Yumi's POV.
-Zana and Zainab look like they’re about to eat me alive with the aggravated looks on their faces.“Um…what is it?” I ask innocently and they explode.“What do you mean by what is it? Girl, you rejected him in public!!!” I shield my ears, wincing from the sound attack.“Hey! Cut it out. I’m right in front of you,” I groan with a frown. “So, why did you do that? People were watching,” Zainab rolls her eyes.“Why shouldn’t I? He knew that and still went ahead. I’m not the female population that worships his ego. I am me, Yumi,” I deadpan.“Ugh, it’s all over social media. You’re lucky no one could get a clear view of your face. The angle wasn’t a nice one. But from your shoulder, bag, and shoe, everyone could tell it’s a woman,” Zana goes on to say and I sigh.“It’s no big deal, and stop saying I’m his mate,” I pout with annoyance. It’s all I keep hearing these days and I don’t like it.“You just landed yourself in big trouble. You’ve wounded his Alpha pride and no one goes scot-free with that. You might be lucky he doesn’t kill you.”I restrain the urge to tremble at what Zainab just said and shake off the fear about to grapple me. I glance from her to Zana and back as I state flatly, “You…don’t mean that. I only moved away and told him to leave me alone.”They both share amused looks, giggling. Zainab waves her hand in my face. “Of course not. That’s silly. He wouldn’t do that.”“But, you’ve just provoked him on. You’ve initiated a lead on for him…and he won’t relent to pounce on it,” Zana says like some doctor trying to break down my deadly illness to me in simpler words.“No need to panic…we’re here. Just be careful. Not of him alone, but other male wolves,” She winks at me.“Why? Why more werewolves too?” I ask, but she grins widely, “I’ll leave that to you to find out”. Now I regret not just asking but ever getting involved with Henry Slater.I do sometimes forget where I live, school and work are all places where members of the ‘Black Forest Pack’ dominate in a very large number. Being the largest in this part of the world, it represents the entirety of California and has its Pack’s territory occupying four counties: San Bernardino, L.A, Kern, and Inyo. That is just a whole new level of amazing and it angers me to know that it’s Alpha isn’t just my stalker, but also a rival to Hyun Shik’s celestial beauty. Henry just has a well-trimmed beard that accentuates his striking manly features. His jawline is defined and…I bite on my lower lip, “Damn wolf Alpha…Hyun Shik will always be my number one! Fictional or not.”And even that resolve is beginning to wane out. His looks just had to infiltrate my head and torment me all the time.I come to a halt in front of the club Eliza frequents. She’s beaten up drunk again. Thank goodness her older brother is coming for her tomorrow. She really needs a therapist. Nate can’t do this on his own anymore.Bracing myself up, I throw a leg out and begin walking into the noisy box. A foul scent assails my nostrils and I quickly use a palm to cover my nose with my face scrunching up, “Eww!”I slide smoothly between clustered sinful bodies and arrive at the tables to see her downing a glass and I jog over.“Eliza!”Her eyes move to see me and her body shakes. “Yumi…you’re here?!”Thank God she’s still sober. I look around us, damn I wanna leave. I look back at her to see her finishing her alcoholic drink.“We have to leave here…Nate is coming tonight!” I yell loudly so she can hear me over the music. She nods her head, standing up.But then, that sensation rings throughout my being, startling me at its perverse force and I whip my head around to see many pairs of eyes boring holes into my body from all sides.Werewolves! I try to avoid their gazes and ignore their presence while steadily waiting for Eliza to pack up. From nowhere, the sensation hits me strongly, almost making me lose my balance and when I look behind me, I find a pair of hazel slate-blue mix glaring at me. Right in the eyes.Henry Slater.He has five girls with him, while four are seated next to and intimately close, one is straddling his thighs and kissing his neck hungrily. Still looking at me, he leans over to the side and kisses the other girl hungrily. They both moan in pleasure and the other girl to his right starts caressing his chest. Soon enough, I’m watching the most disgusting sight ever as all the girls gather on him like honey, letting off weird irritating sounds and fondling themselves.I feel the urge to puke at the sight and glance around frantically to quickly tell Eliza I’ll be back. I race into the restroom after sucking up my acrid disgust to ask around for directions and spilling my guts into the wash basin. What is he? A pornstar now?I splash palm-fulls of water over and over against my face till I feel I’m okay. As I turn around, I hear moaning sounds coming from a stall near me and I remember where I am. Shit! I need to leave.I hurriedly leave the toilet but slam into a wall that I don’t recall being there. Rubbing my face angrily, I tip my head back to peer up. My body trembles in dismay. Four hefty males with unusually faint red eyes are staring so evilly down at my tiny frame. My mouth parts and trembles like crazy.