REID
The shrill howl of a wolf echoes through the forest, followed by another. Tonight, the woods are crawling with wolves out running together under the light of the full moon. Theyāre running wild, free, answering the call of their most basic instinct at this stage in the lunar cycle, when the moonās energy is at its peak. For many, itās a time for cathartic release, to let go of the past and move into a new phase.
Just a few minutes ago, I was out there running with them. As my packās Alpha, itās my duty to lead the run every full moon- itās a ritual that promotes pack bonding and solidarity. Us wolf shifters are always looking forward to the full moon run, but anticipation was particularly high for tonightās run because it wasnāt just with our own pack; we joined in with the other five packs of wolf shifters that weāre aligned with for the run. The full moon run felt so different tonight, so full of promise and possibility. Until it wasnāt. As the run was nearing its end, I decided to cut back ahead of the others, seeking a few moments of solitude before everyone else returned.
Typically, my pack would begin and end the run at our own packhouse, but for the combined all-pack run tonight, we gathered at the packhouse in the town of Summervale, home to the original pack in this area and the largest pack in our alliance. The āsix-packā; thatās what we call ourselves when referring to our alliance. The name is corny as hell- it started out as a joke since the alliance is comprised of six separate packs of werewolf shifters, but somewhere down the line, it stuck. At this point, weāve all been together for over half a decade, so thereās no changing it; the name is as good as official.
The six shifter packs in our alliance originally came together in response to a threat from a shifter pack out west- one led by a crazy ass Alpha who started on a spree of hostile takeovers of surrounding packs. All these years later, Alpha Xavier and his shadow pack still havenāt been stopped. About a month ago, the six-pack came face to face with them for the first time while aiding a large shifter pack in Denver that weād been brokering an alliance with. Iād like to say we were able to take them out at that point, but no such luck- instead, Alpha Xavier now knows about the six-pack, and weāre being targeted next. Over the past month, weāve been doing all we can to prepare for the war to come.
āWell?ā I hear someone ask, and I glance toward the treeline as Iām buttoning my pants to see my buddies Gray and Theo approaching. So much for my five minutes of solitude.
Gray is Alpha of his own pack, too- he was forced into the role right around the same time I was. His pack stumbled upon mine years ago while they were on the run from the shadow pack. We quickly aligned and, hearing firsthand from Gray and his pack how lethal an attack from the shadow pack was, began to search for even more packs to align with. Strength in numbers, right? After brokering alliances with four other packs, we all moved into adjoining territories in Colorado and the six-pack was born.
Along with the formation of the alliance came the formation of my four closest friendships- with Gray, Theo, Jax, and Brock. The five of us are all in our twenties, close in age and either the current or future Alphas of our packs. With so much in common, we were bound to be close, and working together to form and run the six-packās security squad has brought us even closer over the years. Now, weāre practically brothers. While we only account for five of the six packs, thereās a sixth future Alpha, Chase, that weāll be bringing into the fold soon enough. The plan was to bring him in when he finished high school this spring, but with the shadow pack war looming, heās already been up at the squad complex in training.
I respond with a little shake of my head as Gray and Theo draw closer, watching as the two of them exchange glances. Itās no secret that my friends were hoping Iād find my fated mate under the full moon tonight, since theyāve all managed to find theirs over the past six months. I think they just assumed Iād find her, since we brought all of our packs together, but it turns out that tonight was just another full moon and another disappointment.
Of course I want to find my mate- Iāve wanted to find her ever since I took over as Alpha at the age of twenty. I want my other half, my Luna. Someone to share the responsibilities with and lighten the load. Donāt get me wrong, my Beta is fantastic at what he does, but at the end of the day, Iām his superior. I donāt want a subordinate; I want a partner. Someone to stand beside me, not behind me.
