Jaded Hearts
Chapter 102

Taylor

It took a lot of convincing, but eventually, we had all the men on board with the plan. Aires wasn’t too happy that I’d volunteered her to shimmer us around, but she agreed to do it in the end. She’d been practicing the last few days on Morgan and Alaia; I wasn’t allowed to play because of the babies, so I just sat back and watched them.

She’d take their hand and “poof!” A puff of purple smoke would appear where they were, then another puff wherever they ended up. It was very cool, and I was very jealous. The three of them were currently going at it in the back yard. The area was covered in a thin purple haze from all the poofing they were doing.

“Okay, chicas. That’s enough for today. I’m exhausted,” Aires told us after the fifth or sixth shimmer.

Red rings were beginning to form around her coal-black eyes, so we knew that she was being drained.

“Are you going to be okay?” I asked when I looked at her.

“Sì, I have what I need up in my room. A quick drink and a nap, then I’ll be good as new.” She waved at the three of us, then disappeared into the house.

“That is the coolest and weirdest thing I’ve ever done, and I can heal people with a freaking song,” Alaia said when she sat next to me.

“What’s it like? I really wish the guys would let me try it. That way, I would be prepared if and when the time came.”

“It’s like a tingle that starts at your fingertips and shoots up your arm. By the time it covers your entire body, everything goes black, and you open your eyes in another place. It’s nuts!”

“Wow. Do you feel sick or dizzy?”

“The first time she did it, I thought I was going to throw up big time, but now I’ve kinda gotten used to it. It beats the hell out of sitting in traffic, that’s for sure.”

“Have the guys found out if it’s dangerous for the babies yet? You really need to experience it at least once. With the nausea from the pregnancy and the way your stomach flips and twists after your first shimmer, you won’t be able to stay on your feet if she has to get us out. That wouldn’t be good at all,” Morgan told me.

“We don’t have a lot of experience with vampires around here. It’ll be hard to know for sure without asking one, and besides Aires, there aren’t too many we would trust with something like this,” Alaia said.

“It’s fine. If it comes to that, and I get too sick, you can help me out, right?” I asked Alaia.

“Of course I can, babe, I’ve got you.”

She got a notification on her phone, and when she looked at it, she laughed.

“Jordyn’s having fun with this fake baby shower. She doesn’t get too much excitement since she’s pregnant, you know? So, she’s made an entire Facebook page for the party. She’s really excited,” Alaia told us.

“That’s awesome, and as long as Aires’s guards do their job, we should have no problem getting Lancaster and Drew out in the open,” Morgan added.

“Exactly. This plan is working pretty well. The guys should let us help more often,” I laughed.

I could feel that it was time for a snack and a nap of my own. Sitting around and watching other people work was clearly hard work. I yawned and stood up to stretch.

“I’ll see you two later. My bed is calling my name big time.”

“I could actually use a nap myself. Shimmering doesn’t make me sick anymore, but it is draining. I’ll walk you up,” Morgan said.

We left Alaia outside, enjoying the sun, and headed up. I wished I could snuggle up with one of my guys while I napped, but they were both busy working, so I’d have to settle for dreaming about them instead.

* * *

Tyson

Early in the evening, I was surprised to replace Aires at my back door looking like a lost puppy.

“What are you doing here? I thought you were with the girls.”

“I was, but I wanted to visit and have a beer with my oldest friend.”

Aires didn’t “visit.” She wasn’t fooling me. She wanted something; I just didn’t know what. “If you say so.”

I let her in, then walked to the fridge and pulled out the beers, handing her one.

“How’s the shimmering going?”

“I’ve practiced all I can for the day, but I’m confident that I can get them to safety if I need to. Unfortunately, it may put me out of the fight. I need about an hour or so to recharge afterwards,” she replied.

“Obviously, we’d love to have you there, but there will be more than enough wolves to get the job done. Thank you for agreeing to this, by the way. If it wasn’t for you, I’m sure the ladies never would’ve even thought of the plan, but you agreeing to get them out was the deciding factor in all of us men going along with it.”

“Claro. Those three are the first real friends I’ve had in years. I love them,” she said.

I was surprised. Aires never showed feelings before. When we were together, it was clear that she enjoyed my company, but she never went as far as to use the word love.

“Henry’s changed you.”

She looked over at me, shocked. “Changed? No, Oso. I’m still the same kick-a*s hybrid I’ve always been.”

“You are, but you’re softer. You’re forming relationships and bonds. The same thing happened to me when I got here; it’s some weird Blue Moon voodoo or something,” I joked.

“Possibly. I truly love the ladies, and the wolfies aren’t too bad either. Especially that one in particular.”

“He’s your partner, Aires. We all know it. Why haven’t you accepted it yet?”

“Because I don’t do partners. You were the longest relationship I’ve ever had, and that was all in my head. I don’t know how to do this, and he’s a really sweet man. I don’t want to hurt him.”

This was not my area of expertise, but it was déjà vu all the same.

“I get it. I was terrified when Taylor agreed to be with me for the same reasons, but she’s made for me, and you’re made for him. You won’t hurt him, and you’ll both be stronger together.”