“P-please…l-let…m-me go.”They all burst into amused chuckles, the one to my left is quick to grab my arm and I yelp. But with all the music and all, I know no one can hear me. He pulls me and my back slams against his hardened chest with a cry.“Aww, isn’t she so pretty?” The one in front holds my chin, smiling gravely at my face.“Right? I thought as much when we first met.” That voice. I see the men stiffen and, are they shivering?The narrow corridor falls silent as we listen to the echo of his shoes drawing closer at a slow taunting pace. Suddenly, both men at my sides are yanked off and flung away. I hear bones break and I wince for them. The one behind me, his presence falls vacant and I see him at the other end of the corridor.“Don’t you dare touch her again!” A malicious growl echoes off the walls and I nearly pass out from shock and fear. The last guy drops to a big immobile heap before my feet and I jump away only to meet my side with another new wall.“You need to get out of here.”I don’t complain or try to resist. I simply nod, refusing his hand to hold me and I walk in front. I don’t see Eliza anywhere and he guides me out, only for me to see her waiting by a taxi.“Yumi, where were you?!” I hurry over to her, “I’m sorry…had to deal with some hormonal perverts. Let’s go now”.“But, the guy you came out with…”Oh! I haven’t thanked him. When I turn to do so, my stomach churns with disgust, watching him hungrily kiss a dark-haired girl while having another behind him and trailing her fingers all over his exposed torso.This makes it a total of six girls now.I return my face filled with repine to Eliza, grab her arm, and pull her into the taxi with me.“Go.”Henry's POV.- I punch the punchbag right in the middle with all the aggravating energy flowing in my body and it goes flying off its hinges from the ceiling to fly across the gym room and meet the wall with a loud thud. All the wolves present get startled and don’t dare to look their Alpha in the face. Huffing with muscles tensing and contracting, the anger explodes. How could that measly human retort at me that way?! And in public eyes too. No human ever dared treat me that way and she had the guts to not only avoid my touch but also say those hostile words to me! “Curse this!” “Hey,” I hear Harvey’s voice. “You’re getting us worried. What’s wrong?” My brother comes over to my side and I glare him down to the floor. “She…she dared insult me in public,” I growl, my voice deep with Alpha authority and rattling every wolf present. Memories of that day sully and hazes my mind as I struggle to contain the pangs of disrespect that woman inflicted on my pride. Harvey carefully reache
Henry's POV.- “Eliza!” That voice. I snap my neck up and to the side, but all I see are clustered bodies emitting foul smells. But my rose is somewhere behind these wastes. “We have to leave here…Nate is coming tonight!” Her alluring voice barely goes past my hearing senses but thanks to being a powerful wolf, I catch on to it. Suddenly, I perceive the lust in the air and I frown in disapproval. These perverse wolves are all staring her way and I feel like snapping their heads off. No one dares stare at my mate…I growl. Just as the wolves cower and back off under the pressing aura I’m emitting, her neck whips around just in time to meet gazes with me. My daring rose. The girl on my thighs resumes kissing my neck hungrily. Still looking at her, I lean over to the side and kiss the other girl hungrily. We both moan in pleasure and the other girl to my right starts caressing my chest, much to my delight. My arousal picks up as the kiss deepens and the girls’ arousals build up too,
Yumi's POV.- I move the cursor on the monitor over to the ‘open’ icon on the Web page. I quickly take a sip from my mug of hot chocolate and wait for the page to open. So I’ve decided to read some facts about werewolves. After what Zana said the last time, not showing any hints to tell me why I need to be careful of other male werewolves, I decided to do some homework myself. So I visit blogs of fanatics and hard-core fans to grapple as much as I can to at least, bolster courage before the smirking faces of my friends. Well, I do know about ‘Mates’ and stuff. A werewolf could be either mated to a human or a wolf. And the thing with the ‘Mating mark’, which gives the human mate fast healing and rids illnesses and disabilities. It’s a form of the mating process and keeps other wolves off your mate. It comes in the form of a bite to the neck or shoulder. “What?” I rub my neck subconsciously. If unfortunately, I do end up as Henry’s mate…Alpha’s are on a whole new level of extreme po
