Swaddled in the cloaking darkness, I wonder if the darkness is finally my death. It has been many years since the calming warmth of nothing surrounded me. How did I get here?As the restrictions of the darkness start to loosen, allowing awareness to creep back in, I realize I can’t be dead.A soft steady beeping hums a melody I can’t quite place. My wolf stirs as the smell of fresh rain and cedar starts invading me with each breath I draw in. My body feels heavy, my eyelids resist as I work to blink them open. As my eyes finally comply and softly open, I am greeted with the bright fluorescent glow of industrial lighting. A hospital?I see Audrie playing on her phone beside me… how hard did I party?I go to sit up, but the action comes too fast and my head throbs in agony. “Ahhrghh” but it comes out gravelly as my throat feels so dry.“ISLA!” Audrie screeches as she springs towards me. She grabs a cup from the side table and holds it positioning the straw to my lips. “The water will
“URGHHHH, my head,” I say through gritted teeth. Suddenly large corded arms are wrapped around me causing tiny electric sparks to dance across my skin. Alpha Zac is leading me to the sofa in his office. He sits me down, his large hands cupping my shoulders. His beautiful eyes are swimming with concern as they sweep me from head to toe. “Isla, are you okay?!” Zac asks. “Uh, yeah, I think so?” I say still trying to process. “MATE!!” my wolf is screaming at me. “Mate” I whisper. I close my eyes, Alpha Zac’s hands still holding my shoulders, the warmth is nice. Alpha Zac is my mate? Oh no, I legit just lost my virginity before finding him? I didn’t think I’d even find a mate and it's a freaking Alpha! Oh, gawd. This is a lot. Oh no, Tate, I think he was in here. Oh, goddess. What a mess. I take a deep breath, cedar and fresh rain flood my nose- he smells delicious. I can feel my palms sweating, I go to wipe them and that's when I realize, I’m not wearing pants. Oh, go
Stepping out of the shower I grab a towel and head to my closest. Sliding on a pair of grey sweatpants. Shit, she was in hospital scrubs when I brought her up here. I don’t want to be a creep and go to her room to get her clothes. My sweet mate has had a rough go these last 36 hours, I want her to be comfortable. Grabbing another pair of sweats and a t-shirt, I head across the hall and lay them on the guest bed for her. I can smell her intoxicating scent wafting out from under the door, made stronger by the bath. Breathing deeply and letting it relax me, I head towards the living room to watch some tv. I feel the seat of the couch beside me dip, my eyes opening. I must have nodded off. Isla is sitting beside me playing with her wet hair, my clothes swallowing her tiny frame up. My wolf is preening in my head at the site of our mate in my clothes, our scent engulfing her. “Hey,” she says quietly. “Hey” I respond sleepily as I stretch my arms out above my head. “Thanks for the cl
After stopping by her room, Isla and I started on a path to the river near the pack. This was awkward. There was the obvious physical attraction... She had changed from my sweats to a pair of leggings, even with the waist cinched the whole way they dared to fall, but she kept my shirt. It hung halfway down her creamy muscular thighs, her perfect breasts the only shape through the front. Isla was fucking hot, but she was also cute? Is that possible? As for the non-physical relationship, that we were going to have to build. Shit. I’ve never done that... We kept walking in silence as we approached the lookout by the river. This was one of my favorite spots to come to when I want to relax. I hope that she likes it as much as I do. “Uhm, so, if we walk up here just a bit further, behind that evergreen tree there is ….this” I helped her step over a large rock to a small clearing that juts out over the river, giving a view to the little waterfall. Islas's eyes grow wide as a qui
They knew, they all knew. How could I be so stupid to think that this shit, all my bullshit baggage wouldn’t catch up to me? Anytime, ANYTIME things are good and I start to let my walls down, it all crumbles around me. Curse you, Selene. Am I really that undeserving of happiness?? Zac… was so sweet, I could feel his emotions when he spoke to me, he cared. He cared. Regardless I can’t do this to him, not to his pack. I’m a liability and I REFUSE to be the reason for anyone else suffering. Losing a parent, hell both parents, my grandma, the future I thought I dreamed of fucking hurts. I can’t let anyone else go through that pain. He doesn’t deserve this, he deserves better than me. “I told you I'm a liability and you all know how weak and pathetic I am. 'Oh, the poor tiny girl was beaten by her bastard father. A fucking beta-to-be disgraced her pack by having her mother killed, and the reason her father is in custody.' The family legacy ended with me and then even Grandma June
The feel of her hot velvety smooth lips crashing down on me took me by surprise. I could sense the need and longing in her kiss. The need for her mate, someone to protect her, and take care of her. I had to be that for her. Moon goddess I swear to take care of her every need, want, and desire, but please do not bring her any more pain. She continued to deepen her kisses, her arousal perfuming the room, my pants tenting in response. She began to gyrate her hips on my ever-growing bulge. She moaned into my mouth, never breaking the kiss. Goddess I wanted to be buried to the hilt in her. “Isla..” I said breaking the kiss. Her emerald orbs radiated in the dark, lust circling in them as they stared up at me. “Zac, I need you,” she said breathily. “You have me sweetheart” I replied. I grabbed onto that luscious ass of hers, the same ass that I had spent too much time watching each day in training. As I stood up she locked her legs around my waist, her arms wrapping around my neck a
