《Luna On The Run!》


 To The Council

    ¡°Who do you love?¡±C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org.


    ¡°You, Alpha Gorgio¡±


    ¡°And who can¡¯t live without you?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s you, my love¡±


    ¡°And who do you belong to?¡±


    ¡°To you, my mate¡±


    ¡°And who do you drive crazy with your sweet body?¡±


    ¡°You, my Alpha mate. You and you alone.¡±


    Obviously pleased with my words, he takes me in his arms again to press me against his naked body. I can tell by the beating of his heart that he intends to resume our nocturnal escapade. My mate, the strong Alpha Gorgio of the Eclipse Howl pack, the wolf who owns my heart. He is the most handsome male on the, muscr and tall, every healthy woman¡¯s dream. But he is all mine, given to me by the Moon Goddess a year ago.


    His arms grip me from behind like a vise as I turn my face to his.


    ¡°Yes, baby. You are the jewel the Moon Goddess bestowed upon me. I love you, Ariel. My life only got real meaning when I met you. That was the best day of my life¡±. He nipped at my earlobe, sending a shiver down my spine. I tried to say something, but the sparks coursing through my body left me breathless.


    ¡°And I¡¯ll keep you for myself. To death, as I promised you at the Luna ceremony. I swear to you, my mate, that you are the only one for me.¡± His lips traversed my cheeks,ing closer to my mouth, and I couldn¡¯t wait for them to take mine. But he gave me a few more seconds to respond. I swallowed the lump in my throat and looked at my mate through the slits of my eyes.


    ¡°And I¡¯m crazy about you. There could never be anyone else for me but you. Until death,¡± I repeated my vows before desire took over my senses again. Gorgio¡¯s hand now caressed my body, I never get tired of this. He is a real beast in bed, his body and passionate derations drive me mad.


    ¡°Good girl. That¡¯s what I like to hear. I will tear to pieces anyone who dares to take you from me,¡± he growled, before finally giving in to my craving and kissing me deeply. And then the game we just finished started	 again.


    But I don¡¯t mind, in a few hours, I¡¯ll leave his side for pack business. Gorgio tries to fill the void he will surely feel when I¡¯m gone, with fresh memories of us together.


    This is the first time since we became mates that we will be apart.


    I¡¯m heading to Midnight Moon Pack for a week to attend the annual assembly of the Global Werewolf Community. It is organized by the Council of Werewolves and it ispulsory for all packs to attend. I am standing in for Gorgio, who is currently unable to leave due to the threats that humans are exerting on our territory. A lucrative seam of gold has been discovered running through ournd, and they are trying to exploit it by destroying our forests.


    Two hourster, we fall into each other¡¯s arms, satiated and dead tired.


    ¡°Come back as soon as the meeting is over. Ariel, do not stay for another day. If I have to, I¡¯ll pick you up myself,¡± he reminded me for the umpteenth time. ¡°Damn! Those greedy humans! Otherwise, we would have traveled together, you wouldn¡¯t have had to go to such a grand meeting all by yourself¡±.


    ¡°Hey, babe. Eclipse Howl is my home now. And I¡¯m happy to do this, we can¡¯t be absent. The King and Queen will be there as well, and if we can bring our business to the Kingdom, the pack will be greatly benefited.¡±


    He knows I am right. After me, matters of the pack are a high priority to him.


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯m aware of that. But I don¡¯t feelfortable about you leaving. I would have preferred you here with me or I would have gone with you¡±, he pouted stubbornly.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll be back before you know it. I¡¯ll miss you so much that I can¡¯t stay there any longer than necessary,¡± I promised. We decided to go back to sleep for another hour before I get ready to leave.


    As I stood in front of the mirror in the bathroom, I noticed that my body was once again covered in love bites. I caress the ones on my neck; I am sure Gorgio must have a lot of them too. But that means I have to bring suitable clothes to cover them up. Not that I am ashamed of this show of love from my mate, but the attention of the attendees would rather be on them than on our conversation.


    And I definitely need concentrated high rankings to sell them on our ns.


    I take a hot bath and when I return to the bedroom, I find my mate has alreadyid out my clothes on the bed. He helps me rub and massage my body, dry my hair, and then push me onto the bed to help me dress. Within half an hour I am ready and my make-up is in order. My hair is pulled back tightly in a businesslike style, leaving the mate mark on my neck open for everyone to see.


    The n is to emphasize my seriousness and leave asting impression. Of course, men will dominate the conference, but I don¡¯t want to focus on that. I am all business. As I enter the packhouse dining room, Gorgio invites me to the head of the table next to him.


    ¡°Bacon and scrambled eggs, three burgers for you. I have it all here¡±. Gratefully, I threw myself into the Luna chair. ¡°Thank you, my love¡±.


    ¡°The Bugatti is ready. Are you sure you want to drive yourself? I can ask one of the warriors to ride you¡±. I smiled, Gorgio was always nervous when I¡¯m using one of the fast cars. But he really must get over it.


    ¡°There are already three following vehicles. Let me enjoy the ride on my own, Gorgio. Please, let me have some fun.¡± He sighed deeply, leans back and gives in.


    An hourter, I hugged and kissed my mate goodbye and got into the vehicle.


    On my way to Midnight Moon¡­.

 Commotion

    Luna Ariel¡¯s POV again


    As I turn off the dirt road of Eclipse Howl onto the highway, I drive at top speed.


    With the car windows down, I skim past the dense forest along the roadside. The cool wind blows my long locks out of my face, forcing me to put on sunsses to protect my eyes. It is a two-hour journey to Midnight Moon, a rival pack bordering our territory to the west.


    In the past, these two packs were often at odds, using each other of stealingnd. But this ended when the Council issued a ruling that the packs reluctantly epted. After that, a kind of Cold War remained, but thankfully did not turn into war.


    Gorgio told me earlier that there has never been a high-ranking member of the Eclipse Moon visiting this pack before. With my arrival, we are showing that we are good and willing to at least maintain a civilized rtionship with them. We did a background check on the new Alpha who was appointed a few months ago. He studied in Europe and returned to seed his father.


    I nce in the mirror and see the three following cars right behind me. Gorgio takes no chances with my safety, especially in Midnight Moon. The drive is soon over and I turn into the car park of the hotel where the conference is taking ce. I had deliberately not announced my arrival time in advance; I wanted every opportunity to observe the surroundings at leisure, without too much etiquette.


    As I jump out of the car, the Head Warrior walks up to me.


    ¡°Luna, do you want to check in right away or eat first?¡± he asks me. ¡°We can go to the restaurant if you like. I smile, everyone in Eclipse Howl knows by now that I appreciate good food and like to try new dishes. The breakfast I had a couple of hours ago was not much and my hunger is already on the rise.


    ¡°Let¡¯s hit the restaurant first. Although I can have room servicee but you know how much I love being among people¡±. He nodded, grabbed my suitcase from the back of the car and followed me into the hotel. A receptionist hurried to meet us.


    ¡°Luna Ariel, wee to Midnight Moon. You just missed the Alpha, we didn¡¯t know exactly when you would arrive. He otherwise would have greeted you personally.¡± I smiled and nodded.


    ¡°Thank you. No, don¡¯t worry about me. We will first go to the restaurant and check out my roomter. My Head Warrior will take care of it all.¡± Alvin walked off with her, while two other warriors went on with me. The restaurant is almost empty, except for three men sitting in a corner. I can tell from their aura that it¡¯s an Alpha with his Beta and Gamma. I frown, wondering if this Alpha had left his pack to fend for itself.


    As I take a seat at a table in the other corner of the room, a waitresses over to me with the menu. I gesture for the two warriors to order as well, knowing they won¡¯t miss this opportunity for a free meal.


    Suddenly I hear amotion in the direction we just came from. The warriors get up, head for the door and stand at a distance to see what is going on. Since the corner where I am sitting does not offer much of a view into the lobby, I am unable to see what is happening. A few minutester, the warriors return to their seats.


    ¡°The Alpha demanded the list of visitors from the receptionist. I don¡¯t know what went wrong, but he stormed into the lift,¡± exined one of the warriors. I shrugged, organizing such a big event like this could be stressful and the Alpha was probably out of his normal routine. As I finished my meal, Alvin arrived at the table.


    ¡°Luna, are you ready to go to your room? I have already checked us in, so you can walk straight to your room. Get some rest, the conference starts in two hours. I understand that most of the invitees have already arrived¡±.


    I agreed and was soon back on my feet. Just as I was about to get into the elevator, the receptionist rushed over to me.


    ¡°Luna, I would like to verify this information with you personally, just to be sure. You are the mate of Alpha Gorgio of Eclipse Moon, aren¡¯t you?¡± Alvin growled low behind me. Before he could intervene, I approached the woman.


    ¡°Yes, I am Luna Ariel. Is something wrong?¡±


    She shook her head.


    ¡°No. Not at all.  We¡¯re looking for an unmated she-wolf. But you¡¯re the only one who camest,¡± she exined. Her eyes moved curiously over my frame. I tossed my hair back so she could see the full length of my neck.


    ¡°Look, this is the mark of my mate. Fully mated here¡±.


    She¡¯s convinced of me now, turned around, and stepped back to the counter. With the warriors on my heels, I get into the lift. We get off at the third floor. As we walk down the corridor, Alvin looks at the electronic key card in his hands.


    ¡°My goodness, I think we got lost. We have to go up at least two more floors,¡± he muttered, annoyed. We walked straight down the corridor, but as we rounded a corner, I bumped hard into a she-wolf. She¡¯s tall and curvy, I don¡¯t recognize her as an Alpha of any pack.


    ¡°Aaah, sorry Luna. I should have been more careful,¡± she whispered guiltily. I grabbed her shoulders and steady myself.Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°No, it¡¯s me, I¡¯m to me. I was looking at the numbers on the doors and wasn¡¯t paying attention,¡± I assured her. ¡°Are you also here for the conference?¡± I asked her politely.


    ¡°Yes, I am Amelia, daughter of Crescent Moon Alpha,¡± she smiled. ¡°To be honest, I couldn¡¯t care less about the conference. I¡¯m here to win Midnight Moon Alpha.  I can¡¯t wait to be his Luna,¡± she whispered to me. ¡°He is so manly.¡± I chuckled and thought back to a few months ago when I was still unmated. Of course, I was eagerly waiting for my perfect mate, but I never went hunting for him like this she-wolf.


    ¡°Are you two fated?¡± I asked her.


    ¡°I have yet to find out. Wish me luck. Then you can join us for tea sometime.¡±


    I smiled and shook my head, waving to her as I walked with the warriors to another lift at the end of the corridor..

 Success

    Luna Ariel¡¯s POV still


    When I wake up, I stretch my body to the max. That one hour of sleep was great. After my phone conversation with my mate, I jumped right into bed. But now it¡¯s time to get ready, I have an immense task to aplish. I must seed, the welfare of the Eclipse Howl depends on the oue of today¡¯s calctions. First, I have to speak to the King and Queen, I have an appointment with them before the conference starts.


    I freshen up and get dressed. Again, I keep it all very formal. I look in the mirror and am pleased with the result. Then I grab my briefcase and leave the room. The Head Warrior is waiting for me and we walk down to the main floor.


    Ackey of the Kingdom approaches me.


    ¡°Luna Ariel? The King and Queen are waiting for you. Please follow me.¡± The man opened a door and I saw the royal couple sitting at a desk. Queen Rain came up to us.


    ¡°Luna, how happy I am to finally meet you. Alpha Gorgio spoke so proudly of you, he said you can exin the entire investment n to us¡±.


    ¡°My Queen, it is my honor to present all this to you and the King. When I have finished, I hope to convince you that the n is mutually beneficial,¡± I replied, shaking her small hand. Then I turned to King Jasper and took his hand as well.


    ¡°Luna Rain,¡± the King sounded stern. ¡°Let us begin at once. The meeting is about to begin and we don¡¯t want to bete.¡± I can hear in his undertone that he is skeptical about what I am going to tell them. He is probably used to people imposing all sorts of proposals on him with little chance of sess. But with me, he is in for a surprise.


    A littleter, I looked back confidently at the couple. They are clearly impressed; the Queen¡¯s mouth is open in surprise. Not only have I exined the whole n in detail and calcted the figures urately, but I have also answered their questions wlessly. The benefits to both the Kingdom and Eclipse Howl were clearlyid out.


    ¡°Amazing,¡± the Kingplimented me. ¡°That was definitely professional.¡±


    ¡°My King, you must also give credit to my mate and the experts of the pack. They prepared all this. I only stepped in at thest minute when it turned out that Gorgio could not make it to the conference,¡± I informed them.


    ¡°That may be true, but you havepletely convinced us with your presentation,¡± King Jasper stated in awe. ¡°The documents will be signed and delivered to your pride next week. We agree with this concept.¡± I can hardly hide my joy, sess is so sweet.


    ¡°Thank you, my King and Queen. At the meeting, I will propose a project to the Alphas to build an integral business center to connect the packs. I hope to get their full cooperation,¡± I stated, paving the way for my next challenge. To my delight, they nod.


    ¡°We will consider it. And if it works out for the packs as well, I will use my personal power of persuasion to make it happen,¡± King promised. ¡°Come, we go to the main hall together. Your father, Alpha King Petric, presides over the meeting.¡± I waited for them to get up and strolled behind them.N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    As we walk toward the hall, the Queen slows her pace, allowing me to walk beside her. We arrived at the main hall, where the meeting had not yet begun. Some Alphas were standing in small groups talking and when the Royal couple approached, everyone bowed slightly.


    All eyes are now on me, and I know many are wondering what position I hold. I keep a polite but aloof expression on my face and as the protocol team leads the Royal couple to their seats, I deliberately stay behind.


    ¡°Luna, that was indeed impressive work you have done. The Alpha will be so proud when he sees the shots I sent for him,¡± the Head Warrior whispered to me. Ooh Goddess, one more hurdle with the Alphas and I can run to my room to report to my mate myself how this all went.


    Ady from the protocol teames out and invites us all to enter the room as the conference is about to begin. The room slowly fills up, Head Warrior Alvin and I being among thest to enter. And then a breathtaking scent hits my nose, my eyes widening in horror.


    I first caught a whiff of it months ago, when Gorgio visited my father, the Alpha King of the region, to discuss a peace treaty. It was the day we discovered that we were destined to be mates, and we have been inseparable ever since. I am now mated and marked, we havepleted the mating process.


    This cannot be true, I must be mistaken.


    Shocked, I turn to the Chief Warrior, perhaps he has the answer to this.


    ¡°Alvin, do you smell that? Or is it just me?¡± I whispered worriedly. With a twitch, he turns to me and watches me closely.


    ¡°Are you all right, Luna? Want me to get you some water? You must be thirsty by now.¡± I shook my head frantically. But this time I kept quiet. I didn¡¯t want him to get suspicious.


    I bow my head and take another sniff. And there it is again. The scent of a mate. Has Gorgioe here after all? My eyes scan the room, from the back, then to the stage.


    And then our eyes collide, two gorgeous blue gazers almost knock me off my feet.


    My heart thunders in my ribs as blood pounds in my ears. A wave of primal need surges through me. I can¡¯t believe this is happening to me.


    ¡®MATE. MINE!¡¯ I heard Era roar in my head, trying to shift. I forced her back.


    ¡®We already have a mate, Era. This is not possible. You are mistaken.¡¯


    ¡®Ariel, MATE! I want to go to my mate, he¡¯s calling for us¡¯.


    ¡®No! Gorgio is our mate. I don¡¯t want anyone else, and I promised him I would always be loyal to him.¡¯


    I tore my eyes away from the blue heavens and looked at Alvin, who was still waiting for an answer.


    ¡°Yes, get the water while I go out on the balcony to catch my breath. I¡¯ll be right back.¡±


    Alvin and I each took our own direction..

 Happy Claw

    Alpha Zane of Midnight Moon POV


    w has been restless all morning. He sniffs around, dances merrily and sometimes looks at me with his eyes shing. He¡¯s clearly upbeat, and if I were a gambler, I¡¯d swear I¡¯d hit the jackpot today.


    But since he and I are one, his enthusiasm affects me very much. After days of hard work preparing for this conference, I could really use some positive motivation to start this day. So, I drain some of w¡¯s energy to fuel my human body.


    I am dressed to the nines as I leave my suite in the packhouse. My mood is at its best thanks to my wolf, and I know I am ready for anything that mighte out of this meeting. All the Alphas are present, some of them having brought their Betas, against the rules. Alpha Gorgio is sending his Luna, Eclipse Howl is dealing with the humans who are about to destroy their forests and contaminate the sources of fresh water in their lust for the precious metal.


    The King and Queen are also back this year.


    King Jasper is an authoritarian perfectionist. It is hard to please this Lycan. But no one can deny his reign over the packs, and the progress in social and financial policy is clear for all to see. The werewolves are much happier now and are seizing the opportunities for personal development with both hands. Pack members are now less dependent on humans for their health and education.N?velDrama.Org content.


    When I arrive at the hotel where the conference is due to start in a few hours, w jumps up straight away. He stares through my eyes, intently watching every movement around us.


    ¡°What¡¯s up, wolf? You¡¯ve been up all morning. May I help you with anything? A she-wolf, perhaps? We haven¡¯t got any for ages,¡± I said teasingly.


    ¡®No! Thanks. Keep it in your pants,¡¯ he growls at me. For all your life!


    w and I are best friends, he is a real advantage to my leadership. I owe my sess to him, and I am not afraid to tell him so. But for several months now, he has refused to cooperate on sex. He thinks we should stop having so many bed partners if we don¡¯t want to get into trouble.


    I¡¯ve reluctantly agreed to that because having sex without my wolf also enjoying it doesn¡¯t make much sense. Fighting w and trying to work on a pussy at the same time is impossible. So, here we are, celibate for several months and I suspect it is starting to break w. I smile at him, thinking of Sybille, who justst night threw herself at our feet, but I had to turn away.


    ¡®What!¡¯ I growled back.


    ¡®Human. Much more beauty awaits us than these sluts. We¡¯re going for a gem¡¯. My smile became a frown at his words. ¡®When you enjoyed them all these years, I didn¡¯t hear youin that they were sluts. Are you a paranoiac now?¡¯ I scold him.


    But he didn¡¯t even bother to answer, staring ahead again, greedily taking in the surroundings as if he wereing here for the first time.


    I roll my eyes and step into the lobby. The receptionist rushes towards me. But this time I sense a scent with her, Goddess, it is exquisite and makes me stagger for a moment. I, Zane Mancini, the most feared Alpha in this hemisphere, am momentarily unsure of myself.  I take another sniff at the scent of the woman standing in front of me.


    ¡°Alpha, wee. Thest guest has just arrived. Now all the packs are present and the activities can begin on time.¡± Adoringly, she raised her eyes to me, lowering them seductively to my lips. I knew what she wants, this is not the first time she had offered me her services. But this time she has captured my attention, there is something about her that I want.


    Of course, I know that this exotic scent is not hers. Its owner must have been near her, it is still fresh, so the person must be among the guests. I grab her wrist and pull her toward the desk.


    ¡°Which unmated she-wolf showed up here? Where is she?¡± I don¡¯t know where the words came from, how I could havee up with the idea that the scent belonged to an unmated she-wolf. w must be responsible.


    ¡°I¡¯m the only unmated she-wolf here, and you are the unmated Alpha,¡± she exined to me in a low voice as she blinks her eyes. ¡°Is there something you want, my strong Alpha?¡±


    Reluctantly, I tore my eyes away from the lobby they were so intently inspecting andnded them on the receptionist.


    ¡°I don¡¯t have time for your nonsense. Check the guest list and tell me which unmated woman has checked in here in thest two hours,¡± I ordered her in an Alpha tone.


    Fear shes in her eyes, she swallowed hard and ran behind the counter. She consulted her desktop for a few seconds and then turned back to me.


    ¡°Luna Ariel is the only female registered as a guest at the moment. But she is fully mated to Alpha Gorgio of Eclipse Howl and obviously deeply in love with him,¡± she filled me in. ¡°The other women are waitresses and workers.


    And then I lose my patience. The scent is real and I want more of it. I must have more of it, it is my life preserver to stay alive. I bang my fist hard on the table, everything on it falls to the floor.


    My Beta Erices running, probably warned by someone in the mind link that I was about to lose it.


    ¡°Zane, Zane, no! We don¡¯t do that, man¡±. My best friend and confidant grabbed me on the shoulder from behind and pulled me away, into the lift.


    ¡°What happened? What are you looking for?¡±


    ¡°A scent. Eric, I am telling you, I think my mate is here. And that stupid receptionist is slowing me down and tries to getid. I should have ripped her head off, the idiot,¡± I panted angrily.


    ¡°Your mate? Zane, there are no women here except for the hotel staff you have known all your life,¡± he grumbled. ¡°Or yes, the Queen and Luna Ariel are present. But they can never be your fated. They both already have a mate¡±. He looks at me as if I have gone mad.


    ¡°Are you saying I am seeing ghosts? Your Luna is here atst, and you don¡¯t believe me? Did you forget that we waited three years for her, that we need her for the pack?¡± With ming eyes, I nced into his.


    ¡°Believe me, Zane. I think I am more excited about her than you are. But I don¡¯t want you to be disappointed. Come, let¡¯s make a final inspection tour. If she¡¯s here, you¡¯ll meet her at the conference in an hour, you can¡¯t miss her.¡±


    I take a deep breath, Eric is right. I need to be patient. A little distraction will help me sort things out.


    So, we head back to the meeting room, ready to receive Midnight Moon¡¯s guests..

 More To It

    Alpha Zane¡¯s POVN?velDrama.Org content.


    Even before I saw her, I knew she was on the other side of the door.


    Her scent hits me in the face like a warm nket, I can¡¯t wait to see her face, to walk up to her and take her in my arms.


    My mate!


    I still can¡¯t believe that finally, after three years of waiting, she is here. With me, where she belongs. My pack longs for her, like my subjects, I want my fated and no chosen. A fated mate makes us much stronger, mentally and collectively. And tomorrow I will make them happy when I announce that the Luna has arrived. I know this party willst a whole week and Eric is already making preparations.


    w howled with joy to the wide door, waiting for her appearance to tell me the good news. She must appear quickly now before I suffocate here with my bated breath.


    ¡®Zane, what¡¯s taking her this long? Maybe you should face her, this is taking too long,¡¯ my wolfined. But Eric was right in front of me, obstructing my every move. Of course, I am stronger than him and could push him aside with ease, but with so many guests around us, it is not the right thing to do. He probably wants to prevent me from doing something crazy, like in the lobby. I¡¯m hot-tempered and have little patience with ckening.


    I show the expected respect to the King and Queen but don¡¯t lose sight of the door. Until one of the protocoldies finally steps out and points out to the group still hanging outside that the conference is starting soon.


    And then the Alphas enter, moving very slowly because each of them stays standing first to bow to the Royal couple. Impatiently I rock my legs, only mene through the door and I am sure Selene will never make the mistake of pairing me with a man. I am very definitely not gay, although I have nothing against the LBGT group.


    And then her scent gets stronger, she is closer and could appear any minute now. My heart beats like mad in anticipation.


    Then I see a woman walking in with a warrior at her side. Thick ck curls adorn her small face, which looks grave. Her skin is tanned as if she is often out in the open. She is rtively tall for a she-wolf, and despite her tight clothing covering most of her body, it is clear she has curves in all the right ces. She is perfect.


    ¡®MATE! MATE!¡± roared w madly in my head, wagging his tail. ¡®Let¡¯s go get her and hold her. We can take care of her as much as she wants. Our pack will love her and protect her,¡¯ he babbles on.


    Then I notice how she stiffens.


    Her eyes go big and I know she realized she was in the same room as her mate. I wait impatiently, ording to the traditional script, she should now run to me and throw herself into my arms. And then we leave this meeting for an hour or more to return with the announcement that we have epted each other as mates.


    I get so hot thinking about being able to have her in my arms in a few seconds.


    Finally, she looks up, our eyes embracing each other. Silvery eyes stared at me startled, her lips lightly parted. A hand goes to her neck as she fights an inner battle. Uncertain of her strange attitude, I push Eric to get out of my confined space. I want to go to her to help her over the threshold.


    But then I see her flee.


    Before she disappearspletely among the rest of the presence, she looks back once more, her face dripping with confusion and pain. How is that possible? How did she manage to resist the mate pull to turn away from me? I can understand that she was surprised to meet me, but then whence the pain? Meeting your mate is the best thing that can happen to a werewolf.


    ¡°Eric, she left. She looked at me for a moment but did note to me. Is she rejecting me?¡± I whispered to my Beta, ncing in disbelief in the direction where my mate left.


    ¡°Do you mean Luna Ariel?¡±


    ¡°The ck-haired woman who just entered the room with the warrior who is now standing with a ss of water.¡±


    Eric looked at the warrior and then back at me.


    ¡°Zane! That was Luna Ariel. She is mated with Alpha Gorgio as I informed you earlier. She is not your mate, you are confused,¡± he hisses at me. ¡°Don¡¯t make a fool of yourself. She is not your mate¡±. I shook my head in denial.


    ¡°Damn sure she is. I don¡¯t know what¡¯s going on here, but I won¡¯t let her go. I¡¯ve waited too long for her, she¡¯s my Luna,¡± I insisted.


    ¡°Okay, let¡¯s finish the official part of the conference and then we¡¯ll go to her to talk this out,¡± he suggested. ¡°You can¡¯t leave now, the King and Queen will never forgive if you do, you are the host¡±. Unfortunately, he was right.


    After another longing nce at the closed door, I go to the speaking stool to initiate the opening ceremony. With all my energy, I push back my restlessness and do the job I am assigned to. I want to get this over with as soon as possible to go after Ariel.


    Half an hourter, I can put the conference in the hands of a ceremony master. Eric takes me by the shoulder and we leave the room unnoticed.


    ¡°I have requested the information we need. She is staying in room 1404 on the fifth floor. We can go there immediately¡±. We ran into the elevator and as we walked in the hallway of the fifth floor, we rushed to the room. I knocked on the door and waited patiently. Seconds pass, no response.


    ¡°Luna Ariel!¡± I shouted now, my heart pounding.


    ¡®Zane. She is not there anymore. She is gone,¡¯ w sounded broken.


    ¡®Gone? No, she can never have disappeared. She wants to be with us¡¯.


    ¡®No, Zane. There¡¯s more to it¡¯¡­

 Believe me

    Still Alpha Zane¡¯s POV


    In desperation, I break the door open.


    I can¡¯t believe what w is telling me, we¡¯re mates and she needs to be with me. I need her, my pack needs her.


    ¡°Eric, w says she¡¯s not here anymore, she¡¯s gone.¡±


    I can¡¯t keep the frustration out of my voice. We run inside. The bed is neatly made, probably by the cleaners. In the walk-in closet were twoplete sets of official clothes and shoes. When I opened the drawers, I saw underwear lying around.


    I take a zer off the hanger and smell it. Yes, this is the scent I¡¯ve been craving, she¡¯s my mate. Back in the bedroom, her toiletries are still on the dressing table, as well as a small jewelry box.


    ¡°Eric, she is definitely my mate. But I don¡¯t understand how I could pick up her scent so strongly when she¡¯s already mated to Gorgio. I can¡¯t imagine that she hasn¡¯t waited for me and epted to be someone else¡¯s chosen mate,¡± I exined pained.


    ¡°She left everything behind. Maybe she just went for a walk to think about how to deal with the situation and will be back soon,¡± Eric noted, still unconvinced.


    ¡°The warrior she came with must still be here somewhere. Bring him to the business center, I want to talk to him¡±. Eric¡¯s eyes get misty, he orders our warriors to fetch the man. We leave the room and go back to the lobby. The same receptionist is still there, but this time she is more formal.


    ¡°Has Luna checked Ariel already out?¡± I asked her. She quickly scanned the list and shook her head.


    ¡°No, Alpha. Besides, the conference is not over yet. Her reservation is valid until thest day.¡±


    I cast a sharp nce at her and turn to Eric. Together we walk to the business center not far from the lobby. We have just taken our seats when the Eclipse Howl Warrior is ushered in.


    ¡°Alpha, Beta. You wanted me to meet you. But perhaps we can wait until Luna Ariel returns. I am only here for her safety, I have no mandate to discuss anything with you,¡± he indicated. I quickly peeked at Eric.N?velDrama.Org content.


    ¡°Then do you have any idea where your Luna is? She is not attending the conference, I saw her leaving. So what are you here for anyway?¡± The man shifted ufortably.


    ¡°She would never leave without me. She was not feeling well when we entered the hall, and when I came back with a ss of water, she was gone. I think she just went out for some fresh air,¡± he stated, a little worried.


    ¡°Mind link her to let her know that you are here with us and ask her toe back,¡± I instructed him. And then he started to shake slightly. His eyes became foggy, he tried several times. His shoulders slumped as he gave up.


    ¡°I can¡¯t reach her. I¡¯ve been trying all the time, but she has her wall down,¡± he cried in panic. ¡°Alpha Gorgio will skin me alive if I return to the pack without her. The Luna is his most precious possession. I must find her.¡±


    It stings my heart to hear another Alpha thinks he owns her. w doesn¡¯t like to share, and I want my mate all to myself. If she is Gorgio¡¯s chosen mate, I will find a witch to break their bond. Besides, the bond of a fated is much stronger than that of a chosen one.


    ¡°We inspected her rooms. All her belongings are still there,¡± I indicated thoughtfully. ¡°Let¡¯s go to the car park and show me the vehicle you arrived in.¡± We all got up and left the hotel. The parking lot was full, we had to walk past several queues.


    And then the warrior stops at a clearing and stares at it bewildered.


    ¡°Luna¡¯s vehicle should be parked here. We came with four vehicles. The other three had more warriors. Luna Ariel drove herself this time¡±. The man looked like he was about to burst into tears.


    ¡°Moon Goddess, we are so dead. We had to follow her every step. I am the Head Warrior, if I cannot exin to the Alpha where she is, I can start digging my own grave,¡± he wailed. ¡°Where is she now? If she left in her car and closed the link, that is a bad sign¡±.


    In no time, all of Eclipse Howl¡¯s warriors are surrounding us. The Head Warrior briefs them of what is going on. They, too, try their best to mind link the Luna, but to no avail.


    ¡°I will have to alert Alpha Gorgio about what has happened. I suggest you do the same, Alpha Zane,¡± the Head Warrior said. ¡°He may well suspect that you have taken the Luna hostage to avenge the past and start a war.¡±


    ¡°And we should also notify the Council. Goddess, let¡¯s hope this ends well and she turns up tonight,¡± Eric sighed. ¡°Otherwise, we have to organize a search party. We can only do that if she has been missed for twenty-four hours and has had no contact with anyone.¡±


    I went back inside with Eric, straight to the conference room. Thank goodness the break has just started. I make my way over to the table where the members of the Council gathered.


    ¡°Alpha King, sorry to interrupt but something serious has happened,¡± I told them in a low tone so as not to attract the attention of the other Alphas. Alpha King Petric¡¯s head jerked my way, rmed, as if he sensed his family¡¯s demise.


    ¡°What is it, Alpha Zane? Don¡¯t keep us waiting too long.¡±


    ¡°Alpha King, it¡¯s your daughter. She has suddenly disappeared. The Head Warrior of Eclipse Moon is trying to mind link her but she has her mind wall closed,¡± I answered. ¡°She was supposed to participate in this meeting and present a grand investment n. But we can find no trace of her, her car is gone too¡±.


    Slowly, the man got up from his chair, radiating his authority


    ¡°My daughter? Eclipse Howl¡¯s Luna? No way. Gorgio always keeps her safe. I hope this is not one of your stunts, Alpha Zane, I warn you¡±.


    The King and Queen walked towards us while the protocol staff escorted the guests into the restaurant to allow us privacy. By now everyone realized that something is up.


    ¡°Alpha Zane, tell the whole story now,¡± King Jasper urged. And I exined to them what the Head Warrior reported to me.


    ¡°You have an old feud with Eclipse Howl, aren¡¯t you? Do you have anything to do with his disappearance, Alpha Zane?¡± the Queen asked sternly.


    I looked up, the only way to convince them of my innocence was to reveal the truth. There¡¯s no other way out of this. My eyes sweep over the members of the council and the Royal couple.


    ¡°The truth is that when Luna Ariel stepped into the conference room, we recognized each other as destined mates. I think she is upset about that, her behavior was strange. Then again, she must be Alpha Gorgio¡¯s chosen mate. The situation may have caught her off guard¡±.


    Alpha King Petric growls low.


    ¡°Gorgio is Ariel¡¯s fated mate. Are you telling the truth, Zane?¡±..

 Threats

    Still Alpha Zane¡¯s POV


    With the breath of the Council now on my neck, my position within my own pack is bing increasingly stark.


    Never before in the history of werewolves has a fully mated wolf appeared to have a second mate. Once marked and mated, it should be final. But the Moon Goddess has clearly decided otherwise today, and everyone in this room will have toe to terms with that. Because if there¡¯s one thing I know for sure, it¡¯s that I¡¯m not giving up on Ariel. Gorgio will just have to find another mate, but Ariel is mine, marked or not.


    So here I am, with the Council and the King and Queen surrounding me.


    ¡°She went missing from your pack, so it is your duty to inform Alpha Gorgio of what has happened. And avoid esction, this conversation will not be easy,¡± warned the Council President, Alpha King Petric, who was also Ariel¡¯s father.C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org.


    I put my phone on speaker and dial Gorgio¡¯s number. We have never been friends, even though the Council forced us to sign a peace treaty. On the first ring, the man answers.


    ¡°Alpha Zane,¡± he sounded anything but friendly. ¡°How¡¯s the conference going? Has my Luna presented the investment n yet?¡± How dare this man address me in this manner? I tooe from an ancient bloodline, just like him. Respect is the least he owes me.


    ¡°Ie to you with bad news, Alpha Gorgio. Ariel has left the pack. She took the car she came in and left without telling anyone.¡± There was a dead silence at the other end of the line.


    ¡°My Luna has disappeared? And where is the Head Warrior I sent with her?¡± he roared. It is obvious that his mood was deteriorating at a rapid pace.


    ¡°Head Warrior Alvin is here, as are the other warriors. Ariel left on her own,¡± I answered him. And then he lost his temper.


    ¡°Who are you to call my mate by her first name? Have you no sense of etiquette?¡± he bellowed. ¡°Do you think I¡¯m crazy? You definitely kidnapped my Luna. This is your revenge because I refused to sell you mynd. You bastard!¡±


    In front of me, I see the Head Warrior turning blood red. His eyes be misty, Alpha Gorgio has him in his mind link. A few seconds pass and I see the man take a few steps backward, as if ufortable. His lips quiver and he mumbles inaudibly.


    ¡°Alpha Zane! This is war. How dare youy your paws on my mate? I¡¯ll behead you myself.¡±


    He ends the conversation just as his father-inw is about to speak.


    King Jasper turns to Alpha King Petric.


    ¡°Gorgio never makes empty promises. We should avoid a war breaking starting here while a Luna is missing. Our energy should be focused on finding her and not on killing each other.¡±


    That smartass King!


    The Alpha King nods thoughtfully. He doubts me and his daughter and I are mates, he does not know exactly how I fit into the te. If I can prove that I am his son-inw as well, he must treat me the same as Gorgio.


    ¡°We will postpone further discussion of this meeting. All participants must leave Midnight Moon immediately for security reasons,¡± King Jasper decided.


    When the Head Warrior tries to sneak out of the room, the Alpha King stops him.


    ¡°No, Head Warrior. You are our chief witness in all of this. You will stay here with us,¡± he decided.  The poor man ttered with fear, and the warriors now standing behind him stared frantically ahead.


    Gorgio is clearly in control of his men. And this time it¡¯s all about Ariel, everyone knows how much he adores her. This will not end well, a war is inevitable.


    I turn to the Alpha King. ¡°I¡¯ll send trackers to follow her. When this is all over with Gorgio, I will look for her myself,¡± I announce. Looking around, I notice that Eric is no longer there.


    ¡®Man, where are you? I didn¡¯t even see you when you left. I want the trackers to follow Ariel. They can¡¯t touch her, they just have to report her location to me. I will go to her myself.¡¯


    ¡®The trackers have already left. Since she has a car, we have to find her on one of the main roads leading from our pack to another or to the Human Town. My best guess is that she went back to Eclipse Howl,¡¯ my Beta replied in the mind link.


    ¡®Okay. Let me know when you find her. I can¡¯t leave now, with the Council and the King here. And Gorgio has threatened with war.¡¯ Eric was shocked by myst words but soon sobered up.


    ¡°But she left on her own. I¡¯ll be back for you. This is getting serious¡±. He shut down the mind link and reentered the conference room a few minutester.


    Then he froze, his face aghast.


    ¡°This can¡¯t be,¡± he whispered to himself before his eyes reached me. Slowly I stand up and walk towards my Beta. I sense something is about to happen.


    ¡°What is it? Have the trackers found her?¡± I asked eagerly.


    ¡°No, Alpha. But the warriors tell me that helicopters areing towards Midnight Moon. They seem to being from Eclipse Moon. There are men with weapons hanging near the door,¡± he shouted.


    So, Gorgio wants to settle this in an unconventional way. Werewolves rarely fight with modern, human-made weapons. It is often our ws and fangs that decide the battle. But now that his pack is filthy rich, they can afford more.


    I now turn to the highest rankings.


    ¡°Gorgio is using unauthorized means to solve this conflict. He is leaving the path ofmunication,¡± I stated firmly. ¡°My pack also has sophisticated human-made weapons but we have them to fight human predators, not our own species.¡±


    King Jasper clench his jaw, his face does not bode well.


    ¡°Alpha King Petric, your son-inw is being very disrespectful. Does he dare to wage war in my presence?¡± he asked in Lycan authority..

 Stubborn Alpha

    Still Alpha Zane¡¯s POV


    I am by no means a coward. Gorgio will find in me a formidable opponent.


    But I cannot make the same mistake he did. In fact, I am taking advantage of his grave miscalction to dere war on me now that the King and Queen are in my pack.


    And judging by the look on King Jasper¡¯s face, the Alpha will not get away with this shown disrespect so easily. I bolt from my seat and walk out of the hotel with great strides. I leap behind the wheel and Eric quickly throws himself in the passenger seat.


    At high speed, I race to the gates of my pack. Behind me, I see the Limousine with the Royal couple and some Council members, followed by the Alpha King in his Maserati.


    As I arrive at the gate, I see my Head Warrior Kensley waiting there. Concerned, hees over to me, obviously unaware of what has happened in the conference room.


    ¡°Alpha! Thank God you¡¯re here! There is increased activity just outside our border. It looks like warriors are grouping up,¡± he pointed out. ¡°And they have advanced weapons. Should we get ours from the storage as well?¡±


    I quickly fill him in on what has happened. For a moment I notice joy on the face of my Head Warrior. ¡°Our Luna? Really, Alpha?¡± he asked excitedly.


    ¡°Yes, but now we have Gorgio hot on our heels. He¡¯s hot-headed and won¡¯t rest until he has his mate,¡± I sighed.


    ¡°But we can talk this out. Why does he choose the extreme right away? This man is crazy. If it turns out that he has to share his Luna with you, he has no choice. Then the war is unnecessary,¡± Kensley growled. ¡°Does he want innocent bloodshed so badly? Then again, the Luna left of her own ord.¡±


    ¡°We must be careful. The King and Queen areing and so is the Alpha King. I want to make a good impression, get them on my side,¡± I exined in a low voice. And he was right on board, the prospect of having the Luna of our pack with us appealed to him quite a bit.


    ¡°Alpha Zane! Alpha Zane! I order you toe out, you fool,¡± I suddenly heard a thunderingmand. ¡°Come to neutral territory, let¡¯s settle this once and for all. And bring my Luna. Don¡¯t make me get her myself, it won¡¯t end well for you.¡±C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org.


    Gorgio!


    I was expecting him.


    Out of the corner of my eye, I see the King, Queen and Alpha King get out of the vehicles. ¡°Open the gates,¡± I told Kensley. He pressed a button and therge iron gates slid aside. In front of me stood Gorgio with his legs spread and his face grimacing.


    ¡°Where is my Luna? I¡¯m warning you, Alpha Zane,¡± he roared. ¡°If youy a w on my mate, I will finish you off¡±. He makes a few threatening moves with the automatic weapon in his hand.


    ¡°Gorgio. Can we talk about this? There is more to it¡±.


    The Alpha King took a step in front of me, ring at his son-inw.


    ¡°Remember, too, that King Jasper is offended by your attitude. You¡¯re insulting his authority¡±.


    Gorgio gaze shifts to his father-inw. Atst, his eyes soften and he sighs.


    ¡°Father, all I want is my mate. She is here in Midnight Moon. Alvin, my Head Warrior,st saw her in the meeting room of this pack,¡± he stated, not letting his guard down. ¡°Order Alpha Zane to give me my mate back, bring her here for me so I can leave in peace.¡±


    ¡°Ariel is no longer here. Alpha Zane spoke the truth. She left in her vehicle. There are already trackers looking for her,¡± Alpha King Petric interrupted him. ¡°The best warriors from my pack are also on their way. If you stay calm, we can discuss how to find her together. A war is a waste of time. She may even be in danger¡±.


    Gorgio shook his head.


    ¡°No, she is not in danger. I can still feel her in the bond. She is sad, this Alpha has that on his conscience,¡± he growled threateningly. ¡°And she has closed the wall. No matter how hard I pound on it, she won¡¯t give in.¡± Thisst sounded a little anxious. So it was true, Gorgio was crazy for Ariel, he would do anything to get her back.


    But the same goes for me.


    At least he spent a year with her. That¡¯s a luxury I didn¡¯t have. If only I could have held her once before she left. My heart aches with longing. Why did she run away from me? We could have worked everything out together. With her father close by, we could have broken down all the barriers and she could be in my arms right now in my bedroom.


    Gorgio hesitates before he walks through the gates into my pack.


    ¡°Alpha Gorgio. Wee in Midnight Moon. I am d that you havee to your senses. That¡¯s the best thing in a case like this. A war would only make things worse.¡±


    The King seemed less offended now. He walked over to Gorgio and grasped his shoulders before he could get down on his knees in respect.


    ¡°I see a lot of myself in you, Alpha,¡± King Jasper exined indulgently. ¡°I can fight anyone or anything that would harm my Queen. But in this case, we must give Alpha Zane the benefit of the doubt. We have no other evidence. No one saw your Luna being taken away against her will.¡±


    I interrupt the conversation.


    ¡°We can look at the CCTV footage if that will reassure you, Alpha. I swear I didn¡¯t even touch Ariel¡±. Gorgio¡¯s eyes sh aggressively for a moment, I suspect his wolf is on the surface. ¡°Luna Ariel to you, Alpha Zane!¡± he bit at me.


    I shake my head and walk back to my car.


    Gorgio is stubborn, but he faces an Alpha determined to im his mate.


    Me!¡­.

 Rejection

    Again from Alpha Zane¡¯s POV


    ¡°You¡¯re a liar!¡±


    Gorgio yells in my face, hurling all sorts of usations at me. Since we arrived in my office, his temper has been all over the ce. He seems unable to control himself, and his wolf often gets the upper hand. It is the King¡¯s Lycan aura that keeps him from shifting.


    ¡°You¡¯ve been eyeing my mate for a long time, it seems. You¡¯re jealous of our rtionship because you can¡¯t find a fated yourself. And this is your trick to steal her from me,¡± he shouted furiously. ¡°You know my wolf will weaken without her. And then you think this is your way into mynd. But you are in for a surprise, Alpha Zane. Promised!¡±


    My confession that Luna Ariel is also my fated mate only meets with resistance from the man.


    He cannot fathom that he must now share his Luna with me. Many of my attempts toe to an arrangement as grown men failed. Alpha Gorgio continues to grumble, and the Alpha King and King Jasper be despondent. Queen Rain is already resting her head on her hand, not quite sure what to do with the man.


    ¡°Since when does a fully mated wolf get another mate? Unmated wolves with several mates are moremon. Then they are all still unmated. UNMATED! Did you hear that? My Luna and I havepleted the mating process, there is no ce for a third between us!¡±


    He continued to shout, barely taking the opportunity to catch his breath. His face was blood red with anger and I fear he might have a heart attack at any moment.


    ¡°Alpha Gorgio. You can get as angry as much as you want, but it does not change the fact that Ariel is my mate as well as yours. We need to find a way out of this,¡± I quickly interjected before he started the next volley of abuse.


    ¡°It will take some time to get used to it, it will be an ufortable situation at first, but we have to make the best of it. The advantage is that we are practically neighbors, so the distance is quickly bridged. I¡¯m not giving up on Ariel, Alpha,¡± I added harshly. Myst sentence seems to inme him again.


    ¡°Let¡¯s stop this. I am so tired of this behavior of the two Alphas¡±. King Jasper banged his fist down hard on my desk. ¡°One is daring the other to lose his temper. Grow up! Both of you,¡± he growled in annoyance.


    ¡°We need to get to the CCTV footage. Then we can check what actually happened. With the facts, we can move on. I have no desire to listen to any more usations,¡± the Alpha King sighed.


    I wave Eric over and he plugs the USB stick into hisptop. We turn to the big screen on the wall. The footage will prove my innocence and make Gorgio look down his nose.


    We watch as Ariel drives the shy Bugatti through the gates and parks in front of the hotel. The warriors take her luggage from the trunk and they enter the hotel. Then we see Alvin, the Head Warrior, talking to the receptionist while Ariel moves into the restaurant.


    Everyone stared at the image until the moment Ariel joined the guest outside the conference room doors. That was the moment my wolf began to sense her, even though he had been cheerful since the morning and knew something drastic was about to happen.


    The footage clearly shows her entering after the protocoldies invited the guests to take their seats in the room.


    Ariel walks in with the Head Warrior, standing still at one point. Sniffing the air, she scans the attendees until her eyes meet mine. We stare at each other, her eyes turning into saucers.


    Eric freezes the image.


    ¡°It looks to me like two mates have met. The Luna¡¯s reaction says a lot,¡± my Beta exined dryly. And then he lets the video y on. Ariel turns on her heels and flees into the car park. In a hurry, she gets into the Bugatti and drives away at high speed. When she reaches the gate, Kensley tries to talk to her, but she waves him away.


    Of course, Kensley cannot defy an order from a Luna, and we see him reluctantly open the gate. Damn it! If only he had used the mind link! Didn¡¯t he see that her behavior was extremely odd? Where did he think she was going? To buy a lollipop in another pack? I have such an urge to smash myptop against the wall out of frustration.


    This one mistake on my high ranking has robbed my whole pack of their Luna. And me from my dearest mate.


    ¡°No signs of abduction here. Are you reassured now, Alpha Gorgio?¡± asked the Alpha King.


    We all turn to the man who is now staring intently at the screen.


    ¡°Ariel. Ariel. I won¡¯t lose you. You are mine, mine alone, as you promised,¡± he whispered, more to himself.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    ¡°Alpha, you will not lose her. You and Zane must firste to a clear agreement on how you willplete this mating. It is obvious that you are both mates of Ariel, but not to each other,¡± the Queen stated in a low tone. ¡°And you are both Alphas with strong personalities. I fear the rivalry will alienate Ariel. You might want to make real peace if you want her back. Otherwise, I fear that you will both remain mateless.¡±


    ¡°And you will have to give up your pride, Gorgio. She has already marked you so your wolf cannot be without its mate. The impact of her departure will be hardest on you,¡± the Alpha King added.


    ¡°Before my mate came here, we were happy in my pack. Of course, that wretched Alpha had to make sure that my life would be miserable¡±.


    Gorgio¡¯s anger red up again.


    ¡°I want to get my rtionship with my mate back on track. Without this annoying appendage. I will see to it that she rejects him! I have made up my mind¡±..

 Never Trust Him

    Alpha Gorgio¡¯s POV


    I can¡¯t believe an Alpha is trying to steal my mate.


    I cannot allow this, it must never happen. There must be something this scum has pulled out to manipte my Ariel. Maybe he even hired a witch to take her away from me to weaken me.


    Never before has a fully mated wolf, still active in the rtionship, been paired with another wolf. There are cases of up to three males having to share a she-wolf, but they were all unmated. Damn sure Alpha Zane is ying dirty here. And I won¡¯t let it go on, I¡¯ll go to war if I have to. In any case, I feel that the King is not unwilling to understand me, he also loves his woman with all that is in him.


    Ariel! My only love.


    No man will ever touch her as I do. She is mine, all of her. Her heart, soul and body. The Moon Goddess sanctioned our bond at our joining ceremony and I will hold her to it. And I am sure Ariel will never deceive me, we are one body and soul and there is no room for a third mate. We don¡¯t need Alpha Zane.


    Now that the camera footage proves she was not kidnapped, I must withdraw my warriors. War is no longer justified here. But I am watching this Alpha closely, I know he will go after her, my Luna.


    ¡°Okay, I take my words back. Alpha Zane has not taken her. But I want him to call off his trackers, I don¡¯t need him to hunt down my Luna. I can find her myself with the help of her father, the Alpha King,¡± I stated hard. I refuse to give in, this Alpha must vanish from my life.


    ¡°No chance,¡± I still heard him say, making my blood boil again. This idiot has mastered the art of provoking my rage, soon he will figure out what I¡¯m capable of. He doesn¡¯t seem to understand that he is now a walking dead. Whatever happens, he cannot stay alive.


    But as long as the King is in the picture, I have to keep a low profile. After I have my Luna, I will have his head. And after Ariel rejected him, I will behead him immediately so that whatever nonsense there is between them will be destroyed forever.


    ¡°You forget for your own convenience that she is also my mate, Alpha Gorgio. I have a duty to ensure her safety,¡± he dered adamantly. And then his features soften. ¡°And I want to hold her to me, I have searched for her for so long. I have every right to take what is mine.¡±


    If the Alpha King had not jumped between us, a headless wolf would be walking around here.


    ¡°Gorgio! Stop it! Control yourself, son,¡± my father-inw bellowed as he grabbed my shoulders. Jace, my Beta, and Alvin join in to hold me back. My ck orbs are aimed at the Alpha in front of me, Xander ready to rip his head off. My wolf partially takes over, his muzzle and ws lengthening as the fine fur on my skin bes visible. Who is he to think he cany his paws on my mate? I¡¯ll kill him!


    ¡°I suggest Alpha Zane stand down. This provocation is pointless,¡± the King stated in displeasure. ¡°The man¡¯s already got it bad enough, why add fuel to the fire? Alpha Zane, don¡¯t force me to discipline you.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, my King. I was caught up in the moment. I¡¯m sure you understand my feelings. For years I have had to do without her,¡± he defended himself but was wise enough not to add any more intimate details.


    I gave him another scorching look before pushing Xander back into the background.


    ¡°I leave for my pack to organize a search party. Ariel can¡¯t be far, I have a strong suspicion where she might have gone,¡± I muttered and turned to my father-inw. ¡°Father, send me your best trackers. I don¡¯t want to scare her off. Tell the men to report her whereabouts and I will go and fetch her myself. I am the only one who can calm her down. And then she will tell me what is bothering her and we will find a solution together. Just like always.¡±


    A tender smile came over my lips.Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    What I say is the truth. My mate and I are inplete sync. I can feel her, her moods and her expectations. She has been gone for about two hours now, but I am sure she already misses me. Her body against mine, our eye contact, our constant touch.


    ¡°They are already on their way, my son. They will be in Eclipse Howl within the hour,¡± my father-inw assured me. ¡°But there is no escaping the fact that Alpha Zane is also looking for her. We have to take him at his word that he is also my daughter¡¯s mate,¡± he sighs. I re at him for a moment but soon realize the predicament he is in. Two men iming the daughter is already a hard nut to crack, even for an Alpha King.


    And I don¡¯t want to make things worse for him. I turn to the King and Queen and ask them to allow me to leave, which they do. After a brief hug from my father-inw, I retreat with my Head Warrior and Beta.


    As we stand outside the gates, Alvin turns to me. I can feel his fear vibrating from him, his eyes looking up at me, begging for forgiveness. This is a friend I would trust with my life. Now that I am sober, I am convinced that he is definitely not to me. His reputation among the warriors he leads is now at stake. He was the Luna¡¯s personal guard and is now seen as a failure. The pack will not spare him.


    I take his shoulders before he can utter a word.


    ¡°Alvin, this is not your fault at all. If I had to do it all over again, I would choose you once more to protect my mate. I would even trust you with my own life.¡± My statement was loud enough for all the waiting warriors to hear. And I know it will reach the pack.


    The gratitude in his eyes is priceless.


    ¡°Thank you for your great trust, Alpha. Once again, I swear my loyalty to you and our Luna. There is nothing I could not do for you.¡±


    We turn around, ready for a quick trip back to our pack.


    There is much work to do.


    Our Luna needs toe home as soon as possible¡­

 To Miami

    Luna Ariel¡¯s POVCopyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    Tears blur my vision as I make my way through the heavy traffic.


    I¡¯m so unhappy.


    My betrayal of Gorgio holds my heart in a painful grip. How could I have allowed a bond to form between Alpha Zane and myself? This strong attraction, which I could hardly resist, I should only feel for my mate. And my mate is Gorgio and him alone.


    Just a few hours after I swore to him that my heart belonged only to him and that I would love him forever, I start to have feelings for another man. And not just any man, but Gorgio¡¯s arch-enemy, the Alpha who constantly challenges our pack.


    I have never met him before because my mate protects me from the evil world. Midnight Moon is bad news. Gorgio only allowed me to represent him at the council meeting because it was important for our pack. The deals I had to offer were lucrative, and it took a lot of persuading to get Gorgio to agree to let me go.


    And look where that got us. Our whole life is now aplete mess. We had put our rtionship on a solid footing and were ready to be parents. Yes, Gorgio was looking forward to us having pups now, a sessor, the future Alpha of Eclipse Howl. And now, thanks to a cruel twist of fate, all our beautiful ns have gone down the drain.


    I don¡¯t know how to face him now. I have broken his trust in me. I know how much he values reliability and loyalty.


    Alpha Zane doesn¡¯t seem the type to give up, I¡¯m sure he¡¯lle after me. And Gorgio too, Alvin must have already noticed my absence and alerted him. What a mess!


    I need time. I don¡¯t know how long it will take me to face reality and solve my problems. But for now, I want to be alone, lick my wounds. And then go to Gorgio and beg his forgiveness.


    I wipe the tears that keep rolling down my cheeks with the back of my hand. Sobriety is the only thing that can help me now. There is not much cash in my bag. I¡¯ll use my two credit cards to withdraw as much cash as I can from the ATM and then leave Human Town quickly, for I don¡¯t know where. Gorgio will get a notification on his phone when I use the cards and will be able to track me. And then his men will be on my heels. But I am not ready to face him yet, I cannot go home now.


    ¡°Gorgio, my love,¡± I whispered to myself. It is only a few hours since I said goodbye to him and already I miss him so much. I would have called him by now to report on the progress of my presentation, and we would have talked on the phone for hours on end. It never ceases to amaze me that we see each other every day and still have so much to talk about. That¡¯s how strong our bond is.


    I love my mate. And I have no intention of giving him up to be with Alpha Zane.


    My phone is switched off and my mind link locked. I don¡¯t want contact with anyone right now, I want to deal with my suffering on my own.


    Looking around, I have to get rid of this car. If I am not mistaken, it also has a GPS, although it is my private car. With a sharp turn, I drive into a paid parking space. I grab my handbag andptop from the passenger seat and get out. At a nearby machine I buy a ticket for the bus that leaves in ten minutes.


    I wave to the driver to go to the ATM and he gives me a thumbs up.


    I quickly withdraw as much cash as I can and then run to the bus. After scanning my ticket at the entrance, I take a seat in the far back. As the bus pulls away, I see several cars speeding toward the ATM. Just as I thought, Gorgio had received notification of my withdrawal.


    I cringe in misery, this is a real nightmare. Never in my wildest dreams had I thought that a day like today would be possible. The thought of running away from Gorgio never crossed my mind. But I know we will meet again, I just have toe to terms with myself.


    Half an hourter I look at the bus schedule.


    Miami, I¡¯m on my way to Florida. Perfect. It¡¯s a bustling city where I can easily find a distraction. And sit on the beaches and temporarily forget my worries. So I will be on the road for about a day and a half, with several stops at shopping malls where I can eat in the food courts.


    After a few hours the driver announces that there are nkets under the seats for those who want to sleep. I gratefully make use of them, the air conditioning is starting to get unbearable, even for a wolf like me.


    The bus ride continues and I spend most of it sleeping. A few times I feel a knock on my mind wall, I know it is Gorgio. He uses the bond to transfer his mood to me. Despair is reced by longing and sadness. He is in pain, as am I. And now I feel guilty again that he doesn¡¯t know where I am. If only I could find a way to let him know I¡¯m all right.


    Maybe I can contact my father and get him to reassure Gorgio. My father has a higher rank and he can¡¯t force him to reveal my whereabouts.


    When we stop at a shopping center again, I buy an analog phone, which is hard to trace. If Gorgio still manages to find out, I will be much further ahead.


    After I have eaten and packed something for the road, I quickly return to the bus. Nobody has boarded yet, so I have every opportunity to make a phone call. And of course, I know my dad¡¯s number by heart¡­.

 Don’t Tell Him

    Luna Ariel¡¯s POV


    ¡°Dad! I¡¯m so sorry I let you down.¡±


    Once again, tears streamed down my face in buckets. The feeling of shame is overwhelming, I am the daughter of the honored Alpha King and I have only caused him trouble. I must be the most talked about she-wolf in the werewolfmunity by now, and not everyone will sympathize with me.


    Dad was overjoyed when Gorgio turned out to be my mate, proudly giving his approval at our joining ceremony and expressing his deep appreciation for my mate in his speech.


    And what daughter is not happy to bring her father nothing but joy? I was also proud of myself at the time.


    Now I had entirely ruined that. My run must have embarrassed him, and now that it turns out that I have more than one mate, even enemies, I know that his life has hit rock bottom. And then it all happened in front of the King and Queen.


    ¡°No, no, my daughter. There is nothing to apologize for. This is the will of the Moon Goddess. And she does nothing without a reason,¡± I heard him yelling on the other end of the line. ¡°I understand this has taken you by surprise. I just hoped you woulde to me instead of running away from your problems. You can¡¯t always hide, Ariel.¡±


    Thest part sounds like a lecture. And he is right, of course, except that what has happened is too drastic to stand strong.Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Dad, you don¡¯t understand. I love Gorgio and we promised to be faithful to each other. I can never have another mate, Gorgio will never agree to that. This is going to be a war and I don¡¯t want to lose my mate,¡± I whispered desperately. ¡°I can¡¯t betray him, I never will,¡± I added vehemently.


    ¡°Whatever you decide, you will have to face the situation. Gorgio is mad with grief, he was here in Midnight Moon with warriors and weapons. I could barely calm him down,¡± my father sighed. ¡°How much time do you need to calm down, my child? At least, please let Gorgio know where you are. He is looking for you like a madman ¡°.


    A sob leaves my throat, I know I cause my mate much pain but I cannot help myself.


    ¡°Daddy, will you tell him that I love him and only him? That I need some time to myself and that I wille back to him as soon as I have sorted everything out for myself.  Then I will also open the mind link so that we can be in touch,¡± I told my father. ¡°I miss him so much. If only I had not gone to Midnight Moon, we would be together now.¡±


    The tears start to flow again and I throw my head against the back of the seat to calm my spirits. The pain in my chest almost strained my breathing.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I tell him. I know how connected you two are,¡± heforted me softly. ¡°I wonder what moved the Moon Goddess to pull such a stunt.¡±


    ¡°Please tell him, Dad. Tell him that the bond between us will sustain me. I feel him, his sadness and his longing, everything.¡± And now I can¡¯t hold it any longer, I burst into sobs.


    ¡°Calm down, Ariel. Get some rest ande back soon. But know that Alpha Zane is waiting for you as well. You must have an exnation for him.¡±


    There is silence for a moment. Then I sigh deeply.


    ¡°I will solve this together with Gorgio. I can assure you of that. In the meantime, I will calm down and returnter¡±. We stopped talking. I remain seated, eyes closed, trying to control my breathing. Then I searched for my wolf, Era had not spoken during the whole episode. I think she is shocked by what happened and is in a state of processing herself.


    ¡®Era, don¡¯t desert me. Please talk to me,¡¯ I begged her. ¡®I need you now more than ever.¡¯


    I feel her slowly rise and when I look into her eyes I see raw pain. I have never seen her so battered, her ears hanging low and eyes bloodshot. The shock struck me. Has my decision done this to her?


    ¡®Don¡¯t worry about me, Ariel. I will recover. It was hard to cause our mate so much distress, but we can¡¯t ignore it. Alpha Zane has a right to us too, he is our mate as much as Gorgio.¡¯ I stared	 at her in silence, not quite knowing what to say.


    Gorgio will never ept Selene¡¯s decision, that¡¯s a fact. We will cause another war that will divide the werewolf species into two camps. And that must be prevented at all costs.


    ¡®Don¡¯t worry, we¡¯ll find a solution,¡¯ my wolf cheered me on. ¡®Let¡¯s take a few days off and decide what to do. Then our minds will be cleared and we¡¯ll know exactly what we want to do.¡¯


    I nodded dumbly, watching her roll over again, trying to work out her misery on her own.


    It is always harder for a wolf to be away from her mate than it is for our human. And in this case, there are two mates. But just as she predicted, we¡¯lle to a resolution. Together with Gorgio because he is my priority. My heart is with him.


    Slowly, the passengers trickle in. The driver calls the remaining ones over the loudspeaker and then it is time to move on.


    Trying hard to control my emotions, I stared outside, watching the forests pass by. Nature has never failed to lift my spirits. And after half an hour I have myself pretty much under control again.


    And then I feel it again, pounding hard against my mind link.


    Gorgio!


    My father has delivered the message and is trying to reach me before the distance between us bes too much.


    I close my eyes and lean back in my chair, pleading for sleep. ¡­

 Someone To Love

    Luna Ariel¡¯s POV still


    The bus arrives in Miami and I get off. I look around, I¡¯ve never been here before and I don¡¯t know where to go. Then I notice a yellow taxicab approaching and I get in.


    ¡°Miss, where can I take you?¡± the driver asks politely. For a moment I hesitated, but then I was confident. ¡°To a hotel near the beach.¡± The man nods and looks at me in the rearview mirror as he drives off.


    ¡°First time in Miami? Your ent is not from here,¡± he smiles kindly at me.


    ¡°You guessed right. I¡¯m here for a holiday. Sun and fun are all I need. Can you please advise me on a few ces?¡± He pulls a leaflet out of his cupboard.


    ¡°There are plenty of things to do here. The nightlife is great, but you can also do some sightseeing. Even cruise ships dock here,¡± he says, holding the leaflet out to me. And indeed, I read all kinds of sights and activities to distract and make me rx me. Once I find a ce to stay, I will n everything well.


    To my delight, the taxi drops me off at a nice hotel with a good view of the beach. When I have checked in and am in the lift on the way to my room, that feeling of loneliness hits me again. How I wish Gorgio were here with me and we could spend this vacation together.


    I enter the room, throw my luggage on one of the two beds, and go onto the balcony. The view is stunning and as I breathe in the sea breeze, I immediately feel at ease. It is still early in the morning, so I decided to get some sleep first. The bus wasfortable by all ounts, but I couldn¡¯t really rest because of the constant pounding on my mind link. As the distance from Gorgio increased, he noticed the mind link weakening. He now only has the bond with me, which only allows him to perceive my feelings and moods, but not tomunicate in any other way.


    Sadly I look in front of me. I miss his hand caressing my face, his whispering words of love and his lips on my skin. Gorgio is my lifeline, I know I can¡¯t stay away from him for long.


    I go back into the room and lie down on the bed. The mind link is nowpletely out of action, so I concentrate on our bond. I take a deep breath and let my energy flow through it. Gorgio must be working in his office right now. And then I feel him absorb the energy and send arger amount back to me.


    Era jumps up; she can sense Xander, her wolf mate, very well now. Her eyes sparkle and she howls in my mind with happiness. She obviously feels better and stronger already. I feel well too now. Gorgio makes sure we stay strong until we are back in his arms.Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    Sleep must have overtaken me because when I wake up it is lunchtime. I get up and go out on the balcony again. I see that the weather is sunny and the beach is crowded with visitors. Just what I need, to get lost in the crowd and be myself.


    In the hotel shop, I bought a bikini with a matching cover, sunsses, a hat and a pair of beach sandals. When I am ready, I cross the street on my way to the beach. Children are running after balls, men are sitting together with drinks, chatting, while women are sunbathing bare-breasted. No one notices anyone else, everyone is doing their thing.


    With a big smile on my face, I walk over to an empty sunbed and table, ce my things there and lie down in the bare sun. Luckily I don¡¯t need any sunscreen, my skin can withstand this lukewarm sun thanks to my werewolf genes. A few vendorse by and I buy some cold drinks and snacks.


    Through my sunsses, I watch the humans, a free race that doesn¡¯t have to worry about mates or Alphas. They treat each other as equals and touch each other freely, whether they are in a rtionship or not. With us werewolves, once mated, it is impossible to sit on another wolf¡¯s body. Mates are jealous and see any physical contact as a threat. They cannot be far away from each other, so they have a mark to keep other wolves at bay.


    As if by itself, my hand goes to my mark. It tingled pleasurably and I felt a throbbing at my triangle. A bile formed in my throat, which I quickly swallowed. To cool down a bit, I decided to take a dip in the sea. Suddenly the weather changed, the sun disappeared and the clouds darkened. Many visitors hurriedly packed up and left the beach.


    I left the water and went to my lounger. Guess I will have to spend the rest of the day in the hotel. I grab my gear and walk toward a group of rocks. And that is where I see her standing.


    On the highest rock, a woman stares out at the raging waves. As I get closer and use my were-sight, I see tears streaming from her eyes. Oooh God, she doesn¡¯t want to end her life, does she?


    Without a second thought, I climb up onto the rock where she stands. The wind was blowing her blonde hair out of her face. Standing about two meters behind her, I see that she is trembling.


