Alexis Days later, I drove to the airport to pick up Peter and his mom, Patricia, who had flown in from the island for the wedding. Excitement bubbled inside me as I scanned the arrivals area. My heart leaped when I spotted them rolling their suitcases, and their faces lit up as they saw me.“Peter! Patricia!” I called, waving like a maniac.Peter spotted me first and waved back. His mom quickly caught up. The moment they reached me, I threw my arms around them, pulling them into a tight hug.“Finally, I get to host you!” I exclaimed, bouncing on my feet.Patricia stepped back, her warm smile radiating motherly pride. “Look at you. You’re glowing!” she said, patting my cheek affectionately.I twirled playfully, soaking in the compliment. “I’ve missed you both so much! It’s been, what, five months?”“We’ve missed you too,” Peter said, glancing around. “Where’s my little champ?”“He’s home,” I said, smiling at the thought of Valen. “And he’s been waiting for you.”My attention shifted
Gianna My breath grew raspy, and I almost let out a primal scream as the vial shattered on the floor. Glass glinted on the stone path, and whispers rippled through the crowd. I wasn't terrified because the vial had broken. That was a costly mistake that had earned me whispers and eyes that screamed an irritating chorus. I caught the narrowed eyes of a few guests staring at me for my clumsiness. But that wasn't what made my pulse race. It was him.The stranger.I'd seen him moments before the vial slipped from my hands. His eyes locked with mine, and it caused me to feel so dizzy that I saw black spots. I felt a tether snapping into place deep inside my soul—another mating bond. Somebody muttered something snide in the background about this being a bad sign, and when I turned around, I saw it was Meredith, Alexis’s mother. I stole a glance at the stranger again. This could not be happening. I could not understand. I hadn't gotten rid of the shackles of my bond with Byron, so who the f
AlexisThe scent of jasmine and burning sage wafted through the cool evening air as the elders began to chant. Our wedding was extra special, as Alex was Alpha, which was symbolic and essential for the pack. I knelt beside him on the wedding floor as the priestess stood at the head, reciting ancient blessings in a language I barely understood. Around us, the elders murmured their prayers.My dad stood behind me. For a brief moment, I glanced at him. His eyes held pride, regret, and probably relief that his daughter had found happiness despite all the obstacles I had faced. But still, I wasn't letting him off the hook so quickly. He was a weak man through and through. He let his wife dictate for him just because they were fated mates. No matter how much Alex loved me, I knew he would never let me ruin our home. Alex was a strong man, and I was glad not to have a spineless partner as my husband.I stole a glance at Alex. The candlelight caught the angles of his jawline and the softness
Alexis Peter's gaze rested on Gianna's retreating figure, and it was amusing to see how he was looking at her like a little puppy. I caught the desire in his eyes, and even though it was borderline irritating that he was looking at someone else while he had a girlfriend, I couldn't blame him.Gianna was stunningly beautiful, with long legs and an effortless grace everyone could see. But there was no question that she was out of Peter's league. I couldn't completely fault Peter. Maybe it was a male thing to have an unrelenting pull toward unattainable women. But even so, it still didn't make it right.As I suspected, Peter coaxed Valen into wearing the shirt, and I sighed in relief. “Thank goodness,” I grumbled, tugging the fabric over Valen's arms and beginning to button it up.“Alexis, can I ask you something?” Peter said, sounding unsure. I looked up. “Sure, go ahead.”“Who’s the redhead that just left?” His voice sounded casual, as though he was trying to mask the tension. But I c
Gianna My body lay stiff and restless on the bed as I stared at the ceiling. I felt knots in my stomach. It was a tough task to sleep. The silence wrapped around me like a suffocating blanket. I turned onto my side, stomach, and back again. No matter what position I tried, sleep refused to come.My thoughts kept drifting to my mate. His image echoed in my mind like a whisper I couldn't silence. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw him—his gaze on me, his passion and desire, and how he looked at me as though I was the only person in the room. It made me feel things I didn’t want to feel, like an urgent longing I couldn’t suppress.I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, willing the weight in my chest to go away. This guy was a distraction, plain and simple. My human and wolf sides were at war. My human self wanted to avoid him at all costs. I hated the idea of falling into another bond and the vulnerability that came with it. I didn’t trust myself or him, and I certainly didn’t trust t
Gianna Amid the celebration, I went to see my mom in the hospital. I parked my car outside the psychiatric hospital, clutching the paper bag filled with fruits and snacks I had picked up from the supermarket earlier. My heart was lighter than usual after the doctor's text, who had said my mom had been responding well to a new medication. And even though I was hesitant to get my hopes up, I felt relief.I made my way down the hallway to the semi-private ward where my mom had been moved. The space was quieter than the general ward, with only four patients in the room, including my mom. When I stepped inside, she was lying on the bed, fast asleep. Her chest rose and fell steadily, and her face looked free of the usual tension that pulled at her features. I was happy and placed the bag on the small side table. I was glad to see her at peace.My gaze shifted to one of the other patients, clutching a doll tightly to her chest. She was a middle-aged woman with hollow eyes filled with pain a
