Heart of Stone - Book 2: Hearts Collide
Chapter 22 - Stone (Part 1)

Truth be told, Stone was relieved by Aubree’s reaction. As much as he wanted to believe he had control over himself, he was still apprehensive about slipping up. He’d spilled human blood on more than one occasion—an act that was condemnable by death.

If he accidentally killed Aubree, he wouldn’t be able to live with himself. The Council’s death sentence wouldn’t deliver the justice he deserved for such an act.

As he watched her sleep later that night, curled up in his arms and wearing one of his T-shirts, he couldn’t help but relish in the feel of her. No amount of physical pleasure was worth losing her altogether.

He kept tabs on everyone all night through the mind-link, unable to sleep himself. He would have to change that. As much as he wanted to be part of the night-time hunt, where the real danger lurked, he knew he needed to make more of an effort to not only spent more time with Aubree but introduce her and prepare her for the role of luna.

It was evident now that they were still walking on rocky grounds, and they needed to work together to smooth out the path.

In the morning, everyone came back, and while Hector and Rosemary patrolled the borders, the Blauwald Pack members set to work on the garden with various perennials, annuals, rose bushes, and a young cherry tree to transplant.

As Gunner suggested to Aubree, it turned into a group effort so everyone could have a chance to bond with her.

Although she had no clue what she was doing, she was happy to try and make suggestions on where to plant everything.

Alistair and Gunner insisted on doing all the digging up of the soil, while Gavin and Gwen ripped out weeds, roots, and other unwanted or dead plants. They set out on this work while Aubree ate breakfast with Stone in the kitchen. By the time she was done, most of the grueling hard labor had been completed, and they were looking forward to creating a garden that would make their new luna happy.

Stone watched, bemused, as she gaped at the mess around the house. It was an impressive disaster, that he was sure of. It looked like every inch of soil had been dug up, when in actuality, there was a mess of leftovers tossed on the grass. Still, it probably looked daunting to her.

“We picked up some more flowers on our way back,” Gavin told Aubree as she surveyed the torn-up property.

“Essentially buying everything left in stock,” Gwen added. “Most garden centers are cleared out by now.”

“Hopefully, we have enough...” Gavin trailed off as he rubbed the back of his neck, his eyes scanning over the empty flower beds around the house.

“It might be sparse this year but next year we’ll be ready for spring and plant our own seeds,” Gwen said.

“I will definitely kill those seeds somehow,” Aubree mumbled.

“Nonsense, buttercup,” Alistair declared as he wrapped an arm around Aubree’s shoulder and gave her a rough squeeze. “We’ll show you how it’s done.”

Stone glared at Alistair’s grip around Aubree. He was being too rough with her, but he bit back the desire to kick his ass. She didn’t look hurt or upset by it and neither should he.

What made him smile was when she swatted Alistair with her hand.

A grin spread across her face. “Alright, but if I kill anything you hand me, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

Gwen rolled her eyes. She reached out to pull Aubree from Alistair’s grasp. “You’ll be fine. Come on, we’ll start you on something small and sturdy, like Marigolds. Did you know that they work great as an insect repellent?”

Aubree’s eyes widened. “What? Really? Then I want them all around the patio area!”

Alistair chuckled at that. “You heard her, boys. Let’s get to work.”

With everyone’s attention diverted, Stone touched Aubree’s shoulder. She looked up at him with puzzlement drawing her eyebrows together. He pulled her in for a quick kiss, turning her cheeks a delightful pink.

“We learned how to cultivate the land from Adelaide. She taught us how to plant seeds, care for the crops, cultivate the harvest, and dig up and transplant plants from one place to another. The skill came in really handy when we first moved here,” he told her as he placed his hand on the small of her back.

He led her to the corner of the house where dozens of trays of annuals were sitting, most of them marigolds displaying various shades of orange and yellow, along with various colors of petunias. The perennials and rose bushes were at the other corner of the house, waiting their turn to be transferred into the ground.

Everyone had already grabbed two trays each and were settling down on the ground around the patio when he and Aubree stopped before all the brightly colored blossoms. Curious eyes peeked at him. Although he had his mental barriers up, he could feel them pressing against it.

