by Leila Vy
I thought back to the day that I first found out she was mine. It was like a blindfold was lifted from my eyes when I saw her for the first time. She was the most beautiful creature I had ever seen, and her sister’s beauty dulled in comparison. Instantly, I was captivated. This might sound shallow, but it was how I felt the minute I found out she was mine. At that moment, I knew I was in trouble.
I wanted her.
It led to me craving for her.
But…
I loved Kailyn. I loved her with all my heart. I loved her before, during, and even now. It was just a different kind of love. The door to my office creaked open, and I turned slightly to see that it was Harold. He walked over and sat down in the chair across from my desk. His elbows propped on the armrest and his hands folded in his lap as he looked at me.
“You are my alpha. I respect you. I have served your father and your grandfather. I believe that your father has raised you to be a wonderful alpha, and I understand the decisions you have made. You have led our pack wonderfully, and you are the mirror leadership of your father. This is what I think of you as my alpha.
“As a father and you as my son-in-law, I think of you as irrational, selfish, idiotic, and a cowardly male. You don’t deserve my daughters. You don’t deserve any of them. If you are going to choose one, stick with that decision. You don’t get to jump from one to the other. They are sisters, for god’s sake,” he said calmly, but his voice rose at each sentence, and his body tensed with anger.
“I am sorry,” I whispered.
“Is that all you have to say? You are sorry?” he growled out. “Well, sorry isn’t good enough. I had stood on the side and watched you torture one of my daughters every single night, and when she finally decided to move on, you turn your back on the other sister, repeating the same action. Do you have no honor? Do you have no conscience?”
I knew he was angry, and he had every right to be. Everything he said was right. I wasn’t going to argue. I hurt both of his daughters with the decision I made. It was a wrong decision, and because of that, it cost me something important.
“You will not go near them.” He threatened lowly. “You are my alpha, and I will respect you, but I am their father, and I will do everything to keep them safe.”
“Harold, there is nothing I can say that will be enough to obtain your forgiveness. Hell, I don’t think you should forgive me, but you’re telling me what I did was wrong. I loved Kailyn. You saw how I loved her even before I found out Patience was my mate. I thought what I was doing was right. I didn’t do it out of selfish reasons. I did it because I thought that maybe, just maybe, I might have a choice in choosing who I wanted to spend my life with. Turns out, Moon Goddess is much stronger than I thought.
“I get it, Harold. I should’ve waited. I should’ve not fallen in love, but can you really stop what the heart wants? I felt it in my heart. I felt the love for Kailyn. I can’t even begin to understand how all this happened!” I thumped my chest hard as I shouted. The veins in my neck bulged out as my emotions intensified. “I loved her!”
Harold sighed and leaned in his seat. He unraveled his hand and brought one hand up to his forehead as he rubbed his temple with his fingers. I tightened my grip on the bottle a bit, and I inhaled sharply before exhaling slowly.
“You made stupid decisions,” he muttered.
“You don’t have to be the one to tell me that. I know I did,” I replied wryly.
“What are you going to do now?” he asked as he glanced up at me.
“I don’t know,” I muttered as I lifted the bottle to take a long swig.
“Kailyn left to go to Paris,” he said. I choked on the alcohol and began sputtering.
When I finally got control of my coughing, I turned to look at him. This old male did that on purpose. I could tell by the smug expression on his face. I couldn’t figure out if I wanted to punch him or strangle him.
“What the hell?” I gritted out.
“She said she wanted to see Patience.”
“And you just let her go?” I asked as I stood up. This was getting out of hand. I didn’t expect for Kailyn to leave too. I stood up immediately as I had one thing on my mind, and that was to go to Paris.
I heard Harold’s voice behind me, calling me to stop. I slowed down as I neared the narrow-marbled stairway. I turned around to see Harold quickly catching up.
“You cannot leave,” he said.
“Why the hell not?” I growled out.
