IrinaI felt torn … AGAIN! I wanted to be part of the pack. I wanted to be majestic and all those things. I just … Killing something … Even something that was attacking us. It was a very bitter pill to swallow. My internal struggle didn’t stay internal for very long before I couldn’t hold it in anymore. Hunter and Emily were sure that I was feeling this way because I wasn’t born into this life.I had a feeling that wasn’t it. I was beginning to wonder if I was ever meant to be like this. Even after the moon goddess spoke to me. I was all for defending yourself, but all this killing! For days the scent of blood hung thick in the air. It seemed as though the others couldn’t smell it anymore, so maybe it was just my mind playing tricks on me! I tried breathing exercises and even tried to do some yoga, but I couldn’t get the images out of my mind and the taste of blood out of my mouth. I wasn’t a wolf! I was a monster!“Irina!” Hunter’s growl drew me out of my line of thinking. He was sca
Irina“Congratulations!” The doctor was positively beaming. We were pregnant and all I could think about was throwing up! He explained that Lupe was the reason I didn’t feel the worst of the side effects of being pregnant. I was about six to eight weeks along. At least it explained why my clothes were tighter. I thought it was because I now had a wolf and somehow my body was just heavier with her in it.Yeah, the pregnancy was turning my mind into mush! The doctor suggested the best thing for me to do was to listen to my body and what it needed. If I feel tired, I should rest. If I am hungry, I should eat. It was all good advice. I just wasn’t entirely sure if I was ready for this.So much has happened in the past couple of months. I went from dreaming about my future to now living it, or at least some version of it. The pregnancy brought up thoughts of how our child would grow up in the pack house and then the moment I stepped into the foyer I wondered how on earth I was going to pro
IrinaDinner with my parents went better than expected. They were shocked just like we were when we got the news, but they were very happy for us. There was one small thing we didn’t tell them because we weren’t entirely sure about it. The doctor couldn’t give me a due date since most alpha pregnancies only last a couple of months usually, but I was born human … They weren’t sure how long I would carry.Hunter and I decided to cross that bridge once we reached it. If I was pregnant closer to human terms, we could just say that the baby was born premature. If the baby was born closer to wolf terms … We would have to figure out some elaborate lie or tell them the full truth. In the meantime, Hunter wanted me to experience all the joy of being pregnant and looking forward to our baby being in our lives.I knew this was something he had been waiting for, for a very long time. I knew about his first mate and her tragic death. It wasn’t just about having an heir for Hunter. He truly wanted
HunterWatching Irina was like seeing the perfect portrait being created right in front of you. I thought when she found out that I was a wolf, she would leave, but she took it in her stride. I thought that when she found out how bad the attacks from rogues could be, she would definitely leave. She fought them like a pro thanks to her wolf Lupe.I thought when she heard I had to bite her and that she could turn or die … Yeah, she amazed me each time we faced a hurdle and she jumped it with ease. She truly was the most amazing woman I have ever met. Even the council agreed when she noticed only packs of humans were being attacked that she was pretty remarkable. We had combed the information for weeks and none of us put two and two together.It was almost as though she was meant to find it and nobody else. I sighed. We haven’t had a rogue attack in weeks, but there were signs that they were still near our borders. Unfortunately, because rogues didn’t run in packs like we did and frankly
IrinaWith the attention of the pack now firmly on Hunter, he sighed deeply and pulled his fingers through his hair, showing me he was frustrated and trying to figure out how to say what he had to say.“It seems that we have people among us who have decided that turning humans like your Luna is an abomination.” When Hunter looked up, I saw the pure fury in his eyes and I felt shock run through my body. “The council captured one of the rogues and questioned him extensively. According to the rogue, a small faction of so-called purebred wolves has launched an all-out attack on what they view as not worthy of being part of our community!” I didn’t like where this was going! Hunter looked at me and I felt a shiver run down the back of my spine.“This war is not going to end until we wipe out the radicals in our ranks.” Hunter sighed deeply and my eyes shot to the sudden shuffle happening in the corner at the back of the foyer. The warriors grabbed two wolves from our pack and the full impa
IrinaWITH MY PARENTS safely tucked away in our pack house, we could start with the preparations for whatever might be coming our way. Hunter and Isiah were busy outside with the warriors securing our borders while Emily and I made sure we had everything we could need inside.Emily and a couple of my guards went into town to put up a notice that the store would be closed for a couple of days. With my parents' house neatly locked up and the store sorted out, all we could do was wait. I knew that each time Hunter disappeared downstairs he was interrogating our prisoners, and I didn’t want to be there while he did that.I didn’t want to hear how much they hated me because I was human. I just couldn’t deal with the hatred of it all. I kept myself busy by training in the mornings and taking care of whatever anyone else needed the rest of the time. My mom refused to come out of her room and my father would look at me for a split-second before looking away. I knew I had to give them some tim
IrinaIT TOOK SOME time to clean up the mess after the attack and I was standing on the porch looking out into the forest when I heard my mother’s distinct walk coming closer. I didn’t look in her direction as she walked through the door.“So, this is the life you’ve chosen for all of us. You didn’t stop for a moment to consider that your father and I wouldn’t want to be a part of this. That … That we wouldn’t want to become like this!” She sounded calm, which was far worse than when she was angry. I would have preferred my mother to shout at me right now. A calm mother under these kinds of circumstances did not bode very well.“When I chose this life for me, Mother, I didn’t think th…”“Yes, you didn’t think!” She interrupted me before I could finish and I felt a soft growl push through between my lips. I instantly regretted it when I saw her eyes grow wide.“No, Mother! I didn’t think that you would be so angry about it. Weren’t you the one who taught me to fight for what I wanted?
IrinaOVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS, I watched our pack slowly getting serious cabin fever. The attacks were coming in so fast that Hunter gave the order for all of us to stay inside at all times. We couldn’t even open a window to smell the forest!Hunter had received reports from some of the packs that the attacks had also increased there and we were wondering where the hell all of these rogue wolves were coming from. After a long conference call with all the alphas, it seemed they agreed that these wolves couldn’t possibly all be purebloods. Somehow, the group that wanted to wipe my kind from the face of the earth was creating soldiers like me to fight against us.After the call, I was frowning and Hunter rubbed my lower back. I had started to develop pain in my lower back because of stress and whenever he rubbed it, it felt better, but this frown was not because of pain.“Hunter, two of the alphas weren’t in that meeting.” I knew what his answer was going to be even before he said i
IrinaAfter a couple of weeks, the new place was built and we all moved in. I loved the new setup more than I thought I would and it was actually great fun to have Rosemary so close by. The children had done an amazing job in getting everyone settled into the new place and as I walked down the beach, I breathed in the fresh morning air.I missed Archer terribly. He would have loved this new place so much. He had always loved the lake. I met Rosemary on the way and we caught up on all the last-minute arrangements for the day. Hunter had finally accepted his new position in life and there was just one thing he asked of the kids which they gladly gave.Now that we were all settled in, it would be the official ceremony to bind our two packs together according to our ancient traditions. Today was Ingrid and Richard’s mating ceremony and I could feel the excitement in the air. The packs had already come together as one much easier than any of us could ever have imagined they would.On the f
Irina“Oh, no! Don’t you dare put me in the middle of this!” I glared at Hunter who was glaring right back at me. The discussions had been going around in circles for hours without a solution and he had pulled me aside to ask me to order Richard and our daughter to move home. Hunter, being Hunter, had found the only way he believed this arrangement would work.He thought Richard could just become Alpha of our pack and choose someone else to take over his pack. As if it would be that damn easy! What was my mate thinking?!“I don’t see what the problem is.” He huffed and for a split second I saw traces of Archer in my husband. They looked so damn much alike! “Other males move to the packs of their females, why can’t he?” Hunter was pouting as he waved his hand through the air before clamping his arms tightly over his chest.“Would you have left your pack for me?” I studied my mate. “If I refused to live this life, Hunter. Would you have given up everything just for me?” I could see that
IngridI was hoping I looked sexy, but I knew I didn’t as I fumbled to try and fit him inside me. I was just about to give up when Richard reached out and helped me and I nearly swallowed my tongue the moment he pushed inside of me. I liked this position! I had seen it in movies and always wondered about it, even if I looked away as soon as it came on.It felt as though he was going even deeper and I wondered if that was even possible. I wasn’t entirely sure if I should hunch on my legs or just move my hips, but clearly Richard knew what he was doing as he guided me and we were soon captured in the throes of passion!“Yeah, that’s it! Ride me!” He growled through clenched teeth and it gave me the small confidence boost I needed. I was doing it right! Richard pushed himself up and he clung to my body as I moved. It took a little longer for us to reach that peak this time, but just as I felt myself about to tumble over, he leaned closer. I felt his canines scarping my skin for just a mo
IngridIt was as though that was all he needed to hear as he slowly started to push into me. In an instant, I was flooded with hunger. I wanted him more than anything. I needed him. The expression of needing someone … Really needing them finally made sense! The world finally made sense! Why men went to war for women made sense!Richard stopped pulling me out of my ridiculous thoughts and when a frown formed on his brow, I thought I had done something wrong.“I’m not sure if you know this, but this next part will hurt a little. I promise you it will be the one and only time I will ever hurt you.” He stroked a stray piece of hair out of my face and I nodded. I could have told him that it wouldn’t be the last time he hurt me, but I didn’t. My mind was running at a mile a minute with all sorts of distracting thoughts and I didn’t want to spoil the moment with any of them.As Richard thrust into me, I cried out and he held me for a moment. It was painful, but it wasn’t unbearable pain. I c
