The guard had returned to his post after Andrew caught me and the other strangers had gone on their merry way. So, we were basically alone.“I’m sorry about that,” he said. “I mean, I’m sorry you had to hear it from someone else first. I was going to tell you before you met my parents.”I was shocked. “So, it’s true?” I asked him incredulously. “You want me to be your mate? I don’t even know you!”“I understand your surprise, but please, hear me out.”“I’m listening.”He sighed. “So, here’s the thing. There’s something about my pack that you probably don’t know about.”“What’s that?”“Unlike other werewolf packs, we don’t feel any mate bond here.”I was amazed. “I’ve never heard of that before.”“It’s not a common thing but it’s normal in the River Pack.”“So how do you find a mate?”“The pack elders choose our mates for us or if you’re fortunate enough to fall in love with someone and they feel the same way about you, then you could become mates.”“I see…”“Yeah. That was why Antonio
They turned to look at me and Luna Alana raised an eyebrow once she saw me. She was a plain-looking woman with big bones. Her black hair was streaked with stands of grey.Her husband on the other hand was an older version of Andrew. He was handsome and charismatic. He grinned when he saw me.“So, we finally get to meet the she-wolf who has swept Andrew off his feet,” he said.“It was the other way around,” I laughed nervously. “He swept me off my feet. Literally.”Alana scoffed and rolled her eyes. I didn’t need a sorceress to tell me that the Luna didn’t like me. No surprise there!“Please, join us,” said Alpha Grant.Andrew pulled out a chair for me to sit down. I nearly blushed at the gentlemanly gesture. I can’t remember ever being treated with this level of respect by a man before. Especially one that hasn’t been intimate with me.I was sitting directly opposite Alana and beside Grant. The Alpha’s welcoming aura put me at ease. However, when I looked at Alana, I saw her watching
I gasped. “Lattie is dead?”“Oh, goodness, no!” He replied quickly with a nervous laugh. “She’s very much alive. At least, she was, the last time I heard.”I sighed with relief. I didn’t know I cared about Lattie’s well-being until now.“So, what happened to her then? Where did she go?”“Well, about two months ago, she ran into someone from her past in the village market. It turns out they were both in love with each other before she got sold off to the Highlands as a slave.”“Oh.”“Yeah… They didn’t see or heard from each other all these years. She thought he was dead and he thought the same too. But when they met again…”“They fell in love all over again,” I said, completing his sentence for him.“Exactly. At least she was honest enough to tell me the truth right off the bat.”I felt sorry for sweet old Albert. He got dumped by the love of his life for someone else. How awful.“That day when she returned from the market, I knew something had happened,” he said. “She was in an excell
This wasn’t just lovemaking, it felt like a reunion of long-lost lovers. We are physically strangers but our souls knew each other. I was climaxing and shedding tears of joy. This was by far the most beautiful experience of my entire existence.As he reached orgasm, Rowan locked himself inside me, pouring his seed into me. We latched onto each other, our eyes staring into one another as we climbed the peak together.I didn’t want this glorious moment to end, but when it did, I felt deeply satisfied. It was as if a gaping hole inside my soul has finally been filled up.“That was amazing,” I whispered to him.He smiled at me and said, “I felt it too.”Rowan cuddled me and we lay together in silence. The sun had fully risen now and we could hear the activities going on around the palace.I felt a burst of happiness rise within me. I have finally found my person. I never wanted to be with anyone else ever again!“What is your name?” He asked me. I felt the rumble in his chest when he spok
“Why keep slaves at all?” I asked him. “The Highlands is wealthy enough for you to afford to pay people for the work they do for you. That’s the honourable thing to do.”“Look, slavery has been existing even before the time of my father. It’s our way of life here. Why should I change it?”“Because the slaves are people’s loved ones. They have families and they deserve to live dignified lives. Nobody wants to be a slave, Rowan. It’s not a good way to live.”He smiled at me. “So, you want me to release the slaves?”I nodded.“Would that make you happy?”“Yes,” I replied.“Then it is done,” he said.I gasped. “Do you truly mean that?”“You have my word,” he promised. “And I shall let everyone know that it was your idea. Your duty as the pack Luna has already begun.”I hugged him tightly. “Thank you!”“You will always have anything you want here, Jade. All you have to do is ask.”I couldn’t believe it. Was this truly happening? Suddenly I have been transformed from a homeless traveller to
“Don’t let her attitude bother you. My mother is a diva. She likes to blow everything out of proportion. Her room is a perfect example of that.”I couldn’t help but giggle. “Don’t be rude. That’s your mother.”“You don’t have to tell me,” he chuckled.“But seriously, she doesn’t like me.”“So?”“So, I don’t want to clash with her all the time. I’ve been down that road before.”He smiled slowly but the smile did not reach his icy eyes. “Listen, my love. This is my territory. I rule here, I am the law and my word is final. Nobody, and I repeat, nobody will dare hurt even a strand of hair on your head. Not even my mother.“You are now an extension of me. Whoever disrespects you, disrespects me and I assure you, they all know the consequences of attempting that.”I didn’t know it was possible for me to love Rowan even more but I did. Tears of joy stung my eyes and I didn’t bother to hide them. They ran down my cheeks and he swiped them away with his thumbs.“Didn’t I say I love you?” He a
“Maybe we should wait until it becomes obvious to everyone.”“That would piss off my mother. She likes to be the first to know about everything.”“Well, she’s going to have to wait this time. I don’t want to be accidentally punched in the belly by anyone.”“My mother wouldn’t do such. She’s not that cruel.”“I’m sorry,” I apologized immediately. “I didn’t mean to offend you.”“I’m not offended,” he replied with a smile. “My mother is simply protective of me and my siblings. She’s not the best mother in the world but she’s not a bad person either.”I nodded, accepting his correction graciously. Perhaps it was time to extend an olive branch to Ria. I don’t want to have a tense relationship with her as I did with Gertrude.“What do you think it is?” He asked me, rubbing my belly again. “A boy or a girl?”“I think I want a girl this time,” I said with a smile.“What will we name her?”“Nyla. That was my mother’s name.”“I like it.”“Do you mean that?”“Yes.”I flew into his arms, embracin
“I’m not sure,” I said uncertainly. I wanted to meet my baby so badly but I was scared shitless.Memories of my last experience came rushing back and fear crippled me. I couldn’t even get up from my chair.“It’s ok, Jade,” Rowan said soothingly. “Everything is going to be all right. I’m going to be with you the whole time, I promise.”I nodded at him and let him lift me to my feet.“Do you want me to carry you?” He asked.“No, I can walk. They say walking helps to move the process along.”We went inside and as we headed in the direction of our suite, we ran into Ria. Her eyebrows lifted curiously when she saw us.“What’s the matter now?” She asked.A burst of hot liquid ran down my legs just then, splashing on the carpeted floor. That was all the answer Ria needed.“The baby is coming!” She yelled at us.“Yeah, we sort of knew that already,” said Rowan sarcastically.His sarcasm flew over his head. “So, what are you waiting for? Take her to the birthing room!”“No,” I shouted. “Please