*JOSH’S POV*I watched her walk up to the front door, her hair bouncing with each step, and for some reason, I couldn’t wipe the stupid grin off my face. Mary always had that effect on me. She could drive me absolutely insane, but I liked it. No, I loved it. The banter, the teasing—it was all part of the weird connection we had.The car was silent, the soft glow of the streetlight barely reaching through the window as she disappeared inside. My fingers drummed against the steering wheel, and for a moment, I let myself sink into the quiet.What is it about her?We’d known each other for a while now. From that first full moon ceremony where she’d stumbled into me, lost and flustered, to now, with her sitting in my passenger seat pretending she wasn’t just as rattled by our almost-kiss as I was. She tried to play it cool, but I could feel her tension. Hell, I could feel mine.That almost-kiss… I hadn’t planned on it. Well, maybe a part of me had. When I grabbed her waist back at the offi
*JOSH’S POV*I couldn’t help but think about the way she looked at me at the café, how her teasing about Brianne and Jordyn had that undercurrent of truth. Like she was genuinely happy for them, but maybe there was something else there, something unsaid. And when Jordyn had turned the tables and teased her about me? Her cheeks flushed, and she got all flustered, trying to laugh it off.That was the moment it hit me. Maybe she felt the same. Maybe she’d been hiding behind the teasing, just like I was. I mean, why else would she react the way she did?I stood up, pacing the length of the kitchen. My mind raced, running through a million different scenarios. Should I just tell her? Make a move, stop dancing around whatever this was? But what if I was wrong? What if all this was just in my head, and she was just being Mary—playful, goofy, and completely oblivious to the fact that I’d fallen for her?I ran my fingers through my hair again, groaning in frustration. I’d never been this wrapp
*JOSH’S POV*I stared at him, taking in his words. Deep down, I knew he was right. I’d been dancing around this with Mary for months, teasing and flirting but never taking that next step. And the more time passed, the more I felt like I was in too deep to pull back.“And what if I mess it up?” I asked quietly.Jordyn leaned forward, resting his arms on the desk. “You won’t mess it up. Not if you’re honest with her. Trust me, Josh. She’s waiting for you to make a move. Don’t leave her hanging.”I looked down at the floor, my mind racing. Jordyn was right. I’d been holding back for too long, too scared of what might happen. But what was worse—risking it, or letting her slip away because I was too afraid to take the chance?“I’m telling you, man,” Jordyn said with a smirk. “If you don’t do it soon, someone else might.”That made my heart lurch, and I shot him a glare. “Not funny.”He shrugged. “I’m just saying. Don’t let your fear get in the way of something real.”I sat there for a mome
*MARY’S POV*My heart raced as I grabbed my bag, checking myself one last time in the mirror. ‘You’ve got this, Mary,’ I whispered to myself. ‘It’s just Josh. No big deal.’But even as I said it, I knew it wasn’t true. It was a big deal. And maybe, just maybe, that was okay.With a deep breath, I headed downstairs and opened the front door. And there he was, leaning casually against his car, hands in his pockets, looking way too good for someone who was supposedly just picking me up for a casual hangout. His eyes lit up when he saw me, and for a second, I forgot how to breathe.“Hey,” he said, flashing me that lopsided grin that always made my heart skip.“Hey,” I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. “So, what’s this all about?”He raised an eyebrow, his grin widening. “You’ll see. Come on.”With a playful roll of my eyes, I followed him to the car, feeling that familiar buzz of excitement—like something big was about to happen.And maybe it was.*** I sat on the couch, my eyes f
*MARY’S POV*“Wait, how old are you, actually?” I asked, curiosity finally getting the better of me as we settled back into a more relaxed conversation.Josh glanced at me with a slight smirk. “I’m 25. Why?”I blinked, genuinely surprised. “You’re 25?!”He raised an eyebrow, amused by my reaction. “Yeah. You sound shocked. How old did you think I was?”I shifted a bit, feeling a little awkward. “I don’t know, I guess I thought you were closer to Jordyn’s age.”Josh chuckled. “How old do you think he is?”I tilted my head, considering it. “I don’t know. Late twenties, maybe?”Josh let out a small laugh. “Jordyn’s 31.”I gasped and then burst into laughter. “No way! So, Jordyn’s basically your grandpa!”Josh grinned, shaking his head. “I wouldn’t go that far, but yeah, he’s got a few years on me.”Still laughing, I pointed at Josh with a teasing glint in my eyes. “And here I was thinking you were all mature and stuff. But nope, just a baby.”He shot me a playful glare. “A baby, huh? And