Alexis Steam rose from the shower, and my hair cascaded down my back in damp waves. Alex stood naked behind me, layering my hair with shampoo. He wasn’t massaging the base of my scalp well, and I needed the residue from the shimmery strands to be removed.“Oh, come on, Alex. Stop being distracted. You’re focusing on one spot. You need actually to wash the entire head; otherwise, I’ll send you out of here,” I said in mock annoyance.“Yes, ma’am,” he chuckled, kissing my neck. “You know, I live to serve you.”“Oh, goodness, stop flirting and get to work,” I said.He stared at me through the mirror, and I smiled, beginning to enjoy the soothing rhythm of his fingers combing through my hair, even if I wouldn’t admit it. His hands slid down, rinsing away the lather with warm water before applying conditioner.“This stuff is like glue,” he grumbled under his breath. “Why did they dunk your head in a pot of fairy dust?”After he managed to get the shimmery stuff off my hair, we sank into th
Gianna Alone in my room, I stared blankly at the half-drunk glass of water on my nightstand. My earlier outburst on that girl was foolish, and the guilt refused to subside. I had no reason to do that. After all, none of this was the girl's fault. The cake was good, in fact, so good that it made me jealous. Now I felt bad as my mind replayed the scene from the kitchen. Lisa had stood there, trembling and looking so unsure and apologetic. The truth slashed through me like a knife, and I felt sick with myself. She had done nothing wrong. Her only crime was being Peter's girlfriend.“Gosh, I'm so childish,” I muttered. Why was I even projecting my insecurities onto others? I didn't want to think of Peter or my strange, uncontrollable pull towards him. I didn't want to admit that I hated seeing him smiling, talking, and dancing with Lisa. I didn't even want him. I couldn't want him.But you do, the treacherous voice whispered in my mind. You are lying to yourself.I got on my feet and beg
Gianna The party was in full swing, and I tried to blend into the background. The room was lively and filled with laughter, and I did my best to stay out of the spotlight. My eyes wandered to the far side of the room, where Oscar was talking animatedly to a girl. He was leaning far too close, flirting with her in his typical style. I rolled my eyes. The spoiled brat didn't deserve an ounce of my energy, and the only person I felt pity for was the girl who must be thinking she had hit the jackpot.Alex's boisterous voice cut through the crowd and pulled my attention. He was standing beside his bride and gesturing dramatically. "Seriously, look at her. She's the most beautiful woman in this room," he declared, earning a round of applause, chuckles, and whistles from his friends."Alex, you are super hyper and happy. Can't you see how Alexis is subtle because she knows your flattery is not a big deal to her?" one of the guys said, but Alex waved him off."You better not be fooled by tha
GiannaThe wildlife reserve stretched out in front of us. It was an endless expanse of greenery dotted with open fields and enclosures for animals. I loved the smell of fresh grass, but initially, when we got here, I was skeptical. Peter forced me to stay. I wasn’t much of a wildlife enthusiast, and the idea of spending my day surrounded by animals wasn’t exactly thrilling."Trust me, you will have fun," Peter had said, and I rolled my eyes.But as we ventured deeper into the reserve, his infectious excitement began to chip away at my reluctance. I gasped when I saw zebras lying lazily in the distance. A few giraffes towered over the bushes, stretching their necks gracefully to nibble on the leaves of acacia trees."Look at that one," Peter said, pointing at a particularly playful baby giraffe galloping awkwardly beside its mother. "Reminds me of how I was as a kid."I suppressed a small laugh. We moved to an enclosure where a family of meerkats stood upright, peering cautiously at us
Alexis Celebrations dragged into Day six as the women prepared for the bride's farewell. It was a union of my closest friends and the female members of the groom's family, symbolizing the merging of two lives and two households.It was a lot—the singing, clapping, laughter, and loud chatter. I just wanted it all to be over. Also, I was waiting for Gianna. She was my only real friend in this sea of acquaintances and had been noticeably absent since morning. Most of the other women were packmates, staff from the fashion house or social climbers I couldn’t care less about.I made my way to Gianna’s door, knocking, but there was no answer. I pushed the door open to find the room empty and walked away. She would show up eventually.Women lined up outside for the procession, clapping and singing traditional songs. I stood at the center with a smile playing on my face as they all led me to my home, carrying gifts and boxes filled with clothing, jewelry, and other items that had been piling
