HOLDEN’S POINT OF VIEW
All day long, Hendrix continues to get on my nerves. He’s mad we’re not taking the lead in the Cadet Program this year. He’s mad I’m “wasting my time” studying biochemistry instead of leading our people. He’s mad I’m not Alpha yet. He’s mad I’m not mated yet. He’s mad I’m not there welcoming the Cadets on their arrival. He’s mad I’m thinking in a human way. He’s mad I’m thinking too loudly. He might as well be mad I’m breathing.
In previous years, while I was in college, I was able to take a more prominent role in the Program. Hendrix was very happy with that. Both of us are really passionate about improving the quality of life in Ghost Pack, and the Cadet Program is one way to do that. But, as a grad student, I’ll be less involved in the next few years.
Within our territory, unbeknownst to most humans, we have a thriving town. We host a couple family-run markets, restaurants showcasing the cultural diversity in our pack, a small movie theater, apparel stores, bakeries, a dance studio, cafés, bookstores, accounting offices, a law firm run by Mom… whatever you’re looking for, you’ll likely find it there. And whoever is running those places, they are likely a former Cadet putting their college degree to use. Using their college degree in the pack’s benefit.
Whatever you can’t find within the pack, you will 100% be able to find in Waterloo, the closest human city. Our pack is great. Or maybe I’m biased because it’s MY pack…
“Nope, we’ve traveled elsewhere, our pack really is a very good one,” Hendrix says.
He’s not the rational one in our duo, but I love using him as validation for my own not-so-rational thoughts. Ah, the perks of being Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde!
“The perks of being a werewolf!” He corrects me.
In addition to those places, we have institutions run by the pack itself. Gym, training center, schools, pool, daycare, library, hospital, you name it – and they’re all very good.
I had a great experience at Ghost Pack Elementary and Ghost Pack Middle School, but they’re small community schools. My horizons really started to broaden when I went to boarding school in Toronto for high school, instead of attending Ghost Pack High.
Building a college within our territory was one of Father’s dreams. My time in Toronto got me hyped up about it, too. So Sandy Hills College was a collective effort of myself, Father, Grandfather, and Olivier. Its name honors the ones who gave their lives to protect our pack in the war.
Before SHC, pack members would attend college in the nearby human cities. SHC also helped improve the Cadet Program. Logistically, long commutes, clashing class schedules, and paying tuition to several schools wasn’t too great. So, in the seven years since SHC was established, the Program has improved tremendously.
Hendrix is so proud of it, preening like a damn peacock, pointing out how he’s a great Alpha looking after his pack. He forgets it’s mostly MY brainchild, but whatever.
“We are one.” He rolls his eyes.
Of course, as a wolf, Hendrix is really into the training part. That’s what he cares about the most, that we’re training warriors to defend our pack.
I keep telling him we’re at peace and surrounded by allies. The three closest packs to us are even ruled by other people in the Temple family, we’re all second cousins, for crying out loud!
****
After my lab hours and a brief chat with Dr. Tremblay, I drive back to the territory.
Everyone at the Pack House is very excited about the welcoming dinner, especially the kids.
The Small Hall is, despite its name, a large dining room where we hold events and host people. We use it when we have visiting Alphas or business partners. But, growing up, my favorite thing about it was when Father would invite people over.
He has the habit of inviting random pack members for dinner at least twice a week. This way, I got to meet construction workers, teachers, business owners, cops, welders… It was part of my training, because I got to learn about how different parts of the pack are run, and it was also a character-forming experience. An Alpha needs to know and respect his people.
He still does that, because my siblings and some of the Beta’s, Gamma’s, and Delta’s children are still young. For the last two years, Rhys and Olivier have been attending.
Anyway, having dinner at the Small Hall is a great event and a huge honor for pack members. Every year since the Cadet Program started, they have been welcomed by all the ranked wolves with this event.
As the Luna, Daphne was the one who planned the décor and the menu and all the small details that make the usually dull Small Hall look like a fancy gala venue today.
There are five tables, which will soon be filled by the five members of each cohort, and their generals. Except for Savannah, who is a general this year but, as the Alpha’s daughter’s mate – woosh, that was a mouthful – will be sitting with all the ranked wolves at the table on the dais.
I’m wearing a grey suit, a white shirt, and black shoes. No tie for me.
Everyone else is in suits and gowns, while Sav is wearing a jumpsuit. Our table is huge, as it has to accommodate a total of 26 people, including all ranked members, their mates, their children, plus Rhys and Olivier. Delta Linda’s oldest son, Isaac, is a new Cadet this year, so he’ll be at the regular tables with his peers.
Right now, in the dressing room right behind the Small Hall, I can hear the Cadets’ excited giggles and “aws”. I smile. I’m happy they’re having a good time. I can only hope their entire Cadet Program will be a good experience for them.
Once we get the mind link saying all Cadets and generals are seated, we enter the hall. Hendrix is hopping around in my head. I’m standing by Father’s side, as the Cadets clap.
