***POV: Imogen***I can’t believe this is actually happening. I had my first kiss, and it was with this super-hot man. With my limited exposure to guys, I wasn’t even sure it would ever happen. That felt magical. Is that what it always felt like? Is he going to do that again? What made him do it this time? I have so many questions.I focus on his face as he tells me that he has something to tell me. Oh no, here comes the letdown. I shouldn’t have told him that was my first kiss. Of course, this hot older guy isn’t going to want to be with an inexperienced teenager.“How old are you?” I awkwardly blurt out. He stops and bursts out in laughter again.“Well, that sort of came out of nowhere.” He grins at me. “I am an old man of 26.”I guess it could be worse. An 8-year age difference isn’t too bad, right? What am I even thinking, I have no chance here. “Sorry, what did you want to tell me?”“Well, I don’t want to repeat Amara and Cole’s situation, so I want to transparent from the start.
***POV: Cole***Amara might just be the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. It truly is as if she was made for me. I have so many thoughts and emotions warring within me, but right now, I just need to lose myself in her. Enjoy this moment, as it will be our last. I lean down on top of her and gently place a chaste kiss on her lips. I trail kisses down her neck. Slowly, I removed her clothes as I kiss and savor every inch of her body. Intentionally taking my time, drawing this out as much as I can endure.Once I have her naked, completely spread out on the bed, I take my time inspecting her gorgeous body, memorizing every detail of her perfection. I start trailing deeper kisses along her skin this time, sucking a little bit each time my lips meet her sweet skin. She lets out soft moans, moving her body in tandem, wordlessly begging me to give her more. I tease the taut peaks of her breasts, alternating between them, licking, nipping, and blowing on them. I can tell I am driving her
***POV: Cole***We spent all night making love as many times as our bodies would allow. By the time morning came, Amara had slipped out, out of my arms, out of my bed, out of my life. It feels surreal to have something so amazing with someone and walk away.So now Cyrus and Tobias had taken it upon themselves to be my tour guides. They took me all over the colony, showing me how their farming works, water filtration, livestock maintenance and now we have moved on to training. I step into the training warehouse, and I am immediately hit with all too familiar scents and sounds. This takes me back to my military training days and the fond memories already put me in a better mood.The training center is meant to be used by any of the residents of the colony, which of course now includes humans. As I look around, they take turns pointing out the different areas, equipment, and even the different species that are currently training. As I observe a sparring match, I make note that their hand
***POV: Amara***We grabbed Imogen bright and early and set off on a girl’s tour. Without even speaking, Violet planned an itinerary for the day that ensured no overlap with the men. She’s always good like that.Today was already hard without having to see him, I can still feel him everywhere. After spending all night worshipping each other, my body feels like I put it through a gauntlet.I don’t know what it would be like to see him again, how will he react, how will I? Imogen seems quieter than usual this morning, but based on the time I left him, and the time that we went back to pick her up, I’m not sure how much of a chance they would have had to speak to each other about our situation.I know she really likes Cole and I together, I just don’t know how much she knows right now. So we go on like everything is normal, knowing it’s not. We started the day off by taking her back to the refugee depot. We show her around the place, completely explaining the process of refugee retrieval
***POV: Imogen***I look between Amara and Violet and it’s obvious that they already knew. There is no surprise, no emotion really other than them staring back at me, like they are trying to figure out what to say next.“You guys already knew, didn’t you?” They both nod quietly.“Yes, we figured it out from Tobias’ reaction to you that night at the club. I was honestly thrilled at the thought, and hopeful it would all work out.” Amara says, her voice flooded with sadness. I know things still aren’t good with her and Cole, but there is something final in her tone and it saddens me to my core. Her and Cole truly are perfect for each other. It can’t be over before it even really got started, it just can’t.