SamI follow the direction of her gaze as she pushes past me. I’m not surprised to find that thin-lipped manager glaring at us, and it’s the final straw. Marching over to where he is standing, I make sure that he can feel my power flow through the air.“Mr. Nash, I intend on asking Jemma out on a date as soon as we’ve booked out tomorrow. I will also make sure that we never have our conferences here again, if you so much as think about firing her.” A soft growl vibrates through me and I note the fear in his eyes.He nods and leaves without a word. I turn to find Jemma, but she is gone. I wanted to take the chance of asking her for a dance, but each time I do see her, she is busy. The last thing I want is for anyone here to be neglected.I’m relieved when the night ends. All I can think about is signing for the bill and then finding Jemma.JemmaI saw them talking right before I walked into the kitchen. My heart is racing. My palms are sweaty and I just need a moment. I rush into the s
LyraAs I run back home with tears streaming down my eyes, the image I just saw won’t leave my mind. I knew this was happening. That’s the worst part. Deep down, I knew that Eli was cheating on me. I just ignored all the damn signs.It’s hope. Hope that made me believe that Eli loved me. Hope that we will have a beautiful future. Hope that my life will be filled with joy. Hope is what blinded me to the reality of what was really happening.I’m humiliated. If I could see it, then surely the entire pack knows! My mind goes through the list of my friends and I wonder how many of them knew as I storm into our home. How many people knew that my mate has been sleeping with my best friend?“Lyra! Stop!” Eli shouts, but I don’t want to listen to a word he has to say. I’m done being told that I am imagining things. I’m done thinking that I’m going crazy. I felt that something was wrong and went to talk to the person I thought was my friend, only to find my husband between her legs!“LYRA!” Eli
Lyra“Is that guy bothering you?” A very sexy manly man appears in front of me with an incredibly sexy voice and a dreamy smile. Damn! My hormones are going to get me into trouble! I take in his look. His very tight black t-shirt that leaves very little to the imagination and his washed-out jeans.“No. I can handle him.” I flash him my sexiest smile and instantly regret it. Having to remind myself that I’m married. But am I? Really? I mean, Eli has been schtupping my fake best friend from before we were married!“May I join you? He isn’t your husband or boyfriend or anything, is he?” The Greek god sits down and doesn’t wait for me to answer. He just oozes sex appeal, and it is almost as if it is something I’ve been needing, and I never even realized.“So? What is a beautiful girl like you doing in a dump like this?” He smiles before taking a sip of his beer while I study him for a moment.“Does that line ever work?” I burst out laughing and see a smile I haven’t seen from a guy in man
Lyra“I’m not leaving. Your little temper tantrum has gone far enough, and we are going to sort this out.” Eli grips my upper arm and almost drags me to our room. He opens the shower without letting go of me and shoves me under the cold water without giving me the opportunity to get undressed.I’m honestly too tired to fight him. The water warms up, and I slowly strip out of my soaked dress while he stands beside the shower growling and shifting from one foot to the other. I know why he just did what he did. His wolf senses are far stronger than my human ones.He can smell what I did. If his guards didn’t tell him, he could smell it from the moment I got out of the car. That was the intention. Once I’m done, I get out and he hands me a towel. I glare at him as I move around our room and get dressed.Only when I’m completely dressed, do I turn to glare at him. With my arms crossed tightly over my chest, I push down the guilt that I feel for what I’ve done. I might have had a one-night
LyraSadly, faking it until we make it situation doesn’t work and, after two weeks of being completely disgusted, whenever Eli tries to touch me and my mind continuously reminds me that another man touched me with more love than I have ever felt, I snap.I tried to work things out, but my guilt is overwhelming. Eli had an affair the entire time we were together. I keep wondering if she satisfied him more than I did. I keep wondering if they tried the things we have been doing or if they were more adventurous.I also think about those hands that slipped over my skin and touched me in ways I never imagined possible. I don’t even know his name, but it doesn’t matter. He showed me something. He showed me more truth than Eli ever gave me.He showed me what love should look like, even if it was just a one-night stand. He showed me what making love should feel like. After yet another failure in trying to be intimate with Eli, I can’t help myself and bring up the marriage contract.“I can’t d
LyraIt feels weird to be back in my human world. After the life I’ve led with the werewolves, it’s almost impossible to imagine living a normal human life now. I make my way down the main street and look for any possible signs that someone might have a job for me.I have lived the high life thanks to Eli, but after what he did, I am willing to take anything just to start my new life with. I see a “Help wanted” sign in an antique store and almost rush inside. A bell rings the moment I open the door.“Oh, hello, dear. Just let me know if there is anything you might be interested in.” A friendly old woman smiles from behind a counter.“I actually want to ask about the help wanted sign.” My voice waivers as I fight back the tears. There are a lot of things I didn’t think about when I decided to leave Eli. Those very same things are now completely overwhelming me.“Oh, yes! Do you want to apply?” She gets up and starts to look through a huge pile of papers on a desk behind her.“Yes, plea
