“Why?” Claire asks.
“He’s different. He’s always sneaking off and taking random phone calls. I thought it was just his job, but I overheard him the other night. He promised someone that he’d be over as soon as I fell asleep.”
“Have you felt any of the pains?”
No, but that doesn’t mean that he hasn’t done other things…”
I can feel her eyes on me and as much as I hate it, I understand it. This is my reputation, after all.
“Is it you?”
“No. It’s not. I understand why you’d think that, but you’re wrong. Alex is the only man I care to be anywhere near.”
She keeps
The packhouse has lost its appeal. I used to love the loud dinners and being surrounded by pack members, but everything is different now. I’d rather be having a quiet night with Amber. The pain of hearing her say she needs space from me still pulses through my body. I mean, I knew she wouldn’t take it well. The way I treated her was despicable. I just wasn’t prepared to lose her again.“Gamma, the patrol schedules need to be made and these papers need to be signed,” Harrison says.“Anything to get out of this room. Let’s go to Colin’s office.”The noise dwindles and I breathe a sigh of relief once I feel the silence of the office.“You sure you need me to sign these? I don’t usually deal with financial requests.”“Nah. I just thought you needed an excuse to leave
“What the hell?” The words die on my lips as I take in the scene before me. It’s like we’ve been transported to another world. The beauty this quiet place holds is astonishing. Lush green surrounds a clear patch of water. Rocks surround the water, but they look more inviting than scary. This place is from a storybook.“Welcome to my favorite place in the world,” Amber says.“Wow,” I whisper. “I’ve never seen this on any of the territory maps.”“As far as I know, no one but my family has ever known about it. My dad used to tell me stories about his childhood here. He said he had an imaginary friend who lived in the water, and he would spend every day out here playing with her.”“It smells like strawberries.”“It smells like you.”
I can breathe again. Admitting my feelings to Alex was easier than I thought. I felt lighter with each word I spoke. But having him reciprocate those feelings? That is the best feeling. It feels like I’ve woken up for the first time. I was living in a dark hole, but with him, everything is bright and alive. Alex nuzzles into my neck, breathing in my scent.“Why do I smell like apples to you?”“What?”“You said earlier that a mate's scent is only appealing to their soulmate. You know why I smell strawberries. I want to know why you smell apples.”“You smell like apple strudel and it’s because that’s my favorite dessert. My mom makes it for me anytime I feel sad. She made it a lot over the past year. It was brutal. Every time I went to her house, I hoped it was you I was smelling but it never was.”
His reaction has me second guessing my thoughts. Maybe the orgasmic haze has me thinking things I shouldn’t be, but I can’t deny how right this feels. “You want that?” Alex murmurs. “Yes. I want you. All of you, forever. We’ve played enough games. Don’t you think?” Alex’s eyes brighten, and all my doubts fade away. Keeping his gaze on me, he moves against me once more. Staring into his eyes, we’re the only two people that exist right now. Just him and me. How it should be and how it always will be after this moment. Pleasure stacks up against me with a vengeance. His thrusts become reckless. My name is a whisper on his lips. He’s getting close, and so am I. His canines tickle my collarbone as mine find his. The bite of pain sends us over the edge with screams. Alex wraps an arm around my waist, pulling me closer to him. “Mine.” “Yours,” I reply. “Forever.” By the time he and I pop out of our secret place, the sun is rising. He laces his fingers with mine. Everything is the same,
With that, they push into the house and start their work on me. I feel like a princess with her fairy godmothers fussing over her. But in my case, it’s my fairy Lunas and I’m only a princess in Alex’s eyes. They step back to admire their work. I twirl in the mirror. I’m in a navy sundress that shows off my new mark. My hair is pinned to the side and my lips have been painted pink. Even with my weird eyes, I feel beautiful.“You look perfect. Nicole, doesn’t she look perfect?”“You are stunning, Amber,” Nicole smiles.“Captivating,” Monica adds.“Thank you. I don’t know what I would’ve done without the three of you.”“Ready to go? I think you’re meeting Alex in the yard.”I nod at Paige and follow them out. I keep my eyes down
