Joey led me into the packhouse, a nervous expression upon his face. He did not need to say a word, I could sense his unease from where I stood. “Joey, I can go in alone. Nobody needs to know you were involved.” I whispered, as we passed into the large foyer. I hated the idea of this man suffering because of me. He and his brother had to be two of the sweetest men I had met, putting everything on the line just to help me.
“We got this far, didn’t we?” he smiled, albeit a little nervously. "I am a warrior, Bella. I do not walk out in the middle of a mission. I see a mission through."
I could not help but smile at his words. A sad smile, admittedly, but a smile all the same. This man was too kind, and deserved a lifetime of happiness. I hoped nothing bad came for him. “They surely wouldn’t punish you with the council here would they?” I asked, my mind having gone over the many possibilities of the outcomes
I knew there was a lot going on at the moment for the pack, and I was worried for both my Dad and my brother. I had spoken to my Mum and discovered, eventually what was going on. Obviously, after Landon had given me the basic details during our late night phone call, I had needed to know more.I could never have imagined my big brother with a mate, despite knowing we all had a fated mate out there. One apparently perfect for us. One we would not be able to get enough of. I just could not imagine Kai being like that with a she-wolf. My big brother was an ass. I found it hard to imagine him turning the world upside down to want to help someone he wanted so desperately, yet it seemed that was exactly what was going on, and it made my brother seem a little more decent. To know they were taking on a pack to help the fated mate of my brother made them every bit the heroes my family so often showed themselves to be. Never willing to let anyone suffer. They had done the same for Aunt
The moment I walked into the lounge my heart lifted as I saw Bella. She was every bit as beautiful as she was the very first day. Nyko went into meltdown at the sight of our fated mate. My wolf was a ruthless wolf, much like my Dad’s, one who took no shit, but it seemed for his mate he would do anything. He had been as broken as me over the possibility we may lose her.She did not hesitate in accepting my offer of a hug, as I opened my arms to her. The second her arms embraced my waist my heart fluttered unexpectedly, and my body tingled with the affects of the matebond. “Damn, you are a sight for sore eyes.” I muttered as I held her closer, knowing I had done what I had come to do.There was a half snarl from the sofa to the left of the doorway. “What the fuck is going on?!” The Alpha roared. “You slut! So, you arranged all this because you had another Alpha lined up all along?! I fucking paid for you to be mine!”I could feel Bella’s shoulders sag as she realised what had just occu
I stood at the top of the packhouse steps of the Lunar River Pack, my Grandfather had notified me of the official decision of the Council, so I knew our mission had been a success. This pack would be in disarray for a short time, but the Council would ensure it survived; it would also ensure the training facility survived, which I was glad of, because, despite it being set up by a brutal and merciless family, the idea behind the facility was not a bad one. It had benefitted many packs.I saw Kai, hand in hand with Bella, a look within his eyes that I don’t think I have seen from him before. He looked truly content. This girl could be the making of him. Not only as a man, but as an Alpha. I was glad I had been able to help. Dex whimpered within my mind, and I knew where he was going. Where my mind had drifted so many times already today…Despite having told Kaleb and Daxton I wanted to begin setting things up when we returned back today, and having sent Kent and Joey a message to ask
I realized my mistake the moment my Mum’s eyes changed. It was not often she became angry like that. She and my Dad were relatively chilled, I suppose, compared to some, but they were both incredibly protective. I don’t know what made me say the words that I did. I had been hurting, I guess with the lack of contact today, and that had been my first thought when I had seen Landon. That it would be the only reason he could have been here.My Mum’s eyes darted between Landon and me, before meeting my terrified gaze. The eyes of her wolf, Sky met mine. Still within my Mum’s body, but pushing forward, her wolf evidently felt the need to come and protect me. “What the hell is going on?” she demanded, and Landon stepped forward, his gaze looking far less confident than he had done a few moments ago; and even then he had not looked overly assured.“Aunt Lilah…” he began.“I am not your Aunt right now. I am Cleo’s Mum.” Her voice was icy cold. Harsh. She never spoke to him that way. My stomac
I had rushed back to pack, knowing I had a meeting waiting for me. I needed to get things in place... I wanted to do this the right way, and I think it had waited long enough. The meeting room was already set up for me and my new team, but before Daxton and Kaleb arrived, I had my cousins call in to see me. They had travelled over from Lunar River soon after everyone else had left. I didn't wonder it would be long that the rest of their family headed here too, accroding to the information my Grandpa gave me. Their family having been invited to make a fresh start here too...“Hey Joey.” I smiled across at him, my feet rested against the table. “Kent.” I took a long sip of my coffee, more than ready for a drink after today. It had been a long day.“Don’t get up or anything, will you Lan?” Kent shook his head at me in disbelief, I had literally just sat down, with a mug of coffee, so I had no intention of standing up anytime soon. Instead giving my cousin a playful grin.I shrugged. "Sit
