it's complicated...
RyderI could tell as soon as Noah climbed into the truck beside me that he was very tense. Actually, before he climbed into the truck. His entire body language shows the tension.“What’s up, Noah? You are too tense for this to be about our date,” I ask.“She’s out with HIM,” Noah snarls. “And she looks really good in a cute dress.”“You have to relax, Cowboy,” I chuckle. “He’s our Alpha and he’s allowed to get to know her. He’s an attractive guy and nice. She could do worse. If she isn’t with us, wouldn’t you rather her be with someone strong enough to protect her.”“I want her to be with us,” Noah snorts.“Please, try to stay chill and enjoy our first date. Maybe when we get home we’ll get to pick up where we left off before whatever that was with your mom,” I suggest.“I’ll try, but I can’t guarantee anything,” he replies, but he allows me to caress his thigh as I drive us to the restaurant. We are silent for the drive and I know Noah is stressing out about Elena and Liam. I tru
ElenaI stare as sunset gives way to a dark, starlit evening. My reflection in the airplane window becomes clearer in this dark landscape.I’m disheveled. My long dirty blond hair is pulled into a messy, loose braid with tendrils that have fallen free flying this way and that. My blue eyes are puffy and raw red from the tears that have now dried despite the deep pit inside me. It feels like I am losing a piece of myself, leaving that which matters most behind.Erica, my mom…I know she isn’t the woman who gave birth to me. But she is the woman who raised me. My biological mother died when I was an infant. Erica didn’t want to tell me it was my fault, but somehow, I feel that it was. Erica has been my entire family for seventeen years. It was just the two of us in the suburbs of Los Angeles. All I have known was our life in the southern California sun together and now that is shattered and I am heading to a stranger in the cold North-East. Two weeks ago, Mom told me she had breast canc
ElenaMy heart skips a beat. I am not THAT girl. I don’t fawn over guys when they throw a seductive smirk my way. Besides, it’s pointless to show any interest. He's a werewolf and I am wolf less. He has a mate somewhere and with no wolf that will never be me, plus I don’t even know who he is.“I am Ryder James, you brother’s best friend and Beta heir,” the raven haired man drawls.“Er-hm! Step brother,” the other man corrects with a cough. “Elena, I am Noah. Pleased to meet you,” my devastatingly handsome stepbrother says after rounding the truck he just got out of to shake my hand and pull me into an awkward hug.Noah Wyld…my stepbrother. He has brunette hair like his mother and our half sister. But his eyes are a warm brown and his face looks like it belongs on a superstar. His demeanor is relaxed and his style matches. He is wearing jeans and a flannel shirt with a brown corduroy jacket. His eyes are heavy lidded and he wears a soft half smile. You wouldn’t know it to look at him
Noah“Oh shit!” I groan. “Why does my stepsister have to be the prettiest girl I have seen in…ever?”“Man! You’re right but she’s your step sister! It’s not like you are actually related. We can check her out. We just need to not be assholes about it,” Ryder says as we plop on either end of my bed. “I don’t think she likes me very much,” I sigh.“I don’t think she likes any of us very much. But think about it. The girl has been raised by a human, living with humans and never met her father or any of her own kind. This is a culture shock. Not to mention the obvious differences between California and New Hampshire or leaving the only mother she has ever known behind,” Ryder replies.“I won’t be creeping on her, but I want to make sure she settles in here. I feel like shit that we have to meet under circumstances like this, but Dad didn’t even know she existed until two weeks ago,” I grumble as I fluff my pillow and then lean back.“Yeah, she is a natural beauty, but you know my stance.
