Inevitably Yours

MICHAEL

I’ve never had to practice so much self-discipline, but it was so worth it. Every stolen moment with Quinn was more breathtaking and stimulating than any other physical intimacy I’d experienced before.

She was so innocent and inexperienced. All I had to do was pay attention to the subtle cues her body gave me, and I knew exactly what she was comfortable with. Verbally reassuring her helped too, giving her mind the words in my voice to make her comfortable with me.

The heat between her legs was burning me alive as I kissed her sweet, soft lips. I had to move my hands above her waist to keep myself from slipping up the leg hole of her shorts to search for the wet nectar I knew would be waiting for me. All Eros could m**n about was how it would feel with her body clenching tightly around our fingers or something more. Saying the words out loud also helped to bring him back to sanity.

Not wanting my control to crumble, I needed to change our position. “I can’t stay all night, but will you lay with me for a little while?” I tried. She bit her l*p and nodded.

I g*****d internally at her adorable expression but repositioned us to lay together. We both laid on our sides facing each other, Quinn resting her head on my outstretched arm. There was a half-foot of space between us now, allowing the summer night air to relieve the heat she caused.

She had her arms curled to her chest, so I reached over and pried her hands apart with my free hand. I traced her fingers with mine and lightly etched invisible nothings on the back of her hand, happy to be touching her.

“The longer we stay, the more we touch her, the more danger we are in,” Eros warned, now apparently clear of mind.

“I know, I know. I just want a few more minutes,” I told him. It was risky sneaking out to see her, but I just couldn’t stay away. I had to know if she felt the same after I kissed her or if I had managed to completely scare her away. It was such a relief knowing she wasn’t ordering me away from her.

Her eyelids drooped slightly, and I could see the bumps raising on her flesh. “Cold?” I asked.

“A little,” she answered. I moved closer to her, and she leaned her head against my chest.

I swallowed hard, the feelings inside me ready to burst free. There was no way the mate bond could be better than this. There was no way I could love anyone harder than I did her.

“Don’t fall asleep,” I said, kissing the top of her head. I reached down and ran my fingers along the supple skin of her leg. Her arm snaked itself over my waist now, hugging me to her slightly. I let my hand move up and down, just enjoying her skin beneath my fingertips for a minute before I moved back up to her waist and back. Her leg kicked forward, and I lifted mine slightly. She planted her leg right between mine, cuddling closer to me.

It was then that I realized how hard I was, pressed tightly to the inside of my shorts. As her leg adjusted between mine, it pressed firmly against my e******n, and she froze. I could see crimson creeping towards her ear when I looked down at her face, still buried in my chest.

That’s when I heard a muffled, “Is that?”

Her voice trailed, clearly not wanting to ask directly. I suppressed a laugh, settling instead on a smile as I leaned toward her ear, my lips a hair’s breadth from it, “Of course it is. This is what you do to me, Blue.”

I couldn’t help myself, so I lightly rubbed the tip of my nose around the edge of her ear before placing a soft k**s just below her ear lobe in the hollow beneath. I reveled in the shiver that ran from my lips to her toes. “Is it okay for you? If not, I can move.”

She shook her head into my chest to affirm her desire to stay against me, so I relaxed into her touch.

She didn’t uncover her face or look up at me as she systematically brought us more entangled. I wondered if she was embarrassed by her own boldness. I liked the way she modestly signaled for more affection. I continued to rub her back in a gentle, steady motion.

I know Quinn didn’t have the same troubles I did, but it seemed to work as a balm just the same. Her body relaxed, the same as the day I used my magic on her. I wanted to protect her from the horrors of my world, but I was fooling myself if I thought I could keep them from her. If she was my mate, it wasn’t something I could hide forever. If she wasn’t…. I couldn’t imagine that possibility.

We stayed just like that for a long time, my large body cocooning and protecting her small one from the worries of our world. I heard her baby-soft snores but chose not to wake her. This moment was everything I wanted and needed. I knew I was selfish with her, but I rarely let myself be selfish with anything.

The night sky started to fade and brighten to purple. “This is not good,” Eros said. “We’ve been here too long.”

He was right, and I knew it. Heaviness crept into my stomach because of what could be waiting for me at home. I hugged Quinn a little tighter.

“We need to leave,” Eros said. “Go to the training field. Act as if you woke early to train on your own, and he may not be suspicious.”

“I smell like her now,” I sighed. I buried my nose in her soft blue hair. The sunlight beginning to break into the world made it reflect bits of pink and purple.

“Go to the woods. Shift, run, sweat. Rub your clothes in the dirt to mask her,” he suggested.

“Alright,” I agreed. “I don’t want to wake her. She is sleeping so soundly.”

“Then leave her here. We need to go now,” he pushed. I extricated myself gently from Quinn’s hold. She stirred a little as I separated from her but settled back down. I pulled my shirt over my head and laid it over her. I would text her my apology later.

