Chapter 1
"Arise, my Luna." His voice rang in the air and sent shivers down my spine. I looked down at the ground, slowly rising to my feet while holding my breath.
"My name is Clair, Alpha Aeon." I answered respectfully, but I refused to look at him. Frustration rolled off of his aura before it changed into anger. I swallowed hard as bile threatened to rise from my throat.
"Have I done anything to despise you?" His hand snaked around my nape as he took one step closer. "My wolf is so close to marking you, Clair. I can assure you, it'll be painful. I'm the only one standing in the way. Submit, and we'll make it less painful." He moved his hand to my jaw, forcing me to look at him. "Look at me. You'll be mine! And I will make sure all others before me are forgotten."
I closed my eyes, and the tears fell from my eyes. I was already losing this battle. I took a deep breath, ready to nod my head, when a ferocious growl marred the air, shaking the ground where I stood.
"I dare you to touch what's mine!" I snapped my eyes open, turning in the direction of the threat.
He's here.
He came for me.
My Alpha came for me.
¤¤¤¤¤ ALPHA JACOB GALHART of the Black Shadow Pack never wanted a mate. He has led his pack for years without a Luna and was content to remain that way. But it was time to produce an heir. Not wanting to find his mate, he set his eyes on this one female, Clair Montrell.
He thought he had everything planned out until she turned out to be the fated mate he never wanted. But would he be able to let her go?
PROLOGUE: Young Jake & Clair
Jake - 14 yrs old
Clair - 9 yrs old
JAKE
Her scent reached my nose even before I felt her presence. Twigs snapped as hurried little footsteps echoed around as she approached the place I was resting in.
I turned my head in the direction of the noise just in time to see Little Clair emerge from the bushes with a small plastic bag that she immediately placed behind her back as soon as she saw me. Her round eyes widened in surprise as she realized that she was not alone in this place.
"What are you doing here, princess? Hiding again from your mother?" I asked without taking my gaze away from her small, lovely face. A smirk formed on my lips as I waited for her response.
She let out a little huff and continued to walk towards the boulder I was sitting on before slumping her small frame onto the space beside me.
"How did you know that?" She raised her brow and tilted her head to look at me. "Did you follow me? And why are you here? This is my place. You're not allowed here." She continued to look at me, her gaze scrutinizing mine.
I suppressed a smile. While I found it annoying to be disturbed in my moment of silence, I won't deny that this 9-year-old girl with a feisty attitude has lightened my mood without her knowing it. "Hmmm... I didn't know I was supposed to ask permission from you before I could come here, princess."
I lifted my gaze away from her and threw the small rock that I had held in my hand for a while now, watching as it bounced on the water in front of us. "Last time I checked, I owned this land. This is still part of my territory."
Her jaw dropped in disbelief at my words before huffing and puffing her chest out proudly, "I don't care, Jake. When I say it's my place, then it's mine!"
She smiled cockily before continuing, her finger pointing at a tree standing three meters to our left, just beside the stream. "See that name on the tree? Absaline Clair Montrell."
I shook my head, smiled at the satisfied smirk on her face, and kept my mouth from objecting. Making a girl cry was the least of my priorities at the moment.
"Okay, tell me then, what did you take this time?" I asked her without taking my eyes off the beauty of the stream in front of us.
Clair may have declared this place her sanctuary, but it has also been my refuge, the only place I could sit and relax without anyone imposing responsibilities on my 14-year-old self.
It has been three months since I took over as the Alpha of the Black Shadow Pack. It was three months ago when my grandfather, the former Alpha of the pack, passed away. And although I'd been prepared for this moment since I was eleven, the responsibility of keeping the pack together without my grandfather's guidance has taken its toll on me and my sanity.
"Just cupcakes." Clair's reply came out weak but enough to get me out of my thoughts.
"And how many?" I felt her tense beside me. My question made her uncomfortable. I reached out and ruffled her hair before pulling her closer to my side for a brotherly hug. "Spill it out," I asked nicely this time.
"Just three." She answered without taking her eyes off her feet.
I snorted a laugh. "Lies."
She huffed again before telling her truth. "It's seven! I took a lot of them because it's my favorite. And I'm going to give you one, just one! So you can't tell Mommy, okay?"
She wiggled her eyebrows and raised a cupcake in my face, tempting me to agree with her.
I let out a full smile before taking the cupcake from her hand. The icing on the cupcake looked like it had gone on a battle itself from the way it was smashed with all the other cupcakes. It doesn't look appetizing, but I knew from experience that it was a good one.
I shoved half of it in my mouth before responding. "You know, she will still find out regardless and be hell-mad at you again. Now, she needs to do more for the pack meeting later."
She giggled while she chewed her cupcake. "That's why I took seven. Then it would be worth it when Mommy gets angry!" She gestured with an angry face and pretended to have her claws out. "Grrrr... angry like that!" She continued to giggle after that and proceeded to eat her cupcake.
I chuckled at her actions and picked up one more cupcake, waiting for her complaints, but she just glared at me and didn't say anything.
We continued to eat in silence until she broke it.
"Do I really, really need to call you Alpha now? Mommy keeps telling me to address you as Alpha, but it sounds stupid. You're not old. Alpha is for grandfathers." She rolled her eyes, and my lips pursed to suppress a laugh from coming out, and I let her continue with her retorts.
"Why did they make you an Alpha? Can't somebody older than you be an Alpha? I am scared for you, Jake. Maybe being an Alpha will make you older. You should have told them you don't want to be an Alpha." In the last sentence, she spoke in a low voice, as if to avoid anyone hearing us.
But then she smiled as she looked up at me. Her eyes glowed with admiration. "But you're doing okay. Mommy said you are strong and can protect the pack. So I think that's okay." I smiled back at her, ruffling her hair once more. She didn't even know, but her words warmed my heart.
"But don't grow too old like your grandfather. Silver hair is not cool!"
I chuckled before facing her, my hands cupping her little face. "Well, princess, thank you if you think I'm too cool to be an Alpha, but I wanted to be one and I would do anything to keep this pack running. And if that means I will get silver hair, then so be it."
I told her my truth. She looked directly into my eyes and tried to gauge if I was joking before she shook her head and swatted my hands off her face.
"Will you be getting a Luna? Mommy said you should have one. We have never had a Luna for... forever. Mommy said that too." I clenched my hand into a fist with her last statement and let out a sigh. I wasn't expecting her question, although I already knew the answer even before I took the Alpha post.
No Luna.
I wouldn't be needing one. If my grandfather was able to survive without a Luna after my grandmother, his Chosen Luna passed away at a young age, then I could do it as well. The pack would still continue to thrive even without a Luna. They just needed me, an Alpha without any baggage.
"No, I don't need a Luna." There was a note of finality in my voice.
PROLOGUE 2: Young Jake & Clair
JAKE
"No, I don't need a Luna." There was a note of finality in my voice.
She turned her full attention on me, a scowl forming on her small face. "Why? I always wanted to find my mate, Jake. How can you even say that? What if she finds you? Will you run away?"
I smiled at her questions, but in a bigger picture, it would look like I was running away from my fate. "I just need to reject her, then we can both move on with our lives. It's that easy!" Her eyes widened again, jaw-dropping.
It took her a few seconds before she started talking in a whisper that, if not for my werewolf hearing, I would not be able to pick up. "You can't do that. Mommy said mates are a gift from the Moon Goddess. And it will hurt her. It will hurt you too, you know."
Her eyes locked with mine, and for a moment, I thought I was looking into the eyes of a grown woman who knows the depth of her statement. I cocked my head to the side and winked at her, hoping to lighten the atmosphere. I didn't like her going on the full mate topic, but I couldn't break her heart by not answering her questions.
"I'm used to being hurt, princess. No harm done." I saw confusion written all over her face but she was not yet ready to drop the topic. "What about her? Maybe she doesn't want to be hurt."
