Her Forever

Third Person POV

The rain was coming down in heavy sheets as the thunderous alpha werewolf trudged through the mud. Training had been demanding that morning due to the warm nor’easter that had come the previous night. The Alpha thanked the goddess that it wasn’t yet cold. This would have easily been several feet of snow.

Several other wolves were running to their small cabins, away from the packhouse. The packhouse now only housed visiting wolves and single wolves waiting to be mated. Alpha Jack Storm had promised his mate, Rosalie, that he would make her the perfect small plantation home on their territory after their mating. He kept that promise, and Rosalie kept the house a safe haven until that one unfortunate night.

Jack took the key and opened the door to the dimly lit home. His three sons were in bed, but the faint light from the stairway indicated his mate was still awake. Jack sighed heavily, knowing precisely what she was doing on a night like this.

Trudging the stairs one by one, hoping that his mate would leave the room, he slowly gazed at the pictures on the walls. His three boys were growing to be strong wolves, and Michael proved that he would be a strong Alpha once Jack relinquished the title, which still would not be for a long time,’ his mate would tell him.

Rosalie has had an extreme attachment to all her children ever since that night that haunts her memories. The night before her birthday will remain a stain on a usually happy occasion. She will wait until her daughter is brought back home if she ever wants to celebrate another birthday.

It had been eleven years since their daughter, Parisa, was taken. It was on a night like this. The storm raged on the outside of their two-story home, and Rosalie often thought to check on her first-born daughter, Parisa. However, Parisa told her before she went to bed she was a ‘big girl’ now and that the future alpha female could handle a little rain. Rosalie smiled at the thought of her baby girl, thinking Parisa was an actual significant alpha. She had yet to gain her wolf, which wouldn’t be for another two years and then a few years after that until her first shift.

Rosalie, never growing up a werewolf, had to learn the hard way when her eldest son, Michael, started yelling to his mother someone was talking in his head. Immediately, she called Jack, who only laughed and playfully added he forgot to tell her about wolves waking up at the age of thirteen. Rosalie gave an excellent scolding to Jack, who only had to give her extra pleasure in bed that night as punishment.

Jack stood at the top of the stairs; he could hear Rosalie humming in the rocking chair in the lavender-painted room. Holding onto the overly stuffed calico cat, she pets it lovingly while staring at the bed. Giant sighs, and a few tears fell down her face as she clutched it tightly.

Leaning up against the doorframe with his hands in his pockets, he stared at his beautiful mate. Rosalie took it the hardest, saying she was a mother and a mother should always protect her babies. She continued to rock into the chair, holding the stuffed cat while silent tears tickled her face. She began singing Parisa’s favorite lullaby.

“Lavender’s blue,

Dilly dilly, Lavender’s green.

Let the birds sing,

Dilly dilly,

Let the lambs play.

We shall be safe,

Dilly dilly,

Out of harm’s way.

I love to dance,

Dilly dilly,

I love to sing.

When I am Queen,

Dilly dilly,

You’ll be my King.

Jack’s emotions got the best of him, and he let a light sniff and rumble in his chest. Rosalie didn’t turn as she knew he was there the entire time.

“Do you think she is still alive?” Rosalie whimpered as her tears soaked the stuffed animal.

“Of course she is; I haven’t felt our bond break from her. Wolves know when they have lost a pup, it is painful as the connection breaks. I’ve told you this.” Jack squatted down beside Rosalie and brushed her hair back. Rosalie had been a strong Luna, even with the loss of a child. She made sure her sadness never got in the way of raising her three boys, but in private and often times away from Jack, she would sit in Parisa’s room and stare at the window. Rosalie felt weak once in her life before she met Jack, and she wasn’t going to let anyone else see it.

Jack worried for his Kitten. He loved her more than life itself, and it killed him to watch her slip away as the years went on. Her birthday was the worst, and the entire pack made sure that they never mentioned it or celebrated. They would leave gifts by the door for their Alpha to pick up and give to her at a later time.

