I tense at his words. The next full moon? We haven't discussed our mating date yet. I thought I was supposed to be a part of that decision?I shoot him a disgruntled look but then I decide that I'll wait until after this is over before I question him about that."I hope you will all give her a warm welcome to our pack. I want her to feel at home here," he finishes, then he shoots me a breath taking smile that surely would have melted me like a hot knife through butter if I wasn't still hurting due to recent events.There are murmurs of kind words and delighted looks of the faces of the pack. Almost immediately people are lining up to greet me. They have obeyed Samuel's request without issue. None of them seems forced to be polite."It's nice to meet you Grace," an older woman says, shaking my hand. "I'm Agnes, Samuel's Aunt. It's nice to finally put a face to the name." "It's a pleasure to meet you too," I reply.She smiles fondly at Samuel. "She's so pretty, Sonny. You picked a good
When the morning comes I have forgotten where I am. Nothing looks familiar to me and it isn't until my consciousness fully returns that the events of yesterday start flooding back into my mind. Left home...new pack...slept in Samuel's room.Samuel.He isn't here. The room is empty and the couch that served as his bed is made up and utterly untouched. It is as if he hasn't even spent the night here at all. I have to think back to yesterday just to be sure I haven't imagined him being here.I glance at the clock on the bedside table and yawn. Nine-thirty a.m. it reads. It isn't much different than time I normally wake up in the mornings at home.I slide myself to the side of the bed and push myself off with ease. My feet meet the blue carpet I had admired yesterday.I quickly make my way to the bathroom to use it, before my bladder bursts, then attempt to clean myself up in front of the mirror before anyone catches sight of my ghastly appearance. My hair is in every direction on top of m
The pack territory is even bigger than I had imagined. What Samuel had referred to as a small housing community for the pack in the woods, is no small community at all. It is quite large; almost the size of our pack village, just slightly smaller. Samuel's pack still outnumbers them by double nonetheless.The houses are nice. The community is a close knit neighborhood. Though the houses are on the smaller side they make up for it in beauty. Side by side, the houses are lined up next to each other, not very far apart.Kids play outside while several adults and wolves roam the land. Most of them seem to just be keeping an eye on things. Some of the familiar faces I met last night stare back at me with smiles, all of them bowing their heads in respect. It surprises me that they are already treating me like Samuel's mate even when we have not yet made a step in the mating direction yet."Welcome back to the territory, Alpha," one of the men says."Yes, it's been too long," another person
I don't sleep well. I try to suppress the memories deep in my subconscious but they resurface over night and the dull wounds left from Logan's wake feel entirely too fresh for me.I scream and clutch my chest all night. My soul is being torn apart all over again as the vivid dream plays through my mind like a horror movie on repeat.Somewhere in my mind I think I know it is merely a dream, but I can not find my way back to reality. I am lost in my own mind with no one to bring me out of my suffering.He has rejected us, my wolf whispers. He has chosen another mate.My wolf whimpers at the new realization and I wish for anything that I can in some way console her, but I am just as broken as her. I feel weak and sick. I have to grab onto the counter just to keep my balance. Logan becomes concerned, but he doesn't move to help me."She's pregnant. Josephine is having our pups," he says.No.The pain inside me is more excruciating than I can convey. It feel as if something inside me has
You helped Samuel with this didn't you?" I ask him.He shoots me another sympathetic look before standing from the bed and answering me. "Yes and one other couple. Your situation is very rare; there are very few people who take on other mates. Unfortunately, it happens though. It's more common in wolves that have lost their mate to some unfortunate circumstance, like a war or illness. That is if they survive the loss.""You know someone else who has gone through it though," I state. "Yes, there is a couple in the pack who lost their mates and the dreams were the same. The only difference is, they would feel the pain of their mate's death all over again, instead of a rejection."I sit silently. I suppose that is much worse than a rejection. Though a rejection is much like death. You still grieve the same way. You grieve for the loss off your mate. However, I wasn't mated to Logan. That would have destroyed me completely. I doubt I would have survived it."They were able to overcome it
Once again Samuel and I find ourselves inside the big city that we stopped in on the way to his territory. I am doing my best to adjust to it, but like before, I feel like I stick out- and not in a good way.The restaurant we are in this time is not like the one we were before. This one is nicer and better yet, it is Italian- my favorite. I ask for the spaghetti.After we have eaten our meals we sit at the table making light conversation over dessert, which is almost finished off now.I find it surprising how easy it is to talk to him sometimes. When we aren't worried about things like our rejections or the mating, we fall into conversations effortlessly. It is really nice. Samuel even seems to be quite laid back and carefree tonight which is something I haven't seen in a while. It is very unexpected after how Alpha he went on me today. I'm just glad he has more to him than just his job.Even now, we sit in the nearly empty restaurant laughing our heads off at a story he is telling me
Even with so little effort to get ready this early in the morning Samuel can still look so good, like some kind of model or Greek God, with sculpted figures. Life isn't as fair to me.He is watching Dominic and Dylan with a carefully trained expression. I can tell by their reactions something is wrong. Dylan must have mind linked him and told him what was going on seeing as their expressions all mirror each other. I let the blanket fall to the bed when I take his hand and stand up with him. He places his hand around my waist protectively and walks me to the door.Dylan and Dominic respectively move out of our way and start down the hallway just ahead of us. From what I can tell, almost everyone is still in bed except for the few early risers, and some of the pack fighters that have been on boarder control overnight.They bow their heads at us respectively as we pass by them.I grow even more confused when the group traveling with us leads us outside. Kyle is now with us as well, and B
