Chapter Forty-Four

“Oh, how about Bloody Zombie Night?” Candy said as she looked at Stolas’ phone. The three of them lay in bed, Stolas had already taken their empty tray back to the kitchen.



“Only if you two want to go without me.” Annie said, her nose wrinkling as she thought about the last horror movie she’d seen. She hadn’t enjoyed all the blood, guts and gore, or the hopeless feeling that all of the characters seemed to share.



“How about The First Kiss? It’s a feel-good romantic comedy.” Stolas suggested. His eyebrows drawing together as realized that planning a movie date with these two might be harder than he expected.



“I guess that would be okay.” Candy said, she didn’t really want to watch that. Romances weren’t really her thing, but she was willing to go for Annie and to spend time with the two of them.



“So it’s decided then?” Stolas said, maybe it wouldn’t be so hard. He moved his thumb to the icon to purchase tickets.



“It is, thank you.” Annie said with a smile as she rested her head on Candy’s chest.



“For what, baby?”



“I know you like scary stuff, I saw your Netflix history.” Annie said as she propped her hand up on her chin, her eyes meeting Candy’s.



“I do, but I don’t mind watching a romance movie if it makes you happy.” Candy said as she pushed a strand of hair behind Annie’s ear. Her fingers brushing against Annie’s cheek as she smiled at her mate.



Stolas leaned over, setting his phone on the nightstand before laying back down. He watched the Annie move her hand to the bed as she leaned over Candy. Kissing her softly, his heart fluttered in his chest as the butterflies did the same in his stomach.



He didn’t think he’d ever get tired of how tender Candy was with Annie. Or how passionate that Annie was with the two of them. How she lost herself when they were all together.



Candy pulled away and kissed Annie’s nose before leaning back against the headboard. “So wake up, work out, then get ready for the movies?”



“Work out?” Annie asked, raising an eyebrow.



“Yeah, I like to run in the mornings and I haven’t been able to lately. Maybe we could go for a walk instead, I doubt you could keep up with me right now.” Candy said. She had missed her morning runs, her wolf had missed it.



“Yeah, I’m not much of a runner.” Annie said, moving a hand over her belly. “Kinda hard right now.”



“We could do some yoga?” Stolas suggested as he moved onto his side, bringing his hand up to caress her shoulder. “It’s very relaxing. It’ll be good for you and the babies.”



“That could be fun?” Annie said, her voice raising slightly, and Stolas couldn’t help the grin that spread across his face.



“It will be, I’ve been told I’m a very good teacher.”



“I bet you have,” Annie said as she brought her hand up to his, as he cupped her cheek.



“So we have a plan?” Candy said, as she reached out, stroking her fingers through Stolas’ hair.



“I think we do. For now, how about we rest?” Stolas suggested as he watched Annie cover her mouth as she tried to hide her yawn.



“I’m really not that tired.”



“Your yawn says otherwise.” Candy said, her lips tilting up in a smirk as she felt the bed shift.



Stolas got up and turned the lights off before he slipped in between the sheets, Nestling himself against Candy as he threaded his fingers with Annie’s.



He felt more content than he had in decades, he could feel that they felt the same way as the sounds of Annie’s soft, even breathing filled the room.



“Stolas.” Candy said, her voice barely a whisper.



“Yes, my wolf?”



“Thank you, not just for you know. Letting me take control earlier, but for how you are with Annie.”



“Candy, there is no need to thank me. The three of us will be together for a very, very long time. I need to what the two of you need, what you desire.” His eyes twinkled in the darkness, “So I can take care of you.”



“Like a shifter long time or-”



“Like a devil’s long time. Your life and Annie’s are tied to mine.” Stolas said as he pressed his lips against hers in a chaste kiss.



“That’s a long time?”



“It is, you should rest. We can talk about it more in the morning.” Candy nodded her head and closed her eyes, trying to relax as she thought about all the time that they would have together.



***



Candy’s breath fogged in the air as she ran, her blood rushing as her heart pounded in her ears. She pushed herself further, her wolf enjoying the run almost as much as she was.



The crunch of leaves and the snap of a twig made her wolf perk up. She would have been scared if she hadn’t caught the scent of home, of pack, and the vampire mixed with his own unique smell.



Drake and Eli were behind her. She leaped over a log before darting away from the pack house, leading them further into the woods.



She felt the cold brush of a wolf nose brush against her leg and she let out a laugh before she turned, skidding across the ground. Her hand touching the dew covered leaves as she caught her balance launching herself forward. Her sneakers digging into the mud as she moved to chase the dark wolf as he weaved through the trees.



Candy knew that if he were in human form, Eli would be cackling as the three of them played tag. She thought for a moment of stripping her clothing so she could shift. That would be wasted time, and as Drake’s voice filled her mind, she realized that she was about to lose the game.







“Got you.” His furry body brushed her side as he passed her with a sharp yip.