Willow's POV
"Here, it's not much, but it's the best I can do with not having a female in the house," Pete says as he hands me a pair of sweatpants and an old Led Zeppelin T-Shirt.I smile graciously, "My go to kind of outfit. Thanks Pete."He shows me upstairs to the bathroom, "You can shower in here. Towels and washcloths are in the closet here," he says pointing at the tiny linen closet just inside the bathroom door."Thanks again, Pete. I don't know what I would do without you."Pete smiles slightly before wrapping his arms around me in a hug, "You are not just a friend Willow. You are family. No thanks are needed."I nod my head at his reply. I may not know where I came from or who my relatives are, but Pete really is the closest thing I have to family. I hope one day that will change and that I will get to know my blood family one day, if they still exist, but Pete, he will always be family to me. I close the door behind him and lock it out of habit.The bathroom is small in comparison to a lot of homes, but it's functional and that's what counts. I look at my reflection in the mirror. I release my hair from its high ponytail and let it fall in waves to my hips. My face is paler than usual, but I'm digging it. My fiery red hair and sapphire blue eyes stand out remarkably against the paleness of my skin. Not having a toothbrush, I squeeze some toothpaste on my finger and do the best I can with my teeth before making my way to the shower. I can hear Pete talking on the phone with someone before I turn the water on in the shower.The hot water from the shower is instant relief for my sore muscles and tension. Thoughts of Andre out there somewhere slowly starving to death start to creep into my thoughts. What did he find out that was worth that kind of torture? Was my family a threat to the Vampire community or something? That is the only thing I could think of. How else do you explain Andre and then the Vamp that came after me? If it weren’t for Pete, I would probably be dead. A shiver ran down my spine at the thought.I make quick work of washing and conditioning my hair. There was no way I was going to get a brush through it without conditioner. I grab the bar of soap and lather it up in my washcloth before placing it back on the shower shelf. I make a mental note to go back to my place and grab my toiletries. Bar soap always dries my skin and makes me itchy, but for now it was better than no soap at all. When I am finally satisfied, I turn off the taps and step out of the shower, wrapping a towel around myself.Pete is not much bigger than me, but his sweatpants fall to the floor as I pull them up. I grab the drawstring and pull it tight before tying it in a knot to hold them up. I shove myself into his t-shirt, grab my dirty clothes and make my way downstairs, to find Pete just finishing up his phone call."Do you mind if I wash these? I need something to wear for tomorrow?" I ask.He looks at me nervously as if he has something to say but doesn't quite know how to articulate it."We don't have time for all that Willow. We can get you some new clothes. We have to leave in like twenty minutes."I furrow my brows in confusion, "Leave? Where are we going?""Montana. I have friends there that can help us. It's not safe for you here anymore," he says, worry etched on his features.I cross the room and sit on the sofa across from him, "Don't you think that's a little presumptuous? We don't know why that Vamp was after me. For all we know he could just have a vendetta against all werewolves.""Use your mind, Willow. How many wolves do you think they come across in a city like Baltimore? Surely, not enough to have a grudge against the whole species. My money is on Andre finding something out that spooked them."Personally, I feel he is being paranoid, but I still couldn't shake the thought that he could be right. I would go with him anywhere because I know he has my best interest at heart, but for him to give up everything to go with me is too much."What about the dojo? What about your house?"He rolls his eyes, "I can open a dojo anywhere and the house was never meant to be a permanent thing anyway. My real home is in Montana.""Wait, we are not seriously going there, are we? To the pack that killed your whole family," I ask, shocked.Pete let out a sigh, "The man that murdered my family is dead, thanks to Alpha Ronan. Ronan is a friend to me. It was just too hard to go back there after everything. It's been years now. Things have changed.""What if they haven't though? We may be rogues Pete, but I know that you have heard the rumors about their Alpha. How he murdered his own parents and his uncle, while he was just sixteen. Hell, they say he basically slaughtered his whole packs families. What kind of monster does that? You just want to go back to that and trust him?""Damn Willow. Do you really think I would take you to someone like that? Those are just rumors. He did kill his uncle, because his uncle killed his parents and his uncle is the one who slaughtered the pack members families, including mine. Ronan tried to be there for me, but I shut him out. I denounced my loyalty to him because I couldn't face being there alone, without my family."I suddenly feel guilty for pushing the issue, "I'm sorry Pete. I didn't mean to bring up the past. It's just hard for me to trust people. I literally have just you that I can trust.""It's all good, but we do have to go now. I booked us a midnight flight and you know how bad getting through security can be."I sigh, "You got a pair of socks I can borrow?"He chuckles quietly as he goes upstairs and reemerges with a brand-new pair of white socks. He knew how I was about sharing under garments and yes to me that included socks. I smirk as he hands them to me, and