Ash
Willow is the one. I made the mistake once of thinking I had found the girl that was meant to be our mate. What I felt once before is nothing compared to the way I feel drawn to Willow. It was almost an instant connection, and my wolf has been dancing around with excitement. He didn’t mind my first choice, but he didn’t react any way close to this. What I don’t get is why Tate is so resistant to the idea of her being our mate.Han is on my side this time, but this is what happened before…two of us agree and one of us doesn’t. As much as I wish Tate would open up to the idea of getting to know Willow better, I won’t make the same mistake again. If he wants to move on and continue looking, I’ll respect his wishes, but I just want a day with her. If Han and I are right, then Tate will know it soon enough too.“You want me to show you the park?” Willow asks looking skeptical.“Yeah, if you don’t have anything else to do today.”She nibbles on her bottom lip adorably and looks down at the floor. I don’t want to rush her, but goddess I hope she says yes. Also, she smells amazing! Like cake and fresh coffee…“Okay. Why not! But umm…” She steps closer to me and leans her head in to whisper, “Will it just be the two of us?”Oh! That’s right. Multiple people in a relationship is not that common with humans. She must think it’s odd that the three of us are always together.“Would you like that? I mean the three of us are always sort of together, but if you would prefer just the two of us then sure.”“Are you three…involved with each other?” She asks and I have to stop myself from cracking up.Packs are comfortable with be close and affectionate with each other because it’s part of our nature but I guess to those who don’t understand the dynamic between us.“No. We’re just good friends.” Han is quick to explain.“Oh! I mean not that there is anything wrong with you guys…you know, but I just wanted to be sure.” She says with an anxious stutter.“It’s alright Willow. Like Ash said, we often do things together but if you would prefer spending some time alone with Ash then we are okay with that.” Han assures her.“Right…I’m not sure what to say here...” She is rightfully confused.“Say whatever you want, you won’t hurt our feelings or anything.” I add.She looks up at me and I get the chance to admire the grey colors of her eyes. Against her warm tan color of her skin and the dusting of freckles on her face, they stand out even more.“Okay.” She finally says and my wolf howls happily.You would think she has already agreed to be our mate with the way he’s going on. I don’t hold back my happiness and smile down at her. Her cheeks fill with a dusting of pink and she looks down at her feet again. Without thinking I reach out and tip her chin with one of my fingers so she will look at me again. Her big gray eyes are wide now like she didn’t expect me to touch her, but I couldn’t resist.“I’ll meet you here when you get off work.” I tell her before tilting my head and leaving a kis on her cheek.I turn to the guys and wink at them before proudly striding toward the door without waiting for them. I’m on cloud nine right now!“Ash.” I groan at the serious tone in Tate’s voice, but out of respect for my friend I turn an give him ym full attention. “I don’t think this is a good idea. I can sense you already getting attached.”“So what?” I snap at him. “She’s perfect Tate. She’s the one, I know it now.”He shakes his head. “I can’t make this decision lightly Ash. She will be the future Luna of our pack which is a big deal for our people as you know. I can’t pick the first girl we meet.”“You can’t.” I say and snap my mouth shut before I really say something I’ll regret.“But you can? Is that it? You want to take a mate on your own?” he asks raising his voice.His wolf is rising to my challenge, and I can either back down or take him head on. Well, he might be my future Alpha and my friend but if he thinks he can stop me from being happy with a mate I choose then I will have to go up against him.