Into The Shadows (The Shadows Trilogy Book 1) Page 9

  I tease him by bending over to pick up my trousers he growls and snarls. I put on my work shirt collecting my bag and I'm ready to go downstairs. I boldly ask if he needs a minute before joining me for breakfast and he nods staring at my body like he wants to eat me and no doubt my presence isn’t helping, so I leave not wanting to be late.

  I kiss my little brothers’ and sister’s cheeks in a good morning and hug my parents, and Addy is muttering that someone got some last night which Dad kindly hits him on the side of the head, serves him right the little trouble maker. Pouring myself some coco pops, never too old for them and taking huge bites, everyone is trying not to notice why I'm so hungry which is awkward, made more awkward by Kyran's arrival. I make it worse when I ask if he’s hungry too which he replies he’s starving causing Addy to laugh, Kyran expresses confusion, and Dad seems uncomfortable.

  I hop up from my chair at the table to pour Kyran a bowl of the fiber cereal. I’d seen him eating it at his house and asked mom to buy some. He’s pleased I know his breakfast preference and happier I had bought him some for my home. Mom walks over to me with a needle and cotton wool for my blood sample to send off to her friend, rolling up my right shirt sleeve and squeezing my fist she enters the needle into a vein and fills the test tube up.

  "We'll know tomorrow. She's on standby to rush this for us," Mom says pulling out the needle and is about to put the cotton wool to the trickling blood down my arm from the needle entry when it closes up by itself leaving no traces behind.

  Mom and the rest of my family including myself are staring at my arm in wonder.

  "I knew you were a healer cause you told us but seeing it is different" She says and murmurs of agreement go around the room. I look at the clock to see it is 8:40am, I start at nine, checking the line of my direction Kyran takes another bite of his cereal going to stand. But I put my hand on his arm. "We've got a few minutes yet don't rush, work is only two blocks away," Kyran nods and carries on eating but still rushes on.

  Kyran walks me to the door of Blue Starr holding my hand, turning me to face him, "we'll train tonight and tomorrow with new moves after that we'll practice what we've done already, and teach you till you’re a pro, so I'll pick you up at five, is that ok?" Kyran asks, nodding, I smile and kiss him deep and long while wrapping my arms around his neck. His hands are on my butt squeezing when a throat is cleared interrupting us. We pull away to find an amused looking Una.

  "I was going to let you keep mauling each other, but boss man will be in today so thought I should warn you," She muses, walking inside smirking. I give Kyran a final kiss and head into work.

  Una corners me as soon as I'm through the door marching me into the stock room.

  "Tell me everything" she gushes, and I can't help but smile dreamily, and I tell her how amazing it was, how he took care of me before, during and afterward, finishing with how he's the best boyfriend. She studies me carefully, and only says, "You've fallen in love with him haven't you?"

  Immediately on the defensive, I say no but too quickly and slumping my shoulders I add, "Yeah I think" sighing. Una's confused and asks “why is that such a bad thing?”

  I tell her my fear. “What if he doesn't respond the same way?” She shakes her head telling me, "Ava anyone would need to be blind not to see how that guy looks at you. He’s in love with you, you've never been in love before or felt anything close to this so it is understandable you’re scared but don't run from it". John shouts through the door "Girls enough gossiping now back to work" he laughs, and Una hugs me saying everything will be ok and we leave.

  "Hi, John how are you?" I say hugging and kissing his cheek, he’s kind of like a grandpa to me. We’re very close I adore him.

  "Hello Ava love, I'm fine. Good to see you." He answers squeezing tight.

  "So who kissed someone? Only boys make you two gossip in the stock room" He asks chuckling, and I let go to take the cups out of the dishwasher while Una turns the coffee machines on. I proceed to tell him all about Kyran.

