“Janelle, Isa, RUN!” The Luna screams at me and her daughter. We don’t move an inch, too scared of the sight before us. “Isa, I said RUN! That’s an order. Take Janelle and warn the Alpha.” The Luna yells, looking me in the eyes. She ordered me. I’m compelled to move. I grab my best friend's hand, and she screams at me to let her go. She wants to stay with her mother. As we run I hear her screams over and over again, and I know we will be too late. The rogues came out of nowhere, and we were taken by surprise. I can’t mindlink because I haven’t got my wolf yet. “DADDY! DADDY!” Janelle yells when we are within earshot. We are both covered in rogue blood, and a sight to see. “Princess!” He yells back, completely ignoring my presence. I wake in a sweat in my tiny shoe closet room. It was converted after the incident with the Luna. The dream is always the same. How we are surprised out in the clearing in the forest. She had taken me and Janelle to have a girls picnic, when sudden
Isabella P.O.V. I arrive at school hella early, but lucky for me it’s open. I walk to the administration office, where Miss. Durant granted me my papers. I persuaded them to give it today, in return I promised to not show up at graduation. The school tried to expel me after everything, but the elders denied the request after seeing my perfect grades. They had no cause to do so, like the alpha. The school was livid, but oh well. I did my work, kept my mouth shut (most of the time) and tried to not bother anyone. I walked to my locker, my graduation papers in my bag, just waiting for the classes to start. As I stood there daydreaming of my life away from this hell on earth, a nasal voice reached my ears, along with a deeper voice belonging to my brother. “.... so scared of me, she wouldn’t even do a friendly spar.” He snickers as their group of wannabe barbies and look-alike hulks come into view. “Uh! You are so strong, Alex.” Janelle purrs, locking her hand on his arm. I woul
Alex P.O.V. One minute we are all having a good time, laughing and joking then the next everything turns to utter shit and my sister is gone. What the fuck happened? We were sitting in my room; Jeff, Andrea, Janelle and me. We are having a little pre 18 get together before the big day tomorrow. Janelle is convinced she is my mate and has been clinging to me every second for the last week. It’s fucking annoying, but if it gets her attention away from my sister, then so be it! I have been playing the mean brother for the last 8 years, knowing full well nothing that happened on that day was her fault. I have been protecting her the only way I knew how, and that was to push her away. I can’t count how many times I’ve taken the punishment for something someone thought was her fault - telling them it was actually me, when it wasn’t. But it wasn’t her either, so that was that in my mind! Isa obviously doesn’t know, and I don’t plan for her to know before I am the beta of the pack
Isabella P.O.V. I drive through the night, and most of the next day, knowing the alpha won’t let me off the hook that easily. If I know him, and I do, he will be sending out a search party, trying to drag my ass back to that inbred pack of scums. Having the A/C on, as it’s a hot summer's day, I let the breeze and music surround me and calm my beating heart. Having my birthday in mid summer would have been fun with an outdoor birthday party, or even a pool party, if my life had not been hell on earth. As the late afternoon approaches on my birthday, I drive through this small town. It’s surrounded by thick forest, and I stop at a natural parking lot in the treelines. I lock my truck, and climb into the backseats to lie down. I set an alarm for four hours, and drift off to sleep. When my alarm sounds, I open one eye. The sun is about to set, and I know it will be time soon for my first shift. ‘I’m sorry we have to do this in unfamiliar territory and alone, Emmy.’ I tell her.
