Chapter 49


    Everly POV


    I woke up to pee during the night and realized Vrian was in my bed. However, it was the body beside


    him that made me tense. No wonder my back was killing with Vrian’s butt resting in the center of my


    back.


    Shaking my head, I quickly raced to the bathroom. I never usually woke up of a night and would remain


    asleep until my rm woke me. So I was a little disorientated as I walked back to the room. ncing at


    the rm clock that resided on the bedside table. I noted that it was a little after 3 AM. Why was I


    awake? In the pit of my stomach, I knew it was the bond, the dull throbbing ache of him being around for


    so long and the bond trying to pull me nearer and wanting me to seek him out.


    I even took one of my pills, hoping the incessant niggling pains would dissipate. I knew they woulde


    on, they always did after seeing him, even if it was only for a few minutes, plus I was worried I would


    sleepwalk and crawl into wherever he slept. The ache and need to see your mate was ridiculous.


    Bonds were far from a blessing. I would consider the bond to be more of a curse. It was irrational and


    illogical. Damn, Moon Goddess really screwed werewolves over with that inbuilt setting in our DNA, as if


    breaking every bone in our body to shift wasn’t bad enough, we didn’t even get a say in who our mates


    were, and we are as good as dead if we didn’t ept them. Valen was turned facing Vrian, Valerian’s


    head resting on his arm next to Valen’s face.


    I carefully pulled the nket back up as I climbed back into bed, not wanting to disturb them. They both


    looked pretty peaceful.


    I eventually drifted back off, but not for long when I felt the bed move. I jolted upright, still caught in my


    dream of forsaken taking Vrian from me. I try to shake the remnants of the dream away to look over a


    t the clock and see I had only been asleep for twenty minutes. What the fuck. Movement makes me look


    over at Vrian to see he had climbed out of bed.


    “What’s wrong? Are you okay?” Valen asks as Vrian climbs over him to get out of bed.


    “I’m just using the bathroom, ” Valerian mumbles, half asleep before walking out of the room. My dream


    was still fresh. I found myself following him, now paranoid about the forsaken getting in my house and


    stealing him. He shuts the door, and I lean on the wall yawning. Why couldn’t I sleep? I have to do a


    double tomorrow; I need to sleep.


    I debated whether or not it would be worth taking another pill, but they also gave me terrible heartburn for


    the first half an hour after taking


    them; the wolfsbane was not a pleasant ingredient in them.


    I hear the toilet flush, and Vrian opens the door rubbing his eyes and yawning before walking off in the


    opposite direction toward his room. ” Val? ” he stops and looks up at me through his half-lidded eyes. He


    was not coherent at all as he yawned.


    ” Don’t you want to sleep in my room? ” I ask him, knowing his father was in there.


    “No, you keep kicking me,” he mumbles, turning around, walking into his room, and climbing in his bed.


    I tuck him in, tucking the surrounding nkets over him before kissing his head. I didn’t know what to do


    with myself now. I checked all the windows and locks before rechecking them to ensure I didn’t imagine


    checking them, anxiety at its finest. I debated what to do. I could climb in with Vrian, but he said I


    woke him from kicking him.


    I sighed before heading back out to the hall. I paused as I went to head out to the couch. Every part of


    my body told me I was going in the wrong direction.


    Trying to lead me back to my bed where Valen was. I knew the bond would get stronger, now I marked


    him, but this was ridiculous, making me wonder what would happen tomorrow when he wasn’t here.


    Would it get worse with him further away? Would the pain get worse?


    My mind and body fought against one another before my body won, my feet carrying me back to my


    room while I mentally scolded myself for letting them. Valen had moved, now more in the center of the


    bed where Vrian was.


    “I can sleep on the couch if Vrian isn’ting back in. Is that why you were pacing in the hall, or did


    you go retake one of your pills?” Valen said while yawning. Pacing? I didn’t realize I was pacing. I felt like


    I was losing my damn mind. I swallowed. I knew I should tell him to go sleep on the couch.


    “Everly?”


    “No, it’s fine, ” I mutter.


    “It’s fine? ” Valen says, sitting up on one elbow and looking at me. I pull the nket back, climbing back


    into the bed. My entire body was awake now, every part of me twitchy and antsy. I clench my hands into


    fists and ce them under my ass to stop myself from trying to touch him. What is wrong with me? The


    pain I was used to but feeling him so near was making my heart rate increase, my breathing faster as I


    soaked up his scent that perfumed the room.


    I feel himy back down, gettingfortable behind me. He sighed loudly.


    “Vrian told me what those pills were you were taking, ” I say nothing and look at the ceiling. That kid


    was far too observant for his age; he is like a sponge absorbing everything he sees and hears.


    “Why did you take them, Valerian said for pain, but I am not sleeping with anyone. Are you addicted to


    them? ” Did he seriously just ask me that? I haven’t got time to scratch my ass half the time, let alone


    time to have an addiction on top of my never-ending responsibilities.