As a shifter, Iāve got a fated mate out there somewhere; the one person whom fate has hand-selected as my perfect match and soulmate. The trouble is, I canāt seem to find her. The fated bond only reveals itself under the full moon when the two wolves are within physical proximity of one another, and though Iāve sniffed around the she-wolves in my pack during every moon run since I turned eighteen and came of age to find my fated mate, Iāve yet to stumble upon the one.
I thought that may change tonight since all six packs ran together under the full moon, thus expanding the pool of candidates considerably. I even thought I smelled something different at one point, only for the scent to fade along with my optimism. Despite the fact that I ran with hundreds of she-wolves tonight, I still canāt seem to find my fated mate- and Iām beginning to wonder if Iāll ever find her. Not everyone is lucky enough to find their fated mate in their lifetime.
My pack has been pushing me to mate for years. They want a Luna, and I canāt say I blame them. While I tend to think Iām an excellent Alpha, the Luna of a pack fulfills needs that I simply canāt on my own. The Luna is the compassionate side of pack leadership; the softer, more maternal figure. She provides a different kind of counsel to pack members and helps balance things out. While my mother is still technically the Luna of our pack, she hasnāt been able to fulfill those duties for a long time- not since the accident that resulted in my father stepping down as Alpha to take care of her and installing me in his place as the leader of our pack.
Among other things, my Luna would also (hopefully) provide an heir at some point. Iām an only child, so if something were to happen to me, my family line would die out. The other wolves in my pack would then have to challenge one another to fill the spot of Alpha. Not that it hasnāt been done before, but when something like that happens, itās messy, and it often results in infighting and division within the pack. Thus, the push for me to find a Luna. If only it were that easy.
I bypass Theo and Gray with their looks of sympathy, making a beeline for one of the large coolers spread out on the packhouse lawn. After a full moon run, the pack typically gathers to socialize, and tonight is no exception. With all six packs here together, itās going to be a huge post-run gathering. Given how many newly mated pairs likely resulted from the all-pack run tonight, there will be no shortage of reasons to celebrate.
I reach down to flip open the top of the cooler, dipping my hand into the ice to retrieve a beer. Iām not a huge drinker, but if thereās an appropriate time to get a little drunk, itās now. I flick a glance back toward the guys as I twist the cap off to see that Brock and Jax have joined them, and as I bring the bottle to my lips, Jax starts to head my way.
Fucking great.
I take a long swig from the bottle as he approaches me, swallowing it down as my gaze slides over to meet his. Jaxās sympathetic stare matches what I just saw on Gray and Theoās faces, and while I know he means well, it grinds my gears to be the object of his pity.
āWould you stop looking at me like that?ā I sigh, rolling my eyes.
Jax blows out a breath, smoothing his blonde hair back with a palm. āI just donāt even know what to say, man. I really thought youād find her tonight. It doesnāt seem fair.ā He moves beside me to reach down into the cooler for a beer of his own, popping the top.
āSince when is fate fair?ā I grumble, taking another pull of beer from the bottle. Jax frowns, and I quickly mask my agitation, clapping him on the shoulder. āItās fine, bro. Iāll find her when itās right. Besides, weāve got bigger shit to deal with right now than my love life, so letās just focus on that, huh?ā
I say the words so convincingly that I almost believe them myself. Jax nods, and I clink my beer with his before bringing it to my lips again. I finish the rest in three swallows and toss the empty bottle into a nearby trash can before looking to the other alphas, awaiting my cue to join them. Now that people are filtering back from the run, the pack alphas will be expected to announce and celebrate the happy new mated pairs that were formed under the full moon tonight. Despite my own disappointment following tonightās run, Iāll compartmentalize my feelings so I can do my fucking job, like I always do.
I was born to lead my pack as its alpha, and Iām damn good at it. Iāve had the gig for six years at this point, and I run my pack like a finely tuned machine. The role of Alpha may have been thrust upon me before I was fully prepared for it, but my dad was still around to help guide me as I took the mantle. One of the most fundamental lessons he instilled from the start was the importance of masking my emotions. Heād always say, āyou canāt control what happens to you in life, but you can control how you react to it.ā He taught me the importance of keeping my cool, of playing my cards close to my chest. He always said the mark of a great Alpha is the ability to think first and react second, to handle conflict with neutrality and detachment. Thatās what Iāve always done- even when the conflict is within myself.
