I rolled over in bed with a sleepy moan. I was having the most wonderful dream that involved several under dressed men, one of which may or may not have resembled Alpha Asher. I didn't care about the details.
My eyes fluttered open and a my sleepy yawn filled the air. That had been the best night of sleep I had in a long while.
The events of yesterday had yet to catch up with me as I sat up in bed and stretched. Just as I was about to stand up from the bed, my eyes darted to a figure in the corner of my room.
"What the hell!" I gasped, looking into the furious face of Alpha Asher.
He was sitting in the corner of the room on a navy love seat my Dad had gotten me when I was thirteen.
"You talk in your sleep." He spoke, his tone calm while his eyes continued to burn. He looked at me strangely and I wondered what I had said in my sleep.
I didn't have to glance down to know that my nips had stiffened against my tank top. I wasn't wearing a bra, not that I needed to. Who sleeps in a bra?
I snak*d my hands up to cover my bre*sts as I glared at Alpha Asher. I was grateful I managed to fall asleep in a pair of sweats instead of my typical pair of underwear.
Alpha Asher looked good. Being furious only made him hotter. He wore a simple black button down shirt, but the sleeves were rolled up, exposing his muscular forearms.
I sputtered, at a loss for words. "What the hell are you doing in my room?" I gasped, I could feel my face turning red.
His face remained flat whilst his golden flecked eyes burned with fury, "9 a.m, Lola." He repeated those familiar words and I felt my body stiffen as I remembered last nights events.
I let my eyes flicker to the alarm clock by my bed and went wide eyed when I looked at the time. 11 a.m.
"We're in deep sh*t." Maya muttered sleepily.
I should feel frightened right? I've been pissing off the deadliest Alpha for three days now, and yet I was still alive.
As if Alpha Asher could read my mind, he stood from his seat in the corner and walked towards me.
I kept my face blank, my eyes taking in every inch of him. He took his time approaching me, like a wolf stalking it's kill.
"You couldn't set a simple alarm, Lola?" Alpha Asher's voice was hard, and I tried not to be mesmerized by the golden flakes in his eyes.
I wasn't sure why I was so unable to control my mouth around him. Even with the hairs on my body standing on end, I only felt one thing. Excitement.
"Um, I forgot?" I bit my lip sheepishly.
"We're dead." Maya groaned, "You and your big mouth killed us."
"So dramatic, Maya." I rolled my eyes at her.
A startled squeal left my lips as Alpha Asher shoved me against my bedroom wall. The pictures hanging on the wall rattled with the impact. His rough hands yanked my arms down and away from my bre*sts, but his eyes never left my own
Something had to be wrong with me. Instead of feeling afraid, I felt angry. If he thought he could man handle me into obedience, he had another thing coming.
"You are testing my f**king patience, Lola." Alpha Asher growled. His eyes had become completely gold and I stared into their depths unwavering.
He towered over me as I was trapped against the wall. His earthy cologne scent was everywhere. It wasn't that it didn't smell good, it was just really strong.
My heart nearly stopped in my chest when I felt his giant hand wrap around my throat. I stubbornly kept my eyes on his. There was no way in hell I was going to submit.
Naturally, Maya squirmed at my defiance. It was against her nature to disobey her Alpha.
"This is your last chance, Lola." Alpha Asher growled. His hot breath fanned my face and his fingers exuded the smallest amount of pressure against the soft flesh of my neck.
Any control I had over my body wavered. I could feel my hard nips pressing against him and gritted my teeth as a new sensation formed between my legs.
My insides churned at the thought of him being able to smell my arousal. I told myself it was only natural that I was attracted to him. He was breathtakingly gorgeous and an Alpha. She-wolves were naturally attracted to the strongest of our species.
His golden eyes conveyed no emotion other than anger as he looked down at me.
I didn't fight it when a smirk formed on my lips.
I let my eyes widen in mock fear, "My last chance, huh?"
Alpha Asher leaned his face into mine, his furious eyes locked on my own. His lips were only inches away and I resisted the insane urge to look down at them.
