The Son of Hades and A Mermaid

Family Unit

Andrea

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I assumed that when the week was over, we would go back to the underworld, but Cole suggested that we stay there a while longer. To help speed up the process of finding this asshole of a wizard. Amber and Eric are putting off their honeymoon to find this wizard. They can't seem to catch a break. We've just finished eating breakfast and decided to go for a hike on some trails that are a part of Amber and Eric's land, while Amber and Eric are tending to their Alpha duties. "So is this how it feels to grow up as a werewolf? You grow up in these huge family units," asks Cole as we start our hike down a trail. Around us is nothing but a green forest and colossal redwood trees.

"For normal werewolves, yes. My mother was thrown out of her pack due to loving my father... He is from a different species. Which I guess wasn't allowed with her being an Alpha's daughter. So we lived a good portion of our lives on the run. Until my father was able to get us a place on the coast. He hired some witches to hide us away. So we were safe once we were there, but that was only after my mother came clean to my father about our living situation. I knew how to fight off rogues before I knew how to read."

Cole stops me and takes my hand, "Andrea… I'm so sorry. As my wife, I promise you will never want anything again.".

I gave him a tight smile, ".. it is okay. The past year, it hasn't been so bad. With my sisters, they have become my pack. Their mothers have adopted my mother. So we have formed our own family, all being distantly related to the Moon Goddess. She took care of me and brought us together."

Cole sighs, "Well, I'm glad you had them at least….Can I see your other forms?"

"Do you mean my wolf and my mermaid tail?"

"Yes".

"Yes, at least my wolf, we can. I'd need to be in the ocean for my tail to appear. Hold on." I go behind a tree, take off my clothes, and shift into my wolf Siren. She is pure white, just like my sisters. I come out from behind the tree.

Cole's face turns to something similar to awe as my medium-sized white wolf walks up to him. "You are stunning" as he says this, he reaches out his hand and pets Siren's side. She wags her tail in happiness. I walk back behind the tree and change back into my human form.

"Does that hurt?"

"The first few shifts hurt, but eventually, you get faster, and it isn't too bad." Cole looks like he is thinking, and we continue hiking.

We reached the top of a hill and looked at the views. If we kept hiking, we'd eventually hit the ocean, but we don't have time for that. "It's beautiful here. So earthy and vibrant," said Cole.

"Yes, California has such a mix of beauty. Forests, mountains, oceans, desserts." I get a mind link from Amber. "Andrea, we're caught up. You can meet us in Eric's office."

"Okay, see you soon." "They're caught up. We can head back."

Cole nods, and we start to head back. He's so quiet. I'm beginning to think that I said something wrong.

"Is there anything wrong, Cole?"

"No, I was just musing on how you've had such a difficult life, but you're still a positive person. It is inspiring… I grew up with two gods as parents and never had to want anything. Still, I often have a pessimistic attitude."

"But you grew up in the underworld. That has to count for something. It is not ideal. I can see how growing up in a dark place could result in a darker view of the world around you."

"....there you go again being compassionate, kind, and beautiful…. everything that I'm not. Maybe that's why the Moon Goddess paired us together."

"You're quite the charmer, aren't you?" I said as I stepped around a rather large rock.

Cole gives a confident shrug, "I can be there when I want to."

I can feel my cheeks warming from a blush. I'm glad that I'm walking in front of Cole. So that he can't see it. "You think that I'm beautiful?"

Cole chuckles a little bit. He stops, grabs my hand, and looks me in the eye. "You don't see it, do you? See, I think that you're absolutely stunning. Inside and out ". I'm blushing even harder. Cole gets a mischievous look as he starts to kiss every one of my knuckles. "You're so adorably pink right now."

"...I know… I can feel it." He steps closer, runs his thumb over my cheekbone, and goes down until he reaches my bottom lip. He pulls it a bit. My stomach is filled with warm butterflies as he looks at my lips and then back to my face. His face lowers, and his lips lightly brush mine before pulling away. My hand goes to my lips. I've never kissed before and don't know how to react.

"Was that your first kiss? Forget that". He says this and kisses me again. This time with more pressure and passion. He pulls me closer, and both his hands slide down from my back to my hips. My legs become like jelly as he deepens the kiss even more. Finally, he pulls back a bit, and I can respond. I was clumsy at first, and I can feel him smiling against my lips. Oh, goddess, I'm so terrible at this. I pulled away and stepped out of his embrace and turned around.

"I'm so terrible. I'm so sorry". Cole comes up behind me and wraps me in an embrace from behind. Pulling me into his chest.

"No, No, no… I smiled because your response was so sweet. You were perfect." He moves my hair and starts to place kisses on my neck. I had to hold back a groan. This feels so good. I sigh and relax.

"You're quite something," he murmurs against my neck.

"I'm glad that you think so." Cole let go of me, and we turned to head back to the pack house.

Cole looks like he is going to grab my hand but then stops himself.