Ryder So, I just invited Ivy to Sirius's birthday party. I'm not entirely sure why I did it, but it's done now, and I can't take it back. Maybe it was because I had fun hanging out with her earlier today. She's funny and easy to talk to, and I feel like I can be my true self in front of her. And also kind of cute. I shake my head. No, I'm being stupid. She is more annoying than cute. But I can't stop thinking about her now. Her soft, rounded face with full lips and a cute nose with tiny freckles sprinkled on it, her wild curly hair and big green eyes... Dang it, why do I find her so attractive? "Why do you look like you swallowed a whole lemon?" Sirius pushes me to get my attention. I jump, startled, and quickly compose myself. "Uh, what? No reason. I'm fine." Sirius is the Beta wolf of our pack and my childhood best friend. We are supposed to be celebrating his birthday tomorrow night. Sirius raises an eyebrow. "You sure?" You nearly ran into me just now, not even watching wh
IvyMy mind is weird.I should be mad at Ryder for being mean to me all the time, but instead, it makes me giggle when he snaps at me. Maybe I like the way he scrunches his nose when he is annoyed at me or the way his little vein pops up on his forehead when he is mad at me. It's adorable.But then again, why do I find it adorable when someone is being mean to me? Is there something wrong with me? Maybe I have some sort of weird psychological issue that I need to address.Or maybe I just have a strange sense of humor. I mean, I laugh at my own jokes even when no one else finds them funny. Maybe finding Ryder's annoyance amusing is just another one of my quirks.Either way, I need to stop thinking about him so much. I can't get too attached because this isn't meant to be a long-lasting friendship. Guys like Ryder don't hang out with girls like me!But I really did have so much fun with him at the carnival!He had been weirdly understanding when I was scared of heights, and then he invi
RyderIvy grabs the sleeve of my shirt as I try to get out of the car. "What?" I bark."Um...maybe this is a bad idea," she chuckles nervously."What's a bad idea? Going to a party?" I arch my brows."Going as your date, I mean."I smirk at her. "What? Chickening out already?"Ivy rolls her eyes. "No, it's just...I don't know."I reach out and tug at her braid. "No need to be nervous. I promise not to be too mean to you tonight. I'll even act like I'm into you," I say, surprised by my own words. I don't know why, but I feel protective over her tonight.Maybe it's because she looks so stunning in her little red dress, or maybe it's because I don't want anyone than me to be rude to her."Really? Why are you being nice to me all of a sudden?" Ivy asks me.I shrug, trying to play it cool. "I don't know, maybe I just feel like being a good date tonight."Ivy raises an eyebrow at me, clearly not buying it. "Okay...well, I don't believe you. I think you are up to something. Maybe planning re
IvyRyder is holding me close as we dance. I can feel his grip on my waist tightens, so I look up at him, wondering what's going on.I see a flicker of something in his eyes like he's struggling with something internally. His grip loosens a little, and he clears his throat before speaking. "I wasn't accusing you of anything earlier."I look at him with surprise. "Hmm?""I'm just saying...I wasn't really jealous of you and Sirius," Ryder says.Oh, we are still harping on that?"I'm sure you weren't, Ryder. Why would you? I'm not exactly the beauty queen everyone sought after."Ryder's eyes narrow slightly. "That's not true, Ivy. You are...""I am what?" I stare at him intently."You aren't...hideous looking," Ryder mumbles.I giggle. "Gee...thanks so much for thinking I'm not hideous.""Okay, that was a stupid thing to say. What I was trying to say was that you...you...are...cute," Ryder stammers.I can't help but smile at Ryder's flustered response. Is the big bad Alpha feeling nervou
RyderI don't know what to do with myself anymore.I don't know how, but I am somehow keeping it together while I'm dancing with Ivy, even though my heart is pounding and my head is spinning. I can feel my emotions spiraling out of control as the time go by.Her scent, her soft skin against my palm, and the feel of her soft lips when I kissed her made my cock hard, and I really hoped she didn't notice.FUCK! WHY?I know it's wrong to feel this way about someone who is not my mate, especially a wolfless girl, but I can't help myself. She's just so damn cute.And despite my cringy attempts at flirting, she seems to be enjoying my company. Maybe she doesn't take me seriously, maybe she's just being polite, but it feels good to have her attention. But did I just tell her I'd give her kissing lessons? Really Ryder?I'm an idiot.I need to get away from her for a moment so I can think rationally again, so I let go of her waist. "I need to go outside and get some air," I mumble."Oh, okay, s
Ivy I received a text from Ryder this morning. Ryder: "Hey, good morning." I stare at it with confusion. Why is he texting me good morning? Is this a trap, or are we friends now? I quickly type a reply. Me: "Good morning." Ryder: "Sleep okay?" Okay, now he is being weird. What does he care about whether I slept or not? Me: "Um...yeah. You?" Ryder: "No." I stare at my phone for a moment, thinking he will send a follow-up text explaining why he didn't sleep well, but my phone stays silent. Okay...what is the point of these texts? I don't hear from him the rest of the day but my phone dings again in the evening. Ryder: "Wanna come to my game tonight?" I stare at the message for a few moments, my mind racing with questions. Why is he inviting me to his game? Is this a date or just a friendly invitation? And why is he suddenly interested in spending time with me? Despite my doubts and suspicions, I decided to take him up on his offer. Me: "Sure, what time and where?" Ryder q
