Wild and Free (The Three #3)(178)

“I thought I did. And it was agony.”

Sonia flinched at the pain behind the truth buried in his words.

“I know, wolf,” she replied, lifted her head and fisted her hands in his hair, gently tugging it back. As she wanted, his head tilted so she could catch his eyes. “That won’t happen again.”

“If that witch is right, I understand now why the Oracles have not seen our future. Because it hasn’t been written yet. And our fates are in the hands of humanity. I don’t understand that. I also don’t like it.”

“Humans have the capacity for a great deal of love. Generosity. Kindness. Hope,” she told him.

“They also have the capacity for a great deal of hate. Judgment. Envy. Prejudice. And they’ve proven over centuries that they do not handle fear very well,” he returned.

She slid her hand to his jaw. “This is true, husband, but that’s the stuff that gets all the attention. You’ve lived long but not often close to humans. Trust me, the good stuff happens far more often, but it doesn’t make headlines.”

“I hope you’re right,” Callum murmured, dipping his chin and kissing her chest.

Sonia again rested her lips to the top of his head. “I do too. But you’ve lost so much already to the cause of keeping humans safe. I cannot believe that the fates, and more importantly God, would make you lose more.”

He pulled his face out of her chest and she lifted her head again when he tipped it back.

“We have babies to make,” she whispered when she caught his eyes, normally an amazing clear blue, but now, with the emotion her king was feeling, a brilliant, breathtaking gold. “Pups to raise.” His hands stopped soothing so he could wrap his arms around her. She dropped her lips to his, moving both her hands to his neck before she stroked his jaw with her thumbs. “An eternity to live and love, my king. That future will not be taken from us.”

“No,” he growled.

“I will not lose you,” she declared. “And you will not lose me. Not again.”

“No,” he repeated his growl.

“No,” she whispered, tilted her head and slid the tip of her tongue across his generous bottom lip.

Her husband, her handsome wolf, her king, as ever, accepted the invitation and he kissed her with a ferocity that was both man and beast.

When he broke the kiss, he lay back, reaching to the light. He turned it off as she pulled the covers up over them.

As was their wont, they stayed connected.

Sonia cuddled deep, pressing her forehead into the side of his neck.

“You know I love you?” he asked into the dark, and Sonia closed her eyes.

“I do,” she whispered into his skin. “And I love you too, my handsome wolf. With everything I am and everything I’m meant to be. And I know, know,” she said the last fiercely, pressing close, “I’m meant to be a lot.”

Callum’s arms around her gave her a squeeze. “And I love you the same, baby doll, with everything I am and everything I’m meant to be.”

She tilted her chin to touch his skin with her lips and then she settled in.

Callum ran a hand gently up and down her spine.

Connected, as close as they could get, just as she liked it, as did he, Sonia, Queen of the Werewolves, fell asleep on top of her king.

*

Hook

Standing outside his daughter’s door, Hooker Johnson hesitated before he lifted his hand and knocked.

After a few seconds, the door opened a crack and Lilah’s man stood there wearing nothing but jeans.

Fuck, but the kid was built.

“Sorry to interrupt, bubba,” he muttered. “But wanna say good night to my little girl.”

Abel studied Hook’s face, his own holding an expression of understanding, and seeing that, yet again, Hook was relieved that this was the one she’d been yearning for all her life.

“You got it, Hook. Just a second,” Abel said quietly. He left the door slightly ajar and disappeared.

It didn’t take long before Lilah filled it, opening it further, doing this wearing her man’s thermal.

“Daddy?”

He forced a smile, his heart heavy, his gut gnawed raw with unease, his beautiful little girl, who now had it all—finally—standing in front of him.

“Just wanted to say good night, Lilah.”

Her expression softened and she moved into him, wrapping her arms around his back and pressing her cheek to his chest.

“I’m glad,” she said softly, giving him a squeeze.

He’d curved his arms around her and he took her in, felt her solidness, her softness, her warmth, smelled the sweet scent of her hair, felt her love for him burrowing deep. He did this remembering the first time she was put in his arms. She was naked. Goo all over her barely wiped off. Arms and legs pumping. Eyes squeezed shut. Mouth open, bawling.

She had been the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen and that was the most precious moment in his life.

Until she gave him more.

And more.

And more.

His arms got tighter.

As did his throat.

He coughed shortly to clear it before he said, “You sleep good.”

“I will, Daddy. You too.”

He gave her a squeeze and let her go.

She didn’t let go until she gave him a squeeze back.