“That’s not what I meant.” I say trying to defuse the situation for now. “When we were in that room full of women did you feel anything? Did one of them speak to you?”He sighs and rubs his hands down his face. “No. But this is one town out of hundreds. We really should be smart about this. She seems to live here so we can always come back for her if we don’t find a better match.”I scoff at him. “You’re sounding a lot like your dad.”I turn and continue walking without waiting for them. He can stew all he wants, and Han can keep him company while I spend time with Willow. I get back to Tate’s truck and grab my bag. There is no way I’m going back into that scary flower hotel, so I might scope out a place to sleep in my wolf form for the night. For now, I’ll look for a place where I can buy a nicer shirt for my date. There are a few clothing stores, but only one that looks to have my size. I’m not only tall but I have wide shoulders and a narrower waist. It’s difficult to find clothes that fit me well which is why my mom always made my clothes growing up.She still does I won’t lie.I walk into the shop anyway hoping to find at least one thing that will look nice.“Welcome!” A feminine voice calls out from the back of the store.I never know if you’re supposed to reply when people do that, so I don’t. Instead I start scanning the racks. There are some nice items but they’re a little too clean and smug rich guy looking, neither of which are my style. I tend to be more of a dark t-shirt and distressed black jeans with biker boots sort of guy. This shop doesn’t seem to have anything like that, but maybe I should change it up to something Willow might like.“Can I help you find something? Oh my-“ I glance over at the woman and see her staring at me with huge eyes. “Wow.”She blatantly checks me out which I find funny since it’s surprising how obvious some women are about doing that.“Good morning. I’m looking for something to wear on a first date.” I try to emphasize that last part so she doesn’t get the wrong ideas.When she smiles and tucks a strand of her hair behind her ears with a flirty look, it didn’t seem tot register with her.Okay then…“Actually, I’m not sure you’ll have anything that will fit me.” I am not about to stick around some horny woman with wondering eyes.The only eyes I want on me are grey and beautiful. I start to back track toward the door when she grabs me by the arm and pulls me toward the back of the store where she had been. For a second I think she’s being very forward about wanting to have some alone time with me until we stop in front of a few racks of larger sized clothes.“These will probably be the best fit. Grab what you like and then feel free to try them on.” She points to four booths marked ‘Fitting Room’.“Thanks.” I give her a tight smile but I can’t manage anything more.She’s starting to make this a little awkward and I’m quickly regretting coming in here to begin with. Thankfully someone else comes in and distracts her so that I can shop in peace.“Hot date tonight?” Yet another person interrupts me and I’m starting to get irritated.When I turn this time it’s a guy standing near me. “Oh, uh sort of.” I reply as I continue browsing.“No offence but your style doesn’t seem to fit in this place.”“Yeah, no shit. It doesn’t matter though, I want to look nice so I’ll manage.”“I’m sure you will besides women are all about personality than how a guy looks these days.” He starts to glance at the clothes around us but doesn’t seem interested in shopping. “My girlfriend has never been big on fancy clothes or expensive dinners. She preferred walks in the park, picnics in the spring, and cuddling up to read in the winter. Sort of clique I know but she doesn’t care.”I nod along with him, but I don’t really care about a thing he’s saying. My mind is occupied on one woman.WillowI’m a bundle of nerves once Ash and the other guys leave. Did I really agree to go on a date of sorts with a total stranger? Why on earth would I do that? What am I thinking? I know it’s been a while since…him but the emotional wounds still feel too fresh. What if I’m making another mistake by trusting he will be different? The best idea is probably to cancel this thing all together, but I’m hesitating. This is so dumb! He asked me to show him around, and I automatically assumed it was a date. It’s not a date, not at all. So, there is no reason to be nervous or scared. This is completely platonic. With that idea in mind, I can let all that building anxiety go and pick out something comfortable to wear. Since it’s not a date I don’t have to dress up, so I glance through the sparce choices in my closet and pick a simple white babydoll shirt with spaghetti straps with a tiny flower design on it. I also choose a pair of jean shorts and my white tennis shoes to go along with it.
