stared into my eyes.
Even though her gorgeous blue eyes were now full of
tears, I could tell she was still trying to read me.
My wife didn’t like being left in the dark when it comes
to someone she cares about. She happened to be the type
to need answers right then and there.
“As you already know, I have a brain tumor. It has
gotten worse.” I began to tell her. “Mads baby, I’m so
sorry for not telling you this sooner. The doctors told me
it could potentially be years before the tumor starts
taking effect. They were wrong.”
She quickly stood and put her clothes back on. “How in
the hell could you not tell me? This is a pretty big deal
Evan!” Forming her fists out of anger.
“See…that right there is exactly why I didn’t want to tell
you. I knew you’d over-react. I’m fine baby. I promise.”
Trying to stay calm for the both of us.
She shook her head. “You are far from fine.” Folding her
arms across her chest. “So what now? We just sit and
wait for you to die?”
I made my way over to her, wrapping my massive arms
around her small frame. “There isn’t anything left we
can do. I’m so sorry baby.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
I woke up the next morning to my wife’s empty side of
the bed. My body sprang out of bed in a heap of panic. I
darted out of the room and downstairs.
“Good morning baby. I would like for you to meet one of
my closest friends.” Maddie looked over at the young
woman and smiled. “Violet, this is my husband Evan.
The sexy hunk I was telling you about. Don’t mind the
boxers.”
Violet’s eyes scanned my body and smirked. “Snoopy
and Woodstock. Nice choice.”
I playfully rolled my eyes. “Thanks.”
“Violet’s here to help us with our little problem.” My
wife poured a cup of coffee and placed it on the island
counter in front of me.
“Our little problem? Mads, I told you there wasn’t
anything we could do about the tumor.” I took a sip of
my coffee.
Violet continued to smirk in my direction. “That is
where you are wrong, my dear new friend. Being the
king’s sister has its perks.”
I looked over at her in total shock. “Gabriel never
mentioned having a sister.”
“Of course he didn’t. My brother and I aren’t on
speaking terms at the moment. He’s an asshole.” She
stated ever-so bluntly with a little shrug. “Anyways…I
can and will help you, Evan.”
Before any of us could speak another word, Ryan and
Zack came hauling ass into the room. Ryan wasted no
time in running up to me. I scooped up my son while
Maddie picked up Zack.
“How old are they?” Violet smiled as she looked from
Zack to Ryan.
I couldn’t help but notice the way Zack was staring at
Violet. For a split second, I could’ve sworn I saw a little
grin on his usually sour lips.
“They are at the physical age of four. I have been
casually studying the growth rate of all the kids in the
family. Ryan and Zack have been developing slower than
the others. Evan’s sister, Samantha, was the first to have
a baby. She gave birth only months before I did and her
daughter is a few years older than our boys.” Maddie
began to explain. “I honestly believe that finding your
mate at an early age is a factor in the major growth
spurts.”
My eyes quickly met hers. “Now Maddie, we don’t know
for sure if Emilia and Jackson are mates.”
“Wait. Who’s Jackson?” Violet wondered, looking a little
confused.
My wife focused her attention back on Violet. “Jackson
is your nephew, Gabriel and Erin’s son. Erin is Evan’s
twin sister; which makes Emilia and Jackson cousins.”
A huge grin surfaced on Violet’s face. “Oh hell. I bet my
brother is having a fit over this. It must be driving him
crazy.”
“Yes it has. My sister’s having a rough time with getting
him to accept it and move on.” I squeezed myself into
the conversation. “I kind of see Gabriel’s point though.
They are related by blood.”
My wife shook her head to disagree. “If you haven’t
noticed…you’re a pack of wolves. I’m not trying to sound
disrespectful, but dogs have been known to inbreed.
Besides, we can’t help who we fall in love with.”
“Whoa. Hey. I’m not taking the man’s side on this.” I
assured her. “I’m simply saying that I can see, as a
father, why he feels so strongly about it.”
Violet leaned back in the chair. “It’s not the only reason.”
Folding her arms over her chest. “He’s also a pompous
ass who always has to have his way.
Always
. Don’t be
surprised if he finds a way to keep them from imprinting
on each other. Since he is king, he has the power to
remove any bond made.”
“If he knows what’s best for him, he would leave it alone.
He would be messing with Samantha’s daughter if he
broke Emilia and Jackson’s bond. Sammy is one hell of a
force that you do not want to mess with.” Maddie spoke.
“She holds the temper of her father and the strength of
her mother. Nobody messes with Sammy without
suffering the consequences.”
I nodded in agreement. “Sammy is my sister. Even I
wouldn’t dare mess with her. She may be smaller than
me, but that woman is like a crate of dynamite.”
****
-Samuel Utley
My daughter scared the living shit out of me the day
she showed up, pinning me against the wall by my
throat. That was the same day I realized that Maddison
would no longer be mine after giving birth to our
daughter.
Evan, my only son, imprinted on her without feeling he
did so. Another wolf cannot imprint on a woman if
she’s pregnant with another tribe member’s child. This
was the first time the rule had been put to use.
Typically in the world of the wolves, a couple mates for
life. My case was a bit different since Gabriel had
insisted I be the one to reproduce a child who would
become his beloved queen. I had to go out of my
marriage to impregnate a woman until she was
created.
