SWNOVELS Chapter Chapter One
“Why try harder than I have to?! I’m already winning!” He called over his shoulder as he ran ahead on the familiar path.
Echoes from the past reverberated through his dreams. He knew these events had already taken place, yet he was unable to shake himself away from them.
“Are you?” Bastian appeared in front of him as if by magic.
His childhood friend was a now a grown man and in his arms lay the limp body of a small, blonde haired woman. He could smell blood on her, though he saw none. He inhaled the familiar smell. The sweet yet tart scent of her skin provoked a vague memory and an electric feeling.
“Eve?” Flint’s deep voice caught in his throat.
He looked down at himself to see that he had aged as well. In an instant.
“Answer me.” Bastian’s voice drew his horrified gaze.
“Let her go!” Flint roared.
“Answer me first.” The man smiled venomously. “Are you winning? Are you really?”
Before he could stop himself or calculate an answer, Flint shifted. In a blur of fur and teeth, he ran at his enemy. Just before he was able to latch onto Bastian with his powerful jaws...
“Baby.” Her voice invaded his mind.
Flint jerked awake and sat straight up in bed. There was a sheen of sweat on his skin and his wolf was howling in his mind.
“Flint, baby...” Eve touched his arm gently. “You were terrified and angry. I felt it. Are you okay?”
She had been watching him sleep. Through their mindlink, she could sense what he was thinking about as he dreamt. Loss and war.
“I’m fine.” He pulled her into a hug and inhaled her scent. Like always; she smelled of floral sweetness, berry tartness, and him. Not of blood or of Bastian.
Her touch washed his fear in warmth, soothing it away. Since he had found out Eve was pregnant, his nights were filled with the feeling of foreboding. Bastian was still on the run, as was Selena. It felt like Flint’s old friend, turned greatest enemy, could rear his head at any moment.
“You can tell me what you’re thinking. You know that, right?” Eve sighed as she nestled against his torso.
“I know, Eve. Everything’s okay.” He kissed her forehead and laid back down on the mattress. “Go to back sleep.”
He’s lying. Her wolf stated the obvious.
We know. We can feel it. Eve thought to herself.
Make him tell us. The animal demanded.
No. He needs to sleep. We already know why he’s upset. She replied.
Bastian. The she-wolf growled the name.
Eve pushed the wolf away from her mind to the best of her ability. Truthfully; the animal part of her had more control over her lately, given her current state. It was hard to focus on anything besides her instincts, and even harder to keep from shifting when her inner beast demanded to appear.
Everyone is safe. Rest, my love. Her wolf’s voice appeared in Flint’s mind like a passing wind.
After having heard this, his inner animal relaxed. Flint could feel the weight of his reign weighing down on him. When his wolf slept, he was finally able to rest. Eve didn’t go back to sleep as her mate had suggested. Instead, she waited for him to drift off before carefully getting out of bed.
The sun had yet to lighten the sky but that seemed to matter less and less. Eve had been waking earlier and she had been running more. She decided that since Flint had been having nightmares, she would stay in the house for the morning. She made a pot of coffee and sat at the counter in the kitchen with her phone, scrolling through her emails.
Her obstetrician, Doctor Emily Mills, sent a reminder for her appointment later that week. Eve sighed and locked the screen of her device. It had been three weeks since she discovered her pregnancy and since then, she was having a hard time being overjoyed about it.
Her family would be thrilled when they knew and the pack would be excitedly chattering about it soon enough. Eve, however, felt like her mate did. It had been quiet since Selena helped Bastian escape. Much too quiet...
She gazed down at her flat stomach in wonder. The mating Call would be happening in a few days and she was about to attend her first one since meeting Flint. Yet, somehow in the span of a year she had gone from being an assistant at her father’s office and reading all day, to being mated to the Alpha of the largest pack on the range. Now she was pregnant with his child.
The sun was coming up by the time Eve finished cleaning the kitchen. The door opened a few minutes later and Flint’s assistant entered the room.
“Oh, Luna. You’re up early.” Blair smiled.
“So are you. What are you doing up and about at six AM?” Eve probed.
“Alpha asked me to bring the search reports from the valley as soon as they came in. I have them. Here.” She handed over a thick file of paperwork.
“Oh, thank you. I know he’s been running you ragged since hiring you. Want some coffee?” She offered as she placed the folder on the counter.
“I have some time.” Blair nodded gratefully.
They took their seats and shared some idle chatter before the assistant had to rush off for more pack business. Eve opened the file once she was alone and began to read over the information prepared by Commander Duncan.
When Bastian was in custody below headquarters, he mentioned a few of his “friends”. Eve had been trying to find them and hopefully locate Bastian as well. Still, there were no last names given so the search wasn’t going very well. This morning in particular, Eve happened to see something peculiar.
Since she hadn’t found any information on Bastian’s other acquaintances, she decided last week to start looking into the human school system for the boy she’d once met in the woods. He introduced himself simply as ‘Briar’.
Buried in the middle of the thick stack of information were two names of no consequence. Randy and Denise Taylor. They were the parents of Briar Taylor, who had turned eight years old a few months ago. He attended the human school in the valley and there were only three people listed as safe to pick him up from school. His mother, father, and grandfather.
The boy Eve was searching for mentioned his grandfather as well. He said they lived together. Her heart began to pound in her chest as she searched for a way to see this rogue wolf family, without them knowing.
It turned out, the couple owned a flower shop in Summerville. It was named Wild Flowers and according to the GPS on Eve’s phone, she could be there in just under three hours. She grabbed the sheet and her laptop, hurriedly making her way back to the bedroom.
She entered to see that Flint was already out of bed. He was taking a shower and he’d left the bathroom door cracked open. The steam of the hot water carried his scent on it; the familiar smell of crisp leaves and rain on freshly cut grass. Eve inhaled deeply, allowing it to envelope her.
She sat her things down on the bed, before she pushed open the bathroom door. Behind the sliding glass door stood her mate. The wolf to whom she had bound her mind, heart, and soul. Her gaze slid over him as he rinsed out his dark hair. He hadn't shaved yet so the stubble that covered his square jaw was thicker than usual.
Her eyes were mesmerized by the droplets of water sliding over his tan skin. His glistening muscles. His strong hands. Every part of him was perfection to Eve. Flint wiped his face and glanced toward her. A smirk immediately appeared on his lips as he slid the shower door open.
"Good morning, beautiful." He grinned.
Eve didn't answer. Her gaze grazed over his wet, bare form before meeting the crisp emerald color of his eyes. Flint's smile broadened and he held his hand out to her.
"Join me." Flint stated plainly.