Kristen's POV
My life is just so messed up right now, that I'm starting to think the moon goddess is against me.Why is this happening?I feel ugly and dirty not because I didn't shower before I wore my dress, but having reality hit me back in the face that I slept with some random person, and the next day he turns out to be not just my stepfather but also my mate.Fear.There's a lot of theory to this word and if there's another word worse than fear, that's what I feel.This unpleasant emotion merged with the feeling of anxiety concerning what might be the outcome of something dangerous.I've never seen my mom this happy in her entire life. This is the first time.She's walking through the hall, side-stepping the rows of seats with a bouquet in her hands. And everyone is rising to their feet as a sign of respect."She's one gorgeous being like a descendant straight from the moon goddess.""Our Alpha is lucky, she's suitable for Luna's position.""But she's older, has a daughter.""She's only a few years ahead of him so it doesn't count.""So he's a stepfather?""Love knows no bounds."Whispers are flowing in the entourage, almost surpassing the slow music in the background.My gaze travels to Blue-eyes standing in front with his Beta beside him and his pack elder in front.Apparently, his eyes have been fixated on me for a long time. Even his Beta is awe-struck. He knows me as the girl from yesterday.I didn't even know Blue-eyes was an Alpha until today.He looks like he's had a shit in his pants with his once-groomed hair tousled on top of his head. People would think he has been forking his fingers through his hair because he's nervous at the sight of his bride.But I can feel his emotions.No one knows he's this way because of me.He's not even looking at mom.It's me.Calhoun, that's his name. And he's the Alpha of the Greyhound pack. One of the most prestigious and powerful packs on this side, consisting of a thousand werewolves. Several reputable men are seated in front and all these people are under him. A few years ago, when mom suddenly went AWOL for reasons best known to her, I was left with nothing but a week's worth of groceries at home. Just a grade eleven student who was yet to pay her school fees. Thankfully, the Greyhound pack came with a support system for high schools and I picked a form, filled it up and my fees were paid. Calhoun helped me five years ago.I didn't even look at his profile on the internet. He was just there and no one knew he would marry my mom five years later and be my mate.Why would the moon goddess do this?Why did I refuse to go the whole time Mom suggested we meet?I can smell him all the way here, even though we're quite far away from each other.It's freaking insane because I've never had a mate before and I had no idea what it felt like until now.I wish I could take everything back, right from the moment I walked into that club with Sapphire and Maddy, got drunk, and accepted the challenge to hook up with someone.Why did it have to be him?It could've been some other guy, his beta perhaps would've been better and the situation wouldn't be this bad.Calhoun also has a hand in this, he didn't tell me he was getting frigging married to someone the next morning. Can it be that he knew I was his mate the entire time? That's why he didn't turn me down? Was super nice to me and even helped hook my shirt with his affix pin.He cheated on my mom with me.And now, I feel so guilty and rotten inside. I can't even smile back at Mom when she sidesteps me with that signature smile.How would she feel if she finds out that Calhoun not only cheated on his bachelor's night, it was with her daughter?What hurts the most is that she looks so breathtakingly stunning and euphoric like today is the best day of her life. With all the yay, I'm finally getting married kind of vibes. Goodbye to singlehood.I just want to crawl into some corner and hide away from the world.Letting out a heave, I raise my shoulders, wanting to get past these unsettling thoughts but the way Calhoun pounded into me last night keeps flashing through my brain. I still feel sore.Mom and I never had the mother-and-daughter type of relationship, but one thing I know is that she doesn't deserve this.We take our seats when she stops in front of Calhoun and he reluctantly draws his eyes away from mine and fakes a smile at her.My stomach churns as I take a hard, hurtful gulp.Vows and rings are exchanged and when the elder asks if anyone is against the wedding, Mom and Calhoun look at me.Mom is staring at me because she's trying to detect if I'm okay with this.And Calhoun on the other hand wants to figure out if I'd raise my hand, stand up and tell everyone that we slept with each other just last night. How he doesn't deserve my mom because he cheated on her the night before their wedding. Lastly, we're freaking mates with discernment of emotions acquired from the mate bond."You may kiss the bride," the elder instructs after thirty seconds ran by.And they kiss. Something which is a seal to their marriage.They’re