GRAY
They say if you love something, you should let it go. So I did. I set her free, and I don’t think she’s coming back.
I still have no regrets.
Those weeks I spent with Fallon were the first time I’ve felt alive- really alive- in a long time. For the past five years, I’ve been numb, frozen in my grief, pushing forward blindly and refusing to let anyone or anything in, refusing to really feel anything. Throwing myself into my duties as alpha and to the security squad to avoid any semblance of an actual personal life. Then Fallon came along and started chipping away at the dam, breaking it down and causing a flood.
Even if she doesn’t come back, at least I had that glimpse at happiness for a moment. I now know for certain that there can be real joy in life on the other side of the pain I’ve been suffering since my family was ripped away from me. She’s both
FALLON āI always knew it was you,ā Gray murmurs in my ear as he carries me through the packhouse, up the stairs and down the hall. Warmth spreads in my chest as I plant a shower of kisses on his cheeks, his nose, his eyelashes, his forehead. Iām so in awe of him, of how it feels to be his, for him to be mine. My parents were right; thereās no way to put the mate bond into words. Itās complete and utter euphoria. Everything Iāve ever felt for Gray is multiplied tenfold; the emotions are so overpowering I donāt know whether I want to laugh or cry or scream or pass out. Scratch that- I know what I want. I want him to take me to his bed and fuck me senseless. Gray kicks the door of his bedroom closed behind us, carrying me over to the bed and tossing me down onto it. My body bounces with the springy softness of the mattress, then his body covers mine, his lips crushing down in another bruising kiss. He pushes himse
GRAY I wake the next morning from the best nightās sleep of my life. I spent hours alternating between fucking and making love to Fallon, coaxing moans from her pouty lips and watching her pant and writhe in pleasure. Iām still completely in awe of her, still in disbelief that sheās finally mine, forever. Weāve sealed the mate bond; nothing can separate us. I was so wrapped up in Fallon last night that I totally forgot about the full moon run, or the fact that my pack was probably wondering where the hell I went after it ended. My bedroomās far enough away from the main area of the packhouse that I doubt anyone couldāve heard us- but then again, with the way Fallon was screaming, itās anyoneās guess. Thereās no concealing my contentedness when I enter the kitchen of the packhouse the next day. Dekeās cooking something in a pan on the stove and I stop in the doorway, leaning idly against it and clearing my throat to ann
GRAY āTheyāre ready for you, Alpha,ā Deke says, peering in the doorway of my bedroom at the packhouse expectantly, a grin spreading across his face. Heās looking forward to this almost as much as I am- the moment I finally get to tell my pack that Iāve found my mate. While Deke and I have done our best to hold our fractured pack together since I was forced to prematurely step up as their alpha, having a luna completes our pack in some sense, makes us more whole. The future of our pack is brighter than ever. Iām so fucking proud to introduce Fallon to the pack as my mate. Sheās a perfect luna- so strong and brave, a force to be reckoned with. I couldnāt have designed a better she-wolf to lead the pack with me if Iād tried; sheās so much more than I couldāve ever imagined. I can tell sheās nervous- sheās changed her clothes twice since we returned to the packhouse, and sheās been fiddling with her hair in the mir
FALLON It feels a little strange returning to the squad complex on Tuesday morning, like Iāve been away for weeks rather than days. So much has happened since I passed through the gate on Saturday afternoon, staring out the window from the backseat of Boydās dadās SUV, turning over in my mind whether Iād have the courage to come back for the full moon run. Iām so fucking glad I did. I was being a total chicken, which isnāt like me at all. Then again, love makes you do some crazy, foolish things. Thank god my sister was there to make me realize how stupid I was being and talk me into coming back to face the music- I definitely owe her one. Iāll add it to the list of debts I owe Brooke for always coming through when I need her. Gray slides the Jeep into his usual spot outside the gate, throwing it in park and cutting the engine. He turns to me, dark eyes alight w
FALLONI barely slept last night. The past few days have been exhausting, with high school graduation and all of the celebrations that accompany that milestone, but I was too keyed up to get any real rest. In a lot of ways, I feel like Iāve been waiting for today for my whole life.āBrooke!ā I call out, throwing a pillow across the room. It lands on my sisterās sleeping form and I hear her groan in protest.I pad across our bedroom to the en-suite bathroom, kicking her bedframe as I pass. āYouād better get up, or weāre going to miss the bus.āI flip on the light in the bathroom, yawning as I study my reflection in the mirror. My stick-straight blonde hair is a tangled mess, so the first thing I do is brush it smooth until I can sweep it up into a long ponytail. Then I trade my geeky black glasses for contact lenses, brush my teeth, and pack up the last of my toiletries. By the time I exit the bathroom, Brooke is sitt
GRAYThe busses start filing into the squad complex a little after 9 a.m. and Iām already on edge. Iām always a little tense on the first day of training camp when the new recruits arrive- the complex sits on my packās land, and as alpha, my pack is my top priority. Inviting a bunch of other wolves into our territory every year- even if theyāre from packs aligned with ours- carries inherent risks. The training program for the squad has been incredibly successful for the past few years, but you never know when youāre going to get a bad egg. Iām always prepared to vet every new recruit.Years ago, when my pack aligned with the others to form the six-pack, I was quick to volunteer to head up the security squad. It was my brainchild. I know firsthand how dangerous the shadow pack really is, so I was eager to develop thorough and sophisticated security safeguards against them.I was barely eighteen when the shadow pack came for mine.
FALLONIām a little winded from dragging my suitcase across the grass to the barracks, but Iām hustling to stay at the front of the pack. These guys have been watching us from the minute we stepped off the busses, assessing whether we have what it takes to make the squad. Iām sure as hell going to make sure they know I do.Though sheās struggling to keep up, Brookeās right on my heels. She doesnāt have anything to prove- sheās already in- but her anxiety has her sticking close. We stop where the other trainees have gathered and I get my first look at the guys who run the place- and holy hell. I think I stop breathing for a second. The five guys standing in front of us are fucking gorgeous.Every one of them is absolutely shredded, from their corded forearms crossed at their chests to their abs stretching the front of their black t-shirts. I thought that Davis was built, but these guys are ripped. Not only that, but every one of
FALLONMy legs are shaky as I climb into my bunk that night. After Grayās punishment run, Theo put us through circuit training and Brock had us alternating planks and squats until some of the trainees actually collapsed. Iāve been training for years, but I now realize that nothing could have adequately prepared me for the squadās summer training camp. And this was only day one.When they finally released us for the day, I caught a quick shower and went to the dining hall to grab a bite. Thank God for Davis and Boyd, because I guess none of the other recruits are speaking to me. The 20-lap punishment has made me enemy number one.I spotted Brooke across the dining hall, sitting with a group of people who I can only assume are the IT team. She looked like she was settling in comfortably, so I just tossed her a wave and didnāt interrupt. Iām still kicking myself over the ruckus I caused earlier, and sheās the only one I want to tal