Maddison Callen gave birth to our baby girl, Addison,
shortly after Sammy had returned home. She was
absolutely perfect for Gabriel’s son and our prince,
Matthew.
I knew that Gabriel had made a promise to Maddison
regarding the birth of Addison. He promised her a life
long mate. I never expected it to be my son.
Chapter Twenty-Four
-Erin Utley
As proud I was of my brother for reaching out to Maddie
and finding a way to resolve the tumor issue, I still
thought he was an idiot for waiting so damn long.
I strolled into his and Maddie’s bedroom where he was
recovering from Violet removing the tumor. “Hey little
brother. How are you feeling?”
“Light-headed and a bit dizzy, but better.” He smiled as
he lay there, holding onto Maddison.
I looked over at Violet who had been sitting nearby with
Zack on her lap. “You didn’t make the mistake and
remove his brain did you? That thing’s pretty small too.”
She smiled while keeping Zack steady on her lap. “Your
brother is tumor free and will be with us for a very long
time.”
“You mean I have to deal with his ass for the rest of my
life? Damn.” I sighed, playfully rolling my eyes.
My brother smirked. “I love you too Erin. How are you
and Gabriel doing? Still fighting over Jackson and
Emilia?”
I took a seat on the edge of their bed. Shrugging, I lightly
patted his feet. “Gabriel will always be Gabriel…”
“A pompous jackass who has to have his way.” Maddison
interrupted, her eyes rolling in annoyance.
As I opened my mouth to defend my husband, the door
opened and Addison came running in. Her bright
personality always put a smile on my face. Even though
she had only been born a few months ago, her physical
maturity was almost one of a teenager.
I looked up to see my dad standing in the doorway,
instantly feeling the tension between him and Evan. I
could understand why things were awkward with them
at first, but Evan and Maddison were married now. The
tension between him and dad should have vanished
weeks ago.
“Maddison, I would like to talk to you in private if you
don’t mind.” My father spoke in his business-like tone.
Instead of standing, Maddie looked up at him. “Sam. We
are all family here. Whatever you have to say, I’m sure it
can be said in front of everyone.”
I continued to watch as his facial expression shifted to
slightly angry and frustrated. I’ve seen that look plenty
of times during his little chats with Sammy whenever
she would break curfew or mouth off to someone.
“Alright. Fine. Matthew imprinted on Addison the day
she was born. He has now wished to claim her as his
own.” Dad spoke and I could’ve sworn everyone’s jaw
dropped.
Maddie’s eyes blinked a few times. “I’ve already had a
little chat with him over this. I believe it was the day
after she was born. He has already agreed to not disrupt
our daughter’s childhood.”
He nodded in approval. “Good. It’s bad enough I lost
both of my daughters so fast. I told Addie to take her
time and enjoy being a kid. Isn’t that right princess?”
Addison’s face softened when she innocently smiled.
“Absolutely daddy.” Her voice so sweet it was deadly;
she definitely knew how to work dad.
“Wait a minute. Daddy, you haven’t lost me and Sammy.
I’m pretty sure we’ve been here the whole time. Not so
much Sammy, but I have.” I spoke while standing, still
looking at my dad. “Yes, you may have lost Sammy years
ago but Evan and I have been here even when she
wasn’t. I’m so sorry you were too busy worrying over
Sammy to not realize it.” Dashing out of the room.
I ran downstairs only to meet my sister at the front door.
She stared at me in totally shock since I had almost ran
into her. “Sammy. No talking to me unless you are
driving me the hell out of here.”
Sammy reached for her keys from the front pocket of her
jeans. “Fair enough. Let’s get you out of here.”
“Thank you.” Climbing into the passenger seat of her
car.
She slid into the driver’s seat, put on her belt, and
started the engine. We rode in complete silence. That
was one of the things I loved about Sammy. She may
have been mouthy, but she knew when to shut up.
My head leaned back onto the head-rest and I closed my
eyes. Ever since I was a little girl, I had always wondered
why Sammy was the one our father worried over the
most. He supported all of us, but he held Samantha onto
a golden pedestal.
My sister left town before the ink on her diploma could
dry. While we were growing up, all she had her heart set
on was leaving this town. Forgetting about everyone and
everything as she focused on nothing but moving away
from her family.
Chapter Twenty-Five
“Dad and momma Emily weren’t the only ones you left
behind, Sammy.” I finally spoke after roughly an hour of
driving. “I’m your sister, Samantha. I could’ve helped
you with whatever you were going through.”
She quickly looked over at me and back at the road.
“Erin. Back then, I didn’t want anyone’s help. I was
pissed at the world and felt I needed a change of scenery
to be happy.”
I watched her in silence, knowing she had more to say.
“Yes. For the longest time, I did believe you and Evan
ruined everything. I was a kid then.” She continued,
turning around in the direction towards home. “If you
tell Gabriel any of this, I will deny it…I’m sort of glad he
came back for me on the night of my birthday. It was
nice to know he still cared even after all those years.”
“The whole family wanted you back home. It wasn’t the
same when you were gone. There was a certain
emptiness in everyone, especially Gabriel.” I confessed
to her. “Gabriel will always hold a place in his heart for
you. Collin is none too thrilled, but there isn’t a thing he
can do about it. All of us know that you and Gabriel were
chosen by our ancestors to lead our pack.”