I may feel shitty tonight, but I donāt let on when it comes to my pack. I grin and bear it, celebrating the new mated pairs with enthusiasm. Once all of the pack alphas have delivered the proper acknowledgements, everyone breaks off to socialize, the food plentiful and the drinks flowing. Theo breaks out a bottle of whiskey, and though I typically stay away from the hard stuff, I indulge in a few pulls from the bottle. It helps take the edge off; to dull the disappointment and emptiness Iām feeling after the colossal let-down that was tonightās run.
The twins wander over to join their mates- have I mentioned that Gray and Theo are mated to a pair of identical twin sisters? Gray with Fallon, and Theo with Brooke. Theoās sister Quinn is actually mated to Jax, and if this is all starting to sound a bit incestuous, itās because it is. Our alliance is beginning to form more and more blood connections through mate bonds, ensuring that we stay aligned into the future. Brockās the only outlier, but his mate Astrid is actually the sister of the Denver packās Alpha- our newest ally. So once again, mate bonds and blood bonds. Yet another reason why I got my hopes up that my mate was waiting for me somewhere within the six-pack.
Speaking of blood, Iām posted up with the guys and their mates when a beautiful blonde approaches our group, and as I give her a once-over I quickly realize that thereās something strikingly familiar about her. It clicks when she steps up beside Jax and I recognize the family resemblance. I know heās got a few sisters- this girl is clearly one of them.
She mumbles something to Jax, then looks around, her bright blue eyes settling on me. As they do, a mischievous little smirk tugs at the corners of her lips before they part to speak. āJaxy, arenāt you gonna introduce me to your friend?ā
Theoās brow cocks up as he swings his gaze to me, mouthing āJaxyā and snickering.
Jaxās wolf flashes silver in his eyes and he looks like heās about to protest, so I go ahead and jump in, flashing the girl a smile and extending my hand. āHey there. Iām Reid.ā
She places her dainty little hand in mine, batting her eyelashes. āJuliet.ā
āMy sister,ā Jax quickly adds with a scowl.
āReally?ā I squint. āI donāt see the resemblance at allā¦ā I lean in toward Juliet, dropping my voice low and winking. āYou mustāve gotten all the good genes.ā
Juliet giggles, which only serves to inflame Jaxās irritation. Pretty much what I was going for. This girl is way too young for me, but Iāll flirt with her a little just to mess with Jax. After the night Iāve had thus far, a beauty like Juliet is a welcome distraction.
āWant a beer?ā I ask, dipping into the cooler behind me for another. Juliet nods, and I grab her one, too, twisting off the top and handing it to her. Steam is practically coming out of Jaxās ears at this point, but the other guys pull him away, distracting him to give Juliet and I a little space.
Iāve gotta admit, setting aside the fact that she looks a little like Jax, Julietās cute as hell. Despite her being seven years younger than me, she could definitely be a possibility for a chosen mate. Given her alpha blood, I bet sheād be a natural Luna. And if I canāt find my fated mate, Iāll eventually have to choose one insteadā¦ why not Juliet?
I shake my head in an attempt to scatter my thoughts. Sheās way too young for me- I shouldnāt even be entertaining the notion of mating with Jaxās little sister. Maybe the booze has gone to my head tonight more than I thought.
āSo howās it going?ā Juliet asks, bringing her beer bottle to her mouth and wrapping her pouty pink lips around it. My eyes track the movement and I have a fleeting thought of something else I wouldnāt mind seeing those lips wrapped aroundā¦
Aaaand I was right, Iāve probably had enough to drink for the night. I lower my own beer bottle, dangling it from my fingers at my side and forcing those errant thoughts from my mind.