    ¡°This is not the right solution. Problems should never bring you down because then you y right into the hands of those who delivered them,¡± I whisper to her. ¡°Whatever is going on, you have to act bigger than it, you can master it.¡±


    There is silence for a moment before she answers.


    ¡°But I¡¯m not as strong as most people. Someone always has to take care of me, first my parents and then him. And now he has someone else, he has reced me¡±. The misery in her voice is terrible to hear. She seems to have already given up on life.


    ¡°In this life, we need weak and strong people. The strong need to take care of the weak. That is the bnce. If he doesn¡¯t want to take care of you anymore, there is always someone else who is eager to take over from him. Your life is not over because he does not honor hismitments,¡± I whisper. ¡°I challenge you to prove me wrong.¡±


    Her shoulders straighten. ¡°Why interfere with me? You don¡¯t even know me. My death won¡¯t affect you in any way, you can go on living¡±.


    ¡°Well, I think you just made a friend. Friends take care of each other. I too am weak and need my mate to take care of me. But I left him anyway,¡± I tell her. ¡°And he is looking for me because he loves me. Maybe someone loves you too, but here you are, running away, nning to do something irreversible, when so much more love is waiting for you.¡±


    And then she turns to me. ¡°Do you really think so? Would anyone love me after all?¡± she asks quietly, but full of hope.


    I smile and reach out to her¡­

 Solace

    Luna Ariel¡¯s POV still


    She¡¯s human, but I don¡¯t know what it is about her that attracts me so much.


    rita James is her name, and she caught her husband red-handed with his secretary when she wanted to surprise him with lunch.


    She has been in a rtionship with Matt since she was 18 and they have been married for three years. He has always taken care of her, even though she holds a degree in business. And she confessed that she was happy in their rtionship, felt fulfilled in her role as a homemaker. Doing the housework, cooking great meals and advising her husband on his business was all she wanted out of life.


    To me, that sounds like the perfect Luna alongside a strong Alpha, but to humans, she would be aplete loser. We werewolves don¡¯t really believe in feminism, she-wolves are owned by their mate and we have no problem with that. We are supposed to be protected by them, we are part of a pack.


    Getting involved with strangers is totally risky, but my instincts assure me that rita is safe. We are both lost in this big world but for different reasons. And yet I suspect that the Moon Goddess has brought her into my life for a reason.


    ¡°Where do you live, rita? Would you like me to take you home?¡± She shakes her head furiously.


    ¡°I never want to go there again. I feel so humiliated. But I have nowhere to go. My parents died in a car ident while on holiday in Asia, and I was an only child,¡± she says sadly. ¡°I gave their estate to Matt to invest in his business. I have nothing left. No house, no family.¡± And again I see her eyes water and her shoulders slump in defeat.


    ¡°Hey, rita, do you really think we met by chance? I believe that faith brought us together. I just don¡¯t know what the n is,¡± I tell her infort. And then I know what I have to do. ¡°Why don¡¯t youe with me? I¡¯m currently in a hotel. You can stay there until you figure out what you want or where you want to go,¡¯ I offer.


    Hearing my offer, she looks up.


    ¡°You don¡¯t know me, Ariel. Why are you taking me to your room? I could be a murderer and kill you in your sleep,¡± she asks incredulously. Iugh to myself, a human thinking it¡¯s so easy to kill a werewolf. If only she knew.


    ¡°No, I go by my instincts. Though our circumstances are different, I think we could both use a little distraction from our problems. We both need apanion in our lives right now.¡± Her mood picked up, at least her eyes had lost their desperate glow.


    ¡°I have no clothes and no money. Nothing more than what¡¯s in my handbag. Can I borrow some of your clothes? We are about the same size¡±. I took her hand and we walked back to the hotel. At the reception, I report that I have a guest and pay the extra charge.


    Now that I have a roommate, I have to organize my belongings in my room. I offered rita the extra bed and put my bag in the wardrobe. ¡°Why don¡¯t you take a hot bath? It will do for you,¡± I suggest to my new friend. ¡°Take your time.¡±


    She smiles gratefully and disappears into the bathroom. I took a dress I bought in the shop today out of a bag andy it out for rita. We¡¯ll have to go shopping tomorrow, I don¡¯t have any more clothes of my own, I realize now. I left Midnight Moon panicked, didn¡¯t have time to get my things from my room. I wanted to leave as quickly as possible.


    Then I go back to the balcony, the panorama lifts my spirits. Having heard rita¡¯s story, I realize that my problems are not the worst of all. Gorgio would never cheat on me, not only because of the bond we share as mates but also because he simply loves me as a mate and a wolf. We are deeply connected, we live for each other, we are one and indivisible. I have no doubt about that. There is no ce in my life for another, even if he is my second mate.


    rita emerges from the bathroom an entirely different person.


    Her face is now radiant and her pleasant personality radiates more than ever. I smiled as I watched her, she was wearing a hotel bathrobe. ¡°You don¡¯t mind me borrowing one, do you? There were two, so there¡¯s one left for you¡±. She waits for my response, I shake my head and point to the gown I haveid out on her bed.


    Then I get into the bath myself. I make the water in the bathtub a little warmer than I am used to.


    As I step in, I can hardly suppress a grunt of pleasure. I tie up my hair, slide under the water up to my neck and close my eyes. My body rxes, it is precisely what I needed. All the stress floods away.


    But then all sorts of images appear on my retina. Gorgio and I are on the bed, making sweet love, taking our time to explore each other¡¯s bodies. He kisses my back tenderly while his hands caress my tits. His lips moved down to my butt.


    Then suddenly two more hands appear, burying themselves in my hair, gently pulling my head up. Lips traverse my face, kissing my forehead, cheeks and nose. But as they move down to take over my mouth, Gorgio grabs the person¡¯s head and pulls it away from me. That¡¯s when I get a good look at the face. Alpha Zane!


    Horrified, I let out a stifled scream. My eyes jerked open.


    ¡°No!¡± I whisper. ¡°Never! I will never betray Gorgio.¡±


    ¡®But he is also our mate, Ariel,¡¯ I hear Era remind me.


    I feel so deserted at the moment. Era doesn¡¯t seem to be on my side either, my father thinks Alpha Zane has a right to me too. Only the one I deceived with my feelings for that damn Alpha still believes in me.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    Gorgio! My heart.


    And he does not disappoint me¡­

 I’m in charge

    Luna Ariel¡¯s POV still


    This evening I learned a lot about rita.


    She finally seems to be able to speak her mind. She talks about her childhood, her parents not returning from their umpteenth honeymoon when she was a teenager, and her marriage to Matt, her first love.


    Her parents loved each other and her dearly, her mother was a housewife and her father a businessman who earned well. They often holidayed in Asia because her mother loved the street food there. She has so many fond memories of her parents that her face lights up when she recalls them.


    It all bes different when she starts talking about Matt, her husband. When they met at a mutual friend¡¯s party, he was the perfect gentleman. They were inseparable, he even encouraged her to finish her degree, which he himself did. After three years of dating, he asked her to marry him. By then he had started his own business and was earning enough to support a family.


    He put in long hours at work and she often went there to help him.


    But then disaster struck, there was an industrial ident, and her husband had to pay the injured thousands of dors inpensation for negligence. That brought him to the brink of bankruptcy. And this was at the same time as the insurancepanies were finally ready to pay out on the policies that her parents had taken out on her behalf.


    Her husband asked her to lend him the money, which she did without hesitation. ¡°I believed in him. He was hard-working and intelligent. But little did I know that seeding was going to mess him up,¡± she says sadly. ¡°Suddenly he thought I was too ordinary. Whenever I saw him in business magazines, there was always some diva on his arm. It was like he was single. He didn¡¯t need me anymore¡±.


    She sounds dejected, but fortunately, the tears are gone.


    ¡°The first thing I did that day was go to the hairdresser. I had aplete makeover, my hair and make-up. I also took a different style of clothes, the shop ass.


    ¡°I went to the hairdresser¡¯s first thing yesterday. I had aplete makeover, my hair and make-up. I also changed the style of my clothes, the shop assistant helped me a lot,¡± she continues, trembling slightly. ¡°I had the credit card, he wouldn¡¯t even notice my purchases on his bank statement. When I checked in with the receptionist, he didn¡¯t recognize me. I went upstairs, but his secretary was not at her desk. I soon understood why. When I opened the door to his office, he was kneeling with his face between her legs, eating her out. I screamed and ran away.¡±


    For a moment there is silence, I give her the moment to control her emotions.


    ¡°It is so humiliating. Everyone in the building knew about their affair. The pitying looks told me everything,¡± she continues, trembling. ¡°I felt used and reced, it felt like I wasn¡¯t worth anything anymore.¡±


    ¡°You are worth a lot. Maybe not to him, but I am sure there is someone on this globe who longs for what you have to offer. Perhaps they have been searching for you all their lives.¡± Her eyes light up again. It is clear that she is looking for the love she has been missing since her parents died. The copse of her secure base has plunged her into uncertainty.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    ¡°You know what, let¡¯s forget our troubles and have some fun. I have never been to a bar before, but I want to try it,¡± I tell her, pulling out the leaflet the taxi driver gave me. She takes it and reads.


    ¡°Yes, I know this ce. When I was at university, I went there with some friends. It¡¯s exquisite and expensive, you only meet decent people there. Safe and no hassle,¡± she points out.


    ¡°Okay. Let¡¯s go shopping around lunchtime and then hit this club in the evening. It does look good, as described here,¡± I suggest.


    She hesitates. ¡°I don¡¯t have any clothes and I don¡¯t want to go home. And I can¡¯t ask you for a loan either, I don¡¯t have a job to be able to pay you back,¡± she exins with a hint of embarrassment. ¡°And if I use the credit card, he mighte after me and I don¡¯t want to have anything more to do with him. At least not until I file for divorce. ¡±


    I smile at her. ¡°I am not rich, but I have enough money to spend on you. There¡¯s no telling what the future holds, and you are still entitled to part of your husband¡¯spany. You can pay me backter,¡± I offer.


    She hesitates. ¡°But it may be a while before I can do that. Are you willing to wait for that long?¡±


    ¡°No problem. I¡¯m not short of money, don¡¯t worry.¡±


    I watch her as she continues to chat.


    What will my life be like in a few weeks? Will I have the courage to face Gorgio and deal with his disappointment? Will he forgive me and take me back? I know he loves me, I am his pride. But now he must be feeling betrayed. If Alpha Zane has confessed to my father that I am his mate, then the others will know as well. Almost all the packs were present at the conference.


    My own mood drops as I think of how the other Alphas will now look at Gorgio. Many are jealous of my mate¡¯s strength and that of his pack and will surely take this opportunity to mock or harass him.


    I swallow hard.


    Moon Goddess, why me? What did I do in my past life that displeased you so much that you want to punish me now?¡¯ I wonder. ¡®Even my wolf wants me to ept Alpha Zane and betray my soulmate. Why this punishment?¡¯


    ¡®Suck it up and let¡¯s go home,¡¯ Era reproaches me, ¡®Running away and hiding from our mates won¡¯t achieve anything.¡¯ I shove her into the background and m the wall shut with her.


    Thest thing I need right now is a wolf who won¡¯t stand in solidarity with me. Era adores Xander, but the mating bond forces her to ept Xander¡¯s Alpha as well.


    But she is not the one in control here.


    I am in charge, not the other way around¡­

 The Persistent One

    Still Luna Ariel¡¯s POV


    rita surprises me and even herself while shopping.


    She appears to have a refined talent for matching clothes, picking out the right jewelry and selecting the perfect shoes. Even the shop assistants are impressed by her skills. For someone who has never worked outside the house before and who ims not to be particrly fashion-conscious, she now truly seems to have a talent for picking out the appropriate style.


    As we were paying at the till, the manager walked up to her.


    ¡°If you are ever looking for a job,e join us,¡± the manager offers. ¡°We have numerous customers who are not sure which style suits them. A talented worker like you would be very wee¡±. Shyly, rita nods. ¡°I will definitely do that. Thank you for thepliment,¡± she replies.


    It is definitely meant, my new friend thinks too little of herself. And I am confident that if she takes the job, she will make it a great sess. In the end, we leave with more than we intended to buy. Just a quick stop at the salon for a manicure and pedicure and we are good to go.


    Back at the hotel, we throw ourselves on the bed. Shopping can be an exhausting activity, even though we have enjoyed it tremendously. I noticed that rita kept all her receipts, probably determined to pay me back. Another plus for her character.


    It is in the afternoon when we enter the hotel restaurant. A waiter came up to us with his eyes glued to rita. Like her, he is blond with deep blue eyes. His body is slim, but it is clear that he is a regr at the gym.


    ¡°What can I do for you today,dies?¡± the man inquires kindly, looking at rita appreciatively. She blushes like a sailor and cannot utter a word.


    ¡°A juice to start?¡± he asks her and she nods willingly. When he manages to tear his eyes away from her, he raises his eyebrows and I gesture to him that I want one too.


    And then he hands the menu to rita first. She was so shocked that she couldn¡¯t grasp it properly and it slipped from her hands to the floor.


    ¡°Aahh, forgive me,¡± she whispers ufortably, bowing to the floor at the same time as the waiter. I put a hand over my mouth to keep from bursting outughing at her expression. Come on, she said she was at college and went to parties. I¡¯m sure she got a lot of attention from the guys.C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org.


    ¡°Hi, I¡¯m Ivan. What¡¯s your name?¡± the man asks gently. rita shakes her head. ¡°I¡¯m married, sorry,¡± she replies quickly. The man¡¯s eyes wander to the left hand, where there is no ring. A nerve in his neck twitches, his eyes go cold, but he remains silent.


    ¡°What would you like for dinner? Our special today is a seafood mix with exotic vegetables, mashed potatoes and Bulgur. We have a special brand of sauce,¡± he says now soberly.


    We choose the special, after which Ivan leaves.


    ¡°He didn¡¯t believe you. He looked at your fingers. Where is your wedding ring?¡± I asked her. She stares at her hand herself now. ¡°I threw it away after I caught him. It wasn¡¯t worth anything anyway, it was all a lie¡±.


    ¡°The waiter was obviously trying to get a date with you. But now he thinks you lied.¡±


    ¡°No men for me at the moment. I have just decided to divorce my husband. I need to take a break and think about what I want to do with my life going forward,¡± she exins. ¡°Maybe I should seriously consider the shop manager¡¯s offer. A job is exactly what I need. But first and foremost, I need some time to sort out my future.


    A waitress brings our drinks and we sip thirstily.


    ¡°This is good. Going from one hand to the other can be quite a mistake,¡± I advise her. ¡°I want to stay here for a few days and then move on. Maybe go on a cruise. I¡¯ve always dreamed of doing that.¡±


    ¡°A cruise is great. It¡¯s been a long time since I¡¯ve done one. Since my parents died, actually. It¡¯s a great experience,¡± she enthuses. For a moment I caught a glimpse of despondency in her gaze.


    She is probably thinking about being alone in the world again in a few days.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t youe with me? You said you needed some time to think about what to do next? And I could use somepany. This is my first time traveling alone.¡±


    ¡°Really? Are you sure about that?¡± sounds almost childish. A broad smile spreads across her face. ¡°I would love to. I was afraid of being lonely and eventually sumbing to the urge to go back to Matt,¡± she admits honestly.


    ¡°Then it is agreed. Let¡¯s hurry. We can get some rest before we go to the club.¡± Half an hourter we are back in our bedroom. We rest for a few hours before getting ready for our night out. I want to be around people as much as possible and get my mind off my problems. Of course, I am aware that this is a postponement, but not a reprieve.


    Not only rita, but I too will soon have to decide what to do with my life.


    As we leave the hotel, I can sense that we are being watched. I can clearly feel the gaze on us, but the person is hiding. I shrug my shoulders and get into a taxi with my friend.


    When we arrive at the club, it is packed.


    Indecisive, we stand at a distance and watch as the people jostle to get a seat in the club.


    ¡°This way,dies,¡± I suddenly hear a familiar voice next to us.


    We turn to see none other than Ivan standing there.


    ¡°Come with me, we¡¯ll go through the VIP entrance,¡± he replies, his eyes fixed on rita again.


    Hmmm, does Ivan really believe that the persistent one always wins?¡­

 A Snitch

    Still Luna Ariel¡¯s POV


    rita turns to me with a look as if she is asking for my permission to follow the man.


    I nod and we walk behind Ivan to a door at the back of the building. A security guard is standing there, giving him a bro hug and holding the door open.


    ¡°Del ¡­ hmmm ¡­ Mr. Ivan, how nice of you to visit us again. It¡¯s been a long time,¡± the guard exims, giving us a quick nce. ¡°You¡¯re here with thedies. Have fun, my friend¡±. The door closes behind us with a loud bang. We walk down a corridor with colored spotlights until we reach a double ss door.N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go to my VIP lounge. You will have a good view from there and can sitfortably until you decide to go out on the dance floor,¡± he offers. We smile gratefully and he leads us to a strategic corner where there is a soft couch and a tea table.


    Once we are seated, a waiter walks up to us and we all order a drink.


    ¡°Do youe here often, Ivan? The workers seem to know you very well,¡± I start the conversation. The man¡¯s face is tight, I think he is still offended that rita turned him down. Atst, he looked straight at me, his eyes were on my friend all the time.


    ¡°Only when my work allows it. The restaurant is often very busy, the hotel is in an excellent location, so we have many guests,¡± he replies. Looking into his eyes, I see a hint of displeasure. I wonder why, it¡¯s the first time this man has spoken to me directly, we don¡¯t know each other.


    Oooh well, maybe I¡¯m wrong.


    ¡°Yes, and the service is good. The food was beyond expectations, by the way,¡± Iplimented him.


    ¡°How long are you nning to stay?¡± I ponder my answer, my instincts warned me to keep him in the dark. ¡°Well, as long as Miami has something to offer. We are on holiday and still have a lot of leisure time,¡± I tell him.


    ¡°Hmmm, well, wee to Miami. We have a lot to offer. But I¡¯m sure there¡¯s no ce like home. What city are you from, actually?¡± he asks, taking a sip of his whiskey.


    ¡°New York,¡± I say vaguely, ¡°but rita is from here. And thanks for the wee. At least you saved us from a long queue to get in. And here we are in a VIP lounge, no less.¡±


    He chuckles, but before he can say anything, a man steps up. The men exchange a few words before Ivan turns back to me. ¡°Excuse me, Miss Ariel, rita. I¡¯ll be right back.¡± And a momentter he was gone.


    I looked after him, there was definitely something going on with this Ivan. For a moment he seemed to have forgotten rita in our conversation. To think he had been courting her just seconds before. Besides, I can¡¯t detect any scent on him, he doesn¡¯t even smell like a human.


    Why did he just call me Miss Ariel when he called rita by her name? Then again, I never told him my name. And didn¡¯t the guard almost slip up when he mentioned Ivan?


    Oooh well, I guess it¡¯s all coincidence. He might have checked our names with the receptionist. When he saw no ring on rita¡¯s finger, he must have thought she was a liar and checked the information she gave him.


    ¡®I don¡¯t trust that scum, Ariel,¡¯ I hear Era say. ¡®Keep an eye on him, girl.¡¯


    rita sits quietly next to me, listening to Ivan¡¯s conversation. ¡°Ariel, he¡¯s a waiter. How can he afford a VIP lounge in an expensive ce like this? Only the hotel manager could do that, but even on thepany¡¯s ount,¡± she whispers to me. ¡°I don¡¯t trust him. We have to get out of hispany. We don¡¯t need him anymore¡±.


    I scan our surroundings, and indeed, everything here screams luxury that only the rich can afford. A waiter¡¯s sry is far too low to even buy an entrance ticket frequently.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go to the dance floor and leave from there. We can always go to another club. Let¡¯s not let some pimp spoil our night,¡± I whisper to her.


    Ivan returns with the man in tow.


    ¡°Miss Ariel, rita, this is Roel. I thought he could keep uspany, so we made two pairs,¡± he exins. ¡°Is that all right with you?¡± he asks like a perfect gentleman.


    ¡°Of course. Hi, Roel. Nice of you to join us¡±, rita enthusiastically extends her hand to the neer, causing Ivan to frown. I smile secretly at her act of revenge on Ivan.


    ¡°rita and I are going to hit the dance floor and thene back for you,¡± I dere with a twinkle in my eye to the men. They seem to understand, probably assuming we are lesbians. I put an arm around my friend¡¯s shoulder and pull her closer to me as we head for the dance floor.


    Luckily she ys along. To avoid arousing their suspicions, I make sure not to dance out of the men¡¯s line of sight. And yes, they are watching us as we swing to the popr Afrobeat. I see the men bowing to each other and whispering.


    As the marked Luna of a powerful Alpha, mixed with the ancient bloodline of the Alpha King, my hearing is sharper than the average werewolf¡¯s. I stretch it to the limit so that I can hear the whispering of the two men in the distance.


    ¡°We only need the Luna. What do we do with the other one, the human female?¡± questions Roel.


    ¡°We¡¯ll just set her loose somewhere and fill her pockets with money she can¡¯t exin. She¡¯ll never go to the police. Then we¡¯ll contact Zane, he¡¯ll want to pay us a good price for his bitch. He knows we can sell her to the other Alpha,¡± Ivan replies. Gone is the gentleman.


    I keep my face in the crease with all my might.


    These are werewolves, they have managed to disguise their scent perfectly. That¡¯s why I couldn¡¯t smell anything with Ivan. And they work for Alpha Zane! I have to get out of here, no matter what.


    ¡°rita, the men are up to no good. We have to go now,¡± I say softly in her ear, my face is all smiles.


    ¡°OK, we dance a bit more to the middle of the floor, as the beat gets choppier. And then we¡¯re off,¡± I nod and we move on, watching the men out of the corner of my eye.


    And then their attention shifts as a waitress passes by.


    I quickly pull rita with me and we squeeze through the noisy crowd until we reach the door. We shove the people roughly to the side as we make our way out of the club. A taxi just dropped off a group and we jumped in.


    ¡°To the bus station, quick,¡± I urge the driver, who doesn¡¯t hesitate.


    ¡°Our stuff is still at the hotel. Our clothes¡­¡± rita protests weakly. All my personal belongings are in my bag. All that is left at the hotel are the purchases we made, and they are all receable.


    ¡°Leave them there. We¡¯ll buy new ones,¡± I sigh.


    And when we arrive at the terminal, we quickly buy a ticket for one of the big buses.


    Half an hourter, we are on our way west, Arkansas is our new holiday destination..,

 Intervention

    Alpha Zane¡¯s POV


    ¡°You lost track of her? Wasn¡¯t she with you? And the club was busy, how did she go unseen? Damn it!¡± I can barely contain my anger and m my fist down hard on the table. Only yesterday my Delta Ivan told me he had located Ariel.


    She had even checked into one of our hotels in Miami. Ivan had acted as if he were the restaurant manager and, so as not to look suspicious, had pretended to be impressed by the woman in herpany. Everything went smoothly, the n was to drug her in the busy club and take her on my private Jet to Midnight Moon. The Jet was already on its way to Miami.


    And these two fools, whom I pay a hefty sry, let her go, she escaped their notice. And with so many scents around, they obviously couldn¡¯t track her right away. When they finally caught up with the taxi driver who had picked up the women, he revealed that he had taken them to a bus station where up to 20 buses leave for all over America.


    The Goddess knows how happy I was when Ivan first told me he had found her. I had organized a big wee party for her here at Midnight Moon, and my Luna would know right away how much the pack already loved her. And then I would woo her and beg her to give our mating a chance. But all that fell apart because of these two losers in front of me.Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    w stops me from ripping their heads off.


    I am so far behind Gorgio, who has been with her for a year. Damn it, these guys never get anything done! The bond between us is vague, but on several asions, I have felt her draw strength from Gorgio to lift her spirits. Heforts and strengthens her when she needs it, proving his love to her from afar. I want to do the same for her, if only she¡¯ll give me the chance. Their exchange triggers her bond with me, but I cannot be part of their bond because they have marked each other.


    ¡°Zane, she was gone before we knew it. I think she sensed what we were up to. I was still so careful,¡± Ivan interrupts the rollercoaster in my head. ¡°After she left Miami, we sensed other werewolves in town. They weren¡¯t from Midnight Moon, so Alpha Gorgio got on her trail too.¡±


    I expected that. The man will not rest until he has her back. He will go to extremes because he knows I want to be ahead of him. If I find Ariel and bring her back to my pack, Gorgio will have toe to terms with sharing her with me. That is what the Moon Goddess has decided, and I am at peace with it, as long as I have my mate with me.


    My ws and fangs extend, I am so pissed at these worthless wolves. As soon as they open their mouths, bad newses out.


    ¡°Calm down, Zane. Control yourself. I¡¯m sure we¡¯ll find her, you just need to know how to keep your cool¡±. My Beta Eric grabs me by the shoulders. ¡°If the Moon Goddess has meant her for you, you will get her. But for now, you have to stay calm. Let¡¯s think about how to find her again. I have updated all our informants in the various states.¡±


    Dejected, I stare at my Beta. ¡°She could be anywhere in America. Where do we look now?¡± I hold my head, this is all too much.


    ¡°And she¡¯s having fun, going to clubs, while I¡¯mnguishing here, pining for her. She doesn¡¯t feel the bond, the urgent desire to be with her mate, with me. Has her wolf died?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s only one way to end this, Zane. I bet Alpha Gorgio is stressed too, he thinks he will lose his mate to you. You need to meet and make arrangements so that you both settle down,¡± Eric points out. ¡°The way things are going, it looks like a race to find her first. And that can only lead to her running further away and finding more ways to be harder to find¡±.


    I run my hand over my face. Eric is absolutely right, but I have doubts that Gorgio is open-minded enough for apromise. And I can¡¯t me him, he has more to lose than I do. He is marked and mated to Ariel, their bond is already forged and strong.


    ¡°Call Alpha King Petric and organize the meeting in his pack. Gorgio is erratic at the moment. I think we can only count on his word if the Alpha King intervenes.¡± I instruct my Beta. Then I turn and leave my study, no longer able to face my Delta and my warrior.


    I run out of the packhouse towards the forest. Without bothering to take off my clothes, I shift in midair with an enraged growl. w needs this run badly, he feels rejected by Ariel. He doesn¡¯t understand why she ran away from us when he wanted to cuddle her and make love to her. Wolves do not understand the reasoning of her human side.


    He speeds through the forest like a maniac, the small animals fearfully giving way to him.


    All his frustration and despair are reflected in this run. He has been without his mate for three days now and it makes him anxious. Sharing Ariel is not what he wants, but if that is the only way to have her with him, he is willing to ept that.


    It is hourster when we return to the packhouse. The tension in the pack is palpable, everyone can feel through the pack bond that their Alpha is out of his normal routine. The news of Ariel being their Luna, but also of Eclipse Howl, has spread through the pack like wildfire.


    As I shift, I see Eric standing there in a sweater and boxers.


    Nudity is not a problem in the pack, but I keep it to a minimum.


    ¡°Go to bed early and try to get some rest. Tomorrow we will have a solution. The Alpha King is getting ready and then we¡¯ll sort everything out. Okay?¡± I nod to my Beta and take the stairs two at a time.


    In my apartment, I go straight into the bathroom for a revitalizing bath.


    As I fill the tub, I look at myself in the mirror.


    I have really got myself into a bit of a mess. And with my archenemy, an Alpha wildly known for his intolerance¡­

 Come Back

    Again Alpha Zane¡¯s POV


    I sink into the warm water, my head back against the wall.


    With my eyes closed I concentrate hard, the bond between Ariel and me is still weak as our wolves have not yet epted each other. It takes a lot of energy, but with my Alpha strength I can slowly break through.


    We cannotmunicate verbally, but I can let her feel my moods. Happiness, longing, andck I convey to her and I notice that she is startled. She probably didn¡¯t think I would be able to reach her. But I can feel the bond strengthening again. If I¡¯m to believe my Delta, she left Miami by bus, so it could be that she¡¯s moving closer to New York again.


    I have to act fast because this could all change if she changes direction again.


    ¡®Come back to me, mate. It is impossible to escape the fate of the Moon Goddess. Come and let usplete the mating process. I¡¯ll be waiting,¡¯ I whisper. ¡®Selene, please bring her back. I long for her so much, I have waited for her for so long.¡¯


    I feel a shock wave pass through the connection. Was she able to perceive my words after all? We have no mind link, has the bond reced it?Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡®Concentrate more. Take a deep breath and try again,¡¯ I hear w urging. Without wasting any time, I mentally enter the bond again. And then I see a vision of her, Ariel. She is sitting in a bus, her eyes also closed. The contours of her beautiful face and the longshes resting on her cheek are the first things I notice. The same goes for her wless skin, which contrasts beautifully with her pitch-ck curly hair and her full lips, which I just want to devour.


    And naturally, my gaze goes lower. She is wearing a sexy red jumper with a low neckline. With her head against the backrest, her neck ispletely exposed. The fabric of her clothes is pulled down slightly, revealing a tanned breast just above the nipple.


    I lose myself in this image. A hot wave shoots from my stomach to my balls, making my dick rise slowly and hard. Goddess, this is too much. I want her in my arms so badly that it hurts. ¡®Selene, why this agony?¡¯ I growl desperately. I hold the image of her breast and wrap a hand around my stiff cock.


    My tongue licks my lips as I slowly run my hand up and down my rod. I imagine my tongue running over this nipple as I hold my rod in front of her entrance. With a throaty growl, I bury myself in a fluid thrust with my hip, deep inside her. And as my lips move up to capture her mouth, I increase my speed and fill herpletely with my thick cock.


    I have pressed her legs against her side so that I can go as deep as possible as I ram into her, seeking our mutual climax. Not long after, with a loud growl of pleasure, I pour my seed into her delicious pussy and press her closer to me.


    Goddess, I¡¯m dying here! This is breathtaking.


    Feeling my warm sperm flow over my hand, my eyes shoot open. Damn, it was all a dream, my Luna is still far away from me. Frustrated, I wash up and get out of the tub. In my bedroom I dive into bed, my Beta is right, a few hours of rest will clear my head.


    But when I fall asleep, the thoughts of her still haunt me. Her warm mouth and wonderfully soft skin against mine overwhelm my dreams. I writhe in my bed, moaning her name, but my arms remain empty.


    ¡®We have to get her, Zane, whatever it takes. We¡¯re going mad,¡¯ w exims in my head. I wake up drenched in sweat and realize I¡¯ve cum on the bed. What is going on, I have never let myself go like this before. Of course, I am no longer a virgin, but I used to be able to control my lust perfectly.


    There was no point in trying to sleep any longer. I get out of bed, put on a pair of ck jeans and a shirt that I roll up to the elbows. As I leave the room I hear my Beta in the mind link.


    ¡®Zane, are you awake? I have some good news.¡¯


    ¡®Spill it quickly, Beta,¡¯ I order him.


    ¡®The Alpha King has agreed to mediate between you and Alpha Gorgio. He also believes that the Luna will not return until youe to an agreement, and he has convinced the Alpha of this as well.¡¯


    Good news atst!


    ¡®When do we leave? I want to finish this as soon as possible. Eric, you don¡¯t know how much I miss my mate. She¡¯s on my mind all the time, I can¡¯t think straight.¡¯


    I hear him chuckle, my Beta is still unmated so he can hardly understand what I am feeling right now.


    ¡®Well, well. Is someone not lovesick? I never thought I¡¯d see you like this, Alpha. You¡¯re always so reserved. Nice work by the Luna¡¯.


    I roll my eyes, knowing that the day of my revenge ising.


    ¡®How do we leave and when?¡¯ I ask him.


    ¡®We¡¯ll take the chopper. It¡¯s faster than on the road. We just bought thetest luxury model. Arriving in one will surely impress your father-inw,¡¯ heughs tauntingly. ¡®Knowing Alpha Gorgio, he won¡¯t fail to show everyone how well he can take care of his Luna¡¯.


    I quicken my pace and a few secondster I am standing opposite Eric on the veranda. The Maserati is waiting to take us to the airstrip.


    A sense of relief fills me. Finally a big step closer to my runaway mate. Now if only Gorgio would cooperate and our n would seed. He really has no choice, the man is not going to insult his father-inw.


    ¡®Dad, I¡¯m leaving for Blue Blood with my Beta and Head Warrior. Private business,¡¯ I tell my father. Now that all three of us are out of the pack, he will have to take over in my absence. I have kept my parents out of this matter to protect them from disappointment. They, too, are eagerly awaiting my mate, and I don¡¯t want to raise their expectations. When everything is settled and Ariel arrives at Midnight Moon, I will exin our journey to them.


    ¡®Private? What could that be, son?¡¯ His voice sounds hopeful, I know what he is thinking.


    ¡®Update you soon. Promised¡¯. Together with my men, I board the Heli, heading for the meeting that will further define my life¡­

 A Proposal

    Alpha Gorgio¡¯s POVC0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org.


    I couldn¡¯t refuse when Ariel¡¯s father, Alpha King Petric, called and invited me to a meeting at his pack. Alpha Zane had asked him to mediate, the man wanted to work out arrangements with me in this triangr mating. Like my father-inw, he believes Ariel wille back when she knows we have reached an agreement and we all ept that we are now both mated to her.


    Alpha Zane is obviously disillusioned.


    I have no intention of sharing Ariel with anyone. She is mine, the Moon Goddess blessed and ratified our mating at the Joining Ceremony. Selene created me as I am now, with all my character and habits. And she knew I would never agree to share my mate, now or ever.


    I am capable of waging war if necessary, even challenging that wretched Alpha to keep my mate. He¡¯ll keep his ws off her if he knows what¡¯s good for him. Either way, Alpha Zane won¡¯t live. I am damn sure Ariel will stay with me and reject this mating as well. And to put an end to his im, I will have to kill him so that he does not remain a thorn in my side.


    I am now in my private Jet on my way to Blue Blood.


    Nothing will change my position. My arrival is a formality, out of respect for my mate¡¯s father and the office of Alpha King. He, too, is well aware that he cannot force me to consent to anything. The Were-Laws are clear when ites to mates. eptance is voluntary for all parties involved and there should be absolutely no coercion.


    And as soon as I have managed to persuade Ariel toe back into my arms, I will ask her to reject Alpha Zane without dy so that I can challenge and kill him. His stubbornness will be his doom, he should have known that I am not to be trifled with. Not business-wise, and even more so concerning my mate. Everyone in the werewolfmunity knows how much I treasure this ck-haired angel, and I will never give her up.


    She has been away from me for four days now. Four hard days and exhausting nights. I¡¯ve hardly slept a wink, I just can¡¯t manage without her warmth against me. I need her scent, her small hands on me, caressing my body.


    So sure she misses me too. I give her all the time she needs to get over the trauma, I know she was shocked when she realized Alpha Zane had a im on her. I just need to protect her wherever she is, to stop the Alpha from taking her to his pack.


    ¡°Alpha, how do we deal with Zane insisting on taking Luna Ariel? We need a n.¡± Alvin looks at me expectantly, still struggling with the guilt of losing sight of Ariel.


    ¡°Let¡¯s wait and see what the n is first,¡± my Beta Jace chimes in. ¡°Alpha Zane has the upper hand now that Gorgio used him of kidnapping and he was able to prove his innocence. I am sure he is full of himself now and overestimates his abilities. My wolf tells me he is in for a big surprise.¡±


    Yeah, trust Dexter on this, that wolf has never been on the wrong side. And if he says so, then we can only expect a good result.


    The Jetnded and I got out confidently, my sunsses perched on my nose.


    In the distance, my father-inw is waiting for me with a broad smile. I bridged the gap between us with big steps and embraced him.


    ¡°Father, I wish I had arrived back here under better circumstances,¡± I tell him wearily. ¡°I am so in need of Ariel. I hope shees back soon, her absence is draining my energy¡±.


    He nods understandingly. ¡°I can well imagine it is. That is why it is so important that you coborate with Alpha Zane¡¯s n. Once my daughter knows there is no enmity between you, she will have no reason to stay away,¡± he pleads. ¡°You have very little choice at this point, Gorgio. The longer she stays away, the weaker you and your pack will be. You need your Luna. But so does Midnight Moon. Alpha Zane struggles with the same problem¡±.


    I stifle my resentment at hearing that name. Shouldn¡¯t my father-inw be loyal to me instead of the Alpha? After all, I¡¯m the one to whom he entrusted his daughter.


    Silently, I walked with him to the waiting car.


    ¡°Alpha Zane is already here. We can go straight to the meeting room,¡± he tells me. I nod to my Beta. Although I would have liked to deliver the gifts I¡¯ve brought for my mother-inw myself, I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll get the chance. So Jace will have to do the honors and hand them over quickly before rejoining me.


    A few minutester, I stepped through the doors of the room with my Head Warrior. Alpha King Petric takes a seat at the head of the table and I sit down opposite him. Alpha Zane and two of his men nk him, while Alvin sits to my right.


    After a brief introduction as to why he has called us together, my father-inw turns to Alpha Zane.


    ¡°Alpha, present us your proposal. I just hope it is realistic and does not cause more disorder,¡± he holds out to the man. Bored, I looked at the trio from Midnight Moon.


    Then he dares to face me.


    ¡°Alpha Gorgio, I know it¡¯s hard and it will take some time to get used to sharing your Luna with me. But the Moon Goddess has decided and we must bow to her,¡± he begins solemnly. When I remain silent, he continues.


    ¡°I have a proposal. And it¡¯s all to give Ariel a sense of peace that her mates will get along and that our mating will not have the drastic consequences of a war¡±.


    He clears his throat.


    ¡°I suggest we merge our packs and build one big pack house where the three of us will live. That way we both have our mate close by. Our territories border each other, so we can build it half on your and mynd as soon as Ariel returns.¡± He looks at me expectantly, but I remain silent.


    ¡°You¡¯ve had Ariel with you for a whole year. To get her used to me, I suggest she stay at Midnight Moon while we build our new house. Of course, you are always wee there.¡±


    Does this Alpha really think he is smarter than me? Does he really expect me to allow another wolf to touch my mate?


    ¡°My foot!¡± I roar thunderously and confidently!


    Everyone jumps up in terror, even the furniture in the room bounces¡­

 A Sister Like Alexis

    Again Alpha Gorgio¡¯s POV


    Furiously, I jump to my feet again.


    The chair copses behind me. I shift partially, my wsing out. This Alpha owes his life today to our host, the father of my mate. In any other case or ce, if he had dared to suggest this bullshit to my face, I would have crushed the scum to death. Look at him, even thinking about sleeping with my woman for a whole month! Xander is so ready to get down to business.


    ¡°Try putting your paws on my mate and see what I¡¯m capable of! I challenge you, Alpha Zane,¡± I snarl viciously. ¡°You fool! Did you really think I would agree to this shit? Do I look like a pimp to you? You didn¡¯t even have toe out of your house with that shit proposal.¡±


    My Beta Jace is also infuriated. ¡°Alpha Zane, I speak on behalf of my pack, Eclipse Howl,¡± he rumbles. ¡°The disrespect you showed our Luna today will not go unpunished. I swear to you that we will avenge our Luna¡¯s honor. You have just made a grave mistake¡±.


    ¡°Alphas!¡± interrupts Alpha King Petric with all his authority. ¡°It was just a suggestion. If you have a better one, we¡¯d like to hear it, Gorgio. And of course, we will hear Ariel¡¯s opinion as soon as she returns¡±.


    I jerk my head towards him and catch a glimpse of respect in his eyes. From the looks of it, he is not happy with the situation either, but he is also obliged to look after Alpha Zane¡¯s interests. As Alpha King, he must resolve disputes as neutrally as possible.


    ¡°My counter suggestion is for Alpha Zane to forget about my mate and look for a second chance mate. He may as well try the option of a chosen mate,¡± I say snidely. ¡°There are other Alphas who have done it and it works perfectly.


    The man shakes his head, indicating his disagreement with my suggestion. He probably has a dead wish or his soul is already walking beside him.


    ¡°I¡¯m not giving up on her. Alpha Gorgio, we gain nothing by questioning Selene¡¯s decision. The sooner you ept the situation, the sooner Ariel will be here with us. Her arrival is entirely dependent on your willingness to share her with me, as the Moon Goddess has indicated,¡¯ the loser stresses.


    Right there I lose it.


    In an instant, I am in front of him, my face in his.N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    ¡°Get this through your head, Ariel is mine and mine alone. No one, not even you, can touch her. My Luna is beyond everyone¡¯s reach,¡± I bite to his face.


    ¡°If she loved you so much, she wouldn¡¯t have been out having fun in a clubst night, Alpha Gorgio,¡± he snaps, ¡°She doesn¡¯t miss you, she seems to enjoy her freedom. You are already forgotten, you no longer exist for her¡±.


    I¡¯d be lying if I said this statement didn¡¯t hurt. The man managed to hit me hard. In fact, my trackers reported that they had spotted her in a club where she was enjoying a drink with two men and a woman.


    But I do not begrudge this scum the triumph of sessfully getting back to me.


    ¡°My Luna is loyal to me. Wherever she is. We are in daily contact through our bond¡±. I throw open my cor, so he can see the mark on my neck. The mark of possession my lover has left on my body.


    ¡°Do you know what this is, Alpha Zane? This is her im she couldn¡¯t wait to put on me. With this, she has bound me to her forever. It is a deration of her love for me. That is all I need.¡± And now I see him shrink with jealousy as he stares at my mark. I cannot feel a drop of pity for him.


    ¡°Do yourself a favor and find a second chance at a chosen mate. Ariel will never be yours, she has already made her choice¡±.


    And with that, the meeting is over for me. Out of respect, I put my hands together and bow slightly to the Alpha King. With my Beta and Head Warrior in tow, I leave the room.


    But then I bump into someone I hadpletely forgotten in the heat of the circumstances.


    Alexis!


    Ariel¡¯s younger sister and best friend. She has a finger to her lips as a warning for me to be quiet. Then she beckons me to follow her. We hurry through the hallways until she points to a door and we enter.


    Once inside, she threw herself into my arms. ¡°Gorgio! How d I am to see you here. I feared I would have to find a good excuse to visit you at Eclipse Howl¡±. She sounds relieved.


    I hug her lightly. ¡°Alexis, you have grown considerably in a year. I am also d to see that you are doing well,¡± she pulls away from me swiftly. ¡°Listen, I heard about what happened to you. And I don¡¯t want Alpha Zane near my sister either, I¡¯m sure she fled because of him,¡± she hints. ¡°I know how to find her and I know how to keep the Alpha away. I have a n.¡±


    Frowning, I look at the girl in front of me. She seems a little too young to be involved in such disputes. ¡°How old are you, Alexis? Do you already have a mate?¡± She giggles at my question.


    ¡°Seventeen and single. I still have a few months before I turn eighteen, but I am not looking forward to a mate. I still have a lot to do before I settle down.¡± I smile, knowing that she and Ariel have been up to all sorts of mischief and sometimes go partying in other packs. They are really attached.


    ¡°And what is your n? Is it good enough for the adults to hear?¡± I tease her. But to my surprise, her face turns grave. And then I listen to her n.


    When she has finished her exnation, Jace, Alvin and I are staring at her with our mouths agape.


    ¡°Have you been spending too much time reading action and thriller novelstely, Alexis? Do you honestly think this n has a chance of seeding?¡±


    ¡°I believe in it. I¡¯m on board.¡± I hear Jace cuts in¡­

 No Going Back

    Alpha Zane¡¯s POV


    Midnight Moon is buzzing with activity.


    My pack members are pulling out all the stops to wee their Luna as a queen and to shower her with plenty of love. Many already know her, her mating with Gorgio was widely reported in the werewolf live stream media and most discussed on social media.


    Until now, I cannot believe that she was actuallying. Especially after Gorgio¡¯s outburst and threats. I had already prepared myself for a tough battle to win my Luna, maybe even petition the Council. With the King and Queen as witnesses, I would certainly win the case. And the consequences would be very unpleasant for all of us since everything would be widely noted in the press. Maybe even spiced up for the thrill or high sales.


    So, when Alpha King Petric informed me two days after the failed meeting that Ariel had agreed to move to Midnight Moon, I couldn¡¯t believe my ears.


    However, there are conditions attached to her arrival, which she will go through with me once she gets here. And I already know: All her conditions will be epted. Having her beside me here in Midnight Moon is all that matters and more than I could have ever dreamed of.


    I have heard nothing from Gorgio since that dreadful day.


    Looks like the man vanished from the face of the earth. My scouts indicated that he has left Eclipse Howl for an unknown destination, most likely hiding out in Human Town. Surely, he is busy licking his stinking wounds from all that guff the other day. It¡¯s called, pridees before a fall.


    But I am sure he will have to reappear one day, we need to make arrangements to continue this rtionship. And since he haspleted the mating process, his wolf will weaken if he is away from Ariel for too long. Besides, his pack cannot remain adrift forever, a Beta cannot hold the position indefinitely.


    Well, I¡¯ll leave the matter with Gorgio until he decides to show up again. It was his decision to put up such a strong resistance. And now he muste to terms with the inevitable.


    ¡°Son, you make me really proud today. Finally the pack gets another Luna, we have been looking forward to this day for ages.¡± My father ps me on the shoulder with a big smile on his face. I haven¡¯t seen him gloat like this for a long time. My mother is running around somewhere in the packing house like crazy, making sure everything is ready in time for Ariel¡¯s arrival.


    ¡°Dad, I¡¯m so happy. I¡¯ve been going through a rough patch, Gorgio hasn¡¯t been very cooperative. To be honest, I¡¯m still surprised that he¡¯s allowing her toe here now, and even on her own, you know how possessive he is.¡±


    I cast another nce at the bare sky, even though it will be at least two hours before the Jet arrives with Ariel.


    ¡°Perhaps the Moon Goddess has softened his heart, or the Alpha King has brought him to his senses,¡± my father spectes. ¡°The mate bond is difficult to understand. Ariel would sumb to the pull in no time anyway, and her wolf would drive her to you. That¡¯s the way mating works, once you¡¯ve met there¡¯s no going back.¡±


    His words do me so much good, the very thought of Ariel throwing herself into my arms out of pure lust almost makes my heart pound out of my chest. Never before have I desired a woman so badly. I must find a way to bind her to me so that Gorgio has no chance of ever taking her from me.


    Perhaps I should impregnate her on our first night together.


    Gorgio would be bloody jealous if she carried my pup. In the year he had her all to himself, he failed to get her to give birth to his cub. His loss. And that¡¯s the Alpha who¡¯s looking down on me and calling me all sorts of names.


    ¡°I made Gorgio a fair offer, but he brushed it off. When hees around, I hope we¡¯ll be able to talk it over calmly,¡± I sigh. ¡°The man is so irrational. He speaks before he thinks and see what hase of it. Ariel will be mine after all.¡±


    My chest swells with pride.


    ¡°And what was it you proposed to him?¡± my father wants to know.


    ¡°That all three of us live together under one roof. That way, he and I don¡¯t have to fight for our mate¡¯s favor. And she doesn¡¯t have to travel between Eclipse Howl and here,¡± I exin. ¡°Our packs are next to each other. A new packhouse seems like the best solution.¡±N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    Dad looks skeptical, I can tell he doesn¡¯t really like my n. But thank God he keeps quiet because this is not the best time to talk about this. My Luna ising home today, this is a joyous asion.


    Eric joins us, the big smile that has been on his face for the whole day. Ever sincest night, all he can talk about is the Luna we will finally have in the pack. We drank to it, and Kensley even started singing our pack¡¯s credo out loud, to everyone¡¯s amusement. My dad was there too.


    Eric is seemingly more excited about Ariel¡¯s arrival than I am. I swear, if he once again repeats that Luna ising today, I throw him off the balcony.


    I give him a warning look.


    ¡°Man, you can¡¯t me me, I¡¯m so happy that ¡­¡±. My father quickly covered my Beta¡¯s mouth. Gosh, was he going to say that one phrase for the umpteenth time? What will it be like when Ariel is finally standing in front of him?


    As if by agreement, we burst intoughter at the same time. Shaking my head, I walk away from the two most important men in my life. I ran into my apartment to get ready for the arrival of the woman of my heart, my mate.


    Nothing must go wrong today.


    Ariel must get convinced that her decision to ept me was the right one. I will make her so happy that she will never want to leave¡­

 She Arrived

    Alpha Zane¡¯s POV


    My heart pounds as I watch the jeting closer.


    The emblem of the Alpha King¡¯s office is clearly visible on the fusge. I smile, the man is sending his daughter to her mate in style, I wouldn¡¯t have done it any other way.


    I nced at the decorations the women of the pack had put up. The path is lined with the most beautiful flowers and there is an arch of fresh lilies. Two men wereying a red carpet for her. All the best for the Luna of Midnight Moon.


    And when the pilot finallynds the ne and opens the door, she steps out. There she was, as stunning as I remembered her. Naturally, I visited her social media ounts and searched for information about her online. She had always kept a low profile until she was mated to Gorgio. Her Facebook wall is full of pictures of the two of them together, during their joining and Luna ceremony, hand in hand during pack holidays, dancing with Gorgio and all sorts of intimate moments captured. In almost all of them, she is with the Alpha, hanging on his arm or leaning against his chest as he cuddles her. I had to fight back my jealousy at the sight of all this.


    But here she is, ready toe into my arms too. She will notck for attention and warmth, I have so much to give her. I can¡¯t take my eyes off her as she stands there on the tform like the princess she is. Selene really broke the mold when she made Ariel.


    I walk towards the stairs, with Eric hot on my heels. Smiling, I look up at her.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    ¡°Ariel, wee to Midnight Moon. We have all been looking forward to your arrival, we are overjoyed to have you with us,¡± I greet her emotionally, holding out my hand. She has a slight smile on her lips and her eyes are gentle. She graciouslyes down the stairs until she stands in front of me and takes my hand.


    The sparks hit my body like wildfire. For a moment my hand trembled, but I squeezed hers tightly. When I look into her eyes, she is smiling, but there is nothing to suggest that she is experiencing the same wonderful feeling. ¡°Thank you, Zane. It¡¯s a privilege to visit your pack. Sorry, you had to wait for me,¡± she replies in a high-pitched voice. It is the first time I have heard it, and w rolls onto his back in adoration of his mate.


    ¡°I¡¯m ready to wait all my life for you, mate. But you¡¯re here atst, and that¡¯s important. Come, let¡¯s finish the official part so we can be alone and talk.¡± She smiles and turns to her entourage. It is only now that I notice that she has arrived with four women.


    ¡°These are my personal assistants. They have been my confidants and maids since my father¡¯s pack,¡± she exins. The women bow briefly to me. But I frown when I notice a witch among them. Ariel notices my reaction and pats my hand. ¡°This is Xanna, she¡¯s a hybrid andpletely innocent. To be honest, she is more of a werewolf than a witch. I hope her lineage won¡¯t cause any problems.¡±


    Of course, I don¡¯t mind her friends, Ariel can do anything in the pack, her wishes are our orders. With her hand still in mine, I led her to where my parents were waiting anxiously. In the distance, Kensley stands with my phone, taking as many pictures of us as I have instructed him to.


    ¡°Mum, Dad, this is Ariel, my mate. Ariel, these are my parents, Alpha Michael and Luna Irmy¡±, I introduce them. My mum takes her in her arms and kisses her on both cheeks. ¡°Wee to Midnight Moon, Ariel. We are happy to have you here atst, we have been waiting for you like forever. But finally you are here and we hope you will love it here¡±.


    ¡°Thank you, Luna. I do not doubt that I will be fine here. And Zane is so considerate¡±. My parents hesitated for a moment after her answer but recovered quickly. My father also hugs her, indicating that the pack is thrilled with the new Luna.


    We walk to the waiting Limo, which is spacious enough for all of us. Eric and Kensley take the back seat, while Ariel and I face my parents. My hand is resting on my mate¡¯s shoulder as I look lovingly at her outline.


    ¡°Ariel, when do you want to have your Luna ceremony? I¡¯m ready to hand over, Zane has been Alpha for years. I need to retire,¡± my mother jests. ¡°Besides, the youngsters are looking forward to having a Luna of their own age with whom they can connect more easily. I¡¯m a bit too old skool¡±. Arielughs softly.


    ¡°Zane and I still need to talk and make arrangements. Once we have our rtionship sorted out, we can set a date for official business. But for now, he and I need to define our rtionship properly first,¡± she replies quietly. Disappointed, my mother fidgets with her hands; from the looks of it, she thought she would be settling down soon.


    ¡°Don¡¯t feel rushed, Ariel. We will help you for as long as you need it. We know that your situation is extraordinary. But remember, you are mates and you belong together. There is no going back,¡± my father stresses.


    Sensing that the conversation was getting a bit awkward, I changed the subject.


    ¡°You will meet the high and mid-ranking members of the pack at a banquet. But first, we are going to the main meeting hall where the pack wants to meet you. I will introduce you there as my fated mate,¡± I tell her. She just bobs her head and looks outside. We are now driving along the main road that runs right through the business center. Everything is lit up and people are still waving along the road.


    My mate waves back with a smile and soon we are at our destination.


    I take her hand and proudly walk with her down the hallway to the stage, followed by my parents, Beta and Head Warrior. nked by my parents and the Elders of the pack, we stand in the center for all to see.


    ¡°Midnight Moon, our Luna is home. This is Ariel, she is the daughter of Alpha King Petric of Blue Blood. And now the Luna of our pack¡±.


    A loud cheer erupts, the women apud and dance, and many men instantly shift into their wolves out of sheer joy¡­

 Arrangements

    Alpha Zane¡¯s POV


    It¡¯s heartwarming to see Midnight Moon epting my mate right away.


    And Ariel seems to be having a great time. We stepped off the stage so the members could meet her in person. After all, she is their Luna and will be in direct contact with mostly the females and pups on a daily basis.


    But it strikes me how she can separate herself from me so easily. Don¡¯t get me wrong, she embraces the pack, tries to build a personal rtionship with each one. But she is not warm and longing towards me. Mates have a natural urge to be close to each other and, as newly mated, I expect her to hang on to me all the time to assert her im. I have seen that so often around me with friends and family.


    Like now. I look around to see where she has gone. And then I spot her with a group of women, talking about a project to increase business in the pack. This a great way for Luna to establish herself. She schedules an appointment to meet the women at the packhouse tomorrow morning to put everything on paper.


    And here I am, thinking I would spend all day tomorrow in bed with my mate. I had imagined that we would have so much to talk about, that we would have to make ns for our future. And this after an evening of good sex and dinner in bed. But from the looks of it, that is not going to happen.


    ¡°She¡¯s a bit different, son.¡± My father stands beside me, looking in the same direction. ¡°She is not really enthusiastic about your mating, she is reserved in your presence. But look at her with the women, so open and spontaneous¡±.


    ¡°Yes, I have noticed that too. She can walk away from me so easily. That is strange. Was it the same with you and Mum?¡± I asked him.


    ¡°Hell, no. Five minutes after we met she was in my bed and stayed there all week. A monthter she was pregnant, which wasn¡¯t surprising considering how we were going at it,¡± heughs. His words make me feel warm inside, like I just want to pick Ariel up and carry her straight to my apartment. I can already feel a hard-on building up in my trousers.


    ¡°Perhaps you should be patient with her, son. Your mating is definitely unusual and she is still getting used to all this. She was with Alpha Gorgio for a year and they probably thought they belonged together. Patience is all it takes to give each other a chance to seed.¡±


    Dad must be right, he has alreadypleted this process and look how great he and my mother are together. I walk over to Ariel and gently put my hand around her waist. She remains unfazed as if she does not feel the sparks that almost stun me. Nor does she lean on me lovingly. My mate does not seem to feel the bond as strongly as I do.


    ¡°Shall we retire, my love? You must be tired by now from the flight and all the activities¡±. I pull her against me and she gives way, nestling against my chest. She feels so good, I want to keep her like this forever. We say our goodbyes to the women and I led her by the hand to the car that will take us to the packhouse.


    Even in the car, she moved closer to the door and looked out of the window with fascination. It is as if the pack is more interesting than me, her mate. It is a short drive and by the time we get there, she has got out before I can get around the car. When we get to the front door, I scoop her up bridal style and carry her over the threshold.C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org.


    ¡°Ooohh, how sweet of you, Alpha,¡± she cries cutely. I carry her into the lift that takes us to my t.


    ¡°This is the Alpha floor, where we and my parents live. There is a back balcony that we share, but each apartment has its own private terrace¡±. I lead her to the door of our amodation. Again I take her bridal style and walk in with her in my arms.


    ¡°Wee to my life, Ariel. You don¡¯t know how happy you¡¯ve made me by volunteering to join my pack. I was afraid I would have to hunt you down to convince you of my good intentions,¡± I whisper to her. I lead her straight into our bedroom.


    I see that the bed is decorated with rose petals and candles, creating a romantic atmosphere. I am sure my mother is behind this, trying to get us off to a great start. Laying Ariel down on the bed, I kiss her neck and cheeks as my hands move from her shoulder to her breasts.


    My God, I long for her like crazy, the mate pull is driving me mad.


    But then she grabs my hands and puts them on the bed by her sides.


    ¡°We need to talk, Alpha. My father has already informed you that there are conditions attached to mying here,¡± I hear her say.


    ¡°Can¡¯t we do it tomorrow? We still have plenty of time to talk. Right now, I want to make love to you, to confirm my im on you,¡± I whisper hoarsely with desire.


    ¡°We need to make arrangements. We are not alone in this mating, I have to consider Gorgio. He is my mate too and I intend to treat him with respect.¡±


    Goodness, Gorgio¡¯s name is not exactly what I wanted to hear on our first night together.


    ¡°Okay. Name the terms so we¡¯re done with that and we can n our life together. Gorgio is not here, I just want to focus on the two of us¡±. I kiss her shoulders, the currents coursing through my body making it almost impossible to have a proper conversation.


    And the hard-on in my trousers bes more and more painful¡­

 Date Her

    Alpha Zane¡¯s POV


    ¡°We¡¯re going to war with them! What are these humans thinking?¡±


    My fist hits my desk hard, causing a crack in the wood. Everything on it falls to the floor, but I don¡¯t give a damn.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been patient with them for too long. We chase them away, but they keeping back. This ends now, we kill them all now¡±. My face is twisted with rage. Eric has just informed me that he has caught two humans on our territory. They imed to have lost their way after a pic.


    But I damn well know they are lying. They are investigating massive gold deposits that run from neutral territory through Gorgio¡¯s pack to Midnight Moon. The humans want the gold to enrich themselves, nothing is more important to them than their own gain. Ignoring the warnings and reprimands of the border patrol, they continue to try their luck.C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org.


    ¡°Kensley, mobilize the warriors. Anyone whoes within a yard of our border will be ughtered. It might stop after the first two deaths,¡± I roar.


    ¡°We have a peace treaty thatys out the procedure for settling disputes, Zane. And killing is not one of the rules,¡± Kensley, my head warrior, reminds me.


    ¡°Exactly. Remember, the humans are in the majority. And their army is not only bigger, but their weapons are far more sophisticated than ours. A war is not the solution here,¡± Eric adds. ¡°Alpha Gorgio has a good system to keep them away from his pack. We could ask him about it,¡± he suggests.


    The very name of my rival makes my blood boil. My anger rises as I look at my Beta. ¡°Do you think I will call Gorgio and tell him of my impotence against these weak humans? Do you think so, Eric?¡± I bite at him. I will be thest one to contact Gorgio. The man is really waiting tough in my face now that my rtionship with his mate is going downhill. Of course, the two of them are in contact through the mind link and he knows that Ariel is slipping further away from me each day.


    My breath picks up as I think back to the day of her arrival.


    No marking, no mating, her own bedroom and personal space. God forbid, her conditions of being here with me are decidedly intolerable. We argued vehemently and the romance of the evening was lost. In the end, all I could get her to do was drop her demand for a private bedroom.


    Not that it matters much. She turns her back on me every night. When I try to put my arms around her, she pulls them away and hints at our arrangement. This has been going on for about a week, and my blue balls are real.


    And my mood is no better. The only people who still dare toe near me are my best friends Kensley and Eric, and my father. My temper is unpredictable and no one has the courage to deal with me. Worst of all, I know what¡¯s happening to me, but I can¡¯t do anything about it. I am so frustrated. All I want is my mate, but she clearly doesn¡¯t want anything from me.


    Every morning when I get up she is still asleep andter in the day Kensley tells me she is busy with the women. Everyone is eager to work with her, the pack has never been so motivated.


    ¡°It has nothing to do withck of ability, but more to do with sharing knowledge. That¡¯s part of our agreement with them,¡± Eric sighs. ¡°I think we should schedule an appointment with the human Mayor and remind him of the peace treaty we have with them. He must keep his kind out of our territory, he hasmitted himself to that,¡± he stresses.


    I know he is right. But I want war, to fight my personal battles with an innocent third party. Ariel is beyond my reach, so I need a victim to vent my frustration.


    Before I can even open my mouth, Eric shakes his head.


    ¡°No, Zane, no war. You¡¯ve turned into a homicidal maniac and you want revenge, but in the wrong way,¡± he sighs. ¡°Your rtionship with your buddy sucks and you want to take it out on him, but war is not the way. I know that for sure.


    I stared at him with bloodshot eyes, how dare he talk to me about my rtionship? My ws extend and my razor-sharp fangs burst past my lips. I am so ready to show my beta his ce. But he keeps staring straight at me, not in the least intimidated by w.


    Kensley rushes between us. ¡°Listen, I agree with Eric. We have to use the extreme means outlined in the agreement first, Zane,¡± he exins fearlessly. ¡°Leave it to Eric and me, we¡¯ll deal with the Mayor. You just go back to your quarters and try tomunicate better with your mate. It will be difficult at first, but you will get the hang of it¡±.


    I turn to the Head Warrior, the threat still radiating from me.


    ¡°I¡¯m serious, Zane. Take her out on a date. And when she rxes, show her your feelings. Tell her openly what you want from her. She is your mate, your welfare is her priority.¡±


    Kensley¡¯s words soothe me. I manage to ease up again and he grabs my shoulders. ¡°Don¡¯t give up, man. She is here in Midnight Moon and that proves she feels something of the mate bond after all. Maybe she still has to get used to this new situation, I think all this is hard for her too,¡± he tries to calm me down.


    ¡°You know what? Eric and I will schedule an appointment with the mayor to discuss the matter of his people trespassing on ournd. Take her with you so she can get used to all of us. Besides, we are her protectors. Perhaps then she will feel free to unburden herself to one of us. And then we will know exactly what to do,¡± he suggests.


    ¡°She should feel free with me. I am her mate, she should be able to talk to me about anything. But she closes herself off from me,¡¯ I growl in pain and shake my head.


    And as I look past Kensley¡¯s head, I see Eric, his eyes closed as he seems to be meditating..

 Rude

    A third party ¡­


    I deliberately sat behind the passenger seat.


    From this angle, I can¡¯t see much of her and I don¡¯t run the risk of our eyes colliding in the mirrors. Her mate is at the wheel while she sits next to him. Kensley is in the back seat next to me.


    But I can¡¯t escape her insanely addictive scent. It makes me drunk with lust, draws me to her, tempts me to taste the sweetness of her lips. I want to grab her and crush her against me until we be one body. But it¡¯s impossible, she already has two mates. And I will be damned if I share my mate with two more men. Nah, not me.


    However, something is off with her.


    She is attracted to me, I can tell by the way she looks at me. It¡¯s affection, maybe infatuation, like in human sports, but the bond I feel for her is not there. And when I heard Zaneining about the same problem with her yesterday, I could well imagine it. But there is a difference.


    She simply feels nothing for Zane, no attachment or that infatuation I mentioned. As the mate of a strong Alpha like Zane, she would at least cuddle with him all the time, visit him in his study often or slide on hisp whenever she gets the chance. I have also never seen her sniff his scent, which is essential for mates to calm their wolves.


    She feels absolutely nothing for Zane and that is obvious to anyone who has been in theirpany. But the few times I have met her, she is immediately aware of my presence. She immediately lifts her head to me and her eyes follow my every move. As a result, I avoid her as much as possible, for fear that others might notice her reaction to me.


    Is she that much in love with Alpha Gorgio, and is she here of her own free will? A stab of pain pierced my heart. She belongs to two Alphas, one she feels nothing for and another she is madly in love with. And what ce will I have in her life? No, no sharing for me, in that respect, I can understand Alpha Gorgio very well. Though I wonder what made him agree to hering here. The man almost took Zane¡¯s head off when he suggested sharing a while ago.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    ¡®MATE! MATE!¡± Hunter keeps shouting in my head, wing at our mind wall.


    He wants to grab her, pull her towards us and hug her tight. Last night I spent hours exining to him that she doesn¡¯t belong to us and that his insistence will get us into big trouble. We could even be kicked out of Midnight Moon because Ariel is the Alpha¡¯s mate. And we cannot challenge him, that would be our death sentence.


    ¡®Keep your voice down, Wolf. Don¡¯t let w know how you feel. Zane is in a bad state of mind now, he feels rejected and wants to see blood,¡¯ I warn him again.


    ¡®But she¡¯s ours, Eric. We have a right to her. Zane is not her mate.¡¯ I am startled by this statement. ¡®Do you have any idea what you¡¯re talking about? She belongs to Zane and Alpha Gorgio. I¡¯m not going to be a fifth wheel in their rtionship. I¡¯m not sharing.¡¯


    ¡®She¡¯s ours,¡¯ he insists stubbornly. Irritated, I push him away and close the mental barrier between us. He can be so annoying sometimes. I close my eyes and rest my head against the back of the seat. In this position, my nose is up, and I can breathe in all her scent. The peace it brings me now is just what I need after the turmoil in my head.


    ¡°Luna, what is your favorite food?¡± I hear Kensley ask next to me. My attention was piqued at once. I know that the Head Warrior is just trying to start a conversation. The mission is to get her out of her shell around Zane. We all know that she has a lively personality when she is not in thepany of her mate.


    ¡°Lasagna,¡± she replies in her sweet voice. ¡°Lots of cheese, and the mince has to be real Italian.¡± We all smile, her charm is so infectious.


    ¡°What juice should I put on the side? I often see you drinking apple juice in the morning. Is that your favorite too?¡± Kensley continues teasingly. Sheughs hoarsely now, and my heart leaps in my chest with joy.