The moment we had stepped into the pack, I had asked my Dad for the keys to the Alpha suite. This was to be mine and Bella’s home. I had crashed here a few times with dates in the past, and I had used it many a time for movie night with friends. But, to know it would be my home with my fated mate, felt unreal. I had messaged my Mum and asked her to arrange for the place to be given a once over whilst we were out, so I could only hope the place was sorted for us. I wanted everything to be perfect.I waved my family and friends off as they made their way up to the family homes at the top of the pack, and the warriors too, as they left for their own family homes dotted across pack, some making their way into the packhouse along with Bella and I, as I took her hand as we stepped from the car. Oddly, I was beginning to feel a little nervous, despite this being the moment I had been waiting for...“Your pack is beautiful.” She whispered,
felt like I was on cloud nine and had done since Landon had spoken to me. I finally knew what was happening. Where my future would be. All I had to do now was wait…“CC, are you even listening to us?” My Dad’s voice interrupted my wandering thoughts, already following Landon as he had left the house to go to his meeting he had arranged back at his pack. And, oh boy were they wandering! Already imagining the home we could build... the relationship we could have... our official ceremony... our dates... my heart raced at the idea of it all. So much had changed in so little time, but at least now there was no more doubts.As I glanced upward at my Dad, I found his narrowed eyes scowling at me, and I sighed heavily. I wasn’t even sure this chat was necessary. I was not naïve. I knew the issues Landon was battling. All of us had been in the room when he had opened up to us, so talking about it seemed a little futile. But, my parents were d
I was loving this new found confidence. This new faith Landon had in Kent and I. To believe we would be capable of helping him run his pack was something I had never envisioned. We had gone from being run of the mill warriors overnight to being lead warriors, and it felt good. Someone having faith in us. We worked damn hard during our training, but in such a big facility it often went unnoticed. But, now we would have the opportunity to prove ourselves. And, we would have a new home. A fresh start. We had nothing to fear from the Alpha family of our former home, and neither would our family. We could not ask for more, and our cousin had ensured of that.I don’t think the smile had slipped from my face since Landon had asked me, and that had been in spite of how hectic things had been. And that was because we had been spending the days shadowing Manuel and Gabriel. Landon decided it would be beneficial to spend some time with the two cousin warriors he had taken his inspiration from.
Camilla was so close. Her scent overwhelming. And I could feel her lips so delicate… almost touching mine… and I panicked. I stumbled away from her, mumbling an apology as I did. Only as I did, did I see the hurt within that sweet girl's eyes. I had hurt her. She had already been through enough pain, yet my fear and uncertainty, and that damn guard around my own heart had caused me to hurt Camilla further….I steadied myself on a nearby tree, waiting to watch Camilla turn and walk away, a sinking feeling within my gut that I had ruined any chance. But, to my surprise, she walked over to where I stood. As I leaned against the cool bark of the tree, she looked over at me, her cool eyes taking me in. “I am sorry.” She whispered, her voice trembling slightly as she spoke. Though in truth she had nothing to be sorry for.“No…” I began, but she put her hand up as if to silence me, instantly causing me to halt my words.
Jorge turns to me with a warm smile. “If it is too busy for you, I can take you somewhere quieter?” he offered, and my belly filled with nerves. He was incredibly sweet.I raised my brows at him. “You know this pack?”“Of course, we came here a lot growing up. Aunt Lilah and Aunt Indie grew up here, so we came to visit all the time with them. So, I have spent hours exploring over the years. Don't worry, I am not going to get us lost. Besides, I am a warrior, I think I can direct us around.” He teased. Speaking to me without so much as a pause. There seemed to be no ulterior motive in his suggestion either, not like some of the the guys you get around. Besides, all I have heard about Jorge is that he is a genuinely nice guy. Not that I have been asking or anything… well, not much…“But, I don’t want you missing the celebrations.” I said, knowing if he was taking me somewhere where it was quieter
I sat trying to digest everything Kai had just said to me with an inexplicable ache in my chest. That sweet girl had lost her mate? I had no idea… She had never mentioned it. Though, I suppose she had no reason to. I thought rejection was pain enough, but losing your mate must be agony on another level. Yet she was here, pushing through. Continuing as if she was fine. Beautifully strong. So young to have lost a fated too...My pain seemed almost irrelevant now. I could not take my mind away from the suffering the beautiful she-wolf must have gone through. And my thoughts could not help but ponder if that was how she found herself in the role she had been in before comingn to our pack... Oh, I am so glad that Uncle Knox, and Kai had gven her the chance of freedom when she came to be with Bella. She had been through enough as it was. My heart ached for her, and could only hoped that her time her could be the fresh start she deserved.I found myse
