It’s been a year. “Sue! Table 18, please.” “Coming!” I wiped my hands dry on my skirt before putting my hair in a bun and taking the tray of food settled on the countertop. I exited the kitchen and flashed Gabriella a smile as she took the orders of the customers. It’s been a year. “Quite a busy day today, Sue,” she grinned whilst chewing her gum, her eyes wrinkling at the sides. “Busy day means busy pockets, honey.” I walked to the 18th table and laid their order. “Is there anything else I can get you, sir, ma’am?” “Nothing more. Thank you.” “Sue, could you be a doll and attend to the dirty tables outside?” Victoria smiled while carrying dirty platters. Her wavy mint green hair was in a ponytail, swinging side to side. “Sure sure.” It’s been a year. It’s been a year since I went independent and on the run. It wasn’t easy at first, especially for a wolf whose nature is to be one with her pack. All the days and nights I spent myself crying, I’m glad everything seems to final
I can feel my heart pounding as I walk down the halls to his bedroom emitting horrid sounds no mated wolf would want to hear, especially when I clearly recognize the owner of the voices, the people behind the sounds breaking my heart. Patrice, my wolf, kept howling in my head. In pure agony she weeped, devastated by the betrayal of our mate, our supposedly other half. Hands trembling, tears dripping from my cheeks, I stopped in front of the door. The smell of cherries, honey, and jasmine reached my nose. The scent of my mate, the scent that used to calm me, the scent that's supposed to keep my head, was now mixed with the scent of the woman who never failed to ruin every good thing to happen to me. I can hear the bed inside creaking. Groans and moans of my mate, and groans and moans of the girl he knew I've always loathed. With the pain and anger I felt along with Patrice's, I kicked the door open in anger and there they were, doing the insufferable. Their bodies were entangled, ar
“I don’t think I look good,” I told Cynthia upon looking at myself in the mirror. "What are you talking about?," she basically exclaimed. "The dress looks absolutely gorgeous on you."Clothed on me was a red mermaid-like structured gown. It had a heart shaped low neckline, exposing more skin of my breaths. It hugged my body completely, only having the fluffs of the gown starting two inches above my knees, accentuating my figure very well, from my bust, to my waist, to my hips, and even bottom. It had not much detail on it, only a few golden streaks on the neckline. I looked at Cynthia's hopeful eyes. Her hands were intertwined, settling on her chin, her head tilting to the side as she looked at me in awe. She met my eyes and blinked a couple of times, her smile widening her cheeks could break. I sighed and she clapped her hands in joy. I got down the platform and got back inside the dressing room to change. We ended up purchasing a red and teal dress before going straight home.Cyn
Whispers filled the room as my pack alpha and luna made their way to their daughter. Even a few pack members made their way to her to check her. She was crying hard, a fucking actress, and my pack leaders glared at me and growled. My family came to me and gave them a deadly look. I knew my family would protect me no matter what. However, I was afraid of what our pack would do to them should they take my side. Tears swelled my eyes at the thought of them being tortured. "You hurt her!""You're such a bitch!""Have you not learned your lesson?!" I felt so small with everyone looking at me with disdain. Michelle kept on crying, trying to earn sympathy from everyone. "Arrest her!" our alpha ordered with a blank expression and I panicked. I turned to my family and knew we stood no chance. They couldn't help me with the majority against me. Davis held my arm firmly, and pulled me behind him as if he were shielding me from everyone. He was shaking his head while looking at everyone. I
Petrified looks were shot in the middle of the room. The look of horror could be seen on the faces of Alpha Fred, his luna, and their daughter. I could feel the hands of the guards gripping my arms go cold, they began shaking as the magnificent man let out a growl it felt like the earth shook. They bowed their heads further, exposing their necks of submission. Everyone in the room did and in instinct, I did as well. "Mate!"Hands shaking, knees trembling, palms sweating. I stared at his amber orbs, they held a mixture of rage and desire. My wolf was anxious, excitement rising and a mix of longing despite meeting for the first time. His amber eyes seemed like they would hold so much authority without effort. A tattoo was on his neck, to her exposed chest, his arms, and I wondered which part of him had ink. That thought alone made my wolf and myself feral, heat coming to my cheeks. His shoulders were broad, muscular to his arms, my thoughts wandered to how he could break me with his b
I woke up with a migraine no thanks to the lack of sleep I had, and mainly because I slept at 3 or 4 in the morning. Upon arriving home from the party they had let me come to my room, perhaps they knew I needed to digest everything. It took me hours, staring at the ceiling with my thoughts along with my wolf's all over the place. Happy, I was but then all the thoughts of tomorrow came rushing down to me like a waterfall. I had a mate! A new one! And that itself is something to be ecstatic about but then fear came. What if it's only a matter of time that he rejects me? Harris and I go way back but he said we will take it slow as to why he can't accept me just yet then. Told me to wait, only to be rejected and betrayed. Patrice whined at that thought. 'We have a new mate. He's different,' she said to me. Then the fact that Alpha Salazar Alfonso is a fucking Alpha not only of a pack but the Crimson Summit pack, practically the foundation of all the packs from last night. The backbone