AshWillow looked so beautiful that the moment I saw her, she nearly took my breath away. I had to be close to her. If you asked someone else, what she was wearing may not have been anything spectacular in general, but she looked beautiful in it. She even had a little bit of make-up on, but she was beautiful without it as well. As soon as she stood from the car, I wanted to wrap her in my arms and kiss her, but I resisted. We’re strangers, and she doesn’t know that my wolf wants her so bad that it is driving him crazy. I want to give her space and not appear creepy, but I have to touch her even if it’s the smallest amount. Walking arm-in-arm with her seemed a safe bet, but now we’re moving toward the park, and my wolf is sensing so many things. He’s picking up the scents of the area and the animals around us. There is also the unescapable scent of wolves, but not the wild kind. They are of the Lycan sort, and we might have just walked into their den. I’ll have to tell Tate and Han s
TateThe three of us look at the mark on her chest. “Do you know what that is?” I ask Han. He’s seen more things in his short life than anyone in my entire pack has, and so much of it he never talks about. “It’s a warning. The question I’m most concerned with is why she was warning us away. She couldn’t have seen whatever was attacking her if we didn’t, but she seemed to know what it was.” He reaches out and rests one finger at the top of the image and slowly slides it down, and then it’s gone. What the hell? How did he do that?“What did you do that for?” Ash asks. “Whoever branded her turned her into a beacon. They must want her dead and basically sent out a calling card to anyone willing to do the job.” He explains. “What is this girl into that she gets a death mark put on her?” Ash asks. “I didn’t sense anything unusual about her earlier. She didn’t give any sign that she was aware of what I was, but she has to have a connection to the supernatural if she saw the thing that
WillowI don’t have to worry? Did he really just say that? I have been kidnapped, attacked by my crazy ex and knocked unconscious! But yeah no need to worry. Bullshit! There are at least 10 things I need to worry about right now and they are all perfectly reasonable concerns. “That’s very nice of you and all but I can take care of myself. Just drop me off somewhere and I’ll figure things from there.” There is no way I am placing my fate in the hands of some strangers no matter how attractive they are.Nope I’m not falling for that trick ever again. Plus I need to figure out how my ex found me. I’d covered my tracks well and even had help from a friend to make me basically disappear. So how did this happen? “You aren’t safe Willow.” Tate says matter-of-factly. “I got that but I have my own friends to help me out.” I tell him.I can’t exactly tell him who they are or how they help me because they will think I’m crazy. When the weird stuff started happening to me my family was concern
TateI’m not sure I can describe what's happening in front of me right now. When Ash attacked the rogue wolf I expected Willow to scream and take off running. That would be a very normal response for someone who has never encountered a creature of the supernatural sort before. Except that isn’t what she did. No she watched wide eyed at the strange scene in front of her and stayed. Then to make things even more confusing she spoke to the thing! Like I said, I’m at a loss here.“What is she doing?” Ash asks me but I shrug because I can’t answer that. Willow rest her hand on the creatures head and her whole body jerks like she’s been hit with an electric shock. She doesn’t move away from the animal though and instead continues to shake all over until suddenly she collapses. Han shifts just in time to catch her and the creature she had faced up against lets out one last whimper before collapsing as well.“What…the…fuck…” Ash says and I nod in agreement. What is going on right now? I wa
HanTate drives us to the place Ash found as Willow slowly comes back to herself. “Where are we now?” She asks. “On our way to a safe house. We have a lot to talk about, and by talk, I mean we will listen as you explain.” Tate says firmly.Willow gives out a sound of resignation. “Yeah I guess there isn’t much I can hide now. You guys saw what happened.” “What was that?” Ash blurts out. Willow let’s out a humorless laugh. “Where do you want me to start? In short I’m some sort of freak. The long version is that I have no idea what I really am. I’m not normal, but I’m also nothing like the things I’ve met. Who knew so much weird existed right in front of me all these years. It came as more of a surprise to me that no one else was seeing the same thing as me.”“You see things?” I try and ask the question in a way that doesn’t suggest I think she’s crazy but it’s hard. She glares at me but then shrugs. “Yeah. I haven’t told anyone since my parents freaked out over it, and it’s gotten