  After a busy day and finishing my shift Paul arrives to start his but first wants to show me pictures of his baby niece Rose who's so cute and chubby at four months. We bent over his phone cooing at the images, when Kyran walks in that's how he finds us and begins growling at him, turning to him I tell him to stop it, “Paul's a friend, but I'm your girlfriend” I tell him and begrudgingly he does. We decide to eat dinner there so we can start training when we arrive back at home. Sitting down at a booth with Kyran I scold him again in private.

  "What was that all about?" I ask.

  "He likes you, but you're mine" he replies quietly and shows his teeth.

  "No, he knows we're friends" I respond back and he holds my hand in his, reaching over the table to give me a quick kiss.

  "Oh believe me the testosterone coming from him was lust" he answers growing and bearing his teeth again.

  "Stop that" I demand, and he gets a misbehaving expression on his face. He’s such a kid sometimes.

  Paul comes over to take our requests. We both order a cheeseburger and Kyran leans over the table kissing me deeply in front of him clearly marking his territory. I want to pull away but he tastes so good of peppermint and spice and his lips are warm, I stay in the embrace. Kyran and I catch up on each other's day, me at work and him working with a touchy female client and I growl which shocks the hell out of me. I put my hand to my mouth in horror, not at the growl itself but at the fact I growled. I'm not a werewolf, my wolf is ready to charge at the girl who dares touch its mate and I'm trying to calm her down with reassurances Kyran is ours. I turn to him, and he appears guilty.

  "Oh babe I didn't mean for that to happen just thought making you a little jealous might help you understand that it isn't so easy to hold back when someone is crushing on or hitting on your partner not make you battle with your wolf and the growl, well, this is a new development."

  “It’s ok I see where you were coming from, and neither of us noticed my wolf was getting stronger, so I don't blame you.”

  Kyran also mentions he had to let go of the client because she wouldn't stop even after he told her he’s got a girlfriend and with that sorted we talk about random things and eat our cheeseburgers.

  An hour later and dressed in gym outfits standing on the mats we begin training both of us in a fighting mood after both getting jealous and possessive earlier. Almost like we're fighting to keep each other, and I train harder than ever before not willing to lose Kyran to anyone especially not now that I'm in love with him, and that is silly.

  "Today we're doing three moves and tomorrow new routines after that we'll stay rehearsing the ones I’ve already taught you. So let's go".

  "This step is an Armed Attack with a knife, close in thrust. As I step back with my right foot and turn my body to pull out the blade, which is shielded from your view, you step in with your right foot, grabbing the left elbow with your right hand, and blind me with a left backhand to the eyes. You grab the left wrist and twist it away to raise the elbow as the right hand applies pressure on the elbow. I'm taken down by application of pressure to the elbow".

  "Next one, straight thrust. I step forward with my left foot, take out my dagger with my right hand step forward with my right foot and attempt a lunge with the blade. You step forward with your left foot turning to the right and grab the attacking arm at the elbow with your left hand. While striking above the nose with a punch, and you grab the right wrist from below with your right hand, turn and apply an arm lock to the arm with the blade forcing submission or a broken elbow".

  "Last one, slanting stab. I step forward with my left foot, take out my dagger with my right hand and attempt a downward stab to the chest as I step forward with my right foot. You step back with your right foot, turn to the right, carrying yourself by grabbing the right wrist from the top with the left hand. Using both hands, you control the wrist and arm up into a throw or takedown. You lock the arm and take the knife away and hold it against my throat".

&nbs
p; Kyran is pushing me hard and I'm pushing back, the sexual tension isn't helping. I fall bursting my hand open pretty bad. It swells up but heals itself without trying.

  "Come on Ava, harder, the girl who came to me was smoking hot. If I wasn't dating you, well..." Kyran adds trailing off and I lose it, grabbing his wrist then arm and throwing him down hard with a big satisfied thud, and he eyes me from the mat, dazed but proud.

  "Ok I deserved that but I was only egging you on, I would never touch her I'm in…" He stops, turns away shaking his head and snaps.

  "Let's go a few more rounds" Kyran demands harshly. I jump at his tone confused and hurt so I begin to turn away, but his hand grabs me and pulls me into his chest kissing my temple.

