Marcella’s POV
“Hands up,” I tell my brother. “Don’t let me get paint on you. Ready?”“I’m ready,” Wesley’s little fists are balled up tight and his little five-year-old face is squashed up in determination.I’m Marcella Nightingale, I’m seven years old and I’m a werewolf. My father, Martin Nightingale, is the most prized warriors in the world. Our Alpha, loans him out to packs for training. Most Alphas offer my dad a rank to move to their pack, but Dad is loyal to the West family and will likely die a Warrior here at the Westmoreland Pack.“Okay, remember, don’t let me get paint on you,” I dip my hands in blue paint.I go easy on him at first, but he is good, so I up my attack. He meets me and gets my wrists in his little hands he covers my painted hands in sand, basically taking me out.“How was that?” He asks, very proud of himself.“Amazing!” I answer, excitedly still on all fours with my hands in the dirt.“Sissy, what is happening? Your hair is growing!” He asks wide eyed, before screaming. “Mom! Mom! Sissy is shifting!”My mom comes running out the back door.“Marcella?” Mom kneels beside me.“It doesn’t hurt mom,” I say as hair continues to grow all over me. Then my spine snaps, sending a blinding pain straight to my head. Now, I am screaming! This hurts! My hips pop out of place and my legs get longer as my shoulders pop and my arms get wider and longer. “Mommy!”“I know, don’t fight, it. Just breathe, my big brave girl. You are so beautiful!” Mom gasps when I look at her.I can’t talk anymore. How will I tell her I’m okay?Fran- I’m Fran and I’ll take it from here.Me- Who are you?Fran- Your wolf!I force Fran back down with all my might and shift back into my human form.Fran- I’ll come out again.Me- Just try it!I feel her trying to force another shift, but I hold her back. I thought we were suppose have great relationships with our wolves. They are supposed to be a quarter of our soul. I’m a quarter too, and my mate and his wolf will make us whole.“Marcella,” my mother’s gentle voice breaks through. “Marcella, stop fighting your wolf. You two have to get along.”Me- Okay listen, what is that thing where we don’t get our way, but we both kinda do.Fran- I’m the same age you are, how should I know.Me- Trade! Trade with me. You stop forcing your way out and I promise once a day to let you out.Fran- Everyday until forever!Me- Everyday until I can’t shift anymore.Fran- Deal!Fran settles down and I exhale before looking at mom and Wes.“I’m okay now, Fran is going to settle down,” I tell mom.“Okay, good,” Mom looks at me with suspicion. “Now Wesley, Marcella, it is important that no one knows Marcella can shift. We will tell your father, but Marcella you can only shift in our backyard. Do you understand?”“Yes mama,” I answer.“Family?” My father’s voice rings through. “Marcella, why are you naked?”“She shifted, Martin,” Mother tells him. “We need to keep her safe.”“We have to inform the Alpha,” Dad tells her.“No, he will insist she trains with the warriors and will try to use her for his own power,” Mom insists. “This is a family secret. We will let her shift in our backyard and you can train her.”“If we get caught Alpha Devon could banish us,” Dad tells her.Mom laughs. “Martin, we have offers from thirty different packs, I’m not worried.”Dad looks at me, “Think I could meet your wolf?”Me- If I let you out, do you promise to behave. We can’t get banished.Fran- I promise.Me- Okay, your show big girl.I let go and Fran takes over. It’s less painful this time.“What a beauty,” Dad kneels and pets my head. “I will keep you safe and I will train you.”~~~~~~~~~~~~Nine years later“Hey Marcella,” Atlas, the next Alpha, slides next to me in math class. I am in love with him. Deep blue eyes, light brown hair, that Alpha build. He is my dream.“Atlas,” I lower my eyes in respect. We are at school, so I can’t call him Alpha.“Party, packhouse, 8pm tonight,” Atlas tells me.“Can’t. Dad and I are traveling to Grace Pack tomorrow, I need my rest,” I tell him. I am genuinely sad, but at the same time, I know he only invites girls to these things to hook up and I don’t want to be his one-night stand.