“And this is my room," I tell James as we come to the end of our tour. "Well, it will be when I fix it up," I correct myself.I push open the white door and flip the light switch on then take a look around. I have only ever been in this room one other time, so I am still getting used to it. It is definitely not as grand as Samuel's room, but it is still very nice and it's going to suit me perfectly. Everything is white and wood colored.Tomorrow I'll have Samuel take me into town and pick up some paint for it. I think it will look beautiful with half purple and half white walls with a thin border separating them. I can practically envision the whole thing."It's nice, I guess; for a girls room anyway," James says, looking around."Well I guess it's a good thing you don't have to live in it then," I laugh, slapping his shoulder teasingly.He walks further into the room and looks around before plopping down in the pale pink chair in front of the window. He kicks his feet up on the bed n
LOGANI am badly wounded. The pursuit after Grace and that traitor Dylan has ended in disaster. I have witnessed as Grog himself died and most of our fighters. Then it has dawned on me that I shouldn't die. I should run. When the fighting gets fierce I flee from the battleground and run, or rather drag myself to the bushes. I can still see from a distance as Grog's fighters are annihilated. I have realized that I have been in the wrong for a very long time. I have done many wrong moves and maybe I am the cause of the death of all these courageous wolves. Maybe if it wasn't for my poor decisions I would still be Alpha at our pack. Why did I take Josephine from her mate? Why did I reject my own mate Grace? And after the rejection, why did I insist on having her back when I knew only too well that she was mated to another Alpha? Why did I even join Grog, knowing that he was a leader of a rogue pack?These are the millions of questions that flood my mind as I lay in pain in the woods. Th
LOGAN “I knew from the very beginning that Dylan was a turncoat. Something kept telling me to kill him, but then I was hesitant." Grog says, seething with rage. He's angry with himself after we have established that Grace and Dylan are missing.I started having bad feelings when we waited for a very long time for Grace and she failed to show up. I started thinking, what if she doesn't come at all? What if she escapes? Right then Amelia came running to where Grog and I were seated, waiting for Grace so that the mating ceremony could start. Seeing her send shivers down my spine.“My goodness, she's gone." I whispered to myself. Amelia looked at me with eyes full of remorse, before whispering something to Grog's ears. The ever composed Grog listened carefully then dismissed Amelia and continued looking forward. I wanted to ask him what was happening when he looked at me and beckoned that I should follow him and now we are in his office. He's uncontrollable.“We need to pursue them, but n
"Take this," Dylan says, handing me the additional blanket from his bag.I shake my head. "No it's alright. This one is enough."Elsa is next to us against the rocky outcrop already fast asleep. She is exhausted, I can tell by the look on her face as she sleeps. She hasn't spoken much our entire journey either. What we have put her through has to be a lot to process. Even though we have saved her from Grog's pack, Dylan and I both know that if they ever catch up with us we will all be dead."You sure?" Dylan asks with his arm still outstretched with the blanket."I'm sure. It's not that cold out here." I shift my blanket over my legs and arms. It is a good thing the weather is not problematic because even if it were any cooler, we can't light a fire. It will draw too much attention to us. There is nothing that sticks out more than a fire blazing in the darkness of the night. Elsa had consumed two apples and a granola bar right before she crashed and Dylan and I each had one granola ba
“I'll give you thirty minutes, even longer if I can and then I'll run out there and tell them you're gone. Put as much time between us and yourselves as possible," Amelia says. "Take care. I hope for a safe journey for all of you."Then she steps up to me and very quickly gives me hug and then releases me. "It's been nice knowing you, Grace.Tell Doreen I miss her and I'm glad she made it." She looks towards the door then back to us. "Now go. There is no time to spare."I don't need any more warning to that. I am more than eager to get out of here. I am the last one through the door and I stop just a moment to glance back at Amelia. I see then that the goodbye has been harder for her than she let us see. Tears are pooled in her eyes."Take care of yourself, Amelia. Thank you for your help. None of this would be possible without you."She laughs a little through stray tears. "I don't know what you're talking about. I'm still ratting you guys out." Because you have to, I want to say. Bu
I gasp and clutch the letter to my chest. It has been so long since I heard his voice in my head and it nearly shatters me. My legs feel like jelly and my chest aches with the gap that was left by him leaving. I haven't allowed myself to think about Samuel very much, afraid of what it might do to me if I let my thoughts linger there too long. I know I would fall apart. But now...now I can't help it. I have to think of him. His letter. His words. His hands have touched the very same paper as mine did. I briefly wonder if I might catch a scent of him on it if I try hard enough to find it."Grace," Dylan says softly.He brings me out of my stupor. I look at him. I haven't realized there are tears in my eyes until he reaches out and touches them with the back of his hand. He briefly wipes them away only for them to be replaced by more cascading down my cheeks."Talk," I say. "You told me you would. I want answers." I wipe the tears away viciously with the letter gripped tight in my hand.
