Sour Souls The Morningstar Series Book 6
Sour Souls Chapter 27

The Morningstar family is not what I expected at all. Honestly, as shitty as it sounds, I was expecting this place to be dark and dreary. I thought everyone would be cold, and menacing. I'm not sure why I would think that since Kee isn't like that. Everyone is actually very pleasant. Ares mother is the nicest person ever. His father.. looks too much like his son, and I think I might be attracted to him. Kasyn didn't say much other than 'welcome to the family'. He is the quiet brooding type, like Ares. I heard a lot about Aureaila, and cannot wait to meet her. Especially because she is the queen of my race. I remember when I used to wonder if all packs were like Blue Water. It's nice to know that they aren't.

I met Tia and Max last night, and I really like them. Tia is a bad a*s. A boss woman. A real role model for all girls everywhere. And Max is perfect for her. I especially like that he thinks it's funny when I mouth off to Ares.

Ambrose and Epperly are... I'm not really sure how to describe them. Ambrose is very sweet. The way he dotes on his mate, and children is so wholesome. I wonder if Ares will be like that with our children. If we have them. I definitely see what Ares meant about Epperly calming me. The moment she got within two feet of me, a sense of peace washed over me.

Acaisia and Bou are really funny. She gives him shit, and he takes it all with a smile on his face. Bou has a very goofy personality. It's hard not to smile around him. Acaisia is so pretty too, and mouthy. I love it!

Bianca and Ahkari have been pleasant since their kids broke into my apartment. They apologized to me about what they assume this morning though. I told them not to worry about it, it wasn't a big deal.

I mean, maybe not as big of a deal since all the things Ares said to me after. I still don't really like that Ares has a past. I don't like that I don't seem to be his type. But.. I do like that he never gave anyone his heart. That he loves me now, regardless of his type. Kee's twin Tre, was not what I was expecting. They look nothing alike, which is weird compared to the other two sets of twins. He seemed off though. Not that I know him, it was just strange that he didn't join us for breakfast after seeing Vessa.

Vessa. I had no idea that the Morningstar's adopted a kid. Vessa told me a little bit about her story after dragging me into the dinning room. It hurt my heart, but she was so nonchalant about it. It gives me hope that maybe one day I can be like that too. And she is so pretty with her two different eyes.

Let's face it though, every single person in this room is gorgeous. Unfairly so.

I found that Axton is like a mini version of Ares. Not very mini though. They are the same height. Hell, they look almost exactly the same. The only difference is that Axton has light green eyes like his mother. Still a little a*****e though.

Alessio was sweet, bringing me coffee. Until I took a drink of it. Pretty sure that little shit did this in purpose. There is also something a bit off about Alessio. Almost like he tries too hard to be so laid back. I do like his eyes though, it's very interesting to see one dark blue, and one glowing green eye.

Belle and Robby were just as sweet as everyone told me they are. Even their kids are kind little things. I think little Daisy might be my new best friend.

All of the kids I met are so adorable, and polite. Although, I can tell that Gatlin and Genesis are little trouble makers though. It's all so hetic in the best way though. This is the most noise I've ever heard in one room before. It's chaotic, and full of love.

I met Azai, and Amory last. Mo seemed so happy that her brother finally met his mate. I'm a little werided out about what she said to me though. What announcement is it that Ares and I will be making?

Azai might look like my mate, but he is completely opposite. He's friendly, and warm, and kind, and all the things that Ares is not. Well, I guess Ares isn't that bad sometimes.

Hot and cold.

Still, I really love Azai's mates. I didn't get much time to talk with Ozzy, but Olive snatched me up the moment Ares told her what I want to do with my life. It was the sweetest thing that anyone has ever done for me.

I know that isn't saying much considering what my life has been like. Still, Ares is pushing me towards my dreams that I thought I would have to give up. After being in that dungeon I never thought I would be able to follow this dream again. Ares is giving that back

to me.

We love him. Honi said.

I know. I replied.

We are falling in love with him. She said.

Are we? I asked.

Yes.

