Arabella’s POVI tried my hardest to stay away from Leo, but as the minutes ticked away, I found myself thinking more about him. Grabbing another plate of food, I headed to his room and stood there for a second, double-guessing my actions. Was I going to look needy? Was he going to see me as clingy?Shaking my head of all the negative thoughts that danced in my mind, I finally found the courage to knock on his door. When he opened it, I began to babble, only stopping when my eyes spotted Susie sitting on his bed. My heart began to race, and my palms became sweaty as I thought of all the reasons why they could have been here together. Susie didn’t know he was my mate, but he did.Once Susie had left, I tried to get answers from Leo, but he protested that he had no intention of doing anything with Susie. I don’t know how, but I knew he was telling me the truth. I only hoped she felt the same way he did.The way my body betrayed me while in his presence was embarrassing, my cheeks blushi
Arabella’s POVI may have been stubborn, but now I knew what I wanted. And that was Leo. The only problem was that I’d pushed him away. I could have stayed quiet, but keeping secrets wasn’t the best way to start a relationship. Honesty has always been the best policy, and I would continue to believe that even with this hiccup.“Just tell me how I can prove you wrong, and I’ll do it.” Leo placed his hands on the edge of the sink, his knuckles turning white as he gripped it before lowering his head.“I don’t know, Arabella, I really don’t. What I do know is that you’ve got a big night tomorrow and should be focusing on that. Not me.” Turning around, he finally faced me. “You can hit, but can you fight?”“Hang on, what? Yes, of course, I can fight.”“Good, then meet me outside in ten minutes and show me.”I took it as my leaving queue as he stepped into the shower. After getting a fresh pair of shorts and a sports bra, I waited by the back door. Leo came up behind within seconds of arrivi
Leo’s POVJealousy is often an expression of a person's insecurity, but I wouldn’t admit that. Not out loud.Harry was becoming a rather large thorn in my side, one that was about to be pulled free and destroyed. Whenever I saw him, images of my wolf ripping his head from his shoulders would play in my mind. Being an Alphas son, my possessive nature was strong. So knowing he and Arabella had once been romantically involved bugged me more than it should have. Not only did it upset me, but it was now causing me to drop my guard. Something that could not only be dangerous but fatal.Arabella’s eyes widened when she witnessed how quickly I healed. She wasn’t scared, but I knew she wouldn’t let it go. She was the kind of woman that would keep digging until she uncovered the truth. The trouble is, I wasn’t ready for that, not yet. Not after the problems and the heartache our kind had already caused.At the moment, I was stuck in limbo. I didn’t know where I was going or what I was doing. Be
Arabella’s POVI didn’t sleep enough last night, so I knew I would be in a crabby mood today. That and tonight was a full moon. Our tempers were always worse on the day of. Every emotion we felt was heightened, something that made what we were both a blessing and a curse.As the hours passed, I spent most of them avoiding everyone. I wanted to be alone, but my friends didn’t understand that. No matter how many warnings I gave them, there was no way I could be angry at them. Other than my mother, they were all I currently had left.“Are you ready?” Sara stood before the window, her arms crossed over her chest as she gazed at the moon. Sara preferred to be in wolf form; she said she felt at peace—a feeling she couldn’t reach any other time of the month. Unlike some other wolves, I felt the same. If given the choice, I’d be on four legs and covered in fur any day. There was something about how it felt as the wind ruffled your fur and how we could explore further in less time. I just wis
Leo’s POVFuming didn’t begin to describe how I was feeling. Joshua knew the fucking rules. Everyone in every pack knew that no weapons were to enter the ring while a title challenge was taking place.Arabella’s mother, Linda, was a mess. Clearly, she loved her daughter, but the screams accompanying the waterworks were a bit much. Yes, her daughter was in a bad way, but she wouldn’t die. I wouldn’t let her.‘Do it… mark her.’ Shadow’s taunts echoed in my mind. Closing my eyes, I took several deep breaths and tuned him out.We had the means to save Arabella, but I wouldn’t do it unless there were no other way. It would set in stone her fate, a choice that nobody should ever have taken away.“The doctors here, come on, Linda, let’s give them some space.” Susie and Sara escorted her from the room so the doctor could attend to his patient. Sara questioned me because I stayed rooted beside her best friend's bed, but Susie told her to drop it. I watched from the side of the room as the doc
Arabella’s POVCarefully swinging my legs around the bed, I attempted to stand. The problem was that my legs were like jelly.“I need to use the bathroom. Could you help me?” Leo hesitated for a second before agreeing.He placed his arm under mine and took the weight from me as we slowly walked to the bathroom. Once he knew I was ok, he let me go and closed the door behind him.When I had finished, thankfully, my legs weren’t as shaky standing back up. Taking it one step at a time, I walked to the sink to wash my hands. Bending over, I splashed some cold water onto my face. Once standing, I took the hair band from my wrist and placed my hair into a bun. That’s when I saw it. A fresh mark sat on my neck. Its edges were rough and raised; it tickled only when I ran my fingers along it. A sensation that felt oddly… alluring.‘We are his and should mark him back when our heat hits.’ It was clear the voice was in my head because I was alone in here.‘Ok, who the hell are you?’ Closing my ey
