Zaya POVOne hour. That’s it. That’s how long it took for our dinner party to go south. But I wasn’t surprised one bit. I was ticking time bomb from the moments we took our seats.Around six thirty, everyone started flowing into the ballroom, which we had converted into a dining room for the night. Our actual formal dining room could only sit six comfortably. It was nine of us.Alex, Audrey, Anna, Tari, Brax, Leila, Trent, Godric, and me.This was the first night since the Half Moon’s packs arrival that we all ate dinner together. This was also the first night I hosted a formal dinner between our pack and another. Though I’m not sure if I am the host at all. Luna Tari did all the cooking. She made two different Italian dishes. Ricotta Gnudi, which looked like meatballs made of flour. And Creamy Chicken Marsala, which was a fancy chicken, mushroom, and pasta meal.I was so happy she made the Creamy Chicken Marsala, because I wasn’t sure how Godric and Alex would feel if they didn’t h
Zaya POVLeila looked horrified as we all sat stunned at Trent’s announcement. All of us quiet as we watched him stroll across the room toward the door Anna just exited. Mostly for different reasons.Leila, because this must have been her first time hearing about Anna being his mate. Same probably for the rest of the table.Audrey, like I, was probably more stunned by the fac that he would announce it like this. Why wouldn’t he talk to her in person first. Leila had been such a nice enough person. But even if she wasn’t, this wasn’t the way anyone should hear their boyfriend was breaking up with them.All the niceness fell from her face while staring at his back. Her peach-colored cheeks turned red as the name of our pack. And her eyes just as fierce. Her wolf was showing.Just before he met the threshold of the doorway, she hit the table and stood tall. Grabbing everyone’s attention. Including his.He turned to see her angry face.“Your mate!” She said loudly. “I thought I heard the
Anna POVI could hear Leila yelling from where I stood down the hall. I was standing there trying to calm my nerves and release the tension that had been building since she and Trent entered the room. Trying to reel my wolf in, but she was raging to be freed. Seeing that females paws on Trent only fueled the fire inside me. And to make matters worse, he didn’t come for me. Trent didn’t chase me when I walked away.I could barely hear Leila’s words from the growling inside me. But I heard her voice, none the less. I decided then that I couldn’t go back inside. I would only ruin the rest of the dinner. I nearly ran down the hall. Pushing past some of the workers who remained in the kitchen, I made it outdoors. Finally free to let my rage flag fly.The fresh air did nothing to calm the fire inside.I transitioned right outside the Alphas house. I didn’t wait until I reached the tree line to disrobe from my dress. I just took it off and started running. Soon my wolf was out, and I could f
Anna POVHer words were like music to my ears, but I couldn’t believe it until I hear them from trets mouth.“You should go find him, Anna. You too deserve each other, and you would be foolish to not except the Moon Goddess’s gift of true love. True companionship.”I panicked realizing she might be right. “Would it really be true, if he was in love with her. That doesn’t just go away just because you find a mate. It can’t be that easy, Zaya.” I said remembering that I practically pushed him away earlier. I told him to stay with her.She was quiet for a moment. Then she spoke up. “Remember, not even a year ago, you were teaching me about finding a mate. Our birthdays were coming up and you were so ready to find your mate. How did you imagine it happening for you?”I leaned back on the palm of my hands and looked at the sky. Trying to imagine what I thought it would be like. Unimaginable heat? Unthinkable lust? Undeniable love? But was that really us.I shook my head. “I don’t know what
Zaya POVMy stomach was beginning to turn flips. The ice cream was not settling on top of all that Italian food Tari cooked. I’d eaten my way through a second and third plate once everyone left the table. Once I was alone, there was no need to hide my growing appetite.Godric kept giving me strained looks as he said good night to Luna Tari and Audrey. Then again when he decided to invite Alpha Brax to his office.The growing distance between us only made me want to eat more. That’s how I ended up stress eating a third of a gallon of ice cream.Godric was probably wondering why I didn’t tell him about Anna. And I found myself wondering should I have told him. Did it or would it have made a difference?I filed those questions in the back of my mind to ask Luna Ariel later. Maybe she could school me on better communication with my Alpha.I laughed a little as I thought to myself. ‘Maybe they should make that a New Luna Course for all newly made Luna’s.’I heard Alpha Brax leaving the hou
Zaya POVThe next morning I awoke to an empty room. Just me and the sun beams bouncing off the windows. I checked the clock next to our bed. It was well past breakfast time. I’d been finding it harder and harder to wake up in the morning now that I was sleeping for two.This time I didn’t bother rushing to get ready. I’m sure by now, the guys have made up some good reason why I couldn’t join them.I rolled over in the bed to face the window. The view was still beautiful, even though the November air already begun to turn the leaves orange and yellow.Though I didn’t need to see the trees to know a change in weather was coming. I could feel it in the air the past few nights. The air just a little more chiller than usual. It even made the ice cream a little harder to swallow. Though that didn’t stop me.I lay there for another hour thinking about last night. I touched my stomach as it did flips at the thought of Godric.We lay in the water with my back against his chest, not saying a wo
Godric POVAudrey was blocking the door, and my brother was standing there dumb founded. Aurey on the other hand looked angry and concerned.I was about to see history in the making. I could think of two records my brother was about to set today.I was sure he was about to be the first male to slam a door in his mates’ face. His hands gripped the doorknob so tight that I could see his hand turning white. I knew he was fighting the urge to do it and be done with whatever this was. And if he didn’t close the door in Audreys face, the two of them might be the first mates to come to blows right here in an Alpha’s office. I could just imagine Audrey taking the first swing and she looks like she lands a hard blow.Chris told me she has excelled past half our army in training. So of course, I felt bad for my brother.I know Alex hadn’t prepared himself for this conversation. None of us had. Even though we all knew this day was coming sooner than later, we were not prepared.Maybe because w
Zaya POVI patted the space on the bed beside me for Audrey to take a seat. She hesitated and I understood why.She didn’t know what we were about to tell her, and after all that she had been through, she knew to brace herself.“Please sit, Audrey.” I cradled my stomach and pushed out a smile. The pain was nowhere near gone, but it was far from gut wrenching.As soon as she took a seat, she said, “Okay. What is going on? All month, the two of you have been acting weird. And I have been trying to place why.” She pointed to me and Alex.Alex’s lips parted to say something, but I interrupted. “You are right. We have and I’m sorry.”Alex and Godric both looked at me. Maybe surprised at my apology. They probably just expected me to spill the tea, but I needed her to know how sorry I felt. I’ve never wanted to keep anything from her.I stared deep into her eyes as I spoke for all of us. “We are all sorry, Audrey. We have been lying to you but for a good reason. Trust me.”“Lying to me?” She