Onyx Flame (A Fated Mate's Romance)

I turn the car out of the driveway and head toward school. My heart panics as we get closer. I don’t know why I’m letting Cory have this much power over me. It’s school. I shouldn’t be afraid of it because of him. “Paige! Watch out!” I was so lost in thought that I didn’t see the car brake in front of us. I stop just in time, though I regret it when I see whose car it is. Amber’s. “Ugh. I should’ve hit her!” “Yeah, probably should’ve. Though Dad would kill you.” I think about it, and he’s right. Amber is the Beta’s daughter, and that earns her a soft spot in my dad’s heart. That’s why I haven’t told Dad or Mom what Cory did. My mom would probably point out the ways Amber is better than me, and my dad’s heart would be crushed. I can’t tell him he doesn’t really know his goddaughter. I sigh and pull into a parking spot. Peyton barely waits for me to park before hopping out of the car and running off. I rest my head on the steering wheel, trying to muster up the courage to go into sc

I have felt anxious all day. I don’t know why, but it just feels like a part of me is lost. I put the weights down and take a deep breath. I’ve been working out for hours now, but it’s not helping. The anxious feeling has been there since the invitation to Alpha John’s kids’ eighteenth birthday celebration came in. I’m Alpha of the Aurora Flame pack.Onyx Moon has wanted to be officially associated with us for the last four years. Attacks on their lands have been increasing, and being involved with us would hopefully put a stop to it. I’m sure Alpha John is hoping that his son will meet his mate and that she’ll have ties to my pack. I’ve been Alpha for two years since I turned eighteen. I wanted to wait to take over until I met my mate, but my father was eager to retire. He said he wanted to spend more time with my mother. But I haven’t seen him do much of that. In fact, I almost never see them together unless they are on official pack business. I think he just hated the job. The cons

“Have they suspected you?”“No. I’ve been sneaking around during the day when no one is home,” I reply, sipping my bourbon.“We can’t let Colin meet his mate. He’ll be stronger, and we can no longer overthrow him.”“That boy is the worst excuse for an Alpha I’ve ever seen. A mate won’t change that.”“He’s my nephew.”“I don’t care! He’s weak. This pack needs a strong, ruthless Alpha. They need me.”Growing up, Colin was always wishing and hoping for his mate. It’s disgusting. An Alpha must be an Alpha with or without a woman behind them. The Alpha is the strength, not the mate bond. Colin could never understand it from my perspective, could never understand why I hate the mate bond. Of course, he can’t. He was born into rank. He and his parents are the most protected in the pack. The rest of us aren’t so lucky.I was born to a pack warrior and an Omega. One night, a rogue broke into our house. My parents hid me in a cabinet, blocking my view of the rogue, but I could hear them. They b

The world stops. I can’t hear anything over the loud pulse in my chest. Relief and excitement wash over me at the same time. I finally found her. I can’t believe it. She’s more beautiful than I imagined. All my restraint leaves my body, and I run to her. I pick her up off the ground and hug her. Touching her feels like lightning is pulsing through my veins. I feel so alive. Just hugging her feels amazing. I can only imagine what mating with her would feel like.Much better than your hand. Dom laughs.I’m betting you’re right.“I’m Paige.”“I’m Colin.”“Could you put me down?”I put her down quickly but grab her hand. I look down at my mate to see a hint of fear in her eyes. My thoughts begin to swirl as I try to decipher her body language.She’s not going to reject us, human.You don’t know that.Our parents are staring at us in disbelief, the Beta’s daughter is seething with jealousy, and there’s a boy standing next to her who looks like his world is crumbling. For a second, I wonder

My mother decides to stay with Tasha’s family to help them plan a memorial while the rest of us head home. Each of us trying to wrap our brains around what just happened. As we reach the house, my father resigns to his office, slamming the door hard enough to knock a picture from the wall. Peyton to his room. Colin walks me to mine. “Stay, please.” I ask as Colin turns to leave. You do like him! Ash barks. I just don’t want to be alone. I lead him into my large bedroom. Mentally high-fiving myself for making my bed this morning. “Did you know her?” he asks. “We trained together. She’s a pack warrior, though we weren’t close outside of that.” He wipes my tears from my cheek, and his warm hand sends shocks to my skin. He feels so good. I’m not sure I have the restraint to avoid kissing him. I stand up from the bed, trying to put some distance between us. “I’m, uh, going to change. I just realized that you have nothing to wear to bed. So run to your room and grab something.” “W