EmmaWhen I come home at the crack of dawn, my Mom is smoking outside the trailer. The second she sees me, a cruel smile spreads over her lips. “As an Omega, I always thought you smelled like a slut, but now you’re dressing the part too.”I look down at the pink stripper clothes that I’m still wearing. I’m embarrassed, but not enough to stand out here and argue. I just survived being kidnapped—I don’t have the energy to stand here and endure my Mom’s insults. Instead, I brush past her and head inside our trailer.“Are you just going to walk away when I’m talking to you?” My Mom snarls, following me inside. She’s always been bitter and sharp-tongued, but she only dares to speak up when Dad isn’t at home. If he heard us arguing, he would beat us both. “I’m tired,” is all I say as I make a beeline for our tiny bathroom, shutting the door behind me. As soon as the door clicks shut, I finally allow myself to break down. I slide to the floor, hugging my knees as silent sobs wrack thro
Emma“No, I can’t work tonight. I refuse. I’m feeling ill and want to stay at home!” My Dad frowns at me. I haven’t dared to tell him or my Mom that I’m pregnant with an Alpha’s child, and neither do I plan on it. They would most likely force me to have an abortion since the only reason for my existence is to work off my Dad’s debt to Alpha Jackson at the diner. “You’ve been acting weird ever since you skipped your shift the other day,” my Dad mutters. “Is there something that you aren’t telling us?”I can see my Mom’s frightened eyes from the kitchen table. She is silently begging me to just go to work, but I can’t. I’ve been a mess ever since I came home from work yesterday with the knowledge of carrying Alpha Reed’s heir.I shake my head, a sickly smile curved on my face. “No, Dad. I’m just not feeling well. That time of the month…you know? I don’t want to make a mess at the diner,” I say, hoping he will believe me.My Dad grunts in response and rolls his eyes. “Just take your pi
EmmaI keep an eye out for Lily’s Mom’s catering car on Saturday night, waiting patiently until it pulls up outside our trailer. When it arrives, I hurry to the door while my Mom pauses by the window. “It’s unusual for Lily and her Mom to pick you up,” she points out in a suspicious tone. “They’re catering a big event tonight,” I explain, doing my best to appear casual. “Thought it would be nice to lend a hand.”“Are they paying you?”Unease churns in the pit of my stomach. My Dad would be enraged if he knew I was not working hard to pay off his debt tonight. But before I can come up with a convincing lie, the car honks outside. Startled, I glance at the clock above our stove. It’s later than I thought.“Got to go, Mom,” I tell her, grabbing my coat from a hook by the front door. “I will see you tomorrow morning.”“Don’t come back too late,” she warns me. “Or your Dad is going to throw a fit again.”“I will try to keep that in mind.”The cold night air stings my face as I sprint to
Reed“It should be impossible, but she is pregnant!” the pack doctor says as I stare at my mate through the window. She is still unconscious from passing out at the party, and concern slashes through me. My mate is pregnant. Surely, it must be with my pup since we formed a knot. Damn it. Will she recover from this?What even is her name?I know nothing about her!“Is her pregnancy the reason she passed out?” I ask without peeling my eyes off my mate’s form in the hospital bed. “She hasn’t been eating things a pregnant werewolf should. Since a werewolf is only pregnant for two months, or, to be exact, nine weeks, food, vitamins, and iron intake are even more crucial,” the pack doctor explains. “And she hasn’t had any of that?” my voice is tight as I focus on her pale form. The sight of my mate’s fragile body sends a surge of protectiveness coursing through my veins, and my wolf whines pitifully within me.I intend on spoiling the shit out of her as soon as she wakes up. My mate sh
EmmaWhen I wake up, I’m not in my family’s trailer. This room is too big and too white, and there’s a beeping sound coming from beside me. Is it a hospital?It takes a while for my eyes to adjust, but when I do, I realize I’m not alone. Alpha Reed is sitting on the chair beside my bed, looking up when he notices I’m awake.The mate bond immediately hits me, and I can feel his emotions as if they were my own: he is worried about me.“How are you feeling?” he asks.Since I’m at the hospital and he must have been the one who brought me here, I don’t bother to lie. He must know I’m pregnant by now.“Not good,” I admit. “Is the baby…?”“The baby is okay,” he says, not even showing a sign of surprise as he says it.I smile, but it’s a sad smile. “So then you know…”“That’s why you came to the event, wasn’t it? To tell me that you’re carrying my child?”“Yes,” my heart flutters. This isn’t how I thought this conversation would go, but Reed is extremely calm and gentle with me. It makes it e
EmmaEvery brain cell is fried within my head. I know nothing about being a Luna and leading a pack, but Reed is my mate, and I believe in the moon goddess!“Yes!” I squeak. “I will marry you!”His smile is breathtaking. It lights up his whole face and reaches right up to his blue eyes.“I’m glad you said yes,” he gently slips the ring onto my finger. It fits perfectly, which is scary. It’s almost as if he somehow knew my measurements. Before I can bring that up, he continues speaking. “I wouldn’t have taken no for an answer, but your yes makes things easier.” His eyes twinkle with mirth, a hint of that cocky self-assuredness that I find infuriating and endearing all at once.“But,” I stammer, looking at the ring on my finger and then back at him. “You haven’t got approval from the council and...”He places a finger over my lips, silencing me mid-sentence. “Let me worry about the council,” he says gently, brushing a stray lock of black hair from my forehead. “For now, all I want is
