VANESSA POV
When Gunnar leaves, both Rosy and I breathe a sigh of relief. "What was that," Rosy asks, and I glance at her before untangling our bodies. I stand up and look around his room. "Ness," Rosy says my name with a question in her voice. "I made him angry. I talked about leaving him.....Rosy, remember I said I am different.... well, not only am I not fully human. But I am also his mate—a term they use for some kind of special bond. Like a soulmate," I say with my back towards her. She gasps, and I tense. I can almost hear her wheels turning as she digests my situation. "So there is a chance even if we win the competition.........you might not be free," Rosy whispers, and I spin towards her. "Rosy, there is no "we" if you get this bite tonight........you will die," I yell at my best friend with pleading eyes. She gives me a sad smile and raises to her feet.VANESSA POVI scream for Rosy in absolutehorror. She is slumped against the wall and looks like she is unconscious. I lift her face up so I can see her. Her eyes are closed, and her breathing is even. I check her head, no blood, but there is a pretty big bump."Oh, Rosy," I say as a cradle her frail frame to my body.He threw her. He knocked her out, but why? I glance over my shoulder, and the sight almost makes me pee my pants.Gunnar's body is changing. His skin is tearing, black fur is sprouting everywhere, and his muscles are bulging. He slowly turns towards me, and when our eyes meet, I realize this might just be it for us.A snarl rips from deep inside his chest, and words manage to spill out before he shifts completely. "You are Mine. Not hers."Shit! He noticed my feelings for her. Feelings I'm still confused about."Gunnar, wait," I plead.I set Rosy down gently and stand up. I
GUNNAR POVA firm knock sounds on my door and pulls me from my thoughts. I glance at my mate before checking the time, 10 pm. Hilda is here. I have spent the past few hours in a daze. I have thought of nothing but the female sitting close to my mate. I hate every breath she takes.My mate has been playing with her hair or soothing her with kind words. All I want to do is break the little runt in half. Jealousy has taken root in my heart towards their "bond.""Enter Hilda," I say in a mild voice.For some reason, fear has been crawling up my spine as the hours have passed as well..... Even though my mate is a hybrid, she could still die. She could lose control of her new wolf form if the runt dies, and I would have to put her down. She could not shift at all. So many negatives could happen.Hilda comes in and looks towards the two cuddling females. She holds back a snarl before turning towards me."Evening, Brother," she says, and I nod towar
GUNNAR POVVanessa keeps going in and out. She wakes up and screamsor groans before fainting again. The runt is in worse shape. She is sweating, screaming, and her body is actually convulsing.Hilda is sitting on my bed like this is her favorite damn TV show, and I want to rip her head off. I am a mess, with a capital M.In the past, I have rarely shown compassion to people in physical or emotional pain. I haven't felt a connection to their experiences. But seeing my mate........a mate I had convinced myself was a curse, hurting.......My insides are tearing with need.I need to soothe her. I need to take the pain. I just need this night to be over with. I need her to be okay. I want a relationship with her. I want to know her. I want to hear more of her witty comebacks......shit."Ahhhhhhh," Vanessa screams again as she regains consciousness.My thumb rubs her hand, and my forehead drops to hers. I slowly inhale and exhale multiple tim
GUNNAR POV"She is the Rebirther," the doctor whispers, and my head snapsin his direction"What the hell are you talking about," I growl"Her file....she is a known hybrid. Her Government knew her family history, Alpha. Her mother was the only daughter of the King," the doctor explains like that solves my question."What the hell does REBIRTHER mean," I roar as Vanessa's chest beams even brighter."I forget your father failed to teach his children our history...Well, Alpha, during times of imbalance, a royal is born with the creator's powers. She can make more wolves. I have been watching every Royal child born for the past 30 years.....Alpha, why do you think there are so many desperate wolves, why hybrids are on the rise, why your sister gets sent out to handle the hordes of rogues searching for mates, or why mate competitions have become a regular thing? Our population is low. Mates are harder to find...We needed the Rebirther. (the doctor
VANESSA POVI have never woken up naked next to a man. Better yet, I have never woken up cuddled up against a man while being naked. Until now!His scent is agonizingly addictive. His body is emitting the perfect amount of heat. His muscles are sinking into every dip of my body as if we are puzzle pieces. Puzzle pieces that were meant to be connected. I can't seem to force myself to move away from him.Him. The man thatpurchased me. The man who devalues me. The man who sees Rosy as discardable trash...Him. Him, my mate. Every cell in my body is screaming that this man is mine. Mine to touch. Mine to kiss. Mine to hold. Mine to punish. Mine!I have no idea if this is a side effect of the changing process, but my feelings are scaring me. My senses are very overwhelming. I can hear his heartbeat perfectly. I can smell so many things that I shouldn't be able to. Like......female scents.Finally, the haze breaks. Anger and hurt fill whatever bond
VANESSA POVThe moment I step into his restroom and close the door, I freeze. The girl looking back at me isn't the Vanessa I know. This Vanessa is taller. This Vanessa is toned. This Vanessa has vibrant brown hair that looks like thick silk. This Vanessa has tropical rain forest green eyes instead of pine forest green.I pull his shirt off, and a gasp leaves my throat. My body is........well...it's fucking sexy. Myhips, my breasts, my stomach.....I had a nice body before, but now......I freaking look like a maxim model. My boobs are completely filled, and my butt is lifted like I have spent months in the gym.I turn back and forth, admiring my new form. Well, I guess if I get to look like this being a wolf isn't so bad.......I snicker at myself for being so shallow, but it is hard not to be pleased. People spend years working out and dieting to look like this, but I guess we are even. I did go through two hours of the most excruciating pain imaginable.