Ryder Alex raises his hands in defense, "Hey, man, we were just talking. No need to get aggressive." I step forward, "I said stay away from her," I repeat, I keep my voice low and dangerous. I don't know why but seeing Alex get so close to Ivy made my blood boil. I take another step forward, feeling the anger coursing through me. Alex doesn't seem phased by me. He only stares at me and grins. Ivy is just standing frozen, looking at me with wide eyes. I know I have to keep my cool, but it is hard when Alex is testing my patience. "Come on, man," Alex says, taking a step back when I step closer to him. "I didn't mean any harm. Just talking to your little girlfriend here." I grit my teeth. "I don't care. You need to leave her alone." Alex roll his eyes. "Fine, whatever." After he walks away, I let out a deep breath. I turn to Ivy, who is still staring at me in shock. "Are you okay?" I ask, my voice softening. She nods slowly. "Yeah, but why do you look so angry?" I shrug, try
IvyI can't believe it! Ryder is on board with my stupid plan!It still doesn't solve my problem entirely, but at least I can stall Alpha Maurice now. I am so happy I could die!But then again...Being around Ryder too much doesn't feel too safe because the attraction between us is almost unbearable. When he kissed me...I feel my cheeks flush again at the memory. When he kissed me, I felt a rush of electricity and warmth spreading throughout my body. It was like my heart was beating faster than it ever had before, and I couldn't help but respond to his kiss. The kiss felt both familiar and new at the same time as if we had been waiting for this moment for a long time.This is all wrong. I shouldn't feel like this with Ryder!"What are you smiling about, moron?" someone barks at me, so I stop dreaming about the kiss.I look at the person, and my mood sours.Mindy and her little Barbie wolf pack."Leave me alone, Mindy. I'm not in the mood for your bullshit today," I snap at her, hoping
The next few days went by fast. I didn't stick around to find out how Eloise's date went with that jerk Calvin. All I did was stay in the woods and mope. "What is wrong with you?" Kaelan asked as he couldn't take my sour mood anymore. "None of your business," I bark. "It is my business when you can't even help me with this simple task," he says irritably. I glare at him and reluctantly agree to help. We walked through the woods, looking for whatever Kaelan thought we needed to find. Suddenly, I heard a sound that made me jump, and I spun around to see what it was. A group of hunters with guns were coming our way. I quickly grabbed Kaelan's arm and pulled him behind a large tree. We wait there, trying to keep quiet, but it doesn't seem to be enough. One of the hunters calls out, asking if anyone is there. We stay motionless. "Why can't we fight them?" I whisper. "We are outnumbered," he says. "But those look like humans, and we are werewolves. Surely, we are stronger than them!"
As the day unfolds, I find myself caught up in helping Eloise choose an outfit for her date with Calvin. Eloise drags me from store to store, trying on various outfits while seeking my input.This is the worst thing that has happened to me!"Lucian, what do you think of this dress?" she asks, holding up a flowy, black dress against herself.I study it for a moment. "It's nice, I guess. But isn't it a bit too..."Eloise arches her brows. "A bit too...what?""A bit like you are going to a funeral wearing that. Also, it seems like the wrong size for you," I say.Eloise bursts into laughter at my blunt response. "Wow, Lucian, you sure know how to be brutally honest."I shrug, feeling a bit uncomfortable being dragged into this situation. "Hey, you asked for my opinion.""What do you mean it's the wrong size? It feels perfectly fine to me," she says as she tugs at the fabric."It's too big for your body. You look like you are wearing a potato sack," I declare.Eloise winces. "I hate tight
"Hah, what? Are you asking me out?" Eloise exclaims, her eyes glinting with amusement."Yes. You are cute and just my type, so why not?" he smirks slyly.Wow, this boy works fast."Um...yeah, okay, but no thanks. I don't date wolves," Eloise says and pulls on my sleeve, motioning me to follow her."No, wait. Can I speak to you in private?" Calvin pleads.Eloise looks at me as if she is unsure about this. "You don't have to go with him if you don't want to, Eloise," I say quickly. Not like I want this loser to go out with Eloise, anyway.But she shrugs and nods in agreement. "Yeah, sure. Let's go talk in private," she says to Calvin, then walks out with him.I stand there, feeling confused. I wonder what Calvin would tell her to convince her to date him. Even I couldn't convince this girl, and we actually mated!As I watch Eloise and Calvin walk away to have their private conversation, I can't help but feel a mix of emotions. Confusion, concern, and even a tinge of jealousy all swirl w
I will be forever alone, won't I?"You won't be forever alone. Stop being so dramatic," Eloise scoffs at me.How does she know what I'm thinking? Did I say it out loud?"Did you just hear my inner monologue?" I snarl.Eloise looks startled. "What? No way. Maybe we share a special connection because of our bond now.""Whatever. But I am telling you. Scarlett despises me," I grumble as the conversation with her reruns through my mind."Despise is a strong word, pal. She doesn't feel that way about you!" Eloise assures me."How can you be sure?" I challenge her.She suddenly grabs my chin and forces my gaze to hers. "How can anyone not love you? You are downright adorable!""I am not fucking adorable, woman," I snapped back, my alpha instincts clashing with the unexpected compliment. "I'm an alpha wolf with extraordinary power!" I reminded her, my tone a mixture of defiance and self-assertion."Hurr derr. Well, you should try to talk to her again. Bring out the charm," she says.I groan.