Peter I felt a little guilty for not checking on Lisa or my mom. But I chose to be with Gianna, the woman who hadn’t even bothered to tell me where we were going or spare me a single glance to make sure I was following.The drive was drenched in silence, so thick it felt like an extra passenger. I sat in the passenger seat, stealing glances at her like some lovesick fool. She was so damn beautiful, but her death grip on the steering wheel told me she’d rather wrestle an alligator than let me know what was on her mind. Her laser focus on the road was borderline comical—was she worried that even looking at me might result in a full-blown catastrophe?I wanted to say something to break the silence, but a small, self-preserving voice in the back of my mind screamed, Don’t poke the bear. One wrong word and I’d be walking home. When the car finally came to a stop, I looked out at the building in front of us. A large sign hanging above the entrance read Wisteria Psychiatric Hospital.My mi
Peter I lay on my side, watching Gianna. The soft rise and fall of her breathing was the only sound that mattered. Her face was turned slightly toward me, and I couldn't tear my gaze away. A content smile tugged at my lips as I took in every detail of her face as if committing her to memory. After all, I had no idea if this could ever happen again. Her dark red hair spread across the pillow. My fingers ghosted softly over a lock of her hair, careful not to wake her. It felt like silk between my fingertips—smooth and seductive, just like the rest of her body.How could someone be this beautiful?Her face, with the delicate freckles dotted across the bridge of her nose, seemed even softer as she slept. They were like tiny stars, unique and perfectly placed—different from the chaos she often stirred in me when she was awake. I tucked a strand of hair carefully behind her ear. I didn’t want to shatter this perfect moment—she looked like an angel. An angel with a sharp tongue and zero pa
Gianna My steps faltered. Peter, of all people, was standing right in front of my door, leaning casually against the wall. It made my heart do a strange somersault in my chest.I stopped a few feet away, trying to steady my voice and nerves.“Are you lost or something? Why are you standing in front of my door?”He lifted his head slightly, and a devilish half-smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.“More or less.”I frowned, though I was struggling to keep my expression neutral.“Please step aside. I'm exhausted, and I want to sleep.”Liar, my mind mocked me. Despite the firmness in my voice, my insides were turning to mush. The intoxicating scent of my mate was wild and clouding my thoughts, causing desire to crawl deep inside of me, even as the bond tugged mercilessly.“It’s a wonder how you sleep at night.”I blinked, taken aback by that statement. “I do sleep. Why would you even say that?”He took a small step forward, and I stepped back.“Because I don’t,” he said, his voice dro
Gianna I sat at the edge of one of the canopies, with my chair tilted slightly back, as I watched a group of performers move with energetic precision and confidence, drawing gasps and cheers from the crowd. Laughter rippled through the seated guests, and hands clapped enthusiastically every few minutes as magicians, comedians, and skitmakers did their thing. It was like an overcharged carnival that refused to end. I blinked drowsily, stifling a yawn behind my hand and feeling like my brain was on sensory overload.Overstimulated. That was the word. Four days of festivities, music, and shouting were starting to grate on my nerves. Truth be told, I was tired of watching yet another group of performers flipping across the lawn. My gaze drifted lazily over the crowd, landing on the flower-covered throne-like chairs reserved for the couple. They were seated like royalty, laughing their heads off at some joke. Alexis's eyes crinkled with delight while Alex leaned towards her, struck in lov
Alexis I couldn't hold it any longer the moment Valen left the room. Laughter bubbled up from my chest and spilled uncontrollably, doubling over until tears formed at the corners of my eyes. The entire scene had been absolutely priceless, and I didn't think I would forget that image in a while.From the bathroom, I heard the sound of the shower running and Alex muttering to himself. My laughter only increased.“Really?” his voice boomed over the water. “You're still laughing?”I walked into the bathroom, giggling as I leaned against the doorway. The steam fogged the glass, but I saw his silhouette under the spray.“Now come on, honey. That was hilarious. You should have seen yourself.”The water turned off, and moments later, Alex stuck his head out, glaring at me with mock offense and water dripping from his dark hair.“You’re mean. What kind of wife doesn’t help a man out? You could have just told him I was dressing up or to come back later.”“Well, what’s the fun in that?” I said,
AlexisMy arms folded tightly across my chest, and Alex tried to separate them, looking every bit the persistent man he was. He had barged into my room like he owned the place, and now he wouldn't leave without some sugar, no matter how much I tried to shoo him away."Come on, darling. You know you're not supposed to be here," I said, frowning for emphasis. "A groom seeing the bride before the wedding is a disaster waiting to happen. The euphoria and our first night as a married couple will disappear."He groaned dramatically. "Euphoria? Come on, Lex, that's just a stupid superstition. I need you badly. I've been unable to function well, especially after that hot dress you wore earlier. A quick blowjob and I'll bounce."Wagging my eyebrows, I chuckled. "Nope. This house is swamped with people. I'll give you all the blowjob styles you can ever think of after our wedding."He groaned loudly and sat up straighter, clasping his hands like a child begging for candy. "Please, baby just once