"I'll have five hot dogs and one for my buddy," Sophia said something to the man behind the hotdog booth, which I overheard. The man prepared her order, and then we gathered our food and money. We moved closer to a park bench where we could have our supper. Sophia groaned after her first taste, "Yes" I chuckle, "That sounds so weird. She sighed again, "Don't care, because it's just so good" People passing by gave us a few uncomfortable looks. Sophia just sat there mindlessly chewing her hotdogs while my face grew hot with humiliation. Sophia leaned over to speak to me, but because she had food in her mouth, I was unable to comprehend what she was saying. I asked incredulously, "What?" Once more, the food in her lips muddled her voice as she began to say, "I said-" "What?" I said while furrowing my brow in perplexity. I looked in the direction she must have been going to point, and sure sufficiently, there was Ryan. She said, "I said if it's not that Ryan hanging over there

I smiled broadly as I walked up to the stage. I watched Ryan as he sat on a throne from a distance. Before him, a large group of possibly hundreds of people were waiting. He stood up and said, "I'd like you all to give a warm welcome to your Stella, Marina." Cheers erupted from the audience as I hesitantly approached Ryan. This is the surprise, then? As soon as I was close to Ryan, I started whispering. He grinned, "You did say no party, but you didn't say I couldn't have your greeting ceremony." I said the oath before the joining of the blood, and then we got began. The ritual continued until there was. It was time for Ryan to declare my membership in the North Pack. "Alpha" a voice exclaimed over the muted murmuring in the throng. They are approaching. Marina's POV They're approaching. A pack of wolves charged in our direction before we had a chance to react or prepare. I saw a dazzling flash of yellow from the distance heading towards me, but owing to the shock I was fixed

She said with a smile, "You had me at massage." As she sauntered away, her hips swinging a little more than usual, I gave a dumb smile while shaking my head. A voice called out, "Alpha Ryan" from behind me. I look around and spot a recognizable couple. "Helen Ryan," Alpha I spoke to them with an incomprehensible face. "Ryan chuckled, "Seems like we missed all the action. Given that there were at least a hundred bodies, I decided not to share the joke. scattered all over the place. We arrived as quickly as we could, but I suppose you've got it under control. Helen said while circling. "Yeah. I owe my partner everything." "Where is she by the way?" Looking around, Helen questioned. "She's somewhere nearby. I believe you've already met her." "I do not have the pleasure. Before I got a chance to introduce myself, the party came to an end." Although Helen didn't know who Marina was, I was confident that just one glance at her would be enough to trigger memories. She was the moth

She said, "He killed himself because of me " "And what was that?" I lied; I didn't exactly catch it. She shouted more forcefully, her voice replete with remorse and guilt: "He killed himself... because of me she spoke up louder, her voice filled with regret and shame. " "And what specifically did you do?" "I walked away. I broke up with him after learning that I was expecting his child. I had just given birth to you when I first met Ryan, my partner, but I didn't want anything to get in the way so I dialed I-I-" She appeared to be having difficulty releasing it. "I left you at the edge of the Crystal Blue pack, far enough away from the West pack that I would never need to see you again. I didn't tell your father I was pregnant or that I had a beautiful baby girl. He passed away without being aware that he had a child. She was a sobbing wreck by the time she finished her confession, but for some reason, I couldn't bring myself to feel bad for her. I scoffed, "Oh, I guess I had a b

I gave a headshake. I was unable to complete it. I was worn out to the bone. Ryan said, "Sweetheart, you have to" as he appeared to be in anguish. I said, shaking my head and crying. "You can, yes. Since you're the toughest person I know, Marina, you'll be the one to succeed. Besides, I'm impatient for our son to see you." He gave a supportive smile. I answered, "It's a girl." Well, until he arrives, I won't be able to refute your claim. He smiled as he gently squeezed my hand and leaned over to kiss my wet forehead. "Ok. I'm all set." I gave Ryan one last push while looking at him, my face scrunching in agony. The moment our infant started crying, I turned to look at the doctor who was holding our child. "It is a boy." She declared. The infant was coated in bodily fluids, including blood. He was given to the nurse by the doctor so she could clean him up. Ryan said with a big smile, "You did it." It was unusual to see him so joyful. His gaze was downward. I was showered wit