āGood,ā I reply casually. āHow about you?ā
She swallows a sip of her beer, flashing me a smile. āGreat, actually. Been busy with online classes, and looks like Iāll finally be able to put my medic training to good use here soonā¦ which I shouldnāt sound so excited about, huh?ā Juliet giggles, shaking her head. āNot that I want anybody to get hurt, but Iām glad I can be useful somehow with this whole war thing. Well hopefully I donāt have to be, butā¦ā
āI know what you mean,ā I chuckle. Now that she mentions it, I vaguely remember Jax saying at some point that one of his sisters was training as a medic.
I pick up on some commotion going on among my friends in my peripheral vision, glancing over toward them. Theo has his phone out, and theyāre all looking at something on the screen and speaking in low, agitated tones.
āWhatās going on?ā I call out to them, arching a brow.
Brock looks my way, then flicks his head to indicate to the other guys and they all start in my direction. āAn alert at the border,ā he says calmly as he draws closer.
āIām sure itās nothing to be concerned about, but someone should probably go check it out,ā Theo adds. āThe system only picked up one animal, it could just be a mountain lion or something.ā
āBetter to be safe than sorry,ā Gray mumbles, his lips drawn into a frown.
I nod in agreement. āFor sure.ā I hand my open beer off to Jax, who has conveniently positioned himself between me and his sister. āIāll go check it out.ā
āYou sure, man?ā Brock asks, furrowing his brow. āWe can send a couple squad membersā¦ā
I wave him off with a hand. āNah, Iāll take care of it. Where was the breach?ā
I leave out the part about how Iām looking for any excuse to get away from this damn post-run celebration and just be by myself for a while. To drop the mask that everythingās fine and Iām unaffected by the disappointment.
Theo shrugs, passing me his phone so I can see the map on it, a red dot blinking to indicate the security alert. I study it for a moment, familiarizing myself with the location identified and realizing that it isnāt too far from here.
āGot it,ā I mumble, handing Theoās phone back to him. I turn to Juliet, flashing her a smile. āIt was nice meeting you, but Iāve gotta run.ā
I can see the disappointment in her eyes, but she returns my smile nonetheless, replying that it was nice to meet me, too.
I say quick goodbyes to the guys and their mates, then take off around the side of the packhouse, heading for my vehicle. I fire off a text message to my beta that Iāll meet him back at the packhouse before leaving my phone, keys, and clothes in the car for him to bring home, then shift to my wolf form once again and take off in the direction of the border breach.
Once Iām in wolf form, itās like the more distance I put between myself and the crowd at the Summervale packhouse, the easier I can breathe. I cede control to my animal, allowing him to lead the way through the dense forest between territories as I let go and take a back seat. I donāt want to think right now; donāt want to feel. I just want to run.
So I do. I traverse the rugged terrain, navigating the rocky creek bed and dodging fallen branches. As I advance through the Goldenleaf territory, though, something starts to feelā¦ off. Different. Itās not the kind of different that sets off alarm bells in my head, though- itās the kind thatās exciting. Like thereās something electric in the air, sending pulses of energy through my veins.
Then I smell it. Itās a scent unlike anything Iāve ever come across- like vanilla and tangerine, sweet like honey, fresh like a spring rainstorm. I canāt pin down exactly what it smells like, but itās fucking delicious, and suddenly my wolf doesnāt give a shit about investigating the breach at the border of the territory, all he cares about is finding the source of that scent. My rational mind is at war with my instincts, but at least the two seem to have the same direction in mind- that intoxicating smell seems to be coming from the same direction I was headed, toward the border of the territory. My wolf is getting more worked up every minute, in a frenzy to get closer- suddenly Iām running on pure adrenaline and endorphins, the most blissful sensations washing over me as the scent gets stronger and stronger.
Itās like itās all around me. I skid to a stop, throwing my nose to the sky, looking around wildly. Itās so strong, like Iām right on top of it, but I donāt see anything or anyone. I advance forward slowly, the scent leading me into a thicket of brush. Branches tug at my fur as I slink in further, pushing through to the other side.
