels like a dream, everything is too good to be true, it’s just prefect and it gets better when Derek’s lips move slightly and he smiles to me emotionally.

“Tia…” he whispers smoothly with a discreet tremble in his deep, imposing voice and a low whimper escapes me while I say his name.

“Derek.”

My vision gets blurry from tears of joy when I hear myself saying his name and my skin shivers the next moment while Derek caps my face very gently in his two warm, soft hands.

I exhale immediately in surprise from the new, indescribable sensation and close my eyes overwhelmed. A loud sob escapes me, my tears fall from my eyes and roll down my cheeks and Derek’s hands and I raise my shaky, frozen hands and places them above his.

His full lips touch my forehead before I gain back my mind and composure and I feel like I am getting born again, but this time I am not alone, I am with him and we come in this world as one, as… Mates!

The more seconds his lips touch my skin, the more intense the emotions become and I start trembling uncontrollably too soon, but I don’t feel weakness anymore, I am not scared I’ll collapse. Unlike before I feel I am powerful.

“Finally… I was waiting for this moment for five years.” I mutter lowly blissful without thinking my words and press my hands more above his.

His lips stop being rested on my forehead few seconds later when he realizes what I said and I open my eyes slowly to meet his full of adoration and surprise eyes staring at me. My vision is quite clear now and I have the opportunity to try to read what he is thinking about. It isn’t so difficult for me to understand he wasn’t expecting from me to know, I was already aware of it, but I hoped he would have felt something and his widely open eyes prove he was caught completely unprepared.

Despite his surprise he doesn’t look annoyed or angry that I had told him nothing all these years, he already understands the reasons I didn’t talk, he is a logical man. Every fear has stepped back for good now that I am sure he isn’t annoyed, because I can’t deny I was very worried about his reaction. I didn’t want him to think I didn’t want him and kept it as secret for that reason, because it is not true.

The truth is a piece of me was scared of me telling him right away, but there was another one which wanted me to tell him immediately. I was in the middle until last moment, but now I know I couldn’t keep it inside me anymore, it wouldn’t be right. I have faith on him, he is my other half and I trust him blindly. Also, I had good intentions, I did it for us and only, for nobody else.

“I couldn’t make it harder for you, I am sorry…” I whisper in an apologetic way, although I don’t feel I am apologizing and he smiles with understanding and adoration.

His eyes shine more from sudden tears’ appearance on them and he leans closer to me to touch his forehead on mine. I gasp while our lips almost touch, we breathe each other’s sharp, abrupt exhales and he caresses my cheeks with his big thumbs.

I can sense he has accepted completely my honest excuse and I want him to kiss me, because I don’t feel brave enough to make the first move, but the thought of everyone staring at us comes in my mind and I stiffen from disappointment. Derek takes his hands from my face and then wraps them around me feeling this slight change, and I, with my turn, place my hands on his board, hard chest.

“I couldn’t do this anymore.” He murmurs heartbroken with our gazes locked and I press my lips together to maintain my temper and don’t cry.

I understand exactly how he feels, because it was very difficult and cruel for me to keep the right distances, stay neutral and behave like I knew nothing, and I was a ‘child’ technically, I didn’t have Tory. Imagine how devastating it was for Derek, who is a man, a dominant Alpha, he has his wolf and was coming and leaving all the time. It was painful for me to see him leaving, but it was harder for him to walk away from me, I could feel it every single time and it was getting much worse time by time.

“Neither could I. I wanted to see you!” I say truthfully and close my eyes while he tightens his hold around me, careful enough not to hurt me.

I had dreamed this moment countless times all these years. I was thirsty for this hug, I was breathing to be able to tell him what he means to me, how much I have suffered with him, although I was hiding it, and most importantly how much I love him. Now a weight has left from my heart, but not completely, since we have too many things to talk about and many confessions to make. I won’t feel absolutely free until I tell him I love him and I wish I could do it now, but it isn’t the right place or time for it.