WillowThis place is...nice. Nicer than the apartment I was living in before and a lot bigger, too."This is swanky." Ash says with a whistle for emphasis."My thoughts exactly." I say, making him smile. "Only the best for you." He says with a wink I can feel a blush coming on, so I look away and head further into the house. the entrance is spacious, and the stairs are set up straight ahead of us. There is a room to the right of us that is set up as a dining room with a table big enough to seat a small army. To the left is what looks like a living room, but it looks too clean and fancy to use. The whole place looks like what I imagine any country house looks like. Southern charm is too good to touch. I have never stepped foot in a place where I'm too scared to even breathe. "Is this the only place available around here? This looks more like a movie set for Hart of Dixie or something." I say."What? is that a girls' singing group?" Ash asks, making me laugh."That's the Dixie Chick
TateMy wolf must be far more set on Willow than I thought. He knew the second she needed him, and it was as if I lost all control because he shifted, so suddenly it made me dizzy. I was riding far in the back as he barreled out of the house and attacked. He saw it holding Willow by the throat and attacked without hesitation."What are you doing?" I yell at him, but he's got the guy by the arm and is about ready to tear it from his body when a soft voice comes from behind him."Tate? It's okay. I'm fine." It's her voice.All that anger suddenly starts to melt away as she moves into my line of sight. Then my wolf sees the marks on her neck and decides justice needs to be handed out now. He releases the guy and makes a play for his neck, but then the guy disappears. "What the hell?""Tate. It's okay." My wolf locks eyes with her, and it's instant. My wolf's instincts are far stronger than when I'm in control, and I've kissed her. He whines and lowers his head for her. Her eyes are spa
HanWatching Willow with Ash and this new wolf mate I feel a deep sense of envy. My wolf is ready to claim her but fate does not shine on me today. I sense a presence nearby that has me on high alert. The new wolf also senses it and immediately shifts. “Sorry baby we got company. We’ll have to finish this later.” Ash says before pulling his shirt over Willow’s head.“What’s that smell?” She asks and I bite back a smile when her nose scrunches.“That would be a rogue.” Tate says. “They have a distinct smell when they aren’t connected to a pack.”“No kidding. So what do we do?” She stands and walks over to stand next to Tate.He looks down at her and his nostrils flare but he clears his throat and tries to focus. “Han and I will check it out. You need to go back to the house. Your…scent might be what’s attracting them this way.” He says with a pained tone.The new wolf growls at him in protest but Tate cute him a look that has the force of an Alpha behind it. The wolf huffs and growls
Willow A pain like I have never felt before swallowed me into pitch darkness. I wanted to cry out and beg for it to stop, but I had no voice. No, I was mute and lost in this empty void. What happened? I was sitting on the bathroom counter watching Tate run a bath for me. He had walked over and spread my legs so he could stand between them and locked his intense eyes on mine. I fell hostage to him and was ready to kiss the hell out of him when I felt it.A pull so strong that it felt like my body would be ripped apart if I didn't follow its lead. So I pushed Tate back and jumped down from the counter running like my life depended on it. Suddenly, I was in the woods and down on my knees in front of a huge wolf. He looked like he'd seen some bad times, but there was a familiarity in his eyes that I was drawn to. Han had been wrestling with him, so I see the blood driving down his neck, and it breaks my heart. There was this moment between us where I knew him. He was mine and we had ne
Ash'He caved. I knew he wouldn't be able to hold out long.' I tell Han through our link.'We got lucky. I don't think most groups meet a potential mate so quickly. At least not that I've heard.' 'She's fated to us, that's why.' I tell him without hesitation.'You were right this time, Ash. We owe you a great debt.'My wolf preens from the confidence boost. 'I did do good, didn't I?' Han's wolf lets out a huff. I'm the youngest out of the three of us, and it shows. The guys think I can be immature a lot of the time, but I feel like it's my responsibility to keep things light. Tate has the burden of being the Alpha, which means he's always worrying and stressing. Han is constantly on guard thanks to his past, but he's far more chill than Tate. I'm strong and ruthless when I need to be, but for the most part, I try to be the comedic relief that every group needs. What I didn't know was that there is one more person a group needs... the strongest piece. The piece that pulls everything
TateMy wolf must be far more set on Willow than I thought. He knew the second she needed him, and it was as if I lost all control because he shifted, so suddenly it made me dizzy. I was riding far in the back as he barreled out of the house and attacked. He saw it holding Willow by the throat and attacked without hesitation."What are you doing?" I yell at him, but he's got the guy by the arm and is about ready to tear it from his body when a soft voice comes from behind him."Tate? It's okay. I'm fine." It's her voice.All that anger suddenly starts to melt away as she moves into my line of sight. Then my wolf sees the marks on her neck and decides justice needs to be handed out now. He releases the guy and makes a play for his neck, but then the guy disappears. "What the hell?""Tate. It's okay." My wolf locks eyes with her, and it's instant. My wolf's instincts are far stronger than when I'm in control, and I've kissed her. He whines and lowers his head for her. Her eyes are spa
