IsabellaWe arrive at a restaurant and I feel Jack's hand softly rest on my lower back as he lets me walk in front of him to our table. He even pulls out the chair for me and I take a seat. He almost runs to his chair and makes himself comfortable.The waitress hands us the menu, and I’m happy to let Jack order some wine for us. We silently wait a minute for the waitress to return with the wine, and I have to fight to not smile when I see Jack fidgeting with his tie.He is nervous. He is probably even more nervous than I am. We place our order for dinner and then an awkward silence falls as we sit there in the beautiful restaurant. Jack fidgets with his tie and then his napkin, and finally I can’t do that anymore.“So, what are your plans for your future?” Yeah, not my best moment. He is the beta. I know that.“My brother …” Jack starts, then frowns. “Well, he is a huge part of my future, I guess.” He starts to fidget with his cutlery and our food finally arrives, giving us a couple o
IsabellaAndrew waits until I’m seated and then slides in beside me. He orders wine and as soon as the waitress is gone, his eyes settle on me.“So, tell me something about you that nobody knows.” He raises an amused eyebrow and I burst out laughing.“Hmm, that’s difficult since we kind of grew up together.” I sit back and study him for a moment while I try to think of something. “I secretly eat peanut butter from the tub with a spoon.” I feel my cheeks turn bright red when he laughs.“I do that too!” He sits back as the waitress appears to pour some wine. Andrew tastes it and he nods. Once we each have a drink and the waitress has taken our order, I turn the tables on Andrew.“What about you? What is something about you that nobody knows?” I almost squint, trying to study him carefully. I like where this is going. I feel really comfortable with him. Jack was easy to talk to but not as interesting as Andrew.“I love old cars. I’ve never owned one, and I’ve never told anybody, but I wo
Isabella“What did you not understand about me needing time?!” I don’t even wait for my parents to say something as I growl at the two men in front of me. I’ve noticed small differences between them when we went on our dates.Jack’s left ear is just a smidge lower than his right. Andrew’s ears are straight though. Andrew has a strange brown fleck in his green eyes, but Jack doesn’t have that. Small things like that.“Look, I’m sorry. That is why both of us are here. I’ve already apologized to Jack, and I’m here to apologize to you in front of him. Don’t penalize us both because I made one mistake. I just wanted to impress you.” Andrew pleads, but I shake my head.“Coming here just goes to show that you learned nothing! I said to stay away. That’s what I need. Time away from both of you so that I can think straight about all of this.” I glare at both of them, taking a moment on each of them so that they get it.“We are sorry, Isabella. We just wanted to clear the air. We will go.” Jack
Andrew“We wouldn’t be worrying now if you didn’t pull that damn stunt! I warned you, Andrew. Isabella is not like your other girls.” Jake growls at me and I roll my eyes.“I know how stupid it was. I just thought, since Hunter mentioned that she mentioned that she wanted romance, I could give it to her.” I pull my fingers through my hair before looking at my brother. “Besides, why are you upset? I’m the one that made the mistake, not you, and now she probably likes you more.”“I’m upset because there is the very real possibility that she might just decide to reject both of us!” He pours two glasses of bourbon and hands me one before emptying his.“She is not going to reject you both.” Mom walks in with dad right behind her and I roll my eyes and almost fall into my chair. I sit and study my family for a split second.“How do you know that?” As usual, Jack is the one that speaks up while I take the time to listen … If only I followed the advice I was given!“Because I know Isabella.”
