Beautiful Creatures Series

Gordon walked into Stanton’s backyard hand in hand with Mackenzie. It seemed they were the lasts to arrive. When they got there, they found Katelyn hugging Aurora. It looked as though they, too, had made up. They were welcomed by everyone, and Stanton tossed him a beer. For the past few months, Gordon had spent most of his time with the younger crowd. He no longer trusted the friends he had in his own age bracket, and he found Mackenzie got along better with his children than she did with others.

Ah, his children. It was surprising how much a man could come to love cubs that were not his flesh and blood. Though Aster was his only physically related child, the other had come to mean as much to Gordon as she did. He had known most of them since they were cubs, and they were his family regardless of the fact that he had not brought them into the world.

Gordon sat in a patio chair with a beer in one hand, watching Mackenzie interact with the others. He was the oldest person at the party by a minimum of twenty years, if not more. Watching the party, Gordon could practically see them all as cubs once more, causing trouble at community functions. He watched Mackenzie run her hand over the small swell of her belly absentmindedly.

Forty-five.

He was forty-five and expecting a brand new baby. He was too old to be changing diapers again. His daughter was in her twenties. By all rights, he should be done with child-rearing. Yet here he was expecting another. At this point in his life, the only infant he should be holding was a grandchild. He was too old to be starting over. Sitting here with all his cubs, he felt even older.

What was he doing with Mackenzie in the first place? Was he trying to hold onto his youth? He watched her and felt his heart skip a beat. He could not end it now. Not because of the baby but because he had come to love Mackenzie. His feelings for her had far out weighted any feelings he had once had for Melissa. He had married Melissa because it had been the right thing to do, so he had thought at the time. Mackenzie was different. He was with her because he could not picture life without her.

His gaze drifted to Darrell and Katelyn. He had thought they were crazy rushing into their marriage. He could not understand how Derrell could want to marry a woman he had only known a few months. However, since he had met Mackenzie, Gordon understood how it was possible to fall in love with a woman he had just met.

Love, such an intimidating concept, but it was love. It had to be. It could not be anything else. He loved her, but he had no idea how she felt. He could not tell her he loved her. When he suggested getting to know one another, she had run. There was no telling what her reaction would be if he dared to tell her how he truly felt about her.

After a few hours, Aster came to sit with him. Gordon had spent most of the party sitting and drinking, not really engaging anyone. He had spent his time contemplating his life. Gordon smiled as Aster took the seat next to his. “You are awfully quiet this evening?” Aster commented.

“Just thinking?”

“About?”

He shrugged. “Life in general, I suppose. It’s nice to see you all getting along with Mackenzie.”

“Turns out, she’s not that bad,” Aster chuckled. “She’s nice, and she’s infatuated with you.”

“I’m quite fond of her too.”

“Does she make you happy?”

“Happier than I ever remember being.”

“She treats you, right?”

“Better than your mother ever did.”

Aster sighed. “Then, I approve.”

“Do you now?”

you to be

giving it a

you were

with your mom. I

not have to say it out loud. They both knew why he should have left. Aster had grown up watching the abuse. She loved her mother, but she knew her mother was

of Melissa, she had just arrived. “I thought you said she was not invited,” he snarled, drawing Aster’s attention to her mother as Melissa was storming

to deal with the unwelcome guest. Melissa’s presence had attracted the entire party’s attention. Infuriated, Melissa walked right up to Gordon. As she reached him, her eyes began to glow, and her right hand became claws, and she smacked him across the face, her claws

at his hand, he saw so much blood. He would heal, but it still hurt. Gordon was about to deal with Melissa when Mackenzie walked up behind her and tapped

assault. “You bitch,” Melissa snarled. “I’ll tear you apart,” Melissa growled as her eyes began to

was on the ground, Mackenzie kicked her first in the ribs and

should let Mackenzie get in a few more shots.

at her father for letting the

he grabbed hold of Mackenzie’s arm and pulled her out of range from Melissa. “Enough,” Gordon moved Mackenzie behind him, placing himself between the woman he loved and the woman that no doubt meant them both harm. Melissa awkwardly picked herself up and fixed Mackenzie

told me you are fighting

should I continue

worked a real job in twenty-five years. I have no skills. What the hell

help you… practice this phrase… Would you

live

“I’m done taking care of you. Learn to

this to me after all we

What we meant to each other. All I was to

not true. What about all

never had

“You married me.”

pregnant. It seemed the

saying you never loved

pizza and

have always been

side of a man who, up to this point, had the patience of Job. “One more outburst from you, and I will exile you. I will cast you out,

confirmed with quiet

leave because you are ruining the party,” Melissa shot a hateful glare at Mackenzie, then she turned and stormed off, muttering to herself. Gordon turned to

bring up what had happened, Katelyn whispered into Darrell’s ear. He smiled and then tapped the side of his beer bottle with his fork. “Since everyone we care about is here tonight, Katelyn and I have

my God, you are pregnant?” Charlotte gasped with

weeks,” Katelyn announced.

we made

of my life,”