Morning came sooner than I would have liked. When I woke up, I realized what happened the night before and died a little inside; ashamed at what I’d done. I’d cheapened myself by this act. I’d slumped to a new low that I didn’t want to admit to myself.
When I try to get up, I realize he has a tight grip on me and isn’t releasing me. I need to pee and I am scared to move. Suddenly, he starts to move around like he’s waking up when I hear someone knock on the bedroom door, “Alpha, you have an urgent matter that cannot wait,” comes from the other side of the door.
I immediately close my eyes and try to pretend I’m still asleep when he lifts himself up and out of the bed, being as smooth and gentle as he can to not wake me. I hear the door open.
“What is it, Jackson?” Dante groans. I can tell he’s exhausted.
“An Alpha is on the line. He insists he speak with you. He says he’s almost to our territory lines.” The man, Jackson apparently, that was knocking declared very matter-of-factly.
“Give me the phone,” Dante sighs. Then I hear him shut the door as he pads quietly over to the other side of the room.
He grumbles quietly, “What is this about?”
“I have not granted any sanctuary requests recently. She is not here, I can assure you.” He whispers into the phone.
“If someone from another pack were in my territory without my consent, I would know. Their scent is unmistakable, as YOU KNOW,” He grits out.
My heart starts pounding in my chest as I realize where I am, and whose bed I slept in last night. Let’s not even begin on that teenie weenie detail of, oh yeah, he’s THE LONE STAR PACK ALPHA AND MY FUCKING MATE! How could I be so stupid? I let myself forget my life for one night and I end up not only sleeping with a client from the club, but he’s the alpha of the damn pack where I am hiding right under his nose, AND HE’S MY MATE!
I panic, what should I do? Jump up and run? Continue to ‘play sleep’ until he leaves the room and then sneak out? I paid attention for a while on the drive here but stopped when I realized he took me onto a gated property with tons of security. How am I going to get myself out of this one? THINK CELESTE!
‘Just talk to him! He has to know by now that we are mates! Mate will love us!’ Bree whines.
‘Bree! Don’t you get it? He’s an ALPHA! And it sounds like Callen is already calling other alpha’s looking for me, which means he’s already gone back to my pack and shit has already hit the fan! He will be obligated to give me to Callen! We can’t risk that right now!’
‘Shift once you get outside and we can run to the woods. We will find a way out of here.’ Bree reassures me. I don’t know whether she was saying that to make me feel better or make herself feel better. She is more scared of Callen than I am. She won’t risk ANYTHING, even telling our mate, to make sure we stay away from Callen.
“You are welcome to come to the packhouse for the night.” He says quietly. I can hear him pacing across the room.
It clearly sounds like another alpha is looking for a she-wolf from his pack. Hmmm…I have NO IDEA who that might be. I sigh silently to myself as I try to remain as still as possible.
“I’ll be down to greet you upon your arrival,” He grumbles and hangs up with a big sigh.
I know he knows my name, but he doesn’t know my last name. My scent…I don’t know how he hasn’t noticed me right under his nose! Is he protecting me from him because I am his mate?
I hear him walk closer to the bed. He sits on the edge of the bed on the side I am laying on. He leans down and moves a few strands of hair out of my face. My heart is pounding, and I am trying to remain as still and calm as possible to appear to be asleep. He leans in closer to me and gently kisses my temple before pulling the covers back over me as if he was ‘tucking me in’. Warmth courses through my body from my head to my toes. A feeling of safety envelopes me when he does this and it radiates straight out of my heart and I feel a piece of me heal.
Dante slowly gets up and walks to another room, I assume his closet or bathroom. After about fifteen minutes, he leaves the bedroom and when he leaves, I hear a tiny ‘click’. What was that?
I slowly get up and look around for my clothes. When I am finally able to get up, I realize our clothes were thrown off before we even got into the bedroom.
SHIT.
I quickly began looking around for any kind of clothes I could possibly wear. I open one door and it leads into his bathroom. I remember I need to pee and quickly take care of my business. I throw some water on my face to wake up and look in the mirror. I look like a certifiable train wreck.
