An unexpected business meeting overseas was not what I had needed, but I had done as my father had asked, and I had attended. Now I could not wait to return home. I just needed to survive the hassle of a long-haul flight. Thankfully, we had managed to get me an earlier flight home than the original one I had planned, as the pack I had visited was an absolute hellhole and I did not want to stay there longer than necessary. As soon as all the meetings were held, I was out of there as fast as my feet could carry me...
I had rushed through the airport, running late as I so often did, and got to the gate at the very last minute. I am sure the flight attendants must love people like me who had a tendency to hold the flights up as they waited for me. But I showed them my boarding pass and rushed down the aisle to where my seat number should be.
I was in the aisle seat, it seemed, but there was a bag already sitting there, and I was ready to snap, not needing
He is my mate. My fated mate came to me on the airplane home. What are the chances of that? That had to be a first, right? Not that I was going to complain. I mean, he was heavenly. Perfect. I don't think we had guys like him within our pack. And he was mine. All mine. A warmth settled over me as the realization hit me that I had a fated mate. This was to be my life...I sat awkwardly within my seat staring at the chair in front of me, allowing my eyes to dart over to the man next to me every now and again to admire him... and oh, was there plenty to admire! Eyes to get lost in... hair any girl would be jealous of... I so wanted to run my fingers through it. It looked so soft... all the while my heart pounding heavily within my chest, knowing his eyes were upon me.“So, have you been on holiday?” Harrison asked me with a smile, as he caught me with my shameless checking him out, and instantly color flooded my cheeks. He had to have known what I was doing! But, going off the smile upo
I hate the idea of marrying the Alpha now. Plain and simple. I think had I not met Kai then things could have been a little different. I could have remained naïve. Knowing that my mate was out there somewhere but not knowing where. The thing was, now, I knew where he was. And, I wanted him. Letting him leave was the hardest thing I had ever done.Alpha Landon, or the upcoming Alpha as he was currently, had taken me by surprise by giving me his number, like he believed I would change my mind. As if he believed I would find the need to reach out to the mate fated to me by the moon goddess, but even if I wanted to, I was bound by the contract signed by my family. I had to marry the man, whether I wanted to or not. Though the words Alpha Landon had used had left me terrified. His words had seemed carefully selected. Like he knew more than he was letting on, and it had left me questioning everything.With the many questions, it had left an air of tension between me and my soon-to-be husba
I decided to help clear up after my grandfather’s funeral, and then stayed with my grandmother, as she settled herself for the evening. She seemed somewhat calmer now, I felt. I knew these coming weeks would be hard for her as she adjusted to life without her mate, but for the time being at least, she was doing okay. Now, I found myself sitting in the garden upon the patio furniture with a beer in hand, looking up at the stars, Landon by my side. Who would have thought?…The two of us choosing to spend time together? The two boys who had grown up side by side for so many years. The best of friends until they drifted apart, and became almost sworn enemies... There is likely an irony in there somewhere. He looked across at me with a sad smile. “I think your Grandpa would have been happy with his send-off, don’t you?”I nodded in agreement, he would likely rather have been still alive, but I guess, when your time is here, your time is here. And, we gave him a decent send-off. There were
The moment Bella had ended the call, I was sending Landon to go and speak to his Grandfather, and I was planning on a video call to my Dad. We needed a plan. I needed to know how I was going to help my mate. I had to make her my mate. Before that Alpha was able to take her as his. Because the moment he marked her, I would lose her forever. She would no longer be mine. Any connection between the two of us would be lost. And, I would be broken...I hated the thought of knowing she was scared. Instinct told me to go and help her. She needed me. Every part of me was telling me to call her and tell her to meet me tonight. Get her away from him as soon as we could. Anything to keep her safe. But then there was the tiniest logical piece of me arguing with the rest of me, saying it was not safe to do so. Arguing that if he had acted so aggressively about her being in the bathroom for too long, I could only imagine how he would react to her taking a phone call from me… another Alpha. An Alpha
I had returned home with my parents, and the many friends that had attended my Grandpa’s funeral. Kai had stayed behind with Grandma to support her, and from the messages he had sent, she seemed to be doing okay. I imagine being without her mate was going to take some getting used to, but I think with the support network she had in place she should be okay. I had not had a chance to see Landon before we had left River Ash, or at least not alone. Nor had he even messaged since I left, which had filled me with disappointment. I think the lack of a message, and no attempt at coming to find me before I left told me all I needed to know.He had just been being a friend when he reached for my hand when he saw me struggling during the memorial service, the way any one of the guys or girls would have done, I guess. My confused mind had read too much into it. Hoping for it too be for than it was...‘Stop that.’ My wolf, Terra, argued with me angrily, like she had done so many times prior, whe