“You are the alpha! You have a pack to lead. They have already lost their luna, and for their alpha to go running to Paris, how would that make things look? The council will have a fit about your position as alpha, and your every action will be looked at. Think, Alpha Kyle,” he said lowly but urgently.
My mind and heart were in chaos, but my duty as alpha required me to stay. My wolf had listened and agreed with Harold. I had no choice. I had to stay, but as soon as things were settled down here within the pack, I would be on the next flight out to Paris.
Growling, I whipped around and headed down the stairs. Pulling my shirt over my head and throwing it on the ground, I broke into a run when I opened the front door and shifted mid-air. I needed to get rid of the tension and stress that was vibrating through my veins. I ran for hours and killed for my own pleasure.
It wasn’t until I reached a clearing where the moon was shining down brightly that I stopped completely. My paws moved slowly through the tall grass as I looked around and sniffed the air. After a moment, I knew it was safe. I found a comfortable spot where I laid down on my belly and rested my head on my paws. I stared up at the moon as my eyes began to flutter close, taking me back to my comforting darkness.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Titus
“Titus, you can’t sit on top of me like you did earlier!” Patience demanded as she finished putting on her clothes and slipped on her shoes. She turned to look at me with a frown on her face.
“What? I thought I saw something dangerous, so I did what any other male wolf would do. I protected what was mine.” I reasoned as I slipped on a pair of shorts. I walked up to her and wrapped my arms around her. “Admit it though; you liked my wolf and me on top of you.”
She blushed and tried to escape from my embrace. I looked down at her and saw a faint blush on her cheeks. She moved her dark brown hair behind her ear and bit her plump lips shyly. She was adorable and sexy. I never felt anything like this before. I did do a little research and found out that there was very little explanation on what was happening. Never in my years of being alpha had I encountered this sensation I felt when I touched Patience or the bond that she and I had.
It had grown incredibly, and my feelings were magnifying fast. It was so strong that when I looked at Amelia, I almost saw and felt nothing. There was still that little dimmed bond I had with her, but it was nothing compared to what I felt for this female in my arms. I moved Patience’s hair behind her ear, and she glanced up at me curiously.
“You are beautiful,” I whispered as I stared down her lips that had now formed into a pout.
“You keep saying that,” she replied and struggled to escape from my hug.
“It is because you are beautiful, mate. To me, you are the most beautiful female I have ever laid eyes on. Remember that,” I retorted, and the corner of her mouth lifted.
“You are beautiful too,” she said, and I frowned. I did not like being called beautiful. It is not manly. Men are not beautiful. Her lips lifted into a grin, and I moved to nip her lower lips.
“You are teasing me,” I whispered against her lips before my tongue slipped out to lick her tasty sweet lips.
“Teasing? Never,” she said a little breathless as her voice dropped completely into a low huskiness that turned me on. I tightened my arms around her.
“Careful, mate. You don’t want to mess with an alpha. I might just eat you alive,” I said as I moved to her ears and nipped at it hard. She yelped and struggled out of my embrace. My canine elongated, and I moved d
own to the crook of her neck. Her breath hitched, and she freezed.
“What are you doing?” she whispered.
“Teasing my mate,” I responded nonchalantly.
“Patience!” Her sister’s voice came from behind me. I sighed and dropped my forehead onto her shoulder.
Why does everybody always find the need to interrupt us?
“Kailyn, what’s wrong?” Patience pulled back from my embrace to go over to her sister. Kailyn’s face was pale as ever. I glanced behind her to see what caused her reaction, and when I saw a Micah following her with a fresh wolf bite on his neck, I turned back to Kailyn.
“I marked him.”
“You what?” Patience exclaimed as she glanced behind and saw Micah.
I rubbed my forehead. Micah walked up to my side and spoke. His face held a determination that I knew all too well. He and I might not be close, but I knew his rule as an alpha. He was an alpha of his word. He would not back down without a fight. In fact, he would be a very strong ally. With him being my neighbor, it was a lot harder for rogues to slip through.
