Ian Reign sighed as he silenced his mother’s incoming call for the third time while he stood around with his group of friends at a party hosted by his friend’s older sister, Roselyn.
Ian Reign, future pack leader and grandson of Alpha Marcus Reign, a respectable but secluded pack outside Hilton City, was forced to visit after his not-so-likeable father’s lung disease got worse and according to his mom, he might never recover.
Ian had only seen his father a few times because of his nature; after all, he was born a werewolf and his father was a human who didn’t exactly understand how their world works.
At least that’s what his grandfather told him about his father.
It wasn’t until recently that Ian found out the real reason behind his parents leaving him with his grandfather in the pack while they lived together in the city and for the first time, his father wanted him to visit for Christmas.
Ian wondered why he suddenly wanted to spend Christmas together after abandoning his son for 22 years and when he shows up in the pack to see him, he only ever stays a few days at most.
Ian arrived in Hilton, lodged at a hotel, and contacted Derick, his best friend he met in college.
They were both sophomores at the same college, studying business, and Derick grew up in Hilton but only visited home during Christmas, and since he already promised he would contact him once he visited, he just had to tell him, though he didn’t know he would drag him to his older sister's birthday party on his first day in town.
“Are you going to pick that or what?” Derick asked as his mom called again.
“I know what she’s gonna say; it’s just better if I don’t.” Ian frowned but accidentally picked up the call right as he was about to return the phone to his pocket. “Shit!” He mumbled before eventually excusing himself from his group to pick up his call.
The background music wasn’t exactly loud enough to disturb his calls but he’d rather not let his mother guess where he was.
“Ian! What on earth are you doing? Why do you keep ignoring my calls and what do you mean by you’re staying at a hotel when you have a perfectly good home to stay in? Eloise half-screamed over the phone and Ian sighed.
He was about to come up with an excuse when a lady walked past him with a strong floral scent that had his wolf jumping excitedly in his head.
Ian could smell the sweet scent of Jasmine on her, even though the perfume she was wearing was chocolate of some kind but her natural Jasmine scent overpowered her perfume and as she strides straight and elegantly into the courtyard after letting the attendants help her off her expensive fur coat that covered her armless body-hug dress, Ian almost lost control of his wolf.
“It’s our mate.” Storm growled at him and Ian let out an exasperated sigh.
“Relax, Storm… I know…she’s ours” Ian agreed with his wolf, who was ready to take control and hold the lady back.
“Mom…I’m going to call you back.
“Ian!” Eloise fumed.
“It’s important; I think I might have found my mate.” With that, Ian dropped his call and hurried after the woman as she walked into the courtyard after dropping her gift.
Ian returned to his friends, who were mainly his classmates that lived in Hilton that Derick also invited over and a couple of Derick's childhood friends he wasn’t familiar with.
“Ian!” Derick’s loud call had Ian’s attention turning right back at Derick.
“What?” Ian blinked in surprise, wondering why he was calling him so loudly when he was practically right next to him.
“You’re like a million miles away. You okay bro? I asked if you’ve finally talked to your mom? She’s not asking you to leave yet, is she? ‘Cause this party isn’t ending until morning,” Derick told him while playfully smacking him.
“Yeah, yeah... we talked. Who’s that though?” Ian had to ask, as he couldn’t keep his eyes off the lady who was now talking to another lady whom Derick introduced to him as his sister.
“Oh, that’s Avery Archer. She’s my sister’s best friend. They’ve literally been together since childhood; not sure how she did it since Avery well… she’s a little scary; even when I was younger, I literally used to run away from her. But hold on a minute." Derick stopped, tracing Ian’s persistent gaze.
“Why are you suddenly interested in her…please don’t tell me she caught your eye or something, because there are tonnes of other girls you can possibly pick from at this party. I mean, look at those three over here.” Derick tried to divert his attention but Ian’s mind was too concentrated on Avery.
“I’m going to go talk to her,” Ian decided out of nowhere, as he’d been eavesdropping on Avery’s conversation with Rosie and he just felt it was the right time to approach Avery.
“What? No…Ian… no, don’t do it. Derick tried to stop him but Ian was quite determined, walking across the courtyard to meet Avery, who was a little too invested in her drinks.
Ian watched as Rosie immediately stood when he got closer, giving them some space as if on cue.
Ian gulped as he reached for her shoulder as her overwhelming scent clouded his senses and while he could feel his body heating up from the scent alone, touching her brought a feeling so intense his wolf seized control for a second.
His alpha wolf has always been stronger than him, stubborn and annoying as hell but he’s never been so restless.
With a single touch, Storm’s emotion rushed at him like a whirling tornado; he was full of excitement, anxiety, and desire all in one… he wanted to claim her.
