*BRIANNE’S POV*My gaze dropped to Mary, who was watching me with a mixture of surprise and uncertainty. She blinked a few times, her eyes darting back and forth as if looking for something to say, but she remained silent.I turned and walked away, my feet heavy on the stairs as I stormed upstairs. I could feel their eyes on me, boring into my back like daggers. But I didn’t look back. I didn’t care what they thought. I was done.I reached my room and slammed the door behind me, the sound echoing through the hallway like a Declaration of Independence.I jumped on my bed, my mind drifting to Jordyn. He says he likes me and I really like him too. How much harm can he cause me? I thought to myself, my mind wandering to all the possibilities.Just as I was getting lost in my thoughts, I heard a knock on the door, disrupting my reverie. I knew it was Mary.She pushed the door and walked into the room.“Bri,” She called out as she walked towards my bed, her voice gentle.“I don’t wanna hear
*BRIANNE’S POV*I slowly opened my eyes, groggily taking in my surroundings. Suddenly, I was met with Mary’s face inches away from mine, her bright blue eyes sparkling with excitement. I gasped, startled, and my heart skipped a beat.“Shit, Mary! What are you doing?” I exclaimed, my voice husky from sleep.Mary giggled sheepishly, her face flushing pink. “Aren’t you going to get up, sleepyhead? Don’t forget we have an event to prepare for.” She said, her voice bubbling with enthusiasm.I sighed and rolled my eyes, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. “I know today is the full moon ceremony, but you don’t have to wake me up like that. Did you even get any sleep?” I asked her, my voice tinged with amusement.Mary nodded vigorously, her ponytail bouncing with the motion. “Yeah, I got a few hours. But I’m so excited for today! It’s going to be amazing,” She said, her eyes wide with anticipation.I chuckled and sat up, stretching my arms above my head. “You’re always energetic in the mornings.
*BRIANNE’S POV*We got to the venue of the event after a scenic drive of almost an hour.The driver Jordyn sent was incredibly courteous and went above and beyond to ensure our comfort during the journey. He even offered to play any song of our choice, and Mary enthusiastically took him up on the offer. She blasted the speakers with her favorite tunes, singing along at the top of her lungs.As we approached the entrance, the driver assistively opened the door and helped us out of the car. We stepped onto the red carpet like celebrities.The venue was swarming with people, all dressed to impress.Beautiful ladies in stunning gowns and their dashing partners in sleek tuxedos, sipping cocktails and mingling.The atmosphere was electric, filled with excitement and anticipation.Mary grasped my hand, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “Wow, this is quite the event!” She exclaimed.I nodded in agreement, taking in the opulent décor and lively ambiance. We made our way through the crowd, ex
*BRIANNE’S POV*I felt my cheeks flush, my pulse racing with excitement. I couldn’t help but be drawn to him, my body swaying towards his as if magnetized.Just then, in a moment that felt like eternity, Jordyn’s lips brushed against mine. Soft, gentle, and yet, electrifying. I felt a jolt of pleasure run through me, my heart soaring as our lips moved in perfect sync.The world around us melted away, leaving only the two of us, lost in the magic of our kiss. I felt like I was floating on air, my senses heightened as I savored the taste of his lips.Jordyn’s arms wrapped around me, pulling me closer as our kiss deepened. I felt his heart beating against mine, our feelings pulsing through every fiber of our being. But our intimate moment was suddenly interrupted by a voice from outside.“Alpha,” somebody called out, their tone urgent.We broke our kiss, startled, and Jordyn’s eyes furrowed. “Yes?” He answered, his deep voice firm but polite.“The ceremony is about to start. You need to
*JORDYN’S POV*I managed to escape from the clutches of my mother and some unwanted guests, seeking refuge in the hallway asI was desperate for a drink.As I walked, I heard my mother’s voice behind me, dripping with false sweetness.“Jordyn,” she called out, her voice echoing in the empty hallway.I stopped dead in my tracks, a sigh of frustration escaping my lips as a familiar feeling of annoyance seeped through my veins. I knew exactly where this was going.“Mother,” I answered, my voice firm and detached.She smiled, her entire set of teeth gleaming in the dim light of the hallway. “What do you think about the minister’s daughter?” She asked, her eyes sparkling with a knowing glint.The question sounded awkward, but I already knew where she was getting at. My mother had been trying to set me up with the minister’s daughter for months, and I had made it clear that I wasn’t interested.“Mother, stop this act of madness!” I warned, my voice stern and absolute. “I have told you befor
*BRIANNE’S POV*I stood frozen in shock. What had Jordyn just done? Why did he announce that publicly? I was dumbfounded, my thoughts raced with questions.“Oh my God,” I heard Janette’s low exclamation beside me, her voice was filled with surprise.We decided to take things slow, to get to know each other better before making any big decisions. So why did he come up here to announce that he’s found his mate? I felt like I had been punched in the gut, my breath knocked out of me.My eyes drifted to the girl who had been chatting with him, and she looked just as surprised as I was. Her eyes were wide with shock and her mouth hung open in disbelief.I was relieved that Jordyn hadn’t said who his mate was, I wasn’t ready for any form of attention.“I can’t believe he just did that!” Janette exclaimed. “My brother is something else.”We watched him walk off the stage like a rockstar, a confident swagger in his step. He was clearly proud of what he had just done, and I couldn’t help but f
*BRIANNE’S POV*I sat on my bed, staring at the piles of clothes and wondering how the hell I was going to sort through them all. Just as I was about to start, I heard a knock on my door.“Come in,” I answered, expecting it to be my mom with another load of laundry. The door knob pushed slowly and my mom peeled through the tiny space.“You want to talk?” She asked lowly.I was not ready for another sermon on how to go about my own life.“You can come in,” I said, my voice void of any emotion.My mom walked slowly to my bed and sat right next to me. “So…” she started.“I heard the Alpha announced that he now has a mate at the full moon ceremony yesterday,” she said.I nodded, trying to act unconcerned.“Was he talking about you?” She suddenly askedI looked at her. I was going to deny it point blank because I was not in for any form of negative energy advice. But the soft look in her eyes made me stop for a second. She looked genuinely curious and concerned that I didn’t know when I n
*BRIANNE’S POV*“Nice fight, Brianne.” The instructor’s voice sounded in the arena.I grinned from ear to ear feeling a sense of pride and accomplishment as I walked away from my defeated opponent.I had been training hard, and it was paying off. My skills were improving with each passing day, and I could feel the difference in my movements, my reflexes, and my overall confidence.I took a seat and reached for my water bottle, taking a long gulp to quench my parched throat. The cool liquid soothed my dry mouth and throat, and I closed my eyes, savoring the moment.But as I opened my eyes and stared at my phone, my excitement quickly turned to disappointment. There were no texts, no missed calls. Nothing. I had been waiting for Jordyn to say something after the full moon ceremony, but he had been awfully quiet. Too quiet.A knot formed in my stomach as I felt a wave of worry. Why hadn’t he texted or called? Was everything okay?I tried to push the thoughts aside, focusing on my trainin
*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