“You know our werewolves’ laws, Alpha Titus,” Micah stated simply. He didn’t look angry. In fact, he was a little smug as he looked at Kailyn who turned to glare up at him.
“Why should I go with you?” Kailyn asked. “I already have a mate.”
“One whose bond can easily be ridden of,” Micah growled possessively.
“Why are you being so difficult?” she asked, exasperation on her face as she turned to look at him. He growled and pulled her into his arms.
“Don’t you think this is hard on me? My destined mate, the one who should’ve waited for me, was marked by another male? Don’t you think I want to rip his throat out? Don’t you think I want to drop you and leave you like nothing? I can still smell him on you. Do you know how hard this is for me too?” he growled angrily.
Kailyn’s face fell, and her tears began slipping quickly and fast. “I know. I am a horrible mate. This is why you should do what you want to do. Leave me. I am not good for you.”
Micah moved his hand behind her head and brought her forehead against his. “But I don’t want to. I feel angry, and I have every right to be, but you are still mine. I wouldn’t leave you even if you told me to. I can have hundreds of females, but I only get one of you.”
Kailyn sniffled and wiped away her tears. “Even when I am tainted?”
“Even then,” he whispered back, and a slow smile slipped onto her face. “You’re mine forever, Kailyn.”
Kailyn’s face softened, and all worries slipped away from her face. She wrapped her arms around him finally. Micah sighed and wrapped his arms tighter around her.
“I am sorry, Micah. I should’ve waited for you,” she whispered with regret.
“I could understand why you did it,” he replied. “Come on. Let’s go back to the pack house.”
Micah and Kailyn walked together back to the pack house. My attention flew back to my own mate who was standing in front of me, staring at her sister. Patience was a tiny female. She only reached my chest, and her small, slender frame made her almost look fragile, but that was deceiving because her stance and muscle-toned body told me she had worked hard at training.
Her body and the aura radiating from her told me she was born to be a luna. She turned at me, looking a little worried. I walked up to her and wrapped one arm around her shoulder as I led her back to the pack house. We had been outside in the woods far too long. I had avoided my alpha duties to play with her, and I assumed I was needed back urgently.
“What are you thinking?” I asked.
“It seems Kailyn has agreed to become Micah’s mate,” she said. “But what about Kyle?”
A possessive and protective emotion rose inside of me. I tightened my hold around Patience shoulders, pulling her closer.
“I don’t know, but it is what Micah had said. His mark on her will rid of her chosen’s mark. Her bond with her destined will be much stronger.”
“I just hope…I just hope Kyle will be okay,” she whispered.
An angry growl escaped my lips. I stopped my footsteps and turned us to face each other.
“You don’t need to worry about another male, especially your destined. I am your mate now.”
She removed my hands and took a step back. “Titus, he might’ve made bad decisions in the past, but that does not make him a bad person. We all have made mistakes. I know Kyle as my alpha, and he is a fair and good alpha.”
I didn’t like hearing that. In fact, I hated hearing everything about Kyle. I don’t know if it was the beast inside of me, but it made me more furious that she was defending him. I growled out angrily as my skin prickled with hair.
“He might be as you say he is, but that doesn’t mean I have to hear you talk about him.” I reasoned, and she huffed as she crossed her arms under her chest.
“Titus,” she said my name softly, and it was as if she placed me under her spell.
“What?” I muttered, feeling my anger dissipating.
“I won’t go back to him. I am yours.” She reassured me gently, and I sighed and wrapped my arms around her, feeling her closeness was reassuring to my wolf and me. I didn’t know what we would do without her.
When we made it back to the clearing, Christian was waiting for me on the edge of the hill with Noor. Noor glanced down at Patience before looking back at me. When we arrived at their side, Noor spoke first.
“Well, we almost sent out a pack of warriors after you,” Noor said chuckling. Patience blushed slightly.
