BETA ARLO. I was already done with my training for the day when I got a mindlink that I was needed at the Alpha’s office. So I hurriedly finished my shower and changed into my clothes before heading out to pick up my mate. I was delayed for a few minutes by some females who stopped me and asked about some things, but after that, Mindy and I walked home. This might be ordinary for some, but walking home with her at the end of the day’s duties and training would be one of the highlights of my day. This signals that I would spend the rest of my time with or near her until it was time for bed. I used to just let the days go by doing my daily routine, but since she came home with me in this pack, the days have been more pleasant. I had a beautiful female who only needed to smile, and all my tiredness would slip away. The Mindy I was with had changed significantly from the Mindy I had met over two months ago. She was smiling more often and would throw jokes from time to time. She was st
BETA ARLO.“Are you friends with him, Alpha?” Mindy asked in a broken voice.“No. No.” Zach answered. “Why, Mindy?”“He… He…” She began. Even without completing her words, I felt like someone punched me in my chest, and it was getting harder to breathe. I didn’t even realize she had wriggled free from my hold and had run away until I heard a door closing.“Arlo, go after her,” Alpha Jake told me, and I nodded before I exited the office. I felt lost. My tears trickled down my cheeks with the many thoughts running through my head. One thing was certain—she was terrified of him. Maddox was dead, but maybe Mindy’s nightmare was not yet over.I found her in our bedroom. She locked herself in the bathroom, and no matter how I pleaded, she refused to come out. She said she needed time to compose herself and told me I should go back downstairs and apologize on her behalf. But there was no way I would leave her. So I kept talking to her while trying to think if there were any dangerous ite
ZACH.The moment Drake told me that the border advised him that Dad had entered the territory with three more Alphas, including Uncle Jake, I already knew something was off.I wanted to reach out to Amber and ask if she had told her father about the contract, but I didn’t want her to think I was accusing her of something. So, I just prepared myself for a confrontation because I was sure this was not just an ordinary visit. Uncle Jake, Aeon, and Caspian entered the room first. Although I could see their tensed shoulders, they offered me welcoming smiles before settling into the different areas of my office. Dad was the last one to enter.He came in with a dark expression, holding folders in his hand. He closed the door, almost slamming it, before walking forward and tossing the folders on my desk. They slid and stopped exactly in front of me.“What’s the meaning of that?” He asked in almost a growly tone.It had been too long since he was furious with me, and I could already tell why
ZACH.“We can’t settle this if you keep shouting at each other.” Uncle Jake said at the exact moment a knock came and the door opened, revealing Arlo. I didn’t know if I would be grateful or annoyed at his disturbance, but all I knew was I didn’t want him in the office while Dad was pointing out all the wrong decisions I made—making me feel less of an Alpha than I already felt in the past two years. And then Mindy came and saw the pictures of Gray. She walked out and was followed by Arlo while the rest of us remained silent. I could already tell they were thinking the same thing as I was, but no one said anything about it, as if saying it out loud would make it a reality.But goddamn it, I wished I was wrong. I could only imagine what Mindy was feeling when she asked me if I was friends with Gray. The fuck, I was glad I wasn’t.Another Omega came to clean the spill and the shattered cup. Dad must have mindlinked someone, as I was frozen in my seat. After she left, Dad was calmer. H
ZACH. “Alpha,” Arlo called me, and I turned around to face him. He hadn’t answered the phone yet, but he was looking at the caller ID. “It’s Alpha Grant on the line.”I was right. This was not the first time he called. He would call from time to time to check on me, but I knew he wanted to remind me of the contract. I felt all eyes on me as the phone kept ringing. “I will answer it and put it on speaker,” I told them, and I saw some of them nod their heads. “But I want everyone to keep their silence.”There was nothing to hide anymore, so I might as well let them all in. ‘Can you order all borders not to allow Amber to leave?’ I mindlinked with Arlo as I rolled back toward my table. “Silver Moon Pack, this is Alpha Zach,” I said after I answered the call and put it on speaker. “I know Jacob is in there, together with his minions.” He said that without even greeting me. “Are you fucking watching me?” Uncle Jake answered, and I wanted to roll my eyes. What happened to keeping t
ZACH.By the time I was done telling them about our plans, Uncle Jake was smiling widely, and I was left confused. I was sure I didn’t say anything funny. Or did he think our plan was a big joke?My forehead creased the moment I stopped talking, and when I met his gaze, he flashed me a smug smirk. “You love her, don’t you?”I swallowed, and I felt my cheeks burning. Admitting to Amber that I love her was easier than saying it in a room full of older Alphas, including her father. “Your eyes twinkle, and your mouth twitches when you mention her name.” He added.“Like every sentence, you need to add her name to remind us it was her who gave you this idea. Or that she was with you.” Arlo added, and the smile on his face told me they were saying it in good faith, not to embarrass me. I dipped my head and gathered my hair, fixing the bun on my head. I didn’t know what to say, and I didn’t want to look at Uncle Caspian, as I knew I also owed him an apology. “Let’s not stress my boy here,”
