*Laura POV*
“Hey Alpha” I heard someone call me from the crowd. I turned around only to see that it was the Beta’s son.
“Hi Maxwell” I smiled. In the past, I was rude to him because of my blinded love for Alex but this time around, I paid more attention.
“Wow you know my name?” he uttered in shock, biting his lower lips.
“Who doesn't know Beta's son?” I blurted out. “Awww, I didn't know I was popular.” he said, with a shy look creased on his face.
“I have to go now,” I said to him. “ Why so fast Laura, where are you going?” he said, reaching out to grab my hand. I halted in my tracks as he walked closer. “ I've got lots of activities to tend to. Remember I'm the pack's new Alpha.” I beamed a smile towards him.
“Okay, I was worried about you, with all that has happened, you might need a friend by your side through these trying times.” His words made my heart race with excitement but I wasn't going to let my emotions get in the way of my revenge, and almost immediately, my look changed to a scrutinized gaze.
“Why are you staring at the pack like that?” He inquired. “ Nothing, just amazed” I heaved a sigh of relief and tucked my hair properly. Maxwell was a sanguin with a heightened sense of humor. He made me smile from my heart for the first time in a long while. As we strolled into the woods, we caught sight of Sonia and her supposed cousin Alex holding hands as they walked towards us. I noticed the look of disgust in Alex's eyes as he saw me with Maxwell. But he quickly reverted back to a smile as we locked our gaze.
“What are you two doing out here alone?” I deadpanned. “ Oh nothing exactly,” Sonia hurriedly replied. “And you? What brings you out here” She asked in defense.
“ I came out here to clear my head and Maxwell here has been more than a great company” I replied, hugging Maxwell from the side. Their reaction quickly turned sour, Sonia had always been jealous of me. I now had the opportunity of realizing it.
“ Hello Maxwell” with an outstretched hand, Sonia said. “Hi Sonia” Maxwell replied, his expression stoic. I cleared my throat, in a bit to end the awkward silence as Alex stood there gawking at me.
“I guess we'll see you later Laura” Sonia said calmly, still pretending to be a good friend.
“Maxwell, you embarrassed my friend back there, that's not good you know” I voiced out sarcastically.
“Sorry about that, it's just that, she has a bad aura, and I don't like her. You need to be careful about Laura. All that glitters might not be gold.” Maxwell said, his tone laced with concern.
“Don't worry about her, she's not a bad person” I replied . But deep down, Maxwell was right and I felt like going after the two of them. Shredding them alive into tiny pieces. “I have to go now Max” I smiled and sauntered away.
“Laura!! Laura. Wake up” I heard a feeble voice call out to me from a distance. I slowly opened my eyes, trying to make sense of what was happening. It was Sonia, she was splashing water on me to wake up.
“What is it Sonia?” I growled at her as my eyes turned fierce.
“ You’ll be late for the council of elders meeting, and we need to be fast,” she replied in an innocuous voice. In the past, she would follow me to every council meeting, that was how she got every bit of information, that was also how she got to know my weakness. But not this time.
I took my bath and got dressed for the meeting. “ Hold up for me, I'm almost done.” Sonia screamed from the dressing room.
“Don't bother dear friend. I have to do this alone” I replied. Her jaw dropped as the look in her eyes spelt doom. If a gaze could kill, I would have died that very instant. With the help of the Moon Goddess special powers, I could read thoughts and hear long distance sounds.
“We’ve always attended the meetings with the council of elders together. What's wrong this time, you seem different Laura ?” she enquiries her voice barely above a whisper.
“I just need to do this alone, I'll fill you in on all that was discussed” and with that, I strode out through the door.
As I walked into the room where the elders were seated, they all stood to pay respect to their new Alpha. There were two thrones. I sat on my mother’s throne, as I was yet to get married. It was tradition that my Alpha mate would be the one to ascend the throne of my late father.
“We sympathize with you Laura, duty calls and you must respond. We the council elders have conferred amongst ourselves and we think it's best if you got a mate” the Oldest Member of the council elders spoke.
“I don't have a mate yet and I don't have any desire to focus on that now.” I'm deadpan. The entire room was shrouded in silence as the weight of my words reverberated across the entire hall. I gulped, at the same time, furrowing my brow at them.
“This has never been heard before . It has never been done in a thousand years.” Another elder bellowed, his eyes flickered with rage.
“I can take care of the pack myself. I don't need a mate.” I blurted out. Their eyes widened as their jaws dropped. I reveled in their bewildered expressions.
“My daughter, it's only natural to feel this way after the death of your parents, I urge you to reconsider your choice.” the third Elder said.
“ My pack is my choice. I don't have anything more to say to you all.” I rose and stride towards the exit as they all gawked at me.
