Ember

Miles leaves me some cropped jeans, a Stone Sour t-shirt, a purple and black checked hoody, and some purple vans. Before we leave the room, I’m pressed to the door and have my breath stolen. I walk down the stairs, putting braids in the front of my hair to keep it off of my face. Trick hugs me and passes me a mug of tea. Ren pulls me into his lap, kisses my temple with a smile, and then makes me up a plate of food.

I notice Trent watching the actions and smile at him.

“The first morning I spent at the BloodWolf Pack, I was used to only getting leftovers and dismissed for being human. So, when Ren and J started eating, I just sat there waiting to see if they would leave any. Ren noticed and made a plate for me and then grunted ‘eat’ at me while Jay passed me the syrup jug. It was the first time a supernatural being had shown me kindness and a chance at being equal. Trent looks so sad. When I look back, I just shrug at him.

“I’ve been through some shit, but meeting Ren, Jenson, Xander, Pops, and the Hounds—Creed, Bram, and even Saint over the years has helped me get through. Even though I needed a reminder to survive three times.”

Bram plops down between Trent and Miles and starts talking about the happier memories. The guy’s head out to finish packing away the tables from last night. I go up to my room and grab the notebooks I’ve filled over the last few days.

Saint is the first one from SRU I find. I stand and wait while he’s on the phone. I feel a little hurt from him talking to a female which is daft as I rolled out of Ren’ bed into Creed’s, moaned Jace’s name while his brothers cock pulsed inside me, then told Creed I loved him while he licked me clean in the shower, followed by me sitting on Ren’s lap while I ate breakfast.

“Yeah, bye.” There’s a pause.

“Yeah, tomorrow,” Saint says in a calm tone. I hear the phone hit the desk, so I hold out the books.

“I have tried to keep them separate based on the facility, but some people crossed over. I still have a few I need to finish, and then I will give you that book.” He doesn’t take the books, so I place them on the table, turning to leave, but I can't. His shadows are holding my legs in place.

“You should reject me, Starshine. I’m not a good person, and my monster isn’t safe,” he states as I feel him stepping up to my back.

“And I’m a worthless human that you should have let go all those years ago.” I let out a breath.

“I never told Elise and Dan what you were. I was confused when Elise described your human side. You were my Dark Angel, not the blonde boy she described. I could reject you as easily as you could let me die back then, but if that’s what you want, do it at night when I’m safe in bed, please.”

I try to move again, but I can't. I turn my head and find myself nose to nose with Saint.

“It might be best to reject you, but I won’t. I’m going to be selfish, which means making you mine.” His finger strokes my cleavage over my shirt.

“My mark WILL go here, but not yet, my Starshine. I need my beatdown from your brother, who is my best friend, then a talk to your Alpha before I have the pleasure of feeling your heat around mine.” Well, my panties are wet again. Saint’s phone starts to ring again

“That’s my work phone; there is no one else. I don’t ever want to sense jealousy from you again, not over me.”

He slips off an onyx and obsidian bracelet. He slides it on my wrist before letting out a moan, pulling me onto his seated lap so I’m straddling him; the bracelet is infused with his shadows, and there are a few lava beads too that have power pulsing in them, which means I have some of him with me at all times. He knows what I’m feeling, which at the moment I just want to rip his slacks off, swallow his cock down my throat until he's begging for my dripping cunt... stop Ember. His shadows are caressing my skin, his erection is pressed to my core,' not helpful, ' and the need to grind my hips is there on a cliff edge. A throat clears behind me; I glance over, and then I rest my forehead to Saint’s.

“Guess the beatdown is scheduled soon, then,” I say with a mock pout.

Saint just hums and keeps eye contact with Declan, who watches us. Saint’s phone goes off again, and I see the name Lisa flash on the screen. I swipe it up and answer, using my best breathless receptionist voice.