Luckily for me, Quinn’s house was set back against a treeline that fed into the forest surrounding most of the pack land. It would be a long, out-of-the-way route, but I could use it to shift and run back to the packhouse. If I carried my other clothing in my mouth, it would help cover any more of her scent left.

I quietly padded into the trees, making sure I was out of direct sight of her house before stripping down and shifting. I shook out my grey fur and collected my clothing. With one last lingering look toward the spot Quinn still slept, I bolted back to my house.

–

Mercifully, I was able to pretend I woke up early to train. I caught a glimpse of my father watching me only once while I worked. When I finally dared to enter the mostly empty packhouse, my mom had a wrapped breakfast plate waiting for me in the kitchen.

I warmed it up and stood at the counter to eat, my body sore and tired from staying up all night then working out for hours on end. I managed to send Quinn a quick apology before my phone died and hoped to call her later.

After eating, I washed my plate and left it to dry so I could head upstairs to take a shower. The packhouse was solemnly quiet and empty as it usually was when my father was home. It seemed when he left, more people tended to come around, and my mom could convince people to come to help her with the never-ending chores and upkeep.

When I got to my room, I put my phone on the charger first then went to shower. I let the water run cold, enjoying the feeling on my too-hot skin. Between Quinn and all the physical activity, I needed to cool down. The entire time I trained this morning, images from the night before flashed through my mind.

When I was clean, I pulled on fresh clothes and turned my phone on. I did have a reply from Quinn, and for the first time, her message didn’t fill me with joy.

BLUE

| you let me fall asleep. now im grounded.

That hadn’t been my intention at all. I didn’t think her parents would get mad about her sleeping outside; we werewolves, for Goddess’s sake.

ME

| you were sleeping so soundly. i’m sorry

Hopefully, being grounded didn’t mean she lost her phone if she could text me earlier. But it could mean that I wouldn’t be able to see her for a while.

BLUE

| no friends or fun for a week

| i can only have my phone because of practice

Her reply didn’t help the guilt I felt. I rubbed my hands over my tired eyes. I didn’t dare go to sleep and give myself away after managing to get away with sneaking out all night successfully.

ME

| i’m so sorry

| if it helps last night was the best night of my life

I stared at my phone for a solid ten minutes waiting for her reply, but it never came. I decided it was time to distract myself so I didn’t go crazy and go to her house to result in more trouble.

I left my room and cautiously sought out my mom. She and my brother were in the laundry, folding baskets of freshly cleaned clothes.

“There you are,” she said as I came in. “How was your morning training?” she asked.

“Fine,” I said. I tried not to let on the utter exhaustion I felt.

“Taking that whole Alpha thing a little more seriously? Finally get rid of the little floozy?” she teased.

“Mom, stop,” I said in a low tone. She shrugged.

“What are you doing today then?” she asked. That was all I needed to know; she and my father had no plans to keep me contained all day.

“Might go hang out with my friends,” I said calmly.

“Have fun,” she said. Tyler and I locked gazes, and he gave me a smirk. He probably knew I snuck out last night and was trying to dangle it above my head. He didn’t know I was better at this game than him.

As calmly as I could, I made my way down to the basement to sort through the last remaining boxes of my Mema’s things. I was so close; I knew I would find it any time now. The proof had to be down there.

–

Melvin. Melvin Galbraith.

My Mema did have the proof; Pop was right. I held an old, stained slip of paper in my hands.

Declaration of Birth

Michael Galbraith born to Claire Galbraith and Melvin Galbraith.

The parts of the paper that were stained also had ink smudged, probably from whatever liquid had come in contact with the form. Details like time, date, and birth weight were unreadable. But it was clear in front of me. Melvin Galbraith.

How? Was I really Michael Galbraith, not Michael Gibson, son of Lawrence Gibson?

This document gave me hard proof and opened the flood gate to many more questions. My mother’s maiden name was Clemmons, not Galbraith. Whoever Melvin was, maybe they had not been together. My mind was spinning, trying to piece together the whole puzzle. I needed more answers, though.

Carefully, I folded the paper, my birth certificate, and slipped it into my pocket. I repacked the box where I found the document. Once everything was put away, I steeled myself. I had to ask my mom right now. I had to know the truth.

Tyler was playing video games in the lounge. It was almost lunchtime, but my mom wasn’t down in the kitchen. I decided to take the chance and try her office, which was right next to my father’s, or Lawrence’s, office. I didn’t want to do this if he was around; I wanted my mom to face me and look me in the eye when she answered my questions.

I kept my expression neutral as I walked down the hall. I slowed my pace just enough so I could listen for my father in his office. The door was ajar, but there was no sound inside; he was out.

Knowing that he wasn’t here to interrupt, I marched right into my mom’s office without knocking.

“Michael,” she scolded. I shut the door behind me and turned around. I pulled the paper from my pocket.

“We need to have a conversation,” I said, trying to keep my tone calm but unwavering.

“About?” she questioned. I placed the paper in front of her. She looked down, and horror took over her features. “Where-where did you get this?”

“Who is my real father?”