Bailey…
I looked at the clock on my bedroom wall. I think I have delayed the inevitable for as long as I physically can. I should go to the packhouse to go and wish our pack's upcoming Alpha a happy birthday. The bane of my life. My brother’s best friend. One day to be Alpha Miles. Today he will turn 17, and meet his Alpha wolf. In all honesty, he was egotistical enough, thinking the world revolved around him, without him adding to that by finally gaining his wolf. Not your run-of-the-mill werewolf either. Oh no, Miles Davenport was destined to be an Alpha, so he would have a strong and powerful Alpha wolf, only adding to his arrogance and strength. The crazy thing is, Miles had once upon a time been one of my closet friends too. In my younger childhood... Friends, that kind of thing comes when your father is the Beta to the Alpha. The children spend a lot of time together, and become friends. My older brother, Jordan, became the wing-man to Miles. His closest friend and ally, who as his Beta when the time came, was only right. But as the years went on, the friendship between Miles and I changed. Friendship faded as he grew into a more popular sports star of our school. At the end of the day, he was always going to be popular, he was the upcoming Alpha after all, but as one of the top sports stars too, he was idolized. As was my brother. All the girls in school flocked around them like they were pop stars or something, and it was bizarre. I was nothing more to him now but a source of amusement for him and his sports buddies. A geek. Not one of the beauty queens who followed him around. Simply someone to make fun of. I had gone from enjoying time with my one-day Alpha, to hating him, in the space of a school year. He thought he was god’s gift, and in all honesty, if he was, he is a gift I would return… “Bailey!” I heard my Mum call from downstairs, telling me I was definitely running it close now for time. I know Jordan had already headed over to the packhouse a while ago with my Dad to meet his friend and our Alpha. “I know.” I yelled back, looking at the books on my desk, desperate to continue with the assignment I was working on. I would so much rather continue working on the assignment and gain the additional credit available, work toward going to the college I want to go to instead of going to a party for the big-headed bully, I got to consider almost family, considering he was the son of my Dad’s best friend. I stood from my seat, and walked to my mirror, adjusting my black skater dress I had chosen to wear today. Something plain and simple, easy to blend into the background, but a dress all the same if anyone asked why I hadn’t made an effort. Along with my chunky black sandals, I looked presentable, not that anyone would be looking at me. Today, all eyes would be on the birthday boy, as they always were. He would make sure of that. I flicked back my curly brown hair, before I walked out of the door, already dreading the hours that lay ahead… My Mum pulled the car into the parking spaces outside the packhouse, while my younger sister Morgan was flicking at the curls around my head, simply trying to irritate me. She knew I would rather be anywhere but here right now, and was loving every last moment of it. “Aww, you want to go home Bailey-boo?” she teased. “Stop you two, come on, your Dad is waiting inside. Let us go and find the birthday boy.” Mum says, sounding cheerful, completely oblivious to the fact how horrendous this party had the potential to be. She, too, worshiped Miles. Having seen him grow up alongside my brother, she seemed to think the sun shone out of his rear-end. It had always driven me insane. “He won’t even notice us there.” I muttered under my breath as I followed her up the steps of the back house, shaking my head at my sister and how overdressed she looked. She definitely looked like she was out to impress someone today. A small part of me wondered if she hoped she might be the fated mate of Miles. After all, he was meeting his Alpha wolf today. He will have shifted for the first time today, and today could potentially be the day he can sense his fated mate out there waiting for him! There had been so much buzz around school about this, so many of the girls were excited about the potential possibility they could be his fated mate. The one chosen for him by the moon goddess. The one destined to be with him. So many of them are desperate for it to be them. While there I was desperate for anything but. I could think of nothing worse! Yet, looking at the amount of effort my younger sister had made today, I am beginning to think she was one of the many she-wolves that was holding out that hope… We walked through the corridors of the packhouse, and it was filled with various pack members. Today was a day of celebration within pack, the birthday of the upcoming Alpha. And not just any birthday, the day he came of age. The day he met his Alpha wolf. The walls of the packhouse were adorned with decorations, music was blaring from various speakers dotted around the multiple rooms. “Ooff, sorry!” a giggling she-wolf said to me as she nearly knocked me off my feet as she knocked into me. I would rather be anywhere but here right now. This