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
I saw the look of realization upon Finn’s face, and the moment he uttered the words, I knew I was in trouble.“Landon?” he demanded.I could see the fury upon his handsome face. A face I was so used to seeing looking at me with nothing but care and affection. Right now it was filled with rage and animosity. He was likely to go and take his anger out on Landon given a chance, and that would not end well. Not to mention, it would draw attention to the situation we had found ourselves in…“Finn, please…” I begged, reaching for his arm. “You promised you wouldn’t say a word. This cannot come out right now. Not with everyone struggling with losing my Grandpa. Please.” I am terrified right now of the mess this could create. I could cause such chaos in a pack that was already in disarray having lost their Beta. We did not need to make the situation worse. I needed to do all I could to stop Finn finding Landon and taking his anger out on him.“But Landon?!” Finn all but roared.“I know.” I whi
I had chosen to attend warrior training this morning. The beginning of my plan to get myself involved a little more with the pack. This, after all, was going to be my pack. My people. I hoped the more I told myself that, the more I would start to believe it. The more I could accept that I could be an Alpha, because I could not shake the doubt within my mind that me replacing my Grandpa as Alpha was going to be the fall of the River Ash Pack. The fall of the pack that had been in my family for generations.It had been so good to see Kaleb at training too. Being able to spend some time with him after only briefly seeing him yesterday, and most of that had been distracted by the fact I had discovered I was fated for his sister. I hated that I could not share that piece of news with him, but at the same time, I knew he would hate me for the fact I planned to reject her. Hate me for the hurt I would cause her. But, a part of me did wonder if he would understand I was doing it with her best
I had sat through far too many lectures for the day, and was already ready to make my way from the classroom and home to try to allow my brain to relax a little before even beginning to think of making a start on my paper that we had been assigned. Another one. But, this is what I wanted. I knew what I was signing up for when I decided to follow in my Mum's footsteps to become a doctor. I wanted this. And I was determined to make my parents proud.“Miss Garcia” a familiar voice called from behind me on the corridor just as I exited the classroom. A voice that made my heart flutter, and made me want to throw caution to the wind and rush to him. The same as it did any time I heard his voice. But I knew at this time of day the corridors were busy, we would be seen. Something that can not be risked.I turned to the source of the voice, knowing I would find his handsome face awaiting me. His icy blue eyes were already waiting for me. A familiar look within them that pulled at my heart strin
My feet felt heavy on my legs as I made my way down the corridors of college. Earlier, I had wanted to get home, now it was more a case of I needed to. I needed to be in my own space to fall apart in privacy. I would not allow that piece of shit to see the effect his selfishness had had on me. I was better than that. I needed to get away from Lukas. From the lies and deception he had built around the bubble that was us. I was nothing but a fool. I know that now. Admittedly a fool in love it would seem, going off the pain within my heart, but a fool non the less…I had fallen for all his charm… all his words telling me how I was everything he had dreamed of in a woman. That he had never met anyone that fitted with him like I did. That he was excited to see what the future could hold for us... how beautiful our children could be. That coming to teach here had been twisted into fate because it had meant he had met me. But then came the lies, the reasons for not being able to be with me i
I loved the feel of Cleo’s hand within mine, and as she slipped her hand into mine while we walked away from Landon that feeling rushed through me. “Thank you for not starting anything with him.” she whispered.I could not help but smile at her. She was the sweetest. I knew her mind was in a million and one different places right now, but despite that, she was thinking of the well-being of her family. She did not want them finding out about the situation with Landon just yet while they were mourning the loss of her Grandpa. I could understand that, because, in all seriousness, all hell would break loose when they do discover he is rejecting her! I would not want to be him when Uncle Knox or Kai get a hold on him... or Kaleb for that matter... hell, any one of our group of friends would be there to defend Cleo, as would her father's friends. She was certainly loved, and Landon would be made to suffer when this all came out, of that I had no doubt.I could sense Cleo's eyes upon me, so
I was in the one place in this pack, a home away from home, that brought me peace. It was a place my Mum had brought me to, to escape the madness of the house one time, her place of peace too when she had grown up. And now, I felt a sense of calm spread over me as Finn’s arms embraced me. I knew he wanted to be there for me. To try to make things better for me. I just wish he could. But right now, I don't know how to make all of this better.I stared down at the pool of water at the bottom of the waterfall. I could spend so long, lost in my thoughts just watching the water falling. I needed to clear my thoughts. Try to decide what I do from here. How I move forward knowing the life with a fated mate I had expected would now no longer be happening…I felt Finn’s arms tighten around me as if he sensed my unease, pulling me closer, more snugly against his chest. The warmth of his body spreading through my own. I could not feel anything but safe in his arms. Safe and content. Something I
As I storm across the pathways of the pack, I am fully aware that I have absolutely no right to feel hurt that Cleo is with Finn. I all but pushed her into his arms. Not to mention the fact I had told her she would not be my mate the moment that both of us had realized we were fated. Surely, in her mind, it is me saying she is free to go and do as she pleases? Ultimately, that is what I am saying, right?‘See, you don’t even know if you fucking want her or not.’ Dex grumbled angrily. 'So how the hell is she supposed to know what to think? She isn't a mind reader.'‘It isn’t about wanting her, and you know it. I have made myself clear with her. She knows what I need her to, and that is all there is to say on the matter.’I know I am being blunt with my wolf, but I do not want to even think about how I have been with Cleo right now. I know my actions have hurt her, and that fills me with nothing but guilt. It caused me pain, knowing she could be hurting. Thankfully, the paths of the pac