I stood by my Grandpa and Grandma, next to the casket of our former pack Beta, and the loss hit me hard. I had already said my goodbye when I had visited him in the hospital, but this made it all seem more real. The pack was hectic, filled with our own pack members and visiting members from other packs here to celebrate the life of Trent Patterson. A truly wonderful man. And, the thing that struck me the most was this man was of the same age as my grandfather. Time was promised to no one.It hurts to think that their lives could so easily end. Nobody had expected the loss of Uncle Trent, despite him being ill, we had assumed he would heal... I guess I was naive to think of them all as being indestructible, even at my age. But this had made me realize that they weren't. That we had to let them go at some point, which terrified me. Of course, I had lost my parents, but I did not know either of them, so had never truly felt their loss. But this, this man, was like family to me, and it w
Hearing the pained sobs of both my Mum and my Grandma was too much. My body was shivering, not from the cold, more from upset I think, but despite my brother and my Dad being sat to the side of me, it was Landon who reached for my hand. His hand enveloped mine in a warm embrace, sending my heart into meltdown. The most unexpected of gestures…Terra made a noise somewhere between a purr and a whimper at the touch of our fated mate. Instantly I felt my wolf pick up. I feared her hopes were instantly boosted by the fact he had reached out and held our hand when he had seen us struggling. I, too, was leaning toward my hopes rocketing through the roof but was trying valiantly to fight allowing that to happen. Trying to tell myself that he was battling with the matebond. Instinct would make him want to support us. Protect us. All things the matebond enforced. This was not the natural actions of Landon, I reminded myself.But as I met his gaze, his eyes looked back at me with a warmth that m
I sat through the many people speaking. Listening was not one of my stronger skills, I have to admit, and my eyes were beginning to wander. I could see Grandma was struggling, but I had expected nothing more. Aunt Talia was by her side, where she had been so frequently since we had arrived.Mum was snuggled into the side of my Dad having done her speech, and from where I sat it was hard to say if she had now succumbed to her tears. I have to say, I was proud of her, she had kept her composure while standing in front of her former pack and said everything she had wanted to in memory of her Dad. I think Grandpa would have been proud too, and I hope Mum knew that.Well, in truth, I think Grandpa would think this was all far too much fuss, and he would hate seeing his mate and his family crying because of him. But, that aside, he would be dissing the over-the-top decorations, not to mention the amount of people that were attending. He had always hated a f
The service had ended and people were now mingling. Grandpa’s casket was laid where we had placed it within the gazebo, so he was able to join in with one last party with his pack, though not in the sense we would have liked, of course. But, this was a party in his memory, and remembering him was exactly what everyone was doing. Hearing so many stories of him only left me smiling as I stood with my family.Cleo was acting all coy, and avoiding any conversation with me, especially now Landon seemed to have vanished into thin air. I would get to the bottom of their weirdness. I swear if I found that he had hit on my sister, upcoming Alpha or not, I would kick his sorry ass… I may have to get my brother to help, but I would make sure he regretted going near Cleo. I had Alpha blood, but I was still likely no match for Landon. That guy was a beast. I had trained with him enough to know that.Daxton had strolled over from his family to join me, and I was glad of someone to talk to, as conv
This was one weird but wonderful conversation. I mean, we have had many of them over the years, the three of us, but this one, I think, may take the biscuit. One minute, we had been ready to kick Landon's ass in order to defend Cleo, and the next minute Landon was asking us if we wanted to be his Beta and Gamma. And, I don't even mean he built up to that question either, he was so casual he may as well have been asking us if we wanted another damn beer! My head turned so bloody fast to look at him, it hurt, and Kaleb did the same, the pair of us now both looking at Landon in shock. He had to be joking, right? That was not something I had expected him to say.We have been friends since we were kids. All of us. Both Kaleb and my mum were from River Ash, and, therefore, we spent a lot of time here growing up, and because of the closeness between Uncle Trent and Uncle Grayson, and Aunt Lilah’s determination for Landon to be included with our families, we spent many hours with him too. Bu
So, Landon was asking Daxton and I to take two of the most important roles in his pack. Be the two men alongside him to help run his pack. I mean, in recent years we were a close-knit friendship group. Landon had struggled a lot. And Daxton and I had helped as best we could, to get him through those battles. But, never had I imagined this.And, going off the expression upon Daxton’s face, I don’t think he did either. But, right now, we were at my Grandpa’s funeral. I don’t think talking to my parents about this was the right thing to do, and making this decision without their input didn’t seem like the right thing to do either, despite the buzz of excitement rushing through my body. I could inherit my grandfather's title…“Look, Lan, as amazing as it is that you want us to take these titles… “ I began.“Don’t worry about it, I understand, moving packs is a big ask.” He interrupted, with a heavy sigh. I could only guess he was assuming I was about to decline his offer, going from the d
