Alicia was curled into Rowan’s side in the back of the town car. His Gamma collected her bag and what little belongings she had from her parent's house while she put on some leggings and a hoody. She was lulled into a comfortable silence, breathing in Rowan and listening to the beat of his heart.Alpine was in her element, dozing off after shifting twice and expending a considerable amount of energy shortly after merging with Alicia. The gentle purr of the engine and the blur of passing dark trees lured Alicia into a peaceful rest, the pain in her back gradually subsiding as her wolf’s healing ability erased the lash marks.It wasn’t until Rowan’s tender voice calling her name and the touch of his hand brushing her hair aside from her forehead that Alicia became aware of her unintended nap. Blinking awake, Alicia discovered the car engine was silent, and only Rowan and herself remained in the vehicle. Beta Voss, the driver and Gamma Garnet were gone.Alicia looked outside the window,
This must be the one who wanted to meet her so much. She was like a motherly figure.The woman pulled back, beaming brightly at Alicia. She was smaller than Alicia, yet somehow, her embrace had felt like a bear wrapping around her and comforting her. The woman had soft brown eyes, laughter lines etched around her eyes, and when she looked at Rowan, they turned just as tender.“I’m Rowan’s mum, Rachel. It makes me so happy to finally meet his mate!” She said in a bubbly manner. “Now, let me get a good look at you.”“Mum!” Rowan stepped forward, but she held her hand up before assessing Alicia’s face and her body.Alicia felt a little under the spotlight, especially since everyone else was watching them. “Umhmph! We need to put some meat on these bones! From tomorrow, you will eat a hearty breakfast… I will hear no complaints!” She commanded, putting her hands on her hips.Alicia burst into a small giggle, relaxing further as she watched Rachel, Rowan’s adoptive mother. Compared to othe
Rowan’s eyes devoured every inch of Alicia, and he stepped forward like a magnet tugging him towards his mate. His presence was all-consuming as she fell onto her backside and stared up at him bright-eyed. Rowan leaned over her, hands resting either side of her body on the bed and kissed her again. He kissed her so tenderly this time, his tongue sliding against hers, enticing a low moan.Alicia’s hands explored his chest, hesitant at first, but the heat of his skin under his shirt burned through her. She snapped open his shirt, inciting a chuckle from her mate before his lips lowered to her neck, licking, kissing, teasing with a few nips before she was entirely on her back and he was caressing her breasts, pinching her nipples as his arousal pressed hard into her stomach.She loved feeling his soft tresses caressing her skin, making her tingle and sensitive as his lips then claimed her nipple. Again, he was so tender, his tongue swirling around her pink bud as his hand delved down sou
How was that possible?“But Alpine can talk to…”What’s Rowan’s wolf’s name?‘Brutus,’ Alpine murmured, her ears flicking up as she began to rouse from her sleepiness.“Alpine can talk to Brutus…” Alicia stared up at her mate, hand caressing his jaw as those magnetic navy-blue eyes locked onto hers.Rowan caught her hand and kissed it before looking down, his brows tugging together in frustration and disappointment. “You’re right. They can talk. I do have a wolf. But I have yet to shift into him.”“Is that because of what you are?” Alicia questioned, wondering if his vampiric nature was stopping his inner wolf from shifting.“Maybe.” Rowan shrugged his shoulder slightly. “We are still trying to work it out.”Alpine was completely alert now. ‘At least I can reach out to him,’ Alicia’s wolf all but hummed.Alicia began drawing patterns with her finger on Rowan’s chest while they gazed at each other, in a trance, both happy to be alone together.‘Child…’ Alpine began, making Alicia’s fin
“Well, I’ve spent 9 years without a mate… To be honest.” He crouched in front of Alicia, his hands sliding across her soft thighs. “I didn’t think I would have a mate because of what I am.”“Oh, Rowan.” Alicia’s hand cupped his jaw, his stubble prickling her skin. “I didn’t realise you were such an old man.” She grinned as his eyes flickered and he burst into laughter again, it was so loud and raw, Alicia couldn’t stop staring.Why was he so mesmerising? “Honestly, though… I feel really lucky. I AM lucky to have you as my mate, but to discover you before my 20th birthday is wild,” Alicia added. It was true; werewolves didn’t discover their mates until after they were twenty.It was rare to wait so long as Rowan did, but it was not impossible. The Moon Goddess had different fates for everyone, and it seemed he had to wait for Alicia.“Alright, come on. Or we won’t leave our room any time soon.”Alicia’s eyebrow arched at that. Forty minutes later, she realised why he wanted her in the
The tour of the pack took almost the entire day. Many wanted to greet them, and Alicia noted how much the pack members had to train. Compared to Blue Crescent, it was a lot more, and it didn't look as though they needed it.Many were burly werewolves; some looked so scary, yet as soon as they saw Alicia and Rowan, they smiled brightly, waving and getting distracted. Gamma Garnet then barked at them or clipped them around the back of their heads, demanding they do push-ups or another lap for getting distracted mid-fight.Now, Alicia and Rowan were in their shared bedroom. Rowan was on the phone while Alicia began unpacking the little items she had. Once she entered the closet, the clothes in her hands dropped to the ground at the extravagance of the room. She anticipated the opulent walk-in closet, yet the sight of brand new clothes, complete with price tags and in her size, unmistakably hers, caught her off guard.“If you don’t like anything, I’ll take you shopping.” Rowan’s arms wrap
Unlike the rest of the pack, Pawashil’s cabin was the furthest from everyone and in the middle of the woods. Bones dangled outside the wooden dock, and a fire crackled outside, with rocks surrounding it and a pot simmering over the top. It was like Alicia had been transported into another time and place.Small heads also dangled on the opposite side of the bones, and above the door were symbols she did not recognise. Alicia was gently pushed away from the heads by Rowan when she got a little too close to them, wondering if they were real or if they might jump out at her. If there were witches and creatures like werewolves in the world, then she gathered there were more than likely a few things yet to be discovered.Rowan raised his fist to the door, but it opened before he knocked, revealing an elderly man with dark brown skin, his face droopy with wrinkles; his eyes looked shut. However, they were slightly ajar, revealing pale blue, more white-looking eyes. His greying hair was in tw
The pack was too large to host a welcome dinner within the packhouse, so they arranged two celebrations. One was more personal, with the leaders in the pack and close family friends, and the other was a celebration that everyone was invited to. Although Alicia had met a few of them already, she still felt somewhat nervous.“You’ll be fine,” Rowan murmured into her ear before opening the double doors to the dining room.Alicia was wearing one of the new dresses Rowan had brought her, which was left with all the others in the walk-in closet. It was a simple light pink and silver dress fitted to her body to her waist, then flowed out to the top of her knees. Rowan wore his usual fitted designer suit, but he matched his tie to Alicia’s dress.Upon entering the dining room, Alicia’s gaze fell straight to the long rectangular black marble table with floral arrangements and candlabras spread out along it with sparkling silverware.“Alicia!” Rachel was the first to hug her. Rowan's mum was in