*BRIANNE’S POV*I sat by the window, watching the morning sun rise over the treetops, casting a warm, golden glow across the room. The light felt like a small comfort, wrapping me in warmth, but it did little to ease the whirl of emotions that had tangled within me since… everything. It was strange how the world outside seemed untouched, peaceful, while mine felt as though it had been shaken to the core.A soft knock at the door pulled me from my thoughts, and I looked up to see Mary peeking in. Her face was soft with worry and something else—something that looked like relief. She stepped into the room, moving to the chair across from me and sitting down quietly.“Hey,” she murmured. “I wanted to check on you. After… well, after everything, I thought maybe you could use someone to talk to.”A half-smile tugged at the corner of my mouth, though I knew it didn’t reach my eyes. “Thanks, Mary,” I said, glancing down at my hands. “I feel like everything happened so fast, I’m still trying t
(Josh and Mary)*MARY’S POV*I stood outside Josh’s office, my heart hammering as I looked at the sturdy wooden door. I’d only been here twice before, and each time, it felt strangely hidden, tucked away from the bustle of the main pack house. Maybe he liked it that way, away from distractions. My fingers twisted around each other as I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself, reminding myself I was only here to check on him. That was it. No big deal. Just a simple, friendly visit to see if he was okay after his fight with the rogue wolves. Still, my heart wouldn’t stop pounding, and my palms felt clammy as I raised my fist to knock.“Come on, Mary,” I muttered under my breath. “You’re just talking to Josh. What’s the worst that could happen?” My words hung in the air, and Brianne’s voice echoed in my mind, reminding me of all the things I’d been too nervous to admit.I wrinkled my nose, feeling ridiculous. “How did I become the one confessing feelings? I’m supposed to be the charm
*MARY’S POV*My breath hitched, and I felt the sincerity behind his words. The playful glint in his eyes faded, replaced with something deeper, something I hadn’t seen before. We stood there, close enough to feel each other’s warmth, the silence filling with words we didn’t say.But, as quickly as the moment appeared, it slipped away. Josh straightened, stepping back with a soft smile. “Thanks for checking on me,” he said, his voice gentle but with that usual humor tucked in at the edges. “Guess I owe you one.”I managed a small smile, trying to ignore the lingering flutter in my chest. “Yeah, you do,” I replied, raising an eyebrow. “Next time, maybe try not to mess with my head?”He laughed, holding up his hands in surrender. “Deal. But only if you keep coming to check up on me.”And with that, I walked out of his office, still feeling his hand on my waist, his face close to mine, the sound of his laughter in my ears. And though I’d never admit it, a part of me was already looking fo
*BRIANNE’S POV*As I pushed open the door, the familiar scent of breakfast hit me—eggs, toast, and the faint hint of coffee. My parents were up, of course. They were always early risers, and I could hear the murmur of their voices coming from the kitchen.I tried to sneak in quietly, hoping to make it to my room before they noticed. Maybe if I could avoid the inevitable interrogation, I could decompress from all the Josh-induced chaos. But of course, the floorboard near the kitchen door creaked loudly as I stepped in, announcing my presence like a trumpet.“Mary, is that you?” my mom called from the kitchen.I winced, caught in the act. “Yeah, Mom, it’s me.”I walked into the kitchen, trying to act casual, but the second my mom saw me, her eyes narrowed in that way only mothers can do. She set down the spatula she was using to flip eggs and gave me a look, the kind that said she could read my entire soul with one glance.“You look flustered,” she said, eyebrow raised. “Something happe
*MARY’S POV*Thinking back to when Josh and I first met, I can’t help but smile—and cringe a little. It was at the full moon ceremony, a night filled with lights, music, and the pack celebrating under the stars. Brianne and I had gone together, dressed in our best outfits, giggling like schoolgirls as we walked through the crowd. That night felt magical, like anything could happen.I remember the moment I saw him. I didn’t know who he was at first, just another guy at the ceremony, walking alongside Alpha Jordyn. He had that easy-going smile, the kind that makes you feel like he’s always up to something, and it drew me in.Brianne had introduced him to me as Jordyn’s assistant. He had this confident, almost cocky air about him, like he knew exactly what he was doing. “Oh, the pretty ladies have started coming.” he’d said, with that teasing grin I’ve now come to know so well.“Thank you,” I’d said quickly, though I’d felt completely out of place. He’d tilted his head, giving me a playf
*MARY’S POV*I parked the car and stepped out into the crisp afternoon air, feeling a bit lighter after the drive. The café Brianne and I always met at was cozy, with warm lights glowing through the windows and the smell of freshly brewed coffee wafting out every time someone opened the door. I smiled, thinking about how good it would feel to sit down with Brianne and catch up. Maybe I’d be able to unload some of this Josh-related chaos that had been taking up too much space in my brain lately.But as I opened the café door and stepped inside, my heart skipped a beat.There, sitting at a table near the window, wasn’t just Brianne. Oh no. It was Brianne, Jordyn, and JOSH?!I froze for a moment, my hand still on the door handle. What was he doing here?Brianne spotted me first and waved, giving me her usual warm smile. She looked relieved to see me, like she really needed the company. Jordyn nodded in my direction, and then there was Josh. He leaned back in his chair, casually sipping o
