Jaded Hearts
Chapter 100

Taylor

Men are idiots. All of them.

How can they refuse to make it look like us ladies are temporarily unprotected, but offer themselves without a second thought? Did anyone think about how I would feel about this f****d up idea? Did anyone wonder what would happen to me if I lost not one, but both of those assholes?!

No.

I couldn’t deal with them right now. I didn’t have the patience, and that would only lead to me saying something horrible. I was pissed off for sure, but I never wanted to hurt either of them.

Fuckers.

I sat down in the middle of the floor, pulled out my laptop, and began putting together nursery ideas. I knew that focusing on this would calm me down enough so that I could eventually have a civil conversation with the men. When the door opened, I figured it would be one of them coming back to grovel, but I was surprised to see Aires walk in.

“Hola, beautiful. How are you feeling?”

“Ugh. I’ve been better, that’s for sure. How was your trip?”

“I flew instead of shimmered, so it was much better than the last time. Did oso and Gamma wolfie come talk to you?”

“Yes! And I can’t deal with them right now. It’s too much.”

“I’m sure. They are both so stubborn when it comes to protecting you and those babies. Congratulations, by the way.”

“Thank you, and I agree with you. Us ladies would be the biggest trophies to those two, getting Matt and Tyson wouldn’t be nearly as gratifying to them.”

“Exactly. So, make them see that. All three of you need to make them see reason. You ladies may be the most important members of this pack, so maybe the men need to understand that and let you take the lead a bit.”

I smiled and looked over at her.

“Tsk, tsk, tsk. Aires, you sneaky little minx. This was your plan all along, wasn’t it?”

“No! I’d never … I just know my oso, and I’m beginning to know the Wolfies pretty well too. They just need some persuasion, and this is the best plan. It’s guaranteed to lure those pasty bastards out in the open, so we can finally take them down. And it’s unexpected. When war finally comes, the vamps would plan for you three to be safely locked away with the other women and children. Having you out and exposed like this would completely catch them off guard. It’s brilliant, really,” she said with a shrug.

“You’re right; it is brilliant. I’ll see what I can do.”

“I knew I could count on you. Now I need to go; I’ve got a date,” she smiled.

“Really?! With who? Do I know him?”

“With Henry. No wolf has ever handled me the way he did at training the other morning. Actually, when I think of it, no man ever has. I can only imagine what it will be like once we’re both naked.”

I really hoped he delivered; otherwise, Blue Moon would be looking for a new head trainer.

“Henry’s very sweet, but I obviously can’t speak on the naked part. I hope you two have a good time, though.”

“Me too. I’m dying here.”

* * *

The next morning, I walked into the kitchen to replace it full of the usual early morning commotion. After my talk with Aires, I took a long bath and ended up falling asleep before I could speak to either of the guys. But when I felt Matt slide in bed beside me, I cuddled up on his chest like I always did. It was my own personal way of not going to bed angry. I refused to start our marriage out like that.

Morgan and Aires were at the table laughing obnoxiously loudly while inhaling huge stacks of blueberry pancakes. I figured I’d join them; the pancakes were more than worth the noise.

“What’s so funny, ladies?” I asked as I sat down and began to fix my plate.

“Henry was twenty minutes late to training this morning. And according to Kade, when he finally did show up, he was an absolute mess. Hair all over the place, fresh scratches on his back … Aires f****d that poor guy’s brains out,” Morgan said.

“Not true, it was mutual. It was hot, sweaty, and so, so dirty. That man touched places inside me I’d forgot even existed. We didn’t get a wink of sleep. I think I’m in love,” Aires laughed and sighed dramatically.

“Really, darling? You’d leave me for him so easily? I thought we had something special,” Kade said as he sat beside us.

“You will always be my most special Wolfie, but we were never meant to be. Maybe in another life,” she joked.

“I’ll take that.”

He reached over and snagged Morgan, pulling her firmly into his lap. She immediately pulled her plate over and began to feed him her pancakes.

“Is that going to be you and Henry soon?” I leaned over and whispered.

She just blushed and shook her head. Aires, the badass vampire hunter, blushed. Henry must have pulled some tricks out of his bag last night, and I was damn curious to know what they were.

A few minutes later, the table was full of the rest of the team, and I was seated firmly between both my guys. The conversation flowed easily, more than a little of it focusing on Aires and the fact that she’d broken the most regimented wolf any of us had ever seen.

“Just make sure he’s on time from now on. He’s never been anything short of perfect, so he gets a pass today. We just can’t make it a habit,” Xander said with a wink.