IsabellaThe pain is excruciating and at the same time it’s calling my mind to places I’ve never gone. All I can see are glistening male bodies. All I can hear are pleasurable moans. All I can smell is sex and sweat, and I’ve never even done the deed! I don’t know how it should smell.I hear voices around me, but I can’t make out what they are saying, and I have no idea how much time passes before I open my eyes and find my mom sitting beside me. She has a cold cloth in one hand that she’s rinsing.“Hi, sweetheart.” She smiles as she places it on my forehead. “No, don’t try to sit up. Just rest.” She softly pushes me back onto the pillow when I try to sit up. My head is pounding, and I feel my cheeks turn bright red when the memory of the images floods my mind.“What happened?” I ask, even though I already know.“You went into heat, but we’ve kept you safe. I’ll be right back. I need to let everyone know that it’s over.” She pats me on the shoulder as she gets up. “You just rest. Don’
IsabellaI am stunned at how weak I am two days after I woke up, and mom takes me to the doctor for a check-up. He smiles when he informs us that I’m just a little dehydrated and that I will recover completely in the next day or two.We return home, and I think about the twins. I haven’t spoken to them since before I went into heat. I’m actually embarrassed. Maybe I should just reject them, so I won’t have to ever see either of them ever again!“Hi, Babygirl!” Aunt Helena’s voice echoes down the passage as soon as we walk into the house and my heart just sinks to my shoes! “How are you feeling? I also had a four-day heat, and it was just awful! I was tired for a week after all that.” She rambles on as always, without giving me a chance to say anything.Mom is kind enough to guide us into the kitchen where she prepares some sandwiches and coffee while I bring Aunt Helena up to speed on what the doctor said. I know she will tell the boys, so I won’t have to call them.“So,” Helena looks
IsabellaI realize that I’m sounding excited, and I don’t care. I really had a great time with Jack. I could see us having a future together. I can see him teaching our children how to play chess and having family game nights.I go to bed feeling as if I’m walking on air, and it takes a while before I finally fall asleep. In the morning, I start to feel incredibly guilty. It’s tough to go on a date with Andrew after I had such an incredible time with Jack.I try to put Jack out of my mind while I get ready for my lunch with Andrew, knowing that Andrew will feel what I’m feeling the moment he arrives. If he hasn’t already felt it. I make sure to take ten minutes before our date to focus specifically on Andrew and to push all thoughts and feelings about Jack as deep down as I can.I bound down the stairs by the time that Andrew arrives. He is dressed casually, which is a little weird. I’m used to seeing Andrew in the best designer suits. I can’t remember when I last saw him in a comfort
IsabellaThe next couple of dates are just incredible. Each time they surprise me more than before and I finally get to know the differences between them. They are actually a lot different than I realized. Andrew is far more conservative than I ever thought he was. Jack is far more outgoing than I ever thought he was.Jack takes me out for water sports and paintball while Andrew takes me on a secret little picnic in a library which has us squealing with laughter when we leave, as well as a hike deep into the beautiful forest. Things are going really well, which is what slowly starts to twist me up inside.I like them both. The bond pulls me closer to both of them with each date and I can feel the love the bond is making me feel, but I’m not ready to tell either of them that I love them yet. I know that once I say it, that will be it. The one I say it to will be the one I pick.The thing I appreciate the most out of it all is that they have stopped fighting. I haven’t heard either say
JemmaWe walk in, and suddenly my apartment feels really cramped with both men hanging around behind me looking at my personal space. I slowly turn around and look at them.“Look, I don’t need a roof and all that. I can figure things out on my own.” I shrug but Sam doesn’t move. He looks at me for a moment before nodding at his bodyguard. I watch as the man leaves my apartment, but I get a feeling that he is standing just outside the damn door.“Jemma, pack your things. You are coming with me.” Something flashes in his eyes and it honestly scares me. I have been joking about the kidnapping and all that, but the fear has become incredibly real.“NO! I’m not, and you can’t make me!” I shouted, not meaning to. When he moves closer, I flinch, but he scoops me up and throws me over his shoulder so fast that I can’t even fight him off. “Put me down!” I slam my fists against his back, but it doesn’t seem to have an effect. He does have a nice butt!“You have one of two choices, Jemma.” He pu
JemmaSadly, I’m forced to turn around and go back inside.“I need my things from my locker.” Sam follows me as I walk right past Mr. Nash and almost shout it over my shoulder. I’ve already quit. What is he going to do? Fire me?! I storm into the change room at the back and stuff everything into my bag.It is astounding that I have collected so much in such a short time, and by the time I’m done, my bag is positively bursting, and I can’t even close the zipper. I turn around too fast and slam the bag into Sam’s chest by accident.“Sorry.” I look into his eyes only for a second as relief floods my body. At least it wasn’t my chest that slammed into him. He takes the bag from me and hands it to the man that always seems to be following him. It’s probably a bodyguard or something.“Do you need to do anything else?” Sam looks amused. “You know? Before we leave and have to come back again.” His amusement is irritating, and I shake my head, keeping my lips pursed tightly together so I don’t
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