VANESSA POVI feel like I was just ravished. My lips are tingling, and my body is craving him. The moment his lips had hit mine, something else had taken over. I have never kissed anyone like that before, but nothing about it felt wrong or forced—nothing like the passion-less kisses I have given or received in the past.When Gunnar endshis phone call, we both avoid each other's eyes. As soon as he begins to walk, I follow. I want to say something, anything, to reestablish my plan. Nothing but the feel of his lips is coming to mind, though, so I stay silent.When Gunnar opens the door to outside, I remember something.......it is cold here. Much too cold for a shirt and tank. The snow and brisk breeze are definitely present, but It doesn't really bother me. I smile, and a small chuckle comes out of my mouth."What is funny mate," Gunnar asks, looking at me with curiosity.My mood changes are probably throwing him for a loop."I guess bei
VANESSA POV"Rosy," I say in a shaky voice.I have never felt this alone before, and I know I just lost my only companion."NESS," Rosy exclaims, jumping out of the man's lap that was holding her complete attention.She launches herself into my arms, and I hold her whilestaring at the smiling wolf. He smells nice, like fresh rain, but I hate that she is covered in his smell. I inhale deeply, finding her citrus-like scent that I smelled last night."Ness, can you believe it?!?!?! I have a mate too," Rosy says, breaking our hug.She grabs my hand and turns around with a huge smile."Jax, this is my sister slash best friend that I have told you about. We have lived our entire lives together. And I am pretty sure she is the reason why I was able to survive becoming like you last night," Rosy says while practically bouncing on her feet.Jax dusts himself off while climbing to his feet. His smile seems genuine, but I still clut
HILDA POV I smile as I watch Crow move around my den. His fresh scent is beginning to saturate the air, and I like it. My den has smelled like only me for far too long. "Wow, this is unique," Crow says while running his fingers over my quilt. I nod and give him a sad smile."I made that. I used all of my first mate's shirts. I wanted to keep him close," I explain, and Crow stills. "Are you uncomfortable with me having it," I ask as I watch his reaction closely.My stomach twists with fear. I will not allow Crow to act as if my first mate didn't exist. I care for Crow, but I loved my mate. "No. I was worried you wouldn't want my scent on it," Crow admits while searching my eyes."I don't mind. I actually like the thought of your smell on it. I know we are.....I know this is all new, and I
CROW POV (R rated)She looks stunning today. If I hadn't already decided to compete, seeing her this morning would have been the nail in the coffin. Her blonde hair is down for the first time in two days, and it is beautiful. Natural blonde with soft waves......She is also dressed differently. She isn't in anything overly feminine, but the simple outfit looks sexy on her. She hasn't looked at me once, and that hurts a little. I know what I said last night broke something between us, but I hope by competing, it fixes it. I don't know what kind of relationship we can build between us, but her brother was right.My Cindy would be pissed if I spent my life sulking and missing her. She would want me to try for happiness, and I think I can have that with Hilda. She understands my pain. She is also intelligent, strong, and gorgeous. My brothers forfeit with honor, but no one else steps
HILDA POV Pain courses through me, and I curse the feeling back to hell where it came from. I have no idea why I gave myself hope. I should have known that I am doomed to be mated to a young second-born who has no idea how to lead. A male who can't place his own arrogance to the side to think about what is best for the pack. My fist connects with a tree, and the wood splits. My skin rips, but I ignore the irritating burn. Crow's stupid face is imprinted in my mind, and I can't help but picture it. His dark, almost black hair is thick and wavy. It shines and makes my hands itch to touch it. His dark eyes and thick eyebrows are expressive. They shout out his emotions, and my broken soul loves it. His nose is big and a little crooked, but the flaw makes him real; it makes the rest of him believable. I sigh as the first tear falls from my eye. For the first time in a long tim