“I now know how you were feeling… The sparks, the fire, everything.” I continue and he leaves out a low, happy laughter.

“And it’s just the beginning, right?” he asks me quite innocently and I open my eyes to see the shyness, fear and agony in them.

My heart skips a beat, and I find myself confused. I don’t get from where did this come from and his skin turns pale, making it more difficult for me to understand what he means.

“Do you accept me, Tia?” he asks, noticing my confusion, and my jaw drops immediately.

For a moment I think my ears get mistaken and I didn’t hear correctly, but Tory’s sympathetic expression assures me he did ask me and my heart melts from how nervous he is. He wants to listen to me saying it, he needs my confirmation. Isn’t he the sweetest man?

I take a deep breath and raise my hands, now it is my turn to take his face in them and I feel him relaxing instantly from my gentle touch. I take a moment to admire his expressive eyes and the despair I see in the way he is looking at me breaks my heart. I don’t want him to worry anymore, because there is absolutely no reason for him.

“I have already accepted you, from years ago, from the day I got sure about us being mates, but it is not a problem for me to say it again. I ACCEPT YOU, DEREK! And…” I state more confident and certain than ever, but then…

We get back to reality from the voices, cries, yells, claps, laughs and screams and both of us blush, turn our heads around us to look at everyone looking at us, and I smile awkwardly.

Damn it, we forgot of everyone else’s presence for good!

The first persons I see are Blaire with Ian, Wendy with Evan and Kyle with Nina and Ann. Kyle and Blaire are way too shocked, but they are smiling happy, not that I had any doubt about it anyway. After them is Nina, who has her mouth widely open and blinks her eyes constantly, next is Ann, who is wiping her tears, just like Wendy, the tornado, and in the end there are Ivan and Evan who are looking at me with proud expressions and Ian closes his eyes to me satisfied and then taps Evan’s back.

After them I move my head a little bit more, on their left, and find Stefan with Madison and Eleanor, Dillon and Hannah. Eleanor is clapping her hands with an ecstatic look and Madison, who is right behind her, is speechless with the good way. Next to them is Stefan who can’t believe his eyes, but has an enthusiastic expression and then is Dillon with Hannah. These two can’t hide how happy they are for us, and I snap my head to the opposite direction while Derek groans upset when we listen to them cheering.

It’s Alex with Henna, Dean and Nora and a meter after them is Cai with Liza. I am sure you know who cheers and who is calm (at least for now). Alex has turned red from yelling and screaming, and I wonder for how long Derek and I were in our personal Wonderland. The exact same thing happens for Dean, although he hasn’t become a tomato, but too pale like a sheet and Henna is laughing and hugging Nora like they want to congratulate each other. Crazy girls… And last, but not least we have Cai and Liza, who give Derek and me an approving yet pleased nod.

I give all of them a shy smile and continue, and move my head to look around me in hurry.

Kara and Isaak are in a very similar condition with Blaire and Kyle, Bill and Layla can’t stop clapping their hands mimicking Eleanor, who started it and then follow Alpha Matthew with Rafael and Albert, who has joined them and I didn’t understand it before. These three are probably the less expressive, but their eyes shine and I focus more on Albert, because his opinion always matters me very much. I hold back a sudden sob from how emotional, relieved and proud he looks, because I distinguish the slight different in his mesmerizing eyes and I caress Derek’s chest unconsciously.

All around them are standing pack members of ours and Ian and Blaire’s pack and I can see how happy they are for us. I know many of them personally, some are too close to me and I jump up in alert when all my nephews and nieces with Eleanor, Nick, Olivia and Adrian circle me and Derek and start jumping up and down like bunnies with laughs and yells.

Don’t ask why they are so excited. They know about mates, especially Olivia, Adrian and Eleanor who are the older and they opened the way. After them come Nick, Maya, Gavin, Luke and Kate, Jaxon, Skylar and Tristan and in the end we have Easton who is only two years old and the younger of them, but he follows them everywhere from the day he started walking on his own.