I frowned as I lifted my gaze away from her, annoyed that I was trying to explain this to a 9-year-old girl. I adjusted my position, leaning my arms on the boulders behind us before I shifted my gaze back to the stream in front of us. I just wanted to end this conversation. "I don't care. Women are just a pain in the ass if you ask me."
I heard her shift from her seat and jump up to a standing position, facing me with both hands on her hips, a scowl evident on her face. "I AM NOT! I might be stealing, no... taking cupcakes and cookies from Mommy, but I am not an ass! So take it back!"
I was taken aback by the anger radiating from her. I threw my hands up in defense and tried to stifle a laugh. "Of course, of course, you're always the exception! Otherwise, I won't be sitting here beside you, right?"
I saw her shoulders relax at my words before she sat back in her place beside me.
"And what if I´m your mate, Jake? I would make a very good Luna."
It took me a while before her words sank in. I smiled and moved from my prior position and wrapped an arm around her, pulling her to my side again, squeezing her shoulder.
"I'm sure you'll be a good Luna. But not my Luna. You're too good for me, princess." I answered sincerely, not wanting to say the wrong thing.
She took one more cupcake and started to eat it without looking at me. "I know, I'm too good for everyone, even for you. But what if... what if, will you still reject and hurt me? Then I no longer have a mate."
I swallowed hard and tried to think of the best answer. I honestly don´t have an answer. How do you tell a little girl that, regardless of how special she is, you will never have room for her in your life? I closed my eyes before hugging her tightly.
"I'm sure the Moon Goddess will not mate you up with me, Clair. I'm sure of that. You're too special." I swallowed more before I added. "But just in case, then this big bad Alpha will help you get over the pain. I won't let me hurt you, princess."
¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨
Jake - 17 years old
Clair - 12 years old
JAKE
A low growl escaped my throat as I covered my eyes with one arm, annoyed at the disturbance from the loud banging outside my bedroom door. I grunted as the disturbance continued.
With my eyes squinted, I glanced at the clock overhead, flashing 6:08 AM. I shoved off my blanket and made my way to the door, ready to pounce on the person behind the door.
"Jake! Jake!" I growled more as I recognized the voice behind it. I opened the door with a force strong enough that it slammed on the wall inside my room.
"Absaline Clair! What the fuck is wrong with you? I was up all night and you didn't have any consideration at all! Six in the morning?! For Goddess' sake, can't your brother help you?"
I scowled at her and leaned my arms on the door pillar. I was annoyed that my sleep was interrupted, making me totally unaware that I only had my boxers on and was standing almost naked in front of a crying 12-year-old girl.
Clair reached out to touch me but didn't find any shirt to tug on, so she ended up tugging on the waistband of my boxers. "Daddy is sending me away to live with the humans! You can't let him do that! I'm a wolf! Please, I don't want to live with my uncle!" Tears continued to pour out of her eyes.
I lifted her hand away from my boxers and let out a defeated sigh. My hand reached out to wipe her tears as I responded calmly. "As much as I am your Alpha, he is still your father."
"But you are my father´s Alpha! He can't say NO to you!" She retorted back as she slapped my hand away from her face and wiped the tears with the back of her hand.
"You're only 12 years old, Clair, still a minor and not one of my warriors. I don't have a direct right on you. I can, however, talk to him and tell him to think about this. But the decisions are his."
I looked at her, pain evident in her eyes as she stepped back before shouting at me. "You all talk bullshits! You and Aaron! Cowards!"
I combed my hair and tugged it in annoyance, pissed off at being disrespected at this early hour.
"Watch your mouth, young girl! Seems you forgot who you were talking to!" I reprimanded her only to be shouted back at again, her hands shaking in anger.
"Of course, I don't! How could I? Mighty Alpha! But it still doesn't change a thing! Nobody cares about me here!"
I let out a sigh and tried to reach her head, but she moved a step back, avoiding my touch. "Calm down, Clair, please!" I sighed before continuing. "He said it's not a permanent thing. Just until he gets his act together. Give him some leeway, he just lost his mate."
I tried to reason, but it was too late for me to realize that I ignited her anger more with my choice of words.
"Don't talk as if you know anything about mates! Because you don't! And just in case you were not aware, Alpha, I lost my mom! I don't need to lose a father and brother too!" She retorted back glaring at me before turning on her heels to walk away.
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THANK YOU for finding my book. He's My Alpha is my first book, and I would like to apologize for the grammar and spelling mistakes. I am not a native English speaker, but I am doing my best to learn every day. So, please bear with me and I hope you'll enjoy the story and see past the errors.
Chapter 1
CLAIR
I turned the radio a notch higher and let myself get lost in the blasting music as I drove on the freeway. With my window down, I basked in the warmth of the sun against my skin, loving the feeling of the fresh air on my face and the wind blowing through my hair.
I had been driving for five straight hours, and I still had two more hours to go before I reached my destination. Fourteen hours of driving were too much to bear, but I had no choice.
My name is Absaline Clair Montrell.
I am a shifter. I spent the last five years of my life living among humans, except for my werewolf uncle. Uncle Theodore found his mate, who happened to be a human, and decided to leave the pack life for her. And from what I witnessed, he has no problem living the human life.
After my mother died from an attack while visiting her friend from another pack, my father decided he didn't want anything to do with me and sent me away.
Maybe I reminded him of my mother. They said I had her blue sapphire eyes and slightly wavy chestnut brown hair. But it wasn't a valid reason to send me away. My father might have lost his mate, the love of his life, but in turn, he made me lose not just my mother. I lost him too, my brother and the pack that should have been my home.
Now, the pack holds no meaning for me. I was still part of the pack - not being able to break the bond, but I felt alone, and going back there didn't feel like going home.
My uncle's mate, whose name is Laura, is a fine and lovable woman. She would make a great mother, and I hoped that one day the Goddess would give her a child of her own. Laura was very patient with me through my rebellious stage, and I will always be grateful for her presence in my life.
It wasn't easy living with my uncle and his mate at the beginning. But after a year of crying and begging for my father to take me back, I finally gave up. I started to not care anymore and embrace the human life I was given.
I have my own life now, and if it were up to me, I would've stayed hidden among the humans. Unfortunately, the Moon Goddess has a different plan. I would be turning eighteen in a couple of weeks, and for that reason alone, I found myself driving back to my pack's territory.
On the last full moon before a wolf turns eighteen, shifting happens, and that would be five days from now. For obvious reasons, I cannot shift around humans. Humans were oblivious to the fact that werewolves existed. Or maybe they weren't, but no one seemed to acknowledge or talk about it.
But once I was done with my first shift, I would leave and sever my bond with the pack. I don't want to be a part of them anymore, the same way they never wanted me.
¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨
JAKE
'Alpha?' I received a mind-link from my Gamma, Aaron.
I´d been waiting for him the whole day, and I silently hoped he was sending the information I would like to hear.
'Yes? Where are you?' I asked without any emotions.
'I'm on my way to pick up Clair. She's already waiting by the border.' He answered.
'Good.' I cut my response short and waited for him to cut the mind link, a smile curling on my lips as I got the confirmation that the little princess had finally decided to return home after five years.
I knew she hated me for abandoning her, but knowing Clair, she always had a soft spot for me. I only hoped that she was still the same feisty little girl I knew and that the humans didn't destroy her spirit.
'Alpha,' Aaron's mind-link startled me. I didn't notice that the mind link wasn't cut off yet.
'Hmmm..' I replied, not really in the mood to converse with anyone.
'Do I need to take Clair there as soon as we arrive? Or can I take her home to meet Dad first? You know, Dad has been anxious to see her, and the wait is killing him.' Aaron asked politely. He knew the protocol, but it seemed he was trying to get around it this time.
'You know the rules, Aaron.' I replied, again void of emotion. 'Bring her here.'
'I know, Jake. But she didn't change packs. I believe she didn't do anything to sever the pack bond. Or I can ask her along the way.' His tone was respectful but determined.
