Lottie’s POV “YEEEESSSS, now mark him, mark him. MARK HIM NOW.” screeches Ember in my mind. My body is still buzzing from what just happened and she is screaming in my head. It’s like having an observer during one of the most private moments of my life. “You need to teach me how to block her out.” I tell Maddox, who has collapsed on top of me. “Is she giving you a hard time?” I snickered “No! She is screaming at me to mark you. Suddenly, you marking me is not good enough for her.” He grins, “You don’t need to do that. But I would like it, if you would, one day. When you’re ready,” then he kisses me. When he pulls away, he examines my neck, smiling smugly. “The world now knows you are taken.” I smiled, then frowned at him. “Is that why Ember is pushing for me to mark you, so the world knows you are taken too?” “Our scent will probably entwine together. With me being an Alpha, your scent is likely to change more than mine, as I have the stronger wolf.” “That’s wha
Millie’s POV Lottie has a chance of happiness, the same as what Aidan and I had. Maddox needs to play his cards right, but right now, he is too hesitant and worried about her. So, I give him the shove he needs by encouraging him to ‘tuck her in’. I want to laugh as I tell him this, as in most households, that will mean making sure a child is wrapped up in bed. But not in this household. I want to feel bad, because I have just given him permission to climb into bed with my daughter. But if they truly are mates and destined to be together. Which I believe they are. Then their relationship needs to blossom, before Alpha Hudson gets his way and keeps her in his pack. In which case, Maddox is likely to get her to go to the Spring Valley Pack with him. I know Alpha Hudson knows what I have done and tells me so on the way to the human town. “She doesn’t have a future without him.” Is my response. He agrees and we go to the human town. We only wanted a bigger birthday cake anyw
Parker’s POV I saw Ella when we were in the human town. She told me her dad sometimes takes her to town with him when he meets someone from the Council. I wonder which member of the Wolf Council she could be talking about? Why would they meet here, though? Why not arrange a meeting at the pack house? I slowly walked past the diner, but I didn’t see Beta Celeb or anyone who looked like they worked for the Wolf Council. Nor do I see any of the protection detail that usually accompanies the Wolf Council members. Maybe I shouldn’t believe anything Ella tells me. Seeing as Alpha Hudson seems to trust his Beta. Who am I to accuse Beta Celeb of any wrongdoings? I also have other things on my mind at the moment. Hopefully, there will be a new addition to my family when we get back to Millie’s house. In fact, there is no hope for it. Maddox needs to have claimed his mate. He has been a different man since meeting Lottie. He’s happier and tolerable. I like this version of him. It r
Alpha Hudson’s POV I am devastated. I should demand she stay at the River Valley Pack with me, her father. But Millie is right. Her mate offers her a chance of happiness, and I was content with what I had, even though I had lost my mate. I just want to be selfish and keep her all to myself for the rest of my life. But that would be like robbing her of her life, her happiness, her future. I should set my feelings aside and encourage her to lead a full life. That is what Veronica would have wanted, that is what I would have wanted had she been in my life all of this time. I can visit her at Spring Valley Pack anytime and she can visit me here at the River Valley Pack. She will also visit Millie as well. I know I will have plenty of contact with her in the future. I make her aware that if she does not wish to stay with Maddox, she always has a home with me. Which gets Maddox annoyed, but I don’t care about him. It is her well-being that is most important. I can always
Lottie’s POV Everything changes tomorrow. The look on Caren’s face tells me she knows it, too. But that is tomorrow. At least we have today. There is so much to do. My priority is to make sure our mom will be okay and comfortable after we have gone. My gut instinct is to make sure she has enough food in the house and we leave the gardens in a manageable condition. Mom hates the gardens being untidy. They usually left the front garden for me to tend to. I love the scent of the freshly cut grass. I also used the time to trim my mom’s rosebush and I often talk to her at the same time. It makes me feel like I have a connection with her. I want to have one more conversation with her before I leave. The back garden is Caren’s responsibility. She grows a lot of our vegetables in a vast patch of it. She even grew some apple trees when she was younger. We haven’t bought fruit or vegetables for years. The men are discussing vehicles when Caren announces she is going to tend to he
Lottie’s POV Maddox gives me an enormous hug when I walk outside. “Ready?” he asks. “Physically yes, emotionally no.” I tell him honestly while looking at my mom through the window. “She will be okay, we can visit.” he says, reassuring me. “Ember, how does this gift work?” I asked her. “I am not telling you unless you promise I will get to meet Xavier later,” she responds. I obviously annoyed her, seeing that I am not letting her meet up with Xavier again for their official mating. “That’s blackmail.” “No, that’s negotiation.” I looked at Maddox and told him what Ember was saying. “Please let them meet. Xavier is going crazy. He is saying I am torturing him and that you are holding his mate against her will.” “Fine,” I tell Ember and Maddox at the same time, “Tonight I am not missing out on time with my mom or dad.” Ember howls with joy. Speaking of dad, I went and found him, for some time alone. We took the box of pictures to my mom’s grave. We laugh,
Millie’s POV I have left Lottie some clothes outside for when she returns. Which she had better get back soon. It’s the last night with my girls for a while and I want to enjoy some time with them. That wolf of hers sounds like a handful. It matches her personality, I suppose. I finished preparing some food when Lottie and Maddox walked in, smiling. “I take it you have some happy wolves now?” Lottie giggles. “She blocked out, but Ember has told me she is satisfied.” I know Lottie is the same age I was when I met Aidan, but she seems more innocent than I was. Maybe it was my upbringing. Witches were expected to take part in rituals once they gained their powers. But only witches and warlocks over 18 had sex during rituals. The rest of us were expected to watch and learn. As we sit around the table, I see lots of people linked to my little girl and I feel the love in the room. She deserves to be happy, they both do. They have a 7am start in the morning, and I want so
Lottie’s POV “You will be okay.” Maddox says as we pull out of the driveway. The tears streamed down my face as we left them there on the porch, leaving her. My mommy. I call Caren on the phone to check how she is doing. She is sobbing too. At least I am not the only emotional one. It’s a good 6 hours of solid driving to get Silver Mountain Pack, which is why we had to set off so early. We all agreed we should visit, as we have no information about our elemental gifts, or how dangerous they can be. I must have dozed off, as when I woke up, we were pulling into a roadside diner. It makes me smile because the diner chain is the one mom worked for. I really like the burgers when they cook them right. We got out and I feel a little less emotional than I was earlier in the day. I felt thirsty, though. I guess all that crying has made me dehydrated. We walk in and there is a huge birthday celebration going ahead. I don’t even know the boy and I already know that it’s Tho