    ¡°Are you keeping an eye on me, Head Warrior?¡± she asks airily. ¡°Yes, my father always has fresh pickings and asks the cook to prepare it for me. Jocelyn often makes apple jam too, which she spreads generously on my toast.¡± The way she tells it all makes my mouth water, even without having seen it.


    ¡°Fortunately, I often take part in the training sessions in my pack and don¡¯t get fat from it. Jocelyn¡¯s apple pie is the best in the area,¡± she continues. ¡°I will ask her to send us some. Or even better, why don¡¯t we have a pie-bakingpetition in the pack?¡±


    ¡°You mean you¡¯re going to bake one yourself?¡± Zane chimes in now. To everyone¡¯s surprise, her face tightens. We all hold our breath; she is clearly not happy with Zane¡¯s suggestion. She turns her face away from him and towards the window, clicking her tongue a few times as if hisment is absurd.


    ¡°No, I am no kitchen princess. Why do you think my father hired a cook and waitresses?¡± she almost sounds rude. At first, Zane¡¯s face shows anger at the way she has disrespected him, but it soon gives way to tenderness.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. We can practice together until we get it right. And then we can enter thepetition as a couple. I¡¯m sure we¡¯ll beat Jocelyn,¡± he whispers to her. Ariel purses her lips, remains silent and stares out of the window.


    ¡®She¡¯s not his mate,¡¯ I hear Hunter insist anew.


    And again I push him into the background.


    His desire to have her to ourselves confuses my beast¡­

 Something Is Wrong

    Beta Eric¡¯s POV


    We arrive at the mayor¡¯s office where Zane proudly introduces Ariel as his wife.


    It stings, but there¡¯s nothing I can do about it at the moment. I make sure I sit far away from her so I don¡¯t have to look in her direction. Zane and Kensleye down hard on the Mayor, reminding him of his responsibility to keep the fortune seekers out of Midnight Moon. The peace treaty is mmed down hard on the table and I see the man¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple bobbing several times. The poor man is probably terrified of the wolf beasts in front of him. Who can me him? Zane is a walking killing machine right now, with his wolf in distress.


    But it is Ariel¡¯s involvement that is attracting the most attention.


    Unlike Zane and Kensley, she is calm as she enters the conversation. She points out to the Mayor the technicalities of the treaty and the possible consequences of human vitions. Her arguments are convincing, the men are silent as she speaks. Ariel is clearly the daughter of an Alpha King, and her authority is undeniable. I sit at a distance, watching the discussion unfold.C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org.


    Eventually, she manages to calm the conversation. When we finally got up to leave, we each shook hands with the relieved Mayor. The treaty is reaffirmed and the man assures us that he will provide more security on his part to keep the daredevils away.


    ¡°Ariel, you were wonderful,¡± Zanepliments her as we get into the car. He leans in to kiss her. But at thest moment, she turns her face and his kissnds on her cheek. I held my breath, Zane doesn¡¯t take rejection well and Ariel has been rude to him before.


    But before he can respond to her reaction, she grabs his hand.


    ¡°I¡¯m so hungry, Zane. Can we please go to a restaurant? I only had a light breakfast this morning¡±. Zane¡¯s hostility melts away instantly and she takes her hand to his lips. ¡°Sure, just tell me where you want to go¡±.


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter. Right now, I could eat a bear,¡± she points with a smile. Zane drives to a fancy restaurant overlooking a smallke. It looks very cozy and the atmosphere inside is great. When we find a table with a view of theke, I sit down opposite Zane. However, I can¡¯t help but get a good look at Ariel as well. I sigh deeply, this lunch is going to be a torture and I wish it were already over. I can avoid her in the pack, but here in a private restaurant, it is definitely difficult.


    To my shock, she turns her eyes directly to me, her face softening. The sparks were unmistakable. I feigned indifference and rested my forehead on my clenched fists so as not to look her in the face. A waitress approaches and hands each of us a menu.


    ¡°What would you like, Eric? They have a mix of dishes here, there¡¯s Italian and Chinese,¡± I suddenly hear her exim yfully. ¡°Why don¡¯t you go for the Italian and I¡¯ll go for the Chinese and we can try each other¡¯s dishes.¡±


    Stiff with shock, I keep staring at the menu.


    There is so much wrong here. Ariel is about twenty now, but what I just heard was the exmation of a hormonal teenager looking for attention. Besides, her offer to share would be better suited to her mate. And it seems I¡¯m not the only one who thinks so. Zane and Kensley are now frowning at Ariel. Kensley¡¯s eyes move from her to me and back again, as if wondering if he has missed the point. I have to say something quickly to save the situation, Ariel is being deliberately careless.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t we do it like this? You and Zane each choose an Italian dish, while Kensley and I decide on the Chinese vor of the table. Is that a good deal, Luna?¡± I offer casually. Confused, she looks around the table as if she has just realized we are not alone and nods childishly anyway. Kensley clears his throat and waves the waitress over. We ce our order and while we wait, the woman doesn¡¯t let go of me.


    ¡°Eric, what is your favorite kind of drink? If you don¡¯t have one, you can have apple juice like me. You won¡¯t regret it, I promise,¡± she offers coyly. I sigh and look at Zane. Damage control is my job now.


    ¡°Zane, didn¡¯t you have apple juice thest time we met? What a coincidence that your mate likes it too. Maybe we should start a ntation so the Omegas can make fresh juice for her every day?¡±


    Hearing my statement, the dark, suspicious look in my Alpha¡¯s eyes cleared up at once.


    ¡°Fantastic idea. Too bad I didn¡¯t think of it myself. Eric, get this yard started today. Get a thousand apple trees nted. The Luna should neverck her own fresh juice,¡± he decides.


    He takes Ariel¡¯s hand again and kisses the back.


    ¡°We will take good care of you, you will want for nothing, my love,¡± he whispers to her. ¡°I have yet to thank you for bringing the meeting to a sessful conclusion. I was ready to rip the Mayor¡¯s heart out for his failures. The man doesn¡¯t even know what¡¯s going on in his district.¡±


    ¡°Aaahh, it¡¯s nothing. I am the daughter of the Alpha King, remember?


    I have learned to negotiate for the benefit of all parties. There is no ce for war if we can settle disputes in a civilized manner.¡±


    Shit, that was harsh. I roll my eyes, the subtle rebuke is unmistakable.


    Ariel clearly does not approve of the way Zane exercises his leadership, and there is nothing childish about her judgment.


    And then it dawns on me. There is so much wrong with this woman. She is childlike for her age, but she can also be so businesslike when she needs to be. In her exchanges, she always talks about her father and his pack, never about Alpha Gorgio, her mate.


    She lived with her mate for almost a year, and I am sure she has fond memories of her time there. They were reportedly very much in love, couldn¡¯t be apart for long and were in constant physical contact.


    And here is Ariel, in our pack for over a week now, and she has never mentioned Alpha Gorgio, not once. Her idol is her father, but that does not fit with the information we have from her.


    Again, things don¡¯t add up here.


    The she-wolf here with us does not seem to have a mate, she does not behave like a fully mated she-wolf¡­

 Too Many Loopholes

    Beta Eric¡¯s POV


    ¡°Eric, Kensley, in my office!¡±


    Zane is furious, his whole aura exudes it. Only Ariel seems numb to his mood. The drive back to the packhouse is in icy silence as she chats animatedly about anything and everything.


    But now that we have arrived, he can no longer contain his anger and summons me to his study along with Kensley. Ariel climbed the stairs to their t, impervious to the tense atmosphere. She still waved after us, her eyes fixed on me.


    As the door ms shut behind us, Zane turns to me. His eyes spit fire and I see his ws erupt. His wolf, w, is on the verge and I know I have to be careful. There is nothing more dangerous than a jealous Alpha.


    ¡°Eric, what is it between you and my mate? I notice that she likes to engage with you, values your views andes alive when she looks at you,¡± he snarls. ¡°I want an honest answer. Is there something going on between you two?¡± I shake my head in denial before he¡¯s even finished.


    ¡°Zane, Ariel is my Luna and you are my best friend. I would never put myself in that position. Besides, I¡¯m waiting for my mate, I don¡¯t want to get involved with other people¡¯s women. There are plenty of single wolves in the pack I can cavort with if I need one.¡± I look straight at him, telling him the truth.


    ¡°And why does she talk to you as if you were her mate? She wants to know your thoughts on everything. A little more and she jumps on yourp.¡± His eyes are blood red now, just a little more and my head will fall off.


    ¡°Yes, I noticed that too, Zane,¡± Kensleyes in. ¡°But I also noticed that Eric kept referring to you, reminding her that you were her mate. I think you should have a talk with her so she doesn¡¯t get Eric in trouble.¡± I breathe out a sigh of relief but understand that I need to steer this discussion in a different direction.


    ¡°Zane, haven¡¯t you noticed that there¡¯s something not quite right about the Luna?¡± I interrupt him. ¡°From the reports we have on her, I know that she is infatuated with Alpha Gorgio. The two are inseparable. But when she talks of her life before she came here, it¡¯s all about her father, the Alpha King and his pack. But she has not lived there for a year. She never mentions the Alpha in her stories.¡±


    Both Zane and Kensley stare at me thoughtfully.


    I¡¯m sure they¡¯re reflecting on our trip. And then Zane nods in agreement. ¡°Yes, Eric, now that you mention it. I haven¡¯t heard her mention Gorgio since she¡¯s been here. She hasn¡¯t called him either, I check her phone every night,¡± he admits slowly. ¡°Our intelligence reports that Gorgio has left his pack and is probably hanging out in Human Town. And that¡¯s a bit too far away from Midnight Moon to have a mind link. Or he must be bivouacked somewhere near our borders to be in contact with her anyway. But I doubt it. Gorgio is not the kind of Alpha who would go into hiding¡±.


    ¡°No, not Alpha Gorgio. But her behavior is very strange. And sometimes she acts younger than her age, and sometimes quite mature. The way she slyly rebukes you is like a grown woman. However, when she is with Eric, she acts like his mate,¡± Kensley muses.


    My goodness. I wish no one would feel the need to mate me with Ariel. First my wolf, then Zane, and now Kensley. Please, spare me!  Again, I don¡¯t share my women while we¡¯re in a rtionship. Besides, I do not covet my friend¡¯s mate, she is not mine.


    ¡®Yes, she is. She¡¯s ours. She¡¯s our mate, Eric,¡¯ I hear Hunter chattering again.


    ¡®Just a little longer and I¡¯ll feed you wolfsbane. Then I¡¯ll be rid of you for a while,¡¯ I threaten him. He immediately retreats into the background. Wolves are terrified of wolfsbane and silver. Both weaken them within a minute, and arge dose of either can be fatal.


    ¡°But how are we going to find out what¡¯s going on? She ignores me, sometimes I think she doesn¡¯t even want me. Her behavior is not like a mated wolf at all, it drives me crazy. I¡¯ve had so many sleepless nights because of this.¡± Zane runs a hand through his hair.


    ¡°She sat next to me the whole way, looking out the window. My wolf keptining, w wanted to take her in his arms. But she repels us. I don¡¯t even know her wolf¡¯s name. w says he can¡¯t feel her, it¡¯s as if she¡¯s chained her wolf,¡± he cried in anguish. ¡°Why is she doing this to me? Is it to avenge Gorgio? But what is my fault? It is the Moon Goddess who has created this situation, I did not ask for it¡±. Distraught, he stares out through the ss wall.


    Kensley walks over and pats him on the shoulder.


    ¡°She does this on purpose. She sleeps next to me, but there is such a distance between us. Is that even possible between mates? Shouldn¡¯t she throw herself into my arms and plead with me to love her? This is too much, I¡¯m telling you. I just want to love and mate her. I want to leave my mark on her.¡±Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    Zane¡¯s cry of grief is terrible to hear. No, Hunter is wrong, Ariel could never be our mate. I could never be a part of his deep suffering. But he did say something remarkable. Can¡¯t w sense Ariel¡¯s wolf? That is impossible; it is the wolves within us that forge the bond that makes us recognize each other as mates.


    Ariel had sensed Zane as her mate during the council meeting and fled. Fact! Otherwise, she would have no reason to be untraceable and then still show up hereter voluntarily.


    There are too many loopholes in this mating between Zane and Ariel. And I¡¯ll be damned if I don¡¯t find out what¡¯s going on.


    ¡°There¡¯s only one way know what¡¯s keeping Ariel from mating with you, Zane,¡± I hear Kensley say carefully. ¡°She connects well with Eric. I suggest he befriends her and persuades her to trust him and pour her heart out to him. To avoid arousing suspicion, ask her out on a date and woo her, Zane¡±.


    Terrified, I take a step back. ¡°No! Why me? You do that, Kensley,¡± I burst out.


    ¡°I already exined that. Why are you resisting? What¡¯s your problem, Beta?¡± Now the Head Warrior and Alpha are staring at me suspiciously.


    Deep shit!¡­

 I Don’t Share

    Still Beta Eric¡¯s POV


    As I walk out of Zane¡¯s office, I wonder how I¡¯m going to handle all this.


    I had nned to stay far away from Ariel, never to be in the same room with her again. But of course, Kensley had to throw a spanner in the works again by confronting me with my sins. How on earth could I resist her? Her scent rises to my head and it takes an enormous amount of strength not to touch her. Both my wolf and me.


    And now the two of them expect me to forge a close bond with her, to win her trust to enable Zane to win her love. Well, I am not the right person for this job.


    My wolf will never allow me to betray Ariel, to pass on anything she tells me in confidence. And helping Zane win her over will be the hardest part. I foresee a fierce battle with Hunter in this regard. But Zane is my Alpha, my loyalty is to him, I would sacrifice my life for his happiness.


    And now that he loves Ariel, there is nothing I can do for Hunter, he must resign himself to his fate.


    ¡®But she is not his mate,¡¯ he whines again. Goddess! Why am I a werewolf? Without a wolf, my life would be perfectly fine. Now I¡¯m stuck with one who doesn¡¯t make my life any easier. What I need now is a shot of the strongest whiskey this packhouse has to offer.


    So, I stride into the recreation room and check the liquor cab for the bottle I need. ¡°Hard times ahead for you, Beta? Something you think you can¡¯t handle on your own?¡± I hear someone ask behind me. Nice, just what I need, someone to rub salt in my wounds, I think sarcastically. Slowly I turn around. Much to my surprise, I see none other than Xanna, Ariel¡¯s hybrid friend, standing there.


    Ariel has introduced her to the pack as her assistant, along with three others. My gut tells me that this encounter is no coincidence.


    This witch has something on her. ¡°Would you like to join me?¡± I ask her, ying innocent.


    I hold the bottle out to her, all she has to do is take a ss and I can pour her some. ¡°Nah, Beta. I stick to apple juice, just like the Luna¡±. And that sentence says it all. Mockery, sarcasm, all of it. ¡°Your loss,¡± I replied carelessly, pouring a generous amount for myself. I take my ss and sit down on a sofa. But with the witch around me, I cannot rx.


    I am in the middle of a sip when she sits down across from me. ¡°Beta, I know what you are going through. You are the victim of this whole soap opera. But I want to encourage you to hold on. Your reward will be incredible, I promise you,¡± she whispers to me. I remain silent, hoping she will continue with her confession. She probably knows what is brewing between Zane and Ariel, and my ce in all of it.


    And I am not disappointed.


    ¡°All the answers you need are with me. Alpha Zane has given you a mission, just do it. That is my advice to you¡±. After this strange statement, she gets up and walks out the door. And then I think that this is another oddity. What is a witch doing with a werewolf? Haven¡¯t we been sworn enemies for centuries? I take another sip from my ss. It¡¯s still early, but I know Zane wants results soon.


    He is impatient, the mating is not going to n.


    I sink deeper into the sofa, close my eyes and throw my head back. My life sucks, the challenges I face could literally be the death of me. My life should be easier now that Midnight Moon¡¯s Luna has finally arrived, but nothing could be further from the truth.


    ¡°Eric,¡± I suddenly hear the sweetest voice behind me. Two soft hands caress my shoulders down to my neck. Then they begin to massage my tense muscles. The touch sends a delicious shiver down my spine and my heartbeat slowly increases. And then lust kicks in, my body burns with desire.


    I know who is behind me. The mere mention of my name makes me dizzy.


    Then I feel her lips on my forehead. Startled, I jump up, this is absolutely a no. I have to keep her away from my body or I won¡¯t be able to control myself for long. I clear my dry throat.


    ¡°Luna,¡± I address her formally. ¡°What are you doing?¡± My voice has a reprimanding undertone to it, enough not to scare her off.


    ¡°I saw you sitting here all alone. Before I could restrain myself, I massaged you to help you rx,¡± she replies, her silver orbs aimed straight at my blues.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what it is, but I want to be close to you, Eric. But you keep avoiding me.¡±


    ¡°Close to me?   Remember, Zane is your mate, doesn¡¯t your wolf want to be with him? It is inappropriate to be attracted to me,¡± I point out. Confused, she looks at me before she seems to remember something.


    ¡°Yes, surely my wolf wants to be with Zane,¡± she admits. ¡°But my human side is drawn to you. I intend to find out what¡¯s going on between us, why I feel this way.¡±


    Goddess, she thinks nothing of avoiding drama.


    ¡°Well, I advise you not to waste your time on that. Concentrate on Zane, he is going crazy over your ignoring of him. He wants to be the perfect mate for you,¡± I tell her. She walks around the sofa until she stands close to me.


    ¡°I think you are my mate. This feeling couldn¡¯t be more different. But when my birthdayes in a few weeks, we will know for sure,¡± she says. ¡°And then you won¡¯t be able to evade me.          I will take what is mine,¡± she continues confidently.


    I take a step back to create some space between us.


    ¡°Sorry, but in that case, I will have to reject you. I don¡¯t share my women. Besides, Zane is my best friend. His mate is off limits to me,¡± I say harshly.


    I turn and head for my private rooms¡­N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.

 Show Me Your Wolf

    Luna Ariel¡¯s POV


    ¡®Where are you, my Luna? You know I can¡¯t go on without you, I need you here, always. Remember your promise to love me forever.


    I jolt awake from this dream I¡¯ve been having for several nights. Gorgio is calling me, begging me to open the mind link and talk to him. His voice is losing strength, my absence makes him physically vulnerable.


    And I miss him too. Thesest days have been hell, I don¡¯t know how long I can keep going without him. His arms around me, his scent and his lips. That¡¯s all I need. But how do I face him? Will he forgive my betrayal?


    Tears roll down my cheeks like a waterfall. I can¡¯t stop them. Era, my wolf, is exhausted, she longs for her mate as much as I do.


    Gorgio!


    Only when rita rushes towards me do I realize that I have screamed his name from the depths of my soul. I can¡¯t hold out any longer, I have to go to him. If necessary, I will get down on my knees and ask him to forgive me. I will affirm that he is my only love, my heart beats only for him. He is my mate, I love him more than anything.


    ¡°Ariel! What is the matter? Did you have a nightmare? Who is Gorgio?¡± inquired rita, holding me in her arms.


    ¡°For several nights you have been restless and mumbling in your sleep. What is going on?¡±


    And then I start to sob uncontrobly. I hid my face in her shoulders, seekingfort.


    ¡°I betrayed him, rita. I can¡¯t face him anymore, I don¡¯t want to hear his rejection. But I miss him so much. I can¡¯t keep running away from him.¡± I cry brokenly, the sadness sending a stab of pain through my heart.


    ¡°What do you mean? Have you cheated on him with someone else? I didn¡¯t expect that of you, Ariel¡±.


    She takes her hands off me and gently pushes me away. Startled, I stare at my friend, but then her words sink in.


    ¡°No, I could never sleep with anyone else. Gorgio is the only one for me, I promised him I would be faithful,¡± I exim as I throw myself around her neck again. ¡°It¡¯s ¡­ well, you won¡¯t understand, rita.


    There¡¯s a lot you don¡¯t know about me. It¡¯s all veryplex.¡±


    ¡°Well, then start telling me. If you let me know a little more about you every day, I will get wiser. Besides, I have a feeling that you and I will be together for a very long time,¡± she notes dryly. I smile through my tears. rita has such a calming effect on me.


    She is so gentle, really the motherly type.


    ¡°It¡¯s not as easy as you think. But I¡¯ll try to exin,¡± I begin softly. ¡°Did you know that werewolves exist?¡±


    She stiffens, her eyes fixed on me.


    ¡°You¡¯re a werewolf? Like in Twilight?¡± she asks, gasping. I wonder if I should confide in her. It is strictly forbidden by the Were-Laws to expose our kind to humans, only in the case of mating are we allowed to reveal ourselves.


    But then I see her eyes light up, admiration washing over her face.


    ¡°Ariel, are you really a werewolf? A real one? Oh God, I knew Twilight could never be a made-up story. It all seems so well put together. I knew all these supernatural species were real¡±. She hugs me tighter out of sheer excitement. ¡°You¡¯re a werewolf, I have a werewolf girlfriend,¡± she exims.


    ¡°Hey, shut up! Do you want the entire hotel staff to burst in here with shotguns? You know how dramatic people can be,¡¯ I scold her. The grin stays on her face as she touches my hands, probably looking for my ws. Now I have tough too.


    ¡°The ws onlye when I shift, rita. I couldn¡¯t stay in a town full of humans as a wolf.¡± I roll my eyes, but her curiosity remains.


    ¡°I¡¯d still like to see your wolf. Let¡¯s go to the forest. I want to see your wolf,¡± she whispers with suppressed joy. ¡°Is Gorgio a werewolf too? Is he your mate?¡± With that, she sobered me up again and the memories of my nightmare resurfaced.


    ¡°Yes, he is not only my mate, but the best part of my being. Without him, my life is worthless,¡± I whisper now, my voice raspy. ¡°But I betrayed him. He will never forgive me.¡±


    rita takes my face and turns it towards her. ¡°You said you didn¡¯t cheat. Then how did you betray him?¡± she asks in surprise.


    ¡°I looked at another man with lust. My wolf recognized another Alpha as our mate. And this after I had promised Gorgio to be faithful to him only a few hours before.¡± The tears start to flow again and I try to stop them with the back of my hand.


    ¡°No, no, Ariel. As far as I understand it, it is the Moon Goddess who determines your mates, isn¡¯t it? If Gorgio is your mate, he will know what happened to you and that you had no control over it. The important thing is that you didn¡¯t give in to that feeling. You showed him enough respect to keep your word.


    I think we should go back to your pack.¡±


    Herst words caused me to look up. ¡°We? You want toe with me to my pack?¡± I asked her in disbelief.


    ¡°Only werewolves live there, not a single human,¡± I tell her.


    Sheughs. ¡°I want to see werewolves. But first you have to tell me more about them, what was not shown in the movies. And I want to see you as a wolf. Let¡¯s go to the forest, I¡¯m so curious¡±.


    She helped me to sit up on the bed and ran to the wardrobe where she took out tworge dresses.


    She threw one at me and tucked herself into the other.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been looking online for some sightseeing spots for us to visit. And I came across Hot Springs National Park. All the animals there are protected, so you don¡¯t have to worry about being hunted if you¡¯re in your wolf,¡± she tells me excitedly.


    I raise an eyebrow, it seems she has been interested in my species for a long time.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    ¡°Yes, I always saw the werewolves being hunted in the films. Let¡¯s go quickly, I can¡¯t wait to see you change¡±¡­

 One More Sniff

    Luna Ariel¡¯s POVBelongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    We drive our rental car to the park, which is not too far from the hotel.


    In our backpack we have a packed breakfast and a nket to sit on in the forest.


    ording to the online information we should be there in ten minutes. rita has certainly managed to pull me out of my misery, even Era is much calmer now. I can feel her moving more actively now as if she is looking forward to a wild run in the wilderness. It has been a long time since I have set her free.


    It is still early in the morning and as we drive toward our destination the cool wind blows in my face. My mood improves as the fresh air enters my system. We pass an area of businesses before entering a dense forest.


    ¡°Now tell me exactly what is going on, Ariel. I am so dying to know all about it. I¡¯ve finally met a real werewolf, I can¡¯t believe my luck. But first I want to hear your story.¡±


    And then I tell her how overjoyed I was when I first met Gorgio. He had run up to me and hugged me tightly, grunting contentedly and affectionately that I was his mate. There were several Alphas around us, but he didn¡¯t care much for them.


    I had always feared that Selene would mate me with a hated Alpha and I would have a terrible life. But Gorgio was everything I ever wanted in a man. He is strong, both respected and feared, and he leads his pack brilliantly. Everyone in Eclipse Howl is wealthy and mentally stable, he knows all the wolves by name and their family history.


    Most of all, he is the perfect mate. Drop-dead gorgeous, every she-wolf¡¯s wet dream. But he is mine exclusively, he loves me, makes sure I am safe and provides me with all the attention and consideration I need. Above all, he is an excellent lover in bed, always putting my needs first. I¡¯m really blessed with him and we¡¯ve just started talking about having pups. Strong pups, like the daughter of the Alpha King and an invincible Alpha, could have. And I was ready to give birth to them for him. Lots of them.


    I can¡¯t stop smiling when I think of my mate and our talks about the future. I meant every promise I made to him. Even Era is now perking up her ears and wagging her tail contentedly.


    rita listens intently. And then fate struck and I was faced with a second mate. This didn¡¯t fit in with our ns for the future, or the vows we¡¯d made to each other. That¡¯s what makes it all so painful. And again the tearse, God, this is so hard.


    ¡°Ariel, if your love was that solid, this will definitely work out. My gut tells me that your mate must be as good a person as you are. Good souls always find each other,¡± my friend tries tofort me.


    ¡°And was it the other Alpha that was after us at the club?¡± I turn to her, surprised that she has understood what happened that day. Actually, I¡¯m still worried about Zane finding me. His men were probably there to convince me to go to Midnight Moon or to hold me until Zane arrived.


    ¡°Yes. I need some time to myself to figure out how to deal with all this. First, I have to go to Gorgio and get his verdict on how we are going to proceed as a couple. I really hope we can work through this first blow to our rtionship.¡± A desperate sobes from my throat. ¡°Then we will think about how to deal with Zane. I¡¯m sure Gorgio won¡¯t let anyonee between us. He¡¯s very possessive, we won¡¯t let anyone of the opposite sex get close to us. The bond with Zane won¡¯t change that.¡±


    We arrive at the park, which is already crowded with tourists and other interested people. I have agreed with rita that we will jog through the park looking for a suitable spot where we can be undisturbed. I want to avoid outsiders seeing my shift.


    We walked around in the park for a while before we start to pick up a bit of speed. The further we went into the woods, the calmer I felt, it was the first time in weeks that I was in the midst of green. And it feels good, this is my nature.


    And then we came to a desertedke.


    ¡°This is a perfect ce,¡± I say to rita. ¡°Listen, my wolf is called Era. Don¡¯t be afraid, she¡¯ll never hurt you. You can touch and y with her. I will stay in the background and experience everything too,¡± I exin to her. ¡°Then we will leave you alone and go for a run in the woods. It has been a long time since she has been free and she needs it to regain her strength. We¡¯ll be back in half an hour. Is that all right?¡±


    rita nods eagerly, trampling her feet to see what is about to happen.


    First, I help unpack our backpacks so she will befortable when I am gone. We spread out the nket and prepare the trays of food.


    When everything is ready, I take a few steps back and undress until I am naked in front of her. And as I look at her, I begin to change. My hands and legs be ws, then my face stretches into a snout. And soon I am on my four.


    Era looks up at rita, who still shows no sign of fear.


    She reaches out and strokes my silver-white wolf head. Era clearly enjoys the admiration and nestles her head against her new friend for a moment.  The two of them bonded for several minutes, but I could feel the urge in Era to go out into the forest.


    After a lick on the girl¡¯s face, she turns and sprints into the forest with renewed energy. Her speed increases, she runs with purpose and knows exactly which way to go. For a moment, I wonder if she has been here before in another life. We follow a trail made by the smaller animals that live here permanently. It leads past tall trees and small bushes.


    And as we approached anotherke, that one scent hit me hard in the face.


    Shocked, I took a good whiff of it.


    And then I am convinced.


    He is here..

 I’ll Get There

    Alpha Gorgio¡¯s POV


    Alexis is sticking to her n.


    I hate that she¡¯s doing all this. It makes me feel like a coward who can¡¯t provide his mate with the protection she requires. I should have ripped that Alpha¡¯s head off, the disrespect towards me was outrageous.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    From afar, I watch as Alexis convinces her father that she is capable of getting Ariel and bringing her to Alpha Zane so that they can patch things up. She would see to it that they came to terms and then mediate between them and me.


    My father-inw knows how close the bond is between his daughters and he is desperate for this matter to be resolved as soon as possible. Meanwhile, this triangr mating has reached the whole werewolfmunity and is the talk of the day. Everyone is watching, wanting to know how this will end. No one expects Zane toe out of this alive.


    Together with my sister-inw, I go to the witch Xanna to make the necessary preparations.


    Xanna is a witch in her own right, modern, funny and all that. After we tell her what is going on and what we expect of her, she yawns withughter. I¡¯m so ufortable with this, I¡¯m not really used to asking for favors from third parties. But Alexis assures me that the witch is her best friend, which is somewhatforting.


    After several rituals, I watch as Alexis transforms into Ariel before my very eyes. Not that they are very different. The age difference disappears, her hair bes fuller and her features match those of my mate. Xanna hands Alexis an oil to rub behind her ears every day. This will make Alpha Zane feel the mating bond. Only a wolf cannot be forged by the witch.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. The oil will make him feel that your wolf is not yet ready to bond with him,¡± Xanna exins when her work is done. ¡°The man is desperate and wants to avoid Ariel to get to Gorgio. And that makes him blind.¡± And then she warns.


    ¡°But remember, this cannotst longer than six months. Fix it within that time, Alpha¡±. But the big surprisees right after that. ¡°I¡¯ming along as your maid. I want to see how this turns out, and maybe I can help if the n doesn¡¯t work out as you thought¡±.


    And so begins Alexis¡¯ journey to Midnight Moon in Ariel¡¯s guise. Risky, but she insists on doing this for me and her sister. She knows how much I love Ariel. And if it were up to Ariel, she would never choose a second mate, especially one with the reputation of Alpha Zane. Though there is no proof, it is rumored that he deals in illegal drugs, earning millions to keep his pack going.


    To make the n more likely to seed, I suggest my father-inw inform Alpha Zane of Ariel¡¯s arrival and transport her on his Jet. Pleased that I am now clear-headed about the matter, he does exactly as I rmend. In doing so, he believes he can avoid a potential debacle.


    Alexis leaves for Midnight Moon and it is my turn to put my affairs in order. After saying goodbye to my inws, I returned to my pack with Jace and Alvin.


    ¡°Jace, what is thetest update on Ariel¡¯s whereabouts that you have from the trackers?¡± I asked my Beta back in my office. My body is screaming for rest, but I cannot grant it at the moment. I need additional information before I can settle down.


    ¡°After the failed abduction of Alpha Zane at the club, she disappeared. We are still looking for clues. Our intelligence is still working out the possibilities,¡± he replies. ¡°I suggest you get some sleep. I¡¯ll wake you as soon as I have any news. You will need your strength when we find them, Gorgio.  You can¡¯t face her in this state.¡±


    I nod, he is right. I want to be at my best when I meet Ariel again. We have so much to discuss. Goddess, how I long to have her here with me. Never before have we been apart for so long, and with the threat of Alpha Zane, finding her is bing a huge challenge.


    I climb the stairs to get some exercise. After a hot bath, I lie naked between the sheets. My hand slides over the empty spot beside me where the love of my lifey for a year.


    ¡°We¡¯ll be together soon, baby. I promise you I will do everything in my power to find you. And we will be better, stronger together,¡± I whisper. And then I reach for the bond, I need to know that she is safe. She responds immediately, her warmth washing over me. I close my eyes and take it all in. I feel that Xander also drawing some strength from it.


    Goddess, if only she were here with me in real life. I would cherish her, do the things she loves me to do for her. My mate! If only she trusted me enough to open the mind link. I would assure her of my love. She¡¯s frightened by the turn of events, I do understand that. And I¡¯m sure she doesn¡¯t want to be shared either. I am enough for her.


    I think back to our passionate lovemaking. She is always ready to have sex with me. Her response to me is overwhelming, she loses herself in our game as soon as we start. Her wild cries of pleasure, all those expressions of love when I¡¯m deep inside her, hitting her G-spot, making her climax, are iparable. My wolf always has to heal the bites on my shoulder after she has climbed the highest mountain with me. I also have deep scratches on my back from her sharp ws.


    My wolf and I do not care, we belong to her to do as she pleases.


    ¡°I will find you and all will be well. I promise, my love¡±¡­

 On My Way

    Alpha Gorgio¡¯s POV still


    A few hourster I woke up well rested.


    I put on some sportswear and make my way down to the main floor. After a hearty dinner, I make a beeline for my office. As I walk in, I see Jace and Alvin having a heated discussion.Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°What¡¯s up, man?¡± I ask them as I slump down on the sofa. Jace slides theptop in my direction so I can see the screen. It¡¯s a video of Alexis being picked up by Alpha Zane at his pack airstrip and taken to the packhouse. With satisfaction I conclude that the witch has done a good job, the Alpha seems to be smitten with his ¡®mate¡¯.


    Most disturbing of all, heter insists that she share his bed. This is so not done for me. I cannot sacrifice Alexis¡¯ virtue for the good of Ariel and myself, it is so wrong. As if she knew I was going to be pretty upset about this deal with the man, she also shows footage of them lying on the bed with their backs to each other. From the looks of it, the Alpha would rather have her close without touching than back in her father¡¯s pack without ever seeing her again.


    Alexis is such a clever one. She knows how to y the man.


    But then I see Jace next beside me, staring intently at the screen. ¡°Gorgio, is it just me? Do you understand what I do?¡± I watch the images through slitted eyes but see nothing out of the ordinary. Alexis gets into a car with the Alpha, Beta and Head Warrior and they return a few hourster.


    ¡°Nope. Then tell us what you see and we don¡¯t¡±.


    ¡°Alvin, you too? Nothing remarkable?¡± My Head Warrior also shakes his head in denial. ¡°Tell us now, Jace. You¡¯re making us unnecessarily curious,¡± he growls impatiently at his friend.


    ¡°I advise you to keep an eye on this Beta. There is definitely something suspicious about him. His attitude towards Alexis ¡­ hmmm¡±. Alvin ps him on the back of the head.


    ¡°Man, just share with us what you think. It would save so much time. Why all these riddles all of a sudden? Come on, details,¡± he demands of Jace.


    ¡°Exactly how old did you say Alexis was, Gorgio?¡± Now it is my turn to look at him menacingly; no one here is in the mood for his games. ¡°Seventeen,¡± I say briefly.


    ¡°Aaahh, this n of Alexis¡¯ is getting moreplicated than we thought. The script has to be adjusted, there has been an unforeseen event,¡± heughs now. And then he bes serious again.


    ¡°Gorgio, we have to move faster. Alexis¡¯ presence in Midnight Moon is bing risky. Alpha Zane will soon discover that she is not Ariel.¡± In his undertone, I hear concern that he is trying to suppress. He doesn¡¯t want to cause a stir.


    ¡°We¡¯ll have to ask the Alpha King for more trackers, we need to find Ariel faster¡±. Slowly he stands and stuffs his hands deep into his pockets. Then he starts pacing around my office.


    ¡°I think I will join the search myself. Ariel trusts me, if she scents me I am sure she will be happy to see me. We should have her back here soon.¡± Now both Alvin and I have had enough of his rascals. We stand up and walk towards the Beta, our aura decidedly intimidating.


    Sensing the threat we pose, he raises his hands in surrender.


    ¡°Hey, why are you using me? You can see it in the footage, it¡¯s so obvious. Why do I have to tell you everything when you can find out for yourselves?¡± he tries to defend himself.


    ¡°Because it¡¯s your job to analyze the pictures. Alvin is the executor and I make the decisions. But you are supposed to provide us with information, and now you are ying hide and seek with us. And we don¡¯t like it, Beta,¡± I scold him. He seems to be constantly crossing the line between joking and being serious.


    We make another threatening move in his direction.


    ¡°Listen, okay. I don¡¯t know for sure, but if my eyes don¡¯t deceive me, that Beta is Alexis¡¯ mate,¡± he finally admits. ¡°Look at his eyes, the look is the same as when you look at Ariel, Gorgio. I can¡¯t be wrong. But she is clearly a minor. And Alpha Zane must have noticed it too, it can¡¯t be otherwise¡±.


    With Alvin behind me, I hurry back to theptop and rewind the images.


    Damn it! Jace is right. Everything about the Beta screams infatuation, even if he tries to hide it. But Alpha Zane is burning with jealousy, especially when Alexis talks to the Beta. Jace is right, things could escte quickly. Alpha Zane is no fool, and while three mates aren¡¯t unusual, I don¡¯t think he¡¯ll ept that his Beta is on the Luna. We need to act quickly.


    I can already see Jace on the phone, urging our men in the city to take more action. If need be, I am prepared to go and look for my mate myself. We are waiting for a clue as to where Ariel might have gone. The CCTV at the bus station is broken and the ce is a mess due to the high season.


    I throw myself back onto the sofa in despair.


    If everything in Midnight Moon falls apart and Ariel hears about it, I fear she will be less inclined to return. And then Zane will be even more determined to find her. That n ispletely disrupted by this unnned twist.


    I see an email pop up on theptop. I grab the mouse and click on the icon to open the email.


    My eyes are wide with joy at what I read.


    ¡°Jace!¡± I yell. ¡°She¡¯s in Arkansas. In the National Park. There are videos here. She¡¯s with another woman.¡± The two men ran up to me and stared at the images on the screen.


    Ariel, my heart.


    She bends down to tie her sneakers. She looks so young and fresh in that wide dress. I want to grab her and press her to my chest, my face in her luscious ck curls.


    ¡°Get the chopper ready. Jace and I are leaving. Alvin, stay here and help my parents with the pack. I don¡¯t know how long we¡¯ll be gone,¡± I order.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that also Jace¡¯s job? He is your recement, I have to go to protect our Luna,¡± he grunts.


    I roll my eyes and run out the door, Jace at my heels¡­

 Guilty Feelings

    Alpha Gorgio¡¯s POV still


    Damn it!


    Who saddled me with this slow aircraft? We¡¯ve been flying for ten minutes now and Arkansas isn¡¯t that far away. As if sensing my impatience, the pilot tosses me a pair of binocrs, which I gratefully use to scan all the forests we fly over.


    Never before had my heart beaten so fast with anticipation. My chest hurts from all the vibrations. My mate, in a few moments I will hold her in my arms again. Goddess, it has been a long, long week, I almost went mad from missing her. I knew she woulde back to me, but I didn¡¯t want to wait. With the new twist in Midnight Moon, she needs my protection more than ever.


    And then I saw her. By ake, under a tree.


    She takes off her trainers and begins to pull the dress over her head. ¡°Eyes off!¡± I growl at Jace and the pilot, who immediately turn away. ¡°Andnd this damn thing quickly.¡± I can feel Xander getting agitated, banging against our wall to take over. I don¡¯t know how long I can hold him back, he¡¯s using all the strength he has left, which is more than I have.


    Finally, we¡¯re on solid ground and as soon as the door slides up, I shift and Xander goes full speed for his mate. Dexter follows at a reasonable distance, and of course, my Beta is looking forward to seeing his Luna again. Not that hispany would be much wanted at our reunion right now.


    And then I smell her, that wonderful scent of wildflowers and Lilies that always makes me drunk and like wax in her hands. A scent that I can¡¯t live without for long, I could kill for. Era moves in my direction, she must have smelled Xander too. Our wolves love each other as much as we do in human form.


    They copse against each other, licking each other¡¯s snouts and making all sorts of sounds of joy. It is a wild dance of a white-silvery wolf and a deep ck one, who both know that their existence is intertwined.


    ¡®Ariel, my love,¡¯ I whisper as she slowly lowers her mind wall.


    ¡®Why do you hide from me? Do you know how long I craved to hear you, to see you, to touch you, my mate? All these days without you have been torture. Come back to me where you belong.¡¯ For a moment I hear a sob, then a sigh of pain.


    ¡®Gorgio! Forgive me! It was all so sudden, it took me by surprise. I didn¡¯t mean to hurt you,¡¯ she cries in despair. ¡®Please, baby, I love you, there can be no one else but you. But this mate bond¡­ I had no control over it, it came out of nowhere,¡¯ she continues pleadingly. I can hear the tears in her voice now.


    Era goes down on her belly, her head on her front paws. She, too, makes a few cautious noises and no longer dares to look Xander in the eye.


    ¡®Hey, baby. I can never me you. We¡¯ve experienced the mate bond ourselves and know how it works, don¡¯t we? But you should have trusted me ande back to me so we could find an answer to this. We cannot do without each other, and we solve all our problems together. That was our promise, remember?¡¯


    There is silence for a few seconds, as Xander begins to lick Era¡¯s head consolingly.


    ¡®Yes. I woulde back, maybe even tomorrow. But I wanted toe to terms with myself first, I don¡¯t want to burden you with my insecurities. But now I¡¯m ready to face this challenge with you.¡¯


    Delighted with her answer, I run my hand over my face. She still wants me, that¡¯s the only thing that¡¯s going through my mind. And it¡¯s the best I¡¯ve heard in days.


    ¡®Are you ready to shift now so I can finally hold you, my love? Only the Moon Goddess knows how much I need to feel you in my arms, to have your arms around me again. I missed you so much, Princess, not having you beside me was hell. Every night alone in bed, the desire for your hands on my body was too much. Let me hold you.¡¯


    Another silence.Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    I take over from Xander and within seconds I am in front of her. Now all I have to do is wait for her to muster the courage to shift as well. And all the luck is on my side. Era gets on her feet hesitantly as if she¡¯s trying to persuade Ariel to face me. But then I hear bones cracking and there she stands, my Luna.


    Her head is bowed, and I feel a thickyer of guilt around her. This silly girl, does she really think I will let her go in the first storm of our rtionship? Not now and never.


    ¡°Ariel, look at your mate. The same one you swore to keep forever and never leave. Who remains madly in love with you no matter whates our way,¡± I whisper, taking a step closer to her. I cup her chin gently and lift her face to mine.


    I read fear, desperation and insecurity in her silver eyes. She shivers slightly at the touch of my hand. Yes, I can feel it too, those hot sparks that are the core of my existence. ¡°You feel it too, it¡¯s still there. And will never go away as long as I live. You are mine, Ariel. I won¡¯t let anyone else have you. I¡¯ll keep you forever, just for me.¡±


    Her eyese alive and I see the glittering love that was always there when she looked at me. Her trembling lips also stretch into a broad smile. And when her small hands move over my naked body, circling my waist, I know that everything will be all right.


    ¡°Forever yours, Gorgio. And I won¡¯t share you with others, just as you won¡¯t have to share me with anyone. I swear to you¡±.


    When our lips meet, there is an explosion in my body. My energy skyrockets and I return to my old strength. Xander and Era let out a vibrant roar of victory at the same time as our lips locked. My hand is in her hair while my mate clutches my shoulder.


    Goddess, this is home.


    ¡°Wee back, Luna,¡± I hear Jace, the butt pain, behind me. ¡°As much as I love seeing you like this right now, we need to get out of here. Dexter senses werewolves in the area. And given the circumstances, we¡¯ll have to keep your return to Eclipse Moon a secret for a while.¡± I take Ariel¡¯s hand and prepare to lead her to the helicopter.


    ¡°Wait, my friend is waiting for me to go back. My personal belongings are with her. We should take her too,¡± she calls out.


    ¡°Is she a werewolf? You know we can¡¯t take humans¡­¡± I reminded her.


    ¡°She¡¯s human, but she knows about us.¡± She turns to Jace. ¡°She¡¯s not afraid of wolves. Go quickly with Dexter and get her. Tell her she saw Era for the first time today. Then she¡¯ll know it¡¯s okay.¡± Jace follows his Luna¡¯s orders while I walk with my love to the waiting helicopter¡­

 High Hopes

    Alpha Zane¡¯s POV Now


    My gut tells me to keep an eye on Eric.


    Something is definitely going on with him and I think it has everything to do with Ariel. The way they interact is not normal. Ariel is hungry for his attention, always seeking his opinion, and she is too close to him for my liking. And the way he looks at her when he thinks no one is watching looks like a man in love.


    But his analysis of Ariel¡¯s behavior is what interests me now. Eric is right, there are some things about her that no one would expect in a mate. The fact that she is not attracted to me may have something to do with her bond with Gorgio. But she doesn¡¯t seem to tolerate me around her, often looks at me disapprovingly and never has intimate contact with me of her own ord. And then her ridiculous conditions. I almost feel like a clown, my pack is starting to get anxious about my inability to control my Luna.


    Of course, Midnight Moon senses through the pack bond that Ariel and I are not having sex.


    My missing mark also speaks volumes. Because of her tight clothing, I have not been able to see Gorgio¡¯s mark, which is also questionable. She has been here for almost two weeks and I have never seen her naked. Even in bed she is fully clothed.


    But what makes me nervous is that she never mentions Gorgio¡¯s name or talks about Eclipse Moon. She always talks about Blue Blood and her father, the Alpha King. And her performance during the conversation with the Mayor confirms her authority as the daughter of the elite werewolf family and is in no way ated Luna ruling alongside an Alpha. Eric was right about all this.


    Yes, I think there is more going on here.


    And I¡¯ll be damned if I don¡¯t find out. In the meantime, I¡¯ll try to gain Ariel¡¯s trust. I will take her out on a date, as Kensley suggested, and then watch her closely.


    This is my first mating, but I have seen enough with others to know how it works. I climb the stairs to our t but don¡¯t find her there. Then I make my way to the back balcony where I see her sitting on a sofa with a liqueur in her hand.


    When she sees me approaching, she turns her head to me with a polite smile.


    ¡°Alpha,¡± she acknowledges my presence as if allowing me to appear before her. ¡°I am your mate, you should call me by my name, Ariel. Why are you being so formal with me?¡± She blushes and looks away for a moment before facing me again. ¡°There¡¯s no problem calling you by your name, Zane. You didn¡¯t permit me and I didn¡¯t mean to be rude.¡± ¡°Do mates have to give each other permission to be affectionate with each other? You can do anything to me, I belong to you as much as you belong to me. But I notice that you are very reluctant.¡±


    Is it because of Gorgio?¡± And now she turned fiery red as if I had just reminded her of his existence. Her tongue moistens her lips.


    And then she shakes her head in denial.


    ¡°I notice you¡¯re not contacting him. Does that mean you fully ept me and won¡¯t go back?¡± A contemptuous smile leaves her lips.


    ¡°Gorgio is my mate. You already knew that. And I must go back, otherwise, his wolf will weaken and the pack will be vulnerable. I came here so that we could bond and see if our rtionship has a chance,¡± she tells me. ¡°Gorgio will always be a part of me.¡±


    That stings, I would have liked to hear her say that she wanted to stay in Midnight Moon and never leave. But I will have to be patient and use the time I have with her wisely.


    ¡°I will have toe to terms with this, although I admit it is not the most ideal situation. But now that the Moon Goddess has decreed it, she will have her reasons,¡± I admit sourly. ¡°But you need to make some adjustments, Ariel. You are not behaving like my mate and my wolf is very unhappy about that.¡±


    And now I have her full attention, but I still sense a certain distance from her.


    ¡°Adjustments? And what makes you think I¡¯m not behaving like your mate?¡± she asks innocently.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be honest with you. I want to own you so badly, as mates do. But when we¡¯re in bed, you turn your back on me, as if I don¡¯t attract you. And that should be impossible, the pull should drive you towards me,¡± I tell her quietly.


    ¡°You avoid any physical contact with me, you never sit on myp or give me a kiss. The pack is starting to notice that you don¡¯t pick up your Luna duties either, you¡¯re nowhere to be seen¡±.


    ¡°Oooh, I¡¯m so sorry, Zane. You¡¯re right. I¡¯m just sitting here eating your food and doing nothing. Of course, I¡¯m supposed to be on duty. I¡¯m so spoiled,¡± she replies. ¡°Why don¡¯t you ask Eric to show me around tomorrow? Then I can see where I fit in and talk to the women. I promise I¡¯ll get more involved with the pack then.¡±


    I can¡¯t believe my ears, does she really prefer thepany of the Beta to that of her Alpha mate? This proves once again that she does not like being with me.


    ¡°Why do you keep avoiding me, Ariel? Can¡¯t you feel the attraction?¡± I sound almost desperate, I can¡¯t believe my mate doesn¡¯t want me. This is hard to deal with.


    What should I do if she rejects me? ¡°Give me some time to get used to it. We are in an ufortable mating, I never thought this would be my fate, Zane¡±.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    ¡°I can do that, but you also need to work on our rtionship. How about we start with a date? I¡¯ll show you my best side and believe me, in no time you¡¯ll be so in love with me, you¡¯ll never want to leave¡±.


    We both burst outughing and for the first time the atmosphere between us loosened up.


    And my hopes for a great rtionship with my mate grow¡­

 Demanding

    Alpha Zane¡¯s POV stillBelongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    Never before have I felt so nervous about a date.


    Usually, I¡¯m the one in control,pletely in control of the situation when I¡¯m having dinner with a woman. But tonight I feel like an insecure teenager on his first date.


    Ariel has agreed to spend the evening with me. I have reservations at an exquisite restaurant in the pack and have nned a walk in the woods afterward to further loosen the mood.


    An hour ago I received a report from Kensley that Ariel had managed to find a great dress for tonight. Even he can confirm that it is a creation that looks fabulous on her. The only downside is that she paid for it with her father¡¯s credit card.


    When I sent her to Human Town with Kensley this afternoon to go shopping, I gave her a tinum card with instructions that she could buy anything her heart desired. The price didn¡¯t matter, as long as she wanted the items. ording to Kensley, she did make some purchases, but they were all on her father¡¯s ount. This is not a good sign.


    Ariel should know that mated males see it as their duty to take care of their woman and provide for all her needs. Why she insists on behaving as if she were single, I hope to hear tonight at the dinner table. In any case, it is a ray of hope that she has not used Gorgio¡¯s money, for I would certainly not ept it.


    After a final nce at my reflection, I leave the bedroom.


    Ariel is using the guest room and hasn¡¯t appeared yet, so I go to the bar in the corner of our living room and pour myself a whiskey. I am so anxious to see her, Kensley said it would be well worth it.


    And I don¡¯t have to wait long to see it with my own eyes.


    Ariel is stunning. The deep green dress fits her like it was made for her. It is not very revealing, the cut of the cleavage showing the first curve of her breasts and nothing more. Her narrow waist is perfectly entuated by the smooth fabric that falls to her heels. A scarf around her elbowspletes her aristocratic look. Undeniably beautiful.


    I clear my throat and offer her an elbow.


    ¡°You look fabulous, Ariel. Many men will be jealous of me tonight when they see you on my arm. You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen,¡± I whisper emotionally.


    ¡°Thank you, Zane. You look smoking hot too. I have to be careful not to lose you to some she-wolf tonight.¡± She smiles indifferently as if she doesn¡¯t care whether I¡¯m untraceable tonight or not. Her words arepletely meaningless and her voice betrays that.


    I decided to ignore her insincerepliment, tonight I will do whatever it takes to save our rtionship. Gaining Ariel¡¯s trust is my main goal. Together we walk out the door to the lift, which I held open for her. As the lift doors close, I gently pull her back against my chest. Fortunately, she does not flinch, although I can feel the tension in her body. She could not rx in my arms.


    When we reach the main floor, I take her hand and we walk into the car park, where my Maserati is waiting for us. I help her into the car and when I get behind the wheel, I take her hand and hold it on my thigh.


    We drive silently to the restaurant and when we arrive we are immediately led into a special dining area, with a magnificent view of the rising moon.


    ¡°Ariel, I¡¯ve ced our order in advance so we won¡¯t be disturbed all the time. But if there is a special dish you like, we can still take it¡±. She shakes her head no.


    ¡°I trust your taste. Besides, I¡¯m not really picky about food,¡± she assures me. And then I think about how little I know about her.


    ¡°Tell me, what was your life like in Eclipse Howl? What were your duties?¡± I asked her curiously. If she tells me a little about her time there, I might learn more about her rtionship with Gorgio.


    Averted, she looks up at the half-full moon. ¡°My life was great before I came to Midnight Moon. I was the Alpha¡¯s right hand, taking care of the pups who haven¡¯t shifted yet, the most vulnerable,¡± she answers vaguely.


    ¡°But isn¡¯t that the job of the Head Warrior? The Luna often takes care of the females,¡± I indicate. She sighs and looks me straight in the eye.


    ¡°What exactly do you want to know, Zane? Let¡¯s spend tonight getting to know each other better. That¡¯s what you want,¡± she replies almost ruefully. I grit my teeth by this disrespectful answer but decide not to respond to it. I steer the conversation into calmer waters by telling her about my day¡¯s activities. The forting investments and the Council audit I was expecting.


    ¡°They keep harassing me, always wanting to look at my financial records,¡± I sigh. ¡°I know they¡¯re looking for traces of moneyundering, I keep telling them they won¡¯t find any of that. But they keep trying.¡±


    ¡°Yes, I have also heard the rumors that you are involved in a drug ring. You use the funds to invest in yourpanies andunder it to other ounts,¡± I hear my mate say calmly.


    ¡°And you believe all that?¡± I ask her in astonishment. She shrugs her shoulders.


    ¡°As long as there is no proof, I believe in your innocence. Your books are in order, so you have nothing to fear¡±. It was hard for me to hide my shock. How does she know all this? The results of the audits always go straight to her father, the Alpha King. And she is no longer part of the pack. Another red g.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go for a walk. It will help digest all that food,¡± I offer, holding out my hand to her.


    We walk in the direction of the forest. Ariel takes off her stilettos and holds them in her hand.


    I have a surprise for her, in the middle of the forest there is a hut that I have had romantically decorated for us to spend some quality time in cozy surroundings. My n is for us to drink some wine there and let our feelings take over for the rest of the evening.


    We had almost reached the forest when I felt her stiffen.


    Looking up, I see that her face is drawn first in sadness and then clearly in anger.


    And following her line of sight, I see my Beta standing there, holding a sexy she-wolf against a tree trunk..

 Nothing In Return

    Alpha Zane¡¯s POV still


    A menacing roar emanates from deep in my throat.


    I can¡¯t believe what¡¯s unfolding right before my eyes. My mate res angrily at my best friend and Beta, who turns to her with guilt written all over his face. Eric shoves the woman away, his eyes fixed on Ariel. It is as if he has been caught in the act by his girlfriend.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡± I demand to know, w shifting his glowing eyes from Ariel to Eric.


    ¡°Zane,¡± Eric exhales, tearing his eyes away from Ariel. ¡°I didn¡¯t know you were here with Ariel. Sybille and I were just talking, nothing more. I swear. Did I disturb you?¡± Why do I get the feeling he¡¯s apologizing to my friend instead of to me?


    ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant. Why are you and my mate looking at each other like lovers? This is not the first time I have noticed it. Is there something I should know, Beta?¡±


    Eric runs a hand through his hair, clearly frustrated by the situation.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what you are talking about. As you can see, I¡¯m here with my girlfriend. And you and the Luna have just arrived. Now you say all sorts of things that I have no answer to,¡± he argues. It looks like he has no intention of exining his attitude towards my mate.


    ¡°Eric, is Ariel your mate too? What does your wolf say?¡± I ask him bluntly. Even before I have finished my question, he is shaking his head frantically.


    ¡°I already told you, Ariel is the Luna and your mate. I don¡¯t share and she¡¯s not my mate¡±.


    But why does he sound unconvincing when he says this? My Beta is lying and I will investigate the details. The evening is over for me. My mood is at an all-time low. I am beginning to doubt whether Ariel and I will ever reach the stage of being lovers. The way she looks at Eric, that possessiveness and affection, she does not even remotely have for me.


    I take her hand and turn back to the restaurant.


    ¡°Zane, what¡¯s going on? Why are you so angry with Eric? He didn¡¯t do anything to deserve the way you addressed him.¡± My mate takes my Beta¡¯s side, the reproach in her voice is too much for me. I take her to the parking lot, open the car door for her and as soon as she gets in, I get behind the wheel.


    In hushed silence, we drive to the packhouse.


    When we arrive, I take her to our apartment and retire to my office. At my private bar, I pour myself a double shot of Scotch and down it in one go. A feeling of despair washes over me. After years of waiting, I have finally found my Luna. But I have to share her with a rather reluctant Alpha, my arch-rival. And when she finally joins the pack, it turns out that she does not want much from me. She keeps me at a distance and just won¡¯t start the mating process.


    And now I find out that she is in love with my Beta.


    What have I done in my past and present lives to be punished like this? Selene clearly doesn¡¯t like me very much. All I want is a mate to love and rule the pack with, a Luna for my wolf family. Although sharing is not my thing either, I am too happy to have finally met her to let her go. But things are going to get more difficult when she has no feelings for me and we will most likely have to share her with the three of us now.   This is bing an awkward situation, with me most likely on the losing end of the stick.


    Kensley bursts into my room and halts in front of me.N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    ¡°Zane, what¡¯s going on? I can feel your stress in the pack link. And when I asked Eric if he knew what was wrong with you, he couldn¡¯t give me a concrete answer either. Is it Ariel again?¡± He sighs wearily as he mentions my mate¡¯s name. My mating doesn¡¯t seem to be doing anyone in the pack any good.


    ¡°Yes. I think she is cheating on me with Eric or is in love with him. He denies everything, but the way they look at each other says it all. Their attraction when they are near each other is perceptible¡±. I take another big sip from my refilled ss. ¡°Worst case scenario, Eric is her mate too and then she has three. I tell you, Kensley, that is unbearable.¡±


    ¡°No, I don¡¯t think Eric has anything to do with the Luna. To be honest, Ariel seems childish to me. I often doubt that she is nearly twenty and mated,¡± he replies thoughtfully. ¡°And even then, I can¡¯t sense her wolf. No one in the pack has seen her shift. Not even once. Isn¡¯t that strange?¡±


    ¡°There are so many things about Ariel that don¡¯t make sense. I think it would be best to send her back to Gorgio. Our rtionship is going nowhere, she doesn¡¯t share the mate bond with me,¡± I say defeated. ¡°And things will be even more awkward if Eric joins the triangle. It seems like the best solution, but can I handle it? I long for her so much, her absence and the knowledge that she is with Gorgio will kill me.¡±


    Kensley continues to stare intently at the floor.


    ¡°You can reject each other. Then give her to Eric and look for a second chance mate,¡± he suggests. ¡°At best, that will break the bond, you won¡¯t feel anything for her anymore, and you¡¯ll keep your Beta. To go on like this is too painful. Letting go might be the best course to take¡±.


    I am startled by his advice.


    Kensley is still unmated, he does not know what it is like to feel this intense desire. Giving up Ariel will be hard, but if it means regaining my bnce and calming my pack, I am willing to do it. But it won¡¯t be easy.


    Kensley reads my bitterness.


    ¡°I know it¡¯s easy for me to talk like this as an unmated wolf, Zane. But you can¡¯t keep doing this. You whip yourself up and she gives you nothing in return,¡± he exins. ¡°And then you have Alpha Gorgio who could dere war on us at any moment and you still risk losing your best friend and Beta.¡±


    ¡°Let me sleep on it. What you say makes a lot of sense. I can¡¯t let my personal feelings take precedence over the interests of the pack. This is hard, man. I want her for myself so bad, my mate. And now I have to lose her. Damn!¡±¡­

 Between Two

    Beta Eric¡¯s POV


    I¡¯m so dead!


    I can¡¯t help but admit that Ariel is my mate. And Zane knows it. My wolf knows it. And Ariel herself knows. I¡¯m so fucked up!


    I sit here analyzing all the things about Ariel that don¡¯t make sense. She has a lot to exin.


    Hunter adores her, but he doesn¡¯t call her our mate. He keeps hinting that she is not Zane¡¯s, but does not confirm that she is our fated one. He hints that she is ours, but never explicitly identifies her as our mate.


    And no one has seen her wolf, they do sense it, but they just have never seen her shift. She is definitely one of us.


    Ariel is not attracted to Zane, she doesn¡¯t want to have sex with him or have him mark her. That¡¯s not really what mates are about. She does not behave like a Luna, has no deep interest in Midnight Moon, and often talks about her father¡¯s pack, but never about Eclipse Howl. In conversations with the mayor, she acted more like a delegated authority.


    Most important, however, is her slip in the Recreation Center.


    She implied that by the time her anniversary came around, we would both realize that we were mates. Boom! There it is, this Ariel is not yet eighteen, she is seventeen. And Eclipse Howl¡¯s Luna has been mated to Alpha Gorgio for a year, so she¡¯s neen, going on twenty. We are talking about two Ariels here, the women are two different personalities.


    And given their simrities, they must be rted, perhaps sisters or cousins.


    I take my mobile out of my pocket to call a friend of mine in the Blue Blood, the pack of Alpha King Petric, Ariel¡¯s father. He must have the answers I¡¯m looking for. ¡°Eric, my friend. How are things in Midnight Moon?¡± Abel chuckles. ¡°The news of your Alpha¡¯s double mating is keeping everyone busy.¡± I decided to y along.


    ¡°Yes, it is a messy affair and Alpha Gorgio is not really cooperating. I wish the Alpha King still had a daughter, then we could have resolved the matter quickly,¡± I start.


    The manughs. ¡°There is another daughter. But Alexis is too young and I don¡¯t think Zane is her type,¡± he is sure. ¡°Man, prepare for war. Alpha Gorgio will never let go of Ariel. To this man, his Luna is a goddess. Zane won¡¯t survive.¡±


    ¡°Alexis? Does Alpha King Petric still have one more daughter? If so, how old is she and where is she?¡±


    ¡°Too young, Eric. And her father will kill you if you touch her. The Alpha King is another madman when ites to his family. That¡¯s why he¡¯s so fond of Gorgio, birds of a feather,¡± my friend continues. ¡°Alexis is on holiday on Alpha Gorgio¡¯s yacht. The Alpha also spoils his sister-inw terribly. No, Zane has no chance of surviving this drama.¡±


    Alexis! I have a name. And she¡¯s a minor, just as I thought.


    Isn¡¯t it a coincidence that she¡¯s on holiday and on a yacht that¡¯s so hard to reach? I¡¯m not an idiot. The woman here in Midnight Moon is not Ariel, but Alexis. Damn sure!


    But how has she managed to do all this? Zane does feel a bond with her. And the fact that she came here of her own volition proves that there is a n behind this. I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if Alpha Gorgio knows all about this.


    But of course, they had not reckoned with her finding her mate here and things getting moreplicated. And again I wonder how they could have put it all together so perfectly.


    And then I remember it all again.


    Xanna, the witch, the so-called assistant. Definitely the clue. Yes, that¡¯s why she visited me, wasting my time with her riddles. I think so.


    But I have no intention of joining this masquerade. I will confront Alexis with my findings and decide from then on. But she won¡¯t go scot-free.


    But I¡¯m still in dubio. Zane suspects me and I don¡¯t want to betray his trust. And Alexis is my mate, I can¡¯t betray her either.


    Fuck! Things are not looking good for me. Time is not on my side, I must act quickly.


    I get up from my desk chair and head out into the hallway on my way to the kitchen. The Omegas there will be able to tell me exactly where I can find Alexis. But as I turn the corner, I bump into Kensley.


    I try to act as normal as possible, but I see a sh of suspicion in his eyes. Is he wary too, or is it my conscience gnawing? I choose thetter.


    ¡°Kensley, have you seen the Luna? I want to get started on Zane¡¯s mission.¡±


    He shifts on his feet, then leans against the wall.


    ¡°And how do you think to go about doing that? You can¡¯t just walk up to her with all kinds of innuendo. You have to be tactical¡±. I bob my head. ¡°Of course. Exactly what you suggested, I¡¯m going to gain her trust first.¡± He moves his head slowly and stares straight at me.


    ¡°Okay. Watch your attitude and don¡¯t fuel Zane¡¯s suspicions about you. Mates are sensitive and jealousy can be deadly,¡± he warns me as if I didn¡¯t already know that. And his tone irritates me as if he¡¯s belittling me.


    ¡°Kensley, may I remind you that I am still the Beta here? Yourment is insulting. I have already cleared up any insinuations. Why do you keep bringing it up?¡± I reply, annoyed.


    ¡°Hey, no offense. I just want to remind you to keep an appropriate distance, especially now that Zane is suspicious. Nothing more,¡± he exins, throwing his hands demonstratively in the air.


    ¡°Okay, now answer my question. Do you know where I can find the Luna?¡±


    ¡°On the back balcony. I saw her lying in a hammock with a book. She doesn¡¯t do much else,¡± he replies ironically. I snarl, no disrespect allowed.N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    Kensley shakes his head in despair and walks past me.


    I head straight for the back balcony. I need to talk to my mate¡­

 I Want Her

    Beta Eric¡¯s POV still


    ¡°Alexis¡±


    With a jerk, she looks up from the book she is reading. A smile spreads across her face as she stands up. I walk towards her, my eyes fixed on her. God, she is so beautiful, howe I only noticed this now?


    ¡°Alexis,¡± I say again as I stop in front of her. ¡± That is who you are. And not Ariel, Zane¡¯s mate.¡± Her face falls in shock and her eyes go wide. A few times she tries to say something but fails. If necessary, I will not hesitate to be tough with her to get the truth. It is not just Zane¡¯s mating that is at stake here, my life is intertwined with this as well. I don¡¯t know how this will end, but I must separate the identities of Ariel and Alexis so Zane and I have a chance to im our mate.


    Moon Goddess, please, I want this woman. She is underage now, I will have to wait to im her. But I must let Zane know that she is not his mate before I can move on with her.


    ¡°You know that!¡± she sighs and takes a step closer to me.


    She looks at me pleadingly. ¡°It had to be different. But I couldn¡¯t have known that I would meet my mate now, even before I turned eighteen. And then also here in Midnight Moon¡±.