I closed my eyes and squeezed my temples before answering. This annoyed me, and I know Aaron could sense I was pissed off already.
'She was twelve when she left, and if she severed that bond, I would not feel it. I need to know if she still belongs to this pack, otherwise, a ceremony needs to happen right away. I don't want non-pack members roaming around my territory. And just because she is your sister, doesn't make her an exception. Just do your job and bring her here. Am I clear, Gamma?' I retorted, leaving him no space for any argument.
'Yes, Alpha. I will soon reach her and will let you know when we have arrived at the pack house.'
I cut the mindlink right away without giving any response.
A smile played on my lips again. I could have easily let Aaron take her home and meet her tomorrow. She was no threat to the pack. But I wanted to see her. I didn't know I missed my little princess until the idea of her arriving sank in.
Chapter 2
CLAIR
I fidgeted with my fingers as I stood beside my truck, the one Uncle Theodore gave me. It was an old rusty-colored beat-up Wrangler truck, and I had been driving it since I was sixteen.
Aaron volunteered to pick me up from the nearest train station, but I refused to leave my truck. I could have driven myself to the territory if I only knew the way to get there. But with the territory being surrounded by massive forests and mountains, the GPS was not working perfectly in that area, so that left me with no other option but to have Aaron pick me up and follow his car.
To say that I was nervous was an understatement. I think I was scared. And I had no idea why. It must have been the realization that, after five years, I was finally coming back.
Five years, five long years. I had been around humans for so long that it seemed I had forgotten how it was to live within the pack.
How will they react once they see me? Will they accept me? Does anybody care at all?
I let out a sarcastic snort. Why would I care? This pack abandoned me when I needed them the most. I reminded myself again that I was just here because I needed to be. I’ll be gone after I shifted, and I doubt I’ll ever step into this territory again.
"Clair!" I snapped out of my thoughts when I heard my name and turned in the direction where the voice came from to see my handsome brother with a wide welcoming smile on his face.
If there was anyone I was eager to see, it would be Aaron. For the last five years, he has never failed to call me and try to convince me to go back. He atoned for his abandonment by making sure I received gifts and cards on all special days.
He would visit once in a while until it became scarce when he stepped up to his Gamma position. He was also the one that kept reminding me about my shift and threatened to kidnap me if I failed to show up days before the full moon.
Aaron opened his arms, and before I knew it, I was already running toward him and letting him envelop me in a warm hug. As much as I didn’t want to be here, I couldn’t deny that I missed my brother.
"Aaron!" I cried softly as I buried my face in his chest, inhaling his scent. It had been so long that I almost forgot how he smelled, and how this smell used to irritate me whenever he gave bear hugs. But I can’t get enough of it now. "I missed you!" I continued to hold onto him tightly as I mumbled.
"Clair, my sweet little Clairy, I miss you too, sweetie!" Aaron responded as he squeezed me.
I faked a gag when I heard him call me sweetie. I slapped his chest lightly before pulling away. "Stop calling me sweetie, it doesn’t sound right. I’m too old for that!"
He let out a hearty laugh before he pulled me into another hug. "You know, you would always be my Clairy? Even after we have grown old and can’t stand anymore."
I pulled away and placed my hands on my hips. My brow arched playfully. "Stop being mushy, Gamma! It doesn’t suit you. Now take me home, I’m starving!"
He placed his hand on his heart before he bowed in front of me. "At your service, princess. Now get your ass in my car, and Matteo can drive your truck home." He turned around and signaled for the other guy to take over my car. It was only then that I realized that we were not entirely alone.
"Nice to meet you, Matteo. I’m Clair! Take care of my baby!" I called out and waved at him before he could close the car door.
I heard him open the car door again before he chuckled and said, "Nice to see you again, Clair!"
I looked at Aaron, confused, as we made our way into his car.
"I don’t expect you to remember everyone before you left. You were only twelve." He let me into the passenger seat before heading towards the other side of the car. "But for them, they do remember you. That little girl who always ran away after stealing her mom’s pastries. Everybody needed to look for you, otherwise, she wouldn’t give us anything." He chuckled as he sat in the driver’s seat and memories of Mom flooded my thoughts.
"I miss Mom," I spoke up while fastening my seatbelt, refusing to meet his gaze.
"Yeah, me too." I heard him reply in an almost inaudible voice as he roared the engine to life and started driving.
I hated this topic. I’ve been trying to deny all the emotions that came with losing Mom, so I diverted the conversation somewhere else. "So Gamma, huh? How was it? Tell me what I missed. " I turned my body on him to show enthusiasm as I waited for his reply.
He smiled and cocked his head before filling me in with all the details. We talked mostly about him and Dad, and how until now he had not found his mate. And that, as soon as he turned eighteen, he was thrust into the Gamma position, alongside Beta Gavin. That was two years ago.
The previous Beta and Gamma stepped down when Alpha Jake turned twenty, and his chosen Beta and Gamma had turned eighteen and had already shifted into their wolves.
Wolves normally shift on the last full moon before they turn eighteen, but Alpha Jake was different. He shifted on the last full moon before he turned fourteen. The Alpha lineage usually shifts when they turn fifteen or sixteen. For some unknown reason, he shifted early, strengthening his grandfather’s decision to leave the pack under his care instead of his wayward father.
"And Jake? How is he? Is he a good Alpha?" I asked.
My brother narrowed his eyes and shook his head. "Alpha. It’s Alpha Jake. You don’t want to embarrass yourself if you start calling him Jake. We usually call him Jake when it’s just us, but around the pack, it’s Alpha Jake or Alpha Jacob. He can be mean if he feels he is being disrespected. And the last thing I want is for him to embarrass you in front of the pack."
I sighed before letting out a reply, "So he has changed."
"People change, Clair. You can’t expect him to be the same boy that he was at seventeen when you left. He has seen and carried so much on his shoulders without a father to guide him." He continued to explain.
"Just like me, no father to guide me."
Aaron didn’t expect that reply based on the sigh that he let out. "I’m sorry, Clair. I am really sorry. I wasn’t man enough to stop Dad from sending you away. I wish I had."
I heard the sincerity in his tone that I could not make him feel bad about this whole ordeal. I placed my hand over his hand holding the car gear and flashed him a warm smile. "We’ve talked about this before. It wasn’t your fault, Aaron. You were only fifteen. What do you know about raising a 12-year-old girl? And besides, I didn’t turn out bad, did I?"
"Overall, maybe not." A sarcastic smile was printed on his face.
I slapped his arm before letting out a hearty laugh. "How could you? What’s wrong with me?"
"Ha! Nothing!" He smiled awkwardly before scratching his hair. "I just heard many things from Uncle Theo. Nothing that you want to hear as a brother and nothing that..."
I put my hands to cover my ears and drowned out whatever Aaron was saying with my own voice. "Cut it off, Aaron! Don’t believe Uncle Theo. He’s too strict. I didn’t even have a boyfriend! I dated, but that’s it!" I tried to defend myself.
He laughed while reaching out his arm, pulling me into a side hug, "Regardless of what he said, Clairy, I still love you."
I narrowed my eyes on him, my arms folded over my chest. "How could you believe such a thing? You know how mom always tells me to respect the mate bond."
Aaron raised a brow before he threw a quick glance at me, "Saving it for your mate, huh?"
I felt my cheeks burn in embarrassment. This topic was something you didn’t want to share with your brother.
"I’m not like you. Man whore!" I replied before a peal of soft laughter came out of my throat. He laughed but refused to say anything more about the topic.
And then his playful mood just suddenly shifted into a serious tone. "We are almost here. Get yourself ready."
Chapter 3
CLAIR
"We are almost here. Get yourself ready."
"What do you mean?" I looked at the view in front of us as we approached. Confusion was written all over my face. I turned to Aaron with a raised eyebrow. "This is not home as I remember. This is the packhouse, right? You and Dad live here now?"