Elena:I wipe the sweat from my brow and grab myself a glass of water in the kitchen then down it. “Do you have any reusable water bottles I can use as mine, or should I buy myself one?” I ask as my father enters the kitchen.“I’ll buy you your own, but for now, you can have one of mine. I often have them all over the place. I drink a lot of water, especially when I have a really vigorous training schedule, but your brother has helped alleviate that a bit,” he replies and hands me a stainless steel water bottle with the pack’s symbol and his name engraved on it.“Stepbrother,” I correct. “Noah told me I will be training with other teens around my age, but that he needs to give me extra training in how to fight against a werewolf in wolf form.”“You must be pretty good if he said that. I was planning on evaluating you over the coming weekend,” he says with his brows raised. “I’m impressed. Just hours here and you are already showing how deep the family genes run.”“Thanks,” I say, tap
ElenaRolly met me after third period, panting and out of breath after running across the school. We had fourth period together for French class and then for fifth period he had art while I had wellness, which is more like a werewolf sex education and nutrition class from what the syllabus looks like. From what I have learned once your wolf manifests, your appetite increases a lot and protein is absolutely essential. You can not be a vegetarian as a werewolf. If you try, your wolf will make hunting more of a priority. Now it’s lunch and Rolly came to get me. He is accompanying me to lunch and we are chatting about our French homework. We enter the cafeteria and he guides me through the lunch line. The food options are way better than anything they had at my school in California and it is all provided at no cost since it is a pack school. “Hey, sis!” Olivia greets, coming up behind me as Rolly and I go to a corner table. “I’ll sit with you two today. If Bea and Hunter want they can j
Noah“Shit! Your dad is really running us through all the hardest drills today,” Ryder groans as he wipes the sweat from his brow and reaches for his water bottle.“He’s always pushing us, but it might be easier if you weren’t imagining Elena fighting in a tank and no bra last night,” I chuckle.“Don’t lie. You were thinking about it too,” Ryder retorts.“I will not confirm nor deny the allegation,” I say with a chuckle. “Let’s go to my place where we can work out a bit more and maybe go over some of those tougher moves.”“Sure why not,” Ryder replies. “Meet me at my truck in about ten minutes. I gotta piss and tell my dad where I am going because he wants to talk to me about something tonight.”“Okay, I’ll go wait by the truck,” I reply with an amused snort before heading out to Ryder’s truck. If Ryder only knew how I truly feel…no, I can’t.“Noah!” Melanie calls out, bearing her cleavage. “Aren’t you getting tired of waiting around to find your fated mate? I could be your chosen, or
Elena What do I feel about what I just witnessed? I can’t even begin to grasp the mixture of feelings, the confused emotions and war between my thoughts and feelings. Both men are extremely attractive, but Noah is my stepbrother. Both have fated mates somewhere and it would be ridiculous to admit anything about how I feel about either one. Maybe they are fated mates and gay relationships are frowned upon so they hide it? I don’t even want to begin exploring how sexy I thought the kiss was and how I want to see more but my brain won’t stop replaying what I just witnessed!I need to get a hold of myself! All of these men are off limits! I am wolfless, I won’t have a fated mate and they each have one, somewhere. But my mind and body react to them each and while Liam is hot, he is definitely the kind of fuck-boy I have always avoided, worse because he is expected to lead the pack one day and seems a bit spoiled. I could picture him kissing Ryder or Noah, though, or all of them exchangin
RyderI could tell as soon as Noah climbed into the truck beside me that he was very tense. Actually, before he climbed into the truck. His entire body language shows the tension.“What’s up, Noah? You are too tense for this to be about our date,” I ask.“She’s out with HIM,” Noah snarls. “And she looks really good in a cute dress.”“You have to relax, Cowboy,” I chuckle. “He’s our Alpha and he’s allowed to get to know her. He’s an attractive guy and nice. She could do worse. If she isn’t with us, wouldn’t you rather her be with someone strong enough to protect her.”“I want her to be with us,” Noah snorts.“Please, try to stay chill and enjoy our first date. Maybe when we get home we’ll get to pick up where we left off before whatever that was with your mom,” I suggest.“I’ll try, but I can’t guarantee anything,” he replies, but he allows me to caress his thigh as I drive us to the restaurant. We are silent for the drive and I know Noah is stressing out about Elena and Liam. I tru
Elena “It’s not a date,” I remind myself as I check my image in the mirror and admire my own reflection. My floral sundress would have been fine alone in California this time of year, but here, it’s chilly, so I am wearing a cardigan and denim jacket. I’m dressed nicely, but not too nicely, because it’s just a dinner to get to know the super hot Alpha better, not an actual date. I wouldn’t want it to be a date anyway. He and all the other werewolves have fated mates. With no wolf, that cannot possibly be me. “Elena, Alpha Heir Liam is here to pick you up!” Allison calls out from the front door and I guess my time is up for deciding on my outfit, so I head out to meet him. I hear a snarl from Noah as I rush past him. He’s dressed up like he’s going out, too. He has no right to be jealous. “Hello, Liam. I hope this outfit is okay for whatever place we will be going to talk tonight,” I greet. “Oh, Wow! Elena! That is …yeah!” Liam replies enthusiastically. “You two have a gre
NoahI didn’t sleep well last night. Ryder slept at home. I’m off my game today and I’m glad I only have to cover one class, which is one I can mostly just observe and bark orders and corrections for. These guys are seasoned enough to know what they need to do. After the class, Ryder strides up to me and leans in. The gesture is intimate, even for friends as close as we are. His lips brush my ear as he whispers.“You look as rough as I feel, Cowboy.” His breath raises goose bumps on my skill and sends a surge of desire through me.“I’m going to need to learn how to ride horses if you keep calling me that,” I reply with a hint of a smirk.“No. You only need to ride me,” Ryder laughs, too loudly for me to feel as if it was private. We are alone in the room. But I know how wolf hearing is. I know anyone just beyond these walls might hear even a whisper that is uttered too loudly. “Ryder!” I hiss. “Noah, they know. If they don’t know, maybe they should,” Ryder whispers, this time brus
