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
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!"
IvyHi, my name is Ivy Stonebrook, and my wolf has yet to come out.That's right, I'm already nineteen years old, and yet I haven't experienced the rite of passage that all members of the Hidden Valley Pack go through.It's not just that I haven't found my mate yet - my wolf hasn't even made an appearance. It's like a part of me is missing, and I don't know how to find it.I try not to let it get to me, though! I go through the motions of pack life, attending the gatherings and the hunts, but I always feel like an outsider. Everyone else seems so sure of themselves, so confident in their wolf, and I can't help but envy them.I've tried everything to awaken my wolf. I've spent hours in the forest, connecting with nature, hoping that it will spark something inside of me. I've even tried talking to the pack's oracle, hoping that she could shed some light on my situation.But so far, nothing has worked. And the longer I go without finding my wolf, the more I feel like I'm failing myself a
Ivy"Ivy, this isn't how you're supposed to find your mate," my best friend Maddy says as she watches me gawk at every guy that walks into the cafeteria."I know, but I have to try something, Maddy," I reply, feeling frustrated. "I don't want the Alpha to choose someone for me.""I get it, Ivy, but you can't force things like this. Your mate will come to you when the time is right," she says."I only have one month, Maddy.""A lot can happen in a month, Ivy." Maddy smirks.I roll my eyes at her. "Very helpful, Maddy.""I'm serious, Ivy. Just focus on being yourself and doing what you love. Maybe you'll meet your mate while doing something you enjoy," she suggests."Like what? All I want to do is hang out in the woods and climb trees."Oh, did I mention I'm an excellent climber?"That's perfect, Ivy!" Maddy exclaims. "Maybe you'll meet someone while you're out there climbing. You never know who might be in the woods."I consider her suggestion for a moment but then shake my head. "Not
Ivy I rush out of the class as soon as it's over and start making my way back to my pack house. I need to take a break and clear my head. While I walk, I notice that the campus is buzzing with activity. There are students everywhere, some hurrying to their next class, others hanging out in groups, chatting and laughing. I look at them with a bitter expression. What are they so happy about? As I walk past the group of students, I catch a glimpse of someone familiar. It's the Alpha from earlier. He's surrounded by a group of friends, all of them laughing and joking around. Why does he get to have it all? Looks, strength, and popularity. It's not fair. He really pisses me off, I think to myself. I want to get back at him for being mean to me for no reason. Just because I look weak, doesn't mean he gets to treat me like garbage! I start to brainstorm possible ways to get back at the Alpha. I don't even know his name all I know is that he is pretty popular so he will definitely be at
IvyI am smiling brightly as the lightbulb turns on in my brain—I know the perfect solution to my problem."Stop smiling and tell me what you want," Ryder barks again."First thing first, I need to help you get sober," I say, quickly springing into action."I don't need your help," Ryder says, trying to push me away.But I am determined. I grab a glass of water from the nightstand and hold it out to him. "Drink this, it will help you feel better," I say firmly.Ryder grumbles but eventually takes the glass and drinks it. I can see him starting to sober up a little."That's good," I say encouragingly, "Now, let's get you cleaned up." I guide Ryder to the bathroom and turn on the shower. "Get in and let the water wash away the alcohol," I instruct him.Ryder grumbles again but starts taking his clothes off."Whoa there, buddy. I don't want to see you naked. Do it behind the shower curtain!" I say, wide-eyed. Although I'm kind of curious to see what he looks like naked.Ryder chuckles sl
IvyI nearly frolicked on my way to college. I feel like a woman in love, except I'm not.Gosh, I can't wait to see my fake boyfriend!My heart is beating faster with excitement. I can't believe I'm actually doing this.I finally spot Ryder in his usual spot, surrounded by his friends. He looks up as I approach and gives me a cold stare that sends shivers down my spine."Hey," I say and wave enthusiastically.Ryder grunts in response.I try not to let his icy demeanor affect me and take a deep breath. "Can I talk to you in private?" I ask, hoping to get a positive response. I can feel his friends' eyes on me, so I look at them and smile.One particular girl gives me a nasty stare. What, did she call dibs on him or something? He didn't mention having a girlfriend at the party!Ryder looks at me for a moment before finally nodding his head. "Fine," he says, standing up and motioning for me to follow him.I feel a sense of relief wash over me as we walk away from his friends and find a s
Ryder I step up to the plate, the cool metal of the bat resting on my shoulder. I take a deep breath, trying to focus on the pitcher as he winds up, and I prepare to swing. The ball comes hurtling towards me, so I bring the bat around in a swift arc. The satisfying crack of wood meeting the ball fills my ears as I watch the ball sail through the air. I never miss it. Well, I guess being a werewolf has its perks. Of course, my teammates have the same powers as I do, but I am still the Alpha wolf. No one could match my speed or strength. I hit the ball perfectly and watch it fly through the air. I feel alive, powerful, and free. As the ball lands in the outfield, I take off toward first base, my heart racing with excitement. I can hear my teammates cheering me on, and I know that I've made them proud. "Woohoo! GO, RYDER, GO!" I hear a girl cheering loudly, so I smile and look up at the bleachers. She must be one of my fans. If she is hot, I might take her back to my hous
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,