Aaron shook his head as he put the car to a full halt and unbuckled his seatbelt. "No. I stay here, but Dad lives alone in our house. But I will stay at home with you and Dad for a few days until you turn 18. I assumed I needed to teach you the basics of pack life first. But for now, hop off — we’re meeting Alpha Jake. He is expecting us." He said it nonchalantly as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
He walked out of the car even before I could berate him for not telling me about this stopover. I sighed and slumped my back onto the seat before unbuckling my belt. Although there was nothing wrong with meeting the Alpha, I suddenly developed a sickening feeling in my stomach. I wasn’t sure if I was ready to meet Jake.
But I guess I have no choice now.
I let out another sigh and let my gaze wander up at the entrance of the packhouse, and there he was.
Alpha Jake in all his god-like glory.
My heart started beating erratically at the sight of him. He didn’t look like this when I left. I felt my mouth water at the sight of him. I slapped my thoughts and tried to compose myself.
Cut it out, Clair! He’s like your brother, so why are you drooling at the sight of him? I reminded myself.
I snickered at my own thoughts. Who was I kidding? I was already starting to have a crush on him before I left, so this justifies why I was still a little attracted to him.
Yeah, just a little.
But then I couldn’t keep my eyes off of him. He had surely grown muscles in all the right places.
Oh, Goddess! Those biceps! I wondered how it felt to be wrapped around them.
"Shit!" My throat started to dry up, so I looked for my bottled water only to remember that this was not my car. I shifted around, looking for something to help me out.
Facing Jake with bad breath was not really sexy. Not that I care. He was used to seeing me with all the mess and dirt from playing, so it shouldn’t matter. I tried to convince myself, but then I knew it mattered. It matters now!
I sent a silent thank you to the Goddess upon seeing the bubble gum on Aaron’s dashboard. As much as I hated the idea of chewing gum, I grabbed it and popped it in my mouth, and started chewing. Anything to help with the dryness and nervousness.
I let out a big sigh before I slipped out of my seat and stepped out of Aaron’s car. I fixed my gaze directly at the Alpha as I made my way in front of him and tried my best to act anything but nervous.
I discreetly roamed my eyes over his body again, soaking in all of his assets.
He surely looked different from the skinny 17-year-old Alpha that I remembered.
He kept his black hair longer than necessary, and the little stubble of hair on his face just added to his intimidating look. His perfectly sculpted nose and lips made me bite my lower lip.
He had a light blue shirt on that perfectly fitted his toned body, accentuating his biceps and chest. Aaron and Beta Gavin were both muscled up and stunning, but nothing compared to the god-like aura this man exuded.
I didn’t notice that I raised a brow and bit my lower lip again when my eyes then darted down to his perfectly fitted black pants. Naughty thoughts were running through my mind as I wondered what was hiding in his pants and if his ass was as perfect as the bulge I saw in his front.
Oh Goddess, could I jump on him now?
My cheeks were already burning from my own thoughts. I had to stop myself from thinking further than I already had or I might end up making myself look like a hormonal teenager eyeing her crush.
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JAKE
They were about to approach the packhouse when Aaron, my Gamma, sent a mindlink. I rose swiftly from my seat and left my office. As expected, Beta Gavin was already standing and waiting for their arrival.
I saw Aaron’s car was already pulling up a few meters away from the steps, and I watched as he descended from it. I gave him a curt nod as I acknowledged his greeting before my gaze turned to the passenger side of his car, my eyes squinting, wanting to get a view of her.
The sun shredded shadows on the car so that it was impossible to see if someone was inside, but I expected her to get out any moment, skipping and running for a hug like she always does.
But the moment she stepped out of the car, my whole body froze. I wasn’t expecting a full-grown woman to come out of the passenger seat.
'What the fuck?!' I exclaimed to my wolf, Echo, while he was running around like he had gone mad in my mind. Did she really grow up in just a few years?
She’s 17 and turning into a full woman soon. Why was I expecting a 12-year-old girl to get out of the car?
Her long, slightly wavy hair bounced perfectly as she made her way toward us. I assumed she was around 5’3 inches, but it didn’t come as a surprise since she was short even way back then, but I couldn’t deny the fact that she turned out perfect with her curves in all the right places.
I stopped myself from swallowing when my gaze left her face to wander over her body — a perfectly sized breast that I believed my hand could handle. I was fucking sure I wouldn’t get enough of it. And those hips that swayed seductively. I was almost certain she was not doing it on purpose. It was just the way her body moved and just by looking at her, something twitched inside my pants.
I snapped my thoughts away from it and masked my emotions. If her look mesmerized me, I didn’t let it show. But I was in constant battle with my wolf, trying to tame him down. An annoyed look took over my expression, and before I realized it, Clair was already standing in front of me.
"Alpha Jake." Her sweet voice brought me back to the present.
Was she chewing gum? Seriously? I stayed away from women chewing gum. They reminded me of the ladies who tried to get into my pants whenever we drove around. She might have noticed the scowl on my face because she started talking sarcastically.
"Are we just going to stand here for eternity or can I go home now? If you have no idea, Jake, I drove through three states to get here." She huffed before letting out an annoyed sigh.
"It’s Alpha Jake, Clair!" Aaron scolded her before turning his face on me. "My apologies, Alpha. Clair is just tired, and if it suits you, we can come back tomorrow when she is fully rested and in her right mind."
I saw her roll her eyes at her brother before crossing her arms over her chest. She’s wearing a nicely fitted white shirt, and her action just emphasized her breasts more.
"You don’t need to jump up and defend me, Aaron. I’m not twelve anymore." She sighed before she continued. "My apologies, Alpha. I’m just tired and have no idea why I’m here right now and you’re not saying anything. I just want to lie down and rest. " Her eyes avoided mine as she spoke, but I could still sense her annoyance.
I turned my head to my Gamma, frowning. "You didn’t tell her why she needed to see me?"
Aaron scratched his head, looking at me apologetically. "It slipped my mind, Alpha. I was busy catching up with her, and before I knew it, we were in front of the packhouse."
Aaron then tilted his head to the left in submission.
I nodded in acknowledgment before turning my back on them. "Very well then, follow me to my office, Clair."
I walked away without looking back to see if she was following. I heard Aaron tell her that he would wait for her outside before I heard tiny, steady footsteps behind me. I walked up to the end of the hallway and opened the door, leaving it open as I sat on my chair and waited for her to step in.
She closed the door behind her as I pointed to the seat in front of my desk. She sat down, but nobody said a word. We stayed in silence for a while before she broke it.
"So... why am I here?" She asked with a raised brow.
Clair was the same old Clair. She couldn’t keep silent to save her life.
Chapter 4
CLAIR
I followed him to his office after making sure Aaron would stay and wait for me outside. I threw the gum discreetly into the waste bin along the way. It didn’t escape my eyes that Jake scowled at the sight of me chewing gum. Not that I care. It’s just that it’s better to throw it away, and maybe he would stop scowling and be more welcoming.
Jake’s scent enveloped me as soon as I stepped into his office. It’s calming but doesn’t stop me from being annoyed with his silence.
I was at least expecting him to be a little enthusiastic upon seeing me back. I set myself up for failure. The boy, no, the man in front of me, was stoic as stone. No emotions at all. But I should have expected it from him, like what Aaron said, he changed. He was no longer the lovable Jake I adored as a kid.
"So... why am I here again?" I broke the silence that was killing me while I sat in front of him. My fingers reached for the pen laying down on the table and started twiddling with it.
It took him a few seconds before he started to speak. "Did you by any chance reject the pack five years ago when you left? Or maybe within the last few years?"
I felt his gaze on me. I lifted mine to look at him and just found myself getting lost in his eyes. I had forgotten how beautiful they were, but I was only twelve when I left. And although I already felt an admiration for him at that time, I never really took the time to appreciate his features. But the dark blue eyes that stared at me right now were nothing short of beautiful. They were hypnotizing, if I may say.
