Ollie “What?” I look between my father and my uncle with confusion as they smile smugly as if they had known exactly what it was that I was going to say. “Was this some kind of damn test?” I ask them, annoyed. “Nope, not at all. Everything we have said is true and happening.” Alec says. I wag a finger between the two of them, “then what was all that about?” “That was just about you living up to expectations.” I look at my father, waiting for him to continue and he eventually does. “I know how much being alpha means to you and how much you are trying to prove yourself to us. You want everyone to see that you are ready. I get that, I really do, but here is the thing. We already know that you will do a great job. No one is doubting you. Your uncle Alec, your mother, grandfather, and great uncles have all discussed it. Everyone knows that you have a good head on your shoulder and that you will kick ass as the alpha of the pack. No one doubts that for a second-” “Then why-” “Olive

Natalie “Oh my gawd, look at him!” I roll my eyes because I already know the words that are coming next because Katie says them every time that she sees him. When the 'he is so hot!' does finally come, I sigh. “Mmhmm, yeah,.” I say noncommittally, without even sparing him a glance. “You're not even looking at him! Come on, Nat! Look at him! He looks so good today!” Katie says, tugging on my arm to get my attention. “I am sure that he looks the same as he does every other dang day!” I grumble, but she keeps pleading with me until I finally turn and seek him out. I see Noah standing by my brother Alec, my brother-in-law Andras and Zach. I look at all of them and take in a mental inventory of their looks. Alec is tall and broad, well-muscled and handsome. He looks so much like my Dad that it is creepy but he is still handsome. Zach looks exactly like him but his hair is a little longer so that it curls up on his head and his facial hair is more of a stubble, whereas Alec's is a bi

Natalie “Mate?!” “Yep.” “Your mate?” “That's what I said.” I nod again. “Really?” “I am not going to keep saying yes. Trevor is my mate.” I say, for the first time saying the words aloud to someone. “Wow.. Trevor.” Kat says, crossing her arms over her chest and leaning back against my headboard. “I did not see that one coming.” “Yeah, me either,” I tell her a bit snarkily. She is acting like she is so surprised by the news. I am the one that is destined to live her life with a human. I have spent the last three days since I found out going over and over it in my head, but I still just can not wrap my mind around it. “Have you talked to him? Like, about it? The mate thing..” Katie asks me, lowering her voice and I shake my head in response. No, I have not. “But I guess that I am going to try to tonight. Earlier today at lunch, he asked if we could talk. He wants me to go for a walk with him..” “A walk?” Katie asks and once again I nod. She is parroting everything I say t

Natalie I wake up disoriented and sore, but with no obvious wounds. I am assuming that I was out long enough for my wolf healing to take care of the injuries. Lifting my head, I look down to find my mother asleep on my legs.I don't want to wake her up because she looks so peaceful, but on the other hand, if she has been waiting days for me to wake up then I don't want to draw it out and make her wait. I need to put her mind at ease that I am okay.“Mom.”My voice cracks and my dry throat aches as I say the words, but with her supernatural hearing, she hears me and jumps to her feet. “Natalie Leann! God, you had me scared to death!” She throws her arms around me, squeezing me tightly to her. “Are you okay?” She asks me when she pulls away.“I'm okay, Mom. I'm just a little sore.” I tell her. I want to ask how many days I was out, but I don't. Nor do I ask about shifting back to human, because if she tells me that I shifted in front of a bunch of people, like my dad or brothers, then I

Ollie I lean back against the wall as I listen to all the different dialogues floating about the room. My father, my uncle Jack, my grandfather Jeremy and my uncle Zeke are speaking with a few alphas. They came together for a meeting at a packhouse just an hour or so south of us, but Dad felt like with everything going on here, he could not leave to meet them, so he opted to video call them. Luckily for him, there is a young alpha and beta down there that know how to work with technology. All the other alphas seem real old-school. “So, what is your plan? That is what I am asking because you surely do not mean to wage war without a solid plan.” Comes an angry voice, which I recognize as the youngest alpha there. Alpha Blaize. I only know his name and recognize his voice because of the other alphas. They will start spewing some bullshit about “let's wipe out all the damn rogues before they cause any more problems. I saw one outside of our territory a month or two back. I will hun