Her wide smile, her cheeks stretched, her nose wrinkled, and her eyes, oh her eyes, sparked brightly. Her eyes. They were hazel olive like Salazar's. Fuck, I'm so stupid. "You must be Salazar's mate!" she was jumping before she ran up to me and held out her hand. "I'm Seraphina Alfonso. Salazar's mate, your future sister-in-law!"I was flabbergasted at how stupid I am, and how I could think of him like that when we barely know each other. I was sad. Harris left me a scar I cannot erase. Perhaps it may no longer sting in pain but the memory of him left a mark and trauma to me. I hope I'd be okay. "I'm so excited to meet you!" Seraphina forced my hand to shake hers and was gonna jump to hug me when I stopped her. "The shattered glass," I explained. "You might hurt yourself."She immediately looked down to the floor and shook her head and pulled me away from the shards. She crushed me in her arms and I didn't know how to react. I looked at Salazar with a puzzled look and he was lo
I was not completely drunk. I was not completely not myself. I was not numb, nor dumb. My senses were there, I can understand whatever that was happening around me. I could comprehend the atmosphere, and at that moment, it was deadly. My mate gave everyone in the room a deadly stare until everyone bowed their heads in submission. Again. Seriously? Is it always gonna be this way? "Salazar, it's okay," Seraphina said. "We were just having fun.""I didn't say you could speak," he growled at his sister who immediately shut up. "I will meet you in the car and we will discuss this when we get home."I hiccuped and snorted a little, gaining the Alpha's attention. He turned at me with his stern look and whispered on my ear, his warm breath and enchanting voice hypnotizing my whole being. "We'll talk too, mate," I squeeled when my stomach hit his broad shoulder. He began walking out of the club while carrying me like a sack of flour. Dizzy with a few drinks, and with him carrying me aroun
I was at lost of words. I was in shock. I was trembling as I cried while my mate held me closer to him. When his hands trailed from my shoulders down to my hands to hold them, I snapped and pulled myself away from him. I look at him with tears in my eyes while he remained emotionless. "I had to. I want to apologize but I couldn't help myself," I sobbed at what he said. "But it's done now." "No," my lips quivered when he reached for my face. "No." He looked at me helplessly. "Well, this was bound to happen anyway." I felt so helpless that I was hyperventilating. I felt numb. I felt beaten. Depressingly, everything seemed cloudy as Salazar picked me up and situated me in the car. He buckled my seatbelt before leaning closer to plant a kiss on his mark and I hissed at the sensation despite feeling some sort of void inside of me. I didn't know what to feel. What was I supposed to feel? Wasn't this the assurance I wanted? Wasn't this the assurance I needed? But he nee
"So, what was Jenny's punishment? And why are you punishing her?"Salazar wiped my thighs clean with a hanky before pocketing it. After Salazar have me a hickey, my heat came again and my mate was very willing to rid me of the pleasure. I was afraid this was becoming a habit of ours. "Her actions drove you by the edge of the cliff," he said with zero emotion in his voice. "I can't let it slide when I nearly lost you."Cue my heart going ba-dump. "But she's your friend since you were kids.""But she hurt my mate. No one gets away with that, love," he said and planted a kiss on my forehead ever so casually. "Where do you wanna eat?" "It's only 11, Salazar. I came here for my duties.""You're learning, I see," he nodded and walked to sit on his chair. "How about your duties as my mate? Any marking coming soon?""Funny.""I'm serious. I can mark you here now. The thought of you going to school where a lot of unmated wolves are does not sit very well with me. What if your heat comes aga
"Salazar? Is everything alright?" I walked closer to him and he just threw something to the side without breaking eye contact and without emotion in his face. "No problem here, Erin," he guaranteed and I had to stop myself from laughing. "Are you studying my favorite dish, Salazar?""Well, I figured it would be nice to give it a try. It would be nice to have a broad choices for our menu," he explained cool-y as he took off his apron. I had to clench my thighs together when his muscles flexed as he reached for the back if his ribbon. I had to look away from him in case I go to heat again. Although I had survived my first wave of heat, thanks to him, it doesn't mean it ends there. The purpose of going into heat is to push mates to mate and complete the bond. Thus, as long as I refuse and don't comply, my heat will come over and over until I give in. The wonder is how long I can stop myself when I'm not entirely ready. "How come your home early? How did your session go?""It went gr