    ¡°Let¡¯s start at the beginning. Why are you here? And why are you pretending to be Ariel?¡±


    She pulls me to the floor and we sit with our backs to the railing. ¡°First, I want you to promise me that you won¡¯t go straight to Zane and pass on everything I tell you. My mission here is not yetplete.¡± I take a deep breath, this is the hardest thing of all. Zane is my Alpha, my first loyalty is to him. But how can I betray my mate and turn my own life upside down?


    ¡°You know I can¡¯t make that promise. I am the Beta here, Zane¡¯s welfare is my first concern because it is in direct line with that of my pack,¡± I sigh. ¡°Let¡¯s start with you. How old are you and when is your birthday?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m seventeen, as you must have guessed. In two weeks I will be eighteen. But I hope to be back in my father¡¯s pack by then. Midnight Moon is not really safe for me,¡± she replied. ¡°And before you ask, my father knows nothing of my presence here. As far as he is concerned, I am on a yacht, enjoying myself¡±.


    ¡°And will you still tell me why you are here? What is the n? And how long do you think you will go through with it?¡± I insist. But she shakes her head. ¡°Not until I have guarantees that you will go straight to Zane. I¡¯m your mate, Eric, I¡¯m entitled to your loyalty too.¡±


    God, she¡¯s ying the emo card and I don¡¯t know if I can take it. She is so close to me and although I do not yet feel the sparks and the bond in all its intensity, the pull is there.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    ¡°No Alexis. I have to tell him¡±.


    ¡°Okay, will you tell him about us? Eric, I am your mate and if you go to your Alpha now and tell him that I am not the person he thinks I am, what will happen? Do you think he will ept me as the Beta female after this confession?¡± she holds out to me. ¡°Eric, think carefully.¡±


    I run a hand through my hair, fed up with the whole situation.


    Yes, I have to tell Zane, but I also want to keep my mate and stay here in Midnight Moon. This is my pack. I¡¯m standing on quicksand here.


    ¡°Just tell me what¡¯s going on. I¡¯ll tell Zane what you need,¡± Ipromise. And then I hear about her n to get Zane off Ariel¡¯s trail so that Alpha Gorgio would have enough time to find his mate and bring her home. Once they were back together, they could look for a way to solve this problem.


    So when the n wasplete, she would tell Zane that she was going to visit her father and note back. She knew that neither Alpha Gorgio nor Ariel wanted to participate in the sharing mating. ¡°I don¡¯t know what Selene was trying to achieve with this stunt. Gorgio and Ariel are a match made in heaven. My sister will never give herself to another man and Gorgio will never allow it,¡± Alexis emphasized.


    ¡°Hmmm, and do you know where Ariel is and if Gorgio or your father have already found her?¡± I ask. ¡°Gosh, I wonder how I fit into all this. Why did Selene choose me to be your mate?¡±


    ¡°Well, it could be that we had to meet in this way. But what does she have in store for Zane? He is the main victim in all this. It hurts me to see him suffer like this. The man longs for a mate. But Ariel isn¡¯t one,¡± she hints pitifully.


    ¡°Listen, I¡¯ll go to Zane and tell him to send you back home. And when he¡¯s over you, I¡¯ll pick you up after you turn eighteen and we¡¯ll announce that we¡¯re fated. That seems like the best solution in this case¡±.


    ¡°Yes, although his rejection of Ariel will have no effect if she is not in front of him. I¡¯ll ask Gorgio if he¡¯s managed to track down Ariel yet¡±.


    Alexis has moved closer to me, practically under my arm.


    Her warm breath hits my neck and again I feel lust coursing through me.


    Lots of she-wolves have sex at seventeen, even before they have found their mate. But I don¡¯t intend to do that with Alexis. Before I can even think more about it, I feel her lips on my cheek, moving towards my mouth. Unable to resist, the slight pull forces me to turn my face for her to kiss me fully. Her tongue licks against my closed lips, a moan escaping me as I grab her head and dominate the kiss.


    My hands go around her naturally, now holding her firmly against me as she straddles me.


    God, having a mate in your arms is like entering the sweet heavens. She is not quite as feminine as my previous bed partners, probably due to ack of sexual experience. But I¡¯ll take care of that when shees of age.


    Out of necessity, I have to part our lips to allow us to breathe.


    ¡°Eric. Do as you say. Tell Zane to send me back. Ande back for me in two weeks. I¡¯ll make sure everyone knows that Ariel and I are sisters, so people don¡¯t think you stole your Alphas mate,¡± she insists.


    ¡°I will, babe. I will. Just kiss me again.¡±


    I am so taken with this girl¡­

 I Reject You

    Again Beta Eric¡¯s POV


    Yes! So I became part of my Alpha¡¯s mating mess.


    After listening to Alexis, I know that I have every interest in Zane getting his affairs in order and Alexis returning to Blue Blood, at least for the time being.


    My biggest challenge now is to advise Zane when he already suspects me of being in love with his mate or having an affair with her. To think that I should be the one to use him of all this.  Only when Alexis is out of Midnight Moon can these twisted rtionships finally be untangled.


    But Zane is my best friend, I¡¯m going to drag us both through this nasty soap opera and we¡¯ll be fine. Just watch me!Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    I make my way to his office, his scent telling me he is still there. I open the door and see him leaning back in his desk chair with his eyes closed, the smell of alcohol wafting to me.


    ¡°Zane, please. Don¡¯t give up. I know it¡¯s a rough patch right now, but I assure you everything is going to be fine,¡± I tell him. He opens his eyes and looks at me for a moment as if he has yet to recognize me.


    ¡°How is everything going to be fine when my mate is chasing you instead of me? Are you going to take her away from me?¡± he snarls. He tries to get up from the chair but falls back. He must have had quite a lot of whiskey.


    ¡°I assure you that I will be thest to take your mate, Zane. I pledge my loyalty to you once again. I know you are going through a difficult time, but you are a strong Alpha and will ovee this,¡± I encouraged him.


    ¡°Kensley suggests I reject Ariel and give her to you. Seem like you are mates and in love too,¡± he points out. ¡°It¡¯s hard, Eric, but you¡¯re my best friend. She has no feelings for me, the mate bond doesn¡¯t work for her. And I give you more credit than that asshole Gorgio¡±.


    ¡°No. I don¡¯t want your mate at all, and I¡¯m sure the feeling is mutual. I suggest you reject this woman and send her back to her father¡¯s pack. And then wait and see what Selene has in store for you,¡± I advised him.


    ¡°You don¡¯t want her? Even though you clearly have a connection? Eric, be honest. If I send her to the Alpha King, it will be harder to get her back.¡± I nod. ¡°Send her to her father after you reject her, Zane. I am not attracted to your mate, I would never covet my best friend¡¯s woman,¡± I emphasize again.


    ¡± Okay, it¡¯s your decision. I¡¯ll do exactly as you say. Kensley suggested I give her to you, but now that you say you don¡¯t want her, she will go to Blue Blood. There she can decide to go to Alpha Gorgio anyway.¡± We exchange a brotherly handshake and I sit back in the guest chair while he mind links with Kensley.


    A few minutester, the Head Warrior escorts Alexis into the room.


    All eyes are on me, but I avoid Alexis¡¯. At the moment, I cannot trust that my feelings for her will not be visible to everyone, changing Zane¡¯s mind.


    ¡®Eric, are you sure about this? If I say the words, there¡¯ll be no turning back,¡¯ Zane warns me in the mind link. ¡®Proceed, Alpha,¡¯ I urge.


    He points to a chair.


    ¡°Ariel, I have called you here for an announcement.¡± Zane clears his throat, probably to find the courage to reject the woman in front of him. This must be hell for him.


    ¡°Since the mate bond is not working for you and we are not progressing in our mating process, I have decided to reject you and send you back to your father¡¯s pack. I don¡¯t think you and I can have a good rtionship, it¡¯s just not in the cards. Keeping you here would only harm me mentally and cause further stress to the pack,¡± he states evenly.


    There was silence in the room for a moment.


    Zane¡¯s face has shrunk into a mask. A muscle in his throat betrays his inner pain. I feel so sorry for my best friend, but I think this is for the best. An unwilling mate is not what he needs or wants to risk a war for.


    ¡°Okay, I agree with you and I will ept your rejection,¡± Alexis replies, her eyes glued on me. But I don¡¯t give in to the desire to look back at her, the magic of our kisses still in my mind. And Hunter is on cloud nine, unable to get over her soft hands on our body.


    ¡°I, Zane Mancini, Alpha of Midnight Moon, reject Ariel Vasconsellos, daughter of the Alpha King, as my mate. We hereby dissolve the mating bond and are free to ept another mate¡±.


    ¡°I ept your rejection, Alpha Zane,¡± Alexis replied solemnly.


    And then all three of us men waited for the oue of this rejection. Kensley and Zane stare dumbfounded as the expected pain of breaking the bond fails to happen. There is no sign of it on Alexis either.


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll start packing, Zane. Can the ne be ready in an hour, please? I¡¯ll let my father know I¡¯m on my way, don¡¯t worry about it¡±. She stands up and leaves the room as if she had juste from lunch.


    ¡°Zane, what¡¯s changed in the script? Aren¡¯t you supposed to be bent over in pain from breaking the mate bond?¡± asks Kensley, perplexed. He slowly gets up from his chair and walks over to the desk. Zane is also stunned.


    ¡°Shit. That wasn¡¯t so bad. Maybe because we didn¡¯t initiate the mating process or the feelings aren¡¯t reciprocated, it¡¯s painless this time,¡± he reasons. Kensley shakes his head in disbelief.


    ¡°No, I don¡¯t believe any of that. Still, I¡¯m d you¡¯re safe,¡± he replies, his eyes now fixed on me.


    I nod at the men and leave the room.


    Before my mate leaves packnd, I want to see her. So I get into a vehicle and drive to thending strip to wait for her¡­

 It’s Still There

    Alpha Zane¡¯s POV


    Eric and Ariel have left my study.


    My mind still cannotprehend what happened a few minutes ago.


    My mate and I rejected each other and it went so smoothly as if we were just friends instead of fated. Strange thing.


    Kensley is right, especially for an Alpha, breaking the bond it should have been a more painful experience. But I felt nothing, no thong snapping or short circuit in my body, as described by male wolves who have been through this process before.


    And Ariel sat there indifferent, nothing was noticeable with her either.


    Or she is an excellent actress. My pain lies more in her attitude. Doesn¡¯t it bother her to leave me today? Her indifference hurts like hell. And why did Eric leave right after her? My Beta swore that she was not his mate and that he did not desire her. Even though her attitude said otherwise.


    ¡°Zane, this is not possible. An Alpha and Luna rejecting each other would have to go through the whole pack. Even Eric and I should feel some of your pain,¡± Kensley insists. He walks towards me.


    ¡°Are you sure she was your mate? Or was it just your desire to have a mate that drove you to her?¡± my Head Warrior begins to question. ¡°Because it surprised everyone that a fully mated and marked Luna had another Alpha as a mate. Was it all in your mind?¡±


    I shake my head in denial. ¡°She was my mate. Her scent when I smelled her clothes and the sparks when I held her hand were real. I told you,¡± I insist. ¡°She¡¯s already mated with Gorgio, maybe that¡¯s why? Because she was never attracted to me. No bond, no effect¡±.


    Kensley is not convinced, but that doesn¡¯t change anything. Ariel is leaving and I am single again. I have to get used to being lonely as before. The only constion is that my best friends have not yet met their mates, so I am not reminded every day of what I am missing.


    ¡°Is she going back to Alpha Gorgio, do you think? She was here for about two weeks but never contacted him¡±. He stares thoughtfully at the wall. ¡°I¡¯ll send our intel to Eclipse Howl and Blue Blood. This Luna is very strange. She resisted you, survived the rejection unharmed and is moving on. I need to know more about her.¡±


    Thest thing I feel like is dwelling on the subject.


    What is done is done, Ariel is now out of my reach and can go on with her life as she sees fit. If Selene agrees, I will meet a second chance mate. A new desire arises in me. Yes, I can see myself falling in love again, but this time with an unmated she-wolf, without all the strings I have to tie.


    As I start to get up, I suddenly felt a sharp pain in my chest.


    ¡°Kensley ¡­ hurt ¡­ my chest,¡± I stammer as I stumble to my feet. Within a second he is on top of me, preventing me from hitting the hard floor. A blur appears before my eyes and slowly lifts as I clutch my chest.


    ¡°Zane!¡± Kensley blurts out. ¡°Man, what is it? Is it the pain of rejection after all?¡±


    He helps me to the couch in the corner of the room and stretches me out. I still clutch at my chest, where the intense pain is slowly subsiding. Arge cloud of Ariel¡¯s scent reaches my nostrils, but it dissipates as well.


    ¡°I think it¡¯s the rejection,¡± I stammer breathlessly. My friend hurried to a cupboard and returned with a cold cloth, which he ced on my forehead. Soon I felt better.


    ¡°That¡¯s more like it. But this is still not the traditional way,¡± he persists. I¡¯m not going to try and change his mind. Once Kensley has bitten into an assumption, it is hard to get him off it.


    ¡°Has she left yet?¡±


    His eyes clouded for a moment. ¡°Yes, she¡¯s boarding now. Eric is supervising it. He was at the airstrip to see her off. What a gant Beta he is,¡± he remarks sarcastically.


    ¡°I offered him to take her as his mate. But he denied that they had a bond and suggested sending her to the Alpha King¡¯s pack himself. Eric would never betray me with my mate. She is not his fated. I do believe him in that.¡±


    ¡°Well, I just saw how she couldn¡¯t take her eyes off him. And when I picked her up on the back balcony, his scent was all over her,¡± he remarked again dryly.


    ¡°Makes no sense, Kensley. If they¡¯re mates, why wouldn¡¯t Eric take her? Ariel and I only slept side by side, we never had sex. She turned her back on me every night. I think your suspicions are misced.¡±


    Standing up, feeling almost like my old self again.


    I pour myself another shot of whiskey.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you take a week¡¯s holiday, Zane? Take the yacht and go sailing. There¡¯s a great yacht club in Human Town, lots of werewolves go there. It will be a good distraction from all this,¡¯ my friend suggests. ¡°Eric and I will keep the pack running for you. If there are any emergencies, we can reach you by phone or mind link.¡±


    Vacation sounds good. After this episode, I could use some time to myself.


    ¡°Thank you. Good idea. Get the yacht ready. Captain and two warriors who can also provide food, nothing more. I want all peace I can get, not many wolves around me.¡±


    Kensley leaves my office to carry out my order.


    Then I turn to the ss wall and look out over the pack.


    Strangely, I seem to feel the bond with Ariel rising again. Vaguely like before, but it¡¯s still there.N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    Oh well, waste of time. I will get rid of the burden and enjoy the week, forgetting the past days. ¡­

 Sated

    Luna Ariel¡¯s POV


    ¡°Aaahhh, love ¡­ give me some more ¡­ noting yet.¡± The words slip from my lips incoherently as I go down on my mate¡¯s cock once again. I can¡¯t get enough of him, after an hour you¡¯d think I¡¯d be sated by now.


    But far from it. I need so much more of him, to feel him deeper in my core with every thrust. All those uncertain weeks without him, the fear of losing him if I were forced to leave with Zane, is too much for me. The hot desire inside me to possess him, to fuse our bodies together, is unquenchable.


    Gorgio grunts under my force as he grips my hips tightly, trying to coordinate my movements. My tits m into his face, he keeps trying to get a nipple into his mouth but each time it slips off his delicious tongue.


    And just now his rod is swelling, which means he is close to orgasm. But I wanted to prolong this pleasure, so I held still for a moment to let him cool down. He protests growling, trying to get me to work my hips again, but I refuse. We¡¯re not there yet, I really need more.


    ¡°Yes, yes. I will give you all of it. But let¡¯s finish this round and start again. Please, baby ¡­ I need to cum,¡± he grunts madly with lust before sucking on a nipple again. He knows that his hot mouth brings out my beast and I can¡¯t stop my nails from digging into his shoulders. And with short, hefty strokes I whip us up to the great heights where the bright sparks await.


    Breathless, we reach the top and then go into free fall.


    My body trembles above my mate, I feel his hot seed sshing against my waiting womb. I throw my head back and surrender to this heavenly feeling of satisfaction. Then I feel his lips move over my neck, sucking and licking, blowing hot air against my skin.


    My head now falls onto his shoulder and I feel his fangs sear my skin before digging deep into his mark. My mate has marked me again.


    ¡°Gorgio ¡­ my mate ¡­ I love you so ¡­ yes,¡± I moan as an amazing currentpletely takes over my body and throws me against his. Era takes over from me, extending her fangs as well. She wipes the spot clean of sweat. And then she bites down hard on the mark she made over a year ago to bind our mate to us, irreversible.


    Both Gorgio and I climax again. He holds my hips firmly against him, his cock still buried deep inside me. And then I feel it, nted firmly inside me so that I am physically bound to my man for a while. My walls close tightly over his knot, trapping him inside me, confirming that we are one. Only mates destined for each other can experience this, the burning of the connection from the core.


    ¡°Goddess! Yes, I¡¯m yours ¡­ Gorgio, my mate ¡­ yes,¡± I stammer at this overwhelming feeling of beingpletely his. Weakly, I hang on his shoulder, my face hidden in his long brown-blonde hair.


    ¡°Baby, this is the first time this has happened to me. I couldn¡¯t control it,¡± he blows shakily against my skin as he presses my body fully against him. I can feel him swallow a few times; he is deeply emotional about this milestone in our mating.


    Reassuringly, he kisses my neck again, nibbling at my earlobe before reaching my lcs via my cheeks. A hot kiss follows, my lust reignited, I am far from done. But we will remain connected for some time, not that I mind. This is the fulfillment of my dreams and I couldn¡¯t be happier.


    ¡°My Luna. Nothing can diminish my love for you. I love you with everything the Moon Goddess has bestowed upon me, my heart, my body is yours,¡± he whispers as he ruffles my long ck tresses. ¡°You need never run from me again. You can do no wrong, you are a goddess in your own right.¡±


    I feel his cock twisting inside me, my toes curling from the warm sensation that is building inside my body.


    My head falls onto his shoulder again, my back arching from the shiver that runs down my spine. I moan again with pleasure, as my nipples immediately erect. My hands now caress his back, moving down to his firm ass, pressing him closer to my core. And then they climb up, stroking until I reach his neck.Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    When his fingers found my nipples and circled them, I let out a cry.


    ¡°Aaahh, baby. You feel so good. No one will feel this with you but me. No one has the right to own you but me. You are mine and mine alone,¡± he growls as a new me burns through him.


    ¡°Ariel, love. Do you know what this means? We may conceive our cub tonight. I want to see my pup grow inside you. Our love united in our heir.¡± I smile against his skin, Gorgio is the perfect father for my future pups. We have waited too long and I really hope we will seed tonight.


    And then I feel his knot loosen.


    The warm sensation as he slides out of me takes me to the brink of craziness and when I feel our mixed juices pouring out of me, I close my eyes in pure ecstasy. Gorgio pulls me onto his body, so we can recover from this amazing experience.


    ¡°You are mine,¡± he growls possessively.


    ¡°And you are mine too, forever,¡± I whisper back as I slide down.


    I cradle his member, sliding it several times before closing my lips around it. Above me, I hear my mate holding his breath sharply. And as my tongue flicks over his tip, his fingers grip my hair.


    The taste of our mix is amazing, this is what we are together.


    I quicken the pace of my hand and mouth, pumping and sucking his length as I listen to his exmations of love. A few minutester, hees undone in my mouth, while groaning his pleasure out.


    I swallow it all and lick him clean.


    With a satisfied sigh, I crawl back into his arms, kiss his chest and fall asleep like a log against the love of my life¡­

 Promised

    Luna Ariel¡¯s POV


    When I wake up, it¡¯s morning.


    Carefully, I get out of bed so as not to wake Gorgio. I enter our private bathroom and take a refreshing bath. Here I am, home atst, I can really unwind and rx. Era, my wolf, purrs contentedly now that we are back with our mate.


    Ariel, we can¡¯t escape our destiny. Zane is our mate, we have to take care of business with him. Hunter says Gorgio will ask you to reject Zane,¡¯ she points at me. ¡®But to be honest, I don¡¯t feel any strong connection to w anymore. It¡¯s as if he¡¯s resigned to the fact that we¡¯ll never be one.¡¯


    Era couldn¡¯t havee up with better news.


    Being in the middle of two hotheaded Alphas is hell. Neither of them will budge. Gorgio is determined to keep me for himself, while Zane is willing to share. I could see it clearly in the weak mate bond.


    Had I not panicked that day, I would have talked calmly to Zane and made it clear that it would be better for us to reject each other. Then none of this would have happened. But at least Era¡¯s exnation makes things easier when we do meet. A fading bond is always less problematic than a permanent one.


    When I return to the bedroom, Gorgio is still asleep. Thest few days have probably weighed heavily on his mind and he has not slept a wink. In the walk-in closet, I put on a pair of jeans and a tank top with a cover-up. Before I leave the room, I kiss him on the forehead.


    I walk down the stairs to the main floor.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    The smell of bacon and eggs made me realize how hungry I was. I walk into the kitchen and see Jace sitting there.


    ¡°Wee back, Ariel. My goodness, you scared us all. Not to mention Gorgio. We were at the gates of Midnight Moon ready to start a war. Your father and King Jasper were able to avoid it,¡± he sighs in obvious relief.


    ¡°War?¡± I asked stifled. I could p myself on the head for my recklessness. Of course, I should have guessed that fleeing without leaving a message would push Gorgio to the limit.


    ¡°Yes. Alpha Zane was able to prove with the CCTV footage that he hadn¡¯t kidnapped you. Gorgio was furious,¡± he tells me. I sit down next to him at the kitchen ind.


    ¡°Listen, Ariel. I am the Beta, your welfare is very important to me. The pack can hold me responsible if you¡¯re not happy here or whatever. If you cannot talk to Gorgio about whatever is bothering you, I am here for you. You can tell me anything, and I¡¯ll work with you to find a solution. But never run away again,¡± Jace sounds emotional, adding to my guilt.


    ¡°Gorgio is madly in love with you. If you are not here and he bes unbnced, it will affect the whole pack. Do you understand what I mean?¡±


    I nod slowly, wracked with guilt.


    Jace is right. As the Beta of the pack, I should have told him the reason for my flight. He would know how to direct things properly and help me ovee my insecurities. This Beta of Eclipse Howl is excellent, there is little he does not excel at. The only thing hecks is a mate, and I pray to the Moon Goddess for a powerful Beta female for him. Perhaps Alexis will prove to be his fated one when she turns eighteen in a few weeks.


    This reminds me of my friend rita.


    ¡°Jace, do you know where rita is? I hope she hasn¡¯t kept you too long. She was thrilled toe here and see for herself how werewolves live. She had a lot of questions and I have to admit my attention was more on my mate,¡± I confess.


    Jaceughs as he shakes his head.


    ¡°She had one of your credit cards and asked me if you would mind if she used it to go to the mall. You and Gorgio had been holed up in your bedroom for three days and she was bored. Even after I showed her around the pack.


    So I lent her a car so she could go to the mall in Human Town¡±. Laughing heartily, I¡¯m sure rita has probably asked him his ears off.


    ¡°She¡¯s a good girl, but she¡¯s been through a tough disappointment. I¡¯m d she¡¯s out of the woods now and starting to be herself again¡±.


    ¡°Why did you bring her to our pack in the first ce? You know humans must not know of our existence. What should we do if she wants to live among humans again?¡± asks Jace thoughtfully. ¡°ording to the Were-Laws, we should kill her or turn her if she wants to.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know why I told her about us. But she¡¯ll be fine, don¡¯t make any rash decisions. My gut tells me she won¡¯t go back. Maybe she will find her mate here?¡±


    ¡°At least she is not mine. Thank the Goddess. I wouldn¡¯t have a moment¡¯s peace with such a chatterbox¡±. We bothugh at his observation.


    ¡°Is she alone in Human Town, didn¡¯t you send a warrior to protect her?¡±


    Jace shakes his head, no. ¡°No need. She¡¯s a human. And I set the route on the GPS for her, so she can¡¯t get lost on her return, but I¡¯ve instructed the guard to check her vehicle when she returns. The new scan we acquired is detail oriented.¡±


    ¡°Perfect. I hope to speak to her as soon as she gets back,¡± I indicate. ¡°And Jace. Sorry about what happened. I panicked, it took mepletely by surprise. And I did the first thing that came to mind. And the embarrassment was the worst. How could I face you and the pack if I had given in to the bond with Zane?¡±


    ¡°Apology epted. But I want you to know that after Gorgio, I¡¯ll be your first choice if you¡¯re going through something you can¡¯t handle on your own. Promise, Luna?¡±


    ¡°Promised.¡± And I smile shyly at him¡­

 Stitches And A Connection

    Alpha Zane¡¯s POV


    This getaway is great.


    The yacht offers everyfort I can think of and now, after two days, I am relieved of all stress. Of course, I am still in touch with Eric and Kensley via the mind link, but they are doing great. Midnight Moon is running smoothly, apart from the huge amount of paperwork we have no significant threats. We have no known foes, just the asional rogue who gets too close to our borders. Or Gorgio warriors maneuvering along the western border. Nothing to write home about. And Kensley is up to the task, quickly dealing with such matters.


    And here I am again, lying on the deck under the sail, enjoying the cool sea breeze.


    The yacht is bobbing in the middle of the sea. I have juste from a swim, the water is nice and warm and the waves pass by quietly.  There is water on all sides, nond in sight. But after these days alone, I begin to long for people around me. The two warriors who came with me retreated to their hut an hour ago.


    ¡°Alpha, would you like to go ashore and socialize with the humans? The yacht club of the human city a few miles away has a busy shopping mall, you could take a look and have a different kind of meal at the food court.¡± Mase, the captain, approaches me.


    ¡°And there¡¯s a happy hour at the club tonight if you fancy a change of pace.¡± Hees over and sits down next to me on a deck chair, dressed in sportswear. Mase is my school friend, he was supposed to be my Gamma, but he loves the sea too much to be cooped up in a packhouse. So he manages our two yachts and the car park. He is happy and that is the most important thing for me.


    ¡°Yes, the shopping center is a bit different from what I am used to. Shopping is not really my thing, but I could do with some leg stretching. And some new faces¡±. Weugh at mystment, four men on a boat for two days is not exactly a diversepany.


    ¡°I¡¯lle with you. I haven¡¯t left the pack in months. That way, I lose any chance of finding my mate¡±. I nod; of all of us, I am the only one to have met my fated and even then it ended in disaster. Time is running out, mated rankings make a pack stronger. Eric, Kensley and even Mase are loose cannons, but I know they all long for the moment when they find their better half. We are all so over-aged.


    We go to our room to change.


    Half an hourter, I meet Mase on the bridge. He has arranged a rental car, takes the key from the car rental guy and we drive off.


    ¡°I heard how it ended with your Luna, Zane. I¡¯m so sorry it had to happen to you,¡± my friend tells me. ¡°Maybe the Moon Goddess will grant you a second chance soon. Then you can put all this behind you and be happy again¡±.


    ¡°Yes, I look forward to that. Ariel was definitely a miscalction on Selene¡¯s part. When we first met, the mate bond was strong, but she was still able to evade it and escape. But when she came back all on her own, she seemed so non-existent, it was unbelievable how cold and distant she was,¡± I exin regretfully. ¡°She made no effort to make our rtionship work.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Selene provides the impetus, but it¡¯s the partners who have to make it seed. And if it fails, it¡¯s better to end it than to hurt each other.¡±


    ¡°The strange thing was that as soon as Eric got close to Ariel, she immediately perked up. But he denied any rtionship with her. Even when I offered to take her after our rejection, he refused. He swore that the Luna was not his fated,¡± I confide in Mase.


    ¡°Okay. That¡¯s all in the past. Now you have to focus on the future, that¡¯s what this holiday is for. No looking back, just straight ahead. You actually have to close an old door before you can walk through another one, Zane,¡± he encourages me.


    ¡°You are so right. Still, after our rejection, I thought the bond would fall awaypletely. But I still feel a weak connection to her. Like when she was hiding in Human Town. Andst night I felt some stings in my lower abdomen, slight but still painful. As if it was caused by an unfaithful mate¡±.


    ¡°Take it easy. Maybe she¡¯s back with Alpha Gorgio and they¡¯re having sex. It¡¯s all so fresh, it¡¯ll go away in time. Concentrate on other things, get a temporary girlfriend for all I care, have lots of sex and then it will be over¡±. We bothugh at his advice, which is exactly what we did in college. Loose as we were, we charmed girl after girl, they swarmed around us like flies. We had all the looks and status they coveted.


    ¡°I¡¯ll take your advice. It may be a way to get rid of this drama. But I don¡¯t want different partners, I think I¡¯ll take a sexy she-wolf as a friend with benefits, no strings attached. When my second chancees around, I can just buy this friend off¡±. Another burst ofughter and we head straight for the mall.


    I feel so much lighter than thest few days.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    Banning Ariel from my mind is exactly what I intend to do. I just have to make sure that this new partner is not from Midnight Moon or Eclipse Howl and that the rules of our rtionship are crystal clear to her. Most importantly, that we break up as soon as my new mate arrives, and I am prepared to pay her a hefty break-up fee.


    I smile.


    I¡¯m so looking for a new love to spend some time with ¡­.

 It’s Clarita

    Alpha Zane¡¯s POV


    Walking through this crowd makes me feel like I¡¯m alive again.


    With Mase at my side, I make my way through the corridors, stopping to window shop here and there before we continue on our way. When we reach a sports shop, my friend dives in and I follow.


    He frantically rummages through a couple of baskets, picking up a few shirts until we reach the jeans section.


    ¡°Try these too. These are the most popr ones and have a great fit,¡± he insists as he tosses three pieces onto his arm. Aaahhh, trying them on and taking them off, I hate that so much. The only time I had nned to go shopping was with my mate. But then she would be the one doing the shopping and I would just organize a private catwalk show for myself. Women love shopping and I was so looking forward to spoiling Ariel. I was even prepared to put aside my dislike of walking around just to please her.


    I need to control myself and stop thinking about what I could have. The present is here, healing is my new path. So I pick out a cute pair of jeans in my size and head for the fitting room.


    Damn, they fit me like a glove, even if I say so myself.


    As I leave the fitting room, I see a woman not far from me. ¡°Lady, I¡¯ll take these pants. Where is your checkout?¡± I ask as I walk towards her. Then she looks up at me and our eyes meet. Deeper blue than mine, with a happy gleam. Her face immediately changes to a smile after staring at me nkly at first.


    ¡°Hi.¡± Her voice is so raspy that w jerks to his feet and stares at her in awe.


    ¡°I don¡¯t work here, I¡¯m shopping myself, but I was inattentive and ended up here. The register is around the corner.¡± Stunned, I kept looking at her, her voice hypnotizing me. I could listen to her for a long time without getting tired.


    Then I noticed that she was looking at me strangely. ¡°Hmmm, of course. Thank you. I was distracted by your voice. I have never heard such beautiful intonation¡±. She smiles confidently. ¡°Thank you. But why do I feel you are flirting with me?¡± Without waiting for an answer, she walks past me. I looked over at her before heading for the till. Mase is nowhere in sight.


    Carrying my bags, I sit down on one of the waiting chairs.


    ¡°Zane, is that you? It¡¯s been so long, babe.¡± A woman sits down next to me, her pungent perfume almost suffocating me. And when I turn to face her, I see no one else sitting there but Amelia, daughter of Crescent Moon Alpha. She has been hunting me ever since she turned eighteen. She has this idea we could be mates. But she is not my type at all. Don¡¯t get me wrong, she¡¯s beautiful and all that, I¡¯m sure she¡¯ll make her mate happy one day, but I¡¯m not the lucky one. I think it¡¯s my Alpha title that attracts her.


    ¡°Amelia,¡± I greet her coolly. Diplomatically, I try to make it clear that I have no feelings for her. ¡°Shopping again?¡± Myment doesn¡¯t go down well, her face contorting insultingly.


    ¡°That was mean, Zane. I honestly don¡¯t spend that much on shopping. But my father¡¯s birthday is in a few weeks and I want to look my best. Is that a crime?¡±


    ¡°No. Not at all, Amelia. I didn¡¯t mean it as badly as it sounded. You see, I bought myself something here. It¡¯s all worth the price.¡± And then I see her lift her nose, her eyes grow wide before she slowly turns away.


    Behind her, Mase approaches, his expression changing from surprise to disbelief to delight. Amelia staggers on her high heels. Her height matches Mase¡¯s, so he doesn¡¯t have to bend down at all. He cups her face in his hands. ¡°MATE!¡± he whispers. ¡°Finally! Where have you been? I thought you¡¯d nevere.¡±


    Their lips meet in a hungry kiss, revealing their relief. Both had waited so long, had given up hope of ever meeting one another. As they part breathlessly, a tight embrace follows. Everyone in the shop stops what they are doing and stares at the two lovers.


    ¡°Champagne! A few sses of champagne to celebrate my friends¡¯ mating,¡± I call. It was as if the shopkeeper had already put the bottles in the cupboard. The assistants ran from here to there to get everyone a ss. When the wine was poured, I raised my ss.


    ¡°Hooray for the new mates. My best friend Mase and the Alpha female Amelia. This is great¡±.


    Congrattions echo from all sides as the two bepletely absorbed in each other. It gets cozy in the shop and a couple of mated wolves give them advice on how to keep their rtionship healthy.


    In a far corner, I spotted the red-haired beauty again.


    I slowly made my way over to her. Passing the cash register, I hand over my credit card to pay for the wine and everything else. And then I was standing in front of her. Again I noticed how beautiful she is. w is on edge, he too stares at her like a puppy in love.


    She is human, with the scent of werewolf around her.


    ¡°We haven¡¯t been properly acquainted. I¡¯m Zane and my friend just got engaged.¡± She smiles at me again, and then I think that she fits perfectly into the image I have of my bed partner. But now I will have to woo her like humans do. Her round hips and slender legs conjure up visions of us in bed.


    ¡°What is your name? Are you from here?¡± I asked her.


    ¡°No, I¡¯m not from here. A friend took me in for a few weeks,¡± she answers again in that heavenly voice.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    ¡°And my name is rita.¡±¡­

 First In Line

    Alpha Zane¡¯s POV


    ¡°rita. The name suits you,¡± I tell her honestly. ¡°Would you like to join us in the food court? I¡¯m sure my friend¡¯s done shopping. And definitely hungry, we¡¯ve been here for a couple of hours.¡± She hesitates for a moment, but when I look at her pleadingly, she agrees with a smile.N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    ¡°Okay, why not?¡±


    We walk over to Mase and Amelia who are now sitting on the sofa chatting away.


    ¡°Shall we go to the food court? I¡¯m starving.¡± They both nod and walk ahead of us, hands around each other. When we got there, I pulled out a chair for rita. A waitress rushes over to us, her stall is serving Italian.


    We order and when the waitress leaves, I turn to my friends.


    ¡°Mase, Amelia, this is rita. I met her by chance in the clothes shop and persuaded her toe with us¡±. They greeted rita politely and asked her where she was from. They have realized by now that she is not a werewolf and they cannot expose us.


    ¡°Miami. I met a friend who was on holiday. And since I was out of work, I came this way with her,¡± she answers. She is so confident, her scent is seductive. I resist the urge to press my face against her neck and inhale her scent. A rush of lust runs through me, I have never felt this way about a woman I have met for the first time. Except for my ex, of course.


    I am really ready for a new girlfriend and rita is the first in line. I just hope she feels the same way I do. Mase and his mate turn to each other again.


    ¡°I¡¯m here with my yacht. You said you don¡¯t have a job, so you have a lot of spare time. Would you like to spend it with me on the boat?¡± I asked her. ¡°Mase is no longer mypany, as you can see.¡± Weugh and watch the couple for a while.


    ¡°I only just met you. How do I know if I can trust you? Here in the food court, we are among hundreds of people. But on your boat, I ampletely at your mercy.¡± I think for a moment about how to convince her.


    Then I take my wallet out of my pocket and hand her a business card for mypany in Human Town. She takes it and reads.


    ¡°Impressive. Yes. I¡¯ve heard of thispany. My ex-husband did business with them for a while,¡± she replies. Ex-husband? Surprised, I look up.


    ¡°We broke up. That¡¯s why I¡¯m here with my girlfriend, licking my wounds. But I don¡¯t think I¡¯m going back to Miami¡±. For a moment, her voice sounds sad, but she quickly recovers. Whoever that bastard is, I will avenge this jewel.


    ¡°What is the name of hispany? I do the contracts personally, so I must remember it¡±. She mentions the name, and she is right. Mypany severed all ties with the man because he was always looking for a cheaper way to deliver the work. In doing so, he haspromised the safety of his workers, once with fatal consequences.


    But miraculously, he survived the financial hit.


    The man is known to be a womanizer. There is even spection about a love child, which he ignores.


    ¡°Were you married or just dating?¡± I ask her quietly. ¡°Married. I still have to file the divorce papers. But it¡¯s definitely over between us,¡± she replies vehemently. The pain of betrayal is still there.


    ¡°Do you have awyer? Mypanywyer can help you with the settlement. At least if you really want a divorce,¡± I offer. She grabs my hand. ¡°Would that be possible? Yes, I want to get out of this marriage as soon as possible. Then I can really start a new life¡±.


    ¡°Come to my yacht tomorrow morning. I will invite him here and then you can discuss the details. I¡¯m sure Juan will take you through it without any problems¡±. She gripped my hand gratefully.


    ¡°Thank you, Zane. You don¡¯t know how much this means to me. And I¡¯ve only known you for an hour¡±. Grinning, I take her hand in mine. ¡°Time is not important. Feelings, and moods determine how we face each other. And you feel well, your aura is fantastic¡±, Iplimented her.


    Our meal is served and I wait for her to start eating.


    I notice that she has a good appetite, although not as big as us werewolves. Soon she is full. She sits back and strokes her t stomach.


    ¡°Come with me to the yacht for a drink. And then I¡¯ll bring you back here. My two friends will be there and we won¡¯t sail out. I promise you will be safe.¡± I don¡¯t want to let her go yet, I¡¯m not ready to say goodbye. This woman is fascinating, for a human she exerts a great attraction on me.


    ¡°OK, I¡¯ll take your word for it,¡± she finally epts.


    The four of us make our way to the rental car. Both women decide to leave their car ande back for itter. A few minutester, we are at the yacht.


    ¡°Zane! This is a fabulous boat you¡¯ve got here. It looks so modern,¡± exims the beauty next to me. She stares at the yacht in awe. It is only when I grab her hand and gently pull her along that shees out of her daze. Once on the boat, Amelia and Mase disappear into his cabin. I take rita up to the deck where there is a minibar.


    ¡°What is it to you, babe?¡± Shees up beside me and points to the bottle of liqueur.


    I pour a generous amount for her and take a whiskey for myself.


    We both lie down on a deckchair overlooking the water. I hear her sigh contentedly as she takes a sip from her ss.


    An hourter, I know a lot more about her.


    How she had wanted tomit suicide when she caught her husband in the act with the secretary, but her friend had changed her mind in time. And how she had given her husband her inheritance to get over a huge financial debt.


    I grit my teeth when I think of her husband. Never did I see rita next to him, always other women, expensive vamps who roamed the world of the elite.


    This man¡¯sst days in business are numbered. ¡­

 Act Quickly

    Alpha Zane¡¯s POV


    I take rita back to her vehicle in the mall.


    Amelia has changed her mind and is staying with Mase for the night. rita shows me the vehicle, an SUV that looks a bit familiar. But I won¡¯t dwell on it too long, I have to see this woman again tomorrow.N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    ¡°Don¡¯t forget toe to the yacht. Juan will be waiting for you in the afternoon. And bring your swimsuit, after you have discussed everything with him, we can go for a swim in the sea¡±. She nods, smiling, her eyes sparkling. I get out to open her door.


    And when she is standing in front of me, I refuse to take a step back.


    ¡°rita, all I can think about is how to get to this point where I can kiss you. I am so attracted to you and I want to ¡­¡±. Before I¡¯ve finished, I feel her lips on mine. I stood still for a moment before I buried my hand in her hair and pulled her closer to me.


    The kiss was tender at first but soon became demanding. I press her against my vehicle, her body melting against mine. ¡°Hmmm, you feel so good,¡± I whisper in her ear as our lips necessarily separate. ¡°Are you a witch?¡±


    Her hands caress my back as she hides her face in my neck. I¡¯d think she was a werewolf if I didn¡¯t know better. ¡°No, I¡¯m just a woman in the arms of a handsome man,¡± she teases.


    ¡°I can¡¯t wait for you to get back,¡± I sigh. ¡°Give me your phone.¡±


    She takes it out of her handbag and hands it to me. I print my number in it and put a heart next to my name. When she sees it, sheughs and shakes her head. ¡°See you tomorrow, Zane. And drink moderately. I saw you downing ss after ss of whiskey.¡± I kiss her quickly on the tip of her nose.


    ¡°If that is what you want, then no more alcohol for me tonight,¡± I promise her.


    With a wave, she gets into her car and drives off. I stare at her thoughtfully; rita is a woman to love. She has everything a man could wish for; a good body, great charisma and she is gentle.


    As she disappears from view, I go back inside. I pick up my mobile phone and call Eric.


    ¡°Hey man. Do you remember Matt Diggens¡¯pany? We did business with him, but he was such a fraud. And when it was too risky to put our name on his, we terminated all contracts with him,¡± I reminded my Beta.


    ¡°Yes, sure, I remember that scum. What is he up to now? A business news channel suggested that his wife had left him,¡± Eric replies. ¡°What do you want with him?¡±


    ¡°I want him busted. His wife is my new girlfriend and he used her inheritance for his business. And yet he treated her like rubbish, the cheat,¡¯ I growl. ¡°Juan will file for divorce tomorrow and then she will im her money. We¡¯ll buy thepany and give it to her as a present.


    For a moment, there is silence on the other side. ¡°Your new girlfriend? Zane, you¡¯ve only been away for a few days. And already you have a girlfriend? Is it an old me you¡¯ve rekindled?¡±


    ¡°No, I met her in a shopping center and loved her immediately. When you meet her, you know exactly what fascinates me about her. She is amazing. I¡¯m keeping her until my second chance mate arrives¡±.


    ¡°You are abusing her? Is that even fair, Zane?¡± I growl menacingly at his insinuation.


    ¡°We¡¯ll make arrangements, I¡¯ll keep it open for her. I¡¯ll give her thepany so she¡¯s wellpensated.¡±


    I sense Eric¡¯s disapproval. I have no intention of deceiving rita, we are entering into this rtionship on a very rational basis. She is human and they are used to short-termmitments. But I intend to be faithful, to treat her like a princess. And if my second chance mate is not there when I turn 30, I will take her as my chosen mate. Until then, I will hide the fact that I am a werewolf Alpha from her.


    ¡°Find the information on his current contracts. I want him on his knees, by the time he has to pay rita he should be as good as broke. You know our strategy.¡±


    ¡°I will get to work immediately. If rita is to be our Luna, I want her to have no traumas from her past either,¡± Eric replies. I end the conversation. I have no doubt that he will carry out this assignment properly. Eric is driven, I won¡¯t have to wait long for results.


    When I reach the boat, I go straight back on deck. I lean over the railing and stare off into the distance.


    It is almost dusk, and the rising moon casts an amazing glow over the surface of the sea. I take a seat on a lounger and enjoy the view. It won¡¯t be long before rita sits here with me. There are only a few days left of my holiday, so I have to act quickly.


    When I leave here, I want to take her to Midnight Moon and introduce her to the pack. The elders will not approve of our rtionship, but they will watch me and let me have my way. A steady partner is always better than going around the pack. My father always warned me that exes in the pack could undermine a Luna¡¯s authority. And I have followed this golden rule.


    I enjoy the spectacle of the sea and the moon for another hour before I retire to my hut. After a long bath, I disappear between the sheets.


    rita ising tomorrow; after she meets with Juan, she and I will discuss our own business.


    I can¡¯t wait to hold her in my arms and take her to the Midnight Moon. I will always have her with me, and she will be able to take over Luna¡¯s duties. It should be clear to my pack that she is my permanent partner, she may not have the title of Luna, but she should not be treated any less.


    With all these good intentions, I fall into a deep sleep¡­.

 Keeping Her

    Alpha Zane¡¯s POV still


    My hands are buried deep in my pockets as I watch her walk towards me, swaying her hips. Goddess, the hard-on in my trousers aches as a haze of lust floods my head. This woman is sin itself, she takes me into a rapture I have never experienced before. Even with Ariel I never had so many erotic thoughts.


    ¡°Zane. Have you been waiting for me long?¡± Her husky voice sends a shiver down my spine. I need to talk to her soon, present my deal so we can be a couple. The desire coursing through my veins cries out to be fulfilled.


    I clear my throat before answering.


    ¡°No, fifteen minutes. But luckily I had some emails to reply to, so I took the opportunity.¡± I scoop her up in my arms and gently press her head down. Those plump lips, I can never resist them. I suck them into my mouth as my tongue conquers hers.


    It bes a fierce wet kiss and when I finally have to let her go, I wipe her lips dry with my thumb. ¡°Your lips tempt me all the time. Do you feel my heart racing for you? rita, after you finish with Juan, we need to talk. I know we¡¯ve only known each other for a day, but I can¡¯t let you go,¡± I whisper again against her cheek.


    She nods nervously. ¡°Yes. But I have to warn you. I don¡¯t have much experience with this. My husband was my first lover, I haven¡¯t had any other rtionships. Are you willing to be patient with me?¡±


    Iugh softly, I have definitely noticed herck of experience. Her husband probably did not do a great job with her in the love department either. But no worries, I¡¯ve got enough experience for both of us. And judging by her reactions, she will be a diligent learner.


    The way she ttens her body against mine as if we were a jigsaw puzzle that belonged together.


    This woman is fantastic, for a moment I wish she was my second chance mate. But the sparks are missing when I touch her, just like the hot me that takes over all my senses, as I felt with Ariel. rita is simply desirable, I want to conquer and possess her as often as possible. Not just temporarily, but until my new mate strikes.


    ¡°I have a lot of patience. But I don¡¯t think you¡¯ll need that for long. I am not your ex, what we have is unique, we are the producers of our own story,¡± I promise her. ¡°But we need to make arrangements. I want you to know what your position is in my life and what your rights are if things don¡¯t work out the way we had hoped.¡± I listen to my own words, they sound so human. Werewolves have no such values, our mating is for life.


    ¡°Agreed?¡±


    She nods smiling, gets up on her toes and kisses me gently. ¡°You are so considerate. Truly a gentleman. I know rtionships can fall apart, but I hope to please you for a long time.¡±


    My God, her words pierce my heart. I stare at her in bewilderment, as if she has just ripped my heart from my body and held it in her hand. This woman is a witch, I tell you!


    I open the door for her and she drops into the seat.


    At the wheel, I remain silent for several minutes as we drive toward the yacht club. I need to process these feelings she stirs in me and, more importantly, sober up. She is human, not my mate. I have to keep her from taking control of me as if she were my Luna.


    A fear creeps up on me that maybe not she but I will be the biggest victim if we have to separate. I just hope that the bond with my second chance will be strong enough to help me forget rita. In my mind I see w smiling scornfully. He keeps staring at the woman beside us. I wait with bated breath for his signal, longing to hear that important word. Damn it! I want it so badly.


    But he remains silent and all my hopes are lost.


    Just a rtionship, then, for as long as itsts. Nothing more can be done. I had hoped otherwise, but reality ps me in the face. To relieve the silence that had fallen between us, I took rita¡¯s hand and put it on my thigh. She immediately responds by gripping it tightly. Possessively, to be precise.


    When we arrived at the yacht, Juan was already waiting for us. There is still no sign of Mase.


    The warriorse out and watch from a distance. I help rita out of the car and we walk over to my friend. ¡°Juan. Man, thank you foring. You are the best¡±.


    ¡°No problem, Zane. I can¡¯t refuse you much. And this job seems important to you, so I¡¯m happy to help¡±. We give each other a bro hug and turn to rita.


    ¡°This is Miss James. She needs help to get her divorce as quickly and smoothly as possible. And you are just the man for the job. You know what to do when the husband objects to the settlement of assets.¡± Juanughs, we both remember his court appearances. He is a tough negotiator and knows how to defend his cases well.


    ¡°Miss James, I am sure I can assist you with this. Let¡¯s discuss the details. It¡¯s about Matt Diggens?¡± She shakes his hand and I can¡¯t help but snarl.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    ¡°Yes, you know my ex-husband?¡±


    Juan grins. ¡± Bet I do. I faced him when we terminated our contracts with him. He thought he could outsmart us, but he misjudged us. I think I can make your case strong if he dares to counter. He knows me too.¡±


    That is not too many words.


    We walk aboard, straight to the deck. My warriors have served a hearty meal. Juan agrees to let rita tell him the details of her marriage over breakfast. I listen, sometimes barely able to contain myself. The man was a scoundrel of the highest order. He made little effort to hide his misdeeds from his wife; discretion was not his strong point.


    Well, let¡¯s see if his life in the elite circle continues when I am finished with him¡­

 The Battle of The Exes

    Still Alpha Zane¡¯s POV


    After talking to Juan, rita was so emotional.N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    She kept babbling about how she had failed, ming herself for her ex-husband¡¯s debauchery. I try tofort her as much as I can, but she is drifting closer to a mental breakdown. Talking about her marriage has clearly done her no good.


    Juan promises to take the case to court as soon as possible and to inform Matt Diggens of his wife¡¯s intentions. All the pictures in the media will serve as proof of his infidelity and he will reim rita¡¯s inheritance.


    Because of all the tension, which she had just experienced, I decided to postpone the conversation about the details of our rtionship. She doesn¡¯t really seem ready for it at the moment. I have a few days left of my holiday and I want to spend them getting to know my new girl and distracting her from the misery of her broken marriage. Although I crave her desperately, I don¡¯t want to rush into anything. I don¡¯t want to feel like I¡¯m taking advantage of her emotional downturn.


    We are back on deck, and she nestles into my arms.


    I absentmindedly stroke her back and feel her slowly rx. ¡°Why don¡¯t you put on your swimsuit? Then we¡¯ll go for a swim. It¡¯s so hot now, we could use a little cooling off¡±. She jumps up with joy and grabs her bag.


    ¡°You can use the hut with the red door. If you look in the cupboard, you will see some newdies¡¯ bathing suits. They¡¯re spare ones, for when I have parties on board and thedies haven¡¯t brought their swimsuits,¡± I exin at once so that she doesn¡¯t get all sorts of strange ideas.


    She rolls her eyes and heads for the cabin.


    I quickly strip down to my boxers. I look out over the sea and see that it is ssy. A light breeze is blowing and a flock of birds is flying by. Looking up, I see Mase and Amelia hanging from the top railing, looking down at me.


    ¡°No Alpha here. Just Zane. I don¡¯t want her to know who we are yet,¡± I warn them.


    Surprised, Mase raises his eyebrows. ¡°You haven¡¯t told her yet? How are you going to get her to the pack? You¡¯ll have to tell her, we can¡¯t stay in our human for too long. She¡¯ll find out one day anyway¡±.


    ¡°Later. She is upset about the divorce now. In a few days, if she agrees to my terms, I will tell her¡±. Mase nods understandingly.


    ¡°And how are you lovebirds? Amelia, you know you are wee in Midnight Moon. You can join us as soon as you are ready¡±. She nces at her mate first. ¡°Thank you, Zane. ¡± Fortunately, like Mase, I love the sea. I also own a yacht and we will spend a lot of time in it. At least in the times when you don¡¯t need Mase yourself¡±.


    I smile, my friends are happy. They both have the same hobbies.


    And then rita reappears on deck. She is wearing a bright red bikini that leaves nothing to the imagination. My eyes widen in shock, and for a moment I look up at my friends on the upper deck. But they just look on, chuckling.


    ¡°Babe, weren¡¯t there any one-piece swimsuits in the cupboard? Come on, I¡¯ll help you put something on that¡¯ll cover you better.¡± I grab her hand, but she holds it.


    ¡°Hey, it¡¯s a bikini. I promise the fish won¡¯t look,¡± she jokes. I wave her over to my friends and when she sees them standing there she greets them.


    ¡°Congrattions on your engagement. You make a wonderful couple,¡± she wishes them. They smile and thank her.


    ¡°Let¡¯s sail to a reef and rx there. Here in the bay is no fun,¡± Mase suggests. I look at my girl; I had promised her earlier that we would not sail out. But she nods enthusiastically.


    ¡°Yes, let¡¯s do that. We¡¯ll have more privacy there. With so many boats around us, all eyes will be on us.¡±


    So we sail out to a familiar reef in the sea, where we have a great time. We snorkel and y with a ball in the water until we get hungry. And thank God, the warriors on board have a great meal ready for us.


    The next few days pass in the same bliss.


    rita goes back to her friend¡¯s house every evening before rejoining us in the early hours of the morning. I¡¯m notining, as keeping her with me at night could be a real test of my self-control. We are still in the process of bing better acquainted. w is crazy about her, urging me to mate with her.


    But to my disappointment, he doesn¡¯t say the words I seek.


    I wonder if he still mourns Ariel a little. Our ex-mate never shifted in our presence, so w never met her wolf. Even when I once asked her to allow our wolves to go for a run together, which all the other mates did, Ariel refused.


    So now I¡¯m wondering why w is still clinging on to an ex-mate who gave us nothing.


    Ariel is in our past, our future is with rita. My wolf makes no protest at this thought. On the contrary, he wags his tail as if content with the thought.


    On the sixth day, the night before our departure, our wonderful bubble bursts.


    An expensive Maserati pulls up in the car park of the yacht club, its tires screeching. Three impressive men in ck with dark shades get out. They look in the direction of my yacht and take firm steps up to us.


    ¡°rita!¡± one shouts menacingly, his hands at his sides.


    The warriors immediately turned to me, waiting for orders.


    ¡°Who¡¯s that, babe?¡±


    ¡°My ex-husband. I don¡¯t know how he found me here. Wait, I¡¯m going to see him and find out what the hell he wants. I think Juan has already talked to him about getting divorced¡±¡­

 Blessed Break-Up

    Still Alpha Zane¡¯s POV


    Of course, I can¡¯t leave my girl to fight her battles on her own.


    I got up from my chair, put on my jeans and sweater and walked downstairs with rita to meet Diggens. He knows me, we went through thepany¡¯s contracts together, sat around the table for hours.


    As we get closer to him, his face tenses.


    He winces as he continues to stare at me. ¡°Matt. I¡¯m sure your presence here has something to do with my divorce petition. You must have seen iting after I caught you in your office with your secretary,¡± rita begins. But the man¡¯s eyes are fixed on me,pletely ignoring the woman next to me.


    ¡°Zane, is that you? Are you holding my wife on that yacht of yours? Did you seduce her and that¡¯s why she wants a divorce?¡± The man in front of me must be incredibly stupid or have a brain defect. Didn¡¯t I just hear rita exin the circumstances of her divorce?


    ¡°Don¡¯t drag Zane into our private affairs, Matt, I caught you red-handed. And that makes our marriage null and void. It¡¯s like a breach of contract, so our marriage is already over. Now we just have to settle it legally.¡± He slowly takes his eyes off me and looks disapprovingly at his ex-wife.


    ¡°Whether our marriage is invalid is not something you decide by yourself, rita. I also have a say in that. And divorce is out of the question. We should still talk to see how to solve our problems and possibly seek counseling. Separation is extreme, we are not there yet¡±.


    ¡°That is your version. For me, adultery is the end. I have a feeling that your secretary is not the only one. All the women at your side were probably your mistresses too, because you never went public with me¡±. Her voice sounds pained at the end, apanied by a sob.


    I cradle her waist and pull her closer to me.


    ¡°Mr Diggens. Thest time we met wasn¡¯t under the best of circumstances either,¡± I sigh. ¡°And here I am listening to rita having an unpleasant situation with you as well.¡± Bored, I look at the man, he¡¯s not getting any better in life.


    ¡°And as for stealing from your ex-wife¡±. I look at rita, who is now purring by my side. ¡°She has a mind of her own, I didn¡¯t force her to do anything. She obviously feels morefortable with me than with you. You¡¯d better sign the contract Juan sent you soon,¡± I advised him.


    ¡°So you can take her away from me? Respect yourself, Zane. She is a married woman. You are undermining my marriage,¡± the man blurts out in a fit of anger. He takes a step forward, apparently to grab rita. I shove her behind me and turn to face Diggens again.


    But then another car stops behind him.


    Juan gets out and saunters towards us. ¡°Diggens, have you reallye here toplicate things? I don¡¯t believe my eyes.¡± Standing next to the man, he pulls out an envelope and holds it out to him. Diggens¡¯ eyes fly over the lines as his face grows redder by the second.


    ¡°Do we have an agreement, Mr Diggens? Of course you can still go to court and contest your divorce and make your ex-wife¡¯s life miserable. After all, we all know that you have already moved on¡±.


    I chuckle and leave it to Juan to settle the matter properly.


    When he hands Diggens a pen, I can barely contain myughter. The man¡¯s fingers tremble as he takes it, but he still looks up at rita.


    ¡°You want the money you gave me back, rita? Really? I thought we were a team when you handed it to me. To save ourpany. And now you want it back. Do you know what this means to me? I will have to start looking for partners again to make investments¡±.


    ¡°No. You won¡¯t find anyone, you¡¯re broke, Diggens. In a couple of weeks, I¡¯ll buy yourpany and gift it to rita. You can start clearing out your personal things.¡± I stare back at him confidently.


    rita stiffens beside me, her grip on my arm tightening.


    I pat her hand to calm her down. ¡°You were practically bankrupt already. It was her money that saved your business, which makes her the rightful owner. She now gets back what she invested.¡±


    ¡°Just sign here, Mr Diggens. There are some other documents attached that I am sure will interest you,¡± Juan reminded him.


    I have never seen anyone confirm their divorce so quickly. Sweat glistens on Diggens¡¯ forehead as he puts his signature on the paper.Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Done, then. I¡¯ll register it with the marriage officer right away,¡± thewyer sneers. ¡°Congrattions, Mr. Diggens, you¡¯re a free man again, back on the singles market.¡±


    ¡°Zane, you can¡¯t do this. Just because you want my wife, you are destroying my business. This is outrageous,¡± he still stuttered. There was no trace of the confident man who had arrived here with so much bravado.


    ¡°Don¡¯t me me. Your ex-wife caught you hot in the act, bear the consequences like a man. Juan offered you a better deal, but you had toe here with your drama. And now the circumstances have changed. I keep the girl and thepany goes to her. You are left empty-handed.¡± I peck rita on the lips and take her back to the yacht.


    Diggens is still cursing behind us. Juan has left, I bet he went straight to the divorce registry. He is not a man of half measures.


    ¡°I want to celebrate this, Zane. This happened faster than I thought. I can¡¯t believe I¡¯m free again,¡± rita exims. She grabs her mobile phone and orders a couple of bottles of champagne from the yacht club.


    Two hourster, Juan sends me a screenshot of the registration of the divorce papers.


    When rita reads it, she flips out with joy.


    The two warriors, Mase and Amelia, celebrate wildly with her, while I remain sober¡­

 Heaven

    Again Alpha Zane¡¯s POV


    Yeah, I managed to stay sober.


    It doesn¡¯t take much. Human booze does absolutely nothing to werewolves. So Mase and Amelia go for it. But my poor rita gets carried away with the moment, sees the couple downing the champagne generously and follows their lead.N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    An hourter, she ispletely drunk.


    We all smile at her silliness; little does she know that we are werewolves and she certainly cannot keep up with us. She dances around happily, ss in the air, while Mase turns up the music. I lie back on the lounger and follow her with my eyes.


    ¡®Zane, if getting divorced makes her so happy, being married must be hell. I will never understand humans anyway, there is always a way out for them. In everything, love and business.¡¯ Mase shakes his head as he watches the wildly dancing rita. Luckily he¡¯s in the mind link, otherwise, I wouldn¡¯t allow him to criticize my girl so openly.


    ¡®Well, we werewolves do make a mess of things sometimes. Look how easily my mate got rid of me. A whole week and not once did she show any consideration by calling to check up on me,¡¯ I retort.


    ¡®C¡¯mon, your case was very unusual. A fully mated wolf still getting a second mate is unheard of. The Council should investigate this properly,¡¯ he muses. ¡®Perhaps one of you was confused, especially since the mating bond was one-sided. Trust me, Zane. The pull with Amelia is fierce, I can¡¯t imagine Ariel could resist that.¡¯


    ¡®Oohh well, I¡¯ll get over it. I have rita now. My leave ends tomorrow, we¡¯ll make arrangements and I¡¯ll take her to Midnight Moon. When I¡¯m thirty, I¡¯ll mark her as my chosen mate.¡¯ Even with Mase, I feel that he is not really in favor of this. I know my motives are selfish, I keep rita with me with no guarantees for the future. But I intend to be good to her, there is nothing she will miss. And then, when she has her own career with herpany, she will have the life she wants.


    ¡®If she agrees and you¡¯re both happy, then it¡¯s a good thing. But make sure she¡¯s sober when she answers you, though. Because she won¡¯t refuse you anything in this condition.¡¯ We both burst outughing, I know exactly what he means. I have no intention of taking advantage of her intoxicated state. Tonight, she will stay with me on the yacht, I will not allow her to drive home. Whoever this girlfriend of hers is, if she calls rita¡¯s phone, I will exin everything.


    Finally, my girl has reached her limit.


    I pick her up and take her to my cabin. I quickly undressed her, took a wet cloth from the bathroom and cleaned her up. Then I tucked her into my bed. Her eyes did not open for a moment, except for a few sighs, she was fast asleep.


    I take a refreshing bath myself, put on my boxers and get into bed next to her.


    After holding her against my chest, I turn off themp on the bedside table and fall asleep.


    I wake up to the sound of heavy moaning next to me. rita is holding her head, she has a severe hangover from thevish party.


    ¡°Just lie back, I¡¯ll get you some aspirin,¡± I say quietly as I jump out of bed.


    I get two pills from the bathroom cupboard and fill a ss at the sink. When I get back to the bedroom, I notice that her face is flushed and her eyes are puffy.


    ¡°Do you always party so hard? You really let yourself go¡±.


    She smiles painfully, grabs the ss and drinks the medicine with a gulp. ¡°Thanks, Zane,¡± she whispers. ¡°I¡¯m going to get some more sleep. I¡¯ll be back to my old self in a few hours.¡±


    I frown at her, hoping she will sober up soon. Time is not on my side, I need to talk to her, there is no time to lose. She stretches out her hand to pull me towards her.


    Sighing happily, I give in, take her onto my chest again and she promptly falls asleep.


    She feels so good in my arms like she belongs there. I can¡¯t believe that a week after breaking up with Ariel, I can feel this way about another woman. A week ago I was devastated by theck of love I was getting from my fate and here is a human snoring contentedly beside me. As if that¡¯s all she wants, my attention and affection.


    I fall asleep again, the warmth next to me soothing my mind.


    w is content too, he feels like a king with rita in our arms. I wonder what keeps him from iming her as our mate.


    Caressing hands moving down my stomach to my crotch startle me from my sleep.


    No, this isn¡¯t a dream. rita¡¯s hand now has a firm grip on my morning hard-on and I can even feel her tongue circling my nipple. It has been a long time since Ist had sex, and my resistance is not the strongest at the moment. But I know I have to stop her, she must still be suffering from that huge hangover.


    ¡°Do you even know what you are doing, baby?¡± I ask hoarsely in lust. I grab her hand and try to slide out of bed. But she jumps on top of me, straddles my hips and stares at me.


    ¡°I¡¯m not drunk anymore, Zane. And I want you. Ever since the first time I saw you,¡± she bends down, kissing my face lightly.


    ¡°Take me, please. I want you so bad that it burns there, like I¡¯m on fire.¡±


    I watch her hesitantly, wanting to make sure this is not the request of a tipsy woman.


    She notices my reluctance and slowly begins to move seductively against me, my hard-on now starting to throb painfully. ¡°Are you sure? I don¡¯t want to have a one-night stand with you. I want to keep you all to myself¡±.


    Sheughs huskily and slides down my boxers. Goddess, this is too much.


    I turn her onto her back on the bed and kiss her hungrily. My hands caress her body and it is only now that I realize she is naked. When my hand passes over her nipple, she lets out a cry of pleasure. Her nails w into my back, forcing me to continue. And as her slender legs wrap around my waist, myst vestige of self-control disappears.


    For the next hour, my cabin is filled with cries of pleasure and fiery urges of need¡­

 Code Red

    Alpha Zane¡¯s POV again


    ¡°Goddess! You are a witch,¡± I grunt as I release my seed deep inside her for the third time.


    She is dead tired, I can tell by her slowed movements. She can¡¯t handle my werewolf strength yet, her frequent orgasms have weakened her considerably.


    But she feels so fine, her walls clinging to my cock and the pleasure she gives me makes me want more. I must take care of her now, but once we are in the pack, I need to build up her stamina. Why does she feel like my mate? Not that I have that much experience with that, but the way our bodies are in sync is too good for an ordinary bed partner.


    Again I look to w for confirmation, but he is silent as the grave.


    ¡®Please, beast. Is she ours? Is she our second chance mate? I can¡¯t bear the thought of losing her,¡¯ I beg my wolf.


    ¡®Why are you still in doubt? You¡¯ve already made up your mind, you¡¯re keeping her. What more do you want to hear from me, human?¡¯ he snaps at me in disbelief. Resigned, I turn away from him, kiss my girl deeply again and pull her with me as I lie down beside her.


    ¡°Did I satisfy you, Zane? Are you feeling good?¡± I hear a slight panic in her voice, a desire for confirmation from me. This frightens me, what has that bastard Diggens done to this jewel? How could she doubt herself, had she not noticed how intensely I possessed her? It was as if I wanted to chain her to me for life, forgetting that the chances of having to let her go were real.


    ¡°You were the best I ever had. You are amazing, I already know that I will never be able to let you go. rita ¡­¡±. In time I managed to stop myself from asking her to marry me ording to the culture of the humans. There is such an urge in me to mark her, w is the one resisting. I don¡¯t know what¡¯s bothering him, he must feel the bond with her too, right?