“Saint's phone, he can't come to the phone right now. His hands and mouth are otherwise occupied. Let me transfer you to Declan.” I chuck the phone over my shoulder towards my brother. Using some confidence, I have no idea where it came from, kiss Saint full on the mouth, giving two hard rolls of my hips and a moan at the sensations. I stand and give him a little finger wave at his shocked expression, giggling at the scowl on my brother’s face as he deals with the yelling female.

That evening, while eating our meal. Alma is pestering Uncle Nic about what’s happening this week so she can plan meals. Liam is trying to get her to react as he keeps butting in, adding his reviews of her culinary creations of the past. Dad is still in bad books with Lily as he hadn’t told her they found his daughter. She was in a meeting when he tried to call her, so he left a message. Just could she visit because they had news. She’s also pissed about the succubae and incubi that had concealment charms.

It was like the family meals you see on the Hallmark channel. I decided to help Alma a little with Liam's situation. He knew Dan and Elise and had been around for meals several times.

“Alma, can I cook one day?” She looks over at me with a proud smile,

“Of course you can, Petal. If all your food is as nice as what you helped with for the meet, then I have no complaints. What do you want to cook so I know what to order?” I smile at her, take a drink; before I answer,

“I had a few good teachers over the years. Mama Lou taught me traditional Japanese recipes, which I will admit I’m a little rusty with, Nonna had me in the kitchen from day one, and then Elise taught me some British recipes.” I state this as an Enforcer walks in. He’s partway to Alpha Dominic.

“Don’t you mean English recipes!” he sneers at me, he smells heavily of body odor, and I’m on the other side of the room.

He's of average height and looks like he spends as much time in the gym as he does in the pub. His arms are toned, but he has a beer gut. He's a similar age to Declan, Saint, and Xander, the former giving him a death glare. I take a sip of tea.

“No, I mean British, but if you want specific, she taught me English, Scottish, Welsh, and Irish dishes,” I state in a rather prim tone that I learnt from Elise.

I hear Darby snort, and Bram is chuckling. I can see him gear up for another sneer before Dec steps in,

“Is there a reason you’re disturbing our family meal Calloway, and if you don’t stop leering at my sister, I don’t know who will be first to kick your ass.” Declan is basically growling by the end.

Calloway ignores him and turns to Dad,

“Alpha, there has been some interference with the wards. I’ve marked the patrol map with each place.” He looks so proud of himself, and he holds out the map

“That’s Alpha Maykal, not Alpha Dominic. Might want to give it to the correct Alpha.” Laughter is clear in my voice as more chuckles sprout up around the table. Calloway blinks at him, stumbles over his words, drops the paper on Declan’s lap and storms out of the room.

“Never liked that slimy brown noser; was the same at school,” Declan grumbles.

Paxton, Saint, Xander, and Marcus agree. Trent and Calum say his younger brother is just as slimy, a year younger than Bas. Dad seems to perk up at the mention of school.

“Ember, we need to sort out your schooling, so you don’t get behind.” I look at him, completely confused,

“Now don’t look at me like that Monday you are starting school. No amount of pouting will get you out of it.” He sounds like he’s trying to pull off a dad voice. I look at Lily, who has a smile on her face, while shaking her head as she goes to speak. Nate and Liam nearly fall off their chairs, laughing. Declan, Bas, and Bray aren’t far off. Uncle Luc is choking on his waffles. Apparently, he also has a sweet tooth, so waffles are a breakfast and evening dessert thing here.

Uncle Nic manages to scoff.

“You’re joking, brother,”

he asks Dad, who looks around.

Then I see the General step up to the plate.

“No, I am not joking. She HAS to go to school.” I can see he is getting pissed; luckily, we have Lily to the rescue ‘Woman power mentally flash the peace sign as the spice girls do.’

Lily places a hand on Dad's arm.

“Oh Mika,” she sighs, taking a sip of her wine.

"My lovely, lovely sweetheart, Ember graduated high school at 15 and then took a college course; she now just needs to get a job.” Lily beams at me. Nikoli and the other Oldies walk in as Dad lost it, and now Grumps expresses his views.