“Mate” His lips moved without his control, which took a minute to regain.
Then Avery finally turned with a gaze so icy, it made him freeze or maybe it was just her incredible voice.
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‘I must be imagining it.’ Avery concluded as the slight glint she thought she saw in the guy’s eyes vanished as fast as it came.“Sorry, you’re just really pretty. I couldn’t help myself. The guy said, flashing his perfect set of dimples that would normally have Avery floored if he didn’t look so young and strangely reminded her of her cousin brother.“Well, thanks,” Avery replied indifferently while returning to her drink, emptying her cup, and ordering another one.Although many people avoided her because of her cold, unapproachable demeanour, there were still many people who’d looked past her hard exterior and approached her nonetheless because of her background, so she has grown used to the flattery and immune to their bullshit.Avery Archer was known by her not-so-favourite nickname, Apollo’s Witch, given to her by her staff and co-workers because of her nature, someone who hardly smiles... unimpressed and also unforgiving to people who crossed her or at least that’s who they th
Avery knew people were staring, from the moment Desmond walked in with another bitch in his arms right through when Ian started flirting with her.People were probably amazed by how a few days ago, Avery was showing everyone her relationship was fine but today, they were both with different people.Even if Avery’s notion of love was old-fashioned, she was someone who understood the concept of payback… although kissing Ian wasn’t entirely because she wanted to get back at Desmond.Ian was cute and attractive and he seemed pretty eager so it was like killing two birds with one stone; however… Desmond’s reaction to her totally harmless action was what she didn’t expect.“Is this why you broke up with me? You acted like you were obsessed with me but you had someone else…really? Why… because he’s younger?” Desmond could hardly hold herself back from punching Ian, making Avery scoff in total disbelief.“Sorry, do I know you?” Her question had the whole party taking a solid pause. Even thoug
Avery groaned as a persistent ringtone forced her eyes open, and because it didn’t sound like hers, she was forced to drag herself up against the headboard and reach to the bedside table to get some water out of habit but realised her water wasn’t where it usually was, and instead, a lamp was sitting there.It took Avery more than a second to load the previous day’s event, her breakup, and a very wild night with a completely random stranger.The warm body next to hers reminded her of her actions the night before and her brain screamed in total disbelief.‘Shit, seriously, Avery, what were you thinking?’ Avery mentally scolded herself as reality checked in. It felt like her warning alarms, which would normally have gone off after meeting someone like Ian, took a vacation.She was always so guarded with other people but strangely, it wasn’t the same with him… was it because he’s a stranger or is it something completely different? Avery wasn’t sure as she picked herself up from the bed a
Ian felt his wolf stir wildly as the looming scent of his mate faded in the air, leaving Storm restless, and that forced Ian’s eyes open, and while he hoped his mate was still right there next to him, the cold bed was the terrifying evidence that she’d been out of the bed a while. Ian shot out of bed, drawing back his curly hair before approaching the bathroom, hoping by some miracle his mate would be in the shower, even if that was merely a gullible wish of his, since his super hearing would have picked it up if she was. Gathering whatever faith he could muster, Ian approached the door, hesitating before pulling the handle but as he thought it, she wasn’t there. “She could be downstairs.” Ian renewed his hope and dashed downstairs while struggling to put his shirt back on as before reaching the last step, hoping by some miracle she was right there with her friend, who was Derick’s sister. Ian, on reaching the last step before climbing down the stairs, paused and arranged his m
‘I hope I didn't have any weird looks on.’ Avery wondered to herself after a quick stop at the restroom to recompose herself.‘Fuck Avy, of all people you could have chosen to sleep with, it had to be your fucking brother! What shitty luck you have. Avery mentally scolded herself as she walked out of the bathroom, hoping she'd be able to handle breakfast with Ian around. Judging by the shocked look on his face as their eyes met, it was obvious to Avery that he wasn't aware either and more than that, Avery found her mind rounding back to the fact that her father had another child, with that bitch no less. Someone who could be responsible for her mother's death, anger seeped into her skin, replacing the shock of their unexpected revelation. Avery knew her father's affair had been going on for a very long time, but to think it was old enough for them to have a 22-year-old child. Nothing could have prepared her for that. Being 29 years of age, she deduced the affair had started when s
Eloise couldn't be more glad to have her son over from the pack. Since she went against her father's wishes to marry someone who could inherit the pack, Ian ended up as the collateral; she didn't hate the deal though. Ian was better off in the pack than in the city, jam-packed with humans with so little knowledge about their existence. Eloise also knew her father, Gideon, could take care of Ian better than she ever could, but it didn't affect her love and affection for her son and while Ian was oblivious to it, Eloise tried her best to know everything she could know about him, down to the fact that he was yet to have his first rut.Although he has a human father, Ian was born an alpha; it wasn't surprising since his grandfather was one, so when his wolf awakened at 17 with its characteristic red eyes, it wasn’t unexpected, if anything his grandfather wished desperately he’d turn out as one.But unlike every other alpha Eloise had met since she grew up knowing quite a few, she was a