    ¡°I want to make some arrangements with you, rita. But I must emphasize that I want you with me forever. You are my number one priority in life, I want to be not only your lover but also your best friend¡±.


    She jumps up, sits down and stares at me with tearful eyes.


    ¡°Are you serious? No one has ever said that to me. I¡¯m going to hold you to that, Zane. I¡¯ll always hold you to those words.¡± She clings to me, hiding her face in my hair. I feel her tears on my shoulder, if she only knew what I have in store for her. She wouldn¡¯t know what hit her when I showered her with so much love.


    ¡®Zane, you need to hear this. It¡¯s extremely important. Code Red,¡¯ I suddenly hear Kensley, my Head Warrior, in the mind link. I am startled by his message, Code Red is the signal of war.


    ¡®I beg your pardon? Who dares to attack our pack? Make yourself clear, Head Warrior,¡¯ I growl menacingly, ready for whatever maye.


    ¡®I don¡¯t know how to tell you this, Zane. Prepare for the worst shock you¡¯ve ever had in your life. Damn it, why is it me who has to give you this bad news?


    ¡®Cut the nonsense, Kensley. Say it inly. And don¡¯t trot off, my patience is wearing thin.¡¯


    ¡®Zane, you have been misled. It was not Luna Ariel who was here at Midnight Moon. It was her sister Alexis. They switched. That¡¯s why she was so cold to you.¡¯


    I hold my breath, this can¡¯t be true. Is this Gorgio¡¯s work? That was why it was so quiet around him, he was always out of sight. And Alexis, I¡¯ve seen her a few times, she¡¯s just a little girl, she can¡¯t be of the age to have a mate yet.


    ¡®How could they have done that? I clearly recognized Ariel. Alexis looks a lot like her, but not in such a way that someone wouldn¡¯t be able to tell them apart. Have you checked your facts properly?¡¯


    ¡®Remember there was a witch with her? A hybrid? Well, that one made us see Ariel. But it was Alexis all along.¡¯Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    Anger runs through my veins like a me, I cannot ept that I was treated like this. That is why I still vaguely feel the bond with Ariel, and she still haunts my thoughts. Now I understand why the bond didn¡¯t work, it was Alexis all along. And those damned witches, they never have good intentions, always meddling in other people¡¯s business. When this is all over, I will destroy the nearest coven, kill them all and burn their settlement to the ground.


    ¡®Come back at once. We must go to the Council. And speak out against the Alpha King. We have to find out who is behind this plot.¡¯


    Kensley is right. This must be investigated to the end. And I demand justice, even if the Alpha King is implicated in these nefarious acts by his daughters and son-inw. I want to see blood spilled, my pain must be avenged.


    I turn to the woman in my arms.


    By now, she has noticed a change in my mood. She stares at me anxiously, my sudden change making her nervous.


    ¡°rita, I have some urgent business to attend to. Amelia will drop you off at your car. Wait for me, I¡¯ll meet you when I¡¯m done.¡± Uncertain, she stares at me and then the first tears fall.


    ¡°Do you promise? Or do you just want to get rid of me?¡±


    Now I am off bnce. Sure, the news that my fated mate is still out there changes everything. I now have to deal with Ariel, I don¡¯t know how this will all end. Her actions prove that she does not appreciate our mating. I look back at the beautiful woman on myp.


    ¡°What we had was too good to just get rid of you. I don¡¯t want to lose you. I want you to wait for me, no matter how long it takes¡±. Our kiss is now one of desperation, both of us unsure of the future. She dives into the bathroom while I pull on my jeans and shirt.


    ¡®Mase, we¡¯re leaving. Amelia takes rita to the cars. We have Code Red in Midnight Moon, so the women are staying here in Human Town.¡¯


    ¡®Code red? Who are we at war with?¡¯ he asks curiously now. With his Gamma genes, Mase has always stayed in top shape.


    ¡®As soon as the women are safely ashore, I¡¯ll fill you in.¡¯¡­

 Challenges

    Beta Eric¡¯s POV


    Thesest few days have been the happiest of my life.


    Here I am sitting with Alexis at a spectacrke, we moved here to enjoy the peace. Here we can be free with each other without having to answer all sorts of questions. Not that we want to keep our rtionship a secret, but we have agreed to wait until she is eighteen when I can officially im her as my mate. I am so looking forward to that day.


    I look down at her face, her head in myp as she stretches out on the nket we have spread out on the grass. The pic basket is beside her, I have made sure it has everything she likes. I can¡¯t believe she¡¯ll be mine in a week, my heart pounding as I think of the moment she¡¯ll shift for the first time and identify me as her mate.


    Our biggest hurdle will be Zane.


    But now that Xanna has lifted the spell, he will no longer mistake Alexis for Ariel. The two women have much inmon, but they are very different. Smiling, I think back to the moment when she proposed to me that she was my mate. This woman is determined, I couldn¡¯t help but surrender to her. And I haven¡¯t regretted it for a moment.


    My finger traced the contours of her face.


    She is so pretty, I can¡¯t remember a time when she wasn¡¯t in my life. I am such a lucky man. When Zane left a few days ago, I quickly finished my work with the pack and informed Kensley that I was taking leave to spend some time outside our territory.


    He had epted my exnation reluctantly, of course, he could not go against me. He would be Zane¡¯s observer in the pack, but I promised him I would be back as soon as I could. And I keep in touch with him every day. And here I am in Blue Blood, the Alpha King¡¯s pack, courting his daughter. I rented a house not far from the packhouse, much to the annoyance of Alexis, who wanted me to be closer to her.


    But I refused, wanting to make a good first impression on my inws.


    If the Alpha King, Petric, found out about me near his underage daughter in the den, I would have a lot to exin. Indicating that we were mates would be met with disbelief, and that would be a false start in our rtionship.


    ¡°What are you thinking about, mate? You¡¯ve been staring at me for a while now¡±. Alexis pulls me out of my thoughts.


    ¡°I realize once again how lucky I am to be with you. The Moon Goddess has blessed me with a great mate like you. I hate that Zane had to suffer through all of this, but if you hadn¡¯te to Midnight Moon, what would have happened to us?¡± I catch my breath thinking of my Alpha and best friend. I havee out of this as the biggest gainer.


    But the silver lining is that he has found a woman he clearly loves.


    Zane pointed out that it was love, she was not his second chance. But he sounded so happy with her, and that¡¯s all I want for him. Luna Ariel rejects him, she chooses her first mate, Alpha Gorgio. And now everything is fine. Zane has his new girlfriend, the Luna is with the man of her heart and I have Alexis.


    Perfect.


    Zane has suffered the most to achieve this, and we will have to make up for itter.


    ¡®Beta, you need to get back to Midnight Moon immediately. Code Red is in effect.¡¯ Kensley in the mind link.


    With a jerk, I sit up straight. ¡®Code Red? Kensley, why am I only hearing about this now? And I¡¯m the one who decides what code the pack is on,¡¯ I admonish him.


    ¡®I haven¡¯t notified the pack yet. I only told you and Zane and he is already on his way. Beta, get here before the Alpha arrives.¡¯


    ¡®But what triggered the Code Red? What is going on?¡¯


    ¡®My investigation has revealed that Luna Ariel misled us. It was her sister who was actually here. The witch in herpany used a spell¡¯.


    My eyes drop to Alexis, who is now aware that something serious is going on.


    ¡®I¡¯ll be there in an hour,¡¯ I tell Kensley.


    I close the link and turn to Alexis.


    ¡°Alexis, the Head Warrior has found out about your n. He knows it was you, not Ariel, who was in Midnight Moon. Zane is on his way back. This won¡¯t end well. I¡¯m leaving right now.¡¯


    As we both stand up, she takes my hand.


    ¡°Eric, you won¡¯t forget my anniversary, will you? I¡¯ll be waiting for you here in Blue Blood, don¡¯t let me down.¡±


    I caress her face and kiss her quickly.


    ¡°I will do everything in my power to be with you. But you know the pack has precedence over everything. And I don¡¯t know how this will all end,¡± I reply quietly, holding her close.


    ¡°Whatever happens, wait for me. I will definitelye for you. You are my mate and my wolf has already epted you. I can¡¯t live without you, my love¡±.


    She hugs me tighter and lifts her lips to mine, begging for the hundredth kiss of the day. And who am I to refuse her one more?


    ¡°I¡¯ming to get you. I leave right away. The Jetnds in neutral territory and I¡¯ll be with my pack in an hour. I¡¯ll call you as soon as I get a chance¡±.N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    We drive back to the residential area and I drop her off at the packhouse.


    She is unwilling to let me go. ¡°Eric,e back. Otherwise, I will have toe searching for you. You have one month after my shift to show up here. If not, I will start looking for you¡±.


    ¡°I will be here. Within the month, I will pick you up, my love¡±.


    Onest kiss and I head for my rented house to pack my things. Using the mind link, I inform the pilot of my arrival. And then I drive out of the pack, on my way to the runway on neutral ground.


    To Midnight Moon, where new challenges await me¡­

 Back To Yesteryear

    Alpha Zane¡¯s POV


    I can¡¯t believe Alpha Gorgio is capable of this.


    To send another woman to me in my mate¡¯s ce, and even then with the help of a spell! This man goes to any lengths to keep Ariel for himself when the Moon Goddess herself has decreed that he should share her with me. But he refuses and invents all sorts of schemes.


    But I will not tolerate this.


    All those involved in this deception must be punished. I am an Alpha and deserve the respect of my peers. Besides, the mate bond is sacred, it is enshrined in the Werews as the highest right of mates. How dare Gorgio do this to me!


    I clutch the railing of the boat, my knuckles turning white as I contemte what has happened. He had firmly rejected my proposal to settle all this triangr mating peacefully. Now circumstances have changed, and after what he has done to me, I demand to have my mate back. Gorgio has gone too far!


    And Ariel herself! I cannot imagine that she cooperated in this.


    I am her mate, for God¡¯s sake! She feels the bond, it¡¯s still there. She cannot escape submitting to me, it is predestined. Whatever she does, the bond is there and I will not let her go. Her chances are over.


    With my eyes closed, I concentrate and try to reach her.


    We are not far from Eclipse Howl, no matter how weak our connection is, she must sense me. Yes, there she is. Her warmth reaches me and I feel myself calming down. w howls in my mind, he senses Era as well now.  I wallow in it for a moment, this connection with our soulmate is amazing. But then the connection snaps abruptly, it¡¯s as if she¡¯s cutting herself off from me. I clench my fists, she is so unfair to me.


    ¡°Hey, don¡¯t work yourself up. We¡¯re going to get to the bottom of this and confront Alpha Gorgio about his fraud. And of course that can¡¯t go unpunished.¡± Mase pats me on the shoulder. ¡°This case is bing increasingly unpleasant as time goes on. Zane, keep your head clear. However this ends, you can always fall back on rita¡±.


    rita is in the background now. Ariel is my destiny, she is my priority now. When we finally sail into Midnight Moon¡¯s harbor, Eric and Kensley are waiting for me. I jump off the boat and walk over to them. Kensley rushes ahead, while Eric follows hesitantly.


    Eric¡¯s behavior is strange. He is my Beta and should have met me halfway to discuss this matter. And his attitude is very suspicious.


    ¡°Kensley, let¡¯s go to the packhouse. I want to hear every detail.¡± My gaze is fixed on Eric, who now greets me with an outstretched hand. I ignore the hand and take him by the shoulders in the usual way. ¡°Eric, has Kensley briefed you on the details? I can¡¯t imagine all three of us falling for that trick.¡±


    ¡°Yes, with a witch this close, anything is possible. I¡¯ve prepared some papers. We will appeal this first to the Council. Ariel will have to exin herself. She is your mate and therefore obligated to you,¡± my Beta points out.


    I nod, agreeing with himpletely.


    ¡°Exactly. She shouldn¡¯t have got carried away with any n. As her mate, my feelings should be important to her¡±.


    The four of us enter my office.


    I go through the documents Eric has prepared. There is a detailed exnation of events, from my meeting with my mate at the conference, where the King and Queen were also present, to her departure from Midnight Moon. Also her stay in Miami with a friend and then the result of Kensley¡¯s investigation.


    My Head Warriors presents photos of Ariel in Alpha Gorgio¡¯s arms in Eclipse Howl at the same time she was supposed to be in Midnight Moon. They are kissing, swimming in ake, smiling broadly as they ssh each other wet. My mate is wearing a tiny bikini, which elicits a growl from me.


    I passed the report to Mase.


    ¡°Damn! This is masterful work by you, Kensley. At what point did your suspicions lead you to investigate this?¡± asks Mase, now fully into his Gamma role.


    ¡°It was shady from the start. Alexis only had eyes for Eric,pletely ignoring Zane. And the conditions she set were ridiculous. Every mate wants to be marked, to stake their im to the Alpha. But Alexis was just cold,¡± he reveals. ¡°But for me, the absolute absence of her wolf was the main clue.¡±


    Everyone nods, except Eric.


    ¡°How old did you say Alexis was? She can¡¯t have a wolf yet, so she doesn¡¯t know if Eric is her mate. It was just a teenage crush.  My God, I can¡¯t believe I was fooled by a pup.¡±


    Eric takes the documents from me, scans them and sits down at hisptop.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    He sends theint to the Werewolf Council and all three of us get a carbon copy from the email.


    ¡°Now we have to wait and see. I expect the Alpha King to respond quickly. If he knew nothing about this unsavory affair, he will want to clear his name soon,¡± Mase notes.


    We go to the back balcony and pour ourselves a ss of scotch.


    We all need a double shot to take in thetest events.


    ¡°Are you going to inform the pack, Zane? Or are you waiting for the Council to respond to the usations?¡± Eric waits for my answer with interest.


    ¡°I¡¯ll wait. Then I can give them the details properly. Hopefully, they will take it better than we did. They were looking forward to their Luna and this will not work in Ariel¡¯s favor,¡± I sigh.


    ¡°Are you still nning to take Ariel as your mate?¡± he asks in astonishment. ¡°Don¡¯t forget the facts. She favored Alpha Gorgio, she fled from you, then coborated with him to deceive you and you rejected her. Now she goes back to her old life as if nothing had happened. And now you have rita.¡±


    I growl low, this Beta is starting to get on my nerves.


    Everything in me is now focused on Ariel. ¡°Neither my life nor hers can go back to before. We were not mates then. Would you have given up your mate for the love of a human, Beta?¡±¡­

 I Am Ready

    Alpha Gorgio¡¯s POV


    These past few weeks with my Luna were amazing.


    I¡¯ve had so much time to catch up with her, and the period she spent in Human Town was the most horrible thing I¡¯ve ever experienced in my life. And now that she is back, I am doing everything I can to convince her that I will never give her up for anyone. She is mine and I am capable of making her happy and keeping her safe.N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    So I have taken a few days off and Jace has reced me during that time.


    He¡¯s great, I couldn¡¯t ask for a more loyal Beta. How stupid of me to send Alvin with Ariel to Midnight Moon that day instead of him. Jace ispletely devoted to our Luna, he would have realized immediately that something was wrong with her andpletely controlled the moment. Ariel would never have run off and been far away from me.


    Not that I don¡¯t think Alvin is up to the job.


    The man is a Head Warrior, he focuses on the bigger picture. His mind was on the safety around the Luna, less on her condition. That¡¯s the difference between a Beta and a Warrior. Well, I don¡¯t me him, I just didn¡¯t think there was a threat in that rotten pack of Alpha Zane.


    Anyway, that¡¯s settled now, I¡¯ve got my Luna back and she¡¯ll never leave my side.


    And in a few weeks, she will give me the good news, our first pup. Just thinking about that makes my wolf purr in delight. If my human was in love with Ariel, Xander is over the moon with Era. He can hug her and lick her head all day long, the two of them are like one. As soon as he gets the chance, he tells me that the Moon Goddess is quite fond of us and that giving us Ariel is her greatest blessing. I have heard this so many times and he has a true believer in me.


    Xander had also said for a long time that Era was ready to give birth to our pups.


    But I wanted my Luna to myself for a few years, to enjoy her love for me, before we turned to raising cubs. And now I am ready, our first son will be the living proof of our mutual love. Damn, I can¡¯t say it enough, I love Ariel Vasconcellos, the eldest daughter of Alpha King Petric and Luna Queen Anja of Blue Blood. And I thank the Moon Goddess Selene for this.


    My leave is now at an end.


    I look beside me, Ariel is still fast asleep. Last night was breathtaking again, we just can¡¯t get enough of each other. Our bond is no less than when we first met a year ago. The longing for each other, the madness is still there in all its intensity. But I also know that in a few weeks, I will have to be more careful as our baby begins to grow and require more of her energy.


    Blissfully, I get dressed, my eyes still fixed on the sleeping beauty.


    ¡®Gorgio, an emergency. Midnight Moon has issued a Code Red in the pack. My strongest suspicion is that they¡¯ve found out that it wasn¡¯t Ariel in their pack.¡¯ I gasp at Jace¡¯s words in the mind link. How could this have happened?


    ¡®Investigate the cause, Jace. I¡¯ll be in the office in a minute. And then I¡¯ll call Alexis¡¯.


    I hurry out of the suite, leave the lift and take the stairs three at a time. If Alpha Zane finds out about our n, I expect a rough time ahead. He is unpredictable and I need to find a good counter to that.


    When I reach the main floor, I bump into rita.


    She looks terrible, as if she hadn¡¯t slept for days. I was informed that she had spent much of thest few days in Human Town, and I think she misses living among her own kind. I didn¡¯t mention it before because her absence meant I had Ariel to myself. The two women are obviously close, but I needed some private time with my mate.


    ¡°rita, how are you doing? Is something bothering you? You know you are a special guest here and we want to make sure you have a good time at Eclipse Howl¡±. She nods, but when she looks up, her eyes are red. She has been crying, and not just a little.


    I stand in front of her with my hands in my pockets.


    My thoughts are elsewhere now, but I also want to make sure that Ariel¡¯s friend is well here.


    ¡°¡®Female issues, Gorgio. I have to get used to being dumped. What man would put up with a woman like me for too long?¡±


    Kill me now!


    When ites to these matters, I am at a total loss. Heartbreak is something I have never dealt with. Ariel will have toe in here, this is strange territory for me.


    ¡°Hmmm, don¡¯t be so pessimistic. I¡¯m sure the right man is waiting impatiently for you somewhere. Take it slow, every experience is a help for the greater goal. Ariel is still sleeping, but I¡¯m sure she can help you get over this disappointment,¡± I reassure her. ¡°But don¡¯t give up. Otherwise, you will miss the real deal.¡±


    She nods unconvincingly and continues on her way.


    I don¡¯t know if I chose the right words tofort her, but I don¡¯t have the luxury of thinking about it for too long now. This is really women¡¯s business, my Luna has helped the she-wolves in our pack through such heartbreak before.


    So I hasten to my office, where Jace is waiting with more pressing matters.


    And I know instinctively that all hell has broken loose. My first priority is to keep Ariel out of this mess, save her the stress and get this done as quickly as possible.


    Zane has to move on, he has no choice.


    But I will be damned d to show him the way. Nothing is more certain than that he will keep his ws off my mate.


    But he can always try to stand against me.


    I am so ready¡­

 Caught By The Luna

    Alpha Gorgio¡¯s POINT OF VIEW  again


    Walking in, Jace¡¯s worried face is the first thing I notice.


    ¡°Just what I thought. My informant confirmed that they found out that Alexis, not Ariel, was in Midnight Moon. He doesn¡¯t know what Zane is up to yet,¡± he tells me. ¡°But there is something else interesting here. Zane¡¯s Beta, a guy called Eric Roscoe, seems to be Alexis¡¯ mate. During Zane¡¯s absence, he was spotted in Blue Blood, where he stayed for several days. There he was always in Alexis¡¯pany, away from the Alpha King¡¯s watchful eye. A secret rtionship, then.¡±


    ¡°Interesting information. Alexis would never torpedo her own n, so it must be that they are in love. She is still a minor, turning eighteen next week. Or they already feel each other¡¯s attraction because they met before her first shift.¡±


    Jace¡¯s face turns sour. I know he was hoping to mate Alexis. He was so looking forward to her birthday to find out if his wish woulde true. But now that Eric is in Alexis¡¯pany, it looks like that possibility is nil. Alexis would never get involved in a frivolous rtionship.


    I pat him encouragingly on the shoulder.


    The Alpha King family is definitely an advantage when ites to finding a mate. The man has done a great job raising his daughters. Now he is counting on his grandchildren to take over. But now that I need a son of my own for my pack, Alexis will have to take care of that. I smile as I remember the conversation I had with him about this a few months ago.


    ¡°Damn! Zane has already made his next move. He approached the Council. Midnight Moon and the Alpha have filed separateints. Zane doesn¡¯t do half work, he ys high stakes.¡± Jace bangs the table hard, Midnight Moon has lost all his sympathy. For him, this is not just about the Luna, he has a personal matter to settle with them. Their Beta took his Alexis, and knowing Jace, he¡¯s out for a challenge. Ever since she was sixteen, he was determined to conquer her at the age of eighteen.


    ¡°And what is theirint?¡± I ask, gritting my teeth.


    ¡°My informant tells me that Midnight Moon is upset that you are robbing them of a Luna. They have been waiting for her for years. And you deceived them. So they are suing you for ten million dors for emotional distress and investment in weing the wrong Luna. The money will be donated to Zane¡¯s first daughter with their Luna, Ariel¡±.


    My thunderous roar is apanied by Jace¡¯sughter.


    He hollers withughter, clutches his stomach and when he tries to move in my direction, he has to lean halfway against the wall for support. I re at him; I see nothing funny about Midnight Moon¡¯s intentions. They won¡¯t get a penny from me, of course, but to suggest that Ariel give birth to someone else¡¯s daughter is outrageous. Midnight Moon must be brought to their senses the hard way, this statement cannot go unpunished. Zane is treading on very slippery ground now.


    ¡°Gorgio, really. It¡¯s that they dream of having Ariel as their Luna. Not to mention that their Alpha will have a daughter with her. How stupid is this pack?  Hrious! Actually, they are insulting us, do they really think they can get a Luna so easily?¡±


    He hups withughter and sits back on my desk chair.


    I understand his point, and I agree that Midnight Moon must be made aware that their dreams are far from reality. The audacity of them to even think such nonsense!


    But then Jace gets serious.


    ¡°Gorgio, we have to anticipate this information. What are we going to do? Our case is not strong, Ariel is also Zane¡¯s mate, he can dissect his rights from the Werews. And after the stunt we pulled on him, I don¡¯t think the high rankings will be on our side.¡±


    Another point for my Beta.


    ¡°We await the Council¡¯s response. Depending on what they decide, we will proceed. What is certain is that Ariel will not go to Midnight Moon and Zane will never mate with her. Especially not now,¡± I decide.


    Jace looks up with a start. ¡°Especially not now?¡±N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    I look at him enraptured. ¡°Ariel is probably pregnant with our first pup. Jace, isn¡¯t that great? My own little one, right here in the packhouse.¡± My Beta¡¯s face changes from surprise to utter joy.


    ¡°Yes, yes, that¡¯s what we need here in Eclipse Moon. Our own Prince, our future Alpha,¡± he bursts out. He flies across the desk and wraps his arms around my shoulders.


    ¡°Man! Nothing can go wrong now. We have to save Ariel from all this drama. Zane has to back off. We¡¯ll deal with the Council ourselves.¡± He cannot contain his glee.


    ¡°What are you going to settle with the Council yourself?¡±


    Petrified, we remain standing. This is what we wanted to avoid. Now it is toote, Ariel has overheard our conversation. I sigh, keeping the information from her is out of the question.


    Jace lets go of my shoulders and we stare at Ariel like two schoolchildren caught ying truant.


    ¡°Ariel, dear. I thought you were asleep. Have you seen rita? I think she needs you¡±.


    ¡°Gorgio, don¡¯t change the subject. What are you going to do about the Council? Did Zane pull something?¡±


    I take a deep breath.


    ¡°The information we havees from an informant in Midnight Moon. The Head Warrior was suspicious of Alexis¡¯ attitude, she was not acting like a mate of Zane¡¯s. She is probably destined to the Beta there and couldn¡¯t hold back.¡±


    Her eyes widen in shock.


    I share with her everything we have learned. And our n is to keep her out of this conflict because we want her to get plenty of rest. But she shakes her head.


    ¡°Gorgio, you seem to have forgotten who I was when we met for the first time. I was not only the daughter of the Alpha King. Do you remember?¡±


    Moon Goddess, no!¡­.

 Stay In The Pack

    Again Alpha Zane¡¯s POINT OF VIEW


    My phone rings and as I expected it is Alpha King Petric, Ariel¡¯s father, on the line.


    ¡°Alpha Zane, I have reviewed yourint to the Council. We will start the investigation today. A team will go to Eclipse Howl to talk to Luna Ariel. You know we cannot use force to get her to contact you.¡±


    I grit my teeth, nothing in the man¡¯s voice sounds like he is condemning Gorgio. He is merely giving me the facts, and they are not in my favor.


    ¡°I have been deceived, Alpha King. This is outrageous. I have as much right to Ariel as Gorgio. How dare he insult me like this? And my pack¡¯s im for damages, what about that?¡±Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°¡®That¡¯s a really messy matter. The Council should find out if it was a prank and what they were trying to achieve with it. If your mate yed a joke on you, we can¡¯t punish her for it, Alpha,¡± he mutters pitifully.


    ¡°And as for the im for damages. The way it is worded, we will have to wait a while for Ariel¡¯s decision. The money would go to the first female pup you had with her? We will have to take a moment to think about how realistic that is. So far, we cannot escape the idea that Ariel is choosing Alpha Gorgio, who has no intention of sharing her.¡± I think I hear a suppressed smile in the man¡¯s voice. Does he take me seriously?


    ¡°She¡¯s my mate. And mates have cubs. My pack expresses its expectation as is customary,¡± I state firmly. ¡°How long will this examination take? I want my Luna beside me, that¡¯s my right!¡±


    w¡¯s eyes turn red, he too is beginning to lose patience. But we both know that there is nothing we can do against the Alpha King. He is not only the father of our mate but also the strongest werewolf apart from the Lycans. And he will not tolerate any disrespect.


    ¡°Once again, Alpha Zane. Ariel will decide whether to ept you. The Council does not use any force. We can only show her your rights, but she must be willing to ept you, that¡¯s all we can do for you.¡±


    I throw the device on my desk and it shatters into a thousand pieces.


    ¡°He doesn¡¯t even apologize for his daughter¡¯s behavior,¡± I burst out. ¡°He acts as if he knew nothing about the affair. This man does not want me with his daughter, he supports Gorgio¡±.


    ¡°Alpha King Petric has never hidden his pride in his daughter¡¯s mating. He is very happy with Gorgio, telling everyone that he could not imagine a more wonderful son-inw. But he is also a righteous man, Zane,¡± Mase says. ¡°What he is trying to tell you is that Ariel alone can bring the solution. And you were already ready to reject her. Why take all this drama on your shoulders? Reject her and go on with rita.¡±


    How I hate those words. Eric also had this lousy idea.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to hear anyone mention rita¡¯s name in my presence,¡± I growl. ¡°I¡¯m tired of making it clear to you that every wolf, especially an Alpha, prefers a she-wolf to a human as a mate.¡±


    My three friends look at each other and nod.


    ¡°Kensley, prepare for war. I already know how this will all end. All our demands will be refused. This war is about our dignity. We lose our Luna without getting justice. That can never happen to us. War!¡±


    I notice that Mase is shaking his head fanatically. He stands up andes over to me.


    ¡°Calm down, Zane. Let the Council do its work. Don¡¯t make any decisions out of revenge or anger,¡± he tries to calm me down. But my state of mind has reached the limit of the usible. I want revenge, Gorgio cannot have everything and leave me empty-handed.


    ¡°Eric, stay in touch with the Council, every step they take. I want daily reports from you and Kensley on the situation in Eclipse Howl. If Ariel leaves the pack, I especially, want to know about it,¡± I instruct my high-ranking. ¡°If there is a chance to speak to her alone, I want to take it. I must try to persuade her to give me a chance.¡±


    Kensley gets up and walks over to me.


    ¡°I think your chances are slim. Gorgio will not leave her alone for a moment, he is her personal bodyguard at the moment. Besides, she hasn¡¯t been seen for several days, she hasn¡¯t been outside the packhouse, let alone the pack, Zane.¡±


    I ruffle my hair, if only I could talk to her, face to face and not through a weak mate bond.


    ¡°Zane, there is more going on under your nose than you know. This thing with Ariel is consuming your whole being, your instincts are only going one way.¡± That could turn out to be dangerous.¡± I turn to my head warrior, not understanding the meaning of his statement.


    ¡°What exactly are you saying, Kensley? And if my instincts work less, I have a Beta and a Head Warrior to fill in. My Gamma has already chosen another life, so I¡¯m totally dependent on you two in these turbulent times.¡±


    Mase shakes his head regretfully; he knows I am only teasing him. He may not officially hold the title of Gamma, but when the pack needs him, he is always there.


    ¡°Tell it like it is, Kensley. This is not the time for your ramblings. We don¡¯t have the time,¡± Mase says impatiently. Kensley now turns to Eric.


    ¡°Perhaps Beta Eric would like to tell us why he spent his holiday in Blue Blood, the Alpha King¡¯s pack? No, he didn¡¯t talk to the man, so he¡¯s not a traitor. I would never believe that either. Eric?¡±


    With a start, I fixed my eyes on my Beta. I had noticed him behaving strangely for a long time. And now I hear that he was in Blue Blood. I really need to know the reason for this. High ranks on leave never move to dwell in another pack. On the rare asions when they do, they go to Human Town to fool around with the women.


    ¡°Beta Eric, I¡¯m all ears,¡± I told my best friend¡­

 She Will Be Punished

    Beta Eric¡¯s POINT OF VIEW


    There are three pairs of eyes glued to me.


    I should have known that Kensley would find out about my activities after I left the pack on leave. The man is an excellent tracker and takes his job very seriously.


    But I also knew that this day woulde when I would have to tell Zane that Alexis is my mate. Only I had thought to wait until after her anniversary when our wolves had confirmed our suspicions.


    ¡°I was in Blue Blood to visit my potential mate and spend time with her,¡± I exin as I rise from my chair to meet Zane at equal eye level. ¡°I wasn¡¯t going to tell you about it until she turned eighteen and our wolves confirmed we were destined. And then I also hoped that the storm between Zane and Ariel had died down¡±.


    Zane stares at me warily, his hands still at his sides. ¡°And who is your future mate, Eric? Why do I feel like I know her already?¡± Irritated, he waves his hand; I know what that means. He is on the verge of a tantrum.


    ¡°Alexis. Your mate¡¯s sister, the same woman who was here,¡± I sigh. He takes a threatening step toward me. ¡°Were you chasing her behind my back anyway? And I asked you more than once if she was your mate, but you always denied it. And all the while we watched as she openly idolized you,¡± he bites at me.


    ¡°Zane, we are best friends. I would never make out with a woman you were interested in behind your back. I¡¯m man enough for that,¡± I say harshly. I hate him questioning my integrity. I would never betray my Alpha and he damned well knows it.


    ¡°You asked me if your mate and I had a thing for each other. You asked me if I was in love with your mate and the answer is still no,¡± I tell him. ¡°Alexis is not your mate. And I would never be in a rtionship with her if she was¡±.


    ¡°Did you know then that they had switched identities when she was here? Did you know about their ns?¡± Kensley demands to know now.


    ¡°I have always tried to resist Alexis. The pull between us is strong, but she doesn¡¯t have her wolf yet and Hunter is very attracted to her. It foreshadows the mating bond, but I want to wait until she turns eighteen next week. And hope that Zane and Ariel have settled their differences¡±.


    Zanees in and stands right in front of me.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t say anything, you didn¡¯t want to add to my misery. I know you would never betray me, Eric. We have known each other since the cradle, you are incapable of turning your back on me,¡± he exins quietly. ¡°When this is all over, I promise you that you will be able to bring your mate home. We will both have our mates and live happily here in the pack¡±.Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    I couldn¡¯t believe my ears. Tears well up in my eyes and my throat tightens. This man is a true friend, not many have one like him.


    ¡°Zane!¡± With a jerk, he pulls me against him and we embrace like never before.


    ¡°Thank you. I was willing to get down on my knees for you to have Alexis with me. She is amazing, what you have seen here is not her true nature. I hate that it ended this way, but I¡¯m sure she regrets it already,¡± I stammer. ¡°She didn¡¯t know we were going to meet.¡±


    ¡°Beta, that¡¯s not a good excuse. Cheating on an Alpha like that is punishable. I am sorry, mate or daughter of the Alpha King, she will have to serve her sentence before your mating ceremony can take ce. No precedents.¡± Mase is adamant. And I know that Zane will not help out.


    ¡°Mase, you have your own mate now. You must know how I feel about the prospect of Alexis ending up in prison,¡± I plead. His eyes warn me and I decide not to push it any further. I am sure whoever the Luna is, she will be truly pitiful when she sees my Alexis. She is so young and fragile.


    Kensley leaves the room to carry out Zane¡¯s order. From today, all those who already have their wolves, male and female, will beginbat training. I must now make arrangements for the women, children and vulnerable members of the pack. The cers must be restocked and the barracks for the elderly aired.


    I go to the main hall and call the youngster in the pack link to report to me. Their parents have already received the Code Red signal and informed them of the state of the pack.


    For the next few hours, I work with the young people to tidy up the basements and make sure the older people have no problems staying there. When I am finished, I go to my bedroom to rest and call Alexis. I take a hot bath and when Ie back into the room, I sit down on the bed and take out my mobile phone.


    My lover¡¯s number rings but no one answers. I try again, but I have no luck. Tiredness sets in and I decide to try againter. I sink between the sheets for a well-deserved rest.


    But it doesn¡¯te. As soon as I closed my eyes and fell asleep, I suddenly saw terrible images ying out before me. Alexis is standing on the battlefield, being attacked from behind by a wolf from Midnight Moon. One of her legs is bloodied. Luckily, Ariel jumps in and manages to kill the wolf. The body falls to the ground and turns into its human form.


    To my horror, I see none other than Kensley lying there.


    Goddess, did Kensley want to kill my mate when he knew she was mine? Surely he has heard that Zane has epted her and is ready to wee her into the pack. With a scream, I am jolted from my sleep.


    Pain deep in my chest grows stronger by the second.


    ¡°Alexis,¡± I whisper brokenly. ¡°No, not you. I don¡¯t want to lose you.


    With a jerk, I pull the covers off. My phone is on the bedside table and when I look at the time, I see it is almost midnight.


    And there are no missed calls. It¡¯s toote to call her to ask if everything¡¯s all right. That will have to wait until the morning.


    So I decided to send her a text message. ¡®Babe, are you OK?¡¯


    No reply.


    ¡°I¡¯m worried. Call me as soon as you wake up¡±¡­

 Avoiding War

    Alpha Gorgio¡¯s POINT OF VIEW


    With Ariel in my arms, I stand at Eclipse Howl¡¯s airstrip to receive the Council¡¯s investigators.


    Much to my regret, my father-inw has withdrawn, feeling that his involvement would be a conflict of interest. Although he has pledged to remain neutral in Alpha Zane¡¯sint, he fears that some will point the finger at him if the oue is to the detriment of the intiff.


    Three Alphas and an emissary from King Jasper have justnded in the kingdom¡¯s private jet.


    ¡°Alphas, wee to Eclipse Howl. We have been expecting you. I am Alpha Gorgio and this is my mate Ariel,¡± I say, greeting the group. We mostly know each other from the corridors but have never spoken face to face. They are not my friends and have no other rtionship with me.


    No problem, I know this case will turn out in my favor. My Luna is with me and that is all I want. To emphasize my point, I pull Ariel closer and bury my face in her neck, where my mark is. The gesture is not lost on the four and all I see is the Lycan chuckling. So the man has a sense of humor despite his stern face.


    ¡°Alpha Gorgio, Luna Ariel. Thank you for your hospitality,¡± the Lycan replies. ¡°I am Sir Walter and the King is gravely considering this dilemma. Two mates for the Luna is not unusual, but never asplicated as this. I nod at the man.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go to the packhouse. It¡¯s cooler and easier to talk there. I¡¯m sure you want to have this conversation in afortable setting.¡± I point to the waiting Rolls-Royce, with room for all six of us. Sir Walter sends Ariel in first before he and the others follow. I get inst and sit next to my mate.


    The men stare curiously at Ariel. She is dressed in white ripped jeans, a loose shirt and a scarf. Her raven ck hair contrasts with her outfit. Together with my brown-blonde head and dark burnt skin, we make a striking match.


    ¡°Luna Ariel, we are delighted that you are here to meet us. It shows that you are not forced to stay here in the pack. And with that, we can tick off one of the investigation points.¡± The Alphas nod in agreement with the Lycan¡¯s words.


    ¡°Under no circumstances will Gorgio keep me here. Remember, I am a warrior myself, I was the best strategist in Blue Blood next to my sister Alexis. It would be very difficult to keep me here against my will, especially since Gorgio is my mate and I can harm him through the mate bond.¡±


    Four heads bob in agreement and admiration. I swallow a lump in my throat. Ariel¡¯s words sound like my worst nightmare. If Alpha Zane decides to go to war, it will be hard to keep Ariel out of it. She has already made it clear that she is willing to fight alongside me.


    My only hope is that Alpha Zane will admit that his bond with Ariel is too weak toy im to her. She is mine, and I am so sure that our cub is already growing inside her. Not wanting to take any chances, I must do everything I can to avoid a war and get the Alpha off my back.


    We finally reach the packhouse.


    I escort our guests into therge conference room, where the servants have set out drinks and snacks. When I invite them to serve themselves, they don¡¯t miss the opportunity.


    ¡°A liqueur for me, Gorgio. I could use one right now to lift my spirits¡±. I walk over to the drinks and pour her a ss of her much-loved Apple Juice. When I hand it to her, she stares at me in amazement.


    ¡°Have you run out of alcohol, love? Why did you bring Apple Juice instead?¡±


    I put my arm around her neck and lean down to her ear. ¡°You need the vitamins. We want a healthy pup, right?¡± She looks at me in surprise before starting to giggle.


    ¡°Ooohh Gorgio. It¡¯s way too early. A ss of liqueur won¡¯t hurt¡±. But I am determined and shake my head. I poured myself a ss of apple juice as well. Smiling, we emptied our sses.


    ¡°When the lovebirds are ready, we can start the interview. The Alpha King wants this to be over soon so that peace can return to the werewolfmunity. All the packs are waiting for the result.¡±


    I sit down at the head of the table with Ariel on myp. The men sit on either side of me.N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    ¡°Luna Ariel, we want you to confirm that Alpha Zane is also your mate,¡± Sir Walter begins. Ariel nods affirmatively. ¡°Yes, he is my mate. I sensed him in his pack during the council meeting.¡±


    ¡°Then why did you leave without talking to him?¡±


    ¡°Because I have no intention of epting him. I have sworn eternal loyalty to Gorgio and my word is sacred. Besides, the two of us are fine together, we don¡¯t need a third wolf in our mating,¡± she replied again.


    ¡°Luna, you know it is the Moon Goddess who decides what you need. Just like she gave you Gorgio and you epted him. Are you also taking Alpha Zane¡¯s feelings into ount?¡±


    ¡°I think the Moon Goddess had another n with this triangle mating. But definitely not that the three of us would be in a mating bond. Her intention is different, we are to connect others around us¡±. The Lycan¡¯s eyebrows rise.


    ¡°Why would she sacrifice Zane for that? The man feels left out and demands that you at least face him and talk to him. Is that too much to ask?¡±


    ¡°Not too much to ask, but unnecessary. The result remains the same. I will not mate with Alpha Zane, he can only get a rejection from me,¡± my woman deres emphatically.


    Sir Walter sighs deeply.


    ¡°Luna, our job as a Council is to mediate. We understand your feelings. But you just confirmed that Zane is your mate too. At least meet him and talk things over. We will send warriors to ensure your safety. But at least the man has a right to closure.


    ¡°Not only warriors from the council but also from my father¡¯s pack. And when this conversation is over, Zane must abide by my decision. Mating is a consensual rtionship, the male has no absolute say,¡± she finally binds in.


    Xander growls menacingly in my head. ¡®No, Gorgio, no. Don¡¯t let her go to the Alpha! He must not touch our mate.¡¯


    ¡®I don¡¯t feel good about this, either. But this is the only way to avoid a war and to keep Ariel safe. Under no circumstances must she pick up her sword again. And no shifting. This is the only way,¡¯ I try to convince him.


    ¡®No, Gorgio. I don¡¯t trust Zane. He¡¯s definitely up to no good¡¯¡­

 Meeting Him

    Luna Ariel¡¯s POINT OF VIEW


    I can feel Gorgio¡¯s pain in our mate bond. He is distraught, but for some reason, he is keeping it in check. I can feel his iron self-control not to explode into a rage. It almost makes me gasp for air, my chest tightening with tension.


    I snuggle up against him as we fly to Midnight Moon in the Royal Jet.


    Jace, Alvin and several top warriors havee along, ready to intervene in any misstep by Alpha Zane. Warriors from my father, the Alpha King and the Council are also en route. This seems like a war operation, but I am grateful for it, as it gives Gorgio some reassurance that I will be safe in the other pack.


    ¡°My love, do not worry. I know what to do when I meet the Alpha. There is nothing in the pack that might distract me,¡± I whisper against his neck. His warmth increases as we get closer and his arms are like a vise around me.


    ¡°Just know that I love you, my Luna. We made an oath, you promised never to leave me. It would kill me if you did,¡± he whispers into my hair as his fingers run through my locks.


    And then thending on Midnight Moon¡¯s airstrip begins.


    I dare not look out of the hatch, separating myself from Gorgio feels like doom. He¡¯s going through hell and I want to get this over with as soon as possible.


    ¡°Sir Walter. Will you stay and wait for me? This conversation won¡¯t take long¡±.


    The Lycan nods in agreement. ¡°Yes, we will all wait here on the airstrip and not leave. Unless you indicate that you want to stay here, of course. But then you have toe back to the same ce and tell me about your decision in person. It¡¯s a safety rule.¡± Perfect, I can do that.


    I kiss my mate passionately. ¡°Wait for me, my love¡±.


    His heart is beating like crazy, this is truly an ordeal for both of us.  After onest kiss, I take Sir Walter by the elbow and walk out with him. A few feet away, I see the Alpha standing. His eyes sparkle with happiness and he takes a step closer.


    ¡°Atst! Finally, you are home, my mate. I have waited so long for this day, and now you are here. Wee, our pack is waiting for us.¡± He tries to take my hand, but I hold it back. His intention is clear, he wants to activate the mate bond and win me over.


    ¡°Alpha Zane. Thank you for your warm wee. We have a matter to discuss,¡± I reply formally with a tight smile. The cheer disappears from his face and he frowns.


    ¡°Ariel. We are mates. You don¡¯t have to be formal with me. The Moon Goddess brought us together, we belong to one another,¡± he slowly says. ¡°But let¡¯s go to the packhouse. We have a lot to talk about. Your Luna ceremony, your official meeting with the pack, and also your wardrobe for these special asions. My parents are impatient to meet you¡±.


    I decide to remain silent and turn to Sir Walter. He nods and I walk with Alpha Zane to the waiting car. As I get into the back seat, hees over and sits next to me.


    ¡°The pack has organized a party forter today. I suggested that you might want to get some rest before meeting them. We have been waiting for you for years.¡± Again he tries to make physical contact and again I move away.


    Within minutes, we arrived at the packhouse where an elderly couple was waiting. Immediately I knew they were his parents. Alpha Zane has the physical features of both of them and it¡¯s not hard to see the family resemnce. As soon as I get out, they walk up to me with outstretched arms.


    ¡°Ariel. Atst. I am Irmy. Wee to our family, my daughter. Atst this pack has a new Luna, I want to retire soon¡±. The older woman tries to hug me but I keep it light. Under no circumstances do I want to raise hopes with these people. I feel her tensing for a moment at my reticence, but she continues to smile.


    ¡°And I¡¯m Michael, the Alpha¡¯s father,¡± the man next to her chuckles. I hold my hand out in front of him, putting some distance between us. He res at my hand in surprise until he decides to shake it anyway.N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    ¡°Luna, Alpha. Thank you. Alpha Zane and I have some pressing matters to discuss. I want to put all this behind us and get my life back on track.¡± Pity wells up inside me as I see the two in front of me blush, but I have no choice but to stand my ground.


    They turn and walk ahead into the pack house, Alpha Zane and I are following.


    Eventually, we enter a small room where I see three Elders. They leap to their feet as soon as we enter. ¡°Luna,¡± they acknowledge my presence, but I ignore them.


    As Alpha Zane sits down at the head of the table, I take a seat next to his parents.


    ¡°No, Ariel. Your ce is next to Zane. There¡¯s the Luna seat, especially for you,¡± Luna Irmy protests. But Is shakes her head. ¡°No, I am not Luna of Midnight Moon. You are getting ahead of yourself.¡±


    Servants enter, bringing refreshments and cing them on the table. They cast furtive nces at me, curious to see who their Alpha¡¯s mate is. Impatiently, I tap my foot on the floor, waiting for them to leave.


    Before Alpha Zane starts his annoying introduction, I raise my hand to stop him.


    ¡°Alpha Zane. The day we first recognized each other as mates, I fled this pack in horror. I never thought it would be possible for me to have two mates, especially since I am already marked and fully mated, my mate and I havepleted the process.¡±


    The tension in the room is palpable, everyone hanging on my every word.


    ¡°What I am trying to say is that I love my mate with every fiber of my being. We are one, and we swore allegiance to each other on the day of our mating ceremony. There is no room for a third party in our rtionship, I have no intention of cheating on Gorgio¡±. I paused for a few seconds to let my words sink in.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what Selene had in mind when she forced you on us. But I am really sorry, I cannot be your mate or Luna of this pack. I have my own pack, Eclipse Howl. That¡¯s where I¡¯m at home, that¡¯s where my mate is.¡±


    I can feel the aura in the room moving in different directions, depending on everyone¡¯s mood.


    ¡°That is why I am forced to do this. I, Ariel Vasconsellos, daughter of Alpha King Petric and Alpha Queen Anja and mate of Gorgio Vasconsellos, reject Alpha Zane of Midnight Moon as my mate. We will have nothing to do with each other from this day forward.¡±

 A Dead Wish

    Luna Ariel¡¯s POINT OF VIEW  still


    ¡°No! I will never ept your rejection, Ariel. You didn¡¯t even give me a fair chance¡±.


    Alpha Zane¡¯s sweet demeanor has now given way to intense anger. I can feel it vibrating down my spine. His parents look worried as their son turns blood-red.


    ¡°Son, calm down. We can still talk to her, bring her to her senses. But then peace will have to return here,¡± his father tries to steady him. His mother runs to him and strokes his back. But it seems to have little effect, probably because he has a mate now and only the mate bond can soothe him. But I have no intention of helping him with that.


    ¡°Luna, Alpha Zane is right. You have made no effort to see if this triangle mating can seed. You and Alpha Gorgio were against it from the start, which is not unusual in our werewolfmunity. Quite a few Alphas have more than one mate or share one.¡± The older man shakes his head in disapproval.


    ¡°Ariel, be reasonable. My son needs his Luna to lead the pack. He had been looking for you for ages and when he finally found you, you ran away. That was a painful experience for him and his wolf.¡± Now it is Luna Irmy¡¯s turn to try to win me over.


    But I am determined.


    ¡°He can ept my rejection and move on to a second chance mate who will love him unconditionally,¡± I point out. ¡°Holding on to me is a waste of time. Starting a rtionship whose oue we already know is pointless.¡±


    Alpha Zane blows out of his chair, no longer trying to control his anger.


    ¡°I will decide for myself if my time with you is unnecessary and worthless, Ariel. I im as many rights over you as Gorgio. We are both your mate and must share you. It is not the ideal circumstance, but the Moon Goddess has decreed it and there is nothing we can do about it,¡± he blurts out. ¡°You remain my mate and Luna of Midnight Moon.¡±


    Now my anger is surfacing as well. Slowly, I rise from my chair and stare sternly into the Alpha¡¯s face. ¡°Do you want to force me? I don¡¯t need another mate, Gorgio is enough for me. And whether you ept my rejection or not, I have no intention of staying with you.¡±


    The Alpha makes a move in my direction, but his mother stops him.


    I wondered what he was up to, but I didn¡¯t have much time to ponder about that.


    ¡°Listen, I have a proposal. Ariel, stay here as our guest for five months. That should be enough time for you and Zane to bond. If that doesn¡¯t work, you¡¯re free to leave. Alpha Gorgio can pick you up, and Zane will ept your rejection without any protest. I will see to it personally.¡±


    Alpha Zane¡¯s father gazes at me expectantly. My eyes widened. Five months without Gorgio! I won¡¯t survive that. My mate won¡¯t let me go, especially if it turns out that I¡¯m really pregnant. And I want to be with Gorgio when our pups grow in my belly, to share my happiness with him. This is our first pup and I¡¯m sure he won¡¯t want to miss out.


    This situation is untenable.


    ¡°With all due respect, Alpha Michael. But I won¡¯t survive five months away from my mate. You are mated yourself and you know how it works. Gorgio and I are inseparable, he is the first thing I have to see when I wake up. And Gorgio will go mad if he knows that I am here, far away from him, with another male¡±.


    ¡°Luna, we are trying toe to an arrangement here. This case is difficult enough and a solution is impossible if you don¡¯t get along with each other. Zane is the only one who is dissatisfied with this mating. You and Alpha Gorgio can get on with your lives, but what about my son?¡±


    My patience is running out as well.


    ¡°ept my rejection. Then this will all be over,¡± I bite at Alpha Zane. Gone is my noble behavior. My eyes spit fire, I hate being backed into a corner like this. And then he throws himself back in his chair in defeat, his head in his hands.


    ¡°I can¡¯t do it, Ariel. Try to understand that too. As much as you want Gorgio, I want you for myself. It¡¯s not easy to let you go, you¡¯re my mate. That¡¯s not nothing,¡± he exins, choking up.


    I roll my eyes. Is he ying the emo card now? Unbelievable!Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°We¡¯ll go back to the airstrip and discuss this with Sir Walter. And then you will decide¡±. Alpha Michael stands up and everyone follows his lead. With a deep sigh, I walk behind him, eager to see Gorgio again. We drive back in silence and when we arrive I see Gorgio smiling broadly. As I get out of the car, he has his arms open wide.


    Without thinking, I ran to him and threw myself against his chest. All the nerves melt away as I breathe in his scent. ¡°Hey, baby. Everything¡¯s going to be fine. Rx, don¡¯t worry,¡± the love of my life whispers in my ear. ¡°I¡¯m right here with you, nothing can happen to you.¡±


    ¡°They want to take me away from you. I am so tired of all this, I just want to get on with my life, in peace. Alpha Zane refuses to ept my rejection,¡± I sob as I cling to him.


    ¡°Gorgio, I cannot be without you. I will die if I don¡¯t see you by my side every day.¡±


    Someone behind us clears his throat. ¡°Alpha Gorgio, Sir Walter. I have a proposal to get out of this whole affair. Luna Ariel doesn¡¯t want to stay in Midnight Moon, she even rejected my son,¡± Alpha Michael sighs. ¡°But my son has feelings too. His interest should also count¡±.


    ¡°And what is your suggestion?¡± roars Gorgio, knowing that nothing good ising. ¡± Thread carefully, old man. I¡¯m not in the mood for any nonsense¡±.


    ¡°Let¡¯s keep a cool head. We are close to a solution, we just need to listen carefully to each other,¡± Sir Walter enters. ¡°The King keeps asking me for updates. We have topromise.¡± The other Alphas, who are serving as witnesses, also nod, I bet they are eager to get back to their own business now.


    ¡°Ariel will stay at Midnight Moon for five months to give her rtionship with Zane a fair chance. If they fail to bond, I will see to it that he epts the rejection and moves on with his life,¡± Zane¡¯s father throws in.


    ¡°Now I¡¯m sure you¡¯re tired of life, you fool!¡± Gorgio half-slides into his giant ck wolf and strikes at the old Alpha¡¯s head¡­

 Civilized Manner

    Still Luna Ariel¡¯s POINT OF VIEW


    I immediately burst into tears and cling to Xander in relief as he tries to decapitate Alpha Michael. I can feel his strength against me and now that he¡¯s angry, it¡¯s doubled.


    Feeling my hot tears on his chest, his anger melts and he stops in his tracks. His ws circle around me instead. My tears have always been his weakness and even now he cannot resist them.


    ¡°Baby girl, why are you sad? We are able to wipe Midnight Moon from the map and our problems are solved with one sigh. This group of mutts is no big deal,¡± he soothes me. But I shake my head, there is no need to drag innocent people into this.


    ¡°Alpha Gorgio, subdue your wolf. We are seriously handling this in a civilized manner now,¡± Sir Walter chides. Xander immediately retreats to the Lycan¡¯s authority and Gorgio¡¯s eyes turn heavenly blue again. But I won¡¯t let him go, right now I need his warmth the most to stay sane.N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    ¡°Alpha Michael¡¯s offer is usible. We must not lose sight of Zane¡¯s interests, he must not be a victim of all this without the opportunity to be with his mate,¡± Sir Walter decides.


    ¡°No,¡± Gorgio and I shout at the same time. ¡°I have the right to refuse. Mating is notpulsory and there should be no coercion,¡± I continue.


    ¡°You¡¯re absolutely right, Luna. But if Alpha Zane does not ept the rejection, you will continue to suffer from the bond. It will always be in the background and he can y it as long as he wants,¡± he points out to me. ¡°The best thing is to deal with it properly. Five months should be enough toe to a decision that you both support¡±.


    He turns to Gorgio, ¡°Right now the King is very displeased with your attitude. You are not very supportive and definitely selfish. Luna Ariel is Alpha Zane¡¯s mate as much as yours, but you are determined to establish an exclusive right over her. You don¡¯t want the King against you, Alpha Gorgio. I swear¡±.


    Denying that we are in difficult waters now is foolish. Disrespecting the King never ends well, Lycans always take offense to their authority badly. I know I have to save the day now.


    ¡°Okay. Not five, but three months. No sexual harassment, my own sleeping quarters and freedom to roam the pack. Those are the conditions.¡± I look at each of their faces. Alpha Zane is already suit stonewalling, while his father looks relieved. Sir Walter also seems satisfied with my counter-proposal.


    Gorgio rxes a little at my words. He understands my reasoning and I am so grateful that he does not object again. But above all, my terms reassure him.


    Our eyes lock, we keep our personal business to ourselves.


    ¡°I¡¯ll call you every night and keep you updated on our pup, baby. Trust me, I¡¯ll be fine, I¡¯m the daughter of the Alpha King and the mate of a strong Alpha.¡± A small smile crosses his lips. He gently bows my head so that I can look up at him fully.


    ¡°My Luna is not weak. She is strong as iron and I trust herpletely. Three months, my love. I am waiting for you, the den will change without you. Eclipse Howl and I love you, my love¡±. And then we kiss each other as if we had found thest fountain on earth.


    ¡°I love you too, baby,¡± I whisper. And then I feel a hand on my arm.


    From the sparks that shoot through my body at this connection, I know that Alpha Zane wants this goodbye to end. Gorgio seems to have felt the effect of his touch too, his eyes flickering darkly, but he manages to calm his wolf.


    After a final peck on the lips, I turn and leave with Alpha Zane and his family. The triumph on the Alpha¡¯s face is unmistakable. This time we all get into a limousine. I throw my head back and close my eyes. Thest thing I need right now is all sorts of exnations from this Alpha family.


    Fortunately, they sense my mood. And when we arrive back at the packhouse, I see another man standing there. I¡¯m sure I¡¯ve never met him before, but something about him makes me feel like he¡¯s family. His aura radiates authority, so this must be Alpha Zane¡¯s Beta.


    ¡°Luna Ariel. I am Beta Eric. Wee to the pack from my side as well. Due to ongoing business, I could not be here to wish you the best of luck in your mating with our Alpha.¡± Something in his voice makes me wary. It¡¯s not threatening, but he¡¯s the only pleasant personality I¡¯ve met in this pack so far.


    ¡°Thank you, Beta. The Alpha will inform you of the circumstances. I would like to get some rest after all themotion of thest few hours¡±.


    ¡°No problem,¡± Alpha Zane adds. ¡°Come on, I¡¯ll show you to your room.¡± He tries to take my hand again. Annoyed, I brush it away. He sighs and walks ahead of me to the lift. I slide into the far corner, my head down as a sign that I do not appreciate conversation.


    Through a pair of double doors, we enter a stunning living room.


    ¡°Do you like it? If not, I will have the builderse tomorrow to make the changes you want¡±.


    I just shake my head, and then he walks down a corridor to another door.


    ¡°This is your bedroom. Get some rest, it will be lunchtime in a few hours. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll be hungry by then.¡± Again I nod.


    The Alpha opens the door and I see a king-size bed covered in the finest silk sheets. I walk to another door and see that it leads to the bathroom. There is also a walk-in closet, but it is empty.


    After my rounds, I return to the bedroom where Alpha Zane is standing with his hands in his pockets.


    ¡°Eric will bring you some clothes in a moment. He¡¯ll leave them in the living room so you won¡¯t be disturbed. And if you need anything else, you cane into my bedroom. It¡¯s the door next to yours.


    And then it suddenly hits me.


    ¡°Hey, whose t is this anyway?¡± I ask with a strange feeling¡­

 Familiar Scent

    Once again Luna Ariel¡¯s POINT OF VIEW


    After I toured the room, I decided to improve my mood by taking a bath. The bathroom is very luxurious, it has arge bathtub with a Jacuzzi and there are some nice scents on a shelf.


    I walk into the living room and, as the Alpha had indicated, there is indeed a suitcase. When I opened it, I saw a number of jeans in different colors, loose blouses, scarves and two evening dresses. I notice that there are no shorts or open tops among them, and the dresses have proper long sleeves and a decent cut, nothing revealing. Not that I have a problem with that, but the choice is striking.


    I wonder if the Beta arranged this himself or if he did it at Alpha Zane¡¯s behest.


    With a sigh, I pick up the case and carry it to the bedroom, where I ce it on the sofa. There is no way I am going to unpack, I have no intention of staying here too long. Three months at the most, and not a day more, but sooner if possible. Being so far away from Gorgio is not good for my wolf. And I sense my mate¡¯s despair.


    I lie in the fragrant water and rx. With my head tilted back, I try to feel Gorgio through our bond. He is stressed, but I send him some of my calming energy. Soon the tension is gone from his body and I smile. This connection between us is amazing andes in handy now.


    When I have had enough, I get out of the bath and dry myself off.


    Now that I know Alpha Zane is nearby and probably has free ess to my bedroom, I have taken my clothes into the bathroom. This way I can get out fully dressed.


    I see that my room also has a private balcony. I happily go out onto it, it has a great view of a jungle with lots of fruit trees. Guess this is Alpha Zane¡¯s private forest.


    ¡°Whenever you feel like it, our wolves can go for a long walk there. They won¡¯t be disturbed¡±. With a start, I turned my head in the direction of the voice. And there he stands on his own balcony, smiling at me. My heart flutters at the sight of his handsome face.


    ¡°Alpha. You startled me.¡± I return the smile and wave at him.


    ¡°Sure, Alpha. Era will love that. She doesn¡¯t miss a chance to be out in nature¡±.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you join me for lunch? We can sit here on the balcony and get to know each other better. And if you¡¯re in the mood, we can release our wolvester¡±. I can¡¯t ignore the expectation in his voice. If I want to make my time in this pack bearable, I will have to be flexible with the man.


    ¡°Yes, I can do that. Give me ten minutes and I¡¯ll be at your door.¡± Relieved, he looks at me and holds up a thumb. I turn and go back into the bedroom. In my bag, I find the moist towelettes I always carry with me. I wipe my face and neck andb my hair. One look in the mirror and I know I look good enough to face the Alpha.


    As I leave the room, I bump into Beta, who is standing there.Original from N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Beta, thank you for the clothes. That was a good choice you made. I was afraid it would be too airy¡±. His face is friendly, but I sense something else in his aura. This man feels familiar to me, his scent is mixed.


    ¡°I have been advised. Women¡¯s clothing is new territory for me,¡± he answers more to himself.


    ¡°Beta, do you have a mate?¡± I asked out of the blue. I don¡¯t know why I want to know and what his answer should mean to me. But for some reason, I feel like he is close family.


    ¡°Not yet. My mate is still young, I am waiting for her first shift,¡± he answers proudly. I can hear the longing in his voice. He is clearly looking forward to his mating. What wolf isn¡¯t, after all?


    ¡°Isn¡¯t she eighteen yet? Then howe you already know she is your mate?¡± I can¡¯t help noticing. He chuckles in love.


    ¡°I guess her genes are potent. She was the one who told me we were mates. She is a strong woman, she even gave me an ultimatum to get her when she shifted. As if I would ever let her go.¡± Now I have tough too, his mate is definitely something else. Although I think she will continue to wait for him, she sounds confident. And if necessary, she will evene and get him here in Midnight Moon.


    ¡°Anyway, Luna, I am here to help you. You can call me for anything, I will be happy to be of service. I¡¯ll send you a text message so you have my number¡±. Then he turns and leaves. I look after him thoughtfully. Eric didn¡¯t ask me for my phone number, so how is he going to text me?


    Oh well, I guess Alpha Zane has it all figured out. Maybe my contact details were on the conference registration forms.


    Just as I am about to knock on the Alpha¡¯s door, I see two servants arrive, each holding a tray. They smiled at me happily and bowed slightly.


    ¡°Luna! The Alpha has asked for lunch to be served in his room.¡±


    I nod and open the door for all of us to enter. Alpha Zane stands there with his arms crossed, his face inscrutable. Uncertain, I look up at him and our eyes lock.


    ¡®So handsome. He¡¯s our mate, Ariel. We have a right to him too. Maybe we can have a taste of him before we go back to our real mate.¡¯ I am rmed by Era¡¯s reaction. She confuses me a lot. Sometimes she dislikes Alpha Zane and then she bes enamored with him.


    I push her away; I have no intention of deceiving Gorgio. He will never permit me to mate with another, even if that person is also my mate. I tear my eyes away from the depths in which the Alpha is trying to drown me.


    ¡°Put everything on the table on the balcony. Luna and I will eat there,¡± I hear him tell the servants.


    And then he takes a step towards me. Probably his wolf has noticed Era¡¯s worship and thinks he can use this weak moment to his advantage.


    But I am a warrior, I have learned to master my wolf. Era is definitely secondary to my strength. I step back and the servants go to the balcony to serve.


    And with that, the moment between the Alpha and me is over¡­

 Give Me A Chance

    Again Luna Ariel¡¯s POINT OF VIEW


    The Alpha pulls out a chair for me and I take a seat in front of the food on disy.


    It smells delicious, though not exactly what I¡¯m used to. When he lifts the lid, I see ck bean rice with okra, tomato, cucumber and some other foreign vegetables. Another tray contained roast chicken and pork, mushrooms and a garlic sauce. There were also two carafes of orange and lemon juice.


    ¡°That¡¯s a lot, Alpha. And it certainly smells good.¡±


    He takes a te and puts some of the rice and vegetables on it for me. ¡°Eat as much as you like. I am a healthy eater and the servants always bring me plenty. Later they wille with some tropical fruits¡±. Having served himself, he picks up his fork and knife.


    ¡°The cook moved here from a pack in South America when he found his mate. His mate is from our pack, but she did not want to move because the man¡¯s pack was not really developed. She didn¡¯t want to miss out on the luxury,¡± he exins. ¡± Hence our menu is often exotic food.¡±


    I nod and take some cucumber and tomato onto my te.


    ¡°Was that Eric you were just talking to? Have you known him for a long time?¡± This question sounds odd, but don¡¯t look for anything behind it. ¡°No, I met him here for the first time. Is there something I should know?¡±


    ¡°No, he¡¯s my Beta with a strange story about his mate. I thought he was talking about it again,¡± the Alpha replies.


    ¡°Yes, I asked him if he was mated and he told me that his mate was still underage. I hope he doesn¡¯t get in trouble for talking to me.¡± Something about the Alpha¡¯s behavior makes me wary. He did not seem happy about his beta and I had a word. Is he jealous?


    ¡°No, it¡¯s fine. Of course, you can talk to whoever you want. You are not trapped here, Ariel. This is your pack, you are their Luna. We¡¯re all d you¡¯re here.¡± My appetite drops considerably at this remark. This Alpha seems stubborn, I wonder when it will dawn on him that I don¡¯t want to be here at all. My ce is with Eclipse Howl.


    ¡°Have you ever thought of looking for a second chance mate? I think it should be obvious that I am not in favor of this triangr mating. My heart is not with you and this pack.¡± I try not to make my tone sound harsh, I do not want to irritate him at all. My n is to reason with him, to make him see the absurdity of this situation.


    ¡°Why should I? There is no reason to look for a second chance. Ariel, we have to make the best of it, the Moon Goddess has decided this. We must ept our fate.¡±


    ¡°Selene has also given us a free choice. We can reject the bond and start afresh. Why be saddled with an unwilling mate?¡± He grumbles, slightly agitated, his eyes beginning to change color. This does not bode well.


    ¡°Your judgment is clouded by Gorgio¡¯s egoism and possessiveness. He has you firmly under his grip, and you follow whatever he decides without checking for yourself whether you are doing the right thing,¡± the man in front of me points out grimly. ¡°Why don¡¯t you take the time here to rx and give our rtionship a chance to seed?  I¡¯m your mate, for God¡¯s sake. You should at least try. I have every right to that.¡±


    His outburst confuses me. I take a sharp breath and look down at my te.


    He may be right. Gorgio controls my senses and I never question his words. He is my mate and I trust him blindly. But isn¡¯t that what mates are supposed to do?