Leo’s POVMy mother's scent clung to a piece of broken bench. Linda had defended herself but to no avail. She was no match against a beast like my mother, like me. My mate had already lost one parent; I wasn’t about to sit back and allow her to lose the only living relative she had left. It wouldn’t be easy, and I’d be putting my own life on the line in the process. But for her, it would be worth it if only to see her smile one more time.As I returned to Arabella’s room, I knocked gently before opening the door.“Did you find her?” I could see the hope in her eyes and the disappointment on her face when she realised her mother wasn’t with me.“I did. She’s not ready to face you yet. She thought she was going to lose you too. Give her some time, and she will come.” Thankfully, Arabella believed my story. “Look… I know the timing is bad, but something has come up, and I need to head out of town for a couple of days.”“But my…” I sat beside her, knowing what she was going to say. Sara m
Arabella’s POVAs the priest gave his final blessing, I stood with Margaret at my side. With my mother not turning up, I didn’t want to do this alone. I couldn’t. Together, we walked up to my father's coffin and placed our roses on top, Margaret’s hand growing tighter around mine as I began to tremble.Throughout the entire service, I had somehow remained strong, but now, as I stood by his side, I couldn’t stop the tears from falling. Bringing my fingers to my lips, I kissed them before lowering them to the pine box that would forever house my father.A part of me wished I’d had the chance to see him in his final moments, but I know in my heart it was better to remember him through my memories. To remember him as the handsome, kind-hearted man he was and would always remain. As I looked out over the faces of our pack members, it was clear they felt the same. There wasn’t a dry eye in sight.He should have been buried before now, but I couldn’t change that. All I knew was that now, in
Arabella’s POV“Sit on there.” I told Leo pointing to the suede armchair in the corner.Leo didn’t hesitate and sat down as quick as he could having left his suit trousers scattered on the floor.It didn’t matter how many times I’d seen this man naked, I still found every inch of him attractive. If anything after all these years, I loved him more.With Leo sat in the chair, his legs parted, I climbed onto his lap.“I love you.” I whispered against his lips, before lowering myself on to him.Hearing my words Leo leaned forward in the chair wrapping his arms around me, and held me close while I rode him. He matched my rhythm with thrusts of his until I fell from the cliff of pleasure. And then, his thrusts became more desperate as I felt him twitch within me.Having gotten cleaned up and reclaimed our place by the roaring fire, I feel into a deep sleep in the arms of the man I loved.Fifteen years later…15 years later…Many years had passed and our lives had changed in ways we never co
Leo’s POV As I sat there and watched the transfer of Alpha ceremony, memories of the past flooded my mind.The day that Joel came and told me that Ankaras father had chosen him to take over his position as Alpha. Proud didn’t even begin to describe how I felt.But then another, more gruelling memory gripped me, transporting me back to the hospital room where Joel lay battered and broken, fighting for his life after the vicious attack by his own father. The sight of him, bruised and bloodied, had stirred a deep well of anger and sorrow within me, a helpless ache for the pain he had endured. Just thinking about it had my knuckles instantly turning white.The journey from that dark and harrowing day to the present, where Joel stood as a beacon of strength and resilience, had been a tumultuous one. The scars, both physical and mental, bore witness to the battles he had fought, the demons he had faced, and the strength he had summoned to rise above his past.But now, to witness the young
Arabella’s POVFive years later….“We are going to be so late!” I called out, hoping Leo could hear me.“I’m out, and we have time.”“But not a lot. We need to make sure that Miles is ready, and that…” My words were cut off as Leo’s lips suddenly met mine. I had been so focused on rushing around that I hadn’t even noticed he was standing right in front of me.His kiss took me by surprise, but it was a welcome distraction from the chaos of getting ready for the ceremony. As we pulled apart, I couldn’t help but smile at him.Leo grinned, his eyes sparkling with mischief. “Just trying to calm you down, Arabella. We’ll make it in time, I promise.”I felt a rush of gratitude for him in that moment. Despite the craziness of our lives, he always knew how to bring me back to the present.Taking a deep breath I turned to quickly checked on Miles, who was surprisingly calm and ready to go. His earlier meltdown seemed like a distant memory, as he sat there watching the t.v.As we made our way to