I slide them on my feet before slipping into my gym sneakers. I miss my combat boots, but I didn't have time to run home before meeting Andre and I was supposed to train with Pete afterward, so I just wore my sneakers.As if he were reading my mind Pete says, "We can order you a new pair of boots and have them delivered to the packhouse," he says while fumbling with his phone.I finish tying the laces of my sneakers and stand, "Alright, let's get this show on the road I guess."He laughs as he slides his phone in his back pocket and drapes his free arm around my shoulder, "It's going to be fine Willow. You will love Wolf Point. It's beautiful."It was my turn to chuckle, "Wolf Point? As in Wolf Point, Montana. We are going to meet a pack of wolves in Wolf Point, Montana? Seriously?""It was named Wolf Point by the first wolves to inhabit the land. My ancestors," he stated, making me feel a little jealous that he knew about his family's origin and history.I followed Pete out the door and to his car down the street. I never understood why Pete even bothered to have a car. He walked everywhere, but I guess it's for spur of the moment trips that are out of walking range, like the airport for instance.We rode in silence. Pete seemed to be troubled by something. I could smell it on him. I glance in my mirror to be sure we aren't being followed. It looks clear to me, but Vampire's don't travel by conventional methods, but they don't usually attack in public either. The problem is that we may be in public, but most people in this area are asleep. We would be safe in the airport, but during the ride there, we are practically open targets."You alright Pete?"He nods, "I will be better when we are off the road and on the plane. We are too exposed right now.""Do you think they followed us?" I ask, my heart beginning to beat erratically."There's no way to really know for sure. You can't really smell a Vamp unless they are close. I am probably just being overly paranoid again," he tries, but fails to reassure me."Just hit the gas. We are only two blocks away. Hit the gas and ignore the red lights and we will be there in no time," I suggest.He laughed, 'Yes if we don't get pulled over first and miss our flight."I laugh too, "Sacrifices must be made for the common good.""Sacrificing the flight is sacrificing you and that is not a sacrifice I am willing to make," he stated, his face suddenly serious."Calm down Kujo, it was a joke. I wouldn't sacrifice you for anything either.'He mumbled something under his breath as he pulled into the departures drop off and abandoned his car."You're just going to leave it there?"He shrugs, "They will just look for the owner and well, my wife is dead so good luck with that."I always forget that he was married to a human. It was never going to work out and I am sure that deep down he knows that, but he did love her. Amelia came down with cancer and passed away before I met him. I have been praying that he would find his mate to help fill the empty void in his heart.As we make our way to security, I feel the tension leave our bodies."We made it," I nudge Pete."We aren't out of the woods yet. Let's get to our terminal and find some earbuds. It's going to be a long flight, so we mind as well enjoy the movie selection on the plane."I sigh and follow him through the security gate, and we make our way to the terminals. I have to hand it to Pete. He has impeccable timing. By the time we grabbed ear buds and made it to our terminal, it was time to start boarding."That's us," he nudges me with his elbow."First class? You sure know how to treat a lady Pete," I tease."Ha! What lady? Surely you aren't referring to yourself. You're about as unladylike as they come."I laugh as I cover my chest with my hands with mock horror, "You wound my poor heart."He shakes his head and laughs as we board the plane and find our seats. The boarding process took a good twenty minutes or more before the pilot came over the loudspeaker and the attendants went through their safety precautions. Pete passes me my set of earbuds as the plane begins to take off.Ronan's POV"All good things must come to an end," I hear Xander say as I pull my shorts on.He is right though. I love running just as much as my wolf does. It's invigorating. The only downfall is the repetitive need for showers due to my wolfs love of rolling around in the mud."Tell me about it. Have you heard anymore from Pete?'Xander nodded briefly, "He sent a text. They safely boarded and should land around noon tomorrow.""Good. I'm going to hit the shower and then try to finish some paperwork. Let me know if anything else comes up," I direct as I make my way up the stairs to the third floor."Most Alpha's save the rooms and offices on the first floor for themselves because of the convenience. I opted to have my quarters on the highest floor, away from prying eyes and ears. Every night the nightmares come. I relive the nightmare of my parents’ death and the night that I killed my uncle and cost his mate her freedom. It's a horror movie on
Willow's POVI wake to Pete nudging me softly. We had arrived in Montana, and I slept through most of the flight. I lift my head from Pete's shoulder and rub my eyes to adjust."Sorry, I didn't mean to fall asleep on you."Pete chuckles, "It's all good. Did you sleep well?"I nod my head and move to stand in the aisle with everyone else waiting to exit the plane. I look back at Pete. His eyes are puffy and red, and he looks exhausted."Did you get any sleep at all?" I ask, genuinely concerned about my friend.His reply is a short grunt which tells me that he didn't, and he didn't want me to ride his ass for it. Well tough titty said the kitty."Pete, we were safe on the plane. You should have tried to get some sleep. I appreciate that you want to help me, but never hurt yourself in the process. You look like shit."He nudged me forward without saying anything. Once we are off the plane and inside the airport, Pete pulls me to the side and whis