  "Babe, I'm sorry I wanted to tell you something but by the way you reacted to that something this morning made me think it isn't what you want and I’ve been in a pissy mood all day but should be no reason to be a dick either" I pull away and stare up into his eyes and ask tentatively, "What do you want to tell me?" He searches my eyes for that something, and he must find it because he kisses me briefly taking a deep breath and says those three words that change me forever.

  "I loved you before we spoke as I watched you in the woods all those times protecting you. I didn't understand why at first, but I think I always sensed you were my mate, my soul, me and the wolf craved you, needed you, I love you, Ava".

  I blink, thinking over his words and my wolf, she knew all along. Something begins happening to my heart, with the word 'mate' ringing out through, vibrating my whole body and by the way his eyes go wide, this is also occurring to him. There's a slight pain inside my ribs, and my heartbeat picks up speed. I see him glance at my chest, and he rubs two fingers over his own, and our mate bond clicks into place, somehow I know what this is. I guess the heart connection is real, I weren't sure if I believed in it but seeing it on Kyran's face and sensing it take effect has me marveled, and now his heart is beating beside mine in my chest, and I too rub two fingers over it in amazement, shock, and wonder.

  I stumble back kind of weak and his hand flies out catching me, electricity flows between us and in my mind the word 'mate' rings again but this time, it came from him. Now I’m dizzy, I start shaking, and he instantly circles me in his arms soothing me, the heat from his body warming my shocked one. Mom and dad explained finding true mates, about how the mate bond came into being the other night and I didn't think it would happen to me. I didn't think I wanted it to, but he’s here looking into my eyes probably reading my thoughts and at his nod which confirms he is, I begin hysterically laughing, his eyebrows crunch, and the expression of confusion on his face is well cute, he growls softly.

  "I'm not cute I'm a big bad wolf," He responds with a warm sparkle in those green eyes.

  This man is mine, the other half of me, and wolves can spend their whole life searching for the one. Some never find them even though every wolf has a destined mate binding them at birth but not until maturity do we discover if we have found ours or can start looking for them. I guess it is nature’s way of not stopping the bond till the wolf is sexually mature enabling us to do what's instinct and bare pups or old enough to fully commit to a mate.

  My parents told me everything late one night when I couldn't sleep because I felt there was always something missing in me, and now worse that I’ve met Kyran, they told me all about mates including the bond. Now we're bonded but not officially until the mating and wedding ceremony, this means we can always consistently listen to one another's minds from far distances. When we're not together our minds are always linked joining our thoughts and feelings without asking or telling. Our heartbeats are in one another's chest allowing us in on each other's emotions and will alert if one is in danger or distress straight away. We could listen to each other before, yes, but had to search for it, now it is constant.

  I gulp taking a deep breath and spill my heart into his hands.

  "I love you too Kyran, even the animal who stalked me a little in the woods. I was never afraid. I was home, relaxed there with you, and I think from that moment I loved the wolf but the man? I loved you from the time you sat down on my lunch break insisting on starting a conversation with me. The reason for my behavior this morning was that well I finally figured out I loved you, and only panicked not because I didn't want you, but because I wanted you too much and afraid you didn't feel the same way, so I freaked", I say letting out a breath.

  His body relaxes only then do I realize how tensed he was, and he asks. "So you're not going to reject me and deny the bond?" Hell no I think, and he laughs having heard, well he says walking over to his jacket pocket, " I’ve been carrying this around for a few days now waiting for the right moment to give it to you and I think this is it," Kyran walks back to me and gets down on one knee opening up a black velvet box saying, "This was Maggie's, my grandmother's wedding ring.” I'm standing there frozen my shaking hands covering my mouth listening to every word.

  “Mom told me it has diamonds in the bloom of the center, which makes the main diamond appear almost twice as large. Both sides of the ring have rocks leading their way up to the crown with diamond-filled crescent silhouettes lining the interior". Kyran laughs nervously.

