Cherry
As if underwater, I heard Heather and Chris’s voices telling Dylan and me to go and join the party. The pack’s excitement flooded the room. Someone had set music playing, the pounding beat like the jackhammer of my heart. Everything around me seemed to blur. A wall of well-wishers surrounded me for what felt like an eternity. With each exchange, my breath caught more sharply. It barely registered as my dad found me, pulling me into a giant bear hug. In his arms, my feelings threatened to spill out, but more excited arms soon tugged me onward.
Finally, at the edge of the room, the space around me was clear of friends. I take a step, only to find myself teetering as if walking on unstable ground. Belatedly, I realized that I was, somehow, beside Dylan. He must have come out the other side of the pack, too.
Instinctually, my arm reached out to him, curving around his but Dylan tensed. A frown marred his handsome brows, and he pushed me away as if unable to bear my touch. I gaped after him, but he only stalked away.
Grabbing a bottle of champagne by the door, he strode out onto the empty balcony. My gaze darted back at the crowd, but the pack was oblivious, abuzz with excitement. Most people talked about the upcoming celebration.
My eyes tracked back out to Dylan’s wide back. He leaned over the balcony railings as if wanting to escape into the night. I wondered if that was what he wanted. Did his wolf want to flee from me too? I watched him take a swig of the bottle in hand, only to swiftly take another. Tears prickled across my gaze. No matter how hard I tried, it was hopeless. Dylan would never love me. He hated me. Humiliation washed over me as I remembered how he’d flinched at my touch.
Burin three months, we’d be bound together for the rest of our lives. A flash of our future beat through me. I’d really tried to believe that things would work out between us. I’d tried to give Dylan time to come around to me, to show him that I’d always be there for him, but his constant coldness towards me was… exhausting.
Taking one last look at Dylan’s back, I snuck off to the bathroom to gather my thoughts. There, I raked my fingers through my hair, tidying up the flyaway strands. I stared hard at my reflection.
The whole past year seemed to swarm over me. The one I’d spent so hard trying to get Dylan to notice me. For the first time, instead of helplessness, anger flooded me. I couldn’t keep doing this. I wouldn’t stay here only for Dylan to reject me over and over.
I thought of the moments of happiness I’d had over the last year while designing things like the curtains, cushions, and some of the dresses I’d made for myself. A year ago at college, I graduated with a qualification in fashion design. I’d toyed with the idea of applying to universities to study for a degree, but I’d put my interests on hold to come to grips with my future duties as Luna and to have more time to get to know Dylan. I refused to put them on hold any longer. I would apply to study further.
In what felt like forever, excitement drummed through me. For my future. For what I wanted. The idea cemented. I wanted to be happy with what I was doing. The dream of designing things, creating them, and sharing them with others took root. So… I’d leave the pack before the bonding ceremony.
It wasn’t as if Dylan wanted me around. He’d probably be relieved when he found out I’d gone.
With a final look in the mirror, my eyes filled with determination, I left the bathroom. From the edge of the room, I checked out the banquet hall and didn’t spot Dylan. He was so tall that I’d easily have spied him if he’d returned from the balcony. Not feeling like socializing alone and accepting more congratulations as half of the “happy couple,” I snuck out of the hall.
The barn had a large hallway, which was empty except for Dylan. As I stepped out into the space, I registered his slumped shoulders, how he leaned back against the wall, the bottle of champagne trailing in his hand.
His dilated eyes snagged on me. “Che– Cherry,” he slurred.
Shit.
He slid down the wall a little. He was wasted. For a moment, I thought about getting Bert to help. But at the thought, I worried Dylan would follow me back into the reception room. What if Dylan blurted out why he’d got so drunk? He’d ruin his dad’s night. Neither of his parents needed to see their son like this. The pack didn’t need to see their future Alpha like this, either.
I resolved to look after him myself. Our house was only a few minutes’ walk down the dirt track. Dylan’s house, I corrected myself. It wouldn’t be mine much longer. I’d made up my mind, but I still couldn’t resist the urge to look after him.
Dylan dropped the, luckily, empty bottle with a thud, then swayed.
I darted forward, burrowing into his side and wrapping my arm around his waist. “I’ve got you.” I guided him towards the front door, fumbling with the latch, and then out into the night.