“But my heart continues to break, my Alpha. It breaks every morning when I wake up and every sunset that she isn’t here. She should be training to be the next Alpha if she wanted it.” Her breath heaved as she leaned her head to Jack’s chest.

“Kitten, Michael was made to be an alpha. He has also drawn up plans to have our bodyguard and security business include private investigators. We have hired ten new supernatural detectives to find her. There is still hope.” Jack nuzzled into Rosalie’s hair while she dried her tears.

“I certainly hope so. I want to apologize for every-“

“No,” Jack growled as he lifted her up. With one hand behind her back and the other under her knees, he took her to their room. Rosalie had decorated it with bright, airy colors, and the large picture of their combined Luna and Mating ceremony hung over the bed.

“You have nothing to apologize for,” Jack towered over her as each elbow flanked her sides. Jack kissed Rosalie’s forehead longingly. “Parisa is strong. Do you forget who her mother is? You survived through the worst, and yet here you stand with three sons who adore you. Parisa would never blame you; if anything, she would blame the pack warriors.” Rosalie took a large, heavy sigh.

Jack went on a rampage the night Parisa was taken. Warriors were beaten to a bloody pulp, that his little princess of the pack was taken out from their own home. It was later found that the use of solid magic had infiltrated the ward that Hades had created.

Jack fell to the side as Rosalie curled up into Jack’s arms. His thumb continued to draw patterns in her arms as she cried silently for their daughter. Each storm brought new pain to Rosalie, and each spring and summer seem to make it worst.

“I’ve contacted Sorceress Bodhi and her coven. They plan on coming to visit in the next couple of weeks,” Rosalie sniffed while looking up at her mate. “I’m going to try and have her test the wards again to make sure they are still standing strong and maybe contact Hades.” Rosalie’s eyes widened at the realization that the King of the Underworld may come. “Don’t get your hopes up, Kitten. He’s a busy god, and I don’t think he would want to come to visit a measly pack.”

“But we helped him! Charmunda could still be running around it if it weren’t for us! He has to help.” Jack petted Rosalie’s head and pulled her to his neck. “Parisa would have loved it,” Rosalie whispered as she tickled Jack’s chest. “Parisa loved all the stories about the gods, especially Hades.”

“I’ll have Bodhi bring that up; maybe that will make his head swell and want to visit. Not many find the God of the Underworld that interesting other than just being fearful of him.”

Rosalie hummed as they both drifted off to sleep dreaming for their one and only daughter to come home.

Gwen’s POV

My eyes fluttered open, and I sprung up to a sitting position. I had immediately started breathing heavily, placing a hand over my chest as my heart began to slow again. The smokey s’mores smell calmed me now that I noticed I was in Hades’ bedroom.

Had it all been a dream? The pain in my rear and the large bandage on my leg told me otherwise. It stung a bit as I traced it with my fingertips. The b***d had seeped through on the bandages. It was old b***d that had turned dark, so I had to be sleeping for a while.

All of this wasn’t a dream. The demon ladies, Hades, actually being THE HADES. I gasped and slapped my hands to my face. Gods were real; what of Hermes, Niko, Vulcan, and Ares? They all are too!? The excitement in me wasn’t of fear but pure admiration. Hades was not the evil guy everyone thought he was. He was so nice and sweet to me, but he did seem pretty pissed when he came to my rescue.

Hades rescued me, again! I could squeal at how exciting this was. I heard a g***n on the floor, only to be met with large yellow eyes. Cerebrus purred as he stood up and gave me a quick lick on my cheek as my head leaned over the bed.

“That’s my good puppy,” I cooed, scratching his ear. “You ate that big ‘ole demon, didn’t you? Just for me!” Cerebrus continued to purr in his throat as I hit his spot on his chest, giggling and leaning a bit too far; I caught myself and sat back on the bed. My leg was still stinging in pain as I g*****d a bit while Cerebrus put his paws on the bed to look. “Just hurts a little big boy. Now, where is Hades? I think he has some explaining to do,” I gave a pointed look at him as he looked sheepish.