‘Oh goddess, Bree, what are we going to do?’ I begin to panic.
‘Stay calm. Let’s focus on one thing at a time. Find clothes!’
I nod and go out of the bathroom and go to the next door I see. It’s an empty closet. That’s weird? I shut that door and go to start opening his dresser drawers. He has to have SOMETHING I can throw on to sneak out!
I ran into some luck! I find his boxer drawer, grab a pair, throw them on, and roll the waistband so they fit me better. Another drawer delivers what looks like old band t-shirts. I grab an old and tattered ‘Metallica’ shirt and throw it on. This will have to do! I scamper to the door Dante left through and when I go to turn the handle, it won’t turn. I try a few more times.
‘He locked us in here Bree!’ I officially begin to panic.
‘Try the balcony and windows!’ Good idea! I run over to the balcony door and it opens! I slow myself out the door peeking over the ledge to assess how the hell I’m going to make it to the woods, and also get an idea of the area and where the hell I ended up. This packhouse is HUGE! I quickly realize this is more like a modern-day castle than anything else. I’m not just on the second floor, I’m SEVERAL floors high. The view is absolutely breathtaking though!
‘This will be ours!’ Bree says in shock as I try to pick my jaw up off the ground.
‘You know we can’t afford to think like that right now Bree. Maybe one day. Not today. Let’s just focus on how to fuck we are going to get out of here first!’
I hear her whine, but she doesn’t disagree or argue. I can see in the distance an entourage of black SUVs driving out of the woods that surround the packhouse heading straight towards us. That must be the alpha that called Dante. I pray it’s not really Callen.
I quickly survey the rest of the area. As beautiful as this place is, I can’t get lost in the fantasy and magic of the mate bond. I have to stay vigilant. Every nook, cranny, and corner screams danger to me until I am back in my room at Charley and Frank’s place.
I look down and count the balconies below me. It looks like I am seven stories up and on the top floor; The alpha’s floor. There isn’t any denying the reality that I am stuck in. This really is happening.
Just as I start to gather my bearings and a plan to get out of here, I see the SUVs pull up into the massive circle drive in front of the packhouse. There’s a giant fountain out front with a statue of the Moon, one star, and the Moon Goddess out front. The fountain is beautiful and unique! The moon goddess looks like she is staring up at the moon at the one star hovering over her as she is reaching for the star and water is pouring from her fingertips. It’s gorgeous!
At that moment, I see Callen climb out of the front seat of one of the black SUVs. Upon seeing him, I immediately feel Bree retreat to the furthest place in my mind. I’m alone from here on out so long as he’s anywhere near us!
‘C’mon Bree! Don’t do this to me! I need your help!’
‘I can’t! He terrifies me! I can’t! His wolf is too strong! He can feel our presence if I stay close to the surface with you.’
‘SERIOUSLY? You never told me that before.’
‘I have to hide as best I can, for the both of us. I’m sorry Celeste.’ She whines before I feel her almost disappear.
I start to have a minor panic attack. Without the feeling of my wolf inside me, I feel even more empty and hollow. I have to put my big girl panties on though and do this for us.
When I see Dante come outside and greet Callen, I step away from the ledge so they can’t see me. When I see them walk inside with all of Callen’s posse of wolves, I move back to the edge of the ledge.
“Welp, with the bedroom door locked, there’s only one way down,” I say a silent prayer to the moon goddess to give me the strength to climb down these balconies safely and unseen.
I begin climbing over the balcony in the corner. Hopefully, no one will see me through their balcony windows if I’m climbing down the corner or over to the side of the balcony closest to the corner. The corner naturally shields me from anyone outside, while my body not being in view of the windows, shields me from anyone looking out the balcony windows in the floors below me.