Cherry Dylan was heavy. Luckily, he was lucid enough to walk, albeit with lurching steps. He was so tall compared to my petite frame. My head only came up to his chest. Even in the heels I wore, he towered over me. Now and then, his big hand flopped against my neck or down my back as he steadied himself. By keeping an arm around his waist, I guided him in the right direction and kept him upright. Within a few short minutes, we were at our door. It suddenly dawned on me that I’d left my coat, with my keys, at Dylan’s parents. “Fuck,” I swore. Dylan let out a deep laugh, and my eyes darted up to him. He stared down at me. “I haven’t heard you swear before.” With the way he blinked at me, you’d have thought I’d grown a second head. I reminded myself that he was drunk. He probably was seeing two of me. I sighed, “Well, now you have.” Irritation needled through me as the cold night stung my bare arms, neck, and back. Even Dylan’s body heat as he leaned on me couldn’t chase the cold aw
Cherry His fingers fell away, and I felt the head of his arousal press against my entrance. Its firm pressure was delicious. I opened to him completely. Gently, he drove into me, stretching me wider and wider. I felt a shudder of pain, but pressing my legs against his ass, I encouraged him further in. The discomfort was soon gone, and only his fullness was left. It was all I could think about. As he moved, I bucked against him, and it was the most exquisite pleasure I’d ever experienced. His breath was on my throat, his tongue trailing kisses down to the neckline of my dress. He dragged the silk up and over my head, stripping me of my bra too. Then his attention was on my breasts, kneading and nuzzling them. As he thrust into me and suckled, I spiraled over the edge. “Dylan,” I panted. I’d lost track of the number of times I’d come apart when he found his own release, letting out a groan and spilling hot inside me. *** When I blinked my eyes open, it took me a moment to convince
Dylan I lumbered into the loft: the open-plan office was where I spent a large portion of time. The Starsmoon kept a complex of buildings here in which to manage our various businesses. We ran a diverse range of trades, which allowed our community to be autonomous and sustain us. We managed a few farms, a large amount of forestry, and a timber and silage business. All of these things required day- to-day admin tasks. Yet, I couldn’t focus on the dozen or so tasks that had racked up because all I could think about washer. Cherry. And the spectacular mess I’d made of things. I hadn’t thought it could get any worse than playing house and being trapped in a life I didn’t want. Well, it could. And it had. Through drunken sex, and my life had reached the breaking point. I swept a hand tiredly across my face, still feeling groggy from the party two nights’ ago. I didn’t usually drink much. A beer or two with Bert or the other guys in the pack was usually the limit. Whereas at the party,
Dylan I stiffened, feeling the weight of guilt settle on my shoulders. I didn’t dislike Cherry. But I couldn’t stand this feeling of being trapped in something I hadn’t chosen. I was a fucking Alpha, for Nuu-Chah’s sake. I gave the orders. I drummed my fingers on the desk, wondering how I could ever accept this. Then, a flash of Cherry, looking at me with her grey eyes, almost silver like the dress she’d worn the other night, shot through me. The memory of her gaze on me with such meaning, although it still caused my stomach to knot, also fired a note of desire through me. Maybe, just maybe, our path would bring us together. Maybe with time, I could grow to accept her. When Bert brought me my much-needed caffeine hit, I fired up the laptop, and my tasks engulfed me. The day flew by, and when I returned home with the dusk, it was with anticipation. I’d resolved to talk to Cherry: to try to patch things up for the sake of the future. For the sake of what we might be to each other giv
Cherry It was the day before the Moon Ceremony, and I felt sick to my core. Apprehension was wreaking havoc on my body. Inwardly, I chided myself. Why had I left it until the last minute to leave? But the logical reasons for doing so came to my rescue. These reasons had become something of a mantra for me over the last few days. As I packed the last of my stuff into the small carry-on suitcase, I reminded myself of them. Today’s flight from Seattle had been the cheapest I could find by far. On top of that, the scholarship I’d been lucky enough to be awarded for my tuition abroad would only start in the fall. Until then, I’d have to find a job for my living expenses. I had a small amount of savings that would give me a few weeks in a cheap backpacker’s hostel in Berlin until I secured a job, but it was hardly much. So, it had been safer to wait until the last minute. The worst-case scenario was that I had to live in a hostel for the summer months and work at whatever job I found befor
Dylan Rich said, “You don’t look well, Cherry. Maybe I should call Dylan.” “No,” I exclaimed, hearing the note of panic ringing in my tone. “No, I’m fine,” I tried more calmly, but I noticed Rich’s expression grow serious, and his eyes widened as he looked behind me. He’d caught sight of the suitcase on the back seat. Now both Rich and Sam were looking at me strangely. Worriedly, I realized. I steeled myself, and even though I knew they wouldn’t believe me, I said, “I’m fine. I’ll see you later.” I knew the guards wouldn’t dare stop me. As their future Luna, they respected me too much, but that didn’t mean they wouldn’t inform Dylan. Quickly, I climbed back into the car, started the engine and drove out of Lord Hills. Panic quickened my heart, and sweat dampened my forehead. I felt it slipping down my back beneath my thin T-shirt, as I cursed the narrow lanes that didn’t allow for much speed. As I trundled along, it felt like no time at all before a shape appeared in my rear vi
Dylan I clenched my fists together as I watched Cherry’s red car disappear around the bend. I cracked my jaw as I grasped that she’d really gone. I felt something rupture inside of me, and my wolf rose within me, howling in desolation. I felt the beast itching beneath my skin as if nipping and scratching to get out. Yet, I knew if I let my primal instinct take over, the beast would bolt after Cherry again. The urge warred within me, and it took all my strength to wrestle the lupine shadow into submission. I wouldn’t let it surface and chase after her. Not after she’d rejected me so resolutely. Instead, I returned at an ambling human pace, climbing over a gate into a field belonging to Starsmoon. But the vast and far-reaching fields I ordinarily found so full of space and freedom felt empty today. They no longer had Cherry in them. She was gone. The knowledge beat through me again like a quake through the earth. As I walked, the memory of her silver eyes, steely with resolve, made me
Dylan “Oh, Dylan, love, I’m so sorry,” My mom wrapped her arms around me, but I didn’t squeeze her back, worried that if I did, I’d shatter completely. I didn’t have the luxury of showing my hurt. I was the Alpha-in-training. I wouldn’t show weakness, not even to my parents. My dad was the first to mention practicalities. “We’ll take care of canceling the caterers, but I think it’ll be best if you talk to the pack later.” Hardening my stare, I said, “Thanks. And yes, I’ll tell them later.” My jaw clenched, and I added, “But it’s not over. We can talk more about all of this later.” I didn’t miss the worried look my parents exchanged, which said that there was nothing to talk about. Nothing could be done, not if Cherry had rejected the mating bond between us. But needing space, I left them, stalking down the path to my own house. I realized that it was only now, with my heart feeling like shrapnel in my chest, that I knew what it wanted. It wanted its mate. I wanted Cherry. I’d fal