LyraIt takes the old lady in the library a couple of minutes and some moving about, but after half an hour, she confirms it. The file is indeed mine. Or my information. She wasn’t very happy to find out that I took it out of the library.She is, however, kind enough to make me a copy and as I make my way back to the store, I feel lost. I have found out the one thing that has always been bugging me, but I feel more lost than I have ever felt before.The librarian was sure that the letter in the folder was from my mother, but after all the disappointment in my life, I’m still not sure if I should believe it. I tell Mrs. Duncan everything I found out in the hope that it would make it feel more real, but it doesn’t.For the next four days, I go back and forth on whether it is true and finally, I settle on that it is. I also believe that it is because of this that Eli never told me. He probably thought he was protecting me. Eli wasn’t a bad husband.He was always kind and loving. Well, mo
LyraMy mind is running at a mile a minute. I’m feeling dizzy and nauseous by the time Silas puts me down, and all around me his people are celebrating. I feel trapped for some reason. The sounds and smells suddenly make me feel really sick, and I burst through their small crowd and rush to the bathroom.When I finally emerge from the stall, the two females are waiting, and I’m a little agitated when they just try to help and make sure that I’m okay. I return to the table to find that Silas had somehow got his hands on champagne.“I can’t drink that.” I point at the glass that is clearly mine, and he grins at me.“That … is apple juice.” He winks, surprising me. “We can go and get your stuff in a couple of minutes. You should also resign from your job. I don’t want you working while in your condition. I will make sure Mrs. Duncan has help to replace you.” I gawk at how confidently he just informs me of my future plans.I know that he is a wolf, but dang! I have rights, don’t I? My bod
LyraWhat was happening was the one very strange thing about the werewolf world that, even after all these years, I still hadn’t gotten used to. Werewolves never moved slowly. Everything they do is always at such a fast pace.They meet their destined mate and the next day they are basically married and starting their life together and, usually soon after, they are expecting their first child and all before they are old enough really to know how life works.I shake my head as I make my way to the window. With my arms crossed tightly over my chest, I look out at the world below where werewolves of all shapes and sizes are going about their daily business. If the human world knew that the monsters were real …I sigh and decide to take a nap. It has been a long couple of weeks. I’ve been through the ringer and back, and it doesn’t seem as if my life will be a lot easier now. I am going to have a child with the man I had a one-night stand with.Who is also the enemy of my husband? I roll m
LyraI don’t understand why, but Silas has a very calming effect on me. I got the fright of my life when I opened my eyes, and he was standing there, but it only lasted for a moment. It even feels normal to make us a couple of sandwiches in the communal kitchen a short while later.Everything comes crashing down on me when we are in the doctor’s room and I hear our baby’s heartbeat. That is when the tears start to flow, and I can’t seem to stop them. Up to that point, I could avoid the fact that I’m having a baby with a man that isn’t my husband.Silas is clinging to the small picture as we walk back to our floor and I smile. I really did get a good guy this time. Which makes me realize that I still haven’t gotten rid of the previous one. I sigh deeply and Silas frowns at me.“I guess I had better get a divorce.” My words send shivers down the back of my spine and I note the slight shocked look in Silas’s eyes.“I didn’t want to push you, but I was going to suggest it. I would like us
LyraI catch a glimpse of Ben as he discreetly moves away, and I frown as I look at Silas. I’m not happy about having guards again, but I can understand why he is so protective.“I take it that you had fun.” I really wish I was one of them. I can just imagine the freedom they must feel. The power to be able to run at those speeds.“Yeah, running is always fun. Are you okay? Do you need anything?” He frowns, and I’m surprised yet again by how attentive he is. Eli was never this attentive, but it could just be because I’m pregnant. I shake my head, and we just sit there in silence for a couple of minutes while the pack chats about the run.“Time to go to bed. You need your rest.” After most of them have dispersed, Silas gets up and holds out his hand for me.“What if I don’t feel like …” I yawn, making him smile, and I roll my eyes as I take his hand. “Okay fine. I’ll go to bed.” I’m not showing yet, but I can feel that my body is changing. I’ve been really tired the past two days, and
Lyra“I’m sorry! I don’t even know why I’m crying.” I find my voice after Silas hands me a box of tissues. Wiping my face, I realize that I must look awful, but he sits down beside me looking so concerned that I completely forget about what I might look like.“It’s okay. I’ve told you. You are safe here.” Silas frowns. “I’m the one that should be sorry. I was just so excited that I didn’t think of how that kind of news might hurt you.”“I don’t want it to, but it does.” I shrug and sigh deeply, feeling a bit awkward under the circumstances. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt your meeting. We can have our lesson when you have some time.” I’m about to get up when his hand softly grips my arm.“You can never interrupt me. Besides, we have something important to discuss.” I see a lot of emotions cross his eyes as he seemingly tries to find the words to say whatever it is that he has to say. I patiently wait.“I want us to sign a contract. One that will protect both our rights. With re
