His Redemption (Complete His Series)

Azalea

I woke up feeling incredibly warm and cozy. I realized once again; I had large arms wrapped around me as well as a leg tangled in between mine. I smiled for a moment, thinking about last night. I was so scared when I saw the shadow move past my window. I have never had anyone mess with me back here. I felt silly calling him, but Liam came anyway. He did not make me feel silly or stupid. He just took care of me like no one ever has.

I have always been a big girl, always taking care of myself. About a year after my parents died, I told myself I had to stop crying and grow up. I can’t say it never happened living in the packhouse; there were definitely times where the tears broke through my wall. But I learned to lock everything away and face my reality. I learned to survive.

When Liam left me at the Inn, I thought I was going to die from the pain. But I knew I couldn’t survive like that. So, I picked myself up and survived. I never hoped for anyone to come along and sweep me off my feet; that only happens in books. Being away from the pack and being independent gave me a small amount of hope that I could just live content and simple. Until Liam showed up, that was all I wanted. A simple, quiet life. Books to read, the Inn to take care of, and just a couple of friends.

Liam was changing that. I knew I shouldn’t let it happen, but I was starting to want more. I know that this little fairy tale can’t last forever. No matter how much I feel for him or he feels for me, we can’t change the fact that I am a broken wolf. I can’t be his Luna and could never ask him to give up being the Alpha for me. He worked his whole life to take over the pack, and I am sure he is a great leader. I knew I was just going to get in the way of this for him. Great leaders cannot have weak mates at their side.

With these solemn thoughts in my heart, I slowly untangled myself from Liam. He was so asleep that he didn’t even move as I climbed over him and got out of the bed. I looked over to my clock that read 5 am. I guess there was no time like the present to do what I love most: bake.

I went to my closet to get some clothes for the day. I grabbed a pair of jeans, a purple flowery top, and a sweater. Tossing my pajamas onto the very full laundry bin, I changed quickly and quietly. I went to the bathroom to brush my teeth and fix up my hair. I pulled my braid out and combed it into soft waves. I twisted the front pieces back, gathering all my waves into a low bun.

I went back out into the apartment, where Liam was still soundly asleep. I grabbed a notepad from the desk and scribbled a quick note to tell him that I would be up at the Inn kitchen if he would like some breakfast.

Grabbing my laundry basket, I made my way up to the Inn. Being so early, Amy wasn’t here yet. She was terrible in the mornings, and sometimes our breakfast service fell behind. I placed my laundry in the corner to get to after breakfast while I was doing other laundry. I needed to distract myself from Liam and this whole mate situation, so I got to work.

Before I knew it, it was almost 7:00, and Amy was rushing in with a cranky Abigail on her h*p, looking like a hot mess. I looked up at them with a smile. Thoughts about not being able to stay with Liam completely pushed to the back of my mind for now.

“Good morning,” I chirped.

“Yea, uh-huh,” she shot back.

“Want me to take the munchkin?” I asked.

“Oh lord, please. This child is going to put me in an early grave!” she complained, walking towards me with Abi.

I wiped my hands on my apron and reached for her. Abi immediately leaned towards making grabby hands, telling me she wanted me to hold her.

“Good morning, Abi girl. Are we driving mama a little crazy today?” I cooed at her.

“You could say that. The child has decided her bed is no longer suitable to sleep in and that she will be choosing her own clothing! Look at what she is wearing!” Amy complained.

I looked down at Abi just now, noticing the ridiculous outfit she had on. I giggled a bit. “Oh, it’s okay, Amy. She’s just learning to be independent. Right, Abi girl? Let’s get your chair and get some breakfast, huh?” I said.

“There are croissants and danishes in the warmer, and the coffee is ready. Fruit is cut up in the fridge as well. Might just wanna whip up a quick egg scramble, and I can make some orange juice,” I told Amy as I went to get Abi’s highchair. We started keeping one here when Abi began coming to work with her mom often. I also had a basket of toys, books, crayons, and other things to help keep her occupied so we could still work.

“You are an angel from the heavens!” she said, relieved. She got to work pulling out pans and ingredients to cook some eggs. I went to the cabinet, pulled out the baby cereal, and grabbed the small bowl of fruit I already had ready for Abi this morning. I got her all situated with her small utensils and went to start making some fresh orange juice.

“So, let’s hear it. Spill. Start to finish,” Amy said expectantly.

“Spill what?” I asked, trying to play dumb; I knew she wanted to hear about the date.

“Stop being so thick. Your date with Tall, Hot, and Gorgeous! I need to know everything, and I need to know now!” she said.

