IsabellaThe second I open my eyes, everything comes flooding right back, and I take a deep breath to try and calm my mind. I look around my empty room, and remember that Asher and his mom was there. When the dizziness subsides, I slowly get up and take a long hot shower before getting dressed and going to look for Asher. As I half expected, I find them in his office and I can see that they have clearly been fighting.“Hi.” My voice sounds strange for a moment. There are so many facts flooding my mind still that I find it difficult to talk for a moment while Asher rushes to invite me in and his mother’s concerned eyes follow my every move. I sit down and wait for Asher to take his seat before trying to make sense of of everything I remember.“I’m Isabella by the way.” I start with a sheepish smile. As I look into Asher’s eyes, it feels as if he already knew that. I have a feeling that I will soon find out.“Take it slow, sweetheart. You have just been through a lot. I don’t want you t
IsabellaAlthough my flashes tell me that my memory coming back should not be a relief, I still hoped. Sadly, my memory coming back brings me no relief at all. I have been mistreated in the worst possible ways by the people who were meant to love me.When the realization of why suddenly hits me, I look at Asher and then at Lisa and for a moment it feels as if my heart doesn’t just skip a beat, but it stops working. I know what I am, and I know what they are. I’m astonished that I didn’t notice sooner what they were, which only means Asher probably ordered all of his wolves not to shift.“I’ve …” My throat suddenly dries out. He is going to reject me as soon as I say it. I just know it, but I need to tell him. Something inside me just wants to get it over with. “I’ve never shifted. I can’t shift.” I feel the tears burning the back of my eyes, but I can’t look at either of them. I hear Lisa gasp.“Okay, wait a minute. You can’t shift or you won’t. There is a difference. Or maybe you wer
Isabella“I don’t know.” The words are out before I even think about it. I know what he wants to hear. I know what I should do, but my memories are so overwhelming that, suddenly, I’m having trouble trusting the people who have been helping me.“I am not trying to push you into anything, but if you don’t accept me as your mate, I fear that my hands will be tied, and I won’t be able to help you.” His eyes fill with sorrow and it breaks my heart. I don’t know what to do. I don’t know who to trust or how to protect myself. Memories of being abused keep flooding my mind and I stuff my face in my hands feeling completely overwhelmed.“I know you are under a lot of pressure, Isabella, but you have to know that I would never hurt you. Nobody in my pack will ever lift a hand to you.” His hands softly touch mine and when I look him in the eye tears start to roll.“I will accept you.” I take a breath. Any possibility of living under sanctuary was destroyed when my brother claimed that I was kid
AsherBreathing in her scent and feeling her warmth so close to me is overwhelming. I sink my teeth in deeply, feeling her melt against my body as her arms cling to me. I pull my teeth back and lick the wound, watching and hoping it would heal fast, but it doesn’t.It is the final sign I need to prove that she is human. It doesn’t happen often, but it has happened that some werewolves just never found their wolf. Her scent drifts up my nose and when I look into her eyes, all I can think about is making her mine.While keeping her gaze, my hands slip under her shirt. I feel the scars, and it breaks my heart to imagine what they could have done to cause those. It is just another piece of the puzzle that proves that she is human, and I have to protect her. She gasps, drawing my attention, and I catch the slight scent of her arousal.“Not here.” I growl softly and pick her up bridal style. I guess that she is still a virgin and the last thing I want is to f@ck her on my table if it’s her
IsabellaI wake up still smelling his scent, but when I turn around, he isn’t there. I get up and stretch some more on my way to grabbing the thin piece of material that is probably meant to be a gown of some sort. I am just about to go and look for him when Asher walks through the door with a tray filled with food and I instantly smell the coffee.“Good morning, beautiful. Sleep well?” He grins before kissing my forehead and placing the tray on the bed. I plop down on the bed and grab the coffee first.“Very well and you?” It is so strange to feel this happy. It is so strange to be with him like this and yet, at the same time, it’s so comfortable.“Very well, thank you. It’s good to be back in my own room.” He winks, and my cheeks turn bright red. I figured it was his room soon after arriving and finding his clothes in most of the drawers. “Are you sure you aren’t hurting or anything?” He frowns as he makes himself comfortable on the bed before sipping his coffee. I know what he is a
IsabellaAs the warm water flows over my body, I remember the way Asher touched me and I instantly feel my arousal pushing its way through my entire body. For some odd reason, I think about Adam and Clair. They were never really Lovey Dovey with each other.The more I think about it, the more I realize that I never even saw them kiss. I try to think back to when they were mated, but I can’t remember ever seeing them look at each other with the same look in their eyes that I see in Asher’s when he looks at me.It brings me to the only realization that there can be. They were never destined mates. My uncle lied. I turn off the water and get dressed in what now feels like the only thing I wear these days. Jeans and a white t-shirt. In my hurry, I forget to put on shoes as I rush to find Asher.“That was not the last we’ve seen of them.” Asher sighs as I walk into his office. I am on the verge of turning around and walking out when I feel his hand on my wrist. “I left the door open so you
