Reckless Regrets
Chapter 10

Morgan

It had been a few days since Kade and Tyson had turned me, and I’d felt terrific ever since. I could smell absolutely everything, and the rest of my senses were heightened as well. I had more stamina too, so I’d worn Kade out more than a few times in the bedroom. It was incredible.

I’d also tried as best I could to push all the Canyon Woods drama out of my mind and just focus on what was important. It was hard, and sometimes I failed at it, but I still tried. Kade and I spent tons of time together, and he was instrumental in helping me get my business plan together for Sugar Bear Cakery.

All in all, things were going great.

“Hello beautiful, what are you working on?” Kade asked as he walked into his office. I’d been in there for the past couple of hours trying but failing at graphic design.

“I’m working on the business logo, but I don’t know how any of these programs work or what I want. It’s beyond frustrating.”

“Graphic design isn’t as easy as it seems. How about this? Why don’t we ask Luca to make it for you? That kid is a genius when it comes to design, and because you’re his Beta, he pretty much has to do it. And for free,” Kade stated.

Luca was Matt’s youngest brother. He was young, spoiled, and gorgeous, and he knew it. He ran through women like crazy and was probably living the same life Kade did before he found me. I wouldn’t mind working with him and hopefully helping him to see the error in his ways before he got himself in the situation Kade was currently in.

“That will work. Maybe I can sit down with him one day soon and go over some ideas. My eyes have honestly gone cross sitting in front of this screen.”

“You just need to relax. Can I take you on a date?”

I looked over at him and smiled. Kade was never the type to go out for dates. The only time we’d been out together was when we were all in Italy for Matt and Taylor’s wedding. We were both homebodies and preferred curling up on the couch to going out to the movies or clubbing. But he wanted to take me out; I would never turn that down.

“I’d love to. Where are we going?”

“I’m taking you back to the beginning, back to where the magic happened,” he said with a perfect smile. I just frowned. What beginning? We were naked with him plowing into me a little more than an hour after we met. That was our “beginning.”

“Fleur de Lune, Sugar. The spot where I first met you. That’s where we’re going.”

My smile returned, even bigger than before. “Really?! I finally get to eat there?”

“You could have eaten there anytime you wanted, babe, but yes, we will be dining at the best restaurant in Jade City.”

Fleur de Lune was Alaia’s restaurant that Xander bought for her a little after they got married. The food was delicious thanks to the Michelin rated chef, the waitlist to get in was insane, and the prices astronomical. But one of the many perks to being in Blue Moon was that we could eat there whenever we wanted, and it was always on the house. I don’t know why Kade and I never took advantage of that, but it was better late than never.

“Then I’m definitely in. When do we leave?” I asked as I jumped from my seat.

“In an hour. I just have one request.”

“What’s that?”

“I need you to wear that green dress you wore that night. You were so gorgeous, like an angel.”

“If I remember correctly, you ripped that dress off my body as soon as we made it to your room. Shreds,” I replied.

“That’s true. But Taylor helped me replace another one. It’s in your closet. We’re going back to the beginning, and I want to appreciate and pamper you the way I should have that night.”

He could be so sweet. This man was everything.

“Okay. I’ll see you in an hour, handsome.”

***

Kade

Almost two years ago, this beautiful creature walked into my birthday party and turned my world upside down. Since that first moment we locked eyes with one another, I’ve never wanted, entertained, or touched another woman.

Sure, I flirted shamelessly with our vampire hunter Aires when she first joined us, but that was all in fun. Neither of us had any interest in taking it further; she just had a wild, untamable spirit that I too shared. And for both of us, that spirit was broken and shattered as soon as we met our other halves.

But Morgan was it for me, now and forever, and I wanted nothing more than to go back to where we first met; when things were less complicated, and we had our whole lives ahead of us.

Precisely one hour after we spoke, she came downstairs dressed in the tight, off the shoulder, emerald-green dress that showed of every dip and curve of her flawless body.

