His Wolf's Choice

by Mary Goldberger

  Prologue

  Putting her head back against the bathroom stall, Daya Stevens listened to the laughter and joking on the other side while she struggled to control the pain that was going through her.

  Even though it wasn’t as strong as it could be, but for a mere human like herself, the pain was excruciating and she bit her lip, so she didn’t cry out tears coming to her eyes.

  She knew what the pain meant although many believed she was stupid and had no idea why such pain went through her from the time her and Jared Evers mated.

  “Mated, what a joke,” she whispered in the stall unheard by the young women who were rushing out of the bathroom since the dismissal bell had already rang to let the students know it was time to go home.

  Being the weekend made it even better, well at least, for most of them, Daya corrected blinking back her tears.

  Finally, the pain subsided, and she straightened opening the stall door grateful that the bathroom was empty now.

  Walking over to the sink, she glanced at herself in the mirror and flinched at the reflection which looked back.

  “Don’t I look pretty,” she muttered sarcastically turning on the faucet and leaning down to splash cold water on her pale face while her lip bled due to her biting it.

  Closing her eyes, she wondered briefly how her uncle was going to take the decision she had come to almost an hour ago when the pain had first started, and she shook her head knowing her uncle would support her even if he wouldn’t be happy about it.

  Bracing herself on the sides of the sink, Daya found herself calling out to her aunt knowing that she wouldn’t get an answer especially since Jacqueline Stevens had passed away almost six years ago. That was the year she had come to live with Jordan Stevens, her aunt’s mate and husband, and the Alpha of the Blood Red Moon pack.

  She grinned at the thoughts running through her head, which helped to dim the pain still throbbing in her body.

  Her aunt had been a shapeshifter, but not a full-blooded one like Alpha Jordan. One of the reasons, Daya surmised, that she hadn’t been genuinely liked by her mate’s pack although she was his true mate.

  “Mate,” Daya whispered shaking her head slowly.

  Even though her aunt had explained about mates when she was ten, it didn’t sink in until about two years ago when one of her uncle’s fighter wolves suddenly claimed her as his mate. Yet, it wasn’t anything like what her aunt had explained to her even if at the time she didn’t understand everything told to her.

  When she first met Jared, she felt a pleasant sensation but nothing life changing that made her heart beat faster and if now, the pain that swept through her every time he went to bed with another woman, it wasn’t as severe as she thought it could be.

  “He doesn’t love you,” Daya told herself straightening up from the sink and staring into her reflection. “You’ve known it since the first time the pain pierced through you almost a month after your mating, so it is time you dissolve this mating.”

  Nodding at her reflection, Daya turned and walked out first heading to her locker where she emptied it out, and then to the guidance office where she had to wait thirty minutes to talk with the councilor.

  The meeting only took five minutes when Daya explained she wanted to take that early college admission that the councilor offered a month ago since Daya had met her requirements for early graduation.

  The Councilor was thrilled at the news, Daya realized, since the woman had believed that Daya was wasting her time here when she could be doing so much more, and Daya listened as the Councilor made the call getting all the information Daya would need.

  “They are faxing over everything now,” she was told once the councilor hung up. “You can start on Monday if you would like although it will only be taking some classes that they think you may need.”

  “I understand,” Daya replied gathering her bag and standing up while the councilor gathered the fax that was coming through at that moment.

  Handing the papers to Daya, she smiled gently. “It was a pleasure to have you, Daya, and I wish you the best in the future.”

  Daya smiled and thanked her before she left the building ignoring the few students that lingered in the hall especially since some were pack members and friends of Jared.

  It amazed her how normal humans such like herself didn’t realize that some of the students they went to school with weren’t human, and yet she could understand why they didn’t know having firsthand knowledge of how well supernatural individuals could blend in with normal society.

  “You shouldn’t try to ignore me,” a voice hissed grabbing her hard by the arm yanking her to a stop, and Daya met the dull green eyes of one of Jared’s friends, or followers, Daya amended staring at him.

  “I have things to do,” Daya said bluntly making her brown eyes go wide before glancing down at the hand which gripped her. “Can I help you with something?”

  The young man sneered at her before he stepped closer leaning down to whisper in her ear. “I heard about your little escape into the bathroom. What is wrong, feeling some pain?”

  His voice was taunting, and Daya’s jaw clenched but she spoke in a lowered voice. “In my chest if you must know.”

  She knew the honest answer would get a laugh, and she wasn’t wrong when he tossed back his head letting out a gruff laugh.

  “That pain is from your mate enjoying an intimate afternoon with another,” he snickered lowering his voice when a few humans walked by laughing at the scene. “She is his true mate, human, one that deserves to be by his side unlike your worthless human trash.”

  Knowing how the pack felt was one thing, but hearing it from one of their mouths, was ten times worse Daya realized feeling her stomach twist at the words.

  “So, be prepared,” he warned tossing her away from him.

  Daya watched him stride away meeting up with a few other pack members who snickered at her before following behind him.

  Daya shifted where she stood and waited a few minutes gripping the folder she had placed the papers about her college admission in, and lashes came down shielding her eyes from the pity looks she was getting from the few students left.

