The mood in the pack was downcast and tense, honestly, Breeana felt like nothing could ever go back to normal.Even though she was the daughter of the Beta everything was still hush-hush. She'd heard whispers about a stroke when she'd passed by the closed door to her parent's room.Reece had announced to the pack that Alpha Sean was on the mend but Breeana didn't think anyone really believed that. Reece had stepped up to take care of major pack decision-making alongside Breeana's father.His Alpha training was also being sped up as much as it could. These were uncertain times in the pack and everyone was on the edge looking for a sign of stability. Continuity.Younger women and ladies now began to converge with Ariana to tell her their woes and she eased them as much as she could. Ariana was quickly becoming a beacon for other women to follow and rely on. It was almost like she had been crowned Luna already.The conversation Reece wanted to have with Breeana never happened and Breeana
Breeana fought for composure. "What?"Reece's face remained impassive."I… I understand your dad's sick and you just had a truckload of responsibility dropped on you. No one could have anticipated this would happen and I'm sorry. I truly am. But you don't have the right to send me away."Reece stapled his fingers together and leaned back slightly in his chair."I am your Alpha Breeana. I can send you wherever I please.""I call bull. My parents would never stand for this. I am the daughter of the Beta of this pack. So unless you give me a really good reason, I will stay here exactly where I want to."Breeana barely held back a growl. The nerve on this guy.Reece gave a bone-weary sigh. "Of course, you would make even this difficult."He leaned in, his green eyes looking darker in the lighting. His gaze caught hers."Aren't you feeling it?" Reece tapped his chest. "The draw is increasing. Very soon, it won't be a choice but inevitable."Breeana swallowed. Yes, she had noticed. She had
2 Years LaterSpain"If I move your leg this way, does it hurt?""No.""How about this way?" She rotated the leg slightly to the left and felt him wince."Yes, definitely." Mr Wheeler said, his voice breathy."Okay. You have a twisted ankle and because of the initial swelling because of your diabetes, you'll need to do some bloodwork and scans to make sure your diabetes isn't affecting the injury before we can give you an all-clear.""So more needles." Mr Wheeler deadpanned and she fought back a laugh."No." She said with a smile. "Just a bit." She indicated a small space between her thumb and index finger."It's going to be fine though. You are going to be just fine.""Just not in time for my girl's wedding. Don't think I'll be walking anyone anywhere anytime soon."She thought for a moment. "I don't think your daughter will mind if you wheeled there instead. She'll just be happy to have you.""Bah. You are just flattering this old man." But beneath his beard, Mr Wheeler blushed and
Spain"Guess what?""What?" She was still half asleep after a ten-hour shift."Silly, you are supposed to actually guess." Callie was exceptionally chipper for… Breeana looked at the clock. It was 1 am. For Callie with the time zone difference, it was around 10 am. Goddess, she was so tired."You have a dog?" Breeana reached for the closest thought, her eyes heavy with sleep.Callie laughed and for a minute, Breeana felt like she was back home again with mere miles separating her from her friend."We are having our mating ceremony in two weeks!" Callie shrieked in joy. Breeana could just imagine how happy she was in person."Oh my goodness, so soon?" Breeana was wide awake now."Soon? We should have been mated almost two years ago now." Right. It seemed like time just flew past sometimes."I know. I know. It's just that you just launched your brand online and I guess I just felt you would want to wait a bit longer."Callie laughed. "Oh, Breeana. I'm not sure Nelson can wait anymore. H
Mountain Coast Pack, CaliforniaReece turned to look at Ariana.Her blond hair was twisted back into a bun and her eyes were teary, her face twisted in anger and pain."It is true." She closed her eyes and rocked backwards as though hit by something."Sarah. She was right and you… you banished her. I thought you were just showing your affection for me by protecting my sister but you were just protecting her and your dirty secret.""What are you talking about, Ariana?" Reece deflected.He couldn't allow Ariana to know about Breeana. He knew about her vengeful streak. Sister or not. She would not spare her. Reece could take her disdain, no, he wanted it. Breeana on the other hand would be broken. She loved her family."You must think I'm stupid. Ever since I listened to Sarah, I became wary. Then during the bonfire, I saw how you looked at her when you were on top of her during the tiebreaker. I couldn't believe it, surely you wouldn't betray me in that manner, so I asked around. Turns
SpainBreeana helped Alexander pack up his things. He was leaving that evening to make it in time for the wedding the next day.Breeana had already chosen to return home but she didn't inform her brother because she didn't want him to ask her to follow him to Ariana's mating ceremony.She couldn't remain in Spain. She had realized it when she spoke to Javier.She had grown in Spain. Learnt so much that would help exponentially when she returned to the pack to establish a bigger and better clinic. However, Breeana had never envisioned herself staying there long-term.It was funny how sometimes someone never realised the truth about themselves until they were faced with an existential crisis.So she bade her brother goodbye promising him that she would be fine, that she would be alright without him despite knowing that she would be going home to meet them the day after the mating.Breeana took the day off work and spent her time working out while letting her mind drift away. Maybe she di
Mountain Coast Pack, CaliforniaAriana sat at the vanity in her mating dress, her makeup done and the sun already setting. Soon the moon would be out and she would be joined permanently with Reece. Finally, all her efforts would have paid off."You look beautiful dear."Ariana saw her mother step behind her through the mirror, her eyes glittering with tears."Mom." Ariana gripped her mother's hand on her shoulder. She ignored the space where Bree should have been."I'm scared. I am afraid I won't be a good enough Luna."I'm scared Reece will never love me again even after we become mates. Ariana thought but she didn't voice out that opinion.Her mother bent and kissed the side of her head."You'll be perfect dear. You care for them, you have a good heart and a willingness to learn the ropes. You will be fine. I promise.""Thank you, Mom. Thank you."A good heart? Ariana wasn't sure she had that but she had the rest, it would be enough.*****Reece was on his third glass of wine. He had
One minute Ariana's dreams were about to come true, the next everything was in shambles.When the ceremony started she noticed Reece was uncomfortable. She had thought he was having cold feet and silently prayed for the priestess to hurry along the coronation so that she could finally get to the joining of both of them.Only when the ceremony for their mating just began, Reece turned away to look at something."Reece."He didn't respond. He didn't even seem to hear her. Surely whatever he was looking at wasn't–Ariana turned to see Breeana. Her worst unspoken nightmare had come to reality.Ariana reached out to hold Reece but he stepped away moving towards Breeana.What was he doing? Was he going to show the entire pack that Breeana was so important to him that he would put his mating ceremony on hold just to welcome her?Ariana would not let that happen. She had worked too hard for this. As she moved to stop Reece however, Anya stood in her path wearing a distant smile. Ariana tried