ZACH. After my conversation with Dad, Arlo told me Amber had asked someone to drive her to the brook where my cabin was. And it calmed my heart.I was worried she had run off somewhere or tried to leave the territory, but going to the cabin meant she wanted refuge in our own world. I had no idea what she heard, but I hoped this was a sign she was giving me a chance to explain.They were still eating dinner when I told them I would see Amber first, and Uncle Caspian volunteered to drive me there. He said he wanted a word with his daughter. And I knew I could not refuse it. While driving, he asked me if it would be okay if he asked Amber what she heard. He promised he would try to explain the best way he could, so she wouldn’t be upset with me once she faced me. I was grateful for that, as I didn’t want to argue with Amber, either. I knew I was wrong to hide it from her, but I did it because I didn’t want her to think about it. Although it was revealed now, at least I had her father
AMBER. I had no idea where to go. The cabin was the only place I could think of, but going there would take too much time, as I didn’t have a wolf, and I was already worn out from training. And with the pain in my chest, I didn’t think I could run any further. So I asked someone to drive me to the brook.I entered the cabin and stayed in the living room, sitting on the couch and watching as the fireplace began warming up the whole house. I had no idea how long I’d been there when I heard a car approaching, and I could only guess the warrior told Zach where I went, which was what I really wanted. I wanted to speak with him.I still had no idea what his plans were, but I wanted to believe he loved me and was choosing me. That was the reason he was giving up, the reason he wanted to step down as an Alpha and not push for it anymore. I didn’t know if I could live with him choosing me over his title. I never wanted to be the reason he stepped down as an Alpha, the same way I hated mysel
AMBER. He couldn’t bend yet, but if he wanted me in his mouth, he would get it. I withdrew my pussy off him and used his armrests as my leverage to move my butt back until it landed on his desk. I inched backward until I was already on top of it. I was sure this sturdy table could hold me. I turned around and got onto all fours, causing the papers on the table to scatter, with some dropping onto the floor. But we didn’t mind them. I hiked my ass, positioning it directly on his face. And when I turned to look at him, his expression was worth all this aggressiveness and the mess I created. I bit my bottom lip and closed my eyes as his wet and warm mouth sucked and lapped at my wetness before his fingers penetrated me, finger-fucking me hard and deep.“This pussy is mine…” He groaned, sending a vibration within me, as the sound of my pussy squeaking for every thrust resonated around me. I couldn’t help but moan wantonly, reveling in the ecstasy and knowing that soon, I would be tremb
AMBER. With the arrival of Estelle in Zach’s office, I only had two options. Either I would be pissed off or completely ignore her and continue to play with “my cock.” I decided to do the latter even if I wasn’t sure how Zach would react. What if he got upset? I should stop. But I couldn’t. His manly scent and the sight of his erection, plus the adrenaline of being caught, were making my pussy throb. So I threw all decency away and grabbed him.Maybe the stubborn part of me also wanted to see how far Zach would go for me. “I only want to explain why I want my phone back… If this is about my attitude with your Betas, I apologize…”I tuned out her voice and leaned my head closer, opening my mouth wide before taking in half of his massive erection. His hand on his thigh crawled to my face and up to my nape, gripping it tightly. I expected him to pull me off his shaft, but he did the opposite. He pushed forward before letting out a low, vibrating growl. “I don’t want to talk right no
AMBER.“Hello, sexy Alpha…” I said as I kicked the door closed when I came to his office. Zach tilted his head up, and I eased into a more relaxed position, but the moment his eyes fell on my clothes, his forehead creased.“Did you walk back from the training ground to here just in your sports bra?”“I didn’t have time to shower, as I thought we would shower together,” I replied, placing my tea on his table as I stood beside it. He pushed his chair back, and I knew it was my signal that he wanted me on his lap. I didn’t waste time and sat on him, straddling his legs. “You can’t go around like that. It’s not immodest, but until my mark sits on you, I hate that someone might still think they have a chance with you.”“I love you…” I cut him and cupped his face. “I won’t do it again. Until your mark sits on my neck.”He chuckled and cupped my face. “Maybe by that time, I have to set another alibi… That until you carry our child, you can’t walk around in that.”I giggled, but my heart wa