EmmaA day later, I'm finally strong enough to leave the hospital. Reed isn’t inside my room as I'm folding the clothes I got to borrow but speaking to the doctors while I’m dreading what will happen next. My parents aren’t going to be happy with me. I never came back home after telling my Mom I was going to help Lily, and now I’ve spent three days at the hospital—if I so enter our trailer, I will get beaten to death. And what about my job and Alpha Jackson? If I’m not working, I can’t repay my Dad’s debt. That must mean my Alpha is furious with me. And by not showing up at my job, I’ve probably put Lily in trouble. “Everything okay?”I look up to see Reed enter my room. “Y-yeah, just a bit nervous.” I force a smile, but I get the feeling Reed can see right through me. He knows I’m anxious, and even if he didn’t, the mate bond would tell him. Still, he doesn’t demand to tell me what’s wrong. He calmly walks over to me and smiles. “Your friend, Lily, has been here a couple of time
Emma“You got to be kidding me,” I whisper the second my eyes land on Reed’s ride. If there were any doubts about Reed Walton being rich before, there sure as hell isn’t any now. His car looks so new and expensive that I’m afraid simply sitting in the passenger seat might decrease its value. Reed chuckles at my flabbergasted expression with his blue bedroom eyes dancing over my features, and I immediately experience palpitations. Will I ever get used to Reed being my mate?With his masculine square jaw, perfect nose, and charming half-smile, the man is downright gorgeous. There are also crinkles at the corner of his eyes when he smiles that—moon goddess knows why—I find sexy as hell.“It’s just a car,” he says, but the look in his eyes tells me he knows just how much more than “just a car” it is.Bitterness churns within me. “A car that costs more than my family’s trailer…”“Hmm?”“Never mind,” I mutter as I approach the shiny thing. “If I scratch it or something, do you have insur
EmmaAs the limo starts moving, I lean back in my seat, my genius mind formulating a devious plan. Lily and Leon are mates, and therefore, I have to make them tie the knot…err, not literally speaking. Anyway! It will be an unorthodox pairing, a werewolf and an angelic familiar, but that doesn’t matter. I’m sure Lily’s family would adore Leon. And it’s not like he is a bad mate!No, no, Leon is good-looking and strong—Suddenly, a loud gasp echoes through the limo’s spacious interior, interrupting my musings. I turn to find Lily with her hand clapped over her mouth, her eyes wide as she points out of the window.“Look!” she exclaims, all thoughts of Leon seemingly forgotten as we pass a designer boutique. Dresses of all colors and styles can be seen through the large display window. “I’ve always wanted to shop there!”The excitement in her voice is infectious. Her earlier blush and shyness evaporate as she grins at me, her eyes twinkling with anticipation.“We are stopping there first
Emma“Alright,” I say. I don’t usually give up easily, but this time, I will trust in my mate. “I will trust your judgment on this.”Reed grins at me like he has won the lottery. “You won’t regret this, sweetheart. Trust me on that.”“...you better be right,” I mutter. He chuckles. “I know I am.”With Reed watching me like a hawk, I get ready to start my day. He doesn’t leave me alone, though, and I roll my eyes when he wrinkles his nose at my choice of clothing. “Something wrong with what I’m wearing?”“Yes,” he says. “You could wear something way sexier,” his eyes are on my breasts. “Something that brings out your curves, you know.”“I don’t have anything to do that,” I tell him. “At least not yet.”His lips curl into a wolfish smile. “But you will get some from your shopping round today?”“Maybe.”“For me?”I roll my eyes again. It makes me happy that my mate finds me attractive enough to want me to wear sexy clothes, but I’m not used to being asked to wear that sort of stuff. “
EmmaIt feels nice coming back to the mansion. Leon hugs me the second he sees me, and even though I can feel Reed getting jealous behind us, he doesn’t intervene. I need to form a strong bond with my familiar, and Reed must understand that on some deeper plane. The day continues with Reed attending some late-night meetings with the council while I spend time with Leon in the garden. It’s still too cold outside to plant anything, but we find pots in the shed and bring them to my room since they can be used for indoor planting. We select seeds of various plants- lavender, mint, basil, and tiny roses -that we could grow in the confines of the room, a mini garden of our own.By midnight, Reed returns from his council meeting, looking exhausted yet satisfied with how it went. Leon has been given his own room, and we are entirely alone. Reed looks at my greenhouse corner with an amused expression.“Our room is turning into a greenhouse, Emma,” he says as he sits down on the bed, laughing
