“Look at you, all grown up and glowing. Show me your ring,” Linda asked.
I blushed and displayed my ring. The ladies oohed and aahed as expected.
“That’s a lovely ring, my dear,” Martha beamed.
“Look at that giant rock,” Emma commented, “looking forward to the wedding now.” She winked.
I shuddered. I was still reeling from the shock of being engaged. A wedding would have driven me off the edge. My wolf was extremely impatient to find her mate.
“We haven’t decided on the date yet,” I said.” we are taking it slow.” I breathed deeply, trying to brace myself for further prying questions.
“Well, we are eager to meet this Mark of yours. Do invite him to Florida. Our beach weddings are wonderful.” Martha quipped.
I could not imagine Mark among the pack of wolves. Trying to change the subject, I inquired about Linda’s twins, my lovely niece, and nephew.
“How are the kids, Linda? I hope they haven’t forgotten me,” I said.
We conversed until we reached the gates of the Jade moon pack. In the modern age, pack life has changed significantly over the years. Most modern packs do not live in one house anymore and have turned the land over to individual families.
This also made things legally safer since it was less questionable for multiple families to own a couple of hundred acres versus one individual to own thousands of acres. All the lands were still considered Pack, since all the families were Pack, they were just more discreet.
Jade moon Pack had a similar arrangement. A row of houses surrounded by lush green forest and a private beach. We still had a safe house, a combined kitchen for the unmated or people who wanted to eat together. Gyms, schools, etc. everything necessary for a small township was on the campus.
Many pack families had outside interests and jobs as well. Even though living separately, the Pack was a tight-knit community. Everyone relied on their pack mates for companionship. Some packs were very conservative. They did not allow anyone to leave and kept their females locked in. Attacking packs for capturing their females was common in earlier times, especially by rogues. But times have changed.
Most female wolves were the textbook definition of bare feet and pregnant! They stopped school as soon as they found their mates at around 18, and all they did was pop out pups. Yet another reason I did not want a mate. However, the Jade moon was different. Moon’s father always encouraged education, and most youngsters went to college.
Having grown up together, most wolves were loyal friends instead of just pack mates. There were still mandatory Pack meetings, held on the full moon of every month, which were attended by everyone. It was a well-knit, safe community, except because I was sent away at 9.
I did not know why I could not stay after my brother took over the pack. I had come around to accepting this arrangement, and I was not interested in returning, anyway. I am what they call an urban werewolf. I was greeted by Clara and Johnathan, my five-year-old niece and nephew, as soon as I reached Alpha’s mansion. My brother owns the biggest house in the pack, which sometimes doubles up as a safe house and accommodates visiting guests from other packs. Beta Thomas’s house is right next to it.
“Hey, sweethearts, how are you?” I laughed, hugging my niece and nephew.
Rick, my brother, followed, smiling.
“Good to see you, Alice.”
“You look good, Rick,” I said, hugging him back.
I settled down in my old room overlooking the pool. It had changed a little. My room was still the same. Perhaps, if I had stayed back, I would have enjoyed living here. I still do. It is just that memories of my dead father, and my mom going mad with grief, haunt me.
I cannot recall anything about my father’s death. Although it happened right in front of my eyes. Psychiatrists call this repressed memory. Sometimes, traumatic events may be stored in the unconscious mind and blocked from normal conscious recall.
I am not sure if werewolves can repress memories. At least I was.
*******
Emma was taking me to a beach house party on Saturday, a few days after my arrival. A party meant shopping. According to her, I had brought no bathing suits with me, so it made sense.
We drove to a mall in the city and started browsing through various shops.
“I hope this won’t be another meeting at the Alphas party,” I asked.
I had no interest in going to such looking-for-your-mate parties. I was engaged to Mark.
“There might be a few alphas, but it’s just a normal house party. You don’t have to look for anyone if you don’t want…. unless…”
“There is no unless-” I cut her off.