“Maybe, but I’m also always on the move. I’m away for months at a time when I’m working. Once we take out Edwards, I’ll be gone. Henry needs someone who’ll be here and build a life with him. He deserves that.”

“You could always retire or work solely for Blue Moon. Have you considered that?”

“I’m too young to retire; I’m just getting started. Plus, once word gets out that I helped take down the Edwards coven, I’ll be the most sought-after vampire hunter on the market.”

“Is that more important to you than he is?”

“Of course, it’s not! Nothing’s more important to me than him. I love him, oso.”

“It’s about time you admitted it, but you need to tell him, not me.”

“What if he doesn’t feel the same way?”

Ugh! f*****g women. How did I get so deep into this conversation with her?

“Air, stop being such a p***y. He’s softened you up, but you’re still you. So, get the hell out of my kitchen and go talk to him. That guy is obsessed with you, but I don’t see why. You’re obviously crazy as s**t,” I laughed.

“Aye! Why did I come talk to you anyway?”

“Because you know that I don’t pull punches. Not when it comes to you. Now get out.”

She downed the rest of her beer and passed me the empty bottle. “Thank you, Oso, and I love you too, just in case you were wondering.”

“Yep, soft as a marshmallow.”

After punching me in the shoulder, she walked out. This was new territory for both of us. When we were working, Aires and Hades cared about nothing but the next hit. Now we were in love and settling down.

Definitely some strange voodoo here.

* * *

After my heart-to-heart with Aires, I decided to go up to the packhouse to see where we were with the operation. I was itching to get it over with. Every breath Drew took was a smear on my perfect kill record, and that did not sit well with me.

“Xander, what’s the update? Are we still on schedule?” I asked when I found him and Alaia in the kitchen.

“Good evening, Tyson. We’re doing great! Thanks for asking.”

Alaia rolled her eyes and giggled; clearly, she was used to this from him.

“Hey Alaia, hey Xander, how are you doing on this glorious spring evening? Good, I hope!” I replied with as much sickly-sweet sarcasm as I could manage.

Alaia tossed her head back, laughing. “Oh, you’re amazing. I’m so glad you’re part of the pack now; anyone who can give my husband s**t with a straight face is alright with me,” she said with a smile.

“Ignore her; she’s had a few glasses of wine. Anyway, the lush over here and Jordyn have done a damn good job advertising the fake baby shower. It’s gotten way more attention than we expected. Aires says her guards have planted the seed as well, so I’d say we’re set.”

“It’s not enough,” Alaia said before finishing off her glass.

“What are you talking about, little one?”

“The Facebook posts and the guards, It’s not enough.”

“What else can we do? We’re trying to set a trap; we can’t lay it on too thick,” I replied.

“Drew is insane and obsessed. Matt cut off his arm, and you shot him three times—he loathes you two. He wants you to suffer. Sure, taking Taylor would hurt; but as far as he knows, it would only hurt Matt.

“He doesn’t know that you and Taylor are in a relationship now. He doesn’t know that they are married, and he doesn’t know that she’s pregnant with both of your babies. If he did know, there would be zero chance that he would pass on the opportunity to grab her and rip your hearts out.

“What we’re doing right now is dangling a carrot, but put this information out there, and it becomes an entire thanksgiving feast. You want to guarantee that he’ll be there? That’s how you do it.”

She poured herself another glass, then walked out, leaving Xander and me behind.

“Damn, how is it that the ladies see this so much clearer than we are?”

“They’re smart and resourceful. We really don’t give them enough credit. How do you feel about all that?” Xander asked.

“I don’t like it. Even though it makes sense, I don’t like the idea of using her marriage and the pregnancy to put an even bigger target on her back. But you can’t pass a chance at a guaranteed hit.”

“Agreed. Let’s get Matt and Taylor in here and see how they feel. Everyone needs to be on the same page.”

Five minutes later, we were all sitting around the table, trying to decide how to move forward.

“I’m already uncomfortable with her being out there, but adding this is too much. It’s going to make him crazed and even more dangerous,” Matt said.

“What Alaia said is true: the ladies being exposed may not be enough. If Lancaster isn’t ready to strike, he may let the opportunity pass. Adding this fuel to the fire for Drew will tip the scales in our favor. He won’t be able to resist coming after us,” I replied.

“At the expense of our babies? You’re really willing to take that risk?”

“f**k no. All the same precautions will still be in place.”

“Precautions we don’t even know are safe for her. I’m pulling my approval on all of this; I’m not sending my wife out there as bait. Not now, not ever.”

“Yes, you are. I’m not just your wife, Matt, even if that is the title I am most proud of. I’m a woman, a mother, and a wolf. You don’t need to shelter me. I’m not the broken girl you found at Eden anymore. I’m going to do this; I have to.”

“You don’t have to. We can wait for them to make a move. That’s much safer,” he reasoned.

“For who? Think like the pack’s Gamma right now, not like a father and husband. More of our pack will die if we wait. It’s our job to protect them as well as ourselves. This is not the time to be selfish,” Taylor countered.

When no one spoke, she nodded her head and turned to Xander.

“Xander, could you get Alpha Witt on a call? I think he’ll be the key to getting Andrew to snap.”