I sat alongside one of my oldest friends and I hated the pain I saw within his eyes. Today was a day for celebrating. Celebrating my brother and my sister and their next steps in life. But the pain I was seeing in Jorge’s eyes was reminiscent of the pain that had been there in the early days after he had been rejected. He was doing his best to hide it, but it was there all the same. I hoped he had dealt with the pain, but it made me reailze the rejection never went away... it always sat in the pit of his heart eating away at him...I knew him too well, and hated seeing him in pain. He was a lot like Uncle Gabe, very much the joker of the group. Always wearing a smile. Always there for everyone else. But when it came to him, he didn’t know how to accept help. It was hard for him taking support when he had been rejected. And, it was hard for him to speak up when he was suffering. Now appeared to be another of those moments.I offered him one of the beers I had brought across with me, a
Rico had wandered off and left me, likely in the hunt for a beer, that was his usual tactic, though as I glanced around the party, now in full swing, I was sure I noticed my cousin with a girl in his arms on the dance floor. That was another of his tactics. Charm. Much like his Papi in his younger years apparently. Rico would be making the most of the opportunity of many new she-wolves to work his charms upon, I was sure of it. Goddess help each and every one of them!No doubt we would all be hearing about it in the coming days. I rolled my eyes in disbelief, settling back in the seat in which I had found. The friends I had been sitting with had all dispersed now, some for food, others because they had seen people they knew. That was the thing about large multi-pack events such as this, there were so many people, and so much chance to run into people you had not seen in a while. Too many opportunities to need to catch up. Or meet new people. I, however did not have the energy to be so
I think a small part of me hoped that finding my mate may be a smoother path than that of my parents. Than that of my aunts and uncles too. It seemed fate had certainly put obstacles in their way. Yet, each one of them would say that the obstacles were merely there to make them appreciate what they had. But, it did not stop me believing that maybe the next generation maybe that little luckier with their destiny. Some had been blessed with an easier path, others, sadly not. It seemed fate liked to have a twisted plan all of her own. One we were not to learn of until it was our time. And, hope as I may, I did not know if it would make any difference to the plan fate had for me, but I had hoped all the same...However, as I looked at the confused expression of my fated mate’s face, I was beginning to question that the younger generation would be blessed with more luck. Yet, I had found myself smiling, as I added “This where you tell me to piss off?&
Thankfully I had an understanding father. One who accepted me for being me. He had often told my Mum that his past had made him see that some people needed more freedom. More understanding, and more time to be themselves. I never fully questioned what it was he meant, but I always appreciated he wasn’t too controlling over me. Yes, he could be protective, but find me a werewolf father that wasn’t.I had chosen to go travelling for a while once I had finished my studies, and despite my Mum’s initial concerns, my Dad said he thought it may do me good. So, that is what I had done, and I was on one of my short visits home when it was the Alpha ceremony. I felt it was only appropriate to attend, despite never liking large pack events, having missed Beta Trent’s funeral.Plus, my brother, Jared’s new mate, Sofia had become a new friend, or she was certainly attempting to be, bless her. I don’t think she realized quite yet, that I tended to
Watching my friends become Beta and Gamma of another pack seemed somewhat surreal. We had trained alongside them the last few years with plans for them to become part of our warrior team. But, in truth they were always destined for better things. A son of an Alpha and son of a Gamma they would be above all other warriors within any squad. It was just due to birth line that had meant they would never receive a title, until Landon decided otherwise.I couldn’t lie, as I looked up at the two of them, well three if you count the crazy little, Cleo, I would miss them. River Ash was not a million miles away from our pack, and it wasn’t like we all spent our lives in one another’s back pockets now we were getting older, but we were close. Always had been. It would be odd them not being on pack. But, it seemed to be happening more now as many of our group met their mates and moved away too. Our lives were officially moving on, and that was going to
The day has come. I am finally Alpha of River Ash Pack. I was so proud to be able to say that. It was so wonderful to see Cleo being officially made Luna, and for my friends to formally become Beta and Gamma, and as the four of us were announced to the entire pack and the many guests attending, there was a huge cheer for us, which filled me with a warmth I could not describe.Cleo looked up at me, a twinkle in her eyes. ‘Wow’ She linked. ‘Can we go back to bed now?’ She joked with a smile, making me laugh. ‘Because that sure looks like a lot of people we have to go say hi to.’We could be here until tomorrow speaking to them, and I don't think I have energy for that!'I smiled once again at my mate, and now my Luna as she stood by my side. She was funny. She was perfect too. And, I had no doubt, despite her words, she would make a wonderful Luna to my pack... or, as it was now, our pack. The pack loved her, and she had all the qualities of a truly amazing Luna. I could not wait to see