I heard him clear his throat before speaking again, which took me out of my trance. "Clair, did you hear me?"
I blinked twice and nodded my head a little too fast. My cheeks were burning with embarrassment. And I was sure I was already blushing. If he noticed, he didn't show any sign that he had.
"So you did denounce it?" He asked again, his brows furrowing.
"What? Denounce what? No. What were you asking again?" I stuttered as my cheeks continued to burn.
He shook his head before letting out a smile, which he took back after a split second and replaced with a serious look again.
"Did you do anything to cut off your connection with the pack? Reject me as your Alpha? Can you mindlink?"
"No. I don’t think so. Can I do that, reject you as my Alpha?"
He simply nodded and stared at me again. He looked relaxed now as he settled his back on his chair. "Good to know that you didn’t. Then we don’t need the formality of the ceremony to accept you back into my pack."
I nodded and tucked some of my hair behind my ear, still looking at him but avoiding his gaze. "Okay. Nice to know then."
I waited for him to say something more but he just continued to stare at me in silence.
His gaze made me uncomfortable. I could feel my body heating up just with his gaze, and if I stayed here longer, I felt like I would start to burn.
"Can you not stare at me? It’s rude." I broke the silence again.
He cocked his head without taking his attention away from me. His stoic expression was not changing. "Is it making you uncomfortable? You used to ask me to look at you all the time, whether you were dancing, singing, or simply wanting my attention. Now I am giving it to you and it seems rude?"
"Stop it, Jake. I’m not a kid anymore." I glared at him, trying to hide the embarrassment I felt from his statement.
He started to run his eyes from my face to my chest before looking into my eyes again. "I am very much aware of that."
I had no idea what was going through his head, but this conversation had gone horribly wrong.
I was pretty sure he was fully aware that I was gawking at him earlier, and he made it a point to embarrass me more. I stood up from where I was sitting, not able to stand his stare.
"Do you really need to bring me here just for one question? You could have saved your precious time if you just asked me there outside."
I was about to turn around when he asked something. "Why can’t I reach you through the mind link?"
I looked at him confused. "I don’t know. I don’t even know how it works." I replied.
"You should be able to do it once you turn fifteen." He leaned his arms on the table and entwined his fingers, still looking at me.
I rolled my eyes and slumped back in the chair. "I said I don’t know. In case you were not aware of where I’ve been for the last five years, let me inform you. I live with the humans. We don’t mind links. We talked with our mouths." I couldn’t stop the annoyance from rolling my tongue.
And he just stared at me. Not once did his gaze move away from mine.
"Maybe if you tell me how to do it then I can practice. But you know what, it doesn’t matter, I won’t be needing it. In a few days, I’ll be out of here."
He raised his eyebrows, confused by my response.
"Explain." His tone suddenly changed from passive to angry. I felt his Alpha aura rolling over me that I couldn’t find my voice to speak again.
"Explain." His tone softened, and I straightened up in my seat and tried to answer confidently.
"I mean, I don’t need it when I return to live with the humans."
"You’re not staying?" His voice came out so low that if I wasn’t looking at his face void of emotions, I would think that my answer made him sad.
I nodded. "Yup, not staying. I’m only here to shift, and Aaron convinced me that I needed assistance to do so. So here I am."
Silence.
"Uhm, anything more you need to know, Alpha?" I asked, breaking the silence once more.
Silence.
I raised an eyebrow and waited for more. After what felt like an eternity, I slapped my hands on my thighs in frustration and stood up. "Okay, I’m done. Thank you for the warm welcome, Alpha!"
I faced his desk and bowed sarcastically before turning on my heel. I was already by the door when I heard him speak up.
"Open your mindlink."
I stopped in my tracks. My hand grasped the door handle but did not turn it.
"No," I replied, not looking back. "I don’t know how."
"Clear your mind and think that you want to communicate with me."
My heart fluttered with the thought of communicating with him through a mind link. A smile curved on my lips, but I stopped myself from turning around so as not to show him how the idea affected me. I closed my eyes and tried to focus on communicating with him, but nothing snapped into my mind.
I let out a sigh and my shoulders slumped, "It’s not working..."
'Clair?' My ears perked up and I felt my skin shiver from the tone he used.
Why did it sound so sexy?
"Yes, Alpha?" I stayed rooted in place because the idea of looking at him right now would surely make my knees buckle, and I didn’t want to fall on my ass in his presence.
'Turn around. Training tomorrow at six in the morning. Don’t be late.'
"What?!" I gasped and let go of the door handle to turn around and face him. "I don’t need to train. I’m not aiming to be a warrior."
'Try talking to me with your mind.'
My jaws dropped open when the realization hit me that he did not open his mouth to speak with me. In the blink of an eye, I forgot about the training and a wide smile made its way onto my lips.
'Hey! It’s me, Clair!' I answered enthusiastically, and my body jerked up in excitement as my mind linked with the Alpha.
And then I saw it. A smile crept across his face, but it was gone before I could confirm that it was an actual smile. Instead, he looked down at his hands.
'I know it’s you, Clair. So tomorrow at six in the morning? You need to train. Your human body might not handle your shifting well if you don’t train. You only have four days from tomorrow until the full moon. You can’t be weak. Some don’t make it out alive if they are too weak.'
My eyes grew bigger with the thought of dying in the middle of shifting. The thought eventually scared me, and I nodded in agreement. 'Okay. Six then.'
I waited for anything he wanted to say more and hoped he would look at me again. But there was just silence.
"Umm Alpha, can I go now?"
He nodded without throwing me a glance.
I huffed in frustration. "Thank you, Alpha."
Chapter 5
CLAIR
"Thank you, Alpha." I turned around and grabbed the door handle again.
I stopped for a moment when I felt my neck burn. I know he’s watching me. I contemplated if I should look back, but decided against it and turned the knob to open the door. I hurriedly exited his office, and as soon as I closed the door, a loud smashed sound of glass against the wall was heard.
I stood frozen in shock for a couple of seconds before I was able to compose myself and walk away completely from his office, shaking my head in disbelief.
'What a prick!' I told myself.
'I heard you, princess. You forgot to turn off the mind link.' I stopped on my track and felt the hair at the back of my neck stand up when I heard his voice in my mind. And did he just chuckle?
'Shit! How can I turn this off?'I asked myself but I was well aware that he heard that too.
'Find it out yourself.'
'F**k!'
'Your mouth, princess.'
'F**k! F**k! F**k! Can you still hear me?' I closed my eyes and my hands rolled into fists.
'Yes.'
'Aarrgh!!! Help me! Or cut it off!' I snapped at him through mindlink.
'It’s actually fascinating to hear your thoughts, so why should I?' He replied, and I could imagine him smirking, which irritated me more.
'It’s not funny, Jake! I swear you’ll be annoyed the whole night if you don’t cut it off!'
'Really? What thoughts will you share with me tonight then?' He seemed to enjoy this.
'Have you got nothing else to do Alpha? You should keep yourself busy with work rather than annoy your pack members!' I spat out angrily as I stomped my way outside the pack house towards Aaron’s car.
"Hey, you’re back, finally!" Aaron greeted me. "Everything turned out well?"
"Yeah. All is good. Can we go home now?" I asked him, as I tried to hide the anger building up inside me.
'Liar. I thought you were a little pissed. Maybe share it with your brother as to why instead of lying.'
'F**k off.' I closed my eyes as soon as I sat down in the passenger seat beside Aaron.
'Yeah, I might as well do that, maybe in my room.' I blushed at his words and the picture my crazy mind put into my head.
"Clair?" I flipped my eyes open to see my brother looking at me with a worried look on his face. "Did you hear me? Are you okay?"
"What?" I looked at him, trying not to think of Jake.
"I said put your belt on so we can drive home now."
"Ah okay," I replied as I stumbled to put on my seatbelt. "Aaron, how does mindlink work? How can you turn it off?"
