It's so exciting for me to log in each day and see the number of subscribers and votes growing! Thank you for your continued support of my story. Please continue to share this book with your friends and family and vote with your gems to keep it near the top for the contest! I know many of you were excited for the next chapter, so I decided to release it 12 hours earlier than my usual time. Much Love! -Anja
RIEKA The next morning, I get up and go through the motions of our usual routine, but my mind is consumed with thoughts of Aleksandr. He’ll be here at nine o’clock, and even though I cleaned last night before bed I still keep thinking of things I should try to get done before he comes over. After dropping the older kids off at school, Calvin and I head back home. I put on a little mascara and then decide to put on my playlist again while I try to get a few last-minute things done. I have about 30 minutes before Aleksandr is supposed to get here. I’m in the zone and getting a lot of cleaning done. This is probably the most productive I’ve been with cleaning in weeks! I lose track of time and suddenly I hear the doorbell ringing. Looking down at myself I realize I look a little homely in my black leggings and t-shirt with a sheen of sweat on my brow, but there’s nothing I can do about that now. I don’t want to make him wait at the door for 20 minutes while I try to fix myself u
ALEKSANDR I’ve enjoyed my time with Rieka, but after our run was over, I had to get back to work. Dustin was spending the day with our trackers and seeing if we can find any more information on the rogue situation, and I’m itching to know what they found. I want to know that Rieka and her kids are safe. Back at the packhouse, I grab a quick lunch and then head to my office. I mindlink Dustin to meet me there for a report update on the rogues. I spend a few minutes reviewing the work my dad has been covering for me. Even though I have extra help right now, I still need to know what’s going on. Dustin wanders into my office about 10 minutes later. He pulls one of the armchairs over in front of my desk and takes a seat waiting for me to give him my full attention. I tuck away the files I’d been reviewing, and fold my hands together, resting them on my desk. “What have we found so far?” Leaning forward, Dustin hands me a map with several markings on it. “We’ve been scouring the
RIEKA There’s always music playing in my car. I have so many playlists and I feel like there is a perfect song for every situation and every feeling a person can experience. During the drive I heard the song “When He Sees Me” by Sara Bareilles. This song describes my anxiety over Aleksandr so well. “What scares me the most is what if when he sees me, what if he doesn’t like it? What if he runs the other way, can’t hide from it. What happens then? If when he knows me, he’s only disappointed. What if I give myself away, to only get it given back? I couldn’t deal with that.” The kids had so many questions during the drive over to Aleksandr’s house. Unfortunately, it couldn’t distract me from my anxiety since all their questions made me think more about tonight, but as we approached the house the car grew quiet. I knew they would all be just as amazed by his house as I was the first time I arrived. Well, all of them except for Calvin. He was too young to understand or care.
ALEKSANDR I had just finished setting up all the details for our date. I hate that I’m running late because I know how punctual Rieka is, but I wanted everything to be perfect. I know that it might be difficult for Rieka to leave her kids as well, so I planned the date to be close by. As I enter the packhouse, I can smell her delicious milk, honey, and rain scent. I love that her scent is stronger and more easily detectable now. I follow my nose and find Rieka and the kids in the game room with my mom and Drea. I can’t help but stand back at the door and just watch for minute. I almost feel like I’m seeing a flash into my future. I love the idea of my home being full of children. I don’t mind that they aren’t my kids. I will love them and protect them as if they were my own pups. Rieka must have sensed me behind her. She turns to look over her shoulder, and mom and Drea turn as well. Of course, mom and Drea already knew I was here. They could smell my scent as soon as I b
ALEKSANDR The date was going perfectly. Ian had everything set up when we arrived at the clearing. Although I could smell his scent as if he was just here, he was nowhere in sight. Rieka seemed to enjoy the dinner and she looked genuinely surprised when I pulled out the dessert. We moved over to the blanket and enjoyed the view as we watched the sunset. She was very open and shared more with me about her hopes, dreams, and goals in life. I learned that she loves the ocean and the beach. I was a little concerned at first that staying here with me might be a disappointment to her because we are not close enough to the ocean, but she also seemed to really enjoy the mountain views. If she wants to go see the ocean, I will take her as often as I can. She loves to travel and wants to see the world, so maybe every year we can take a trip to a different destination around the world. Even an alpha needs a vacation occasionally. I shared a little about myself with her, but tonight is
ALEKSANDR Rieka did agree to go out with me again, but she has a very busy work schedule this week, so we couldn’t get together for an official date until next weekend. However, she agreed to a quick lunch date on Tuesday. It’s not going to give us enough time or privacy to discuss the things I need to tell her, so I’ll have to wait until our next official date, but I couldn’t wait that long to see her again. Now that I’ve tasted her lips, I’m more addicted than I ever could have imagined, and my wolf keeps pushing me to be more aggressively affectionate. He’s been ready to mark and mate her since the moment we first scented her and laid eyes on her, but now that her scent has reached full strength and we have felt how perfectly our lips fit together, it’s getting harder and harder to hold him back. When I told my mother about Rieka’s scent increasing to full strength she simply smiled and nodded in approval. She never says more than what is necessary when it comes to her vision
ALEKSANDR I hope Rieka wasn’t offended by my suggestion of the new salad place for lunch, but Drea told me that she is somewhat insecure about her weight, and I love eating healthy. I usually try to keep lunch lighter because it’s unpleasant to shift, run, or fight after a large meal. If my stomach is too full it slows me down. I’m still faster and strong than any human and most wolves, but I never want to be caught unprepared, especially with our current rogue situation. When I arrive at the restaurant, I see that Rieka is already there, and waiting just inside the doors. She looks incredible in her signature style. Skinny jeans, red heels, and a ramones black graphic t-shirt with a red suit jacket. I've noticed she often matches her heels to her jackets. I’m itching to hold her in my arms and kiss her again. We never discussed it, so I’m not sure how she feels about public displays of affection, but wolves are always affectionate. We don’t care who is around. The moment I
ALEKSANDR We were finally alone again and seeing Rieka standing there barefoot in the sunlight with her beautiful muscular thighs on display for me for the first time, I couldn’t hold back any longer. I walked up behind her and pulled her close to me. Now that her scent is full strength, the mate bond is almost impossible for me to fight. I inhale deeply filling my head with her enticing scent. Almost immediately I felt as if I was drunk, and my wolf began to take over. I kissed her on the neck, and she responded so well that I kept going. Moving down her neck towards the spot where I would eventually mark her as mine. I could feel my fangs elongating and I was losing control of my wolf. He was ready to mark her right here and now. At that moment, Rieka slowly pulled away, as if she knew that I needed help to control myself. Thankfully, her movements were slow enough that I was able to shove my wolf back down and compose myself before she turned to face me. “Can we talk abo