“All you do is train, I can’t wait until you are head warrior like your dad, we will make a great team. Maybe worth a Beta position for you,” Atlas runs a finger down my arm. I like his touch, but I don’t want to be his head warrior. I want more.I look at him and smile, “Offer it to Wesley. I plan on finding a mate and settling down.”Fran- We are so strong, and you want to become a baby maker?Me- No, but I want him. Look at him. I want him to think I’m Luna material.Fran- Oh. You are Luna Material. But not his Luna.Me- Come on, let’s think about it.Fran-We can think on it.“I could order you to be there,” Atlas whispers close to my ear.“And your dad would counterman that order. He knows how important the Grace Pack trip is. We can’t piss them off, they are bigger than we are,” I remind Atlas. I turn slightly and our lips are very close together. I can feel our breaths hitting each other. Thankfully, class starts and we separate before anything happens.I keep to myself at school. Pack members are scared of me because of who my dad is. Several are sure that in a straight up fight Dad could take out the Alpha. I’m not sure if it’s true, but I’m not saying it’s outside the realm of possible.In one year and three months I will be 18, and I can find my mate. Maybe Atlas….“Don’t forget, today it’s you and me as the main event,” Atlas winks at me.Fran- Can we beat him?Me- He doesn’t have a wolf, so yeah, we can. But I’m not sure we should. I want him to like us.Fran- Let’s think on it.It’s time to train and all I can say is Atlas looks ready to eat me.“Go easy Fran, I don’t want him to notice you yet,” Dad whispers in my ear.Fran- I hate when Dad is right.Me- I know, but remember to ease up. Healing, fighting all of it.Fran- Yeah, yeah.“Young Alpha Atlas vs. Warrior in training Marcella,” Dad announces as our group gathers around.Wesley is in this group too, and he looks at me smiling.“Let’s go big sis!” Wesley cheers me.“Fight,” Dad says, backing away.“Come to the party tonight and I’ll go easy on you,” Atlas smiles at me.“Pin me to the mat and I’ll come to the party,” I flirt.His eyes widen in surprise, and he attacks. I dodge and counter, blocking him but leaving us both standing. He attacks again, this time I do a back handspring to get away.“Attack, Marcella,” Dad coaches.Me- I’m trying not to embarrass him.Dad- His ego needs to brought down a few pegs. Alpha Devon’s orders. Attack.Fran- if it’s Alpha’s orders...Me- Half power only...Fran- Party pooper.I attack with a simple jab, but Atlas fails to counter, so I make contact with his chest, knocking the wind out of him. When he drops to his knees to catch his breath, I knee his face, breaking his nose and knocking him out.Me- Well, there goes him liking us.Fran- Sorry, Dad said Attack.“Good Job young lady,” Alpha Devon tells me. “Martin, your daughter is as impressive as you are.”“Thank you, Alpha,” Dad motions me to come to him as Alpha stands over his son.“If you spent as much effort into training as you do in getting she-wolves into bed you would not be on your back right now. Training should be your main focus, do you understand?” Alpha Devon is speaking to the class but directing it at his son.“Yes Alpha,” everyone in the class says in unison.Did I mention I’m the only female in this class? Well, I am. Most females don’t qualify for the Advance non-wolf class. Mom would have as a teen, but she isn’t from this pack.“You will pay for this Marcella, not today, but soon when I have my wolf, you will pay for this disrespect,” Atlas snarls at me as I walk back to my house.Me- Great.Fran- He wasn’t ours. When we find ours, I promise we won’t lose him.~~~~~~“I am pleased that my son is now 18 and his wolf is an impressive beast,” Alpha Devon toasts Atlas at his party. “In one year, he will become the Alpha of the Westmoreland Pack. I thank Martin Nightingale for his time in making our future Alpha an impressive fighter. Over the next year I suspect Martin’s direction will make Atlas’s wolf, Thomas, even more fierce.”We all cheer and I see a group of girls crowd the stage near Atlas. They are hoping he is their mate.Me- Hey Fran, will you be able to detect our mate early?Fran- Yep, and it’s not Atlas and Tom.I leave the party and start walking home. I hear the footsteps and can’t believe he left the party just to teach me a lesson.