I make it to what I count to be the third floor before I hear voices on the floor below me. SHIT! Someone must be either out on the balcony below, or the door must be open out to that balcony. I hold tight in my position and don’t move a muscle. The only thing I was able to grab of the things I had brought with me was my little crossbody clutch. Luckily I was able to fit my ID, cash, and cell phone into it before flinging it over my shoulder and climbing, but I can’t reach my phone as I am clinging to the brick and rock wall and the ledge of the third-floor balcony. I hear my phone ping to notify me of a text message.
The text messages will have to wait until I can get out of here.
“What makes you think your Luna escaped to my pack when I’ve already told you I haven’t granted sanctuary to any wolves and no rogues have been caught in my territory in months!? I pay a hell of a lot more for my security measures than I know you do Callen. She isn’t here!” Dante roars. Callen and Dante must be on the second floor in that room. Looks like I’ll be hanging out here for a while if I can’t get past this floor.
“SHE’S HERE! I KNOW SHE IS! HER FRIEND CONFIRMED MY SUSPICIONS WHEN I THREATENED HER FAMILIES LIVES!” I didn’t miss any of that statement. Callen is furious. He threatened Joan and her family. That bastard. Just one more reason I hate him.
“What…mean…how…she be here?” I couldn’t catch all of Dante’s question to Callen. “SHE TOLD ME SHE WANTED TO GO TO UT FOR COLLEGE!” FUCK! I forgot I told Callen my college plans. He will be looking for me everywhere around here now.“Well, maybe she hasn’t made it here yet. Maybe you got here faster than she could?” Dante must be closer to the door now because I can hear him trying to reason with Callen. “I’m staying here until we find her!” Callen declares with a growl.That didn’t settle well for Dante because he immediately let out a loud growl, “THIS IS MY TERRITORY! You are a GUEST HERE, need I remind you! You are welcome to stay a night or two, but beyond that, you will have to trust my security detail and wolves to do a deeper search of the pack territory. IF YOUR Luna is here, she WILL turn up Callen! I will GLADLY hand over your Luna IF she ever turns up in MY territory!” I can’t listen to this any further. I HAVE to get out of here. I feel my grip starting to slip and I k
I am jolted awake as I feel my body shift back to my human form.‘Bree what’s happening?!’‘I can sense him! He’s near!’ And with that, she disappears deep into my subconscious. SHIT! I scramble to my feet off the cot, grab the thin blanket, and wrap it around me. With Callen near, I can’t risk my scent getting out in the woods. Just as I come to my senses, I hear noise around the shack and start to freak out. The door to the shack flings open and Charley runs in and shuts the door.“They’re coming for your Celeste! Shh!” Charley whispers as he moves to a giant old and dingy rug I barely noticed covering the ground. I watch him as he pulls the rug up and lifts a door with a latch.He motions for me to come over to him and points to the dark hole in the ground. He wants me to climb into this dark hole in the ground that I didn’t even know existed. I’m so panicked I don’t even hesitate and start climbing the creaky wooden stairs down into the cellar-type hole. It’s dark, dusty and I d
“Where have you been?! You missed two shifts!” Mandy, the door receptionist at the club interrogates me the minute I step in the door. “I was sick and I dropped my phone and it broke. Sorry! I’m here though!”She gives me a glum and disapproving look, “Well hurry up! The club is starting to get full! Word out is a visiting alpha is in town with his men which means, eventually they will find their way here for some stress release! Be ready!”I nod and head to the back to begin getting ready for the night. Knowing some of Callen’s men might come in has me a little worried, but every girl here at one point doesn’t want someone to find them here so we have a few wigs in the dressing rooms for that exact reason. Any girl seen wearing one of these colorful wigs is a dead giveaway we are hiding from someone the night we are wearing the wig. The blue wig means we are hiding from an angry ex-boyfriend, the pink wig means we are hiding from family searching for us, purple means we are laying l