Isabella “Daughter?” I ask her, and she nods while looking down. A simple tear slides down her cheek. She wipes it furiously, not wanting me to see - but I did. “What do you mean by daughter?” I ask her, and she looks me in the eyes. There. I feel the same feeling as when I was a child, and I was in her arms - safety, warmth and love. “How?” I whisper for the third time. Luna Michelle takes a deep breath; “When I was young I found my mate, but he rejected me at first. He already had a chosen mate, and she was the jealous type. She watched our interaction and instantly knew what was going on. She taddled to her parents, who were high ranking in my pack. They went to the alpha, who had just taken over and was mateless, and lied to him about me. They told him I was trying to ruin their daughter's mate bond because of jealousy.” She starts. “He demanded to see me and hear my side of the story, much to their dismay because they knew they had lied. I told him the truth, and he ga
Isabella P.O.V. I’ve been driving for what feels like a year, but it’s only been about two weeks. I don’t know exactly where I’m going, but something inside me tells me this is where I need to go. Emerald agrees with me, and both she and I are relieved to finally be somewhere, where we both feel kind of safe. I don’t have any proof, but in my heart I know Alpha will not just let me leave like this, especially when he finds out I rejected his lowlife of a son. Ugh! ‘Emerald, why the hell did the moon goddess pair us with that son of a bitch?’ ‘The mother’s works in mysterious ways, little one.’ I chuckle, as I park outside a diner. I’m starving and tired, from having lived off food from gas stations, sleeping in my car and driving like crazy. As I enter through the door, a thought suddenly strikes me and I stop dead in my tracks. ‘What is it, Isa?’ Emmy asks in a worry. ‘I’m a rogue now. We’re a rogue. We.. There are other wolves here.’ ‘Don’t worry my child, you had an
Elijah P.O.V. I’ve been working on pack business as well as the family business. I have missed a lot of paperwork because my parents thought it was more important for me to attend tedious parties and balls with self-centered Alphas’s daughters. Goodness me. If I have to look at one more entitled, snobbish and boring Alpha’s daughter, who can’t talk about anything other than themselves, fashion or make up, I am going to die a slow death or boredom. Knock, knock, knock. I know that knock. Mother. “Enter.” I say, gritting my teeth for her nagging attitude regarding my lack of a Luna. “Elijah, what are you doing?” I raise an eyebrow at her question, finding it rather obvious what I am doing. “What does it look like, mother?” She scuffs. Thalia Jackson, my esteemed mother, seemingly does not find my sense of dry humor amusing today. My father is Desmond Jackson, and his grandfather founded Jewel City and our pack; the Jewel Pack. He worked hard in the real estate business, and i
Isabella P.O.V. Driving from the diner putting that idiot to a beta into his place, I smile to myself. I would never have dared doing that a couple of years ago, knowing I would have to take the beating without complaint or risk showing everyone what I’ve learned in the dojo. I couldn’t risk it, because knowing how crazy Alpha and my so-called parents are; they would have gone there to beat the shit out of the instructors for teaching me. It feels good to be free, independent and without fear for once in my life. I’ve always tried to keep my head down, keep quiet and let everyone forget I’m even there, which I succeeded most of the time. I have a big mouth on me, and my sass knows no boundaries when I’m met with stupidity - which has been a learning experience with having Janelle and Jeff come and go in my childhood home. In the grocery store I take a cart and make my way down the isles. I’m using the money Mr. Aberforth gave me, plus my salary. It’s been more than eno
Isaiah P.O..V 18 years later “Happy birthday to yooooou!” I smile at the people gathered around the table. They are my people. My family and friends. But also only that. I have not yet met my mate, and this being my 22nd birthday, it’s feeling like it’ll never happen. Mom and dad have been very supportive of me, and they always tell me they will accept whatever decision I make regarding the mate situation. “Make a wish, Isaiah.” Mom urges, and I close my eyes and wish with all my heart I’ll meet my mate soon. I do not care who she is, what she is or where she is from, I just want to find her and love her. I know I sound soft and whatnot, but I so desperately want what my parents, aunts and uncles and most cousins and siblings have. True love to share my world with. But she is making me wait, and I know in my heart she’ll be worth the wait. “What did you wish for, brother?” Elise asks, her eyes twinkling in mischief. She asks every year in the hopes I’ll show and tell, but I will n
Isabella P.O.V. Four years later Sitting in my office, I can’t help but reminisce over the last four years. So much has happened even though there has been peace. We have lived in harmony with other species for just as long, and our bond with each other has grown stronger. Isaiah is now four, and a whirlwind of energy. He is a big brother to Gabriel and Elise. They are three and one. I told Elijah I don’t want any more children, to which he replied I had to tell the Moon Goddess. If she decides to bless us a fourth time, I will be going to her world and smack her! Grandmother or not, I don’t want any more children, and so far she has listened. It also helps that we are using protection.We have been rallying the packs to meet annually, as to prevent the events of Conan from happening once again. It has been successful enough, but we still have yet to get the border packs - those who have lands leading up to dragon territory, fae territory and demon territory, to come as well. The l
Elijah P.O.V. Two months later “ELIJAH!” I rush into the hospital room where Isa is still admitted. The doctors were not comfortable with sending her home, as she kept getting contractions whenever she over exerted herself, and she did that a lot. Even laying in the hospital bed. But here they, and I, could tell her to relax and not stress the body so much. Not that she listened very well.“Baby, what is it?” She’s out of bed, and her leggings are drenched. “My water just broke. I think.” She answers, her eyes wide and scared. We are almost to term, but not quite there yet either. Doctors said he would be early because of the trauma, but this early? This feels too early. “Don’t just stand there. Get a doctor or nurse or something!” She demands, while waddling to the toilet. Her voice and movement snaps me back to reality. “Where the fuck are you going?” I ask, quickly grabbing her arm and helping her to her destination. “My pants are soaked, and I have to pee really bad.” She an
