Isabella“I’m not stupid! Who was she?!” My sister-in-law, Clair, screams at my brother, Adam, and I turn right back around in the hopes that they wouldn’t see me. They are glaring at each other. That only means they are having one of their bigger fights, and I really didn’t want to be around them when that happened.I hide around the corner, trying to calm my rapid breathing and racing heart. Why did I have to walk in at that very moment? I swear, I have the worst luck in the entire world! Somehow, they always found a way to make their fights my fault, and then I was the one who was punished. I nervously rub my bruised wrists that were still aching from the last time.“Don’t do this here! You are making a scene.” Adam sighs deeply, and I can hear their footsteps coming closer. I try to run, but it’s too late. My hair is pulled back so quickly that I lose my balance and hit the floor with a loud thud. I feel my ribs crack the moment Clair’s stiletto hits my side.I fight not to cry, b
AsherI am out for a run, minding my own damn business and trying my best to get rid of some of my frustration when I smell a strange scent coming from the border. Nights are becoming more difficult after the loss of my mate. It has been over three years, but it is not getting any easier, and I just can’t sleep in that bed anymore. The closer I get to the border, the more the strange scent pulls me in.It’s not exactly human and it’s not entirely wolf. While I try to find tracks or evidence that I’m not going entirely insane, a small pale girl comes running out of nowhere, and before I can stop her, she runs right into me. She bounces back, looking just as astonished as I feel, but I am so stunned that I don’t think to catch her in time.I hear her skull crack when it hits the rock on the ground, and I can instantly smell blood all over her. She looks as though she has been a prisoner of war. She just ran straight into me out of nowhere! In the blink of an eye, I pick her up and rush
IsabellaI open my eyes and close them again immediately. From the little I saw, I gather that I’m in a hospital, but I don’t know where and as I search my mind, I realize something is missing.“Good morning, honey. I’m very glad to see that you are awake. We’ve been very worried about you.” I open my eyes and see a smiling woman dressed in a white coat. A frown forms on my brow while she moves around me with a clipboard in hand. She jots down some information and puts down her clipboard.“Where am I?” My voice sounds rough, and I find that my throat feels very raw. She hands me a glass of water as though she already knew I would need it.“I am Lisa, your doctor. You are in our little local hospital. Do you remember what happened to you?” Worry floods her eyes, and I can see that whatever happened to me is probably serious. I try to remember.“No.” I frown. My head starts to ache. “Who am I?” My heart starts to race and the machine behind me beeps, making me slam my hands over my ears
IsabellaIt is infuriating. I could remember normal everyday things. I could remember how to eat, for instance, but I couldn’t remember something as simple as my own name. I don’t know who I am. If I have family that are worried about me, or even how old I am.The more doctor Lisa tells me not to try and force it, the more I try to remember. I can’t help it. It was so frustrating to be taken care of by these strangers and not know who I am. Seeing my reflection in the mirror is the worst. My face doesn’t look like mine. Each time I catch a glimpse of my reflection anywhere, a shiver runs up and down my spine.I stay in the hospital for about a week and all the while Lisa’s son hangs around outside my bedroom. I can swear I sometimes see him watching me, but that is just too weird to even think about. Not that he gives me weird vibes or anything. In fact, having him outside my door kind of makes me feel safe.That is another thing that bothers me. I have this incredible feeling that I’
IsabellaAsher helps me into bed a little while later. I wonder if there is something else that I could wear, but I don’t want to ask him. He might offer to help me change, and I really don’t want that. I can’t imagine a strange man helping me into clothes.“Can I get you anything to eat or drink?” He frowns looking around the room and I shake my head. “Maybe something to read? I don’t’ know, do you prefer television?” He walks over to the dresser as though he is trying to measure something.“I’m good, thanks. I’m actually a little tired.” I pretend to yawn, and he nods as he walks over to the door.“As I said, I won’t be far. My office is just down the hall. If you shout, I will hear you.” His eyes dart back and forth before he nods again and disappears. I take a deep breath and lie back onto the soft pillows. My mind tries to make sense of what happened to me. While I was in the hospital, Lisa told me how Asher found me. I focus on that and try to remember why I might have been runn
AsherKeeping my distance was almost impossible. My wolf, Lucian, kept wanting to break free and mark the poor girl. There is no way that we can do that to her. Not while she has no idea who she is. Not until I know where she came from and who did that to her. Definitely not, while she can’t even remember her own name.The why keeps popping up in the back of my mind, but I won’t let the thought form properly. I can’t for the life of me think that any female deserves to be treated like that. It is clear that if she is some kind of wolf, she isn’t very strong.Either that or she has never shifted. According to my mother, that is the only explanation as to why it is taking her so long to heal. Even the omegas in our pack heal faster than that. Since we aren’t entirely sure whether she knows about our kind, I have given our pack the order not to shift anywhere near my home.We can’t frighten the poor girl any more than she already is. Although, I noted a spark in her eyes earlier that tol
IsabellaI slowly start to warm up, and I wouldn’t admit it out loud, but I am grateful when he gets off the bed. The last thing I need right now is some guy making advances when I don’t even know my own name. I don’t care if he was the one who saved me.Honestly, after what they told me, I am starting to think I actually saved myself and he just found me. I just won’t say that out loud. Ever. Lisa and Asher have only been kind. I can feel that they aren’t telling me everything, but dealing with my current situation is keeping me busy enough as it is.“I will let you get some rest.” Asher’s voice pushes through my thoughts and I nod before he leaves. I had just made myself comfortable when I hear the door creek open again, and I note his bright red cheeks. “My mother would like to take you shopping later. Do you feel up to it?” I don’t want to sound ungrateful and just nod.I like Lisa. I don’t think about money when I fall asleep, and only think about it when I get dressed a couple o
AsherIt feels as though my world has just spun off its axes completely. My mother follows me into my office, and we discuss everything again. Trying to make sense of what happened. Jane’s reaction to the two, and what my next steps should be.According to wolf law, I have to let her pack know where she is. Unless I can prove that they abused her and she claims asylum. Unfortunately, her current memory loss is going to force us to hand her back to her pack.“Did they see her?” A solution starts to form in the back of my mind as I try and figure out a way to protect Jane.“Not that I can see. She wanted to go over and ask them if they knew her, but I stopped her in time.” My mother sighs as she pours each of us a drink.“Do you think we will be able to play dumb?” I frown as she sighs and shrugs.“I don’t know, son. Have you received any notification that they are missing a pack member?” My mother worked closely with my father for many years and I trust her opinion on all pack matters.
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,