Having to go to another pack Beta’s funeral had not been the way I had expected to spend my returning day home, but my Dad had insisted. He too a Beta, but of Silver Creek Pack, a few counties south of here, had trained alongside Beta Trent over the years and they had remained lifelong friends, so there was no way he was going to miss this, regardless of me returning home today, nor would I have expected him to. I just didn't expect to have to attend alongside him and my Mum.But, spending time with the guys I was now sitting with, all making me laugh, despite not having any real clue who they were, had brightened my day. My parents had wandered off to socialize as they so often did at any inter-pack event, leaving me to my own devices, but the thing was I generally avoided these events, so did not really know anyone, especially when I had left the pack a couple of years ago to study.My studies were now complete, and the time had come to return to pack. Being the loyal and devoted Be
After everything, the memorial ceremony had given me a welcome moment of peace. An escape, I suppose you could say, which is a terrible disrespect to the man we were here to say goodbye to. My grandfather’s response to seeing me with Aria had crushed my spirit, and my heart. I had wanted to be anywhere but surrounded by the people closest to me right now. But, there was no real escape. Any which way I looked, there were people I knew, and I did not know the pack well enough to disappear for any time.While sitting listening to the many memories people shared of Beta Trent, I tried my hardest to stay focused upon their words. Listening to the wonderful man that he was. A man of my grandfather’s age, and a man I had spent time with many times in my frequent visits to the River Ash Pack along with my friends and family. Guilt unexpectedly twisted at my heart that he had gone, and if he could so easily have left this earth, then so too could my own grandfather. The ve
I felt Nori’s whole body tense in my arms. I brought my gaze to meet hers and she smiled awkwardly, before she pulled away from me. “Hey Dad.” She said, turning to look at a well-built guy, dressed smartly in black pants and shirt. His thick black hair slicked back. He was making his way to us at quite some speed. In all honesty, he looked like he was about to take my head off…“Don’t give me, hey Dad, Nori. Care to explain what is going on?” He demanded, giving me one hell of a dirty look. I could sense my mate’s discomfort through the bond we shared, and that was before even marking her. I hoped that was a good sign for the strength of our connection. But, right now, I knew she was not wanting her father to find out about us like this, and just as I was about to speak to explain, a petite dark-haired woman followed the man, near jogging to keep up. She shared the same eyes as my mate, so I could only assume
This felt different. No. I felt different. This she-wolf by my side did something to me. Something I didn’t quite understand. But as we walked side by side through the tree line to give us a little privacy before we would have to go and join the ever-building crowds for the ceremony, I found myself glancing at Nori in what I guess could only be considered as awe. Vala was making the strangest sound, somewhere between a purr and a whimper… I think he may be content… and oddly, I think I may be too…I had been dreading today only a short time ago. Fearing seeing Cleo moving on with her life. Seeing her with the mate mark that proved she would never be mine. Seeing her become Luna of another pack. But now none of that mattered. All that mattered in this moment was the she-wolf by my side. I just wished I could have found her sooner. I felt like I had missed out on so much. If this was the affect the matebond could have on you, I truly
Controlling parents, or more an over-protective father were beyond a joke, and it was rare we came back to visit family here. Though, I have to say I do love my Mum’s home pack. And I loved seeing my Grandparents and Uncle and his family. But they all tended to visit us. Obviously the fact we lived quite the distance away was not helpful. I had been surprised when Mum had said she wanted to come back for the Alpha ceremony when she had not come home for the funeral of the former Beta.A little disrespectful in my mind, but hell, what do I know? “Quinn, will you just stay with us please?” My Dad called to me from the lounge of the packhouse that he had made his way to after having yet another falling out with my Uncle Archie. They clashed to say the least. I had already lost count of the arguments since our arrival late last night.I was already up and walking away, but Dad was on my tail. Could I not go and see my damn cousins?! My D