“must get her brains from her grandmother. At least they weren’t lost; they just skipped a generation,” Grumps states as he kisses my head.

“ probably a defect with the men in the family that affects the women, " Lily states smugly, then smiles at Dad. Dad turns back to me.

“I remember you telling me about school at the hospital. Sorry that I forgot , babygirl.” he gives me a shy smile.

“It's ok Papa. I forgot not everyone knows.” I smile, then hug him when I notice he’s tearing up and realise it’s the first time I’ve addressed him as Papa or Dad out loud.

After dinner, we head outside. Just as I sit down, I hear a car grind to a halt and then backfire.

I freeze, then start to shake.

Knowing what that means. Ren, Trick, and Bram are next to me in seconds. Trick has a crushing grip on my hand and a slight tremor in his body. Bram stands between me and the door, his dragon so close to the surface that his scales keep rippling across his skin. Ren has one hand on his twin’s shoulder and the other cuffing my throat. I feel his Alpha command brush against my skin.

“This is YOUR home. He won’t take you again! I WILL kill him first!” At Ren’s words, everyone else is on high alert.

Miles goes and sits with Lily and the Oldies, Creed moves to Trick’s side, and Brayden and Kodi move to Bram’s sides.

Dad stands.

“Explain.” It's a single command as Trick, Ren, Bram, Saint, and I say,

“Jameson.” Some growl; mine is barely a whisper as I look at Maykal, feeling tears fill my eyes.

“Listen to your Alpha baby girl , but he’s wrong. If he tries to take you, it WILL.BE.ME who kills him for keeping you hidden all these years,” he states as he kisses my crown, just as Calloway appears, cocky as fuck.

“There’s a Samual Jameson here to see the Alpha about Emily Ashleys.” By the time he’s finished talking, I’ve pulled myself together.

“Show him to my office!” Grumps says.

“Why he call you wrong name, Sweetie?” Calloway has already swaggered away.

“He rarely uses my real name. It makes it harder for people to find me after I’ve been moved.” When I finish, there are quite a few annoyed expressions, but Saint arriving with Giovanni helps defuse the tension. Saint has an arm full of clothes, and Gio is standing in Spider-Man pyjamas, wearing a Thor bathrobe and Iron Man slippers and holding a Hulk coffee mug.

“Could have let me get dressed! Jeez, they are never gonna let me live this down.” 95% of the people here use their phones to take photos or videos. Lily, who is phoneless, but Miles has two, so I guess he has hers, takes point.

“Gio, that vile Jameson has arrived to collect Ember. Get dressed,” she asks kindly but firmly.

Gio chugs his coffee, passes the mug to Alma, and snatches the clothes from Saint’s hands.

“Luc, I’m stealing some shoes as Saint forgot mine.” As he leaves to get changed, Grumps snaps into Alpha mode.

“Lily, Liam, Nate, can you go out of sight and keep an eye on Miles. Boys?” 'meaning Dad, Nic and Luc,' “My office. Can you do a perimeter check Saint, Bas, Dec, Pax, Trent and Timber? You two pointing at Pops and Trunk, go sit and play checkers in the seating area near my office where you can eavesdrop; you kids stay here and try to act like you’re calmaxing .” Nikoli finishes.

“You mean chillaxing Grumps, but close,” Bray mumbles with a thumbs up.

I look out over the lake, and for once, Jameson isn’t our biggest problem.

“Might want to change your orders, Dedushka, Pops, call the guys. There’s forty demons in the tree line.” Saint, River, and Pops step up beside me, the only ones who can see what I can see. An alarm sounds as a lone figure steps to the end of the dock on the other side.

“We are here for the female with a claw mark on her back. She is human. Hand her over, and none shall be hurt.” He steps back, disappearing from sight again, and everyone looks at me.

Well, shit, what have I done to piss off Demons this time?