[Sylvester]The pearls are untangled from around our arms as the priestess proclaims. "You are now bound forever under the sacred light of Selene. May the Moon Goddess shine down on your union. May it be fruitful and full of love." My heart flutters and our bond snaps more firmly in place. "Mine," Our lips come together, sealing our bond and for one brief moment, everything stops as an electric current moves between us. I'd heard there was something special about the joining of two fated mates. I never dreamed I'd feel it myself. In my mind, I hear a whisper of a faraway voice say. "Blessed be.""Blessed be," I repeat and Apple opens her eyes as a new woman, a new wolf--Apple Sterling, My beautiful wife. Feeling a rush of confidence that maybe all of this will work out for the best, I lead my wife back to the elevator. "You are something truly special, Apple Sterling." She looks at me strangely at the name change but then slowly her quizzical smile grows into a genuine grin, "I g
[Apple]The sparkling wine dripping down the front of my dress sends a shiver through my body as I struggle to retain my composure. The poor wolf holding the tray of wine must be even more frightened than I am. Looking back, I see my handsome husband reaching down to help her.Sly has such a kind heart. He might be a mighty alpha--a king of alphas now--but his heart remains the same. He doesn't care about rank, or title, or where a person comes from. He sees the virtue of their actions and lets that guide his decisions.He was afraid that becoming king would be a sacrifice. Perhaps he can use his new title to extend his values and establish his idea of how the pack should be run.Sly wouldn't have needed to place that ad for a Rental Luna if he had just claimed the throne."But then we wouldn't have met," Aspen reminds me. "We would have grown old without knowing his kisses. He would have been safe, but would any of us have been happy? Much like the moon itself, the Goddess works in my
[Apple]This is my third bonus shift this week at the Trail’s End Diner. I’ve been taking on all the extra work I can to free myself of this hell hole and I’m almost there. Just one more day of work and I’ll have enough to drive away and leave this place forever. “Order up!” I grab the food from underneath the light and weave my way around customers to set a too-greasy hamburger and fries in front of an older gentleman with a wandering hand. I’ve been avoiding my stepfather’s touches since my breasts first budded, so I have learned how to avoid such advances. If I were bolder, I might scream when his hand finds my hip instead of my ass or thigh. But I don’t want trouble. I just want to finish my shift and go home. “Hey Apple,” Tony from the post office walks in with a big smile on his face, “I saw this and thought you might want it before you went home.” He pulls a large envelope with the words “Crescent City University” written in bold black font. “You know what they say about big
[Apple]Crescent City is the nearest metropolis to Pleasant Valley and home to the largest population of supernaturals on the West Coast. Mostly werewolves, and maybe a few witches, they stick to their own kind for the most part, although they go to school and work side by side with humans. Growing up in Pleasant Valley, an all-human community, I didn't encounter many supernaturals. Which is why it was so startling to find myself in the middle of a city full of them. At first, I look around in awe, mesmerized by the bright lights and vivid sounds, but then as I drive around downtown I realize two very important things:Number 1--I don’t know where I’m going.Number 2--After three hours of driving to get here, I’m starving.My idiot ex-boss didn’t even let me gather my tips before I left, and my wallet was empty. I can’t touch the money in my savings account--that’s for school. So I’m stuck to my secret car stash of cash that I keep underneath the passenger’s seat. Reaching down, my
[Apple]Raising a single eyebrow, a young man with dazzling golden hazel eyes helps me regain my footing. My breath catches, as his warm hands send tingles along my arms. “It's dangerous out here, Miss,” he warns, as he hands me my bag, his face blank and uninterested.“You should watch your step.”“Thank you,” I reply nervously as I lean over to gather my remaining items off the ground. “My name’s Apple,” I start to say as I look up again only to discover that he has vanished, almost as if he was never there. “So much for people being friendlier here,” I grumble as I dust myself off. I guess cute doesn’t mean kind.Shaking my encounter with the mysterious hazel-eyed boy, I rush to my car and begin the drive to the other side of town. Turning on my radio, I discover that all of my stations have changed with the new location, and it takes a moment to find one playing something I can sing along with.When an ad for Rental Luna plays, I turn it off. Disgusted. I couldn’t imagine a job
[Apple]As I take the offered seat he relaxes and much of the pulsing, tense energy in the room starts to dissipate as he moves into a more professional, less predatory, position behind his desk. “A luna is not just a companion, she is the Alpha’s help mate, taking a share of the pack responsibilities so that everything runs smoothly.” He explains. “Luna is the public face of the pack. She speaks for them and represents their strength.” “So like a customer service position?” I squeak nervously, trying to make sense of everything.“No.” His eyes glow, offended by the comparison. “An Luna serves her pack, but she is not a servant,” his lip curls, upset at my cultural misunderstanding. “She does the work of being approachable and available to our people so that I can do the work of managing the more aggressive elements of pack leadership. She guides our pack with a firm but gentle hand, almost like a pack mother.” “Why are you telling me this?” I tap my fingertips on the knee of my jea
[Apple]My attacker releases me, dropping to the floor, showing his neck in supplication to the man growling behind him.Alpha Sylvester Sterling.“For the crime of touching my luna, you are hereby dismissed from your position,” he snaps his teeth, now slightly pointed.“Yes, Alpha,” the wolfman grovels.Sylvester reaches down and with a single claw, scrapes a large, long “R” across his back as the man screams.“You are packless now, rogue,” the Alpha spits in rage. “Any wolf low enough to attack a defenseless woman is not honorable enough for the Silver Crescent pack or any other pack within our organization.”“Please Alpha, mercy,” he begs pathetically, dropping his chest to the pavement. “I couldn’t help myself. I didn’t know she was yours.”“I am not your Alpha anymore,” Sylvester’s eyes are glowing like blue fire. “Now get out of here before I change my mind about skinning you and leaving your hide on the side of the building as a warning to others.”Becoming a rogue slowly drives
[Apple]“Hi, Alpha Sterling,” I tried to sound cheerful, even though I felt like I failed. “Can you please ask your Beta to pick me up at 7:30 instead? I don't want to sign anything...yet," I explain. "I just want to give it a try."My heart is racing and I am unable to sleep as I process what I’m about to do tomorrow. What am I going to wear, how am I going to survive in a building full of apex predators. Staring at the clock across the room, I watch the minutes tick by slowly. Why does it feel that I’ve jumped out of the frying pan and into the fire?A brisk banging on the door jolts me awake. I don’t know when I fell asleep, but by the way my eyes are burning, it couldn’t have been that long ago. “5:59” I groan as I peek through my swollen eyelids.Maybe they’ll go away, or Hazel or one of her roommates will get it. BANG. BANG. BANG. “Ms. LeRoux!” the doorframe rattles with the strength of his banging as he calls my name repeatedly. Falling off the couch with a thunk, I hurr