You really have to see them celebrating for their new, official uncle and me, it’s cute. As you have understood they don’t need a lot to create their own chaos and we all break into laughing from their sweet scene.

I observe them for a little bit longer and feel Derek caressing softly my back. I feel comfortable with everything and I have to admit that these are the best moments of my life, and I am glad all the people I love are here and I’m able to share with them such an important incident, but joy doesn’t last too long.

Soon enough my parents’ thought and most importantly my father’s sneak into my mind and I remember that I haven’t seen them yet, but then I feel it… I feel their pairs of eyes on me, and their scents get scattered in the air accompanied from my uncles’.

I look worried around me and search for them, while Derek understands my sudden anxiety, and his head gets paralyzed two seconds later with his eyes locked on somewhere behind me, and to be exact towards the pack house’s entrance. I don’t need more than a brief moment to start shaking as I realize they are standing there staring at us, and I somehow find the strength to move slightly in Derek’s arms, turn my body a little bit and then continue with my head.

I exhale in a desperate try to work off even the smallest sign of nervousness when my eyes land on my uncles, Travis and Julia, although they don’t look angry. In fact my aunt has her hands on her mouth, but I can see the well hidden smile behind them, and my uncle smirks delighted.

The voices, music, claps, cheers and celebrating yells stop suddenly and a heavy silence spreads. My heartbeat echoes in my head and my hands fall from Derek’s chest and get wrapped around his imposing waist.

I manage to take my eyes from my uncles when my mother’s emotional, loud sob breaks the silence just for a moment, and when our gazes meet, I smile warmly at her, and she starts crying.  My heart hovers in my chest from how blissful she is for me, and Derek kisses the top of my head, but I don’t react, because I can’t move.

My mother’s image has affected me very much. I know how much she loves me, not that all the others don’t, but my mom was always my most trusted ‘friend’. This is the very last, serious secret I have kept from her, and I feel sorry about it, even though I am sure she won’t get mad at me. Also, she is relieved that Derek is my mate, because in few discussions of ours, she had confessed to me that she wants someone with pure heart for me, and Derek has one, his heart is pure, generous, filled with love and respect. She knows him very well, she has him like a son of hers the last five years, she adores him, and she will be calm from now on, she won’t have to worry about my fate and future. My mother is my angel, and our bond very strong and, I can’t feel differently and pretend I am unaffected. It is like a real blessing for her the fact Derek and I are mates.

My heart aches extremely intensively the moment a small breeze takes my father’s scent and brings it straight to me, and Tory perks her ears. My knees get instantly cut, my blood freezes in my veins, Derek’s hands feel like burning, protective fires around me and I try to prepare myself and look at him.

He is standing right next to my mother, between her and my uncles, and I smell his frustration and… Pain? Don’t get him wrong, he is happy, to be honest he will be the happiest of everyone else, but only when he gets through the first shock and accepts it.

I’m his little one, his forever angel, and he would want me to stay close to him, but now he will have to leave me. He wasn’t expecting that Derek and I would be mates, I mean who was except from those five people who knew? Both Derek, I and they made a pretty good job, we hided it perfectly, we didn’t prepare anyone else, and now George Gordon is scared, devastated, heartbroken and desperate.

I don’t blame him for feeling this way. I know my dad very well and I know he needs his time in order to soften. I have listened to him talking about Derek, he believes he is a remarkable man, so I have my hopes up, everything will be fine.

I gain every sign of courage and strength I have been left with and exhale all the air I have in my lungs. The ground under me feels quite unstable, but Derek is my rock, his touch gives me confidence and I land my eyes on my father very timidly.

The emotions I see in his piercing eyes prove me I was absolutely right and I feel like I’m drowning. He is fuming, gasping and he is shaking from fear realizing I won’t stay here with him and I will soon have to leave and go to live with Derek, once I turn 18 and shift for the first time.

