The next few days passed in a blur as I tried to prepare myself mentally for the move to the secluded pack cabin Aspen had arranged for us. As hard as I tried, I couldn't fully dismiss the unsettling sense that I was making a mistake. Staying this far away from the pack. Three days later, I was putting the finishing touches on settling into the new cabin's cozy living room. The place was lovely - rustic yet comfortable, nestled in a picturesque wooded area just inside Aspen's territory borders. A place he once lived in, Lily had told. I could still smell the faint lavender and spicy masculine scent that lingered in the sheets, in the wooden walls. "Momma, where?" Cole asked, toddling over with his stuffed wolf clutched in one chubby hand. Something his aunt had gotten for him apparently. I didn’t feel comfortable accepting anything from Esther, but I wouldn’t ever try to keep him from his family. I swept my son up into my arms, breathing in his sweet, comforting scent as I cuddle

"Excuse me?" I sputtered, quickly closing the door behind them. I squeezed the towel in my hands, stomach roiling with unease. "You can't just barge in here uninvited!” I argued, annoyed at the fact that I couldn’t just kick them out. "Oh stuff it, you pathetic little omega," Esther hissed, fixing me with an icy glare. "Living in Aspen’s cabin is far more than a whore like you deserves." Esther spat as her eyes took in the small space my son and I shared. It made me feel bared and unguarded in her presence. The venom in her tone made me flinch, but I kept my composure. No way would I let her see how much her words stung."I don't know what your problem is, but I'd appreciate it if you'd leave," I replied, proud of how steady my voice remained. "This is my home for the time being, in the end it is all up to Aspen and since he’s given me this place, I will live in it until he says otherwise.”Esther let out a bark of mocking laughter. "You think you actually have a right to any of thi

Something in me felt drained and nervous at the thought of facing Aspen right now, of facing him with these visible bruises, and in turn maybe adding to more of my issues in his pack. Then there was his scent, that scent that I could now recognize a mile away and plagued me in my dreams. Fuck. After being so blatantly reminded of my worthlessness, I simply didn’t have it in me to step into that minefield tonight.The knock came again, more insistent this time. Squaring my shoulders, my feet finally moved and I pulled open the door.And found myself pinned by that intense blue stare that never failed to keep me off balance. His thinly framed glasses rested atop his nose today, his hair was shorter than the previous day and his growing stubble seemed more tamed. He looked so gorgeous in that white T-shirt and slacks. He looked more casual than his usual appearance, like he’d just come back from a run in the woods. Aspen’s perfect features were an emotionless mask, but there was

I watched Aspen’s expression morph into one of guilt the second those words left his lips. He reached for our empty plates and then left my side, denying my body of his warmth, and dropped the dishes in the sink and started washing them immediately. I was left there feeling over his words. He’d thought he was in love with her until he met me. What the hell does that even mean? The silence between us was deafening. I struggled to find the words to respond. Part of me felt a glimmer of hope at his admission, but another part feared what his words could truly mean. Everyone always shipped Luke and Felicia, the woman he left me for, and he told me words that were almost similar to what Aspen had just said. The thought of going through what I did three years ago. I had to stop myself from falling for it. Not again. Finally, I spoke up. "Aspen...you're getting married soon. To Victoria. Whatever you might be feeling, don't act on it, it might just be a false sense of responsibility

ASPENIt had been looming over our heads for months, the threats, the posturing, the encroachments on our territory by those mangy crews of rogues and upstarts from the neighboring packs. I had no idea what had started it but I'd gotten sick of their taunts, their attempts to undermine my authority. This was my territory, damn it, and I wasn't about to let some young punks take it from me.They seemed to have forgotten how I rose to this position and how my pack became the strongest in such a short amount of time. I didn’t blame them. I heard rumors being spread around in and outside the pack of Aspen the heartless growing weak, apparently backed with proof which gave those young wolves whose balls haven’t even dropped yet the audacity to try and challenge me. I had asked Ben to be patient and not take any rash decisions until we had gotten to the bottom of the rumors.My not so-level-headed beta wanted war from the start, he’s never sat by and watch our strength be questioned, a