"Next time you will be punished, and I will not be gentle. Remember that the next time you disobey me." Alpha Asher growled, sending a wave of excitement down my spine.
I almost felt disappointed when he pulled away and opened my bedroom door.
"You start patrol Monday. 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Report at the southwest base. Do not be late." His voice was deadly calm, and my bedroom door clicked shut quietly.
I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. My mind was churning.
I chalked my arousal up to Alpha Asher's god-like looks. Something within me was attracted to the thought of being punished by Alpha Asher.
I shook the dirty thoughts from my head and hopped in the shower. Once I was finally dressed I came downstairs. The smell of my grandma's lavender pancakes wafted around the house. I know it sounds weird, but lavender is amazing in just about anything.
"What did Alpha Asher need you for?" My dad frowned, "Strange that he came all the way over here."
"Um, well.." I trailed off, wondering if I should lie. "He kind of told me to report to his office this morning, and I didn't." I smiled sheepishly at my Dad's outraged expression.
"Are you trying to get yourself killed, Lola?" My Dad nearly shouted.
"It was just a misunderstanding," I shrugged. "I forgot to set an alarm."
"Was he angry with you? Did he hurt you?" My Dad bombarded me with questions. No way I was going to tell him the truth about what happened in my room.
"He was angry, but he didn't hurt me." I shrugged. I could practically feel his hand still wrapped around my neck.
My dad let out a weary sigh, "You need to be more careful, Lola."
I nodded, "I know Dad. I will, I promise." I added for his benefit.
My grandma shot me a sly smirk and I wondered what that was about.
Sean came downstairs shortly after, and he too had asked why Alpha Asher had come for a visit.
He was just as amused as Dad was.
I ended up stopping by the local coffee shop after breakfast, craving one of the Iced Mocha's they were famous for. When Breyona and I were still best-friends, we would come here at least three times a week.
I sipped my coffee and nearly moaned at the taste. The only thing lacking at grandma's little cottage was the short supply of coffee.
I nearly spat out my coffee when I heard a nasal laugh call out behind me. I turned around and locked eyes with Chelsea.
She definitely looked the same, and I wondered if anyone had actually changed around here. Her skin was still as tan as ever, and her sandy blonde hair reached down to her collar bones.
She didn't seem surprised to see me, and I remembered she was in training with the rest of us.
A mean smirk formed on her face as she walked up to me, a dark haired girl clinging at her side.
"Lola, never thought I'd see you again." She smiled cruelly. The dark haired girl at her side snickered.
I smirked at the two of them and shrugged, "Well, I'm back."
"Whatever. I'd say welcome back and all that sh*t, but I really don't care." She shrugged. I couldn't believe I was ever friends with her.
I snorted, "Good to see some things never change."
Her fake smile became mean in an instant and like a startled cat she lashed out. "That makes one of us. Everything's changed for you though, hasn't it? No longer the Alpha's favorite. Thank god you didn't become Luna. Goddess only knows how I managed to put up with you."
I rolled my eyes, "Changed for the better you mean. I don't need to be with an Alpha to know my worth. That's something you should try and live by." I turned around and headed back to the towns square.
Ignoring the stares of some of the people around town, I walked into the towns center and sat down on a bench. I sipped my coffee and let my eyes wander over the large fountain in the middle of the square.
From afar this town looks quaint and normal, if only the humans knew what really lived here.
As always, my peace was interrupted.
"Hey, Lola." Ethan's c**ky voice called out.
I rolled my eyes and began to stand from the bench.
"Aw c'mon Lola. You don't have to leave. Can't we just have a normal conversation?' Ethan frowned.
I gave him a scrutinizing look. Ethan wasn't one for normal conversations.
"Sure, whatever. But the minute you get all douche-like, I’m leaving." I shrugged, but definitely didn't let my guard down.
"Aw you know I was just playing about yesterday." Ethan teased, and I rolled my eyes.