“You guys grew vegetables too? I thought you only ate meat?” she asked as he picked up two trays of marigolds and handed one to her.

“Our diet does primarily consist of meat, but even we like to change it up a bit with a few fruits and vegetables. We especially love berries. It’s like candy to us.”

“You gotta watch your strawberries around Alistair,” Gwen piped up from her plot between Gavin and Alistair. “He’ll gobble them up as soon as you turn your back on them.”

Alistair shoved her and she turned around and shoved him right back. “Hey, I won’t eat all of her strawberries. Just yours, cupcake.”

She rolled her eyes at him. “You’re such a—”

Alistair clapped his hand over her mouth. “Watch your mouth, pup, or I’ll get the soap.”

She raised an eyebrow at him and Stone could almost hear the mental response she gave him, had he been listening in.

You wouldn’t dare.

Aubree smirked. “Really? You love strawberries that much, Alistair?”

Alistair tore his gaze from Gwen’s to grin up at Aubree. “Darling, you have no idea the feeding frenzy.”

It is animalistic,” Gwen gibed.

He punched her in the arm. She punched him back.

“She’ll eat all your raspberries,” he accused.

“What nonsense you speak, Uncle!” she shot back before sighing. “Although, they are little drops of heaven that melt in your mouth, and I can’t help it when they disappear like snowflakes on my tongue.”

“You two will give me a headache,” Stone interrupted as he urged Aubree to take a seat on the ground a few feet away from Gavin.

Aubree laughed, the sound dancing on his heart. “I like it! I never would have guessed you guys loved berries so much. We should have bought some last night.”

He shook his head as he got down on his knees next to her. “No. I don’t want you to witness that kind of war so soon.”

Chuckles erupted around them—even from Aubree as she threw her head back in a full-bodied laugh.

“Now, I really want to know! What’s everyone’s favorite berry? We should pick up some of each next time we go to the store,” she said.

Stone shook his head in amusement.

She turned and looked at Gwen and Alistair. “So, it’s strawberries for Alistair. Raspberries for Gwen.” She turned to Gavin.

The corners of his lips perked up. “Raspberries and blackberries.”

She turned to Gunner.

He cleared his throat. “Blackberries and blueberries.”

“Stone?” She peered up at him expectantly.

He stared at that plump bottom lip. “Cherries and blackberries.”

“Oh, ja, cherries are good too. I’ll steal those,” Alistair added.

Stone rolled his eyes. “Of course you will. Which is why I eat them as soon as I buy them.”

“Is that why I haven’t had any in so long?” Alistair humphed. He turned to Aubree with a playful smile. “How about you, babygirl? I bet you like strawberries best. Am I right?”

She grinned impishly at him. “Yeah, especially dipped in chocolate.”

“Ha! I knew it!” he jeered before his expression turned to surprise. “Wait... You can do that? Dip strawberries into chocolate? SOLD! We need some STAT!”

Stone gripped her shoulders, biting back his playfulness as he plastered on a serious expression on his face. “What have you done, Röslein? You’ve created a monster.”

Her eyes widened in alarm as his grim expression began to crack.

Alistair was in hysterics, while Gwen snickered behind her hand. Even Gavin and Gunner were grinning, the backs of their necks turning red.

Her lips slowly curved up as his grin broadened. A pleasant warmth like the heat of the sun radiated from his chest and spread up his neck to his face.

“Are you teasing me?” she asked, her cheeks mirroring the pink of his own.

“Did you hear that, Schnuckiputzi?” Alistair fake-whispered to Gwen, cupping his hand next to his mouth as he leaned toward her.

“Yes, Uncle,” Gwen said in an overly dramatic voice as she pretended to cry. Her hand clutched against her chest. “He called her Röslein.”

“Our boy is becoming a man,” he added in a deep, dramatically inclined tone.

Stone pressed his hand to his face as embarrassment flooded over him. [I’m going to kill you both.]

The pair guffawed at his expense.

[You walked right into that one, Alpha,] Alistair said through the mind-link.

[Honestly, though. Röslein? You can do better than that, Papa,] Gwen chided. [At least give her an English pet name.]

[Don’t rush me.] He grunted as he pulled his face from his hand. “You two will be the death of me.”