Page 140 of Blood and Trouble

I may still be that cold Vanderbilt bitch, but for the right person, and in my case, the right two people, I melted and thawed. I knew who I was, who I truly was, and I embraced her with every part of my soul.

With Poe and Lycan by my side, I’d never be lonely again. They completed me, made me whole, just as I did for them. I didn’t know what awaited us on this wild ride of life, but as long as we were together, we’d face anything that came for us.

LYCAN

I used to think I ruined everything I touched. I used to think I’d never settle down, that knowing I had a spouse at home waiting for me would make me want to hurl myself off the closest cliff. I could never imagine allowing myself to be that emotionally available to anyone, much less two people.

But on the second anniversary of my wedding to Ava, I sent Poe to pick her up on the back of his bike. I took the afternoon off Bastard duties and went back to our cabin early. I had a whole plan in place, one that would quiet my Trouble’s mind and force my Poet to break before he submitted.

I took my time preparing the space, cleaning our toys, setting up the equipment. There was a certain peace in doting on my mates, in going through the ritual of making sure everything was just right. That was my job, my duty, my greatest honor.

If the Lycan from three years ago could see me now, he’d be horrified. Honestly, the feeling was mutual. I looked back on that younger version of me with a sneer and wondered what the fuck his problem was. How could he have let Poe go? How could he have not noticed what was standing right in front of him? The fucking moron.

Alas, things happened when they should have, as they always did.

Footsteps and giggles echoed from outside, the mating bond humming in my soul as my wife and husband came closer. I took one last glance around, ensuring everything was set.

Are the chains too much?

Fuck it. I’d run out of time.

I put on my boots and went out to the porch, leaning against a beam as Poe carried Ava on his back, trudging through the undergrowth.

“Did your legs stop working?” I asked.

“She didn’t want to get her heels muddy,” Poe said.

I shook my head and crossed my arms. “Spoiled princess.”

She laughed as he put her down on the lowest step, and I raked my eyes over her. I’d watched her get dressed this morning, salivating as she slipped on her lace underwear and groaned when she covered it with an expensive white skirt and blouse. But every time I saw her was like the first time, and my heart nearly skipped a beat.

“Hello,” she said, climbing the last two stairs so she could kiss me.

“Hello, Trouble,” I said. “Have a good day?”

“Of course.” Her grin lit up my world. “You?”

“Hmm.” I turned to Poe, leaning in to greet him with a quick peck before returning my attention to her, pulling her waist closer to mine. “Happy anniversary.”

“Happy anniversary.” She wrapped her arms around my neck and pushed her lips against mine again, another quick connection to reaffirm our continued affection for each other.

“Are you okay?” I asked. “Do you need anything? Hungry?”

“No, I had a snack not too long ago. I’m good.”

Perfect.

She tried to play it cool as she moved around me, but the thick wave of her suspicion coiled around my gut. I grabbed her wrist to stop her, and she raised one perfectly manicured brow. “Yes?”

I shifted my attention to her dress again. “How…attached are you to those clothes?”

Poe snorted and shoved his hands in his pockets.

Ava tilted her chin up and narrowed her eyes. “I could be persuaded to part with them.”

I liked the sound of that.

“Good.” I nodded down to her heels. “Those?”