Avery only wanted some proper peace and quiet upon reaching home; she only wanted some time for herself to think about everything her father wanted of her but that turned out to be a far-fetched dream when she returned home to see her ex-boyfriend in her apartment.Since she went straight to Rosie’s birthday party after work and stayed the night at her place, she had no time to come home and change her apartment password, which she once shared with Desmond.“You have some nerve coming back here!” Avery gritted her teeth, a hint of disbelief in her tone as she passed the entryway to the sitting room. This was her home, the place she had worked her ass off to keep since her father had tried every possible way to bring her back home, even if he ended up getting what he wanted, it was still her apartment.The messy couch and the loud TV in the background made Avery realise Desmond spent the night at her apartment.Desmond, on her appearance, returned the wine to her fridge and walked clo
Jasmine scent, ivory skin, round icy blue eyes, lofty caramel hair that smells like vanilla-scented shampoo, 5’7, Nubian nose.Ian found himself struggling with the random images of this particular woman, her messy hair sprawled on the bed under him, her subtle melodious moans filling the room and leaving him yearning for more.The pure euphoria he felt as her thin hands wrapped that carefully around his neck, dug into his back as she cried out in ecstasy, overwhelmed by pleasure as her orgasm raked through her, leaving her squeezing him so tight, he could lose himself in her.He wanted to feel it again, that pleasure-wrecked expression on her face as he pounded her ferociously and without mercy, the way her ivory skin turned pale red as once he pressed down too hard.Her weak hoarse voice as she pleads to get a few minutes rest as he's ready to go again, clouded by her alluring jasmine scent that seems to control him like some kind of drug.While a part of him screams that he shouldn
Avery sighed softly as she stood up, ready to leave the cafe where she met with Damian.After giving her response, she didn’t think there was anything else to talk about and immediately tried to leave.“You wanna get some tarts? you love tarts...my treat,” Damian suggested, pointing at the pastry shop displaying tarts right next to the cafe as they walked out of the cafe together while ignoring the gaze of the two girls by the entrance who seem to have recognised her even though she was wearing the simplest clothes possible.Avery for a minute hesitated but the pastries looked nice.“Sure,” Avery accepted before they both walked right into the pastry shop but right before she let go of the glass door, Avery was sure she heard a camera shutter.‘I wonder what those reporters are up to now.’ She thought while waiting as Ian ordered her some fruit tarts and packed them up for her.“Thanks,” Avery grinned before they both walked out and headed towards their cars.“Well, they reminded me o
Chapter 52Avery sighed softly as she stood up, ready to leave the cafe where she met with Damian.After giving her response, she didn’t think there was anything else to talk about and immediately tried to leave.“You wanna get some tarts? you love tarts...my treat,” Damian suggested, pointing at the pastry shop displaying tarts right next to the cafe as they walked out of the cafe together while ignoring the gaze of the two girls by the entrance who seem to have recognised her even though she was wearing the simplest clothes possible.Avery for a minute hesitated but the pastries looked nice.“Sure,” Avery accepted before they both walked right into the pastry shop but right before she let go of the glass door, Avery was sure she heard a camera shutter.‘I wonder what those reporters are up to now.’ She thought while waiting as Ian ordered her some fruit tarts and packed them up for her.“Thanks,” Avery grinned before they both walked out and headed towards their cars.“Well, they re
Chapter 51Even if Ian had promised to wait for Avy who said she needed some time to sort stuff out, it was hard to keep himself from contacting her.Being cooped up at home while still blatantly giving Eloise the cold shoulder was terrible.After all, she forced him into accepting her conditions.Ian was only able to accept her proposal after brainwashing himself into thinking he wasn’t doing for her but Avery.Doing the internship at the company and changing schools would mean he gets to stay by Avy’s side for a while.His grandfather is only filling in for him as the alpha because of school.Ian knew he had to return to take his grandfather’s position the moment he was done with school, which means he only has a couple of years to spend with Avy and convince her to be his Luna, since being his Luna might change everything for them.Ian, while still drowning in his thoughts, decided to visit Natalie since he finally made up his mind on what to do about the Elite party, which invitat
