Dylan “Oh, Dylan, love, I’m so sorry,” My mom wrapped her arms around me, but I didn’t squeeze her back, worried that if I did, I’d shatter completely. I didn’t have the luxury of showing my hurt. I was the Alpha-in-training. I wouldn’t show weakness, not even to my parents. My dad was the first to mention practicalities. “We’ll take care of canceling the caterers, but I think it’ll be best if you talk to the pack later.” Hardening my stare, I said, “Thanks. And yes, I’ll tell them later.” My jaw clenched, and I added, “But it’s not over. We can talk more about all of this later.” I didn’t miss the worried look my parents exchanged, which said that there was nothing to talk about. Nothing could be done, not if Cherry had rejected the mating bond between us. But needing space, I left them, stalking down the path to my own house. I realized that it was only now, with my heart feeling like shrapnel in my chest, that I knew what it wanted. It wanted its mate. I wanted Cherry. I’d fal
Cherry Seven Years Later Afternoon light flooded my art studio as I traipsed up the stairs into the airy space. Maisy, my assistant designer, trailed behind me, slower as she gingerly ascended with a gown draped across her arms as though it were made of glass. “Put it on the mannequin, and you can get on with the alterations this afternoon,” I said. “Sure thing,” Maisy chirped. My heels clicked over the hardwood floors, and I folded myself gratefully into my desk chair. I didn’t think I’d sat down all day. My gaze tracked to the dress Maisy was draping over the mannequin. The striking burgundy gown was a bespoke number made for the actress AJ West. She’d requested me to make something for the BAFTA award ceremony she was attending as a nominee. It wasn’t for another month, and I was pleased with the fitting we’d just had with AJ and that the final alterations had been agreed on. I slipped one foot out of my heels, massaging its arch with my other foot. The downside to designing
Cherry “Crisis averted,” I said to Maisy, who was eyeing me with a knowing smile as I got off the phone. “Carl’s getting her.” “Ooo, another dinner date with Carl,” my assistant said suggestively as she got to work on the dress. I rolled my eyes but couldn’t fight the smile from spreading across my face again. As I prepped the necessary books for the interns, got out samples of material, and set my designs on the long white table we’d be working at, I felt my excitement growing about Carl and the future that was developing. It was seven o’clock by the time I let myself into my apartment. The students had kept me until five, and then I’d had to check over the takings for my store below before closing up for the evening. As I slipped off my heels in the hall, I felt a sigh of contentment as I stole barefoot down the hall and into the kitchen. Two almost full dinner plates rested on the kitchen table, and I frowned. “Carl?” Just then, Carl darted into the kitchen, wide-eyed, and hi
Cherry I hurried off to the cash register to serve the next customer. It was Saturday, so I was doing overtime in my store. It had taken me the last year to find and train Nina and Kendra, my two sales assistants, to my satisfaction. But Kendra was expecting her first baby now and had asked for the weekends off. I was in the process of interviewing for a new sales assistant for the weekends and to cover Kendra’s maternity leave, but until I found someone suitable, I had to cover it. By five o’clock, I’d left Nina to lock up and returned home. With fantasies of stripping out of the tight black dress and heels I wore, ideas about dinner zipped through me. Deciding I was too tired to cook, I pictured the excitement on Fern’s face when I told her we’d order in. As I traipsed up the stairs to my second-floor apartment, a grassy, woody scent filled my nostrils. The aroma tugged at something deep inside me, conjuring up long- buried memories: lush farmlands with hedgerows. I stopped dead on
