Hearing Kai tell me his mate was here at Lunar River had been shocking enough, but the look upon his face when he saw the soon-to-be pack Luna walk from the doors with her hand firmly being held by the pack Alpha spoke a thousand words. This was the worst possible outcome for him, and no doubt her, and the pack.I could instantly sense the tension between the two, and Bella could barely tear her eyes away from Kai, no doubt drawn to him by the undeniable pull of the matebond. But she was to marry the pack Alpha. She had all but been sold to him from what I understood. I don’t think there was a way out for her. And, no matter how much I may dislike Kai, I felt bad for him, for there was no hope of him having his fated mate.Alpha was oblivious to the connection between the two, just as he was oblivious to so many other things going on around him, his wolf was definitely lacking… and the leering look upon his face as he suggested Bella go and make dinner for him turned my stomach, as I
Seeing my friends today had been wonderful, and made me realize just how much I missed them when I was away. I could not wait to see the rest of them, and then I had the celebration for my birthday and coming of age to look forward to with them all. Although hearing of the loss of Uncle Trent, Cleo, Kai and Kaleb’s Grandpa was likely going to delay any real celebrations, but that was the least of my concerns. I was more concerned for my friends. They must be in so much pain at the loss of their Grandpa. As werewolves, our families are beyond important to us, they mean the world to you, and you come to depend on them. And I knew how incredibly close they all were as a family, so this must be breaking them right now.Arriving back had not gone as I had expected, I cannot lie. Walking into the familiar art store, and the cutesy little coffee shop they had attached just as I had so many times previously. I was excited to see everyone, but that had changed the moment I had opened the door.
Seeing Aria today was so nice. It had felt like a lifetime since she had headed to work at the summer camp, when in reality it was a matter of weeks. I guess I just missed her company. The connection we shared. It was different with her than my other friends...But, the time with her had been cut short as she had rushed out of the store with her Dad and had not been answering her messages since. This didn't seem like Aria at all, but we were busy doing the usual cleaning duties at the end of the day within the store, and we helped Aunt Lola in the coffee store closing up too, before heading home, so I didn’t really get much chance to think about things until I reached my room.And then as I dropped to my bed, I looked at my phone hoping to see a reply but there was none. Maybe something was wrong at home? I knew her Mum and brother had gone to River Ash to be there for Aunt Lilah and her family. Maybe something had happened that we didn't know about? Maybe I should check in with her a
Luca had helped me cook, and had cheered me up as we chatted. His company was always so carefree and easygoing. He wanted to know about the camp, and I loved sharing all the things I had done. He sounded so interested, and it felt nice to chill out and chat as we cooked. Time passed so quickly without me even noticing.Daxton had come to join us part way through, the three of us laughing and joking, as I served up food. My brother found it somewhat hilarious that my Dad’s plan to get me to come home and cook had work. The crazy thing was, my Dad was more than capable of cooking. He was just getting lazy.Soon, we were all sitting around the table eating the chili, and Dad came to join us. “Thanks princess.” He winked, as he began shoveling the food into his mouth.“Didn’t really give me a choice, did you Dad?” I teased, and he feigned shock, while Luca and Daxton grinned. My Dad knew he had been caught out.“Aww come on, what if it was because I had missed you so terribly while you ha
My head felt like it was spinning. Had I heard her right? Aria had said she was going to kiss me, that in itself was mind-blowing... and then she mentioned about kissing her mate? Did that make me her mate? No, surely not...I didn’t have time to even try to process my swirling thoughts before her lips were upon mine, and my whole body felt like it wanted to explode with excitement… desire… feelings I cannot even begin to explain, as the feel of her soft lips caressed mine and the taste of her blueberry lip gloss tingled at my senses.Her kisses were gentle at first, her lips finding mine over and over again, as her hand gently ran through my hair. I kissed her back, with a hunger that surprised even me. I had been thinking of this moment for so long and couldn't quite believe it was here... I was kissing Aria! Her tongue teased at mine, causing butterflies to erupt in my belly and sending my whole body into meltdown. As much as I
Having to go to Landon’s room was not my idea of a good time, I knew that much. There were so many more things I could be doing. Talking to my mate was one. But, everything Landon had said was right. If I wanted a chance to speak to my fated mate, then I had to stay here until tomorrow at the earliest. Turning up at her door demanding to talk at this hour would require an explanation I was not prepared to give the Alpha just yet. But, I needed to speak to her. I knew that. And in order for that to happen, I needed Landon to help me. The thing was, he didn’t seem to be seeing this from my point of view…“Are you able to be a little quieter?” Landon’s voice sounded as irritated as I felt. I simply wanted to smack the fool right now. Everything he said or did seemed to irritate me. Neither one of us wanted to be here. “I don’t want us to disturb anybody.”I was sure I wasn't walking that loudly, and it was just him be
I awoke with a serious crick in my neck. The sofa was most definitely not designed for sleeping on. And not to mention the fact that Kai had been pacing the room in the early hours, only added to the difficulty of sleeping. I knew he was struggling. Even I could sense that in him and we weren’t particularly close. I may not like the guy, but I felt bad for him. He clearly wanted his mate, as you should, but I knew there was next to no chance of that.The Alpha here was not one to mess with. And he now saw Bella as his. He had got into a fit of rage over his fated mate catching up with a few college friends for coffee, including a few guys, from what I understood. The argument got out of control and he lashed out. I don’t think for a moment he meant to kill her, but falling the way she had down the stairs had broken her neck, I believed, and she had died almost instantly. I hadn’t been here when it happened, I had been on one of my many visits back to see my
Unfortunately, I had to crash at Aunty T’s, sleeping on her tiny little sofa. Or it sure as hell felt tiny to me. I would rather have taken the room in the packhouse that Alpha Grayson had offered me, but Mum was adamant we stayed with her Aunty. Don’t get me wrong, I loved my Aunty, but I did not love her lumpy sofa and neither did my back…“Oh, Finn… sunshine…” Aunty T’s voice was bright and cheerful from the kitchen, and as I forced open my eyes, the strong smell of coffee hit my nose. Along with the smell of cooking. “Breakfast is ready.” she called, sounding far too bright and breezy for a morning.I felt almost guilty now for saying I hadn't wanted to stay with her. I mean, how could I think badly of her after she has made me food? I chuckled, throwing back the crocheted blanket that had been covering me, as I plodded my way into the kitchen. “Morning Aunty T.” I greeted her, bending down
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