QuirinaI clear my throat, my mind racing as I try to figure out how to respond to Bryce… my mate.Mates are supposed to love you no matter what and shouldn’t care about trivial things. But… me having powers that I can’t fully control… that’s not trivial. It’s not trivial at all.I say, “I-I’m nervous. You’re an Alpha.”“So what?” He responds with a small smile, “Do you really care about titles? You’ll be my Luna… and if you’re nervous about that… that’s okay. I’ll be right there with you every step of the way. I have an incredible support system that would all be there to help you.”This makes me even more hesitant. He must have this great life and here I am… about to throw a wrecking ball through it. I say, “I think you might be better off without me, Bryce.”His eyebrows knit together in confusion and he grabs both my hands. “We can do anything together, please, just give me a shot. Don’t do this.”My eyes search his. Those ice blue ones that I originally saw and thought of as hars
AnnabelleThe party is in full swing and the dance floor is full. I’m exhausted. I’ve had fun tonight, but honestly, I wish this party was a few months later. There’s a chance that my mate is in this room, but I wouldn’t recognize him because I haven’t turned 18 yet.I look around and watch as my younger sister, Josephine runs off with our cousins Cameron and Declan. The three of them have been stuck together like glue for as long as I can remember and the boys are fiercely protective over her.So, when another young boy comes and asks her to dance, it doesn’t surprise me that Cameron and Declan watches the two of them like a hawk.Franklin comes to my side and says, “You know, with the way they act you would think that Josephine was their little sister and not their cousin.”I chuckle, “I know, I’ve thought the same thing.”I glance around the room, it’s flooded with people, but for the most part I’ve known where our group has been the entire time, except… I haven’t seen Quirina. Did
QuirinaMy eyes flicker open and I’m immediately greeted by a chipper, “Quirina.”It takes a moment for my eyes to focus on Bryce who is standing across from me with a soft smile on his face. I frown as I feel disoriented and don’t remember exactly what happened last night.The masquerade. Dancing. Coming to the patio. Talking all night… until we fell asleep.He’s my mate. And he hasn’t rejected me… the little voice in my mind quietly adds a ‘yet’. He’s by my side quickly and holds his hand out for me. I take it and he smiles as he says, “This isn’t exactly how I pictured our first night together. But… I really enjoyed just getting to talk to you.”I nod my head in agreement, my mind still swirling as I try to get my bearings. My eyes widen softly as I realize that no one knows where I am. I say, “I need to get inside.”His eyebrows scrunch together and he asks, “Is everything okay?”I nod, “Yeah, it’s just uh, I didn’t tell anyone where I am. What time is it? My family is probably wo
QuirinaI didn’t realize how… suggestive my offer sounded until I’m alone in a closed room with my mate. He must’ve thought that I wanted him up here for sex.How is he going to get changed? We can’t stay in this room all day!Will he be offended if I deny the mating process right now?I’m not ready to have sex. Especially with my parents knowing that we just came up here and they would think about what we’re doing if we spent the entire day alone.My shoulders are incredibly tense and I’ve learned that I don’t hide my emotions as well as I always thought I did because soon, Bryce is chuckling and telling me, “Quirina, we’re not doing anything. Relax some, okay?”I nod and breathe out, “Yeah, okay.”He smiles and walks over to me and rubs his hands up and down my arms in a soothing manner as he says, “Everything’s okay.”I nod again, trying to get his words to really register in my head, but before I can respond, my door bursts open. “Rise and shine sleeping beauty! I can’t wait to he
QuirinaBy the time I got done telling Annabelle everything, there’s a knock at my door and Franklin comes in. He gives me a knowing smile and states, “You met your mate.”I nod with a small smile, “I did. Alpha Bryce Lake.”“Do you believe now that you’re meant to be a leader, Q? Even the moon goddess destined you with an Alpha.”Annabelle frowns as she looks between us, this is normally the kind of conversation that we have in private. But I don’t mind talking about it in front of Annabelle. It makes it all feel more… real I suppose.I say, “I don’t know what’s going to happen. He seems hesitant to move from his pack.”Franklin’s eyebrows raise and he says, “But you can’t give up yours either.”I breathe out and shake my head, “I mean, technically, I could. Felicity has Alpha blood in her veins-”Before I can continue talking Annabelle interrupts, “Felicity is 13 years younger than us, Q. The pack is ready to transition under a new leader, you can’t give that up.”“You guys know I c
QuirinaWe all stand in the foyer awkwardly. Bryce, Hiro, and Rowan all look uncomfortable as they look at us. Franklin glances over at me and Annabelle looks at the floor as she wrings her hands together. I say, “Excuse me for just a moment.”I rush into the kitchen to find Hazel getting all of her food together and I ask, “What was that?”She turns to look at me with a frown and asks, “What do you mean, Quin?” She’s the only one that calls me that, when we were kids she couldn’t pronounce my name right and called me Quin-ra. As we got older she eventually shortened it to Quin.I say, “You come out of nowhere see some strangers with us, you don’t even greet them and instead ask what was wrong with that guy.”She breathes out and softly shakes her head, “You wouldn’t get it, Quin.”I cross my arms, slightly annoyed by her attitude and say, “Try me.”Hazel glances up, her eyes meeting mine. It’s rare for her to look you in the eyes, her eyes are a mix of her parents ice blue and hazel
QuirinaIt isn’t hard to find my parents. Even with them being as busy as they are, they are normally in some of the same spots of the pack house. Their bedroom, their gigantic office it’s bigger than they’re bedroom. They have it that way since both of them work in there, they don’t like to be separated for long. Or they’re in the living or dining room.They just ate and it’s the start of a new day, so the likelihood of them being in their office is high. As I walk towards their door I notice it’s open and I can hear their voices as they talk to their Beta, Charlie, and their Gamma Phillip. One of the weird things growing up in a pack is that even if the higher ups aren’t all related, the relationships we have with one another seems like we’re one big family. Most of the time it’s nice, sometimes it’s weird. I recognize not all other packs are the same way that we are.I walk into the office and I’m not surprised to see Harper and Isadora sitting next to their mates. They smile over
BryceI haven’t seen Quirina since after breakfast and right now, I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or a bad thing. It’s mid-afternoon now and so far I’ve been able to evade my siblings, but I know it’s only a matter of time before my luck runs out. I’m walking along a trail now trying to clear my mind when I hear my sister, Peyton’s aggravated voice as she yells, “Bryce!”I look in the direction of her voice to see Connor and William following a bit behind her. William’s eyes roam over me as if making sure that I am safe before saying, “You’ve delayed us leaving.”“Where is your mate?” Connor spits the word ‘mate’ out of his mouth as if it’s poisonous. I shrug, “She’s busy.”“We need to meet her before we leave.” He glowers at me as he speaks. I huff, “I understand, but I’m not sure the three of you are ready to meet her. Especially with these attitudes.”Peyton rolls her eyes and asks, “How long are we going to pretend like you aren’t rejecting her?”My eyes narrow and I respond,