Cherry Still dazed but obviously feeling flustered about zoning out, my nanny readily agreed. But Fern stomped her feet, point blank, refusing to go to her room. It was only when I suggested they make some chocolate milk and have a tea party with her teddies that she submitted. I also had to agree to her demand that once Bert and I had talked business, I’d let her say goodbye to him. Once again, I scowled at Bert, annoyed that he’d somehow managed to get Fern to like him in one brief meeting. Thoughts about how impossible it had been to get my daughter to warm to any of my past suitors made me even more angry with him. Finally, safely coaxed into her room by Lara, and with the door shut, I was left to confront Bert. Shrugging off my jacket and slipping out of my heels, I padded into the living room. My hands settled on my hips. “You know, it’s rude to barge into someone’s house uninvited.” He shrugged. “Kinda gave up on ever getting invited after the first five years.” My face b
Cherry As Bert and I broke apart, my friend’s easy-going grin triggered a matching one on my face. “What?” I asked. “Sooo, Fern’s a fire-cracker, ain’t she?” I chuckled but reminded myself I still needed to tread carefully. I gestured to the sofa, inviting Bert to sit down and using the moment to get a grip on my anxiety. I thanked my lucky stars that I’d taken the precaution to conceal Fern’s shifter scent. I’d gone to a witch in Berlin’s Mitte district, who’d given me medicine to block my daughter’s scent to others with unnatural abilities. But I knew I mustn’t reveal any nervousness before my friend about my daughter, or he’d get suspicious. “She certainly keeps me on my toes,” I started. Bert’s keen blue eyes took me in, and he didn’t ask, but the silence filled with the unasked question about where Fern’s father was. Knowing it was important for me to broach the subject first before my friend could ask whether she was Dylan’s, I leaped into the topic. “I met Fern’s dad, a hu
Cherry I rolled my eyes at his shifter joke but observed Fern’s disappointment fall over her face. Trying to distract her, I suggested, “Bert heard about your Star of the Week Certificate. Want to go get it for him?” Fern nodded, her dark eyes hovering hopefully on Bert as she smiled and shot off to get her award. My heart lurched in my chest as I contemplated that longing look on my little girl’s face. I realized Bert was watching me closely. “Sorry, it’s tough on her,” I said. “Sometimes, I wish she had more than me.” Bert’s eyes were somber. “She does seem to really want a father figure. Have you…” He hesitated. “Are you seeing anyone?” My stomach twisted uncertainly. I sighed. “I’m seeing someone, but it’s still early days. I’m still not sure how I feel about him, to be honest.” At the thought of Carl, I realized I should probably call him later, to let him know I’d be out of the city for a week. Especially given his declaration the other night. Wanting to deflect the atte
Cherry Before my mom passed away, we’d spent some of the happiest weekends there, enjoying the glass sculptures and lush gardens illuminated by lights in the dusk. Bittersweet memories of my mom and dad’s smiling faces as they wandered around the place occupied me. Feeling nostalgic, I wondered about revisiting those artworks while I was visiting. Maybe my dad or Bert would be up for coming with me. I wondered if I could use the place as inspiration for a new range of designs next summer. The exhibition’s bright color palette amidst the amber lights had always reminded me of summer blending into fall. I mused about coming back to Seattle for photo shoots with my next clothing line, but my stomach somersaulted. I remembered the text from Bert I’d received during my stopover in London while waiting for my connecting flight. I scooped my phone out of my handbag and opened his text: I didn’t want to overwhelm you when I visited you, but I need to give you the heads up before you get to
Giovanni's PerspectiveI sat in my office, brow furrowed, with papers piled as high as a mountain in front of me. My fingers absently scratched across the desk, and my eyes occasionally flicked to the stacks of pending paperwork, but my mind was far from them.Ever since Diana joined the company, my heart has never been at ease. Every day, her familiar figure, always within my line of sight, seemed to remind me of a long-forgotten past. An unspeakable feeling, one that had quietly begun to grow, spread deep within my chest.I don't want to
Fern's Perspective"Diana, good morning." A clear greeting interrupted my thoughts. I turned to see the manager who had called my name and tried to offer a natural smile. She was my immediate supervisor, Marianne, and while she had a kind face, it was clear that she was not someone to be easily overlooked."Good morning, Marianne," I replied with a smile, doing my best to keep my voice steady.I then turned and walked into the office. Before me was a modern work environment: spacious desks, rows of computer screens, and neat shelves filled
