When the Wolves Cry (Twin Flames Duet #1)

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

TALA

Dad’s trying to be a showoff for Jax. We got a good inch or two of snow overnight, so he’s on the four-wheeler doing doughnuts, drifting around and blowing snow up everywhere.

There’s a clear patch inside the gates of the sanctuary where we usually have the hammocks and swings out. But with winter coming in hot they’re all stored away so they don’t get destroyed.

But at this rate, there may not be a spot for them anymore. He’s tearing it up with a radiant smile and rosy cheeks.

It’s pissing Valko off.

His favorite spot is by the hammocks. He was already moody watching us haul them away. So, now that he sees a human making fun with his area, he’s charging after the four-wheeler and trying to snap at the tires.

“Damascus! Stop making him mad!” Mom shoutsdisappointedly.

Dad looks over his shoulder, bright teeth shining away at the distress he’s puttingValkothrough.

“What? This little guy?” he hollers over the engine.

I tuck Void closer into me, pulling myoversized, furry coat around him. Looking up at the amusement on Jax’s face, my heart melts, the warm liquid streaming right out of my vagina.

Flurries are sticking to his thick lashes, constantly landing on his black beanie, and falling into the hairs that are swooped out. His hunter eyes are pulled thin with the smile that’s flaunting his sharp canines.

Sighing quietly over how magical he is, I peel my eyes away and down to Echo. I think she’s just as disappointed as Mom.

She’s sitting on her haunches, same stern face, and the two other pups are weaving in and out of her front legs.

They’ve got a lot bigger too. Their chestnut markings are turning lighter and they’re almost to my knees now. My mom named them Ace and Spade.

Her and Dad are always playing cards together.

Dad calms the hell down and cuts the engine. “Okay, okay!” he shouts gruffly, throwing his hands up in surrender atValko’shard stare.

Jax’s rich, whiskey-like laugh fills the air, blanketing me in enough warmth to not need a coat. It weasels under your skin in the most inviting way, crawling right into your heart and exploding it with seventh heaven.

“Do you guys want to go back to the house to get some coffee? I made your favorite coffee cake this morning,” mom says sweetly, rubbing my arm and looking over us both.

“Absolutely,” I agree easily. “My ass is frozen, and my veins need to be surged.”

She grins, reaching into my coat to grab Void from his warmth. “I know it breaks your heart to set him down. I’ll be the bad guy for you.”

I pucker my bottom lip and kiss his nose as he gets ripped away from me. It wouldn’t be the end of the world to let him hangout with us inside the house. But wolves aren’t pets. My dad doesn’t even let Echo inside the house and they’re inseparable.

She steps away to take him back with the other pups, and a large, warm hand snakes up through my coat and shirt, running up my spine.

He bends down, lips resting on my jaw. “I can help you with that,” he whispers against me.

Tingles roll down my spine, tightening my nipples against my shirt. “My parents would hear what God I pray to… And I don’t think that’s a line I’m willing to cross,” I murmur, pinning up a smile at my dad who’s starting the four-wheeler again.

The warmth of his hand steadily disappears from my back, transferring to my numb ass. He gives me a firm pat, instituting fireworks to bite into my cold skin. I wince and shuffle forward, apparently amusing him enough for another laugh to reverberate in his chest.

“I was just going to wrap you up in a blanket, rub your legs, and hold your coffee for you.” His voice carries over the engine that’s whizzing by.

They left me with a horny Satan.

My back is still tore the fuck up from yesterday.

Ignoring both predator eyes ofValko and Jax, I watch Void tumble around with the other pups while walking over the four-wheeler Jax and I brought up here. I step up on the footrest, throw my leg over, and straddle the back of it.

“Fuckin’ hell, baby,” he groans, stalking over with eyes that are penetrating my thighs. He effortlessly steps over and practically sits in my lap, the suspension bouncing from his behemoth size. “After I get done murdering people tonight, your ass is saddling up on my face,” he grumbles over his shoulder, then starts the four-wheeler.

The visual sparks up the thrum that never seems to go away around him. I’ve never had an intense carnal desire for someone like this before. He is Heaven and Hell—with all things kinky and divine woven into the web of his design.

