I stood there, watching her from afar as she trained, as diligently as the best warrior in the pack, even though she was no ordinary member. I watched her, half mesmerized, half perplex…
How could a girl be so beautiful, so graceful, even as she fought a vicious wolf?
She was so captivating, I ached with the need to possess her and make her mine.
Wolfless and perfectly flawed as she might be, she was a sight to behold.
And most importantly, she was mine.
As it was, the only obstacle that stood in the face of our happiness was the fact that she, herself, didn’t acknowledge me as her mate.
Indeed, it seemed like despite the sharp senses bestowed upon her, she hadn’t felt the sparks when our skin touched. And she also didn’t feel the sizzling electricity in the air whenever we locked eyes.
How oblivious could she be? And just how much more time could I stand this impossible situation?
A week ago, I welcomed her family into the pack. And needless to say, she had me at hello.
My beta cleared his throat from behind me, and I turned around to face him, even though it pained me to stop watching her train.
“Jade has you wrapped around her little finger, huh?” He said teasingly.
“Who’s Jade?” I arched an eyebrow at him challengingly.
“Oh, I don’t know, my dearest Xander,” he shrugged. A smirk broke on his features before he went on, “Who else but the beautiful wolfless she-devil whom you’ve been watching like a hawk for the past 10 minutes?”
“Careful there,” I told him sharply. “Some might think you have a death wish.”
He paled at once, and the formalities resumed, “Alpha, please. You should know that I’m not foolish enough to pursue a girl you fancy.”
I growled at him and my eyes flashed black.
“I don’t fancy her,” I spat out. He nodded in earnest, as if to say he believed me, or rather he would believe whatever nonsense I sprouted, provided I spared him.
Then, I dropped the bomb on him, “She’s my mate.”
His eyes widened and he let out a stunned “Oh?”
Feeling like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders, I heaved a sigh and went back to the window, to cast her one last look… a look that was no doubt full of longing, love, and adoration.
Then, I turned around to face my beta again.
“You better not speak of this to anyone, Luc,” I told him in a tone that was so matter of fact, I could have been talking about the weather.
He stood to attention and nodded at me curtly, “You have my word, alpha.”
I looked at him, appreciating his seriousness, and then said, “Now, enough decorum, Luc. Tell me what my schedule of the week has to offer.”
“Nothing you’ll enjoy, Xander,” he began sheepishly. “A meeting with the elders this afternoon.”
I groaned.
And he offered me an apologetic smile. “They’ll probably nag you about finding a suitable mate again.”
“Right,” I scoffed. “Well, news flash, I did.”
“But they don’t know that,” he argued, tilting his head to the side.
“And that’s how it should be,” I quipped almost pensively. “Until I figure out a way to make my mate acknowledge the bond between us.”
His eyes almost popped out of their sockets at that point. “You… She…”
“Try making a coherent sentence for once, dumbass,” I chuckled dryly, though I knew perfectly where his concerns laid.
“I’m sorry, Xander. I don’t know what to say.”
“You don’t have to say anything,” I shook my head negatively. “She’s mine. And that is that. All that remains is making her realize and accept that she is mine.”
He nodded at me and then went on to explain the week schedule further.
** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
The meeting with the elders couldn’t have been more predictable. Indeed, they asked of me to reconsider making Stacy my Luna, telling me how much my own pack would benefit from the alliance. Stacy was the only daughter of the neighboring pack’s alpha, and I could care less about the nonsense these elders were sprouting.
“Is it a mating or a merger you want?” I demanded to know, my voice calm, my wolf under control, despite the simmering anger that laid just under the surface.
I hated how controlling and manipulative they could be… and yet, I found it amusing that they would press the matter, each month, ever since they learned I had bedded that she-wolf.
It had happened but once. It was a mistake. A mistake that was not about to happen again.
Besides, I had a she-wolf to woo and conquer.
I could care less about all these Luna-wannabes, all these hungry-for-power she-wolves who only saw me for what I could afford and give.
I wanted a mate to care for and dote on. I wanted a mate that would love me unconditionally, and still argue with me whenever she thought fit. I wanted a mate that would stand beside me as my equal, not a submissive she-wolf, whose only purpose was holding parties and bearing pups.
