He hadn’t even been in their life for a week, and John couldn’t imagine Mathew not being there. The blue-eyed boy had stolen a piece of his heart as quickly as Eva had, shifting his world once again and leaving him scrambling.
Mathew had become better with other people but didn’t tolerate being away from either of them long, and as much as John wanted to protect him from any more pain, he feared Mathew could lose yet another parent before the fight was through. War never claimed the evil, but the innocent. It was the ones left behind who suffered—the mates, fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, and friends who bore the scars. And as the wave finally peaked, bringing with it relief and foreboding, John prayed to anyone who’d listen to not let his family be the pawn in Castor’s game. He’d only just found them—the missing parts of his heart—and he refused to believe he’d never see a day where Eva was finally his mate.
He had to believe in the future. It was the only way he got up in the morning.
“John?” Eva mumbled, shifting slightly, her lids heavy with sleep.
“Go back to sleep, baby,” he whispered.
She reached for him. “Come to bed.”
Reaching over, John kissed her and then ran a hand through Mathew’s soft curled hair. “Soon. I’m just going for a run first. I need to clear my head.”
Sleep fading from her eyes, a line appeared on her brow, and Eva rolled over fully. “Everything all right?”
He brushed her hair from her face, letting the golden silk strands fall through his fingers. “Sleep, Evaline. Sometimes a wolf just needs to run.”
Rolling back over, Eva tucked Mathew closer to her. “Okay,” she whispered. “But not too long. I missed you today.”
He’d missed her too. He wished they had the luxury to enjoy each other some more before things became so intense and dire. But sometimes, all that was left to do was hold on for the ride, and take every snippet of happiness, even if it was crowded with the bad.
The next morning, he was given the brightest of joys, snuggled up in bed, Eva in his arms, their energetic bundle of fur prancing around the bed as if he was king.
“You know,” Eva said, laughter in her tone as Mathew batted at his feet under the covers. “I’ve never seen you in wolf form. Not up close anyway.”
Smiling, John climbed out of bed and pushed his boxers to the floor as Eva sat up, curiosity brightening her eyes as he shifted into his wolf form.
Her breath caught as she jumped up onto her knees. “You’re so much bigger up close.”
Growling his approval, amusement danced through his veins as Mathew growled back, his tail wagging high in the air. Leaning back, John then leaped up and onto the bed, his cub, dashing between his legs as he crept slowly toward Eva and nuzzled at her neck.
“It’s so strange,” she murmured, tentatively touching him. “Human logic tells me I should run, but all I really want to do is hug you like a big fluffy dog.”
He grumbled in response. He was not a fluffy dog but a big scary wolf.
Kneeling upright, Eva wrapped her arms around him, and he pushed against her touch, taking pleasure from the fingers trailing through his fur.
“Everyone says you’re scary.” She held his head in her hands. “But you’re not.”
Licking her into a fit of giggles, her nose screwed up as she fought him off, and Eva flopped back onto the bed, breathless. “Okay, okay, I take it back. You’re the scariest wolf I know, and I know a whole pack of them. Two, in fact.”
He nipped at her for that comment, gently pinning her with a paw, and covering her face with his tongue as Mathew jumped up and did the same, yipping his delight as they both attacked Eva with love.
“Eww, gross. Enough, enough. You guys win. No more dog breath, please.”
Shifting back, his human laughter erupted from his throat, his heart close to bursting. “I love you,’ he murmured, pulling her into his hold as he sat against the headboard.
Smiling in return, her hand brushing his chin, she looked up at him. “I love you too.”
Jumping into their laps, Mathew shifted before them, a boy once more. Reaching up, he placed one hand on John’s cheek. “John.” Then another on Eva’s. “Eva.” His smile split his face, his big blue eyes so trusting. “Matty.” Plonking his butt down, he wiggled around and curled up across both of them. “John, Eva, Matty,” he repeated, before closing his eyes and drifting back to sleep.
Eva sobbed, hiding her face in his chest. “He talked, John,” she gasped. “He talked.”
Wrapping an arm around her, he kissed the top of her head, then pulled the duvet up to cover Mathew’s naked body. He wasn’t sure how it was possible to be blindingly happy and petrified at the same time, but Eva and Mathew had perfected the skill within days of entering his life, and he hoped it would never end.
“Yeah, he did, didn’t he.”
Chapter 34
Eva
“Damn it!” Eva croaked as the sippy cup fell to the floor, and milk splattered everywhere.
“Hush now, Evaline. There’s no use crying over spilled milk.”
A gasp slid out from between her lips and Eva slumped forward, bracing her hands on the kitchen counter as tears welled in her eyes.
“Oh, honey, what did I say?” John’s mother, Addison, murmured, rubbing a hand on her back.
Eva waved her off, sucking in a breath as she did. “Ignore me. I’m overly emotional.” Looking up, she attempted a smile. “My mom, she used to say that…. It’s nothing. I’m fine. This week has just been