Isabella P.O.V. “Why do you always end up in the hospital, Isa?” Lauren asks, as she bends down and gives me a hug. I stick my tongue out at her, and gesture for Elijah to help me sit up. He gives me a look, but I just plead with my own eyes. He sighs and stands. I love how he can resist me, even when I did something he did not at all approve of. I love this man to death! “Why are you always so snarky?” I ask back, as she chuckles, and sits down. Her mate stands behind her, placing his hands on her shoulders. Elijah growls at the contact, and I swat him across the chest as he is helping me sit up. He just raised an eyebrow. “Shut up, and help me dammit.” I whine, and he shakes his head in exasperation. “What do you think I am doing, woman?” He asks back, and I just purse my lips in a ‘do you really want me to answer that?’ sort of way. He sighs. “Don’t answer that.” He caves and I smile. When I’m in a much better talking position, I turn my head to the couple on my left. They hav
Isabella P.O.V.We wait for another minute before Conan walks into the middle of the ground. I think he wanted Kimmie and her disturbed friends to examine nothing was amiss, but they wouldn’t know. We used magic long forgotten, on the request of Ashlee to her mother. She wanted this particular surprise to be something they never saw coming. We know Elijah and Fenris will beat Conan and his wolf in a fair one-on-one fight, but we also know he would never go into such a fight without a backup - hence Kimmie and her bag of twisted tricks. The grounds light up in a golden color when both wolves are in the middle facing each other. Kimmie screeches, holding her hands over her eyes. Her friends do the same, hissing and cursing. “What the fuck was that?” She screams, her eyes clouding over for a split second and the clearing because she can’t get ahold of Conan. Her eyes search for the golden color, seeing it goes around the whole perimeter of the ground where Conan’s wolf and Fenris are
Elijah P.O.V.I try and try again to tell Isabella to get her and the baby to safety, but she is adamant to come with me, and honestly? I cannot blame her with everything that happened the last time we were attacked. I still wonder how this can happen with the magical barrier Ashlee and Milan set up, but then I remember we talked about this the last time, and Ashlee said the enemy’s own magic user could take it down if they are strong enough, or have strength in numbers. I guess that is what happened here. We’ll have to take a look after, and see where we can do better defense wise. Isabella is riding on Fenris’s back, using her powers and her connection with the pack lands to take down enemy wolves everywhere. If I thought she was scary before, it is nothing compared to now. After she has been bound to the pack and land through marriage with me and the Luna position through my mother, she has a way better understanding of the layout and where to strike. She keeps communicating with
Isabella P.O.V. I can’t believe Thalia would show up, but on the other hand I also understand why she is here. She wants to see her son get married, but I have this weird feeling about her intentions. I wonder if she is really reformed or if she is playing the act really well. I guess we’ll see later. There is nothing I can or will do now, but I know everyone is on edge and keeping an eye out for her. I also am aware Elijah expects Conan to attack up before the day is over. This gathering of all his enemies in one place would be too much for him to not do anything. But I am just wondering if he really thinks it would be smart to attack today? Maybe he’ll wait until the morning after? I mind-link Caspar and Nestor about my thoughts, and they promise me they have everything under control. They have thought every scenario through. “Darling, are you ready?” Dad asks me, and I turn around to see something shine in his eyes. I smile. “Are you crying?” I ask back without answering his qu
Elijah P.O.V. The day has gone by in a blur of events. The most scary one by far being Isabella and the others being followed by Conan’s cronies. Luckily they all arrived safely on the pack lands, but I upped the security around the border, just in case. Around 5.30pm the guests are starting to arrive, and I make sure to be the polite host who greets them outside the packhouse, and Omegas show them to the backyard. All of the packs, Covens and vampire families we contacted said yes to come, and I couldn’t be more proud of the work we have put in to mend the bonds between our species. We might be different, but we are also very alike. Everyone wants to celebrate true love. I made sure to implore them all to ensure their families safety while they are gone, as we all agree this event will be too much of a temptation for Conan to not attack us. We are actually expecting him to. I have not discussed this with Isabella. I do not want to worry her, but I have this feeling we’re going to
Elijah P.O.V. I’m in my office with all the guys. They are not happy I asked their mates to accompany Isabella to town today. Especially when I told them to have some mate time with the girls, but when I tell them the reason they all agree this is important. They ask what they can do, and I delegate the tasks between them. Dale is in charge of getting food together - shopping, preparing and making. He is actually a genius in the kitchen, so I am confident he can get everyone to work together and make this happen. We talked about a small ceremony, but what Isabella doesn’t know is that I am planning to include all the pack, and guests from outside. We know Conan will attack soon, and what better way to gather our allies than to invite them to our wedding tonight. I just hope they can make it. I ask Cedric to be the happy messenger of invitations. He is still well respected and an Alpha. They will listen to him. I will call the Covens and vampire families myself. “Elijah, do you mi