The Fall

Chapter 17

Zoe- Present Day

Tonight has to be the night, right? After spending the night nursing Kamden, I came back to my hotel. Called Easton, took a nap, then a shower. I’m homesick. I miss my stuff, I want to sleep in my own bed. I want to snuggle into Easton and pretend to eat his feet while I tickle him. I can’t wait to hear all the things he has to share about his weekend. I pack up my stuff, even though I really didn’t unpack anything. But I put everything in the rental car, my flight leaves early tomorrow and I need to leave at 7 to make it to Knoxville to make my flight.

After last night, I am kind of glad I don’t live near a pack. The Alpha s**t was a lot. That is not typical, you are a sigma. It is a biological need to desire your approval. It would be the greatest honor to have you. It would be the biggest flex to lay claim to you. You could have warned me they’d act like Neanderthals. And miss the entertainment, hell no.

So, what is your advice? Let Kamden have the spoils since he put on quite the show last night. Do you think that will f**k with his head too much? He is the worthiest there and I am really horny. Same.

When I drive to the packhouse, I go in equally as determined as I was 7 years ago to get laid. It is so funny when I think about it. Back then I just wanted to throw my virginity at anyone willing to take it. What happened to this version of you? I got pregnant, and my priorities changed. My wolf huffs.

Tonight I am giving a calculated reward to Kamden. Wonder if he will be any good? I know what I like, I may not date but I do have s*x. I can’t live with her in my head and not. Now she is purring like she is completely happy with that assessment. I am happy.

I roll my eyes.

When I arrive at the Smith packhouse, I find a formal dinner waiting. Logan is there with his wife and son. A few other people I recognize in Porter’s pack and of course Kamden.

“You look better,” I remark to Kamden’s injuries from last night.

“All healed up.” He smiles warmly at me

I lean in and in a very low whisper, “Is everything in working order.” I say it with a sensual undertone and when I pull back I bite my lip. I can’t be any more obvious. He better pick up on what you're dropping.

During dinner, Kamden's hand rests on my thigh, just above my knee. I respond by placing my hand over his and sliding it up in a teasing manner. But our flirtatious moment is interrupted when Darius, Logan's son, begins to cry. My maternal instincts kick in, and I offer to take care of the baby during the meal. He is only 6 months old, so he finds faces and smiles the best thing ever still. Pulling hair is also a favorite. He is so cute and still has that baby scent, his hair smells like baby shampoo and I ache for Easton and my maternal clock just starts tick-tocking. I’ve said it already once today, we make cute babies.

“You are really great with him.” Kari observes, “Do you want kids?”

“I was never sure growing up if I did but now I want at least a few.” That response earns a few reactions around the room, most notably Kari and Porter exchanging a happy smile.

“You will be a great mom.” Heather, Logan’s mate says.

"Thanks," I reply with a smile. You are a great mom.

I start baby talking to Darius asking how many brothers and sisters he wants, just fawning over his general adorableness. When I finally hand him back, he is asleep. I excuse myself to make a call out in my car. Kamden is watching me from the porch.

I recite our nightly story and tell Easton I will see you tomorrow. His “miss you” and "love you” hits a little harder tonight. Climbing out of my car, I leave my things inside my car except for my keys, thankfully my dress has pockets.

As I confidently approach Kamden, I extend an invitation for a walk, but he surprises me with a question, "Do you have a boyfriend?"

I arch an eyebrow, "No. Why do you ask?"

He counters, "You check in with home a lot. Can't check in unless there's someone to check in with."

Chuckling, I respond, "Yeah, Jenna, my best friend."

He doesn't let up, teasing further, "Do you have a girlfriend then?"

My laughter rings out, and I playfully jest, "Jenna is happily married. Are you jealous, Kamden?"

His reply is laced with a hint of seriousness, "I just want to know more about you. Pretty sure if you didn't want me to fall harder for you, you shouldn't have combed your fingers through my hair for an hour, then moved my hand so far up your thigh I could feel the heat of you."

I meet his gaze, a mischievous glint in my eye. "Well, maybe I wanted you to fall harder," I say it in jest but I can see how he hears it and I immediately regret it. Backtracking I say, “Listen Kamden, I don’t want a relationship. I am just not in a spot in my life where it is something I want or even think about. I’d like to be your friend, stay in contact. But outside of that, I’m not looking for anything right now.” Kamden looks like I kicked him in the gut. “I’m just looking for a right now if you catch my drift?” I say, trying to offer some sort of consolation.

