Lana's P.O.V. My heart dropped to my stomach as Oliver adjusted the blanket around him, making sure it was tucked around his waist securely to keep himself covered. Maddie rolled to the side, dropping between us as she smiled brightly up at the man in my bed as if she had known him her whole life. "Are you joining us for breakfast today?" She asked with glee, her eyes wide as she looked from him to me. "Can he mommy?" I tried to force a smile back to her, but my anger was bubbling up to an unhealthy level. Oliver was looking at me, shaking his head with wide eyes. "Lana, I swear, I didn't." "Oliver will be joining us for breakfast today," I said between clenched teeth, trying to push back my anger that Oliver had lied to me. "How often do you get to see Oliver, Maddie?" My daughter's excitement went through her whole body, and she kicked her little legs as she squealed with happiness, ignoring my question. "Mom, you said we have to save the pancakes for special days. Can we have
Oliver's P.O.V. Breakfast was a tense affair. I tried not to let it bother me that she was still married, but it did. That was my woman, but legally she was married to another. She had vowed to love and cherish someone other than me, and that unintentional betrayal of our mate bond made me feel like my guts were being ripped out. Once again, my soulmate had fallen in love with another man and had bound themselves to them before I even had a chance. I went from feeling like I was nothing more than a pet to Lana, to a fool. I stacked the food into the reusable shopping bags Lana bought on her last trip to the grocery store. We wouldn't need it. My pack would care for us, but I didn't want to leave the owner of this cabin to find rotten food the next time they showed up. I didn't mean to, but everything I tucked away seemed to have more force behind it than it should. Lana steered clear of me as she gathered her and Maddie's belongings. I felt guilty that she was shying away, but I
Lana's P.OV. I scrambled, doing my best to get a seatbelt around myself with Maddie in my lap. She needed to be in her car seat, but as Oliver slid behind the wheel and started the car, I knew I wouldn't have time. We peeled out of the driveway, skidding onto the dirt road within seconds. The old, beat-up car let out a squeal and clanged in protest from the sudden abuse of its cold engine. If it weren't for the fear and adrenaline pumping through my veins, it would have been exhilarating as the tires skid across the road. We drifted around the corner and onto the main street. "Mommy, the wolves are chasing us," Maddie said softly, and I patted her knee atop mine. She turned from the back window to look at me, her eyes wide. "Don't look back, Maddie. Just keep facing the front. You have to help me find a place that sells chicken nuggets, remember?" I knew her excitement for them was gone, but I was hoping she would stay distracted long enough for us to get away from the hunting par
Lana's P.O.V. Every step we took, more people seemed to appear. Most were smiling with welcome, but others were staring with a look of open curiosity. I couldn't blame them though. I was examining them too. The man at the gate, Conner, had been right. Nudity was something that I would have to get used to, and so would Maddie. Several people we passed were wearing tank tops and shorts, but most people were in sports bras and shorts, or nothing at all. But, none of them seemed to mind. If Oliver's pack was the same way, I would have to adjust quickly. Besides their lack of clothing and their muscular build, they look no different than humans. I wasn't sure what I had been expecting. I knew from Oliver that when in their human form, there was nothing different about them. But I was still looking for something to stand out as I scanned the crowd. I had no doubt in my mind who the Alpha was. A beautiful black woman stood tall and proud in front of a large mansion. Her head of braids lo
Oliver's P.O.V. Walking away from Lana when I was aware of the fury boiling through her veins, felt like the wrong move. I didn't want anything planting a seed of doubt in her about me. If the alpha hadn't been watching, I would have pulled Nyla off me and told her to go to Hell. But we were guests, and insulting one of their pack members didn't seem like the best idea. Ignoring the Alpha's command for me to follow her would have been just as bad. I would be in trouble either way, but at least this way, the person who was mad at me wasn't the one offering my mate and daughter shelter, food, and safety. I could make things right with Lana, but pissing off the only people who could protect us right now was in bad taste. As the office door closed behind me, I tried to block out the emotions coming from Lana. Every second I was away from her, the worse they felt. Her anger grew deeper, and the feeling of betrayal burned further into my brain. "Please, take a seat." Alpha Jones request
Lana's P.O.V. Charlotte was quick to guide us away from her, Oliver's mate. I may have been new to his world, but I knew that animals mated. Hell, for the past few weeks, I had been 'mating' with him every chance I could. To think that he could have been here yesterday, fucking that model-worthy woman and then coming home to me and acting like nothing happened... I felt bile move up my throat as the thought reached me. Haf he been inside both of us yesterday? I felt dirty, but more than that, I felt betrayed. I tried to listen to Oliver when he asked me not to assume anything and to wait for him to explain, but it was hard. Why would a woman wrap herself around a man like that unless they were intimate? The fact that she claimed she was his mate, made it all the worse in my head. What was the difference between mating with someone and being their mate? I had felt like I was invading their privacy just by witnessing their intimate greeting. Maddie didn't seem to notice or mind, but
Oliver's P.O.V. My heart shattered as a tear rolled down her cheek. Her eyes were wide, red, pleading… begging me to tell her it wasn't true. "Not anymore," I said softly, but the rush of rage that I felt coming from her told me that wasn't the answer she was hoping for. "There is no one else for me, only you." Lana stood up, sliding out from between where I sat on my knees before her until she was free to pace the room. Rising to my feet, I patiently watched her for a moment before trying to explain again. "This is unbelievable," Lana whispered, but I could see her tensing even more. Her face was turning pink, and her tears had stopped. If there were room, I would have taken a step back as she turned to face me with a fierce glare. Her eyes narrowed in on me, and she took a step forward. "How dare you! You had the nerve to get mad at me because I ran away from a husband who had been beating me and Maddie for years, and you had a soulmate here waiting for you. Someone who was handp
Lana's P.O.V. I was being petty as we sat down at the kitchen island for lunch. Every time I heard someone moving, my hand snapped over to hold Oliver's hand, arm, or thigh. I wanted to be prepared the next time that woman, Nyla, came near. I wanted her to see that Oliver was mine now. Hell, if I were a wolf, I would walk him over to her and then piss around him. Although I doubted that was how their kind marked their territory, it was still funny to think about. Maddie was oblivious to the tension pouring from me, but Oliver seemed aware. He had turned his barstool at the island until he was facing me. He pulled my chair closer until I was seated between his legs with both of mine hanging over one of his. I was basking in the pride of knowing that he was mine and that he was open to showing affection toward me in front of other people. But no matter how close we were, if Nyla were to walk in, I would find a way to be even closer without scaring my daughter. Maddie had enjoyed h