'Are you going to just sit here and mope all day?' my wolf scolds me."She rejected me. I can't believe it," I reply, shaking my head. The first time I mate with someone, and she rejects me? What kind of a game is moon goddess playing right now?'Oh, get over it, Lucian. It's not the end of the world. She wasn't even your real mate, so forget her,' he says.But I can't. I can't just forget her. Her scent is still lingering on my skin after we made love. I need to find her again tomorrow!I decide to sleep off my misery for the night and start fresh in the morning. I plan to hunt her down and claim her back again. She can't just use my body and then dismiss me!The next morning, I set off to find Eloise. I know that foxes usually live near water sources, so I start my search there. As I walk through the forest, I look for any signs of her presence. Her scent is still strongly ingrained in my memory, and it helps guide me in the right direction. Eventually, I find a huge fox den by th
"I will mate with you just this once," I say softly, brushing my fingers against her cheek.A smile spread across her face, but I can tell she is hesitating. "You will? Really?""Yes," I say, my voice shaking. "But I have to tell you something. I've never done this before." My teeth bite into my lip as the fear of the unknown creeps up inside me."Me too. This is my first time too," she whispers.I can feel the heat radiating from her body as she presses her wet body against me.I reach out to hold her close. Then the reality of my situation hits me like a freight train. What exactly am I supposed to do now?I roll her onto her back and lock my gaze on her wide brown eyes. She gasps in shock as I hover above her, my intensity radiating through me like a burning wildfire."I need to touch you more," I husk."What do you mean? Just get in there," she responds, her eyes smoky and distant.'Just get in there? She is quite the romantic,' my wolf teases me.I roll my eyes. This girl is som
What the heck is going on?I grumble as I attempt to shove Eloise away from me. "Get off of me! What are you thinking, vixen?" I screech."You smell...heavenly. I need you so badly," she purrs in a sultry voice.Huh?"What are you on?" I ask as I stare into her glassy eyes. They are cloudy, as if she is on drugs.She claws at my chest. "You are so beautiful. Take me now, wolfboy," she says."Is this a joke? You are not funny," I say irritably.She takes her blanket off and tosses it away.Whoa...I stare at her naked body as she straddles me. I was right about her having a boyish figure, but there is a certain allure to it.Her small, perky breasts contrast with the rest of her boyish shape, yet it only adds to her sultry appeal. I shake my head, trying to snap out of it. I can't get distracted by her body while she is assaulting me!She grinds against me and I feel myself getting hard. Oh, no, my body is betraying me. "Yo...stop this now," I bark."Ohh… is that the legendary Alpha di
The motherfucking fox won't stop peeing on me! I watch in horror as he relieves himself on my bark for the second time and then kicks some dirt.I have had it!I seriously have had it!I need to shift back before he runs away and I get the chance to kick this fox's ass!I concentrate hard, drawing on the inner strength that I have cultivated over the years. Sometimes I am able to shift back faster if I really concentrate."You can do this, Lucian. You have the power to shift back to human. You don't want to be a stupid tree anymore, so shift!" I give myself a pep talk with my conscious. Come on, work!As I close my eyes to focus, I feel a strange energy rising within me. It's as if the whole forest is responding to my call. Suddenly, I am engulfed in a warm glow that spreads throughout my entire being. I can feel the bark on my skin begin to soften and crackle as I shrink down to my human size.When I open my eyes, I am no longer a tree, but my human self. The fox looks at me in shock
Okay, it's time for attempt number two. I had the chance to inhale the girl's scent more, so now I can trace her back to her packhouse. And that is exactly what I intend to do.She called me weird and ran away from me, but that doesn't mean I should give up on her entirely!I trace her scent all the way to a territory that belongs to the Silverwood Pack. I heard the Alpha of this pack is friendly, so I wasn't too worried. I walked inside the gate with my shoulders straight, and head held high.The security guard there looks at me suspiciously. "Who are you?" he asks before letting me in."I am Lucian. I belong to Ashwood pack," I tell him."What brings you here, Lucian of the Ashwood pack?" he asks."I am looking for a lovely girl. She has long brown hair and beautiful green eyes," I say enthusiastically."Ah, you are looking for Scarlett, the Beta's daughter," he says.Scarlett...even her name is sexy. "Yes. Do you know where I can find her?" I ask.The security guard eyes me warily,