^My updates be like^

Hey guys. Sorry about the very big delay. I relaxed during the summer, and I started the first draft of a fantasy novel I'm 2/3 through the first draft. Also, I'm going to London soon, and school has been packed. Anyways, my apologies. 

Enjoy. It's Allen's POV and there's a bit of smut- with a  comedic twist.

Short update. Gotta get back into the story. I apologize. 

***

I watched my love, dozing peacefully next to me. For once, Ares was calm and at ease in the back of my mind. I kissed Paige's throat, a quiet hum escaping her. I smiled and got off the bed, yanked on a pair of pajama bottoms and a t-shirt, walking over the cold floorboards.

I skipped down the stairs, into the kitchen. But as soon as I opened the door, the scent of coffee hit me, telling me I wouldn't have to make a cup myself. I looked about the kitchen, and found him. Sitting there.

Reginald White was a getting-chubby, slightly graying man. His face was pleasant. He looked like a nice man, no doubt. But I now knew that his soul was a rotten little wisp in the corner of his chest.

Not acknowledging his presence, I went to pour myself a cup of coffee, and took a deep breath. I looked back at him.

He was staring out the window, his hand loosely grasping the cup on the table. His face was turned away, but his expression was... well there wasn't one. His face, even from the back, looked slack. I took a sip of my coffee and crossed my arms over my chest, walking up to him. I leaned against the wall and cocked up my chin, looking as arrogant as I possibly could. "The fact that you had the audacity to accuse me of hurting her, while you're the only one who's done so."

"Leave me alone, dog."

I narrowed my eyes on him. "You're only here because Paige wants you here. If you do anything to upset her, anything to hurt her or make her sad in the slightest. I'll send you right back home. And if you pull a stunt like you did on her birthday, I'll fucking kill you. We don't have to be friends - to be perfectly honest, I hate you, with all that I am. But I can put it aside, for Paige. She wants us to get along, and I'll do my best to give her everything she wants. So can we agree to be civil to one another during our stay here?"

He shifted in his chair. "Yes. Alpha Allen."

"Drop that bullshit. It's Allen. You've got a lot of nerve, being such a massive asshole. A decent person would be grateful."

"For what? Stealing my daughter away? Brainwashing her, so she could proceed to brainwash my wife, who may very well be leaving me?"

I kneeled down in front of the chair. "Hm, let's see; for bringing your family together one last time before your father passes, for making sure that the home your father lives in when he passes is comfortable and will take good care of him, as well as taking care of your mother after she loses her life-partner. For opening up every door and opportunity for your daughter to achieve her dreams. For building you a fucking house, oh, and for not murdering you the first time you as much as looked at Paige wrong."

He glared at me, but didn't say anything. And I could tell, despite the stubborn pull in his mouth, he knew I was- "You're right," he sighed, covering his face with his hand. He laughed then, quietly, but still... a little too much. "You've taken care of everything, done everything for my family that I was supposed to do. You've given my daughter the chance of an education, you've given my wife and I a comfortable home, and you've even made sure that my parents will have nothing to worry about in terms of financials and living arrangements for the rest of their lives. Hell, you'll probably even cure cancer just to one-up me by saving my father. So why exactly am I here? Huh? Did you let Paige invite me so you could show me how achieved you are compared to me? How much of a better provider you are?"

I stood up, taking a step back. "Paige wanted you here, because you're her father, and for some to me a completely unfathomable reason, she loves you. She is so worried about you. You have no idea the convincing it's taken for me to convince her that she is indeed entitled to being happy, regardless of what you and your family think. This isn't about me, it isn't about you, it's about her. Making sure Paige is happy- that's my top priority. And it really should be one of yours too."

I stood and turned around, walking towards the doorway. "What do you expect me to do?" he asked from behind me.

Still not facing him, I took a deep breath. "I'd suggest, perhaps, a little effort– it wouldn't kill you to be pleasant to my family. And maybe stop sitting around, looking miserable. Your father is dying, and he's in a more cheery mood than you. I get that it's hard, and I'll gladly help you in terms of getting psychiatric help from professionals who will be able to help you get through your emotions. But if you don't ask, if you don't start trying, you are going to lose Paige. Not because of me, but because if you keep this up, she'll have to limit contact to protect herself. And for fucks sake," I turned my head. "Start treating your wife like a person, and beg that she's willing to try to salvage your marriage. I hardly think you'll want to plan a funeral and a divorce in one go."