was far too hectic and far too loud for me. I simply glare at the back of the girl as she moves away from me, not a care in the world. I followed my Mum and my sister, who was almost skipping as she walked, toward the main lounge area. I can only assume my Mum had mindlinked my Dad to let him know we had arrived, and he said they were there, or else we could spend all day looking around for them! It appeared almost every member of the pack had turned up to celebrate the birthday of Miles fucking Davenport. The lounge area was laden with people, music truly blasting, and everyone seeming to have a good time. Everyone but me. I caught the eye of my brother, leaning against the wall of the lounge, the furthest away from the door we had just walked into. He nodded in my direction before simply turning away. ‘Could have made an effort, Bailey.’ he mindlinked. ‘It is a birthday, not a funeral, you know?’ I felt my heart sink at his words. Great, the insults were starting already, which meant it would only be a matter of time until Miles started too. The two of them seemed to like working together like that. Finding great enjoyment in harassing me. I was only a year younger than both of them, and had desperately hoped the name-calling and insulting would ease off as they got a little older, but if anything, they seemed to get worse. All because I wasn’t like the girls they were interested in, I was sure of it. I wasn’t like the other girls. Made myself an easy target, my Mum told me, all because I enjoyed studying. Liked reading and learning. Said, I only made it harder for myself. The plan was to make it easier for myself by finding a way out… “Jordan says your dress looks like you are going to a funeral, Bailey.” Morgan teased, fluffing up my curls again. My long brown hair fell in thick, unruly curls down my back. They drove me mad at times. Especially when my brother and sister decide to mess with them. “Oh well, I wore a dress, like you asked.” I snapped, moving away from them, feeling angry already, so tempted just to turn around and walk home, only to be pulled back by my Mum. “We are going to wish Miles a happy birthday. You will stay for a while at least. I do not need to be explaining to your Aunt and Uncle yet again why you have walked out on a social event, Bailey.” Mum warned me, her tone sounding grumpy, I swear she had to have read my thoughts on leaving the party already. I am sure she hated having me as a daughter, likely wishing for one that was more sociable, and one that enjoyed being a part of everything, instead of one that would rather have her head in a book. “Awww, Happy Birthday, Miles!” I heard my sister squeal from by my side. I swear she spoke at a pitch so high only dogs could hear. Goddess knows why she is so excited. It is only his birthday. He likely doesn’t even care, he never normally does… As I looked up, his blue eyes were locked on me, I raised my gaze to meet his, and could see his eyes shift to a darker blue… was that his wolf? I see a snarl across his face as he suddenly storms from the room. What the hell was that about? ‘Get out here.’ Miles is suddenly mindlinking me, and I have to say he sounded far from impressed. That, combined with the angry expression on his face, told me something was off. Would he have rather I had not come? Well, he was not the only one… ‘What?’ I questioned, completely confused. Was he annoyed over how I had dressed too? Jeez, it was just a dress. Does it really matter? I would go home if it was. ‘Outside now.’ He demanded once more, sounding even more irritated this time, making me realize I had little choice but to follow his orders, so I snuck away from the ongoing party back to the doors of the packhouse. Only to find Miles pacing along the bottom of the steps, looking a mixture of confused and angry. So why did he need me here? Someone to take his anger out on? I was not willing to be that, I was sure about that… Just as I was about to walk away, he looked up. “Fucking took you long enough.” He snapped. I frowned, unsure what this was all about, but it was making no sense to me as I looked down toward him from where I stood at the top of the packhouse steps. His blue eyes shifted to the dark blue once more, like they had inside, taking me by surprise. His wolf is clearly lingering… “What is wrong, Miles? Do you want me to get Jordan?” I asked. “No I do not! I do not want anyone knowing this.” He snarls, a growl slipping from his lips, though whether that was aimed at me or whether his wolf was angry at him, I do not know… “I don’t think I understand…” I began. “You soon will.” He sneers, and I simply look to him in confusion. Nothing he says makes sense to me. Until he continues. “Only today did I realize. The thought makes me sick. Why our own moon goddess would play a trick like this on me, I don’t know. I am an Alpha. A fucking Alpha. I deserve a strong mate. A beautiful mate to be proud of. Not some feeble pathetic wallflower.” My body trembles at his words. No. I had yet to gain my wolf. I did not know this yet. Why… Why him of all people? “I am your fated mate?” I question with a shaky voice. “Are you sure?” “Are you fucking doubting me?” he yells. “And you won’t be. The moment you have