CROW POVI hang my head and let the water cascade down my dirty body. I watch the dirt collect and move through the water by my feet-little specks, insignificant but irritating.....like our lives.I want to growl and argue with the new feelings brewing within me, but that would mean I acknowledge them. I don't know why I couldn't stop staring at Hilda today. My thoughts hadn't been anything but neutral and curious, but I never give females attention. Maybe my interest was stemming from our conversation last night. She impressed me.I shut off the water and step out. I hear the bedroom door bang open outside of the restroom, and my instincts kick in. I snatch the towel I had folded and waiting from the counter. I barely get it around my waist before I open the restroom door."Gage? What the hell? What's wrong," I ask as my eyes assess his pacing form.He seems unharmed, but some
HILDA POV Dark, handsome, smart...Crow is an admirable male. His body is in prime condition and looks as if he exercises regularly. A small smile tugs at my mouth as I scrub my scentless soup into my hair. I could see myself with a mate like Crow. A male who has loved. A man who has lost everything but kept going. I step out of my shower and dry off quickly. I don't have much of a morning routine. I'm not like other she-wolves, never have been. I like to get clean, get dressed, and be done. I don't prep and preen my face for male satisfaction. I get my old but clean undergarments on before throwing on some sweats with a matching worn-out tank top. Perfect. My phone chimes, and I open the message before pulling on my socks."Two new arrivals Alpha." I finish getting dressed before responding. "I will
CROW'S POV "I'm not interested," I growl as Ronan makes his speech about how we should compete for Silvertail's Alpha title....again. "Look, I get it, Crow. You had your mate. You met her at 18, and your life was perfect. But that ideal life ended.....I know that it is hard, but we need your help. I'm 25. Gage is 27. We need to find a mate or win a mate. If you compete with us, you can knock out some of the competition for us. You don't have to win her. Help one of us win her," Ronan pleads as Gage stands with his arms crossed. I drop my 110lb dumbbells and grab my blue sweat towel. I think over my brother's words while looking around our tiny flat. Pictures of mom and us decorate the entire space. I close my eyes as I wipe off my neck. I picture my mother and my mate's faces...they would want me to help my brothers. They both would probably tell me it is time for me to move on also
HILDA POVI growl as I rub my temples. Irritation at my circumstances is causing me to have a headache. Not only do I have to deal with twenty spoiled second-born Alphas who feel like they are owed the world, but I have to also deal with my little brother. He won't stop whining, and while the change in his personality is endearing, I can not take it.He is constantly barging into my office demanding that I get my mate competition underway so he can run back home to be with a very pregnant Vanessa. He doesn't understand why I am putting it off. He doesn't understand that when I look at these males, I feel nothing but repulsion.My phone rings, and I pick it up with my eyes closed."Hilda speaking""Well, hello, sister-in-law.""Vanessa, if you are calling me to hound me about the competition as well...I will kick your ass pregnant or not.""Geez.
VANESSA POV"Max, be careful," I call after my two-year-old nephew as my phone rings.I pick up the phone quickly after seeing the caller ID."Hello, Love,""That's my line. How are youfeeling,""I'm fine, Gunnar. She won't be here for another month. How is Hilda,""Pissed. She hates all the males who have signed up to compete so far,""That doesn't sound good,""If she keeps me from coming home for much longer, I am going to challenge for the Alpha position. I will be King of werewolves and Alpha of Silver Tail before I miss the birth of our first pup,""Calm down. Why does she hate them,""Because they are all second-born Alphas. They are only competing so they can be an Alpha. They don't care who they mate. Hilda wants love,""Tell her to open the competition up to everyone. Maybe she will meet someone genuine,""Yeah, but he still has to win,""I don't understand. Why doesn't she jus
VANESSA POV"Okay, I have a deck of cards,three books, monopoly, and Life," I say, spreading out my games so the others can see them."I brought battleship and two books," Rosy says, adding her games to mine.A couple of the other Omegas also pull out decks of cards for everyone to play with.The medium-sized room is packed with slim but tall bodies. There are at least thirty female Omegas and about fifteen male Omegas. And while the room is a little stuffy, everyone seems to be in a good mood. I smile as I turn my attention back to Rosy."Ready to be defeated in battleship," I taunt while wagging my eyebrows at her.Rosy rolls her eyes and scoffs. Jaxon just smiles at our interaction. He kisses Rosy's forehead before sliding through the compacted bodies to reach another male."Bring it, Ness," she says, with a playful growl, and we sit down Indian style in the back of the crowded room."So have you thought of any names,"