  Giving them a smile, Daya walked out of the building heading for the rundown car Jared had given her to ‘appease’ her as he called it when he tossed her the keys. She had been delighted until she got a look at the car and realized he had merely bought a trash car, so he wouldn’t have to take her back and forth to school.

  Daya, with her uncle’s help, had made sure the car stayed in working order at least until she graduated high school.

  Daya found herself smiling, though, wondering what Jared would say if he knew that she didn’t need the car since she already had one, and in better condition.

  Walking over to the battered vehicle, Daya ran a hand over the hood. “Thank you,” she whispered knowing that she looked ridiculous, but felt it was the right thing to do.

  Climbing inside, she placed the folder and her bag in the passenger seat before reaching out to open the glove compartment where she pulled out a cell phone, a new model at that, and dialed a number.

  Starting the car with the phone to her ear, Daya waited for it to answer eyes shifting around the school taking it in for the last time before she shifted the car into reverse and started backing out of the parking lot.

  Just as she put the car in drive, her call was answered on the other end.

  “Hi, Uncle Jordan,” Daya greeted after his hearty ‘hello’. “I made my decision, and I will be leaving on tomorrow, so I can make it in time by my first class on Monday.”

  Jordan Stevens frowned at niece’s words. “Do you have a place to stay?”

  He nodded his head while his niece answered his ques
tion providing him with all the information only to add at the end. “She gave me the paperwork, so you can read it when you get home.”

  “Daya,” he began only to stop when a soft sigh traveled over her end.

  “I’m tired, Uncle Jordan, and I think it is time we call it quits,” she told him. “I’m only hurting myself by continuing to think that if I stick it out, things may change between us, but I know he will never see the true me, only the human that I am.”

  Jordan gritted his teeth at his niece’s words knowing that it was the truth. “All right,” Jordan relented in a rough voice. “Bryan and I will be home in about two hours, and we are having a meeting that we have to have first which you don’t have to attend. Afterwards, you and I will go out to eat, and you can show me the paperwork while we have a nice family evening by ourselves.”

  “I would like that, Uncle,” Daya admitted with a slight laugh. “I’ll see you and Uncle Bryan when you get home.”

  With a soft ‘goodbye’, she hung up and Jordan glared at his cell when the call ended.

  “She finally had enough,” Bryan Meadows stated glancing over at Jordan from the driver’s seat.

  Jordan nodded his head gritting his teeth. “I knew it was going to happen sooner or later, but I’m still unprepared for it.”

  “Does she have a place to stay?” Bryan asked a note of worry in his voice.

  “She said she has, but I’m going to go over the paperwork the councilor gave her,” Jordan confirmed with a grim determination. “My niece is not leaving here without me making sure she is going to have a place to go and money to be able to do the things she needs to do.”

  Bryan laughed eyes glinting with humor. “Well, your niece has never had a problem with money. She rarely spends it unless she needs to, and I’ve only seen her spend it on something she genuinely wants once or twice.”

  “Daya has always paid attention to what she spends,” Jordan agreed thinking about the truth behind Bryan’s statement. “But I want to make sure that she will have enough to rent a good place and at least the first month’s bills.”

  Bryan chuckled sending him a laughing look. “Now, you sound like a proud, but sad dad.”

  “I am, I am,” Jordan replied turning to stare out the window. “When I first brought her to the pack house, I did it to honor the promise I gave Jacqueline but over the years, Daya has become the daughter I never was able to have. Now she is leaving, and chances are, she won’t be coming back here anytime soon.”

  Bryan frowned slowing down at the light that was turning red. “You won’t be the only one who will miss her. I will, so will Tobias and Bethea.”

  Jordan nodded his head a frown coming to his face before he sighed. “I know, but not as much as I will, Bryan.”

  “I know, Jordan,” Bryan agreed giving his friend a swift look before returning his attention back to the road.

  Jordan’s mouth tightened in anger, though, realizing that Jared didn’t appreciate how special Daya really was, but that was his fault.

  “One day she will meet a man who will appreciate everything about Daya including the fact that she is human,” Jordan muttered in the silence of the car.

  “That will be one lucky man,” Bryan added.

  Pulling up to the house, Daya felt her stomach tighten in dread but she couldn’t run away from whatever was going to happen, so she might as well face it head on.

  Gathering her things, Daya climbed out of the car and shut the door before turning for the porch. When the door opened, and Tobias stepped out, Daya felt a smile cross her face.

  “Hi, Tobias,” she called out in greeting starting up the stairs of the porch.

  Tobias smiled at her, but his eyes were narrowed while a muscle flexed in his jaw. “Hi, Daya, how was your day at school?”

  “Just another day,” Daya admitted her voice going soft, and Tobias put an arm around her shoulders giving them a light squeeze.

  “Would you like me to go up to the room with you?” He offered when they entered the house, and Daya sent him a confused look before understanding dawned.

  “No, Tobias, but thank you,” Daya smiled at him. “It’s time to meet it straight on, but if I need a shoulder to cry on later, then…”

  “You’ve got it,” Tobias offered without letting her finish.