Her hair had grown since we first met, so it no longer brushed just past her shoulders, but looking at her now, it took me right back to that night. I walked over and wrapped an arm around her waist then ran my fingers along her freckles. I loved that she never hid them with makeup. They were beyond adorable and added to her uniqueness.

“You’re perfect, Sugar. Or should I say, ‘Sexy Eyes’?”

She laughed and shook her head.

“I forgot that you used to call me that. It seems like I’ve been Sugar or Sugar Bear my entire life. But I’ll take Sexy Eyes tonight, if you want.”

She looked a bit sad for a second, but I wasn’t having any of that. I tilted her head then placed soft k****s in each eyelid.

“They are just as sexy now as they were then; because they are yours. I love you.”

“I love you too. And you look outstanding. I love seeing you in a suit.”

I had on a charcoal gray suit and tie and had actually combed my hair back, only for special occasions. I would admit that I looked good cleaned up, but it was not my thing. I preferred the more laid-back, relaxed look. But in all honesty, I’d wear a full tuxedo every day for the rest of forever if she wanted me to.

“I know you do; all ladies love a good-looking man in a suit,” I joked.

I took her hand, leading her outside, where the truck was waiting, and climbed in the back seat.

“So, on the night of my birthday, it was Taylor and Matt sitting back here with me in the passenger seat. I’m pretty sure they were trying to round third base, but I put a stop to it. Not on my birthday, especially if I wasn’t getting some myself,” I laughed.

“You didn’t stop anything, just postponed it. Those two picked up where they left off in the bathroom of the restaurant. And judging from the flush of color on Taylor’s face and the way her hair looked when they walked out, it was hot as hell.”

“I swear I taught him everything he knows.”

We sat and laughed the entire way to the city, with me telling her all about how jealous I was when Alaia then Taylor came into the picture. I’d never said much about it, probably because I was too busy sleeping around, but I had been looking for my mate for years. I saw how it changed Xander and Matt when they found theirs, and I wanted that for myself.

But things worked out the way they were supposed to. Taylor brought me Morgan, and she was more than worth the wait.

***

At the restaurant, we were sat in the same private room from my birthday party, and after ordering one of the best bottles of wine they had to offer, the waiter quietly left us alone.

“Oh, the memories. That wall right there, I had every intention of making love to you pressed against that wall the second you spoke my name. I didn’t need to know anything about you, just that you were mine.”

“Listen, you were and still are the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen but don’t think that I was going to give it up that very second. I still have a few morals; I at least needed to have a conversation with you before I got naked,” Morgan replied with mock disgust.

“Well, we’ve had plenty of conversations, and I now know everything there is to know about you. So, I think it’s safe to say that some fun on the wall wouldn’t be out of line tonight.”

The waiter returned, and Morgan got her very first taste of werewine. We’d been stocking the house with human wines since she got there because I didn’t want her to get alcohol poisoning, but now, she was in the big leagues.

“Holy s**t. This wine is incredible, I can taste so much more, and it’s like this stuff is dancing across my tongue,” Morgan said before taking another huge gulp.

“I’m glad you like it but slow down a bit. It’s way stronger than what you’ve been drinking, and it will f**k you up, especially if you keep knocking it back like that,” I warned.

She took another sip and nodded.

“Sorry. I think I’m nervous.”

“Why, baby?”

Morgan let out a long sigh and ran her finger around the l*p of her glass, making it hum.

“This is beautiful, all of it, but I just feel like it’s too beautiful. Since we’ve been together, you’ve never taken me out like this, but now you decide to. And I’m not complaining; I love it. But I just wonder if you’re doing it now because we may never have another chance.”

“I’m doing it because I want to spend time with my fiancé away from the house and noise and chaos. I’m doing it because you deserve it.”

“That’s all?”

“Yes, that’s all. I promise.”

She smiled and nodded her head at me, making me relax. I didn’t want her second-guessing my motives. I wanted her to know that I wanted to give her everything. She was my queen, and since I’d met her, I’d studied everything about her. Why? So that I could give her everything she could ever want without her having to ask for it.

