Cherry
Our whole pack was seated around a huge banquet table, draped in crisp white linen and decorated with candles and flowers. A feast of rich dishes rested along the middle, which the pack had all pitched in to make, and were all enjoying now.
Despite the festive mood, my own was strained. I sat to the left of Dylan. He was to the right of his father, while Heather sat to Chris’s left. I felt like Dylan, and I were supposed to be the mirror image of our Alpha and Luna, but creeping shame built in me. I couldn’t help noticing how often Heather leaned in to talk to Chris or patted her husband’s arm and other little signs of affection that marked the pair as a proper couple.
Whereas Dylan and I had barely exchanged two words all night. Dylan mostly talked to his father about pack business. The only time I managed to speak to him was to ask if he’d tried the salmon or venison and other dull things.
A sheen of sweat beaded along my forehead as I dwelled on what everyone must be thinking as they watched us. My skin crawled, and I felt as if the whole pack’s eyes were on me, despite everyone being too busy enjoying themselves.
The banquet was to die for. Heather, our Luna, had spared no expense in celebrating her husband’s fiftieth birthday. The whole pack was gathered in the huge open-plan reception room of our Alpha and Luna’s house. The building was a converted barn, but none of its agricultural roots showed. The airy, high-ceilinged space would have looked at home in the richest areas of downtown Seattle. We were on the second floor, with huge balconies on either end, thrown open to the starry night sky.
I fidgeted with the strap of my dress. I’d been blown away as I’d put on the silver number tonight. It hugged my every curve, falling around me like a waterfall in the moonlight. But I was uncomfortable because Heather had given it to me. She’d told me she’d worn it at her Moon Ceremony, saying it would mean a lot if I wore it tonight. But now, it only added to that hot, prickly feeling washing over me. I was a pale imitation of what Heather was. I didn’t deserve to wear this because Dylan didn’t want me as his mate.
A lump rose in my throat, but then Bert’s voice sounded beside me, “Do you think John’s ever gonna lay off the ribs?”
I followed my friend’s gaze, biting my lip to hide a smile. John, one of the older members of the pack opposite, was tucking into his third plate of red meat. The man had terrible gout but was notoriously bad at restraint. John often joked it was his wolf’s appetite. I smothered a laugh as John’s wife nagged him.
Bert’s steady stream of chatter had been tonight’s saving grace, the only thing able to distract me from my worries.
But, in a second, my amusement vanished. Chris, our Alpha, pushed back his chair. He tapped the side of his glass quietly. Discomfort sluiced through me.
It was Chris’s birthday. There was no reason for my nervousness. The pack was here for their Alpha.
“As you know, I pride myself in making my speeches like my wife, short and sweet.”
Laughter tittered through the pack at the familiar joke, but unease crawled across my skin. I couldn’t shake the fear that I was about to be dropped into the limelight. Heather’s eyes met mine, a warm smile on her face as if to say we had so much in common. Because I shared her petite build, I’d been able to borrow Heather’s dress. But we weren’t the same. Not in what counted.
My eyes crept towards Dylan, only to find his dark eyes staunchly turned away from me. Sadness cloyed at me as I saw again how indifferent he was to me.
Our Alpha’s speech continued, “Nothing makes me happier than seeing the whole pack together and having my loving Luna and wonderful son and heir beside me.
“But, perhaps, there is one thing to make me happier still, something that I’ll take the opportunity to share now since we’re all gathered together. Nuu-Chah has made it known to me that our wonderful Cherry will soon officially join our family. I’d like you all to join me in toasting Dylan and Cherry, whose Moon Ceremony will take place in three months.”
My heart rocketed into my throat. Its furious thumping seemed to compete with the gasps and applause erupting around me.
Our pack’s smiling faces pressed in around me, and I realized they were raising their glasses to drink to Dylan and me. “To Cherry and Dylan,” the words engulfed me, my gaze tracking to my “mate.”
I felt my brittle smile falter as his jaw clenched. Tension stiffened his wide shoulders, and his gaze hardened as he looked my way.
I longed for the floor to swallow me whole. I couldn’t stand this.
Our Moon Ceremony would happen in three months, and still, there was no sign of Dylan’s feelings changing towards me. I felt like I was drowning beneath everyone’s scrutiny. I imagined what they must be thinking. Their unspoken words seemed to buzz in my head. “Our future Alpha doesn’t even like her. Poor Dylan—he’s not attracted to her. Do you think it’s a mistake? Do you think the Alpha and Luna misinterpreted Nuu-Chah’s wishes?”
On shaky feet, I forced myself to stand alongside Dylan, who was already shaking hands with his father, who clapped him on the back. Heather’s arms were suddenly around me. I fought back tears.
I will not cry.
“I hope you didn’t mind me giving you the dress tonight. You can see it as a dress rehearsal for the real day, or you’re welcome to choose your own dress if you want something new,” Heather said.