In addition, he is outraged, because Derek knew about us for all these years, but never told him anything, and I am almost sure that things will get worse immediately once I tell him I had understood it as well. One thing my father doesn’t like is secrets, but we kept a very serious one from him, and our time comes too soon, because his eyes turn black gradually, his hands are already fists and they start shaking, his jaw begins to clench and the veins on his neck pop out. I tighten my hold around Derek’s waist ready to fall on my knees and open my mouth to speak, but no voice comes of my throat, and my dad prevents me and starts roaring.

“TIA GORDON AND DEREK PETERSON IN MY OFFICE RIGHT NOW!”

~few minutes later, George’s office~

Derek’s pov

He keeps on walking up and down with his hands crossed behind his back, and I observe him nonstop without taking my eyes from him.

George is growling, cursing and fuming all this time, he can’t calm down, but I am surprisingly calm. I am not worried, nervous or scared anymore, because Tia has accepted me, she wants me and that’s all that matters me. If I have Tia, everything will be alright.

I understand George’s anger and frustration, I really do and I was expecting it. I knew he would get mad at me for not telling him that Tia and I are mates all these years. I was prepared for this outburst of his, but I must admit it isn’t as bad as I had imagined. He hasn’t touched me, he hasn’t told me anything yet, and he is trying to release his anger by walking up and down like a wild animal in its cage. He doesn’t want to push things up to the limits, even though he is holding back with great efforts and I appreciate and respect it. Despite how furious he is, he still thinks about us, and there is no bigger proof that he likes the idea of us being together.

We have gotten very close these five years. We have talked alone for hours, just the two of us and our opinions are common in many things. I think he trusts me very much, that’s why he hasn’t told me anything and does his best to control himself. His only problem is that I didn’t inform him, and also, he is hurt, because now he knows he won’t have Tia so close to him as he always wanted. He is a logical man, even though he doesn’t look so logical right at this moment, and he won’t stop Tia from coming to live with me in about a year from now.

“I can’t believe you, Derek!” he shouts harshly for the first time since we got in the office and stops walking right behind his desk with his back facing me.

Alright, now we get to the point, that’s good…

I turn to Tia, who sits on my right on another chair about a meter from mine and she feels it, since she turns to me and gives me a warm, nervous smile. My heart melts immediately from how sweet and beautiful she is and I exhale heavily. Every negative thought and emotion leave from my mind and heart and my wolf howls in excitement. I guess I am not the only one who behaves like a lost puppy, as he is in worse condition, but I can’t blame him, our mate is just adorable, and he as the wolf has wilder and more dominant instincts, these five years were a real hell for him.

“Your eyes only on me!” George shouts again, finding me surprised and I snap my head to him in hurry.

This time he is standing tall less than two meters from me, and he gets ready to sit on his chair behind the massive desk. His eyes are not so black anymore, but he is still red and the veins are as obvious as before.

“You won’t look at each other until we are done!” he orders firmly and I sigh without moving or talking.

“And the same goes for Fern. You won’t turn to her to ask her help.” He adds through his teeth, and a low groan escapes from Fern who is standing right behind me and Tia.

Before you ask about it, let me tell you that George wanted Fern to come with us too, because he thought she was aware of it, but never told him. We all know Fern had no idea, but George believes otherwise, and the reason he tells us not to look at her is because he doesn’t want her to help us and make him soften. This goes especially for Tia, and maybe for Fern, since George knows them very well and he is sure these two will try to affect him in union and discreetly.

“Dad, mom knew absolutely nothing. I told you before, she…” Tia begins to say quite annoyed, but he growls warningly, raises his hand and she stops instantly getting his gesture.

“Is it true, Fern?” he asks impatiently, locking his eyes on her and she walks between Tia and me, places her hands on our shoulders and then clears her throat.

I am glad she is here, because I need her next to us. Not that I am scared of George or that I have any problem talking to him alone, but Fern is important to me. She hugged me from the very first moment, she became the mother I never had, and then all the others welcomed me as an equal member of the family.

I know Blaire and Ann made the start with their trust and it wasn’t difficult for the others to trust me because of her, but Fern made it more official and it’s a great honor. Every time I come here she is the first who greets me, she shows me how excited she is and she cares to know about me and how I’m doing.

