"Okay, Bria," Beth says from opposite me at the table. "Time to play."Brock told me he'd show me how the pack had fun, and now I am sitting around the kitchen table with him, Glade, Ethan and Beth.Beth starts dealing cards.I gulp."Why do I feel like this is the first day of school all over again?" I say.They all laugh.They are treating me like I belong here.They seem to get that I'm trying my best to fit in.They are nice people.They put me at ease.They help me forget my wedding...Beth explains the rules and we start playing.Glade is on my right. He is a giant, the biggest in the pack. He is tall and strong, but so gentle and kind. He is sweet too. He makes me feel right at home. I love how he speaks with a southern twang.Ethan is on my left. He's sweet and funny. He teases Beth, who teases him back. I like the way they bicker. It's fun to watch.I'd be happy to be part of their little family if I didn't have to marry Jeremiah.But then, I'd be happy about a
In the morning, I head down to the kitchen.My friends are at the table again.Brock lifts his eyes as I enter.For the first time, I see what Beth's been talking about. His eyes spark when he sees me, like I am something precious and wonderful and rare he's never seen before.Not even Nathaniel looked at me that way...It makes me blush all the way to my toes."How did you sleep?" Beth asks, pouring me a coffee."Great," I say. I sit down and sip the coffee. "I'm kinda exhausted.""Must be all that tree climbing," Beth says with a wink.Ethan glowers at her.She ignores him and places a plate of toast in front of me.Glade slides some butter my way."I was thinking," Brock says, "if you'd like to see the river today, Bria?"I look up to see a soft smile on his face."Sure," I begin to say.But Ethan interrupts me with a frown."No, she wouldn't," he says.Brock looks confused. "What have I missed?""You can't ask out the alpha's mate!" Ethan snaps.Brock's eyes go r
I stare at the bank and see Ana.My heart drops.I am in so much trouble.I don't know what to do.I break away from Brock, who looks shocked.Ana stares at him then at me."What are you doing?" she shrieks."Nothing," I say, defensively."It's my fault," Brock replies.He looks crestfallen."No," I say.I don't want him taking the blame for this.He and Jeremiah have more of a relationship than me and Jeremiah after all."Oh how romantic," Ana mocks. "You're both trying to take the blame. It must be true love!"I hurry to the water's edge and heave myself out."Ana, please don't tell Jeremiah..."She narrows her eyes at me. "And why would I keep a secret for you?"I have no good answer."Please," I say.She scoffs. "You're making out with one of his best friends behind his back!""I know. I'm sorry."I feel the tears well up in my eyes.This is so wrong.I shouldn't be kissing another man behind Jeremiah's back.I'm a horrible, horrible person."I'm sorry," I
I go to my bedroom.My heart feels broken.Broken because I have broken Jeremiah's trust.Broken because I have hurt Brock.Broken because if the wedding doesn't take place, our packs will start a war.This is not right.I have to do something.I realize there is only one thing.There's only one option.I know what I must do.My legs shake as I run across the room.My hands shake as I find paper in the desk drawer and scrawl a note for Jeremiah.My handwriting shows I am shaking."Be with the one you love," I write. "Tell my pack I rejected you."If they know I am the one at fault, perhaps the war can be avoided.I pack my bag, tidying away all the things I have only just unpacked.Then I take my bag and steal out into the dark corridors.I will miss the friends I made here.Ethan. Beth. Glade.And of course... Brock.My heart aches just thinking of him.I will never see him again.I don't want to do this.I don't want to leave him.But I have no other choice.
I stay in wolf form as I run through the woods.I have no idea where to go or what to do.But at least in my wolf shape, I feel less terrified.I remember the flower garden I went to with Brock.I remember the tree we climbed.I realize then, that climbing a tree is my safest bet.I scramble up.It's easier in wolf form, but not as easy as when I had Brock to help me.I can see everything from here.The whole territory that was supposed to be mine.My heart thumps as I think of all I have left behind.I look up at the moon.I have changed the course of things.I have ruined my future and that of the people I love.I've ruined everything.I'm shaking.I need to stay calm.I try to think positively.I try to remind myself of my strengths.I am strong.I am brave.I have dealt with things that other people would never be able to face.I have seen things no one should have to.I have sacrificed everything for others.I am strong.I am good.My only mistake was fal
I follow him out of the shop and up the staircase, until we reach the apartment."What's your name?" I ask him, even though I know it.I just want to hear him speak."I am Jim," he says."It's a pleasure to meet you," I say.My voice is soft and calm, and I feel a deep respect for him.He unlocks the door.We enter and he flips on a light.The room is sparsely decorated.There is a bed and a desk.There is a fireplace, with a couch and chair arranged around it.He leads me to the bedroom, where he shows me to the bathroom.There's a tub, which I assume is for bathing.There is a sink, and a toilet."I'll leave you to it then," Jim says.I nod.My mind is racing.I have met my soulmate.Everything is amazing.And yet, I feel a deep sadness.Because I know that I can't be with him.He's a human!A human and a werewolf can never be together.Not unless I were to turn him...I shake away the thoughts as I undress and step into the tub.I am so tired, I'm thinking a
"Hey!" somebody shouts.Jim looks around.He sees me and his eyes widen with panic.I race to his side.A sudden mechanical roar cuts the air and a spotlight turns on, shining right at me and Jim.We squint and blink against the bright light."I told you not to come," Jim says."I know," I tell him. "But I had to. You'll understand."The light is so bright and the night air is so clear, that I can make out every last detail of the hunting party right down to the color of their eyes.I may not be in wolf form, but my wolf senses are as alert as ever.This is a fight I can win.Even six against one.But poor Jim doesn't know that.He looks terrified.I see the first two bikers.They are both big, burly men.I smell their anger and the scent of their aggression.The third biker is taller, with a wide belly, dark eyes, and dark hair."Take the girl," a voice calls.The fourth biker says nothing.He is smaller than the others.He is covered in tattoos.And he has a gun
JIM’S POVMy mouth is dry.I stare at the wolf in front of me.Bria.The beautiful, mysterious stranger who appeared in mom's shop hours earlier...Who I accidentally saw naked...Who is obviously the most gorgeous person I have ever set eyes on...Is a wolf?A wolf I like?"Nobody has ever stood up for me the way you just did," I say.I feel my heart quicken.My blood runs hot.I walk closer.I touch her ears.They flicker under my touch but she lets me.My fingers trace down to her muzzle.I'm shaking, but I am not scared."You're the most amazing woman I have ever met," I whisper.Bria begins to transform again before my eyes, turning back from a wolf to a human.She stands before me in all her gorgeous glory and I am overcome by awe."My beautiful girl," I whisper.She reaches out and places her hand over my heart.I cannot control the trembling."Do you feel it?" she asks.Her eyes are full of questions.Full of depth.I want to gaze into them forever.