Lyra“Lyra.” I struggle to find my voice as I take his hand and shake it. I fully expect him to disappear, but he isn’t moving. “I have to get back to work.” I push past him and rush away. There is just too much to think about. I don’t take his number, which is stupid.“What did the doctor say?” Mrs. Duncan smiles when I walk into the store and shock runs through my body. How on earth am I going to raise this baby on my own?! Tears instantly start to run as I rush into the back.I hear the bell from the door ring and almost breathe a sigh of relief. Mrs. Duncan will be busy with the customer and I will have just a moment to recover. I try to wipe my eyes, but the tears just keep coming.“Lyra, dear. There is someone here to see you.” Her voice is filled with amusement and I nearly jump at the sound of it. I whip around, and my eyes meet his. Silas. How did he … He must have followed me.“You didn’t look good, and you nearly fell, so I thought I would just come and check if you were ok
LyraAfter work, I decide to risk it and take a walk in the forest. The air is so crisp and clear, and it feels as if the colours are brighter. It has to be the hormones! It feels so good to be right there in the thick of nature. It feels right. It feels like home.I sigh. The forest was never really my home. I only feel this way because I spent so many years with the werewolves. Now I’m pregnant with a human child from a man that doesn’t even know and doesn’t look like he might want the responsibility.I told Mrs. Duncan that I was pregnant when I returned to work earlier. She was shocked, but she was really kind about it. Thankfully, she said that my job would be safe. I can’t see myself raising this baby without having a job.For the first time in a long time, I’m grateful I don’t have one of those high executive jobs in the city. In our small-town, things move slower, and I can give my baby what he or she needs. Financially and emotionally. At least, that is the hope.My thoughts
SamI follow the direction of her gaze as she pushes past me. I’m not surprised to find that thin-lipped manager glaring at us, and it’s the final straw. Marching over to where he is standing, I make sure that he can feel my power flow through the air.“Mr. Nash, I intend on asking Jemma out on a date as soon as we’ve booked out tomorrow. I will also make sure that we never have our conferences here again, if you so much as think about firing her.” A soft growl vibrates through me and I note the fear in his eyes.He nods and leaves without a word. I turn to find Jemma, but she is gone. I wanted to take the chance of asking her for a dance, but each time I do see her, she is busy. The last thing I want is for anyone here to be neglected.I’m relieved when the night ends. All I can think about is signing for the bill and then finding Jemma.JemmaI saw them talking right before I walked into the kitchen. My heart is racing. My palms are sweaty and I just need a moment. I rush into the s
SamI don’t like that she looks so nervous. I don’t have time to think about it as the other alphas walk into the conference room. I carefully watch them to make sure none of them react to her scent and I almost breathe a sigh when I see it seems to be just me.“Hey, alpha, are you okay?” Mark hands me my folder and we take our seats.“Nope.” I frown as the meeting gets underway. I have a hard time focusing. I’m concerned about Jemma and the fact that she looked so nervous. It’s clear the hotel management makes sure that their staff don’t get involved with guests, and I guess it makes sense.I just don’t like to see her like that. I have to find a way to speak to her without any of them around. Yes, that’s what I will do. I will speak to her when I’m not a guest. It’s going to be really tough to stay away while we are here, but I have another twenty-four hours, and then I won’t be a guest anymore.JemmaI’m relieved when he doesn’t try to speak to me again. Usually, if I just tell the
Jemma“I hate conferences. Why can’t people just come to the hotel for a holiday?” Mandy complains. She always complains. When there are only holiday guests, she complains because she can’t earn enough to be the one just enjoying the hotel.“Just keep your eyes open. I’m sure one of these guys at the conference will catch your eye.” I wink, hoping it will distract her.“If only! Mr. Nash told me this morning I’m working in the restaurant for the next three days. Apparently, he wasn’t happy with the way I arranged the conference room the last time these guys were here.” Mandy sighs.“Besides, all of them have been here before. There are no new faces.” A sly smile crosses her lips. “Or bodies to look at. Have you seen how their wives dress?!” She rolls her eyes and leaves the kitchen. I grab my tray and pack the water bottles before making my way to the conference room.After giving the room a quick once over, I leave feeling confident that Mr. Nash will be happy. It is the first year t
