Mikkeli POV
I rest my head on the car window looking at the landscape passing by; after over two weeks, Tony and I are coming back home.
My friend needed help, and I provided it to him. My strategy to fight with hunters turned out to be a great success, and we achieved a significant victory in our fight against them. I know this is only one step, but if we can implement my strategy in different packs and prepare a joint attack, we could even force them to cease all their action against us for a long time.
The last time the hunters posed such a big threat to werewolves in this part of the country, I lost my father and many very good pack warriors over seven years ago. Since then, the threat was always very near, but if I manage to convince all my allies to combine our strengths, maybe we will be able to crush them and chase them away from this area.
And now I'm tired and happy that I'm coming back home, but the feeling I have right now is so different from the usual because usually, when I come back home after my trips, after my battles, I feel just calm. This time I feel eagerness, anticipation, and excitement. This time I know someone is there waiting for me; nearly a thought about seeing her face again makes me so excited.
I still feel overbearing fear at the thought that I almost lost her in the woods. Honestly, I almost lost my entire family at that moment. When Hayden mindlinked me that they had been attacked and almost killed, the only feeling I remember was helplessness. I failed again as an Alpha. I couldn't keep them safe.
Probably that's why I'm not proud, and I don't feel satisfaction from my recent victory against hunters because even though I managed to help save my friend's pack at the same time, I can't keep my own home safe. Someone is still out there targeting my nephews, targeting my family. I doubt anybody is targeting Hannah because I made sure no one knows about her being my mate except those who are close to me and whom I trust.
Hannah... after the attack, my wolf was restless, so difficult to control, and honestly, I shared his feelings. That's why I went to her room. I needed a physical interaction of any sort to convince both of us that she was still alive and safe. That night brought me the best sleep I had had in recent weeks. I woke up so rested, so relaxed, and so happy. She was still sleeping, and I, Jason and Rosie were snuggling into her as if she was the only source of warmth on this planet. I spent at least an hour just looking at her, admiring her lips, face, hair, long legs, round hips, delicious breasts, and ass. And, of course, I finished with a hard one just by looking at her. Oh, Goddess, I was so thankful for her siblings' presence because if they weren't in the room at that moment, I don't know if I would have been able to control myself.
But I knew I had work to do, so I managed to get up and leave the room, but not before, as creepy as it may sound, I snatched one of her T-shirts from a wardrobe. Well, my wolf had an idea to go through her dirty laundry, preferably the underwear, but that would have made me a creepy psycho. Nevertheless, I managed to stay calm for the next week only thanks to her scent. I appreciated that Tony restrained himself from any comment because I'm sure he noticed that I was sleeping with my face snuggled into one particular piece of clothing.
Beautiful Hannah, she's so perfect.
I was never so wrong as when I decided she was too weak to be my Luna. She proved me wrong so many times with her sense of justice, courage, sharp tongue, and care for her siblings. She has just lost her parents and yet managed to care for three kids. She gave the twins security and comfort, being the best older sister they could wish for, and at the same time, she became the mother to Rosie. I've seen her many times walking around the house, holding her baby sister when she couldn't sleep, not even once complaining or losing her patience no matter how much she was tired. I've seen her slowly becoming Kyle's best friend, my brother's friend, and my other pack members' friend.
She managed to find her place within my pack even if not all of the wolves accept her because of their prejudice towards humans, but I know that most admire her for her quick adaptation to the pack's life. She even managed to save the werewolf's life by killing the rogue, and I know that impressed even my strongest warriors. I know that she would be an excellent Luna. And that is what raises my worries.
In the beginning, I blamed it only on the mate bond and my wolf, but now I know it's also me, I'm falling in love with her, and that's what scares the shit out of me because I'm not good with love. Simply probably because I was never taught love. My father's shitty marriage was a display of his selfishness and sometimes even cruelty. He didn't love his Luna; he only cared about his position and having an heir. I know he made Hayden's mother very unhappy to the point she decided to desert her marked mate, which is a very painful process.
