Twice Tempted: Between Two Alphas (Mia and Cameron)

Chapter 32

Chapter Thirty-Two

MIA

Cameron carries me out of the circle.

His strong arms hold me close. My body presses up against his chest, my arms circle his neck.

My son walks beside us, his hand on my back. My dad carries my daughter.

It’s almost two miles back to the square, and Cam never once falters.

Packmates line the trail. They pat his shoulders, welcoming him back.

Many of them offer blessings to my children. Some even extend a greeting to me.

I wasn’t expecting that.

I wasn’t expecting Cam to storm into that circle and declare me his mate. Or to challenge his father and

the Elders.

His lips brush my forehead, he nuzzles my hair. I snuggle deeper into his arms and his rumbling praise

is reward enough.

I miss this.

I miss him.

I miss us.

“Come back to the main house,” he mutters.

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I feel the grumbling sound he makes. He isn’t happy with my answer.

When we reach the square, Cam sets me on my feet.

“Come, Father,” Jacelyn says. “Mommy needs to rest.”

She takes his one hand, and Aaron takes the other. They walk him toward the main pack house, Cam’s

whole entourage, my father, his, the Elders, trailing behind like a parade.

I stand there, watching. The events of the last few hours feel surreal.

“How about a shower?” Christian offers.

Liam makes a show of sniffing the air. “You need one.”

Christian nudges my shoulder. “Come on. The worst is behind us, Mia. You’re home. Cam’s awake.

Life’s looking up.”

Is it though? I can’t escape the terrible sense of dread that the worst is yet to come…

We head toward one of the bunkhouses. They’re for pack use.

I take that shower. Liam brings me a huge tray of food and I eat.

Someone brings over some of my old clothes. I’m surprised my dad kept them. I thought for sure,

everything I’d owned would’ve been tossed away when Ashley mated Cam.

Seeing Cameron for the first time after so many years, it was like the time apart melted away. He’s

bigger and his hair’s a little longer, but not much else has changed.

He’s still tall and imposing. His eyes still shine with that unnatural shade of green, glowing with an

intensity that can make me feel like I’m the only woman in the world.

And when he came between me and his father, challenging his own pack and calling me his mate…

I’d be lying if I said it didn’t give me some of those old feels.

Nala purrs appreciatively.

No girl. We can’t go back.

He’s married, remember?

Albeit to a woman who lied and cheated her way into the life I should have had.

Alone in this temporary room, I drop onto the bed and give in to the tears I’ve bottled up since arriving

here.

I want my children.

I want the peace I once had in a new life, in another place.

And a part of me wants Cameron again.

I rub my stomach, not sure if I’m pregnant and not sure how I’ll feel if I am.

How could dream sex lead to new life?

Nala?

My wolf slumbers now, too tired to deal with my mess of emotions. She’s a wolf. She knows hunger,

thirst, desire, rage. She loves her pups. But all this emotional upheaval she happily ignores.

I can’t blame her.

My eyes burn, and my heart aches for all I’ve lost.

All I might still lose.

Mia! Mia! Can you hear me!?

It’s Eric. He’s frantic. I’m here, Eric. I’m okay.

The connection between us cuts out. He says something else but it’s garbled. It sounds like, I’m

coming for you.

**********

CAMERON

I can’t stop staring at my children.

I feel like Mia named my daughter after my brother, and though I’m stung that she wouldn’t name Aaron

for me, I’m also touched.

I know how strong Jace and Mia’s relationship used to be.

I flip through the years we’ve been apart, the memories pouring in like water through a sieve. The birth

of Merilee, the highs and lows of my relationship with Ashley–thinking of my wife, I call out to my Luna,

but she is unreachable.

I could go see her in the hospital ward, I suppose. But the answers I seek are right in front of me.

And though my memories of recent events are blurred, I’m piecing them together.

Rage builds and my hands shift. I’ve been tricked, my whole pack has been compromised.

It may have been a spell, but that doesn’t change the outcome.

“Daddy!” Jacelyn pats my hand. “It’s okay. We’re safe. Mommy is safe.”

My little girl marvels at the fur on my hands and my claws.

“Daddy, these things had to happen,” Aaron says, while playing with a toy car.

I’m being educated by kindergarteners.

I chuckle at the ridiculousness of it all.

And then I sober.

They may be children, but these kids are perceptive. I need to mask my moods.

I turn over my palms so she can see my claws. Her tiny fingers trace the sharp nails without fear of

hurting her. My wolf is as much in love as I am. Conn purrs beneath my skin. The boy is playing and

making sounds as he zooms the toy car over pillows from the couch.

We’re sitting in my living room, just the three of us, while my father and Sean confer with the Elders.

There is no denying that my children are touched by our Goddess. They radiate old souls, and such

peace and solace, that many of our pack have been by in the past few hours to offer blessings and to

personally welcome my kids.

My eyes well with pride, and I have to wipe the happy tears from my cheeks. I’m so in love with these

two already, and we just met.

They have me as surely as Merilee.

Thinking of my little baby brings heaviness to my chest. Merilee has been frail and sick her entire life.

Her mother’s treachery is to blame, but I don’t even care about that anymore. I just want her to get well.

“Yes, Daddy,” Aaron says as he continues to make his car go. “Merilee will get well.”

A chill runs up my spine. I did not project my thoughts.

I am an Alpha. NO one, not even my own kin should be able to read my thoughts. Not unless I want

them to.

Aaron smiles. “Tell him, Jacelyn.”

There is silence weighted with the feel of wolfen conversation. My children are a pack within

themselves and converse in twin-speak. Their eyes flutter and their little faces are so expressive.

But these skills shouldn’t manifest for many years. Wolves don’t have their first shifts until well into their

teens. As Alpha, my blood bond would let me direct my thoughts to them, but it shouldn’t flow the

opposite way or even between them.

I wait, so proud, for Jacelyn to talk. But what she says… chills me to the bone:

“Our sister will heal… but many will die so that she may live.”