Esme's POV I groaned as the shrill sound of my phone pierced through the peaceful silence of my bedroom. Glancing at the clock, I saw that it was only 6:32 in the morning. Like...Who in their right mind would call at this ungodly hour? Annoyed at the thought of losing my precious sleep seems how Delilah had kept me awake from 12:30 until 2 by babbling on her fists and blowing raspberries at who knows what. I answered the phone with a little bit more of a huff than normal."If this is another offer you can stick it somewhere were the sun doesn't shine" I grumbled, my voice laced with irritation and quite possibly known to the receiving party of this morning's topic."Good morning, Luna, Esme" a deep, familiar voice greeted me on the other end while laughing. I instantly recognized the voice of Alpha Luca, from the grey stones pack, My annoyance quickly turned into curiosity then mortification. Why was he calling me at this hour?"Alpha Luca? I am so sorry, Is everything okay?" I asked
Esme's POVIt's the day before mine and Jaxon's wedding and nervous is an understatement to how I am actually feeling. I have been dreaming about this day ever since I met Jaxon, my soulmate. But now that it's finally here, I can't help but feel jittery and anxious. I take a deep breath and try to calm my nerves as I sit in front of the window over-looking all the things going on today. Everything is happening as normal, everyone are going about their day just as they usually do but me...I'm getting ready for the day that I become Mrs. Hayes. I can't help but think about how lucky I am to have found Jaxon. He's everything I've ever wanted in a partner – caring, supportive, and always knows how to make me laugh. I am excited to spend the rest of my life with him.But before I can do that, I need to get through today, the nerves that are eating away at me and no it isn't because I don't want to marry him because I do, everyone always has those pre wedding jitters and mine are here, it's
Esme's POVToday is the day. Today is the day I marry Jaxon and I am so ready for it. I haven't thought about my past life and the rubbish life I have had, I only have eyes for the one man who I am so excited to be marrying today.My name is Esme West, soon to be Esme Hayes. I never thought I would be standing here, in front of the pack church, about to marry the love of my life. But life has a funny way of surprising you.We fell in love quickly and despite the horrible ways we began our journey this so far is the best journey I would not change, I mean okay, Yes I would change it slightly. I would change my past some how maybe tweak it a bit so I haven't got so much emotional baggage but I have two very beautiful and very healthy children who know that they're family loves them more than anything and they will forever know that feeling. We knew we were meant to be together. Jaxon's parents were never against our relationship, they wanted him to marry someone who made him smile, gave
Esme's POVAs the wheels of our car rolled along the highway, heading the short distance back to our lands which I have actually missed. I have so missed the pack members and I want to hear all about Charlies new mate and how our father handled all of that afterwards. Even though I have missed all of that and also the planning for most of our pack to attend thee mating ball, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of sadness that our honeymoon was coming to an end. Jaxon, my beloved husband, reached over and took my hand, his warm touch grounding me in the present moment."Don't be sad, princess, we have had a good time and hey...I can show you a few things in bed tonight if you like" he whispered. Always got his head in the gutter...can't blame him though because right now...so do I.I smiled, but a bittersweet feeling which lingered in me because I wanted to stay there even though I also want to go home. Our week in the hotel had been a combination of exploring and buying gifts for the fa
Jaxon's POVGrowing up, I had Charlie and Hunter as my brothers, even though Hunter isn't actually my blood brother I still and will always see him as a brother. We have all been through a lot together, me and hunter shifted with each other there at the ages of 16, normally wolves have there first shift when they turn 18, some don't even get there wolf until they are 19 or sometimes in some cases they don't get them at all. It's very rare if both parents are wolves but it isn't unheard of if the mother's infidelity is with of human breed. I'm sounding like a complete idiot for saying that but if she basically slept with a human not her mate then there is a 50/50 chance that the wolf will or will not get their wolf."Bro, we have 35 minutes until we are leaving. Are you nearly ready because Esme is chewing my ear off, oh hello Rosie. I hope I wasn't interrupting anything" I say giving her the salute and an Innocent smile. I so hope I haven't just walked in on something here. Mortifying
Esme's POVDarkness enveloped me, suffocating me in ways it hasn't before. The air was heavy with the scent of damp soil even though its summer time, a nice reminder that I am still alive. It was also nice of them, whoever it is, to keep me in an uncomfortable dress to sit in, I'm putting up a heavy wall where my emotions lay so no one can see that I am scared shitless and I want to cry. Fear gnawed at my core as I struggled to piece together the memory to which I can't actually remember. Bits and pieces keep popping in to my mind, but I can't tell what's real and what I am trying to think has happened or did happen.My head throbbed with an incessant ache, and I can't feel Alana either so whatever has happened it is also effecting her too! Panic surged through my veins as I realized the grim truth: I had been kidnapped.How had I ended up here? Where was I? And most importantly, did anyone know I was missing? My thoughts raced, but they led only to dead ends.As I lay there in the su
