Azalea

I woke up feeling incredibly warm and cozy. I realized, once again, that I had his large arms wrapped around me and a leg tangled between mine. I smiled, thinking about last night. I had been so scared when I saw a shadow move past my window. No one had ever bothered me back here before. I felt silly calling him, but Liam came anyway. He didn't make me feel silly or stupid; he simply took care of me like no one ever had.

I've 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. Living in the packhouse, I can't say the tears never came; there were definitely times when they broke through my defenses. But I learned to lock everything away and face 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 kept going. I never hoped for someone to sweep me off my feet; that only happens in books. Being away from the pack and independent gave me a small amount of hope for a simple, content life. Until Liam showed up, that's all I wanted: a simple, quiet life—books to read, the inn to take care of, and a few friends.

Liam was changing that. I knew I shouldn't let it happen, but I was starting to want more. I know this little fairy tale can't last forever. No matter how much we feel for each other, I'm a broken wolf. I can't be his Luna, and I could never ask him to give up being Alpha for me. He worked his whole life to lead the pack, and I'm sure he's a great leader. I knew I'd only get in his way. Great leaders can't have weak mates.

With these solemn thoughts, I slowly untangled myself from Liam. He slept so soundly he didn't even stir as I climbed over him and got out of bed. My clock read 5:00 a.m. There was no time like the present to do what I love most: bake.

I went to my closet for clothes: jeans, a purple flowery top, and a sweater. Tossing my pajamas into the overflowing laundry bin, I changed quickly and quietly. After brushing my teeth and fixing my hair in the bathroom, I pulled out my braid and combed it into soft waves, twisting the front pieces back into a low bun.

Liam was still asleep when I returned to the apartment. I grabbed a notepad from the desk and scribbled a note: "Woke up early. Didn't want to wake you. Breakfast will be ready at the inn by 7. Come join me."

Grabbing my laundry basket, I headed to the inn. Amy wasn't there yet—she's terrible in the mornings, and sometimes our breakfast service falls behind. I put my laundry in the corner to deal with later. 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 rushed in with a cranky Abigail on her hip, looking like a mess. I smiled. Thoughts of not being able to stay with Liam were pushed to the back of my mind, for now.

"Good morning," I chirped.

"Yeah, uh-huh," she mumbled.

"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 toward me with Abigail.

I wiped my hands on my apron and reached for Abigail. She immediately reached for me.

"Good morning, Abi girl. Are we driving Mama a little crazy today?" I cooed.

"You could say that. She's decided her bed is no longer suitable and that she'll be choosing her own clothes! Look at what she's wearing!" Amy complained.

I looked down at Abigail's ridiculous outfit and giggled. "Oh, it's okay, Amy. She's just learning to be independent. Right, Abi girl? Let's get your chair and some breakfast, huh?"

"There are croissants and danishes in the warmer, coffee's ready, fruit's cut up in the fridge. Might just want to whip up a quick egg scramble, and I can make some orange juice," I told Amy as I got Abigail'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 keep her occupied.

"You are an angel from the heavens!" she said, relieved. She started cooking eggs. I got Abigail's cereal and fruit ready, got her situated with utensils, and started making orange juice.

"So, let's hear it. Spill. Start to finish," Amy said expectantly.

"Spill what?" I asked, playing dumb. I knew she wanted to hear about my date.

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

"I told you, my name is Liam," a deep voice said from the doorway. Liam stood there, looking hot in a tousled, "I just woke up" sort of way. Amy's mouth dropped open.

"He stayed the night?" she hissed. I blushed and turned to Liam.

"Good morning. Coffee?" I asked.

"Please," he replied, smiling. I poured him a cup.

"So, uh, breakfast will be ready in a few minutes," I said shyly. I wasn't sure I wanted him to stay, but I didn't want him to leave yet.

"I'm sorry, Azalea, but I have to go. There are things I need to attend to at, uh, work today," he said, glancing at Amy.

Disappointment washed over me; we hadn't even talked about last night. "That's alright. I can wrap you something up for the road," I said, smiling.

"Sure, that would be lovely," he said, smiling tightly. I got him some pastries, wrapped them in a napkin, and a to-go cup of coffee.

"How about I walk you to the front?" I offered.

"Please," he said. "Amy, nice to see you." Amy nodded, continuing to cook.

On the porch, we paused. He broke the silence.

"I really enjoyed our time together, Azalea. I wish I could stay longer, but I have some pack business to attend to."

"It's alright. I enjoyed yesterday, too. Thank you for staying with me. I've never been scared back there before."

"Promise you'll call me if you see anything unusual again?" he asked seriously.

"Sure," I said, smiling, though my eyes probably showed my sadness.

"I should go. Thank you for breakfast and coffee," he said. He kissed my forehead, leaving a warm feeling behind. I watched him leave. Time to work.