“This is surprising; I never expected you’d actually show up here.” Natalie grinned after Ian showed up at her place of work and paid for her hours since she was an escort for alpha werewolves.Since she was reserved only for the VIPs of the bar, buying her hours without reservation was expensive, and somehow Ian paid for it to talk to her.After their first encounter, Ian and Natalie, naturally, got close since he was new in town and Natalie knew all the fun places.While Ian could call Derrick to hang out, he still couldn’t discuss werewolf matters with him since he was yet to tell him about who he really is.Natalie had met Ian outside before; when his father died and he needed a drinking buddy, it kind of seemed like Ian had more worries than his father’s death at the time but Natalie never got to ask since it was officially the third time they were meeting.And though Ian did seem like he genuinely wanted to be friends with her, Natalie was sure it was all because Ian still hasn’
Chapter 49Avery felt the warmth of her cup of coffee seep into her hands as she gently wrapped her hands around it while trying to avoid Damian's persistent gaze.She'd asked to meet to apologise since she knew she was partly responsible for what happened with Ian.Avery, who'd never seen Ian act like that and had no idea he was capable of lashing out like that, blamed herself.“Did you really ask me here to sip coffee, Avy?” Damian asked after several minutes of sitting across from each other in an awkward silence.Even though she's ordered Damian's favourite drink, he still looked quite upset, which was fair; Ian did punch him a couple of times, thinking he forced himself on her.“I'm sorry, Damian. I'm sorry… I really am.” Avery apologised with her head still lowered in guilt.According to Damian, Rosie asked him to come check up on her after she called her back and didn't get a response from her.And since Damian wanted to talk to her because things didn't exactly end smoothly th
Chapter 48Ian woke up with a clear head and a refreshed body but the contents of his memory were so disturbing that it made him conclude he was dreaming. yet, the bite marks on Avery’s weak body were enough evidence to reaffirm his reality.He was a total bastard to Avery. How could he lose control like that when he wasn’t even in his rut? Did Avery’s heat somehow manage to trigger his rut? Ian wondered.Ian knew he was going to have to reveal this part of himself to Avery eventually since he was an alpha and ruts for him wouldn’t be any different from what happened between them, but Ian didn’t expect to show her this early.‘She’s definitely going to break up with me?’ The The thought terrified him so much, tears trailed down his eyes instinctively.So far, Ian had only shed tears to garner Avery’s affection and make himself appear pitiful since pity is also a type of affection, but Ian wasn’t acting this time.His thoughts were in turmoil, and the thought that everything he’d meticu
Mature content aheadAvery recalled the pain that shook her the moment Ian bit down on her neck but the pain soon faded, replaced by an explosion of pleasure that had her shaking as her climax raked through her entire body.She felt an undeniable amount of relief spread through her body and her body finding such relief for the first time since the pain of her unbearable heat and desires started instantly relaxed her, and she started to feel sleepy.One thing, though, Ian had no plans of letting her sleep.Ian lifted Avery into his arms and brought her to the bed before he started pulling off his clothes.“I heard marking can both be painful and pleasurable but to think you’ll cum to just that…almost makes me wanna do it again.” Ian smiled but despite the curve of his lips, he still looked really pissed.‘I guess he’s someone who doesn’t let go of grudges easily.’ Avery's thoughts were snuffed as she stiffened when Ian slid down her pyjama shorts.Heat instantly enveloped her skin agai
Chapter 46Ian couldn’t help wondering who the strange visitor who visited the day before was. Ian could feel Storm’s irritation from the moment he felt his presence.An alpha with quite a domineering presence that had Storm getting all territorial but Ian had to remind him that even if the place belonged to his father, his territory wasn’t here.Locking heads with another alpha whose territory might be in the area wouldn’t be good.Ian ended up just locking his door from behind and sleeping afterwards, even though he tried to eavesdrop on his Eloise conversation with the mysterious alpha visitor.Ian tried calling Avery after he woke up but there was no response and the same for when he woke up in the morning.After a couple more calls, Ian couldn’t help feeling anxious and immediately decided to visit Avery.“Ian,” Eloise called as he strolled downstairs all dressed up and ready to leave for Avery’s apartment. “You’re going to see her again, aren’t you?” Eloise frowned after he reac
Everyone in the Archer household knows about the overshadowed Eldest son of the Archer household.Arlo Archer loved his wife, Emily Pelt, very deeply and never took another even after 12 years of being without a child but Emily Pelt loved children and adopted Arden into the family after 7 years of being childless.According to Avery’s knowledge of her family history, her grandmother already gave up on having children but Finn came as a miracle that healed her years of heartbreak over not being able to have a child of her own.Which was why Finn's other name was Apollo and with Finn’s rise to success as well as the birth of her aunt Charlotte who married into a royal family, Arden was soon forgotten and overshadowed, to everyone else that is but to Avery.He was the only other father figure she knew, running to him every time she ran away from home or had an argument with her father.He was just…always there when he was breaking and she came to rely on him quite heavily but 10 years ag