I feel something in my chest. My breathing goes ragged.
My nose is filled with an enchanting, seducing, drool-worthy scent of barbecue and grass. Like a hangout at the park with friends and family. Like a warm, fuzzy embrace. Like heaven.
My mind goes hazy, and my knees go weak.
Get a grip, Holden.
I look through the tables below me, searching for the source of this enticing smell.
And I see her.
The most beautiful woman I have ever seen.
She has long, dark brown hair curled to perfection, and she’s wearing a blue, tight-fitting gown. She turns her head and looks at me.
I see a hazel storm in her eyes.
Her mouth opens in an O shape, and I can hear her heartbeat spiking up.
We lock eyes.
Get a grip, Holden.
“Mate!” Hendrix and I say, in unison. I mentally pat myself on the back for saying it only to her in the mind link. Her connection is weak.
“Mate!” She says back.
Then I see the lankiest blonde surfer wannabe in the world lean in to whisper in her ear.
Father is already giving his welcome speech and I don’t want to make a scene.
Okay, I want to make a scene. I want to cross the hall in long strides, to yank the kid away from my mate, and to kiss her in front of everybody. I want to pick her up and carry her to the dais so she can be in her rightful place, by my side, as my Luna.
“Do it!” Hendrix says.
Instead, I growl at her in the mind link. Father seems to feel it, though, as he side-eyes me.
“Mine!” I snarl, to her ears only.
She stiffens and visibly distances herself from the kid. Good.
The guy looks up at me and back at her. He seems to understand what’s going on, as he gives me a huge, irritating grin. I want to punch that grin off his face. He raises his palms up, in surrender.
“Who’s this kid? Let’s kill him!” Hendrix growls.
I look around. Everything seems to be going normally, no one else seems to have noticed our interaction. Except for Father, who shoots me a glance every now and then, as he continues his speech.
To my right, Nick raises a questioning brow.
“Later,” I tell him in the mind link.
Now, what? I have to wait until dinner is over to get to her. I have to play my role as the future Alpha.
“Fuck the dinner, let’s have a snack!” Hendrix says.
“Couldn’t agree more,” I mumble.
My eyes run quickly through the hall. Then I see it. The washroom
“Excuse yourself to the ladies’ room after the speech,” I tell her. I try to sound calm. I don’t. I sound like my heart is exploding. And it just might be.
She gives me the briefest of nods.
And now, I wait.
***PLEASE NOTE THAT HOLDEN REFERS TO FELIX AS "HE" BECAUSE THEY HAVE NEVER SPOKEN AND FELIX PRESENTS IN A MORE MASCULINE WAY***
WILLOW’S POINT OF VIEW As we get ready for the welcoming dinner, Felix, Xenia, and I get to know each other a bit better. It turns out Xenia’s father was born and raised here in Ghost Pack, then met his mate in Sol de Luna Pack, in Puerto Rico. The two of them lived there, and that’s where Xenia grew up. As the child of a Ghost Pack member, she was allowed to apply to the Cadet Program and decided to do so. She tried out FOUR TIMES and only now got accepted. She said she wasn’t the greatest at fighting, but she worked her ass off and made it. If she’s been accepted into the Program, that means she has to be good. And her commitment to it, training and trying out for four years? She’s definitely going to be an asset in this “not a competition” thing. I didn’t ask her about her glasses, though. I thought it would be rude. But I will figure it out. “Add that to the ever-growing list of things we need to learn about Wolfkind,” I tell Jamie. “Yes, ma’am,” she jokes. Felix grew
WILLOW’S POINT OF VIEW This should be the grandest moment of my life, because this awesome ass dinner is being thrown in my honor, in honor of all new Cadets. I should be giddy with excitement because I’m about to listen to Alpha Michael III welcoming me and thanking me for my service. I’m about to drink from his blood and pledge allegiance to his pack. My pack. I’m about to be part of a pack, the one thing I’ve always wanted. Instead, this is the grandest moment of my life and I’m giddy with excitement because mate mate mate mate mate mate. Mate! I don’t need to guess who my mate is. I don’t need anyone to tell me who my mate is. I can tell by his striking resemblance to Alpa Michael III and to the woman Felix called Alice. I can tell by his posture. I can tell by his huge ass aura. Oh, Goddess, his huge ass aura. Does he have a huge ass cock to match? Does he have A HUGE ASS? He’s perfect. I am Luna. I am Luna. I am Luna. I’m not only about to be part of a pack, but
WILLOW’S POINT OF VIEW “See ya!”?!? What the hell was that? Who the hell was that? The last thing I wanted to do was to say goodbye to him, to leave him. I wanted to mark him and spend the night making babies. What the fuck, Willow? Babies? I don’t want babies! Not now! Everything I’ve ever worked for, and dreamt of, is now just a shadow of an old dream, an empty shell. I wanted to be a great Cadet, to excel at fighting and college. I wanted to carve my spot in this pack, to fulfill my contractual obligations, and to live a regular, happy pack member life. Now, all I want is Holden. And I want him to want me. I desperately want him to want me. I want him to want me for me, not for the bond. I want him to fall in love with me, with who I am as a person. Because of me, not because of the bond. And that is why I left. “He seemed to want us pretty hard,” Jamie mumbles. “Yeah, to fuck. Would he want me as his mate, though?” I ask. “It doesn’t matter what he wants, he IS ou