    “I’m not addicted to them,” I answer.


    “Are you sure we can get you help? I am not judging if you are, “


    “Valen, I am not addicted to them; I don’t take them all the time, only when you… well, you know, and


    lately when I see you,”


    “What do you mean?”


    “The bond..” I didn’t want to give more reason to be around or use it as an excuse.


    “Are you going to finish what you were going to say? ” I rub a hand down my face.


    “When I see you, it’s worse than when I don’t. The bond recognizes you, tells me to im you so you


    can’t be with them,”


    “But you have imed me now, Everly, “


    “Yes, and now the urge to be near you is even worse, and it hasn’t even been it hours, ” my tone came


    out harsher than I intended. But thinking the words and saying them were vastly different. Saying them


    made anger burn in me at how weak I sounded. I wasn’t weak.


    “And that’s it, that is the only reason?”


    “Yes, Valen. I am not addicted to my pills; you don’t- ” I squeaked when he moved and grabbed me,


    rolling me as he slid his arm under my head and pulled me closer.


    His scent invades my nostrils before I feel him rest his chin on my head. I inhaled his scent, the dull ache


    instantly stamped down, and I felt my body


    rx, almost going utterly limp in his arms. I press my nose into the base of his throat. His stubble


    brushed my forehead, and a rather embarrassing noise left my lips that resembled a purring moan.


    “Better?” he asked, and I froze mid sniff. He chuckles, his chest rumbling, and I go to pull my face from


    his neck, and he growls.


    “I asked if it was better, didn’t ask you to move, Everly, ” he whispered, tugging me closer. Within


    seconds I was asleep when he started purring, lulling my waking mind into blissful contentedness.


    Valen POV


    I got up to the sounds of Zoe getting the kids ready for school. I went to sit up and slide out from under


    Everly when Vrian came bounding into the room excitedly. Zoe was hot on his heels as she tried to


    stop him.


    “Vrian, no mummy is sleeping, ” Zoe whispered yelled, but it was toote as the door smacked into


    the wall with a loud bang. Everly, however, did not wake up. I twisted out from under her, and Vrian


    seeing me moving, raced over while Zoe blinked at me.


    “You’re in bed; I thought you left,”


    “Very observant, and yes, I am still here,” I tell her as Vrian climbs in myp before I even have a


    chance to get up.


    “Are you taking me to school?”


    I looked over at Everly, still passed out as she moved closer in her sleep, burying her face in the pillow I


    was using.Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    “No, Valerian, your father isn’t dressed, and we are runningte,” Zoe says,ing over and plucking


    him off myp. I nce at the clock on the bedside table, and so does Vrian; he would be nearly an


    hour early.


    “We don’t need to leave until it says eight, three, zero, Zoe,” He says, his brows furrowing.


    “We will bete to get breakfast on the way from Mcdonalds if we don’ t leave now,” She says, hauling


    him out. Zoe winks at me, and I scrub a hand down my face, trying to wake up.


    ” Zoe! ” she stops at the door and looks over at me.


    “Don’t forget to ring Emily, ” I tell her, and she res at me. Her lips pressed into a line. If a look could


    kill, Zoe would have murdered me. I chuckle as she leaves, taking Vrian with her.


    I hear the kids making demands for their Mcdonald’s breakfast as they leave beforeying back down.


    Everly instantly slid her way back over to me and tossed her leg over my waist before nestling her face


    back into my neck. Gripping her thigh, I haul her top of me, and I hear her sigh making meugh sof tly.


    She will probably kill me, but she wasn’tining right now. I managed to go back to sleep before


    waking up to wandering hands roaming


    over my stomach and chest. I blink up at the ceiling to see her half on top of me still. Her head fell back


    on my arm, and I swallowed at the sight of her neck. So tempting , and it would be so easy to mark her


    while she was like this. I roll on my side and skim my nose across her neck and shoulder.


    Everly had a spicy floral scent, my mouth waters as I inhale deeply before running my tongue over her


    neck before freezing. Recognition smashed into me as I gave in to instinct, and I quickly ripped my face


    away from her neck, feeling my canines pressing into my lips. I suck in a deep breath before untangling


    myself from her. I needed to get away from her while she was in this state before I did something that


    would make her hate me. My stomach twisted as I forced myself out of the room.


    Needing a distraction, I flick the kettle on and start picking up toys and clothes that must be from this


    morning. Hours passed when I finally looked up, havingpletely forgotten about the coffee I intended


    to make. I had managed to clean the entire tiny apartment.


    ” Shit ! ” I curse under my breath. Was it weird I cleaned her ce? Would she find it insulting, would


    Zoe? I pull a chair out from under the table, attempting to make a slight mess so it doesn’t look so clean,


    but all I could smell was bleach, taste it in the back of my mouth. The washing machine makes a noise


    singing loudly as the spin cycle finishes, and I walk away to put it in the dryer before stopping. I needed


    to put the damn chair back straight.


