*JORDYN’S POV*“Jordyn…call me Jordyn when we’re alone,” I said, my voice low as I gazed into her eyes. The look that flashed across her face was a mix of surprise and discomfort. I could sense her hesitation, I knew she was going to decline, her lips were already parted to protest, so I added,“It’s an order,” My tone was firm but gentle, a subtle reminder of my authority without being overbearing.Her expression was a picture of discomfort, her eyebrows furrowed and her lips pursed, as if she was struggling to come to terms with my request.It was adorable and I found myself fighting back a chuckle. Her expressions were always funny and entertaining.Just as I was enjoying the sight, she turned to look up at me, and I quickly wiped the smile off my face, attempting to fabricate a serious expression.I breathe a silent sigh of relief, feeling grateful for the opportunity to walk with her, to simply exist in her presence.The pleasure of strolling side by side with her was undeniable.
*JORDYN’S POV* I walked into the bar with Josh and was immediately dismayed by the familiar faces I saw sitting there.“If I had told you, would you have agreed to come?” Josh said, shrugging sheepishly.He had invited other friends…people I didn’t want to see.I glared at him, my side eye deadly. “I hate those guys,” I hissed.Josh downplayed my concerns. “How bad can it be to just sit there and ignore them,” He said. “I only wanted to liven up the place.”I sighed, not buying whatever liveliness those guys had to offer. Josh waved at the unwanted guests, announcing our arrival.As we approached the table, one of the guys, Ivan, greeted us with a cheerful smile.“Oh, what’s up dudes?” He asked, exchanging a friendly handshake with Josh.“can’t believe our almighty Alpha Jordyn stepped out for a drink” Another guy, Edward chimed in.I glared at him, my eyes warning him to tread carefully.“Come on Edward, don’t talk like that,” Josh rebuked him playfully. “You know how hard it is to
*BRIANNE’S POV*I slid into the passenger seat, my eyes widening in surprise. “How did you know where I live?” I asked.Janette flashed a playful grin. “I have my ways,” She teased, her eyes sparkling with amusement.I raised an eyebrow, skeptical. “But how did you…”Janette interrupted me, her eyes fixed on the road ahead. “My brother is your personal GPS, apparently,” She said with a chuckle.My eyes narrowed, intrigued. “Your brother?” I repeated.“He asked me to swing by and pick you up, take you back to the pack house” She nodded.“What!” I exclaimed, my voice echoing in the car. Alpha Jordyn could be so unbelievable, why would he even bother to do that?Janette’s expression remained serene, her eyes fixed on the road. The silence that followed was oppressive, punctuated only by the soft hum of the engine.Then, without warning, Janette spoke up, her voice gentle but probing. “Brianne” She called out, her eyes flickered towards me.I turned to her, urging her to continue.“What i
*BRIANNE’S POV*The girls chatter filled the air as we made our way through the woods, their excitement for the party or gathering was palpable.As we walked further into the woods, the trees grew taller and the shadows deepened. My unease began to creep back in, but the girls kept chatting and laughing, distracting me from my worries and putting my mind at ease…a little bit.Suddenly, they stopped at a clearing—an empty space. I expected to see a crowd of people, music, and lights, but no one was there.Where was everybody?I turned to the girls, my confusion and concern evident. “where is everybody?” I asked, my voice croaked with a hint of unease.“Surprise!” Sophia exclaimed as she ran childishly to the middle of the open space.I watched her with confusion etched on my face. What surprise? They brought me all the way for this?“I thought you said everybody was going to be here,” I said again, trying to get answers from them. My instincts were starting to scream warning but I didn
*BRIANNE’S POV*I shut my eyes tight, bracing myself for the pain, but nothing happened. I opened my eyes slowly, peeking to see what was stopping Sophia’s attack.And that’s when I saw him, Alpha Jordyn, standing right there. How did he find us?His eyes were fixed intently on Sophia, exuding a mix of anger and authority.The hands that held my arms suddenly released them, and the girls moved away from me, fear evident in their eyes. Sophia’s claws retracted, and she took a step back.“Al…Alpha Jordyn… what are you doing here?” Sophia asked in a trembling voice.I stood there, wondering how he knew I was here or how he even found us in these deep woods.‘My brother is your personal GPS’ Janette’s words echoed in my head.“Alpha Jordyn…we were just showing Brianne around,” Sophia said again, smiling awkwardly.His look gave the impression that he wasn’t buying whatever Sophia was saying.He stood in the trees, his gaze resting on me, he didn’t pay any attention to the three girls sta
*BRIANNE’S POV*I sniffed, “yes, it’s all fake,” I said, my voice trembling. “Please just let me go,” I pleaded, tears streaming down my cheeks.His face darkened, and his jaw clenched in frustration. He suddenly moved towards me, his strides elegant but urgent.As he closed the distance between us, he hissed and punched the wall behind me, making me jump. I felt a surge of fear and confusion. His eyes were wide, but not just with anger. They seemed to be burning with raw primal emotion that I couldn’t quite understand.“Brianne!” He growled, his voice low and intense.My mind raced as I stared at him. Why is he getting worked up? I didn’t understand what was happening.“Alpha Jordyn, please…” I started to say, but he cut me short.“You think I want to do this?” He asked with a low growl, his voice dripping with frustration.“You think I always want to go to the rescue of a random girl I met two weeks ago?” He continued,He took a step closer, his veins bulging in his forehead. “You