“Yes, I didn’t know, but even if I did, I wouldn’t tell you, because of the reaction you would have. Look at you! You behave like they have committed crime.” She says confidently and I hold myself back from smirking not only from her answer, but also from his expression.

He blinks his eyes speechless, slams his hands on the desk and groans quite annoyed. He didn’t like her response and he wasn’t expecting it either. It’s like Fern scolds him for his excessive reaction and he wanted her on his side, not on ours.

“Woman, he was coming here, living with us, talking to us, looking at us in the eyes and then he was leaving back to Switzerland for five constant, f*****g years, and he knew Tia is his mate, but he never told us! That’s why I am so angry with him. I would be happy to know it from the beginning, we are talking about my daughter, it isn’t a game!” he yells and I get ready to speak up and explain myself, because this is the right thing to happen, but Tia is way faster.

“I also knew. I had understood it and I talked…” she begins to say and gets cut from George, again.

He stands up like a flash and his jaw drops. There is no description for how hurt and shocked he looks and I take a deep breath, turn to Tia and then shake my head in disagreement, but not angry for her decision to reveal to him that she also knew. She had to tell him about it, but quite later. Everything is too recent for him and that was the hit he couldn’t bear. He could deal my silence about us, but Tia’s? No…

“Excuse me, you said you… Knew?!” he asks her breathless and I observe Tia nodding with no hesitation or fear.

“Tia?! You should tell me.” Fern exclaims unable to believe it and I stiffen awkwardly.

Well, I was unaware of it, and she told me a while ago as well, so I am in the same place they are, technically. I had never thought she had understood it, and I am still trying to realize it, but I knew why she didn’t tell me anything, before she even try to explain to me the reason.

I was sure she wanted to help me, since if she had told me, I wouldn’t have been able to keep the normal distances from her, I would have been more protective, I would run behind her, I would make her gifts, I would be very expressive, and that would be our end. George would tell me for sure to stay away from her until she turns 16 (at least), and I wouldn’t bear it, because I needed to see her even for once every few months.

Tia protected us more than I did, and I guess Ian, Wendy and Evan played a role in all these. Ian knew from the beginning, Evan found it out too soon, and it is logical for Wendy to know too. Maybe Ian confirmed Tia about us… Yes, it was certainly him, but I am grateful to him for everything he has done for us, as he protected us with great success and he helped us like nobody else.

“WHO DID YOU TALK TO?” George asks her through his teeth in a quite threatening way, and leans forward, places both of his palms on the desk and digs his too dark eyes on hers.

Shit!

He got it immediately. Tia didn’t even manage to end her phrase, as he interrupted her, but he caught her last word and now he demands to know everything. I guess this is Ian’s end, and Evan and Wendy’s. I am telling you, Tia shouldn’t open this topic tonight.

“Um… To Ian, but he already knew from Derek, and Evan had understood it as well. Then Albert got in it, he informed Ann, and when Wendy found out that she and Evan were mates, he told her as well…” she states as fast as she can with her cheeks blushing more than the usual and gives him an innocent, terrified smile.

One…

Two…

Thr…

“THEY ARE DEAD, ALL OF THEM! BRING ME IAN, NOW!” he roars outraged, ready to break everything around him, but I think I had enough.

Alright, I showed great understanding till now, but some things are just too much for me to take, and I can’t keep on staying silent anymore. We are talking about Tia and me. We did nothing wrong, the guys helped us, even though I didn’t know about Ann and Albert, but this changes absolutely nothing.

“Stop being so hysteric, calm down and sit down to talk like an adult, George! You should be happy they knew, stood on their side, supported and helped them both. Okay, we had to know about it, but that’s enough!” Fern interferes before I talk, and her voice is so powerful, husky and serious that George falls on his chair nervously and crosses his hands.

At least Fern knows how to put him in his place, and this gives me the opportunity to speak up. This is between him and me, the others have nothing to do with this matter.