AsherIt astounds me that she can’t see the strength inside herself. My mate, who can be so vulnerable and sweet, has no idea that she can break me with just the flick of her pinkie. As she squirms underneath me and as her body brings me the purest of ecstasy, it astounds me that she has no idea that even though she is human, she is stronger than I will ever be.I see her scars, but I don’t see them as ugly. I see them as the evidence of how incredibly strong she is. An hour later, she is curled up in my arms, fast asleep and I just watch her. I look at her beautiful face and decide that the time has come for Isabella to see her own strength.“Chris, I want you to make sure that the entire pack is gathered for training tomorrow morning.” We have to start preparing for whatever her family has planned. We may just as well include her in that. Now that her family has been informed of our relationship status, I believe the time has come to inform my pack.“Sure thing, Alpha.” His amused v
IsabellaIt’s strange how comfortable I feel around Asher. I still feel self-conscious about my scars, but he has been so kind and loving since that moment he marked me. It feels as though we have been together forever. Even if I never got my memory back, I can see myself building a life with him.Not that I think he would have accepted me if I didn’t get my memory back. The one thing I know about Asher is that he is an honourable man. He didn’t mark me until I had my memory and I agreed. He also didn’t try anything until we were marked.“Hey, are you okay?” Asher frowns and I realize I’m shivering and haven’t made a move to dry myself or get dressed.“Yeah, sorry. I don’t know what happened there.” I smile and rush right into the huge fluffy towel he holds out for me. Asher rubs the sides of my arms before letting me go and I get dressed, keeping a sideways eye on him.As soon as we are dressed, he suggests a walk and I agree. I have had this urge to just be out in the middle of the
NicoletteMy eighteenth birthday is probably the second-worst day of my life as everyone stares at me and my so-called destined mate is nowhere in sight. The next morning is the absolute worst day of my life, as I move out of my parents’ home and into the omega home.An hour later, I leave the alpha’s office after being officially declared an omega with my new work assignment in hand. In the old days, while the war was raging and even before that, the council would have found me a suitable mate, and I would have been able to hold onto my rank.I look around my simple room for a moment before packing away my things. I have only ten minutes to spare before I have to report to the head of our department and then my life as an omega will officially start. I will be allowed to see my parents, which is the only good thing, but I will never be allowed to live with them in their home again.Even when they retire, I won’t be able to live with them. The alpha will make sure another omega is app
PaulI turn eighteen, and I feel as if all eyes turn to me. It’s unnerving! For a very long time, our packs weren’t allowed to accept our destined mates, but my generation finally has that freedom again. The only thing I didn’t count on was the sudden pressure it puts on you!It is as if everyone is waiting for you to find that one special girl instantly! When I don’t smell anything, my parents suggest that I take a walk around the pack, and still, I don’t find her. I’m just about to give up hope when my mother has one final suggestion.All the single females line up so that I can look at them one at a time. When the last one walks away looking shattered, I roll my eyes and glare at my parents. They made such a huge deal out of it, that this is probably the worst moment of my entire life.CamilleIt breaks my heart to see my son so utterly disappointed. Oliver and I never had another child, so Paul is the light of our lives, and all we want is for him to be happy. The fact that he has
CamilleWhen Paul is put in my arms, and he scrunches up his little nose, everything else just disappears. Our little pup is healthy. He has all his fingers and all his toes, and only then to I realize that, in the back of my mind, I was still worried about the lie that the council told.“He is beautiful. You are beautiful.” Oliver kisses my forehead and I smile at him. All the pain I felt is instantly forgotten, and it feels as if my heart has burst open with love for the little pup in my arms. Oliver pulls us into one of his bear hugs and I have never felt as much loved and safe as I did at that moment.Paul and I spend the day and night in the hospital wing, and in the morning, I’m completely healed, and the doctor announces that we can go home, but not without a warning.“Both of you have gone through a lot. You might have healed, but being born and giving birth takes its toll. Don’t let the visitors overwhelm you.” He raises a brow.“I will stand guard at the door.” Oliver looks