I shook my head and managed to say, “I love it. I’d love to wear it on the day.”
My Luna beamed at me with touching fondness.
Cherry As if underwater, I heard Heather and Chris’s voices telling Dylan and me to go and join the party. The pack’s excitement flooded the room. Someone had set music playing, the pounding beat like the jackhammer of my heart. Everything around me seemed to blur. A wall of well-wishers surrounded me for what felt like an eternity. With each exchange, my breath caught more sharply. It barely registered as my dad found me, pulling me into a giant bear hug. In his arms, my feelings threatened to spill out, but more excited arms soon tugged me onward. Finally, at the edge of the room, the space around me was clear of friends. I take a step, only to find myself teetering as if walking on unstable ground. Belatedly, I realized that I was, somehow, beside Dylan. He must have come out the other side of the pack, too. Instinctually, my arm reached out to him, curving around his but Dylan tensed. A frown marred his handsome brows, and he pushed me away as if unable to bear my touch. I gape
Cherry Dylan was heavy. Luckily, he was lucid enough to walk, albeit with lurching steps. He was so tall compared to my petite frame. My head only came up to his chest. Even in the heels I wore, he towered over me. Now and then, his big hand flopped against my neck or down my back as he steadied himself. By keeping an arm around his waist, I guided him in the right direction and kept him upright. Within a few short minutes, we were at our door. It suddenly dawned on me that I’d left my coat, with my keys, at Dylan’s parents. “Fuck,” I swore. Dylan let out a deep laugh, and my eyes darted up to him. He stared down at me. “I haven’t heard you swear before.” With the way he blinked at me, you’d have thought I’d grown a second head. I reminded myself that he was drunk. He probably was seeing two of me. I sighed, “Well, now you have.” Irritation needled through me as the cold night stung my bare arms, neck, and back. Even Dylan’s body heat as he leaned on me couldn’t chase the cold aw
Cherry His fingers fell away, and I felt the head of his arousal press against my entrance. Its firm pressure was delicious. I opened to him completely. Gently, he drove into me, stretching me wider and wider. I felt a shudder of pain, but pressing my legs against his ass, I encouraged him further in. The discomfort was soon gone, and only his fullness was left. It was all I could think about. As he moved, I bucked against him, and it was the most exquisite pleasure I’d ever experienced. His breath was on my throat, his tongue trailing kisses down to the neckline of my dress. He dragged the silk up and over my head, stripping me of my bra too. Then his attention was on my breasts, kneading and nuzzling them. As he thrust into me and suckled, I spiraled over the edge. “Dylan,” I panted. I’d lost track of the number of times I’d come apart when he found his own release, letting out a groan and spilling hot inside me. *** When I blinked my eyes open, it took me a moment to convince
Dylan I lumbered into the loft: the open-plan office was where I spent a large portion of time. The Starsmoon kept a complex of buildings here in which to manage our various businesses. We ran a diverse range of trades, which allowed our community to be autonomous and sustain us. We managed a few farms, a large amount of forestry, and a timber and silage business. All of these things required day- to-day admin tasks. Yet, I couldn’t focus on the dozen or so tasks that had racked up because all I could think about washer. Cherry. And the spectacular mess I’d made of things. I hadn’t thought it could get any worse than playing house and being trapped in a life I didn’t want. Well, it could. And it had. Through drunken sex, and my life had reached the breaking point. I swept a hand tiredly across my face, still feeling groggy from the party two nights’ ago. I didn’t usually drink much. A beer or two with Bert or the other guys in the pack was usually the limit. Whereas at the party,
Dylan I stiffened, feeling the weight of guilt settle on my shoulders. I didn’t dislike Cherry. But I couldn’t stand this feeling of being trapped in something I hadn’t chosen. I was a fucking Alpha, for Nuu-Chah’s sake. I gave the orders. I drummed my fingers on the desk, wondering how I could ever accept this. Then, a flash of Cherry, looking at me with her grey eyes, almost silver like the dress she’d worn the other night, shot through me. The memory of her gaze on me with such meaning, although it still caused my stomach to knot, also fired a note of desire through me. Maybe, just maybe, our path would bring us together. Maybe with time, I could grow to accept her. When Bert brought me my much-needed caffeine hit, I fired up the laptop, and my tasks engulfed me. The day flew by, and when I returned home with the dusk, it was with anticipation. I’d resolved to talk to Cherry: to try to patch things up for the sake of the future. For the sake of what we might be to each other giv