Laura POV We lay back down in bed, and I rest my head on his chest. “I can’t believe I forgot. I’ve been a werewolf and shifted, and I still didn’t know.”“You lost a lot of blood and were in a coma for a few days, Laura. Don’t beat yourself up for not remembering. I think in a way, your memories come back to you when you’re ready to face them,” he admits, and I think about that for a second.He might be right. He’s always right.I stay silent as he wraps me up in his strong arms. “Sleep, baby. It’s still early. We can talk about this in the morning.”My eyes flutter shut, and I inhale the scent wafting from his neck. I smile at the way it invades my bloodstream. My senses have heightened in ways I couldn’t even imagine.Later that day, I find myself in the library with Evan and Sam close behind him, looking as bored as ever. I reach up to find books on werewolf ancestry because I feel like I’m missing a piece of my history. My parents abandoned me when I was a baby, and now I don’
Laura POVMy ankles are submerged in mild water. The bottom of the lake is clear, and fish swim around my feet. I release a soft chuckle as they tickle my skin. My head tilts towards the sunset as it sits perfectly along the horizon.I open my lungs and take down the fresh air. A presence behind me makes me tingle, but I’m not afraid. My head looks over my shoulder to be met with luminous eyes and long white hair. I relax.“Laura.” She reaches out to touch my cheek.My eyes close at the sensation that washes over my skin.I remember her from my dream before. She came back.“You’re here.”When I open my eyes, she nods, and I study the pretty markings on her face. A triangle with circles glimmer across her forehead, and her eyelashes are a metallic blue. She takes my face between her warm hands, and I exhale a breath of relief.“Do not forget your power.”I frown. “What power?”“Do not forget the strength inside your soul.”“What do you mean?”She offers me a sweet smile. “I would neve
Maxwell POVAfter running Laura a luke-warm bath, I perch on the edge of the tub and study her drained face. Her skin is still on fire, despite the fact she’s shuddering as if we’re in the Antarctic. Guilt rides my chest like a wave. I’m not sure if her body is rejecting my mark because her human body isn’t strong enough to accept it. I don’t want to think about that fate.“Laura,” I whisper and caress her face.Her hand splashes into the water, and she retracts as if it’s toxic. I calm her by stroking back her hair and sending as much comfort through our bond as possible. Although, I can sense a barricade.“How are you feeling?”Laura’s eyes open, and they’re lazy, her lids almost shutting again.I examine her lips and move closer. The corners of her mouth are starting to fade into a light blue. Something is definitely wrong. Her body continues to shake, rippling the water aggressively. She wraps her arms around her legs in an attempt to keep warm.My hands reach into the bath, and
Laura POVI’m on the brink when he speeds up, and I clamp down on his lip, desperate to fall over the edge. I’m building and building. I groan into the kiss seconds away from absolute pleasure.Then he pulls his fingers from me, and I glare at him in desperation. I hate the smirk that sits on his face. “What” I can hardly get the words out as I watch him suck on his fingers. “Max, please.”He curls a brow in my direction as he sits back on his knees, staring down at me with misty eyes. “You think I didn’t hear your little thoughts earlier today slip through our bond?”“I used my barriers,” I heave.Maxwell releases a wicked laugh that sends shivers to my toes. “Not well enough, baby.”“What did you hear?”“Most of it.”I throw my head back to the bed. I’m pooling with heat. My heart rattles so loud I’m sure he can hear it. He crawls over my body once more and kisses me with rough passion. “You tell me the fucking second I cross any boundaries. Do I make myself clear?”“Yes.”“Good,”
Laura POVWhen I travel home later that afternoon, there’s a huge smile on my face from how fulfilled I am. My old life might be nothing but a distant memory, but Kayleigh shines above all. She’s one person I’ll never be able to forget.As the car drives through our gated community and pulls up outside Maxwell’s private entrance to the house, I hop out. I’m desperate to share everything that happened today with him and because he is my person.I wander through the front door and into the kitchen where the smell of food hypnotizes me. I’m not even hungry as we ate a few hours ago, but it smells divine.When I enter Max is standing there shirtless. My feet halt at the sight of his muscly back. He’s standing over the stove, using one hand to stir whatever he’s cooking in the frying pan. I scan his skin as the muscles contract and relax with each subtle movement. My lips part, and I’m certain I start drooling.I had no idea I had a thing for backs.“Are you going to stand there and ogle
Laura POVWe pause by a fountain and perch on the ledge as the sun beats down on us. “So, you go here with Danny, huh?”She scoffs. “No. I’ve always wanted to come here. Danny just so happened to rock up. We don’t see each other often if that’s what you think. I feel like he followed me here so he could find out information about you from me, which he did. I’m sorry. I never intended to do that.”“I know, I know,” I reassure her. “It’s fine. I don’t mind. How are your parents?”Kayleigh’s eyes drop to the pebbled floor. “They’re not together anymore.”“Oh.” I frown. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t.”“No, they loved you. They treated you like their own. It’s okay to bring them up. They miss you so much.” Her eyes crinkle at the sides.My chest warms. “I’d love to see them soon.”“They’d love that, too.”“Are you dating anyone right now?”She’s quiet for a long moment, and I inspect her face. There is an edge of slight discomfort at the question. “No,” she whispers. “Not anymore.”“Oh, what h