*** Melanie ***
Ryan is ranting and raving about Eva again.
“She is nothing but a dirty fucking whore, I will fucking destroy for her treating me like some sort of walkover. Who does she think she is? Two different men she had there. I bet she’s charging them. Yes, I think that’s what is happening, she is selling herself.”
I sigh a bit louder than I intended and he immediately rounds on me.
“Oh, I am sorry! Am I boring you, Melanie? Don’t mind me, I’ve just found out my wife is a lying, cheating whore and has been shagging the whole of the town behind my back.”
“Why do you care? You’ve been fucking me for nearly three years, Ryan, and in that time, you’ve never said one nice thing about Eva. You need to make your mind up. Do you want her back or are you starting afresh with me, because right now I think you love her and you want her, or why else would you be so bothered?”
As I start to raise my voice in frustration, my tears flow down my cheeks. He was meant to leave Eva and be with me, but if he hates her as much as he says he does, why is he bothered if she has a new boyfriend? They haven’t been together physically in the time we have been seeing each other unless he has been lying about that too.
“She is still my wife; she should be loyal to me and to our vows. She has made a fool of me.” He snarls and sulks and I really am starting to see what a weak and poisonous man Ryan really is.
My heart sinks when I think of the testing kit in my bathroom cabinet. My period is two weeks late and I have been putting off testing because of how Ryan has spoken about his daughter with Eva. I have moments of thinking everything will be okay because he loves me and wants a future with me. It was different with Eva because he didn’t love her and she only got pregnant to trap him more than she had.
“You want Eva to remain loyal to you when you’ve been living with me, screwing me, and spending all your time with me. Give your head a shake Ryan, talk about double standards. Maybe you should have wanted her when you had her and not when she had other men interested in her.”
He shoves me up against the wall, knocking the wind right out of me. “Say that again, you stupid cow,” he spits at me through gritted teeth. His fingers wrap around my throat and he lifts me until my feet dangle slightly.
“Sorry, I am sorry, Ryan, let me go, please, I am sorry.”
My body becomes lighter and my vision starts to cloud up until finally he releases me, letting me fall to the ground in a spluttering heap.
“Ryan, don’t do that, don’t do it anymore… I’m late and I think I’m pregnant. You’ll harm the baby by hurting me like that.”
I hope that will make him stop but his rage fills the room again.
“You’ll get rid of that fucking spawn or I’ll kick the fucking thing from you, Mel. I don’t want kids. What the fuck is wrong with you women? Get rid of it Mel, get rid of it as soon as possible or I will walk.”
He punches a hole in the wall beside my head while I cry out in fear. As he leaves the room, he punches another hole through the door. The silence when he’s gone is almost as deafening as his shouts.
Afraid and disappointed, I collapse in a heap in my living room. I thought he would be happy, I thought he loved me, but now I see I am even more lowly than Eva. At least she had been his wife, but what am I?
All I am right now is possibly pregnant, and completely alone.
*** Eva ***
I don’t feel comfortable leaving Summer after everything that’s happened, so when Aiden starts planning some big elaborate date for us, I apologise and tell him now isn’t the best time because I don’t want to leave my baby just yet.
“Look, Shortie, I don’t give a shit what we do, I just want to spend some time with you. How about we have dinner and a game or a movie at your place once the little one is asleep? We can talk and get to know one another, and I am sure we have another seventeen questions left in our game!”
So that settles it, we will have dinner and continue our game in my home while Summer sleeps upstairs. Aiden says he will bring dessert and wine and I agree to cook the main dish.
I have spoken to my mother, and she is arriving the day after tomorrow so if Aiden were to stay over, he would have to leave early. I cannot believe I am casually contemplating the possibility of Aiden staying over. He has agreed to take things slow, but him staying over doesn’t mean we have to go all the way. At least, I hope not.
Excitement and nerves bubble in my tummy and I feel too giddy to sleep. I plan in my head what I need to do, including shaving my legs, changing my bedding, and finding something appealing to wear. I also have to clean the whole house ready for my mother’s arrival.
Before I go to sleep, I call Salma, but she doesn’t answer so I leave a message for her, and she replies to me with a text message.
Sal
Thanks, I don’t feel like talking but when I do, I will call you.
