Arabella’s POVAs people began to notice the shouts of the guys whose nose I had broken, I turned pushing through the crowd as I made my way to the exit. The loud music and vibration of the bass were adding to my already forming headache. The phone call I never in a million years thought I’d get had shaken me and now I felt numb and nauseous. Walking past the taxis that queued down the road, I sat on a bench holding my head in my hands. My parents had asked me to come home for my birthday, my twenty-first was one traditionally celebrated in your pack. Now my head was full of all these what ifs and if only’s. Would my presence have made any difference, would I have been killed as well. I shouldn’t be thinking those things I know, but how could I not.Death was a part of life. Everyone would fall victim to it at some point yes, but not him. Not yet. In my eyes he was invincible, the hero in the fairy-tale story. The hero in my story. He was my dad. The man that was always there for me
Leo’s POVAfter getting the call from my father to come home I knew something wasn’t right. Never before had he demanded me while in the middle of a meeting. He had sent me to this human infested town to meet with a new housing developer for plans on extending our land. One thing that ruined any plans I had that involved actual fun. He had spent years battering into me how important it was to keep our true nature secret, something that became more important when my sister ran away. That action alone confused me. The old git was losing his fucking marbles and it was now more than ever I’d wish he would just step down and allow me to finally take over.Once out of the building I called him back. On the phone he said something had happened, that our secret was out, and it was more important than ever to lay low within the confides of our territory as nobody knew where we were situated. I had asked him multiple times what had happened, but he refused to go further into it. As he hung up t
Arabella’s POV I had been so caught up in my thoughts that they had temporarily blinded me. I wanted to blame all the shitty emotions I felt but it would have been a lie. It was my own fault; I wasn’t paying good enough attention which is something I’m willing to admit. I hadn’t seen the glass shards in the road until it was too late. As my father would always say it’s better to admit when you’re in the wrong then lie and face more severe consequences later on. Gripping the steering wheel, I prayed for the first time in years that my friends would be ok, that if anyone had to be hurt by this ordeal it would be me and me alone.I thought that having crashed injuring myself and my friends was the goddess punishing me for the way I had chosen to live my life. For creating my own path instead of following the one she had already forged for me. Susie becoming impaled on a branch as she shot through the windscreen, I worried she wouldn’t have survived. I had already lost one of the most im
Arabella’s POVAs the truck stopped at the security gate my heart froze in my chest. I hadn’t been back here in three years and knew not a soul would be happy to see me, not after the way I’d left things.The first guard that appeared I recognised immediately. His name was Harry and we had once been friends with benefits. Though for a short time I wished we could be more just as I knew he did to. Something that changed once he found his mate.They were part of the reason I didn’t want to be with who I was fated to. Harry couldn’t stand his mate Kate and the thought of being with her made him sick. After all she had been involved in numerous threesomes a few of which included Harry’s brother.“Bella? What are you…”“Harry who is… it?” And there she was, Kate.“You!” As her eyes turned into slits, I couldn’t contain my laughter. The girls and Leo looked at me like I was mad but hey, they didn’t know this bitch. Getting out of the truck I walked around the front so she could see me clear
Arabella’s POV“Arabella calm yourself. Remember what your father said. Cooler heads always prevail.”“Do they though? Because dad never rushed into anything, he always planned every step he took and look where that got him.” I could see the hurt in Margaret’s eyes as I turned my back to her, but I didn’t have time to apologise. My father died shortly after speaking to me and was now lying on a cold metal slab instead of being put to rest.As I made my way to my dad’s office the sun was just beginning to rise. This had always been his favourite time of day. He would sit on the front steps a cup of coffee in his hand as he watched the big ball of fire grace the sky with her presence. When I was younger, I never understood the fascination with it until I moved away. The sun rising resembled much more than just the start of a new day. It bought a sense of peace to you all while giving you the opportunity to achieve something you had once been frightened to do.Having reached the wooden d
Arabella’s POV“What do you mean you weren’t his fated mate. You guys have always gone on about how it’s the most important thing. Between you guys and Harry what did you think drove me to my decision to leave.”“We did what we had to so you wouldn’t think any less of us. Given the chance I’d have done the same again.”“Did you not think I’d find out eventually? It’s not like secrets stay secret for long in this pack.”“We knew you would, but not like this. You see your father and I may not have been fated to each other, but we were in love. Back when your grandfather was Alpha he went to my own father and asked for an arranged marriage. It would be something to benefit both our packs. My father knew I’d never become Alpha to Dark Stone not unless something were to happen to my older brother. Little did our parents know we were already in love. So, for us it worked out. We got to stay together, and they got the alliance they craved.”“How is dad’s death your fault?” it may have been a
Leo’s POV “Why are you here? Do you know what, I don’t care, but you need to leave before Bella finds out who you really are.” “And what about you? I’m going to take a guess and say she doesn’t know your little secret.” “You wouldn’t say anything, not without ruining your own chances.” I raised my eyebrow as Susie crossed her arms while giving me the third degree. When the door knocked, she was the last person I expected to see. “What are you waffling on about?” “Don’t think I haven’t seen the way you look at her. Watching her every move as if she might just up and disappear. She’s your mate, isn’t she.” My eyes widened as she spoke while sitting there looking all smug. “Who else knows?” “Nobody as of yet, she doesn’t even know that I know. Look, Leo…” I watched as Susie walked around me and sat on the edge of my bed. “If after all these years I could still catch his scent, what do you think Bels will do when she works it out? And believe me, she will, she’s clever. I know there
Arabella’s POVI tried my hardest to stay away from Leo, but as the minutes ticked away, I found myself thinking more about him. Grabbing another plate of food, I headed to his room and stood there for a second, double-guessing my actions. Was I going to look needy? Was he going to see me as clingy?Shaking my head of all the negative thoughts that danced in my mind, I finally found the courage to knock on his door. When he opened it, I began to babble, only stopping when my eyes spotted Susie sitting on his bed. My heart began to race, and my palms became sweaty as I thought of all the reasons why they could have been here together. Susie didn’t know he was my mate, but he did.Once Susie had left, I tried to get answers from Leo, but he protested that he had no intention of doing anything with Susie. I don’t know how, but I knew he was telling me the truth. I only hoped she felt the same way he did.The way my body betrayed me while in his presence was embarrassing, my cheeks blushi