your wolf, I will decide when the time is right to reject you.” My heart twists and contorts at the thought. Rejection was meant to be the most painful thing possible. Why would he want to reject the mate chosen for him by our own moon goddess? Am I truly so repulsive?A Year Later Bailey… Yet another birthday party for our beloved upcoming Alpha. Ha. Not my beloved upcoming Alpha. I hated the fucker. Breaking my heart without a second thought. What I had done to deserve that I had never got a proper explanation from him. Other than the frequent insults, of why would he want to be with someone like me? Did I look like Luna material to him? I had no clue. What the hell did Luna material look like in his eyes? Some blond bimbo, no doubt. They were the she-wolves he tended to spend his time with within our pack. The ones who worshiped the ground he walked on. That would do anything he asked of them. Ones that I highly doubted read much more than the work set of them at school. “Bailey!” my Mum yelled at me from the stairway of our family home. “Will you hurry up?!” “Do I really need to come to the party?” I responded. “I am telling you, Miles will not be bothered if I am not there!” “Your Aunt and Uncle will be though. And I am not explaining to th
Three Years Later Bailey… I drove the long road down to pack. I hated this drive. It was like returning to hell for me. Lotus Shadow Pack. My very own version of hell. Though, three years away, studying had been truly amazing. Transforming myself into the woman I should always have been. Confident. Self-assured. Brave. Just me. And now a fully qualified teacher. As a she-wolf, you spend so many years of your life being told your focus is finding your fated mate. Settling down with them and creating a strong matebond. A love. A family. Well, once I had come to accept that my naïve, teenage dreams would never surface, thanks to the moon goddess pairing me with a mate so incapable of loving anyone other than himself, I decided that my focus would be my career. My education had always been something I took great pride in. I loved to learn, and I had decided that I wanted to pass that gift along. I no longer cared what others thought of me. And, while at university, it felt so wonderful
Bailey… I sit out in the garden drinking my morning coffee, with my laptop open scrolling desperately through the job vacancies, when I hear a deep growl to my left, causing me to swirl my head to look. Miles was resting his head on the garden fence from next door, overlooking our back garden, to where I was sitting. Watching me intently, the look upon his face was one of sheer disgust... I had no clue how long he had been standing there, or what had angered him to the point of growling, but he had made me jump. “Fucking hell, Miles.” I snapped, giving him a dark scowl. I had done well the past week since arriving and stayed out of his way. Managing to ensure I avoided all pack events, and ensuring I dodged any places he was likely to be. Yes, it meant I spent an awful lot of time in my bedroom at home, but I would rather do that than have to deal with him. Today, the sun was glorious, and I thought it would be nice to take my breakfast outside while I looked for jobs online. Sitti
Asher… I pace the corridor of the packhouse for yet another night. Sleepless nights are becoming the most repetitive thing for me now. Almost tiresome… or they would be if I could actually fucking sleep! Nightmares plaguing my dreams were the thing stopping my sleep… making me fear sleep… visions of that night… reoccurring time and time again… the rogues invading our pack lands… us losing control… and them hurting my precious Isla. My beautiful Isla. Fate had barely brought us together before snatching us apart… life could be cruel… and it made me relive that night, time and time again through my dreams… the pain as her life ebbed away… the inability to be able to save her… the pain in her eyes… the fear… it made me hate life… hate fate. And now, now it makes me fear sleep. Which is what found me pacing these godforsaken corridors every night… “Alright Beta!” Marc, one of our young warriors, greeted me enthusiastically, telling me he had likely been out spending time with friends. E
Asher… A shower later and a couple of coffees down, and I felt slightly more human, or as human as a werewolf can feel on next to no sleep… “Right Ash, we need to sort this shit out.” Caleb’s voice was sounding more than a little stressed out, telling me I was in for more than a fun day. “What shit now?” I asked with a deflated sigh. I am sure we had dealt with everything that needed doing yesterday. “Quit sounding like you are overworked.” Caleb gave me a dirty look. “My Dad’s birthday party for a start. Plus, Eden is on my case about the teacher for school. We still need to replace Eloise.” I do recall him mentioning needing to re-advertise for a new teacher, but I had thought Eden may have dealt with that. Being Luna, and a mother, I thought she may have wanted to be involved with those sorts of tasks. Evidently I was wrong. As for his Dad’s party, I think he was more than capable of sorting out that himself, or his Mum was. Seriously, is it my job to do everything around here?