Jaxon's POVI've always been a man of action, but these past four days have been a test of my patience and my love for Esme. She's been missing for four days, and I can't shake the feeling that something terrible has happened to her, my skin is itchy and my hands are clammy to shit. I know she's not dead, because if she was, I'd be a wreck, unable to function and feeling as though I have died as well, and I probably would feel like I have died if she did but I have our two children to hold onto right now, even though I can't think straight. But the thought of her being out there, alone and scared, is enough to drive me mad.Our children, have been my saving grace and my ass because I am ready to kill in my wife's name and I don't and have never thought I would need or want to do that. They don't understand what's going on, but I've tried my best to comfort them, to make them feel safe. I've held them close, read them bedtime stories, and tucked them in at night before going out huntin
Jaxon's POV I've always been a man of action, but these past six days have been a test of my patience and resilience. Finding Esme, my wife, has been a long show of failure on my part. I've never felt so helpless. The thought of her being in the hands of Adeline once again, even after I promised to protect her, a woman who has caused her nothing but pain for the last five years, is a constant weight on my heart.On one hand, I want to curl up and shut the world out, but on the other hand, I want to tear up all the lands and anyone standing in my way to find Adeline, to hurt her the way she has hurt Esme. But today, my luck starts to rise again.Charlie, one of my most easiest people to get along with once you get to know him, comes to my office in sweats and pants, his face flushed with determination. "Charlie?" I say while handing him a bottle of water to cool off aa minute, I have ran over the fine blue print so many times but I just can't see where I would find this place."Jaxon.
Kai's POVPerfect.Everything about her is perfect. Her hair splayed out on my pillows, her body curled into the duvet that's pressing against her chest and her soft, even breathing and light snores are the only sounds in my room right now."Alpha" "Yeah?"“We’ve got a lead on the rogue wolves that have been surrounding the outer perimeter of the pack”“Bring them in. Take them to the-”“Yes, Alpha. We will be in the dungeon when you are ready. Take your time”The one thing I hate about being an Alpha is this. Knowing that sometimes there are things that I cannot change or take a handle on the outside of my land. Put me in a board room full of sarcastic assholes any day. Place me in a room with maths problems and a shit ton of coffee by all means but I can't stand the not knowing of any situation. My men and warriors are nothing but great. They do their jobs and they get highly rewarded.Since being the Alpha of my pack, I have never encountered a rogue wolf. They tend to dodge a lo
Millie's POVHe kisses me like I have never been kissed before.You haven't been properly kissed before dumbass. And of course, my wolf has to interject the humiliation of my...would it be classed as a first or second kiss? Who cares right now? I'm currently kissing my mate who has yet to let me go since he started this.His bed is so soft that I wouldn't mind just staying here forever. I wouldn't mind just being in his company and thinking screw it to my achievements but I know that this is just because he's making me feel good right now. I don't want to sound insecure but I'm insecure. And needy right now. "Kai" I whisper as we watch some TV show that we aren't even watching. He's stroking my hair as I lay there all awkward and nervous because I want to be closer to him in ways that I have never been with anyone before. "Yeah?""How does it work?""How does what work Millie?" he asks. I can tell he's getting sleepy but even sleepy Kai is sexy. Good God."This? I'm still in college
Kai's POVTorture.It's absolute torture having her here.In my home.In my space.In my presence and not being able to hold her.I wanted her to invite me in, to have me then and there, to allow me to hold her and give her the love she needs from a mate.My room is spacious enough to be considered a small apartment. It has a fireplace and a small section for a sofa, perhaps, but I didn't want them. I just wanted the space for working out if I fancied it and to chill out—not more mess to clean when I made it."Fuck it" I mutter under my breath. I don't want to be away from her and I certainly don't want to have her here and think I don't want her here. I'm just truly glad my parents adored her.That's what makes them great. They are just so laid back that everyone loves them. My mother loves to do arts and bake and my father helps out with the grounds and training.To say I'm Alpha, and to say I'm the one people submit to, my father still holds an authoritative nature because it's in