Liam

When I woke, I instinctively reached for Azalea, but she was gone. Sadness washed over me. I looked around her apartment—it smelled strongly of her, but I didn't hear any other heartbeats. Maybe she went to the inn? The clock said 7:00 a.m.

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

"Yeah," I thought. I got my shoes and saw 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. That was one of the best nights' sleep I'd had in a while. Sleeping with her in my arms was blissful, and it calmed Gavin down.

I went to the bathroom to fix my appearance, but my phone rang. It was Damien.

"Yeah," I answered.

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

"Sorry, man, but there was another attack on the border of Langston's and our territory. One from each pack. This hunter thing is getting out of hand. We need you back here. Focused."

I sighed. I'd been distracted, and it wasn't fair to my pack. I should probably tell Damien about Azalea soon.

"Yeah, give me an hour, and I'll be back. Call Langston to meet me in my office. You and his Beta should be there, too."

"Can do," he said. "Liam" He paused. "Is it her? The traitor girl?" he asked quietly.

"We'll talk later," I said and hung up. I didn't want to have this conversation now, or over the phone. I also wanted to see if my uncle had more answers.

After fixing my hair, I went to the inn. I heard Azalea's voice: "She's just learning to be independent. Right, Abi girl? Let's get your chair and some breakfast, huh?" She was so good with the baby; she'd be an amazing mom.

"Then let's make some pups. Hurry up and mark her already!" Gavin growled in my head.

"Shut up. She isn't ready for that," I snapped.

I heard Amy pressing Azalea: "So, let's hear it. Spill. Start to finish."

"Spill what?" Azalea replied. I should probably save her from the questioning. I quietly opened the door. Azalea was near the prep table, looking delectable. The sight and smell of her made me instantly aroused.

"Stop being so thick. Your date with Tall, Hot, and Gorgeous! I need to know everything, and I need to know now!" Amy snapped. I growled, too low for them to hear.

"I told you, my name is Liam," I announced. Azalea jumped, turning with a grin. That grin was for me.

Amy stared at Azalea, hissing, "He stayed the night?" Azalea blushed.

"Good morning. Coffee?" she chirped.

"Please," I replied, smiling. She handed me a mug.

"Breakfast will be ready in a few minutes," she said, looking toward Amy.

"I'm sorry, Azalea, but I have to go. There are things I need to attend to at work," I said, avoiding mentioning the pack. I saw her disappointment. She couldn't know how much I wanted to stay.

She smiled brightly, hiding her feelings. "That's alright. I can wrap you something up for the road."

"Sure, that would be lovely," I said; I was starving. She wrapped up some pastries and got me a to-go cup of coffee. Thank goodness for this woman. I'm going to need all the coffee I can get to get through today without her.

"How about I walk you to the front?" she offered.

"Please," I said. "Amy, nice to see you." I needed to get her on my side. Azalea led the way. On the porch, she paused.

"I really enjoyed our time together, Azalea. I wish I could stay longer, but I have some pack business to attend to."

"It's alright. I enjoyed yesterday, too. Thank you for staying with me. I've never been scared back there before."

"Promise you'll call me if you see anything unusual again?" I asked, concerned.

"Sure," she said, smiling, but her eyes didn't match.

"I should go. Thank you for breakfast and coffee," I said. I kissed her forehead, memorizing her scent. I went to my SUV.

I started the engine. The longer I lingered, the less I wanted to leave. I drove toward the packhouse. After a few minutes, I unwrapped the breakfast. I grabbed a croissant.

After the first bite, I realized I'd had this before. These tasted like the ones I ate growing up. I couldn't remember the first time, but they quickly became my favorite. Around the time I made Azalea leave, we stopped having them. My 17th birthday was the last time I remember having them. She must have made these. She was up so early, and she did say she loved to bake. All those years, I ate her food and didn't know.

"Oh Goddess," I thought, remembering the morning before my 17th birthday. I was so mean to her that day. I let her fall, teased her, threw water on her—all when she made me special breakfasts. I'd probably interrupted her that day. I was the worst Alpha in training.

"We didn't know she was our mate. But now we do. We can protect her now," Gavin said.

"So, the big bad wolf has some sympathy?" I retorted.

"Well, I could tell you that you still are a piece of ****? Or I can help you get our mate!"

"I know, I know. I just hate realizing I was even worse than I thought. She probably thinks I'm a monster."

"Well, we kinda are."

"Shut up! You know what I mean!"

"Sorry. We need to forget the past and focus on 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 get Azalea back to the pack."

"Right. Good idea. I could use a good hunt anyway."

I rolled my eyes. I didn't understand my wolf sometimes. But I couldn't argue. I needed to make Azalea mine. We needed to mate, or Gavin would drive me crazy. Wolves are horny, but Alphas are on another level.

One thing at a time. Hunter first. Then Azalea. I thought this as I drove back to the packhouse.

Note: I removed the asterisks around the profanity because it's more effective to simply leave them out in edited text. Adding asterisks draws more attention to it. The context makes the meaning perfectly clear.