"They won't forgive me, anyway. What's the point?"

"The point is," I said, still hovering in the door. "Making an effort. Sometimes, the end goal isn't forgiveness. Sometimes, you can apologize to someone to no end, and yet they won't forgive you. But what matters is that you can have a clean conscience, and that you know you did the right thing after you fucked up. Now if you'll excuse me, I'll head upstairs and check on Paige. She was very overwhelmed last night, and I'll make sure she slept well. And if I may give you some advice, you should go up and ask your wife how she slept last night."

I stepped out of the kitchen, taking a deep breath and shaking the conversation off of me. I checked my phone in my pocket. An early-morning text from my mother. Most likely to make plans for the day. She was the most A-type person I'd probably ever meet. I stared at my lock screen a second too long- a sweet picture of Paige I'd snapped when she was napping on the couch. My love.

I headed up the stairs, poking my head into our bedroom to find my beautiful mate still sleeping soundly in the dark room. I snuck up to her, creeping under the covers and cuddling her from behind, giving her a quick kiss behind her ear. She hummed, turned so her face was against my face.

"Paige? My love?"

She didn't answer, so I kissed her again. I'd have to ask her whether she'd be alright with being woken up with a bit of gentle groping. I certainly am.

She hummed, not opening her eyes. I stroked her hair. "Love?"

"Hmm?"

I grinned, pulled her closer and whispered into her hair. "How about we get up now, take a nice, long morning bath to start off the day, and then head down for breakfast? That sound enticing?"

She rolled out of my grasp, landing on her back, her eyes still closed. "Are you horny at all hours of the day?"

I chuckled, squeezing her side so she yelped and sat up. "As if you aren't."

She glared at me, but swung her legs over the side of the bed, burying her head in her hands. Sometimes, in moments like that, just small little hints of the way she held herself or moved her body, you could really tell she was her father's daughter.

She didn't move or speak, so I climbed up behind her, sitting my legs on the outside of hers, and enveloping her from behind. "Are you alright? Sleep well?"

"Yes... no... I don't know. It's too early for this."

"Okay– anyway, bath?" I set my head on her shoulder and kissed her cheek. I saw her smiling, and felt her nod.

She screeched and laughed when I stood up, catching her and lifting her up, carrying her into the bathroom.

I took off my clothes and sat down with her, and with great difficulty managed to turn on the faucet with my foot, leaning backwards, Paige leaning against me. I kissed her shoulder, relaxing against the porcelain surface behind me. The warm water filled up around us, and I turned it off when the tub was about halfway full- the water would soon be splashing everywhere, anyways.

I twirled her hair around my finger, trailed my nose along the skin behind her ear. Shivers erupted on her body, despite the warm water. My hands moved from her hips, to her lower back, massaging softly, releasing the tension that'd been building up. Oh, sweetheart.

✨✨✨✨✨

My thumbs circled against her muscles, and a sigh left her. I breathed deeply, feeling the blood in my body rushing through my veins, going downward. I kept my voice calm and even as I asked, "So, my love, how'd you like it? Straddling me? You wanna sit on the edge of the tub while I bury my face between your legs? Or maybe, you'd even like to sit on top of me, like this-" I pulled her onto my lap, so she could feel my erection- "facing the other way? I might have to cover your mouth though, to keep you from crying out."

Her voice was hoarse, high pitched. "Uh, yeah, that. The last one, I mean. That, I'd love. I want to do that."

"Hmm, okay. But we gotta get you wet first- and I don't mean this," I lifted my wet hand from underneath the bathwater, and put it on her breast, messaging her hardening nipple. I continued- "I mean this," I said, moving my other hand between her legs and nuzzling. She tightened against me, pushing her pash harder against me to get closer. I used the opportunity to change the angle of my hand, slipping two fingers into her. She breathed deeply.

"What's that, my love? Does it feel good?"

She began moaning in response, but was cut short by a knock on the door.

