Chapter 27: Theo’s Birthday
Roman
The last couple of weeks with Samantha have been incredible. Yeah, she still gets snarky with me and she has no problem doing it in front of the pack. But I love that side of her just as much as I love the sweet side that comes to find me after she returns from letting Ayla run.
At first, I could see she was embarrassed coming to kiss me, but by the third or fourth day, she’d run around the packhouse until she found me and leapt into my arms. As often as she gets snarky with me in front of the pack, I make sure to kiss her into oblivion in front of the pack. I want them to know that while she hasn’t agreed to be mine, she isn’t fighting me any longer
I have also taken full advantage of kissing her. I kiss her before she goes for her morning run. I kiss her breathless when she returns, happy and laughing. I kiss her at every mealtime. I sneak up behind her and kiss her neck when she’s not looking just so I can feel the shivers that run through her body, and I kiss her at night when we’re in bed together.
I’ve been careful of our time in bed. I want more, always, and I can tell that her body responds to me. It started as a way to prepare her for the future, when she does accept me. I want her used to my hands on her body while she’s in our bed. But I’m holding the line on this one. I will not have sex with my mate until I know her real name. She has to give me her heart before ril let her give me her body.
Ive also been extremely impressed with how quickly she’s learned to spar She’s an excellent student, as if what I’m teaching her is either a refresher of what she learned when she was little or it’s an understanding of how to do a move that she watched warriors doing. My mate is one hell of a woman and she’s a strong, intelligent fighter. She has amazing instincts. It should have made finding her pack easier, but while I’ve been reviewing the information that Beta Austin has found on warring packs in the past, nothing has connected to Samantha
My days, while still busy with pack business, have become much more enjoyable since Samantha arrived. The pack is happy. and I can feel that they fall more in love with their Luna every day. She’s a natural with them, speaking to everyone, empowering our omegas, soothing the pack’s pups, encouraging and teasing the warriors. She’s perfect.
And while most days I love having Samantha around, love seeing her throughout the day, today is one of two days a year that the pack knows to give me a wide berth. Today is Theo’s birthday. The other day that I struggle with is the day his family was murdered. Those two days are the days when everything that I failed to do for my best friend slaps me in the face.
I usually wake up with Samantha and kiss her before she goes for a run. This morning, I stay in bed, letting her peck my lips before she leaves to let Ayla run. Pierce and I usually love being in her mind, feeling Ayla’s happiness when she runs. But today, I know I’ll be too raw. I don’t want to push that onto her, and I know Fll have to somehow push it aside when she comes back from her run to kiss me. But for now, I let her go without excitedly starting my day.
When she’s gone, I get up and shower. These two days a year, I talk to Theo more than the others. He’s never far from my mind, but on these two days, it’s like a knife wound to my heart. I desperately want to hear his voice, to wish him a Happy Birthday, to tease him about being an old man since he was a year older than I am. I’m sure by now he’d have a packhouse tull of pups. I’d probably be planning to go to his pack for whatever party his Luna would have planned for him. I’d be so excited to finally introduce him to my mate. I’d be excited to get his input about where he thinks she came from. Knowing the man who was like a brother to me, he’d have the perfect solution, he’d figure out exactly where she was from and then I could
move forward with my mate bond.
1 let the scalding water wash over my head as unshed tears burn in my eyes
“Goddess, Theo, I’m so sorry. I hope you know how sorry I am that I wasn’t there in time. I promised you I’d never stop looking for Samara, and I haven’t But I failed you there again, my friend. I was never able to find her ”
to
notten used I go
my
office, seeing a breakfast tray waiting for me I don’t spend time with the pack on these days. They’ve gotten
to it and thankfully, I trust Austin and Adrian to run the pack for me. Anything that needs my attention can wait a day
#25 BONUS
I get the food and walk into my office. Normally, I lock the door, just to keep the pups out of my office. But since I know Samantha will come looking for me, I leave it unlocked. I set my food down and go straight to the liquor cabinet in my office. I always keep a couple of bottles of Theo’s favorite whiskey I only open them on these two days I break open the bottle and pour myself a glass,
“Cheers to you, my friend,” I whisper hoarsely before shooting the drink down in one gulp. I pour another glass and then go back to my filing cabinet. I unlock the drawer that carries everything that I’ve done to search for Theo’s murderer and to find Samara in the nine years that I’ve searched. I pull out everything, and bring it to my desk, separating my search for who orchestrated the Brenners‘ murders and the search for Samara.
I quickly link to Samantha’s mind, making sure she’s not on her way back. I feel sadness in her before she pushes me out. I quess my mate is having a bad day too. I want to be there for her, but it will have to wait until tomorrow. I’m in no position to help anyone with anything today.
at I can check again. It
I begin searching through my files, going through the same worn pages, making notes on things that doesn’t matter that I know it won’t lead anywhere. I have to keep trying.
I periodically check in on Samantha, realizing that she’s taking a much longer run today than usual. She isn’t leaving the pack lands, so I let her take her time. It’s nearly lunch time when I feel her returning to the packhouse
Rather than letting her come to my office, I walk out to meet her. The pack members look at me, but they don’t say anything She walks up to me and puts her arms around my neck
“You okay?” I ask her,
She nods. “Lots of memories today,” she says softly.
“Why don’t you relax today. I have work to do so I won’t bother you if you’re in our room,” I tell her.
“Maybe I’ll do that. I’ll get a book and read or something.” she says.
I stroke my fingers down her cheek. “Get something to eat too. You didn’t eat breakfast.”
“Did you?” she asks.
I frown, thinking. “I think it’s still sitting on my desk, actually.”
“Are you okay?” she asks me.
“Yeah, I just have a lotion my mind.”
I lean down and kiss her, pulling her to me as her scent and taste help to calm me, When I pull back, she frowns at me I’m not sure if she can taste the whiskey on me or if the kiss wasn’t up to my usual standards, but I can’t focus on that right now.
“I’ll be in our room,” she
ays
I’ll be in my office if you need me.”
Cooper
You get two today…