  Daya chuckled walking over to the stairs. “Just make sure Bethea doesn’t mind first,” she suggested starting up them. “I don’t want an angry she-wolf coming after me.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” Tobias teased, and Daya shifted a glare over her shoulder meeting the wink he gave her.

  Shaking her head, she continued up the stairs and reaching her room she took a deep breath before reaching out for the knob.

  Before she even could grab it, the door opened and out stepped Jasmine Mercer her blonde hair flowing over one barely clad shoulder.

  “Oh, hi, Daya,” she greeted with a smirk running a hand through her hair. “Jared, honey, remember you promised to take me out tonight.” She flicked an eye down what Daya was wearing before she smiled with satisfaction. “I’ll wear something slinky which I’m sure you be glad to see on a woman.”

  “Please do,” Jared remarked coming to stand in the doorway giving Daya a narrowed look. “I would like to see a real woman.”

  It was a direct insult, but Daya found her tongue speaking before she could think about it. “I doubt you know what a real woman is much less look like.”

  Jasmine gasped her blue eyes widening in a suddenly flushed face while Jared reached out and grabbed Daya hard by the arm yanking her into the room

  “Jasmine, I’ll deal with her,” Jared stated giving her a wicked smile. “You go and make yourself beautiful for this evening.”

  Jasmine giggled shooting Daya a smirk before sauntering off down the hallway and Daya find herself slammed up against the wall while Jared shut the door.

  “Remember your damn place, human,” Jared growled at her gripping her arm so tightly that Daya felt he might break the bone and she winced catching the satisfaction on Jared’s face at her reaction.

  “Alpha Jordan will be home this evening,” Jared revealed with a laugh. “When he does, I’m going to tell him that I was wrong, and you are not my mate. Once he is assured of that, he will allow me to break our pathetic mating, so I can mate with Jasmine.”

  Daya found herself smiling mentally at how easy that was, but nothing showed on her face except a widening of her eyes merely for Jared’s benefit.

  “Don’t even think of trying to stop it either,” Jared threatened his hand tightening again. “I promise you won’t like the outcome if you do.”

  Pushing her back against the wall, Jared turned for the door and opened it before saying over his shoulder. “And Alpha Jordan better not hear about this either.”

  He slammed the door behind him, his threatening words hovering in the air and although Daya felt fear shoot through her, she straightened from the wall without stumbling. Reaching out, she locked the door before turning to the bed and she almost gagged at the smell which perforated it.

  Shaking her head in dismay, Daya dropped her things on the floor and tore the sheets off the bed putting them in the trash.

  “My favorite set too,” she uttered in a rough voice.

  She found another set in the closet which she put on after spraying the bed with Lysol to disinfect it. Considering the fact Jasmine hopped from bed to bed just like Jared, she didn’t know for sure what was on the mattress and she wasn’t taking any chances.

  After remaking the bed, Daya began pulling out her things folding them up neatly on the bed. She will have to see if Uncle Jordan, or anyone else, had luggage she could use, and going over to her bag she pulled out her cell.

  Dialing another number, she tucked it between her shoulder and ear, so she continued gathering her things while waiting for the phone to be answered on the other end.

  When a soft voice answered, Daya smiled. “Hi, Grandma Ana, it’s Daya,” she greeted her
tone slightly higher than normal. “I was wondering if I could come over and spend the night with you before…”

  “You head off to college,” the woman finished for her with a soft sigh. “It’s about time and you know you don’t have to ask but come on over whenever you want. This is your home, too, has been since you were eight years old until Jordan took you to leave with him when you were twelve.”

  Daya found her breath catching in her throat while tears interfered with her vision. “Thank you,” Daya said. “Uncle Jordan is going to take me out and then I’ll see if he could drop me off there. I just hope he has some luggage for my things.”

  “If he doesn’t, I do,” Grandma Ana offered. “Give me a call when you are on your way over, dearie.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” Daya replied hearing the grunt at the term knowing how the older woman didn’t like being called ‘ma’am’ but it was a habit that she could never kick out of Daya.

  Daya hung up a few minutes later a smile on her face. Grandma Ana wasn’t truly her grandma, but she had been Jordan’s babysitter when he was growing up although she was human with some witch blood running through her veins. When her aunt mated with Jordan, they sent her to live with Grandma Ana knowing how the pack was going to view her and Daya had to admit she had enjoyed her time there even though she missed her aunt, and even Jordan, when she finally got to know him.

  When she moved into the pack house, Uncle Jordan would let her go over often on weekends, so she wouldn’t feel so alone. She still spent more time at Grandma Ana’s as she did at the pack house, and in fact, Grandma Ana’s barn is where her car was parked. When she worked part-time jobs after school or the weekends, she would stay at Grandma Ana’s and the others at the pack house assumed she was off spending a wild night, or weekend.

  “If they only knew,” Daya muttered pulling out a checkbook she had hidden in her laptop case since Jared rarely shared the room, so he didn’t know about the laptop just like her cell. He would be amazed to know she had her own checking account after all her aunt had started when she mated with Jordan, and once she started working, her checks went into it without any hassle.