Sofia had forgiven me a lot easier than I had expected her to. I had been about to mark her without her permission. And that, in many cases, would be seen as forcibly marking, whether she was my fated mate or not. I could not rid myself of the sickly feeling within my stomach as guilt flooded my body. But, the urge from my wolf had been overwhelming. Combined with the need within myself. It was hard to describe…I am just glad she had stopped me when she did, and that she seemed to be so forgiving about it. I wanted the moment we mark one another to be perfect, like she had suggested, and I had been so close to ruining that. Marking her in the treeline of the northern forest of the pack was never going to be perfect...But, no matter how forgiving my sweet girl may be, I, however, am likely not to be so forgiving of myself. Although, right now, I had the bigger worry of meeting her family, and apparently her Papi, would want to kick my ass, and that is before he
I saw the fear within Jared’s eyes, and I began to worry that this was all becoming too much for him. Yes, my Papi is more than a little protective, but I did not want him scaring away my fated mate before I had a chance with him! Had a she-wolf ever been rejected because of an overly protective father? I could well be the first if my Papi continued along this path I feared...“Papi!” I warned him. “Can you stop? You are embarrassing me. Yes, this is my fated mate, and I would appreciate you stopping giving him a hard time. We would have come to find you sooner, but he was on duty.”A light appeared within my father’s eyes, before he turned to Jared. “You chose to work today?” he questioned, and I saw a small smile teasing at my Mum’s lips.‘Ah, don’t think I don’t know what you were doing.’ She mindlinked with a chuckle. ‘That will impress him, and you know it.’Dammit, I had hoped that might go unnoticed… it certainly seemed to have gone unnoticed by my Dad, who right now is deep in
Today had gone as well as a funeral and a memorial service could be expected to go. Everyone had been respectful, and the patrols were going well, so the pack was well guarded. We had had no issues with visitors from outside packs, not that we had expected any. Beta Trent was well respected, and they were all here to pay their respects and say goodbye to a good man. As we all were.After that brief moment we had shared in our seats, I had barely seen Cleo. In truth, I didn't know how I felt about that, but she had been swept up in time with her family and her friends, I had assumed, and time with them was likely what she needed right now. Time with me was not. I did not need to mess with her mind any more than I already had. She needed this time with her family.I had said what I needed to, to Daxton and Kaleb, and I hoped they would do me the honor of joining me here to run the pack when I took over as Alpha in the near future. I was in no rush for an answer from them, but I could no
The day had been a long one, and I had spent a lot of time with my friends, and my aunts and my mum. So many people had come and spoken to me, offering their condolences, many of whom I did not know in the slightest. But, I did as was expected of me and smiled, nodding in agreement, thanking them for their kindness. Wishing I could return home now. I did not want to be here any longer, surrounded by the reminder of the loss of my grandfather. I think it was beginning to hit me harder than ever.“Come on CC, let us go and find your Dad, we will be heading home, I think.” Mum spoke, alongside my Grandma.I looked towards her with confusion. While I would love nothing more than to curl up to hide within the comfort of my own bed, I had assumed we would be staying with my Grandma for a few days still. There were still things to be done. “We aren’t staying with Grandma again?” I asked.Mum stood a little straighter, like she was struggling with things a little and was preparing herself to
I went from feeling good about everything to my whole body tensing in a matter of seconds the moment my wolf picked up on the scent of our mate. The scent that was so beautiful. Alluring… tempting… yet a scent that was able to make my heart feel like it wanted to shatter into a thousand pieces. I knew without raising my eyes that Cleo had to be on her way up here to see her father.It would not be me she had come to see. There would be no reason. But, I raised my eyes all the same, unable to resist the temptation, and Dex became excited, knowing she was close. My heart rate increased instantly, and my grandfather gave me a knowing smile. ‘Have you decided yet?’ he questioned, and I simply shrugged.‘Lan.’ He sighed. ‘What do you think that man next to you would say if he knew? The faith he holds in you. It took all the strength within me to hold myself back from telling him the additional connection our fami
Our day at River Ash had come to an end. A difficult day for so many. We had said our goodbyes and were headed to the cars. My Mum had decided to fix the cars home so that ours was just me, her and my Dad. I knew what she was about to do, and I did not know that I was ready for that. Isabella had headed off with Aria, and her family, which was unsurprising, they loved her even more since they discovered the two of them were fated. I mean, don’t get me wrong, Aunt Indie loved us all like we were her own children, but she was beyond happy to discover Aria had been fated for my sister, and I have to say I was happy too.I knew she would be cared for and have that support from them that she needed as well as from us. Jorge was staying with some of the guys to help clear up. They likely didn’t need to as River Ash would have warriors, and other pack members arranged to do it, but some of our younger warrior team decided to do the decent thing and hang back to help. Jorge being one. Ever th
I stepped ut of the car to join my Mum, but before I had the opportunity to say anything, my Dad had joined us. He smiled down at my Mum with the affection and care he forever had for her. “So, mysterious girl, what is the big secret?” he asked, and my Mum grinned up at him.“You are weird, do you know that, Guapo?” she tapped him lightly on the nose. “You will see soon enough.”And with that she gave me a knowing look, with one brow raised, like she expected me to know what she was referring to, before we began walking toward one of the coffee shops on campus.‘Mum?’ I mindlnked, but found her link blocked, just as I had done to her earlier. She was playing me at my own game, much as she had done many times when I was growing up. She used to tell me when I had gone to her, angry about her not replying to my mindlinks, that two can play at that game, and it soon stopped me putting the block on my mindlink to her half as often as I had done. I think it had worked equally well with Isab
The call had taken me by surprise, but who was I to turn away the opportunity to make things official with Liliana and meet her family? Her Mother had somehow learned of our matebond and decided that they would call into the campus on their return to their pack and meet me. I was not about to turn down the chance, for I knew that this could bring the time closer that my mate and I would be together. I just had to face the daunting prospect of her father first…And from everything Liliana had warned me, he sounded fearsome. Protective, as a father should be. My father was not like that. So I did not understand that, but I had witnessed it from friends within pack…And now, here I was sitting opposite the man who was warning me that if I hurt his daughter he would kill me… I liked to think he was joking, but the look within his eyes told me not to be so sure. He was every bit the fearsome warrior Liliana had described. I could understand why he was as respected as he was within the pac
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