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
Seeing my Mum falling to pieces was the hardest thing I have ever had to witness. Walking into the room they had my Grandpa laid in the bed had been difficult. Seeing his body, I felt oddly numb. Like it wasn’t real. He simply looked like he was sleeping. Like I had seen so many times before when he was napping in his chair. But this time there was an almost ethereal calm over him, and I hadn’t dared to go over to him and touch him. Not wanting to feel that deathly cold that a dead body is meant to have. The room was cold enough in itself. And I didn't know that I wanted to remember my Grandpa feeling that way.But the moment Mum walked over to Grandpa and was close to the side of his bed she froze. Her eyes locked upon his face. I heard the most painful of sounds slip from her lips, before my Dad was by her side and had her within his arms. “It is okay sweet, he is at peace now. He isn’t suffering anymore.” He whispered, in that reassuring tone of his.But I can’t help but wonder if
I woke up feeling like I had been hit by a bus, having stayed up far too late studying. Plus messaging back and forth with Cleo until well into the early hours to check if she was okay after the shock of everything that had gone on for her yesterday. She and I weren't as close as we could be, but I still considered her a good friend, and I hated to think she was struggling. And, I know right now she was struggling a lot. I still felt like I was half asleep as I moved around, and having stepped out of the bathroom in a soft, fluffy towel, a nice hot shower having done nothing to help me, I felt even worse hearing my Dad singing loudly out of tune downstairs. Tone-deaf did not even cover it...“Gabe!” Mum yelled from their bedroom across the landing. I think her poor ears were in pain too from the assault of Dad's singing. “I swear to the moon goddess, shut up! My ears cannot take that noise, especially not before coffee.”I can’t help but smile. She was so right. My Dad is weirdly che
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
Training was tough today. Dad and Uncle Manny seemed to have increased the level a little for us. Working us that bit harder. Not that I minded. I wanted to be the best I could in my role as warrior and in doing that I needed to be pushed. I knew my Dad and my Uncle were incredibly well respected within pack and beyond for the roles they held, and that was what I wanted to achieve as I moved through my career too; so following their training programme would be considered an honour.“You did well out there, son.” Dad slapped his hand upon my shoulder as we all walked back to the gym block. Training had been outside this morning. We had chosen to make the most of the glorious sunshine blessed upon us, thought, admittedly it had become less of a blessing as we exercised. Pushing ourselves to our limits, feeling like we were melting under the hot rays of the sun. I smiled across at my Dad, appreciating the compliment before looking toward my cousins, Dario and Xavier
Who knew arranging an Alpha ceremony was so much hardwork? Or was it only hard work when it involved my Mum and Dad? I was beginning to think so. Every little detail seemed to be assessed, and then reassessed. I was starting to understand why Bella had said she was finding it all a little too overwhelming for her.“You want the day to be perfect.” Mum said insistently from across the office, and I looked to Dad for help, but he simply nodded in agreement.“These are going to be the Alphas you are working alongside. You want to make a good impresson. An Alpha ceremony that is poorly planned and organised simply shows how badly organized and incapable you are.” Dad said and I dropped my head to the desk. I was sick of hearing that now. We were literally discussing food, weren’t we?!So long as there was beer and there was food to feed them when the hunger kicked in I was sure they would all be more than satisfied. “Right.”
I slipped through the arch into the coffee store, and noticed the almost unreadable expression upon Camilla’s face, while Lola had turned and given her a smile. I had clearly missed something. I knew Camilla better than anyone. She had become one of my closest friends in pack, and I never saw her as anything but a friend despite her role. I hated the way others could treat her, so I love this new life she had been gifted here with me. But this expression upon her face was reminicsent of our time in pack together, which bothered me.I have always felt we shared a connections, and I had always been able to tell how she was feeling but right now she seemed guarded. It was hard to tell what she was feeling. I edged over to the counter, where the coffee was waiting that Lola had linked me to come and collect. I could not imagine for a second that Lola was the type of person to intentionally upset someone. But the tension sitting between the two was awkward,