Millie's POVThe drive to his pack house isn't far, and I'm glad he doesn't drive that far when he comes to see me, but my nerves have gotten the better of me right now. I can't sit still, and I can't feel much other than my anxiety.Reaching over to my hand, Kai locks his fingers with mine and runs his thumb over my knuckles in a loving, tender way. I didn't think a mate's touch, mated or not, could ever settle nerves and anxiety.Just the thought of being in his territory and his life this way makes me feel so out of sorts."Relax princess," he says and my heart swells with a weird fluttering feeling at the endearment.I'm in my 20's and I have never had sex. I have barely kissed anyone before and the one time I did was when I was 13 we played truth or dare and I kissed Sean Calloway in front of my sister who then threw a punch at Sean because he went and told everyone I was too frigid and boring."Sorry. I- I just haven't-""I know. I understand and if it's too much I can take you
Millie's POVI didn't want to lay in bed all evening, but as time went by and my music playlist kept going, I lay in bed feeling defeated, like I usually did whenever I couldn't perfect something or when one of the mean girls would corner me and I couldn't handle it.My phone is on Do Not Disturb, and I'm sure my sister will be sending out a search party at this point and I don't blame her. I've avoided her calls and my mother's calls all evening because I feel like a total idiot for ever thinking someone like Kai would want to be with someone like me.My music is playing loudly so I don't have to listen to Natalia knocking on my door. Only, when I finally open my tear-streaked eyes, Kai is standing at my bedroom door with a worried and angry look on his face.When I got home earlier I made quick work of looking him up and sure enough, he is the CEO of a fair few restaurants and hotel chains and I understand he can't exactly claim to be an Alpha to a pack of wolves but I found myself
Kai's POVAt 3:40, when I was expecting Millie to turn up, I called her, but it went straight to voicemail. I don't worry too much about it because LA traffic can be a nightmare at this time in the afternoon, but I do drop her a message instead.Kai: Just let me know when you have arrived and I will come and meet you. I send the text, and it says delivered, but as the minutes tick by and my nerves begin to put me on edge, I send another message. Kai: Got some nice plans for the evening. When the meeting is done we can get the night started.Again, the text is sent as delivered so I know she is getting them but she doesn't read them. "Sir?""Yes?" I say looking up to find Cassidy standing in the doorway. She's one of those women who lives on daddy's money but doesn't like to do her job without being fired every damn minute of the day. Pushing her arms together to show me her cleavage which doesn't work because I would rather not look at her in that way so I keep my eyes trained on h
Millie's POVAt 3:30 on the dot I pulled into the carpark, Kai told me to pull into.Pulling my phone out of my pocket, I texted my sister to let her know I was fine and asked her to stop ringing me every five minutes.Walking into the building, I manage to get through the reception area and straight up to Kai's floor. I'm only wearing skinny jeans paired with calf-high winter boots and a long top with a cardigan, and I feel comfy and snug. This is what it feels like nearing November weather: not too cold but not too hot either, but in the late afternoon and evenings, it does get really cold here."Hello. May I help you?" the pretty woman behind the desk asks. I don't know what my facial expression is doing, I think I'm smiling but my body is as straight and tense as a metal pole pipe."Hi, I'm looking for Kai?""Appointment?" she clips at me. Her work attitude throws me back a little. He knew I was coming here so surely she should be alright with me heading straight through to wherev
Kai's POVFor the last few weeks, I have been travelling down to the UCLA campus to meet Millie after her lessons.She passed all of her exams at the end of last semester and the more I get to know her the better I feel.She was hesitant to get to know me at first before I showed up here and took her for breakfast after her morning practice.I also found out that she has a good trust fund but she doesn't use it, she prefers to work at the local diner on evenings and weekends and I respect a woman who doesn't want to rely on her family for money.My phone rings in my pocket as I'm walking towards Millie's practice."Rhodes," I say into the phone. I don't usually answer like this but when one of the office's phones for something then I do."Good morning Mr Rhodes it's Hallie" Hallie is my soon-to-be-fired secretary. Don't get me wrong I'm sure she does a brilliant job of her actual work but all I see is her trying to flirt and get in my pants at work."Yes?" I say as I come to a stop.
Millie's POVThe music echoes around the room. The thrill of skating to a good song makes everything feel much calmer to me. Everything I have exceeded is because I have given it my all, and I am proud of myself for getting this far."Mills, You're getting there with your axel but you need to push yourself further. Before you do it, duck and twist your body to get the right angle you need" Coach Steven's says as she notes down my movements. She's been my coach for the last 3 years since Avery retired and started travelling with her husband."Yes coach" no say feeling the back of my neck hairs stand on end. My body is going crazy and Zia is going absolutely nuts in my head.I carry on focusing on my movements and what I can do to keep with the same routine as the song nears an end."I want you to keep practising your camel spin okay, your footing is perfect for it but you're pushing yourself to the highest level and it's going to cause you some pain if you keep doing it, Millie""Yes,