The Olden pack arrived back at their compound feeling as proud as punch about themselves and their victory over the Saint Claire pack. Still pumped up over their display of strength during the fight. Their Omegas putting up a good front, while their Deltas and Betas fought the rest off.They’d eventually done it, after so many attempts! They’d sent the Saint Claire pack running home.They’d weakened the Saint Claire pack. Be it by only one man, it was one of their most important.Having taken down the Saint Claire Second was a huge win for now Blake was vulnerable and had no one to confide in and help run his pack.They were ready to celebrate, the entire compound cheered them as they entered.Connor demanded that a feast be held. A feast for a well-earned victory. As elaborate as never before, he would pull out all of the stops.He saw no shame in ambushing another pack. That was after all what they did to one another, wasn’t it? It was a way of culling the weak so that only the stro
Amelia felt torn between two emotions as she cried in Blake’s strong arms. She was mourning the loss of her soon-to-be mate while enjoying being so close to Blake at the same time. Blake’s sandalwood scent seemed to have scrambled her mind and showed her emotions she never knew she felt for him.“I am here for whatever you need,” said Blake as he lovingly put some stray hair behind her ear. “Jax would have wanted it that way. He was such a good man with a heart of gold. He was a big softy but only you and I ever got the chance to see that side of him.”Amelia smiled up at Blake and nodded in agreement. Yes, they had been privy to a side of Jax that no one else had. And no one ever would again.Amelia would need all the strength that she could muster to carry on and she knew that Blake would be there every step of the way to help her and pick her up when she fell down. He would be her rock when Jax couldn’t.“Will you please help me arrange his funeral,” asked Amelia not even knowing
Amelia struggled to fall asleep. All she saw were flashes of Jax being attacked. Watching him being beaten to the ground. Scratched. Bitten. Kicked.And there was nothing that she could do. She tried to run to him in her dreams but she couldn’t move. It was as if she were running on a treadmill…going nowhere.She could see it so clearly. As if she were there. But it was only her imagination trying to fit together pieces of some of the stories she overheard the other Betas talk about.Amelia awoke in a sweat. Tears ran down her cheeks and the bed sheets were wrapped around her legs. She must have been thrashing around all night.“Amelia,” called Lucia, “breakfast is ready. You have to eat something. You can’t afford to get sick now, you need your strength for your lessons and work.”‘Lessons and work’ were just menial tasks that she had to do to fill up her day. Try to take her mind off of what happened. Take her mind off of the fact that she no longer had Jax by her side.“I’ll be
Blake slowly made his way to the front where the pyre was. As the Alpha, it was time for him to address his pack. The crowd immediately quietened down as soon as they saw him standing there. You could hear a pin drop. Blake cleared his throat and began. “Today is a very sad day, for today we say goodbye to one of our own. Jax was the bravest man I’ve ever known. I trusted him with my life and knew that he always had my back, both in war and in friendship. Today is difficult for all of us, especially those who trained closely with him, but we need to rejoice for he is now with Mother Moon. And she is blessed to have him join her ranks.” Blake looked down at Amelia and she looked like a fragile little doll. “We will perform the ceremony differently today. The Alpha usually sets the pyre alight, but I thought it only fitting that Amelia does it for she was Jax’s intended.” Blake stepped down from the ledge around the pyre and reached for the torch which he lit and gave to Amelia.