A loud warning howl shakes through my ears just before dawn. Alex is up and out of the house before I can even comprehend what’s happening. With the sun coming up, I know it’s not vampires. My body begs for more rest, but I have a nagging feeling that I need to find out what’s happening.I feel like the last wolf to make it to the border. Warriors have already started to walk back, murmuring about being woken up for nothing. I almost join them, but the sound of a familiar voice squealing to Colin stops me. I move closer. Next to Alex is a she-wolf on her knees. His hand on her shoulder, keeping her from escaping. Sweat coats my palms.“Who are you?” Colin paces in front of them.The woman gives him a silent smirk. She’s never going to tell them anything.“She is my mother,” I say, my voice shaking wi
Her words awaken something within me. A flurry of rage falls over me. My life has been miserable because of the woman in front of me and she dares to relish in my pain. Her chains sing as Colin barks at the guards to move her. Something takes control of me, pushing me up in an instant. I feel like I’m outside of my body. As if I’m watching someone else wrap my hands around her throat before using my hatred to squeeze the life from her veins. I can only focus on Linda until she falls dead at my feet. The guards stand frozen next to her. Colin and Alex are yelling, but my mind is dancing in too much relief to understand their words. I don’t take my eyes off her body. Not even when sparks warm my arm and I’m being dragged off. I glue my eyes to her dead ones in victory until I can’t make sense of her silhouette anymore.Alex pulls me into the house. His concerned eyes expect me to be feeling some type of remorse, b
Alex sits me down and rearranges himself before turning his attention to our nosy friends. Our bond stays open, overcome with frustration.“Okay then. Rita would like a word with us. She’s waiting in Colin’s office,” Paige says.The awkward tension remains as we leave the house. It hangs until Colin breaks it with a report on the other packs. Thankfully, all vampire attacks have stopped. Lyle and his followers seem to be solely focused on our pack.“Thank you for waiting, Rita,” Colin says, leading us into his office.“Like I had much of a choice.”“Ah, Rita, lovely as ever,” Alex smiles at her, but her face doesn’t return the same sentiment.“James and Cassie are almost here,” Colin announces over his phone.
Luckily for us, our specialist agreed to move onto packlands for the last few weeks of my pregnancy. By the time we reach the hospital, I’m in tears from the pain. Our doctor meets us by the front door. “How long are the contractions?” “It’s just a constant pain,” Alex answers as he lays me on the hospital bed. “She’s had no relief.” “Okay. Amber, honey, it’s Dr. Roberts. Are you feeling any pressure to push?” My response is stolen by a sharp bite of pain to my pelvis. I grip Alex’s hand. Every single coping technique I learned during my pregnancy goes out the window. I barely register the rustling of bodies around me or the fact that Dr. Roberts is checking how close to delivery I am. “The babies are
The sound of laughter carries through my childhood home. Alex offered to build a new one right next to the swimming hole, but I didn’t want to ruin that sacred ground. Instead, we turned my father’s old home into our new one. We gutted everything in it and started anew. Now, it’s a place of a happiness. “Princess! Come on, everyone wants to see you,” Alex says, grabbing my hand and dragging me to the living room. “Okay. Okay. Geez, I just wanted some snacks.” “You know, I’m going to have to come up with another name for you once the twins get here.” I lay a hand on my swollen belly. “Yeah, if one of them is a girl.” “Trust me. We’re having a boy and a girl. Just like Paige and Peyton only cuter cause they’ll be ours.”
