I stand on the doorstep of my home in the pale dawn light.I clutch my bag between both hands.I have packed all my belongs inside and am ready to go.But I still cannot believe it.I cannot believe I am leaving.I cannot believe I am joining another pack.I cannot believe I am leaving behind everything I have ever known.I cannot believe I am marrying Jeremiah and not Nathaniel.I look at my father, standing beside Alpha."Am I allowed to say goodbye to Nathaniel?" I ask them, hopefully.They exchange a glance.I already know the answer.It's Alpha who tells me what I already know: "I'm sorry. I think it would be for the best to just leave and not upset him."I lower my eyes to the ground.It is just as I suspected."Will you tell him where I went?" I ask."Of course," Alpha replies.The wind weaves through my hair.I glance up at the car idling in the driveway, spewing exhaust into the cold air.My stomach drops with dread.I take one last long look at my home.I
The driver opens my door.I do not move.I do not want to get out and face this.I want to turn and run.But I do not do that.I do not break my promise to my father and my Alpha.I somehow find myself getting out of the car.I breathe in the wet, earthy forest air.Jeremiah walks me up the front steps.I am not ready to go inside.I do not want to go inside.I do not know if I ever will be ready.Jeremiah pushes open the door.Behind it is a grand foyer.The foyer is large and open, with white marble floors and white columns.It is beautiful.The furniture is antique.There are oil paintings hanging on the walls.It looks like a museum.I flutter my eyes closed.I pray: Please, let this work out.Let me make it work.Let us make it work.I open my eyes and look off into the forest.I think of Nathaniel.I am going to miss him.I will always miss him.But this is the right thing.This is what the packs need.I am going to make this work.I step inside the
I rest in my room for a few hours.I don't know what to do now.My mind is spinning.I can't even begin to think about decorating.My mind is full of Nathaniel.I hope he is okay.By now, Alpha will have told him what's happened.He will probably be as furious as the girl lingering at my door earlier was.Ana...She must hate me.I would hate me, too.But everyone else seems so nice.I remember the plate of food offered to me in the kitchen and am suddenly hungry.I jump up out of bed and rush into the corridor.Then I hurry downstairs."You're back," the woman grins when she sees me."I'm hungry," I tell her with a blush.Her plate is empty now. "I can fix you something to eat," she says."Oh, you don't have to do that.""It's no trouble. Take a seat."She goes over to the oven and starts frying.I sit down at the table opposite the man."My name is Beth," the woman tells me.I nod. "I'm Bria."She smiles again. "I know.""You're the Alpha's mate," the man say
The sun is shining as I head outside with Brock."Here's the forest," he tells me.It looks like the forest I know.My heart swells.There are many trees.Lush green foliage."It's beautiful," I say, feeling tears in my eyes."It's one of my favorite places," he says."It is?""It's a peaceful place. That's my favorite thing about it. Peaceful and quiet. I love lying in the shade of the trees. The forest has always been my favorite place to just...be."He smiles.I smile too.Brock seems like a nice guy.But he is quiet and reserved.Fun-loving Ethan and happy-go-lucky Beth would have been better tour guides, but Brock seems nice.We walk through the trees."I like it here," he continues. "You can get away from the others, but it's still close to the pack. Come, let me show you something."He leads me through the forest.We come to a clearing.There are so many flowers.I have never seen so many flowers.I gasp."What is this?" I ask him."This is the flower fiel
"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.