"Just turn it off. Can you mindlink now?"
"No, not yet. Just curious." I answered too quickly as he started the car’s engine. I wondered why I didn’t just tell him that I could mindlink now.
'Lies. Lies again, princess.'
I was so annoyed that I snapped back at Aaron. I asked a little louder this time. "But how do you turn it off? Should I just say turn?"
"Calm down, Clairy. We can practice at home. No need to be so riled up! Okay?" He chuckled as he started to maneuver the wheel.
I closed my eyes and crossed my arms over my chest, and pressed my mind hard to cut off the mindlink.
'Still there?' I asked, hoping he would not reply.
'Always here.'
That was it! I was so pissed off that I unbuckled my belt and ordered Aaron to stop the car and jumped out of it before he could ask me anything. With large steps and my nose flaring, I walked towards the Alpha’s office and barged in without knocking.
"Cut it off, Jake! It’s not funny anymore!" My voice was full of desperation and anger.
"What? Maybe try to ask a little nicer and you won’t have to deal with this." He chuckled. If I was not pissed off, I would have appreciated it if he finally showed me a different emotion rather than the stoic face he had earlier.
"I’m running out of patience!" I huffed while folding my arms across my chest, still standing in front of his desk.
He glanced at me for a while before returning his attention to the papers in front of him. "And so I am little one. Leave Clair. I´m busy!"
I walked closer and rested my palms on his desk, glaring at him. "Don’t you get it? I don’t want you in my head!"
He continued to work on his papers and kept his answers short, which irritated me more. "It will get easier."
"What? Don’t you know how to keep a conversation going? How come you’re an Alpha? It feels like I’m talking to a robot! Oh, Goddess, you are one hell of a frustrating man!"
He looked up at me again, and I thought I saw a flash of hurt across his eyes before they turned passive again. "Go home. I already turned it off. Next time you show me disrespect in any form, I will not hesitate to punish you." He stated firmly before returning his attention to his work again.
I stood there in silence. I was pissed off earlier, but the hurt I saw in his eyes earlier pained me as well. Me and my big mouth!
"Uhm, Jake..." I stuttered, my voice caught in my throat.
"Hmmm.." He didn’t even bother to look at me.
"I’m sorry... It’s just that... I don’t know. You were..." I actually have no idea what I wanted to tell him when a knock came out of the door.
"Come in," He answered, and Aaron stepped in, confusion written on his face.
"Alpha, Clair. I was just wondering if everything is okay?" His gaze shifted from me to Jake.
"Nothing big, man. I’m just confirming her training schedule starting tomorrow. You can take her home. I’ll see you both tomorrow." He answered him and dismissed us without even looking at us and just continued looking over the document in his hand.
"Yes, Alpha." Aaron motioned with his hand for me to follow him. "Clair, come now."
I took one last glance at Jake before turning around to follow Aaron. I would have wanted to apologize to him for raising my voice, but I didn’t know how to open my mindlink again, and even if I could, I didn’t want the risk of opening my mind to him and not being able to shut it down myself. So I just shrugged my shoulders and left with Aaron. If anything, he was the one who started teasing me, so I shouldn’t feel too guilty about it.
Chapter 6
CLAIR
The last three days went by fast. After the awkward first meeting with Dad after many years, we all tried to move on and be a family.
It wasn’t easy, and I wanted to be a rebel and let him know how badly he treated me for sending me away. But I couldn’t. As much as I hated him for sending me away, I loved my father. And I longed for him just as much as I longed for Mom. I knew it would take time before all the wounds of being abandoned would heal. But I wanted to make us a family again, even just for a short time before I moved on and became an adult on my own.
So I was trying just as he was.
Dad was the manager of the town’s public library in nearby town. He’d been bringing home additional books for me to read since I arrived. He was aware of my love of books, but Aaron had taunted him that it appeared he just wanted me to be cooped up in the house with books and with no social life.
But, to be honest, I haven’t had time for myself or for all the books Dad has given me since I arrived.
I thought nobody remembered me or cared. However, everyone appeared really pleased to see me back, from the elderly to the parents whom mom and dad were close to, as well as those within my and Aaron’s age range. And I’ve been to everyone’s house for the past three days - I’ve been invited from breakfast to dinner, or simply a coffee break or something similar, which I’ve had to decline on some occasions because I wanted to spend time with my dad and Aaron.
Nonetheless, the attention made my heart soar, and I would have been completely satisfied if the Alpha himself had acknowledged my presence. However, I haven’t seen him since the day I returned home.
I knew he was busy because I didn’t get to see Aaron for the entire day most of the time, but he kept his promise to stay home with us, so I got to spend some time with him before going to bed.
And then the full moon is approaching. Tomorrow will be a full moon. And from the looks of it, I was the only one expected to shift. And this just added to my anxiety.
Jenny was in charge of the afternoon training, which was the one I attended today. I had less than 48 hours before the full moon and I was determined not to die. She laughed it off when I told her I was terrified of dying and that was why I was so motivated to train.
"Get a grip, Clair! You’re not going to die. It’s painful, but you’re not sick or too old to die from shifting." She chuckled as she slapped my ass while I warmed up and told me what to do next. "Go and run! Give me ten laps before we can start!"
I lifted my right hand to my temple in a salute before acknowledging her. "Yes, ma’am!"
I let out a hearty chuckle before spinning on my heel and dashing towards the tracking oval. I was glad that I met Jenny. She’s one of the few female warriors under the guidance of my brother.
She and her mother transferred to our pack three years after I left. She was 17 years old then. She’s now 19 years old and has proven to be one of the best warriors in the world.
Her motivation? My brother. She had been crushing on Aaron since she was 17 and did her best to join his squad. And my oblivious brother had no idea, or at least he pretended he didn't know.
Unfortunately, they weren’t fated mates either.
But it was nothing unusual. With the werewolf packs growing everywhere, you would be lucky to find your fated mate sooner. Most gave up hope of finding their fated mates and just moved on with their lives with their chosen mates. My parents were among those who were lucky enough to be fated.
Mom and Dad didn’t belong in the same pack. And none of them were ever a part of this pack in the first place. They have to move away from their respective packs because both of them were in relationships before meeting each other, and the other parties were not willing to give up the relationship. Talk about Mate dramas!
So they both ended up here because my mother was good friends with Jake’s mother and convinced them that this was a good place to raise a family. And the rest is history.
I was lost in my own thoughts as I made my seventh lap when I felt a presence beside me. I tilted my head to my right and saw Jake, running at the same speed as mine.
"Hey!" I felt the smile on my face reach up to my ears. I was surprised to see him and, at the same time, excited that he was here.
"Hey! How’s it going?" He responded without looking at me, maintaining the same poker face he had used at his office a few days before.
I came to a halt and put my hands on my hips, panting as I did. He stopped in his tracks and turned around to look at me. "Tired already?"
I shook my head and looked at him. "No! I was just wondering if you would stop and look at me or if you plan on talking to me without looking at all."
He shook his head and walked toward me, stopping just a few steps away from me. "I don’t get you at all. Last time, you said you didn’t want me to look at you. Now you want me to look at you. Make up your mind, princess. " He chuckled, showing me those deep dimples on his cheeks.
I had to stop myself from melting from his boyish smile. Was he really smiling?
"Are you for real? I said, don’t stare at me, and not - don’t look at me!" I rolled my eyes at him and crossed my arms over my chest, still panting from all the running. I was trying to mask my real emotions. His smile alone made me giddy, and it was getting harder to control my own smile from tugging at my lips.
He squinted his eyes as his smile grew fuller, reaching his eyes. He looked so sexy that I had to look away because looking at him was hurting my eyes. He was too perfect!
"Yeah, my bad! I just don’t know how to talk to you. I know I must’ve pissed you off big-time with that mindlink prank." He scratched his head, looking like a lost boy. A good-looking lost boy.
I tried to stop myself from smiling again as his words sent tingles to my core.
