“Tonight, we welcome Amber Tremaine as Gamma Alex’s mate. She is already a part of our family, now she’ll be a part of our pack. She will receive the title of Gamma female and should be treated with such respect,” Colin states with a clipped tone. “Alex cut into your mate’s palm please.”
Paige hands him a small dagger. The handle of it is worn like it’s been used in many ceremonies before ours. His love filled eyes are glued to mine as he slices the knife across my hand. The ache from my splitting skin is overshadowed by the joy I feel. Blood warms the wound as it begins to seep out.
“Now, Amber do the same to him, please.”
The blade runs through his hand, setting his blood free. I place my bloody palm in his, the mixture of our blood creates a stream of wind around us. Right now, Alex and I are the only two beings in existence. I’m tran
The sound of laughter carries through my childhood home. Alex offered to build a new one right next to the swimming hole, but I didn’t want to ruin that sacred ground. Instead, we turned my father’s old home into our new one. We gutted everything in it and started anew. Now, it’s a place of a happiness. “Princess! Come on, everyone wants to see you,” Alex says, grabbing my hand and dragging me to the living room. “Okay. Okay. Geez, I just wanted some snacks.” “You know, I’m going to have to come up with another name for you once the twins get here.” I lay a hand on my swollen belly. “Yeah, if one of them is a girl.” “Trust me. We’re having a boy and a girl. Just like Paige and Peyton only cuter cause they’ll be ours.”
Luckily for us, our specialist agreed to move onto packlands for the last few weeks of my pregnancy. By the time we reach the hospital, I’m in tears from the pain. Our doctor meets us by the front door. “How long are the contractions?” “It’s just a constant pain,” Alex answers as he lays me on the hospital bed. “She’s had no relief.” “Okay. Amber, honey, it’s Dr. Roberts. Are you feeling any pressure to push?” My response is stolen by a sharp bite of pain to my pelvis. I grip Alex’s hand. Every single coping technique I learned during my pregnancy goes out the window. I barely register the rustling of bodies around me or the fact that Dr. Roberts is checking how close to delivery I am. “The babies are
Looking up into Alex’s big green eyes, I can feel my heart shatter. I’m ashamed of the woman I was. His tears stream down his face. The tears crash onto my face, mixing with my own. The plaid blanket wrapped around us can only shield us from so many eyes. I’m thankful Paige and Colin left already. Paige would have a field day seeing me hurt. It’s not like I don’t deserve it. “Thank you for at least giving me tonight. I spoke to Alpha Stephen. I’m set to leave tomorrow.” His tears fall faster, but I know they’re not for me. They are for him. Being saddled with a mate like me is a terrible thing. “Okay,” he chokes out. I wrap my arms around him, letting his scent calm me one last time. The sweet strawberry scent that will forever be tattooed on my brain. I almost want to ask him for his forgiveness again. It didn’t work the last three hundred times, but maybe it will now. I shake my head clear of the urge. I can’t keep making this harder than it has to be. Alex wants to be free of
“Well, well, well if it isn’t Amber Tremaine,” the pimple faced wolf calls as he steps onto the training mat.“Mack. How unfortunate to run into you.”Mack’s face turns red. A sign his temper is on the rise. I smirk. He’s too easy.“Remember the move I showed you?” Jake whispers.I nod to him.“Good. Use it when he lunges. Finish this quickly and I’ll buy you dinner,” Jake replies.Mack lunges at me, grabbing hold of my waist. I bring up my elbow and slam it down on his spine. His arms loosen, giving me enough space to arch back and knee him in the chest. His hands grab at his chest, trying to help him breathe. He’s distracted and I use that to my advantage. Stepping away from him completely and lunging before he can catch his breath. I pin him easily; his growls fill the training grounds. His body thrashes around, testing my hold. My hands firmly keep his wrists down, my knee pushes further into his chest until he concedes.Jake whistles. “Good job, A!”He claps as I take a bow and h
Jake grumbles and sips his dark coffee. Once we arrive at the training grounds, the place is overfilled with she-wolves. It looks like every young she-wolf capable of shifting is here. I give Jake a look and he shakes his head. We hang towards the back, waiting for Alpha Stephen to make his announcement. The she-wolves seem excited while the warriors seem worried. Jake is overly quiet, and I wonder if he knows more than he’s saying. Maybe his attitude this morning was less about the early rise and more about whatever is going on. Alpha finally walks onto a training mat. It’s easy to get a good look at him while he’s standing in front of us. His gray hair is oily and messy, like he’s been yanking on it all night.Or Luna Monica was yanking on it all night. Vera snickers.Grow up. Alpha Stephen’s face has seen better days. The circles under his eyes are several shades darker than normal. His forehead is creased with worry.“There’s no easy way to say this, so I’m just going to come rig
The sour beer coats my mouth. I hate beer, but I have to pretend to celebrate with the rest of the guys. The Aurora Flame packhouse has officially been demolished. That means that I get to go home to my new territory. The cold bottle soothes my blistered hands. Blisters that are evidence of the home I just destroyed. My home. Though it didn’t feel like home anymore. Nothing has felt like home lately.Rita pulls out a barstool, sitting next to me. “How are you feeling, Gamma?”“Amazing.” “You shouldn’t lie to a witch who can see the future.”I look at her with suspicion. She has hardly spoken to me over the last year. Why is she talking to me now?“Did you see something that includes me, Rita?”“I did.”“Well? Are you going to tell me?”“You know I can’t. Things change far too quickly. I’m only here with a warning.”I nod, so she knows I’m listening. “Stop defying the Moon Goddess.”What? By the time I look up, Rita is gone. Her barstool sits empty, as if she was never there. What d
Insomnia has infected me lately, so it’s no surprise that I beat the Alpha to his own office. My eyes wander around the room. The office that was once a lemon tribute is now navy. The tired wooden furniture has been replaced by white modern pieces. My fingers brush over his bookcases, landing on a picture.The picture brings tears to my eyes. Her face is there, smiling at me, the way she used to. It was taken the night of Paige and Colin’s ceremony. The night I forced her to reject me. I pay little attention to the other three couples in the photo. I just stare at her.“Nice to see you, Alex.” Colin’s voice startles me, forcing me to pry my eyes from the picture.“Did you miss me?”“Duh. I missed our nights together.”“Really? He’s been back for a few hours and you’re already hitting on him!” Paige smiles at me, giving me a small hug before taking her place on Colin’s lap.“So, I heard the demo went well,” Colin starts.“Yeah. Our old packhouse is no longer standing. What are the plan
“I missed you,” Alex coos. I jump at the sound of his voice. My blue dress flows, tickling my bare toes as I walk to my mate. “I missed you,” I murmur as I wrap my arms around him. Alex squeezes me tightly, like he’s scared to lose me again. My muscles contract as I try to match the strength of his squeeze. A soft melody plays, seemingly from nowhere. Alex sways with me, twirling me around. My back hits a wall. I turn to see Cory standing there. I squeeze Alex’s hand tighter, silently begging for him to pull me back. When he doesn’t, I turn to search his face, but he’s been replaced by a faceless man. I yank my hand away from the stranger. My eyes scan the room. It’s suddenly filled with men from my past. I push myself through the sea of bodies, desperately searching for Alex. The only person I want right now is him. Each man is screaming at me, blaming me for ruining his family. My heartbeat thunders against my chest. When my eyes finally land on my mate, my heart all but stops co