I know I want to mark Hannah as mine, but I'm not sure any of us is or ever will be ready to do that. Marking is final, it bonds your bodies and minds together, and it's tough to break. Literally, you are becoming one with the person you marked, which makes you stronger together, but at the same time, that makes you much more vulnerable if the one you marked hurts you.
And Hannah is a human. She only decided to stay here because it's safer for her siblings, I don't know if she wants to stay here forever if she wants to make my pack her home forever, and I don't know if I'm strong enough never to hurt her. After all, I almost raped her, I am probably the greatest danger for her, and I know when my instincts take over, when I lose control, I am capable of doing bad things, just like my father; after all, he was the one who implemented this into me.
The car stops in front of the packhouse. Becca is standing at the entrance waiting to welcome us; it's four in the morning I'm sure everybody else is sleeping.
"Welcome home; we were expecting you tomorrow," she says, bowing and showing her respect toward Tony and me.
"It happened that we were earlier. Where is Hayden?" I respond to her greeting.
"He had to go to take care of the ranch, and he should be back in the afternoon. It was very calm during your absence, except that the twins shifted. Hayden decided to give a big open-air party right after your return to accept them and their sisters into the pack".
"Thank you, I'm delighted you are all right now," I smile at her.
"I'm as good as new," she replies, but I have a feeling that she wants to ask about something else.
"What else, Becca?"
"I wonder if Hayden plans to acknowledge the twins officially. I saw their wolves, and before that, I might have had some suspicions, but now I'm sure. Jason and James are Hayden's sons, aren't they?"
I don't answer, but I'm sure my silence gives her all the answers she needs.
"It's not common knowledge yet, but pack members start whispering. If twins don't know about this, I strongly recommend you tell them the truth soon".
"Thank you, Becca, and goodnight to you too, Tony."
Becca stays on her patrol duties, and Tony and I enter the house. He immediately goes in his room's direction; I'm sure he can't wait to hold his mate and pups. I finally understand how it feels to miss your mate.
Only a couple of minutes later, I'm standing at the entrance to the kitchen. I'm not even surprised this was the first place I headed; that smell was so alluring, so tempting.
She's standing in front of the kitchen counter, busy chopping some vegetables, wearing some shorts and a tank top. I can admire her perfect legs and delicious body shape. At first, I think about withdrawing, painfully aware I shouldn't be alone with her, but I don't want to. I don't want to leave, I want to get closer, but I'm scared she won't be happy with that.
She slowly turns around and looks at me, and I can feel how strong my heart is pounding with joy because she hasn't flinched; she hasn't looked away, and her beautiful eyes look straight into me.
"I kind of felt you are standing here," she says. "Is it because of a bond?"
"Probably, the pull is getting stronger" I feel a little bit braver and take a couple of steps towards her but not too close, placing myself on one of the kitchen stools. "Why are you already up? It is very early?"
"It's my turn to prepare breakfast; you know my omega's duties." she smiles with a bit of sass. "Hayden said you wouldn't be back unless tomorrow morning."
"It happened that I finished my business earlier and wanted to go home."
"Are you hungry? I can make something for you; you look tired and starved".
I only nod my head in agreement, and she goes to the fridge and takes out eggs and bacon. She starts cooking, and I say nothing enjoying the calm silence between us, a very rare moment of peace. I kind of expect that after she finishes cooking, she will leave, but she doesn't. She gives me my plate with food and sits on the opposite side of the kitchen table.
"How was your journey? Hayden said you were fighting with hunters and that your friend needed some help."
"We won, not many casualties, none from my pack, but we will have to strike again pretty soon. We need to weaker them as soon as possible".
"Should I be worried about the pack?" she keeps looking at me, and I wonder what she's thinking about.
"No, I hope my plan will take the fight away from the pack."
She looks at my plate, and I start eating; honestly, I didn't realize that I hadn't even started yet.
