Chapter 27 It took us forty-eight hours to return to our pack, despite Rex driving faster than the speed limit permitted to distance ourselves from Pine Paw. Tate wanted to keep driving all through the night, but Rex suggested we stay at a motel the first night because of the condition my body is in due to the wolfsbane. And so, with reluctance, Tate agreed to Rex’s suggestion. Settling into a comfortable room, I spent the night dozing in and out of sleep, not able to fully find the release of a deep slumber even with my battered and exhausted body. Every time I would fall asleep, I would find myself back in the cottage with Sam above my body that is chained to the familiar wooden bed. Each time that scene repeated itself, I would scream awake from the nightmare, waking Tate, who slept beside me and sending him into a panic state as he holds me close until my sobbing ends.After going through ten nightmares, Tate decided that it would be best to leave the motel and con
Chapter 28 I groan as harsh light reaches my eyes. My reaction to bury my face in the warm, solid body next to me is met by chuckling. Sometimes I feel more like a vampire with how much I hate the bright star when sleeping."Hey, beautiful, are you hungry?" Tate asks, one hand rubbing my back, the other in my hair."Yes," I mumble, snuggling closer to him and sighing happily, getting another chuckle. "Well, we should get up to get food." He says, smoothing my hair away from my face and kissing the top of my head."Do we have to?" I ask quietly, blinking my blurry, sleep-filled eyes at him with a yawn."You're adorable when you’re tired, you know that?" He muses, sending another kiss to my forehead and pulling me closer into his arms."So I've been told," I mumble and smile at another deep chuckle rumbling from my mate. It felt good seeing Tate relaxed and a little rested, with the dark circles under his eyes less noticeable."C'mon, baby girl. Let’s get
Chapter 29 I smile as I stare at myself in the mirror, my chestnut hair in loose curls, half of it shaped into a bow at the back, upper-half of my head. It’s been just over two—almost three—years since I returned home, and news about the fight at Pine Paw has spread all over the world. The Elders visited every single pack for three months, making sure everyone knew the new laws of Breeders being illegal. Many packs were abolished for breaking the laws. The last I heard about Pine Paw is that Sam’s younger brother Eric and his mate took over, freeing all the Breeders and reuniting them with their pups. All in all, my story is widely known now. I have a strong reputation of being a kind Luna but a brutal fighter when it comes to protecting my pack and family."Are you almost ready?" Eeva's voice fills my ears, and I turn to stare at my maid of honour, smiling at the look of awe on her face as Julia toddles around us in her lavender flower girl dress."Yes, is everyone he
Chapter 1 I sit in front of my mirror, my reflection staring back at me. My straight chestnut-coloured hair is piled on top of my head into a perfect bun, and the off-the-shoulder blush coloured top and high-waisted black lace skirt adorn my body, hopefully portraying me as a confident young she-wolf ready to take on her role in this pack.Last month, I had just turned sixteen, the age a wolf finds their role in their pack and—possibly—their mate. It is the time when all wolves are deemed “adults” in our community, when a she-wolf can choose to give up school and start a family with her mate if she so desires. In the eyes of the werewolf nation, any wolf aged sixteen who has shifted to their wolf form is able to take on responsibility in furthering the success of their pack, with their Alphas designating their roles at the pack meeting on the first day of each month. Since I had missed out on last month’s meeting due to my birthday being three days after the last pack
Chapter 2 As the pack territory slowly passes by, I decide to rest my eyes. Breeders are given an area on the far-west side of the territory where no one will be able to disturb them. That area is patrolled and guarded day and night. It will be a community I call home for however long my stay is, but deep down, I know I can never allow the cottage I will be living in to be my home. A prison, yes, but never my home.Hope slowly slips away the further I get from the pack house and the closer I get to the cottage where I’ll live for the next chapter of my life. At sixteen, I should be enjoying life as a carefree young adult, not being sentenced to life as a mother. I never wanted to raise pups just yet. I had a career in mind that I worked hard towards each and every day, but now it's all gone.Sighing, I decide to let the comfort of sleep take over. It would be too painful to keep looking out the window and only cause me to break down in front of the men who are probab
Chapter 3 I look at my handiwork in the kitchen. This is the last room to be cleaned. All the dishes are now done and stored nicely and neatly in the cupboards. It has been an exhausting day, from being designated as the new Breeder to my small breakdown outside and finally having to clean an entire cottage all by myself. I should have made a stupid guard help me clean since their job is to basically keep me locked in this property. Still, the thought of one of the wolves outside stepping into my designated space causes the anger to swell inside me at this unjust situation.I lean against the marble counter, a glass of red wine from the bottle I found in the pantry in my hands. Taking a sip, I turn to look at the time on the microwave—ten o'clock at night. I know that as a sixteen-year-old, I’m three years underage to legally drink in Canada but fuck it, I really need something strong after the day I’ve had. Chris always limited me to one glass of wine at functions,