Fern's PerspectiveWhen I got home, I sat at the dining room table, staring down at the newspaper in front of me while my mind wandered far away. Giovanni's face, those deep eyes, and the aura that surrounded him seemed to pull me back to a past I couldn't escape. I had been so happy to see Giovanni, to feel the way he looked at me, and yet now, it felt like a distant memory."Mom, how was the interview today?" Daniel suddenly jumped up from the couch beside me, looking at me mischievously.I froze for a moment, then forced a smile. "It wa
Giovanni's PerspectiveI sat in my spacious office, a mountain of papers piled in front of me. My fingers absentmindedly skimmed over the pages without truly registering their contents. Distracted, my gaze would often drift toward the window, where I imagined the bustle of the world outside. It had been a long time since I'd taken over the pack, and moments of inattention like this were rare for me.Today's meeting had left me drained. The pack elders had engaged in a heated debate over my decision to choose a Luna, knowing full well that some of them didn't want me to make a rational choice. As a werewolf alpha, I under
Fern's Perspective I sat on a couch in the office lobby, my hands instinctively tightening around the strap of my bag. My interview hadn't even started yet, and all around me, the soft murmur of whispered conversations filled the air as candidates discussed various questions. I stared at my phone screen, but my heartbeat refused to slow. Suddenly, I heard a familiar name. "I heard this company was founded by Alpha Giovanni of the Dark Howl Pack. In just a few short years, it's become one of the most influential companies out there," a girl whispered. "Yeah, I heard his business tactics are as ruthless as he was when he was Alpha of the pack," another added. "..." My heart sank, and in an instant, the murmur of voices around me faded. The name echoed in my mind. Giovanni—the man who had touched my heart so deeply, the man who had given me everything, and yet, had left me scarred. How did he end up here? This company was founded by him. My mind immediately flooded with memo
Tobias' PerspectiveMy gaze involuntarily returned to his stoic face, and a flicker of unease stirred in my chest.There I stood, half in shadow, my eyes fixed on Giovanni sitting behind the desk. His posture was as rigid as a stone, silent and solitary, blending seamlessly with the somber atmosphere of the room. The air felt cold, and his presence made the silence almost suffocating.This man—once my friend, once the leader of our pack—was now nothing more than an empty shell, devoid of emotion.
Tobias' PerspectiveI stood in the doorway of Giovanni's office, took a deep breath, and then knocked gently on the door."Come in."His voice was cold, with an undeniable air of authority.I grasped the doorknob and gently pushed the door open, stepping into the lavishly furnished office, its atmosphere chilled. The scent of paper and leather hung in the air, and sunlight poured in through the heavy curtains, but it couldn't dispel the cold silence that env
Fern's PerspectiveOliver walked over to the table and bristled, as if he thought he had done nothing wrong. "As I've said many times, he's just too naughty and needs some training. Otherwise, sooner or later, his own wolfishness will crush him." His usual cold expression matched his typical, less-than-congenial demeanor, giving off an unapproachable air."You're too mean," I said with a blank look, though my heart was full of gratitude. At least he hadn't given up on Daniel's training, and that gave me some comfort. Even though my past had been full of pain and regret, Oliver always made me feel a touch of warmth.
Fern's PerspectiveSunlight poured through a gap in the curtains, casting a warm glow on the floor next to the bed. The ringing of the alarm clock yanked me out of my slumber like a bolt of lightning. My eyes snapped open, my mind racing as I tried to cling to the remnants of sleep, but all I could see was the familiar sight of my room—the wall clock already reading 7:30.Today, I have an important interview.The words echoed in my mind, urging me to leap out of bed. I rubbed my face quickly, then sprang to my feet, my movements hurr