“I told you, my name is Liam,” came a deep voice from the doorway. Liam stood there looking hot in a tousled, ‘I just woke up’ sort of way. Amy immediately looked at me with her mouth open.

“He stayed the night?” she hissed at me. I blushed and turned to Liam.

“Good morning. Coffee?” I asked.

“Please,” he replied with a giant smile. I got him a mug and poured out some coffee. I brought it to him as he thanked me and took a sip.

“So, uh, breakfast will be done in just a few minutes if you’re hungry,” I said shyly. I wasn’t sure I wanted him to stick around, but I knew I didn’t want him to leave yet.

“I am sorry, Azalea, but I have to take off. There are some things that need my attention at, uh, work today,” he said, shooting a glance at Amy.

Disappointment coursed through me; we hadn’t even spoken about last night. I didn’t want him to know, though. “That’s alright. I could wrap you something up for the road if you’d like,” I said with a small smile.

“Sure, that would be lovely,” he said with a tight smile. I went to the warmer and grabbed him a few pastries. I grabbed a napkin from the cupboard and wrapped them up. I also fetched him a to-go cup from the coffee cart to carry his coffee.

“How about I walk you to the front?” I said, handing him the food.

“Please, lead the way. Amy, nice to see you,” he said as we took our leave. Amy nodded at him and continued to cook.

When we got to the front, we stepped out onto the porch. We both paused, not looking at each other. He was the first to break the silence.

“I really enjoyed our time together, Azalea. I wish I could stay a little longer, but there is some business at the pack I need to take care of.”

“It’s alright. I enjoyed yesterday as well. Thank you for staying with me. I have never been scared back there before.”

“Promise you will call me if you ever see anything out of the ordinary again?” he asked seriously.

“Sure,” I said. I was smiling, but I knew my eyes were probably sad.

“I should go. Thank you for the breakfast and coffee,” he said. He bent down and kissed my forehead, leaving a pleasurable warmth where his lips were. I watched him walk to his SUV, climb in, and pull out of the driveway. I sighed. Time to go to work.

Liam

When I woke in the morning, I almost instinctively reached for Azalea, but she wasn’t there. Sadness washed over me. Where did she go? I got up and looked around her small apartment for her. Although the place smelled strongly of her, I couldn’t hear any other heartbeats in the cottage. Maybe she went up to the Inn? I looked at the clock, realizing it was about 7 am.

“She must be an early riser,” Gavin said in my head.

“Yea,” I thought. I moved through the apartment to retrieve my shoes and noticed a note on the kitchen counter.

Woke up early. Didn’t want to wake you. Breakfast will be ready up at the Inn by 7. Come join me,

So, I was right. Hopefully, she was just being polite, and nothing was wrong with last night. That was one of the best nights of sleep I have had in a while; I was out like a light. Sleeping with her in my arms was the most blissful thing, and it definitely calmed Gavin down.

I went to the bathroom and tried to fix up my appearance. Before I could finish, my phone rang. I pulled it out of my pocket to see Damien’s name on the caller ID.

“Yea,” I answered.

“Are you coming back today?” Damien demanded. I growled at his tone.

“Sorry, man, it’s just there was another attack on the border of Langston’s and our territory. One from each pack. This hunter thing is going to get out of hand fast. We need you back here. Focused.”

I sighed. I had been distracted, and it wasn’t fair to my pack. I should probably at least come clean to Damien soon about the situation with Azalea.

“Yea, give me an hour or so, and I’ll be back. Call Langston to meet me in my office. You and his Beta should also be there.”

“Can do,” he said. “Liam.” He paused; I waited for him to continue.

“Is it her? The traitor girl?” he asked quietly.

“We’ll talk later,” I said and hung up the phone. I know I wasn’t inspiring much confidence at the moment, but this was not a conversation I wanted to have at this moment or even over the phone. I also wanted to see if my uncle had more answers for me.

Once I was satisfied with my messy hair, I made my way to the Inn. As I approached the door, I could hear her angelic voice say, “She’s just learning to be independent. Right, Abi girl? Let’s get your chair and get some breakfast, huh?” She must be talking to the baby; she was so good with her. She would be an amazing mom.

“Then let’s make some pups. Hurry up and mark her already!” Gavin g*****d in my head.

“Stuff it. She isn’t ready for that,” I shot back.

“So, let’s hear it. Spill. Start to finish,” I heard Amy push at her.

“Spill what?” Azalea replied airily. I knew where this was going. I figured I should probably save her from the questioning. I quietly opened the door. Azalea was standing next to the prep table with some oranges. I don’t know how she can blow my mind in just jeans and a shirt, but she looked just as delectable as last night. The sight and smell of her immediately had my member standing at attention.