Chapter 4 Early in the morning, I wake up with sleep-filled eyes, taking in the blurry surroundings. For a moment, I panic, thinking that I am in the wrong house. Before long, the events of the previous day flood into my mind.Taking deep, calming breaths, I push the covers off of me and stand, taking a big stretch. I head into the bathroom to comb my hair into a messy bun that sits atop my head, wash my face, brush my teeth, and finally relieve my bladder. Today, Abby will arrive with my belongings. Sighing yet again, I stumble out of my bedroom and make my way downstairs into the kitchen. I take out some ingredients for my classic comfort food—banana-chocolate chip pancakes. I figure Abby would want to eat with me, and, boy, can that girl pack down food like it’s nothing! So, I triple my usual recipe.As soon as the pancakes are done and the stovetop is turned off, I hear the doorbell ring with a visitor's arrival; I make my way over to the front of the house, ope
Chapter 5 I turn off the tap to the sink as I finish cleaning the dishes from breakfast. Alex sends a sad smile in my direction before quietly leaving the cottage to patrol the perimeter. No one else is allowed to be in the cottage after ten in the morning until the Alpha and the Doctor arrive to conduct their business. The Alpha will stay all night to do with me as he pleases and prepare me for my new role. Anxiety and nerves take over as I wring out the dish towel, trying to find something to do other than smoothing out the non-existent wrinkles in my outfit.I’m dressed in a simple white lace dress with a matching bra and thong, something one of the guards told me to wear, considering I am still pure, still a virgin. It scares me to think that today Alpha Sam will take away something I wanted to save for my mate, without a care in the world and without any consideration for my well-being; this will be nothing at all like the Sam I grew up with.Another hour passe
Chapter 29 I smile as I stare at myself in the mirror, my chestnut hair in loose curls, half of it shaped into a bow at the back, upper-half of my head. It’s been just over two—almost three—years since I returned home, and news about the fight at Pine Paw has spread all over the world. The Elders visited every single pack for three months, making sure everyone knew the new laws of Breeders being illegal. Many packs were abolished for breaking the laws. The last I heard about Pine Paw is that Sam’s younger brother Eric and his mate took over, freeing all the Breeders and reuniting them with their pups. All in all, my story is widely known now. I have a strong reputation of being a kind Luna but a brutal fighter when it comes to protecting my pack and family."Are you almost ready?" Eeva's voice fills my ears, and I turn to stare at my maid of honour, smiling at the look of awe on her face as Julia toddles around us in her lavender flower girl dress."Yes, is everyone he
Chapter 28 I groan as harsh light reaches my eyes. My reaction to bury my face in the warm, solid body next to me is met by chuckling. Sometimes I feel more like a vampire with how much I hate the bright star when sleeping."Hey, beautiful, are you hungry?" Tate asks, one hand rubbing my back, the other in my hair."Yes," I mumble, snuggling closer to him and sighing happily, getting another chuckle. "Well, we should get up to get food." He says, smoothing my hair away from my face and kissing the top of my head."Do we have to?" I ask quietly, blinking my blurry, sleep-filled eyes at him with a yawn."You're adorable when you’re tired, you know that?" He muses, sending another kiss to my forehead and pulling me closer into his arms."So I've been told," I mumble and smile at another deep chuckle rumbling from my mate. It felt good seeing Tate relaxed and a little rested, with the dark circles under his eyes less noticeable."C'mon, baby girl. Let’s get
Chapter 27 It took us forty-eight hours to return to our pack, despite Rex driving faster than the speed limit permitted to distance ourselves from Pine Paw. Tate wanted to keep driving all through the night, but Rex suggested we stay at a motel the first night because of the condition my body is in due to the wolfsbane. And so, with reluctance, Tate agreed to Rex’s suggestion. Settling into a comfortable room, I spent the night dozing in and out of sleep, not able to fully find the release of a deep slumber even with my battered and exhausted body. Every time I would fall asleep, I would find myself back in the cottage with Sam above my body that is chained to the familiar wooden bed. Each time that scene repeated itself, I would scream awake from the nightmare, waking Tate, who slept beside me and sending him into a panic state as he holds me close until my sobbing ends.After going through ten nightmares, Tate decided that it would be best to leave the motel and con