  "Sorry, my mom explained the ring, thought I'd repeat it thinking it might help you say yes and she gave it to me when she met you for when the time was right adding that Maggie would want you to have it."

  "So Ava James, will you marry me and be my wife and mate?" Nodding excitedly I scream yes, he stands up takes the ring out of the box sliding it on my engagement finger. We kiss each other passionately turning it hot, and he pulls down my gym shorts as I pull down his, he throws me down to the mat spreading my legs with his hand and slams hard into me. Kyran is fucking me fast and deep it won't be long before we explode, the need to cement our new mate bond and engagement is too strong.

  He tweaks my nipples then flicks them steadily driving my passion higher as he pushes my knees up to my chest making him go in deeper and thrusting his tongue into my mouth simultaneously. Kyran thrusts into me and I start to orgasm squeezing him tight.

  "Baby, come all over me as I empty into you" that's my undoing, and I come so hard I swear I'm seeing stars he jerks, growls and his seed enters me.

  We lay there for a while on our sides cuddling, kissing and with him still inside of me staying hard I begin to move, and I moan my pleasure, and he growls getting harder. But Kyran stays still letting me use his body for my comfort, I put my face into his neck moaning. He puts his arm around my waist and kisses my temple, and I go faster up and down on him and he stays still, I ground my clit on his stomach causing me to cry out.

  "I have you baby, so use me, use my body and make yourself come," he says hoarsely, and his arms bulge with the restraint he’s using to stay still, and I shatter. I grab his shoulder and crying out as I come moaning long and low, and he twitches filling me with his warm seed and kissing my cheek, he whispers, "I love you, Ava," smiling I whisper back "I love you too Kyran Lewis mate of my heart."

  We stand getting dressed but wanting to be alone for tonight before the craziness begins tomorrow we sneak upstairs into bed and make love for most of the night before falling asleep in the early dawn

  Chapter Nine:

  A New Change

  * * *

  I wake and hear the shower running, I check the clock, 10:30 am, yawning I move from the bed to join Kyran, opening the door I enter.

  "Morning babe," he whispers sleepily giving me a kiss, I mumble something unintelligible in response but what I meant to say was morning back, we clean up, and I dress in red jeans, black sweater, and black ankle boots then head downstairs. Addy is at the kitchen table eating pancakes.

  "Why aren't you at school?" I ask while serving up two plates of pancakes for Kyran and me.

  Addy stares at me for a second shaking his head muttering "All that sex is going to your head if you don't realize today is Sunday.”

  “Addison James would you
watch that tongue!” I say then flip him off, very mature I know. I pour myself a coffee taking a sip when Kyran walks in I push the plate over and pick up a cup pouring more and handing it over to him, he accepts the drink thankfully.

  "You can't beat a good cup of coffee," Kyran muses beside me eating his breakfast. I sit down, and take a few bites as Aaliyah, August, Mom, and Dad come in with Axel after his run.

  "Oh, honey you're here, glad I caught you, the blood results are back and whenever you’re ready we'll go over them." Mom adds all cheery but having barely any sleep I'm rather grouchy and need at least an hour to wake up fully, picking up my mug taking a huge gulp when Aaliyah squeals causing me to jump out of my chair spilling my life-saving coffee.

  "What the hell Li, I needed that coffee" I cry, Kyran chuckles and gives me the rest of his cup showing pity on me.

  "Aww you are so sweet," I whisper to him giving Kyran a kiss before looking up to see Aaliyah is pointing at my finger which causes my family to stare for an explanation understanding what this means but waiting for me to announce it.

  Kyran and I hold hands together counting inside our heads to reveal at the time "We're engaged" and the house erupts with excited cheer.

  "Do you have the mate bond?" Dad asks Kyran, accessing him ready to give his final blessing on our union, by this question, everyone goes silent watching and listening as Kyran tells my father, "Yes, we do, it clicked into being last night and I knew the time was right to ask for her hand," Dad opens his arms to hug him.