Cherry It was the day before the Moon Ceremony, and I felt sick to my core. Apprehension was wreaking havoc on my body. Inwardly, I chided myself. Why had I left it until the last minute to leave? But the logical reasons for doing so came to my rescue. These reasons had become something of a mantra for me over the last few days. As I packed the last of my stuff into the small carry-on suitcase, I reminded myself of them. Today’s flight from Seattle had been the cheapest I could find by far. On top of that, the scholarship I’d been lucky enough to be awarded for my tuition abroad would only start in the fall. Until then, I’d have to find a job for my living expenses. I had a small amount of savings that would give me a few weeks in a cheap backpacker’s hostel in Berlin until I secured a job, but it was hardly much. So, it had been safer to wait until the last minute. The worst-case scenario was that I had to live in a hostel for the summer months and work at whatever job I found befor
Dylan Rich said, “You don’t look well, Cherry. Maybe I should call Dylan.” “No,” I exclaimed, hearing the note of panic ringing in my tone. “No, I’m fine,” I tried more calmly, but I noticed Rich’s expression grow serious, and his eyes widened as he looked behind me. He’d caught sight of the suitcase on the back seat. Now both Rich and Sam were looking at me strangely. Worriedly, I realized. I steeled myself, and even though I knew they wouldn’t believe me, I said, “I’m fine. I’ll see you later.” I knew the guards wouldn’t dare stop me. As their future Luna, they respected me too much, but that didn’t mean they wouldn’t inform Dylan. Quickly, I climbed back into the car, started the engine and drove out of Lord Hills. Panic quickened my heart, and sweat dampened my forehead. I felt it slipping down my back beneath my thin T-shirt, as I cursed the narrow lanes that didn’t allow for much speed. As I trundled along, it felt like no time at all before a shape appeared in my rear vi
Dylan I clenched my fists together as I watched Cherry’s red car disappear around the bend. I cracked my jaw as I grasped that she’d really gone. I felt something rupture inside of me, and my wolf rose within me, howling in desolation. I felt the beast itching beneath my skin as if nipping and scratching to get out. Yet, I knew if I let my primal instinct take over, the beast would bolt after Cherry again. The urge warred within me, and it took all my strength to wrestle the lupine shadow into submission. I wouldn’t let it surface and chase after her. Not after she’d rejected me so resolutely. Instead, I returned at an ambling human pace, climbing over a gate into a field belonging to Starsmoon. But the vast and far-reaching fields I ordinarily found so full of space and freedom felt empty today. They no longer had Cherry in them. She was gone. The knowledge beat through me again like a quake through the earth. As I walked, the memory of her silver eyes, steely with resolve, made me
Fern's PerspectiveMy heart skipped a beat, and I immediately opened my eyes."...Fern..."His voice was faint, like the wind, yet it pierced my ears clearly. I jerked my head up to meet a pair of long-lost eyes.In an instant, my world collapsed.I threw myself into his arms, tears spilling uncontrollably, and finally let out a sob.—You're back."You're awake!" I was so overwhelmed with emotion that I nearly cried out, my tears already slipping down my cheeks.The corners of his mouth lifted slightly, a weak but warm smile forming. "Why... are you crying?""You were unconscious for so long... I thought..." I covered my mouth, unable to stop the sobs. All the strength drained from me in that moment, and I could no longer hold back. I jumped into his arms."I'm here..." he murmured weakly, gently stroking my back. "I'm back..."Giovanni's awakening shocked everyone. The pack received
Fern's PerspectiveHe's such a proud man. He's given so much to protect Daniel and me. He wouldn't just give up, would he?I forced myself to calm down, taking a deep breath before lifting my head with resolve."I want to see him."The hospital room was unnervingly quiet.He lay on the clean, white hospital bed, his face pale and bloodless. His chest rose and fell slowly, heavily. His once strong and powerful body was now covered in gauze and medical instruments, losing its former majesty.I slowly walked toward him, reached out, and gently held his hand. It was still warm, which reassured me, if only slightly."Can you hear me?" I murmured, my voice so soft it almost seemed to be swallowed by the wind.There was no response.I pressed my lips together, tears welling up in my eyes."You asked me to forgive you before, and I promised… so you can't just leave me like this." I choked out, my v
Fern's PerspectiveI rushed to catch up with Daniel in my arms, my heart pounding wildly, terrified beyond measure.He can't be okay… He can't be okay…The light in the hallway was dim and cold.Giovanni was wheeled into the emergency room, and the door slammed shut in front of me. I stood there, frozen, as if I had lost all strength."Mommy…" Daniel sobbed, tugging at my hand. Only then did I slowly snap back to reality, pulling him close and gently patting his back to soothe him. But my own body trembled slightly.Would he wake up?Would he open his eyes and look at me?I held Daniel tightly, my nails digging into my palms as I forced myself to stay calm. I can't break down. I can't let myself fall apart. But—"Fern," Tobias's voice rang out. He stood in the doorway of the emergency room, his gaze heavy with unspoken emotions."He…" My voice cracked. "He's going
