{ Jae }I walk through the mall holding my wife's hand, so basically half the pack is around here, looking at her marks as if they've never seen those before. I feel on top of the world right now, knowing this girl is mine. "This is your favorite restaurant? You're not poor anymore, Anya," I remind her when she shows me the place. An old looking Italian restaurant."Shut up, Jae, it's delicious," she says, making me roll my eyes, "Come on, I'm hungry. I'm eating for two from now on.""And you're not going to let me forget it, will you?" I mumble as we walk inside. It's very dark in here, but I guess it's cozy. We take a table in the back and I sit in front of her."This is our first date," Anya mentions, looking at me with her face rested on her hands, "We did everything backwards. We got married, fucked, and then had our first date. Most people do it the other way around.""Most people aren't in my position to need a wife ASAP," I growl out, but I'm not longer as annoyed with the s
"Hey, you owe me jewelry," she says and pulls on my hand to drag me to the store before I can even complain, "You need to fill that gorgeous jewelry box you bought me. I currently only have this ring that I bought myself.""God, you're so demanding," I roll my eyes, but I walk inside willingly. She's going to cook a kid for me, I guess the least I can do is buy her some shit, "Pick something.""No, Jae. You have to pick something for me," she complains. The saleswoman gives us a little giggle, "Men, am I right? He thinks he only has to pay.""A little effort goes a long way, Sir. Sometimes, the thought is worth more than the gift itself," the lady says."You're right, I'm going to pick something perfect," I promise in my fake voice. So I have to spend a long time looking at bracelets, necklaces and rings. Anya is right, she only owns that one ring so I don't really know her style, but I really like an emerald necklace I see... I think it will stand out against the red of my marks on h
{ Anya }I feel like I stepped into a whole different universe today. Jae has been borderline perfect. He has been nice and flirty. I've loved every second of spending time out with him, especially when he bought me all of this amazing jewelry I'm currently wearing.And that tiny bracelet that completely made me fall in love with him. So I do believe him now when he says he will be a good dad. I have a very good feeling about that. But when he said he's going to be a better husband, I feel literal butterflies all over my body. God, I can't believe this is actually happening."Really?" I whisper, Jae nods and he keeps stroking my hair, "You're going to stop hating my guts?""Yes. You're no longer my opponent, we're a team now," he says and gives me his fist so I can bump it, "We're a power couple, Anya. Everyone thinks so. And we have great sex, we'll have a child together..."My heart is going insane. The world as I knew it is crumbling down around me. In a great way."What are you s
The fights they’re having are obviously only for practice, they're slow and they sometimes repeat the same movements a few times, but even then I get a little nervous because I don't like to see animals getting hurt. For some reason I don't really care that much about a human being hurt, but when it comes to wolves, even as big as they are, my heart gets squished and I start to sweat when I see their teeth coming at Jae, or when I hear their growls and see them jumping at him.But on the good side, this is allowing me to see how strong Jae really is. Even as practice and not at his full potential, I can see the other guys are not holding up to him. All of them at some point decide to throw the towel, except Rogan.He's only a little smaller than Jae and even if Jae is clearly stronger, Rogan can stand his ground... until a certain point, then he shifts back to his human form and he falls to the ground, holding his hands up to show rendition. Jae's wolf looks ready for more, but he se
"Anya Kyung? Hey, hello,” someone says as I'm walking through the mall next to Remy. My friend frowns at the unfamiliar voice and looks back before me. I do not know who it is until I look back too and I see the guy I met at Jae's fight. Klein Rasmus, "How are you?"He jogs to us. "Do you know him?" Remy asks, protective as always. I nod and look at Klein."Hi, I'm fine... just hanging out with a friend. This is Remington," I say, pointing at Remy. Klein gives him an up and down look before dismissing him and looking back at me, "Is everything alright with you? Are you ready for the challenge?""Oh, yeah. But I'm always ready to fuck shit up," he says with a confident smile and I realize he has perfect teeth except one that is crooked. Remy scoffs next to me, "How's your husband, though? Scared?”"Uhm, nope. As far as I know, he's as confident as always. I guess is a True Alpha thing," I say, keeping things light even though it’s obvious he wanted something else. Klein nods slowly, "
{ Jae }"What?! And what did you do when she said that?" Rogan asks in the phone, sounding as shocked as I was when I heard the words. I groan and cringe when I remember the moment. "Nothing, bro. I pretended to be asleep," I admit, feeling a tiny drop of guilt... but mostly confusion as to why in the fucking hell was she thinking, "But what could I say? I don't feel the same way. Thank god I had to leave early in the morning, I don't think I could handle that level of awkwardness."I could not believe what was happening, the way Anya just torpedoed the easiness in our new relationship. Why in the fuck would she drop that bomb on me like that? We've only known each other for a couple of months and we've only liked each other for one of those. There is absolutely no way anyone can 'love' someone that fast. It's impossible.But of course, what could I expect? She's a girl. And not only a girl, but a teenage girl. She probably started falling in love with me the second we had sex for