Chapter 26 "I am." I smile despite the pain as Tate's voice reaches my ear, my heart soaring at the fact that my mate is here to save me. I turn my head to look at Sam, his face a ghostly white, and I smile smugly. He is in a world of pain for pissing off my mate and kidnapping me."Sam! Bloodsvain, they're here." I hear Ross's words of warning as he yells out to his nephew. I hear the Elder’s heavy steps from the hallway carrying him into the room, where he abruptly comes to a stop."Oh, Alpha Tate, how-" I hear a growl cutting off Ross’ sweet, fake greeting before the sound of flesh tearing apart and the smell of blood other than my own fills the air. Guess there will be an Elders position to fill soon."Look, Tate, I was just taking back what is mine," Sam says with fear lacing his voice. Holding his hands in surrender, Sam slowly backs away from the bed and away from me, with Doctor Freelan continuing his protective stance, just in case Sam tries anything stupid. T
Chapter 25 I feel numb as if there were no connection between my mind and body. I feel no emotion, no wave of energy from the pack link, and barely a hum from the mate bond. I am floating in a blissful sleep, or so I think with how the darkness envelops me. My body is numb, yes, but as I open my eyes I soon learn that I am tied down to an all too familiar bed that I thought I left behind months ago, my body naked once again."No!” I cry out in a despaired whimper, trying to free my limbs before anyone can walk in. I am back in the cottage I was once sentenced to as a Breeder about five months ago. This is the same cottage where the twins were forcefully conceived, and my life was a nightmare because of Sam for a full week. I was trapped with nowhere to go. The bed is still as comfortable as I remember it, but it holds so many horrible memories that disgust rushes through me in waves."Well, look who's up." I bristle as a voice I could never forget floats to my ear, and
Chapter 24 I shiver slightly as my body slowly comes to consciousness, my eyes scanning the room to see the sunshine falling in through the open window curtains. This morning, the bed felt colder than usual, and my hands search for the warmth Tate always brings. Worried, I turn around to face Tate's side of the bed, only to notice him gone and—judging by how cold his side of the bed is—he's been gone a while.Frowning, I slowly sit up, my body sore once again from spending the night with my mate. Wrapping the blanket around my naked body, I search for any clue that my mate might have left indicating his whereabouts when I spy the note folded neatly on his pillow.With a soft smile, I pick up the note and carefully unfold the paper to see Tate’s neat handwriting on display. The note tells me that Tate decided to go to the pack house to take care of some business and catch Rex for a check-up. Chris and Jack took Julia for the day, wanting to give me some time to rest and
Chapter 23 I stand there in our living room, tears forming in my eyes. I know that, to some people, getting engaged within two months of meeting someone would be considered way too fast, but Tate is literally my soulmate, my other half, the person the Moon Goddess paired me with. I felt complete and whole when with him."Laina?" Tate's voice wavered slightly, his happy face slowly losing hope, and I realize that I have stood there a few minutes without answering because his proposal left me speechless. Quickly, I nod my head, yes, feeling my tears flow as I jumped into his arms, causing the two of us to tumble to the floor as I kiss all over his face with joy."Yes! Always a yes!" I manage to say once my shock was over, and I pull back to kiss him long and passionately. Panting from the kiss, Tate places a beautiful white gold ring with a heart-shaped diamond on my dainty ring finger, with a smile that beams so brightly as if he won the lottery, a gold medal in the Oly
Chapter 22 I groan at the bright room, burying my head under one of the large pillows. My body felt sore from the events of the last two nights, causing me to wonder if Tate is fully healed or not. No man should be this energetic when on bed rest. As my consciousness settles in, I realize that I am pressed under Tate, his hand removing the pillow from my head and the feel of his hard length still inside me from how we passed out last night. The memories of last night flash through my head with each position my body bend to Tate’s will, and I moan, my body becoming sensitive again"Someone having issues?" Tate's husky voice fills my ears as he slowly moves inside me, massaging my sore, sensitive walls. I moan again, arching my back to feel even more, gaining a chuckle at my wanton reaction from my mate.“I’ll take this as a yes then, baby.” He whispers, his lips finding my mark and nipping at the sensitive skin. He picks up speed, the sounds of moaning and grunting fill
Chapter 21 I groan slightly as the warm body underneath me moves. My eyes slowly open to see the soft morning light illuminating my mate beside me as his soft lips press against my temple. My body felt sore, and a slight tinge of pain in my neck brought back the memories of last night. Tate and I have mated and marked each other.A grin spreads across my face as I nuzzle against Tate’s neck, catching sight of the mark I left on him. I felt whole, with Tate being completely mine and me being completely his.“Good morning, beautiful,” Tate whispers, his hand running through my hair gently. I close my eyes, relishing in his pampering, letting out a yawn.“Good morning, baby,” I reply, my voice laced with sleep. For a few minutes, we just lay in bed enjoying each other’s silent company and taking in the first morning as a mated pair. I missed lying in our bed together away from the sounds of a hospital room, and being home alone with Tate felt perfect. Being home felt like