Shadows & Secrets

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Delilah

The weight of Aiden's arm lay heavy across Delilah, a comfortable anchor she hesitated to break. Each inhale lifted his hand, the faint scent of his skin mingling with the musk of their passion. Hours had blurred since they'd collapsed, limbs tangled, into sleep.

Aiden took a firmer hold on her, making her feel secure even as she tried to free herself to stretch. She breathed easier without waking him when he shifted. While feeling a sense of relief, Delilah also recognized the exhaustion he carried.

The dim light from her phone lit up the room, and she moved in the familiar space. Delilah grabbed his jeans off the floor, recalling their intimacy. Her heart warmed when she thought about their connection. Each kiss and whispered confession felt significant, and she worried whether their love could last, craving more.

From the window, Delilah gazed at a sky adorned with stars, each twinkling with its own distinct brilliance. Was this how they always appeared? Had she never before seen them like this, or was it that the darkness, finally free from the city's suffocating glow, had unveiled their breathtaking beauty?

Whatever the case, the sky danced, captivating all who gazed upon it.

A wail from a baby shattered the stillness. Driven by the sound, Delilah slipped her feet into Aiden's sneakers and followed a narrow path in the backyard, her senses heightened. A sudden shiver crawled up her neck. With each step, the infant's cries intensified, fueling her growing anticipation.

Standing still on the porch near Aiden's house, Merrick cradled a baby she couldn't quite see; a shadow clung to its tiny form. Despite her open eyes, she could feel his power, heightened by her new abilities. Delilah was no longer just an observer; she had entered a state of connection that ignited a powerful blend of awe and uncertainty within her.

She froze. A deep, masculine "shhhh" emerged from the doorway, like a breeze whispering through the wide space.

Delilah felt a flush creep up her neck. This was private. She started to turn, to melt back into the shadows, but the porch door protested with a loud creak.

Merrick stepped forward, silhouetted in the faint light spilling from inside. His eyes shone with an unusual, golden light that reflected the brilliance radiating from the newborn he held─a similar glow, only dimmer.

A baby werewolf.

Merrick's eyes dimmed, displaying the harsh lines of his physique under the black tank top he wore. Her attention returned to the cloaked figure. A fuzzy brown and white blanket swaddled the baby... and a small hood, pulled low. Beneath it, a half-hidden face peeked out: small ears twitching in the cool night air.

"Is that a... a ferret outfit?" she blurted, her eyes wide as saucers. Another cry erupted from the bundle in Merrick's arms, this one like a frustrated performer's tantrum. "Oh, shoot! Sorry. Am I... am I making things worse? Should I just go away?"

Merrick chuckled, a low rumble in his chest. "Relax, Tinkerbell. This baby can sleep through a demolition derby." He sighed, glancing at the tiny infant swaddled in the furry getup. "And yeah... it's a ferret ensemble."

She stared at them, her brow raised. "Seriously? Who inflicted this... cuteness on him? His mother?"

Merrick descended the porch steps, his boots crunching in the snow. "Aiden. He's got a thing for ferrets and wants one as a pet."

"Holy crap! I get it now," Delilah exclaimed, her eyes drifting to the sky as memories of Aiden's last visit to her apartment flooded back. "Our hearts beat for the same creature."