Ivan
"I know this is confusing, but I promise I'll explain everything." I set her down in a chair by the windows, away from the screaming kids and chatting adults. She's trembling, her eyes never leaving my sister and the bright pink stroller. "Let me get you something to eat first, alright? What do you want on your pizza? I don't know what you like and don't want to get it wrong."
"Meat." Her honey-sweet voice whispers, finally turning to look at me. "I don't like vegetables on pizza."
"Okay." giving her a reassuring smile, I cup her cheek again, tracing the lines of her cheekbone with my thumb. "Everything's going to be okay, beautiful. I'm going to make everything right."
"I have to go." She swallows, trying to get up. With a scowl, I push her back. Making sure she settles back down. "Please, I have to go home."
"Shh, it's okay. You're not going back there." My words stun her, those hazel eyes widening in surprise before she turns to the stroller again. I imagine she's trying to figure out how to run. "Everything's fine. Don't be scared."
I was a walking corpse until today. It's not a feeling I'd recommend to my worst enemy. You're alive only because your body functions and your heart is still beating. The parts that make you a person, though. Those weren't alive in me. I existed because I had to, but it was hard to act like it.
Forced to pretend I was all right when I wasn't. Acting like I wasn't drowning in an ocean of misery? Pretending I cared about things when nothing in the world mattered anymore? No, that isn't living, not when the only emotion you understand is pain. A silver knife digging its way into my soul every day.
My family, friends, and pack couldn't understand what was happening to me. So, how did I explain it to them when I barely understood it myself? Finally, it's gotten bad enough that I agreed to go to doctors, healers, and even a therapist. She was the first to note that I was reacting like someone experiencing a significant loss. Then, my mother took me to a witch who took one look at me and told me I was mourning my mate.
How can you mourn what you never had? I was willing to agree I was acting like I was grieving, but I couldn't be upset over my mate. I hadn't met her. Not until today when she crashed into my truck.
"I'll go order. Wait here." I get up, brushing her long hair back from her face before going to the counter.
I watch her after I place our order, covering her face with her hands and trying to wrap her brain around what's happening.
She's so beautiful. How did the moon goddess know precisely what I'd love? I could spend hours just staring at her long, thick lashes. Her hair went past her thighs, and I swear she reminded me of a calico cat. I see all the colors in her strands; it's beautiful, but I bet it's uncomfortable to keep so long.
It matches her bright eyes. Goddess, I didn't think you could have eyes like that. They call it Hazel. And I love the almond shape they have. I couldn't wait to kiss her perfectly full lips. Her face had the most delicate features, but she didn't look fragile for them. She had a broad, straight nose that I liked. It fit her face, but I bet she was self-conscious about it.
She's all curves, has wide hips, a fantastic ass, and full breasts. When I had my arm around her waist, I felt her muscles, and I could barely stop my mind from fantasizing about what she looked like without anything on. Even in jeans, you could tell she had the longest legs, which could drive a wolf insane. Luke was going to swallow his tongue when he met her.
"I'm Ivan, by the way." I realized we hadn't introduced ourselves when I returned to the table. "Ivan Treyson."
"Um, Nefretiri Jordans... sorry, North." She doesn't look at me when she mutters her name, still staring at the table.
"Nefretiri, that's pretty." I tried her name out and found that I loved how it sounded. It's unique, just like her. "Would you tell me her name?"
I point to the table where my pack is sitting. They're busy with the baby. Taylor took her out of the car seat, and AJ made funny faces. I know they can hear us, but they're pretending they can't, and I'm glad. Nefretiri looks at them, biting her lower lip and hesitating as she debates what to do. She must think I have the baby there to keep her hostage, but she's wrong. I want to talk to her without the others crowding us first.
When Nefretiri crashed into the truck, I was busy arguing with Taylor. We were so caught up in it that we didn't notice her until I felt the truck shake. I won't deny that I was ready to rip into whoever hit my car, but when I looked up and saw the beauty who was crying, I just sat there like a fool. And, for the first time in over a year, I felt alive. The knife was finally out of my chest, and I could breathe. Then, I remembered my name was Ivan Sebastian Treyson, Alpha of the Sebryanyy Kkinzhal pack, marine, and werewolf.