The good thing about spending this week with Klein is realizing that he really is just a stupid, overly confident pup. He is very strong, for sure, but from what I've seen, he lacks finesse and technique, especially in the human form fights. Everyone is confident I'll win, especially myself, but this guy is still a wild card. So, I drive back home at the end of the week feeling just as weary as when I came here. I've missed Anya's little body against me these past few days, but when I remember what she said the last time we were together, I groan in stress. We've talked on the phone every day since, but we haven't mentioned anything about it.I'm sure she'll want to pick up the subject as soon as she has me in front of her, though. I've been practicing what to say so I can come across like not-an-asshole, but I still haven't perfected the speech. I guess I just have to be fully and brutally honest.But as soon as I get home I realize the conversation might not come soon because I c
"Anya?" someone asks. Jae has to nudge me this time."Oh, yeah?""I asked what do you prefer? A boy or a girl?" one of Jae's aunt asks me. I blink and just shrug, "Come on, we all have a preference about our first child.""I guess I would love a boy first and then a girl, that way he can take care of his sister," I say and everyone likes my answer because, duh. But when I look at Jae, he's frowning and looking at the floor as if in deep thought. Whatever.Jae's family leaves first and as soon as they leave, Jae literally leaves without saying goodbye, straight to our room. I feel my mouth starting to drop open, but I stop it and I smile."He's very tired, but I wanted to stay with you guys for a little bit longer," I say, saving the moment from being extremely fucking awkward, "Tell me about your trip, mom."Just like that, she forgets about Jae's rudeness and she starts telling me a thousand stories about the things she did, while me and my aunt are cuddled in the couch listening to
{ Epílogue }Six Years Later The day I hate the most is finally over. The third Alpha Challenge is done and, unsurprisingly, my man won. He fought for almost two hours against five very brave but very dumb competitors. He's once again, the Alpha of Ellington. And now we're back home, all safe and sound, so I can finally breathe. I guess you could say I am a little traumatized about what happened at the Challenge when Jae almost dies and lost his memory. Things are so, so different now."My daddy is the strongest," Iseul says, looking up at Jae with sparkling eyes because she loves her dad. She looks at him like he's the fucking sun."And you're the sweetest daughter alive," he says, finally picking her up even though I know he must be tired as hell. He kisses her chubby cheeks over and over, making her laugh in pure joy. Jae walks a few steps until he can sit his ass on the couch and he groans, "Where's your brother, huh?”"Still outside," Iseul says. And that's true, Tate never
I remember being told Anya sent me a 'good luck' little pastry and I thought, ‘damn she knows I don't like sweet treats, but I'll eat it anyway because I don't want her to get mad at me for not doing it’.Next thing I know, I can't even move my body correctly and my mind is all slow and slurry. I couldn't even move my mouth enough to fucking talk. "What happened after I went down?" I ask my father when I'm back in their house after being discharged. My memories are back into place, so now we're allowed to talk normally. My dad growls in anger."Anya ran to you," he starts, making me lift my eyebrows in complete shock, "She ran and shifted to attack Klein in wolf form, she got him real good actually. His arm got the worst of it, but she managed to bite his head, too. The council was going to let the Challenge continue, but Anya and Rogan figured out you ate that pastry thing, which you never fucking do. Also, Anya never sent anything. The fact that they figured it out so early was the
I shake my head. I don't know much about myself, but I do know I wouldn't do something like that."No," I say, the girl frowns and looks at me, then nods, "Nu-uh.""Yes.""No," I repeat, "There is no way.""Jae, I'm the only one in this room that remembers anything," she spits out at me, "I remember what happened, you don't.""But I'm me," I say and I point a finger to my head, "And I don't think I would do that.""You did," she says, clasping her hands into fists, "And I want you to say you’re sorry again.""Why? I don't even remember. I think you're lying to get my attention and get me horny for you again," I joke, making her eyes get red, so I relent. I take a deep breath, "I'm just joking.""I know you are fucking joking because I know you and your stupid jokes," she yells, "I know you! I remember everything. And you don't."She starts full blown crying then, so I force myself to take this seriously. And consider the fact that I... hurt her on purpose? For what reason? The only wa