I swallowed and tried hard to put on a poker face. "Well, you did. It’s an asshole move, Jake." But I couldn’t hold my smile anymore, so I let it curve from my lips. "But it’s okay, you can always get away with things around here, you know, being the Alpha."
I placed my hands on my hips again and I let out a playful smile before I continued. "But you can say 'Welcome Home' and then maybe come and hug me?"
I didn’t know where I got the courage to say the last part. It just came out. It took an eternity for me while I waited for his response. A part of me wanted to regret what I had just said. Was I too aggressive?
"Yeah, that would be nice. Come here, princess. Give this old man a hug!" He chuckled as he motioned with his hand for me to come over, a wide grin across his face.
And like a little girl who wanted to have ice cream, I found myself flinging my arms around him. He lifted me in an instant before letting me back on my feet but not releasing me from his arms. He rested his chin at the top of my head for a moment before placing his lips on the crown of my head. "I’m glad you’re back, princess. I miss you!" He said softly.
I closed my eyes and scooted my head closer to his chest. I did not mind the sweat around his shirt. I was enjoying the moment while I drowned in his warmth and his masculine scent. "Me too, Jake!"
We stayed in that position for a while, squeezing each other’s bodies until the moment was broken by someone clearing his throat. Jake let go of the hug but did not take one arm away from my shoulders. Instead, he pulled me close to his side as we turned to face Aaron.
"This is a training ground if you’re not aware. And I would be pleased if my Alpha and my sister could respect that." He stated, his face emotionless, but I could see him attempting to mask his scowl.
"Chill, man! I’m just welcoming Clair back." He said in a happy tone as he squeezed my shoulder. "Go ahead and continue your run, princess. Or your brother may beat our asses up."
He winked at me before letting me go, and if Aaron wasn’t there, I would probably be beaming at Jake right now. But instead, I let out a sigh before rolling my eyes at Aaron and sprinting away from them, disappointed that my brother had just cut off my happy moment.
Chapter 7
JAKE
I watched as she sprinted away from us and let out the breath I’d been holding for a while. She's a real grown-up now. Far from the little Clair with messy hair and pigtails who followed me and my friends around all the time. And she’s so fucking sexy that my mind was still reeling from the image of her full ass as she sped away.
I shook my head, trying to let go of any thoughts about her, knowing that having my member on full erect while talking to my Gamma would be disastrous.
"What was that, Jake? Not Clair, please. No messing up with pack members, remember? Especially not my sister." Aaron broke the silence between us as we both looked in the direction where Clair was headed.
I could hear the disappointment in his tone, and I couldn’t blame him. He was simply protecting his sister from me.
"I don’t know what you’re thinking, man. I just hugged Clair. It s not like I’m fucking her."
A low growl reverberated from his chest, and I knew right then that I made a wrong move by using fuck in the same sentence as her name. I raised my hands in the air before turning to him.
"Don’t think anything, man. You know, I always think of her as my sister." I tapped his shoulder before turning away. "And I know the rules I made, not breaking them," I added as I walked towards the packhouse, not in the mood to continue with my training today.
I just lied to my Gamma.
I always thought of Clair as my sister, even if I knew that she was showing too much attention to me while we were growing up. But everything changed three days ago when she showed up in my territory. Every sisterly thought I had for her just went down the drain.
I had my fair share of females and never ran out of them, although I never touched anyone from my pack. It was a rule I set for myself, my Beta, and my Gamma — no messing around with females from the pack.
I always have one when I need one, but no female has ever taken my attention the way Clair did.
Girlfriends from the past had never had me take cold showers more than once to keep the heat at bay. Especially not those I’d just taken for pleasure. I stopped thinking about them the moment we were done with the deed. I’m a certified fuckboy. I wanted to fuck but I never lusted after just one female. Or paid full attention to any.
However, Clair, she has been stealing my attention since she returned.
Maybe because she’s Aaron’s sister. Maybe because she’s my little Clair, my princess Clair.
Maybe because she’s off-limits.
But I'm a man and very much aware that Clair is attractive. I don’t think I’ve seen a female more attractive than her. And just the thought of her sapphire eyes, her luscious lips, and the way her hips move could make my shaft twitch in an instant.
And fuck it! Her voice — her sweet angelic voice — could make any man fall to his knees. And when she’s angry, that’s where the biggest turn-on comes. I wanted to slam her on the wall and fuck her hard.
Damn! Everything about her sets my dick on fire!
I didn’t notice that I let out a low vibrating growl as I entered the hallway of the pack house, eliciting a confused stare from the warriors I met along the hallway.
"Alpha." They gave me a nod as I passed by. I didn’t even bother to respond and went directly to the flight of stairs to my room. I needed a shower. A fucking cold shower!
I had no idea how I would fight this ordeal. I wanted a taste of her. Maybe after that, my cravings for her would be gone. But I knew better. My princess didn’t deserve to be treated the way I treated other females.
She was the type of female that you bring home as your mate. And be loyal with. Something I won’t be able to do. Because I had no idea if I knew how to be loyal to someone.
After I took the much-needed shower, I went down just in time for my meeting, which was requested by some of the Elders, including the former Beta and Gamma of the Pack. I had no idea what the sudden request was for but accepted it out of respect for our pack elders.
My own Beta and Gamma were already by the door of the meeting room waiting for me.
"Alpha." Beta Gavin gave me a nod in acknowledgment, as did Gamma Aaron. "Everyone who needs to be in this meeting is already inside." He added.
I nodded back and opened the door to the room. I was quite surprised to see not just the Elders and the former Beta and Gamma inside, but the former Beta and Gamma mates were also in the meeting room.
They all rose from their respective seats out of respect. I nodded in acceptance and ordered them to take their seats before I took mine.
"Shall we start?" I asked in a monotone voice. I leaned my back on my chair and crossed my legs, my hands entwined while I waited in silence.
"Alpha, with due respect, we know this is a topic you would rather avoid, but we are hoping that you would keep an open mind and listen to us first before you make any decision or cancel the meeting." Marina started, she was the former Beta Female.
"I’ll do my best." I nodded my head as I answered. She smiled as her mate reached for her hand and urged her to continue.
"As you are well aware, Alpha. The pack has been thriving all these years despite not having a Luna. All tasks that the Luna should be handling are all well covered."
I cleared my throat which had Marina stop from talking.
"And for that reason alone, that we are thriving, it means we don’t need to have one." A scowl formed on my face in annoyance as I said these words. I knew where this meeting was leading to. "We’ve been through this topic for a long time. I’m not changing my mind."
"Alpha, we respect your views on this. But can you hear us out more?" Former Gamma Cesar asked. "Continue Marina." He gave her a curt nod.
Marina let out a sigh before she continued. The elders were shifting in their seats. They must have felt the annoyance rolling off me. "As I mentioned, Alpha, the pack is thriving with all the Luna’s duties because I and Katya, together with some of the elders, have stepped up to perform those duties. We’ve been doing it even before you took the Alpha post, Alpha Jacob."
Katya, the Former Gamma’s Mate cleared her throat before adding her piece. "And it would always be an honor to do it for you and the pack, Alpha. However, we thought that after our own mates stepped down from being Gamma and Beta, we could also step down and just enjoy our lives as pack members."
"But the women in our pack, they needed guidance too - the daycare center, the warrior’s cafeteria, the women’s hours, the celebrations, and all the things a Luna can work her magic with, we all need it. So we continue to take lead in all of these even after our mates have retired from their posts. And it would break our heart to stop doing what we are doing for them just because we wanted to retire as well when we are well aware that nobody will step up to this." She added.
"We all agreed that instead of our mates, we should have a Luna that oversees this." Beta Anthony looked at me, firm but respectfully. He has always guided me in the past and I know the sincerity of his voice.
"We, of course, would offer our assistance to our Luna if she needs us. But we all believe that everything should be in the Luna’s hand now." Marina smiled warmly at me.