“Marcella,” Atlas catches me and pulls my hair. “Let’s see what you can do now.”Me- Fran full power but don’t shift.Fran- Got it.I grab Atlas’s hand and tear it away from my hair. I twist his arm to the point it almost breaks, but I release him before it does.“It’s not gentlemanly to attack a wolfless female from behind. I doubt your father would be pleased,” I tell him.“Bitch,” Atlas attacks again, I catch his fist before it makes contact. He growls and shifts. His wolf is in fact huge.Well, shit!Fran- I’m bigger.Me- I can’t shift.Fran- I know, but if you let me come to the surface, he won’t notice; but you can take him down.Me- Do it, before he kills me.I feel Fran come forward, but I stay in human form. She grabs his ears and pulls his head down, then does and flip onto his back. Using our thighs, she squeezes until he submits.“What is going on?” Alpha Devon demands.Fran gives me back control.“Young Alpha Atlas attacked me, and I defended myself,” I tell the Alpha without hesitation. “He was angry over me defeating him in training. But my father has trained me to fight wolves.”Fran- Good, get the truth out fast.Me- I hope he believes me.Fran- He used his Alpha tone; you can’t lie to him as far as he knows.Me- That was Alpha tone?Fran- Yeah, we aren’t affected. You never noticed.Me- No, I didn’t.Grab- Love you human, but you are dumb.“Son,” Alpha Devon looks pissed.“She needs to learn respect,” a now naked Atlas snarls.Fran- I expected more from an Alpha. He
Evander’s POVDexter- She is not our mate.Me- But she is amazing.Dexter- I will concede that, but I bet our mate is amazing too.Me- She is the daughter of the Beta. She will make a perfect Luna.Dexter- I bet our mate makes a great Luna too.Me- Bridget is classy, smart, and she knows this pack.Dexter- But she is not the moon chosen Luna of our pack. She isn’t even born of fated mates. Her parents chose each other and look how it turned out for them.Me- It will be different for us; we both agree to reject our fated mates the moment we see them. Then the bond won’t hurt as much, and we can be together.Dexter- I don’t want to do that. I’ll leave. I’ll refuse to shift. I‘ll protest in any way I can!I grab my school bag and head to the dining hall. Bridget is waiting for me. She is so beautiful, long shiny blonde hair, sweet innocent blue eyes, perfect skin. She is amazing.“Good morning, my love,” She greets me with a smile and my favorite coffee.“Good morning, my love,” I say. “
Evander’s POV“I can’t believe you expect me to welcome them,” Lucy complains.“You are the Beta Female, you should welcome new members, especially the Gamma family,” Daniel reminds her.Lucy scoffs and tries to hold him, but he pulls away.“Please don’t touch me, Abby doesn’t like your scent on me,” Daniel tells her.I look at Bridget and see she is torn. She loves both her parents and has never understood how her father could mark her mother but keep Abby around. Because Daniel is with his fated mate it doesn’t hurt Lucy. But it hurts his daughter. Mark is totally on board with mates. He buys in completely. He won’t even take a she-wolf to bed.“We won’t be like them,” I promise Bridget again and kiss her lips. “I love you.”“I love you too,” Bridget holds my hand.When we see the blue SUV I recognize the woman jumping from the car. She has long black hair, deep brown skin and beautiful brown eyes. She hugs both my parents and Daniel. They look like old friends. Lucy and Jennifer no
Marcella’s POV“That was very mature of you,” my mom tells me as we watch Evander and his chosen walk away.“Yes, we are all so impressed,” I don’t know the woman speaking, but she hates me and looks like Evander’s chosen, so I'm calling her the mother.“Lucy,” Luna Kesly starts sternly. “I know you were the one pushing this chosen bull shit. But Evander has his mate. Thankfully, before he marked Bridget. I suggest you try to keep your daughter from the pain you feel and encourage her to move on.”Lucy’s mate looks at her with a nod.“Luna, this appears to be a discussion we are not needed for, so point us in the direction of our house and we will let you all discuss this among the ranked members,” Mom tells them.“You are staying right here, in the packhouse, on the Gamma floor, no fighting about it,” Alpha Gabe says sternly.Fran- That is Alpha Tone. Now that we are mated to an Alpha, do you get why it meant nothing to you?Me- So, you knew our mate was an Alpha?Fran- Yeah, because