Ronan’s POVGhost is on a warpath in my head, trying to take control. Hearing Willow deny being our mate stirred him up and made him determined to mark her right then and there, whether she was willing or not. That is the last thing I want. She may be an infuriating woman but marking her while she resists will make it physically painful for her and I don’t think that will help make her trust us. If anything, it could scare her away and I have waited too long for my mate to let her go.She seems to like Xander well enough. Maybe I can get him to put in a good word for me. I put the car in drive and continue down the old dirt road to the packs medical examiner’s office. Hopefully Charles completed his examination. It may help us in figuring out who did this to her. Everything about this case from the outside looking in, screams wolf attack but, I can’t shake the feeling that there is more to it. If it was one of my pack members, it brings a whole
Willow’s POVRonan holds my door open and patiently waits for me to climb down out of the SUV. When he closes the door behind me, I start, “If this about me pledging my loyalty to you and the pack I-,” he cut me off.“I know that we got off on the wrong foot and that right now you are not sure about me. It was selfish of me to demand loyalty from someone who has never met me before today and I know you don’t want it to be true, but you are my mate, Willow. That fact alone means that what is mine is yours, including the protection and loyalty of my pack. So, with that said I am not requiring your pledge for you to enter. I would much rather have you get to know me and trust me before pledging your loyalty. Otherwise, I am no better than the alpha before me.”I think for the first time in my life I am speechless. This was a deal breaker for him earlier and now all of a sudden, it’s not. I look at him suspicio
Ronan’s POVAfter showing Willow to her room, I walk Pete to his. I decide to make the most of the short trip by picking Pete’s brain on how to get her to let me in, but I don’t know where to begin. Pete stops mid-stride and looks back at me.“I may have been gone for ten years Ronan, but I know you enough to know when something is on your mind. What is it?”Pete has always been a friend to me, even though he left the pack and didn’t come back until now. I am happy to have him back. He isn’t the same gullible teen that he was when he left, I’ll give him that. He saw right through me.“It’s Willow. Ghost is going crazy wanting me to mark her. I feel the pull to her as I should, but is it possible that she doesn’t feel it? Or that she doesn’t know that I am her mate?”“I think she knows it, but she just isn’t ready to have a mate yet.”I sigh, &ldqu
Willow’s POVI started when I awoke to the sound of people laughing downstairs, taking a minute to recognize my surroundings. I can’t believe I fell asleep so early. Usually, I am up all hours of the night. I stretch my arms up over my head and yawn, my body contracting to lengthen my stretch. I wish I could just stay in my room and ignore the world. It would be easier than having Alpha Ronan constantly pointing out that he is my mate. I know he is my mate. I’m not stupid. Both Harmony and I feel the pull, but I’m not ready for a mate yet. I still haven’t found anything out about my family yet and I cannot afford to get distracted. Now there is also the concern of dragging anyone else into this. Looking for my family almost got me killed and I won’t risk the lives of anyone else. Especially not the one who is supposed to be my mate.I don’t want to reject him either. I want to accept him but not until all this is over with. Cal
Ronan’s POVThe seductively inviting taste of warm vanilla and citrus lingers on my lips where she kissed me, making my jeans a little too tight in the groin area. The one good thing to come from this sweet torture is that I know her wolf wants me just as much as Ghost and I want her and Harmony. The only thing standing in our way is Willow herself. I listened intently when she told Ghost why she wanted to wait to let us mark her. Foolish woman. Sure, losing someone after being mated hurts like hell, but doesn’t she see that we stand a better chance against these vampires if we are mated? Everything is enhanced. Our strength, bond, and pack all become stronger when Alpha and Luna are bonded. I just have to convince her of that somehow. Her reasons are selfless to an extent, but at the same time it could be considered selfish to allow me and my pack to potentially go to war while leaving them weaker than they have to be.Hopefully, she doesn&rs
Willows POVI shift my weight from one foot to the other as I wait for this awkward introduction to be over. I understand the politics behind Ronan announcing me to the pack as their Luna, but I hate being the center of attention. I would rather bury my head in the grass and wait for it to be over.“You may rise,” Ronan announces to the pack who was still obediently bowing their heads as a show of respect to their leader, “Pair up and start your warmups.”Not paying too much attention to what the rest were doing, I began to stretch my limbs on my own, bringing my left arm across my chest while pulling it closer to me with the right. Then I switch sides and do the same with my right.I look up and catch Ronan watching me, amused. I ignore him and begin stretching my legs, one after the other before sliding down into a scissor split, holding it for a few seconds before standing up and repeating the same with the other l