I knew I had little choice now but to return home. Hearing Uncle Trent had died hit me harder than I expected. I knew my Grandpa had told me he had been ill, but I guess you kind of expect them to be around forever, and I had simply assumed he would recover. I had trusted the doctors at the pack hospital would be able to help him heal where his wolf may not... And, as I packed my things up in almost an automatic way, my mind wandered. Going over so many things. I realized then that I had been such a selfish dick. I had been so focused upon my own messed-up mind that I had stopped thinking of the ones I loved and cared for as much as I should, and I hated myself for that.I had looked at my Grandpa in the same way as I had Uncle Trent. I had naively expected him to be around forever. And because both him and Grandma had done so much to make me happy growing up, likely trying hard to make up for the things they feared I missed out on by losing my Mum
My eyes were drawn to the car the second I heard it approaching. My mind instantly went to the words of Uncle Grayson mentioning that Landon was on his way. Knowing we were going to have to deal with him right now was the last thing I needed. We were having to face saying goodbye to my grandfather. Cope with losing him, and now I had to see Landon too? The guy I felt was partially responsible for his death? My pulse rate was already increasing...I saw the strange expression upon Landon’s face the moment he stepped from his car. The thing was, I could not read what was going on with him. He looked uncomfortable, I knew that much. And so he fucking should. He avoided his home pack as if it had been infected with the plague for fuck's sake. This was his home. The place he was meant to belong. The place he was meant to be heir too, yet it appeared to be the last place he wanted to be.But, it was just that, I knew in truth he didn’t want to be here, so could that be the basis of why he h
The scent hit me like a wrecking ball the moment I stepped into the ever familiar packhouse. Completely throwing my senses out of whack. Sending my mind into a meltdown, and as for my body, it seemed to have lost the ability to function properly. I had frozen on the spot... and my wolf, Ama, was suddenly unsettled, pacing within my mind, an indistinguishable noise coming from him that I had not heard before. Somewhere between a purr and a whimper, I think…My eyes darted around the packhouse, so desperate to find the source of that scent. Because the reaction it was having upon me and my wolf could only mean one thing…“Grandpa. Who is in here?” I asked, seeming to take everyone by surprise. But I didn't care, I needed to know. I wanted to know where this scent was coming from. I needed to know…“I am sorry, son, what?” Grandpa stopped walking to look at me, looking more than a little confused. He had been doing his usual trick of marching on ahead and us trailing behind…“I asked who
I tentatively stood from the lower step, following my grandfather. Was I truly ready for this? That I wasn’t actually sure of. I have heard so many tales of meeting mates over the years, and yes, the majority of which sound truly amazing. But, I had seen first hand what not being wanted by your fated mate had done to Jorge, and it was hell. It had broken him.My cousin and I were incredibly close, and seeing him almost fall apart had made me feel useless, because nothing I did seemed to help him. We were all brought up to believe our fated mate is the one meant for us. The one we will meet and everything will slot into place. The one you hold all your hopes upon. And Jorge had done exactly that. I saw the excitement in his eyes as he realized who she was. And I witnessed that excitement turn to pain as she turned to him and said it was not to be. That she did not want him.I then had to see him slowly fall apart as he and his wolf battled with the pain and struggles of rejection. It w
I couldn’t understand why our art class was being disturbed. Especially by the former Alpha. It certainly put me on edge. I stood nervously by the window in the lounge area looking out to the beautiful garden where one of the gardeners was busy at work maintaining the flowerbeds. I decided to watch him as a distraction. I needed something to focus on as a way to occupy my mind.I could hear the mindless chatter of the other she-wolves that had come into the lounge with me, all discussing what they believed was the reason why we had been asked to assemble here, but none had come up with a plausible explanation. I just wanted to go home. Or at least back to the art class. I hated being put on the spot. Not knowing what was to come.I watched as the gardener neatened the borders of the flowerbed he worked upon, while Tala, my wolf, seemed to be napping right now despite my unsettledness. Though it was nothing she was not used to. I often felt unsettled and uncomfortable. Liking things do
Cleo had told her parents she planned to sit outside for a moment, saying she didn’t know if she was ready just yet to go in to say goodbye to see her grandfather. I didn’t know if that was the truth, or if that was an excuse, because she had just realized exactly what had just hit me like a fucking wrecking ball. But as Aunt Lilah agreed she should take some time, and join them when she was ready, and everyone wandered inside, I lingered outside. Uncertainty filled every part of my body. I did not know how to approach this...I had been unsure about returning home as things were, and knew that was going to be hard enough to adjust to, but now I had to face the revelation that Cleo was my fated mate. The sweetest and most adorable girl I think I knew. Somebody who deserved so much more than me as a mate. Why did fate have to be so cruel and play this card for us both? Especially for Cleo? I could not let this happen to her.I watched as she perched herself on the wall of the flower be