Amelia couldn’t believe what Blake had just done for her. From what she had heard, he had never banished anyone from the pack before. But she semi-agreed with him when it came to Stephanie, she was trouble and needed to go before her negativity rubbed off onto others, but she was sure that there must be some goodness in her. Amelia tended to give others the benefit of the doubt. She never held grudges and easily forgave. She had lost count of the number of times Stephanie had threatened her, saying that she’d stolen her man. Stephanie was convinced that by flirting with Jax, he was hers. Jax had, however, confided in Amelia that he couldn’t stand the sight of Stephanie and knew that the Elders were also in favor of him mating with her because of her father being a head Beta. But Jax had kicked against it. He was his own man, no one would tell him whom to mate with. It was his free choice. As the Second he had sworn to pick only the best mate, one who complimented him and had the bes
It was difficult for Amelia to leave Blake’s cabin. His scent had her all heady and she could barely speak to him she was so taken aback by his scent.She knew that she was in trouble as soon as she started thinking of Blake as her partner instead of her Alpha. “Mother Moon, I’ve just buried my intended mate and now I’m having these feelings about Blake. That is wrong on so many levels. I should be grieving, not falling for another man so quickly. What is going on? What am I doing?”Amelia berated herself all the way to her cabin, but she was still unable to get Blake out of her mind. He was a very sexy man with midnight-black eyes and pitch-black hair. He was so opposite to Jax in so many ways, yet so familiar at the same time.Amelia took a deep breath and cleared her mind of any thoughts of Blake. He was off limits and so was she. She needed space to mourn Jax.She eventually arrived at her cabin, after taking the long way around, and her mother already had the kettle on for some h
Stephanie had packed up her stuff and was about to leave the compound when she decided to make one last stop at Amelia’s cabin.She knocked on the door and Amelia opened it, not knowing who was there.Amelia was shocked to see Stephanie standing on her doorstep and wondered what she could possibly have to say.“I just wanted to come over and tell you that even though I’m leaving the camp, I will have my way and Blake will be mine.” Stephanie stood with her hands on her hips, as if trying to intimidate Amelia.“I don’t care who you’re after, especially if it’s Blake. He is my Alpha, that’s all. Jax was my intended mate, remember?” Amelia had no idea where Stephanie got off telling her that Blake would be hers when he was the one who banished her in the first place.”“I just wanted to let you know that he’s mine before you try and get your grubby paws on him too. I’ve noticed how you look at him, I’m not blind.” Stephanie’s finger was flying in front of her face and all that Amelia want
Connor walked around the compound watching his men practice when Melody sauntered up to him.“Hi, Connor,” she greeted seductively as she put her hand on his arm, “checking up on the boys?”Connor loved the attention from women but not when it came from Melody.Melody was Christian’s mate and even though he was an ass, Connor would never cross that boundary.Unbeknownst to Melody, Christian had witnessed it all, even the way she’d placed her hand on Connor’s arm as she spoke with him, massaging his bicep ever so slightly.It really hurt Christian when he witnessed Melody flirting with Connor. It made her look ‘cheap’ and that is the last thing he wanted for his mate.Melody was a beautiful woman and used it to her advantage. Flirting with most of the men to get her way.“What does it look like?” asked Connor sarcastically. He didn’t care that he was being rude to Melody. He was her Alpha and as such she should know her place.He pulled away from her and walked off, not giving her a se
The first three days of their holiday flew by and it saddened them both. They had, however, done so many excursions and experienced most of what the island had to offer. They’d gone for walks on the beach, shared spa treatments, and bought cocktails on the veranda of the hotel, overlooking the bright blue ocean, a view that they would never get used to as it was like something out of a travel brochure.They’d left their scuba diving until the last day. They wanted it to be the last thing that they remember doing together on their holiday. Something that was high up on Amelia’s bucket list.They boarded their boat and took sail on the beautiful blue ocean. It was so clear that they could see to the bottom sandy bed, where the coral and fish were even more beautiful than they had expected.Amelia sat in the crook of Blake’s arm on the boat, holding his other hand in her lap. She loved being so close to him, smelling his sandalwood scent made her feel safe and calm.The boat stopped at t
Blake searched for Sly in the crowd and found him speaking animatedly with his hunters, excitement on everyone’s face.“Congrats again,” said Blake as he stopped by Sly’s side and shook his hand, “you really deserve the promotion to Second. The way you lead your men is exemplary and I’m really proud of all of the work that you’ve done. Thank you for always giving it your all, it doesn’t go unnoticed. You are one of my strongest fighters and I wouldn’t want anyone else by my side.”“Thank you, my Alpha,” responded Sly, happy that his Alpha had noticed his work ethic and love for his pack.“I will be going on a business trip and I’ll need you to watch over the pack, please. I leave tomorrow morning and I’ll be gone for four days.” Blake was certain that Sly was up for the job, even though he had just been selected as Second.“Of course, my Alpha, I will watch over the pack with great care. I have already selected a 2IC in the hunter’s team, so that is all sorted out for the morning and
