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
“You want me to be your mate?!” Tatiana asked me in astonishment, as I explained my plan to stay here in my grandparents' pack, so I could be with her, which in turn would allow her to continue to care for her mother. All I wanted was my fated mate. I wanted her. And would do all I could to ensure we could be together. I knew she had reasons to stay behind, and I was not about to force her to come with me and leave everything she knew behind; not when she was needed at home. I wanted Tatiana to be happy. And I want that happiness to be because of me...“Oh, Carino, was there ever any doubt that I wanted you?” I asked, shocked she had ever thought for a moment that the matebond was something I had questioned. Did she truly think I could ever not want her?! It was me that had feared she was about to reject me! Sure, fate had thrown us a curveball, but from the tales we heard from my parents and their friends, it seems good at that. “Why would you ever think that? You are like heaven in
Just as I brought my lips to Tatiana’s and my heart felt like it was going to explode with happiness, there was a fragile voice from inside the house calling. “Tiana!”Tatiana sighed heavily as she pulled herself away from me, with an apologetic smile. “My Mum.” She whispered. “I should go and check she is okay.” I nodded, giving her an understanding smile. We would have time for us later, I hoped...“I will wait here.” I told her, thinking I could call my parents while I did that. And as I watched my mate rushing back inside her house, I pulled my phone from my pocket. Nerves already building inside of my belly at the prospect of telling my parents. Finding my Dad’s number on my contacts, I clicked on the videocall, and waited, wondering why it was taking so long to connect, until a very disheveled Mum came onto the screen. She looked tired, and I instantly wondered if she was ill.“Sergio?” she said, her voice sounding hoarse. “Is everything okay?”“Yeah, I just need to talk to you.
Kissing my dream girl was sheer perfection, but to have her pull away from me had been like a spear through my heart. I knew instantly her mind was on Landon. Yet, I knew I couldn’t be angry. I saw the pain in those beautiful eyes of hers, and I simply couldn’t be mad. The way she felt wasn't her fault. It was the way we were built to feel as werewolves. Programmed to be drawn to our fated mates. Of course, she would feel guilt. I had shouted, but instantly regretted it. My words were more for him than for Cleo. I hated to see her hurting. I wish she would see how good we could be together. “I am sorry for shouting C-C.” I squeezed her hand, as she went to walk away, perching herself at the edge of the waterfall. I hated her sitting there, but it was one of her favorite places here. A place we had sat many times together over the years on our many visits to the home pack of our mothers. I tentatively joined her, despite the height turning my stomach. “I’m sorry for hurting
I could not wait to see my friends, admittedly a day at the art store set up by my Aunts so hardly a day doing nothing, but it was still time with my friends, and we got paid for it. And a day away from studying. I twisted my dark hair up into a bun and adjusted my tank top, before throwing on my jacket and rushed down the stairs to find my parents both enjoying a mug of coffee and toast. They tried to make sure they had the time each day to have breakfast and dinner together, with their hectic schedules of Mum's hospital work and Dad's training, so their meals together guaranteed them time together. I guess it was sweet in a sickly kind of way...“Where are you rushing off to Bella?” Dad asked kindly, leaning against the kitchen counter, his eyes watching me closely. He was far too protective of me and my older sister. My brother, however, got away with pretty much everything...“Gabe, she told us yesterday the girls were helping in the store while Indie was over at River Ash.” Mum r
The shift in the gallery was boring, there were days we worked there, and it was so quiet it made you wonder how it stayed in business, then other days it was so busy we barely got a moment to breathe. Both Aunt Indie and Aunt Lilah were amazing at art, and had been painting since their teens. The store was used to sell their art, as well as other crafts made within the pack. Aunt Ruby and Aunt Lola had decided to add in a little coffee store to make the store unique, and their idea had definitely been a good one.Our little family business was booming and had been for many years, and was a popular place within the small town in which we lived close to. And the good thing was, with it being a family run, we often got free cakes. The not so good thing was we often got guilt-tripped into working shifts when we wanted to do other things..“Slow today, isn’t it?” Angel sighed, her feet resting upon the counter. She was so laid back it was unreal. Sitting on the stool behind the counter, l
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