*MARY’S POV*We sat there for a moment longer, still pressed close together, the warmth of his arm around me making it hard to focus on anything else. I could feel the steady rise and fall of his chest, the subtle way his thumb traced small circles on my side. It was soothing and exciting all at once.After a while, I cleared my throat, trying to bring myself back to reality. “Okay, seriously though… you’re 25, and Jordyn’s 31? That’s like, a huge gap. You should start calling him ‘Grandpa.’”Josh let out a bark of laughter. “I’m not calling him Grandpa! Do you want him to kick my ass?”I grinned, the thought of Jordyn’s reaction making me laugh. “Oh, come on. It’d be hilarious. He’d lose his mind.”“Yeah, and then I’d be wolf meat.”I laughed harder, my hand reaching up to wipe away the tear forming in my eye. “Fine, fine. But it’d be worth it just to see the look on his face.”Josh shook his head, still smiling. “You’re gonna get me into trouble one of these days.”I rested my head
*MARY’S POV*Brianne smiled knowingly. “Oh, I know. Trust me. But it sounds like he respects you, and that’s the important part.”“Yeah,” I said, nodding. “He does. He made sure I didn’t feel rushed or anything.”We chatted a bit more about last night, and I couldn’t help but feel even more sure about where things were going with Josh.Just as I was about to ask Brianne more about her own life, my phone buzzed. I glanced down and saw Josh’s name light up the screen.Josh: Morning! Hope you’re free tonight—fancy another ‘non-babysitting’ hangout?I smiled, trying to suppress the butterflies that immediately fluttered in my stomach.Me: Another hangout? What are you planning this time, mister?His response was almost immediate.Josh: It’s a surprise. But no babysitting involved, I promise.Brianne noticed my grin and nudged me. “Who’s that?”I tilted my phone toward her so she could see the messages. She raised her eyebrows, her expression one of playful judgment.“Oh, he’s got you hook
*MARY’S POV*We sat down, the silence between us thick with unspoken words. The wine had left me feeling a little light-headed, and as Josh’s arm draped over the back of the bench, his closeness was intoxicating.“Mary,” he said softly, his voice a little huskier than usual, “I’ve wanted to do this for a long time.”Before I could ask what he meant, his lips were on mine. The kiss was slow and gentle at first, but it quickly deepened as I wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him closer. Every inch of me felt alive, and I lost myself in the moment, forgetting everything else but the feel of him, the taste of him.The kiss grew more heated, his hands moving to my waist, pulling me against him. I could feel the fire building between us, and for a moment, I didn’t care where this was heading. I wanted him, and it was clear he wanted me, too.When we finally pulled away, breathless, his forehead rested against mine. “Come back to my place,” he whispered, his voice low and rough.I nodd
The story of Jordyn and Brianne has finally come to an end. to all my readers, I want to say the biggest thank you for your support throughout my first book. your kindness and support has been my biggest drive force and motivation. thank you and God bless!
*MARY'S POV*We stood there for a moment, wrapped up in the quiet understanding between us, the noise of the celebration around us fading into the background. It was just the two of us, finally on the same page, finally admitting what we had known all along.Josh pulled me into his arms then, holding me tightly, and for a moment, it felt like the world outside of us didn’t exist. There was just this feeling of completeness, of knowing that we had found something rare, something worth holding on to.“Mary,” Josh murmured against my hair. “I don’t care what happens or how crazy life gets. As long as we’re together, nothing else matters.”I nodded against his chest, my heart full. “Together,” I repeated, the word feeling like a promise, like something unbreakable.We stood there, holding each other, the world going on around us, but for a brief, perfect moment, it felt like time had stopped. And when I pulled back to look at him, his eyes were filled with something deeper than just affect
*BRIANNE'S POV*We moved closer to the altar, where a silver chalice sat filled with sacred water blessed by the elders. Elder Marla raised the chalice, her voice steady as she began the invocation.“Moon Goddess, protector of the packs, guardian of our bonds, we call upon you to witness this union. Bless this Alpha and his Luna, guide them with your wisdom, and strengthen their bond so that it may never be broken. May their love bring prosperity to this pack and honor to your name.”As she spoke, the energy in the clearing seemed to shift. The air grew still, heavy with an almost tangible presence. My heart thudded in anticipation as Jordyn turned to me, his eyes filled with an intensity that sent a shiver down my spine.“This will only hurt for a moment,” he murmured, his voice gentle yet firm.I nodded, tilting my head to expose the curve of my neck where his mating mark already rested—a mark that had bound us in the past but would now be renewed in front of the pack and the Moon G
*BRIANNE'S POV*The day dawned brighter than any I’d ever seen, as if the sun itself knew this was no ordinary morning. I stood in front of the mirror, staring at the reflection of the woman I barely recognized—dressed in a gown that shimmered like moonlight, hair pinned into soft waves, and eyes lined with the faintest hint of gold. It was me, and yet it wasn’t.The house was alive with a flurry of excitement. Women rushed around, pinning flowers into my hair, adjusting the folds of my dress, and murmuring compliments that barely reached my ears. My heart was pounding too loudly to process anything fully.“Brianne,” my mother said softly from the doorway, drawing my attention. She stepped inside, her eyes misty but filled with pride. “You look radiant.”I turned to her, feeling a lump form in my throat. For all the ups and downs we’d been through, having her here today meant the world to me.“Thank you,” I managed, my voice barely above a whisper.She came closer, reaching out to adj
