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**** Enzi **** The last thing I remembered was Simon and the hospital floor. Now I am in a fracking wildflower meadow. What the hell? How is Simon? My mate! Oh, holy Goddess, my mate! "She's fine. Or she will be." I turn toward the calming, musical voice and see a gorgeous woman with silvery blond hair and sparkling blue eyes. I recognize her immediately. Three and a half years ago, I dreamed of this woman, and she told me to go to the ball where I met Alyssa. When I recounted that dream to my mother, she was convinced I'd met the Moon Goddess, and at the time, I wasn't, but now I am. Of course, it's rare, but in every generation, a few people claim to have met her. It's why our belief remains so strong. "You're the Moon Goddess!" I feel an unusual sense of panic. That's definitely not a familiar feeling for me, except when my mate is concerned. But here I am in the presence of a literal God; that, or Doctor Dan has given me some good drugs today. "Yes, my child. Though, I go by m
**** Alyssa **** "Hey, Alyssa, sorry to disappoint you. It's just me: Jayvon." "What's wrong? Can I talk to Enzi? Why are you calling Adrian from Enzi's phone? What happened?" I don't know why, but I am suddenly sure that something must be going on. "He's fine. Well, not exactly fine. He was injured, but he's healing, and he will be 100% soon," Jayvon explains, very poorly, I might add. "Let me talk to him… I need to hear his voice," damn, did I just actually say that? "Well, the thing is, it's his voice that's injured. He is currently unable to speak. Which is refreshing," Jayvon grunts, and I laugh in spite of my worries. It sounds like an irritated Alpha might have just whacked him. And if that is the case, he can't be too sick. "I'm switching to facetime. He wants to see you," Jayvon says. A minute later, the screen shows Enzi lying in a hospital bed, much like mine. I have accepted his video but have yet to turn mine on. Reason being that he'll demand to know why I'm in a ho
**** Alyssa **** As Dara stares at Uncle Simon, the room falls deathly silent. Simon, however, is staring out the side window, clearly lost in thought, oblivious to the significance of this moment. Then, I see his nose twitch and eyebrows crease. When his eyes scroll the room and finally land on Dara, his mouth drops open in shock. Oh, Goddess. No, this can't be happening. I want them both to be happy, but this is too much for him, given everything he's gone through in the last couple of days. Jamie said Simon had been understandably isolating himself, clearly depressed. On the other hand, Dara has wanted a mate for so long. She's the fairytale type. The type that always believed her prince charming would find her one day and sweep her off her feet. Instead, Uncle Simon has just been betrayed by the woman he loved for a decade and is facing running a pack and raising a baby and a toddler while grieving. His present circumstances are way more stressful than when he took over from my
**** Alyssa **** 3 Months Later.… I was hesitant when Enzi first suggested a real wedding. We'd been through so much that I was happy to just move on without it. He had to build a case, explaining how guilty he felt that I hadn't been given the dream wedding he thought I deserved the first time around. He said that he'd always planned for us to have a proper ceremony where he could shout his love for me for all the world to hear. I could hardly believe this was the same man I'd met all those years ago. In the end, we agreed to a wedding that included the traditional Luna oath as part of the ceremony, effectively killing two birds with one stone. Now the day is finally here, I am thankful and thrilled he's put as much effort into this for me. He's gone above and beyond to make me feel special. The pack house and grounds have been completely transformed. I'd decided on a fall wedding with a fall color palette. I wasn't much of a party planner, but apparently, Jada, Enzi's mother
****Alpha Enzi Armett**** Stifling a groan, I toss my duffel bag in the car before turning back to hug my mom, thinking not the dreaded mate lecture again… “You are 21, honey, almost 22! You have to start looking for your Luna. The pack members are starting to wonder about it,” she says for the umpteenth time this week. I shove another groan deep down before it can escape. That would just result in an extended lecture and that disappointed look of hers that I hate. Frankly, I’m pretty sure the pack members couldn’t give a shit if I have a Luna or not right now. We are a successful, safe, stable werewolf pack, and I’m sure that’s enough for everyone. For perspective, werewolves are gifted fated mates by the Moon Goddess and, as such, move much faster in love than humans because it’s easy if you know that you’ve met the one person you’re destined to be with. And as far as my mom is concerned, I’m behind. This is especially funny since werewolves tend to age much slower than humans and
****Alyssa**** This is the happiest I’ve been in a while. OK, not happy, maybe content… way less sad… not crazy depressed…. Next year, I’ll be an official attendant at the ball. This year I am, as I’ve always been, a pretty fixture. I’ve done this meet-and-greet thing countless times in my life. This year, the difference is, that instead of standing beside my loving parents, I was standing beside my aunt and uncle. As the previous Alpha’s daughter and the new Alpha’s niece, I am required to stand here and greet the attendees as they enter the ball. Tonight it’s harder. Though I slap a pretty smile on my face and hide away the pain. Everyone, and I mean everyone, makes a point to tell me how great my parents were, how much they would be missed, how they feel for me, etc, etc. That part of the meet-and-greet sucks. According to my uncle, I’ve been “ding in my shell” since my parents’ deaths and it’s time I “rejoined the world” and this is apparently the perfect time to do it. As much
* ****Alyssa **** I’ve just finished breakfast when I’m summoned to see the Alpha. As I approach my father’s office, no, my uncle’s office, a bad feeling like a physical something is twisting in my belly and I feel a strange restlessness. Gamma John sees me approaching, bangs twice on the door, and opens it for me without waiting for a response from inside the office. The once silent hallway instantly fills with yelling the second the door opens. “I came here for a Luna, and I’ll take her,” Alpha Enzi roars, pointing at me as I enter the room. I’m sorry, what? You’re taking me as your Luna? I resist the urge to look over my shoulder and see who might be standing behind me; he must mean someone else, right? “That’s not how it works, and you know that. These balls help people find their fated mates. This is not a shopping mall for you to just pick anyone you like. Besides, she’s too young and not 18 for another couple of months,” Uncle Simon protests. I was quite surprised by hi
****Alyssa**** The drive is long and quiet. Enzi fought my uncle for me and then doesn’t even want to talk to me. Talk about confusing. He spent the entire drive texting on his phone, staring out the window, or mind-linking his Beta, all while emitting frustrated sighs. At one point he passed his Beta a handwritten note, like we were all 15 and passing notes in class. I’m not sure what he wants me for, but I am not looking forward to whatever it is. As each agonizing minute ticks by, I feel myself retreating into my shell again. I asked my uncle for my phone back right after the wedding, and that was when Alpha Enzi snatched it right from my hand, saying he had to hold on to it for “security reasons for the time being.” Does he think I am a security risk? Does he think I’m a spy or something? It’s not like I chose this ridiculous marriage. I didn’t have any say in the matter at all. Without any contact, my friends will be worried about me. I wonder what my uncle will tell them? Will