I left Kai talking to his Dad, while I walked the short distance from their home to the home of my grandparents. The two homes where my Dad and Kai’s Mum grew up side by side. Had been friends for so many years. Where all this had begun...“GG!” I called the moment I walked through the front door.“Lan?” he replied, a little confusion within his tone. He was standing from his armchair in front of the TV as I walked into the lounge.“Can I get some advice please?” I asked, and he looked at me with a sympathetic expression. “Please tell me you have not chosen to reject her, son. Not now. Not after everything. I saw the way you looked at her today…” he began, and I shook my head in disbelief, not sure why he was headed down that blackhole I did not want to talk about right now. Especially with my Grandma sitting right there. I was unsure if she even knew any of it...“Woah!” I interrupted him. “Not that.”He frowned, but his eyes studied my face intently as I dropped into the armchair n
All things were now in motion for tomorrow. My grandfather had done what I should have expected him to do, and completely took over. He and Uncle Knox were currently talking, arranging what needed to be done. Daxton and Kaleb had been briefed, and were now en-route to the pack. So, very soon, I would have the men who were to be my right-hand men by my side to begin the roles I had requested they take on for me. Admittedly, it was sooner than we expected, but this had pushed their decision forward, and it seemed they were ready to become my Beta and Gamma. I could think of nobody better suited to the roles.I think with them by my side I was ready to become Alpha. Strangely, the thought now did not fill me with the same sickly sensation it had done previously. I did not know if the chat with my Grandfather and Knox had made me view things somewhat differently, or if maybe I had just grown up a little, but things seemed to have changed. I think, maybe the time had arrived for me to take
I left Finn with a strange emptiness within my heart. I did not know how to begin to explain the way I was feeling. Our walk after we had spoken had been a little awkward to say the least. He had all but let me go. Was there anything to say after that? Finn would forever hold a precious place within my heart. Of course he would, but I had needed my space, and I had made my excuses to head home. I had hidden in my room since returning home. Avoiding everyone that I could. I need to be alone.Once home, I went over that conversation so many times within my head. He seemed to be telling me he and I were never meant to be. Athing I had never imagined Finn telling me. We knew we were never fated, but Finn had never been phased by that. So for him to suddenly be so opposed to the thought of the two of us seemed bizarre. Unlike him. Yet, I felt oddly calm about it. However, there was a heaviness that remained above me. I could not decide if that was because the one guy I was closer to than
With Camilla’s hand within mine we sat alongside my family and friends as the formalities for the ceremonies came to a close. Kai was now officially Alpha of Midnight Forest Pack. Leo our Beta, Finn our Gamma and Bella our Luna. Our leadership had changed but the pack would hold all the same wonderful values it always had, for Kai was the same sort of good man his father was. Our pack’s future was going to be strong with these guys in charge, and as I had looked across the faces of our family, I had seen so many proud faces.I felt proud of them all too. They deserved this. It had been a great ceremony, and the amount of planning that had gone into it all was evident. Now, the celebrations were to begin, and I could not wait to enjoy them too. Enjoy them with a certain someone by my side… a certain someone I had not expected to be there with me…The last few days had been a little chaotic to say the least, but settling down i
Seeing us all here together was kind of great. We rarely were all together anymore. Not like it used to be. Even Sergio and his new mate had made it here to join us for the big day. It was crazy. The people I called family. Extended family, admittedly, and a family that was extending further now many had met their fated mates, but they were all here for me today. For the pack. It meant the world.Bella rested her head upon my shoulder. “Are you okay, baby?” She whispered, her beutiful eyes looking up at me with curiosity. “You look deep in thought.”“Just thinking how lucky I am.” I told her with a smile.“Too right you are lucky. All these people here for us.” Dad said, from next to me, clearly having listened into the conversation. "It is going to be a good day, son." I smiled at him too.“I know, I was just thinking the same thing. How the group is growing too, we will need a bigge
Landon and I had driven over to my home pack, pulling into the spaces outside the packhouse alongside my brother’s car. “You know we could have all just driven together?” I suggested.“Didn’t want restricting to coming back when Kal or Dax were heading home.” Landon told me with a smile.“You know we are staying here tonight anyway?” I told him and he nodded.“Yes boss.” He teased. He loved implying I was in charge, and in truth, I kind of liked it when he did. Since our Alpha ceremony life had been a little hectic, with so many meetings to take place, and things to adjust to, but I think, finally they may be beginning to settle down.Life as Luna was likely nowhere near as demanding as that of the Alpha, but it was sure taking some adjusting to. Landon was doing everything he could to make sure he made it as easy as he possibly could. Even sweeter, was he had begun arranging fo