✨✨✨✨✨

We both froze as the knock repeated. "Paige? Sweetie? Are you in there? Is it alright for us to make breakfast? I couldn't find Allen anywhere, otherwise I would've asked him. Are you in the shower?" her mother asked from the other side of the door. Damn it, damn it.

"Uh, yeah mom, I, uh, we're... in here." My love sounded like a child who'd been caught with her hand in the cookie jar. I bit into my hand to keep myself from laughing, and she swatted me with the back of her hand.

"Oh, uh, you and... Allen?"

"Yup, right here!" I called, before Paige could answer. She glared at me, but the knife-eyes were worth the amusement I was feeling. I bit into my hand once again.

"Oh, uh, I see," The voice sounded from the other side of the door. "Well, uh, then... we'll just wait to make breakfast for then the two of you get down, uh, get downstairs, then. No stress, just... take your time."

"No, no! We'll be down in 2 minutes! Erh, 30 seconds! Ehr, no, I mean, we'll be right down. Just need to put on some clothes, I mean, uh, more clothes! An... extra sweater y'know. Since it's cold out!"

I began singing 'baby it's cold outside' under my breath, and she swatted me with her hand again. I bit my knuckles.

"Oh, no no, you can still finish what you were doing! Just, uh, we'll wait for you to come... come down! I mean. We'll wait for the two of you to get downstairs. I'll... I'm leaving now. See you in a bit, sweetie."

As soon as we heard the door to the bedroom closing, Paige jumped out of the bath. My eyes stayed alerted on her feet as she walked over the wet tile floor. "Allen, come on!" She rubbed a towel on her chest, and stomach. "That was my... oh god, my mom must've heard me when I was... goddamnit, Allen!" she angrily towel-dried the tips of her hair.

"I'm sorry, I couldn't help it!"

She met my eyes in the mirror. "It's not funny! It's humiliating! As if you want to be caught by your mom whilst..." she gestured between the two of us, angrily.

I put my hands up in defeat. "Okay, okay, I'm sorry. Shall I go find us some clothes, while you dry off?"

She nodded curtly, so I hurried out of the fiery dragon's vicinity, and headed for the closet. A plushy creme sweater for her, paired with black jeans. A brown sweater with blue jeans for me. And then, of course underwear for the two of us- a particularly lacy set for my Paige, hopefully for me to enjoy later tonight... if she wasn't still angry with me then, that was.

We dried off and got dressed, Paige not meeting my eyes even once. Oh, shit.

We headed down the stairs silently. Eyes turned to us when we entered the kitchen, and Paige ducked her head, avoiding all eyes on her. My eyes shifted to her father's face. His expression wasn't exactly friendly, but it wasn't homicidal, which I may have expected.

I sat down, and at the same moment felt a ding in my pocket. I pulled out my phone, the screen lighting up with the word 'mom'. I opened the messages, enjoying the quiet hum of Paige's family talking over breakfast. Enjoyed that I was the reason this family had had a chance to reunite.

I smiled at the greeting that met me when I looked at my phone.

[Hi my sweet baby boy <3

Your sisters, your father, and I wanted to go

shopping. Clothes, presents, all of it. Your

sisters in particular want to take Paige out

for a bit of girl time, to get to know her

better. Would you ask Paige, as well as

her family if they'd like to join? Could

be fun.

Love, mom <3]

The other message, the one from just now, however, made me snort.

[Allen, I gave birth to you. Answer my

texts, or you're grounded. I don't care

how old you are I can and will ground

your butt. And say hi to Paige.

Love, mom]

"Well, looks like we got plans for today," I said, looking up at Paige and her family, who all turned their heads curiously to me. 

***

I'd love to update you on what's happened for the past couple months, to give you some sort list of excuses as to why I haven't been updating, but as an old saying goes: The road to hell is paved with bad excuses. 

Haven't been feeling it, but now my conscience got bad enough that I wanted to give you guys a bit of... something. Also, wanted to assure you I wasn't, y'know, dead. 

Or am I?

Well, with this update schedule, I guess I'll see you guys again some time around Easter. Loves you. 

Question: How much have you missed me? :)

Fact about me: We just ordered my graduation cap! It's super pretty, and it'll have my zodiac sign instead of a cross, since I'm not religious. Really looking to get out of High-School-hellhole