Everly I was completely dreading going downstairs. I had absolutely no desire to attend my birthday party. I missed the years when we were younger, and my mom would throw Luke and me a combined birthday party since our birthdays were only a week apart. But Luke was still gone, and as the daughter of the Alpha, I had to keep up appearances and have an actual full pack party for my 19th birthday. I had to see if I would find my mate. It was interesting how the four of us all ended up growing from close friends to wanting to be with one another — Luke and June, and Drew and me. I sometimes wondered if we were all just feeling the mate bond early, because we had all known each other since we were very young, and spent so much time together growing up.I couldn’t help but hope that Drew would be mine. That was why I didn’t want a party. I just wanted to find him privately after midnight and see if we were on our own. But, again, I had to keep up appearances. I had to be the pack princes

Drew “Baby girl,” I began as I stood at the edge of the bed, my hands sliding up her thighs under the skirt of her dress. “If you don’t want me to rip this dress to shreds, I suggest you remove it quickly.” As my hands reached the top of her legs, I moved my palms around to cup her ass, and I realized she wasn’t wearing anything underneath her dress. “Fuck, Everly, what are you doing to me?” I groaned, massaging her cheeks roughly. “Get naked. Now,” I growled, stepping away from her so I could do the same. Our eyes remained locked on each other as her hands undid the ribbon around her waist, and, using a small amount of magic from my witch half, I helped her by sliding the zipper down her back without moving from my spot. She gave me a grateful little smile, and reached up to the neckline of her dress, slowly sliding it off of her shoulders inch by inch, teasing me by making me wait. I pulled my black t-shirt over my head as fast as I could, not wanting to miss even one second of

Finn I was pacing back and forth at the front of the Temple of Eos in the royal palace, one hand on my hip and the other stroking my chin. I did not know why I was so nervous. She had already accepted me, already mated with me, and already bore my first mark and I bore hers, but, for whatever reason, I was a bag of anxiety. My mom sat with my dad and my brothers, so I knew Chloe wasn’t far behind. I stopped in the spot where I was supposed to stand while Chloe entered, and I fidgeted with the bow tie around my neck. Lukas stepped in front of me and swatted my hands away, fixing the tie for me. “Relax, Beta,” he smiled. “She’s already had plenty of opportunities to run and she hasn’t yet. I think you’re safe,” he winked. “Shut up, fucker,” I growled, and he just laughed, clapping me on the shoulder and standing off to the left of me. Normally, it would be one of my brothers or my dad standing with me, but there truly was no one I would have wanted other than Lukas to be our primar

Juniper “What just happened?” I asked, staring after Lukas as he stormed out of our house. I thought everything was going fine. He hugged me, and held onto me for longer than necessary. He brought me flowers, flowers he had picked himself. He rested his hand on my hip and stood close to me as he got the vase down for me. I swear he even sniffed my hair when I hugged him in the front yard. And then he stormed out after Drew got there. I didn’t get it. What was he so upset about? Was he still that mad at Drew for quitting as his beta? If he was back, then I’m assuming that meant he found a new beta, since that was why he left. But I guess finding a new beta didn’t automatically mean forgiving Drew. “Just Lukas overreacting,” Drew grumbled as he slammed the door shut a bit too hard. I set the vase on the counter, then turned to look at Drew. “Overreacting about what?” “Did I just hear the sweet, dulcet sounds of my dear brother throwing a tantrum?” Everly asked as she walked out o

Lukas June did her magic fairy portal thing, and I stepped through it, straight into what I was assuming was her bedroom. It smelled like her, and it was filled with art and plants, so I could only guess that it was hers. As soon as the portal closed behind me, I was kissing her again, soaking up every moment of her in my arms and against my body. The only thing I wished was different about all of it, was that I wished she could feel the mate bond, feel the warmth and the sparks and the tingles everywhere our skin touched. With the way she was moving against me and the way her body responded to my touches and my kisses, I could almost forget that she didn’t feel it. I was eating up all her little gasps and moans, and my fingers were loving the feel of her skin and her curves under my touch. I squeezed her perfect ass again, and she pressed her pussy against my cock, grinding herself against the length of it. My hand on her thigh moved closer to the hem of her little cutoff denim