No one but Jade shall be my Luna, I inwardly vowed. Wolfless or not, she is my fated mate.
While they didn’t know that, they knew better than to try to force my hand. All they could was talk.
Well, they could even bark, for all I cared. It wouldn’t change a thing.
My heart, my mind, and my wolf, were set on no one but the beautiful temptress of a new addition to the pack.
I tried to smile at the elders, so that they would brace themselves for impact.
I never smiled at the bunch, save when it was to scorn them some way.
They stiffened at once, as to be expected.
“While I appreciate your concern, don’t you all have anything better to do than to poke your nose where it doesn’t belong?”
“Alpha Alexander,” the youngest of them – no less than sixty years old – began in a fake saccharine tone, seemingly undisturbed by my jab. “We only want what’s best for the pack.”
“I hate to say it, but an unmated alpha is a weak and frivolous alpha,” the oldest of them went on, his eyes not meeting mine.
My eyes went black at the blatant disrespect.
“Know your place, Jeremiah,” I all but growled the words out at him, not containing my wolf, watching him pale. “Should you become a nuisance to me and the pack both, I wouldn’t hesitate to erase your very existence.”
“Alpha Alexander,” the youngest of them tried to placate me. “It is our honor to serve you and the pack. We would never even dare become a nuisance. We are also deeply sorry for Jeremiah’s choice of words. He seems to be unwell.”
“You’re dismissed,” I told them off-handedly as I struggled to remain in control.
It couldn’t and wouldn’t do to kill an elder, no matter the provocation.
If I wanted to get rid of them, I was going to need much stronger motives.
Training had me perplex… Indeed, the hairs at the back of my neck stood to attention, and my skin warmed up deliciously, as I felt stares on me. I was not usually as vain as to want attention on me. I was, however, cursed to draw attention at each and every event, seeing as I was the only wolfless member in the pack. A week ago, my parents and I were welcomed into this new pack. And what a nice change of pace it was! My previous pack couldn’t even tolerate the sight of me after they found out, on my sixteenth birthday, that no other entity – no wolf – manifested itself in my brain, and that I was unable to shift. I went from the easygoing girl, who only had friends, to the outcast, the disgrace of the pack in less time than anyone would need to say wolf. No matter what I did or said, no matter if I defended myself against the insults thrown my way, or just fought as viciously as the next wolf when a rogue attack occurred – in an attempt to prove myself worthy of belonging to the p
Moonlight Village was a far cry from the hidden forest-implanted village my family and I used to live in. It was only when I joined school, a few days after we settled in, that I learned that there was no need for hiding anywhere in the village, as there were no humans in it.It was again a welcomed change to what the norm used to be for us. Having to live in hiding so to speak had never allowed me to feel free.Even the teachers of the school were werewolves, and they knew how to keep the class in check, even though wolves could be rebellious in nature.My first class was not one I favored. Indeed, I was never very good at calculus, and the teacher instead of scolding for not knowing something very basic, told me softly that I should get a tutor.I looked around, much like a deer caught in headlight, not knowing what to say to that, or who to ask.I had gotten acquainted with quite a few classmates, but I wasn’t sure how they felt about me. I didn’t want to feel inferior because of m
I wasn’t particularly slow but I almost needed to run because of the alpha’s long strides.I followed him blindly, trying to keep up with his pace, my eyes cast down, focusing on his legs. I wouldn’t want to look him square in the eyes a third time, I, a common non wolf.He led us outside, and he was soon enough getting into a convertible car.I stood next to the car, hesitating, until I heard him say, “Are you getting in anytime soon?”I was beyond flattered, and yet scared like never before. Nevertheless, I obliged him and got inside the car silently.I inhaled deeply, enjoying the smell of leather. I refused to rest my back against the seat, not wanting to let my guard down, when an alpha was sitting next to me, looking positively murderous.He leaned forward and I stiffened. He raised an eyebrow in question and proceeded to fasten my belt.“Werewolves as we might be, I wouldn’t want any harm to befall you,” he told me.His words, simple, and yet oh so sweet, had the knack to calm
