Claire’s POV“Nic listen to me,” I plead.“Reject him,” He begs.“We always promised never to reject our mates,” I started crying.“You’re accepting him?” He snarls at me. “Clearly, there is a mistake. You can’t be mated to him.”“Nicolas Victor Wallace, don’t interfere with her mate bond,” Mom intervenes. “Daddy is talking to him. Go to him.”I look at Nic and want to tell him I love him, but the pull to my mate is too strong.I slip the ring off my finger and leave it on the counter. Nic looks at it sitting there, with pain in his eyes. Whatever the moon goddess has planned, it’s cruel to all of us. I’m crying and I see Nic is crying too, as Mom tries to comfort him.I hear them talking in the den.“Dad, this can’t be happening, not now,” I hear my mate say. “She’s my pumpkin, I can’t imagine her as anything else. I mean, she is the same girl I swore to protect after her father died and then her mom left. I swore she wouldn’t know sadness. But, it’s a brotherly love. I can’t love her
Claire’s POVNic is in the kitchen, with our parents, angry and confused. I hear him screaming that I need to reject Liam. I hope his mate is not far.I had a plan for tonight. Under my jeans and tee is a very sexy underwear set. But, I don’t need it tonight. Once I’m in my room, I change to baggy Pj’s and remove my underwear. I pack clothes and comfy, full coverage pj’s. Grab my toothbrush, hair products and makeup. I leave the Victoria Secret items in the drawer. Mating is going to be off the agenda for a while. I take off my make up, before packing my skin care routine and put my hair in a messy bun.I’m not looking hot. I don’t want to look hot. I want to turn down the heat if I can. This should do the trick.I take my duffle down and across the hall, into Liam’s room. It’s warm in here, he had his fire going.“Well, that’s safe, burn down the packhouse, why don’t you.” I say out loud. I start in the bathroom. I put my stuff away. So, it’s not everywhere. Then, I go to the closet.
Liam’s POVI hold her tight, feeling her anxiety through our bond. She is shaking. I just want to protect her at all costs. She is more important to me than anything.“It’s going to be Nic. He is so angry,” she sounded very afraid.“I got this,” I rub her arms, to try and calm her. “It’s okay, pumpkin. Calm down.”The banging continues.She nods at me and I turn to answer the door. I only crack it, “what is it?”“Don’t do this,” Nic is raging mad, our parents are behind him, trying to pull him away, but they can’t. “I love her, Liam. I really do, don’t take her away.”“We aren’t going anywhere,” I said.“I know about the new pack. Don’t take her, she belongs here, she belongs with me.” Nic is angry, scared and, I believe, truly in love.“The moon goddess has a mate for you. You were not going to reject your mate for her. You said so, so why do you expect her to do it for you?”“I can’t sleep next door, while you screw her brains out,” Nic snarls and anger rises in me.I open the door a
Liam’s POVI have to go to training. Nic will be there. I smell just like Claire. Which means she smells like me, oh goddess, if Grace is there at school. Shit. They finished first period already, I don’t know if I should mate link her or what, screw it, I have to know that she is okay….Me- Hey, pumpkin, just wanted to check on you.Claire-I’m awesome! Grace is totally fine. I mean she doesn’t want details, yet. But she is super wonderful, and I haven’t lost my best friend. She is an amazing friend.I can’t help but smile. Grace really is awesome and I hoped she would live up to the girl I know she can be.Me- I’m so glad, pumpkin. I’m about to go train with Dad and Nic.Claire- Tell Daddy I’m okay. I think he tried to mindlink earlier, but I couldn’t because I was in the middle of a science lab. Nic is going to try and push your buttons. Keep calm. He’s angry and he is dumb when he’s angry.Me- I’ll tell him. And I’ll keep away from Nic.“Hey, Dad,” I got his attention, as I walked i
Grace’s POVMy mom was right. Once he had a mate and I accepted that, the hurt really did go away. The moon goddess doesn’t make mistakes.Liam is hot, I mean, no one will deny that sharp jaw line and tight butt and those abs, are drool worthy. But, he was always so tender and gentlemanly. Which is great, don’t get me wrong, but I meant it, I want someone who can't wait to have me. Who gives in to their basic desires.“Grace, honey, you look lost in thought,” Luna said, meeting me on the stairs. “Do you need help with your bags?“I’m sorry Luna, no I’m good. I’m just running these home, my parents and I will be back for the dinner.”“I’m so glad. Are you okay if we officially announce Liam and Claire as a couple?”“Completely fine.” I give her a smile, before heading home.Luna is always so amazing. Claire is going to make a great Luna. She has the best teacher. I want to be upset, I want to be jealous, but I can’t, I really can’t.She’s my best friend and he was chosen by moon goddess
Claire’s POVI just want to die. Mom said several people, so I’m thinking a dining room dinner. NOPE!Mom has most of the pack here. The garden is full of tables and hanging lights. There is a stage and a DJ. I’m overwhelmed, to say the least. I knew about the DJ, I mean, the father daughter dance has to happen. I’m Daddy’s only daughter, no way in hell Daddy would let me get away with skipping that. He has only been looking forward to this since my last name became Wallace.I know I’m supposed to be this confident Luna, but I’m not. Not really. I’m happy just being a background player to Nic’s Alpha. The goddess may expect too much of me.Liam is on my right, holding my hand. He doesn’t want arm candy. He wants an equal. I hope I’m what he wants, when he realizes I’m not as confident as most Lunas.“You are doing great,” Grace whispers, as we walk by. She knows how insecure I am.I find my Luna confidence and hold my head up. Liam leads us to the stage, where Daddy and Mom are waiting
Claire’s POV“Watch your head,” he says, as I follow him through the passages.We come into a cavern, that is easy 20 ft high by 40 ft wide. Lanterns are strung all over and, in the center, next to a pool, is a table; with candles and what appears to be mom’s famous picnic- chicken and pasta salad, fruit, and warm apple cider. Liam hits play on an iPod and speaker he has set up and Luke Bryan fills the cavern.“I love this song.” I smile.“You listen to Luke Bryan?” He asks, with an eyebrow raised.“I started liking him after putt-putt,” I confess. I didn’t say I had to hide it because any mention of him made Nic jealous.“He’s one I like,” Liam said. We dance to a couple of songs, stealing kisses and laughing. Liam’s laugh is everything. There is a change in his eyes. The way he looks at me, it’s different. His smile is, oh sweet goddess, he lights up when he looks at me, the way we saw in the video. Liam was right, that is how he looks at his mate! I’m his mate! He looks at me with l
Liam’s POV“Is this why you want to wait? Because Grace is still the one?” She yells, shaking my phone.“What happened?” I’m truly surprised.“You are amazing!' What did you do that was so amazing. Because, the text I got from Grace was ‘what a guy what a night’. So, exactly what did you do after I went to sleep?”My brain was completely buzzing.“Did you just accuse me of sleeping with Grace, while you were asleep?” I’m confused and now a little angry. What the, actual, fuck is going on?“Well...” she shoots back, screaming at me.“Okay, number one. If I so much as kiss another person intimately, you would feel it, because we are accepted mates. If I have sex with someone, it might be so painful, it sends you to the hospital. Which you know perfectly well, you have been a werewolf your entire life. TWO, why don’t you let me show you the whole text chain.” I unlock my phone and she reads the chain. “Three, I get you two are besties, or whatever, but no way in hell, Grace screws me and