Evander’s POVDexter- She is amazing. I say we keep the Ceremony and just mark our mate rather than the plotting bitch. Me- Don’t call Bridget a Bitch. Dexter- it’s telling you knew who I meant “You okay?” Marcella asks touching my arm sending sparks and tingles all over again. I can’t help but love the feeling. Bridget can never give me this. I should saver this feeling. For when I don’t have Marcella anymore. I look at her . Damn she is beautiful. She isn’t much shorter than me and the way her eyes catch the sun I can see gold. “My wolf Dexter is indecent,” I tell her still staring into her eyes. “I know he told Fran,” Marcella makes a face. It’s cute and I can’t help but smile. Now I need to start the plan. “Dad Marcella and I are going to walk back. We need to talk,” I tell my dad who nods. We walked toward the Packhouse. “Good job.” “Thanks,” she walks beside me. “Bridget want me gone?” “Yeah, I offered to go rogue,” I tell Marcella and she nods. “I thought you might o
Marcella’s POV.I use scent to find our room.This house is more like a castle. Not what I was expecting for a West Coast Pack. Our bedroom is in a tower, so it’s shaped like a wedge. We are at the end on hall so three fourths of the room is round. The bed is in the middle. Evander has gaming chairs behind it and a pretty nice gaming set up. I’m not great at gaming, but I could learn.My suitcases and duffels are in the closet, so I start unpacking.I change into a cute dress for dinner. It’s my first time meeting the pack, so I want to look presentable. A crop top and jeans are perfect for a Warrior's daughter, but a Luna must look her best.“I’m here with 30 seconds to spare,” Evander rolls his eyes.“I took over half the closet,” I tell him.“Bridget had things in there,” He looks pissed.“I know, I had them packed neatly and removed.” I smile at him, doing a spin in my dress.“Don’t fish for compliments from me, you won’t get any. But I would give you a compliment, a hug, whatever
Evander’s POVOnce we are in the conference room, I close the door.“You fucked her!” Bridget is angry.“Yes,” I answer. “We are mates. Mates have sex.”Bridget looks surprised.“I thought you and I were going to start having sex tomorrow night,” Bridget steps to me but stops. “You smell like her.”“Again, we are mates,” I tell her. “We are trying to be respectful of you. She even agreed to let me spend the afternoon tomorrow with you. Since I know it will be difficult.”“Evander,” Bridget lets a tear fall. “You are accepting her.”“I offered to go rogue with you. If you really love me, then you would come with me. So, I offer again. Leave with me.”Bridget trembles. “Dexter will leave you. We will be wolfless, packless and alone.”“No, we will have each other,” I remind her.“It’s not enough for me,” Bridget says.“Yesterday I was enough,” I tell her.Bridget backs away and shakes her head. “Go screw her.”Bridget slams the door hard when she leaves.I go back to the dining hall and
Marcella’s POV“We have to go,” I say throwing a dress over me. As soon as we get outside, I’m letting Fran out. So, this dress is going to rip to shreds.I follow Evander down the stairs. We are followed by Beta Daniel, Abby, and Mark. Bridget follows but at a safe distance.Me- Ready girl?Fran- You know I am.As soon as we hit the air, Fran busts forward. She keeps pace with Evander and as we get closer, I scent some of the warriors. I know these people. I know all of them. I see him standing in front, unshifted. Atlas.“Come, come, Marcella shift back, your face is what I came to see,” Atlas calls as we approach.Dexter growls and stands in front of me.I see Wesley holding a shirt next to me. He had run here unshifted.Fran gives me control and I shift back.“What do you want Atlas?” I ask, stepping from behind Dexter. Wesley is beside me.“I want my mate,” Atlas smirks.“Marrianna is your mate,” I tell him.“My wolf and I agree we want you,” He answers.“If Tom agrees, shift,” I
