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
Cherry “Darling, all my friends are here,” he said. “There are preternatural areas in Berlin, too,” I said brightly. “The Mitte District is the main one with many witches and warlocks trading there. And I’ve met a few shifters hanging out in the area too.” The area was where I’d gone to find the scent blocker for Fern. I knew my dad wouldn’t cope well adjusting to spending too much time in human society, so I wanted him to know that Berlin had a thriving preternatural community too. “I’ve still got my work here with the pack, love,” My dad continued. “And I don’t think another pack would hire an old codger like me,” he said. I kicked myself for not being considerate about how much it would mean relocating. My father had worked for the Starsmoon Pack his whole life. He was in his late fifties now, and I had to admit relocating cities for him meant starting over completely, with friends, home, and work. But the truth was I had to tell my dad about Fern because sitting around with bo
CherryMy gaze tracked over Dylan’s tall, muscular body. Dressed in black trousers and a dark blue shirt, he looked as gorgeous as I remembered. But my memories hadn’t prepared me fully for how arresting his rugged handsomeness was. I noticed his strong jaw and proud forehead were even more evident now that he wore his hair shorter.In danger of staring at him too long, I was pleased I had something I needed to do. My dad had reminded me about the pack custom I’d forgotten: giving a gift to the new Alpha. It was customary on first seeing the new Alpha of the pack to bestow something homemade on him. When I’d arrived at my dad’s house, I’d been flustered at the thought of having nothing homemade other than the dresses I’d packed. None of which were exactly appropriate for Dylan.But my dad had come to the rescue by giving me a bottle of his homemade wine. Something that was in the tote bag on the kitchen counter in front of me.I stepped towards Dylan and gifted him the bottle. “For th
CherryFinally, I said, “That’s you all done, Lucy.” I resolved that I’d happily bear any number of fittings with my high-maintenance celeb clients instead of fittings with Dylan’s mate.With the she-devil done, Lucy slipped her heels back on before ushering Dylan over to me.As she did so, she commented amusedly, “Lord, you two look so funny. You managed to reach me, Cherry, but I don’t know how you’re going to get Dylan’s measurements.”I knew she was making a dig about Dylan and me being an ill-fitting couple, but I simply commented, “Don’t worry, I know all the tricks of the trade. A client like Dylan requires specialist equipment.” Moving a dining chair from the edge of the room, I stood on it so that I could reach Dylan’s neck easily.I felt Lucy’s gaze lingering on me, but as I settled steadily into the rhythm of measuring Dylan’s shoulders, she grew bored. She retreated to the desk where her mate had sat before, and her attention fell to her phone screen.A smile threatened as
Cherry I snuck out the front door almost as soon as I returned downstairs. Only a quick goodbye to Heather and Chris detained me. Bert seemed to realize my need to get out of there and, thankfully, followed me out. When we climbed into his truck, he was mercifully quiet, too, not taxing me with talk. Just as well, given that my head was so full of Dylan’s words, I doubted I’d be able to form one coherent sentence. I kept seeing his furrowed brow as he confessed to me that he wasn’t happy. My breath had hitched in my chest to witness the familiar tension thrumming through his body at being cornered. My heart ached for him as he told me he’d agreed to this match with Lucy only out of a sense of duty. Part of me was infuriated at his disclosure, too because I had thought that by walking away and freeing him from a mate he hadn’t chosen, he’d have found happiness. Confusion whipped through me. But he hadn’t. He seemed even more at war with himself than when we had been together. When
Dylan Her suspicious look slowly faded away, and with a gentle smile, she said, “Mine too, Dylan, but… will your wolf behave himself if I take the last two measurements I need?” I huffed a laugh, wanting to reassure her more than I wanted to touch her. “I promise he’ll behave.” Stepping forward, she kneeled down in front of me, measuring the width of my thigh, then my knee. I’d fantasized about Cherry so much over the years, wondering what I’d say to her if I found myself with an opportunity like this one. But, excruciatingly, now that she was actually here, I was hopelessly tongue-tied. It didn’t help that my wolf that I’d just promised would behave, rumbled with approval at Cherry’s position, kneeling in front of me. The Alpha beast in me wanted to dominate the beautiful creature in front of me. The urge to push her down on the floor and take her in my arms was in danger of overshadowing my rational mind. The hunter within me seemed to creep up and down in
Cherry But the banquet hall had been cleared of its huge table, leaving rows and rows of seats, and an aisle between them, up to a stage. Behind the stage, the huge balcony, open to the blue sky, provided a beautiful backdrop. The different décor and the fact that lots of my old friends surrounded me with merry chatter distracted me from the past. Bert went up nearer the stage, taking a seat in the front row, but I chose to stay nearer the back of the room, determined to keep out of the limelight. At the rear of the room here, another balcony lay open. A welcome breeze dampened the heat caused by the large gathering and the mild day. When the old Alpha walked into the room and down the aisle, the pack stilled, and we all took our seats. Heather came next, the old Alpha and Luna, turning to look at us all from the stage. My heart tripped over itself as Dylan strode down the aisle next. In a tuxedo, he was devastatingly handsome, but I recognized the power and presence he exuded too
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