Her Shadows

Prologue

The little girl runs through the yard, grinning and squealing as the wind whips her hair around her face. She’s been out in the field all day, so the boy has finally come to get her.

“Natalia! We have been looking everywhere for you!” He hollers to her. She stops running, turning to flash her smile to the older boy.

“Macky!” She squeals in delight causing the boy’s face to redden. “Come run with me!” The boy jogs to meet her in the field, wrapping an arm gently around her tiny body.

“You aren’t supposed be out here alone,” he tells her.

“But Mackey!” She whines.

“Don’t call me that,” he grumbles quietly, but with no real anger. He could never be angry with her.

“Then don’t call me Natalia.” She crosses her arms across her chest.

“That’s your name!”

“No one else calls me that. I am Nat,” she huffs.

“Well, maybe I don’t want to call you what everyone else does!” He yells. She tilts her head, and looks at him. The boy sighs. “How about I come up with a different nickname; a special one?” He offers her.

“Yeah! I want a special name!” She nods enthusiastically. The boy laughs.

“How about Aly?” He asks, and her face lights up.

“Aly,” she repeats in wonder. “I have to tell my brothers!” She squeals.

“NO!” He growls, then flinches back, surprised that he growled at her. She frowns. “That’s only my name for you. Don’t tell the others about it, okay?” He asks.

“Okay, Mackey.” She looks at him for a long moment. “I am glad you’re mine,” she finally says. The tips of his ears turn red.

“You’re only six, Aly, you don’t know that,” he tells her.

“Nope. I know it.” She smiles, then surprises the older boy by going up on her toes, and pressing her lips to his. They stay there for just a short moment before she drops back down.

“Aly,” he whispers, not sure what to do now. He’s seen his parents kiss, but never done it himself at his young age.

“My wolf says your ours, Mackey,” she tells him firmly. In response, he wraps his small hands around her tiny shoulders, and brings his lips back to hers once more. They don’t move, staying still, lips touching, eyes closed, until he finally pulls away.

Wrapping her in his arms, he brings them both gently to the grass. She sighs, and leans between his legs, nestling against his chest. They stay like that for a long time. Eventually, the little girl’s breathing slows to a steady rhythm.

He presses a kiss to her hair, murmuring softly against her, “you’ll always be mine, Aly.”

* * *

My black velvet dress clings to me like a second skin as I walk toward the ballroom for my brothers’ birthday ball. Sam wanted a moment, and told me to go ahead without him. My steps slow automatically as I pass by Max’s room; the scent of him wafting from the open door.

Right now, though, I wish my feet would have kept moving.

His tall frame suddenly fills out the doorway; all muscles and wild blonde hair and piercing bottle green eyes. Green eyes that are set menacingly on me, or more accurately, my outfit. A low growl rumbles from his throat.

“What the f**k are you wearing?” he snarls. Ah, the big beta doesn’t approve of the skin showing. Maybe I can work with that.

“It's new.” I glance down at the material then back to his eyes. I run my fingertips down the v at the front of my dress, looking up at him through my lashes with a coy look. “Do you like it?”

His eyes darken with lust, flickering between bottle and forest greens as he wars with his wolf. He wants me just as much as I want him, it’s clear on the tense set of his jaw and his shaking fists.

“Go. Change,” he grits out firmly between his teeth. Okay, I was trying to be fun, but he can’t go all wolf on me and order me around.

“Um, no,” I retort, crossing my arms below my chest. Probably not the best choice of positions, since it plumps my breasts up almost obscenely.

“You can't wear that around,” he huffs, stubbornly keeping his eyes on my face.

“I want to.”

“I said no, Natalia!”

“You can't tell me what to do, Max!” I yell back to his demands.

“I can, and I will! You are not f*****g wearing that in public,” Max growls.

“Give me one good reason why the hell not.”

There's a long pause before Max finally grits out, “it's hardly even a dress, Natalia.”

“Not good enough,” I growl. My eyes burn, tears threatening to come. I won't let them. Not in front of him.

“Aly, please just don’t wear it,” he pleads, his voice softening.

“Just admit it, Max. Admit it and I’ll change. Hell, I'll put on sweats and a t-shirt if you would just admit what we both already know!” I plead right back. Ivy whines, just wanting him close. I reach out for him, but he flinches away, shuffling against the floor.

Then his voice is quiet when he responds, “I don’t know what you're talking about.”

“Fine! Get out then,” I snap, trying and failing to keep my voice from shaking.

“Aly—”

“Get the f**k out!” I scream. I don’t care whose room it is. He needs to go. He growls, slamming the door closed behind him.