But there was something I wanted to ask for; I just didn’t know how to go about it or how she would feel. I guess we would replace out.

Our dinner came out, and I watched with amusement as she m****d and smiled and wiggled in her seat with every bite she took. My girl loved to eat, and I had no problem feeding her. It was her love of food that gave her those sexy curves I was so obsessed with, so I’d never even think of complaining.

“Sexy Eyes, I’ve got a question. A hypothetical question, but I want you to think about it seriously, okay?”

She sat down her fork and looked over at me. “Okay. What is it?”

“Say the test results come back as positive, and I’m Cameron’s father. We already know that I’d have to leave the pack and move to Oregon, but, hypothetically, would you come with me?”

“Come with you? Seriously?”

“Yes. There is no way I can live without you. I’ve marked you; you hold my heart and soul in the palm of your perfect tiny hand. I need you; I need you with me.”

“So, let me make sure I’ve got this ‘hypothetical’ situation straight. You want me to move to Oregon with you and do what? Would I become a member of Canyon Woods? Leave behind my family here? And become what exactly? I’m a bear; not all wolf packs are accepting of bears like ours. How would you expect me to live there?”

“Hypothetically, yes, you’d sever your tie with Blue Moon and join Canyon Woods. Then-”

“Wait! Join Canyon Woods?! And pledge to put the life and happiness of Marisol above my own? Then watch her marry the man I love and live the life that was supposed to be mine? While I what, hide in the shadows? Live somewhere away from the house, so I don’t upset her or the other pack members with my bear b***d?”

“It wouldn’t be like that, Sugar. I promise.”

Morgan was fuming, and I saw then that I should never have asked her this.

“You can’t promise me s**t, Kade! Why would you even ask me that? I love you more than anything, but I can’t do this. I can’t watch you become alpha to another pack and take another woman as your Luna. I can’t watch you raise her child, knowing that you’ll never have one to raise with me. I can’t stay there alone and an outsider and act like everything is okay. I can’t.”

“I’ll give you all the children you want, baby. You know that. And you won’t be alone; you’ll have me. You’d always have me.” I reached for her hand, but she snatched it away from me.

“So, you’re asking me to be your mistress now? Marisol would be your wife and Luna; I’d be the dirty secret you sneak out to see whenever you get a free minute? That’s perfect; if being a bear wasn’t enough, being the Alpha’s w***e would really help them to accept me!”

“If anyone ever saw you as my w***e, I’d rip their f*****g throat out. You’re my mate and my entire world! Marisol is nothing to me; she would be my wife and Luna in name only. I wouldn’t share a bed with her, I’d never again share my body with her, and she’d never bear any more of my children. I only want you.

I can’t do this by myself, baby, please. I’ll lose my mind if I have to leave you here and never see this face again or smell your scent. Just think about it. I know I’m asking for a lot, too much maybe, but I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important. I cannot live without you.”

I again reached for her hand, but this time she didn’t pull away.

“I hear what you’re saying but look at this from my point of view for a second. The entire pack knows Marisol. She’s the Alpha’s daughter and probably well-loved. When she becomes Luna, they will worship her. Look at the way our pack is with Alaia. Or even me and Taylor. The ranked females are almost deities in a wolf pack.

How do you expect me to come to their land and blatantly disrespect their Luna by sleeping with their Alpha and making babies with him? How will I ever have any chance of being accepted? So, for the rest of my life, I’d only have you and the children. No friends to talk to, no one to laugh with; only you. When you’re off for trips or summits, and I’m left there, how will I be treated, Kade?

Marisol would do everything in her power to get rid of me or, at the very least, make me suffer miserably. Is that what you want for me? Is your need to have me close worth me living that way for the rest of my life? Seriously think about that and let me know.”

She picked up her glass and drained it, then poured herself another.

Morgan was right; life for her at Canyon Woods would be hard. As Alpha, I could try to protect her, but loyalties were already in place, and I couldn’t be with Morgan every second of every day to make sure she was safe. But I knew without a doubt that I needed her. I just didn’t know how to make it happen.