My question hung in the air for a minute before Brandon smiled and waved his hands in the air, dropping mine in the process. “Oh. Ha ha, no reason. I was just wondering.”I just nodded. “Anyway, I need to figure everything out.” I turned to Vince. “So I’ll be stuck on pack lands for a while as I wait it all out.” I smile. “If that is still okay with you?”Vince, whose brain was running a mile a minute, stared at me blankly for a second before he just nodded. “Of course. The place and position are yours.”“Oh, I don’t know about the position. I couldn’t possibly take that away from a wolf knowing I was planning to leave as soon as I’m able. Who knows, maybe I’ll find a mate pretty quickly.”Vince’s eyes darted to Brandon. “So you intend to head back to your father’s pack lands as soon as you mate?”I pretended to think about it. “I’m not exactly sure. My father raised me to take after him. And these last few years, I focused on that. Rebuilding our pack. I have the resources, the inves
“Anyway, we will see you back at the pack. I know you said you were busy tonight, and we understand, but I’ll need you at the pack house first thing in the morning.” I smiled and nodded as Vince turned away. “Brandon…let’s go.” Brandon looked at me and I wanted to gag. He was leaning in and I wanted to pull away, but Vince called him again. Thankfully. “Brandon.” He jolted back from me, gave a pained smile, then trotted after his father. Toya turned to me with a grimace. “That was…”“Illuminating.” I nodded to the door. “Let’s head out. We have a lot to do today.” Toya sighed and turned on her heels. We headed out the door to see Sterling loading the last of my bags. “This is everything.” He nodded to the truck as he swung up the tailgate. Then he turned to us and bowed at the waist. I grabbed for him, but he held up his hand. “Sterling.” My voice was soft, but he bowed again.“It has been an absolute pleasure serving you here, Amy.” He stood and then bowed to Toya. “You as well.”
My mom was out of the house before I even closed the door. She walked straight to me and into my arms. She was vibrating for some reason. Anger was my best guess, and she was trying to calm down. “Where have you been?” She pulled back and cupped my cheeks. “I went for a run.” I smiled. “Toya came to help me bring everything else home.” I pointed to her, and she waved from the other side of the trunk.“Hi.” She walked to the tailgate and pulled it down. “Where should I put this stuff?”My mother looked between the two of us, and I saw understanding bloom in her eyes. “Let me show you.” She let me go after another squeeze and walked down to grab a few bags. I followed and grabbed the rest of the stuff and closed the tailgate as Toya followed my mother inside. “How are you, dear? Did you do well in your course?”“I did.” Toya smiled. “I was top of my class. Not as good as Amy.”My mother scoffed. “Apples to oranges, my dear. Different courses, different scores.” My mother was always li
“Please don’t do this.” I begged over and over, but no one was listening. I thrashed against their hold, but nothing. “I am your luna.” I screamed at the top of my lungs, but then his laugh from the other room broke all the fight in me. “Luke please.” I begged once more time, my voice horse.“Kill it once it’s done. Toss her out. She will have to survive on her own from here on out.”He can’t mean that. This was our baby. “Our baby.”“Is a mistake from the Moon Goddess. One I will rectify.” His voice called again from the other room. He wouldn’t even face me. “Now do it. That’s an order.”“Yes, Alpha.”It was a mistake to come here.It was a mistake to give him everything.“Oh, and doctor?” Her sweet voice called from the other room. My stepsister, Shannon. I gritted my teeth. “Don’t use any anesthetic. She should feel everything.”“Yes, Luna.” The doctor turned back to me with sad eyes, but when he picked up the scalpel, I knew I was screwed.I’m sorry, baby. Momma couldn’t save you.