And suddenly, I see her- a beautiful red wolf. Her glossy fur practically glows under the light of the full moon as she lifts her head, casting her gaze in my direction. My legs move on their own accord, leaves crunching underneath my paws as I step out of the brush. As soon as our eyes meet, the realization slams into me. Iāve never seen her before, but I know exactly who she is.
Everything in my field of vision goes fuzzy, shimmering as my wolf tucks himself away and the change comes over me. My fur recedes, bones snapping and rearranging as tingles break out over my whole body. Then the shift is complete- Iām crouched on two legs in human form, vision sharpening again as I blink across from me, searching for the red wolf as I rise to stand.
Sheās shifted, too. A girl rises to her feet from where the red wolf was, her bare form bathed in moonlight. My eyes devour every inch of her creamy skin, from her long, shapely legs to the curve of her hips, her flat belly, her narrow waist. Her fiery red hair spills over her shoulders, obstructing my view of her breasts. Her face is round, cherubic, like a goddamn angel in the flesh, accented with high cheekbones and pouty pink lips. She stares back at me with the bluest eyes framed by thick dark lashes, her expressive eyebrows drawing together in confusion.
I watch as her eyes tour my form, a rosy blush staining her cheeks when they drop between my legs. Itās then that I realize how obvious my attraction for her is- my dick is standing at attention, practically saluting this flame-haired goddess. Sheās the most beautiful creature Iāve ever laid eyes on; the kind of perfection that tests faith and reignites belief.
Iām rooted in place, in complete awe of her, as the word thatās on the tip of my tongue slips past my lips. āMate.ā
SERENAIs this real life? I’ve had a lot of dreams about escaping that cell, but so far none of them have involved stumbling upon my fated mate under the full moon. I blink at the gorgeous man standing across from me, my throat tightening. I forget to breathe. Am I dreaming? I dig my fingernails into the flesh of my thigh, pinching.Ouch. I’m awake. This is real. And before he even says the word, I know it’s true. The most delightful sensations are washing over me, lapping at my skin and enveloping me like a warm blanket. I’m flooded with endorphins and adrenaline, a euphoric high that has me feeling half drunk. I’m so aware of the connection between us, the pull yanking me to him. He’s beautiful, and my inner wolf is spinning and preening with the realization that he’s ours.Mate.I’m not sure what I expected in a mate, but he’s not
REID“You’d better have a good reason for calling us over this early,” Theo yawns as he steps over the threshold into my packhouse. He and Jax are the last to arrive- Gray and Brock are already here. I sent out a text last night telling them we needed to meet this morning, and considering I don’t make requests like this often, they all showed up, no questions asked.“He’s got coffee,” Gray calls from the kitchen, holding up the pot.Theo scrubs a hand over his face. “Thank fuck.”I roll my eyes, clapping him on the shoulder and leading him and Jax into the kitchen where Brock is sipping on a cup of coffee and Gray is filling a few more for the rest of us.“You gonna tell us what’s so urgent, or are you gonna keep us hanging?” Jax groans, posting up against the kitchen counter. He’s got dark circles under his eyes and his hair is disheveled- I&rsq
SERENA Taylorās the type of girl thatās so outgoing and over-the-top nice that it almost seems disingenuous- because nobodyās that sugar sweet, right? Wrong. The more I talk to Taylor, the more I realize that this isnāt a front; itās really who she is. And Iām not gonna lie, Iām a little jealous. I wish I could be more like her. Maybe I couldāve been, if life hadnāt stomped all over me. If I hadnāt seen what Iāve seen and done what Iāve done. She leads me down the hall from her daughterās room to her own, and on the way, Taylor tells me all about her mate, Cyrus, who is also the beta of Reidās pack. Apparently the adjustment to parenthood has been rough on both of them, but Cyrus has stepped up more than she ever expected him to. Her hazel eyes light up when she talks about her mate, her wavy shoulder-length honey brown hair bouncing as she speaks animatedly. āSo what kind of clothes are you looking fo