His blonde hair wasn't slicked back in it's normal style, it sat tousled on his head. Sure, Ethan was a fairly attractive guy. He could almost be called hot, but all of that faded away once you got to know his personality.
"Sure you were." I muttered, sipping on my coffee.
Ethan plopped down on the bench next to me and leaned back. I gave him a 'what the f**k' look when he let his arm rest on the bench behind me.
"So, what've you been up to this past year." He shot me a smirk.
"Went to my grandma's, trained and graduated high-school." I shrugged.
Ethan frowned, "Y'know, Tyler was actually distraught when he heard you left. He tried to figure out where you went, but your folks wouldn't tell him anything."
That small shriveled part of my heart that once loved Tyler squeezed at what Ethan had said, but my mind knew better. Tyler tossed me away like trash and his friends did the same. It was pathetic irony that Tyler tossed his own pack away as well.
I rolled my eyes at Ethan, "Look, I genuinely don't care. I don't see how that's hard to understand."
I could feel someone's eyes on me and looked around to find the source. I locked eyes with Alpha Asher, who stood across the town's square talking to a couple men. I assumed the men weren't new additions to his pack due to the scars that littered their body.
Was everyone in Alpha Asher's pack so scary looking?
Ethan's voice pulled my eyes away from Alpha Asher's.
Ethan leaned closer to me, invading my personal space. Invading someone's personal space was an Ethan specialty.
"So you've really moved on, huh?" Ethan asked, his eyes roaming my face as though he were searching for something.
I shrugged, "Yep."
"Y'know, I never said this before but I always kind of liked you." Ethan gave me a lopsided smile.
"Ethan, you say that to every girl." I looked at him with a straight face.
Ethan acted like I wounded him, "I mean it with you though. You're gorgeous and you have a s*xy body." I resisted the urge to gag.
I officially had enough of this conversation.
"Goodbye, Ethan." I said sweetly, standing from the bench to walk away. I glanced over at Alpha Asher and felt a smug pang roll through me as I caught him looking.
Ethan muttered something under his breath loud enough for me to hear.
"You never played this hard to get with Tyler."
"Did he really just say that?" Maya growled in my head.
I could feel Maya try to push herself forward, and I reacted on instinct.
I dumped my poor Iced Mocha down Ethan's head. Maya howled with laughter while I mourned the loss of my coffee.
"f**k you, Ethan." I gave him once last sweet smile.
I could feel Alpha Asher's eyes on my back as I walked away.
I walked down the street, wondering if the smirk I had was permanently etched onto my face. At least Alpha Asher now knew that I acted this way all of the time.Even with a new Alpha in charge, things in this small town remained the same. Only a handful of people had actually changed. Unfortunately, none of the assholes had changed.
After what felt like hours of silent shock, I threw my clothes on and trudged home. I still couldn't form coherent words about what had just happened, or my bodies reaction to it.While my blood boiled at how bold Alpha Asher acted, the sensitive spot in between my legs throbbed. I was torn between hating it and loving it. Maya was silent for once, leaving me to my internal struggl
The others were quick to respond as one of our own had been found.I couldn't peel my eyes away from Katie's glassy stare, even when Mason's gentle hand turned me from her body.
A yelp of surprise left my lips as something slammed me up against the lockers.My exposed chest and stomach pressed against the cold metal, sending goosebumps cascading down my skin.
Tyler emerged from the brush of the forest, looking exactly how I had remembered him.His sandy blonde hair was slightly longer now, and his torso was a little more swollen with muscle. His blue eyes held the same arrogance they had held his entire life.
The absolute last thing I wanted to do was run to Alpha Asher, especially after what happened in the locker room.I had no excuse for being out by the swimming hole again, and was equally dreading and anticipating his reaction.
"You thought I was going to f**k you?" Alpha Asher's rough voice was questioning as he looked down at me. "Only good girls get f**ked, Lola."Something flashing in the depths of his eyes made me gulp. If he wasn't going to f**k me, what did he have planned?
