[Mysterious and Handsome] SIERRA “What’s his problem?” I clutched the tray under my arm, watching as the man stormed out of the bar, his face contorted with anger. Everyone else’s eyes followed his trail, and a few conspicuous glares caught my eye. “Girl troubles, if I had to guess,” answered Johnny. “A man as handsome as he undoubtedly has women vying for his attention.” I shook my head at Johnny’s comment. If anybody knew about girl troubles, it would be him. Howie chuckled. He also knew what I was thinking was the honest-to-God truth. Since I started working here, Johnny had not come into the bar one day without an issue with his wife. Each day was always something new. Yet, no matter how often she threw his ass out, he would always crawl back to her with apologies and sappy romantic gestures. “You will know, won’t you, Johnny?” I laughed and grabbed the drinks to distribute to the tables. Johnny responded, “That’s because you won’t give me a chance to show you what I can
[The Seer] SEBASTIAN Moon Goddess, what sort of twisted game was this? Not only did you give me a second mate, which I never wanted, but you gave me a weak human for a mate? How would she protect herself from danger? How could I even love a human who knew nothing of my world? It was like you were hoping I would lose her too. I screamed in my head. I had to leave the bar, and as much as Atticus screamed in my head to follow my mother’s orders and take her back to the pack. I needed to put as much distance between us as possible. For her sake and mine. These thoughts about wanting to kiss her among other things already invading my head. Her alluring beauty and hypnotic scent. It was all driving my senses crazy. Neither of us needed past mistakes haunting our lives. I, for one, didn’t need that kind of stress upon everything else going on in my life. She could easily find a human husband, have children, and live a long and happy life without me to bring the dreadful events of my past
[Werewolves Are Real I] SIERRA Ten minutes after entering our silent yet blackened home, I kicked off my shoes and jacket. I heaved a sigh of relief at finally being home after an eventful night. Undoing my braid, I ambulated into the kitchen for a drink of water. Working at the bar always left me feeling dehydrated after a shift. Almost as if I spent the night burning my throat and stomach with alcohol. After my drink of water, I headed off to my room. Showered and dressed in my pajamas, I crawled into bed. Whether I liked it or not, my mind was still reeling from that encounter earlier with that Blue-eyed man. Then there was Sebastian, handsome and mysterious. I regretted running from him but after Howie’s stern warning to run and not look back, what other choice did I have? *** When I finally arrived outside Howie’s office, I knocked once. “Come in Sierra.” His voice sounded. I did as he said and before I had a chance to breathe, Howie stood from his seat and approached me,
[Werewolves Are Real II] SIERRA I was either losing my mind or I’d heard him incorrectly. I started pacing. If only to wrap my brain around what he said. It wasn’t working. This had to be some sort of prank. There was no way what he stated could be true. It couldn't be, could it? Werewolves were made-up bedtime stories told by parents to terrify their children into being good little boys and girls. "I'll admit, what I said sounds far-fetched, and had I not been one, I wouldn't have believed me either. But werewolves are real. We exist and have for centuries." "Listen, Sebastian," I turned to face him, "you seem like a decent enough guy. I don't know how much you had to drink last night or if you had been sniffing on something, but there is no way I'm going to believe a word you said—" "You don’t believe me, and that's understandable. On the occasion that you did right off the bat, that would've been cause for worry," he said as if it was the most natural thing to escape his lips
[Mine] SEBASTIAN While she battled with that, I looked around her room. It was quaint, not overly spacious but not small either. Somehow, it suited her. She had a queen-sized bed, an antique writing desk, two bedside tables, a rug that covered most of the wooden flooring along with a small bookshelf above her writing desk. As I said, quaint. I imagined her sleeping on the bed, wrapped in her blankets when it was chilly outside, or kicking at it during the warmer nights. Mesopotamia was famous for its frigid winters, but the hot days were no laughing matter. "Hypothetically speaking, assuming I believe any of this, which I don't. What's going to happen next?" she pondered, rummaging through her closet. "Hypothetically speaking," I motioned, quote-unquote. "It indicates we'll return to my pack and perform the Luna ceremony." "Suppose that's not what I want. To be your mate, or become your pack's Luna. What then?" She persisted. "I can't and won't compel you to do anything you d
[Truths and Secrets] SIERRA Everything in my head urged me to push him away. Even the voices warned me it was perilous to want this man. Nonetheless, the longer we kissed, the more I craved. Kissing him was like an insatiable hunger I never knew I had. It was unlike anything I ever felt with Jensen and despite my fear, I refused to loosen my hold on him. Who knew kissing could arouse such carnal yearnings? Sebastian pushed me up against the wall, his hands and lips synchronized to electrify my body with sparks, making me want to fuse with his. How did I not know this sort of bliss existed in the world? Had my love for Jensen clouded my mind so much I didn’t know I deserved more? Pain gripped my temples unexpectedly, and I whimpered, which sounded more like a moan. As the pain coursed through my body, I winced, gripping Sebastian’s arms. Strangely enough, Sebastian's body heat seemed to amplify the throbbing in my head. I wanted to break free from his grip. The pain was unbearable
[Avoidance and Rejection] ARIANNE As a girl growing up, I wanted everything the mate bond promised; love and commitment. Hell, just being the luckiest girl in the world to find that man created with the sole purpose of loving me. Day by day, I watched as other unmated she-wolves in the pack found and claimed their mates. As sickening as it was to watch, the smiles on their faces always left me somewhat envious of not having what they did. Yet, when I found my mate and realized it wasn’t Sebastian. I tried my hardest to put as much distance between us as possible. Even though I couldn’t bring myself to reject him, I couldn’t stand being with him either. Believe me: that shouldn’t be possible. Had I claimed my mate when I found him, I wouldn’t want to avoid him so I could be with Sebastian. A mating bond was strong, created with unbreakable magic to keep the two fated mates together. Yet, somehow, that didn’t apply in this case. I crawled to the other side of the Californian king-
[First Failed Attempt] ZAIDEN My eyes glowed red with anger at my disability to capture the princess. I failed. I had one objective and I failed. How could I have allowed that to happen? I stormed through the walls of the Tudor-styled three-story castle, the clump of my footsteps echoing on the tiled flooring and bouncing off the wall-papered walls. As soon as I was inside, floor-to-ceiling doors slammed shut behind me, caging me inside a dark entryway—sophisticated and decorated in intricately designed woodwork. Priceless artifacts and paintings of those gone on before adorned the walls. For centuries, brick walls and sections of decorative siding made from wooden beams and white stucco held the structure together, while narrow, multi-paned windows grouped to reflect the castle’s medieval roots and allow enough light to enter the home. I stalked toward my father’s quarters. As I neared the door, a guard stepped in front of me, blocking my path from going further. His face remaine