Benjamin’s POVMy breath lodged in my throat as I watched her walk through the woods. The past few months had done nothing to dull the feelings that grew inside of him with each passing day, it made no sense to deny it didn’t exist anymore. My wolf pranced around with joy any time she sent smiles my way and I knew she was the one for me. It was complicated and it was one of the major reasons why I hadn’t done anything yet. We both had our demons to battle with before we faced the sizzling attraction that often hung in the air between us when we were close. I watched fondly as Shannon in her wolf form and her fur shimmering under the glow of the moonlight participated in the ritual hunt, she was pregnant and she carried the gift of life within her, a beacon of hope and new beginnings to wash away her past that had been filled with pain and regret. However, I knew she was burdened with the weight of uncertainty. She was young and unsure about how much the birth of her pup would tilt
Benjamin’s POV“You seem so cold and unresponsive sometimes, like you have this wall shielding you from whatever it is you’re scared of. Sometimes, it comes down and I see you for the first time, the real you, and those are my happiest times with you.” I opened my mouth to speak but I snapped it shut, deciding to pick the next words carefully. I hadn’t known she had been figuring me out during the times we spent talking and I wasn’t sure if I was supposed to be impressed or feel bare. It rarely ever happened. The only exception was Joyce and I had planned to keep it that way.“I find it difficult to trust and my walls are my way of protecting myself from feeling betrayed. Keeping everyone at arm’s length is my way of making sure I never find myself in a compromising situation.” “Have you ever loved someone?” She asked me again. “Yes, I have.” I smiled softly at her. “Where’s she now? I’m sure I would’ve seen her around somewhere if she was still here.” “She’s not here because sh
Benjamin’s POV“I was only a young wolf, filled with vigor and youthful enthusiasm. I had the best parents anyone could ever wish for and the moon goddess deemed me worthy enough to bless me with a mate, I was only 18 at the time and there wasn’t much else I wanted.” Shannon had fallen silent now as she sat still, not wanting to move a muscle. “My father had gotten news of an internal war brewing from within but he had discarded the rumors, not bothering to give it a second thought.” I recounted wistfully. “In his words, my father had said, hell would be trampled upon before his brother would ever instigate an uprising against his leadership.” I laughed bitterly.“My uncle had been my friend and my teacher, he taught me everything I knew, from basic fighting skills to complex ones. He made me this strong and despite the age difference between us, he saw me more as a younger brother than a nephew. Life was so perfect or so I thought.” I paused for a bit and Shannon decided to ask me
Shannon’s POVMy mouth hung in shock as I stared at Benjamin as he told me about his past. I had suspicions that he had been through a rough patch earlier in his life. I could often see the sadness deep in his eyes when he thought no one was looking but I didn’t know he had been through so much more than I had thought. He lost his parents and he was betrayed by an uncle who he had loved with his heart and a woman who was supposed to be his mate for all of eternity.I didn’t know how he came out of all of this with his kindness intact, it didn’t make any sense to me if I were in his shoes, I would’ve built walls reaching for the sky to prevent anyone from ever coming close but he had welcomed me with open arms and treated me like one of his wolves for months, providing me with everything I ever needed, making sure I or my unborn pup never lacked anything. I didn’t know many people who would do that for a stranger but I had doubted his true intentions for me because of my bad past.
Shannon’s POV“Good morning, Shannon.” Ricky started, a broad smile on his face as he leaned against the doorpost.“You ran off without saying goodbye yesterday at school,” Jules added. “Now, that wasn’t very polite, was it?”“I—“ I opened my mouth to speak but Cole cut me off.“We’re here to take you to school. You shouldn’t be seen walking down the street like some commoner, you aren’t that anymore.”It was all happening so fast again. Yesterday wasn’t a fool’s dream. They meant
Shannon’s POVI felt my body tremble as Benjamin spoke, the calmness and ferocity in his voice serenading me. My fears were beginning to dissipate into thin air as he wrapped his arm around my shoulder and pulled me close.They would come calling but knowing I had Benjamin by my side gave me all the assurance I could ever need.I smiled at the first memory I had of us together.A week after I arrived, I had grown weary of being in bed all the time so I decided to take a stroll to clear my head. It was a bit confusing figuring out what stairs to take but I eventually made my way downstairs and went into the woods, seeking solace and the quiet it would bring.
Shannon’s POV“Thank you,” I whispered as we sat on one of the benches outside the house, listening to the sounds of darkness. “You took me in when you didn’t have to and you’ve made me one of yours.”“That's all in the past now, we can only look forward to the future from now on and I want a future with you in it.” Benjamin said as he patted my thigh.I tried to stop it but I ended up blushing as hard as I could.I’ve always had a crush on him but it never went past that. I mean, who would want to be with me after everything I had been through?
Ricky’s POVIt’s been five years since Shannon was sent packing after my brothers and I rejected her just before the mating ceremony in front of the whole school during our graduation party and so much has happened between that incident and now.I had believed that it would be easier to find a new mate but I couldn’t have been more wrong.We had scoured the country hoping to find the right woman to carry on the Mayert’s lineage with but our search was fruitless.If anyone had told me that we would have difficulty finding someone to be mated to a few years ago, I would’ve laughed in their faces until my ribs hurt but it was my new reality now.Melissa came crawl