her abdomen. “I know. Doesn’t my baby girl look
fabulous?”
“How in the hell did you get big so fast? Were you this
big last night?” I caught a whiff of her scent and the
baby’s. “Oh hell no! Please tell me he didn’t!” growling at
the familiar stench.
“Before you get angry, it wasn’t all his fault. I was the
one who pursued him and he couldn’t resist.” She tried
to convince me, but my temper wasn’t buying it.
“That’s it. I have had it with that man!” storming into my
bedroom, I threw on some clothes. “Maddison. Home.
Now.”
****
I stormed into my father’s garage, pulled him out from
under the hood of one of his cars, and slammed him up
against the wall. “It wasn’t enough to get one mistress
pregnant?! Maddison is my best friend! What in the hell
are you trying to do, knock up every damn woman in
town?!”
Evan quickly wheeled himself out from under the car
and stood up. “Hey! Sammy! Knock it off!”
“Sammy, please calm down.” Maddison pleaded.
My eyes glared into his. He was taken by surprise and
scared. Damn right…he better be fucking scared!
“Sammy…I…I’m sorry.” He finally spoke in defeat.
“You’re not sorry you dumb son of a bitch!” I growled,
tightening my grip on him.
Evan growled at me. “Sammy! Let him go! Now!”
dropping the tool he had in his hand to rush over
towards us.
I released my grip on his throat and stormed out of the
garage, phasing as I ran.
Usually the air breezing through my fur calmed me
down, but today was a whole different story. My so
called father knocked up my best friend.
Maddison was the
one
person from around here that I
trusted. She knows everything…from my favorite movie
to the color of my fur. When my parents warned me that
I may lose a friend if I let her too close, I took that risk
because I knew that she wouldn’t leave.
I knew that wasn’t the case because Maddie had kept
some secrets of her own. She’s a vampire and has some
extraordinary gifts. There isn’t anything she can’t do.
She’s my magical Maddie.
Now she was pregnant with what, my half-sister?! Why
can’t my father learn how to control what’s in his damn
pants?!
I sat at the edge of the cliff, looking out onto the water.
Why in the world did I even come back here? Why
should I care so much about the people who don’t even
care about me?
“We care about you, Sammy. You are just too stubborn
to see it.”
I heard the alpha’s voice in my head.
“Go away Gab-Gab.”
I thought, not turning back to see
him.
His outrageously bigger wolf-form sat next to me,
casting a shadow.
“Nobody here hates you. Why do you
act like we do?”
“I could be gone for an entire century and not one of
you would notice. You’ve made it clear that I do not fit
into this perfect world that you created.”
I stared out
onto the water.
“Samantha Emilia Utley, you are a valuable piece to
this family. You have major responsibilities here, but
your father and I feel that you are not ready for them
just yet. For the past few years, we have allowed you to
live your life the way you wanted. What more could a
girl ask for?”
He snorted.
I flopped down onto the ground.
“I don’t want to talk
about this anymore…”
closing my eyes, wishing that this
family drama would just go away.
****
I woke up expecting to still be in wolf form, laying on a
cliff. My eyes popped open at the unusual scent of
breakfast.
As soon as my brain processed that I was no longer in
the woods, I pulled myself out of bed and down the
stairs. I still felt a little hung over from the other night.
“There she is. Good morning sleepyhead.” My mother’s
overly perky voice practically chirped once she saw me.
I groaned a little. “Morning…” greeting her as I poured
myself some coffee. Feeling my father’s eyes blazing at
me from the other side of the room, I chose to ignore it.
“How did I get here last night?”
My mother smiled at me. “Your father carried you in
from the woods.”
“Of course he did. Thanks.” I said with a sigh. “I should
go get dressed. I have a plane, train, or bus to catch.”
Taking my coffee upstairs with me.
Walking back into my old room felt as if I had stepped
into the past. Absolutely nothing had changed in here.
My trophies of every sport known to man were still
placed on the shelves, the posters were still on the walls,
and my bedspread was still the same. Everything in this
room had been untouched.
“Sammy? May we talk?” My father’s voice came from the
doorway.
I stood there, a little frozen. “We don’t have to. There’s
really nothing to talk about.”
He cleared his throat. “Sammy. I just want you to know
how deeply sorry I am for hurting you and your
mother…again. I know that this keeps happening and
I’m so sorry.”
“It’s your business. You may screw whoever you want.”
Trying not to get too upset.
“Samantha, I wish I could tell you everything…but I
can’t. All I can say is I’m sorry and hope that you forgive
me someday.” His tone serious and heartfelt.
I took a deep breath and released it. “I’m sorry for
holding you up against the wall yesterday by your throat.
I was angry and let myself lose control. I’m sorry.”
Finally looking over at him, battling with the tears
touching the rim of my eyes.
He took a few steps toward me and reeled my body into
his. I wrapped my arms around him, burying my face in
his masculine chest. “Oh Sammy, I wish I could take
away all the pain I have caused you and mom.”
I stood there, sobbing into my father’s chest. Right now,
I could care less about how many women he has
knocked up or how much pain he has caused my mother.
All I cared about was being here with my daddy.