official man and wife.And he’s now my stepfather, whilst I am his stepdaughter."Hopefully, nothing will separate them as this marriage is built on a solid rock," the elder adds and everyone bursts into a round of applause.Calhoun kisses Mom one more time and hugs her. Thankfully he doesn't look to meet my eyes and I release a breath I have no idea I was holding.Calhoun's beta approaches me when mom's Luna coronation begins a few minutes later."My name is Bruce and Can I have a word with you?" He leans closer to my ear and whispers this.Pulling away, I stare at him. Wondering what he's up to because something doesn't seem right. Did Calhoun send him? His tone was calm but his eyes betrayed him."Sure," I force this word out and he suddenly grasps my wrist.I look to meet Calhoun's gaze at this and I see his eyes lowered in a suspicious squint.What's going on?Bruce leads me out of the hall and pulls me into a corner."Why are you here?" His voice is suddenly hard and mean, unlike the way it sounded earlier."What do you mean?" I'm puzzled. Did Calhoun sent him?"Look, if you're here to ruin things because he hooked up with you last night, I'd advise you to stop right here. Because Alpha Calhoun isn't someone you wanna mess with.""You think I'm here to cause a disaster?""Natalie is the love of his life and whatever happened between you two was just a fling. He'd never stoop to your level. Why are you even here" His forehead squeezes into crispy lines at he frowns at me, showing his displeasure, "have you no any shame?"A bitter scoff rolls from my throat because this guy right here is far ahead of himself. I can feel my wolf getting upset and threatening to surface with bared fangs, but I do my best to stay cool, to maintain our anger level."Just get out of this place before it's too late," Bruce threatens."That woman, Natalie whom you just mentioned is my mother," I break this to him with my hands folded across my chest. And Calhoun is my mate, I almost add. But I bite my tongue to refrain from this.A look of uncertainty flashes through Bruce's eyes at my response."You're Natalie's daughter?" His eyes are enlarged in their sockets.And with a heavy heart, I nod.Kristen's POVThe grand wedding reception is organized in the courtyard, containing over five hundred guests served five-course meals instead of the usual three-course wedding meals.Of course, this is to show off wealth. Alpha Calhoun is a billionaire. The wealthiest on the East side.The bride and groom dance and people cheer for them as they're at this.Alpha Calhoun hasn't looked at me for some time now, he's so focused on Mom as he dances with her. Even his smiles aren't forced anymore as he looks at her. I ought to be relieved that he isn't staring at me anymore, but why do I feel even worse? Like I am being betrayed or something. This isn't me but my wolf. She's overwhelming me with emotions that I don't even want to feel. Craving to connect with Calhoun's wolf. It's just so bad that I want them to round things up so I can shift and do a marathon. Far away from everyone.But I'm tipsy right now.I can't count the glasses of wine I've had. My bladder feels full but because I w
Calhoun's POV"We have a little birdie in our midst," Bruce slams his fist on the executive wooden desk, startling the men seated at the table with us."He has been gathering bits of information and sharing them with our enemies, so the crafty can plot their attack and bring us down," Bruce continues as he pops his head from one man to the other, through a suspicious squint.It's evening and I'm supposed to spend quality time with Natalie since it's nearing the hour of our wedding night, but I excused myself from her, promising to return in a few hours. When in reality I wanted to be away from her to clear my head. I literally forced Bruce to our pack conference hall despite how hard he tried to resist, claiming it was my wedding night and I needed to ensure other engines were serviced. The bastard sure knew what he meant.From The power seat where I am, I mind-link with my Beta who in turn tells me the culprit amid us.It's no other person than Donovan, our very own Delta. Who woul
Kristen's POVMy wolf increases her pace into fast gallops when she sees a big black wolf chasing after us. All my worries fade away and replace with fear, because it looks like someone is out to get me.For the third time, my wolf turns to throw a glance at the wolf right behind us and she accidentally hits a tree and falls. When I shift into my human form, my heart is already doing dangerous backflips in my chest because I can feel him. It's Calhoun. My mate and stepfather. He stops in front of me and shifts."What are you doing, Kristen?" "N-n- nothing," my response comes out in a stutter when he takes a step closer to me. Why is he here? Isn't he supposed to be with my mom, having the best of their wedding night?"Why did you take off like that? It's dangerous for a female to go for a night run in times like this," Calhoun holds out his hand to help me up.And it's not like I can accept it. I don't want any part of me touching him. Having him this close is doing no justice to m