Yumi's POV.- “Oh my gosh! You all came!” We all get engulfed by Zana’s overexcited mother. She releases us and grabs our hands, leading us further in. “You have a lot to tell me, girls. What a surprise! I totally didn’t see this coming.” “Hehe…it was all my idea,” Zainab wears a smug look, earning a glare from me and Zana. “Don’t listen to her. I and Yumi actually spoke about this while she was sleeping like a log,” Zana takes the sit opposite from us. We hear the main door opening just then. “Wow, Hey guys,” Steven, Zana’s older brother and the Alpha’s Beta, waves happily at us as he walks in. “Hi, Steven!” I and Zainab wave back and he plops down beside his sister. “Alex and Claire just went out. Too bad for them…They just missed you guys,” He makes a small smile and I pout. I was looking forward to seeing Zana’s second older brother and her little sister. Well, we’ll be here till we leave tomorrow morning. I smile at him, “Not at all. We’ll be here till tomorrow morning. So
Henry's POV- I don’t feel it. The usual spark, the unbridled passion, and the amazing thirst…it’s all fading away. And I can’t do a thing about it. I sit at the edge of the bed, my head in my hands as I breathe anxiously. How does a woman I’ve only met a few times, dominate me so threateningly? So much so that I no longer feel the crazy hunger I feel for women. I no longer find them appealing to me. All I feel is emptiness…and irritation. A warm palm climbs my shoulder from my back and caresses sensually down my chest. “What’s wrong, handsome?” Clarence blows softly against the shell of my ear. And I wish it was Yumi right now. Touches that would drive me out of my senses and turn me on in just seconds. Now, I don’t feel even a speck of what it felt like during those days. Merely a few days ago. My wolf only keeps howling in pain at how close he is to claiming his mate but yet, I’m not making any progress on that. Yumi is my mate. And I should be beside her. “It’s nothing…” I d
Henry's POV.- “Oh, bro, you’re back. Meet Yumi and Zainab,” Harvey slips into the introductions and I acknowledge them but the woman on my right seems to be under the pretense that I’m not here. So daring. “Hi, Alpha Henry.” The one I now know to be Zainab, greets cheerfully and I chuckle at how excited she looks. She’s definitely a crazy fan. “Hey there.” My silly mate doesn’t know how much of a toll it is to keep resisting the urge to pounce on her. It’s so difficult and straining to hold myself down this calmly. My muscles keep tensing at my wolf’s urge to make a move. Not now, Talon. Please…hold still. It wouldn’t be so much of a challenge if I never indulged in my sexual thirsts each time I got triggered and behaved properly. After indulging myself for years, it’s still difficult to try to shove a leash over these raging hormones of mine. She grips the cup tighter, and her neck must hurt from how long she’s kept that bent position. She really can’t stand me, huh? Let’s see
Yumi's POV.- As we get into Zana’s car, I can’t help but notice the intense penetration of Henry’s stare all over my body. I’m always laid out bare in front of his stripping eyes. And I don’t feel comfortable about it. “Take care, girls, and stay safe,” Zana’s mom tells us and we nod. Henry’s mom is right beside her as Zainab gets into the back. “We’ll call you when we get there,” Zana informs her mom and she smiles, bidding us goodbye. But wait a sec, Henry’s following us? “Why’s that hunk of an Alpha following us?” Zainab asks. “Well, my Alpha has some business at El Dorado so he’s tagging along,” Zana replies and I keep staring into the side mirror to watch his car behind us. I hear Zainab grumble, “You sure? Or he just wants a taste of Yummy”. I blush intensely in alarm and glare back at her. “Hey! Don’t call me that!” “But that’s what he called you, remember?” She rolls her eyes and I resist the itch to land a bonk squarely on her head. “Hmp!” I angrily puff my cheeks an