Chapter Three
It took a while, but my dad finally managed to calm me
down enough to take a relaxing shower. The stream of
the water felt amazing coursing through my long hair.
I remained in the water until my fingertips became like
prunes. The house had been empty since my father took
my mother out for dinner. I decided to wrap a towel
around myself and trudge through the house to
somewhat air-dry.
My skin felt like it was glistening as I strolled down the
stairs. Walking into the kitchen, I opened the
refrigerator door. I gathered everything to make a
sandwich.
“There she is…my beautiful woman.” A male voice said,
hugging me from behind while I was still bent over.
I jumped up faster than a pop-tart in a toaster. “Excuse
me! What in the hell do you think you’re doing?!”
quickly turning around to face him.
The look on his face went from happy to embarrassed
as-hell in a matter of seconds once he recognized I was
not the person he obviously thought.
“You are so not Emily. You look like Emily, but you are
definitely not her. Samantha?” He asked, staring at me
in curiosity as he looked down at my ensemble. “Nice
dress.”
I nodded. “Um…yeah…I’m Samantha. Why does my
father allow you to grope my mother like that?”
A sly smile appeared on his face. “Your mother and I go
way back. What are you doing back home?”
“Right now, I am roaming around my parent’s house in
my towel and feeling like an idiot in front of a handsome
man. A naked and damp idiot.” I confessed.
“You think I’m handsome?” He asked, grinning
devilishly at me. “I’m Collin Utley by the way. I see you
are making a sandwich.”
I nodded a little, tucking my wet hair behind my ear.
“Ugh…yeah…I figured I would take advantage of having
the house to myself for a few hours. Now I feel awkward
standing here sopping wet and in a towel. I’m going to
go get dressed.”
I felt completely embarrassed as I walked upstairs to my
room. If I could have died right then, I would have.
Here I was…minding my own business, fresh out of the
shower, and attempting to make a sandwich. Then all of
a sudden, a man grabs me only because he thinks I’m my
mother. Which…I’m not even going to open up that
door!
The man who fondled me happened to be absolutely
gorgeous. He seriously looked like he walked out of a
magazine. His gray eyes, dirty blond hair, towering
height, and skinny but also muscular build gave me cold
chills when I looked at him.
What’s wrong with me? Typically, I’m a cocky know-it
all around men. I usually don’t blush, but there was
something different about this man.
“Would you care to go on a walk with me?” Collin asked
when I walked back into the kitchen after getting
dressed.
I couldn’t help but smile. “Did you wait around just to
ask me to go on a walk?”
“Only if you say yes. If not, I’m going to be the guy who
got shot down by the naked and damp woman bent over
in her parents’ fridge.” He said with a grin, holding out
his hand. “What do you say?”
I took a hold of his hand, instantly feeling a spark in his
touch. My eyes looked up to meet his and that’s when it
hit me. “It’s you. You’re the guy who was with Gabriel at
the club. The man who couldn’t keep his eyes off me.”
“Yeah. That was me. Allow me to apologize for the other
night.” He followed me out of the house, keeping a hold
of my hand as we walked. “I would like to show you the
new house I bought. That is, if you don’t mind.”
I looked over at him. “Apology accepted. You’re moving
here?”
He smiled a little. “Yeah. I mean, why not? Most of my
friends are here and the naked greetings are rather
amusing.”
“You’re not going to let me live the towel thing down, are
you?” I asked, rolling my eyes.
“What was that? Did you just roll your eyes at me?” He
wondered, staring at me with too much amusement for
comfort.
I pursed my lips, shaking my head. “Oh no. I would
never do such a thing.”
“Welcome to my new home.” He stopped and looked at
me with a smile.
My eyes widened at the sight of how huge his house was.
The place had to have been recently built because I don’t
remember ever seeing it growing up. “Wow. Very nice
place.” looking over at him. “I’m impressed.”
“I finished moving in last night. Would you like to see
the inside?” He asked, holding out the key.
I snatched the key out of his hand and ran to the front
door. Unlocking and pushing it open, I strolled into the
mansion. It took me by utter surprise that the inside
looked like those homes featured in a magazine that
every housewife in America envies. I was assuming the
place would have the look and feel of a bachelor pad
instead of a home ready for a family.
“The house is completely furnished.” Collin spoke with a
proud grin. “It is only missing one important
piece…you.”
My feet nearly tripped over air after hearing him say
that. “Whoa-what did you just say?”
He took a few steps and his body was nearly pressed
against mine. “My name is Collin William Utley, your
father’s adopted brother for all intense and purposes. I
am a very wealthy man and have everything a person
could ever need or want…except you. I want, and need,
you to live here with me.”
“Alright. I’m missing something here. Why do you need
me to live here with you?” I asked, trying to wrap my
head around his words.
“I have been waiting a long time for you, Samantha
Emilia Utley.” He said. “Your parents have finally given
me their blessing to court you…if you so to wish.”
I smiled a little. “Court me? I’m guessing you’re much
older than you appear.”
He wrapped an arm around my waist, placing his hand
on the small of my back. “We will talk about my old ass
later. Miss Samantha Emilia Utley, will you do me the