I couldn't look at my mate directly in the eye after he wiped my thighs and hands clean. When I stood up, my legs were wobbly that I held on his arm for support. "Careful now, Erin," his hands were on my waist to steady me. "Erin?""Others call you Sue. I wanted to call you by a name only I get to," his orbs were now back to olive as he held my chin. I was stuck in a daze with his eyes when he cleared his throat. "So, did you like it?""What?" I blushed and he chuckled. "The breakfast I made you.""Oh, yeah I did. Thank you by the way. I didn't think you would remember.""Why wouldn't I? You told me about it.""I didn't think you were listening.""You were talking. Of course, I would listen. Isn't that what we agreed on? That I'd listen to you?""Sorry. Just wasn't used to it.""So did you enjoy it?""Yeah, I did. The fried rice tasted just like how my mom would cook it.""I'm not talking about that breakfast."I hit his arm in embarrassment and he just chuckled before pulling me c
TRIGGER WARNING! MATURE CONTENT!!!Read at your own risk.'Not interested huh.''Oh shut up. You're happy with this too.'Patrice snickered at my remarks but purred at the taste of our mate's cooking. How did I know our mate cooked it? Well, we don't have a chef. I was happily eating when Seraphina jumped in the room, flustered. "I can't take it anymore!"I jolted when the door hit the wall in a bang and even stopped eating to look at her. 'What's up with her?''No idea. She's been like this since she arrived yesterday.'"Sue!" she was crying without tears when she came to me and gave me a hug. "Is anything.. alright?""No!" she screamed and stood and paced in front of me while playing with her fingers. "I have no idea how to come from this, I have no idea what to do! I want to be with him, but he is just---!""Wait--you met your mate?""No-I mean-""When?!""Gosh!" I watched her as she buried her face in her palms and slumped on my bed, face down. I looked at her weirdly while s
"Get on.""No.""Suerinity...""Salazar...""Just get on the bloody chair.""I told you... I don't want to get on the bloody chair.""You have to get on the wheel chair, Suerinity.""No, I don't have to. I can walk just fine.""No, you can't. You're still injured and any move you can make may open up your stitches.""What stitches are you talking about? I'm not injured in any way!""Yes, you are.""I am not! This is my body! You know my body more than me?""I can for sure see bruises on your skin.""It doesn't hurt.""Your wolf is still asleep. You're still weaker than usual.""My wolf is asleep but that doesn't mean I'm so weak I can't walk.""Just get on the chair so we can leave.""I can walk on my own if we want to leave."Salazar heaved a sigh of frustration at my resistance. I was sitting on the hospital bed while he held the wheel chair he was gonna settle me in. I can walk. I really can. I wasn't injured or anything, just a little weak but coping! If there was one thing I wasn
I was depressed. That wasn't out of context, I truly was depressed. Not only was I homesick, I was also in a constant state of anxiety. It's only been a few days since I met my mate. Despite the days being uneventful, a lot has happened within those days for me. I was in a constant battle with myself. My past was not much of a big help as it affects to my stand in life now. The role I am to play now also bothers me, this along to the thought of being Salazar's mate. Salazar. Wonderful, he truly is. I believe he just said what he said because he's only thinking of the future and for the good of the pack. Only his beliefs weren't my tea. And Jenny. The image of them both kissing came in my mind again and I was given another gut to the heart. We may have not marked each other yet but he was stating plans as mates, isn't that enough context that we belong to each other? For all I know he may even love her. All the much reason why I thought of rejecting him. I couldn't though. I wa
Run. Breathe. Run. Run. Run. Breathe. I let out another howl as images of Harris and Michelle replayed in my mind. Red. I saw nothing but red. Despite the pain of being rejected by my mate, I still had the strength in me to run away as far from him as possible. I would stumble on a few tree branches from time to time but my anger along with my wolf's pushed me to go further. I was panting by the time I had shifted to my human self. I cried and screamed to the top of my lungs at the betrayal of my mate. Patrice whined and howled in pain before sulking in the corner of my mind, depressed at the rejection of our fated mate. 'Patrice,' I tried calling out to her but she ignored me. I sobbed. How could he? For months I have been trying to prove to him that I was worthy to be his mate, for months I put up with his judgement along with his friends' to get the validation I needed, to be accepted by my mate. My nails dug to the soil as I cried. I felt every bit of emotion I needed to f
I looked at my tired face in the mirror after a long day. My eyes gazed on the bags that were there, dropping to the flesh of my neck. My eyes lingered for a few moments as my fingers fidgeted on the sink. Tears fell ome by one and I splashed some water on my face before stripping my clothes off and getting in the tub. Taking a bath, my thoughts wandered off to the long day I had. From the moment I woke up this morning, nothing was good. Jenny showing up and my jealousy igniting. My valid feelings of not trusting my mate and yet they are invalidated over and over. The pressure. The expectations. I was barely in college and despite being literate, I wasn't trained to be luna. I had no knowledge in leading. Sure, I can learn but I just need time. Can't he see that? Can't anyone understand that?I was raised being more than just a woman to give babies to her mate. I was raised to become a woman of my own and I was still halfway there. After the incident with Harris, I had slowly pla