I walked into the lounge, and instantly my eyes found my mate, deep in thought as she gazed out of the window. I looked across at Bella, she was dressed in a beautiful simple black satin shift dress. Her long dark hair twisted back into a beautiful braid that swept around onto her shoulder, with a simple white flower within her hair. Her make-up was smoky, but basic so as not to take away from her natural beauty, and she looked truly stunning. I chewed my lower lip as I looked at her standing at the large window looking out over our pack.“You look amazing, sweet.” I told her, and she looked up at me with a tentative smile.“I feel sick.” She whispered.“Nervous?” I questioned, making my way toward her, knowing any moment our peace would be shattered by the arrival of my parents, potentially my grandparents too before we had to go and meet the remaining familiy and friends who we had planned to meet in the packhouse before mak
Our house was sheer chaos, so I could only imagine what the rest of pack must be. Today was the day that the last week had been leading up to. Mum had been involved in the organization of the Alpha Ceremony, with it being for her brother’s eldest son. These sort of events were very much a family effort. And family was hugely important within our pack. Grandma had been involved too, and I swear them, along with Aunt Lilah were like crazy women when trying to plan. It was, without a doubt better to avoid them, I could understand why Kai had said he was dodging them at every opportunity. I think if I were him I would have allowed them free reign to arrange it all, and then simply turn up on the day, that way you would save yourself so many headaches and so much stress...“Luca!” Mum shrieked from the bottom of the staircase. I rolled my eyes. “You best not still be in the bathroom.”“No, that would be Rocky, Mami.” I said with a s
I sat on the bed for a moment, staring at the closed door of the ensuite where Camilla had just run to. My heart racing, from the closeness we had been sharing only moments ago, and aching from the fact it felt like she was rejecting me in that need to flee. My wolf, Elda whimpered heavily within my mind. He had not been dealing well with this back and forth with Camilla of late.I had allowed myself to get closer than I perhaps should. There was something about her that had caught my attention the moment I greeted her at our pack gates. Something I don’t even know that I can describe. She was sweet. Vulnerable. But she chatted to me like she was simply happy to be here. Happy for the now. And that appealed to me. She treated me so kindly. Warmly. And that pulled me in. She was different to the other she-wolves I had met.The amount of times she had wandered up to the guard room with a fresh coffee for me, had warmed my heart. Or the sweet smile
I stretched upon my bed, trying hard to wake myself up, and was shocked to hear my wolf purring within my mind. That was not like her in the slightest. Only as I stretched my arm across the bed did I notice the space next to me felt oddly warm… that was not the way my bed normally felt...I sat up quickly, only to see I was still wearing the clothes in which I had been dressed in last night, other than the fact the shirt had been discarded, leaving the tank top as my only coverage on top. I heard movement in the ensuite, making my whole body freeze once more, and I realized with shock that I was not alone. Jorge had to still be here.The events of last night flooded back to me. He came in as I had suggested, and we sat talking for hours. About anything and everything. His family… his past… my family… my past… I don’t think there was a thing that man did not know about me now. And likely, there was little I did
Bella and Camilla walked into the suite, but the moment Camilla stepped into the lounge where Kai and I were sitting, I could tell from the expression upon her face she was not feeling comfortable. She did not know I was going to be here. Her eyes were darting to her friend, as they glazed over telling me she was attempting to mindlink, but it was as if Bella was choosing not to respond, which admittedly irritated me.Kai had spent most of the time since I had returned from home having had my shower giving me just cause and reason as to why pursuing something with Camilla would be a good idea. Why it would be good for us both. He was adamant she was interested in me, yet this here, looked like she was terrified to be here with me. That did not scream interested to me.‘Have you set that poor girl up?’ I demanded of Kai, and he glanced at his mate, before looking at me with a shrug. He seemed as clueless as me of the developing situation in
Bella and I had finished our shift at the art store, and were driving back into pack. The sun had not stopped shining today. It certainly made the day an enjoyable one. The store had been relatively busy, with enough customers to keep us occupied, and the two of us had created a few new items on the potters wheel. This was so far from the workdays I had endured in my previous role, and most certainly a workday I could become accustomed to. I was loving my life like this...But, I had to admit, today I was a little tired. My mind had been more than a little over-run with thoughts, not only the last few days, but today too. It made for a very tired brain, and a very tired Camilla. It meant I felt like I was ready to crash. So, after the days work, as enjoyable as it may have been, I was most certainly ready to return to my room and put my feet up for the evening. Maybe even a soak in the bath was called for, and a few chapters of my new book I had picked up at the new bookstore