“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
I had been unable to clear my mind as I sat in the house alone. The pains resided as quickly as they came, but the memory of them was strong in my mind. Cleo had been with Finn in some way or form… she had to have been for me to experience those betrayal pains from the matebond… and despite me sending her into his arms, I cannot explain the hurt they caused me.‘Because you actually want your mate, you fuckwit.’ Dex said bluntly. My wolf was pissed off with me.‘Fuck off. It isn’t about me wanting her. It is me letting her have the life she deserves.’ I reminded him, to which I received a growl.‘I need a run.’ He snapped.He was right, a run would be a perfect way to burn off some pent-up energy. Attempting once more to distract my mind from the overactive whirlpool of thoughts that were taking over…I left my grandparent’s house and headed for the nearest treeline, stripping myself of my clothes and my shoes, pushing them into a nearby damaged tree trunk. Dex picked my shorts up in
I loved being surrounded by my Mum’s family when we visited their pack. They were always so welcoming. But damn did I hate their weather! Always so much cooler than home, and it seemed to love to rain. A definite downside to our visits here.“Have you seen Sergio?” Rico asked, walking down the stairs of our grandparents' house. I shook my head at him as I finished my toast. To be fair, I had barely seen my brother since we had arrived, and he had gone a little weird in the packhouse. Other than the occasional passing of paths in the house, he had barely been around.I swallowed my food quickly, before looking at him. “He has barely been here. Grandpa said he had things to see to. I assumed he meant training, that is usually what you guys have to do.”“Hmm. He came to a training session, but other than that, I have barely seen him. So he isn't spending time training like usual. Or at least not with me. He isn’t even eating with us now.” Rico’s eyes narrowed. “You think he has been on
I saw the look of shock upon my brother and sister’s faces. Of course, I knew it would not be the news they expected to hear. And this was not the way I had wanted to tell them. I had wanted to break it to them gently...“You can’t be serious.” Rico’s voice sounded angry, if anything. “We are part of the elite warriors back home, Gio. Why would you give that up? She should be coming to the pack to be with you. She realizes that, right?”I found myself holding back so much anger at his words. Trying hard to tell myself it was just shock that was making him think like that. But I wasn’t about to go head-to-head with my brother over this. “She is my mate, that is why I would give that up, Rico. I don’t expect you to understand that until you meet yours. The pull you feel to your mate is exactly as they tell you when we learn of fated mates. I need to be with her. I cannot stomach the thought of leaving her here now I have met her. Now I know that she is mine. She takes care of her mother
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