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 family had returned to the house after what had felt like a long day, all of us now together, but not one of us with a word to say. Mum and Dad had spent most of the day at the hospital with Grandpa. Mum needed that time to say goodbye. Kaleb and I had spent time there, said our goodbyes, but both of us struggled seeing him like that, and had chosen not to go back. So we decided to spend our day training instead. And spending time with pack members. Everyone seemed to want to see us, so it seemed like a good way to spend our time. Hearing tales of our Grandpa from so many...Our grandfather was like a hero to us growing up. So hearing so many people tell us how highly they thought of him only made me prouder to call him family. There had been a multitude of happy memories shared with us that had made us smile. Our Grandpa was a wonderful Beta to this pack, and we had every reason to remember him and be proud. Seeing him at his weakest was not the way I wanted to remember him. It
The mere mention of Landon set my heart into a panic. Why was Kai bringing him up? And what had given him the idea that I had a thing for him? That seemed so out of left-field. Never had anything like that been mentioned before…And just looking at the expression upon his face told me that my delightful big brother did not like that idea, so I could only imagine the reaction he would have if he was to discover that he was my fated mate.‘Fuck off Kai.’ I said, before moving out of the room where our family were sitting, albeit awkwardly. We had been sitting there having polite and dispersed conversation since we all arrived home and had dinner together. This was not the family I was used to. This was an uneasy and uncomfortable one. I did not like it. I tried my hardest to hold back the tears that were threatening. I did not want to think of Landon.I had avoided thinking of him as much as I possibly could. Thinking of him hurt. I hated the thought of my fated mate rejecting me. I h
I could see my sister was withdrawing. Sinking inside herself the way she does when she is battling with her emotions, and I know that was not a good thing. She is not going to give me any further information. So, I do what is the best thing to do, and I agree with her. I smiled, and nodded. I ruffled her hair the way she hates, and told her things would be okay. Said that the next few days are going to be difficult but that things will improve. Then I leave her alone in her room to give her the space she is craving, while I go out for a walk. Or so she thinks…But, instead, I reach for my phone and call the one person who will be able to give me the truth. I did not want Cleo to know I planned to talk to him because the moment I mentioned talking to him, I saw the response upon her face. That was the last thing she wanted. So, that told me that he held the truth. I wanted the truth. Despise him or not, I needed to talk to Landon.“Hello?” His voice sounded uncertain as he answered m
I had made a mistake. A huge fucking mistake. I could only assume that the reason he wanted to see me was because Cleo had told him. Was that not an easy assumption to make? Especially considering the way he sounded on the phone? He had sounded angry, though in all fairness, I think Kai always sounds angry… but looking at the anger upon his face now, I can see that I made a huge fucking mistake. It would appear he didn’t actually know anything. Or, to put it correctly, he hadn't known anything until I had opened my big fucking mouth; and now he knew it all. And Cleo was going to be broken by this…“Yes. She is my fated mate. But I am trying to do the decent thing by her, Kai.” I urged him to see the good in my actions. I know how he sees me. He has not thought particularly highly of me for a long time. I don’t think anyone has in my reluctance to take my place as Alpha. So surely Kai would want better for his sister than me? Anybody would want better than me, right? Cleo should want
I continued to drive along the road, an awkward silence sitting between us now as Kai’s words echoed in my mind. I tapped my thumbs on the steering wheel almost nervously. Maybe asking Kai to come along with me was not the best idea in the world...“Quit doing that, will you?” Kai snapped, telling me my tapping irritated him.I nodded, battling hard to stop myself with the nervous movement of my thumbs. I heard Kai sigh deeply. “You don’t see it, do you? You don’t see this the way I do? I hate that it is you. I truly do. Cleo deserves the best. She deserves to be happy. She will have been like every she-wolf out there, dreaming of the perfect happy ending the moment she met her fated mate. All hearts and roses... the racing heart and her heart being swept away in the moment. Everything so perfect, and you..." he gave me the dirtiest look I think I have ever been given before continuing. "And you are going to destroy that by deciding you are going to reject her the moment you discover
I stood in the kitchen for a moment after my sister had left the room, giving me a sad glance as she did, filling my body with guilt. I was still in shock at how my brother had acted, and now my sister was making me feel guilty too? I needed to compose myself. That was not how I had wanted things to go. I wanted them to be happy for me. Was that too much to ask? This was one of the biggest moments of my life. It hurt they were not sharing my excitement. Yes, I saw Ana was trying to be happy for me, and to some degree she had attempted to defend me, but I could also feel her pain, not to mention see the pained expression upon her face.And then there was my brother. One of my closest friends. I had dreaded telling him. And I think this had been the reason why. He and I had trained alongside one another as warriors. Brothers in arms as well as in blood. He saw this as a betrayal to that bond. But it wasn't that, or I did not view it that way. We would always have that connection. I had
My heart felt like it was going to race right on out of my chest, as Sergio’s hands settled upon my hips, his big brown eyes looked up at me almost adoringly. This guy seemed ready to drop everything for me, and I didn’t know if I could let him do that, but the pull to him was overwhelming…The matebond made it extremely difficult to look at things logically. Because the matebond just made me want him. I wanted him so terribly. He was the one for me. For my wolf. The one the moon goddess had chosen for us. She had selected the two of us for one another. Decided we were fated to be together. From opposite sides of the globe, but she decided we would be the perfect fit for one another. How could I fight the pull to him? Even knowing he had to sacrifice so much for me?My heart ached at the thought of not being with him. The pain of simply thinking of not being him was too much to bear, so physically rejecting one another to allow him to return home would destroy me. I just knew it. His
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