Rose “So it’s decided, then,” Cody said, looking up from his paperwork. “Rose will stay on the Wyoming assignment, and we’ll replace Liam with Jason.” I sighed in relief, thankful that Liam’s protest that he and I were not the best team was heard. Lya nodded in agreement. “Liam and I as backup if need be.” “No,” Cody huffed. “We just said Liam and I as backup. You’re luna and alpha of the packs involved in this - you direct the fray, not get involved.” Oliver reached out to squeeze her thigh. “If it becomes more than a recon mission, then we go. You know you’ll be needed at his trial so we can’t risk you on the field.” Lya rolled her eyes, sitting back with her arms crossed. The little rogue Liam had brought back slept for three full days. I had been told to stay instead of returning to my position - Lya wanted her friends around to plan the luna ceremony - but Lya had either been training or by Danica’s side so not much planning had happened. When Danica had woken up and f

Rose Jade had met her mate last night. Given everything she had to say about him and what they did, I wasn’t exactly certain how she had untangled herself from the sheets long enough to find her way dress shopping for Lya’s luna ceremony with us. He sounded lovely, though. A career warrior here, but had recently made the switch over to Cyber. I had met him before, Daniel, but didn’t have much of an opinion of him, what with him finishing up his training as I was just starting. He had been stationed in the southernmost town of the pack until he made his transition over to Cyber. “He’s just dreamy,” Jade sighed. “I am so excited I had already agreed to accept a position here. Otherwise I’d have to enroll in the training program or something,” she giggled. Lya and Anna tittered on about Jade’s newfound mate with her while I just tried to avoid any and all conversations about mates. Something about salt in the wound. I had lost count of how many dresses Lya had tried on. Each one

Rose I felt him before I saw him. I took too long to make a run for it, consumed by the soothing scent of a bonfire to make my escape. I turned slowly as my skin blazed. He took a step toward me. I was against the kitchen counter, though, with nowhere to go. “My bunny doesn’t run anymore.” His voice stoked on the embers quickly consuming me. I struggled to breath, the fire sapping all the oxygen out of the room. Why had I always thought proof of mate bonds were sparks, when this one was flames that would destroy you? Maybe it was a sign that this bond wasn’t right. But the mate bond was always right, wasn’t that what Lya said? “What do you want, Liam?” He reached out and snagged a strand of my hair, studying it closely. “Just to talk.” I huffed. “Then talk.” Finally, Liam looked up to me. “Alone.” He turned, walking out of the kitchen. His grasp around my wrist left me no option but to follow. To be honest, though, I would have followed him to the ends of the earth with

Rose I took my time making my way to the training grounds. I was so hurt, and I needed to blow off some steam. I was a scout, I didn’t need to clock as many training hours as my warrior counterparts did, but since meeting Liam, I had been keeping up with the warriors on the training field. My scouting skills were sharp enough to warrant me graduating a year early, so I figured I could take a week or so focusing more on combat. I worked in with a group from my graduating class, alternating between offense and defense. As a scout, my combat training was primarily in defensive maneuvers, but if things kept going this poorly with my mate, I was certain my offensive fighting would be up to snuff enough to be dual trained. “Rose!” Cody called across the field, pulling my attention away from the fight I was watching. I made my way over to him. “Yes, Gamma?” He was on the clock, he was Gamma right now. “You looking to make a career change or something?” he chuckled. “You’ve been out h

Rose I sat in Anna’s closet room while Jade made the rounds, doing all our makeup, and Anna stayed on top of making sure all our mimosas stayed full. Lya kept making comments on how she didn’t see how this was any different from a wedding or an inauguration, and we all took turns telling her it was both. Hair, however, was where Jade shone. She tried desperately to add some volume to my stick straight hair, her frustration growing with every attempt. She settled on waterfall braids and somehow got some soft waves to stick. I knew they would fall flat by the ceremony, but it was a noble effort. I was envious of what she was able to do with Lya’s auburn curls, though, taming the waves and weaving in little gems to randomly placed braids. Anna’s deep brunette hair was done up in a sophisticated updo with curls framing her face, and even Jade’s chestnut waves looked professionally styled just down. I felt bland. I felt like an imposter surrounded by these ungodly gorgeous women. It