“It wasn’t your fault, Dad.”
That was easier to say than I thought it would be.
I breathe deeply through my nose.
“I understand as a father; you feel responsible for what happened. I’ve thought many times about how things would have been different if we hadn’t saved Mum. The witch wouldn’t have wanted to punish you and Mum for whatever her reason was, and I would have been born alongside the others.”
He looks me in the eye, and I realise that I need to get out what I’ve been holding in all these years.
“But I wouldn’t change what we did because a world without my mother doesn’t bear thinking about.”
Dad nods, and I take a deep breath.
“We can’t think
It’s snowing today, and I love snow!Christmas is just around the corner, and I can’t wait. I love Christmastime, and I hope that Lorcan does too. By then, we’ll be officially mated as Alpha and Luna, and I plan to make the holiday unforgettable for my mate.We’ll be going to Zidiah’s capital to spend Christmas with the King and Queen at their request. The Royal’s hold an annual Snow Ball, and all Dalgaard’s must attend.I would have liked to spend Christmas with my parents as I have every year of my life. But that cannot be, and I have to deal with it.I’ve spent a couple of days helping Kale in the infirmary. He was so excited to learn that Lorcan agreed to me being pack healer. I’ll be working alongside my best friends big brother as his third in command.
I lead my family into the living room. Once they’re seated, I link one of the kitchen staff to bring drinks.It’s incredible that I now have a pack link, strange when I shouldn’t have one until I’m sworn in as Luna. However, Lorcan said that now we marked each other, he opened the link because he knows that I’m not going anywhere.Once Macie, one of the kitchen staff, drops off a pot of tea, I pour everyone a cup. Once I’ve handed them out, I sit back in my seat next to the window.Lorcan and I always sit in this massive love seat when we’re in here. He brought the grey fabric chair for us last week, and I love it!“I can’t believe you guys came. I’m so happy to see you all,”“I’m sure.”
“Are you really going to sit there and lie to my face?” Mum snaps at me.I’m not going to go through this shit again. I’m done speaking about what happened, and I won’t let my mother bait me into saying something I can’t take back.“Mum, I know you care about me, and I love you for it. I also know that what Lorcan did to bring me here upset you, and I’m sorry about that.“When I first got here, I wanted to go home. But then I grew to understand my mate, and I fell in love with him.”“And you believe he loves you back?”I nod my head.“I know that he does, Mum. Lorcan asked me to mark him, and the second I did, I felt his love for me flowing through my veins. He shows me every moment we’r
Pain radiates through my body yet again.I curl up on my side, pulling my blanket over my hip and snuggling into my pillow. I close my eyes and let the tears fall.Why the hell am I doing this to myself?I need my mate, and no matter how many times I run from him, I will always need him. My heat has hit the peak, and it’s beyond painful. I thought yesterday was bad enough, but this is the worst I have ever felt in my life.I thought that locking myself in my room would be the best solution; that way, I could hide from my mate, but I can sense him outside my door even now.What I find strange is that not once has he tried to break in when most would. He has some restraint, which awes me.I had no idea that I’d be mated to Josh Adams, Beta of Silver Paw pack.
I never told anyone that I couldn’t shift, but it was apparent to some.I could fob people off most of the time. But on a full moon?When the urge and need to shift take every wolf?People noticed more than I realised.Many called me out on it, but I always lied. I would say that maybe they hadn’t seen me, but I was there with everyone else.Most would shrug it off, but I could never fool Katy or Emily. They were my best friends, and they knew me better than anyone. They kept my secret along with Kale when they didn’t have to because they loved me.Lorcan had been here a week before my mother went to him. She hadn’t spoken to me in months, but she sought a meeting with the Alpha Prince and outed me as a none shifter. I didn’t understand why
On my twenty-first birthday almost a month ago, I transformed all by myself in the forest. It hurt like hell, and I thought I’d die right there and then. However, I didn’t die, and Zara, my wolf, ran free for the first time. There are no words that can accurately describe how it feels to be so free.Zara trotted to the lake, and as she looked at her reflection in the water, she allowed me to look upon her through her wolf eyes.Zara is the most beautiful light sable wolf I have ever seen. Of course, I’m biased, but it’s the truth. The midnight blue on her underbelly served to tell me that my mate would be the same colour.There was only one wolf in the pack, the colour midnight blue – Josh. My heart was racing in my chest. But then I told myself that I was mistaken, and my mate was someone outside of the pack.
‘Gia?’ I call through the pack mind-link, careful not to let anyone else hear me.‘Harper? Is everything okay?’‘No,’ I groan. ‘I lied about the online course and why I needed to be alone. I’m in heat, and I’m scared. This is my first one, and I don’t know what to do. It’s getting stronger, and I’m terrified, Gia.’‘
“I want you to let me love you, Harper, to put you first, and for you to be everything to me. I hope that I can one day be those things to you.“Come back to me, beautiful,” Josh kisses my hand, and the sparks ignite throughout my body, bringing me to life. “I need you, baby.”My heart hammers in my chest. Something compels me to believe what Josh is saying. He doesn’t just want my body; he wants my heart and trust.Zara pulls back completely, allowing me to look upon Josh as my mate for the first time. A tear falls from my eye when he cups my cheek.“Josh,” I whisper his name while reaching for him. He takes m