The alpha entered the building and I followed him timidly.I had no idea where he was going. Again, thanks to his long strides, it was hard to follow him. Admittedly, the fault laid in my own short legs – I was rather small for a werewolf.Nobody at the building dared to stop him. On the contrary, many greeted him with utmost politeness.He suddenly stopped in his tracks and I bumped into his back.His scent was heavenly, and his muscles spoke louder than any words could of the training he must go through every day. I was in a little bit of a daze when he turned around, a smirk playing on his lips.“Are you okay, Jade?” He patted my head, like one would a child.“I wasn’t paying attention. I’m sorry,” was my quick response.“How about you walk by my side instead?” He offered in a soft tone of voice.I gasped in shock and surprise. “I could never…”“Why not?” His frown was almost imperceptible but it was there nonetheless.“For starters, you’re you and I’m me,” I said timidly, wishing
Jade was too adorable for her own good. She stared at me as I worked, and distracted me by doing so. The work I would have finished in under an hour took me two hours. Admittedly, when the food came, knowing that my mate was hungry, and that I’d get to see her eat in front of me, made me halt reading mid-phrase. I dismissed my PA with a tilt of my head. She knew not to argue. Then, I rose off the chair and went to sit next to Jade on the sofa, in order to eat – or so I kept telling myself. She looked at me with surprise in her eyes, but didn’t dare utter a word of objection. Truth be told, I would be her shadow if I could be. Sadly enough, I wasn’t some lower-ranked wolf. I was the alpha, and I had many responsibilities. I was also seven years her senior. Considering her lack of a wolf, I wasn’t entirely sure she’d accept me readily, and that was the only reason why I was keeping our fated bond a secret. But heavens have mercy, how it pained me to do so! As I ate, I pictured m
Alexander Bad, my new alpha, had a reputation of being a ladies’ man, and he was honoring said reputation. The blonde, who had sought him out, desperately wanting an explanation, had had her heart crushed.I had been told to stay, and thus, I had witnessed a scene that should have been more private. But it didn’t look like he cared.As for his other reputation, of being a ruthless alpha, who had 0 tolerance for nonsense, that was becoming more and more like a myth to me. Indeed, the alpha was far too sweet to me, and he even allowed me to call him by his first name – more like demanded it but that was not the point.Jessica, his hookup, looked positively gorgeous, and I wondered how a playboy could say no to a she-wolf such as her. She was everything I was not – tall, blonde, with an hourglass figure. I, on the other hand, was a short far-too-slender brunette who stood no chance and wouldn’t even hold a candle to her.Too engrossed as I was in my musings, I didn’t notice him moving un
Tyler and I met that afternoon. We exchanged numbers and agreed on tutoring sessions twice a week. Once that was done, Tyler and I headed out and began to spar playfully. Neither he nor I were serious about this spar in particular. We were just allowing some excess energy out. We were still at it when the smell of blood reached my nostrils. My eyes widened at once, and that moment of distraction earned me a blow. I fell to the ground unceremoniously. “Are you okay, Jade?” He asked as he extended a hand out for me. “I am but someone’s obviously not,” I told him, my eyes still wide as I rose to my feet in haste. “What?” He frowned slightly. “I smell blood,” I told him before bolting in the direction of the smell that had me so distracted. Since I was so slender and so petite, I could be a fast runner. Tyler followed after me without hesitating but I was a few steps ahead of him. I was the first to come across the clearing where Eli, the late gamma’s son, the same boy who had earl
We arrived at the pack house, with the alpha still holding me up bridal style, and that definitely attracted stares. I blushed while Alexander kept on walking nonchalantly, like the pure alpha man he was.I wished they’d stop staring… but then again, why wouldn’t they?I was but the new addition to the pack, and he was alpha Alexander Bad. He had a reputation to uphold. That of a ruthless heartthrob among many.I didn’t even qualify to apply for the role of a plaything… and yet, I was in his arms. It was hard to remain impassible while the man I had a crush on held me with utmost care.The beta, whose name was Luc, and whose demeanor was that of a goofball most of the time, waited for us at the threshold, with a pout on his face that made him look younger than he actually was.“Why the face?” The alpha asked him in a joking tone.“I wanted to take care of those leeches myself,” he said petulantly.“I am quicker and more efficient than you,” was the response he received.The exchange w