The moment I picked the crisp index card up from my bed, I knew I wouldn't get a full night sleep.Tyler had specifically said his friend was leaving the notes. The only friend I could think of was one of the other Alpha's, and all were too afraid of Alpha Asher to dare cross
Reunion Lola’s P.O.V. 10 Years Later… “Ramona, so help me! If you don’t stop stealing your cousin’s toys I’m going to sick Aunty Ember on you, and you know she won’t hold back.” I shouted from the kitchen, craning my head to look over my shoulder where I locked eyes with my dashing mate. Asher was leaned against the wall, his arms downright bite-able in the fitted t-shirt he wore. He brought the beer in his hand to his mouth, lips twisted in a knowing smirk that had me contemplating a fourth child. If this man doesn’t calm down, we’re going to have to hire a second nanny. He returned his attention to Zeke and Brandon as though our little heated exchange hadn’t occurred. On cue, Ramona let out a shrill scream that quickly morphed into pulses of erratic laughter. A familiar pang of longing hit my chest as it did every time I heard my daughter’s laugh. She sounds just like Mom. Ember’s monstrous roar emerged from the living room, followed by a cacophony of giggles from the other c
Ember and BrandonSeven Years Later – Ember’s P.O.V.“Darcy Mathews, if I see so much as a single snowflake in the bathroom’s you’ll find yourself in detention for a week.”This was the fourth time this month that the pipes had nearly burst from being frozen solid. Damn water elementals.The squirrely brunette with her spattering of cinnamon freckles jumped a foot off the ground at the sound of my voice, unwittingly letting out a pulse of elemental magic that spiraled down the corridor in a gust of chilly wind. It slammed several lockers shut, startling a handful of students.“Sorry Headmistress.” She hung her head sheepishly.There was once a time where Tessa and I couldn’t control our magic. It was easier for my twin. No one looked twice when you sprouted flowers in your wake or animated the topiary bushes trimmed into animals. Starting fires, however, that drew attention.“It’s alright…” I sighed, taking it easy just this once. I already had a reputation of being a hard ass, but on
Tessa and ZekeSix Years Later – Tessa’s P.O.V.“What do you say we wrap up early and head out to the cabin—just the two of us?”A voice I spent the last six years memorizing called out from across the room. I lifted my head from the mountain of paperwork I was sorting through, a smile already tugging at my lips as I spotted the playful light shimmering in Zeke’s eyes.My mate and fiancé—a term I couldn’t seem to stop using—was peering at me from across our shared office, a shameless grin tugging at his velvet soft lips. I drummed my fingers across the top of the desk, tapping out a pattern that filled the silence between us.A jolt of electricity crackled along my skin, delving past my flesh to settle in my stomach. Once upon a time, I couldn’t bare more than a few seconds staring into those eyes of his. Now I couldn’t seem to get enough.We’d come so far from where we’d once been. Not as far as Ember and Brandon, who had a sea of troubles even six years later, but those two were ano
Breyona & GiovanniFive Years Later – Breyona’s P.O.V.I appeared in a plume of inky shadow, emerging from the darkness like I’d been there all along. If there were any humans nearby—which my hearing told me there wasn’t—they’d see nothing more than a lingering shadow dancing along the brick walls of the abandoned store front I lurked outside of.This wasn’t my ideal hangout spot, but for whatever reason, this was where Freya had chosen to hide a bunch of magical texts and artifacts. I absolutely adored my job of traveling the country via shadows, collecting information that was thought to be lost among the witches.It was similar to what my parents had done, a realization that never failed to bring tears to my eyes.Even after all these years, I missed them so much.I slinked along the back wall, past the rusted dumpsters that hadn’t been used in Goddess knows how long, to the backdoor Ember’s source promised would be unlocked. Sure enough, when I tugged the handle, it swung open wit