IngridI wouldn’t say I was entirely innocent. I knew which parts went where and what to do with all those parts, I just hadn’t physically done any of it up to now. Why hadn’t I done it before?! Having him touch me in those sacred places felt out of this world! It was incredible! I had never in my life felt as relaxed and happy as I did in that tub in Richard’s arms.As Richard got out of the tub, I wondered if that was it. Was it over now? I knew it couldn’t possibly be it! He held out his hand and I frowned.“Is it over?” I pouted and he burst out laughing, making my cheeks turn a bright shade of red!“No, my sweet Ingrid. That was just the start. The water is getting cold. I thought we would move this to the bed where we could be more comfortable.” He smiled at my look of shock and I silently swore at myself. I shouldn’t have waited! At least if I had done it once before, I wouldn’t have been such a damn idiot the first time with my mate!Richard picked me up bridal style and carri
Ingrid“Stay right there, okay?” He looked around and I nodded. I laughed when he started opening cupboards and swore. “I will be right back.” He grinned and disappeared. When he returned, he had a box filled with candles in hand and he walked right into the bathroom.“That is really not necessary, Richard. We didn’t know this was going to happen tonight.” I laughed as he opened the taps for the bath and started to light the candles.“In that case, you can light the candles while I get us some Champaigne.” He winked and disappeared before I could say anything else. I did as he said and I have to admit that it helped ease the nervousness I was feeling. When he returned with the Champaigne, I had lit all the candles and he opened the bottle for us. After pouring each of us a glass, he held out his glass to me and I blinked and watched him. I had never imagined him as someone who could be very romantic.“To us. May we only share happiness and love.” He sounded a little out of breath and
IngridI scanned his room. His bedding was white, which was a surprise. A single black line decorated the border around the edge of the bedding and the pillow cases. A huge bed stood in the middle of the room and on either side was a set of beautiful antique free-standing cupboards.“This will be yours.” He rubbed his palms on his sides before opening the cupboard for me and I wondered if he was as nervous as I was.“Thanks.” I smiled as he opened the cupboard and I realized it was left empty for his mate. An awkward silence fell between us for a moment.“I will give you a moment to settle in. Would you like anything to eat or drink?” He was nervous! It was so damn cute!“Something to drink would be nice.” I smiled as I realized my mouth was feeling incredibly dry. “Something strong!” I laughed nervously as his face relaxed and he smiled. He nodded and disappeared while I unpacked my overnight bag and made my way to his bathroom. It was beautifully done in white and black marble. The
IrinaHunter and I didn’t even have to ask the moment we saw Ingrid move. It was clear that she had found what she had been looking for all day and when they kissed, I nearly cried. We knew the boy. Hunter and I had been invited to his alpha ceremony while Ingrid was away on her trip. He was one of Archer’s friends from when they were younger, but the one thing that caught my attention the most was that he was Rosemary’s grandson!He wasn’t just any wolf, and thank the goddess, he wasn’t human!IngridRichard pulled away just enough so he could look into my eyes and I almost melted when he tucked a stray piece of my hair behind my ear. It reminded me of something I saw my father do for my mom once and how I thought that I wanted that kind of love one day.“Hi beautiful,” He smiled and I felt my cheeks turn bright red.“Hi.” Over the years, I looked at my brother’s friends and wondered about them. It was logical that I would one day be mated to an alpha or even a beta. Some of my frien
IrinaThe excitement hung thick in the air in the morning as everyone got ready to attend the Founder’s Day festival. It was the one day the entire town came to a halt and took the time to celebrate our town. It felt as though we were celebrating Ingrid’s return for two continuous days. I loved every moment of it. In my mind’s eye, I could actually see the many dinners and festivals Ingrid experienced while she was away.This was exactly what our town needed after the hunter was there. People needed to see us moving between them. They needed to talk to us and be reminded that we were human. We had to show them we weren’t the monsters the hunter was trying to make us out to be. None of them knew the truth, of course. The sheriff was one of the first to greet us when we arrived and the relieved smile on his face said it all.We had been working overtime to squash any rumours that were still flying around and finally, things seemed to have returned to normal.I caught sight of Ingrid tal