*BRIANNE'S POV*The council chamber was a room of immense power, its high ceilings and stone walls almost intimidating. I stood just outside the heavy oak doors, my palms slightly damp with nerves. Jordyn’s reassuring hand rested on the small of my back, steadying me, but it did little to quiet the storm of thoughts in my head.Why was I even here? The council had never been my ally. Their opposition to Jordyn choosing me as his mate was no secret. They thought I wasn’t good enough to be Luna. I wasn’t born into privilege or power, and their disdain had been a constant shadow since our relationship began.Jordyn leaned closer, his warm breath brushing my ear. “You don’t need to worry about what they think, Brianne. If they say anything disrespectful, I’ll shut it down.”I smiled weakly, appreciating his confidence. “Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.”The doors swung open, revealing the circular council table where the elders were already seated. Each of them turned their heads towar
*JORDYN'S POV*The moment Brianne said yes, my world shifted. It wasn’t just the joy of hearing her acceptance; it was the realization that everything I’d worked for, everything I’d fought to protect, finally had a deeper purpose. She wasn’t just my mate—she was my future, and I wanted the entire world to see it.The day after the proposal, I summoned Mary, Janette, and Josh to discuss the wedding. It wasn’t going to be just any wedding—it would be a mating ceremony, too. A powerful display of unity for both Brianne and me, and for the pack as a whole.“Do you think she’ll be okay with it being both?” Mary asked, leaning back in her chair.“Brianne doesn’t do things halfway,” I replied confidently. “And neither do I. This is our moment, and I want it to reflect everything we are—mates, partners, and leaders.”Janette smirked. “You’re really pulling out all the stops, huh?”“Absolutely,” I said, my tone firm. “This isn’t just for us. It’s for the pack, too. After everything we’ve been
*BRIANNE'S POV*When I arrived at the location Mary had texted me, I was taken aback. It wasn’t the cozy café or lively bar I’d expected. Instead, I found myself standing outside a beautifully decorated venue. Soft fairy lights adorned the entrance, and a path lined with rose petals led the way inside.“What on earth…?” I murmured, stepping cautiously forward.The interior was even more breathtaking. The space was bathed in warm, golden light, with elegant floral arrangements and candles scattered throughout. It felt intimate, magical, and entirely unlike anything I’d anticipated.“Mary?” I called out, glancing around.But she was nowhere to be seen.My heart started to race, a mixture of confusion and anticipation swirling within me. And then, as if drawn by an invisible force, my eyes found him.Jordyn.He stood not too far away, dressed in a sharp black tuxedo that made him look like he’d stepped out of a dream. His dark hair was neatly styled, and his piercing eyes locked onto min
*BRIANNE'S POV*The days after the war felt like a blur of activity and grief. The land bore scars of the battle—scorched earth, shattered buildings, and a heaviness in the air that was difficult to shake. But the pack was resilient, even in their pain.Jordyn wasted no time organizing efforts to rebuild. Under his leadership, everyone pitched in—repairing homes, clearing rubble, and tending to the wounded. It was a collective effort, and though the mood was somber, there was an undercurrent of determination.Jordyn had barely stopped to rest, throwing himself into the work with a single-minded focus. I stayed by his side as much as I could, offering support wherever it was needed.A week after the battle, the pack gathered in the main square. The sun shone brightly overhead, as if trying to wash away the darkness of the past few days. Jordyn stood on a makeshift stage, his posture straight and commanding, but I could see the weight he carried in the set of his shoulders.Josh stood n
*BRIANNE'S POV*The next morning, I found my father in the study, his back to me as he stared out the window.“Do you need something?” he asked without turning around.I stepped inside, closing the door behind me. “We need to talk.”He sighed, finally facing me. “About what?”“About why you can’t seem to support me,” I said, my voice steady but firm.“I support you,” he said, though his tone was dismissive. “I just don’t think throwing yourself into danger is wise.”“I’m not a child anymore, Father. I can make my own decisions.”“And what happens when those decisions get you killed?” he demanded, his voice rising.“That’s enough!” my mother’s voice cut through the tension as she entered the room. She placed herself between us, her gaze stern. “Both of you, stop this. You’re family, not enemies.”My father muttered something under his breath and left the room, leaving me and my mother alone.She turned to me, her expression softening. “He loves you, Brianne. He just… doesn’t know how t