Fern's PerspectiveHe should have been unconscious, but in that moment, he was like a demon returning from hell, furiously tearing through every enemy in his path. His body was still drenched in blood, with deep gashes on his back, exposing bone, yet he ignored the pain and ran toward me with single-minded determination.My heart raced in my chest, and once again, tears slipped down my face."Fern—!"He roared, throwing the last of the black-clad men aside and enveloping me in his arms. In that instant, it was as if I had truly come to life.But before we could catch our breath, Elena's laughter echoed in our ears."You really moved me, but…"She slowly raised the remote control in her hand, her eyes gleaming with twisted malice. "The game ends here."My pupils dilated in horror."Bomb countdown activated."Red lights blinked to life, and a sharp alarm blared from inside the warehouse
Fern's Perspective"Spare them..." His voice was low and raspy, as if the breath had been squeezed from deep within his throat—fragile yet firm.Elena laughed softly, her dagger at some point in her hand. The sharp tip of the blade gently slid down his cheek, leaving a fresh trail of blood on his already scarred skin. She leaned in close to him, whispering in his ear, "You really make me sick to my stomach, to have fallen this low. Didn't you always despise me? What now?"He didn't respond. He just opened his gray-blue eyes and gazed deeply into mine.My heart trembled.He was saying goodbye."No!" I struggled desperately, attempting in vain to rush toward him. But the man in black behind me held me down in an unrelenting grip, a cold gun barrel pressed against my back.Elena stood and turned to the henchman beside her, her tone chillingly calm. "Show him what humiliation truly means."Before I could reac
Fern's PerspectiveThe pungent stench of blood filled the entire warehouse, mixing with the rusty scent in the damp air, creating a nauseating atmosphere. My hands were bound behind my back, my knees sunk deep into the cold concrete floor, and my body had grown numb from the prolonged position. But the pain in my heart was unbearable, as if it were being scorched by an unrelenting fire, so intense that it stole my breath.Elena stood nearby, her heels echoing sharply on the ground like the bells of a death knell. She smiled, her narrow eyes glinting with the playful satisfaction of a victor, while several black-clad bodyguards behind her held Daniel down in a deadly grip. His mouth was gagged, and his eyes were wide with terror.But my gaze was fixed on the man before me—him, my MATE, my Alpha, the man I thought I'd never forgive in my life. Yet here he was, kneeling before Elena.I had never seen him so disheveled.His black
Fern's PerspectiveHowever, at that very moment, a loud bang shattered my thoughts—"BANG!" The warehouse door was viciously kicked open, sending dust flying and filling the air with a pungent, decaying smell. I instinctively opened my eyes, only to see a tall figure step through the doorway, standing frozen in the intersection of light and shadow, as if emerging from hell, radiating an unmissable aura.That figure was all too familiar to me—it was Giovanni.My heart skipped a beat, overwhelmed with a mix of surprise and pain. I hadn't expected Giovanni to be here, and even though I had long accepted that there was no going back to the past between us, seeing him in front of me still made my heart race and left me momentarily breathless.Elena clearly hadn't anticipated this turn of events either. My face immediately darkened, my gaze fixed on Giovanni like a viper's, and I drew a pitch-black pistol, aiming it menacingly at my
Fern's PerspectiveNight had fallen, and the air felt heavy with humidity, making it suffocating and uncomfortable. My heart raced faster than usual, and every step I took felt like it weighed a ton. My grip on the car keys tightened, and my eyes locked on the deserted warehouse ahead. I knew instinctively that nothing was going to be easy tonight, but there was no turning back. I didn't even let myself consider it.I tightened the collar of my jacket and took a deep breath, feeling a wave of suffocating pressure. Daniel's silhouette kept haunting my thoughts—the one closest to my bloodline, the one child who still didn't know who he truly was. I instinctively knew that no matter what challenges lay ahead, I couldn't allow Daniel to be harmed.The doors to the warehouse were closed, and a disconcerting silence hung in the air. I knew Elena had anticipated my arrival. As I approached the door, I gazed at the faded iron gate, hearing the bea
Fern's PerspectiveThere was a strange tension in the air when I got home. The moment I opened the door, a gust of icy wind hit my face. The house seemed unnaturally quiet, and the air felt thick and heavy. I couldn't shake the growing sense of unease rising in my chest.The place was a mess. Papers were scattered across the table, a few books had been knocked off the bookshelf, and shoes and clothes were strewn across the floor, suggesting that something had happened here. My heart sank as I quickly scanned the room, my eyes darting to every corner of the living room, searching for the one person I was most familiar with—my son, Daniel."Daniel?" I called out, my voice sounding weak as it echoed through the empty house, but there was no answer. My heart began to race, and my brow furrowed as I hurried through each room, checking every detail. The kitchen, the bedrooms, the bathrooms—everywhere was empty. There was no sign of Daniel.