Years ago, we had hit a rough patch in our friendship, but it felt like decades ago. Things were completely fine between us now. We were still the best of friends, brothers, even closer than ever, and we shared everything. Everything but mates.
I chuckled at my own joke, making the three look at me questioningly.
“It’s nothing. To our women,” I said to Liam, raising my glass.
“To our birdies,” he said, clinking our glasses, making me laugh as Robyn narrowed her eyes at him and Raven giggled.
“Liam’s still putting his foot in it, I presume?” Zack said as he and Taylor came over. Raven nodded as Liam looked lost as to what he had done.
“Yes,” Robyn said pointedly.
“You don’t look like a bird,” I reassured her.
“I know,” she replied.
“Typical Liam,” Taylor replied cheekily, shaking his head with a small smile.
“I swear I have no idea what was so wrong about that,” Liam said as Raven patted his arm, trying not to laugh at his expression.
Yep, things have never been better.
Rayhan
“Let me takepictures with my girl!” Raihana said, forcing me to move away from Delsanra, who I’d had up against a tree.
I raised an eyebrow, but she didn’t wait for permission, pulling my kitten away with her. She was in a metallic gold dress herself, whilst Del looked fucking fine in a powder blue strapless mini dress with a dipping neckline. The dress was like a fitted ribbed corset that was cut in a V, showing off her thighs, with a bling border and dangly strings of silver gems around the entire hem of it that glittered and swayed with every move she made. Her hair was up in a messy, sexy bun, and even now, as she talked to Raihana, she was the epitome of temptation and beauty.
“I don’t know if I should be jealous of Delsanra or smug at the fact you’re suffering with me,” Chris remarked, coming over. He was wearing a black and gold shirt with white pants.
“Don’t you get bored wearing what she tells you?” I mocked, ignoring his taunt. He looked a little gutted.
“She said it’s my choice, as she has Tatum and Heaven to match with now,” he said, making me smirk.
“You know she said that just to make sure you want to match. Raihana wouldn’t sacrifice her aesthetically perfect images, but she’s smart enough to put it back on you if you ever said you didn’t want to by saying she doesn’t care,” I remarked.
“Well, it’s not like your mate gets much say in her outfits. Ri always chooses hers, too.” I nodded, looking at them as they pouted for the picture, arms wrapped around one another.
“Well, Delsanra doesn’t mind,” I said, running my hand through my hair.
I was wearing a printed stone-coloured shirt with my sleeves pushed up, half tucked into my cropped cream pants, which were paired with brown shoes, a belt, and beaded jewellery. Ahren tied in with us, with his pants the same colour as mine and a blue shirt like Del’s dress. Who was I kidding? I guess even she liked tocoordinate us.
“One more,” Raihana was saying, adjusting Delsanra’s hair. “Demon mode, girl, come on, let’s see that sexiness.”
Fuck.
I watched her shift, her lips becoming plumped, her entire body turning ten fucking times hotter, if that was even possible, and felt myself harden in my pants. I looked away. She knew I couldn’t resist her when she shifted…
I heard her laugh, and I knew it was because she knew the effect that she had on me. I glanced back at her, my eyes meeting her red ones. There was a time when I feared she’d never recover from her trauma, and although there were still times her demons returned to haunt her, she was doing better than I could have ever hoped for.
Not only was she a survivor, but she was helping so many others with their traumas as well. She travelled around to other packs, helping where she could and encouraging each pack to have a councillor. I think people forgot that despite being werewolves, we were human, too. Battles, death, and trauma left lasting effects.
Times were changing, and I was happy to see the growth in our kind, seeing Delsanra welcomed into packs. Sure, there were still those who disliked witches, even if they tried to hide it, but still, things were getting better. As they said, Rome was not built overnight. All things took time…
Delsanra
“Oi, photogenic boy, come here!” Raihana called to Dante, who raised an eyebrow.
“No thanks,” he replied.