    I look up again and see the Alpha looking at me sternly. His eyes soften as we stare at each other. ¡°Ariel, everything will be fine. Let it all wash over you, it is for the best. I¡¯ll court you as it should be. Just let your instincts take over and I promise everything will be easier for you.¡±


    I smile hesitantly. ¡°Okay,¡± I reply briefly and start to eat. It is only now that I realize how hungry I am. We eat in silence and when my te is empty, I lean back.


    ¡°That was delicious. I didn¡¯t realize I was starving. Thank you, Alpha Zane.¡± I look at him gratefully as I stroke my stomach.


    A broad smile appears on his face. ¡°Anything for my Luna. Shall we skip the formalities? Could you just call me by my name, without the title? I would really appreciate it¡±.


    ¡°Yes, I can do that,¡± I say quietly. And then he reaches out his hand to me. It startled me, and I looked at it in confusion. Since my mating with Gorgio, I have never had contact with a male other than him and my father.


    When I looked up, he nodded encouragingly. Slowly I ce my hand in his and immediately the sparks of the mate bond surge through my body. I gasp at the intensity but before I can withdraw my hand, Zane¡¯s fingers close around mine.


    ¡°Do you still doubt that we are mates? The bond is real. Let¡¯s enjoy it and decide the futureter.¡± The dazzling smile he gives me makes my heart race. So I can only nod.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go for a run. We will be back before the sun sets. Tonight I want to take you to ake we have up here. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll like it.¡±


    Holding hands, we leave his room and take the lift to the main floor.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    A few Omegas pass us and can¡¯t help but stare at me before happily continuing on their way. We walked to the tree line infortable silence.


    Zane points out a row of trees where I can change and shift.


    I quickly disappear behind them and undress, ready for Era to take over¡­

 Hard Talk

    Luna Ariel¡¯s POINT OF VIEW  still


    The past weeks were great.


    Zane is such a great host, he knows how to distract me from the circumstances that brought me to Midnight Moon in the first ce. I was able to persuade him to postpone the Luna ceremony until Gorgio hade to terms with the situation. It seems unjust that he has no say in matters concerning me while we are still officially mates.


    I have decided to give my rtionship with Zane a fair chance. His im that Gorgio hasplete control over me to the extent that I dare not make decisions for myself still sticks with me. Zane is less possessive, though he cares about my well-being. He always asks my opinion before making a decision that affects me, takes several hours out of his day to be with me, and we often have long conversations about the Council and pack matters.


    I notice that he does not tread on the ground about our future together. He did tell me that he had suggested to Gorgio that we build a new packhouse on the border of the two packs, where the three of us would live together. Gorgio had rejected the idea out of hand and even made threats of war.


    To devote my full attention to Zane, I closed the wall with Gorgio. Wemunicate only through the bond, groping our feelings with signals. My first mate is distraught, longing for me and worried about not being able to talk to me while I had promised to call him every day. But I keep sending him positive vibes, which calms him somewhat. He knows that Zane and I are not intimate, or he would have felt it in the mate bond.


    As far as that goes, Zane and I have not progressed beyond holding hands. Yesterday, he dared to kiss me on the forehead. I allow it all, but I don¡¯t really feelfortable with it. Zane¡¯s touches feel wrong, and I can¡¯t shake the feeling that I¡¯mmitting adultery. He feels it too, every time I flinch his face pulls into a pained grimace.


    My phone rings and when I look at the screen I see Alexis¡¯ name. She turned eighteen a couple of weeks ago and has probably found her mate. She¡¯s been calling me for some time, but I didn¡¯t pick up the phone. Alexis must know by now that I am in Midnight Moon and probably wants to pester me with all sorts of questions. And tell me about her mate, probably some alpha of a pack.


    I avoid contact with my family, not ready to exin my feelings or my ns for the future. Sir Walter must have informed my father of what had been decided by now. Besides, I have no good reason to ask Zane to let me go to Blue Blood on my own for my sister¡¯s birthday. I am sure Gorgio will be there and I want to avoid the drama. Also, I don¡¯t want to be seen in public with Zane just yet.


    However, in thest few days, I have noticed that Zane is very restless. He is getting impatient, standing too close to me and yesterday afternoon he tried to get me to sit on hisp at the table.


    His parents were there too, and I saw his mother looking at me worriedly. The Luna and I aren¡¯t really close, we¡¯re polite to each other but we don¡¯t get on very well. There is definitely no animosity between us, we justck the urge to bond. And I fail to make friends in this pack either.


    ¡°Hey, I don¡¯t want any wrinkles on your pretty face. Just your happy smile fills me up¡±. Zane¡¯s voice jolts me out of my thoughts. I am sitting with wobbly legs on a stone bench in the Packhouse garden, enjoying the sea of colorful flowers. This is my most loved ce, where I find true peace. Again Zane sits too close to me and this time he even ps his hand over the back of my seat. I take a deep breath to inhale his deliciously masculine scent. It doesn¡¯t have the same effect as Gorgio¡¯s, but it does keep Era calm.


    Era and w are good friends, but I can feel that she misses Hunter very much. Her rtionship with them is not the same. With w, she has a lot of fun running around, but with Xander, she is more intimate, cuddling up to him because he can lick her face endlessly. I think her matesplement each other.


    ¡°I thought back to the weeks here in this pack. I have a good time here, you are so considerate. But I don¡¯t really fit in. It¡¯s like I¡¯m on holiday, in a bubble, and reality cane back at any time. ¡±


    I see his jaw clench, anger rising inside him. ¡°Just say it. You want to go back to Gorgio. You want to tell me you miss Eclipse Howl and the man.¡± His voice sounds harsh, making me stiffen. Never before has a man spoken to me like that.


    ¡°I¡¯m being honest with you, Zane. You know how hard I am trying to keep our agreement. I have no contact with Gorgio or my family, my mind wall is sealed. I¡¯m focusing on our rtionship, but it doesn¡¯t feel real.¡±


    ¡°We have only been together three weeks. We still have a lot of time. Time can bring us closer. But if you startle every time I¡¯m near you if you never take the initiative to even touch me, we won¡¯t make any progress, Ariel,¡± he exined harshly. ¡°The mate bond is active. It is the pull that we must give in to.¡±Original from N?velDrama.Org.


    And now he moves closer, his breathtaking scent no longer able to soothe me. I have to fight the urge to push him away. He gently takes my face and lifts it towards him.


    I know what ising, my stomach begins to churn. The little I¡¯d ate this morning is about toe out. When he finally presses his lips to mine, I remain still. No longer experiencing rejection, he boldly continues, licking over my lips before asking for ess to my mouth.


    This is too much. I push him off me with a hard shove.


    At first, he looked surprised, he probably didn¡¯t think I had that much strength.


    But then an intense anger appears on his face.


    ¡°I am your mate! And you even deny me a kiss. Do you know that I can pick you up and take you to my bed without anyone raising a hand to stop me? Because that¡¯s my right,¡± he shouts in fury. ¡°How long must I wait for you? I crave you, but you won¡¯t even kiss me. What¡¯s wrong with you that you can¡¯t be like any other mate, Ariel?¡±


    My eyes bulged after his outburst. This disrespect is uneptable. I have to fight the urge to punch him in the face. As the daughter of the Alpha King, I am far stronger than he is. He may be my mate, but I still outrank him. Only if we were to mate would he be my equal, and perhaps even stronger, because he would be my protector.


    But only Gorgio, the man who holds my heart in his hand, has that privilege.


    A sob slips from my lips as I get up and run into the packhouse, straight to my bedroom¡­

 We Are Unbalanced

    rita¡¯s POINT OF VIEW


    It had been weeks since I had heard from Zane.


    He had promised to contact me as soon as he got his affairs in order. All those words about never letting me go and making arrangements with me. Atst, I had faith again that my life was going to get back on track and that happiness was smiling back at me. But I was betrayed, just like Matt, he dumped me after a few nice lines. Am I so easily taken, or am I just hopelessly naive?


    I desperately need someone to talk to. Ariel, I haven¡¯t seen for a couple of days. Maybe someone here knows where I can find her. I head for the kitchen, where I know the Omegas often gather to gossip. Serena, a kitchen assistant, is there chopping ingredients. We have met a few times and she seems like a nice person.


    ¡°Serena, have you seen the Luna? I want to talk to her, but for some reason I have lost touch with her¡±. The girl looks up from her work. When she recognized me, she smiled.


    ¡°Miss. Luna does not live in Eclipse Howl for the time being. The Council has decided that she should stay with the Alpha of Midnight Moon for some time. Don¡¯t you know that she has two mates?¡±


    My eyes widened in shock. Of course, I knew about that, that was why she had fled. So it turns out the other Alpha had his way after all. Now I understand why she stopped looking for me.


    ¡°But she didn¡¯t say goodbye. How can she leave so suddenly? And where is Gorgio?¡±


    ¡°It wasn¡¯t nned. ording to the Beta, they went with the Council to Midnight Moon for talks. It was agreed there that Luna should also spend time with her other mate. She will be away for three months,¡± the girl replied a little sadly.


    ¡°The pack fears that she won¡¯te back. We don¡¯t want another Luna, and I¡¯m sure Alpha Gorgio doesn¡¯t want another mate either. The two of them are perfect together, we love them as our leaders. Besides, Luna is a great warrior, next to Alpha, she protects the pack so well. We haven¡¯t had any attacks for years,¡± she continues.


    I thank her and leave the kitchen, heading for Gorgio¡¯s office. As I was about to knock on the door, I heard a loud bang inside. Terrified, I pushed the door open and what I saw was horrifying. Gorgio was slumped over in his desk chair, looking drunk. There were shards of ss on the floor, he must have smashed the liquor bottle against the wall.


    ¡°Gorgio, pull yourself together. You must fight back and not give up! I¡¯m sure Ariel is expecting you to stay strong¡±. I run to him and push him straight into his chair. His eyes flicker open and he looks straight at me.


    ¡°Why doesn¡¯t she call me? She even cut off our mind link when she promised to talk to me every day. I miss her so much, thesest few weeks have been hell,¡± he mumbles.


    I run to his private bathroom, grab a towel which I wet. Back in his office, I go over to him and wipe his face and neck. He clearly feels better afterward and leans back on his desk for a moment.


    ¡°You are right, I must stay brave. I trust Ariel. She will never betray me, she knows she owns my heart. Nothing can keep us apart. She will definitelye back. I¡¯m just hurt that she¡¯s cut off allmunication with me.¡±


    And when he lifts his head, the confident look is back. ¡°Thank you, rita. I feel much better now. But I also realize now that I left you alone for weeks when you were new to the pack.¡±


    I bow my head in shame. ¡°I was in Human Town a lot. I was in love with someone, but he dumped me. It is the second time that has happened to me. Maybe I¡¯m not the type that men want to spend the rest of their lives with.¡±


    ¡°Hey, I don¡¯t believe that. I know that humans have a different way of starting a rtionship. They choose their own partners, get married and divorceter. But I still believe that everyone has their soul mate. Ites at the right time.¡± I shake my head at his words.Original from N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°For you werewolves. You and Ariel are great, your love radiates from you. But human men are so reckless. They promise women anything to get us between the sheets.¡±


    ¡°Is he human? Yes, that can be tricky,¡± he growled. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s see if we can find some snacks in the kitchen. After all that booze, I need something to put in my stomach¡±.


    We walked out of his study and when we arrived in the kitchen, Serene was still there.


    ¡°Alpha, miss, what can I make for you? We have some kebabs, small pork ribs and cassava chips. That willst until lunch¡±. Gorgio takes them all, the man must be starving.


    About fifteen minutester, they are on the ind in front of us. But then the smell hits me and I feel dizzinessing on. I grab the edge of the table to keep my bnce, but then I feel my stomach turning.


    Holding my stomach, I ran out of the kitchen and straight to thevatory in the living room. I managed to get rid of the remains of my breakfast just in time. Ites with heavy retching until I copse weakly in front of the pot.


    ¡°Miss, what¡¯s wrong? Are you not feeling well?¡± Serene brushes the hair out of my face. She holds out a ss of water, which I take and gulp down.


    I lean against the wall and try toe to my senses.


    ¡°I¡¯m generally healthy. Maybe my body is out of bnce because of my moods,¡± I mutter.


    ¡°Well, let¡¯s make sure. I¡¯ll take you to your room and the pack doctor will examine you. In the meantime, I¡¯ll make you some soup¡­

 Remember His Promises

    rita¡¯s POINT OF VIEW  still


    Serene sat next to me as the pack doctor took blood samples and examined me thoroughly.


    First, she gave me a ss of sugar water to stop me from vomiting. Waiting expectantly, we looked at the doctor, who looked at his equipment and then back at me.


    ¡°Hmmm.¡± He makes that sound for the umpteenth time and it drives my nerves crazy. I wish the man would finally say something about my condition and take me out of limbo. And just then he notices my impatience as he checks my blood pressure again.


    ¡°Miss, one thing is certain. You¡¯re pregnant. Almost a month¡±.


    My heart skips a beat, blood rushes to my head. ¡°Pregnant? Are you sure, Doctor?¡± I whisper. I can¡¯t believe this. All these years with Matt and I haven¡¯t been able to get pregnant. And here I am, spending a night with a man I¡¯ll probably never see again, and it happens.


    ¡°A baby? We¡¯re having a baby at the packhouse? Moon Goddess, that¡¯s great¡±. Serene exults, clearly thrilled by what she has heard. Her eyes sparkle and the smile on her face couldn¡¯t get any wider. I wish I could muster up the same enthusiasm. ¡°The Alpha will be pleased to hear that. You are the friend of the Luna and I am sure they will ept your child as their own¡±.


    ¡°That¡¯s not all, miss. I¡¯ve run the tests several times and it¡¯s always the same. The father is a werewolf. A high ranking at that, Gamma, Beta or even an Alpha¡±. I sit up straight in shock. Zane, a werewolf? He didn¡¯t say anything about it. Werewolves have fated mates and I am only human. That means he deliberately took advantage of me, our night together was just a pastime for him. He knew he could never stay with me. Maybe he already had his mate when we spent the night together.


    Tears stream down my cheeks, they are unstoppable.


    Serene remains silent, staring at me in astonishment. Then Gorgio enters my room. Seeing my tears, he takes me in his arms and pats my hair.


    ¡°Calm down, rita. It is not the end of the world. Ariel and I are here for you, you have nothing to worry about. You live with us in the pack now, and we¡¯re all family, we¡¯ll never let each other down. And Ariel will be so happy when she hears about this.¡±


    Sobbing, I hide my face in his neck. His animal scent prates me immediately. Why hadn¡¯t I noticed it before? Zane has almost the same scent. They are both wolves.


    ¡°I never thought I¡¯d be a single mother. I¡¯m having a child. This is unbelievable. And he¡¯s a werewolf¡±. Now I do not know whether to cry orugh. The idea of having a child of my own, someone who will never leave me, is bing more and more attractive.


    ¡°Everything will be fine. Don¡¯t worry, we¡¯re a pack, you¡¯ll be fine,¡± the big alpha reassures me. He puts me back on the pillows. ¡°Get some rest. Emotions are running high and you need to think about your child now, rita¡±. I smile watery and sink back into the soft bed.Original from N?velDrama.Org.


    Everyone leaves, they know I need some time alone to think.


    My thoughts go back tost night with Zane.


    ¡®But I must emphasize that I want you to be with me forever. You are my number one priority in life, I want to be not only your lover but also your best friend,¡¯ he had said and I had warned him that I would hold him to his words. That night, he had possessed me, as if he couldn¡¯t get enough of my body. We made love for several hours and I was exhausted when he finally pulled away. And we had not used protection, every time he came he made sure he was deep inside me. His hot seed made me almost insane with lust, I should have known this could happen.


    And then instantly I knew what I had to do, for sure. I will hold Zane responsible for our child.


    He cannot be free after all we have shared and the expectations he has raised in me. Our child also deserves his attention and love, even if he doesn¡¯t want me or has a mate. I have no intention of helping him escape his obligations.


    But there is little I know about him. He has an expensive yacht and two friends, Mase and Amalia. That¡¯s all I can recall.


    Tomorrow I will look for him. My search begins at the yacht club he frequently attends. Someone must know him, there are not many yachts like his.


    Then I realized I didn¡¯t even have a picture of him. Damn, I¡¯ve been tempted like a blind idiot. Well, I n to approach him in a businesslike manner and fix everything I ought to have done. Today I rest well to have enough strength to stay on my feet for the next few days.


    When I wake up a few hourster, I start looking for Gorgio again.


    Needless to say, I find him in his study, this time Beta Jace is with him.


    ¡°rita, I heard the good news. Congrattions, girl! This will light up the packhouse. We need pups here¡±. Hees over to me and gives me a big hug. All this warm wee for the news makes it easier for me to ept this pregnancy.


    ¡°Thank you, Beta. I have a request. I want to go and find the father of my baby tomorrow. Can I borrow a car?¡± Gorgio and Beta stare at me in bafflement.


    ¡°Hey, you don¡¯t have to worry about anything. We¡¯ll take care of you. I don¡¯t want you to trade your self-respect for a man who isn¡¯t worth it, rita,¡± Gorgio utters. ¡°If he¡¯s a werewolf, he must have a mate. Save yourself the grief.¡±


    But I am determined and the men read it in my face.


    ¡± Okay, then. Jace, get everything ready for her departure. Make sure she has enough food and water so she doesn¡¯t forget to eat.¡±¡­

 It Doesn’t Work

    Luna Ariel¡¯s POINT OF VIEW


    As I storm into the apartment, to my surprise, I bump into none other than Eric.


    Beta is definitely an extraordinary figure. I¡¯ve seen him stare at Zane and me before, and when I was alone somewhere, it seemed like he wanted to say something to me but held back. But since Ist saw him, he never came closer to me.


    ¡°Luna, did he give you a hard time? It is obvious that you are forcing the rtionship, you are not taken with him,¡± he says softly. I stare at him, not quite knowing what to make of his attitude. He is Zane¡¯s best friend, does he want to know what my ns are to inform Zane?


    ¡°Beta, if you are concerned about the welfare of your Alpha, you really need to speak to him yourself. If you don¡¯t mind, I want to be alone for a while¡±. I turn around and disappear into my sleeper. With a deep sigh, I sit down on the bed with my hand on my chest.


    Gorgio! How I miss my mate. His husky voice in the morning when he wakes up, his hands on my skin when he caresses me again and his passionate kiss when he wants to convince me that I am the only woman for him. I promised Zane to cut off contact with Gorgio so I could focus on our rtionship, but I am mentally exhausted. I need Gorgio to move on.


    Stomach acid slowly creeps down my throat to my mouth.


    I swallow a few times, but this time it has less effect. Quickly I go to the bathroom, fill a ss with water and drink it greedily. Now I had more sess, the acid sinking back into my stomach. But then suddenly the room seems to spin, my legs feel like wax.


    I allow my body to slide to the floor and lean against a wall. With eyes closed, I take a deep breath to make this ufortable feeling go away. But then it dawns on me, something Gorgio and I were already hoping for. My hand goes to my still t stomach and I smile. If what I suspect is right, the rtionship between Zane and I is definitely over, I don¡¯t want anyone around me but the father of my pup.


    I open my mind wall to my mate slowly.


    He was startled, hadn¡¯t expected me to speak to him yet. His breathing quickens and he waits for me to make the first move. My mate, the father of my pup.


    ¡®Gorgio, I miss you so much. I can¡¯t be without you any longer. But the Council ¡­¡¯


    ¡®Ariel!¡± He blurts out my name as if it is hisst straw, he hase back to life. ¡°Why was your wall closed? All those weeks without hearing your beautiful voice drove me crazy. Why were you punishing me?


    The pain in his voice is killing me, I would so love to sit on hisp again andfort him. His pain is mine, I too have suffered in the past few weeks.


    ¡®I had promised Zane to give our rtionship a good start for a while by cutting off contact with you and concentrating entirely on him. But I just can¡¯t manage and now he is furious,¡¯ I let him know.


    ¡®I can¡¯t stay here any longer, but we have an appointment with the Council. I can¡¯tst those three months, I can¡¯t be away from you any longer, Gorgio. Only I don¡¯t know how to leave. Zane knows his territory like no other¡¯.


    Now I can clearly feel his heart beating hard in his chest. He is scared, but I can feel his eagerness to have me back. He fears for Zane¡¯s actions if my flight fails.


    ¡®Listen, Zane has a Beta. Eric is his name if I¡¯m not mistaken. Trust him, he¡¯s going to help you¡¯. I am startled by this statement. Why does Gorgio have so much faith in Eric, his rival¡¯s Beta?


    ¡®You will understand whyter. Do that for me, love. Eric will protect you. I¡¯ll be waiting for you at the western border where our pack borders Midnight Moon. Please watch out for your safety. You are my Achilles heel and everyone knows it¡¯.


    ¡®Wait for me, Gorgio. Keep the mind link open. As soon as I¡¯m on my way, I¡¯ll be back to you here¡¯.


    I close the wall, get up slowly and wash my face. Back in the bedroom, I decided to rest some more so that I regain my strength. But sleep does note, I think of Gorgio¡¯s words. Is there something I don¡¯t know? Beta Eric¡¯s attitude is suspicious and now Gorgio appears to haveplete confidence in him. Something is going on here, but I never believed the Beta would betray his Alpha.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    Eventually, I fell asleep from sheer exhaustion.


    I wake up to a caressing hand over my shoulders. From the sparks that arise from the contact, I know Zane is sitting next to me on the bed. Slowly, I turn to him and sit up.


    ¡°Ariel, I¡¯m sorry for my outburst, I shouldn¡¯t have spoken to you like that, baby. My only excuse is that I want so much for our rtionship to progress, ept me as your mate and try to be happy with me. That¡¯s all I want from you¡±.


    I smile and nod. ¡°Okay, your apology is epted. But Zane, I can¡¯t force my feelings. The mate bond isn¡¯t strong enough on my part, it¡¯s as if it¡¯s being blocked. And Gorgio has nothing to do with it. It¡¯sing from your side. I just can¡¯t connect with you¡±.


    ¡°But are you trying hard enough? You refuse to behave like normal mates do. You never touch, hug or kiss me. Never do anything all by yourself, spontaneously,¡± he points out grimly. ¡°How do you think I feel when my mate is distant?¡±


    I inhale deeply and release my breath with a sigh. We are repeating ourselves and I have no intention of exining the same thing over and over again. When will it dawn on him that this is not working?


    ¡°I am sorry for the inconvenience I am causing you. But I can¡¯t force myself to do what I don¡¯t feel like doing. Cheating on you with a fake attitude is just as bad¡±. And before he can say something, I cast a nce at the door.


    ¡°Can I have some privacy, Zane? I want to change and then go for a swim in the pool at the sports center.


    The Alpha stiffens and his eyes spit fire as he looks at me.


    Clenching his fists, he gets up and walks out the door, cursing¡­

 Unexpected Help

    Luna Ariel¡¯s POINT OF VIEW  still


    Swimming rxed my muscles and mind considerably.


    I came here to the sports center because I wanted to be out of the pack house, away from Zane for a while. He makes me breathless, and now that I know I have Gorgio¡¯s pup, I don¡¯t want him anywhere near me. My destination is already clear, I belong to Gorgio and since this mate refuses to share me, I¡¯ll choose him. Him again and again, my first love and mate. Zane will just have to wait for a second chance or chosen mate.


    After a fewps, I step out of the warm water and sit on a lounge chair. On the table is my bag with a towel and a bottle of lotion. I dry myself thoroughly and, as I start to rub the lotion into my skin, I feel someone standing next to me.


    Beta Eric took a seat on the lounger opposite me.


    ¡°Around midnight, an SUV will be waiting for you in the back row of the car park. The road to the western border will be clear, I will divert the border patrol. Drive without lights on until you reach a junction after about five kilometers. Leave the car there and continue with your wolf. The trees are notched until you reach the border, where Gorgio will be waiting for you.¡±Original from N?velDrama.Org.


    I looked up at his words. ¡± Are you helping me to escape, Beta? Why take on this problem?¡± I asked him in surprise. I know that Zane will consider his part in my disappearance a betrayal and behead him for sure.


    He smiles wryly at me. ¡°You¡¯ll find out soon enough. As soon as I get my personal affairs in order. Right now I¡¯m running out of time while you¡¯re still in the pack,¡± he exins mysteriously.


    ¡°What are you talking about? While I am still here? What have I got to do with your private affairs?¡± He speaks in riddles, I cannotprehend his exnations.


    ¡°Patience, Luna. Once you are out of this pack, you will find out the meaning of my words. But for now, just follow my instructions. Gorgio is eagerly awaiting you¡±. With a knowing wink, he leaves as quickly as he came.


    Smiling, I look ahead. If everything goes ording to n, I will be able to hold my mate in my arms again in a few hours. It¡¯s been such a long time.


    I grab my things and head back to the packhouse. It was already dusk and the sky was an amazingly beautiful sight. I don¡¯t hurry, I enjoy the cool breeze and the beautiful view. There were almost no pack members to be seen, everyone was probably busy with their families after a hard day¡¯s work. As I enter the pack house, Zane is waiting for me.


    Without a word, he takes my hand and leads me to the back terrace. There I see a romantically arranged dinner table, the steak and champions smelling delicious. Zane pulls out a chair for me and as I settle down I see that there are more delicacies on the table. My stomach growls, after the swim, I am very much in the mood for a hearty meal.


    ¡°Ariel, I hate arguing with you. It won¡¯t do our rtionship any good if we¡¯ve already got off on the wrong foot.¡±


    He holds my hand on the table and looks at me pleadingly. The electric current that shoots through my body from our connection shakes my breath but is not strong enough to trigger the pull. There seems to be a barrier, something about this man that negates the mate pull.


    If Gorgio had looked at me like that, I would be sitting on hisp right now, reassuring him that in my eyes he could do no harm. I wouldn¡¯t be able to resist him, his trousers would already be hanging at his heels as I rode himvishly until we were both satisfied.


    But for some reason, the desire in the mate bond between Zane and me does not reach the point where I crave him hot. It would be ordinary sex, a duty I would perform for a mate, but anything but love.


    I squeeze his hand reassuringly. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. It will take some time for us to get our rtionship on the right track. It is true that we have not started in the usual way, but you must admit that our situation is also unusual. There are three of us in this rtionship, I have two mates, but you and Gorgio only have one. And that¡¯s the challenge¡±.


    He nods sympathetically. ¡°Yes, with multiple mates, everyone is usually bound by the mate bond,¡± he admits ¡°And on top of that, Gorgio is not willing to bow to the Moon Goddess¡¯ decision. I would also like a mate for myself, but if Selene has decided otherwise, then we must find a solution to this unpleasant situation. But Gorgio is not ready to think about that.¡±


    I pick up a ss and pour myself some juice. Meanwhile, I do my best not to let my aura give me away. Zane is watching me closely, trying to read my thoughts.


    ¡°Tell me honestly, Zane. Why don¡¯t you seriously consider the option of a second chance or chosen mate? Gorgio will never budge, do we have to live with such a tense atmosphere? Or do you enjoy tormenting Gorgio, revenge for your past?¡±


    For a moment I see his eyeballs darken, his wolf is angry.


    ¡°You could present Gorgio with the same options and stay with me. I have a right to you too, Ariel. He is the one who objects¡±. The Alpha starts to lose patience.


    I shake my head disapprovingly, this is turning into a game of chicken and eggs. But in the meantime, the Moon Goddess has made my decision easier. If Zane and Gorgio don¡¯t share a bond, I¡¯ll have to choose. Not that this is difficult, Gorgio was always the only one for me.


    I raise my eyes to the man across from me at the table. He has regained control of his wolf.


    ¡°¡®Then let¡¯s allow time bring the solution. The fact is that something has to be done to get out of this impasse. I can¡¯t travel between two packs and I don¡¯t want to live my life in an environment full of stress,¡± I point out.


    Casually, I start to ce some of each dish on my te, a sign that this issue is closed for me. Zane sits motionless for a few seconds, his eyes fixed on me.


    Then hees to his senses and helps me fill my te.


    Hungry as I am, I devour the food. Zane chuckles at my appetite and encourages me to eat more. When I am finally done, I lean back contentedly and rub my stomach.


    ¡°Thank you, Zane. I was starving after swimming. And you made dinner so special.¡±


    ¡°Anything for my Luna¡±. He holds up his ss of wine. I take my ss of juice and we cheer for a great future¡­

 I’m trapped!

    Luna Ariel¡¯s POINT OF VIEW  again


    In a rxed atmosphere the Alpha and I return to our quarters.


    We had a nice chat at the table about all sorts of topics, drastic events in other packs, Alphas who are now mated and also his ambitions for a seat on the Council. We deliberately avoided the subject of Gorgio in order to maintain a friendly mood.


    Our time together has proved that we can be friends. Nothing more. And when he kisses me at my bedroom door, I can¡¯t resistparing it to Gorgio. The sparks are there, but again not enough to ignite the pull.


    ¡°See you tomorrow, my Luna,¡± Zane whispers in my ear and I nod distantly. There is no point in encouraging him, this rtionship is meaningless. When I want to move away from him, he seems to remember something.


    ¡°The time hase to make our rtionship public. Tomorrow I have a meeting with Alpha Remus in Silver Bow. Several Alphas and Lunas will be there as well. I will take you with me and introduce you as my mate,¡± he deres firmly. There is no point in getting into another argument with him, so I nod indifferently.


    With a wave, I go into my bedroom and close the door.


    In the bathroom, I take a shower, sure that he is following my actions with his were-hearings. And I want to act as normal as possible so as not to arouse his suspicions. Making a lot of noise, I go back into the bedroom and put on some dark clothes. Then I throw myself onto the bed, making it creak a little.


    And now it¡¯s time to wait for the right hour. I check my phone and see that I have at least another hour before my private operation. Surely Zane will be asleep by then. I have no intention of taking anything with me, besides, everything I have here isrgely bought with Zane¡¯s money. I don¡¯t want any of it with me when I get back to Eclipse Howl.


    With my hands behind my head, I begin to fantasize about my pup¡¯s arrival. I know my father hopes we will get enough so that one of them can take over his pack. The oldest boy will naturally seed Gorgio, and if there are more, one of them might decide to fulfill his grandfather¡¯s wish.


    Although Gorgio already suspected that I was pregnant, the confirmation would definitely put him in a mood of euphoria. We deliberately put off starting a family in order to spend more time together. But in thest few months, our desire to see our love reflected in a little pup has sparked.


    And when Gorgio mentioned the pregnancy, his eyes lit up with joy. If our son has the same blonde-brown curls, determination and intelligence as his father, I will be more than pleased. A feeling of pridees over me, making my mate happy gives me so much satisfaction.


    Looking at my phone again, I realize it is time. Carefully, I get up and walk to the window.


    From there, I can overlook the car park and indeed I see an SUV parked there, as the Beta had promised. I go back to the bathroom to drink some water, thest thing I need right now is to get sick.


    ¡®Gorgio, love. I am leaving the packhouse now. If all goes well, I should be at the border in about fifteen minutes. The Beta kept its word, the car is ready¡¯.


    ¡®Please be careful, baby. Jace, Alvin and I are already here waiting for you. We arrived an hour ago. Come soon, my love¡¯. He sounds worried but happy. Silently, I open the window, jump out and walk along a protruding roof to the drainpipe. This is nothing new for me: When I was a little girl, Alexis and I used to drive my mother to madness by climbing trees and drainpipes. So this is a small thing to do.


    After descending a few floors, Inded safely on the ground. I sat down for a moment to scan the area but soon realized that it was silent. Cautiously, I make my way to the vehicle, my dark clothes almost merging me with the night. The door is open and I find the key in the storagepartment.


    The engine starts almost without a sound and I drive at a slow pace onto the main road of the pack. It ispletely deserted, not a chicken on the road. I turn onto the dirt road to the west, just as the Beta had described. It is pitch dark and now that I am driving without lights I have to be extra careful. The road is new to me and I don¡¯t want to end up crashing into a tree.


    I finally reach the junction and breathe a sigh of relief.


    I park the car and look around with my were-sight. It is dead quiet around me, not even the wind is blowing. Excitement bubbles up inside me, only a short distance to cover and I will be out of this pack that feels like a prison every day.


    Zane will have to ept his fate and find another mate anyway. Stubbornly insisting on a love triangle when there is no pull will lead to the destruction of all our lives. And I have to think of my pup¡¯s welfare now. He and I are better off with Gorgio, his father.


    ¡®Babe, I¡¯m already at the crossroads. Just a little further and I¡¯ll be with you,¡¯ I tell Gorgio in the mind link.


    ¡®I¡¯m waiting, my love. Still here.¡¯


    I get out and close the doors.


    And just as my hands go to the hem of my blouse to pull it over my head, the surroundings light up. Four pairs of headlights shine down on me.


    My eyes widen in horror, and I remain rooted to my spot. And then I knew my n had backfired.


    ¡°Where do you think you¡¯re going, Ariel? Were you nning on leaving without telling me?¡± it sounds menacing.


    Zane!


    How did he find out about my escape? Has the Beta ratted me out?


    Before I know it, I feel something closing around my neck.


    A choke! I know these, my father has them in his dungeon.


    It restricts the werewolves¡¯ abilities. Mind linking and shifting are now impossible.


    I¡¯m trapped!..Original from N?velDrama.Org.

 Find The Traitor

    Luna Ariel¡¯s POINT OF VIEW  still


    Zane effortlessly picks me up and puts me in the back of a vehicle.


    At the wheel is Kensley, his Head Warrior. I look around but can¡¯t see the Beta anywhere. After a while, the car stops with a jerk and I fall into Zane¡¯s chest.


    ¡°Ariel, I don¡¯t know why you keep running away from me. I¡¯m your mate, for God¡¯s sake. Why can¡¯t we make our rtionship work?¡± He scowls at me.


    ¡°I have no intention of letting you go until you give us a fair chance. It¡¯s unfair of you to let me down. We are in this together and we have to make something of it,¡± he growls. I shake my head, but before I can say anything, I feel a sting in my arm.


    Startled, I look up at Zane. ¡°My pup!¡± echoes through my head.


    But when I try to shout it out, my tongue feels thick. I can¡¯t get a word out. And then my eyelids flutter down, a darkness enveloping me.


    When I slowly opened my eyes again, I realized I was lying on a bed.


    My body feels heavy, so I stay still and let my eyes wander around. As far as I could make out my surroundings, I am in a bedroom, but it is not mine. There was just a bed and in the corner, I could see a door, which I thought must be the toilet.


    Gradually the memoriese back.


    When I was close to the border, Zane suddenly appeared and took me with him.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    I wonder how long I had been unconscious. Gorgio must be waiting for me, what will he think if he doesn¡¯t see me? Will he know that Zane took me against my will?


    And that Beta he trusted so much. If Eric is really on our side, he must have told Gorgio what happened by now. Oh dear God, I don¡¯t want to imagine what my mate will do next, I just pray that my father will mediate and calm things down again. This impasse in our triangr mating must be broken. The mating with Zane means nothing, it is one-sided, whereas Gorgio and I love each other.


    And then I think of my pup. Zane injected me with an unknown substance.


    My hand goes to my stomach, a tear leaves my eye. I will never forgive Zane if anything happens to my pup, he had no right to stop me, I am still a free soul with my own decisions to make. I refuse to be a prisoner here.


    ¡°Luna.¡±


    I stiffened, thinking I was alone in the room all this time. Stiffly, I stay in ce, not wanting to turn in the direction of the voice. Then I hear a murmur and a momentter someone is standing in front of me. I recognize the scent as Zane¡¯s Head Warrior. When I don¡¯t look up, he pulls a chair over to my bed and sits down at my eye level.


    ¡°Zane had to go back to the pack for business. I¡¯m staying here to keep you safe,¡± he indicates. ¡°Tell me, who helped you get to the West side? The car was in the garage, someone must have prepared it for you. Was it Eric?¡±


    I refuse to answer.


    ¡°Am I a prisoner, Head Warrior? What crime have Imitted?¡± I bite at him with renewed fury. ¡°Let me remind you and your Alpha that I am still the daughter of the Alpha King. You have no right to arrest me or keep me here against my will. Only the warriors of the Alpha King are allowed to do that. You are unauthorized¡±.


    The man looks at me unperturbed as if my words mean nothing.


    ¡°Alpha Zane is your mate and that gives him more power than your father and his title. You belong to the Alpha and now you are dealing with a misunderstanding. As soon as he gets back, you will talk it out and everything will be fine.¡±


    I try to sit up but slip back into the cushions. When I want to reach for Era, I realize that she is weak. Then I remember the choke around my neck. My hand moves to it, it is still there. When I yank it, it barely gives way.


    ¡°It won¡¯te off. Only a witch can break the spell. Leave it on.¡±


    I look at the man with eyes wide open, I can¡¯t believe this is happening to me. No mind link, no wolf. This makes me aplete human. My eyes shoot red, my anger is boundless.


    ¡°Take that off, damn it! How dare you? If my father finds out, you¡¯ll be as good as dead. Not to mention my mate. Do you all want to die?¡± I growl.


    He still stares at me.


    ¡°Zane will decide when to take it off. And now, Luna. Answer my question. Was it Eric, the Beta, who helped you escape? He was thest one you had contact with before you left the packhouse.


    ¡°I owe no ountability to you or your Alpha. How many times do I have to tell you that I don¡¯t want to be in Midnight Moon? This damned mate bond with Zane doesn¡¯t work for me, I don¡¯t feel connected and I don¡¯t want to waste my time. I have a mate waiting for me,¡± I blurted out. ¡°Besides, where am I? Why am I here?¡±


    ¡°This is an underground bunker. It was built to shelter wounded warriors during the war,¡± he exins. The Head Warrior stands up and positions the chair against the wall.


    ¡°There is a girl here who will serve you until Zane returns. Get some rest, we wille backter to question you. We need to know who the traitor in our pack is.¡±


    I turn my face away from him and close my eyes.


    I hear him leave, locking the door behind him.


    Shit, Zane is serious about this whole detention thing. When he gets back, I have to tell him this is outrageous. I am an Alpha princess and should not be treated like this.


    If only I had my wolf, I would teach them a lesson. They really needed the choker to hold me back, otherwise, they¡¯d be dead meat by now.


    Exhausted by everything, I fall back into a deep sleep¡­

 To The West

    Still Luna Ariel¡¯s POINT OF VIEW


    ¡°Luna, Luna, please wake up!¡±


    An urgent voice jolts me out of my sleep. When I finally opened my eyes, I saw a young girl standing in front of me. Her face looks worried, but that changes to joy when she sees me awake.


    ¡°Come quickly, there is a car outside. I will take you to the border,¡± she insists.


    I stare at her in astonishment, why would she want to take me there?


    ¡°Who are you? And why are you taking me to the border?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m Fiona, the Head Warrior sent me to look after you. But he had to leave urgently and went in his wolf. He left his car here, the keys are still in it,¡± she replies urgently. ¡°Come on, let me freshen you up. Then we can go¡±.


    She helps me up slowly so that I do not feel dizzy. I feel like I have been asleep for months. My knees feel like jelly and my back is stiff.


    ¡°How long have I been lying here? I feel like I haven¡¯t moved for ages¡±. The girl nods sympathetically. She helps me to my feet but holds me tight until I regain my bnce.


    ¡°About three days. You woke up asionally to let me feed you, but then you went back to sleep. Are you pregnant, Luna?¡± It sounds more like an observation than a question.


    I nod and take a step. Luckily my strength increased and more followed. Fiona runs to the bathroom andes back with a wet cloth. She wipes my face clean, then pulls my hair back and fixes it with a ribbon.


    ¡°I don¡¯t have any other clothes for you, so you¡¯ll have toe with me like this. With any luck, we will reach the border before the head warrior returns. There are urgent matters there, and I don¡¯t expect him back until tomorrow. She supported me as we walked, and soon we reached a set of stairs leading to the upper ground.


    I blinked at the bright light but soon got used to it. A few meters away, I actually see an SUV, I recognize it as the one Zane often travels in.


    The girl helps me into the passenger seat and buckles me in.


    Then she gets behind the wheel. The engine roars to life as she presses the starter. We follow a sheltered road through the jungle. The road is very bumpy, so we can¡¯t go very fast.


    ¡°We¡¯re going to the west side, there is the border with Eclipse Howl. If we cross the border, the border patrol will notice immediately ande to us. Then we will be saved.¡±


    Fiona sounds so excited, it seems she is really looking forward to getting out of Midnight Moon.


    ¡°Fiona, why are you helping me? And you seem to be looking forward to leaving the pack, while Kensley trusted you with the Luna. So you are not a low ranking.¡±


    The girl shakes her head.


    ¡°No, I am not low-ranking. I am the illegitimate child of the king¡¯s cousin. Alpha Zane sheltered me when I left the kingdom because I couldn¡¯t stand the way my father lived there with his mate,¡± she reveals. ¡°My mother was human and his mistress. She became pregnant and he took us to the kingdom until he met his mate and banished my mother from his life. She died of grief a yearter, and I was raised by his sister. When I was old enough, I left. So I am half Lycan.¡±


    Curious, I stare at her, seeing a deep sadness on her face. If I were not in this predicament, I would take her in my arms andfort her.


    ¡°I want to find my mate. I have a wolf, so my Lycan genes have overtaken my human side. To be honest, I thought Alpha Zane or his Beta would be my mate, but that turned out not to be the case,¡± she exined. ¡°I wanted to travel to Eclipse Howl to look for him, but I couldn¡¯t get permission because of the tension between the packs. So when I heard that Luna was from that pack, I tried to contact you. I asked Kensley to meet you, and he brought me here.¡±N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    ¡°In my pack? The Alpha is my mate, but the Beta, Jace, is still mateless. So is Head Warrior Alvin. Maybe one of them might be your mate, they are both greatds.¡± She smiles dreamily as she maneuvers the vehicle through the forest.


    And then we see the lights of the big city ahead, and we burst into cheers.


    Once on the tarmac, Fiona finally elerates. We fly down the road, impatient to reach our destination of freedom.


    ¡°I thought you were taking me to the West Side, girl,¡± I reminded her.


    And then it happened in slow motion. A superfast Ferrari tries to cut us off at the pass. It suddenly passed us on the right and when it tried to merge in front of us again, the driver seemed to lose control of the car. Fiona tried to avoid a fatal collision by jerking the steering wheel, but the car before us turned on its axis a few times and mmed into the crash barrier, knocking us into the valley.


    I don¡¯t know who screamed louder, Fiona or me, as we hit the ground and saw the world upside down. All I could see was Fiona¡¯s horrified face.


    I struggle to stay conscious, despite the excruciating pain in my legs and shoulders.


    ¡°Fiona, Fiona, are you all right? Stay awake, don¡¯t give in to the darkness,¡± I beg her. She blinks slowly and I breathe a sigh of relief.


    ¡°I can hear the ambnce sirens now. Stay with me, don¡¯t fall asleep. We¡¯ll be saved in no time¡±. Another movement. And then I felt hands pulling me out of the car.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we¡¯ve got you. You¡¯ll be fine,¡± I hear an unfamiliar voice whisper. He is human and smells only of antiseptic. He must be one of the paramedics, so I feel relieved. Then I am ced on a stretcher, a breathing mask is put over my nose and I feel a needle in my arm.


    Now I can close my eyes and sink into a long rest¡­

 Alpha Lied

    Alpha Gorgio¡¯s POINT OF VIEW


    ¡®Ariel! Ariel, my love. Where are you?¡¯


    I keep banging on my friend¡¯s mental wall, but it¡¯s locked tight. I can even feel her pushing against it, but I can¡¯t find a way through. Something or someone has hacked into her wall or is controlling it. It could be none other than that damned Alpha Zane.


    ¡°Jace, try to reach Ariel as well. When I try, I hit a barrier and I¡¯m sure she didn¡¯t put it up herself. It¡¯s as if she¡¯s somewhere where a mind link is impossible,¡± I ordered my Beta standing next to me. I am in no mood for pleasantries now that things are not going ording to n.


    ¡°Negative, Gorgio. Something is happening at their side. We have been waiting here for half an hour and she was supposed to be here in five minutes. I suspect she has been blocked from the pass, Zane¡¯s warriors must have spotted her.


    I can feel my blood pressure rising, this is the final straw. If that Alpha got his paws on my mate, it doesn¡¯t look good for him.


    ¡°Have Alvin check the whole border from here. Maybe something happened to her in the woods, which I highly doubt. But just in case,¡± Imand. I take my phone out of my pocket and look up Alpha Zane¡¯s number. He answers after two rings, his voice sounding triumphant. The bastard has pulled a trick.


    ¡°Gorgio, what a coincidence that you call. I was just talking to my Head Warrior about you. We need to discuss our mating with Ariel again sometime soon. She thinks we should find a structural solution since she has no intention of traveling between two packs.¡±


    ¡°I have nothing to discuss with you. And Ariel will not travel between any packs. Her home is Eclipse Howl and this is where she will live permanently,¡± I snarl.


    ¡°I don¡¯t have time for your games, Alpha. Where is my mate? I was supposed to be taking her home half an hour ago. She¡¯s had enough of you and your whole bloody pack, actually,¡± I burst out. For a moment I hear an irritated snort on the other end, but by the time he speaks into the phone again, the man has regained his self-control.N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    ¡°That¡¯s not what she just told me when she cuddled up in my arms. She wants to stay here and contact youter. Haven¡¯t you noticed that her mind link is down? I interrupted our steamy activity to take your call,¡± he chuckles contentedly.


    ¡°Is that so, Alpha? Then why didn¡¯t I feel it? If my mate was unfaithful to me, I would have noticed. Ariel will never be yours, I made sure of that. I drive her mad with happiness outside our bed, and in my arms, she is highly satiated. She doesn¡¯t need you for anything,¡± I bite at him. I take a deep breath, I need to stop this shit from messing with my head. I need to have this conversation calmly and find out where Ariel is.


    ¡°Alpha, patience is not my forte. Where is my mate? Where is Ariel?¡± I demand to know.


    ¡°In my bed, in our bedroom. And she is not avable for you to talk to at the moment. When she recovers, I¡¯m sure she¡¯ll call you. But don¡¯t expect it to be very soon¡±.


    And with that, he disconnects.


    ¡®Alvin, prepare for war. Put all our special forces on alert, put our remote informants on alert,¡¯ I say to my Head Warrior in the mind-link.


    ¡®Roger, Alpha. I¡¯ve been doing this for several days now. We are ready for all scenarios. I saw thising, Ariel went to that pack with obvious reluctance,¡¯ he responds.


    ¡®All right, keep some warriors on the border and meet me at the packhouse to discuss our strategy. We¡¯re going after Ariel, not ughtering members of the Midnight Moon pack. We need our snipers now.¡¯


    I return to the packhouse with Jace after briefing the warriors I brought with me. Meanwhile, I keep trying to contact Ariel. I know Alpha Zane is trying to pester me. His behavior suggests that he feels rejected because he has never been able to tame Ariel.


    The Beta had already told me that Ariel had rejected him, but he refused to ept it. My Luna will never betray my trust in her, I don¡¯t know what the Moon Goddess was thinking when she pulled this stunt. This really is a bad judgment on her part, the worst mating she has ever done.


    When we are back in my study, I go straight to my drinks cab and pour myself half a ss of whiskey. Damn it! Just when I thought I¡¯d finally have Luna back in my arms tonight, I had to deal with a bloody Alpha who couldn¡¯t even find a mate for himself.


    But I¡¯m so ready for him, Midnight Moon is no match for my warriors. We have watched them closely over the past few years, we know their arsenal and their weaknesses.


    This will not be a war for territory but for the Luna. So I want to keep the casualties to a minimum and focus all actions on getting Ariel back.


    And then my outside line, known only to a small group who use it in the most urgent cases, rings. I pick it up and to my relief, it is Midnight Moon¡¯s Beta. As Alexis¡¯ mate, Ariel is his sister-inw and he has an obligation to protect her. But he also owes loyalty to his best friend, Alpha. Eric focuses only on information about Ariel and not about his pack and Alpha, which works perfectly for me.


    ¡°Alpha, Ariel was intercepted. But she is not in the packhouse. I¡¯m trying to find out where they¡¯ve taken her, but I think the Head Warrior doesn¡¯t trust me. He is keeping a close eye on me.¡±


    I heave a sigh of relief, this confirms that that filthy Alpha was lying, Ariel is definitely not in his bed.


    ¡°Where could they have taken her? Her mind link is dead, but I can feel her beating herself up about it. That means it happened outside of her will¡±.


    ¡°Yes, that must be it. What will you do now? If I hear anything about your Luna, I will let you know. I can¡¯t go to Alexis until this is cleared up. And time is running out, there are two weeks left of the ultimatum she gave me,¡± he sighs, slightly panicked.


    ¡°I¡¯m still meeting with my ranking here to decide what other steps to take. Keep your eyes open, Eric. I will hear from you.¡±


    After greeting him, I ended the call. Jace and Alvin listened in¡­

 Three Centuries

    Again Alpha Gorgio¡¯s POINT OF VIEWText ? owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°If she¡¯s not in the packhouse, where have they taken her? Goddess, I hope she is safe. Our pup must be a month old by now, I¡¯ll go mad if anything happens to one of them. The Alpha can write his own obituary.¡±


    I take another big sip from my ss, the thought of Ariel being in danger making me shake with unprecedented fear and anger. It was definitely a bad time to get her pregnant, but it was my wolf¡¯s doing. He had been silent the whole time, hating that I had stood by and watched Ariel leave with the Alpha. ording to him, I should have ripped the man to shreds for his insolence, just to be in herpany.


    What Xander refuses to ept is that I was faced with a difficult decision. Ariel had already made it clear that she would fight alongside me if I started a war with Midnight Moon. Back in her father¡¯s pack, she is a Warrior Squad fighter, a specially trained elite. She was in the process of training such a unit here when this whole thing started.


    Damn. I didn¡¯t want to risk my mate and my pup, so I allowed her to stay with Alpha Zane for three months. But I also knew it woulde to nothing. Ariel and I are inplete sync, nothing cane between us. We breathe at the same rate and our hearts beat in the same rhythm. This Alpha was ying a losing game from the start.


    With a deep sigh, I lean back in my desk chair.


    ¡°We cannot enter Zane¡¯s territory unnoticed. I¡¯m sure he¡¯s increased security there. That bastard,¡± Alvin curses. ¡°If we could find a way to cover our scent and get as close to the packhouse as possible. Then we could install listening devices and cameras.¡±


    For a moment I consider this solution, three men would have done the job quickly. But my pack has no witches.


    ¡°Blue Blood does. And if I¡¯m not mistaken, Alexis has one as a bestie¡±. I turn directly to Jace, of course, he knows. Everything about Alexis interests him, so he also knows who her confidants are.


    ¡°A reason to call her and talk to her, Jace? Don¡¯t do that to yourself. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll find an excellent mate who¡¯s perfect for you. At Eclipse Howl we do everything in style, you will find a mate worthy of you,¡± Iforted him.


    He looks up at the ceiling. The man is clearly struggling with the fact that Alexis cannot be his. But I mean what I say, I¡¯m sure Selene has the perfect mate for him somewhere. If my instincts are right, he¡¯ll meet her soon enough.


    And then that special phone rings again. I look at the caller ID and see the number of my father-inw, the Alpha King. I wonder if he has heard the news of Ariel¡¯s kidnapping.


    ¡°Gorgio, I knew you and my daughter would not serve this term. It was only a matter of time before you defied the Council¡¯s decision,¡± he sighs. ¡°I have heard from Alpha Zane that you incited his mate to flee from his domain. Fortunately, he was able to convince her of his good intentions and they have rekindled their rtionship.¡±


    ¡°Father! Do you believe this liar?¡± I exim. ¡°Ariel reached out to me herself through the mind link. She wanted toe back, their rtionship was not progressing. She rejected the Alpha, but he insisted.


    ¡°Gorgio, then she should have contacted the Council instead of acting on her own. Her presence there was coordinated by us. Now Alpha Zane has filed anotherint against you. If you can prove that Ariel decided to leave on her own, you still have a chance.¡±


    I p my forehead, I will never throw my mate to the pigs and the Alpha King knows it.


    ¡°I know you, Gorgio. You are preparing a war. I strongly advise you not to, it will do you no good, my son.¡± Frustrated, I get up from my chair and start pacing.


    ¡°But I can¡¯t sit and wait. I tried to reach Ariel in the mind link, but she is somehow blocked. I can feel her trying to reach me as well, but to no avail¡±, I argue. I am close to despair, my mate and cub may be in danger. If Ariel is not in the Midnight Moon packhouse, where are they keeping her?


    ¡°Father! Ariel was almost at the border when Alpha Zane kidnapped her. And now I don¡¯t know where she is, she¡¯s not in his den. She could be in danger. You can expect me to do nothing, can you? She¡¯s my mate, for God¡¯s sake!¡±


    ¡°Calm down, Gorgio. I understand your distress. But there are rules and you cannot break them. This case is already under the Council¡¯s hammer, you cannot act selfishly,¡± my father-inw points out. ¡°Take my advice, give it three days. That is a reasonable time for the Council to act. I will call you afterward to see how things stand.¡±


    There is nothing to bring up here. Turning Ariel¡¯s father against me is thest thing I can afford right now. But I know that despite the iron mask he wears, the man also cares about his daughter. He has also noticed how reluctantly his child has agreed to the Council¡¯s arrangement. I suspect that King Jasper¡¯s breath on his neck leaves him little room to deal with this case emotionally.


    ¡°Three days. Father, I need to know where Ariel is, I have a right to know. Alpha Zane must reveal her whereabouts. He owes it to everyone involved.¡±


    ¡°You are right, son. All three parties have a right to know. We will try to get Ariel on the phone and force her to open her mind link so that everyone can contact her. I will call you in three days.¡± He cut the line and I let out a painful growl.


    Three days, that¡¯s three centuries.


    I don¡¯t know if I can stay in limbo that long..

 She Left Midnight Moon

    Still Alpha Gorgio¡¯s POINT OF VIEW


    The worst days of my life.


    That¡¯s what thest two days have been like.


    My concentration on the huge amount of paperwork on my desk is gone, sleeping is almost impossible and my mood is at an all-time low. I am back in training with the special warrior squad and working them hard. The warriors are pushed to the limit and by the end of the day they are so exhausted that I almost feel sorry for them.


    In Ariel¡¯s absence, and Jace¡¯sck of a mate, my Beta makes sure that the women, the elderly and the unmated pups are kept safe. We must take precautions in case the war is directed to our territory. Alpha Zane is unpredictable, he may not bring the same ethics to the fight and still try to wipe us out.


    Night hase again, and the next day is the third and final day of waiting for the Council¡¯s verdict.


    Sleep won¡¯te, the restlessness in my chest continues to gnaw at me. Since Ariel¡¯s abduction, I have felt a heavy weight in my chest, as if a part of me is slowly beingmed. Ariel is alive, she is not sick or injured, otherwise, I would have felt it immediately. But this feeling is new and I cannot put a name to it.


    I get my best alcohol from my mini-bar and pour myself a ss. I step out onto my private balcony and look out over the jungle. Ariel loved releasing our wolves there, Xander loves Era to the moon and back. The two are always in for a make-out session. Xander¡¯s jet ck fur and his mate¡¯s silver white make them a perfect pair, just like Ariel and me.


    I smile at the memories as I sip from my ss.


    Ariel is perfect and I thank the Moon Goddess for this blessing. The day I met her, that sweet smell made me freeze in one ce. I couldn¡¯t believe I had finally met my mate, I had already given up on her and thrown myself into my work.


    And when I turned to see her standing at a distance, looking at me with big eyes, I was sold. I was in Blue Blood, discussing war protocols and peace treaties with the Alpha King, surrounded by other Alphas. They had all looked at me with curiosity when I suddenly fell silent in the middle of my sentence, gasping for breath at the surprise of sensing my mate.


    And when they realized what was happening, all the unmated Alphas looked at me with envy. Many had wanted her for themselves, had made her all sorts of offers. But she had refused them all, exining that she would only pack for her fated mate. And that¡¯s exactly what she did that night, I wanted her in my pack and she wouldn¡¯t let me out of her sight.


    And from that day on, we were never far apart. Every time I turn around or open my eyes, she is the first one I see. I need her aura and her scent to go on living. And now she is far away, where I cannot see her, smell her, feel her. I¡¯m at the verge of copse, today is my limit.


    ¡°Ariel¡±.


    I try her mind wall again, but it is still closed. Only I don¡¯t feel her trying to destroy it anymore, it¡¯s like she¡¯s given up. No, not given up, that¡¯s not my Ariel. She is trying a different strategy to bring it down, I just have to be patient. I know she misses me too, her face in my neck is her daily drug.


    Finally the day dawns, thankfully I managed to sleep for a few hours after those fond memories and the alcohol. I take a refreshing bath and notice that my mood is much improved. The anxiety in my chest is gone, reced by a hollow feeling that feels much better.


    I decided to get back to work, now that my mood is better I hope my focus has recovered as well. Back on the main floor, I bump into rita again. I have a quick chat with her, she is a human and needs special protection. And when Ariel returns, I am sure she will be looking for her friend and expecting us to have kept her safe.


    Then I go straight to my study, where I know Jace and Alvin are waiting for me to update me on the pack.


    As I walk in, I can feel the tension in them.


    ¡°Tell me ASAP what¡¯s going on.¡± Jace and Alvin look at each other before turning to me.


    ¡°There¡¯s movement in Midnight Moon. Our trackers have detected a sudden rush, the Alpha has smashed his study in utter rage. Even his Head Warrior has fled outside to escape the chaos,¡± Jace reports. ¡°Only his father was able to calm him down.¡±


    Now I tense up. ¡°Any connection to Ariel? This morning, I couldn¡¯t feel the restraint in my body. Holy Goddess, I hope she has escaped and is over our border soon. We will make the checks ourselves.¡±


    Before I can move, Alvin stops me.


    ¡°Rest assured, my best trackers are already in ce. If Ariel is even a mile away, we will know and they will report to us immediately. There is something else I need to tell you, but you will have to sit for it.¡±Original from N?velDrama.Org.


    The tone of Alvin¡¯s voice does not sound good. Thest time I heard it was after Ariel¡¯s disappearance when he was torn apart by guilt.


    In a trance, I move to my desk chair, my eyes glued to him.


    ¡°It¡¯s Ariel, isn¡¯t it? Tell me, what¡¯s wrong with my mate?¡± I force down the lump in my throat.


    ¡°There are strong indications that she has left Midnight Moon. An informant heard Zane curse and almost decapitate his Head Warrior. We need the witch badly, we need to get closer than our informants can get. Call Alexis for help.¡±..

 In Danger

    Alpha Gorgio¡¯s POINT OF VIEW  still


    I watch as the Xanna steps out of the Jet.


    With her shoulders straight and confident, she looks around as if she expects her subjects to be at her feet. I grin in amusement, this is the signature of a member of the Alpha King¡¯s pack.Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    She is dressed in jeans and a shirt, her ck hair cut as you would expect from a witch. Long, sleek and cut in a point on her forehead. And when shees down the stairs, she does so with high style, as if she had just arrived in Hollywood.


    Well, I like her, despite her sassy nature, she exudes positivity. So she is a white witch, evil is not her nature. This woman must be highly respected in the Alpha King¡¯s house. Her attitude and her arrival in the private jet attest to that.


    Behind me, I hear Alvin whistling softly in admiration.


    ¡°Man, I¡¯d like to be locked up in one of the upstairs rooms with her for a whole frigging day. There¡¯s so much I could do with those lovely hips and I¡¯m sure those full lips would make me very happy,¡± he drools.


    I can hardly believe my usually levelheaded Head Warrior is letting himself loose like this. He is definitely a womanizer, but never so openly. The man licks his lips wistfully as he stares at the woman descending the final steps.


    ¡°Control yourself. Business before pleasure, Alvin. When your work is done, you can stay in the room all month for all I care.¡± I can barely contain myughter, now that my head is clear, I can finally enjoy a good time again. Alvin¡¯sment probably had everything to do with cheering me up.


    With a smile on my face, I walk over to the witch with, my hand outstretched.


    ¡°Xanna, wee to Eclipse Howl. Please make yourself at home.¡± She takes my hand and I feel a slight shock go through hers. Surprised, she looks up at me, her stern expression turning to concern.


    ¡°Alpha, it is good to see you again. Even if the circumstances are not very pleasant. But it fills me with a sense of aplishment to be able to do something for Ariel and you. The Alpha family has been nothing but good to me.¡± Her hoarse voice surprised us all, we were expecting a crackling witch¡¯s voice.


    I lead her to my Maserati and help her into the car before getting behind the wheel. Alvin and Jace get in the back. It¡¯s only a few minutes¡¯ drive from the airstrip to the packhouse.


    ¡°Did you have a nice flight, Xanna? I¡¯m d you wanted toe right away. We will be forever grateful.¡±


    ¡°It was no trouble, Alpha. Now that I am here, I am sure I did the right thing ining. I think there is something I can do for you. In another case, I would have worked from my hut in the pack. But here in your pack, I feel Ariel. I have not seen her for a long time.¡±


    I stiffened and turned to her, full of hope. ¡°Can you sense Ariel? Is she close to home? She has fled Midnight Moon and I am counting on her toe to me.¡± I can¡¯t keep the longing out of my voice.


    ¡°Hmmm, no she is not close. But her energy tells me she wanted to be here. Circumstances changed her direction¡±.


    ¡°Circumstances? What circumstances? I can¡¯t imagine her wanting to be anywhere else but here,¡± Jace blurts out. ¡°Is something wrong with Ariel?¡± His breathing is ragged now, the idea that something has happened to his Luna doesn¡¯t sit well with him and his wolf. Dexter is ready to search the whole forest if there is a hint that Ariel is somewhere.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go inside and sit quietly. When we arrive at the packhouse, you can offer me a cold drink and put a steak on the barbecue.¡± She tries to sound light-hearted, to ease the tension in the car. But I sense her anxiety; there is more going on here.


    I pick up the pace and soon we are in front of the packhouse. We all jump out of the car at the same time and as I pass one of the warriors, I throw him the key.


    We hurry into my office and sit down.


    Xanna studies the interior and nods admiringly as Alvin pours her a cold lemon juice. She epts it gratefully and throws him a seductive look. Alvin makes sure to respond appropriately as he sits down next to her, much too close.


    ¡°Okay, let¡¯s get down to business. You know you can quote any price for your services, Xanna,¡± I offer. She almost chokes on her drink and looks at me disapprovingly.


    ¡°Never. The welfare of the princesses is my priority. I don¡¯t need to be paid for it,¡± she replies insultingly. But then she suddenly turns to Alvin. ¡°At least not in money. You can give me your warrior here aspensation. I¡¯ll take him.¡±


    Now we all burst outughing, and Alvin takes this as a hint to sit even closer to her.


    ¡°I¡¯m all yours, Xanna. Take me as long as you like,¡± he offers theatrically.


    ¡°Well, before you get to that, let¡¯s get our business in order, please. Xanna, we want to get rid of the scent of three warriors so that they can enter Midnight Moon unnoticed. Can you do that?¡±


    ¡°Sure. That¡¯s what werewolves usually ask us to do, so I brought some of my potion. Here it is.¡± She digs into her bag and pulls out a vial.


    ¡°A little behind the ears and their scent will disappear. But only for six hours. After that, they can reapply it or juste back.¡±


    ¡°Six hours is more than we need.¡± Alvin takes the bottle from her and puts it on the table.


    Suddenly, I feel a sharp stab in my chest. It surprises me and cuts off my breathing. I grab the back of the seat and struggle for air.


    ¡°Gorgio!¡±


    Four hands grab me and perform CPR on me. And then I felt Xanna¡¯s hand on my forehead as she muttered some mantras. When she removes her hand, the air rushes back into my lungs.


    ¡°Aaahhh, that was horrible,¡± I stutter as the blood rushes back into my face.


    ¡°Ariel! Alpha, Ariel is in danger. Something has happened to her,¡± Xanna cries now. Gone is her haute allure, utter panic is etched on her face.


    Terrified, I tried the mind link to my mate again, but I couldn¡¯t get through.


    ¡°Damn, damn. Why won¡¯t she open her mind link? Doesn¡¯t she want me to know where she is?¡± Frustrated, I jump to my feet and punch the wall hard.


    ¡°It¡¯s not that. She is restricted. And if I saw right, there is a ck band around her neck that freezes her abilities. I could get rid of it, but I would have to meet Ariel in person.¡±¡­

 It Felt Right

    rita¡¯s POINT OF VIEW


    I look in the mirror in surprise.


    I couldn¡¯t believe my eyes when I saw the bump. ording to my calctions, I should be five weeks pregnant now, but I look three months. Just a little while and I will no longer be able to hide my pregnancy and have to wear maternity clothes.


    How did the baby grow so fast? Is it because Zane is a werewolf and my baby will be a werewolf like his father? I look down at my bulging belly and wish Ariel was here to exin this to me. I miss her so much, Gorgio must be in a hurry to bring her back now.


    For two whole days I searched Human Town for Zane. In vain.


    No one at the yacht club could remember his boat, with so many expensive ones docking at the pier every day. All the owners are loaded, it was like looking for a needle in a haystack. But I don¡¯t want to give up. What will I tell my child when he asks for his father? I don¡¯t want him to be like me, alone in the world, without a family. Although Ariel and Giorgio insist that I continue to live here permanently and consider them family, I still want my child to know his father.


    I walk down the stairs and meet Giorgio, who seems lost in thought.


    ¡°rita, how are you? Getting used to the idea of being a mother?¡±


    I nod, happy to see him again after so many days. ¡°Yes, but I haven¡¯t had any luck finding his father yet. I¡¯ll start looking again today, hopefully I¡¯ll have more sess¡±. He nods absently and turns to leave. But then he seems to remember something.


    ¡°We¡¯ll probably go to war with Midnight Moon. The Alpha there is stubborn and needs a lesson,¡± he tells me. ¡°Go to Jaceter and ask him where your hideout is, in case the fight spreads to us. Or, of course, you can stay in Human Town until it¡¯s over. You don¡¯t have a wolf, so you can¡¯t defend yourself and you¡¯re quite vulnerable.¡±


    His words startled me; wars I knew only from books and television, far from my reality. I could never imagine being in the middle of one in real life. All those horrible images shed through my mind. Dead bodies lying on a killing field, limbs torn off and strewn about. No, that¡¯s not for me.