I have no idea what love feels like. What being in love feels like. But I do know that Ares makes me happy. He makes me feel safe, loved, cared for. Ares makes me feel strong, like no one could ever touch me. I want to be around him all the time, and it isn't just the mate bond. I know it's not.

My mate might be a grumpy prick, but he has such a good heart. I love the way he always watches me. I love that he makes sure I always have food. I love that he stays with me, and deals with all of my trauma with me.

I must really be falling.

"So, Ares said we're hanging out after breakfast." Kee said.

I smiled.

"If that's okay. If you aren't too busy." I said.

Kee smiled at me. "Nah, never too busy for my new sister-in-law." She said.

"Can I come too? I could desperately use some down time." Olive asked.

"Of course." Kee said.

"Wait, Bexley isn't going to be there is she?" Olive asked.

Ares stiffened under me.

Vessa snorted. "No, Bexley and Nix are on a mission right now. It'll just be us." She said.

Ares relaxed under me.

"Good." Olive said.

"You don't like Bexley either?" I asked her.

"It's not that. She's a nice girl, and all, but.. Well, Bexley is one of Azai's best friends, and we didn't have the best start to our mateship. Bexley is mouthy, and knows how to hold a grudge. I'm a Fury. Our tempers don't mix well." Olive told me. "Oh." I said. "What's a Fury?" I asked.

Olive turned to me with a proud smile.

"We are a creature from the Fae realm. We broke off from the rest of the Fae hundreds of years ago. About 30 years ago mine and Ozzy's parents started a coven in the human realm though. Basically, we are a fire based creaute that can melt people with our eyes. And we have a temper worse than an Alpha." She said.

"Oh, that's really cool. Have you ever melted anyones face off?" I asked, and then popped a forkful of hashbrowns in my mouth.

Ares chuckled behind me.

"No, almost with Bexley a few times though." Oliver muttered.

"I wish I could do something like that. Instead, I just scream, and people blow up from the inside." I said with a laugh.

The table went silent, and I looked up to see everyone looking at me. I looked around at their faces confused. Then I leaned back into Ares.

"Was it something I said?" I whispered loudly to him.

Ares chuckled. "No. Not at all. It's completely normal for people to scream, and explode people." He said sarcastically.

"Just as normal as it is to sit in a room full of the Devil's spawn." I replied with just as much sarcasm.

Vessa snorted from across the table.

"She's funny. I like her." She announced.

"Alright, well, while Ares goes down to the archives, we should go up to my room." Kee said.

I turned in Ares lap to look at him. He kiss the bare part of my arm. I smiled down at him.

Definitely falling in love.

"Where is Talia? Can she come?" I asked him.

Ares nodded. "I'll stop by their room before I go to the archives. Derek can come with me, and you all can have girl time." He said.

I beamed. "Thank you." I said.

"Who's Talia?" Vessa asked.

"Oh, you'll love her. She's Emi's best friend. She and her mate came with us to join the BOC." Kee said.

The five of us got up. Olive kissed her mates good bye before going to her children. Kee, and Vessa waited by the door. I stood between Ares legs awkwardly.

Should I kiss him good bye? He's already weird about kissing me as it is. Maybe I should just hug him? Or, kiss his cheek? Oh Goddess, maybe I should just leave before I embarrass myself.

I lifted my leg to walk away, but Ares grabbed my hand. He yanked me back down into his lap. I yelped in surprise, and glared at him.

"You f*****g asshol-"

I was interrupted by Ares pressing his lips to mine. Then he let me go. He kissed me. It was short lived, but he did it. In front of everyone.

A goofy smile spread across my face.

"You may go now." Ares told me.

And just like, the moment is ruined.

"You just can't keep your stupid mouth shut can you?" I asked.

Ares raised a brow at me.

"Always ruining the fucking moment with your arrogant fucking mouth." I muttered as I stood up. "And for the record, I am leaving because I want to, not because you dismissed me." I said.

"I like her." I heard Epperly say to her mate.

I followed the rest of the girls out of the room, and to a staircase. This mansion is so stunning. It's different than anything I've ever seen before. It's victorian style, with dark colored walls. Despite the dark contrast, it's warm. There are pictures of the family over the years all over the walls. It's cute.