BETA FEMALE MINDY.“Until you wear that badge on your shoulders, you are considered like any of the females visiting this pack. If letting us do our work is an annoyance to you, feel free to leave. You can come back when you are already in your right frame of mind.” I motioned with my hand, laying it out toward the door. She was about to swat my raised hand, but Arlo caught hers and lowered it. She hissed and stepped back. I was sure Arlo’s grip on her pained her. “I don’t like you…” She mumbled, still looking at me. “The feeling is mutual, Estelle.” I dropped the Lady in her name. She didn’t deserve it. Her mouth hung open, but she didn’t say anything this time. Arlo then nodded at the two men, and they took her things and walked out of the packhouse. Arlo told her she could follow them and they would drive her back here once it was done, but she refused. She wanted to speak with Alpha Zach.“As I mentioned, the Alpha is busy. You can wait for your things in the receiving room, or
BETA FEMALE MINDY. Lately, I haven’t been able to get enough of my mate and the kisses he has given me. I wanted more of them until we remembered we had things to do. We were laughing as we ran down the stairs to meet our new guest.‘She’s here, Lady Amber.’ I mindlinked my future Luna when we were already by the stairs and almost on the ground floor. ‘Don’t worry, I will be with her until she’s in her room. I also made Arlo promise not to leave the Alpha alone until you’re back to accompany him.’I was glad to do this for her. We both trusted our males but not the females around them, and since Lady Amber had been building my confidence to face those females who flirted with Arlo, I wanted to do the same thing for her. I would keep an eye on the Alpha with Arlo’s help when she couldn’t. ‘Thank you. I appreciate this.’ She replied. ‘I’ll be there soon.’ After we ended our conversation, I prepared myself to face the half-sibling of the man who had done me wrong. I only had a few hou
AMBER. “Marry me, Amber.” He said out of nowhere, and my mouth hung open. My eyes welled with tears, and so did his as we stared at each other. “Whatever happens after the 48 days, marry me.”I nodded my head as my tears fell. I felt his chair move forward, and his hand reached behind me, opening his desk drawer. I clung closer to him and turned my head to look at what he was doing. He pulled out a small box, and I already knew what it was—our engagement ring. I sent it back to him months after the accident in the hope it would stir emotion in him and that he would call me. He didn’t, and I regretted that move as I lost the last precious gift he gave me. “You kept it,” I mumbled as he slowly opened the box, and we both looked at the amber ring that I was only able to wear for a month. “I did, like all the other things that remind me of you.” He said as he tilted his head to meet my gaze. “I always looked at it when I was alone. Some days, I wanted to call you and get back with you
AMBER.“I will convince Zach to let Estelle live with us inside this packhouse,” I said straight to the point.“Are you sure about this, Lady Amber?” Arlo asked me. I nodded. “I would rather keep an eye on her than for us to be surprised by whatever her next plan is.”“This will be hard with both of you here,” Drake said. “I’m not asking you to choose.” I smiled at them. “I’m not asking you to choose me. But I want you to respect whatever Zach’s decisions are. Right now, he is choosing me. I will remain here as long as that’s the case. If ever there comes a time that he decides to turn his back on me and choose… choose someone else. I will respect his decision this time.”I saw how Drake’s and Arlo’s shoulders dropped at my words while Mindy bit her bottom lip as she crossed her arms across her chest. Their reaction made me teary-eyed. These three had shown me nothing but support. “But until then… I will do my best to help Zach get out of this mess. I don’t want your Alpha to step
AMBER. Zach was still asleep when I rose from the bed and left the bedroom. There were many things to prepare and do before that cunning snake appeared today. We were not able to sleep early. We talked. A lot.We poured out all our emotions—our disappointment and fears. Despite the uncertainties, I was more confident that Zach was mine. He was more determined not to let Anna or Estelle get between us. He told me he had never been attracted to anyone except me, so he knew that the chaos she brought would not affect his feelings for me, only his future. And I believed him because I felt the same way. There was no one I had ever been attracted to aside from him. For some people, the attraction wanes as they grow older, but for me, it only grows stronger. I loved Zach when we were younger, loved him at his peak when he was my strength and protector, and loved him still at his lowest and most vulnerable state. My love for him keeps growing more in every stage of his life—of our lives. I
ZACH.In my rush to confront her and take Amber away from there, I didn’t consider that she might turn out to be my fated mate, but I was lucky that she wasn’t. Or this would be a bigger mess than it already was. Estelle left with a threat that she would come back. I was left baffled by the contract she showed me. I was sure I didn’t sign anything, but was it because, in my hurry to get out of that room, I signed it without noticing and thought it was part of the original contract?Did I fucking sign another blood contract without my knowing?A sudden movement snapped me back to the present. I found Amber bent over the bushes at the side of the steps, retching uncontrollably, but nothing was coming out. I slammed my coiled fist on the armrest of my chair. Moments like this were when I wished I could fucking walk. I could do nothing but watch her while Mindy rushed out of the packhouse and went to her.“Amber…” My voice came out so low as I rolled toward the edge, nearer. I pulled o