Ryder“No!” Noah growls as soon as I shut the door to his bedroom. “She can’t be! She is ours!”“Possessive much?” I chuckle. “Calm your horses, Cowboy. All it means is that her wolf is higher rank than Cheri’s. Even if she hasn’t manifested it, Cheri’s wolf deferred to the power she sensed off of Elena.”“There is only one rank higher than Beta,” Noah snorts.“You are adorable when you are angry and possessive, but I disagree,” I reply.“You disagree? What about?” Noah asks with pursed lips and a furrowed brow.“I disagree that there is only one possible conclusion. She could have a special wolf, or an Alpha wolf, not just the wolf destined to be the Luna of the pack. She could be the future Beta’s mate…my mate and hopefully, yours as well. She could, and I know this is a long stretch, but she could have two or three mates because she could be that Mythic wolf,” I explain.“I don’t like it. It’s dangerous for her if she is some wolf out of a legend. I don’t like her being our Luna, ei
Elena“I heard you are joining us for training this afternoon,” Rolly says to me on Wednesday as we prepare to head out of school. “Yeah, Olivia and I are getting picked up by our father and he’s bringing us there,” I reply.“I could drive you there from now on, that way he doesn’t have to leave the training facility to pick you up,” he offers.“That’s sweet but Dad has always picked me up,” Olivia says. “If you weren’t gay, I’d think you were as crazy about Ellie as the other guys.”She giggles and nudges his shoulder. “Maybe I am,” Rolly laughs. “I would have offered the same for you, but I don’t know you that well and you kind of intimidate me, not going to lie, Olivia.”“What? Livie is sweet!” I gasp. “You haven’t seen her train yet, have you?” Rolly laughs. “Your sister is vicious and it is apparent who her father is…wait! Maybe, I should e afraid of both of you.”“Haha! You know I don’t have a wolf, so there is no reason to fear me,” I snort and roll my eyes.“Olivia doesn’t h
Liam“Sure,” Elena replied, looking into my eyes after a long pause. “It’s probably wise to get to know my future Alpha better. You surprised me with what you just said.”“Huh? What about it?” I asked.“You just said the least Alpha like thing I could imagine. I thought Alpha’s were all take charge and egotistical, but you just said that Noah and Ryder are both better choices than you,” Elena replied.“Uh, yeah. I’m not lying. They are incredibly attractive men and superb fighters and they are both high quality and trustworthy men. I…I have my faults and have messed up in ways I don’t care to admit to, especially to you,” I said with a light flush rising to my cheeks, that I hoped Elena mistook for the flush from my morning run.“That is kind of…humble and almost adorable, but don’t let it go to your head. Friday or Saturday would be fine for me,” She replied before pulling away and continuing her jog.“Friday night it is, then!” I called out. “See you in school, Elena!”Now, I am mean
NoahI couldn’t help myself. I wanted so badly to feel Ryder’s lips again and explore his hard body. He has a gorgeous, muscular body he hides most of the time.My fingers grazed his abdomen and I was tempted to go lower. But, instead, I traced my way up, under his shirt, making my way up to his firm pecs and erect nipples. He moaned into my mouth as I traced his nipple with my fingers and then lightly pinched the stiff peak between my forefinger and thumb, rolling them and feeling his cock pulse against my abs as I pressed further against him.I was out of breath and lightheaded by the time I broke the kiss. My cock was straining against my pants and aching, but now I am looking into my best friend's eyes as he slips his hand into my waistband.Ryder’s fingertips graze the tip of my cock and I shudder, then moan softly. “I want to feel you,” Ryder whispers. “We don’t have to, but…I can tell you are as turned on as I am.”“We…we shouldn’t go too far, but I want to touch you as well,”
Elena “Mom, I want to come home! I don't belong here!” I cry into my phone. “Sweetie, you belong there far more than you belong out here. You need to be there. It’s time. You’ll see. In time you will see,” Erica says in that weak voice that breaks my heart more and more everytime I hear how ill she is. “No. They have fated mates…all of them and I know it can’t be me, yet these stupid, beautiful guys are interested in me. They’d be better with one another than with me,” I cry. “You must feel something or you wouldn’t be such a mess. Would you like to talk to me about it?” She asks. “Noah, my stepbrother. He’s hard to handle because we live together. His bedroom is next to mine, but then there is Ryder and…uh…mom…I saw them kissing, but it only made me want to be with both of them more. Then the playboy Alpha…he’s flirting and he’s cute, but he..I can’t imagine entertaining him because I know he must have a fated mate and he’s already such a fuckboy,” I explain through sobs. “So y
Ryder“Sorry, Dad. I’m a few minutes late because the future Alpha and I were bonding. It’ll be important for our future if we do some bonding now, “ I say as my father turns to me with a raised eyebrow as I enter our apartment within the packhouse.Cheri sneers at me. Of course, she does. But I know a truth that would flatten her really quickly. However, that truth is not mine to tell.“Son, sit down,” Dad says and I see a serious gleam in his eyes.Shit!“You are twenty one. You’ll be twenty two in just a few months,” He starts. I consider letting him know it’s just over six months until my birthday, but I keep my mouth shut. “I know you are still young, but we need to find your fated mate. If that doesn’t happen before next spring when the New England Area Mating Ball happens, you are going. You need to think about your future and so does your sister. She can’t just keep claiming to be the future Luna when Liam is hoping to find his fated mate. Liam will be going to the ball if he d