I quickly bolt upright and stand in front of the two men in sheer panic. "But-but it's so soon. I haven't had time to prepare. And I'm not feeling well. Shouldn't we wait? Logan said we could wait until I was feeling better.""Unfortunately we don't have that kind of time," Grog says as Logan stands up in front of me. "We're making a move on a pack in two days and we have to know that you will be loyal to us and your mate during the raid." He looks at Logan who nods his head in agreement.Oh, goodness, I felt myself unable to breathe and light headedness slowly started to creep over me like a nightmare. I can hardly believe what is happening. I need more time. I had counted on having more time. How can I possibly escape now? If I were to mate Logan I won't even want to leave here anymore. I'd want to stay here with him and stand by his side as he and his brothers born of evil bring the world of wolves down on its knees.I suck a sharp breath of air in horror. Nothing and no one can co
The wind blows through my loose, blond strands, making my hair whip around me like a silk blanket offering it's smooth comfort.Dylan, the man standing just a short distance from me watches me carefully, waiting for me to run at him, attack him, try to make him pay for what I deem as traitorous behavior, but I make no such move. I only stare at him with open and unashamed contempt.He can't hide the hurt my bitterness and scorn bring him, and for a moment I think he is the old Dylan, not the Dylan who turned on his pack and brought Noah out of there."I have to talk to you," he says. "You have to know the truth."He walks toward me, slowly, carefully, like I was a wild animal that would attack him given the wrong move. "Grace, listen to me. I know you probably have tons of questions for me right now and I promise to answer them all, just let me explain-"With loud smack against the his left cheek, his eyes widen in surprise at the girl who has slapped him. There is already a red mark
I am nauseous again. I want to shake my head and declare it is much too early to have such a weighing conversation, but I doubt it will get me anywhere. He is determined to talk this out."It should have happened last night, but since you weren't feeling well I didn't feel it was the right time. As soon as you're better it should happen," he continues.I have a strong feeling I will be sick for a long, long time.But then he will become suspicious.Alright, then I'll leave today. I'll do it. I'll have to. Amelia helped Doreen once. Maybe she can help me now that I'm out of the cells. I know the layout of the land and the shift changes of the borders. If only I can get away from Logan and everyone else for a few minutes I could escape this hell. He sits down on the bed in front of me and cups my jaw with his hand. He has genuine concern written on his face. "You look pale. You need to eat."I need to throw up.He must have seen the look on my face because he jumps up and moves out of m
I look around the large room at what little stuff I have acquired since my stay with the Grog's Pack and sigh. Now it is all mingled in with Logan's stuff. Our clothes hung together in the nearby closet. My books next to his on the nightstand and in shelves. And I'm sure if I bring myself to investigate it, I'll find both of our toothbrushes together in the bathroom.I immediately take a strong dislike to the room. This isn't my room and it never will be. This room is a lie, filled with promises of an ordinary life of an ordinary couple. Logan and I not an ordinary couple at least not in my eyes.I suspect though, that in Logan's eyes,, we are a couple.Though I knew this day would eventually come, where I'd have to share the same room and bed with him, nothing had ever really prepared me for it. I don't love him the way he wants and it makes me feel wrong. I can lie with him knowing I am carrying the unborn child of the man I love inside me.I have to fight back another wave of nause