I opened my eyes to find myself surprisingly alive. “Amy hurry, you’re going to be late.” I jolted up and look around, confused. What was going on? Where was I? “Amy!” The voice called again and I shook myself. I stood up from the bed and looked around again. I recognized this room. It was my childhood bedroom. I hadn’t stepped foot in this room since I found my mate, Brandon. I heard a knock on the door and my mother opened it. Before I could process what was happening, I ran into my mother’s arms. “Mom, you’re here.” I started to cry. “I’ve missed you so much.”“Amy. My girl.” She laughed as she patted my back. “I saw you yesterday.” She pulled back and I looked into her amber eyes that matched my own. “Happy birthday, baby.”I leaned into her hands and realized that today was the last day I spent at home. I found my mate on my eighteenth birthday. “Thank you, mom.”“Hopefully, you will meet your mate today and start your new life.” She smiled at me and I felt my blood freeze. I di
“Pack your bags, Amy.” My mom came in, surprising me from the list I was making. “What?” I looked up. “Why?”“You are going to spend the summer with your father. I already got the approval from the Alpha.” Mom smiled down at me. “Come on, baby. Pack your bag and get ready.”I jumped to my feet and ran to my mom. “I can go?”“Just for the summer, baby, then you will be back here with me. I had to promise that you would be returning here.”I pouted. “Mom, I really don’t want to be here.” I wanted to make them pay, but I wouldn’t risk him finding me.“It’s okay baby, you will understand once you see your dad.” She patted my hair and kissed my cheek. “Now get ready.”“Okay mom.” I kissed her back then she left me alone. I grabbed my phone to lock it and then turned back to my closet. I packed my bag and then headed into my bathroom when I heard the downstairs door slam open. “I fucking knew it.” I heard Shannon scream down stairs. I ignored her as I grabbed everything from my bathroom a
I slipped into the back of the car after putting my bags in the back and buckled in. I had barely takin a breath before I launched myself over the seats and into the driver’s arms.His laugh made my eyes prickle. “Hey love bug.”“Uncle Ronnie. I’ve missed you.” I climbed over the seats and sat up front. “What are you doing here?” Ronnie was my dad’s beta. Not related, but he had been there for most of my life. “You think I was going to let my cheeky niece come to pack lands alone? Not on your life.” “Dad sent you?” I laughed.“Dad sent me. He is a worry wart your da.” He smiled over and laughed with me. “As soon as your mom called, he sent me with the jet.” “He didn’t have to.” I just shook my head and buckled my seatbelt. “Of course he did. He never gets to see you enough, and now you’re sending in the summer. What’s going on?” My uncle looked at me and I just shook my head. “I don’t want to be here.”“Why?”I looked down at my hands that were twisted. “I’m afraid that my mate i
“I lived another life, and I died.” I stumbled over my words and I felt my father freeze. A quick look to Ronnie had him locking the door and waving his hands. I felt the air still, but I was focused on my father’s eyes. “This morning I woke up six years in the past after living until I was twenty-four, and growing my own pup only to have my mate to rip him from my body.” My father’s and Ronnie’s snarl shook the walls, but I raised my hands. “He betrays me for my step sister who convinced him that I cheated and the pup wasn’t his, so he killed us both using silver scalpels, and killing any love I had for him at the same time.” I looked up at my father and the tears rolled down my face. “Pup.” His voice was choked up, but I raised my hand. “I don’t want him to be my mate, daddy. I know I won’t survive it. I need to change it. Everything, and it starts with hiding my scent. I told mom what I needed, and she called you. How are you going to help me?” I was starting to panic. “I don’t
My mom was out of the house before I even closed the door. She walked straight to me and into my arms. She was vibrating for some reason. Anger was my best guess, and she was trying to calm down. “Where have you been?” She pulled back and cupped my cheeks. “I went for a run.” I smiled. “Toya came to help me bring everything else home.” I pointed to her, and she waved from the other side of the trunk.“Hi.” She walked to the tailgate and pulled it down. “Where should I put this stuff?”My mother looked between the two of us, and I saw understanding bloom in her eyes. “Let me show you.” She let me go after another squeeze and walked down to grab a few bags. I followed and grabbed the rest of the stuff and closed the tailgate as Toya followed my mother inside. “How are you, dear? Did you do well in your course?”“I did.” Toya smiled. “I was top of my class. Not as good as Amy.”My mother scoffed. “Apples to oranges, my dear. Different courses, different scores.” My mother was always li
“Anyway, we will see you back at the pack. I know you said you were busy tonight, and we understand, but I’ll need you at the pack house first thing in the morning.” I smiled and nodded as Vince turned away. “Brandon…let’s go.” Brandon looked at me and I wanted to gag. He was leaning in and I wanted to pull away, but Vince called him again. Thankfully. “Brandon.” He jolted back from me, gave a pained smile, then trotted after his father. Toya turned to me with a grimace. “That was…”“Illuminating.” I nodded to the door. “Let’s head out. We have a lot to do today.” Toya sighed and turned on her heels. We headed out the door to see Sterling loading the last of my bags. “This is everything.” He nodded to the truck as he swung up the tailgate. Then he turned to us and bowed at the waist. I grabbed for him, but he held up his hand. “Sterling.” My voice was soft, but he bowed again.“It has been an absolute pleasure serving you here, Amy.” He stood and then bowed to Toya. “You as well.”