EmmaI’m totally spent and exhausted after Reed ate me out. My eyes are locked on the entrance of the cave, watching through my ragged breaths the water come down while Reed is snuggling me from behind. He is the big spoon, and a flutter goes through me when his hand strokes my belly. “What are you thinking about?” he asks. I breathe a laugh. “That I’m too weak to walk.”He chuckles. “All according to plan.”“You planned this?”I feel him shrug behind me. “If you can’t walk, you can’t leave the cave and must spend more time with me. I see it as a complete win.”I snort. “I can’t tell if you’re joking.”“I’m not,” there’s a possessive note in his voice. “It was my idea to get you a familiar, but now, after seeing Leon, I realize you and I need a stronger bond.”“Oh?” I ask in a teasing tone. “Scared I will cheat?”Reed pinches my butt, and I yelp. “Hey, stop that!” I swat at his hand and turn around to glare at him. But he doesn’t look one bit sorry. “If you don’t want to get pinch
Emma“Are you coming or what?” Reed asks, causing me to glare daggers at him. There’s a teasing note in his voice, and when I see his smirk, I know the bastard is up to no good. Those blue eyes of his might look innocent, but I know better than to underestimate my perverted mate. Reed knows I won’t be able to resist him if I sit down in his stupid lap. If we are that close and intimate, it will be impossible not to breathe him in, and after I’ve done that, well…consider me a goner because my pregnancy hormones are messing with my head. I’m already aroused, and I haven’t even touched him yet!“Reed,” I sigh, still shivering slightly from the chill. “I swear if you start getting ideas...”He holds up his hands in a mock surrender, an innocent smile dancing across his face. “Who, me? I’m only offering to keep you warm, Emma.”It’s tempting - too tempting. I hesitate for a second before scooting over and gingerly settling on his lap. His warm, muscular arms fold around me in a strong em
EmmaReed looks at me like I’ve suggested he open his jaws and rain fire over me. He doesn’t seem comfortable with the idea of letting me, his pregnant mate, climb up on his back at all. It’s actually rather endearing how caring he is in his dragon form. I wonder if dragons are naturally more prone to protectiveness?“One tiny little ride. I won’t hold on too tight and scratch your scales, I promise,” I implore, gazing up at Reed with eyes that I hope reflect my sincerity, although they may also reflect a hint of mischief.In response, Reed sighs—a great rush of air that sends my dark hair billowing around my face.It doesn’t look like he is going to let me ride on him, but then I pout like a puppy, and he rolls his eyes. His three heads have a silent conversation with each other, their gaze flickering between themselves and me.After what feels like an eternity, Reed crouches down to allow me easier access to his back.I watch him, slightly awestruck at his understanding. “Really?” I
EmmaAs the light fades, I squint in Reed’s direction and step back when I hear loud screeching. It doesn’t come from one creature, but three large dragon heads that are glaring at each other as if not getting along. “Holy shit…” I back into Leon’s chest with my neck craned to stare up at Reed. His human form is gone, replaced by a towering, draconic beast that’s almost bigger than the entire mansion. My inner wolf whines at my mate’s size, and my eyes widen as I take him in as a whole. His skin is covered in shimmering bronze scales that glint with every color imaginable as they catch the sun. Majestic and grand wings from his back are casting a shadow that darkens the entire garden. He has three heads, each unique and terrifying in its own right.“I’ve heard two new heads grow out of a hydra if you destroy one of them,” Leon whispers. “Hydra dragons are truly fascinating.”I gulp. “Y-yeah, and scary.”Reed’s heads are snapping at each other, causing me to shrink further into Leo
EmmaOnce we are back at Reed's mansion, Leon's whole face lights up in excitement. "This place is amazing!" he exclaims when he sees the interior and the many paintings of the Alphas and Lunas who led the Grim pack before Reed. "I'm glad you like it," I smile up at my angel companion. "I actually haven't lived here for very long, so I'm quite shocked every time I look around this place. It's so fancy."Leon's golden eyes meet mine. "Where did you live before moving here?""Oh," an embarrassed blush spreads over my face. I know Leon isn't asking to pry, but the truth stings. “I…umm…I lived in a trailer park with my family.""What's a trailer?" Leon asks before Reed steps in and pulls me into his embrace. "It's a sort of mobile home," Reed replies, his eyes kept on Leon but his hands all over me. It's as if Leon's presence is making him feel territorial. His fingers trace a comforting path along my back as he speaks. "Emma lived there because her family didn't have much money.""Ahh
EmmaAfter eating the most luxurious breakfast I’ve ever had, Reed and I drive out of the city.His contact, who sells familiars, lives in the forest. According to Reed, she is an old witch with the ability to open portals between worlds. That’s how she finds creatures that normally don’t exist in our world.“Are you nervous?” Reed asks me as he makes a right turn. The road is surrounded by trees.“A little…” I admit, and when he glances at me, I realize he expects a longer answer. A sigh leaves my lips. “Will the familiar even be happy to serve? I don’t want to buy a familiar and wind up having a familiar that sees itself as a slave.”“Angora only sells creatures that exist to serve,” Reed assures me with his eyes on the road. “She finds those who have been thrown away by the family they used to serve, but sometimes, in rare cases, she takes in baby creatures that will make excellent pets.”“Pets?”“Magical cats or pigs,” he shoots me a smile. “But you want a mighty creature that can