Our first night wasn’t the magical one I had hoped for. But waking up next to her almost makes up for it. Dom hounded me all night to mate her, but I resisted. Paige wasn’t ready for that, and I want it to be special. I wrap my arms around Paige as she stirs next to me, wanting to feel her as much as I can before she pushes me away. She opens her giant green eyes and inhales a deep breath, breathing in my scent. I wonder what I smell of. “What are you thinking about?” she asks. “What my scent smells like to you. You smell of vanilla with a smidge of cinnamon.” “You smell like a rainy spring day.” She laughs. “More specifically, it’s mint and cypress.” Her laugh sounds like a perfect symphony. I lean down to kiss her lightly on her lips, pulling away to resist deepening the kiss and making Paige feel pressured. I find my way out of bed, not missing the glimpse of sadness in her eyes. Dom tries to push me back, but I fight him. “I’m sure you’re getting hungry. I’ll go change, and t
I wake up with a heavy mind because of last night’s events. I waited all night for Claire to show up, but she never did. She never responded to my texts or calls, either. I was drowning my sorrows when I first heard the howls. Following my father to Tasha’s body, I sobered up exceptionally quick. The sight of Tasha’s body made my stomach churn. I stood frozen, just staring at her.My father and Colin went into Alpha mode, my father ordering everyone to do something, including ordering me to find a sheet to cover her with. I also accompanied him to tell Tasha’s family. The entire night left me feeling even more unprepared to be Alpha. I’m just an eighteen-year-old kid. My wolf is worried about the position, too. Neither of us feel like an Alpha.A light knock on my door pulls me from my bed. The scent of the person behind the door has me throwing the door open with more force than I meant to.Mate. Mate. Mate!Claire stands before me, her eyes cast down as she tries to explain herself.
It’s lunchtime before I push myself off the bathroom floor. My face is still puffy from my pain. I was considering skipping lunch when I hear a knock at my door.My father pops his head in. “Meeting in the dining hall.”“I’m not feeling well. Save me the cliff notes.”“It’s mandatory,” my father orders.He never speaks to me that way. Something must really be going on. Announcing Tasha’s murder wouldn’t have him so angry. Curiosity pulls me out of my bed and out the door. Following my father to the dining hall, almost everyone has gathered, but I don’t see Colin. My father pulls me to the front of the dining hall to join my mother, brother, and Claire. I smile at them. I knew they were mates. I’m glad that is working out for one of us. I swallow the hurt that pierces my chest when I see Peyton and Claire looking so happy. My father waits for Colin’s family to enter the room and settle. His body tenses, but his eyes never meet mine. I guess the guilt is eating him alive. Good.My fathe
Paige blew me off this morning and then proceeded to ignore me at the meeting. My annoyance builds with each second that I’m away from her. This girl is destroying me little by little. I’ve been waiting outside her bedroom for ten minutes when I see her walking up the stairs. She stops when she sees me, and I feel her rage flood into me.“We need to talk,” I say.“Go talk to Amber.”I raise an eyebrow. What is she talking about?“What? Why would I want to talk to her?”“Why wouldn’t you talk to the half-naked girl you took to your room right after leaving mine?” She sheds one tear before she opens her door and slams it shut.My heart hurts, partially because whatever Paige thinks I did is hurting her and partially because she
I held Paige in the dining hall for as long as she would let me. I only let her go to help her to her room. Now, we lay here in her bed. She’s asleep with her head laying over my chest and my arm wrapped around her. After Val’s big show in the dining hall, I realized I was being just as stupid as Paige was. I was choosing not to communicate with her, and that was hurting her more. My heart stopped when I saw her cry. I couldn’t take it anymore. She believed me when I said I never touched Amber. That put me and Dom both at ease. We’re going to have to work on communication. We lay wrapped up together until the early afternoon. “Wake up, love,” I say. Paige stirs and opens her eyes. “That was the best nap I’ve had in a long time.” “I hate to cut this short, but I have to pack.” I’ve been dread
I wake up to a cold bed, so cold my body is shivering. My suspicions are confirmed with the flick of the light. Colin is gone. A toxic mixture of anger and sadness fills me. Stupid freaking mate bond! Stupid freaking Colin! We were supposed to spend today together so that I could make a choice about leaving. My stomach growls as the clock reads 6 pm. I skipped breakfast and lunch with all the excitement. I sigh as I push the plush comforter from my body, catching a whiff of myself. Eww. Shower first, then food. I stand from my bed, taking my clothes off as I walk to my shower. As fate would have it, my door opens the second I yank my top off. I freeze, my breasts dangling for all to see.“I like the way you think, though you should buy me dinner first.” Colin smirks.“Huh, who would’ve thought that a big strong Alpha like you needed to be bought?”
After what feels like hours of packing Paige’s things, we are finally loading them into the dark SUV.“Is that everything?”She brought so much stuff with her, it’s like she’s never coming back. That thought pulls my lips into a goofy grin. She’s coming with me, to live with me as my mate. She’ll never be away from me again.“What are you smiling about, loser?” Paige asks.Ah, what a loving mate I have. Her attitude has to be my favorite thing about her, though I’m sure not everyone feels that way. Closing the distance between us, I use my body to push hers against the warm metal of the car.“I’m smiling because you’re mine,” I say.I don’t give her a chance to respond as I allow my lips to engulf hers.“Eww gross.” Peyton gags, “Get a room.”Paige peels her lips from mine. “Go to hell.”They leave the sh
Her body visibly relaxes. Her eyes light up when she sees the silhouette of the city in the distance, and it takes everything I have to keep my eyes on the road. I want to watch her experience this for the first time. Before I know it, we’re pulling into the driveway. Paige's smile turns nervous. I wish I could make this easier for her. I grab her hand. “I know you’re nervous, but I will be with you the whole time. The pack is going to love you.” “Promise?” “Promise.” Pulling Paige from the vehicle, I grip her hand and encourage her towards the house. I push the big, black doors open, and Paige nearly jumps from my hold at the screams we’re met with. My family has dragged every important member of the pack to our foyer to greet Paige. Damn. “I just want to say I had nothing to do with this. I was planning to ease you into it,” I say. She gives me a small nod and gulps. I’m starting to understand her. For instance, I now kn