*MARY’S POV*As she walked away, I was left alone with Josh and Jordyn. Fantastic. The air between us felt thick with unspoken things, and I desperately wished Brianne would hurry back.Josh didn’t waste a second. “So, about earlier…” he began, his grin still firmly in place.I cut him off, my face burning. “Don’t. Even. Start.”Jordyn, sensing that this was his cue to step back, stood up. “I think I’ll grab us some more coffee.” He shot Josh a knowing look before disappearing into the crowd.Traitor.Josh watched me, clearly enjoying how flustered I was. “Come on, Mary. Admit it. You’ve thought about it.”“Thought about what?” I shot back, my voice a little too high-pitched.His grin widened. “You know exactly what.”I stared at him, unsure whether to throw my coffee at him or… something else. But before I could make a decision, Brianne returned, thankfully breaking the moment.“Everything good?” she asked, sitting down and completely oblivious to the awkwardness that had just unfold
*MARY’S POV*As we wrapped up, Brianne stretched and glanced at the time. “I should probably get going. I promised my mom I’d help with something today.”Jordyn nodded and stood, reaching for her hand. “I’ll drive you home.”Josh stood too, giving me a sideways glance. “You need a ride?”I blinked, trying to process his offer. “Uh, yeah, sure. If it’s not too much trouble.”“No trouble at all,” he said, his tone light but his eyes glinting with something playful. “Besides, wouldn’t want you getting lost on your way home.”I rolled my eyes but followed him out of the café, my heart pounding in my chest. As we walked toward his car, I couldn’t help but think back to our earlier almost-kiss, and the way he had teased me about it. He was infuriating, yes, but there was also something about him that made me feel… excited.Maybe Brianne and Jordyn were right. Maybe there was something between us.But I wasn’t about to admit that. Not yet, anyway.As we walked out of the café, the late after
*MARY'S POV*It had been one of those days—the kind where you’re running around so much, you forget to breathe. Between errands, Brianne’s endless chatter about wedding plans, and my job commitments, I was exhausted.By the time I got home, I flopped onto my bed, glaring at my phone as it buzzed.Josh: “What’s the probability of you burning dinner again tonight? Asking for science.”I snorted, my fatigue momentarily forgotten.Me: “Zero. I ordered takeout. Bet you didn’t see that coming, Mr. Assistant.”Josh: “Well, well, look at you. A true culinary mastermind. What’d you get?”Me: “Sushi. But not sharing, so don’t even ask.”Josh: “You’re cruel.”Me: “But I’m cute, so it balances out.”Josh: “Debatable.”I rolled my eyes, tossing my phone onto the pillow beside me. Even when we weren’t together, he had this way of sneaking into my day and making it better.***Later that evening, as I lounged on the couch with my sushi, my phone buzzed again.Josh: “Let me guess. You’re in your PJs,
*MARY'S POV*Josh was fine. Of course, he was fine. I should’ve known better than to take his text seriously.“You’re really milking this, aren’t you?” I asked, narrowing my eyes at him.“Maybe,” he said, that signature smirk tugging at his lips.I huffed and crossed my arms. “I should’ve just ignored you.”“But you didn’t.”That smug grin of his—it was equal parts infuriating and charming.Later that day,Josh insisted on taking me out. "It’s not a big deal,” he said, his smile disarming. “Just trust me.”When I showed up that evening, I half-expected another casual hangout. But he surprised me. Instead of his usual playful demeanor, there was something different about him—something deliberate.“Ready?” he asked, offering his arm.“For what exactly?” I asked, narrowing my eyes.“You’ll see,” he said, leading me outside.The walk to the secluded spot took a while, but when we arrived, I was speechless.Josh had set up a cozy little space right on the beach, with lanterns lighting the
*JOSH'S POV*The next morning, I woke up early, my mind already buzzing with ideas. I couldn’t let this be a one-off thing. If Mary thought last night was romantic, I’d have to step up my game. She deserved more than just dinner under lanterns.But first, there was pack business to deal with.I sighed, pulling myself out of bed and heading for the shower. By the time I was dressed and on my way to the pack house, the warm glow of last night had been replaced with the usual weight of responsibility.When I arrived at Jordyn’s office, I found him already buried in paperwork. He barely looked up as I walked in.“Morning,” I said, dropping into the chair across from him.“Morning,” he replied, not missing a beat as he flipped through a file.For a while, we worked in comfortable silence, the only sounds the scratching of pens and the rustle of papers.But, of course, Jordyn being Jordyn, he couldn’t let me off that easily.“So,” he said, leaning back in his chair and giving me a pointed l