Blake was sitting in his office chair looking out of his window, watching the people and cars go by when an idea popped into his head.He needed to take Amelia away somewhere. Somewhere special, but it needed to be a surprise. She was so good at sniffing out surprises that he had to be extra sneaky about it. He would have to disguise it as a business trip stating that he needed her there to take minutes as he would be having many meetings. He only hoped that she would fall for it. All that he wanted was to spend some alone time with her. Without the entire pack watching their every move.Blake called their travel agent. “Hi, Celeste,” he greeted as she answered the phone. “I would like your assistance in booking a trip, please. I need two tickets for The Maldives. It will be for both Amelia Brighton and myself. We will be leaving tomorrow morning if possible please.”Celeste looked online and made the booking for Blake, business class of course. “All set Mr Saint Claire. You leave at
Lucia and her team were finished decorating the hall and, feeling satisfied with the results, she walked to the entrance hall and called Blake in to come and inspect their work.He was blown away by the final product. He had seen it earlier but had not imagined that it would turn out this marvelous. His eyes roved the hall taking in every little detail, every little bit of care that Lucia had put into her work.“Thank you to you and your team, Lucia. You have really ensured that this celebration will be a worthy one and for that, I am extremely grateful.” Blake was one who easily gave out compliments when they were earned. And as far as he was concerned, Lucia had earned hers. She had worked magic with barely enough time and Blake knew that no one else would have been able to achieve what she had.The hall looked like a forest clearing. Lucia had brought in trees, rocks, etc. Everything needed to reenact the scenery needed. She’d done such an amazing job that Blake felt as if he was i
Lucia and her team were feverishly busy with putting together the final arrangements for the special event of naming the new Second.Blake had kept hush-hush about who his selected Beta was. Only the Elders knew, not even Amelia. And he thought it best to keep it that way. He didn’t want it to get out and for everyone to know before the actual reveal.Blake walked around the compound. He had been checking on the training of the Omegas, Deltas, and Betas. Something he loved to do because he wanted to be prepared when he needed to select new Deltas or Betas. He needed to know who was fairing well and who was not. He also liked to be ‘seen’ by his pack. Not just locked up in his cabin, dealing with pack business.Jax used to be one of the trainers and it saddened Blake when he walked around the compound and didn’t see his face. Jax had become such a strong pillar of the pack that things just didn’t seem the same without him and Blake doubted that it ever would.Blake popped into the hall
Amelia walked silently back to the compound with Blake, still shocked over what had just happened.Had she really been kidnapped and then saved? All in the span of a few hours.How did it all happen so fast?Shock kicked in and Amelia began to shake. Blake took hold of her hand and tried his best to calm her down by rubbing his thumb along the back of her hand, but he could feel that he was having little effect as she shook all the way back to the compound.Blake thanked his men for their hard work. Sent some to the Salutaries to be checked out and the others to their cabins to rest.Blake, however, took Amelia straight back to his cabin to try to calm her down.Blake sat her down in the chair and, holding her hands, knelt in front of her.“I thought I’d lost you,” said Blake with a sadness in his eyes that she’d never seen before.“I thought I was going to die. Stephanie has threatened my life so many times that I thought today might just be the day that she got her wish. I shudder t
The car picked Blake and Amelia up and they headed off to the office.Blake looked so handsome in his black suit, black hair, and black eyes. Amelia couldn’t help but want to be in his arms that very moment. She wore a pencil-length black skirt and a lime-green shirt which once again showed off her beautiful eyes.“You look like a knock-out,” commented Blake as she entered the car, “I’m not sure that I want the other men at the office seeing you like this.” He joked and Amelia couldn’t help but giggle. She loved his sense of humor.“I’m not sure that I want the other Secretaries to see you looking so sexy in your tailored suit,” winked Amelia, and Blake’s smile almost reached his ears. They made such an attractive couple that it was sickening.Amelia settled in at her desk and began typing up some contracts when her landline rang. It was the receptionist from downstairs.“Hello, Amelia speaking,” answered Amelia, thinking that it was reception letting her know that a guest had arrived
“Hello, Connor,” greeted Stephanie as she ever so slowly entered his cabin, rubbing herself against him on purpose as she passed him by. She smelt his pheromones heighten and knew that she would have her way that evening. He didn’t stand a chance against her and her deviousness.“You look dead sexy,” said Connor as he eyed her from head to toe and then back up again.“Thank you, I know,” answered Stephanie in the most sultry voice she could muster.“Join me at the table,” said Connor as he made a sweeping movement with his hand and she walked over to the table.Connor joined her after closing the cabin door and trying to pull himself together. He pulled out her chair for her and while standing behind her could see that her dress was backless and along with the smell of her Lavender scent it drove him wild.He gently stroked his fingers over her back as he made his way around to his side of the table. He in turn had given her gooseflesh and it was evident by her peaking breasts. Conno
They drove back to the compound in silence.Amelia sat with her hands next to her legs, holding the seat, not knowing what else to do with her hands. Blake did the same.They were both dumbstruck by what had just happened.Blake’s hand slid over Amelia’s and she didn’t make to pull hers away. They drove home like that, looking at one another every now and then, but not a word spoken.Amelia asked, Just before they reached the compound, “was there even a client?”“No,” answered Blake honestly as he looked at Amelia in a new light. In a way as if to claim her for his own.“Then why did you say there was one?” asked Amelia as she bit her bottom lip.Seeing her do that turned Blake on and he could barely contain himself from kissing her again. “I just wanted an excuse to be alone with you. That’s all. And please don’t bite your lip like that…it does things to me…”His honesty hit home with Amelia and she smiled. “You could have just asked and I would have said yes to spending alone time w