"You really don't care about telling Ares what's on your mind do ya?" Vessa asked with a laugh.

We just entered into Kee's bedroom. It's huge. The walls are a deep purple. Her bed is huge in the middle of the room, with a black canopey hanging around it. There's a desk, and a vanity. I also see two doors. I wonder if she has a bathroom connected. "Uhm, no not really. I mean, what's he gonna do? Hit me?" I said with a laugh.

"You aren't afraid he will?" Olive asked as she plopped down on Kee's bed.

I shook my head. "Ares would never hurt me. Even if he did, I could handle it. There's nothing he could do that I haven't already been through." I said.

"What's that mean?" Vessa asked.

I looked at Kee.

"We didn't tell them anything. Ares wasn't sure if you wanted to." She said.

"Oh." I said as I walked over to sit on the bed with them. "Well, they found me in a dungeon, where I spent the last five years." I said.

"A dungeon?" Olive asked with shock.

"No way! What did you do?" Vessa asked with excitement.

"Uhm, I killed the Beta of my pack." I said.

"You exploded him with your scream?" Vessa asked.

Wow, she's... really excited about this.

"Uh, yeah. That was the first time I used that power." I said.

"What do you think it is?" Olive asked.

I shrugged. "After I was put in the dungeon, I used it a few more times. I killed a lot of people. But I could never control it. I tried to, but it seems like it only comes out when I need it the most. But Honi taught me how to meditate, and I can see a white flame, but can't make it do anything." I told them.

"Honi?" Vessa asked.

"That's my wolf's name." I said.

Oilve smiled. "Honiahaka means little wolf in Native American. I wonder if Honi is short for that." She said.

Honi pured in my head.

"It's a beautiful name." Olive said.

"Thank you." I replied on Honi's behalf.

"So, want me to teach you how to tame that hair of yours?" Kee asked.

I nodded. "Please. I've never known how to take of it."

"Come on, let me show you a few things." Kee said as she got up.

We walked to another door in the room, to find a bathroom. I knew it. Kee showed me a few bottle of different oils, and hair conditioner. She told me when, and how to use them all. Then she gave me a box with all the things she showed me plus some. Apparently, she has a stock, and doesn't mind sharing.

"Do you want to cut your hair?" Kee asked.

"Oh, I think you should totally do it!" Vessa squealed.

"No don't!" Olive whined.

Kee shook her head at them.

"Do what you want to do." Kee said.

I stared at my hair in my relfection. We took it down so that Kee could put some oil in it. It's already tamed slightly because of that. Do I want to cut it?

Mate won't like that. Honi said.

I thought back to this morning when Ares told me that he likes my untamed hair.

"Maybe just a little so it's not this long. But not much." I said.

Kee smiled at me. "Don't worry. I won't take too much off. Ares will still have his wild spitfire." She teased.

Vessa pulled in a chair from Kee's desk, and I sat down. Kee sprayed my hair with some water until it's damp. Then she began cutting.

"So, how's being mated to Ares?" Vessa asked.

"Vessa." Olive scolded.

"What? We're all curious." Vessa said.

I shrugged. "I don't really have anything to compare it to." I said. "It's.. been good I guess. He's very hot and cold. He bosses me around a lot, and doesn't let me have a say in things. But Ares did take me on my very first run last night. He always makes sure I have food. And he never leaves my side."

I smiled as I remembered my bath last night.

"I do wish that he would stop treating me like I'm mentally 12 though." I grumbled with an eye roll.

"What do you mean by that?" Olive asked.

"Well, I can only get him to make out with me." I said. "It's so frustrating. Like, I thought mates were supposed to want to bang the moment they see each other. Yet, I can't even get Ares to touch me much. I even had the best s*x dream, that turned out to not really be a drea. I jumped him the moment we woke up, and he still pushed me away." I ranted.

The girls were quiet, which made me look up at them. The moment I did, both burst out laughing. Even Kee chuckled behind me.