Kristen's POVThe middle-aged man is drawing closer with his flashlight, stirring up a churn in my stomach as panic punches out of my lungs. "Relax," Calhoun quietly orders upon sensing my fear but I can't. Things are so messed up right now that I just want to close my eyes and wish I never came here. And the thought of my mom finding out what I did with her husband. Oh my God!It all happens in a swift motion when Calhoun leaves my body and before I am left with moments to process what's unfolding right under my gaze, Calhoun snaps the man's neck and lets his body drop to the wet ground.My hands fasten to my mouth to suppress the screaming intending to erupt from it. Because he just killed someone. An innocent man!And when Calhoun shifts his gaze back to mine, I tremble so hard that my teeth are beginning to chatter. "Put on your clothes, I don't want anyone seeing you like this," he commands, whilst he's standing naked in full glory. "You just killed someone," I force these wor
Calhoun's POV"I caught her trying to sneak out," I tell Natalie, something which isn't a lie."Why'd you even want to do that?" Her face transforms into confusion as she leaves the stairs and meets with us."It's just…I don't feel welcomed here." Kristen thins her lips and fiddles with her small, delicate hands. Hands that she had run through my bare back under the rain last night."But I thought we've gotten past this already," Natalie tucks her daughter's hair behind her ear and touches her cheek, "My poor baby is now a woman. I can recall when you always teared up when I left you in someone's care. Now you're all grown up, cannot wait to get away from me.""It's not like that, Mother," Kristen ensures she's avoiding my gaze as she tries to defend herself."You have three weeks until you're returning to school for your final semester. I want you to stay, so you can bond with Calhoun and me." Natalie clasp Kristen's hands in hers.And I just clench my jaw.If only she knows how I ca
Kristen's POV Today is the Greyhound pack run and it's quite surprising because just yesterday was Alpha Calhoun and my mom's wedding. It could have been canceled but Alpha Calhoun permitted them to go on with it since my mom fancies such things. She's euphoric to be Luna of the Greyhound pack, people completely adore her because of her outspokenness, elegance, and breathtaking beauty. Unlike her who has the perfect body, I am busty, petite, and with a slim build.We don't even look alike, I take more of my father even if I'm the bastard child.I should be happy Alpha Calhoun has finally agreed to reject me after the pack run so our mate bond can be broken, and then he can be with my mom. But I can't find any bit of happiness in me.Perhaps because he came up with the suggestion before I could. And the determination in his blue eyes gives out that he wants to get done with me for good. My wolf is against this, if there's any way she can make me decline Alpha Calhoun's rejection, sh
Calhoun's POVI am stunned in my seat when the whistleblower handles the whistle, because Kristen does a quick backflip and takes over the race immediately, earning screams from the crowd.People are running beside and in front of her but the determination on her face gives out that she isn't even afraid. A few men are having a hard time running in their human form, because their wolves are threatening to surface, making it difficult for them to keep on the right track. It's a run, after all, wolves love running.It's hard to pay attention to my wife when my mate is out there, running like her life depends on it. Before I know what's happening, my feet are moving and carrying me forward so I can take a proper view of the pack run.They're fourteen contestants in number, eleven men and three females. The pack run has different stages and obstacles to face.The whole world narrows and all I can recognize is my mate on the run. Kristen is the smallest and fastest. She looks so fierce and
Kristen's POV "Kristen, wake up."The gentle shake on my shoulders flicks my eyes open to my mother staring down at me."Mom?" I breathe out, utterly confused because I'm on the bed and I have the sheet covers on me. I was dreaming about participating in the pack run, right?"You've been out for three hours," Mom looks away from me as she informs me of this, "You passed out after winning the pack runs."Suddenly images of me contesting for the pack run through my head and I can remember everything.Holy shit!I can't believe Alpha Calhoun left his position and ran to my side. I was weak but I can recall when he carried me in a bridal style.No. He did not. How could he do such a thing? Mom might even suspect a thing and his people on the other hand would think something is going on between the two of us. Alpha Calhoun married Mom yesterday, so there's no way a man and his stepdaughter would bond so fast.It's dark and the music from outside is enough to notify me of the pack run aft