5: Hope

Emily’s POV

As happy as I was for Hannah, I did not want to spend the rest of the night alone. I could also tell her mate was not from our pack, and I wasn’t looking forward to my one true friend leaving.

I took a deep breath and went to turn towards my favorite bench in a secluded part of the garden, when I was suddenly hit with the most wondrous scent of espresso and ocean. Kyra jumped in my mind and shouted, ‘Mate!’

I turned towards the scent and locked eyes with the most handsome man I’ve ever seen. His blue eyes were so mesmerizing I felt that I could stare into them for an eternity. I was imagining how it would feel to run my fingers through his cinnamon colored hair when Kyra interrupted my thoughts. ‘Walk over to him and he’ll probably let you find out how a lot of things feel.’

We walked towards each other and as he approached me, his eyes were wide and he seemed to have also lost his voice. I managed to stutter out my name. I’ve never in my life stuttered so what the hell was that about? He replied that his name is Easton, and I must have made a face when he said it was nice to finally meet me, because he quickly added that he didn’t think he’d ever find his mate. I was shocked I wasn’t the only one to think that.

Easton pointed to Hannah and her newly found mate and asked if she was a friend of mine. Well I assumed he meant her. I was happy to learn that Hannah’s mate is Easton’s best friend. At least I’ll have a friend wherever we end up.

Kyra purrs in my mind when Easton suggests going for a walk, and I’m more than happy to oblige when he adds that I should lead the way. I take his hand and I feel glorious sparks shoot from my fingertips up to my shoulders. I definitely wasn’t expecting them to be that strong, despite everything I’ve heard. I ask Easton what pack he’s from and he replies with Silver Springs. I begin to feel a glimmer of hope at the thought of finally leaving Blue Moon before the name fully hits me.

I instantly recognize the name and I feel my face fall as I quickly put two and two together and realize he is the future Alpha of Silver Springs. Easton isn’t a very common name, and I’m familiar with the names of ranked wolves in most of the Southeastern packs, even though I haven’t met half of them. Easton quickly tries to reassure me that I don’t need to worry about being his Luna, but that’s not the reason behind my concern. Kyra also butts in, ‘You’re the oldest and strongest child of your parents. Of course we deserve to mated to the future Alpha of one the largest packs.’

I link my arm through his and continue to lead us to my favorite bench as I tell him I’m more concerned about my parents’ reaction to him. They have always expected me to be mated to an unranked wolf, even though they never explicitly said that. I can tell by how they treat me as a nanny or housekeeper.

We sit on the bench and I tell Easton I’m Alpha Adam’s oldest daughter. I realize I was fiddling with my hands in my lap when Easton grabs my hands and sends sparks all over my fingers and arms. I turn to face him, and I’m drowning in his blue eyes when he speaks. “Why would the Alpha and Luna expect their oldest daughter to be mated to an unranked wolf?”

I let out a small sigh as I reply, “They have always treated me more like a nanny and housekeeper than a daughter. If my brothers end up mated to an Alpha’s only child and taking over that pack, they’ve already named my younger sister and her mate as their heirs.”

Easton gently places one hand on my cheek, and my heart flutters at his closeness. “Your parents are fools to not see how truly wonderful their daughter is. You were smiling almost as brightly as your friend when she found her mate.”

His words make my entire body tingle, and I can’t help but think of how I want to be closer to him right now. It’s almost as if he read my mind, because he starts to lean forward until his soft lips are on mine. I gasp with surprise, and then lean into his warm kiss as I move my hand to the back of his neck.

His slow, sensual kiss is probably the best thing I have experienced in my life, and before I know it he’s pulling me sideways into his lap. We’re wrapped around each other as I deepen the kiss and I inadvertently moan as my body explodes with tingles and sparks. I suddenly feel the bulge in his pants, and I want nothing more than to let him take me right here. I’ve been saving myself for him after all.

I hear the snap of a twig and it brings me back to reality. I lean back and look at Easton, but I feel kinda empty. “We should probably head back.” I breathe out. I have no idea how long we’ve been here.

“Yeah, we probably should.” He replies with a sigh. We stand to go back, and out of my peripheral vision I see Easton discreetly adjust himself and I can’t help but smirk. Kyra is prancing in the back of mind and seems quite pleased with that fact.