"Yeah, yeah. Laugh it up." I grumbled.

Just then we heard a new voice.

"Uh, hello? Am I in the right room?" I heard Talia ask.

"In here Talia!" Kee called out.

A moment later, my best friend appeared. I beamed at her, and she smiled back at me. My Gods, Talia is looking so beautiful in her jean shorts, and orange T-shit.

"Wow, you're really pretty." Vessa stated.

Talia chuckled. "Thanks. What are we talking about in here?"

Talia introduced herself to the girls, and then they caught her up on my rant. To which she laughed as well. I rolled my eyes.

"I'm sorry Em, it's just.. He really won't let you in his pants?" Talia asked.

"No." I stated grumpily. "He says that I need to know more about s*x before we go further. How do I even do that? I even told him that Honi said he could just teach us." I said. "And that didn't work?" Olive asked surprised.

"No." I whined.

"Well, it's kind of sweet actually." Talia said.

I gave her an incredulous look.

"No really." She said. "He wants you to be sure your comfortable before going further with you."

I rolled my eyes.

"Yeah well, maybe he should stay out of my dreams then." I said.

"Your dreams?" Vessa asked.

Kee paused her cutting.

"That's.. interesting. And disgusting." She mumbled.

"Do you think it's him, or me?" I asked her.

"Him. Explains where he went the night before the mission." She said.

"Huh?" I asked.

"What are you two talking about?" Vessa asked.

"Ares can enter into Emi's mind. Not sure if he can do it with other people. I don't think he knows what he's doing." Kee said.

"Oh, he knew what he was doing." I muttered.

Kee snorted.

Vessa wiggled her eyebrows. "Fun dream?"

"He thought it was a dream too." I said. "So he actually did more than just kiss me."

"Hmm, he healed all of your scars." Kee commented.

"Yup. It was the best dream of my life, and when I woke up, the whole bed was soaked-"

"Gross." Talia interrupted.

"Whatever, it was fun. I wish he would do it again, in real life." I said.

"Possibly with a towel this time." Vessa added.

"Well, why don't you guys tell me some stuff? Maybe I can prove to Ares that I'm more mature than he thinks." I suggested.

The girls all shared a look before smirking at me.

"We would love to!" Vessa said.

"Well, they can. I'm still a virgin, so I don't know what to tell ya." Kee said.

"Really?" I asked.

"Yeah, we were raised to wait for our mates. Not that some of my siblings did." She said.

"Like Ares." I grumbled.

"Or Azai." Olive grumbled out as well.

"Acaisia kind of did, but not really." Kee said. "Alessio.. well, I think he was going to until he woke his darkness." She said.

"Axton is waiting." Vessa said.

"Only because he's in love with Karla, and she refuses to give him the time of day." Kee said.

I laughed. "I love that chick."

"Mo won't be waiting, I can tell ya that." Vessa said.

"She says she won't meet her mate for a very long time, so I wouldn't doubt it." Kee said.

"Ambrose waited." Olive said dreamily. "He's the perfect mate."

"You're simping over the wrong Morningstar there Liv." Vessa said with a giggle.

"The rest of my siblings waited though." Kee said.

"That leaves less than half of you that didn't wait." Olive said.

"Pretty sure that Tre guy isn't waiting either." Talia said.

I felt Kee freeze with her fingers in my hair. Vessa whipped her head to my best friend. Talia looked at Vessa confused.

"What do you mean by that?" Vessa asked.

Talia shrugged. "I seen him flirting with one of the girls at the BOC housing. Karla told me that he's like that with all the girls. Kinda seemed like a player to me." She said.

Vessa didn't respond for a moment. When she did respond, it wasn't with words. Vessa started marching towards the door.

"Vessa." Kee said her name dangerously.

Vessa paused, but didn't turn around.

"I'm not going to do anything stupid." She finally said.

Olive scoffed. "Oh please, I didn't know you could do anything smart." She said.

Vessa clentched her hands into fists at her sides. She took a deep breath, and then stormed out of the room. The other two girls looked up at Kee.

"Well, you ready to see your new hair?"