“Stop being so thick. Your date with Tall, Hot and Gorgeous! I need to know everything, and I need to know now!” Amy snapped at her. A low growl escaped my lips, far too low for either of the girls to hear.

“I told you, my name is Liam,” I said, announcing my presence. Azalea jumped a little as she turned around with a large grin on her face. That grin was all for me, and I couldn’t get enough.

Amy turned open mouth to Azalea and hissed, “He stayed the night?” as some silent conversation passed between their eyes. A sweet blush crept up Azalea’s cheeks as she turned back to me.

“Good morning. Coffee?” she chirped.

“Please,” I replied with a giant smile. She handed me a fresh mug, and I gladly took a sip.

“So, uh, breakfast will be done in just a few minutes if you’re hungry,” she said, looking towards Amy.

“I am sorry, Azalea, but I have to take off. There are some things that need my attention at, uh, work today,” I told her, catching myself from mentioning the pack. I could see her sweet green orbs flood with disappointment. She could not fathom how much I wanted to stay right here with her.

She smiled brightly at me, trying to hide her feelings, and said, “That’s alright. I could wrap you something up for the road if you’d like.”

“Sure, that would be lovely,” I told her; I was starving. She moved about the kitchen wrapping up some fresh-looking pastries and grabbing a to-go cup for my coffee. Thank Goddess for this woman. I am going to need all the coffee I can get to get through today without her.

“How about I walk you to the front?” she said as she handed me the food.

“Please, lead the way,” I said ecstatically. “Amy, nice to see you,” I said, acknowledging her friend. I did need to get her on my side if I was ever going to win Azalea over as my mate. Azalea led the way to the front. When we stepped out on the front porch, she paused.

“I really enjoyed our time together, Azalea. I wish I could stay a little longer, but there is some business at the pack I need to take care of.”

“It’s alright. I enjoyed yesterday as well. Thank you for staying with me. I have never been scared back there before.”

“Promise you will call me if you ever see anything out of the ordinary again?” I asked with concern in my voice. If someone were actually bothering her, I would take care of them.

“Sure,” she said with a smile that didn’t meet her eyes. She made me worry, but I didn’t let her know that.

“I should go. Thank you for the breakfast and coffee,” I told her. With that, I leaned in and kissed her forehead one more time, taking a deep breath to memorize her scent. I turned and made my way to my SUV.

I got in and immediately started the engine. I knew the longer I lingered, the less I would want to go. I pulled out of the Inn parking lot and made my way towards the packhouse. After a few minutes of driving, I unwrapped the breakfast Azalea sent. I absent-mindedly grabbed a croissant and dug in.

After the first bite, realization washed over me. I have had this before; these tasted like the ones I ate growing up. I couldn’t remember exactly the first time I had it, but one day croissants were served with breakfast, and I couldn’t ever remember eating anything that had tasted so good. It quickly became my favorite thing for breakfast, and our cooks had to have found out because they started serving them at least once a week.

Around the time that I made Azalea leave, we stopped having them. My 17th birthday was the last time I remember having them. I thought we changed omega cooks or something. She had to have made these. She was up so early today, and she did tell me she loves to bake while we talked at the coffee shop. All those years, I was eating her food, and I didn’t know.

“Oh Goddess,” I thought as my mind strayed to that morning about a month before my 17th birthday. I was so mean to her that day. I let her fall, I teased her, threw water on her, all when she was the one that would make a special breakfast just for me most mornings. I had gone into the kitchen a little early that day and probably interrupted her making everything. I was the worst Alpha in training; I am no better than the rest of the pack with how I treated her.

“We didn’t know she was our mate. But now we do. We can protect her now,” Gavin chided in my head.

“So, the big bad wolf has some sympathy?” I shot back.

“Well, I could tell you that you still are just a piece of s**t? Or I can help you get our mate!”

“I know, I know. I just hate realizing that I was even worse than I previously thought. She probably thinks I am just a giant monster.”

“Well, we kinda are….”

“Shut up! You know what I mean!”

“Sorry, sorry. We need to forget the past and worry about now. We need to make Azalea ours so no one else can have her!”

“First, we have to deal with this hunter situation. Then we can make Azalea come back to the pack with us.”

“Right. Good idea. I could use a good hunt anyway.”

I rolled my eyes at him. I really didn’t understand my wolf sometimes. But I couldn’t argue. I needed to make Azalea mine entirely. We needed to mate, or Gavin was going to continue to drive me crazy. Wolves are a pretty horny race, but Alphas are a whole other level.

One thing at a time. Hunter first. Then Azalea. I continued to think this as I made my way back to the packhouse.