    Maybe I am slightlypulsive, but I had reason to be. I needed the distraction, so I didn’t walk in there


    and mark her against her will. I realign the chair, my nervousness making it challenging to stop. Passing


    Valerian’s room, I rechecked it, but his room was spotless. I ced the clothes in the dryer, turning it on


    before chucking another load on, but it was only half a load. I quickly look around, trying to find more


    clothes.


    Stopping at Everly’s door, I push it open. I need to clean it; I run my fingers over her dresser. When was


    thest time she dusted? I flick my hand, ridding it of the dust before scooping up her work clothes and


    sniffing them to see if they had her scent on them or not. She had so many uniforms scattered around


    her room. She moved on the bed, and I nced at her, but she was still asleep.


    Scooping up another handful of clothes that were on my side of the bed, I sniff them when she clears her


    throat. I nce at her mid sniff to find her staring at me. She blinks at me and rubs her eyes, sitting up.


    “What are you doing?” She asks.


    “Ah, washing, ” I tell her holding up the pieces I just grabbed off the floor that fell under the bed. My eyes


    dart to what was in my hand. I blinked.


    “Does that require you to sniff my panties and cami? ” She asks before reaching over and snatching


    them from my grip. My eyes widen.


    “I wasn’t, I was seeing if they were clean,”


    “Well, were they Mr. Sniffer?” I clear my throat. Standing upright. Well, this got awkward fast.


    “I swear, I was not sniffing them in a sordid way, see, I have an armful. I just came in here to see if any


    needed washing, ” god, that soundedme even to my own ears, not sniffing her panties in a sordid way.


    Who says that?


    “Did you sniff Zoe’s panties too?” She says, pointing to the clothes under my arm.


    “What? No, I just grabbed these out of the hamper in the bathroom, “


    “I’m ying Valen,” She chuckles, tossing her panties and cami to me. I let out a breath.


    “But if you are looking for a job, I am seeking a nanny, ” Sheughs.


    “Ha, very funny, “


    “Wait, really?” I could be a nanny, maybe pappy, nanny sounds a little feminine, but I would if it meant


    spending more time here.


    “No, but hey, you want to clean. One less thing for me to do,” She says, swinging her legs over the side


    of the bed.


    ” Coffee?” She asks, and I nod, scooping up a dress from the back of her chair. Everly moves to the


    kitchen while I go to the tinyundry and put another load of washing on.


    “Did you sort out my pantry?” She asks as I walk back into the living room sh kitchen dining room. I


    say nothing, feeling awkward suddenly.


    “Where is the coffee?” she asks, rummaging around. I walk over to her, reaching past her, and she jumps


    when I press against her back.


    I grab the coffee jar and sugar. “Right here, ” I retrieve the two canisters.


    “Ah, we have been meaning to use those, ” She says. I found the decorative canisters still in the box, a


    whole heap of Tupperware still in the wrappers like they brought them and forgot about them. Everly


    turns around.


    “Excuse me,” she says, squeezing past me. She grabs two mugs, and I lean on the counter, watching


    her.


    “I got rid of your pills in the sultana box,” I tell her, and her hand stops mid-air.


    “You what?”


    “You don’t need them,”


    “Valen, you can’t just throw things out,”


    “Vrian said Zoe ban them from the house, so you could either ept it and ring me when you need


    me or you can tell Zoe they are in the house and I will give them back,” I tell her, folding my arms across


    my chest. She growls, and I raise an eyebrow at her.


    “Is that a purr or a growl, a little hard to tell, ” She res at me?


    “So, what will it be?” She turns back to make the coffee.


    “Or I could just stay here, or we can alternate between both ces. I was going to ask if I could take


    Vrian for the weekend anyway,”


    “Valen, you don’t even have a room for him set up or anything for a child at your ce, “


    “I will go get some stuff or send Marcus too. I can look after our son Everly, “


    “I will think about it; we have the Alpha meeting on Friday, maybe the weekend after,” She says, sliding a


    coffee over to me.


    “Why not this weekend?”


    “Valen, we are about to publicly announce we are mates, and that will change things for Vrian. I don’t


    want too much to change, “


    “Then stay with him,”


    “I am not staying at your ce. Besides, I have to work,”


    “Then he will be fine with me, or I stay here. Either way, I am seeing my son on the weekend, so choose,


    ” I argue. She ignores me, walking back to her room to get ready for work. I follow, sitting on her bed.


    “Ah, what are you doing?” “Finishing our conversation, ” “It can wait, I need to get ready, “


    “Then get ready. I thought women could multitask, or can’t you talk and get dressed at the same time? “


    She growls at me, but I refuse to leave even when she res at me as I getfortable on the bed and


    watch her.


    “Valen, Out!”


    “So, the weekend?” She snarls while snatching clothes off the hanger.