"And it’s high time to have an heir, Alpha Jacob." Elder Rose added. "You’re not getting younger. And soon it might be too late for an heir."
"I don’t have a Luna," I answered curtly, my face void of emotions.
"We are aware of that. And your Beta and Gamma are mateless as well. And without a female in authority, it can lead to a pack failure." Former Gamma Cesar raised his hand to his chin and started to brush his beard. "You need to lead, Jacob, but your Luna needs to ease the burden of little things around the pack. Unless you have other females around who will step up to this role, then I suggest you get yourself a Luna."
"And for all it’s worth, I believe it’s time that Cesar and I take our mates away from these responsibilities." Former Beta Anthony added, not lifting his gaze away from me even after his mate Marina rested her head on his chest. "And most importantly, we need an heir. The next Alpha of this pack."
I shifted from my seat and leaned my elbow on my desk, my hands palming my face. "I appreciate your honesty. Give me time to go over this. It’s not easy to find a Luna when you don’t want one." I told them my truth.
"I know you’ve been avoiding meeting your mate, Alpha. If that is still the case up to now, then maybe we can go to the other road, pick a Chosen Luna." Elder Rose suggested, and almost everyone nodded in agreement.
I sighed and looked at everyone around my room, including my Beta and Gamma. "I will. just give me time."
I swallowed before I continued, "Marina, Katya, I would like to personally extend my gratitude for all your help all these years. It will never go unnoticed, but I ask for a little more patience and hope you will continue with your duties until I find you your Luna." I had no idea how I pushed those words out of my mouth. I just made a decision without thinking about it. I made a promise to them that I would give them a Luna.
Satisfied with my request, both Marina and Katya gave me a wide, warm motherly smile. "With pleasure, Alpha. We will wait and make sure that we will also assist the Luna once she’s ready to transition to her tasks." Marina assured me, to which Katya nodded in agreement.
Chapter 8
AARON
After the meeting ended, the elders, together with the former Beta and Gamma and their mates, left the meeting room, leaving me alone with Alpha Jake and Beta Gavin.
Beta Gavin and I just looked at each other, waiting for the Alpha to break the silence. We dared not voice our opinion when it was not requested since we both knew this was a sour topic for the Alpha.
After a long silence, the Alpha cleared his throat and lifted his gaze, shifting it back and forth between me and his Beta.
"I honestly have nothing to say." He scowled. "Can you fucking find your mates now so I don’t have to deal with this Luna game?"
My lips pursed into a thin line, trying to gauge the weight of his statement before the whole room erupted into a spring of laughter. Alpha Jake was shaking his head while laughing. After a while, Gavin joined in, and in seconds I found myself laughing with them. Relief coursed through me that the Alpha was taking this lightly compared to what I expected.
"You got me there, man! I thought you were giving us an Alpha command to produce a mate at this instant." Gavin pointed out before turning serious. "But seriously, any plans? You are not disregarding this, right?"
I looked at the Alpha, trying to read his face, but as usual, once the playfulness was gone, he would go back to his poker face. "I can’t do that to Marina and Katya. They’re right, I am asking too much from them already. I don’t know how to get a girl and tell her she’ll be the chosen Luna for my pack." He let out a sigh before standing up. "It’s not as easy as picking a random girl for an easy fuck."
The one thing I like about us three is that we can speak our minds without having to filter our words.
"But you should consider as well that the Luna you’ll be choosing is one of those you can actually stomach waking up next to every morning. I hope you get it right, man!" I told him when suddenly the thought of him and my sister hugging by the oval flashed in my memory. The sooner he gets a Luna, the sooner he can stay away from Clair.
"I’m done for the day. I will think it over tonight. You can both go and do what you need to do." He dismissed us before he headed to the window and looked at the view outside.
"Alpha, have you reconsidered your mate? Or is it still out of the question? We can go around the packs within this zone and just spot to see if we can find your mate there. It’s high season now, and most of the packs are throwing balls for that reason. And the Claiming is coming in a couple of months as well, just in case we don’t find her." I added before I stood from my seat.
"Think about it, Jake. Your mate should be the one ruling beside you." Gavin continued, still seated.
The Alpha turned around from looking at the window, his brows furrowing with his hands in his pocket. "I’ll consider the Claiming Ball." He kept his reply short and just ignored mine and Beta Gavin’s statements about his mate.
With a defeated sigh, I looked at Gavin and motioned for him to follow me out.
"We’re leaving Alpha," Gavin confirmed, and we bowed our heads towards him in respect. The Alpha just nodded his head and did not say anything more before we left.
As soon as we left the meeting room, I bid my farewell to Gavin and headed home. As much as I want to think more about the Luna problem, I have other things in mind.
Tomorrow is a full moon, and if all went well, Clair would be shifting. I haven’t discussed what she needs to do tomorrow just yet. That was why I was in a hurry to get home tonight. I needed a word with her.
As soon as I entered our house, I just waved at my father and went directly upstairs towards Clair’s room.
"Come in." My sister answered after a few knocks on her door.
I strode in and closed the door behind me. Clair was plopped down on the floor, painting her toenails red.
"Hey, Clairy! Preparing for tomorrow?" I asked playfully as I sat beside her on the floor.
She beamed at me before putting her attention back on her toenails. "Yes, I was just wondering if my wolf would have red nail polish too once I shifted." She let out a giggle, but it felt like it was forced. She sounded nervous. "Aaron, after I shifted, would I be able to smell my mate then?"
"Not yet. As I told you before, you can only smell your mate once you turn 18. Don’t think about the mate thing, you need to focus on shifting."
She just took a deep breath before nodding her head.
"Are you scared?" I asked as I tried to catch her eyes.
She nodded without looking at me. "Do you think I can make it? That I would have a normal shifting?"
"Of course. Don’t think about it too much. The full moon will be at its peak around 7:55 tomorrow night, but I’m guessing you’ll start to feel the symptoms around 6. Shifting can happen from that time till the moon peaks. But before you know it, you’re running on your paws and it’s the greatest feeling!" I tried to pass on the excitement in my voice to her.
She looked up and beamed at me again. "You’ll be there right?"
I ruffled her hair and pulled her to my side for a hug. "I wouldn’t miss it, Clairy. I have a training to go to till six in the evening, but message me anytime when you start to feel pain. I will pick you up by then. I would rather you shift within the forest grounds. In a way, you’ll be one with the earth."
"Thanks, Aaron." She nodded and applied the nail polish to the last unpainted toenail.
"By the way, what’s with you and Jake?" I asked, trying to mask the irritation in my voice.
She snapped her head suddenly, her nose scrunching up. "What’s with me and Jake? Nothing. What were you thinking?"
I just shrugged my shoulders and stretched my legs, palms on the floor at my back. "I saw you hugging like you were lovers on the tracking oval. It just didn’t sit well with me."
"We didn’t do anything, it was just a welcome home hug." She huffed.
"If you say so. Just be careful Clair. Whatever childhood crush you had for him, just let it go. You’ll just get hurt, especially now."
"What do you mean especially now?" She asked with a raised brow.
I looked at her as she started to collect her pedicure materials from the floor and placed them in her kit. "We just finished off a meeting with the Elders. They wanted him to pick a Luna, knowing he had no intention of finding his mate. I just don’t want you to get all your hopes up and get hurt in the end."
She let out a sigh before tilting her head to look at me, her face smiling. "Awww, so sweet of you, Aaron. But don’t worry, I don’t see Jake that way. He’s just like a brother to me."
I nodded before I rose from my sitting position and pulled her up as well, enveloping her in a hug. "Glad we have that sorted out. Your mate is still out there. No need to rush."
She giggled as she rested her head on my chest. "I hope I find him before I turn out to be as old as you."
"You got me there!" I chuckled as I place a kiss on her forehead. "But enough of the teasing. You need to retire to bed now. You’ll be needing all your energy when you shift tomorrow."