Lyra“I’m so damn sick and tired of this!” I pull away from Silas. “What is it with werewolf men? Women aren’t porcelain dolls, you know? We actually know how to take care of ourselves.” I glare at him feeling furious.“I know that.” He sighs. “I just meant that as the alpha of the pack, it is my duty to request your transfer. That is the law.” I can swear that I see a smile start to form in the corners of his mouth, but he looks away for a moment and when he looks at me again, it’s gone.“Oh. Fine.” I sigh feeling really silly. “It doesn’t change the fact that your laws are really stupid.” I puff and he laughs this time. “How long do you think all of this will take?” I frown.“We can find that out right now.” Silas smiles and makes his way around his desk. He picks up the phone and calls Eli. I recognize the voice of that traitorous woman instantly, and I have to fight the urge to scream at her when she tells Silas that Eli is busy and will call back.It’s hardly five minutes later w
LyraImages of that first night flood my mind when Silas takes off his t-shirt and I can see his muscles move. My insides pull together tightly, and all I can think about is feeling him inside me. His hands slip over my body and within minutes we are naked on the couch.His kisses literally burn my skin, and I note that I can smell things I have never smelled before. It is as though Silas has woken something inside me, or it could just be my imagination. When he slides between my legs, I moan and when he enters me, I feel as if I’m being transported to a wonderland of feelings.I have no idea how long it lasts, but each move is indescribable. Each touch sends me spiraling into bliss. When we finally reach our climax, I cry out his name and the moment we stop, I feel my cheeks burn. Honestly, I never knew it could be like that.My fear, however, is that I might be looking and sounding like a very inexperienced lover, and I don’t know if that is such a good thing. It’s probably what mad
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
SummerAt that realization, I push him away, breaking our kiss. My own shock at what I just did reflects in his eyes. I try to catch my breath while at the same time calming my racing heart and trying to figure out what the hell just happened.“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have …” Noah sighs and stuffs his hands deep into his pockets. He seems so much calmer than I feel, and I hate him for it. I’m jealous. How on earth can he be so calm when it feels as if a storm is raging inside of me?“What do you want from me, Noah? I can’t just say yes! I have school. I need to tell my parents. Oh, goddess! I need to tell my parents!” The sheer weight of the situation settles on my shoulders and my legs give way under me.Noah is by my side in a flash, and he picks me up bridal style. I feel silly when he doesn’t take me back to the car. We are just standing there in the middle of a clearing while Noah holds me.“Okay, so let’s start with the most important one on that list of yours. We can go and tell
Summer“Hello, Summer. Long time no see.” I’m instantly enveloped by the smell of spearmint. I close my eyes only for a second as I breathe it in, then my heart skips a beat when I realize what is happening. It feels as if I’m moving in slow motion as I turn around. Our eyes meet, and I feel the shock of the moment run through every cell in my body.“Mate!” Noah growls instantly and pulls me into his arms with such force that I drop my books. My hands press up against his chest and I can feel his heart racing against my palms. I take in the fact that he is no longer a scrawny, drippy little Noah! He is all muscle now. He is tanned. He is my mate!“I …” My brain stops working as we stand there just staring at each other in pure disbelief. “I have to get to class.” I push out of his embrace as soon as my mind starts working again, and I grab my books before literally making a run for them.Why? Why couldn’t he just be at my party? Why does he have to be my mate? When did he get so dang
EsmeLunar and Summer are the light of my life. Lunar just doesn’t want a mate, which kind of drives me a little insane. He is the heir. He should have a mate and procreate.“The boy is still young, my love. His opinions will change as he grows older. Give him time.” Gabriel comes to his son’s defense. “Males are usually a little older than their mates.” Gabriel always distracts me as he pulls me into his arms and my darling Lunar escapes the conversation.Summer, on the other hand, planned for her mating ceremony from the moment she could walk. Everything was planned to the last detail before she even turned sixteen. Summer has a thick file that contains everything she wants for the day, and it is literally growing by the day.“You do realize that this is not going to be a human wedding, my dear?” I sigh each time she shows me what else she found. Summer would just roll her eyes at me, and continue. All Gabriel has to say about our daughter’s flights of fancy is that she has to remem
EsmeOver the coming weeks, the gossip about Jason and Camile eventually die down as life at the pack house becomes very busy. It’s Gabriel’s birthday soon, and I want to have a huge party and invite everyone. Literally everyone.My hope is that a celebration will pull everyone out of the slump we’ve all seemed to be in. It’s very rarely that a one pack member kills another, which has kind of forced a dark cloud of depression over our entire county.Gabriel’s birthday finally arrives and everyone seems to be having a good time. I can literally feel the doom and gloom lift as the evening continues and even Gabriel, who very rarely smiles when others are around, is laughing.His birthday party is exactly what we all need, and I can feel it in the air. Once his birthday is over, however, I feel a little lost. There was total chaos while I was trying to arrange everything and now that I spend my time on what are my normal duties as Luna, I find myself wandering around the house aimlessly