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 had finished my coffee as quickly as I could once I noticed the time on the large clock upon the wall within our family kitchen. Making my excuses soon after to head off to college, telling my parents I had to call into the library before class. Unfortunately for me, my Mum knew my schedule quite well, and she was a little surprised I was headed in when my classes were not due to start for another couple of hours.But, I was not about to explain myself to her. I was a grown up… or as close to one as I could be while living in their home…I walked along the busy corridors of the college, keeping my head down, in a desperate bid not to be noticed. I was focused solely on my destination, anticipation filling my body as I walked. I looked forward to this part of my day. And soon enough, I was walking along the corridor where the office was that I needed to be. Thankfully, the corridor I found myself stood upon was relatively quiet, but I stood for a moment until I was the only person th
Having avoided Landon for the rest of the time we were in the hospital, and then hiding out in my Grandparents' home for the rest of the night feeling like my heart was breaking now I had said goodbye to Grandpa. It had to have been one of the worst nights of my life. What did I do to piss off the moon goddess? Losing my Grandpa was bad enough, but on the day I had to process that and say my goodbye, I learned who my fated mate is and learned he in fact doesn’t want me.I think at some point I had cried myself to sleep after many hours of messaging my friends, and curling up in a ball on the bed in pain. I was awoken the following morning to a knock at the door. “C-C, Mum is making food.” Kaleb stuck his head around the door, obviously knocking was worthless if he was going to walk in anyway.I nodded, as I rubbed my eyes, trying to wake myself up. “Okay. Guessing I don’t get a choice?” I asked, and my brother simply grinned in response. He knew what Mum was like as well as I did, and
I had completed the meeting, finalizing the deal as expected, before I headed back to the family home, having been invited to dinner. That was never something I would turn down. Yes, I liked my own space, but cooking for myself was definitely something I couldn’t say was fun. So, needless to say, I missed my Mum's and to some degree my Dad’s cooking.While there, enjoying the bedlam that had been home, I had heard Mum discussing the possibility of heading back to the River Ash Pack. I couldn’t say I was surprised. It was her home pack, and I knew she would want to pay her respects to Uncle Trent. There was already talk of us all going to the funeral, which, again, I had expected, he had been a big part of all of our lives. It was only right we all attended his funeral, said our goodbyes and paid our respects.But for my Mum it was more than that. She wanted to be there for her closest friend, and the family that had been there for her growing up. The family that had treated her like f
I stayed inside the house today. It was suggested we go and make the most of being in pack, enjoy the many places here that we loved, or catch up with Landon. But he was one of the reasons I had chosen to stay safely inside the home of my grandparents. Hiding from the mess my life seemed to have become. I don't think I could face him right now. I knew at some point we would have to face up to this new development, but for this moment, I just wanted to pretend it had never happened... pretend like he didn't exist...Kai and Kaleb had gone to join the training sessions that were ongoing down at the training field as a way to keep themselves busy, and would likely go for a run once that was done. While Mum and Dad were headed to the hospital to meet Grandma and Uncle Grayson, I think they would likely be busy most of the day making funeral arrangements. So, I knew for the near future, at least I would be on my own; and in truth, I didn’t know what to do. I felt empty. Numb.I couldn’t t
The moment Cleo had opened that door it had been so hard not to rush to her. Tell her how sorry I was for acting the way I did. Try to fix things. Because, no matter how she may say things were okay, I had a feeling they weren't. But, my Mum was by my side. I didn't need to be explaining everything to her right now. There was far too much going to add additional complications. And watching Cleo as we walked into the house, I could see all my girl needed was a hug. She was struggling...But, I think, given that she had just lost her Grandpa, that was understandable. They were a close family, and her Grandpa meant a lot to her. Plus, I knew Cleo, she would struggle to see her Mum battle with the grief of losing her Dad too. I just desperately wanted to be there for her. Yet, I could hear Cleo making her excuses to my Mum about what was wrong, and I couldn’t help but wonder if there was something else bothering her. She didn’t seem herself, and while I understood grief affected everyone
I had spent some time with Tatiana, but she had left, finding things difficult knowing the situation we were in. She knew that with me being her fated mate she would be expected, like my mother, to relocate. That was generally the way things were done, but the thought of it seemed to horrify her. The moment she realized that was what would be expected of her, she seemed to withdraw. She avoided my gaze, and the conversation seemed almost awkward. This was not how I had hoped meeting my fated mate would be... And it felt like my dreams were slipping away.Once Tatiana had rushed from the room, I had found my brother and sister with our Uncle, and spent the rest of the day and evening with our family. All catching up. It was wonderful to see them all. I loved our visits here, and always had done, but this time it had been marred by this sense of loss I was feeling. One I simply could not shake, no matter how I tried to process the events of the hours previous.In every other way, Tatia
I sat out in the gardens of our family home, enjoying the small amount of sunshine the day was attempting to offer. A coffee in my hand, and sitting watching the wildlife passing back and forth across the treeline near the end of the garden. I had always loved our large garden of the family home, so well looked after, and so beautiful with all the flowers. Plus, there are so many places to escape to and hide when growing up. The many hours we used to have fun playing hide and seek…Mum and Dad coming looking for us… the squeals of fear and excitement from me and my brother as they found us… I smiled at the fond memories. Back when Mum was still fit and healthy too. That seemed like such a long time ago now. It was difficult to remember her that way when I think of it now. Even though this illness has only been ravaging her body for the last couple of years, it feels like forever. Seeing her body slowly fading…She was having a nap at the moment, allowing me a chance to rest and enjoy
The call had taken me by surprise, but who was I to turn away the opportunity to make things official with Liliana and meet her family? Her Mother had somehow learned of our matebond and decided that they would call into the campus on their return to their pack and meet me. I was not about to turn down the chance, for I knew that this could bring the time closer that my mate and I would be together. I just had to face the daunting prospect of her father first…And from everything Liliana had warned me, he sounded fearsome. Protective, as a father should be. My father was not like that. So I did not understand that, but I had witnessed it from friends within pack…And now, here I was sitting opposite the man who was warning me that if I hurt his daughter he would kill me… I liked to think he was joking, but the look within his eyes told me not to be so sure. He was every bit the fearsome warrior Liliana had described. I could understand why he was as respected as he was within the pac
I stepped ut of the car to join my Mum, but before I had the opportunity to say anything, my Dad had joined us. He smiled down at my Mum with the affection and care he forever had for her. “So, mysterious girl, what is the big secret?” he asked, and my Mum grinned up at him.“You are weird, do you know that, Guapo?” she tapped him lightly on the nose. “You will see soon enough.”And with that she gave me a knowing look, with one brow raised, like she expected me to know what she was referring to, before we began walking toward one of the coffee shops on campus.‘Mum?’ I mindlnked, but found her link blocked, just as I had done to her earlier. She was playing me at my own game, much as she had done many times when I was growing up. She used to tell me when I had gone to her, angry about her not replying to my mindlinks, that two can play at that game, and it soon stopped me putting the block on my mindlink to her half as often as I had done. I think it had worked equally well with Isab
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