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
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