BTW I am marrying Alejandro, he asked me last night. Before. I know it’s fast, but I am happy.
So happy Summer is safe, give her cuddles off me… Sal x
That makes me smile. Mr Morales would have been delighted to hear the news and I must be honest and admit that he was definitely on to something: anyone with eyes can see the chemistry between Sal and Ale, the way they look at each other and react to each other is mesmerising. I wonder if people will think that about Aiden and me?
I wake up early the next day and clean the whole house. When Summer has her afternoon nap, I take a long, de-stressing bubble bath.
I have food in the oven and my clothes ready to slip on once Summer is in bed. I opted for a black dress with a little cardigan in case it becomes chilly. I have styled my hair with a hint of a tousle, and I have applied light makeup to cover up all the imperfections.
I worry and fret about my house, my appearance, and my cooking, then I get paranoid. Summer will become restless. What if everything goes wrong? I have worked myself up into a bit of a frenzy when I hear the bell ring. If it is Aiden, he is early! However, I am surprised to find Beta Preston at my door.
“Alpha Aiden told me to tell you to calm down, it's just dinner and talking. Everything is going to be okay.”
I smile meekly at him, wondering how Aiden knew.
“He can sense your feelings through your bond and he called me to reassure you. You look very pretty, Luna, and something smells delicious!”
“Thank you, Beta Preston. I have made you and your men some food and the flasks are filled with coffee again.” He smiles at me, and I feel more at ease. I notice he referred to me as Luna, I will have to ask Aiden to explain that to me.
I look at my home which was a safe haven for me after Germany. I had decided just before we came home that I wanted my own house, my house where I could feel safe, and where I could make the rules. After seeing Ryan and Mel in here a few days ago, I feel like it has been violated, and I have started to think that a fresh new beginning may be what is best.
A rush of excitement flows through me and I know that Aiden is near. I can sense it. As the doorbell starts to chime, I am already on my feet. My heart rate has increased, and I feel my blood thudding through my veins.
“Hey!” he says as I answer the door and my breath catches in my throat. Aiden is amazing, tall, strong, and handsome with dark hair and the sexiest eyes I have ever seen, they are bright, clear green. Before I know what is happening, he leans down and places a sweet kiss on my lips. “Something smells delicious!”
My insides flip-flop in excitement at his words… How does he do that? I almost feel like he isn’t referring to the food but to me instead.
“Come in and make yourself at home, would you like a drink?” I am flustered already, and I know he can sense it. Stupid enhanced werewolf senses!
“Shortie, relax. It's just you and me, you don’t have to be nervous with me. Shall I open the wine?” I nod, showing him where the corkscrew is kept. “How was your day?” he asks casually.
Gradually, I feel myself physically relaxing in Aiden’s presence as I realise I don’t have to perform or be anything other than myself.
As I serve the roast beef, Aiden smiles at me. “I could get used to this: the children in bed, us settling down for the night with great food, a nice glass of wine and the best company.”
I set the beef down before I lean over to kiss him. I hadn’t planned on being so forward, but it has been the perfect evening and I want to kiss him at that moment. Aiden pleases me so much by reciprocating, he pulls me onto his lap and threads his fingers through my hair, sending shivers of desire and delight throughout my body.
Our food is getting cold, but we don’t stop; in fact, our kiss becomes deeper and more intense. I revel at the strength in him, his chest and arms feel like rolled steel under my fingertips and yet he is incredibly gentle with me. I have never felt safer than how I feel in Aiden’s arms. As I move slightly in his lap, the evidence of his arousal is clear and it hits me like a dose of salts.
“It feels phenomenal to have you here in my arms, Eva, I have waited a long time to find my mate. The feeling of having you with me is even better than I could ever imagine. The rules stay the same though, we take it slow, and if you don’t like something we stop and never do it again, ok?”
I nod to him; I am slightly embarrassed by my reaction to his erection and even more so that I think he knows I panicked when I felt it. It was like reality nudged me, not his desire.
“I like being in your arms, I like kissing you, Aiden.” I definitely want to keep those things and I definitely want to do them again. He kisses me again before telling me he is starving, which makes me laugh. I serve the rest of our meal and we talk and eat like we have known each other all our lives. I never want this night to end.