The moon goddess’s POV“Please I have to know I have to know are they well?” Ki has come to me again. I wish she had never been sent here. “Fine one last look and then you need to realize they have to live their own lives,” I tell her. “They are my family,” Ki grumbles. I open the view for her.Bella is in labor Stone beside her. In the waiting room Slate, Tellie, Jewel, Dawn, Spencer, Evander, Marcella, Becky, Granite, Justin, Lesley, Raymond, Azlee, Raymond, Ryan, Joshua, and Sherry. “Lighting Alpha is going to be a dad,” Joshua laughs. “Why do you call him Lighting Alpha?” Lesley asks. “When we were kids we were fishing in the creek,” Slate starts.“Lighting starts falling everywhere,” Joshua says. “Stone uses his little bitty Alpha tone and demands the Lighting stop,” Slate laughs. “And it did, he stopped the Lightening,” Joshua tells us. “So Joshua all of six started calling him the Lighting Alpha,” Slate tells the story. Everyone laughs as cries fill the hall. “It’s
Bella’s POV“YES, STONE,” I smile and squeal as he puts the ring on my finger. We kiss and I hear cheers and squeals.I look around as the lights dim to see everyone is here. My parents, his parents, my grandparents, my great-granddad’s, my sister, my friends, my cousins, my Aunt and Uncles. Everyone is here.Stone takes my hand and we greet our guests before we all go inside. “OH!” I gasp. The inside of the villa is covered in flowers, candles, lights, a DJ, food, everything for a hell of a party. “Its your engagement party,” Lesley tells me handing me a glass. A photographer goes around and takes photos. I am looking around at everyone and the room. It’s perfect. We dance, sing, laugh, eat, drink repeat for hours.. “Did I do well?” Stone asks as we drive back home. “You kept your promise?” I reach over and run my hand through his hair. We make it home and spend the rest of our night making love until we collapse.“Its 4:30,” Ryan sings from out door. “Go away or I will get ou
The moon goddess’s POV“Hello, Tristian Crimson. I have been watching you,” I tell him. I hold up my hand and he falls to the ground. “I never chose you as an Alpha. I chose Bella. I made her stronger, faster, better than all the rest. You have destroyed all the gifts I gave you.”Tristian is frozen in my command.“Shift,” I tell Rex. Stone stands in front of me. “Stone you took my charge a little too literal, but you got there in the end. I gave you Bella as a gift. Don’t be unworthy.”Stone kneels, “You have my word.”I look at Shelby and nod.“Tristian Crimson, I sentence you to death,” I say, stepping back for Rex and Shelby to kill him.Tristian closes his eyes to accept his fate.Once he is dead, Shelby and Rex bow before me.“Erik will die at the hand of Slate; Tellie is pregnant with the next Conroy Alpha. Soon Bella will be too. I bless you both,” I touch their heads. “I bless your union. Don’t think for a moment I ever forgot you. I needed you to be who are you now. I was pre
Bella’s POV“You okay,” Stone asks me as soon as we are alone.The sun is up now, and we all ate breakfast as a pack, before we all head to bed.“I’m exhausted,” I tell him as I drag myself to the shower.“I am too, but I was thinking about what the goddess said about you carrying the next generation of Conroy Alpha,” Stone chases me to bathroom.I giggle as we shower together. We make love in the shower, before crashing into bed.Justin- Alpha.Me- In mindlink, you can call me Bella.Justin- I was speaking to Alpha Stone.Stone- Sleeping.Justin- Your parents are here with Bella’s.Stone- Sleeping naked.Justin- My favorite way to sleep too. Do you want me to put them in an Alpha suite.Me- Yes. We will be up in a few minutes.Stone- Why the hell are you awake, man?Justin- Father of two, under three, I’ll sleep next decade.I laugh and feel Stone pulling me closer.“Do we have to get up?” Stone moans into my neck.“Yes, your parents are here,” I snuggle into him.“I don’t care. I wan
Bella's POV“Tristian still has the loyalty of some of the pack,” Joshua tells Stone.“He may attack there first to gain more followers. But Bella and Justin took over a hundred alone, his warriors aren’t that well trained,” Stone says.“If they come from Durk, they are now. Marcella trained them herself,” Grandpa tells us.“Great, so we are fighting a force equal to our own,” Joshua looks worried for the first time.“We should shift and join the line,” I suggest.“Not yet, let our wolves rest until we need them,” Grandma offers.“I’m scared,” Lesley says out loud. “I’m sorry, that was an inside thought.”“No, Baby,” Justin holds her and their daughter close. “It’s going to be okay.”“We don’t know that,” Lesley says. “Tristian is crazy.”The baby fusses a little and Lesley takes her to the back of the room to feed her.“Go to her, idiot,” I tell Justin, who does.Stone looks around the room. “Can everyone excuse me and Bella for a moment? Jack, watch these cameras and let me know if y