"I've heard the boys shifted?" I change the topic; I don't want to talk with her about blood and killing; I feel so peaceful I don't want to disturb it.
"Yes, it was a beautiful view," she smiled gently. "It was just a little bit sad that my parents weren't there to see this"
"You miss him very much, don't you? Your dad, I mean."
"I miss both of them very much. Maddie was the only mother I have ever known, and my dad, my dad was everything to me. He gave us so much, taught us much, and loved us so much, and it's just so unfair that they are gone. So unfair, especially for Rosie. In ten years, she'll barely remember any of them. I would give away everything to get them back. "
I can see that her hands are trembling a little bit, and her voice becomes a little bit teary. Byron howls in my head, encouraging me to go and comfort her, so hesitantly, I reach my hand and gently squeeze hers. She looks at me, totally surprised by my action.
"I know I said a lot of disrespectful things about your dad at the beginning, and I'm sorry for that," I say, and I almost see Byron chuckling in my head; we are not the eager ones to apologize, never, and to nobody. She doesn't pull away from my touch.
"Apologies accepted; you know this is the first time we have had a civil conversation."
"Yeah, the one which does not include you being sassy and me being a jerk" I giggle, and I don't giggle ever.
"I'm happy you are back safe," she says, standing and getting back to her work.
I finish my food, but I don't want to leave. I hesitantly stand up and get closer to her, she looks at me, and I realize that she's still holding the kitchen knife. I have an odd feeling of déjà vu.
"Hannah, can I hold you?" I almost whisper to her
I can see that she gets tense immediately, but I don't smell fear. After a very long moment, she finally nods, and almost instantly, she is in my arms, my hands are wrapped around her body, my nose is in the crook of her neck, and I feel almost intoxicated by her beautiful smell. I can feel her hands stroking my back, a little bit shyly, as if she was afraid she wasn't allowed to touch me.
I start giving her neck butterfly kisses, and she tilts her head, giving me better access. I start gently sucking her delicate neck; the tip of my tongue dances on her skin. I move up towards her ear and start gently nipping it with my teeth; I can hear that she breathes quicker and her heart is pounding in her chest. She puts her arms around my neck, squeezing it and bringing me closer to her. I crush her lips with mine, biting her bottom lip lightly, asking for permission to enter. She allows me. Our tongues are fighting for dominance, she doesn't want to submit, and I love that feeling.
My hands are moving down, I squeeze her ass cheeks, pulling her up, and she immediately wraps her legs around my waist. I can feel my blood almost boiling; my wolf is fighting for control, I know that he wants to mark her right here, right now, but I can't let him do it, no matter how much I want this at the moment.
We are both still tangled in the kissing, my tongue in her mouth, hers in mine; she's tagging my bottom lip with her teeth, I let her. I feel her hand gripping my hair; she forces me to move my head to one side, I let her. I moan when I feel her lips and teeth assaulting my jaw, cheek, and ear and moving down my neck. I squeeze her ass harder. I can feel her legs wrap around me tighter, the bulge in my pants is getting bigger, and I'm sure she can feel it. I press her closer to me, my lips find her lips again, and I let myself sink into her touch and scent. I can feel my mind getting clouded, and I know this is dangerous; any moment now, I won't be in control, and I must stay in control.
I let her go almost harshly and draw back, we both panting. I study her. I study her bruised lips, red cheeks, and chest moving with shallow breathing. Byron is whimpering in my mind because of the loss of contact, and honestly, I understand him. I feel almost physical pain because she's no longer in my arms.
"I think it will be better if I go," I say in a raspy voice, "or I will do something we both regret."
She doesn't stop me, and I leave the kitchen, passing Kyle in the corridor, who has probably been standing behind the door all the time. He bows his neck in submission, but his expression is too cheerful.
"Thank you for worrying about her," I say to him.
"I wasn't worrying only about Hannah." I hear him, but I do not turn around or stop.
I'm so lucky Hayden isn't in the house. He would probably skin me alive if he caught me as Kyle did.