WillowThis place is...nice. Nicer than the apartment I was living in before and a lot bigger, too."This is swanky." Ash says with a whistle for emphasis."My thoughts exactly." I say, making him smile. "Only the best for you." He says with a wink I can feel a blush coming on, so I look away and head further into the house. the entrance is spacious, and the stairs are set up straight ahead of us. There is a room to the right of us that is set up as a dining room with a table big enough to seat a small army. To the left is what looks like a living room, but it looks too clean and fancy to use. The whole place looks like what I imagine any country house looks like. Southern charm is too good to touch. I have never stepped foot in a place where I'm too scared to even breathe. "Is this the only place available around here? This looks more like a movie set for Hart of Dixie or something." I say."What? is that a girls' singing group?" Ash asks, making me laugh."That's the Dixie Chick
HanTate drives us to the place Ash found as Willow slowly comes back to herself. “Where are we now?” She asks. “On our way to a safe house. We have a lot to talk about, and by talk, I mean we will listen as you explain.” Tate says firmly.Willow gives out a sound of resignation. “Yeah I guess there isn’t much I can hide now. You guys saw what happened.” “What was that?” Ash blurts out. Willow let’s out a humorless laugh. “Where do you want me to start? In short I’m some sort of freak. The long version is that I have no idea what I really am. I’m not normal, but I’m also nothing like the things I’ve met. Who knew so much weird existed right in front of me all these years. It came as more of a surprise to me that no one else was seeing the same thing as me.”“You see things?” I try and ask the question in a way that doesn’t suggest I think she’s crazy but it’s hard. She glares at me but then shrugs. “Yeah. I haven’t told anyone since my parents freaked out over it, and it’s gotten
TateI’m not sure I can describe what's happening in front of me right now. When Ash attacked the rogue wolf I expected Willow to scream and take off running. That would be a very normal response for someone who has never encountered a creature of the supernatural sort before. Except that isn’t what she did. No she watched wide eyed at the strange scene in front of her and stayed. Then to make things even more confusing she spoke to the thing! Like I said, I’m at a loss here.“What is she doing?” Ash asks me but I shrug because I can’t answer that. Willow rest her hand on the creatures head and her whole body jerks like she’s been hit with an electric shock. She doesn’t move away from the animal though and instead continues to shake all over until suddenly she collapses. Han shifts just in time to catch her and the creature she had faced up against lets out one last whimper before collapsing as well.“What…the…fuck…” Ash says and I nod in agreement. What is going on right now? I wa
WillowI don’t have to worry? Did he really just say that? I have been kidnapped, attacked by my crazy ex and knocked unconscious! But yeah no need to worry. Bullshit! There are at least 10 things I need to worry about right now and they are all perfectly reasonable concerns. “That’s very nice of you and all but I can take care of myself. Just drop me off somewhere and I’ll figure things from there.” There is no way I am placing my fate in the hands of some strangers no matter how attractive they are.Nope I’m not falling for that trick ever again. Plus I need to figure out how my ex found me. I’d covered my tracks well and even had help from a friend to make me basically disappear. So how did this happen? “You aren’t safe Willow.” Tate says matter-of-factly. “I got that but I have my own friends to help me out.” I tell him.I can’t exactly tell him who they are or how they help me because they will think I’m crazy. When the weird stuff started happening to me my family was concern
TateThe three of us look at the mark on her chest. “Do you know what that is?” I ask Han. He’s seen more things in his short life than anyone in my entire pack has, and so much of it he never talks about. “It’s a warning. The question I’m most concerned with is why she was warning us away. She couldn’t have seen whatever was attacking her if we didn’t, but she seemed to know what it was.” He reaches out and rests one finger at the top of the image and slowly slides it down, and then it’s gone. What the hell? How did he do that?“What did you do that for?” Ash asks. “Whoever branded her turned her into a beacon. They must want her dead and basically sent out a calling card to anyone willing to do the job.” He explains. “What is this girl into that she gets a death mark put on her?” Ash asks. “I didn’t sense anything unusual about her earlier. She didn’t give any sign that she was aware of what I was, but she has to have a connection to the supernatural if she saw the thing that