*BRIANNE’S POV*“Are you okay?” I asked in a low voice, trying to calm him down.But my words seemed to have the opposite effect because his gaze suddenly snapped to me.“Mine!” He growled. “You’re mine!” His hair was damp with sweat and his body was tensed.He needed to calm down, or else, he’d end up hurting himself or even hurting me.I knew I had to act fast, probably pour a bowl of cold water on him.I searched the room frantically, my eyes scanning for anything to help him calm down, but there was no water. Nothing helpful was in sight. The sound of his ragged breathing grew louder and his muscles tensed even more.That’s when I remembered something. If my theory is correct, and I turn out to be his mate, I had to do something to him that would help him calm down. Probably a soft touch, a hug, or…a kiss.No, no. I can’t do that. But a soft touch would probably not do anything from the look of things. I wasn’t thinking straight, I didn’t want him to pass out, because he was alre
*JORDYN'S POV*(Earlier)I sat with Josh in my office, staring blankly at the paper in my hand. My mind was a million miles away, consumed by thoughts that had been plaguing me for days.Josh’s sudden question snapped back to reality.“Are you okay?” He asked, his brows furrowed with concern.I looked up at him, took a deep breath, and exhaled slowly. I wanted to confide in him, something that had been burning inside me. But I hesitated, unsure if I was ready to reveal something so personal.“Josh…,” I began, my voice barely above a whisper.Josh’s eyes locked onto mine, his gaze was patient and encouraging. He knew me too well, and I could sense his curiosity piqued.“I think I found my mate…” I said finally, the words tumbling out in a rush.Josh’s expression changed from curiosity to shock. His eyes widened and His mouth opened slightly, as if he was about to say something But couldn't quite form the words. I watched him intently, anxious about his reaction.But to my surprise, his
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
*JOSH'S POV*We walked back to the car in a comfortable silence, the sound of the waves fading behind us. Mary’s steps were light, her head tilted slightly as she took in the surroundings. I couldn’t help but watch her, admiring the way the wind played with her hair and how her eyes seemed to hold a certain spark.When we reached the car, she turned to me, crossing her arms with a mock-serious expression. “So, Mr. Beta-Hybrid, what’s next on this grand plan of yours?”I smirked, opening the passenger door for her. “You’ll have to wait and see.”She raised an eyebrow, sliding into the seat. “You’re enjoying this way too much, aren’t you?”“Absolutely,” I said with a grin before shutting the door and walking around to the driver’s side.As I started the engine, the warmth of the moment lingered. The drive back was quiet at first, the soft hum of the car filling the air. I could feel Mary glancing at me every now and then, her curiosity practically radiating.Finally, she broke the silen
*JOSH'S POV*“After I was born, there was a lot of fear about what it would mean to have a half-human wolf in the pack. The elders were worried about what people would say, how they’d react. Jordyn’s mother—well, she was the one who stepped in. She wanted to protect me from the inevitable gossip and judgment.”Mary’s eyes widened. “So, she just… hid it?”“Sort of,” I said, leaning forward to rest my elbows on my knees. “She went to a soothsayer. Someone with strong abilities. They found a way to mask the hybrid part of me. That’s why no one’s ever been able to tell I’m different. No one can smell it or sense it. As far as anyone in the pack is concerned, I’m just a regular beta.”“That’s… incredible,” Mary whispered, her voice filled with amazement. “But why? Why go to all that trouble?”I sighed, running a hand through my hair. “Because being a hybrid in the wolf world isn’t easy. Humans and wolves… they’re not supposed to mix. If people knew, there’d be questions, doubts about my lo
*JOSH'S POV*“Actually… there’s something else you should know,” I said, swinging my hands in a playful manner as we strolled across the beach. The breeze was gentle, the sun starting to dip lower, casting a golden glow across the waves. We walked in comfortable silence, but I could feel the weight of what I needed to share building inside me.Mary glanced at me, her curiosity piqued. “Oh? More secrets, huh? You’re full of surprises.”I chuckled, though this was heavier than the usual banter. “Yeah, and this one’s… kind of a big deal.”Her teasing smile faltered slightly, but she stayed lighthearted. “Don’t tell me you’re some sort of vampire-werewolf hybrid. ‘Cause that’s too much for me to handle today.”I laughed, though her joke hit closer to the truth than she knew. “Not quite that dramatic, but close.”We eventually found a shaded spot under a large tree near the shoreline. The wind rustled the leaves, offering a quiet retreat from the rest of the world. I sat down on the sand,
*JOSH’S POV*I reached the pack house and headed straight to Jordyn’s office. He was already behind his desk, looking over a set of documents when I walked in.“Morning,” I said, stepping inside and closing the door behind me.Jordyn glanced up, raising an eyebrow. “You seem in a good mood.”I shrugged, trying to play it off. “Just a good night, I guess.”He didn’t push for details, which was probably for the best. I wasn’t sure I was ready to explain why I couldn’t stop grinning like an idiot. Instead, he handed me a file, the lightness in the air quickly replaced by the seriousness of pack duties.“Here,” he said. “Take a look. We’ve had a few reports of rogue wolves in the north, near the river. We need to adjust the patrols in that area, make sure we’ve got enough coverage.”I nodded, flipping through the papers, but the focus I usually had for work was a little off today. No matter how hard I tried to concentrate, my thoughts kept drifting back to Mary.Jordyn must’ve noticed bec