“Well, we are going to get to know each other and see how things progress. From what I have seen, I am really excited about him. I’m still not sure about how it works with the bond, and really don’t want to focus so much on that part. I am just nervous about being enough for him. He is
***POV: Cole***Sitting at the training arena with the guys, replaying the fight, I feel normal for a moment, like the world didn’t end and I’m not actually talking to wolves. I can easily see how I could feel at home here. They point me in the direction of the showers and Cyrus gives me some spare clothes he had here so I can get cleaned up.I feel eyes on me as I’m walking to the showers but I can’t quite spot who is watching. I go about my business and quickly get cleaned up and dressed. When I get out of the changing area, I feel it again and suddenly someone is behind me. I turn around quickly, poised to fight, only to find myself face to face with a tall, lithe, beautiful dark skinned creature. That’s the only word that I can think of at this point, because I have never seen anything like her. She is all long limbs and glowing skin, slight point at the top part of her ears, big bright eyes. From my introduction to the colony, I can safely say I think she is a fairy. “Well, hell
***POV: Trent*** ***POV: Trent*** How the hell a human just beat me, I have no clue. This is humiliating and I have to make him pay. No human is good enough to be with one of our alphas, even if this oaf is good at fighting. I stormed out of the training center, making sure to avoid speaking to anyone. I can feel my body trying to start to heal itself. I am pretty sure I have a broken rib or two, and definitely plenty of bruising. This is just so fucking embarrassing. There has to be some sort of explanation for it. I have to consult the witches. I know it will cost me, they are always so damn uncooperative for anyone, even their own kind. I make it back to the packhouse and mind-link for the pack doctor. I stumble up the stairs, praying that Heather is nowhere in sight. She’s the last thing I need right now. I push our bedroom door open and breathe out a sigh of relief when I find the room empty. I can't even stand the sigh of her at this point. I carefully strip all my clothes of
***POV: Amara***I am barely keeping it together right now. I am stuck in a constant struggle with my wolf over control. She is fighting me with everything she has to go back to our mate. I am holding steady and trying to stay distracted. I know we are fated to each other, and I know that I love him, but he is not the best choice for me given the current situation. My father is right, he is always right. So even though my heart is breaking, I will do as he asks.I look around at the girls and smile and nod when it seems appropriate, completely unable to focus on what they are saying. I stand up and excuse myself, telling them I have pack matters to get back to, but to continue enjoying their day. I head back to the packhouse.I walk in and listen, and the house sounds completely quiet. I walk towards my father’s office, and my instincts are right, he is in there.“Hey papi.” I say softly. He looks up at me and gives me a tenuous smile. His eyes are heavy with worry, and I wonder if I
***POV: Imogen***After a lengthy brainstorming session, we split up and Violet took me to see the kids. I wanted to check in on them, but wanted to give them a chance to get reacquainted with their parents after being apart for so long. It was good to see them and they are definitely settling in.So now we are getting ready to go out as a group for the night. The big buzz is the ball that will be happening in a few days. Apparently they have already had a few off colony guests portal in, and it’s apparently a big deal.
***POV: Trent***That didn’t go the way that I wanted it too, but lately nothing has. Amara saying I don’t love her, that I’m not capable of loving her… how dare she? She doesn’t know what my feelings are, what I am thinking. At least she has the capacity to understand. Heather is not even capable.Being around Heather makes me feel like I am actually losing brain cells. She is not an Alpha, she is just not capable of understanding me. And now I am stuck with her, thanks to my pup growing inside her.
***POV: Cole**The next day we are all assembled at Tobias’ packhouse bright and early. Of course, ‘we’ are missing Amara, but Tobias, Imogen, Violet, and Cyrus are all here. Tobias gathered us to share all of the things he has uncovered about Imogen and I.We sit around the large table in his dining area, and one of the wolves from his pack is busy putting out a nice breakfast spread around us.“Tobias, I appreciate the hospitality but I am dying here man, when can we just find out what is going on?” I ask, trying to not be rude, but most likely failing at this point.He looks at me knowingly. “I get that you are anxious for more information, but we are still waiting on one more person to join us before we get started.”My heart skips a beat, Amara must be coming. While I hate where we are with things, I would never turn away an opportunity to see her.
POV: TrentAmara opens the door and I barge in past her. The look on her face tells me I am completely unwelcome, but I don’t care. This woman is mine whether she wants to accept it or not. I stride in to the living room and sit down on the bigger couch. She is still standing by the open door, looking at me, assessing me, obviously trying to figure out what to do next. She closes the door and pauses there for a minute, finally turning and walking over to where I am. She sits down on the loveseat across from me.