She shrugged and went back to her shopping. Suddenly, a chill ran down my spine. We were not alone. I sniffed the air, trying to get the scent of someone, anyone, but it was too mixed up. The mall was crowded, and it was hard to pinpoint one person. Dismissing the thought, I paid my bills and left the mall.
The summer house was a typical detached house along the shoreline. It was being hosted by Emma’s friend Lucy. She belonged to the Reds pack. They were distinguished by their red hair, hence the name. Her pack was well-off, and they had several homes.
When Emma and I reached the place, along with Bobby, the party had already started. There was a large living room in the middle of the house, and in each wing, there was a long hallway leading to many bedrooms. Now that the place was packed, people were cramped together. A few hours later, the party was well underway. Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves, and I could hear many people talking and laughing in between the music. At the other end of the living room, some people had even started dancing. They had to move several large sofas to create them. They had to move several large sofas to create the space, but it seemed to be phenomenally successful, allowing the people that attended dancing classes to show off their technique. I was not one of them, so I simply looked at the couples dancing. A few guys had shown interest in me. I had a friendly conversation with them and subtly told them I was engaged.
“Alice, come and dance with us,” Emma shouted and waved at me to join her. I just shook my head and lifted my glass to show I was happy where I was. My wolf had suddenly woken up from her slumber and she was agitated.
“Calm down dear,” I soothed myself.
I was walking by the pool, glancing at a group of boys and men throwing a ball back and forth.
Something bumped into me, knocking me off balance, and causing me to fall into the pool along with what seemed like a wall of hard muscles. He smelled divine, a mix of musk and grass and mint.
I was grabbed and tucked into a broad chest, an arm wrapped around my waist and one arm around my head. Pressed deep into his chest, only one thought rang in my mind.
“MATE!”
Alice
As we spluttered to the surface, those arms were still encircling me. It was then I looked into the most gorgeous pair of green eyes I had ever seen.
Time stopped; my lungs had stopped breathing. Everything had stopped existing. I could not see or feel anything else besides this beautiful man standing in front of me. Not beautiful, that word would be too feminine. He was the embodiment of masculinity.
His wet and messy brown hair fell over his forehead. He was taller than me by a foot and almost three times my width. He had a warrior’s body, cut from years of training. He was shirtless and wet, which was driving my wolf crazy. He had the face that stopped you in your tracks; it was strong and defined, with a perfect jawline.
“Mine! Mine! Mine!” my wolf screamed.
And I was suddenly wet, not because of falling in the pool. I was wet down below. Those green eyes were glued to me, and I knew he felt the same. He knew I was his mate!
“No, this can’t be happening,” I thought. The day had just gone worse.
“Fuck!” I blurted out.
His perfect lips, ripe for the kissing, curled into a smile.” Sure dear, I can’t wait…. mate.”
Damm that voice! I nearly orgasmed.
“I am sorry. I didn’t mean to bump into you.” I squeaked. He raised an eyebrow.
“What did you intend to do?” His grin turned into a sly smile.
‘Run…I had to run……do something…. anything.’
I jerked back, slipping out of his hold. Without looking back, I climbed out of the pool in the most ungraceful way ever, but I did not care. I had to leave. My wolf was angry, but I had to run. I heard him calling behind me. I ignored it and just ran towards the living room; my white summer dress was dripping wet. Dismissing all the questioning glances, I grabbed Emma and panted.
“We need to leave now!”
“What happened? Why are you all wet?” She asked, bewildered.
“I… I….. need to go… please,” I pleaded.
There was a commotion near the poolside. I knew he was coming after me. Coming to claim me. I dragged Emma outside and ran towards our car.
More Kickass Werewolf Reads
Dive into our collection of free werewolf romance novels—where fierce Alphas, daring heroines, and heart-stopping twists await. Every story burns with forbidden desire, loyalty, and destiny. Don’t wait—here’s a world where love bites hard and nothing is stronger than the call of the mate.
Leave a Reply