    ¡°Seriously, Gorgio? How do you wage war? In wolf form, fighting each other, or with modern weapons like humans have?¡± I ask curiously. He smiles.


    ¡°Both, actually. If we meet the enemy in the woods, we are more likely to fight in wolf form. But if the terrain is open, it is more efficient to use the modern weapons,¡± he exins.


    ¡°Holy crap. No, Gorgio, I¡¯ll stay in Human Town until it¡¯s over. I¡¯ll pack right away. Call me when it is over?¡± He nods and hurries off.


    Slowly I walk back to my apartment. In the walk-in closet, I grab my suitcase and start packing. I don¡¯t take everything, just casual clothes and two evening dresses. I don¡¯t expect to be gone for more than a week. But when I finally finished, I had two suitcases full.


    I can¡¯t possibly carry them myself, I need help. I leave my room, knowing that there is always a warrior at the front door of the packhouse. At my request, he came up and took both suitcases at once and put them in the boot of my car.


    ¡°rita, rita,¡± I suddenly heard a voice behind me. I turned to see Serene running towards me. She was still wearing an apron, so she had probably been busy in the kitchen.


    ¡°Where are you going? I thought you were resting more. I looked for you several times in your quarters, but you weren¡¯t there.¡± I smile at her, Serene has be more of a friend to me now.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to Human Town. To find my baby¡¯s father. He cannot have suddenly disappeared from the face of the earth, someone must remember him. After all, he was docked at the harbor for another week.¡±


    ¡°But if he is a werewolf, how will you recognize him? We can distinguish each other by our scent, which makes it easy. But if you ask around, many won¡¯t bother to remember him. Nobody wants to get into trouble. They think you might not have good intentions with the man,¡± Serene exins.


    ¡°Let mee with you. I can help you better. Besides, there is little to do here now that the warriors are training. They make their own pots, as they should in the jungle.


    I look at her in surprise ¨C that I hadn¡¯t thought of this myself! Of course, I would be more sessful if I had a werewolf with me to follow Zane¡¯s scent.


    ¡°Would you do that for me? My goodness, how d I am to have met you. Go pack your things quickly, I¡¯ll wait for you here¡±. Without a second thought, she sprints back into the packhouse.


    Fifteen minutester, she returns with a trolley behind her. She is now dressed in tight jeans that make her look much younger. The warrior puts her luggage in the boot as well and then it is time to go.


    Serene gets into the passenger seat while I get behind the wheel. Momentster, we are driving up the dirt road to the highway. It is a familiar route, I could drive it with my eyes closed.


    ¡°Okay, where do we start looking?¡± my friend asks. ¡°You need to have a clue, otherwise it¡¯s no good. There are so many good-looking men in Human Town that I don¡¯t have eyes enough to admire them myself,¡± sheughs.


    ¡°On the pier. I still hope hees back there,¡± I sigh.Original from N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Did he give you a gift once, do you have anything of his? I could smell it and maybe tell him apart. There are a few wolf packs around here, but not all of them visit the Yacht Club. Usually the members of Midnight Moon and Eclipse Howle here to chill because they are the closest¡±.


    ¡°No presents, nothing. Just sex. He took over my ex-husband¡¯spany and promised to hand it over to me. Besides, it was my money that kept it going,¡± I mutter.


    Then I looked desperately at my new friend.


    ¡°Was it stupid to have sex with Zane after only knowing him for a week? It felt right, like we were meant to be together. And afterward he told me he wanted me to be with him forever. Oooh well, maybe that was the kind of talk every loverboy sells to a woman the next day. I have no experience of that, so I was an easy target.¡±


    ¡°Zane? rita, did you say the man you slept with is named Zane? Is he by any chance blond with blue eyes and tattoos all over his body?


    Confused, I stare at her.


    ¡°Yes, do you know him?¡±..

 I’ll Repay Her

    Still rita¡¯s POINT OF VIEW


    A nerve tugs at Serene¡¯s face, she¡¯s dead nervous.


    I wonder what has brought her to this state, did I say something wrong? The seconds tick by and she still hasn¡¯t answered my question. She stares ahead, frozen like a zombie.


    ¡°Serene, do you know Zane? Why are you so nervous, did I say something wrong?¡± I ask urgently. I started to get nervous too. Is there something wrong with Zane, is he hurt or a serial killer I should have avoided? I don¡¯t want to seriously consider any of those options. Zane was the perfect gentleman when I was with him on the boat. He could have taken advantage of me when I was lying dead drunk next to him, and again the next morning when I had a terrible hangover from my excessive drinking.


    But I was the one who initiated the sex, I was already in love with him.


    What followed was beyond my wildest expectations. If I thought Matt had taught me everything I needed to know about sex, I was wrong. Zane was amazing, I had never had so many orgasms in a row, never felt so intensely loved. He was an incredible lover, I went hoarse with cries of pleasure. And I got the impression that he enjoyed it too, I can still remember his hoarse moans. Every time he climaxed, he made sure he was deep inside my pussy and his ecstatic growls sent goosebumps all over my body.


    I should have known he was a werewolf, everything pointed to it. But I was too much in the throes of lust to pay attention to details, all I wanted was to keep this amazing feeling he was giving me for as long as possible.


    ¡°rita, tell me more about this Zane you spent the night with,¡± Serene finally asks. ¡°Were there any other men on the yacht with him?¡± She avoids eye contact, now I am convinced she is hiding something from me.


    ¡°Yes, a friend, Mase, and his girlfriend Amelia. Oh yes, and two other men who were always aloof, I don¡¯t know their names. The morning we woke up, his mood changed, his eyes changed color. He asked me to wait for him until he had finished his business, no matter how long it took, he woulde back to me.¡±


    A tear rolled down my cheek at the memory. Like a fool, I believed him when he told me that what we had together was exceptional. He just wanted to get rid of me and he did it in his usual way.


    ¡°rita, I need you to park the car at the side of the road. What I am going to tell you will be difficult to digest. Please do exactly as I say.¡± The coldness in her voice makes me obey immediately. Serene is not the kind of person to tell me untruths; in the short time I have known her, she has always been open and honest with me.


    As I park the car, I turn to her. ¡°Tell me quickly, I¡¯m burning with curiosity¡±.


    ¡°I won¡¯t mince words, what I¡¯m going to tell you will be difficult. I want you to control yourself.¡± She gripped my hands tightly and I saw pity in her eyes.  And I¡¯m sure she has less pleasant news.


    ¡°rita, the Zane you met is the same Alpha who kidnapped Ariel, her second mate. Alexis had tricked him by posing as Ariel. They broke up, and Alexis and Alpha Gorgio thought Ariel was rid of Zane for good. But he found out.¡±


    Shocked, I stared at my friend, trying to process her words.


    Zane is the infamous Alpha Zane who ims Ariel as his own. The man who refuses to ept that Ariel doesn¡¯t want him. Oh my God! What have I got myself into? I started to shake uncontrobly, this was insane.


    ¡°Then what was he doing at the Yacht Club? Wasn¡¯t he supposed to be with his pack?¡± I ask, trying to refute her words. ¡°Ariel wasn¡¯t on the boat with him and neither was Alexis.¡±


    Serene sighs. ¡°He was probably out sorting things out. I don¡¯t know who Mase is, but the two men were definitely warriors.¡± Concerned, she stares at me.


    ¡°You slept with Ariel¡¯s mate and are pregnant by him. That could be a curse or a blessing. Now that you are pregnant, Zane would finally be willing to level the ying field and ept you as his chosen mate. The war will be averted then¡±.


    ¡°No! I refuse to be a rebound wife. I¡¯d rather stay single and be a single mother, but I¡¯ll never throw myself away on a man who thinks I¡¯m his good luck charm. Not me. I just got rid of one scoundrel, I have no intention of letting another into my life¡±.


    ¡°I understand your position. But you should know that you are saving Ariel from an unpleasant situation and Eclipse Howl from an unnecessary war. Gorgio will be eternally grateful to you for this.¡±


    To my shock, I started crying, my life was aplete mess again. Just when I thought I could have a decent life again, I embarrassed myself again. Now I am pregnant by my best man. I don¡¯t know how Ariel will react to the news.


    ¡°Hey, calm down, everything will be fine. Let¡¯s go to Human Town and find some distraction. I know a good hotel where we can go swimming and take a sauna. In the meantime, you can think about what to do.¡± I nod at the suggestion, what I need now is room to think about my life.


    We check into the hotel Serene refers to. The pool looked great, I bought a bikini in one of the shops and changed immediately. When my friend sees me, her eyes go straight to my bump.Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Hey, it¡¯s growing fast. These werewolf pups grow like weeds before you know it¡¯s delivery time. Don¡¯t forget to make an appointment with the pack doctor, everything should be fine.¡±


    I nod, still not in the mood for a normal conversation. After a dip in the pool, I ran a fewps to clear my mind.


    Serene¡¯s words keep running through my mind.  I owe my life to Ariel. She came to my rescue when I was at my most depressed.  Now is my chance to repay her, to save her life from this gue that keeps torturing her rtionship with Gorgio.


    After half an hour of swimming, I had made up my mind.


    I know what I have to do¡­

 Unacceptable

    Luna Ariel¡¯s POINT OF VIEW


    After blinking several times, I am finally able to open my eyes fully.


    I look ahead, all I see is a nk white wall and in the background I hear the faint beeping of machines. Gradually, the memories began toe back to me. My flight from Midnight Moon while Gorgio, my mate, waited for me at the border. The kidnapping of Zane just as I was about to shift, the choke around my neck and the needle in my arm. Three dayster, I regained consciousness in a bunker, where I met Fiona, who helped me escape, but to the wrong side of packnd. We were supposed to go to the western border but ended up on the highway to Human Town.


    And then the crash. A speeding car cut us off.


    Fiona! I try to sit up, but a splitting headache sends me back into the pillows. I hold my head and breathe deeply until the pain is bearable. Then I slide out of bed, grab the drip stand and roll it out of the room. In the corridor, I see nurses walking up and down, all human.


    A few times I stopped a nurse, hoping to find out where my friend was, but they waved me off and hurried on. Nobody has time, there are emergencies everywhere. I decided to go back to my room. But when I was halfway there, I heard voicesing from one of the rooms. My name is mentioned several times.


    I try to use my were-hearing, but it doesn¡¯t work.


    I carefully push open the door and see Fiona lying on a bed. Her head is bandaged and one leg is raised. As soon as I¡¯m inside, she sees me standing there, her eyes staring at me with worry.


    ¡°Luna Ariel! Are you all right? I asked the nurse about your condition, but she couldn¡¯t answer me¡±. She tries to sit up but is still weak. Two people are standing by her bed with their backs to me.


    I walk toward her and when I am in front of her, she beckons me with her eyes.


    As I turn, I see the face of King Jasper. My eyes bulge and my mouth falls open in shock. I hadn¡¯t expected him to be here at all. My mouth opened and closed like a fish on drynd.


    ¡°My King, I¡¯m sorry I didn¡¯t recognize you. It¡¯s no disrespect, please forgive me,¡± I stammer as I bow to the man. There is anger on his face now, he stares at me disapprovingly.


    ¡°Luna Ariel. Are you so above my authority now that you couldn¡¯t sense me?¡±


    Fiona tries to apologize on my behalf, but the king waves her away. He stares at me expectantly, his wolf ready to teach me a lesson.


    ¡°My King, please. You are the strongest Lycan there is, there is no one higher than you. But there is a choker around my neck that suppresses my werewolf abilities. And only a witch can remove it and free me. Please forgive me,¡± I beg.


    The man¡¯s expression changes instantly and he focuses on the band. I feel his Lycan scan my neck and detect the spell. Anger shes in his eyes, fangs protruding from his lips. ¡°Who did this? Luna Ariel, I want to know who put that band around your neck. This disrespect is unheard of and I will not tolerate it. Not to an Alpha Princess, not to Luna or any other female,¡± he snapped.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know exactly who put it on, but it was on Zane¡¯s orders. And they injected me with an unknown substance that knocked me unconscious. When I regained consciousness, I met Fiona and we were able to escape.¡± I have no intention of saving Zane¡¯s ass. I had warned him that preventing me from leaving his pack was against all the rules, but he refused to take me seriously.


    ¡°Sir Walter informed me that you have agreed to spend three months with the Alpha in Midnight Moon to get your mating on track. Unless I am mistaken, only a few weeks have passed. What is all this?¡± he demands to know. ¡°Were you trying to get out of all the arrangements, Luna Ariel?¡±


    I blush, I know I have acted against agreements. But being separated from Gorgio for so long was terrible. My pup and I longed for him.


    Embarrassed, I stare at my toes.


    ¡°My king, I have rejected Zane, but he won¡¯t hear of it. Our mating hasn¡¯t progressed. It hurts me not to be with Gorgio. I had no choice but to flee from that pack.¡± I look up and see the King staring at me thoughtfully.


    ¡°My wolf tells me that you are pregnant, Luna Ariel. Is it Alpha Gorgio¡¯s pup? Is that why you want to go back?¡±


    I nod. ¡°I was near the border where Gorgio was waiting for me. But somehow Zane found out I was leaving and stopped me. I still told him to treat me ording to my status.¡±


    Now I see the King¡¯s eyes change colors. His dark blue orbs turn pitch ck and then blue again. His wolf is fighting for supremacy.


    ¡°I cannot condone what you have done, Luna. But I understand your actions. My Queen had the same behavior when she was pregnant with our cubs. She was clingy and always had to make sure I wasn¡¯t too far away.¡± He sighs, but his aura is much friendlier now.


    ¡°I came here to visit my niece after I was told she had been in an ident. I never expected to meet you here,¡± he continues.


    The other man with the King steps forward.


    ¡°Let me help you to your room, Luna. What¡¯s important now is that you recover from this whole ordeal. We saw your car and it didn¡¯t look pretty.¡±


    ¡°Wait. Did you say that the choker has frozen your Were abilities? That means your wolf can no longer heal you. I cannot ept this, this is going too far. Alpha Zane will have to exin his reasons to me,¡± he says harshly, shaking his head. The King clearly has no intention of letting this go unpunished.


    The other man helps me to my room, where I fall onto the bed, exhausted¡­Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.

 A Cheater

    Luna Ariel¡¯s POINT OF VIEW  again


    When I open my eyes again, Fiona is sitting on a chair next to my bed.


    She had her eyes closed, probably sat there for a while and finally fell asleep.


    ¡°Fiona, how are you? Has your wolf cured youpletely?¡± I whisper to her. She slowly lifts her head and rubs her sleepy eyes with a smile.


    ¡°Yes,pletely healed. Now we have to figure out how to patch you up. We need a werewolf doctor. The humans might cause a stir if they examine the baby. These werewolf pups are bigger, and with your royal genes, the doctors will think you¡¯re an alien¡±.


    Weugh at her remark.


    ¡°Are my injuries serious? I have a terrible headache, but it is subsiding. And my shoulders seem to be dislocated,¡± I answer. Looking at my hand, I noticed that the IV drip was already removed.


    A nurse must have examined me while I was asleep. ¡°A severe concussion. And some minor injuries that your wolf may have helped you with. But they¡¯re worried about the cub. And so is the King.¡± Thatst sentence frightens me. If the King speaks to the Council, everyone will know, whereas Gorgio and I wanted to rejoice at this news.


    This is our first pup and we wanted to keep the news to ourselves for a long time. ¡°We have to get out of here or find a werewolf doctor to check on you. I prefer thetter option, we need to be sure that the pup is okay before we leave. We can¡¯t take any risks.¡±


    I agreepletely, nothing must happen to my little one. I rub my stomach and am startled. There was a slight swelling, which meant it was growing well. Now I have to keep it healthy and safe.


    ¡°Fiona, please. Find a suitable doctor. The pup is already visible. I need to know if it is all right,¡± I urge. My new friend gets up immediately and goes to the door. With her werewolf instincts, she will soon find out if there is a werewolf around.


    Half an hourter she enters my room overjoyed.


    ¡°I found one. She is a junior doctor but is authorized to examine you and report back to the head doctor. She will be here in ten minutes after she is done with another patient¡±.


    Fiona helps me out of bed. I am wearing a hospital gown, the one I wore when I was brought in is torn and stained. We go to the bathroom and she helps me into the shower as my shoulders are bruised and I can¡¯t do much.


    When we were back in the room, I put the white hospital gown back on.


    ¡°Fiona, why don¡¯t you go and buy some clothes for us in a clothing store nearby? We can¡¯t go like this, we¡¯ll stick out.¡± I move over to my bag on the table and take out some cash. She takes it and disappears out the door.


    As Iy back on the bed, a young woman entered. I cannot sense if she is a werewolf, but her appearance tells it all. Her wless skin and the sparkle in her eyes are typical of my kind.


    ¡°Luna Ariel?¡±


    I nod. She approaches me with her hand outstretched and a smile on her face.


    ¡°I am Erena. My pack is Crescent Moon and I am here on an internship. In a few more months, I will graduate and finally be able to go back home and work in the hospital there.¡± I take her hand, it feels warm and my gut tells me she is trustworthy.


    ¡°I heard about your double mating with two Alphas. It¡¯s all over the werewolf news. There is a lot of spection in our Facebook groups because it is an exceptional case. We have never heard of a fully mated wolf having another mate. She usually meets them at the same time¡±. As she talks, she takes my blood pressure.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    ¡°To be honest, most of thements are sympathetic to Alpha Gorgio. Not just because he is so well-looking, but because of the way he always treats you! And when he speaks out your name, it is as if he worships it. We all want a partner like that Alpha. He must make you very happy, Luna¡±.


    I smile, Gorgio is really great, I have seen the furtive nces of the she-wolves at him. But he never pays them any attention.


    A few times journalists have pointed out to him that he is the crush of many, but he always insists that he is already taken and belongs to me only¡±.


    ¡°But there are some who feel sorry for Alpha Zane. He is inadvertently involved, Selene decided to bring him between you. He also has a right to you, you will have to meet his needs.¡±


    She jabs a needle into my arm just as I am about to answer her. When she catches my questioning look, she smiles sweetly. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s just a general check-up to make sure you¡¯re in good health,¡± she tells me.


    ¡°But I also have to fill in the father¡¯s name on the form, Luna.¡±


    Erena slides onto a chair in the corner and pulls a form out of her shirt pocket. She nces at me significantly, waiting for an answer.


    ¡°One hundred percent Gorgio Vasconcellos, my true mate¡±. I looked her straight in the eye. She nods and continues filling in the paper.


    ¡°Dr Erena, have you been following the discussions on social media? What do you think of the situation, what is your opinion?¡±


    She looks up hesitantly. ¡°I agree that Alpha Zane should not be a victim, because he and his pack need a Luna as well. And if Selene has assigned you, I¡¯m sure that¡¯s her intention. But other circumstances have influenced my opinion.¡±


    ¡°Other circumstances? What are they? And what is your opinion now?¡± I ask curiously. I can feel the change in her aura, there must be some important fact that has made her change her mind.


    ¡°Well, Luna. I think you should concentrate on Alpha Gorgio and your cub. Alpha Zane has other things to deal with that have nothing to do with you¡±.


    ¡°Erena, you know more about this. Believe me, Gorgio is all I want, my mating with Zane is nothing. Just tell me what¡¯s going on.¡±


    ¡°Well, someone in the group posted that Alpha Zane was in Human Town a few weeks ago. He was there with his yacht, living it up with a girl. He slept with the woman before rushing back to Midnight Moon. Once a cheater, always a cheater¡±..

 One More

    Still Luna Ariel¡¯s point of view


    ¡°A woman?¡±


    My mouth falls open in shock. I can¡¯t believe Zane would agree to an arrangement when he already has a girlfriend waiting for him somewhere. At least it doesn¡¯t sound like he was suffering from breaking up with me, even if it was Alexis who was in his pack in my ce. If he was already holding another woman, it meant he had resigned himself to the fact that we were no longer mates. Gorgio told me that he and Alexis had rejected each other before she left Midnight Moon.


    Is Zane deliberately making life impossible for Gorgio and me? Or is he getting back at Gorgio for refusing to share me with him?


    He also knows how much we care for each other. So hisints to the Council made no sense if he was able to move on with his life and court other girls. A wave of unprecedented anger sweeps over me.


    ¡°Tell me everything, Erena. I can¡¯t believe Zane let me join his pack after he¡¯d already moved on. He is robbing Gorgio and me of our happiness when he knows there could never be anything between us.¡±


    ¡°I hate to be the bearer of bad news. But the mate of Alpha Zane¡¯s Gamma is a cousin of mine. Amelia is my Alpha¡¯s daughter and has had a crush on Zane for years. But not long ago, she turned out to be the Gamma¡¯s mate.¡±


    And then I remembered the woman I had met in the corridors of the hotel before the conference. She had actually mentioned that she was in love with Zane. What a coincidence.


    ¡°I met Amelia. Did she have anything to do with this? She was crazy about Zane, I remember.¡±


    ¡°Well, Amelia was also on the yacht. She left with the woman when Midnight Moon went on high alert. The night before they were to leave, it turned out the woman had a husband, she was married. Alpha Zane arranged her divorce; he wanted her for himself. The husband made a scene, of course, but there was nothing he could do about it. And after the divorce party, she continued to sleep on the yacht¡±.


    I repress my anger, I don¡¯t want to rm Erena into withholding information for fear I¡¯ll do something.


    ¡°That¡¯s all I know, Luna. That¡¯s why I changed my mind. You are better off without this impostor. Alpha Gorgio is much more reliable and steadfast in your mating¡±. Disapprovingly, she pressed her lips together as she continued her work.


    ¡°Luna, it¡¯s too early for an ultrasound to tell the sex, but at least we can see the pup. Come on, lie down on the bed.¡± She helps me to stretch and brings some instruments closer. Once my belly was clear, she applied a cold gel. Then she turned on aputer and the screen came on. After entering a few things into the system, she grabs a device and slides it over my stomach.


    ¡°Look at the screen. There¡¯s your pup. I am taking some measurements to see if he is growing well¡±.


    Obediently, I turned to the screen and saw a tunnel of light. Erena runs her finger over the images until wee to a bean-shaped picture.


    ¡°This is it. I can¡¯t see the sex yet, but it seems to be active. But ¡­ look ¡­¡±. The woman stops in amazement, her finger continuing to slide across the screen. She zooms in on the image and brings her face closer to the monitor.


    ¡°Luna, look, there¡¯s another one. I think you have a twin,¡± she whispers in awe. ¡°Alphas often get a son first, so one of them must be a boy.¡± She stares for a few more seconds before updating the form in her hand.


    A tear of happiness rolls down my cheek. How I wish I had Gorgio with me now to share this bliss. My mate will be overjoyed, Eclipse Howl is going crazy. The Alpha heir is on his way.


    Erena leaves me on my own to absorb my newfound joys. My eyes are glued to the screen, I can¡¯t believe I¡¯m actually going to be a mother. The feeling is wonderful.


    Momentster, the she-wolf returns, more papers in hand.


    ¡°The pups are fine. They were not injured by the incident, Luna. If all goes well, you can leave the hospital tomorrow morning,¡± she states. ¡°Do you know where you are going? The car is wrecked and I heard that a Kensley is looking for you.¡±


    I bolt upright, in the euphoria of the news about the twins I had forgotten what my n was. Now that we are in the Human Town, I can call Gorgio to pick us up. A feeling of pure joy fills me, in a few hours my mate will be here.


    And then Fiona bursts in.


    ¡°Luna, we have to go. Right now. Kensley is on his way. The police gave him the details of the collision and where we are being treated.¡±


    Shees over to me with a bag containing a pair of jeans and a shirt. With Erena, she helps me get dressed. Then she takes off her own torn clothes and throws them in a bin. Erena pulls out a wheelchair and helps me into it.


    ¡°Come, there is a special exit for doctors around the corner. I¡¯ll take you through. You can borrow my car. Call meter and tell me where you left it. There¡¯s a big hotel on the main road where I¡¯m sure he won¡¯t be able to find you. The scents of humans and werewolves get pretty mixed up there¡±.Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    We hurry out the door, Fiona pushing the wheelchair in front of her.


    Erena leads us through a blue door and then down another dark corridor. ¡°Let me drive the car up to the door. I¡¯ll knock three times when I get there.¡±


    She disappears outside but returns a minuteter. I get out of the wheelchair and take tentative steps towards the car. Fiona holds the back door open and I throw myself into the back seat.


    Fiona gets behind the wheel and we drive off in the direction Erena has indicated.


    I pull my phone out of my pocket to call my mate. But to my disappointment, I find that the screen is cracked. When I try to switch it on, it fails too. With a cry of frustration, I throw it back in my bag.


    Why had I never bothered to find out Gorgio¡¯s phone number? Since he printed it himself on my device, I never looked at it. Besides, I rarely needed to call him, we were never far apart and the mind link was enough. Damn it!..

 I’m Ready

    Alpha Gorgio¡¯s POINT OF VIEW


    I¡¯ve had enough of this!


    Alpha Zane needs to be shown his ce. Putting a choker around my mate¡¯s throat is more than I can take. With this act he has officially dered war on me, nothing can save the man. I will burn his whole pathetic pack to the ground and nail his head to the highest pole.


    When I¡¯m done with Midnight Moon, every other pack will think ten times before messing with me. I¡¯m Alpha Gorgio, nobody can treat my mate like that with impunity. And when I look at the faces of my Beta and Head Warrior, I see belligerence and hatred.


    ¡°We await your orders, Alpha. I am ready. Just give the signal¡±. Alvin¡¯s earlier flirtatious attitude is gone, his face is now all business. He had disagreed with the agreement with the Council before, and now that he seems to be right that it was a bad deal, he is ready to correct it.


    ¡°The pack is ready for anything as long as Lunaes back, Alpha. They are ready to give their lives for her return. It¡¯s a good thing they don¡¯t know about this new information, otherwise, things would be different now¡±. Jace¡¯s eyes speak volumes, he too is waiting to shift and fight the war alongside me.


    ¡°We need Ariel with us first. If Zane finds her before we do, this war could turn out differently. He can use her against us. We have to find Ariel first,¡± Alvin insists. He picks up the vial and holds it aloft.


    I pull my phone out of my pocket and press Ariel¡¯s number. Disappointed, I discovered that her number was not in use. My goodness, if her wolf is suppressed, this will be increasingly difficult. She can be injured more easily without healing quickly.Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Set up the cameras. At least we¡¯ll know if she¡¯s in Midnight Moon if Zane can find her before we do.¡± Alvin¡¯s eyes get misty and a momentter five of the pack¡¯s best trackers enter my office. My Head Warrior himself pours the potion behind their ears. Then they are told their task.


    Alvin spreads out a map of Midnight Moon on my desk and instructs the men where the devices are to be affixed. Jace and I watch, this is an old n we have practiced more than once. The man is a professional, he knows exactly what he is doing.


    As soon as the trackers are gone, we prepare to leave for Midnight Moon.


    Kriegers advance ahead of us to strategically position themselves around the pack¡¯s perimeter. The three of us will be joined by ten more men. ¡°Should we request help from our friendly packs, Gorgio?¡± inquires Jace. ¡°And don¡¯t forget the procedures in the Were-Laws. We are supposed to inform the Council of any intention to go to war¡±.


    Shit! I had forgotten about that. As long as they don¡¯t try to change my mind. While Alvin and Jace prepare for our departure, I call my father-inw. This is a formal call, family ties are irrelevant here.


    ¡°Alpha King. I am calling to inform you that I will be leaving for Midnight Moon in a few minutes. My intention is to wipe out the packpletely for the insult they inflicted on my Luna. Alpha Zane should have known better before he decided to humiliate my mate.¡±


    ¡°Calm down, Gorgio. I just spoke to King Jasper. He met Ariel, she was with a she-wolf from his Kingdom who helped her escape. But the car they were in got into an ident, and they are being treated in the hospital in Human Town.¡± My heart misses a beat.


    ¡°My mate! Father, I felt she was hurt. I need my mate back. And Alpha Zane has put a choker on her to suppress her were-abilities. Holy Goddess, how will she heal without her wolf? My pup!¡± I fall back in my desk chair, fear having a stranglehold on me.


    ¡°Yes, Ariel told the King about that. Only a witch can take it away, there¡¯s a spell on it,¡± he sighs, suppressing his own fatherly fear. ¡°The Queen went to the hospital about an hour ago. It turns out that Ariel and the she-wolf have fled, and Kensley is on their trail¡±.


    ¡°I can¡¯t take this anymore. I want my mate and as long as Midnight Moon is after her, she will keep running. Once this louse pack is wiped out, they will no longer be a thorn in my side,¡± I growl furiously. ¡°Alpha Zane is so dead. He got the wrong one this time.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m also sending warriors to Midnight Moon. As a father, I cannot ept such a thing. Ariel is an Alpha Princess, much higher in rank than Zane. He should definitely have not done this, I cannot let this go unpunished.¡± There is a moment of silence at the other end of the line. ¡°And the King has confirmed that she has a pup. No, Zane must know he has gone too far.¡±


    My father-inw sounds calm, but like everyone else, I know he is most dangerous in that mood. But I want to get ahead of him, deal with this Alpha personally, once and for all. Zane has already had a free pass and pushed his luck way too far.


    Now he must face the consequences.


    The Alpha King ends the call and I hurry to join Alvin and Jace.


    We go out where ten fully equipped warriors are waiting for us. They are fully equipped, their weapons and attributes attached to their uniforms in such a way that they can pull them off with a jerk if they need to shift. The helicopter we are leaving in is waiting in the garden of the packhouse.


    Just as we are about to jump in, I notice Xanna standing defiantly with her hands on her hips, shaking her head disapprovingly. Without a word she joins us and we are ready to begin our journey to the gates of Midnight Moon.


    And then I realized that I forgot about Xander in all themotion. My wolf loves Ariel, so I expect him to support my decision to go to war.


    ¡®Xander, are you okay with this? Do you understand that there is no other option? Zane has humiliated our Luna and we cannot tolerate that¡¯.


    ¡®One hundred thousand percent I agree with you.  That¡¯s why I didn¡¯t intervene when you were preparing. I had already promised w this beating, and now it is time to pay my debt. Make sure we¡¯re not dealing with small warriors. Head straight for the Alpha. I¡¯m ready.¡¯ ¡­

 Mating In Jeopardy

    In Blue Blood, the seat of the Alpha King¡­


    He failed to turn up for my birthday and missed my first shift.


    My white wolf with blue shadings is a beauty in her own right, and the pack could not hide their admiration when they saw her. After Ariel¡¯s white and gold wolf, mine is also unique. My father was so proud of me, his eyes shining with satisfaction.


    He had expected me to have a special wolf, and for the pack to go crazy at the sight of the beast in their Alpha Princess. So he organized a big party, with a huge buffet and everything. Congrattions came from all over, even from wolves outside our pack.


    Some unmated Alphas hade too. Obviously to try their luck and see if I would be their mate. A mate in my father¡¯s family is a privilege and brings great honor to the Alpha and his pack. I smiled secretly, knowing their journey was in vain. As tempting as it is to be an Alpha¡¯s mate, being cherished by a Beta is what matters most to me. I want a mate like my brother-inw, who loves my sister unconditionally and no less. His rank is irrelevant, I don¡¯t need an upgrade.


    But Eric remained absent.


    A thousand and one times I stared at the door of the ballroom, hoping that he would finally enter and apologize. And then our wolves would finally confirm that we were mates, and he would strut across the dance floor with me, our eyes only on each other. But it didn¡¯t happen.


    I know that Midnight Moon is still in Code Red, the social media posts suggest that the situation there is just not progressing.


    Ariel eventually fled Midnight Moon again, it didn¡¯t take a fortune-teller to know that would happen soon enough. My sister and her mate are soulmates in the deepest sense of the word. It was pretty stupid of Zane to ept the Council¡¯s deal, it was only a stay of execution. Ariel belongs to Gorgio, nothing can change that.


    Eric is now close to my ultimatum. He has one week left to show up and im me. But it was just a bluff, he is my mate and I will never let him go, not ever. I reach for my mobile again and press his number. For the umpteenth time, the call goes to voicemail and I leave a message that I know he won¡¯t answer.


    There is only one thing left to do.  I have to go back to Midnight Moon. Eric has no idea what¡¯s in store for him when I¡¯m there. No excuse will save him, I mark him on the spot. He is mine and I have no intention of letting him slip away.


    I put on ck jeans and a shirt of the same color. I pulled my hair back and wiped my face with a facial tissue. Today I go without make-up. After checking that my bag contained all my personal items, I left my suite to look for my father. I could smell him in his office.


    As I walked in, I saw a worried frown on his face. But his eyes are hard and I know what that means. Zane has got him at his worst.


    ¡°Dad, what¡¯s wrong? Your expression doesn¡¯t promise much. Is it Zane?¡±


    He growls irritably, pointing to a chair for me to sit in.Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Ariel ran away again. And she crashed her car in Human Town. Zane put a choker around her neck to keep her from moving too far or making contact with Gorgio. And now it is working against her. I am shocked by this brutality, Ariel is not just a she-wolf, she is high-ranking, with a higher status than Zane. My blood begins to boil, I am so ready to finish this man.


    ¡°And now the King has seen it all. The woman who helped Ariel escape is his cousin. And he knows about the choker. Queen Faith went to the hospital to tell Ariel that she had fled again to an unknown destination.¡±


    ¡°But why doesn¡¯t she just remove the choker? Or else call Gorgio or you or me? I¡¯ll go get her right away.¡± But my father shakes his head.


    ¡°Only a witch can remove it. There¡¯s a spell on it. That¡¯s why the King is angry, Zane had no right to do that.¡± You know, I didn¡¯t like this Alpha at first, but now I feel a deep hatred for him growing. Choker and witch spell, this one¡¯s got a death wish. At this moment there are several wolves looking for his stupid head, if he survives this debacle he can hit the jackpot.


    ¡°We have Xanna. Who would be happy to help break the spell. No problem with that¡±. I breathe a sigh of relief, Zane has clearly overestimated his worth. In Blue Blood we are all tradesmen, freeing Ariel from a choker with a spell is a small job.


    ¡°My daughter, the cards are not that simple. Xanna is in Eclipse Howl now, Gorgio needed her help for a project. She is not back yet. But that¡¯s not all.¡±


    Now I am sitting on the edge of my seat, sure that I will not like what follows. It gets worse as my father resumes the story.


    ¡°Gorgio has dered war on Midnight Moon. I have sent warriors myself and the King is sending Lycans. I do not know how this will end, but I must protect my daughter and her cub. What Alpha Zane has done to her is uneptable.¡± His eyes glow and I know that negotiation is not his primary goal here.


    ¡°A pup? Is Ariel pregnant? Ooohh, Daddy, Gorgio will be over the moon. I am going to be an aunty¡±. My joy is overshadowed by worry. The choker has toe off so that Ariel can keep her pup safe.


    ¡°The Council is also sending warriors. Gorgio and Ariel broke the treaty. And now Gorgio is going to war with Midnight Moon, while he himself is to me. This could go either way. But nothing must happen to my daughter and my grandchild. Our warriors are here to protect them as well.¡± My father is determined, this will be a battle of the strongest in the werewolfmunity.


    ¡°I will go there. I will defend Ariel in her absence. No one can judge her without hearing her. And besides, I have a personal stake in all of this.¡±


    My father furrows his brow. ¡°A personal interest?¡±


    ¡°This whole affair is putting my mating in jeopardy. My mate is unable to be a Blue Blood because he¡¯s loyal to Alpha Zane and must fight this war by his side.¡±..

 I Demand Revenge

    Alpha Gorgio¡¯s POINT OF VIEW


    The journey to Midnight Moon can¡¯t go fast enough.


    As soon as this is over, I will search for my Luna, my heart aches at the thought of her being alone and weak somewhere. Once I¡¯ve taken care of Midnight Moon, she¡¯ll know she doesn¡¯t have to hide anymore. She can turn her phone back on and call me. Alpha Zane is the obstacle I will soon remove.


    Wend near the gates of Midnight Moon. I jump out and walk with great strides towards the waiting warrior. His face is grim as if he¡¯s been expecting me.


    ¡°Warrior. Your Alpha has three minutes to show up. After that, it will be war. I will wipe you off the face of the earth¡±.


    ¡°Alpha Gorgio, we know you are looking for the Luna. But she is no longer here, she must be in the Human Town. There is no need for war,¡± he dared to answer me. I bare my fangs, a simple warrior daring to contradict me is unheard of.


    ¡°Warrior, don¡¯t get on my nerves. Get your Alpha, I have nothing to exin to you¡±.


    ¡°Gorgio, were you looking for me? The Warrior has already exined to you that you won¡¯t find Ariel here. You must be in Human Town¡±. Alpha Zane makes his move.


    Before he knows what¡¯sing, I run towards him and grab him by the throat. Fangs protruding from my lips, my eyes zing.


    ¡°How dare you put a choke around my Luna¡¯s neck? Was she a prisoner of this pack? I don¡¯t recall that being part of the agreement we made with the Council,¡± I growl in his face.


    ¡°But we also had an agreement that Ariel would stay with me for three months. And you lured her out of my pack and waited for her at the border. How about that?¡± he snarls back, showing his fangs as well.


    My ws shoot out and Xander shifts halfway, ready to rip this scum¡¯s head off.


    ¡°Alpha Gorgio. Stand down. That¡¯s an order.¡± An authoritative voicees from behind us. We instantly freeze and slowly turn around. In front of us stands King Jasper, his face does not bode well. His Lycan emerges, his skin already covered in fur. His fingers grow into sharp nails, while his eyes glow like coals. The King of Werewolves is clearly not happy with what he sees.


    ¡°Alpha Gorgio, am I to understand that you are ready for war? Do you no longer recognize the authority of the Council?¡± he demands of me, his eyes fixed on me. Ufortably, I return to my full human form, not wanting to irritate the King any further. I¡¯m not exactly in good standing with him right now.


    ¡°I do acknowledge the Council, Your Majesty, and that is why I have informed the Alpha King of my intention to destroy this packpletely. I can never ept the way the Alpha has treated my Luna,¡± I exin confidently.


    King Jasper turns to Zane. ¡°Alpha Zane, I saw the band with my own eyes. And Ariel told me that you ordered it to be put on her when she was about to leave. That is an offense, the Werews forbid restraining another wolf. The only exception is when the wolf bes wild and uncontroble. That is forbidden, even for rogues.¡±


    I snort in disgust, this stupid Alpha doesn¡¯t even know his own limits. And I have no intention of letting him go.


    ¡°I demand revenge. My Luna cannot be treated like this. And if she was hospitalized, her wolf could not help her heal. Alpha Zane¡¯s actions are irresponsible and threaten my Luna¡¯s life. I will finish him off today.¡±


    I can¡¯t hold back my rage.


    ¡°My king. It was an act of love. Ariel is my Luna too, and she was about to leave me. There was little I could do to keep her with me, Gorgio was waiting for her on the other side. He is the one who has not kept his side of the bargain and has pushed me to the limit¡±. He looks at me menacingly, ignoring the fact that his life is hanging by a thread. Had the King not arrived on time, he would have been dead meat by now.


    ¡°Like two little boys fighting over the most popr girl in ss,¡± the Lycan bites at us angrily. ¡°What exactly do you want? I am not in a position to change the decisions of the Moon Goddess. But I can ask you to settle this civilly. If Ariel wants to leave, you are not the one to stop her. You could simplyin to the Council again about unfulfilled agreements¡±.


    I look at the Alpha triumphantly. A simple fact that he couldn¡¯t even think of, this idiot.


    ¡°Not only that, my King. Ariel remained under his raid. As an Alpha with heightened senses, he should have noticed that she was pregnant. Alpha Zane, by cing the choker on my daughters, has put not only them but my unborn grandchild, in grave danger. This is uneptable.¡±


    A new high authority approached, my father-inw and President of the Council.


    With folded hands, I wait for these two highest authorities of the werewolf species to confirm my arguments to rid us of the presence of Midnight Moon and the Alpha. Xander and I are ready to finish the job. Alpha Zane is brainless, he has yed into my hands perfectly.


    ¡°It seems I am not the only one who disputes the necessity of this Alpha¡¯s existence. Every werewolf is responsible for the welfare of others. But this one has chosen to endanger a she-wolf out of selfishness. I¡¯ll destroy her.¡±


    I wave to my warriors as they prepare to enter Midnight Moon. Burn everything on the packnd, is the order. The members can find shelter in another pack. I know Ariel will agree. Killing hundreds of wolves, as I nned in my first rage, is not really her thing. And I would also turn the king against me.


    ¡°Gorgio, I¡¯m with you. But the Beta must show up first. I¡¯ll take him with me, he¡¯s my mate¡±. With raised brows, I turn to Alexis. And just then the Beta arrives, probably alerted by the Midnight Moon warriors who saw their ending.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    ¡®MATE! MINE!¡¯ it sounds beside me.


    And Alexis falls around the Beta¡¯s neck¡­

 I Accept

    Alpha Zane¡¯s point of view


    My position in this whole affair is deteriorating by the minute.


    Both the King and the Council are against me, and in retrospect, the idea of the choker was outright stupid. Gorgio, of course, repeatedly uses it against me, which only increases the King¡¯s anger. And now Alexis joins in to rub salt in the wound, I now have three opponents.


    I have to figure out how to save myself and my pack.


    Gorgio wants my head, and we all know that only if I¡¯m dead will there be peace in his rtionship with Ariel.  I am the troublemaker, always demanding my ce in this triangr pairing.


    Eric! Didn¡¯t he say Alexis was his mate? This is my only chance to change things drastically. ¡®Eric, to the gates. Hurry, the survival of our pack depends on it.¡¯ And within seconds I catch his scent and breathe a sigh of relief.


    As soon as he sees Alexis, he runs to her and takes her in his arms. They are mates, thank God. I have never been so relieved to hear this news. They stare at each other lovingly, with no intention of letting go any time soon.


    ¡®MATE!¡¯


    ¡°Alpha Zane, is that your Beta holding the Alpha princess?¡± the King inquires.N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    I nod in the affirmative, pleased with myself and the oue of my Beta¡¯s arrival. Both the King and the Alpha King look at the couple doubtfully. They must be calcting how any sanctions for Midnight Moon might affect the two. The Moon Goddess couldn¡¯t have given me a better tool to save the situation.


    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s Beta Eric. Alexis¡¯ mate, Alpha King Petric¡¯s second daughter¡±.


    ¡°Thatplicates things. But Alpha Zane will not escape punishment. I take the matter of the choker seriously, especially since Luna Arielined about it to me personally,¡± the King insists. His warriors move forward, waiting for the King¡¯s signal. I know I have no chance against just one of them, and now theye five at a time.


    Kensley, man. Where are you? The pack is in a critical situation and you¡¯re nowhere to be seen. Eric and I are dealing with the King and Alpha King. I managed to distract them briefly, but not for long.


    I can¡¯t imagine that my Head Warrior is absent in this time of imminent war. He should be on the front line here, but he fails. I roar in anger at the pack link.


    ¡®Calm down, Zane. You know I¡¯m very thoughtful,¡¯ he replies into the mind link. I have just heard from one of our spies that Ariel is on her way here. She is returning. But I don¡¯t think you had anything to do with her decision toe back.¡¯


    I stiffen, not quite sure if Ariel¡¯s presence will be to my advantage. She will definitely be angry about what I have done to her. But she still needs me to make a new deal. I am her mate, if Gorgio kills me and my pack, she will feel it in the mate bond, however weak it may be. I admit she will recover quickly with Gorgio¡¯s help, but then I will have at least half an hour to make my case.


    ¡®I¡¯ve sent some warriors to apany her. She is not really happy about it, but at least the car is moving at high speed towards our pack. A few more minutes and she will be here.¡¯


    ¡°My King, I have just heard from my chief warrior that Ariel is on her way here. It is only a matter of minutes before she arrives. I suggest we wait for her and listen to her exnation.¡±


    ¡°And what do you think will change for you, Apha? Ariel hates you for the way you treated her, that¡¯s for sure. Don¡¯t really expect anything from her,¡± Alexis bites at me. My eyes turn pitch ck and w snarls menacingly at her public disrespect. Alexis may be the Alpha Princess, but as my Beta mate, she will be under my authority in a few days.


    The least I expect of her is to address me with respect, especially in front of third parties. A she-wolf will not earn me thebel of a worthless leader.


    ¡°May I remind you that Ariel is my mate? And she will not be able to stay angry with me. But you, on the other hand, should be careful with your tongue. Don¡¯t forget that Eric is my beta,¡± I remind her.


    Before she can respond, a car screeches to a halt.


    Ariel jumps out, her eyes sweeping over us until theynd on Gorgio. She ran towards him, shouting his name, and he caught her perfectly. I could tell he was being careful, but he still held her tightly.


    ¡°My Luna, atst,¡± he breathes into her neck. ¡°I was getting desperate. But I wanted to shatter this excuse of a pack so that you could return safely and without fear. Aaahhh how d I am to see you, Xander is going crazy with happiness in my head¡±.


    They clung to each other like drowning men until Gorgio whispered something in her ear.


    With a jerk, Ariel turns to face the King and salutes him. Staring at the woman before him, the Lycan rxes noticeably and pats her on the head. ¡°I¡¯m d to see you back safely, Luna.¡±


    Then she walks over to her father and embraces him. ¡°My daughter, how worried I was. But thanks to Selene, you are back¡±.


    And then I saw it, small but undoubtedly there.


    Ariel is indeed pregnant. Not with me, but Gorgio¡¯s. Another setback, now I wonder if this mating was meant to hurt me. A pang of grief rips through my chest at the sight of my mate pregnant with another.


    And then shees to me.


    ¡°ept my rejection, Zane. Now!¡± Her authority washes over me, I don¡¯t want to give in. I¡¯m her mate, we¡¯re equals, and she shouldn¡¯t be bossing me around. But then I realized that this is a lost cause, Ariel can never be mine. She will always be on the run if I force this mating. Especially now, Gorgio would rather kill me than share her.


    ¡°I ept your rejection, Ariel. You are free to live your life as you wish¡±. The pain that coursed through me stopped me from breathing for a few seconds. I threw myself against the pir of the gate, gasping for air. Then suddenly I heard it somewhere, a familiar exmation.


    This day was full of surprises¡­

 The Wait Is Over

    Eclipse Howl Beta Jace¡¯s point of view


    A delicious scent of strawberry mint mixes with Ariel as she throws herself into Gorgio¡¯s arms.


    It¡¯s faint, I can¡¯t quite put my finger on it, this feeling that ignites inside me and makes Dexter restless. What I do know is that I must have more of it, I can¡¯t leave it here and go. I have a hunch, but apart from Ariel, Alexis and the witch, there are no other females here.


    Or maybe one of the warriors is a woman in disguise.N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    Because I¡¯m not gay, that¡¯s as sure as the sun will rise tomorrow. But the scent is tantalizing, I want a taste as well. But where is its wearer? I scan the area again, my attention now away from the conversations in front of me. Alpha Zane is trying to dy his death, using the King¡¯s presence to his advantage.


    There is no other female in sight.


    ¡®Dexter, is this what I think it is? Is our mate here? Reach for her wolf, I don¡¯t want to lose her. We got to have her¡¯.


    ¡®I want her too, but I can¡¯t see her. We lost Alexis, she belongs to the Beta of Midnight Moon. But it looks like Selene is rewarding us with another. Aaahh Jace, I want to meet her so badly. I will pamper her to the moon and back so that she never leaves us.¡¯


    I look again at Alexis, who is hanging lovingly around Beta Eric¡¯s neck. He has his face in her hair and I can see a vein pulsating in his neck. The man is terribly eager to mark his mate right here. If Alexis were mine, I would waste no time in iming her. The Alpha King¡¯s litter is magnificent, his daughters perfect.


    And then I saw her. Carelessly she steps out of the car, but when she has taken a few steps her eyes turn big as saucers. She has sniffed me and cannot believe she has finally met me. Her eyes make a round until they reach mine.


    ¡®MATE!¡¯ we whisper simultaneously, staring at each other in utter disbelief.


    It prates me immediately, the authority shining through her eyes. She is a Lycan. So this must be the cousin King Jasper was talking about, the one he visited in the hospital in Human Town. And she helped Ariel escape from Midnight Moon. My heart leaps with pride and joy, she probably has the same urge to protect my Luna as I do. That is great.


    We take a few steps towards each other before she sprints up and hugs me around the waist, her hands gripping me like a vise. She is definitely not small, but at my height, her head is just below my neck.


    ¡°Atst! I have finally met you. I have been through so many packs looking for you. And now I meet you in the middle of a war.¡± My hands go around her, of course, my fingers buried in her hair as I hold her tight against me.


    ¡°You found me, this is the right time. I have been waiting for you too. I nned to search for you once Gorgio and Ariel had everything under control. But you are more than wee in my life, my lovely mate. I gently pull her head back so I can look straight into her face.


    Bloody beautiful. All mine.


    Unable to resist the temptation, I pecked her lips.


    ¡°I am Beta Jace of Eclipse Howl. Be a good girl and tell me your name. And your pack.¡±


    ¡°Fiona. I am half human and Lycan. The King is my uncle. I hope you don¡¯t mind.¡± I feel her pull away in fear, but I hold her tight. Nothing can take her from me now, in my arms she will stay for the rest of her life.


    ¡°Even if you were a full-blooded human, I would still want you. You¡¯re my mate and that¡¯s all that matters.¡± I kiss her forehead.


    ¡°You have a wolf,¡± I observed. ¡°Xander tells me happily that your wolf is great and has epted him. Shall we do the same?¡± Shyly, she bobs her head several times.


    ¡°I ept Beta Jace of Eclipse Howl as my mate and pledge allegiance to him and never leave his side.¡± Dexter performs ap dance in my head as I stare at Fiona in love.


    ¡°And I ept you too, Fiona, with all my heart. I will care for you and protect you, even with my life.¡± And just as I am about to kiss her on the lips, I hear Alvin, the Head Warrior.


    And just as I am about to kiss her passionately, I hear Alvin, the Head Warrior.


    ¡°Boy, am I d you got this girl. I was afraid Xanna was your mate and I would have to forget my ns for tonight. Dear Fiona, wee to our pack.¡± All three of us burst outughing, even though the circumstances around us left little room for jokes.


    And then I sobered up instantly.


    ¡°Xanna!¡± I burst out. With my mate still pressed against me, I turned to look for the witch.


    ¡°Here she is, Beta. In my arms.¡± I nced at the Head Warrior for a moment before turning to the woman.


    ¡°It¡¯s time to remove the choker. Put it around Alpha Zane¡¯s neck for all I care,¡± I growl sarcastically. Out of the corner of my eye, I see the Alpha take a step back as Gorgio chuckles. He takes Ariel to the witch.


    Xanna closes her eyes and mumbles a few words in a foreignnguage. Her hands tremble as she unlocks the choker and opens her eyes.


    ¡°This was prepared by a ck witch. Alpha, what were your ns with Ariel? This was not only to suppress her wolf but to control it as well. Ariel would gradually be forced to see Alpha Zane as her mate.¡± Xanna¡¯s hoarse voice rises in the deafening silence.


    The King and the Alpha King, who had been watching in silence, growl dangerously at the Alpha. He will have to figure out how to get out of this alive.


    But once again the loser is saved. This time by an unexpected visitor.


    ¡°Don¡¯t me him, Ariel. This Alpha is capable of anything to get his way. Nothing can interfere with his ns. And he wanted you, no matter what it took. Zane is evil.¡±


    All mouths drop open at the sight of the red-headed woman.


    She is pregnant, my senses detect the pup with her.


    ¡®MATE!¡¯..

 Mateless

    Alpha Zane¡¯s POINT OF VIEW


    She stared at me with eyes full of disgust.


    The gorgeous blue, almond-shaped sapphire that had looked at me so lovingly thest time wasn¡¯t about to let me go thatst morning after an unforgettable night. She had given herself to me wholeheartedly and I was ready to make her my chosen mate. Until I was told that Ariel was still within my reach.


    I won¡¯t lie, I hadpletely forgotten about rita¡¯s existence when it turned out that the mate bond with Ariel was still in ce. After I left for my pack that day, I waspletely focused on winning my mate¡¯s heart, never mind that I already had someone who loved me unconditionally. Ariel had always been beyond my reach; rita was my second chance at happiness.


    But judging by her face, I blew itpletely.


    She hates me, her eyes tell me everything. How could I have been so stupid? All this time I was chasing the impossible, when the ultimate happiness was within my grasp, in fact, I had already found it. Damn me! How blind I was.


    And what makes the situation even worse is that she is unable to feel the mate bond as my second chance mate because she is human. In order to love her and make her ept me as her mate, I must regain her trust.


    Everyone looks from me to rita in disbelief, wondering how we got to know each other.


    ¡°rita,¡± I take a step towards her, but her icy gaze freezes me instantly.


    ¡°If you¡¯re wondering how I met this Alpha, well, it¡¯s a short story,¡± she starts.


    ¡°I met him in a boutique in Human Town. I was looking for a distraction while Ariel and Gorgio were busy making up for the lost time. And the Alpha conveniently forgot to tell me that he was already mated¡±. She looks at Ariel pleadingly.


    ¡°In fact, I did have a brief affair with a married man. My best friend¡¯s husband. God, how terrible I feel right now, I betrayed my best friend, like a bitch in heat I went after her husband. This is how I repay her for saving me when life was tearing me apart¡±. Tears stream down her cheeks as she walks over to Ariel and falls to her knees.


    Her dress folds over her belly, revealing a bump. I hold my breath, unable to believe what my brain is registering.


    ¡®w! Please say something. Speak to me before I go mad,¡¯ I call to my wolf.


    ¡®Oh, man. What can I say? We messed up. Badly. It¡¯s our pup, the heir to Midnight Moon. We have to win her over, Zane. And we can¡¯t appeal to the bond, she doesn¡¯t feel that, she¡¯s human.¡¯ Sadly, he stares at our mate, who is now kneeling before Ariel, her head bowed in shame.


    Ariel takes her by the shoulders and lifts her.


    ¡°rita, you did not humiliate me. The bond between Zane and I was never strong. Besides, you didn¡¯t know he was my mate at the time,¡± sheforts her friend. But rita shakes her head.


    ¡°If only I had been more considerate. The name should have given me a clue. But I didn¡¯t know that the man I met outside a pack was a werewolf. I thought I was dealing with a human like me, especially since he knew my ex and also had a business somewhere¡±.


    rita¡¯s body begins to shake from heartbreaking sobs.


    I fear for our pup now, this state of mind will do her no good. I take a few steps towards her, keeping a good distance.


    ¡°rita, I didn¡¯t set you up. I thought I was dealing with Ariel when my mate and I rejected each other. And then I went on holiday as a single man, where I met you. Kensley and Eric are my witnesses, they can confirm my words¡±.


    My mate doesn¡¯t even look up but continues to shake her head.


    ¡°You should have told me from the beginning that you were a werewolf Alpha. Then I would have been more careful and asked the right questions. And I wouldn¡¯t have ended up in this mess.¡± Her voice is full of regret. A pang of pain shes through me when I hear that. The hours we spent together were wonderful and she regrets them.


    ¡°We didn¡¯t do anything wrong, rita. We were good together. I just didn¡¯t know then that I was still mated to Ariel, that Alexis had betrayed me. I only found out the morning I asked you to leave.¡±


    I sound almost pleading, the thought of losing her gnawing at my heart.


    ¡°rita, you are Alpha Zane¡¯s second chance mate. You both get another chance at love. Take this. My ce is next to Gorgio, it always has been. Don¡¯t let the past affect your happiness,¡± Ariel implores her.


    ¡°Be well, Ariel. Thank you for everything. I¡¯m sorry I betrayed your trust by sleeping with your man¡±. She turns and walks back to a waiting car.


    I follow her, but then I see another she-wolf get out of the car she arrived in. The woman grabs rita¡¯s shoulders as she throws a scathing look at me. I growl at this uneptable behavior. And then I hear a muffled cry of pain behind me. But I don¡¯t have time for that, I have to stop my mate from leaving me.


    ¡°rita, where are you going? Let¡¯s talk about this, it¡¯s not what you think, my love¡±.


    She stopped without looking at me. ¡°What do you want to talk about, Zane? Admit that you forgot about me as soon as you heard that Ariel was still your mate. And if she hadn¡¯t pressured you into epting her rejection, you would never have remembered me, I was already erased from your memory¡±. She sounds calm, but I can still hear the despondency in her voice.


    ¡°You do know that werewolves can only be with their mate. I couldn¡¯t resist Ariel when she was still my mate. But now that we have rejected each other, the Moon Goddess has blessed me with a second chance. That¡¯s you, rita. You are my fated mate¡±.


    She cowers and again shakes her head in denial, refusing to believe me. I know she thinks I want to use her now that I am without a mate.


    Moon Goddess, how can I convince her that we are meant to be together?..N?velDrama.Org is the owner.

 I Need Love

    rita¡¯s POINT OF VIEW


    If Matt managed to strip me of my self-respect, believe me, what he did to me was nothingpared to Zane¡¯s betrayal. Watching Zane beg for Ariel¡¯s love, trying to force her to ept him into her rtionship with Gorgio was heartbreaking.


    Gorgio was willing to go to war to get Zane off his mate¡¯s back.


    Everyone knows he would remain a sore spot on Gorgio¡¯s leg, always thinking of ways to get Ariel to be with him. And Gorgio does not want to risk Ariel running off again to avoid Zane, he wants his mate and his cub safe and unhindered with him. So he has arrived at Midnight Moon with his army to destroy the Alpha and the pack.Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.


    From my position in the car, I watched the whole drama unfold. My lover was not about to let Ariel go. That was until his position became unbearable due to the choker he had forcibly ced around her neck. The mating of Ariel¡¯s sister with the Beta and Beta Jace with the Lycan girl mitigated his crime somewhat as it was a family affair.


    I stood and listened to his words of love for Ariel.


    That same man who promised to keep me in his life forever, told me how special I was to him and asked me to wait for him, no matter how long it took. Well, I would probably still be dying waiting if he could have had Ariel.


    ¡®You are the best I have ever had. You are amazing, I already know I will never be able to let you go,¡¯ he had sworn after a wonderful night of heavenly love together. Or was that just lust on his part? The night our baby was conceived. And then to stand there and listen to him trying everything to win over an unwilling woman was definitely hurtful. It was like a dagger being plunged into my heart, thrust deeper as he imed Ariel.


    There was no ce for me and my baby in Zane¡¯s life, he never loved me, his heart belonged to Ariel all the time.


    I came to Midnight Moon expecting that if Zane saw me again, his feelings for me would be rekindled. He would take me in his arms and I would tell him that we were going to be parents, that our baby was on the way. And then we would be together, he would ask me to marry him so we could have a family of our own. Ariel would be a thing of the past.


    And once again I was blindsided.


    I was dumped once more, rejected for the second time by the man I had lost my heart to. Only this time I was not left alone. I have Serene now and my baby is on the way. So I won¡¯t be lonely. But my encounter with Ariel was unexpected and still painful. I hadn¡¯t expected to meet her there.


    I once knew what it was like to be betrayed, and now I am the traitor. Fortunately, my friend has Gorgio, who loves her unconditionally. She will not be alone either, thank God. Zane will have to live with his lies and the consequences.


    He tried to convince me to stay with him by iming I was his second-chance mate.


    Of course, now that Ariel is officially out of his reach, he is looking for a recement. But I am not a spare for the original good. I want a man who genuinely loves me, who chooses me the first, second and third time.  I¡¯m not one of those hideous baby mamas I see on unrated reality TV shows pleading to get back into a man¡¯s life.


    ¡°rita, are you sure you made the right decision to reject Zane?¡±


    Serene snaps me out of my miserable muses. After Ariel, she is the only one who really understands me. And she has stood by me all this time, ever since we left Eclipse Howl.


    ¡°Of course I have. You¡¯ve seen for yourself where his heart lies. He lied to me. He never intended to keep me with him, his heart was always with Ariel. He did not wait a minute to have her back when he heard that it was not she but Alexis with whom he had exchanged a rejection.¡±


    ¡°But he finally agreed to ept her rejection. And then you turned out to be his second chance mate. What a coincidence,¡± she replies almost excitedly. Her eyes sparkle as she ps her hands several times in joy. ¡°It will all work out, rita. Give in to the Alpha and your life will be so much easier.¡±


    I shake my head stubbornly.


    ¡°I can¡¯t ignore his betrayal. I have already been betrayed once and I cannot go through that again. Zane can forget about the mate bond and find another woman who is as easy to manipte as I was.¡±


    Serene shakes her head in pity. Keeping her eyes on the road, she drives back to Human Town. ¡°Do you know what you will do now? You¡¯ve severed all ties with Eclipse Howl and Midnight Moon. Do you have a n for the future?¡±


    She is right, I am on my own again. I need a n before the baby is born. We need a ce to live, as close to the hospital as possible. And then I need to get a job, my credit card won¡¯tst much longer.


    ¡°Do you want to go back to Eclipse Howl? You must miss your family there,¡± I ask her. She is silent for a moment, staring nkly ahead. I can feel that something is troubling her.


    ¡°Eclipse Howl is no longer my home. I am a werewolf, rita. My home is where my mate lives. And he is not in my pack.¡±


    ¡°Your mate? You never told me that you had a mate. Otherwise, I wouldn¡¯t have allowed you toe with me.¡±


    Sheughs mockingly.


    ¡°If I hadn¡¯te with you, I wouldn¡¯t have met him. But now that I know who he is, I can¡¯t possibly go to him. At least not until you get your affairs in order. I can¡¯t leave you alone with the baby.¡±


    I squeeze her hand gratefully. I know I need her help, even if it seems selfish.


    ¡°You will understand betterter, rita. But you are my Luna and it is my duty to protect you with the Alpha heir. Until it¡¯s time¡±.


    Astonished, I turned to her.


    ¡°You speak in riddles. And I am no Luna. You heard me reject Zane. Besides, I¡¯m human, I don¡¯t have to follow werewolf traditions.¡±


    She is silent and we drive back to the hotel in silence. ..

 Don’t Want Him Anymore

    rita¡¯s POINT OF VIEW


    After a week in the hotel, we finally managed to snag a nice house on ake. It adjoins a park where I walk severalps every day to keep fit. It is a cottage model with three spacious bedrooms, arge covered terrace at the back and a broad balcony at the front.


    We have been living here for almost two weeks now and I really like it.


    Especially in the evenings, there is a cool breeze that makes the leaves rustle from the trees, which helps me to rx. Serene and I sit on the back terrace with a hot cup of coffee, making ns for the future. At least, I am the one who talks enthusiastically about getting a good job and traveling around the world with my baby.


    Serene mostly listens and nods silently. Sometimes I wonder if she wouldn¡¯t rather go back to her pack; Ariel had told me that werewolves can only survive if they¡¯re together. Her words about being responsible for my safety still linger in my mind. I haven¡¯t had a chance to ask her more about this yet, but I¡¯ll ask her for an exnationter, when we¡¯re more settled in the house.


    We are now back on the porch watching the sunset.


    Today I sent out some job applications topanies in the area and am waiting for a response. With my Masters in Business Administration, I should have no problem finding work. The only drawback is that I don¡¯t have any work experience, but I hope that at least onepany won¡¯t see that as an obstacle.


    ¡°rita, I have made an appointment for you at the hospital. It¡¯s time for a check-up, you¡¯re already two months pregnant. And your belly is already starting to show¡±. I¡¯m startled by Serene¡¯sment. It is indeed time for my regr check-up, but I keep putting it off. ording to my calctions, I should be two months along, but my round belly tells a different story.


    ¡°But how are we going to tell the doctor that the father is a werewolf Alpha, Serene? Look at me, my belly is bigger than a normal pregnancy. Two months shouldn¡¯t show yet, but look at me¡±. I threw my sweater up so she could see the round bump. Shyly, I rubbed it, because for a few days now I had been feeling slight movements. It was as if my baby wanted to reassure me that it was really going to be born.


    Serene bursts outughing.


    ¡°Yes, thates from being impregnated by a strong Alpha. Werewolves only carry their pups for six months. I guess that will be the case with you too,¡± she hups. ¡°But don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve arranged for a werewolf doctor who works there as part of her studies. So she knows how to treat you.¡±


    Relieved, I nod and hug her. ¡°Thank you, Serene. I don¡¯t know how I would have managed without your help. Everything is so new to me¡±.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll make sure you¡¯re okay,¡± she assures me.


    We sit and sip our coffee for a few more minutes before she looks at me again.


    ¡°rita, are you going to let Zane go to the doctor with you? You know he has a right to see his pup. You can¡¯t deny him that, this is his first and most likely his sessor,¡± she says quietly.


    Hearing her say that, my spirits drop.


    For the past few weeks, I have refused to think about this fake ass. I keep seeing him trying to extort Ariel from Gorgio, trying toy a im on her. And all the while he expected me to wait for him to put his affairs in order.


    For two weeks he called me every day, several times a day. Until I blocked his number. And then he called from a different number, which I also blocked. And now he hasn¡¯t called for several days, I guess he finally understood that I was serious about keeping him out of my life.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want anything more to do with Zane. He is in my past. There is no ce in my life for a cheater,¡± I said firmly. ¡°My child and I can do without him.¡±


    ¡°Is that fair to the pup? It has every right to know its father, whatever he is willing to offer. Zane will im it one day, it¡¯s his heir, you must understand that too¡±.


    I shake my head stubbornly. ¡°Zane will have to go over my dead body to have my child. He can look for another girlfriend and have his heir with her. Between us, it¡¯s over for good.¡±


    Serene rolls her eyes, but wisely decides to drop the subject.


    And then I start thinking about Ariel. We are roughly in the same stage of our pregnancy. Wistfully, I think back to our lost friendship. If only I had not left Eclipse Howl to seek distraction in the mall and met Zane there, I would be with her now. We would be looking forward to the arrival of her baby, shopping and eating healthy food in the food court.


    Things would be very different if I had not be involved with her man.


    Although she tried to convince me that she never loved Zane, I could not bear to have that man around me. Ariel told me a lot about werewolves and how a mate is a special gift from the Moon Goddess.  A mate is already a soul mate, the bond is strong and they are inseparable.