I take another breath and my wolf growls completely ready. I feel Tia’s expressive eyes on me, Fern gives my shoulder an encouraging caress, feeling it is my turn to talk, and George takes his eyes from her and his intense gaze lands on me.

“George, I think this is only between you and me, and if you want to, we could add Tia. I would like to leave all the others out of it, because they respected Tia and me, they didn’t have bad intentions, but only good. If you insist so much, you can talk to them, but after we talk together.” I state with a steady, clean and quite firm voice and he raises his eyes surprised and I would dare to say pleased and calmer.

“I respect your disappointment and frustration, in fact I would feel the same way, if I were you. I know that you are Tia’ father and you have every right to know anything that has to do with her, but the period I realized it was a difficult one for all of us, and when I thought about it better, I decided to keep out of it almost everyone. I didn’t want to shake the boat, because Tia was too young back then.” I continue and he narrows his eyes thoughtfully yet upset while Fern steps back, and then turns and walks towards him.

We stare at each other all these seconds Fern needs to reach him and when she does, she stops on his side, places her hands on his shoulders and he exhales troubled. I see his tensed expression relaxing slowly, the atmosphere isn’t so dense and heavy, and I give Fern a short look to see her smiling reassuringly to me and Tia.

“It’s good you understand, because I wouldn’t have reacted this way, if I was informed.” He hisses almost immediately with a dose of bitterness.

“I explained to you my reasons. I thought it would be better this way. It was already very hard for me to be close to Tia and behave casually, and if you knew, it would be more difficult for me.” I say in hurry, not wanting to be interrupted and he shakes his head thoughtfully.

He seems to soften, because maybe he sees my point. As Fern said I didn’t committee a crime, I just wanted to protect Tia and me.

“Do I look such a monster, weird or crazy man?” he asks after few seconds in silence with a wondering look, but he doesn’t talk to me.

He talks to Fern, who giggles and rolls her eyes, and then to Tia, who smiles quite playfully.

“I think you look very strict and overprotective with your kids, especially your precious daughters… Maybe this is why Derek didn’t feel comfortable enough to come and talk to you. So, don’t blame him, Alpha…” Fern mutters with a teasing smirk, and he surprisingly smiles and rubs his stylized hair.

“Come on, dad. We all know you are very pleased with the outcome. We are sorry, but don’t be so hard on us… Pretty please?” Tia says shyly and both she and I exchange gazes and giggle like small kids.

Do you know what?

This mate of mine is going to be the death of me. The more I look at her, and the more time passes after her typical acceptance, the more I realize I am lost, because I melt like crazy for her.

Tia was always special, everything on her is unique, but she has become more mesmerizing than ever, she has become the most beautiful woman there is and she is… Mine. I feel helpless in front of her, she has captured me for good and the most important thing is that she doesn’t try at all and it happens completely naturally. I am telling you, I am just lost from now.

“Alright, listen to me both of you and listen carefully.” George states, bringing us back to reality and I turn quickly my head to him.

This time I can distinguish affection and pain in his eyes. Fern is smiling emotionally, and his eyes are again bright, with his body relaxed. I get my hopes up, I recognize this look of his, and he focuses only on me and coughs shortly.

“This discussion closes here, forever, but I want you to know I feel very hurt. I thought you and I had a deep, honest relationship. You know that the last years I feel you like my son, I treat you like my son, I love and admire you, so this is why I reacted like this, but I respect your reasons, accept them and we leave this small detail behind us.” He says and I smile brightly, Tia claps her hands, but he raises his hand abruptly again and smirks.

“This is the last thing you kept from me, and I’m talking to both of you, am I clear? I know I’m very expressive most of the times, and this makes me scary, but if I knew, I would be relieved and happy for you and my worries about Tia’s mate and her future would be over. You are my kids and I love you, but next time I will be informed about everything first! The end.” he adds and concludes, and the next second Tia jumps up, runs to him and Fern laughs and opens her arms for me.