*JOSH'S POV*She was frozen, her eyes wide and glistening under the lantern light.“I’m not asking for forever—at least not yet,” I said, a grin tugging at my lips. “But I am asking you to be mine. Will you be my girlfriend?”Mary blinked, her expression shifting from surprise to something softer, more tender. And then she laughed, shaking her head.“You really went all out for this, didn’t you?” she said, her voice thick with emotion.“Is that a yes?” I asked, still kneeling.She stepped closer, pulling me to my feet and into her arms. “Yes, you idiot. Of course, it’s a yes.”Relief and joy washed over me as I held her, the weight of anticipation lifting from my shoulders.“But,” she added, pulling back slightly, her lips curving into a smirk, “you didn’t have to go this big just to ask me to be your girlfriend.”I grinned. “I wanted to make sure you couldn’t say no.”“Like I ever could,” she whispered, leaning up to press her lips to mine.The kiss was soft, lingering, and full of p
I could still hear Mary’s voice in my head, teasing me about how I owed her a proper date. It played on repeat as I sat on the couch, flipping through ideas for something special. I wasn’t the type to go all out—fancy dates and grand gestures weren’t really my thing—but for Mary, I wanted this to feel different. She deserved different.The past few days in the clinic had been torture, not because of the pain, but because I couldn’t stop thinking about her. The memory of her hand in mine, the way her cheeks flushed when I’d asked her to be my girlfriend, was burned into my mind. She’d told me to wait, to get better first, but that didn’t stop me from imagining her answer.With a plan finally forming in my head, I grabbed my phone and sent her a quick text.Me: Don’t forget, Friday night. Dress fancy.Her reply came almost instantly:Mary: It better be worth it.I laughed under my breath, shaking my head. She always knew how to keep me on my toes.*** Friday rolled around faster than I
*MARY'S POV*I stood outside Josh’s room in the clinic, the door slightly ajar. It had been two days since the accident, and though his wounds were healing, I still couldn’t shake the image of him lying unconscious and bloodied. I’d barely slept since Brianne called me with the news. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw him in that state.The sound of his voice pulled me from my thoughts.“Mary, you planning to just stand there, or are you coming in?”I pushed the door open, trying to mask the relief that flooded through me at seeing him awake and smirking. Typical Josh—always ready with a grin, even when he was banged up.“How long were you watching me?” I asked, stepping in and closing the door behind me.“Long enough to see you pacing like a worried mom,” he teased, his voice hoarse but warm.I rolled my eyes, pulling the chair closer to his bed. “You’re insufferable, you know that?”“And yet, here you are.”I couldn’t argue with that.*** *JOSH'S POV*Mary looked tired, like she ha
*MARY'S POV*Walking into the room, I felt my chest tighten at the sight of him. Josh was lying on the bed, his face pale, his breathing steady but shallow. Bandages covered his arms and chest, and there was a faint bruise along his jawline.I pulled up a chair beside his bed, my eyes welling up with tears. “You idiot,” I muttered, my voice shaking. “Why did you have to be so reckless?”He didn’t respond, of course. He was unconscious, his body working overtime to heal itself. I reached out, hesitating for a moment before taking his hand in mine.“You’re going to be fine,” I whispered, more to myself than to him. “You have to be. I’m not done yelling at you yet.”*** Hours passed, though it felt like days. Brianne came in to check on me a few times, offering food or water, but I couldn’t bring myself to leave Josh’s side.As the first rays of dawn filtered through the window, I felt a slight movement in his hand. My heart leaped, and I leaned forward.“Josh?” I whispered, my voice ba
*MARY'S POV*I groaned again, burying my face in the pillow. “Why am I like this? Why can’t I just enjoy it and move on?”It wasn’t like I hadn’t been with other guys before. But with Josh, it felt different. There was a connection, something deeper that I couldn’t quite put into words. And that scared me.“Do you think I’m falling for him, Mr. Fluffy?” I whispered. The teddy bear, of course, didn’t respond, but I could almost imagine him giving me a knowing look.I laughed softly, shaking my head. “No, no, no. This is just… it’s a phase. A momentary lapse in judgment. I’ll get over it. I mean, it’s Josh. He’s annoying and cocky and—”My phone buzzed on the nightstand, cutting off my train of thought. I reached over to grab it, my heart skipping a beat when I saw his name on the screen.Josh: Hope you’re not overthinking last night. I know I’m irresistible, but try to focus on other things.I rolled my eyes, though I couldn’t help the smile that tugged at my lips.Me: You wish. I’m pe
*JOSH'S POV*Mary stirred slightly, her lashes fluttering against her cheeks before her eyes opened. The sunlight caught her hair, making it shine in soft waves, and for a moment, I just stared. She blinked a few times, her gaze landing on me, and a sleepy smile curved her lips.“Morning,” she murmured, her voice husky from sleep.“Morning,” I replied, leaning against the headboard, my arms crossed casually. “You’re not a morning person, are you?”She stretched, groaning softly as she did. “Not in the slightest. You’re lucky you’re cute, or I’d complain about how bright it is in here.”I smirked. “Noted. Next time, I’ll keep the blinds closed.”Her head tilted, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “Next time, huh?”“Well, that depends,” I said, my tone teasing. “Do I get a ‘next time,’ or was this a one-time deal?”Mary propped herself up on one elbow, her expression playfully stern. “Don’t fish for compliments this early, Josh. It’s too much effort.”I laughed, the sound filling the room