The logs are crackling in the fireplace, emitting the cozy aroma of burning wood that’s swirling around with the fresh coffee in my hand. Mom and dad are on the other side of the sectional, snuggled up with each other and looking at an embarrassing album of my childhood.

Jax’s arm is around me, sweetly rubbing over my thigh as I curl closer into him. “We went to that storage unit by the way.” They both turn their heads in my direction, wondering what else I have to say about it. “Uh… I don’t really know what I’m supposed to do with all of that. And they didn’t specify what they were up to as of recently. They just left a note and said they want me tofollow in their footsteps.”

Dad rubs down his face, scratching the back of his head in thought. “Well, sweetheart. I think they were looking for the five women that have gone missing.”

“They needed grenades for that?” I ask, scrunching half my face.

His head tips back on a quick laugh. “To blow shit up I guess,” he shrugs.

“Do you think they would have any notes or maps in that storage unit?” Jax asks, his voice vibrating against my shoulder.

Dad raises his steaming mug to his lips for a sip, crow’s feet deepening with a squint. “If they did, it’d most likely be shoved into a safe. I’m sure the password would either be Tala’s birthday orRuger’sdeath day. They loved that damn cat.” He shakes his head, sipping some more bean water.

Yes. Their alias is a wolf and cat’s name combined.

I can’t judge it. It’s apparently working. The only man breaking into my house is the man that’s teasing his fingers up my hip.

I frown, the inadequacy eating at my mind. “I wouldn’t know how to find missing women, Dad. But in an attempt to fill their shoes, Jax is training me to help save dogs. I’m not sure we’ll need grenades for that.” I finish with a lazy laugh.

Mom gasps, launching the photo album onto the coffee table, and whips her blanket off to stride over to us with her hands out and ready to cup under our faces. “My babies saving babies,” she coos, looking over us with tears misting her eyes. “You better be careful.”

I glance up to Jax, making sure his lip isn’t twitching from the unsolicited touch.

It’s not. It’s stretched in a grin under his adoring eyes. “She has a long way to go in training. But even then, I’ll protect her with my life, ma’am.”

“I believe it,” she smiles, thenboopshis nose.

I cover my eyes.

The embarrassment is a parasite feasting on my bones.

I groan, throwing my head back dramatically and letting a childish whine out in front of my dryer.

I hate doing laundry.

After my dad talked Jax’s ear off about wanting to learnJiuJitsu, he dropped me off at home and ordered me to have a bag packed by the time he gets done torturing theGuildons.

All my clothes were dirty from having a busy week. So, I had to shove them in the washer, shower and shave while they washed, and then switch them to the dryer.

I’ve been standing here, wet hair soaking the back of my shirt, and watching the clothes tumble around.

My growling stomach carries me from the laundry room into the kitchen. I have to eat snacks in between all three meals in order to function.

All I’ve had today is the French toast Jax shoved into my mouth and a piece of my mom’s coffee cake. I think my stomach is eating itself.

I weakly grab the fridge handle, open it, and frown at the bareness. I do have lettuce, bacon, eggs, and a questionable tomato.

I turn on some girl-rock, crank the volume up, and zone out while making a BLT sandwich.

Jax is going to spoil me by cooking for me. Now, I hate having to make anything without seeing the shirtless Dark God in the kitchen tossing a knife around.

He’s probably tossing a knife around in someone’s face right now.

Pressure weighs heavily in my core, and I clench my thighs, smacking a piece of bread on the monstrosity I just made.

I used to love being alone.

Anytime Liam would go to work, it was like a black cloud getting sucked out of the sky, leaving only sunshine, rainbows, and fucking butterflies. I remember the weight that would come off my shoulders, and I’d dance and sing, sit on the damn counter and paint my toes… And then he’d come back.

I despised it when he’d come back. Now, I hate being alone.

That may make me toxic, or clingy, or hell, even lovesick. But I burn brighter when Jax is around. He’s the oxygen that feeds my flame. The salvation that has rescued me from the prophecy of my dark demise.