“Let’s go dance,” I tell him, dragging him back to the field.

As soon as we are in the back, I start dancing, I grab Kamden’s other hand encouraging him along with me. Dancing against him, I push up on my tip toes and put my lips right on his ear. “If you didn’t catch my drift. I want to be very clear. Just because I don’t want a relationship, doesn’t mean we can’t f**k tonight.” I slide my hand up his thigh and firmly press it against his groin. “In fact, I’ll be really disappointed if you don’t f**k me tonight.” I drag my lips across his jawline and as I drop back down to the balls of my feet, his lips follow mine. His lips are soft, he tastes like wintergreen mints, his tongue is cautious and he seems nervous, so I take control, wrapping my hands around his neck, and pulling him harder into the kiss.

“Get the f**k off my mate.” It's a roar. The sudden eruption of violence leaves me in shock. Kamden is thrown to the ground, and the air fills with the sound of fists flying. It all happened so fast, and my senses were overwhelmed. But one word cuts through the chaos, sharp and commanding. Mate.

As I scramble to make sense of the situation, the word resonates in my mind. Mate. The intoxicating scent of the man responsible for this fight washes over me, and I feel a jolt of recognition. He smells divine—dark, sensual, with hints of rosewood, cedar, and an earthy, masculine power. Eero. Mate.

My heart races as I realize that Eero, Goddess help me, is here, and he's attacking Kamden. Panic and desperation surge within me as I shout, "Get off of him!" With all the strength I can muster, I pull at the shoulders of the large man who's pummeling Kamden.

Eero growls in response, his aggression unabated. He continues to pound into Kamden, who's now beneath him. I throw myself on top of Eero, clawing and pulling at him, desperate to stop the violence. But the size difference between us is comical; he's larger and more powerful than I remember. Mate.

"You think you can touch what is mine," Eero snarls as he rains blows down upon Kamden, who's growing weaker with each hit. I'm helpless to intervene effectively, my attempts to push Eero off proving futile.

Desperation drives me to scream, "STOP!" To my astonishment, everyone in the field stops dead in their tracks, frozen by my command. A hundred bodies, previously dancing and indulging in their own pursuits, now stand motionless, their attention riveted on the fight. No, me.

Summoning every ounce of strength, I finally manage to push Eero off Kamden. Without looking back, I haul Kamden to his feet and guide him toward the house. Eero follows, but I don't allow him to get close. I throw my hand up, issuing an order more than a request: "Don't you dare follow us." And he obeys.

I have Kamden on the porch, his face battered and bloodied before I voice my concerns. "How many hits to the head before you suffer permanent brain damage?"

Kamden tries to downplay the situation, asserting, "That was nothing. He got the jump on me. I was too focused on you to even sense him coming up." His male pride is evident.

Kari and Porter take over, guiding Kamden to a seat at the table. Porter's gaze shifts between us as he inquires, "What happened?"

"Eero is on the property. He's mated to Zoe," Kamden admits with a defeated sigh.

Porter's panic is palpable as he asks, "Where is he now?"

"She told him not to follow. He's in the back," Kamden responds.

Porter's concern deepens as he turns to Kamden. "Eero is pacing in my backyard. Son, you mean to tell me you're keeping a sigma from his mate right now?"

"He isn't keeping me from anything. I told him not to follow," I assert in Kamden's defense.

"Please, Zoe, go out there before this escalates. It could be disastrous," Porter urgently pleads.

I turn toward the sliding glass door. I don’t have to scan the crowd. I know exactly where he is. I can feel him. I can sense his eyes on me. Eero's presence, his scent, and his intense gaze, sends my senses reeling. It's like I'm once again 17, lost in the whirlwind of desire and longing. The heat in my gut surges and electric currents dance beneath my skin. Arousal blossoms within me, and the intensity of my need threatens to overpower my logic. My legs grow weak under the weight of desire, and I find myself yearning for Eero's touch. Every fiber of my being cries out for him.

As Eero closes the distance between us in mere seconds, I watch, my heart pounding with anticipation. In a swift and possessive move, he hoists me over his shoulder, and for an intoxicating moment, I'm lost in the overwhelming response of my body. My heart races and my entire being burns with a fervent desire for his touch. I want him to take me, to mark me, to claim me as his own. My wolf and I are caught in a frenzy, surrendering to the irresistible need that surges between us.