Not ten seconds had passed until Hades was standing at the front of my bed. I yelled loudly and threw the bed sheets over my head. “Don’t do that!” squealed. Hades gave that wonderful low laugh as he sat on the bed and pulled the sheet down. He was no longer with his bright blonde hair and skin but his tan and dark hair that I was so used to.

I folded my arms and tried to act angry while I squinted my eyes at him. “Explain,” I held back a smile. At first, Hades looked worried until that devilish smirk came into view. He touched my uninjured leg, and I instantly melted at his touch.

“How much do you remember, my angel?” I tilted my head to the side, licking my lips. “All of it, from the k**s to those red demon women to that weird house where those things touched me,” my l*p quivered, remembering that part. I could deal with the scratches and being dragged, but that incubus house was downright frightening. Hades got up and pulled me to his lap, being careful of the bandages on my leg. There was a low growl in his chest as he held me tight.

“I’m sorry, that will never happen again.” I looked up at the towering God and gave a small smile, knowing his words were valid, even though he withheld that he was God. I mean, I get it. If he had told me that from the very beginning, he was a god, I would have laughed at him and then died of a brain aneurism.

“So, you are THE Hades?” I questioned.

“Not unless there is another God of the Underworld that I don’t know about then, yes I am.” I giggled as I held him tight. As I was getting comfortable, my body stiffened. If that was true, then Persephone should be down here. I mean, he stole her, brought her here, and she at that pomegranate. I sat up straight, startling him as I looked at him in the eye.

“W-what about Persephone?” If he has her somewhere and has me as some side chick, I will walk right out of this room and go find a job. I’m not staying down here to be used; I’m better than that. I’m thankful he and the rest of them saved me, but that doesn’t mean I deserved to be second best and a side piece. I felt the anger well up in me as Hades gave an amused look.

“She isn’t here; she hasn’t lived down here for over a thousand years. She is with some angel now, Nero?” He questioned himself. “I’m not really sure who she’s mated to.” Hade’s rubbed his chin with a bit of stubble that started growing. The questioning look on his face was cute when he thought, but I still had a lot of questions. Like mated? What does that mean?

“Mated? Like animals? Did you mate with her?” I could feel the jealousy rising in my stomach; I didn’t like that word; the only thing I could think of was terrible animalistic tendencies between people taking their s****l frustrations out on each other. I’ve seen it in the club, and it was disgusting.

Hades gave another amused look and that sexy smirk showing his perfect white teeth. “Are you jealous?” I glared at him, huffing while crossing my arms. I was getting mad, dang it, and it was darn frustrating. He’s older, of course; he had a life before me and I’m sure lovers. Alright, that hurt. That overwhelming feeling of jealousness was fading into sadness until Hades made me straddle his waist.

“Hey, hey, hey, angel,” he cooed. His knuckles ran across my cheeks. “I have been an absolute a*s before you, but I did not touch Persephone.” My heart skipped a bit hearing that; he was supposed to be so in love with her. “I thought it was love; it wasn’t. She didn’t care about me as I did with her, and I was bitter about it for a long time. Not once did I touch her, force her into anything. Except live in the Underworld,” he whispered that last bit. “I was an angry person because I was alone and no one wanted me, and I had no one to love until you.”

My breath hitched as he squeezed my waist. Hades and I just kissed, and he already loved me? It hasn’t been that long; we had only known each other for such a small amount of time; how could he have feelings like that? Then again, he was the only one that gave me the wonderful warm fuzzies I get just mentioning his name. My body heats at his touch, and I crave him like a kid wanting an ice cream cone on a sweltering hot day. I sighed into him, holding him tight.

“I think I love you too, Hades,” I whispered, barely audible, but he heard it. “I’m scared I don’t know what love is though, what if I am wrong.” Hades pulled my head back and looked into my eyes while the pads of his thumbs rubbed over my cheeks.

“I can’t know everything of what you are feeling, but I have an idea.” My questioning look gave way to his following statement that left me stunned.

“You are my mate, Angel. My soulmate.”