SamOur pack’s history is filled with love stories and war. It is filled with betrayal and reconciliation. So much has happened that I sometimes feel as if my own love story won’t be enough. It won’t be as impressive. Thankfully, I don’t have much time to think about it.Becoming alpha isn’t easy. Taking over isn’t easy. Finding a mate is the toughest part of it all. Every mother keeps looking at me as if expecting me to pick her daughter and every daughter is looking at me as if I’m a piece of meat she has to devour.All I can see are black widow spiders who want to catch me, mate with me and then kill me! What was supposed to be an exciting time very quickly turned into me trying to hide from literally everyone. Whenever one of those mothers tries to speak to me, I have something urgent to take care of.Finally, the time comes for the alpha conference, and I can escape for a couple of days. After years of war, there seems to be far too many rogues and rogue attacks and a lot of the
Noah“If you are watching this, I’m no longer with you.” Tears fill her eyes and it breaks my heart. “I told you so!” She laughs while pointing her index finger at the camera. “I’m sorry for leaving you so soon, my love. If I could have it any other way, I would never have chosen this.” She sighs deeply before wiping away her tears.A huge smile forms on her face and I wonder when she recorded this. She is heavily pregnant in the video and all I can think is that she did it in the days before she gave birth to Sam. She is sitting in the nursery from the looks of the background.Sam sits down on the edge of my table and I realize it’s the first time he has seen her like this. Sam has only ever seen pictures of Summer.“My beautiful baby boy, please know that you were made in love. That I wanted you more than anything I’ve ever wanted. Please be kind to each other. Support each other. Take care of each other.” She looks up and over the camera and nods at someone.“I have to go now.” Her
SummerI love being in love. I’m still shocked that Noah is my destiny, but I’m grateful. Although he makes it clear that I’m his, whenever a young male gets too close, he is always kind and loving towards me. It’s the perfect balance of a protector and lover rolled into one very handsome package.Noah and I decide early on that we want to spend some time alone together before we start a family. It’s not the most popular decision, and we keep it to ourselves, so there won’t be backlash from anyone in the pack.Life as a Luna is interesting, and I find myself sounding like my mother far too often, but I love my new life. I find that I’m more of a nurturer than I thought I would be, and I love taking care of things for our people.Two years after our mating ceremony, we announce that I’m pregnant, and I can’t help but laugh when I hear the mumbles that people were beginning to think I was a dud or something. They clearly believed that I couldn’t have children, and our announcement is a
SummerIn the morning, I can’t get our first kiss out of my mind. There were many more after it, but nothing compares to that first one. We say goodbye to my parents after making arrangements for them to come to our house.Over the next couple of days, my days are filled with everything we had to arrange. I found the perfect dress, and to me that was just the best thing ever. The day of our mating ceremony arrived, and I was just bubbling.I thought my life was going to start when I graduated, but here I was thinking again, that this is the moment my life will finally start. After an entire day of preparation, I finally got dressed and my dad walked me down the aisle.As I saw Noah waiting for me at the end, I almost sobbed with happiness and I had to fight back the tears that were threatening to fall. I still can’t believe that my destined mate is scrawny Noah. It’s become our little joke, and I just love that he isn’t fazed by it.He isn’t scrawny Noah anymore. He sure as hell isn’t
SummerWhen I’m woken by the smell of coffee, I’m stunned. I have never slept that well before. I feel a little confused at first about where I am, but it doesn’t take more than a second to remember. I wonder if Noah slept beside me the entire time.“Thanks.” I smile as he hands me the mug and I take a long sip, enjoying the aroma. “What time is it?” I frown, suddenly worried that I might have wasted too much time and won’t get to my homework before dinner.“We only slept for an hour. You still have a lot of time.” Noah pulls my books out of my bag and places them on the table, making me laugh. I get up and am relieved that I didn’t sleep for hours. While I dig into my homework, he is lying on my bed studying the ceiling.“Aren’t you bored? Don’t you have work to do or something?” I turn to study him and he grins.“Nope and nope. Dad is in charge.” He sits up and smiles at me, sending a shiver of delight up the back of my spine. Honestly, I love being in love. I know it’s fast and all
SummerWhen I calm down, I feel even sillier than I did earlier in the clearing. It’s as if some switch inside of me had suddenly flipped, and I could see things differently than I did before. I sit beside Noah once I’m calm, and I take a deep breath while they all look at me.“I want to accept Noah as my mate. I just want to finish school first, if that’s okay. It would be a waste if I have come all this way and don’t finish.” I nod feeling a lot more confident about my decision.“While we were talking in the clearing, Summer seemed to have this need to discuss things with you first. Now I understand why.” Noah smiles and takes my hand. I blush when he kisses the inside of my palm and when I look at my parents, they also seem happy with my decision.I never really thought of how my parents would react when I finally found my mate. Honestly, I was too busy thinking about myself. We all sit around and talk for a little while and when my phone rings, I’m a little surprised to see that i