“Shh…shhh…Celeste! It’s me!” Charley says calmly as he pulls me into his embrace by the back door of the club and I exhale a huge breath. “Shhh…he thinks you’re running. He’s waiting out back by the dancer’s cars. If you would have opened that door, he would have grabbed you.” He whispers in my ear and all the tension in my body visibly relaxes.“What did you say to get him back there?” “I didn’t say anything. I saw him go back there when I was coming inside,” He smirked and I laughed. “Is the coast clear out front? Has the club closed?” I ask nervously.“It’s about to. C’mon, let’s get out of here before Alpha gives up waiting back there and comes back inside.”I nod, take his hand and follow him out front to where Frank and his truck await us. “Hey, sugar! Heard you needed an escape plan! Hop in!” Frank chuckles as he unlocks the truck doors.“Shut up Frank, just drive!” I growl as I slide into the middle seat of the single cab truck. “RO-OH-OW!” Frank squeals as he starts driv
As we walked to Charley’s truck, Dante now pushing my grocery basket, I decided to ask Dante some uncomfortable questions, “So where is your Luna?” I smirk. I know this answer, but I want to see how he responds.“I don’t have a Luna. You know this,” He glares at me acting like he’s insulted that I would ask. “How would I know that?” I asked him, confused.“You are one of my pack members. Everyone in my pack knows we don’t have a Luna and we won't ever have one, which raises the question, why do you not know this?” He stops when we get to the truck and he studies me. Shit!“Oh yeah! I forgot! Silly me!” I give him a silly yet nonreassuring laugh, hoping to play off my terrible attempt to distract him.He rolled his eyes. It worked! Phew!“So…what do you plan to do without a Luna?” This no Luna thing still has me confused. I make a mental note to ask Charley and Frank when I get home.He shrugs, “This your truck?” He is clearly deflecting. I guess you really can’t bullshit a bullshitte
Charley and Frank didn’t miss a beat on that note. Both their eyes grew big and Charley spat out the sip of beer he was beginning to drink.“Our alpha is your MATE?!” Charley exclaimed as he wiped his mouth and shirt of the sprinkles of beer he spat out on himself and around him.“How long have you known?” Frank asked more level-headedly.“Since I met him at work. He asked for a dance, requesting me by name. I don’t know how he knew my name but he did,” I explained as I poured the pasta I was cooking into bowls for each of us to eat before sitting at the table with them.“Dude…you know how pissed the Alpha is going to be when he finds out we’ve been hiding his MATE at our place?!” Charley groaned out to Frank.“He doesn’t know she’s his mate. Remember…the curse,” Frank looked at Charley while he took a big bite of the pasta.They both look
At the club, all the girls hugged me and welcomed me back with open arms. It was nice being around people that showed genuine concern for me. I don’t think my soul and heart will ever fully heal, but being around people that I knew cared about me helped soften the dull ache in the pit of my stomach and around my chest.I was doing pretty good that night between tips, dances, and stage money collections. It made me feel better about some things. I was really missing my friends from back home, but I knew I couldn’t reach out to them without being found out and now that I don’t have my own cell phone, I needed to use some of my money to buy a burner phone so I could still reach out to them and let them know I was okay. I made a mental note to pick one up tonight on my way home from work.“Celeste, some guys came in about a week or two ago looking for you…are you okay? Did they find you?” Kelsey, one of the dancers, asked me when she ca
“Shhh! Shhh! It’s me, Celeste! It’s Frank!” I was in the middle of hyperventilating at the thought that Callen had caught me when I realized what he said and it wasn’t Callen. He removed his hand from my mouth and let me go. “What the fuck Frank!?” I growled, turning around to smack him in the chest. “SHHH! I was trying to stop you before you went inside so I could warn you! The Alpha is inside finishing up a business deal. You should wait in the truck until he leaves.” “Frank, as sweet as it is that you thought to tell me, I can’t be late for my shift or they will fire me. Especially after my two-week hiatus. I’ll just avoid the VIP lounge for now.” I go to grab the back door and walk inside. “Be safe Celeste. You don’t want the Alpha to see you working here, after he forbid you from working here anymore. Nothing good can come from that,” Frank whined, staring at me with such a caring and concerning look. “I don’t deserve you and Charley,” I smiled at him and hugged him befor