Thank you so much everyone that's stuck with me through this! As I said in the first couple chapters this is my first erotica. I wasn't sure where the story was going when I started, just that I'd always had this vision of Anahid and Kaev. I hope you enjoyed! Please do follow me if you'd like more stories. I'm not sure if I'll be doing more series that are quite this long, but I'll likely be doing a short stories here and there. Thanks again for reading!
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Anahid lay in the grass. Baby Aylsa-nearly two now- giggled as she placed flowers on Aeva. The baby warbled, her bright bronze curls glowed in the sun and Anahid's heart swelled as she watched the little girl. She glanced up from the playing babies to the lycans sparring on the field. As always, her eyes fell on Kaev instantly. He showed off today, with his mate and little daughter watching. Anahid found her gaze sliding to Variya. The she-wolf still had a haunted, empty gaze. Her vengeance against Atalanta had closed a chapter, but the wound could never be healed. Anahid felt her smile falter as she remembered Dymion. She had no idea where he'd gone. If Variya ever found out his part in Ash's death... Anahid shook her head, Dymion would run far, far away if he knew what was good for him.
Feeling a pang she thought her mother. She didn't even know her real name. Only the one Atalanta had given her. After the fight the wolf had turned and disappeared into the trees. Anahid hoped to see her again before little Aeva grew too old. She wanted her mother to see her baby, the perfect little creature that she'd helped save. But she understood the freedom of giving into your wolf form. Kaev had looked grim when Anahid explained. Like Anahid's father, some wolves just couldn't live within a pack for long. They turned to their wolf and lost themself for years. Anahid knew Serenity would find her way back eventually though.
"Will you watch Aeva tonight?" she asked Kayl who lay on the grass, her head in Sim's lap.
"Of course, we love having the babies together," Kayl grinned then winked at her.
Anahid scooped Aeva up and strolled slowly towards the sparring ground. Lifting her chubby hand she waved at Varick who stood on the edge waiting for his turn. The handsome wolf smiled and waggled his fingers at them as they approached. He was leaving soon, it was time for his ranging. There was a pack a week's run south that he wanted to visit, see if he could find a mate. Anahid felt a pang as she imagined her friend leaving. But he finally felt he could leave Variya. And he'd be back.
She came to a stop next to Varick and began to bounce Aeva on her hip as she watched Kaev spar with Cobb. "Look at your daddy. He's the biggest, the fiercest, the most loving man or wolf you'll ever meet." Beside her, Varick snorted a laugh. "Yes, your daddy can beat up poor uncle Varick without breaking a sweat." Varick barked another loud laugh. Anahid smirked, but continued. "You'll grow up with these wolves around you, you have a family. A pack. Forever."
Kaev flipped Cobb onto his back, then jerked his head up, finding Anahid instantly. He grinned as he stepped from the large lycan. Trotting across the field he reached his hands for Aeva. Sweeping the little girl into his arms he spun her in the air to the chuckles of the gathered lycans.
Together, they turned and left the sparring ground, Kaev bouncing Aeva as they walked. Anahid leaned against his shoulder, gazed up at her mate. "Kayl is going to watch her tonight."
Kaev glanced down at her, a smile tugging at his face. "So, you won't tell me this surprise you have planned?"
"It wouldn't be much of a surprise."
Kaev grinned, his eyes turning mischievous. "I can force you to tell me. As your pack leader."
"I'd like you to try," she snorted.
Anahid watched Kaev as they walked. He was absorbed in Aeva, bouncing her and making faces to get a few cherubic giggles from her. She grasped at one of his large fingers and cooed at him, then she looked down to Anahid and her round baby face broke into a happy smile as she reached for her mother. Her wide eyes were pale gray and Anahid imagined she could see the wolf within. Or, cub for the moment. Kaev's step was lighter than she'd ever seen it. The year had been hard, so very hard...but Atalanta's death, Aeva's birth, they seemed to have lifted a weight from him. Anahid took in the lycans lounging around the large common area under the overhang. Her pack. She felt the pulse of them. As Varick had said once, they belonged to her, and she to them. She glanced back up to Kaev. He watched her, a small smile playing on his face. His handsome face was lighter, more open. He seemed younger. His eyes drank her in like they had that first day. The memory sent a shiver down her spine. He'd saved her, and she'd saved him as well.
"What?" he asked as their eyes met.