Elijah P.O.V. The night went peacefully. I never tried anything - one; because I know she is not ready and two; because I want everything on the table before we do. She needs to know my reputation in the world, and she needs to know the other side of me. She will see it eventually, though I wish I could hide it forever. As we went to bed, Isabella asked if I wanted her on the floor or on the couch. I was so shocked. Sure I knew some of what she’s been going through, but to be asking her mate that. I picked her up again and took her to bed. She laughed, but as we laid in bed she got shy instead. “Are you sure this is okay, Elijah? We haven’t marked each other.” She asked, and I couldn’t help the flutter in my heart. “Maybe not, but you are my mate Isa, and I will be damned if you are not in our bed when you are in our room. This is yours now, and we will get to the marking - soon hopefully.” I smirk at her and she blushes deep red. I lean over and kiss her che
Isabella P.O.V. Elijah tells everyone the guests are here, and I can feel my heart sinking in my chest. Old memories of ridicule, mockery and shame fills me, while my new self is fighting back, telling me I am okay. Elijah loves me, though we haven’t really said it yet, and the pack will accept me, whenever I am introduced. Then the old me asks the one question I was trying to avoid; why hasn’t he presented me yet? I shake my head at the doubting voice in my head, knowing full well he would have if I had not been in the hospital because of a panic attack and yesterday I was out with Lauren, getting verbally abused by Jeff and Janelle and then moving my things with Elijah later on. Not to mention the showing up by Alex in the middle of the night. “Ashton, go out and greet the guests. Take them to the conference room, where we will be waiting.” Ashton smirks at Elijah’s orders but I feel confused. Ain’t it a costume, it's the Alpha and Luna who greets other Alpha’s? ‘He’s mak
Elijah P.O.V. I don’t think I have ever met someone as unpleasant as Alpha Ferguson of the Green Forest pack. His aura screams bastard and bully, two things I cannot stand in an Alpha. I try really hard to be a strict yet far Alpha, someone my people can have trust in, but who they also respect. I have a feeling he has sinister plans with my mate, and that is one of the main reasons why I am keeping her at my side. That and the fact that I want her here with me, and she has to get used to these kinds of things as my Luna. She’ll be more involved than most Luna’s because I firmly believe in co-leading the pack with her. She is so strong, funny and caring. She’ll do many great things here. I am so far away in my own head and thoughts, I haven’t noticed the others have left the room. Not before a small hand grabs my large one, and the matebond sparks electricity all over my hand and arm. I look down, focusing on the beautiful green orbs of my wonderful woman. She’s looking at me with
Isabella P.O.V. I’m not quite sure where I am, but I know I no longer am in the Jewel Pack. Everything is misty around me as I look at my surroundings. Something tells me to go forward. Something or someone is waiting for me at the end of this trail or whatever it is. My thoughts swirl around Elijah. If I’m here, then where is he? Does he miss me? I try to think back at what happened before I woke up here, but I come up with nothing but blankness. I shake my head to clear it, but as the fog around me, the blankness won't budge. I move in what feels like forever. Many days, months or years could have passed for all I know before the fog eases. As it disappears into the air, the day is clear and I can see a sun shine in the sky side by side with the moon. They are both bright and give everything an ethereal glow. I look around again, and this time I’m in a wildflower meadow, a stream running near slowly, giving me a calmness I haven’t had in years. At the far end of the meadow there’s
Isabella P.O.V. I have no idea how long we sit together, but at some point someone knocks on the door, and when it opens, doctor Bethany smiles at me. “Hello Luna, good to see you awake. I do hope this is the last time you are here until I need to check for pups, though.” She says, as I blush a deep red. Elijah chuckles, and I know he’s just picturing me with a swollen belly, waddling around the packhouse. I swat him, and he leans in to kiss my forehead. “Alpha, I need to check Luna’s vitals and if she’s alright you can take her home - but only for bedrest the rest of today and tomorrow. Don't over exert yourself.” She points to me with her pen, and I nod innocently. “Also, I would like to take a blood sample, Luna. You survived the most deadly poison known to our species, something only a handful have done before you. I would like to see if there’s any indicators in your blood.” I nod again, handing her my arm. Elijah growls at the sight of the needle, but I shush him. He smiles
Elijah P.O.V. “Father, are you serious? She didn’t free them. Please tell me this is some sick joke or something. She wouldn’t put my mate in harm's way just because she disagrees.” Father’s eyes are sad when he looks at me. He seems more tired than ever. “Your mother is really worried about you, Eli. She only wants what’s best for you. Unfortunately she’s become rather narrow minded in her belief that Miss. Caroline is the only soothing match for you.” He turns his gaze to Isabella who has been standing here quietly observing our exchange. “I am very sorry, Isabella. I never wanted to put you in danger, but my mate seems to have her own mind about this issue.” Isabella gives him a small smile. “I’m okay. They are on the run and they can’t touch me here in the pack. As long as the former Luna also stays away from me, then everything is okay. I’m sorry if that sounds mean, I didn’t mean it that harshly.” Father nods. “I want her brought to a facility where she can’t hurt anyone. I’
Isabella P.O.V. I can’t believe we are here at this moment. I’ve been wanting this since I met Elijah on the staircase to the front door, but I’ve been too afraid of rejection to act on my desires - until now. I remember what Selene said in her world, and I know if I truly want to move past my fears, I need to trust Elijah enough to be his in every way possible. He was so sweet and tender in the bathroom, and the way he kept me with him when he broke my hymen. I think I’m falling even deeper in love with this man, though I didn’t think that was possible. He like a fucking greek god. His body is absolutely perfect, and the way he handles this situation with sweetness, tenderness and an animalistic intuition. Gawd he’s perfect! I move when the pain subsides for a feeling of almost being complete. Emerald is panting in bliss in my head. She’s been team Elijah from day one, and has been bugging me with mating and marking everyday since we met him, completely overlooking everything e
Isabella P.O.V. “Where is the council located, Eli?” I ask in the car. We’ve been driving for an hour or so, and we are nowhere near a city at this point. “They are located on the other side of the country normally, but they always travel to their different offices whenever work calls for it.” I nod. “Dale called them the day Janelle stabbed you with the poison, and my father must have called them again and told them Ferguson and Janelle escaped. I wonder if he told them who freed them.” “Would he tell on his own mate?” I have to ask, the question is burning in me. I get that the woman hates me, but how can she hate me this much? She doesn’t know me, yet she has decided I am not good enough. It hurts, I must admit, but I have been through worse in my younger days. “What is your mother’s name, by the way.” Dale and Eli laugh. “I forgot she hasn’t even introduced that to you, huh. Her name is Talia Jackson. And yes, she has always been a bit of an odd character.” “Eli! Don’t say th
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