The emotions of the day had already exhausted me mentally and then the extensive pleasure Zac brought on to me zapped the remainder of my physical stamina. I didn’t fight the sleep that called to me as my eyelids grew too heavy hold open.As I gave into the darkness, the tingles danced on my skin, his closeness offering a peacefulness I hadn’t ever known. I swear I heard him say he loved me.I hope to be loved fiercely one day.********Awareness seeps into me, my body feels great, I feel so, refreshed. I haven’t slept that good since….I don’t even remember.Stretching my arms above my head as I slowly open my eyes to see day light flood the room, I jolt up. SHIT what time is it? I look at the clock, 11:57a.m “FUCK” I groan as I whip back the covers.“Oh hey there sleeping beauty, glad you could join us today” Audrie saysI turn to chair in the corner of the room. How did I not notice her.“I overslept, Beta is gonna kick my ass for missing training”“Girl chill” Audrie replies as
I kiss Isla goodbye as she walks out of the packhouse with Audrie. Watching her walk off to the cafe for a late lunch, I smile seeing her in my oversized t-shirt. Heading down the hall to my office, I step in to see takeout containers spread on my desk along with all the files I asked Grayson to gather.“You didn’t come down for lunch with the girls so I grabbed some to-go boxes and made you a plate,” He says motioning to the food.“Thanks…” I say as I drop into my office chair.Grayson keeps working while I find myself consumed in my thoughts.“You good boss?” Grayson says bringing out my head.Letting out a long sigh, I turn to face him.“Yeah, Isla was telling Audrie about everything and her panic attack and how Kyle spoke like Alec and so on when I went up. Audrie asked her who Alec was and she told us everything…”“Shit, that bad?” He questioned.I scrubbed a hand down my face, “The shit of fucking nightmares, man. All those scars she has? From being fucking whipped until she lo
1-1/2 Years Later... Spreading the light-weight blue linen blanket out on the neatly kept grass, I drop the heavy diaper bag down before placing my precious son down and sitting beside him. Fall weather is just starting to fill the days. The air is fresh and crisp around us, and the breeze is light as it tussles his curls. Giggling as his tiny hand fists the lush green grass, his turquoise eyes sparkle as they meet mine. My heart can't help but swell at the sight of him. Pulling him onto my lap, "Mama," he babbles at me, squirming out of my hold to explore the new area. Drawing a deep breath, the smell of nature around us soothes me. "Hey, tater-tot, Mama wants to introduce you to someone." I push his chestnut ringlets away from his eyes, and he stills, gazing at me with so much wonder. So much innocence. I fully intend to let him live his life surrounded and encouraged by love, swaddled in unconditional promises to protect and support his every dream. "I.." my voice squeaks. I've
As I pulled it from the heat, the tea kettle's hissing slowly dwindled. "Ouch, fuck, mmmm." I mutter out as the steam scalds my hand. "Isla, are you okay? Why are you out of bed" An overly concerned Zac says as he tucks the towel around his waist. "I'm fine; I wanted a cup of tea, that's all." I try to hide the annoyance in my voice. "I would have made it for you once I got out of the shower." My eyes raked over his still-dripping body. The water droplets followed every hardline on his body, each glistening muscle rippling with his moves. Pushing back his wet ringlets with one hand, the other holding the towel that hung low on his hips. I sucked my bottom lip into my mouth, biting down on it as I admired the sight before me. I swear these pregnancy hormones have me squeezing my legs together at just the thought of Zac. "I know you would have, but I can't possibly lay in that bed all damn day." I sighed. Closing the distance between us, his scent, so much stronger these days,
"Fiona?" Her name was sour on my tongue. Her brown locks whipped the air as she turned in our direction; panic flashed in her eyes before they glazed over. She was mind-linking; the others must be close by. "GRAB HER!" Before I even finished, Audrie was behind her. Snatching her wrist, Audire twisted it behind her back and kicked behind her knees, dropping Fiona to the ground. Not even bothering with gloves, Audrie grabbed the silver cuffs from the pouch on her hip and restrained Fiona. Shrieking as Audrie pressed her head to the dirt and moved a knee to her back, Fiona lay there, tears glossing her eyes. "Where the fuck is Isla, you flimsy cunt?" "Ahh, stop it; you're hurting me!" Fiona whimpers. Threading a hand into Fiona's dark locks, Audries fists a handful of hair before yanking up and slamming her face forcefully back into the dirt. "Hurting you? How about how you helped hurt her!" "Ahhhh," Fiona coughs, spittle and blood drip into the dirt beneath her face. "Fine, FI