My question hung in the air for a minute before Brandon smiled and waved his hands in the air, dropping mine in the process. “Oh. Ha ha, no reason. I was just wondering.”I just nodded. “Anyway, I need to figure everything out.” I turned to Vince. “So I’ll be stuck on pack lands for a while as I wait it all out.” I smile. “If that is still okay with you?”Vince, whose brain was running a mile a minute, stared at me blankly for a second before he just nodded. “Of course. The place and position are yours.”“Oh, I don’t know about the position. I couldn’t possibly take that away from a wolf knowing I was planning to leave as soon as I’m able. Who knows, maybe I’ll find a mate pretty quickly.”Vince’s eyes darted to Brandon. “So you intend to head back to your father’s pack lands as soon as you mate?”I pretended to think about it. “I’m not exactly sure. My father raised me to take after him. And these last few years, I focused on that. Rebuilding our pack. I have the resources, the inves
Once we were finished with my place, and we piled the rest of my bags outside the door, we went to Toya. We bagged everything that was left up and found the bag left by Wendy’s mom with a sweet note. I tucked it into my backpack. Once we piled everything inside their door.“That’s everything.” Toya sighed. “I’m going to miss this place.” I nodded. “On to better things.” I nudged her. “Let’s get the cart for all this bullshit. We have to hit my house before we figure out how the heck we are going to get all of this to the cabin.” I looked around, and I honestly had no fricken idea how we were going to do this. Toya patted my back. “Thankfully, you have a truck.” I grunted as we closed the door behind us and headed down. I was surprised to see Brandon and Vince waiting for us when we stepped off the elevator. I looked at Toya, but she gave me a tiny shake. She was confused, too. “Alpha Vince.” I smiled as I walked closer to the desk. “Brandon.” I gave him a tight nod as I turned to S
Rowan snarled, but Toya wasn’t done. “You and her father created this pit of a plan because you’re older, you know better. But you miscalculated.”“We are older, and we do know better.” He countered. “So please, tell me, how did we miscalculate?”Toya narrowed her eyes. “You held back because your wolf was infatuated with another, but my bet is that Erubus wanted Nix. You had Amy, and he could have had Nix and you whiffed it.” Toya snarled. “You held yourself back from the one person you truly wanted because of a wolf who was the same person. If you had less restraint, you and Amy could have been mated by now.” His face fell, and he shot me a look. “Now you’re mated to a bitch who is controlling you, and Amy…” Toya looked at me. “Amy deserves better. She deserves someone who will choose her…every time.” “That’s enough.” I whispered, but both turned to me. “Rowan, I think it’s time for you to leave. Your fiancee is probably waiting for you.” I turned to Toya and just shook my head. “I
I stepped back. My fingers aching, but my resolve hardening by the minute. Rowan stood, looking back toward the door. “How are you going to play this?”I thought about it for a minute. “I’m going to play the fence.” He just tilted his head. “I’m going to act like I want to rebuild, but that you are refusing me. You won’t allow anyone to the pack lands because of rogues, so I have to figure out another choice, another path until you allow me back onto my pack lands.”“Why?” “Because it will do two things. Give Vince some security that I hate you. He won’t trust me if we are close still. And I need him to trust me enough to allow me close.”Rowan nodded. “It’s one reason your father, and I created space.” I nodded. I figured it was a part of the truth, but it didn’t hurt any less. “The second thing?”“It will give him something he secretly wants.” I stretched my back out. “What’s that?”“A way to get more power without giving any up.” I twisted my back until it popped. “If he thinks h
We stayed silent as we ascended. I puffed out my cheeks as Rowan looked at me but the elevator dinged and the girls got out. I walked out with them. “Where are you going?” Rowan grabbed my arm. “They are shifted…” I looked at him with furrowed brows. “They can’t open their door. I’m going to open it for them.” I shook him off. “Keep the elevator open.” I walked to their door and punched in their code, swinging their door opened. “Call me when you get back to your packs.”They both nodded and went inside. Hanna turned back. “Be careful.” I blew her a kiss and went back to the elevator. I slid in and pressed the top floor again. Rowan opened his mouth, but I shook my head. He was obviously frustrated at me, but I wasn’t going to talk until I got into my place. The doors opened, and we headed to my door. I unlocked it and the two followed me in. Toya headed straight to my bedroom, looking for something to wear for now, and I went to the kitchen. “What the fuck is going on?” Rowan snar
“What does that mean?” Verity stomped her foot.“It means-” Vince started. But Rowan interrupted him. “It means that if I want to speak with Alpha Amy, I must contact her and let her know I’ll be visiting beforehand. And that I have to use her title. Also, she will be included in any vote.”“Toya and I will also attend the alpha conference in a month.” I smiled at Verity.“But that’s…”“Only for Alphas.” Toya finished with a toothy grin. She walked over and rubbed her fur against my side.“While this is nice, catching up, and all, is there a reason your are here?” I looked around and waited. “Alpha Vince? Brandon?”He smiled, looking down at me. “We are here about the job position in the pack. Brandon told you to think about it. I wanted to come and see if you had.”I smiled up at him. “Sorry, with everything that happened yesterday…” I trailed off and glared back at Rowan. “I haven’t had a minute to think about it.”Vince nodded. “Where did you go yesterday?”I looked out the door.
We ran to the tower first. I wanted to handle our stuff before we faced the music. But as we ran into the building, I saw that luck was not on our side. Vince, Brandon and Rowan were all waiting for us. I shifted, gesturing for everyone else to wait, since I was the only one able to retain my clothes. “Alpha Vince, my King.” I bowed my head a little to both. “Brandon.” I smiled. “What can I do for you?”“Where have you been?” Vince stepped closer to me, but I just raised my brow.“Handling something personal. Why?”“You ran out of graduation.” I snorted. “Graduation? You mean the ambush that was waiting for me coordinated by the council?” Vince reeled back as if I slapped him. I felt the skin around my eyes tighten. “Did you think I was too stupid to see it for what it was? My father has been dead for almost two years and now they branded him a traitor. I think that’s laughable.” “Amy.” Rowan started, but I growled. I couldn’t even stop it.I took a deep breath. “Sorry my king.” I