Chapter Ninety-TwoArabella’s POV"Are you sure you're okay about not having a dress?" Sara asked as she finished curling the last strands of my hair."I really am. I love Leo, I love him more than life itself. I don’t want to wait to marry him," I reassured her, smiling at my reflection in the mirror."Well, that's good because he hasn't stopped bloody calling me," Susie's unexpected entrance startled me."I'm sorry I'm late," she added, looking apologetic."We would have been here earlier, but moving cripples me," I heard Trudy's voice before I saw her. And man did my eyes pop."You’re pregnant!" I screeched, spinning in my chair, unable to contain my surprise."I certainly am, and I don’t regret the decision at all," Trudy responded, her gaze locking with Susie's."How? When?" I stammered, still in shock and struggling to process the information."Long story short, we used a sperm donor. Because we both wanted a baby, we implanted one of my eggs into Trudy's womb before the sperm,
Arabella’s POVJoel and I were in the office for ages. At first he ignored me, but when he realised I wasn’t going to leave, he began to listen and we talked. He told me that coming into our family was a mistake, that if Leo and I truly wanted him, then we’d have allowed him to remain in wolf form until after the run. I got what he was saying, but he also had to understand that being given a wolf like Bax… a wolf that can communicate with us at will wasn’t something that happened all the time.Until Leo marked me, I couldn’t communicate with Storm.When I told him of Leo’s fears, Joel began to let up. He began to understand why we asked him to shift back. That, and the fact he was now no longer skinny shocked us.With Joel calmed down, we left my office and headed back into the garden where everyone was waiting.My eyes found Leo within seconds. I watched as he stood from his chair and walked straight over to Joel and I. With our eyes still locked, I glared at him. But thankfully, he
Arabella’s POVThe moment Joel's shift was complete, I sank to my knees. Tears streamed down my cheeks as I took in the sight before me.Joel’s wolf approached me, taking a few steps closer before gently laying down and placing his paw on my lap."Oh sweetheart, you're beautiful," I managed to choke out through my sobs, that were filled with nothing but love and pride for the magnificent creature he had become.I turned to Leo, who was standing behind me, and asked, "Doesn't he look amazing!" Leo nodded in agreement but then took a step forward. With his gaze fixed on Joel's wolf, he gently pulled me back."Can you sense it?" Leo asked, his words leaving me puzzled."Sense what? What are you talking about?" I questioned, rising to my feet."His wolf, its aura," Leo clarified. In that moment, I understood. I had felt a shift in Joel’s aura, but neither I nor my own wolf sensed any threat."Joel, it's time to shift back now, buddy," Leo's voice sounded tense as he called out to Joel.I
Leo’s POV"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Joel, happy birthday to you!" We all sang in unison, our voices filling the room.Joel's face flushed with embarrassment as Kate dimmed the lights, and Arabella emerged, carrying a cake topped with a flickering candles."Make a wish!" Kate called out enthusiastically, but Joel responded with a playful glare. We all shared a laugh as Kate playfully raised her hands in surrender, knowing that the birthday boy was not one for making wishes.Arabella had reluctantly agreed to celebrate Joel's birthday at home, but she made no promises about not participating in the traditional singing over a cake.Cheers erupted as Joel blew out the candles on his birthday cake, a small smile gracing his face. I took the cake from Arabella's hands as Miles began to cry, allowing her to tend to him, but Joel beat her to it."I'll take him, and you go get yourself some cake," Arabella suggested, but Joel declined.“I'll get some in
Arabella’s POVAs time flew by, Joel's sixteenth birthday was just around the corner. While for humans it might have been just another birthday, for our kind, it held far greater significance.His birthday coincided with a full moon, signifying that he would undergo his first shift. Leo had been preparing him for the transformation, emphasising the potential pain that accompanied it. However, we held onto hope that with Leo's Lycan blood coursing through his veins, Joel wouldn’t suffer too much.Despite our initial excitement about throwing a party to celebrate his birthday, he seemed to avoid the topic whenever it was brought up. It wasn't until we sat down as a family to discuss the idea that Joel finally opened up about his reluctance.He revealed that every party he had ever had in the past had been ruined by his father's drunken behaviour. My heart sank as I realised the pain and disappointment that Joel had carried with him from those past experiences.We understood his feelings
Leo’s POVThe following morning, I awoke to a sight that brought a smile to my face. Arabella was leaning over the baby's basket, her finger hovering near his tiny nose as she checked for signs of life. The baby was sleeping peacefully, his chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm, his heart beating strong and steady.I couldn't help but chuckle at Arabella's motherly paranoia, her need to ensure our son's well-being even in his most peaceful moments. The love and protectiveness she felt for him were evident in every action, every gesture.My laughter caught her attention, and she turned around to find me watching her. In response, she playfully punched my shoulder. With a playful grin, I reached out and gently grabbed Arabella's shoulders, pulling her back towards me. As she turned in my arms, a smile lighting up her face, she snuggled close against me. I wrapped my arms around her, holding her tight, and feeling the steady beat of her heart against mine.“I suppose we should get