My muscles are rigid, the weight of my own body anchoring me to this mite palace of a mattress. I don't know how much time has passed since I've been in this musty crypt. Drifting in and out of restless sleep and bouts of consciousness, the days or weeks, whatever it's been, have bled together. They avoid me, leaving me alone...I'm not sure which is worse, alone with my thoughts and fears or in the presence of my captors and my father. It's been seven years since I've seen that face in person. His hair was buzzed short now, but there was enough to see how the grey hairs blended into the black. The stubble on his face was the same. His eyes...what used to be pale blue eyes, icy and cold, were dark and murky, showing his wolf was forward- just like the day in the cells when they took me away. They say when a mate bond breaks, it can make a wolf go crazy, feral even; it's even been known to kill. I think when that bond broke, the cracks in his soul bound with that of his wolf, and they m
Nothing. It’s been three days since I couldn’t protect my family. I’ve done nothing short of kicking myself for not kicking that cumwad Kyle out of the pack as soon as we knew he assaulted Isla. The search groups have been working these last two days relentlessly. I have been bouncing around from group to group, assisting with breaches of abandoned buildings. I want to be the one who saves her. I need to redeem myself; I feel like a real piece of shit for not being better. I always thought I was a fair Alpha, lenient even; maybe that was a mistake. The group I’m running with today will be hitting a patch of land between Red Rapids and Green Hill. It was mostly forest, but there were a few old factories that had piqued our interest. Mesmerized by the wisps of steam twisted up from the hot cup of coffee I was swirling, I didn’t hear the door of the Community Center we were crashing in click open. “Couldn’t sleep, Alpha?” Audrie asks. “Something like that,” taking a swig of the s
The darkness is so familiar. It used to be the thing that comforted me, but I want nothing more now than to escape it. Zac has become my safe place. Small glimpses of reality interrupt the darkness every now and then, but I know I haven't had a chance to regain consciousness fully. The burning sensations that accompany each new image, I'm guessing that they keep injecting me. I really hope it's not hurting the baby... The pain is the first thing to come back to me. I feel like I've been hit by a Mac truck, and then he threw it in reverse for good measure. Blinking my eyes open, I groan out in pain, my mouth no longer covered.It looks like a basement. There are no windows, concrete floors, and walls, each just as filthy as the other, and a door with a gap at the bottom letting light creep in. My muscles are so stiff I try to stretch, only to be met with the resistance and searing of the silver chains. How long have I been here? Where even is here? I don't have much time to dwell o
It's dark, so dark. Goddess, I really thought I'd never be here again. As I traipse through the silent void, I try to remember how I got here this time... The air around me seems to tremble steadily just as a thumping sound slowly grows around me. It's getting louder as I walk in its direction. The pulsations fill me; my head throbs in pain. The pain is so intense, unlike any I have felt before. With a glimmer of awareness, I find myself still in the darkness, but I can feel my body. My body feels heavy, but at the same time, like it's no longer connected. I try to blink my eyes open, but they won't or can't; I'm not sure. I try to feel for my wolf but can't find her. The veil that is usually between us feels more like a brick wall... Wolfsbane. There had to be wolfsbane in whatever they stabbed in my neck. They? The thumping and throbbing continue- it is debilitating. Pushing through, little fragments float past me, memories. Think, Isla, how did we get here? Why are we h
The overly bright rays of the morning sun penetrate through my eyelids, causing me to stir. Begrudgingly, I blinked open my eyes only to squeeze them shut again. The dull stabbing in my head was fighting the ringing in my ears for dominance. I swear my whole body was aching like I had spent the night in battle. What the fuck happened to me? Reality smashes back into me without warning, and my eyes fly open. The harsh light no longer slows me. My heart lodges into my throat; I look around and realize I'm still in my office. I stretch and draw in a deep breath. The faint stale stench of whisky and blood permeates the air around me, cocking an eyebrow and sitting up to find the source. I see the bar cart, and its contents have been knocked over, well mangled, actually. Once filled with different liquors, each glass decanter now covered the floor in pieces. Glass shards caught the light like a dangerous version of glitter. Trailing around the room, my eyes continue to take in the damage
Pinching the bridge of my nose, I toss the folder of contracts on the desk. All the legal jargon was starting to give me a headache. Acquisitions were great for the Ellis Group’s business but reading through all the negotiations was a real bitch. I’m glad my dad’s still around, I have six of these to get through and the second set of eyes is helping me get through them. Leaning back in my chair, I close my eyes to rest for a minute. Thinking back to this morning in the shower…the stress relief had been more than welcome for both of us. The council's shotty job and lack of advances on the search have been grating on my nerves even further. Maybe I’ll order some food and see if Audrie and Connor want to come over and hang out with Isla and me tonight. Food, drinks, good company….distractions, and a bit of calm amid this storm would be good for all of us. If we were lucky it could lead to a good night's sleep for Isla also. I could sure as hell use the sleep too. I would never say any