Chapter 51

Selene

After finish my call with Aunt Denise, spinning a believable excuse to get my mom out of the packhouse and away from my dangerous and disgusting criminal she married, Makayla and I tackle the breakfast dishes together.

Makayla hands me a freshly washed mug, her eyes searching mine. "How are you feeling right now?" she asks, her voice soft yet laden with concern.

"Better," I lie, forcing a smile. "Just trying to focus on keeping her safe."

I should've known there was something seriously wrong with Philip. He was too eager to claim my mom as his mate after only a few months together and bring us back to his pack. Now, I find out he's doing every criminal activity you can fucking think of and he's put us in danger.

He's a disgusting animal that deserves to rot in prison for the rest of his miserable life.

Or better yet, let whoever the fuck the "Devils" are have him. As long as they leave us alone.

She gives me a knowing look. "C'mon, Selene. You don't need to lie to me. All of this shit is happening all at once, like you made the Moon Goddess angry or something."

I sigh. "Yeah, it fucking sucks," I admit.

my blood goes cold. Did I? I mean, most of this did happen after I met my stepbrother and decided to mess around with him, even though I should've considered him "family" and left him alone. But that doesn't explain the rest of my life. You know, like my father being murdered, Zack rejecting me, not being able to become Alpha of my father's pack, and Philip waltzing into me and my mom's life and making everything worse.

Maybe the Moon Goddess just doesn't fucking like me. My life is a shitshow from one minute to the next, and I don't see it getting better any time soon. I know that Phoenix and Luke are going to do whatever they can to protect us, but that also puts them at risk. What if Philip finds out about this? What if he wants tot start wiping out his own family members to save his own ass?

I can't imagine losing any more of the people I care about in my life. I even somewhat cared about Philip up until an hour ago. I just hope to Goddess Phoenix and his uncle know what they're doing, and they don't put themselves on Philip's or the "Devils" radars. I can already tell that it wouldn't end well for them, and I can't stand the thought of something bad happening to Phoenix—not when I just finally accepted him and realized that I love him.

We wrap up our task, and I return to the bedroom to find Phoenix in the middle of making the bed—our bed. The sight of him smoothing the sheets make my heart swell, like every domestic, normal thing he does. I decide to help him. I mean, I am the one who helped created this chaos. As I start fluffing the pillows, I suddenly feel the warmth of his arms encircling me from behind, pulling me close.

"I think I'm developing a craving for you, little wolf," he whispers into the curve of my neck, his breath sending shivers down my spine. "Why don't we mess up the bed again?" His voice is teasing, but the hardness pressing against my ass tells me he wouldn't refuse a morning session if I ordered him one.

I'm pretty sure he's playing, but the erection pressing against my ass says he wouldn't turn down a morning session if I offered it to him.

Giggling, I spin around in his embrace, meeting his gaze. His face, absolutely perfect and handsome, makes my pulse quicken. "No way," I tease back, giving him a gentle push.

But he's faster, capturing my wrists and pulling me back, his lips trailing along my skin. Butterflies flutter in my stomach, and I can't stop the small gasp that escapes me. His eyes darken with mischief. "I don't think I was asking."

My heartbeat skyrockets as he closes the distance between us. "But Phoenix-" I begin to protest, my voice a whisper in case anyone else in the house is listening right now. We have the door wide fucking open, and I don't want anyone to hear us again. I know that he needs to leave in a few minutes; he has some type of business with his uncle to deal with.

Likely involving my father and the heinous crimes he has been committing.

He caresses my jaw as he slams his lips into mine, the kiss practically stealing my breath away. His lips are greedy, hungry. When he finally pulls back, I'm left dizzy, my lungs struggling to catch up.

His face is deadly serious now. "Any regrets?" he asks, his voice low, almost vulnerable.

"Absolutely not," I reply without hesitation, my voice firm. How could I ever regret this? Being with him feels so fucking right. I nearly forget why I have been fighting it for so long until I remind myself that he was unstable at one point. "You?"

A crooked grin slowly spreads across his face, and he shakes his head. "Absolutely not," he echoes, his tone gruff but filled with warmth.

I smile in response, the tension in my chest easing.

"Now, I have to leave," he says, a hint of reluctance in his voice. "It should just be a few hours, but I'll be back to you as soon as I can, okay?"

"Okay," I whisper, not wanting him to leave, but knowing that I have to.

He pulls me in for one last kiss, this one slow, deeper as if he's imprinting the memory of it in both of our brains to think about for the entire time we're apart. When he finally steps away, my lips still tingle from his touch. With a final, lingering look full of love and longing, Phoenix and Luke head out the front door, leaving me standing there, already counting down the minutes until he returns.