“I am sorry to have worried everyone. Kailyn and I just wanted to spend some alone time together,” she guiltily spoke, and Noor shook his head.
“Don’t be sorry. We are glad you are okay,” he said.
“Thank you,” she replied and then glanced at Christian. “I am assuming you would want a mating ceremony soon?”
Christian glanced down at her with his copper brown eyes; a slow grin made it onto his face as he remembered about his mate. “Yes. She will be staying. I spoke with her.”
I nodded. “That’s good. Having two strong betas is good. Imagine the pups you will be having. They will be strong.”
At the mention of pups, Christian’s eyes glowed, and his smile grew. “I can’t wait, Alpha. The mating ceremony has to begin soon.”
Patience softly laughed beside me, and my gaze flickered to her. She was really beautiful when she smiled. I loved that about her. She was completely different from Amelia, and she was mine. There was no way in hell I was going to lose her. I moved closer to her; her presence always seemed to soothe me.
“Then a mating ceremony it is that we will plan,” she answered with a smile.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Patience
A few days later, Kailyn and Micah had made up, and I was starting to see Kyle’s mark on Kailyn’s neck fading away. They were sitting in two white chairs, whispering into each other’s ears. A traditional mating ceremony doesn’t start until the sun has fully set and the moon is high in the sky. It involves females wearing dark red gowns that touch the ground and shirtless males revealing their pack tattoos on their upper body. Under the moon, the tattoos shine back proudly at the Moon Goddess.
When a pup shifts for the first time, a tattoo will start to form on their body. By the time they are ready for training, their tattoo will already take shape enough to reveal which pack they are from. When werewolves switch packs due to moving to their mate’s pack and perform the mating ceremony, their tattoo will shift that night to symbolize they are in their mate’s pack.
“Are you ready, ma cherie?” Titus huskily whispered from behind me. His finger traced a path from the curve of my open back to my shoulder blade. Every touch left a burning trail, and it seemed to intensify more each time. A soft moan escaped my lips as I felt his lips on my neck.
“Titus, behave,” I whispered weakly. I could feel his grin. His hand slipped around to my shoulders, and with a jerk, he pulle
d me against his body.
“Ma belle, do you truly want me to behave?” He nipped at my neck. I tilted my head to the side to give him better access.
“If you don’t behave, mon loup (my wolf), I will make it harder for you to chase me.” I pulled away before turning back at him, one hand still holding his by the fingertip. His eyes darkened with lust and determination. I batted my eyes in what I hoped was a flirtatious manner and licked my lips.
“If you can catch me, mon loup, I will let you kiss me.” I continued, feeling my heart pick up in speed at the mere anticipation of him catching me.
The corner of his lips lifted, and his eyes twinkled with mischief. “That is a challenge I will accept, ma cherie. You don’t know what you got yourself into.”
I was about to pull away, but he yanked me back into his arms. His hand snaked around my waist as he leaned down and trailed hot kisses down my cheek to my neck.
“I love it when you speak French,” he murmured, pressing his hardness against my belly. Heat pooled between my legs, and I heard Titus’s sharp intake of breath as he smelt my arousal. A rumble came from his chest. He pulled back immediately and began moving to the stage with urgency as he wanted to start the mating ceremony already.
“Good evening, everybody,” he spoke with ease, but his eyes trailed to me again, and I shifted under his gaze. It was heated and lustful. “Tonight, we celebrate the mating of our Beta Christian and Beta Emily. It is a union that is welcomed and given by the Moon Goddess. For females who have their mates, get ready as you will be shifting in five minutes. You have two minutes to run as your mate will immediately shift at the two-minute mark and run after you.”
Kailyn stood next to me while Micah stood with the rest of the other mated males who were looking at their mates with excitement and anticipation. Titus’s gaze moved back to me, his eyes holding a promise only him and I knew.
“He looks like he is going to eat you up,” Kailyn murmured. I jabbed her on the side. Titus caught that little action and broke into a grin.