Bella’s POVOnce Stone hangs up the phone, I know I have one chance before Ahab hops the boat, sailing away.“Raymond, tell Jack to call Safehaven for our pack. Tristian is going to come straight for me or Lesley, maybe both. He clearly has a new backer,” I order, and I hold on to Stone’s arms. “Stone, we need to get Tellie and Slate to call Safehaven here too. Tristian has a plan and it's to separate us. Let’s not give him the chance.”Stone is shaking with anger, but nods.We pull Tellie and Slate off the dance floor along with the other Alphas in attendance. Including Erik.“I got a call from the FBI, Tristian escaped with the help of 50 or so wolves,” Stone explains.“Slate, we called Safehaven at Bazin, I suggest everyone does the same,” Bella says.“Bella, you are not safe,” Erik says.“I know, I’m flying back to Bazin to meet him head on with Stone,” I hold Stone’s hand and feel him pulling away slightly. “He and I will do what we should have done five years ago. We will work as
Stone’s POV“Wow, Alpha it’s 4:15am,” Ryan’s voice rings through.“Give me 10 minutes and I'll meet you in the office,” Bella says sleepily.“Okay, coffee in the office,” Ryan closes the door again.“He just walks in whenever?” I ask.“I’m normally dressed and up at 4, we meet at 4:15,” she tells me as she gets up.I’m guessing she used some sort of super speed, because before I could get out of bed she was already showered and dressed.“Can I meet you in the office?” I ask.“If you want, we have training right after, so get dressed for that,” She kisses my cheek and leaves.I shower and dress in five minutes.“I will arrange to have all of Erik’s things moved out today,” I hear Ryan say as I come in. “Also, Babes’ Luna Ceremony; You, Stone, Raymond and Azlee are going. Justin is asking forgiveness; Lesley could pop any second.”“Sounds good,” Bella smiles at me as I pour my coffee.“What about Stone’s things? Any large shipments coming in?” Ryan asks.“Nope, I have everything I have,
Stone’s POVWhen the plane hits the tarmac, Bella holds me back while everyone else deplanes.“What is it baby?” I ask as she straddle me.“Why didn’t you tell me any of that?” She asks, settling on my lap.“You had me blocked on everything,” I tell her honestly.“You could have told Slate, or the guys,” she tells me, holding my shirt.I bite my lip not wanting to tell her. But as we look into each other’s eyes, she understands.“You were afraid it was one of them?” I see tears about to fall, so I lean up and kiss her pulling her close.“Baby, I cleared them for the most part. But keeping you safe is the only thing I care about. So, I played it close to the vest. It was actually one of TJ’s guys. I didn’t even get the chance to deal with him, TJ did it,” I tell her, and she pulls me close to kiss me.“Thank you for keeping me safe,” she tells me.“It's the reason I breathe,” I tell her, going back in for another kiss.“Oh, hell to the no,” Raymond says as he enters the plane.“Ray, he
Stone’s POVWhen I thought she had forgiven me, I could have walked on air. I slept better last night than I ever have. But she watched as everyone who loves her, let me know just how much of an asshole I am. Yeah, I get it. But nothing in the world prepared me for her.“Thank you all for loving me,” Bella starts. “I may have been lonely looking for my mate all these years, but I never for a moment felt unloved. What Stone did, he did to me. I understand seeing me hurting was painful for you all too, but the real pain is mine. So now that you all have had your chance, I am asking you all to give Stone and I time, privacy and space to figure out the next steps. It will be a decision we make alone. And let’s not forget he has Justin, Raymond and Jack to face when we get home.”Everyone laughs and Wesley releases me.“Oh, can I call Justin?” Joshua looks all too happy to make this call.“Wouldn’t it be better to catch them off guard. Think of their faces,” Bella smirks.“Oh, yeah, catch