FernI walk into our home, and suddenly everything has changed. It’s not our home anymore. It’s nobody’s fault. That is the worst part of all of this. It is nobody’s fault. They had a fling and I don’t know if she was trying to trap Jack into a relationship or if it was just an accident, but here we are.Jack is going to share that very special time with another woman, and I’m not going to be the first. It’s heartbreaking. I hear the front door open and smell Jack’s scent as he slowly walks into the house without a word.He finds me in the bedroom and my tears just start to roll the second he sits down beside me and pulls me into his arms. I slip my arms around his shoulders and cling to him. This wasn’t what I thought would go wrong, but I was kind of waiting for something to go wrong.I’ve never been lucky enough to have it all. This just proves that. Jack clings to me while I just let it all out. I’ve never cried like this before. I’ve never felt this hurt before. Jack lets me cry
FernWhen I wake up in the morning, I hear the shower running and moments later it stops. I close my eyes and listen as Jack moves around the room to get dressed. I hear him stop at the foot of the bed and sigh before he leaves.When I open my eyes, I see a note on his pillow, and I’m almost too scared to read it. I don’t want him to give up his son. I don’t want his son to grow up without at least one of his parents. This is the most impossible situation we could ever have been in.I’ve not asked what is wrong with her. Not many werewolves get sick. Our biology won’t allow it. Sadly, it’s not the same for rogues. Without a pack they aren’t as strong as they should be. I don’t believe that the girl is lying just to work her way into the pack and into Jack’s life.I turn on my back and just stare at the ceiling for a little while before getting up and getting into the shower. I hear someone in the kitchen when I’m done, and I can smell Isabella’s scent before I see her. I walk into the
FernI don’t just find myself missing Jack during the day. I miss what little we had before this girl showed up to turn our lives upside down. I spend the morning with my nose deep in paperwork, and I’m grateful that Isabella lets me be.I know how difficult it must be for her not to interfere. She’s the motherly type and interfering is part of her DNA. It’s probably one of the things I find most appealing about her. She’s not much older than me, but ever since she took me in, she’s been mothering me. Or it’s more like a big sister.“Fern, honey,” Her voice interrupts my thoughts and, when I look up, she is standing behind her desk frowning. “It’s lunchtime. Jack spoke to me early this morning, and he mentioned something about you two having lunch at your house.”I nod. I get up and sigh deeply, feeling as if I really don’t want to have this lunch. I don’t want to talk about this anymore. I’m tired. I want a spell that can take all of us back in time so that I can meet Jack before he
Fern“I’m a father.” He sounds shocked. Where the hell has he been?! I gawk at him. I study Jack for a moment as our perfect world crashed down around us. Jack actually thought that the kid wasn’t his. He didn’t say anything to anyone, but he actually thought that.“Yeah.” I honestly don’t have the words. “Has she settled in?” I frown. My mind starts to run through how we are going to do this. The baby is Jack’s. Now there is no denying it anymore. Isabella received confirmation that morning from the girl’s doctor that she isn’t lying. She is living on borrowed time.“Yes, but she doesn’t hang around when I’m with … my son.” Jack sighs. The girl has been very respectful under the circumstances.“Okay, I think I need to talk to her.” I surprise myself. I didn’t plan on it. I was fully intended on ignoring her existence until she was no longer there, but something is pushing me to speak to her. Jack looks worried for a moment and then nods.“Now?” He frowns and I nod.“Yes. I think we s
FernOver the next two weeks, I will try my best to bond with Jack’s son as far as I humanly can. It’s difficult. Each time I see him, I just think about Jack being with that girl, and although I know they didn’t cheat or anything like that, it’s really tough.The day that Riley’s mom dies, I stand by Jack as best I can, but honestly, although I will never say it out loud, I am relieved. Not having to see her makes things a little easier for me. Riley is moved into our home immediately and, all of a sudden, I’m a mother.I once again go through the motions and try my best not to show how I’m feeling, but I’m convinced that Riley and Jack can feel it. I have such a huge problem bonding with the baby. It’s not until Isabella finally corners me about it that it all comes to a head.“I can’t explain it. I’ve been trying to hide it, but it’s clear I haven’t been very successful. I just … I know this is going to sound horrible, Isabella, but how do I bond with a baby that isn’t mine?” My eye
FernThe first couple of days I feel like an idiot. I feel as if everything I do is wrong, and I’m convinced I’m going to do the long thing and kill Riley! Then finally, thanks to the guidance of Isabella, the omega and Jack, I start to get it right.I notice the different kinds of cries and I actually love taking time to just sit there and watch him sleep. Riley is slowly spending more time awake and, at first, I wasn’t entirely sure what to do with him then. I also wasn’t really sure what to do with myself when he was asleep.Days soon turn into weeks and before long the forty days are up. I wouldn’t say that I love Riley yet. I won’t say that I feel like his mother, but I have grown incredibly fond of the little ball of smush. Riley is a real fat and happy little guy.He is my little ball of smush and when nobody is around, I love blowing bubbles on his tummy and making him laugh. I love watching him sleep. I just love having him in our home and after forty days are up, I can’t imag
FernThis was not exactly what we planned, but Jack and I couldn’t have been happier. Sometimes life does not give you what you think you want. It gives you what you really need and after our little girl, Esme, is born, it feels as if our family is complete.The first couple of years are stormy as we navigate teething babies and terrible twos. Just as we think it’s safe, they hit puberty and soon after they become terrible teenagers! Riley knows that I’m not his biological momma, but we are both okay with what we are. Mother and son.Neither of us blames the other for anything. We have always just been mother and son. Riley and Esme are siblings and boy do they act like it sometimes. I swear I can get whiplash because of their moods. One day they are so close that you would swear they are twins.The next you have to physically pull them apart before they hurt each other. I’m relieved when Riley shifts on his sixteenth birthday. I never said it out loud, but I was worried there for a l
EsmeMy heart sinks. I didn’t think she would follow me! I was sure they were asleep. My parents were ancient. They always went to bed early, and then I had the run of the house! As I turn in the water, I note my dad and that just breaks my heart while my friends are still trying to scatter.Unfortunately, my parents aren’t the only ones there and as I make my way through the water to the little beach, I note how even Jason is being dragged back. I can’t believe he ran! He left me here to face the music alone.As I get out, I see my friends glaring at me, but what hurts most is the way Jason is glaring at me. I didn’t do this on purpose, but indirectly, I’ve betrayed my friends. My life is ruined all because my mom wouldn’t just let it be. All because she wouldn’t let me just have some fun.“It’s days like these that I wish I gave you more than one name!” She growls as I wrap a towel around me. I can’t look up. I can’t see the disappointment in my dad’s eyes. But worse is that I can’t
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