I sign relieved and stand up while she starts walking to me. In the meanwhile Tia has already reached George and falls on him, although he is still sitting on his chair, and he wraps his arms around her laughing, and then kisses her forehead.

“Welcome in our family again, sweetheart! Congratulations, I’m just blissful.” Fern whispers touched when we hug few moments later and I tap her back gently.

“Thank you for everything, Fern, and I’m really sorry.” I mutter, and George stands up with Tia still in his arms, and our gazes meet.

“Yeah, yeah… We can see how sorry you are, son. This expression of yours is very convincing, you are shining, and how could you not? Look what an angel we have created for you.” He says teasingly, and motions to me to go to him.

I break slowly my hug with Fern, who chuckles, and he does the same with Tia, who is shining from enthusiasm, and I walk to him with big, quick steps. The closer I get to him, the more excited I feel, and when I am finally standing in front of him, he catches me off guard and pulls me in his arms before I react.

GOD!

Have George Gordon ever hugged you?

Believe me you don’t want this bear hug, he will break your bones.

“I won’t welcome you like Fern did, because you are one of us already, but I’ll tell you few things.” He says too close to my ear and loosens his tight hold around me, pulls a little bit back and we look at each other.

My heart stops beating from the sweet agony, my knees get cut and my wolf gets out of my control and begins to move restlessly. He wants to listen to him, but then he wants us to stay alone with our mate and I agree with him. I mean, I would love to spend some time alone with her before we go to meet the others, receive their congratulations in person, celebrate for Nina’s birthday and be surrounded from people.

“I give you my wishes and blessings for a happy life, and I need you to know I could have never asked for anyone else for my little angel’s mate. Thank you that it’s you, and I want to ask from you an important favor.” He begins, ready to cry and I shake my head for him to go on.

I want us to get done before I get emotional. I mean I have no problem to cry, but not here and in front of them. I would prefer to cry only with Tia present, it would be more… Comfortable, because I’ll cry anyway when I tell her absolutely everything I feel for us. I was living for this moment for all these years and the feeling has become unbearable.

“I want you to take care of her, respect her exactly like you were respecting her from the very beginning and keep her happy, because she is my angel, okay?” he says while his eyes get blurry from hot tears, and I smile in understanding.

“You know you didn’t even have to tell me, right?” I ask him not annoyed, but calm, since I know he did it with pure and honest intentions, and we break our hug.

Tia joins my side timidly and George smiles in approval. The next moment she wraps her hands around my right elbow, rests her head on my arm and I place my left hand above her warm hands. The sparks come back and fill my body faster than before, and I exhale overwhelmed when I see Tia’s bright face. I swear I would give everything to freeze this moment for a little bit longer and admire her beauty, but George speaks up again.

“I know, but as her father I had to tell you, just for once!” he replies and then exchanges a weird gaze with Fern, who joins his side and wraps her arms around his waist.

The devilish smile on both of their faces confuses me, because I wasn’t expecting it, and the same thing happens to Tia, who stiffens next to me and narrows her eyes. My stomach tightens for a short moment and I groan nervously, not knowing what to expect, and he decides to solve our common question.

“Go for a walk, but stay close to the pack house and don’t get late for the party. I am sure you want to say alone, as you have a lot to discuss about, and you need more time, but it is Nina’s birthday and you will have time from tomorrow.” He states cheerfully and points the office’s door behind us.

I open my eyes and mouth widely incapable of believing what he just said, and Tia leaves out a loud scream of surprise. Fern laughs from our childish, I would say stupid reactions and George raises his right hand and taps my left shoulder.

“We were in your place once… Every young wants personal time with his mate, so go and live the dream, but… Keep your hands in your pockets for now, because it’s too soon, and if you don’t, I’ll break them!”

~some time later, night, somewhere close to the pack, forest~

We stop at the edges of the hill, which has the pack as view, and Tia makes another last step to me, in order to close the gap between us.