Yumi's POV- This is happening in a vast clearing in the forest; the Pack’s training ground. We all watch Henry pick up a knife from the tall stool stationed before him to slice his palm with it and watch droplets of his blood drip into the goblet on the stool. Which is said to be filled with moonflower water. I witness this moment along with everyone else as the all-powerful and dominant Alpha expresses his dominance, superiority, and leadership for all to behold. The whole place is silent while we watch as one by one, the new members stand up to follow in the act Henry just did. “I, Jayden Andrea accept you, Alpha Henry Slater, as my alpha. I swear my loyalty and life to my Alpha’s command and brotherhood to the Black Forest Pack,” One of them goes first, resolve blazing in his eyes and I dart my gaze over to the Alpha staring down at him. “I, Alpha Henry Slater, accept you, Jayden Andrea, as a member of my pack; Black Forest Pack. I shall offer protection and care.” The rest fo
“That settles it,” I let out a sigh as I lean back against the backrest, stretching and flexing my arms before I rise from my seat. I wonder if Weslee must’ve woken by now.Searching around with my eyes briefly, I smile when they fall upon a heartwarming sight. They’ve fallen asleep again. Don’t think I’ll be able to stop by the grocery store. I step around my desk and walk towards the kids asleep on the couch, with temples pressed against each other and their school bags on their thighs. Bending forward a little, I tap their cheeks gently to rouse them up. “Heather, Zachery, wake up. It’s time to go home.” “I wasn’t able to finish my lunch at recess. Can I eat it on the way?” Heather chirps as I buckle her seatbelt before buckling that of her younger brother. “Okay, honey.” She beams at me as I ruffle her dark bangs and step back to shut the door so I can get in and drive over to her older brothers’ school. There’s no need to pick up Yohan since his grandma already did. I watch t
Yumi's POV.- He’s not so surprisingly, an oddly familiar face. I suppose it’s because I’ve seen a few old photos to recognize him right away. And also, I avert my gaze slowly to the passenger side of the car and smile widely at the exit of his female partner. My mate moves immediately, unable to mask the sheer surprise that explodes onto his face as he swiftly approaches them. “Bloody hell, Aniki...” He sighs in a smiling voice. “I know Henry said they were gonna delay a bit, but he never mentioned you were the ones coming with them.” The attractive man hardens his expression upon Henry’s statement as they now stand before each other. Will you look at the looks on their faces? A cold standoff, really? “Um, Yumi...shouldn’t you do something about this?” Eliza nudges me and I turn to look at her and find her pensive. I huff and return my gaze along my response, “I’m sure it’s nothing serious.” Yeah, ‘cause right now, both men break the false tension to embrace each other with lau
Yumi's POV.- “Hardin! Get your brothers down for breakfast!” I yell from where I’m standing at the foot of the stairs. Hands akimbo while I wait to hear his response before returning to the kitchen. “Coming, mommy!” His response comes shortly after with the sound of a door slamming, and I shake my head as I turn around to return to my station where my 7-year-old daughters are. Marian and Marina are twins we adopted 5 years ago. We had rescued them from a fire that claimed the lives of their family and took them in since they knew no one and had no relatives. They’re human kids who attended my kindergarten and now, they’re my added joy. Both identical girls are adorned with reddish-brown curly long hair and sea-green eyes. Ever enthusiastic and inquisitive kids who love to help me out with every chore around the house. I smile and join them to set the long dining table just when the boys come running in. “Stop right there!” I halt the bustling little crowd with a hand out. Hardin
Yumi's POV.- “Don’t even think about it. Put that down- Now.” Henry glares threateningly at me and my hand quivers. He’s so scary. Solemnly looking into the big bowl of chocolate ice cream with a broken heart, I let the plastic spoon drop back in. I put on my puppy eyes, but he’s quick to dodge the shot and moves over the threshold. “Don’t let me catch you in this act again. I’ll be waiting outside”. Always so cold and stringent. I pout and depart from my precious bowl. I know why he’s being this way. Carrying our second baby, he’s being reminded of our first child we lost over a year ago. So he’s worn this sense of pensive responsibility over himself and is trying to protect me and prevent all odds. I can understand…I was equally hurt too. But…can’t you trust me, Henry? When I step out of the mansion, I’m met with the sight of my mate, exercising his alpha prowess, barking commands, and ordering reports. Henry…I suck in a slow breath, flattening a protective hand over my protr