{ Jae }It's been almost twenty four hours since I woke up after my fight and fortunately, some things are starting to make more sense, but I'm still struggling to remember 80% of things. I don't even remember my best friend, but it helps that he's here, forcing me to remember."Rogan," I close my eyes with stress, "I believe you, dude. I just don't remember.""Well, shut up and let me continue," he spits with a furrowed brow and opens his mouth as if he really wants to keep telling me our entire friendship story, from the very very beginning, when we were ten years old. This bastard really has a good memory, "We've only had one fight, back when we were in sophomore year, it was over a girl. I didn't actually like her that much but I..."The door opens slowly and I sigh in relief because someone is finally saving me from this storyteller. A head peeks in and I recognize her as the crying girl from yesterday, the one with long red hair."Anya," Rogan says, and he suddenly tenses up, lo
{ Anya }I leave Jae's room even though Vivian is telling me it's not necessary. I close the door behind me and cover my mouth to control my sobs, but I can't.No. No. No.I refuse to believe this is really happening to me. Jae has been in intensive care for two days while the swelling in his brain goes down from the fracture that idiot Klein gave him. I've been here with him, holding his hand and wishing with all my might that he'll be okay.I know he's going to be okay now. And I also know, logically, that it's completely normal to have trouble stringing thoughts together after such trauma. I know Jae could be back to normal in a few hours or a few days, once he gets better.But logic doesn't fix how I feel right this second. Jae looked at me and ignored me like I was nobody, then implied he didn't remember me. And then he talked to me that way... like he used to when I first met him.I can't do it again, I can't deal with Jae treating me like crap again. I won't, I refuse. I've l
"What's going on?!" I grumble once we're backstage, completely disoriented. When I see Jae being brought in on a damn portable stretcher, I run towards him."Luna Anya, please stay away," a paramedic tells me, holding me back. I'm about to tell him I'm a doctor and I have a right to see what the hell is happening with my mate, but Rogan grabs me from behind and pulls me away."This isn't normal. Jae didn't do anything to fight, that’s not him!" I say, but Rogan keeps restraining me and trying to quiet me down, "You can't let this happen, Ro. Something was wrong with him.”"Anya, Anya, please," Ro continues, "I know it's not normal, but you need to calm down first. I can't take care of you and find answers at the same time."That makes me calm down because he's right. I can't be another problem right now, I have to help."Okay, okay... what do you know?""Nothing. I was here with him when he arrived, while he was getting ready and before the fight began. Everything was perfectly normal
Before I realize it, the day finally arrives. The day of the Alpha Challenge.Jae has been more focused than ever on his training, so we haven’t had any more time to explore our relationship, but I’m not worried because I know it’s necessary and important… maybe not as much as our bond, but close. Because this is not just about his position and his future. It’s the future of our family, a future where the pack will bear our name.When I arrive with Tate and my aunt and uncle at the arena, Jae’s family is already in the family booth, so I greet everyone and then I have to go through the worst anxiety ever again, just like five years ago, except this time it’s even worse because Klein is not just another True Alpha who came to Ellington to try to fight Jae. Now it’s personal.Klein is my ex-boyfriend and he wants revenge for being ‘humiliated’ at the last Alpha Challenge. I don’t know why, but I have a bad feeling about this. Or maybe it’s just worry because this time what I feel for J
"And because you're mine to use whenever I feel like it,” I continue, sucking on his bottom lip and making him let out a low growl from his chest. "We can't do this here," he whines, trying to take a step back, but I don't care. I follow him, "Baby, I mean it. I can't fuck you here with my parents and my son downstairs.""Why not?" I ask, running a hand down his chest until I reach his hard dick. I grab it through his pants tightly and pull, making him moan, "I know you want it.""Of course I fucking want it," he grunts, thrusting his hips against my hand for just a second before ripping my grip off his erection and flipping me over until my back is to him. Jae takes my hands and in just a second crosses them across my chest until he has me completely unable to move...at least my upper body, "Damn it, Anya. You don’t change. Don't you ever think with something other than your clit? We can't do this here. You can wait until we get home.""I can't," I moan, wiggling my ass against him,
When we all arrive at Vivian and Riku Kyung’s house together, I can see the surprise on both of their faces. I don’t think Jae told them I would be joining them for Sunday brunch.“Anya, darling, hi!” Vivian exclaims, coming over to give me a tight hug, which I return. I haven’t seen them since the news about our bond started circulating in the pack, so I’m not surprised when she holds onto me for longer than would seem normal, “I heard the news. About your bond… whatever decision you make regarding that, I want you to know that I am SO grateful to the Moon Goddess for choosing you as my son’s mate. You are such a wonderful girl, and I will never stop considering you part of my family.”I blink several times when my eyes start to sting, returning her hug with equal intensity.“Thank you for your words. I consider you part of my family too,” I let her know. When I let her go, Riku takes me into his arms.“There is no woman more perfect for my son. I hope he knows how to treat you as yo