Isle of Mann
1167 Words
Maya's POV
I stepped out of the car, looking up the stone steps to see Athens and his mate Johnny at the top. I smiled, though inwardly I could feel the magic and hum of this place. It was old magic, some good but with a darker edge.
"Welcome!" Athens bellowed. I smiled up at him still happy he had found his mate. I began walking up the steps when I noticed some silver hair come into view. "Ben?" I breathed out with amazement.
"Maya! Joe!" Ben's face came in clearer as he was up next to Athens and Johnny. Ben pulled by his mate Romana who looked heavily pregnant near him.
I ran up the steps bypassing Athens and Johnny to grab Ben for a hug. "How are you doing?" I breathed near his ear with a grin.
"I am fine," he chuckled squeezing me back. Letting him go I twirled around to grab Romana's hand in enthusiasm, "how are you doing?" I pulled her in for a hug too.
I felt her laugh as she wiggled out of my embrace, "Just fine, hoping this one comes soon, I am so tired these days." a small weary smile spread across her lips as Ben grabbed her hand.
"I missed you both," I grinned looking back down at the group making their way up the stairs.
Joe wrapped a hand around my waist to shake Ben's hand bowing low to Romana. "Great to see you both again. Been a long while."
"Indeed it has Joe," Ben nodded. "My mate cannot be away from water for too long especially with the pregnancy." Ben wrapped a protective arm around her shoulders.
"Totally understandable." Joe nodded. Turning around he looked T our team knowing the rest of them would not know Ben. "This is Ben ancient lyican brother of Elder Braun's and the old kingdom." He announced. Elder Braun was already walking up the stairs with a massive grin.
"Hello, brother," both ancient Lyican men clasped forearms.
"I see you have a whole team of bears with you." Ben glanced at Joe and me.
"Yes, going to wolf packs helps to have born with us. They don't try to challenge as much." Joe chuckled.
"C.. Cacodemon?" Ben sputtered as he placed Romana behind him quickly. "Why is he among you?!" Ben's words are frantic.
"Ben that is my brother," I placed a hand on his arm. I watched Ben's flabbergasted expression snap to me.
"What?!" He hissed out.
Hawk stepped forward slightly, Amber on his Arm with Ronan. "I am Myra's son," Hawk sighed as he slightly shook his head.
Ben paled a moment, looking between Hawk and me. He slowly recognized that Amber held Hawk's hand that she had a child on her hip. He relaxed slightly, "your mate and son?" he pointed at Amber and Ronan.
"Yes, Maya helped me find her." Hawk glanced at me, a small smile on his lips as he looked back to Ben.
Ben deflated a bit more and pulled Romana close to him. "A bit to get used to." He nodded as Athens walked to us.
"Shall we?" Athens waved to the front door as the Lord of the Manor.
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Loredana's POV
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The small castle that Athens had was furnished exquisitely. Antiques, Persian rugs, tapestries, and paintings expertly crafted graced the place. Warm brown wood in rooms, with fireplaces in each room. The whole house had a nice feel to it.
"Alright, let's get everyone to their rooms to freshen up for dinner in an hour." Athens's voice seemed to take on a regal air.
I followed a servant with my bags as Mike followed me with his duffle bag. "This will be both your rooms," the young woman curtsied the walked off down the hall.
I snapped my gaze to see Mike's smirk and eyes sparkling with mischief. "Our room?" I raised an eyebrow at him.
"We are mates," he chuckled as he walked past me, then last-minute grabbed my wrist to yank me in and close the door. He then leaned against said door raising his eyebrow. "You like to look at me so this will give you a better chance to see without being distracted." Mike dropped the duffle bag by the door and stalked toward me with purpose.
I was frozen in place as he placed a hand on each side of my face pulling me forward he slammed his lips on mine in a kiss that curled my toes while sending tingles out to my limbs. My hands gripping the shirt off his chest as stepped closer to him on instinct.
Mike's chest rumbled, "all the yummy things I want to do to you.." he whispered against my lips as he let go and stepped back with a sigh.
Those words made my belly tingle with delight and something I couldn't place. A blush hit my cheeks as I looked at the floor realizing what he was saying. I heard him pick up his duffle bag and walk to one side of the bed, to place his stuff there. I dragged my stuff to the other side. I heard the bed move, glancing over my shoulder I saw Mike stretch out on it stacking his hands behind his head. My breath caught and all those arms muscles tensed came on display. I didn't notice that there were tattoos under the one tattoed arm. I just thought it was on top.
Come here, I heard Mike say in my head, as an arm snaked out from his side and I was yanked with a yelp to his side of the bed.
I looked at his face to see he closed his eyes, my eyes trailed back to the thick corded muscle he had on display. The tattoo I noticed were a mix of nordic and tribal designs. Protection symbols and other words written in rune ran along with a design of an angry bear that stood on hind legs ready to fight. It had a spear in its shoulder and a snarl on its lips.
"After I got my car, I felt like the evil bear from Brave." He sighed. He opened his eyes for me to see a shimmer of the gold wave across them. I could only guess they were his bear coming to the surface as wolves do.
"You are not evil," I reached a finger out to trace along with the bear he had on his chest.
"Doesn't feel that way when people look at me." I could feel his chest sigh deeply.
"Don" t worry about them," I glanced up to see he was watching me intently. "Most of the time I don't even see the scar you mention." I shrugged. Getting ready to get up his tattooed arm stopped me.
"Don't just lay with me for a bit please." He asked so softly I couldn't say no to him. His warmth was seeping into me as the tingles relaxed me.
- Writer