So, when Taylor opened the door, her scent hit me, and I knew why I'd come back to the living. The intoxicating, addictive smell of honeysuckles and summer strawberries called to me. Hearing her cry was the worst sound in the world. All I wanted to do was run and comfort her, make the tears stop, and have her happy again. She was already everything to me, even though I'd only known her for a few seconds, and I'd give my life to protect her.
Nefretiri Jordans, my mate.
What I hadn't been prepared for, and no one warns you about when you're growing up in the pack, is the possibility of your mate having children before they meet you. There isn't a class or lecture someone can tell you that'll help you when you're faced with the reality that your soulmate might be with someone else or their pup isn't yours. I've heard of werewolves who force their mates to leave their children behind, even if they're helpless. I didn't want to be that kind of an asshole, not with how much love Nefretiri had for her daughter. So, I tried to pretend the baby wasn't there, focusing on my new mate and her pain.
The problem I faced was that the little pup wasn't having it. I can't explain it, but I kept feeling her energy call me. It was almost as powerful as an Alpha's call, which was impossible because the pup wasn't a werewolf. She was a tiny little human, but she pulled at me until I was brave enough to give her the attention she demanded. Is it insane that I fell in love the second my eyes fell on that child? Or that I felt a powerful connection lock into place when I touched her hands?
We both knew she was mine, blood be damned. I was her father, and she'd looked at me with those dark blue eyes like she'd been waiting for me to show up and save them. It's crazy, but I want to have her in my life. Watching her grow up, I know no boy will ever be good enough for her. I'm not the only one who feels that way by the looks of everyone. Even my cousin Vincent, who claims to hate babies, is busy talking to her like a babbling idiot. She's got all of us under a spell, doesn't she? My little princess.
"Penelope." Nefretiri finally speaks, bringing my attention back to her. "But I call her Pen-Pen."
My sister's squeal makes me wince, and we watch as she takes the baby back from Danny, who is now pouting.
"Penelope Treyson!" She declares like she's announcing it at a coronation or something. I wince at that. She wasn't exactly being quiet. Damn, she's going to bankrupt the pack spoiling my daughter. Goddess... I love the sound of that. "My niece, Penelope Treyson."
"It's North." Nefretiri scowls at the scene, turning to me. A hard edge to her now.
"I'm afraid not, beautiful." I lean forward on the table, trying for a smile, but she's not going for it.
"My last name is North. Her last name is North. Not Treyson."
"Well, that will have to change. Because it's Treyson." Maybe I expected her to get angry, but her whole body relaxed instead. I kept watching her eyes and saw the hint of fire in them. "You'll have to get used to it."
"Get used to it?" Her voice was still sweet like honey, but I felt she just laced it with poison. "And why would I do that?"
"Because you're mine." This wasn't going to be an easy conversation. I wish we could go somewhere more private, but I'll need a full explanation to get that far. "You belong to me."
"I'm sorry, I what?" She shakes her head, scoffing at me like I've told a bad joke. "Sadly for you, I'm spoken for."
Nefretiri holds up her hand, showing me the ugly wedding ring on her finger. The way humans claim each other, and I can't stop the growl from my wolf. He was so happy when we smelled her. Finally, we'd found our mate and the thought that someone else was trying to claim her made us both crazy. I've tried to ignore it but can't with that ring in my face. His smell was all over her, and it was mocking me.
"That thing means nothing to me, beautiful." Seeing my anger, Nefretiri puts her hand under the table, and it helps me a little. "It's just metal and shiny rocks. It means nothing."
"I need to go home." She lowers her voice, and it hasn't escaped me that she looks unhappy. Was I supposed to ignore the bruises? The scars on her skin? Even the way she'd shown me that ring was like she'd forced herself to do it, hating it as much as I did. "Please, I can't stay."
"We'll leave once we eat."
"I have a family." She tries to convince me to let her go again. "I'm married... He'll... you don't..."
"Nefretiri." Reaching across the table, I tilt her head to look at me. "I will never let you go back there. Ever."
"But..."
"He will never hurt you again. Do you understand?" This time, my anger shows, and I can't stop myself when I touch the bruise under her eye. She stiffens, realizing I see them, and she tries to look away quickly. "Yes, I know."