“Tonight, we welcome Amber Tremaine as Gamma Alex’s mate. She is already a part of our family, now she’ll be a part of our pack. She will receive the title of Gamma female and should be treated with such respect,” Colin states with a clipped tone. “Alex cut into your mate’s palm please.”Paige hands him a small dagger. The handle of it is worn like it’s been used in many ceremonies before ours. His love filled eyes are glued to mine as he slices the knife across my hand. The ache from my splitting skin is overshadowed by the joy I feel. Blood warms the wound as it begins to seep out.“Now, Amber do the same to him, please.”The blade runs through his hand, setting his blood free. I place my bloody palm in his, the mixture of our blood creates a stream of wind around us. Right now, Alex and I are the only two beings in existence. I’m tran
Colin clears his throat. “Good evening, everyone. We have a lot to cover tonight so if you’ll all find your seats, we can get started.” He goes silent waiting for the rustling of moving bodies to stop. “First, I’d like to say thank you all for coming tonight. I know tonight comes at a bitter time for some of you. Paige and I are grateful that you could attend. Second, I’d also like to take a moment to thank each of the fallen. We lost a lot of good people during this fight. I know this was something we’d rather not have to endure but their death was not in vain. We defeated the evil and ended its wrathful reign. I hope that brings solace to their souls and that of their families. Please know that Paige and I are prepared to support you in any way you may need. Just reach out.“Now, I’d like for every person who helped us defeat the Midnight Sin clan to stand,” Colin announces.
Choosing to stay in Onyx Flame was an easy choice after Paige’s words. I realize that not every pack member is going to be happy about this. In fact, I’m guessing that more will be angry than happy, but this is my home. I’m tired of running from it. “Are you nervous?” Paige asks. “Not really.” “Ah, so I’m on my own with that then.” “Yeah, but you have a good reason.” Paige slides her fingers through my hair, twisting my dark strands into an intricate up-do. I look at her in the mirror. Her hair flows down her back, her body covered in a black dress. She meets my gaze and smiles at me. “You know, I never thought I’d say this but I’m really glad to call yo
My smile widens, and Amber’s jaw drops.“Are you sure?”“Absolutely. We couldn’t think of anyone better,” Paige embraces Amber. “And before you ask, yes, we are sure that we want you to be the godmother. We’re not just asking because you’re Alex’s mate either. We’re asking because I want my child to know what true resilience and strength is. You’ve been through hell more times than any of us but you’re still a good person. You’re an amazing person. Please say yes.”“Yes.”An excited laugh leaves Paige. Her body jumps up as if she just won an award.“Paige and I aren’t announcing to everyone else until the banquet. So, you can’t tell anyone! No one else knows,” Colin says.“We’re the first to know? I feel special,” I laugh.
I meet her eyes as she stands in front of me. Her leg comes out and places a tiny kick to my shin.“There. I hurt you. Happy?”“No. NO. We are not happy. Kick his ass, Amber!” My mother yells.“Really? I’m your son!”She shrugs. “I came for a show.”My mother looks to Amber with a glint in her eye. Amber chuckles before facing me. “I guess I’ll be giving everyone a show then.”A devilish smile covers her face. A shiver of fear spreads over me. Oh, this might be the worst decision I’ve ever made.No, rejecting her was. You deserve this for hurting her and for hurting us, Zeke snarls.Amber’s fist connects with my right eye. Fuck, she can punch
I blow the steam from my coffee and look at my sleeping mate. It took me hours to get her calmed down last night. When I found her at the swimming hole, she was in tears. She couldn’t even get the words out to tell me what happened. But when she finally did, I was heartbroken for her. Knowing that Linda killed her mother and watching Linda kill her mother are two different types of pain. My tongue recoils to the touch of the still too hot coffee. I jerk the cup from my mouth, spilling a little down my shirt.“Fuck,” I hiss.Amber’s eyes open, finding mine immediately. She sits up, her face still stained from yesterday’s burdens.“Sorry, didn’t mean to wake you.”“It’s time to get up anyways. I have training.”“Oh, okay. Get dressed and I’ll walk you down.”
I’ve sent most of my kingdom to live safely on the surface, hidden from those who want our lives. It’s just me and my mother left. I’ve been putting off running for so long because I want Troy to choose me. I hate how I’ve pined for him, hoping that on one of my visits, he’ll realize that I’m who he is supposed to be with. All the men that I’ve had in the years since have never come close to what I felt when I was with him. They never will but I have to let this idea of being his go. He’s happy with Linda, and I have to accept that. At least living on the surface, I might get to see Amber more. Amber jumps on my glittering, purple tail. “Always with the tail, my pearl. You have no idea how much I wish I could give you one of your own.” “Mama, look!” Amber hands me a drawing that she made. Me with my purp