I smiled across at my cousin. I would leave him alone if that is what he was wanting. But, I could tell from the expression upon his face that there was a little more to this than he was letting on. And, I hoped to find out. I had hated seeing Jorge hurting after his fated walked away from him. I truly thought we may lose him. We as wolves wait for our fated, and he was no different.The thing was, his fated had chosen to date, and settled down with the guy she was dating. In her mind, sadly, choosing a future with him was better than one with her fated. It took us a lot to bring Jorge back from the brink, and if there was even the slightest hope of happiness for my guy, then I wanted to ensure he had that opportunity, and I did not doubt for a moment I would not be the only one.“Sure thing, J.” I nodded. “Too damn busy here today.” I rolled my eyes. I could see my sister, Ana, up ahead with her new mate. My Mum and Dad alread
The amount of people here today was ridiculous. I thought there had been a lot for the life celebration of Beta Trent, but I am certain there is going on double the amount for the Alpha Ceremony. Though these types of events were huge celebrations, not only involving the whole pack, but packs from across the country. There were a great number of people from Midnight Forest, but that was merely because of the connections between our two packs, otherwise it was likely it would be the higher-ups within pack, like so many other packs would have sent. I could only imagine the organization that had to have gone into today's events.River Ash had many visiting families from past times, she-wolves who had left, and come back to see Landon made the new Alpha. A new beginning for their pack. One, that in many people’s views was long overdue. And, as I caught sight of Cleo walking through the pack, hand in hand with the guy, I have to say, it was a new beginning for our little CC too. I
All those times I have questioned where my fated mate could be… as I have watched my friends begin to settle down… and it turned out, all along, he was in a pack closer to where my Mum was from… a pack Dad was never too fussed about visiting… more because of the distance it involved to get here. But, it made me ponder now, would I have found Finn sooner had I visited more?“Are you staying for long?” Finn asked me gently, as he offered me his hand again, he seemed to be finding any chance to touch me, and I have to say it was incredibly endearing. We had decided taking a walk away from the main area of the pack might provide us some privacy, but I doubted we would have much time.“Until tomorrow I think.” I offered, already questioning how soon I would be able to return to be with this handsome young man by my side. The man chosen for me by our Moon Goddess. That was of course, if he decided he wante
My heart was pounding heavily in my chest and my head felt like a fuzzy mess right now, as my eyes darted across the busying space in front of me. People were arriving for this Alpha ceremony, which meant the pack was gradually filling up, only making my job harder. That scent was faint, but damn was it overwhelming.Vala was pacing so intensly now, it was becoming distracting, as I continued my search. ‘You know you could always help me look.’ I mumbled.‘If I look, I am shfting, and with all these people around and the fact my head is not thinking straight, that is not going to be for the best.’ Vala snapped, and I knew he was struggling worse than I was.My wolf had been like all wolves. He wanted his fated. He had partially, over the years, resigned himself to the fact I had not been quite so much the traditionalist and was not focusing on finding my fated. But, with that scent lingering in my nose, I cannot help but question why that was. Maybe it was the feelings I had felt for
I can't say if today was a day I was looking forward to or not. I knew it was a day I would see Cleo again, and that was something I was more than a little anxious about. I had walked from her family home having learned of her leaving, and gone to the gym to work myself hard, to the point of pain. Trying hard to cause myself more pain than I had been currently feeling hearing that Cleo had not thought to let me know she was leaving, even if it had just been a text. I knew now I was not a priority, her mate always should be, but I had thought as a friend I may be someone she would want to tell, and from what I had heard later, it seemed my sister had had a message or two, and I have to say that hit pretty hard...The arrival of the day had loomed for a whole new reason now. Knowing there was the chance of seeing the girl I did not know how I felt about right now. But, how I felt was irrelevant. The day arrived, regardless, and we had set off early to River As
I had showered, and now sat at the edge of the bed, all suited up, in my black suit pants and black shirt and tie. I was going without the jacket as I truly hated wearing them. My hair was slicked back, and I was doing my best to look as smart as I could for my pack today. I wanted to make a good impression. I mean, after all, today was the beginning of my reign as Alpha. Though the first opportunity I had, and the tie would be off, and the top few buttons of this short would be undone. Man, was I uncomfortable!Nerves were beginning to get the better of me, which was one of the reasons I had hoped for some time with Cleo before the mayehm of the day took over, but with the very little sleep we had got last night, we had both slept a little later than planned this morning, meaning we had to get up almost immediately. And, I was waiting now on my adorable mate.I could hear her singing in the bathroom that adjoined to our room, and despite the fact she