HOLDEN’S POINT OF VIEW This wasn’t just the greatest sex of my life, this was the greatest sex in the history of the world. Her pussy felt like an embrace from the Goddess herself. I don’t ever want to come down from this high. The whole ceremony, all I can think about is what I’m going to do to her once it’s done. How I’m going to take her to my room and feast on her juices. How I’m going to bury myself into her over and over, and hear her sweet moans all night long. And then, everything comes crashing down. Everything comes crashing down when, while taking her oath, Willow’s stubborn eyes don’t turn grey, they shine bright yellow at us. I can feel it through the mate bond as the happiness she felt from the pack link shatters when she taps into my feelings. Does she think I don’t want her? Wait, do I want her? Of course, I want her. I need her. I want her so bad it’s driving me mad. Willow Katherine Reid. I can’t wait to say her name out loud, to taste it as it rolls off
HOLDEN’S POINT OF VIEW Nick and Father are waiting for me in his beautifully decorated office. The walls are covered by bookshelves made of blonde wood, and you can tell the books in there aren’t just for decoration. Father sits in his fancy velvet chair behind his behemoth of a desk, while Nick sits with his legs crossed in one of the smaller chairs across from the desk, his foot fidgeting with impatience. “Alpha,” I greet as I enter the room, and both men look at me. Nick’s eyes and sly smirk show amusement, while Father’s eyes show concern and rage. Well, I’m in for a shitshow. “Explain,” Father says impassively. “Which part?” I ask, trying to play dumb. “Is Willow your mate?” Father sighs exasperatedly, running his fingers through his hair. “Yes,” I reply, dryly. “Oooooooooooh,” Nick chimes in. Father gives him a stern look. “Did you mark her?” Father asks. He sounds exhausted. “No,” I say, my voice a bit higher than usual. “Did you do it?” Nick asks, wiggling
WILLOW’S POINT OF VIEW Once we get to the barracks, I lock myself in yet another washroom and let the waterworks run free. I weep and wail and sob. My mate regrets having sex with me. I met the most handsome man in the world, and we had the best sex of my life. And he regrets it. The one person who was tailor-made to me by the Goddess regrets having sex with me. He doesn’t want me. Fuck knowing me and wanting me for who I am, not even the mate bond is enough for Holden to want me. And I want him so fucking much. “He wants us, Willow,” Jamie whimpers. “He’s just in denial.” “Well, tough luck. If he doesn’t want me, I don’t want him, either,” I say. This mate bond wasn’t even supposed to happen, anyway. I’m on MBS. Cadets have their mate bonds suppressed so they won’t be distracted. Having Holden as a mate would just be a distraction. I’m going to be the best Cadet ever, and I’m going to carve out the life I’ve always dreamed of. There’s no space in my life for a mate who doesn
WILLOW’S POINT OF VIEW ****RATED R**** As I lay in my bunk bed, a plan starts to form in my head. I’m not giving up on my mate. Not now, not ever. “Hell yeah!” Jamie agrees. The bond is affecting him just as much as it affects me, and he will have to concede eventually. So, I decide to stop being this moping, fearing girl and go back to my confident boss-ass self. I wait for the right time, when everyone else is asleep. I can feel he’s still awake, though, the mate bond really is a gift. “Holden?” I reach him through the mind link. “Willow?” He sounds surprised. His husky voice is a sweet caress. “Yeah. I can’t sleep,” I say. This is weird and uncomfortable. First of all, I’m not used to mind linking anyone else but my parents and my brother. And I’m not at all close enough to Holden to just link him up in the middle of the night. But I’m sure of what I want, and I’m going to be bold and trust this bond. “Me, neither,” he murmurs. “Thinking of me?” I ask in a put-on
HOLDEN’S POINT OF VIEW This is it. I have all the logical reasons why I can’t be with Willow, and I also have all the logical reasons why I can’t reject her. But I won’t live in limbo forever. I won’t reject her, nor will I mark her. I will dissolve the bond. I have a clear view of the situation. I have a new goal in mind: I’m going to focus even harder on the MBS. I’m going to get Willow’s blood samples from the pack lab, all her stats and results, everything. I’m going to take them to Dr. Tremblay and we’re going to work on it together. We’re going to figure it out, and I’m going to have the perfect variation of the drug and all my problems will be solved. “And unicorns and rainbows and pixie dust,” Hendrix snickers, and I ignore him. The best thing about this plan is that it’ll create a distance between me and Willow. This way, I won’t be influenced by the bond. I’ll have my mind clear, and I’ll be able to focus on my research. I’ll spend even more time at the University