Clara & MasonFour Years Later – Clara’s P.O.V.“Don’t you dare, little witch.” Mason warned in a low voice.A shiver worked it’s way down my spine when he placed his hand against my back. Even through the thin fabric of the dress I wore, I could feel the heat he exuded. One of the first things I’d learned about Werewolves was that they ran hot. Despite how hard I tried, a smile worked it’s way onto my face. My chest quite literally ached with the urge to cackle, but I couldn’t help it. It’s not my fault Tristan’s expression was absolutely to die for. Even Lola was having a hard time containing herself, snickering behind her hand as she watched the scene unfold.Tristan had been locked in place for the last minute in a half, staring at Holly like she had grown three extra heads. No one could blame the poor guy considering he was the only one who didn’t know his mate was pregnant.“You’re pregnant.” He repeated for the thirteenth time.A laugh exploded from my mouth seconds before Ma
Holly and TristanThree Years Later – Holly’s P.O.V.The breeze was blissfully cold against my skin, the sunlight a slight tingle that rippled over my exposed arms and shoulders.Winter was approaching, tainting the air with its crisp scent. No matter how much I ventured outdoors and basked in the sunlight, I wasn’t sure I’d ever get enough. Even though I burned easily—thank you, Vampire genetics—it was a wonderful taste of freedom that I’d never take for granted.The shrill screams of children playing pierced my ears. I didn’t find it irksome the way some of the parents here did. Despite how loud they were, their wails were full of joy and innocence that could never be replicated or replaced.I looked up from the stack of papers in my hands, focusing on the children racing across the mulch just ten feet away. The tiny font had been giving me a headache for the past two hours now.“Honey, you need to stop and tie your shoe! You’re going to trip and fall.” The woman on the bench beside
One Year LaterIt was hard to believe how much time had passed, even as I stood at my own wedding reception, surrounded by the people I loved most in this world.So much had changed in three hundred and sixty five days, and it wasn’t just my marital status. There had been some uprising within the other packs in the country, but with Zeke as an ally and assuming leadership over Bran’s pack, they were easy to defend ourselves against.The packs that wanted nothing to do with this new world closed themselves off, shutting their gates and increasing their security even though we had no intention on retaliating. It would take time before those packs changed their ways of thinking, and despite what they believed, violence was not the answer.Rather than wage war, we focused on our own lands and doing all that we could to welcome any Vampire or Witch that needed a place to call home. Towns similar to the Vampire’s safe haven were currently being built on neutral territory.Never in a million
Six Months Later“Does this ever get easier?” I groaned, swiping a hand over my forehead. A thin sheen of sweat clung to my skin, running from temple to temple.There wasn’t one specific person I spoke to, rather the entirety of my friends and family that had gathered for this historical event. Naturally, my eyes strayed to my mate, the beacon that never once failed to lead me through the dark.His lips quirked up at the side, eyes sparkling with significantly less shadows than before. He was slowly learning to forgive himself for the death’s of our pack members. “I wish I could say it does, but I’d be lying.”Zeke let out a cheeky snort. “Way to make her feel confident. You’ve got this, Lola. You’re a natural.”Breyona peeked her head from around Giovanni’s massive shoulder. “Besides, if you choke you can always work a little magic and make everyone forget about it.”“Hah! With my luck I’ll get a little too magic happy and make the whole pack forget about me.” A genuine chuckle slid
Half an hour later, I stumbled away from Tristan’s body and into Asher’s warm embrace.My legs had been reduced to jelly, and my magical reserves drained so low they might never recover. I could only imagine how much blood and rest it would take before they were back to normal again.Asher’s voice washed over my shoulders, his breath fluttering against my cheek, but the blood roaring in my ears kept me from hearing.I’d poured everything into Tristan—everything.Holly and Giovanni remained rooted in place, searching for any sign of life whether it be a heartbeat or an influx of breath. The inky strands of my half-sister’s hair cascaded down Tristan’s shoulder, hanging off the side of the table he’d been placed onto.With her ear placed against his chest, she waited and waited.I understood her worry. Really, I did. Her mother had to sacrifice ten witches just to lock my father’s soul into my body. While I didn’t have ten innocent people to slaughter, I did have something else on my si