REID Iāve always believed in destiny. While this current situation may not be ideal, fate doesnāt make mistakes when bringing people together as mates. I donāt know much about Serena yet, but I do know that Iām insanely attracted to her. Iāve never been like this around another she-wolf, not even hot-as-fuck Arabella who was basically a nympho and made a hobby out of throwing herself at me. I turned her down more times than I took her up on it, too busy to bother with getting invested in a woman. Yet here I am, not even twenty-four hours in, and Iām already obsessed with Serena Harper. When Iām not around her, sheās all I can think about. When I am around her, itās hard not to imagine what itād be like to rip her clothes off and claim her as my own. Given what sheās likely been through, I know I need to be respectful and handle her with careā¦ but fuck, Iāve never had such a difficult time remaining in control of my own faculties. Aft
SERENAAs I stare down at the array of shopping bags covering the entirety of the large bed, I can’t help but have mixed emotions. Most girls would be falling all over themselves at a gesture like this, right? But I guess I’m not most girls.I know I should be grateful for Reid’s thoughtfulness and generosity, but part of me rebels against being taken care of like this, determined to prove to the world that despite what I’ve been through, I’m not a victim and I can take care of myself. So instead, as I take in the overindulgence spread out on the bed before me, I’m just racked with guilt. I feel guilty for harboring resentment rather than gratitude, and I feel guilty for being on the receiving end of Reid’s kindness once again, because I sure as hell don’t deserve it.I’m still thrown by this whole fated mates thing, and still don’t have a clue what I’m going to do about
REIDI’m closing the front door behind my friends and their mates when I hear a creak on the stairs behind me. I don’t have to turn around to know it’s Serena- both because she’s the only person staying upstairs in my wing of the packhouse and because my wolf perked up as soon as her sweet scent registered. I keep discovering aspects to the mate bond that I never anticipated, like how my senses all seem heightened when it comes to her. I’ve been hyper-aware of her presence when she’s near, oddly attuned to her body language like I can almost read her well-hidden emotions.I turn to look her way, my eyes wandering her form as she hits the bottom step. She’s evidently gone through some of her new clothes- she’s changed into a pair of navy blue high-waisted yoga pants and a white cropped hoodie, her long red hair swept up into a neat ponytail. I’m not sure how it’s possible for her to be
SERENA“This is it,” Reid says as he turns a corner and I get my first glimpse of the squad complex. He told me all about this training facility on our way here, but even so, nothing could’ve prepared me for the reality of actually seeing it with my own eyes. His description didn’t do it justice- this place is absolutely massive, surrounded by imposing walls that tower nearly as tall as the trees that surround it on all sides.As impressive as it is from the outside, I can’t wait to see it from the inside- I’m antsy as Reid swings the Mustang into a parking spot up front beside a big black Escalade, shifting the gear into park and cutting the engine.“This place is incredible,” I breathe, craning my neck to look up at the structure through the passenger window as I unbuckle my seatbelt. “This is all just for training?”“Our full-time squad members liv
REID I donāt know what it is about a woman in red lipstick that I find so damn attractive, but when that flame-haired little vixen descended the packhouse stairs tonight in a tight little skirt and red lips, it immediately did something to my dick. Iāve been sporting a semi all night, barely able to think straight around Serena. Hardly able to breathe. Iām actually somewhat relieved when one of the girls suggests they go take shots and Iām given a little bit of a reprieve to collect my thoughts. āSo howās it been going?ā Gray asks as soon as the girls are out of earshot, turning his attention to me. āGood,ā I mumble absently, eyes glued to Serenaās ass as she heads for the bar. The crowd fills in behind her and I turn back to the guys, meeting Grayās dubious stare. āYeah?ā he asks skeptically. I shrug. āSure. I meanā¦ as good as it can be going?ā I scrub a hand over my face, chuckling wryly. āFuck