Bailey… I sat at the coffee table painting my nails when my brother Jordan came storming into the room. “What the fuck have you been doing?” he snarled at me. I glanced at him with a sideways glance. “Hi to you too big brother.” I smiled sarcastically, this being the first time seeing him since I had returned. “Do not big brother me Bailey!” he snaps, throwing himself down on the sofa next to me. “What the fuck did you do to Miles.” Was he having a laugh? What did I do to Miles? He says it like I attacked him! Or pounced on him… He is the upcoming Alpha for fucks sake! It is not like he is unable to defend himself… though I should have known he would go running to my brother to tell tales. Stir shit like he always did. Make me look like the bad one. “I didn’t do anything to Miles. Why?” I asked, my heart racing a little already, wondering why my brother was angry over this. Had Miles confided in him? Did he know more now than he previously had? The thought of him knowing I had bee
Miles… I move through the packhouse at a pace faster than I would like to at this time of the morning, but I would do anything right now to get away from my fucking father! He has not stopped wittering in my ear since the moment I stepped from my bedroom this morning. And he didn’t even give me the chance to pour myself a coffee before he told me we should come to the packhouse to continue with the training he needed to give me. Yes. I want to get this transfer of power done with. The alteration of him being Alpha to me taking my rightful position as Alpha of the pack, but shit, did he have to go on so fucking much?! I had done the necessary training away at Alpha training, so why my own Dad now needed to do his own training I did not know. But, he was adamant he would not hand this pack over to me until he felt I was ready. Personally, I think he just did not want to give up his power nor his control. “Miles. We think you need to do a tour of the packs locally at least. Find your f
These last few years, while she has been away studying, have been wonderful. I haven’t needed to see her face. Remind myself what I had done… because, like it or not, my wolf hated me for the fact I rejected our fated mate. She was the one the moon goddess selected for us. In my fucking wolf’s eyes,
Epilogue - Asher 7 months later “Asher, I hate you!” Bailey screamed, as she laid on the hospital bed, writhing in pain. And Zion chuckled in glee at the insults my mate was throwing my way, not to mention the pain she was inflicting upon me as she gripped my hand through each contraction. He seemed to be seriously enjoying my suffering... “Is she meant to be this angry?” I muttered to one of the nurses, who looked at me with her eyebrows raised like I was some sort of monster. Okay, maybe I would just sit quietly. Now I seemed to have angered the nurse as well as my mate... Zion once more was laughing. ‘Not so good at this are you?’ he teased. ‘Oh, big shot, Beta.’ ‘You’re a Beta too, you freak.’ I snapped back, while my eyes met Bailey’s and, quite honestly, she looked like she was possessed. ‘Can childbirth turn a woman into a demon?’ Zion asked me. ‘Because right about now she looks pretty freaky, and I do not mean in a good way, like, we about to get freaky sort of a way…’
Epilogue Bailey contd… Miles would no longer be involved in, anyway, shape or form with the Lotus Shadow Pack. His actions had well and truly severed all ties to his family and his pack. And, I have to say, I felt nothing towards him, no pity or anything. He deserved everything he got.“You two better not be holding us up because you couldn't resist ripping each other’s clothes off!” Morgan called through the door, so loud it was likely half the pack heard. “Open the door before she says anything else!” I warned Asher, and he chuckled. He may not have been keen on my sister when she first arrived, but now he was spending time with her and Marc on a more regular basis, he was getting used to her somewhat unique and quirky ways, and he actually found her quite amusing now. “Come on, we are going to be late!” Marc said as Asher opened the door. “Alpha and Luna are just putting the little ones in the car.” I walked to meet them at the front door, ready to make our departure to our form
Epilogue - Bailey… 4 months later I sat on the edge of our bed, nerves rushing through every part of my body, while Asher paced the floor in front of me before he looked down at me. In the whole time since we had officially become a couple, this was the first time I had felt so worried. I did not know how he would react when I told him the news, but now he was as nervous as I was. “Are you sure you did the test right?” he asked, his voice wobbling a little. “Can you do them wrong? You pee on it and wait, right?” I attempted to joke, but I genuinely didn’t think I had done it wrong. I just hated the wait… I had not felt right for a couple of weeks now, and had put it down to a virus going around school. It had not taken me long to go back to work after leaving the hospital after all the drama of the incident with Miles. And soon Asher and I had fallen into the routine of a couple, and I loved it. It was like we had always been together. His late night working sessions were a th
“Slow down, I don’t need you near falling over again.” I teased.‘Spoilsport.’ Akira joked. ‘I was looking forward to that.’I used the en suite shower room to take a shower, and get myself dressed into the clothes that my sister had thankfully dropped off for me, before we walked from the hospital
I woke up from snoozing, and found Asher crashed out in the chair next to my bed. He still had not left my side. Despite every reassuring word the doctor could give him, he had chosen not to leave me. We had marked one another last night, so were now officially mates, and I can only say it feels bey
“Hello?” Beta Donovan’s voice answered almost immediately, despite sounding sleepy, which was unsurprising given the hour. “Beta Asher, please do not tell me you are calling me to tell me something else has happened. Last update I had Bailey was stable. Has that changed?” he demanded before Bailey w
I could see Bailey’s eyes watching me as I told her I loved her, they flashed darker for a moment, and I caught sight of her canine teeth, taking me by surprise… was Akira deciding she wanted to mark me too? Was she even well enough? Strong enough after everything?‘Maybe us marking her did make her
“No. Bailey, you are making a mistake. You know that right?” Miles said coldly, trying to get my attention. I turned to look at him, shaking my head. He had a fucking nerve. I am making a mistake?“No. You were the mistake Miles. A mistake from the moon goddess when she fated me to you. Because that
I was never going to take the words of Miles as the truth. He never did speak the truth. I knew that. I saw the hurt upon Asher's face as I said I wanted to hear what Miles had to say, but, I wanted to hear what he had to say. I wanted to see if he would apologize to me. I felt I deserved an apology