I needed some time to myself. Time to process everything in peace. So why Landon felt the need to come and join me I do not know. My heart already felt like it was shattered with having to cope with mourning the loss of my Grandpa, but to see the look of what was close to disgust upon his face when he realized I was his mate, felt like Landon had stomped upon the pieces of my heart and damaged them forever. Like he didn’t care in the slightest. It was an added pain I did not need right now. And it was not something my family needed either. My Dad and my brothers would hit the roof if they were to realize my fated mate did not want me...“Cleo.” Landon whispered from his space next to me, bringing my attention back to him. Surely he should have got the message I did not want to speak to him from the fact I had not acknowledged him? That I had looked away.I was still trying hard to compose myself from the shock of his touch. The effects of the matebond were so much more than I had ever
Shit. I kissed her. I kissed Cleo, and I hadn’t meant to. I truly had not meant to, but she was so close. So close, and her eyes were looking up at me. Looking so innocent... irresistible... and her scent was overpowering... She looked so beautiful. The scent of her took over my senses. I lost all sense of reality at that moment, and the only thing I could focus on was her. And that need to kiss her…As my lips touched hers, my whole body felt like it melted. I felt like I was on fire. My body surrendered to her, and I knew then I was in trouble, but I could not bring myself to stop. The tenderness of her lips on mine felt so wrong, yet so right, and when she kissed me back I felt like my heart would explode. I honestly expected her to slap me, or at the least shove me away. But she had kissed me back. Her kisses urgent. Maybe we were both in serious trouble…The pressure of her lips on mine built as my tongue teased along her lips, causing them to part to allow my tongue access to he
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 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
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
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
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
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
His kisses felt so good. And our bodies felt so natural against one another. My wolf, Hera, was as giddy with excitement as I was. She wanted her mate as much as I did. I felt Jared move toward me suddenly, and Hera became even more excited. But something inside me shifted. This didn't feel right. I instinctively shoved him backward, knocking him almost to the ground. I clearly had taken him by surprise, because otherwise I would not be taking a man of his size to the ground with one shove…He steadied himself, initially doing all he could to avoid my gaze. The tension in the air was palpable... what had I done? Now Jared stood with sorry eyes looking down at me. Guilt. Remorse filled them, while my heart pounded in my chest. My wolf was whimpering at me that I had shoved my mate away. That I had stopped him from doing what I believe had been attempting to mark me. In no scenario had I ever imagined that I would shove my mate away when it came to him trying to mark me...‘What did you
This old fucker was beginning to piss me off. Implying my own son was not worthy of his daughter. No one should be considered unworthy of their mate. But, that aside, my son was of both Alpha and Beta blood. Who was this fuckwit to insult our family lines to say Kaleb was not suitable to be fated to Jessica?Just as I was about to argue back with the hollow-headed asswipe, Kaleb spoke, and my heart felt like it had been crushed. “I will be Beta then. I will be Beta of River Ash like Landon has asked.” I turned to look at him in shock, and could see Jake had done the same.‘Did you know about this’ my friend asked via our mindlink. I would like to think he would be able to assume from the dumb expression on my face I had no fucking clue.‘No.’ I replied, before looking at my son once again. He had been offered a role as Beta? That was a huge responsibility. An honor, in fact. One I can imagine his Grandfather
Okay, so Daddy turning up just as I was about to kiss Kaleb was not the ideal thing. And the fury in his tone told me he was not impressed. He was so grumpy! I had hoped we would be staying a little longer. My Dad was not particularly one for socializing. I knew that, so in truth, I was shocked he had agreed to come to the funeral at all. But, I knew that he and Beta Trent had been close through the training they attended over the years.And he was adamant he wanted to pay his respects. And he wanted us there, as his family, by his side. I saw it as a chance to get away from the daily drag of being in pack, so I agreed willingly, hoping I may even make some new friends. Never did I imagine I would be meeting my fated mate! I think once the ceremony was out of the way, my Dad had gone around and seen whoever he needed to and then planned to leave. He was here representing the pack, and needed to take the opportunity to chat to a number of people, and knowing my Dad, he would n