CamilleIt takes a couple of weeks for the cabins to be rebuilt, and thankfully, Oliver leaves me be as I start to fill my role as the pack Luna. I try my best not to overrule him, but sometimes it is difficult not to take complete control.The pack has been my responsibility for a while, and it is really difficult to just let go of that feeling that I need to take care of them. When everything is done, though, I am very happy with the results. I had to give Oliver a list of my pack and who had their own homes.We decided who would be getting a brand-new home and who would be getting the older buildings and the day everything was done, both packs got together to celebrate the completion of the project. It seemed my pack was happy.It takes three days to get everyone moved into their homes, and I feel a little sad that my old home will be standing empty. Oliver suggests that we make it a museum-type thing, and at first, I don’t like the idea, but it eventually grows on me.My old home
OliverI am simply bowled over by her sudden change, but I just go with it in the hopes that it is permanent and that she really has forgiven me. For our pup’s sake. At least. I wake up feeling more excited than I ever felt before and just look at her sleeping beside me for a moment.I don’t want to leave her on our first real morning together, but since I didn’t think this would happen, I arranged to meet up with my beta early so we can get her pack sorted out. After a brisk morning run to her old pack territory, I give the team orders, and they start preparing the homes to be taken apart.I order my beta to keep an eye on the team that has to take her home apart because I want them to make sure it is put back together the exact same way when it reaches my territory. Once I’m done there, I check in with Lizzie.She informs me that Camille is still asleep, and I rush to get back to my territory, where I start ordering teams around to clear the grounds. If we are lucky, the homes can b
CamilleHis arms circle around my waist and my body stiffens at his touch for a moment. I’m still not entirely sure if I want to go there, but I know we have to eventually. If either of us so much as thinks about another in that way, it will hurt or, even worse, it could kill us.Once you are part of a marked pair, that is it. I think that is why I’m so incredibly furious. Not because it wasn’t a part of my plan, but because that mark that he gave me means forever. If I’m going to make a life for myself, I have to find my way through everything that’s happened.I turn around in his arms and take another deep breath with my eyes closed for a moment. His scent envelops me and I feel those same feelings I had on the night that changed both our lives. When I’m inside that little bubble, it is as if all my worries just disappear.It is as if none of the things that have been holding me back exist. I look into his eyes and I feel the bond pulling me even closer. I blink, and our lips are to
CamilleI know what he is trying to do, and I appreciate it. I just can’t bring myself to say more than, thank you. I’m not sure if it will feel the same even if he rebuilds the entire house the same way it was. It won’t be home ever again.After checking all the houses, and determining that we can actually use most of them, the team can start with the tear down. I take one last look at what used to be my home and decide it is the last time I will ever see it.As I get into the car, I take a deep breath and decide never to look back again. On the drive back home, I could see that Oliver is trapped in his own thoughts and I just let my mind drift over the past couple of years. For some strange reason, the abandoned human town comes to mind.My pack survived back then. We made a home for ourselves there, and we even lived with humans coming in and out of our little town. If we can survive that, we can survive anything life throws our way. I can even survive being marked and made pregnan
CamilleOne mistake and one time has ruined my life. My entire damn life and now I have to accept it and do what is best for my child.“The construction team is going out to your old territory today to see what they can salvage. Your old homes really took a beating when they were left open like that.” I know he doesn’t mean to sound offensive, but I feel offended.“If your pack didn’t put us in that precarious position, we wouldn’t have left our homes.” The words are out before I can help myself. I take a deep breath and close my eyes for a moment. “I’m sorry. I hope we can salvage some of it. We don’t really have the funds to rebuild all the homes from scratch.”“That is one of the perks of not being the alpha anymore.” He smiles, and I’m not entirely sure if I should be offended by the remark. This is not going as well as I thought it might. There are just too many feelings involved that aren’t good ones.“What do you mean by that?” I try to bite my tongue as much as possible. I rea
CamilleI understand the sheer shock that he is in. I felt that same way when the doctor told me about our little bun in my oven. My first reaction was also that it only happened once! It is overwhelming, but I can’t keep how I feel any longer.“Look, I don’t expect anything from you. I would raise this kid on my own if I could, but thanks to your little mark, I’ve lost everything.” I sigh deeply. This really is the last straw. I feel completely violated even though I was a consenting adult.If we had just done it, and I found out I was pregnant without him marking me, things would have been a lot different. Unfortunately, there is no turning back now and with the baby on the way, there is no use in dwelling on what we could have done differently.“Camille, I want you. Don’t you get that? I want us to build a life together. I want us to have a family. I didn’t want it all to happen so quickly, and I know I’m to blame for some of it, but I want you and our baby.” He looks really hurt,