The Other Part of Me
Book Two: New Beginnings

Talon

The sun was rising, and the day was already warming up. Talon immediately opened his eyes.

The familiar sticky feeling of naked skin against his skin brought back memories of last night and of the woman he met at the village bar. She was passing through, but when the two met, she decided to stay overnight.

He had only stopped by for a drink to relax his body, which felt like it was wired to blow-up of late. When she offered a night of no strings attached sex, he immediately agreed. She was was pleasing enough to the eye, but it had been a while since his last tryst and he had pent up energy that needed out of his system before his wolf, Christos, killed someone during training.

Since this was a human, he opted to take her to his old place by Lake Revah instead of the Compound where the Bloodstone Pack called home. Most of the former rogues there had joined the Pack. Although some were leery of joining at first because Bloodstone Pack Alpha, Braden Hunter carried the blood of the one who betrayed the original Alpha, Thaddeus Lykos.

As such was Moon Goddess and the Three Moirai, they decided to cross Braden's life line with the half-human daughter of the fallen Alpha, Cassie.

Talon's mother always told him there was a bigger picture involved in the ways of Moon Goddess, he just had to trust in her choices. As a child, he believed but as life handed him cruel twist of fate after another, he began to believe Moon Goddess needed some wolves to be stepping stones to help others along the way.

Talon considered himself a stepping stone for Braden Hunter.

He had found his mate years ago, when the Bloodstones were reborn and were beginning to reassert themselves the legions of the packs - only, by the time he found her, she had fallen in love with Braden and thus rejected their bond. The time he allowed his heart to choose, it chose Cassie, but once again, she was lost to Braden before he even entered her life.

Talon shifted in the small bed, gradually slipping out and away his companion's hold.

The woman stirred, releasing a sigh.

Without bothering to dress, he walked outside the door, letting Christos take over their physical form. The muscular multi-colored quadruped ran to the edge of the lake nearby, stretching the muscles in the body, waking it to another day of intense physical training that was promised.

While Christos took over, Talon thought about Cassie. As much as it hurt to know she would never be his, he admitted the highlight of the day was seeing her face when she walked in to the communal area for breakfast. She always had a smile for all the pack members but she seldom sat with anyone. She grabbed a cup of coffee and went for a walk around the grounds.

Talon sighed thinking about her.

She was a mother now.

She belonged to yet another person that wasn't him. Three years had passed since the birth of her daughter. A beautiful little girl with her mother's face and her father's deep blue eyes. A blessing that Braden doted over. It was evident to the pack their daughter was the true love of his life. Braden was specifically blessed by Moon Goddess.

If all Braden had in life was Cassie, and nothing else, not the title, not the pack, not the child, he still would have been the most fortunate man in the world.

"Speaking of your obsession," Christos broke into Talon's thoughts, "You're up."

Without warning, Christos receded, allowing Talon's form to return.

He stood tall and naked by Lake Revah, turning to the motion of a being swimming in the body of water. Talon stared, until the person emerged, taking a deep breath. Cassie.

His breath caught at the sight of her beauty. He hadn't seen her naked in a while, but he could tell the subtle changes in her body since becoming a mother. Her breasts filled out a little more, and her nipples had become a slightly darker pink. He decided to steer his thoughts away from her body by beginning a conversation with her, just in case his body evidently betrayed him.

"A little early for skinny dipping," Talon said, walking into the water with her, "but since I'm a gentleman, I'll join you." He walked into the water until he reached the spot where she stood.

She stared at him awkwardly, "I'm sorry- I didn't think anyone would be out here this early. I hope I'm not disturbing you?"

*'Fuck yeah, that body and that face always fucking disturbs you, doesn't it, Talon?'* Christos spoke in Talon's mind. *'Especially in the middle of the night when you think I'm asleep and it's just you, some lube, a tissue and a certain face in our mind. *

Talon smiled awkwardly, releasing a small chuckle that was just as awkward.

"Ummm, no, not disturbing me at all," he replied.

"Good," she said. "I haven't been swimming in years. Nice to know it's not a skill easily forgotten."

"Won't Braden and Selene be missing you?" He asked suddenly, unable to look away from her face. If he were Braden, he would never let her out of his sight.

She sighed, scrunching her nose. "I really doubt either one will even notice I'm gone." She said matter-of-factly.

"Talon!" He heard his name being called out from the edge of the embankment.

They both turned to the voice.

Last night's conquest was waving at him.

"You waste no time, do you?" She asked out loud with laughter. "Trust me," she said looking at Cassie, "He'll give you a good time, just a little advice," she yelled with her hands bordered around her mouth, "You may want to stretch first." Cassie winced.

Talon stared down into the rippling water.

When the woman disappeared into the forest, Cassie turned to Talon with regret. "Fuck- I'm so sorry, I am distubring," she stated. "I had no idea you were here with..." She paused. "I wouldn't have come if I'd known you were here entertaining." Talon stared at her. "It wasn't planned."

"I'm sorry just the same," she emphasized before swimming towards land.

Talon went after her.

Something about her energy seemed off. "Cassie!" He yelled after her not giving chase. He caught up with her as soon as she stepped onto land. "We had sex, that's over, now she's going back wherever she came from," he explained reaching for her bare arms. "You don't need to leave if you're not ready."

She crossed her arms over her breasts, the act pushing the swell higher, making her body look even more enticing.

She must have caught his eyes staring at her body, because she turned around giving him sight of her full, rounded bottom.

"Come to my old cabin," he suggested. "I can offer you bad coffee and good conversation," he said- mostly because he wasn't ready to lose her to the whole pack and because he needed to put clothes on before she saw how his body was reacting to her.

He sighed with relief when she agreed.