I feel I have run out of oxygen, but my lungs are filled with her delicious caramel’s scent while my heart screams for hers, and I lose every sign of strength from my body when Tia does something completely unexpected…

She hugs me with craving and I follow my instinct, wrap my arms around her, capturing her in my embrace and bury my head in her long like swan’s neck. I forget how to breathe only for a moment, and then I manage to take her scent with a long respiration. My senses abandon me from the overflowing emotions and Tia leaves out a low purr of satisfaction.

I can’t believe it is really happening and I am holding her in my arms with no secrets, obstacles and worries. I think I am dreaming and when I wake up I will get lost in the despair of her devastating absence, and I hate I am thinking this way, but I need some time to get used to our new reality.

“I missed you very much this one year… I was always missing you, but this last year was the most torturing of all. I got my wolf and I wanted to see you, but we…” she begins to say with trembling, weak noise and her face buried in my chest, and I move higher, kiss her cheek for few times nonstop and make her stop.

Her words are my tired heart’s cure, they are exactly what I wanted to hear from her, but at the same time is my personal truth as well, because this year was the longest and toughest for me too. I never stopped fighting with me, my wolf and our need to go to her college in order to see her from the day she turned 16 and got her wolf. The only reason I didn’t do it is because I had to leave the time pass, I didn’t want us to suffer from the distance. One year waiting for us until we would get together for good would be better than two years, that’s what I thought.

“We had to be patient, my angel… And strong, very strong, but we made it and it’s over!” I whisper and she pulls her head back, I bend closer to her so that our faces are inches from each other’s, and I get lost in her golden eyes.

Both of us tremble breathless, we share each other’s feelings, we sense the love and I can’t deny my eyes start burning from hot tears. Not that Tia can hide how emotional she has become, and her face looks like the full moon, which is shining on the sky.

“I have so many things I want to tell you. I am sorry I never showed you I knew about us.” She whispers apologetically and I smile, touch my forehead on her and raise my hands to hug her adorable face.

I try to think what to say, but I can’t. My brain doesn’t work anymore, but I want to assure her that I am fine with what she did, and this need makes the words leave from my lips unconsciously.

“Don’t feel sorry for anything, I want to thank you for helping me like this, and I want to tell you countless things as well, but I will start with the most important for me.” I say overwhelmed and we open our eyes in union, but we don’t move backwards.

“I love you more than anything and I promise you that I will never, ever leave you alone, my treasure.” I whisper shaking and fighting to breathe and fill my body with her scent, and she lifts her hands up, buries them in my hair and exhales in my mouth.

“And I love you, and I want you to know that you will always be the first and last man for me until I die.” She replies and don’t ask me what gets into me next, because I don’t know.

The only thing I can tell you is that our lips get crash on each other’s with desperation and hunger, my sky gets filled with fireworks, my dark, moody world turns into a bright one, my broken heart gets completely healed and my wolf finally calms down, and all that pain and indignation faint, because…

This isn’t only our first kiss, but our dreamy beginning!

*********************

Hello everyone!

Welcome all to the second chapter of the book, a chapter full of... Love?! Yes, we could say that, if we put aside George behavior at the beginning.

I am sorry for the delay, but I have good news for everyone, because the updates will be often from now on, just like all the other books', so get ready for the 3rd chapter next week. Also, I am really curious to know your opinions about this chapter and your thoughts about what is going to happen next, so please let me know!

What do you think about Tia? What about hers and Derek's reactions? What about everyone else's? How do you feel about George, he is the same man we met, right? Also, how about Derek's way of dealing George's difficult reaction? What is your opinion about George's final behavior? Moreover (and most importantly) how do you feel about the last scene? What is going to happen next?

Thank you very much from now for everything and I hope you liked the chapter and you will slowly love this second sequel.

Please if you want to help me from now that it is the beginning and you are looking forward for the second chapter commend and let me know your opinion and thoughts.

I will see you in the next chapter (unless you are reading my other books). Until then stay safe, smile and have fun!

Love you all very, very much,

                                       Marie...