“Of course, Alpha. I will be on my best behavior and allow him to get plenty of rest, so he’s fresh for you all tomorrow morning.”

“Good morning, everyone,” came a voice from the kitchen. When he stepped in, I was surprised to see that it was the man of the hour.

“I apologize for interrupting your breakfast. I wanted to bring something by for Ms. Aires before she started her day,” he said softly.

He was such a gentleman. All four of us ladies swooned a bit. Okay, it was a lot.

“You’re not interrupting anything. Did you want to sit and eat with us?” Xander asked.

“No, Alpha, but thank you. Maybe another time.” Henry then brought his eyes to Aires. “Aires? I brought you a potato omelet. I remember you saying how much you missed those from back home.”

I looked over to Aires, whose mouth was hanging open. This was classic: the good guy and the bad girl. Who knew? When she didn’t move or say anything, I gently poked her in the ribs, pulling her from her trance. She closed her mouth, shook her head a few times, then launched herself out of the chair and right at him. Henry easily scooped her up, and in a flash, they were heavily making out against the wall.

“Oh my god. This is the best breakfast we’ve ever had,” I laughed as I happily took another bite of pancake.

“Absolutely. This is hot as hell,” Alaia agreed.

Xander gave his wife a look, which just made her roll her eyes at him.

“Honestly, you two, this house is full of rooms with beds. Go replace one and get the hell out of the dining room,” Xander told them.

“Second floor, third door on the right. Let’s go, wolfie,” Aires breathlessly directed him.

Henry pulled his face away for a second and looked over to the table at us. “Sorry about this!”

She grabbed his cheeks, turned his head back towards her, and attacked his mouth. I have no idea how he was able to navigate, but somehow, he made it out the dining room and up the stairs.

When they were gone, I thought out loud. “It is just me, or is anyone else curious about how he was able to turn her to mush so easily? I’ve never seen her like that.”

“He’s probably her partner, and she’s probably his mate. That’s all that makes sense to me,” Tyson said.

“Really?! Did you guys pick up those vibes at training?”

“Henry did pretty much ignore everyone on the field that first morning and refused to let any of the other wolves train with her. We were all so busy fighting off Tyson that I didn’t even realize until now,” Alexi said.

“Plus, with female bears, she wouldn’t know right away that he’s her partner. She would feel drawn to him, which she obviously was, but it wouldn’t be until they have s*x that the real bond forms,” Tyson added thoughtfully.

Kade pushed back an errant lock of Morgan’s hair. “That’s how it was for me and my sugar bear. Isn’t that right, beautiful?”

“Huh. That’s right. You were just the crazy sexy birthday boy when we first met, but the next morning, you were my world.”

Kade growled low in his chest, making Morgan giggle before feeding him more of her breakfast.

“I’d love it if they were mates. That would mean she’d stick around, right?”

“Really?! I’d love that!”

“Maybe, I’d love to see someone actually tame her,” he replied.

“He’s so sweet,” I squealed. I was really loving this.

“Sweet? That guy kicks my a*s every single morning without fail, and then he steals my flirt buddy. What is the world coming to? When was that ever considered sweet?” Kade pouted.

“Oh, shut that sexy mouth of yours. Or fill it with pancakes, or me. It’s your choice, really,” Morgan told him.

“Definitely you. Breakfast can wait,” he said.

He stood to his feet and smoothly picked her up and carried her off to their room.

“What’s in the pancakes this morning?” Matt laughed as we all watched them leave.

“I don’t know, but we need to have these every day if it’s going to have this effect,” I replied.

* * *

After breakfast, I curled up on the couch with a blanket and my laptop and continued my search for nursery ideas.

“Are you talking to me again, or do I have to suffer another night?” Tyson sat beside me and asked.

I completely forgot that he’d had to go to bed, thinking I was still mad at him. I mean, I was, but he didn’t deserve that.

“No more suffering, but I still don’t agree with your plan, and I never will. I’m the better option, and you all know it.”

“You’re pregnant, baby. I can’t put you out there like that.”

“Exactly! It’s completely unexpected and goes against everything you, Matt, and the rest of the guys stand for.”

He g*****d out loud and pulled me against his huge chest. “I’m guessing you have a plan? I’ll listen to it, but that doesn’t mean I’ll agree to it. Honestly, I probably won’t, but you deserve for us to at least hear you out.”

“That’s all I ask. Just let us help. I know we can do this if we all work together.”

“Just know that if anything happens to you or those babies, I’m going to go full Hades, and I won’t stop until I burn down the world.”

“I’d expect nothing less.”