Henry's POV.- “Hey, little brother.” I approach him and he frowns at me. He hates it when I call him that and it’s all fun for me. “Busy these days, huh? Haven’t seen you much lately. Pack issues?” I try to take a roundabout way about it and he nods softly, “Yeah”. “Rogues?” His aura shifts and so do his mood and expression. Maybe Martins was right in the end. The stiff look on his face says it all. “What is she to you?” I press forward, taking on a serious tone and he lowers his gaze, brows furrowing and I know he’s reluctant to tell me. I can only marvel in surprise. This is rather new and unexpected. I smirk inwardly, this might be interesting. Liam’s now keeping things from me. She must be special. I tap him on the shoulder. “No need to look all cryptic. Come on, dinner's about to start without us”. He only nods with a hum and proceeds ahead of me as I watch after him. If my guess is right, things are getting interesting here. “You stuff all of that into your mouth? Amazing
Henry's POV.- I chuckle lowly, a palm over my mouth so I don’t let the sounds out as I watch her in utter amusement. Yumi shoots an arm out of the blanket-roll she’s trapped herself in. Like an undead rising into life, her other hand shoots out and she moves in breaking attempts to lift her body off the bed. “Hen…ry.” Even her voice cracks like she’s just awakening from several years of slumber as half of her body emerges successfully from the blanket-roll. The sight is funny as she looks like a kebab roll. Ah…my thoughts are getting glazed over again. ‘Buttercup,’ She mind-links me and I smirk, defiantly moving from watching her to going to her aid. I come to stand next to the bed with my hands in the pockets of my sweatpants as I stare down at her, adoration coloring my vision. She twists her body so that she’s brought to lie on her back as she lets out a lengthy yawn, stretching her arms sideways with her eyes momentarily shutting. When she brings her eyes open, they give me
Yumi's POV.- “He was rescued by a member of Alpha Delano’s Pack and had been with him ever since, receiving treatment. The Alpha himself only recently found out and waited for him to heal first. After finding out his identity, they sent him here immediately”. I listen to Kendal’s explanation whilst the tears coating my eyes. Pushing a smile through to my face as I cry the words, “Bryan…I thought we lost you”. I vacate my spot beside Henry to reach for Bryan who receives my hands that squeezes his tightly as relief bathes through me. With a better smile, I say with warmth and gratitude, “Thank the goddess that you’re okay.” Then I avert my gaze a bit to smile at Eliza who steps closer, nodding at me as she clumsily wipes the tears from her cheeks. With Bryan’s miraculous return, it all just falls into place. I’ve got my friends, family, and the whole Pack…I couldn’t be any more grateful than I am right now. Thinking I can recline back to relax a bit, Zana and Zainab are quick to
Yumi's POV-“You’re a very selfish woman, Yumi…and I deeply pity myself…I fell in love with such a self-conceited woman….”He spits out with disdain and my already broken heart shatters into uncountable pieces. On an impulse, I dash toward him.My hands embrace him as I speak up in defense of myself.“No…no Henry. Don’t say that please…I…I was afraid…I failed you…I failed him…I failed me…I failed us…and I couldn’t keep him safe and alive….” I pour out and he just shuts his eyes, biting his lip as he remains still.I go on talking. “I didn’t mean to…it never occurred to me you were in so much pain…I’m sorry”.“It’s because you only keep thinking about none but yourself! You…you…made me regret us…” He strains, eyes open and lost.I shake my head desperately. God, I have wronged this man. He loves me to a fault and yet…all I do is bring him pain.But I won’t leave. I love him. I will show it to him…I won’t lose him.We can get through this…I have been blinded by myself and all I could se
Yumi's POV-“I’m sorry, Luna…we lost the baby”. The deluge of drowsiness playing me disappears in an instant and I feel everything in me collapse.At first, I’m quiet and the next second, I break into a hysteria. Screaming and shouting…unable to bear the weight of this excruciating pain. Then I’m held down by the nurses as the doctor injects me. They let go just when everyone starts coming in and my vision sways and blurs. I fall asleep.On my waking, I refuse all who come to see me and refuse to talk to anyone. Especially not to my mate. The one I’ve failed the most.“Your medication is here, Luna,” The blonde nurse says to me and I turn my neck to thank her.“Thanks,” I say in a shallow voice, feeling more depressed now. The Doctor walks in and she leaves after making sure I take my meds.He’s come to discuss with me about my uterus. I look at him who shares a look of improbability and I sigh, knowing what it is. “I see….”“But there’s a chance of healing. When it’s fully healed, y