***POV: Amara***Back at my packhouse and I can’t stop thinking about Cole. I am in a loop of replaying what just happened. I don’t know how I am supposed to do this, walk away from this feeling, abandon this gift of my fated mate. I leave my room in search of, well anyone really. I don’t see Violet, of course Imogen is now at Tobias’, my mother isn’t anywhere either. My last stop is my father’s study, and sure enough he is there. I watch him for a moment before knocking on the partially open door. He is poring over a large volume. From here it looks like our wolf directory for the other colonies, he’s probably working on finding me a match.I lightly tap on the door and go in as he looks up and smiles at me. “Where is everyone?”“Not sure, but I know your mother went out to do some “errands” on the other side of the colony, whatever that means.” He said distractedly, going back to his research.“What are you up to Papi?”“Well, I’ve spoken with some of the Council members, and it loo
***POV: Tobias***All day I have felt this incredible pull to get back to Imogen. I walk into my packhouse and I am hit with some ridiculously good smell coming from the kitchen. Imogen is perched at the stove stirring what looks like pasta sauce. She is surrounded by a handful of pack wolves, who all appear to be thoroughly enjoying her company. It throws me off a little, but not in a bad way.She says something and everyone in the room erupts into raucous laughter. I watch her, throw her head back and laugh unashamedly and it does something to me. After they settle, I am finally noticed by one of my wolves, Peter.“Hey boss.” He says, smiling at me a very relaxed and at home smile. “We were just hanging with Imogen here, she offered to make us dinner so we wouldn’t be hungry enough to eat her.” They all laugh and he wiggles his eyebrows at his own joke. They obviously don’t know she is my fated mate and their future Luna or he would have never dared make a joke like that. Imogen loo
***POV: Tobias***Luna Claudia rakes her eyes over me, as if she is trying to read my mind. I get it, it is odd for me to have requested we meet alone. We are sitting outside of her packhouse, within the walls of their private garden. In a spot like this it’s easy to forget all of the strife brewing within our colony, and even more so the strife that the rest of the world is buried in. It’s beautiful and full of blooming tropical plant life.We sit across each other, with a small table between us. She looks at me, her piercing gaze starting to turn impatient.“I’m sorry to be taking up your time Luna, I know it was a strange request.”She nods and softens her face a bit. She has always been kind to me, motherly even. “So tell me Tobias, what brings you here under these odd circumstances?”I launch into my retelling of all the things that Alpha Thomas told me. She listens quietly and thoughtfully. When I am done, I notice she is wringing her hands in her lap.“So Imogen is your mate, a
***POV: Imogen***It feels like this day has taken forever to come to an end. I really enjoyed hanging out with Amara and Violet, and getting to see all of the colony, but I am exhausted. I think it’s just an overload of new information and feelings for me to process, and it’s just taken it out of me.Violet walks me back to Tobias’ packhouse. While I am excited at the thought of seeing him, and reveling in the anticipation of getting to know him better, the fact that we are going back there and not back to Amara’s makes me sad for Cole.“Violet, you think there is any way that Amara will come to her senses about Cole?”Violet stops and turns to me. “That is such a complicated topic Imogen. I know where you are coming from, they are perfect for each other, quite literally. It’s just a lot of complication.” She sighs, looks away for a moment and then turns back to me again. “How many female Alphas have you seen?”“I guess so far I have only met Amara.” I shrug.“And that is all you wil
***POV: Tobias***My visit with Alpha Thomas was the right move. He has listened to me carefully as he always does, and put some pieces together for me that I would have never put together otherwise.“Tobias, there is a prophecy that is older than we know about two human siblings that are destined to save the werewolf race. It really isn’t talked about much, especially since the collapse, because what wolf wants to admit that their future depends on humans?”“Not talked about much? I haven’t even heard this and I am an Alpha.”“I know son, but losing your parents so early on really robbed you of years of knowledge and training that you should have gone through before becoming an Alpha. Don’t get me wrong, you have done a great job without it, but still would have been nice for you to benefit from that as others have.”I nod, momentarily losing myself in thoughts of my parents. Snapping out of it, the questions come flooding in. “So who knows about this prophecy? Where did it come from