    She had two mates, Gorgio and Zane. Zane¡¯s rejection might be temporary, if they were truly soulmates, they would not be able to live without each other in the long run. And the way Zane wanted to keep her in his life said it all.


    I will not risk being rejected a third time.Original from N?velDrama.Org.


    Better I stay alone. Serene will have toe back eventually, but by then I hope my baby will be here and I can give it all my love and attention.


    A few minutester, Serene and I decide to break up and have dinner in the house.


    As she closes the door behind us, I suddenly hear a loud howling in the forest¡­

 A Disgrace and A Blessing

    Still rita¡¯s POINT OF VIEW


    With Serene by my side, I enter the hospital.


    I look around a little ufortably, particrly sensitive to the presence of werewolves. I don¡¯t have the instinct to distinguish them from others, but somehow I¡¯m sensitive to their presence.


    This must have something to do with my baby, who clearly has the most werewolf genes. Two months into the pregnancy and it¡¯s already kicking, which is unusual for its age. But I¡¯m d it¡¯s alive and well, and sometimes I can lie still on the bed and wait for it to be ready for training again.


    My friend goes to the desk and signs us in.


    The nurse smiles when she hears my name. ¡°You have an appointment with Dr. Erena? She is waiting for you, you are herst patient¡±. Serene nods in acknowledgement and the other woman gets up from her chair and walks ahead of us.


    After a few corridors, we stopped at a wide door. The woman knocks and when permission is granted, opens the door. ¡°Doctor Erena is expecting you,¡± she smiled.


    We went in and found a ck-haired woman with sses on her nose. She tried to sniff unnoticed, probably trying to sense my rank. Serena called her in because she was a werewolf and assumed she would be able to spot a she-wolf.


    ¡°But she¡¯s human. Didn¡¯t you tell me to treat a female werewolf, Serene?¡± she asks in amazement. We can barely contain ourughter. Serene shakes her head as we sit down in the guest chairs.


    ¡°This is Luna rita. She is Alpha Zane¡¯s mate. They are having problems at the moment. But she is pregnant with his offspring. This is her first real consultation since she found out she was pregnant,¡± Serene exins.


    The doctor smiles broadly. ¡°Well, this is the second Luna I have here. Our packs are growing well with so many pups being born¡±. She beams with pride as she looks at me inquiringly.


    ¡°Did you say Zane, the Alpha of Midnight Moon? Are you the one everyone is talking about on social media?¡±


    I looked at her in surprise. It has been months since Ist updated my social media ount. She reads the disbelief on my face and sighs.


    ¡°Alpha Zane is in a love triangle with Luna Ariel and Alpha Gorgio. It is rumored that he is secretly involved with a human, some wolves have seen him with her on his private yacht.¡±


    I almost fell off my chair in shock. I can just see Serene shooting her a warning look. But the doctor looks back fearlessly, disapprovingly, her gaze shifting back to me.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t know he was a werewolf and an Alpha when I first met him. He had introduced himself to me as a single man and even promised that we would stay together. It was onlyter when I got my baby¡¯s test results, that I knew the father was a werewolf,¡± I confessed sadly. ¡°And then I made the connection with Ariel¡¯s love problems and found out that I was dealing with the same Alpha as my girlfriend. But it was toote, I was already pregnant.¡±


    Tears welled up in my eyes. Zane haspletely disgraced me, my integrity is on the line.


    Had I known who he was when we first met, I would have decided differently. I don¡¯t regret having the baby, though, but I do wish it had a more suitable father. Our lives would be lessplicated.


    Now I hear that more people know about this affair. I hope it won¡¯t affect my application for a job. If it does, I will be forced to move to another state. The worst part is that people are jumping to conclusions without hearing my side of the story. Now I am known as the homewrecker and the one who seduced my friend¡¯s man.


    Acid rises from my stomach to my mouth and I start to feel nauseous.


    Just when I thought my life was getting better after Matt¡¯s divorce, I seem to have fallen into another catastrophe. And this time more people are involved and many more know about my mistake.


    And then I feel Serene¡¯s arms around me.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, rita. Soon everyone will know exactly what happened. You are not to me. It is really a confluence of circumstances. You should rx, what people can change in the blink of an eye¡±.


    And then she turned back to the doctor.


    ¡°Ariel and Zane have officially rejected each other. She was on the run again, heading for Gorgio. Zane had no chance with her anyway. And after the rejection, rita turned out to be Zane¡¯s second chance. I was there when it all happened.¡±


    ¡°After hearing your version of the story, I also believe that you are not to me, Luna. In fact, I think the Moon Goddess arranged it all with a n. There was no other way to bring you and Zane together but through Ariel¡±. The doctor looks at me sympathetically this time.


    ¡°Come, let¡¯s take care of the pup. It needs to be born healthy and well. That is our top priority right now¡±. Shees around her desk to me. With a smile, she helps me to my feet and leads me into the examination room.


    She hands me a blue gown and, having changed, I lie down on a bed.


    She switched on the monitor of her equipment, put some gel on my stomach and began to run a small device over my abdomen.


    Soon the images appeared on the screen.


    The woman stares at the screen, wrinkles her forehead a few times and takes a pencil.


    ¡°What is it, Erena? Is something wrong?¡± Serene looks worriedly at the screen.


    ¡°No, nothing¡¯s wrong. Are you seeing what I¡¯m seeing?¡± Her voice bes more cheerful.


    She taps the screen carefully with the pen.


    ¡°Twins? There are two babies?¡± I let out a squeal of delight. This is more than I could have imagined.N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    ¡°Serene, I¡¯m having two babies. Doesn¡¯t it look like a boy and a girl?¡±¡­

 Girlfriend

    Still rita¡¯s POINT OF VIEW


    Still in the bliss of my babies, I step out of the doctor¡¯s office.


    A big smile is on my face, the misery of an hour ago is gone. All I can think about now is my future with my twins. Never alone again and always loved. That¡¯s how I always imagined my life. Of course, I would have loved to have had a loving husband with me and a father for my children, but I have no intention of mourning this void any longer.


    Serene says goodbye to Dr. Erena while I walk with my head in the clouds, oblivious to my surroundings. As I rounded the corner, I bumped into a woman. She grabbed my arms to stop me from falling to the floor.


    When I raised my head to apologize with a smile, I recognized her instantly.


    Amelia! The girlfriend of Mase, the captain of Zane¡¯s yacht. Or should I say his mate? I don¡¯t know whether tough or cry at the sight of this woman; she certainly doesn¡¯t bring back good memories. I have no idea if she knew that Zane had been cheating on me the whole time we were on the yacht.


    ¡°rita!¡± she exims as soon as she remembers me.


    ¡°Girl, where have you been all this time? You disappeared all of a sudden, Mase couldn¡¯t tell me where you went either¡±.


    I look at her hesitantly, not quite sure what to say. I still know too little about Amelia, she and Mase were nowhere to be seen during the whole drama.


    ¡°And you¡¯re pregnant! I can tell it¡¯s Zane¡¯s pup. Does he know yet? He hasn¡¯t said a word about this,¡± she chatters on. When I hear the cheater¡¯s name, my face tightens. I don¡¯t want to hear his name around me anymore, so I know that Amelia will not be one of my regr friends. I need to end this conversation soon so I don¡¯t have to be reminded of the man again.


    ¡°Nice to see you again, Amelia,¡± I reply vaguely, trying to walk around her. But she has no intention of letting me go and grabs my arm. I let out a deep sigh and looked back at her. She had obviously missed the hint.


    ¡°rita, I know what happened. I¡¯m sorry that things turned out the way they did between you and Zane, but I can assure you that he¡¯s sorry. And misses you very much.¡± I roll my eyes and try to pull my arm out of her grip.


    ¡°That must be hard for him. But I¡¯ve moved on with my life. So he can go find his next girlfriend as long as he stays away from me.¡± I remove all emotion from my voice, knowing that she will tell Zane and Mase. Zane needs to know that I have burnt all my bridges behind me and I am starting a new life.


    ¡°But you can¡¯t, rita. The pup you are carrying is the next in line to lead the pack. Zane will have to bring him back or the pack wille for him. You have toe back.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m human, Amelia, don¡¯t forget that. Zane will find a woman of his kind and then he can make so many sessors. My child and I will stay here. We have nothing to do with the werewolf pack,¡± I insist. ¡°I will never go with that bastard.¡± I try to get past her again, but she moves in front of me to cut me off.


    ¡°She saw the social media posts. And that upset her even more¡±. Serene joins us and looks apologetically at the woman in front of me. ¡°It doesn¡¯t get any easier for Zane¡±.


    ¡°Oohh, but Ariel exined everything. And thements have changed, everyone mes Zane now. They too, think the Alpha screwed up and should make up with rita. Some even want him to crawl to her.¡± Amelia scoffs. But thankfully she has let go of me now.


    ¡°Come, let me show you Ariel¡¯sments. She feels bad that things have turned out this way. She was looking forward to having you around now that she is expecting her first pups. You are her best friend and she made it clear to everyone that her mating with Zane was doomed from the start.¡±


    Blood rushes to my head, embarrassed I dare not look at the woman again. I shift ufortably, not sure if I can see the reactions of the friend I betrayed. Maybe all this is normal for werewolves, but for me, it is super embarrassing.


    ¡°Come on, let¡¯s sit in Erena¡¯s room and use herptop. You can read it all yourself. Ariel misses you, rita. She writes about you on her wall almost every day.¡±


    We go back to the doctor¡¯s office, which is fortunately empty. Amelia sits down at the desk and opens theptop. I noticed that she knew the password and looked up in surprise.


    ¡°Hey, can you just do that? There must be confidential information on there. The doctor wouldn¡¯t approve,¡± I argue. But Amelia smiles.Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Erena is my cousin. We are both from Crescent Moon, my father¡¯s pack. Of course, I belong to Midnight Moon now. Her fingers drift to work and then she beckons me toe closer.


    My heart pounds at the thought of what I am about to read.


    Amelia logs into her ount and within seconds we are on Ariel¡¯s wall.


    ¡®Luna Ariel Vasconcellos of Eclipse Howl¡¯ stands there, proud and emphatic. A statement that cuts through all other reservations. I smile, knowing that Gorgio is also crazy about her and that she has every right to im him openly.


    All the photos she has posted show her with her man. In his office, in their living room, at training. She shows her mate in the gym, leaning on his naked, muscr chest with an adorable expression on her face, while Gorgio looks at her in love.


    And then I saw the picture of her naked, round belly. She is wearing a long velvet jacket, open at the front, showing her belly. Beautiful. In another, Gorgio is standing behind her, kissing her on the head. All great shots of a couple in love, eagerly awaiting their pups.


    Wait, do I read pups? Plural?


    ¡°Hey, is it known if Ariel is having more than one baby? I see pups mentioned everywhere, that¡¯s more than one¡±.


    ¡°Maybe you can ask her yourself at your next talk? Ariel can¡¯t wait to meet you. Look, she wrote it here herself¡±.


    My eyes flicked over a couple of posts where Ariel actually exined that I was not to me for what had happened. ¡°rita, if you are reading this or someone tells you about this post,e back soon. Come to Eclipse Howl, your forever home. I miss you terribly, girlfriend, every day I pray to the Moon Goddess to bring you back. Know that I love you and am waiting for you.¡± ¡­

 All Right

    Again rita¡¯s POINT OF VIEW


    This was not the path I had nned for my future.


    But how could I ignore the urgent pleas of my best friend? She poured her heart out to me in front of the entire werewolfmunity, stepping down from her throne as the daughter of the mighty Alpha King and mate of the invincible Alpha. She made herself vulnerable and begged me to meet her and restore our friendship.


    Although the past few weeks have brought me intense sadness, the arrival of the twins is the best thing that has ever happened to me. I cannot believe my luck, my life has a new meaning. Two children who will love me unconditionally, who will never abandon me like their father and my ex-husband did.


    And I¡¯ll take care of them, make sure they have everything they need. Andter in life, I¡¯ll protect them from making mistakes like I¡¯ve made.


    But now I had to change my ns. Until now, I had not dared to speak to Ariel. Serene and Amelia were more than willing to call her and let her know that I was ready to return to Eclipse Howl, albeit temporarily. Ariel needs me now, and it¡¯s my duty to stand by her, just as she did when my life was hard and I almost gave up.Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    And my best friend sent the Jet to pick me up.


    She wanted toe to Human Town herself to meet me, but Gorgio refused to let her go. He didn¡¯t think it was wise because there were still wolves from Midnight Moon who thought she was their Luna. The Alpha didn¡¯t want to take any risks with his pregnant mate.


    So here Serene and I are in the jet, on our way to Eclipse Howl, where Ariel and Gorgio are waiting for us.


    I am really nervous. Ariel has indicated that she holds no grudge against me, but my guilt is eating away at me. Zane was her mate when I was in bed with him, and that is grave enough for me. I should have been more careful, questioned Zane more about his background. But like a lecherous bitch, I hung around him until he took advantage of me.


    ¡°Hey, don¡¯t worry. Ariel¡¯s thrilled you¡¯reing. Alpha Gorgio said she barely sleptst night and has been staring at the sky all day. Everything will be fine, rita¡±. Serene tries to calm me down. She must sense my fear.


    I give her a watery smile.


    ¡°And the pack? How will they react? When I was there, no one interfered with me because I was human. After what happened, they must think we are all homewreckers. They will never ept me.¡± Serene shakes her head.


    ¡°No. They were willing to give their lives to keep Ariel with their Alpha. Eclipse Howl has high moral standards, a triangle mating is nothing to them. Besides, Ariel and Gorgio exined everything in a pack meeting. No one will use you of anything. We know that the Moon Goddess does the pairing, so you can¡¯t be med for anything,¡¯ she insists. She takes my hand and pats it reassuringly.


    Her words calm me and I look out the hatch again. Another half hour and we will be there. To be honest, I miss Ariel too. All those evenings in Miami, talkingte into the night about our lives and dreams and our nights out, were like therapy for both of us. We were able to forget our misery for a few hours.


    In the end, she got rid of that third wheel in her wonderful rtionship, and I got rid of the loser that was my husband. Our rtionship was strained, but it turns out that Ariel had no intention of forgetting about me.


    As the ne approaches the pack airstrip, the pilot makes the announcement. I grab some of the fruit from the cooler on the table that Ariel had arranged for me. Serene helps me with my seatbelt, now that my round belly is taking up more space.


    I looked out the hatch again and this time I saw two figures standing close together. Ariel and Gorgio. They were leaning against a low car, with two others standing in the background. That must be Beta Jace and Fiona, who came to greet me in their own vehicle.


    As the pilot opens the door, Ariel rushes to the foot of the stairs.


    ¡°rita!¡± she shouts before I can even unbuckle my seatbelt. Serene helps me onto the tform and I see my best friend looking up with a broad smile. Her face was beaming, her ck curls falling in a waterfall. If she was a beauty before, she looked like a goddess now. Not that I have ever seen one beside her, but she certainly fits the description.


    I hurry cautiously down the stairs, Serene in my wake.


    ¡°Ariel!¡± Breathless, we fall into each other¡¯s arms, smiling with the relief of seeing each other again.


    ¡°I thought I had lost you forever. When Serene called me, I couldn¡¯t believe you weren¡¯t far away. And pregnant, just like me¡±. We burst outughing as we stroked each other¡¯s tummies.


    ¡°Twins, Ariel. I¡¯m having twins. Can you believe it?¡± She looks at me in surprise.


    ¡°Two pups? But I¡¯m having twins too. Is that a coincidence?¡± she asks, giggling.


    ¡°I think you two nned it on purpose,¡± Gorgio sounds from behind her. I let go of Ariel and hugged Gorgio tightly around his waist. He has always been very considerate of me, like the older brother I have always longed for.


    ¡°Oh Gorgio, how d I am that everything turned out all right. I was so worried about you when I was at the packhouse, but luckily Jace and Alvin were there to help you,¡± I say with relief.


    Jacees closer when he hears his name.


    ¡°rita, you owe me an exnation. Ariel relied on me to keep you safe in the pack. But before I knew it, you were gone. And when I saw you again, it was in the middle of a war that was about to break out. And where I met the love of my life.¡±


    Shyly, I look at the Beta. But Ariel puts an arm around my shoulders.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Jace. As you can see, she is back and happily expecting. Everything went as it should¡±.


    After a collective grin, we all get into the cars and head for the packhouse¡­

 Just One Look

    Alpha Zane¡¯s POINT OF VIEW


    Kensley or me, I don¡¯t know who looks more miserable.


    My Head Warrior hasn¡¯t slept well in days. His face is contorted with pent-up emotions and there are thick bags under his eyes. The few times he has closed his eyes, he has groaned in his sleep and woken up soon after. He didn¡¯t want to talk about what was bothering him, but I¡¯m sure it¡¯s more than just the fact that the Luna is on the run.Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    But there is little I can do for him. The pain I feel from rita¡¯s rejection is too much to bear. And she is pregnant with my pup. A double pain that drives me to the brink of madness. Now that Kensley and I are mentally unstable, Eric is in charge of Alpha duties. He takes our advice on day-to-day matters but acts as my delegate. Neither my best friend nor I are capable of making sound decisions for the pack.


    We are back on the sofa in my office, Eric sitting at my desk doing paperwork.


    I wipe the sweat from my forehead, my heart racing, making me almost breathless. If I hadn¡¯t kept in shape, I¡¯d probably have had a heart attack by now. rita muste back to me. Even if humans don¡¯t feel the mate¡¯s pull the way werewolves do, it¡¯s only a matter of time before she¡¯s drawn back to me.


    Thest time we met, I tried to exin to her why I had to go back to Ariel when I heard she was still my mate. It is iprehensible to humans, but with the mate bond intact, I could never take rita as my mate. And with the mate pull working strongly on my side, getting Ariel back was my first priority. But when I saw she was pregnant with Gorgio, I knew I had to let her go.


    And then rita felt like a homewrecker, a recement after I became mateless. Even though I swore to her that she was my second chance mate, decided by Selene.


    ¡°Zane, you don¡¯t have much time left. Another week and I am sure another Alpha will challenge you for your position. Time to act. And you can¡¯t even count on me, I¡¯m as weak as you are.¡± Kensley sighs deeply, we both know Eric wouldn¡¯t stand up to an Alpha on a mission. A Beta is strong, but still no match for an Alpha.


    Just then, a text messagees through on my phone.


    Beta Jace. ¡®The ne will bending in five minutes. ording to the agreement with Ariel and Gorgio, you are not allowed to frighten her ¡®. Joy fills my heart, I will finally see my mate again.


    ¡°The nends in five minutes, Kensley. We have to leave now if we want to be on time.¡± You can hear the excitement in my voice. Kensley jumps up, his eyes sparkling with delight.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you, man? It¡¯s not just rita. Have you met your mate?¡±


    He takes a deep breath and nods. Surprised, I stare at him. ¡°Where is she? Did she reject you and is that why you look so bad these days?¡±


    ¡°No, she didn¡¯t reject me. She is on duty, protecting her Luna, which is actually my job. But now that she is closer, I can stay with you.¡±


    Iprehensibly, I frown, there¡¯s so much information in what he¡¯s saying.


    ¡°Do you mean she is with rita now, protecting her?¡± I ask thoughtfully. That¡¯s when it hit me. ¡°Is it rita¡¯s friend who was in the car and came to get her?  Is she your fated?¡±


    My friend nods sadly. ¡± That¡¯s her. And she won¡¯te to me until you and rita have made up. Her job as the head warrior¡¯s mate is to make sure the Luna and the future Alpha are protected,¡± he exins. He runs a hand over his face. ¡°Holy goddess. And I haven¡¯t even had the chance to hold her in my arms, to feel her body against mine. I couldn¡¯t fully inhale her scent, she was too far away. But I long for her so much.¡±


    ¡°Then you know her name and what pack she is from? She must be a werewolf to have taken on her responsibilities¡± I begin to feel sorry for Kensley, his happiness ispletely tied to mine. If rita neveres to live here, he will miss his mate too. Shit, this is goingpletely wrong.


    ¡°Serene! Beta Jace said she left his pack with rita and never came back. She is from Eclipse Howl.¡±


    ¡°Come, let¡¯s go. So you can meet your mate too. I hope it works out better with you than it did with rita and me,¡± I sigh sadly. After saying goodbye to Eric, we went outside. We strip, tie our clothes to our feet and shift into our wolves. It¡¯ll be faster to cross the border with our beasts.


    Gorgio agreed to let us enter his territory from the west, just the two of us. After the war was called off, I approached Ariel and Gorgio to help me find rita. As Ariel¡¯s friend, my mate would be more likely to return, and I would try to win her back. But Ariel insisted that I keep my distance until she gave me the signal to approach rita. She herself would try to persuade her friend to talk to me.


    But for today, I am allowed to admire my love from a distance. It is a small gesture, but enough to cheer my wolf up. w longs for his mate and tries to persuade me to look for her every day. He is weak himself, and I think he will feel much better when he sees her.


    And now it looks like Kensley will be happy today too. He is such an introvert, he never talks about his own problems and is so devoted to the pack and his Alpha. I don¡¯t know how much I can interfere, but I will do everything possible to bring him and Serene together.


    Now that I am determined to persuade rita to ept me, the problem of my head warrior will be solved at the same time.


    As we crossed the border, I heard the Jet. It is about tond. We are not far from the runway, just in time. We hide as close as we can behind a tree. As the door slides open, I see my wife standing at the opening.


    So beautiful. She stands proudly in the sun like a princess. My eyes wander to her round belly where she holds my pup safely. A feeling of pride runs through me, soon I will hold my son in my arms.


    Next to me, I can hear Kensley¡¯s sharp gasp for air. ..

 Give Me Some

    Again Alpha Zane¡¯s POINT OF VIEW


    Kensley and I moved closer to the packhouse.


    Ariel had promised to sit with rita on the back balcony, where I could easily see them from the woods. w tries to take over from me again, but I push him back into the background.


    He is unreliable at the moment, he might run off to rita anyway. He yearns for her.


    ¡®When she was with us, I often asked you if she was ours, our mate. You never gave a specific answer, you always waved me off. And look at you now, like a whipped puppy, insisting on being with her. You are the stupidest wolf I have ever seen.¡¯ With myst words, I m the mind link between us. After all that¡¯s happened, I realize now he couldn¡¯t answer me then because we were still bound to Ariel. But I am not open to reason just yet, it suits me toy all the me on him.


    I hear him growling in tune but ignore him.


    Together with my friend, we go as close as we can. Indeed, I see rita again, now in thepany of several women. With Serene, Fiona, Xanna, Alexis and Ariel she is having a merry chat. The women areughing happily, asionally pping each other on the back, all amicable. Yes, I recognize the witch who lived with Alexis in my pack.


    Jace and Gorgio stand at a distance, but their eyes scan the area alertly. They know I¡¯m nearby and will surely intervene if things don¡¯t go as nned. But I have no intention of betraying their trust, I am sure Ariel will keep her word. Goddess, I can¡¯t wait for things to work out with my mate to finally take her home. It¡¯s been too long.


    All of a sudden, she turns in my direction. It¡¯s as if she senses me. She narrows her eyes to slits and looks towards me. If she were a werewolf, I¡¯m sure she would see me. I grin at her; it¡¯s probably the mate bond at work. Even though she is human, she cannot escape the strong pull.


    She strokes her belly and then turns back to her friends.


    Goddess, how I want to kiss my pup and tell him that I am waiting for him eagerly. I want to teach him how to lead a pack, tell him about our history and his great ancestors. My heir and the future Alpha of Midnight Moon. Again, my love strokes her belly, the pup must be keeping her quite busy. With his Alpha strength, I am sure he will make his presence felt.


    Damn, I¡¯m so in love!


    Head Warrior Kensley ¡­


    She knows I¡¯m close.


    I can feel her body tensing. Another bit of my aura and she won¡¯t be able to resist me. My wolf calls to hers, we cannot be apart for too long. Only the moon goddess knows how long this misunderstanding between Zane and rita willst, but I want to hold my mate in my arms at least once while she performs her duty.


    I put on my were-hearing and hear her tell her new friends that she has to use the loo. Theyout of this packhouse is unfamiliar to me, but I will use the mate bond to guide me. It¡¯s tonight or I don¡¯t know when, but I choose here and now.


    ¡°Zane, my mate will be alone for a few minutes. I have to hold her, my wolf will die if I don¡¯t. The agreement with Ariel is not about me, it is about rita¡±. Luckily, he understands and nods indulgently.


    ¡°But be careful. Try to muffle your scent so you don¡¯t draw attention to yourself.¡±


    And I move closer to the packhouse. Some bushes offer me some cover and I approach the back door. Thankfully, I am wearing a hoodie, so I pull it over my head and part of my face.


    Just as I am about to enter the packhouse, I feel a tap on my shoulder.


    ¡°Looking for me?¡±


    Rooted to the ground, I remain standing, unbelieving that I¡¯ve been caught at all. But then her scent hits me in the face again. That fresh Lily scent that had once overwhelmed my senses is already permeating me. I slowly turn towards her. Now that I see her up close, I notice her green eyes in a face with a wide mouth that always wears a smile.


    I take a step forward, reach out and caress her cheek with the back of my hand. I feel sparks flying, electrifying. She¡¯s perfect, I can¡¯t believe she¡¯s mine.


    ¡°Definitely!¡± I answer her, staring into her captivating eyes. ¡°I couldn¡¯t leave before I had you in my arms. Come here, my mate.¡± All smiles, she throws herself against my chest, her arms wrapped around my waist like a vise. Her face is hidden in my shirt.


    ¡°You know why I kept my distance, don¡¯t you? I can¡¯t leave the Luna on her own, especially now that she¡¯s pregnant. But hopefully, Ariel will be able to quickly convince her to give Zane a chance to make things right.¡±


    ¡°Yes, I know. And I¡¯m so proud of you, you¡¯re already proving to be a responsible mate. I love you already, Serene,¡± I whisper into her ear. She flinches and lifts her head to me.


    ¡°You know my name?¡±


    Iugh hoarsely. ¡°Of course, I have inquired about you. I can¡¯t have a mate I don¡¯t know anything about. Besides, my name is Kensley. And I will wait for you as long as it takes. But my wolf is weakening, we had to hold you and have your scent in our system.¡± I nestle my face into her neck and take a generous sniff.


    Addictive! I don¡¯t know how long I canst without her.


    ¡°I need more of you. This is far from enough¡±. She looks at me strangely. I wink at her.


    ¡°I must warn you, you have a horny mate on your hands. Give me a taste of you¡±. She blushes and lowers her head shyly.


    ¡°Hey, I¡¯m your man. We met for the first time, but I don¡¯t know how long that willst between rita and Zane. I want your scent all over me for God knows how long. Give me some¡±.


    I feel her hesitation. ¡°I¡¯ve never done this before. I ¡­¡±. And now I understand. My mate is a virgin. Delirious, I smile into her hair.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I have enough experience for both of us. Come, let¡¯s go to the forest, I¡¯ll cover you.¡±Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org.

 We Are Equals

    Head Warrior Kensley¡¯s POINT OF VIEW


    Our hands intertwined, I led her into the forest.


    She follows me meekly, but I can hear her heart pounding. She is deadly nervous about what is toe. But I am so excited, this is just what I need until I can take her to Midnight Moon, to my apartment. Goddess, I can¡¯t wait to have her all to myself. She is amazing, the way she has taken to her role as protector bodes well for the future.


    When we are far enough, I take her in my arms and hoist her onto a fallen log. She is at the perfect height so we can look each other straight in the eye.


    ¡°Do you trust me, Serena?¡±


    She nods shyly, unsure of what is about to happen. I cradle her face in my hands and kiss the tip of her nose. ¡°I need this, I need you to get through the next couple of days. Thest nights were hell, I dreamt of you but couldn¡¯t hold you. And now you are in my arms.¡±


    She blushes, her eyes sparkling as she looks at me.


    ¡°I know what you want. I ¡­ hmmm ¡­ I¡¯ve been watching some sex videos online and heard from other she-wolves too,¡± she confesses, looking shyly down at the ground.


    ¡°Is that so? So you have been a naughty girl. Tell me more. How did you feel afterward?¡±


    She smiled coyly. ¡°Hot.¡±


    And now I can¡¯t helpughing. My hands run down her thighs to the edge of her underwear. ¡°As hot as now?¡± Her arousal swirls around us. ¡°And what have you done about it?¡±


    ¡°I ¡­ I used my finger. But it was too small and didn¡¯t go far enough. I got more and more frustrated and couldn¡¯te¡±. As I stroked her, I unbuttoned her blouse, revealing a dark bra. Her breasts are small, but I know that will not be the case for long. My mouth is the perfect tool to get them to the size I prefer.


    I take her hand and study her fingers. No, I don¡¯t think they¡¯re up to the job, they¡¯re too soft and too small. They certainly won¡¯t reach her G-spot. I kiss them one by one in gratitude for keeping my mate upied.


    I move her hand to my crotch, where my rock-hard member is tucked away in my trousers.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I have just what you need. I promise you I can satisfy youpletely, you don¡¯t have to worry about orgasms. And those porn videos, you can continue to watch them. I can make all your fantasiese true¡±.


    Her expression is prize-worthy. Iugh, this girl is going to be the death of me.


    ¡°I told you, I am a horny man. I need a lot of sex, but I am sure you can keep up with me. The Moon Goddess has matched us perfectly¡±. Now I unhook her bra and slide it off her body along with her blouse. Two proudly erect nipples point at me.


    First, I take one in my mouth and taste it. My tongue flicks over the tip and I close my eyes in devotion. I roll the other nipple with my free hand. She digs her face into my hair and muffles a moan. My hand runs down her bare back to her shoulder and back again. As far as I can, I grab her bottom with my big hand and squeeze it hard.


    She gasps with delight, this mate of mine is not as delicate as I thought.Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.


    And then I decided to be a bit more daring. I run a finger through the crack of her butt until I reach her anus. I stroke it a few times before thrusting in, slowly and gently.


    ¡°Goddess!¡± she cries, grabbing my shoulders as she shifts to give me better ess. Damn, my woman sure is feisty.


    But I don¡¯t want to excite her too much, I know we can¡¯t go too far with this. I want to make her first experience unforgettable and the forest with this tree trunk doesn¡¯t fit well into that n. Then my hand disappears between her legs.


    She is dripping wet, the smell of her lust drives me mad. I take several deep breaths to control myself.


    ¡°Girl, you are so ready. You are capable of seducing a saint,¡± I moan into her mouth.


    ¡°And you can make a good girl go bad,¡± she barely manages to get out before my thick finger slides inside her. I start to move slowly, her juices making it so much easier. The soaking sounds push me to the limit, my mouth leaving her nipple to suck on the skin of her shoulder.


    I almost lose it when she starts to rock her hips and press harder against me.


    ¡°Go faster, Kensley. Please. This is so much better ¡­ aahhh, yes. Let mee,¡± she breathes out passionately, her head thrown back now. And then I hit her special spot. She shudders with pleasure as she bucks her hips against my fingers.


    ¡°Yes, babe. Right there. Goddess, this is amazing ¡­ one more,¡± she begs. And I granted my girl¡¯s wish.


    And then she lets out a cry of surprise before shuddering to her release. Her head falls forward onto my shoulder. She bites down hard on the flesh as she rides out her climax.


    Gasping for breath and mumbling incoherent phrases, she now leans against me,pletely numb. And when I pull my fingers out, her juices pour out freely.


    Holy crab! She is no less horny than I am, and even more so for a virgin. I wait for her to catch her breath. Slowly my lips move from her belly to her triangle and I suck it clean.


    And then I take her to the peaks of ecstasy again, but this time my tongue reces my fingers. Her surprised cries are music to my ears. I wrap one hand around her breast while I work my rod with the other. I try to prolong this amazing moment, but neither of us can.


    When I feel her walls tighten around my tongue, I know she is not far off.


    ¡°Kensley, please let mee, I¡¯m close ¡­ baby ¡­ aaarghh¡±. Her hands grab my hair as she ms her hips into my face. My seed spurts out wildly as I catch her juices in my mouth¡­

 Half A Job

    Alpha Zane¡¯s POINT OF VIEW


    While Kensley is enjoying himself with his mate, I keep my eyes on rita.


    She continues to cuddle our pup, it¡¯s such a beautiful sight. I could hardly contain myself, I so much wanted to hold her and share this moment with her.


    Several times she nced in my direction. By now, Ariel has already noticed that I am close by in the woods. She smiles. Shit. My ex is enjoying my misery. Is this Ariel¡¯s revenge for me keeping her away from the man she loves?


    And then she leans over to rita and whispers something in her ear.


    My mate¡¯s face tightens and starts to shake her head frantically. Again she turns to me, and again I see the hatred on her face. But then the witch pulls her into an embrace as if tofort her. Fiona and Serene are holding her shoulders, trying to persuade her to meet me.


    And then it makes no sense for me to stay hidden.


    I step out of the bush and stand legs apart, staring at rita. She stares back, the grimace on her face gradually changing. Her eyes are wide, as if in a trance, and she walks to the railing.


    ¡°Come to me. I¡¯m waiting for you,¡± I mime without a sound.


    She continued to stare at me until Ariel pushed her towards the door. Delirious, I sprint towards the back exit of the packhouse. And then I see her, still staring. I walk up to her and take her hands in mine.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry I hurt you. I know I¡¯ve let you down, but give me a chance to make it up to you. All I can say in my defense is that my werewolf instincts kicked in when I heard Ariel was still my mate,¡± I exin quietly. ¡°But on the yacht, after that amazing night when we conceived our pup, I already loved you. I wanted to keep you with me, I swear. Mase and Eric can vouch for that.¡±


    She swallows hard a few times.


    ¡°It was hard to see you still chasing after Ariel after our night. It was a rejection and proof that you had no intention ofing back while I was waiting for you.¡±


    ¡°Ariel was still my mate. And for any werewolf, a fated is preferable to a chosen mate. I didn¡¯t know then that you would be my second chance, or I would have let Ariel go a long time ago. She loves Gorgio, so that would be for the best¡±. I took a deep breath, knowing it would take more than that to win her over.


    ¡°I love you, rita. Even before the mate bond between us became active. Even on the yacht, everything I said then was the truth. I had my best time with you. There can be no one else for me.¡± I stare at her almost pleadingly. I feel her rxing, atst!


    ¡°Come to Midnight Moon and be my Luna. My pack has waited so long for the woman who belongs to me. And when they find out about our pup, they will be overjoyed. You deserve the ce next to me, to be loved by me and my pack. You will neverck for love, we will show you every day how special you are to us¡±.


    Cautiously, she looks at me, her hands trembling slightly.


    I sense an inner struggle, part of her wants to trust me, but another part wants more proof that I will keep my word this time. She clearly has trust issues, but can I me her? Matt Diggens did his part, and then I made it all worse, even if unconsciously.


    ¡°What can I do to convince you, rita? I swear you are the only woman for me. Say something, my love. Don¡¯t leave me in this uncertainty¡±.


    Finally, she answers, her lips parting.


    ¡°I gave you everything. I loved you and gave myselfpletely to you. And what have you given me in return? You dumped me the first chance you got. How do I know you won¡¯t do the same when a she-wolfes along and you fall in love with her? I¡¯m only human.¡±Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    I smile, this is easier anyway.


    ¡°rita, I¡¯m sure Ariel has exined to you how the mating process works. Once I marked you, it¡¯s forever. We be one body and mind, we canmunicate in our minds and no other party cane between us. You will be the only one I am attracted to and you will only have eyes for me. That¡¯s how it works¡±.


    ¡°Just like Gorgio and Ariel?¡± she asks softly, with longing in her voice.


    ¡°Let me prove it to you. rita, I want so much to hold you in my arms and kiss my pup. God knows how much,¡± I squeak. And then she throws herself into my arms and it feels damn good.


    ¡°Don¡¯t do that to me again, Zane. It¡¯s terrible to be rejected. Watching you choose someone else broke my heart into a million pieces,¡± she sobs into my chest. I stroke her hairfortingly. w purrs as he gazes at her in love.


    ¡®MATE!¡¯


    Zane, bring mate home. We¡¯ll make her happy, I swear.¡¯


    She is battered, we have to be careful. We have to gain her trust. We are on a mission,¡¯ I keep telling him.


    ¡®Leave it to me. I know how to make her love us again,¡¯ he hums.


    ¡°Let me kiss our little one, rita. Just for a minute, please.¡± Gently, I tilt her head back so I can look straight into her face. I read guarded joy in her eyes, but that¡¯s a big start.


    She nods in agreement and I slowly sink to my knees. First, I put my ear to her belly. I am greeted with a kick and we both start tough.


    ¡°Oooh, my baby boy. I can¡¯t wait to hold you. You are going to make me the happiest father in the world,¡¯ I whisper to my son, kissing him through his mother¡¯s skin.


    ¡°Hmmm, Zane. Don¡¯t make my daughter jealous. She needs your attention as much as your son.¡±


    I stared at her tummy in disbelief. Does she mean¡­? And then I look up, our eyes meet, she is now amusing herself at my expense.


    ¡°Twins?¡±


    ¡°You bet. You don¡¯t do half a job, Alpha. An heir and a princess. I won¡¯t be left empty-handed¡±¡­

 Gossip Machine

    Luna Ariel¡¯s POINT OF VIEW again


    ¡°Who do you love?¡±


    ¡°You, my Luna¡±.


    ¡°And who can¡¯t live without you?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s you, my love¡±.


    ¡°And who do you belong to?¡±


    ¡°To you, my mate¡±..


    ¡°And who do you drive crazy with your sweet body?¡±


    ¡°You, my Luna. You and you alone.¡±


    Here I lie in bed with my only mate, our bodies entwined. It¡¯s like before, after a marvelous lovemaking, we renew our vows to each other. Only now there¡¯s a big belly between us, we can¡¯t get any closer than our twins allow us to. Having pupses with a lot of adjustments. We¡¯ve had to cut down on our sex drive, I run out of breath more quickly now.


    ¡°Have I proved my love for you well enough, my love? I have challenged the mating bond with another male just to be faithful to our love. Would you do the same for me?¡± I know my question is daring, buttely, I have been wondering if Gorgio could end up in the same situation as me.


    A fully mated and marked she-wolf getting a second mate has rocked the entire werewolfmunity. All sorts of scenarios were invented. Some suspected that I had been having an affair with Zane for some time and was trying to force a threesome with my mate. Others imed that I¡¯d known in advance that Gorgio would never go for it, so I¡¯d tried to trick him by pretending to be mated to Zane.


    On the other hand, some cowards imed that I had been caught in bed with Zane after arriving at Midnight Moon. Footage surfaced of me leaving the conference room before the meeting even started and Zane running up to my hotel room. Two different time periods spliced together.


    But the creator of the footage was soon discovered. It turned out to be none other than the hotel receptionist. Zane exined that she had been trying to lure him into her bed for a long time, but he had never been interested in her. She had edited the camera footage to make it look like the perfect evidence.


    The punishment the woman received will not be soon forgotten. She served her time in prison, was then banished from Midnight Moon, and went rogue. ording to third parties, she is now part of a group heading north in search of other packs to terrorize.


    And when a photo of us all, smiling broadly and perfectly happy, appeared on social media, the shock of the other packs wasplete. Mouths were gagging, everyone had to admit we were one united family.


    It was yesterday when Zane picked up his mate here in Eclipse Howl.N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    A week ago, rita had finally agreed to leave for Midnight Moon and lead the pack at Zane¡¯s side. Over the past few weeks, the Alpha was so patient with her, calling her almost every day, and dropping by with little gifts as an excuse to be with her and his pup. It was touching to see rita slowly warming up to her mate as he tried his best to win her over. And he seeded, she took a week to say goodbye and pack and finally left yesterday. The media houses in the packs could not contain their curiosity and gathered in droves to cover rita¡¯s departure. And, of course, to get thetest gossip.


    They were all surprised to see us together. Gorgio and I, rita and Zane, smiling widely. Behind us were Amelia and Mase, now the Beta of Midnight Moon, and Serene and the grinning Kensley. The Head Warrior fetched his mate as soon as Gorgio assured Zane of rita¡¯s safety in our pack. And from the look on their faces, they are overjoyed with each other. They even bear each other¡¯s mark.


    Eric, the former Beta, remained absent, the mating ceremony with my sister Alexis was the day before yesterday and the couple is still in a mating bliss.


    Well, everything seems to have cooled down now, the gossip machine is silent and Gorgio has me all to himself again. We can finally concentrate on the birth of our son and daughter.


    Yes, we too are having twins and, like rita, a boy and a girl. But Gorgio is more excited about his daughter, who he is sure will look like me. And I want my son to be like Gorgio, strong and steadfast.


    ¡°No second mate for me. You are all I want. Selene has given me the perfect woman.¡± Gently, I touch his cheek and think how lucky I am to have a man like him.


    ¡°Okay, that¡¯s fine then. Even though I¡¯ll be doing the training again after the pups are born. I need to stay in shape in case a she-wolf decides to seduce you anyway¡±.


    Gorgio takes my hand and kisses all my fingers before answering.


    ¡°Of course, I want you to stay in shape and train again. But that is only to protect our pups when I am not around. But any wolf who dares to seduce me can leave that to me. I¡¯ll break her neck before she makes her first move¡±.


    I watch my mate intently, he is more than handsome. There is no word to describe how I feel about him. My heart beats faster every time I see him, he¡¯s the only man who can make me feel this way. I worship him with my eyes and breathe in his scent, it¡¯s addictive and makes all my doubts vanish. Of course, he would choose me, we are one, our souls have made a pact. We can only live with each other.


    Selene could not have given me a better mate, she really miscalcted by bringing Zane into our rtionship.


    ¡°I love you, Ariel. Nothing can take that away. Our bond is for life¡±.


    And then he gently caresses my stomach before moving his hand to my hypersensitive nipple. I press my breast into his hand as a delightful burning sh from my nipple to my triangle. My feet curl from the overwhelming sensation and a soft moan escapes my throat.


    ¡°Are you ready for me again, my angel?¡± he asks me hoarsely as he now caresses my entire body, bringing me to a frenzy. When his hand slides to my pussy, I try to stifle a moan. In vain, Gorgio always manages to get me going again. With my eyes closed, I enjoy his pulsating fingers in my cunt until he turns me over and ces me on my four.


    Eagerly, I lift my ass and when I feel him slide inside, we both moan with pleasure. And at the height of our pleasure, he bites into the mark with which he branded me as his over a year ago¡­

 New Arrivals

    Luna Ariel¡¯s POINT OF VIEW again


    Two moreps and I feel the first crampsing on.


    Gorgio sits at the edge of the pool watching me reach the stairs. When I get there, I grab hold of the step and take a deep breath. But then I felt another one and I was sure the contractions had started.


    My eyes fly to my mate, who is now watching me closely.


    ¡°Why did you stop? You¡¯re so red, darling¡±. He slowly gets up andes over to me, still watching me closely.


    ¡°It looks like the contractions have started, Gorgio. I feel cramps in my lower abdomen¡±. He ran over to me, sank into the water and helped me up the steps. When he was out of the pool, he held me tightly as we walked to the deckchair.


    He took the thick bath towel and wrapped me in it. I embrace the warmth that now surrounds me.


    My mate helps me to lie down and holds my hand. His face is still rxed. And then I felt the next one and I knew we were ready for the hospital room he had prepared. Suddenly my water broke and Gorgio¡¯s iron self-control broke.


    His eyes get misty, he notifies the pack doctor and puts Jace and Fiona on alert.


    He wipes me dry, takes a new towel to wrap me in, then takes me in his arms bridal style. The contractions are getting stronger now and I cling to his shoulder. The pain ripping from my back to my stomach made me breathless.


    ¡°Just hold on, love. We¡¯ll be there soon. The doctor is on his way and the midwife is waiting for us,¡± he reassures me. I bobbed my head, unable to say anything. In the lift he rubs my back reassuringly. Thepanionship helped me rx and I breathed a sigh of relief.


    When we finally reached the delivery room, Elise, the midwife, was waiting for us at the door.


    ¡°Put her on the bed right away, Alpha. Then I can examine her immediately¡±. As soon as I was on the bed, the woman sat down between my legs.


    ¡°Aaaahh, Luna. This is happening faster than I thought. Just a little more and we can start. Then the doctor can take over from me.¡± I nod with a twisted face, my arms still wrapped tightly around Gorgio. Pain rips through my body and I use the breathing techniques I have learned.


    ¡°rita¡¯s in thebs too. Zane informed Jace,¡± Gorgio whispers to me. Surprised, I looked up at him.


    ¡°But that¡¯s two weeks earlier than nned. What a surprise. Maybe our pups will be born at the same time. I smile at the idea, forgetting the pain for a moment. Justst night I was on the phone with my best friend, joking about the heirs of Midnight Moon and Eclipse Howl. It turns out that Fiona and Alexis are also pregnant, and rita suspects the same for Serene.


    Serene and Kensley are overjoyed and a perfect match.


    Eric has moved to Blue Blood, Alexis would not stay in Midnight Moon for a penny. As a result, Mase has moved to Beta and is now living permanently in the packhouse with his mate Amelia.


    Beta Jace couldn¡¯t be happier with Fiona, King Jasper¡¯s cousin.N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    Now Eclipse Howl has not only the bloodline of the Alpha King but also that of the royal Lycans. No one is prouder than Gorgio. The next generation of warriors will be strong, and no one will dare challenge us.


    Gorgio has a rxed rtionship with Zane, but the two are not friends.


    Even though we women get together more often, Gorgio has restricted Zane¡¯s ess to Eclipse Howl. This possessiveness and rivalry seem to be hard to get out of his system.


    ¡°Luna, you¡¯re ready. One finger up means a normal push, but at two I expect a strong one¡±. The doctor is now in the midwife¡¯s ce and the contractions areing faster every minute. With Gorgio¡¯s support, I managed to push my way through the contractions.


    David Gorgio surprised us with his loud voice. But as soon as he heard his father¡¯s voice, he became quiet and blinked his eyes curiously. Gorgio cut the umbilical cord, wiped him clean as he had been taught to do, and held his eldest son to his cheek.


    ¡°Wee, my son. I have waited for you for so long. Thank you for making me a father.¡± He kisses his firstborn while I wait eagerly to hold him in my arms.


    ¡°Luna, we are going to get the girl. I can already see her head,¡± the doctor calls.


    Gorgio quickly hands our son to the midwife andes over to me. After a few hectic minutes, our daughter was born. She makes a loud entrance into the world. Her wave of dark blonde hair is the first thing I notice.


    Gorgio cut her umbilical cord as well and kissed her tenderly. He could not take his eyes off her, tears of joy running down his cheeks. I have never seen my mate so emotional.


    ¡°Ooohh, Princess. You are so beautiful beyond words. I promise to protect you until the end of my days, my daughter¡±. He takes her to me and I cannot believe my eyes. She really is a beauty, a smile appears on her face. The midwife brings our clean-washed son and then we are aplete family.


    I finally fell asleep from sheer exhaustion. Gorgio holds our son while the midwife bathes our little princess.


    When I woke up a few hourster, I saw Gorgio sitting on a rocking chair next to my bed, holding our twins. As soon as he saw that I was awake, he came andy down next to me.


    ¡°Time for their feedings, darling. They have been sleeping for a while, I asked them to give you some time¡±.


    He helps me put them on my chest and together we enjoy the sight of our pups.


    My life couldn¡¯t be better¡­

 He Wants More

    Luna Ariel¡¯s POINT OF VIEW again


    I am lying next to my mate in a hammock on the back terrace, enjoying the peace.


    The pups are with the nannies, this is the time we set aside for each other, without them around. We really need it. All day long we are each busy with our own things and in the evening, we fall into bed next to each other dead tired.


    Now that we have two pups, I cannot spend as much time in Gorgio¡¯s office as I used to. I am a hands-on mum who likes to take care of them myself. The nannies are there to help as the two are very active. So Gorgio and I have agreed to set aside one day a week for us to be alone. On that day, I bathe the twins in the morning and hand them over to the nannies while Gorgio takes care of some urgent business that cannot take more than two hours.


    Then we are together. Sometimes we stay in the packhouse and rx but more often we go on pics and swim in my favoriteke. A few times we go shopping at the mall in Human Town, like a carefree couple without offspring.


    But today we decided to justze around on the terrace. It is scorching hot and the maids have set up a big carafe of water and soft drinks for us on a nearby table.


    The hammock swings gently as I surround myself with the warmth of the man of my heart. We are five years on from the birth of our children and our lives have be so much fuller. Sometimes we cannot believe we have created them, these two gems.


    David Gorgio is a demanding little guy, so self-confident and in control. He often surprises us with his attitude, he is a born Alpha. And he is always there to help his sister with whatever she needs. He spoils her and makes sure she has everything she needs. The nannies often tell me about his funnyments and actions.N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    Our little princess Adlin Rain is clearly the apple of Gorgio¡¯s eye. He is always alert when she is around and often takes her with him to his office when he has guests. The father praises his daughter and almost all the Alphas from the surrounding packs know our girl. So she is protected by both her brother and her father.


    rita¡¯s son and daughter are a few minutes younger than ours. She often brings her twins to be with ours. The cubs are friends and we are very happy about that. We certainly do not want the old rivalry between their fathers to continue.


    But what I notice more often is the possessiveness of Albert Zane, rita¡¯s son, towards Adlin Rain. At every visit, we have had to calm down arguments between him and David Gorgio. Albert Zane wants our girl all for himself. At the table he feeds her single-handedly, demands that she sit next to him and tenderly dabs at her mouth when she finishes her meal. We oftenugh about it, but it persists and bes a serious matter.


    ¡°Gorgio, haven¡¯t you noticed anything between Albert Zane and our girl? Is it normal for him to be so possessive of her? He is always around her, even when you pick her up or take her away, he res at you angrily. And then those fights with David Gorgio,¡± I point out meaningfully.


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve noticed. The little ones know what they want. I just don¡¯t want a rivalry between them. Our boy doesn¡¯t give up easily. And he does not really like rita¡¯s son¡±.


    ¡°Is it bad? Do you think it will work out when they are older? I don¡¯t want a repeat of you and Zane,¡± I answer with a pang in my heart. Now that things have settled down between the packs, I don¡¯t want to go back to the tense times of the past.


    ¡°No, there will be no triangr mating between the cubs. But our son will make sure that whoever is our daughter¡¯s mate, is worthy of her. He will not just let her go. Albert Zane will have to earn our daughter, he will have to prove himself as an Alpha first.¡±


    ¡°So you think they will be mates?¡± To be honest, I like the idea of Adlin Rain bing Midnight Moon¡¯s Luna. Zane couldn¡¯t get me as his mate, and if the Moon Goddess decides that my daughter belongs with his son, then the original n will be fulfilled. Besides, it seems great to have my girl close to me and not find a mate far away.


    ¡°Well, as it turns out, Albert Zane already feels the mate bond. Only he is not aware of what he feels, but it is there. All the signs point to it¡±.


    ¡°Hmmm, but did you also see how Esmee rita is after our son? But the boy keeps rejecting her. Yesterday, he asked me to banish her from our pack. And when I asked him why, heined she was too clingy.¡±


    We both burst outughing. The behavior of our pups really keeps us on our toes. It is very interesting to see how, at such a young age, they are already showing strong leadership qualities. Both rita¡¯s twins and mine are developing early and already understand their future responsibilities.


    The Elders of the pack are teaching them, albeit gently and childishly. We all want them to have a rxed childhood and not have to take on all sorts of responsibilities right away. That¡¯s all forter.


    ¡°I expect there will be some surprises for us to be on the lookout for, Ariel. Fiona brought King Jasper¡¯s granddaughter a month ago, remember? The girl was all over David Gorgio. Little Esmee rita didn¡¯t like that and a fight broke out, which rita quickly put down. I guess you missed it.¡±


    Eyes wide open, I sit up straight and stare at my mate. I¡¯m shocked as hell.


    ¡°Is this about what I think? Gorgio, we can¡¯t have that anymore. No more triangles, that would be terrible,¡± I exim in horror. Fortunately, he agrees.


    ¡°Of course, especially with our genes. We fought against this kind of mating, only the Moon Goddess knows what would have happened between us if rita had not appeared to be Zane¡¯s mate,¡± Gorgio sighs.


    ¡°How do we prevent this? All we can do is keep the princess away from our pack. But it¡¯s not up to us to keep them apart if they are matester¡±.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. We¡¯ll think of somethingter. Maybe things will be different when they go to college and make other friends. It¡¯s too early to worry.¡± I don¡¯t quite agree with him, but I trust that we¡¯ll figure it out together. Our pups¡¯ happinesses before anything else.


    ¡°Come here, my love. I want to talk to you about something.¡±


    Hmmm, I know this tone of Gorgio¡¯s all too well. My mate is up to something. Tenderly, he pulls me back onto his chest and starts nibbling at my earlobe while his hand caresses my back. I sigh contentedly, these sparks never cease to excite me.


    ¡°Babe, Xander and Era agree that we should have more cubs. Two is really not enough. The pack is big and David Gorgio will need help to manage it all, especially if he gets a demanding Luna¡±.


    I smiled, of course, Era discussed this with me first, no, she begged me for another beautiful pup like Adlin Rain. She argued that our girl would need a sister to do girly stuff withter on.


    ¡°When did you n to start, love?¡±


    ¡°How about now?¡±¡­

 He’s The One I Want

    Girlish giggles emanate from the room of Adlin Rain, daughter of Alpha Gorgio and Luna Ariel of Eclipse Howl.


    As Adlin Rain is the eldest of the daughters of the Alphas of Midnight Moon and Eclipse Howl, it was decided that she and Esmee rita¡¯s eighteenth birthday party would be held in Eclipse Howl. Esmee rita had a small celebration in her pack after she left for Eclipse Howl. Tonight will also be their first shift and possible mating.


    Naturally, unmated Alphas havee from far and wide, each dreaming of having one of the daughters of these prominent packs as a mate. The girls are immensely popr in the werewolfmunity, and their exploits have received much media attention in recent years. Everyone loves them, and their mischief in the clubs is dismissed as youthful impetuosity.


    Their clothes and make-up are imitated by many she-wolves and they have even designed their own perfume and clothing line. Their business, in which they all have an equal share, is incredibly profitable.


    As for girls, Ariel and Gorgio have three, the youngest being twins who are still minors. rita and Zane have only one, Serene and Kensley have three.


    Fiona and Jace have only sons, three in all, of which Hester is the eldest. Same goes for Alexis and Eric, who have two sons. The eldest, Alric, still has two months to go before he turns eighteen.


    Hester is two months younger than the birthday girls. The Lycan traits of Fiona¡¯s family are more prominent in him, which is why he often resides in the Kingdom, where he trains with King Jasper¡¯s grandchildren. Among these three packs, there are seven girls, two of whom turned eighteen today.


    David Gorgio and Albert Zane, the twin pair of the girls, had their first shift in the early hours of the morning but retired to their rooms. The arrangement is that they¡¯ll keep to themselves until it¡¯s time to face the guests and, presumably, sense their mate. Ariel and rita have deliberately arranged it this way to keep the excitement going.


    ¡°Adlin Rain, have you seen Princess Micha? She was supposed to be here early to do our make-up after the shift.¡± Adlin Rain rolled her eyes and continued to get dressed. Her parents are waiting for her in the clearing where her shift will take ce. It was sunset and the timing was perfect.


    She gets out of the room, taking Esmee rita with her. ¡°Why are you looking for her? You know she never keeps appointments. I wonder what David Gorgio will do with her if she turns out to be his Luna,¡± the girl replies skeptically.


    Esmee rita¡¯s face tightens, she knows her chances of being David Gorgio¡¯s fated mate are slim. The boy avoids her like the gue, refusing to see how much she is in love with him. A few times she has tried to tell him of her feelings, but he keeps pushing her away, telling her to wait for the Moon Goddess¡¯ decision.


    Adlin Rain noticed her friend¡¯s mood was sinking.


    ¡°Do you still have hopes of bing my sister-inw? I would love to but I agree with my brother. What¡¯s the point of having a love affair if you¡¯ve got a mate somewhere? It will only cause all kinds of heartache and drama. The destined mate takes precedence over a chosen one. The pups are stronger and the Alpha gets more respect.¡±


    A tear rolls down Esmee rita¡¯s cheek. Adlin Rain hugs her sympathetically.


    ¡°Wait until you meet your mate. You will immediately forget my brother. The mating bond is strict, just look at our parents. Sometimes they forget they have grown-up cubs. They still kiss so passionately. And I can still hear my Mum screaming all sorts of things when she and my Dad are at it in his office.¡±


    Esmee rita forgets her tears and they both begin tough heartily. They both know that their parents still can¡¯t get enough of each other, even though they¡¯ve been together for a long time.


    ¡°I want David Gorgio. Ever since I first saw him,¡± she insists.


    Adlin Rain sighs deeply, knowing how stubborn her friend can be. ¡°Come on, our parents are waiting. And I am so curious to see my wolf.¡± The two run to the agreed ce and see their parents standing there. After they have undressed and are naked, Gorgio instructs his daughter to handle the shift.


    Alpha Zane does so with Esmee rita and within minutes the sound of bones restructuring is heard. This is apanied by cries of pain and distress.


    Eventually, the girls seed and two wolves stand watching the elders.


    Adlin Rain is a wolf with woolly silver fur and gray eyes, the genes of the Alpha King family clearly visible. Her name is Cera.


    Esmee rita¡¯s wolf has beautiful golden brown fur and bright blue eyes. Mira, she introduces herself. After a few moments of admiration, the adults also shift to take the pups for their first run.


    After an hour, they all return and it is time to prepare for the ball.


    ¡°Thank you, Mum and Dad. That was amazing. I feel so good now that I have my wolf.¡± Adlin Rain hugged her parents and hurried off to the packhouse with her friend.


    When they enter her room, Princess Micha is still not there. Luckily, her little sisters offer to help her with their make-up, and an hourter, both birthday girls are ready.Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.


    ¡°Nervous, Esmee rita? My heart is pounding in my throat. I am so excited to meet him tonight¡±. The girls allugh, teasing her that she is too eager and has to wait for the right time.


    ¡°Your mate is definitely Albert Zane. He is crazy about you. Can¡¯t you see how he looks at you all the time? At school, he has already warned the boys to stay away from you,¡± Esmee ritaughs. ¡°Haven¡¯t you noticed that the boys stare at you in awe but never ask you out?¡±


    Of course, she knows. She has never confronted Albert Zane about it; in fact, she likes it all. Frivolous affairs and fending off suitors could cause unnecessary tension at school and in the pack, something she is absolutely not looking forward to.


    ¡°Come on, it¡¯s time to go. I can already hear the first notes of the music¡±¡­

 The Claiming

    Alpha Female Adlin Rain¡¯s POINT OF VIEW


    When I arrive at the high, wide staircase of the packhouse, my parents are already there waiting for me.


    My mother, Luna Ariel, sports a big smile on her face, while my father is watching me warily with slit eyes. He is clearly ufortable, today may be the day he has to let his firstborn daughter go. No father takes this asion lightly.


    I am the apple of his eye, and along with my twin brother, he has protected me from harm and difort all my life. Albert Zane too, of course, whenever he got the chance to be near me. So, I grew up very sheltered but today all that could change. The three men will have to let me go, or I might end up being Albert Zane¡¯s mate.


    Albert Zane.


    He is my best male friend, always concerned about what I am doing, my great advisor in the business I have set up with Esmee rita. He is madly in love with me, and if I had agreed, we would have been mated by now. But I don¡¯t see the point in this, we have to wait for the right time. And that is now, we are both eighteen today, our wolf has the lead to tie us together if we are meant to be.


    The n is that when Esmee rita and Ie down the stairs, our mates will take us from our parents. If we don¡¯t have a mate tonight, the father will do the opening dance with us. After that, it will be the turn of our twin brothers to appear at the top of the stairs, and we¡¯ll see how that goes.


    Albert Zane is not really happy with this arrangement, jealousy burns within him at the possibility of another man being my fated. He wants to be the first one I see when Ie down the stairs, he told mest week. He had hugged me for the first time, buried his face in my neck and sniffed my scent. Moon Goddess, I hope tonight doesn¡¯t break his heart.


    My father nts a kiss on my temple, while my mother squeezes my hand reassuringly.


    ¡°Adlin Rain, today is an important day. Goddess, I wish I could postpone everything, I¡¯m not ready to let you go yet.¡± My father¡¯s words don¡¯t surprise me, I don¡¯t think he will ever be ready. I already feel sorry for my mate, he will have to love me very much to put up with my father. Not to mention my brother. Hopefully David Gorgio will find his mate today, which will make him pay less attention to me.


    ¡°Father, it¡¯s not the end of the world. Wherever I end up, I will alwayse back to visit you. I will still be your pup,¡± I try to reassure him. I see his eyes water, this big, strong Alpha clearly struggling to control his emotions.


    And then we started the descent.N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    I look beside me and see that Esmee rita is also taking her first steps down. Her face is tense, obviously, she doesn¡¯t want a mate now, at least not until David Gorgio appears.


    Looking down, I see one familiar face after another, all handsome men. Unmated Alphas and sons of Alphas stand waiting, some sniffing for the scent that must confirm if I am their fated. Also, my underage friends, sons of my Uncles Zane, Eric, Jace and Kensley, all extended family.


    As I approached, one disappointed face after another fell as my father¡¯s mood improved. When I went down to thest step, none of them recognized me as his mate. I guess Albert Zane is getting some good news, his chances of having me all to himself are much better now.


    Next to me, I see that no one has imed Esmee rita as their mate either. But there is no smile on her face, on the contrary, she is staring down at the ground in horror, trying hard to find a good position. Something is so wrong with her, I can feel the tension in her as if she would rather be somewhere else than here. I will have to talk to her about thister.


    My father takes me in his arms as the opening tune begins.


    He looks relieved, he¡¯s probably the only happy wolf in the room at the moment. Smiling, I join him in the first dance moves as we swing across the big dance floor. ¡°What¡¯s up, Dad? You look relieved,¡± I tease him. He grins, his eyes are shining.


    ¡°The fight isn¡¯t over yet, one more hurdle to go. Albert Zane is impatient, ording to my son, he can¡¯t wait to show up and im you. He is a thousand percent certain that you are his fated, as none of those present have been able to recognize you as his mate¡±.


    At this point I must burst outughing, this male game is certainly amusing. Protective father and brother, lots of admirers around and a confident mate-to-be. To be honest, I let it pass, although the attention is surely ttering. As for me, I ept the Moon Goddess¡¯ choice, she knows better who suits me and what her n is for my life.


    After the opening dance, we walked up to my mother who hugged me. ¡°Happy birthday, my girl. I can¡¯t believe it¡¯s been so long since I gave birth to you. Your father and I have always been proud of you and want you to be happy,¡± she says softly.


    ¡°Without a mate? No one has imed me. Looks like you won¡¯t be getting rid of me soon and will have to look after me for a few more years.¡± Grinning, I look from one to the other.


    ¡°Hey, Eclipse Howl will always be your home, no matter what happens. And I¡¯m sure your mate will show up one day and make it all worth waiting for. Besides, Albert Zane still has to show up, you know how crazy he is about you.¡± All three of usughed at my mother¡¯s words, this young Alpha son has never been very discreet.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to join rita for a while. I see she¡¯s already done the formal part but she doesn¡¯t seem very happy. And then her crush hasn¡¯t shown up yet, I wonder what went wrong¡±.


    When rita saw meing, she ran towards me. Her hug is desperate, something is definitely going on.


    ¡°Hey, David Gorgio is stilling. All is not lost. Didn¡¯t you want my brother to be your mate? Here are your chances¡±, I tell her in surprise.


    ¡°He¡¯s not my mate, Adlin Rain. Let¡¯s get out of here.¡± Under the surprised looks of the guests, she pulls me outside, into the packhouse garden. We sit on a bench and I look at her questioningly.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on, Esmee rita? Tell me, I¡¯m your best friend¡±¡­

 A Thorn In His Side

    Still Alpha Female Adlin Rain¡¯s POINT OF VIEW


    Albert Zane and David Gorgio finallye down the stairs.


    Albert Zane¡¯s eyes are fixed on me and I smile back at him. All eyes are on us now, everyone knows his desire to be my mate. When he takes thest step, he walks towards me, his eyes softening. He pulls me in his arms, buries his face in my neck and breathes in my scent.


    Nothing. Nothing happens.


    The intoxicating scent that should be driving me mad, the sparks that should be ravaging my body and the attraction that should be urging me to mark him instantly, are missing.


    Reality rears its ugly head: we are not fated mates.


    I feel Albert Zane stiffen as the signs fail him too. But his arms around me do not cken; on the contrary, he tightens them like a vice.


    ¡°No! It can¡¯t be! You are mine!¡± he cries in pain.


    He sniffed my neck and shoulders again, but nothing changed. The result remains the same, we are not mates. But Albert Zane is not ready to let me go, he holds me tighter until I can barely breathe.


    ¡°Son, she is not the one. ept that, please. Save yourself a total mental breakdown.¡± Alpha Zane gently tries to pull his son away from me but fails. With a deep sigh, he sees a repetition of his own past pain, when he clung so tightly to my mother, while she was not meant for him. Everything ys out in his eyes.


    ¡°Let¡¯s reject our fated and be together. I swear I¡¯ll always love you, Adlin Rain. I breathe for you, I cannot live without you¡±. His breath rasped out of his nose, his heart pounding like a madman. I make no effort to escape his embrace, knowing how difficult this moment is for him. Whatever happens, I want to keep him as a friend but he will have to ept the inevitable, he has little choice.


    Finally, he calms down a little and lets go of me. His hands remain on my shoulders, his face distorted with grief. ¡°Adlin Rain, please. Stay with me. This is madness, I have always felt that you belong to me. Only in your presence do I feelplete.¡±


    ¡°Albert Zane, that will change once you meet your mate, believe me. What you feel is a childhood crush, it¡¯s proven just now. Let¡¯s both wait for our true mate, it will save us heartache in the future,¡± I whisper.


    I take his hand and turn him towards the guests. ¡°Can you smell your mate here? You were too focused on me. Try to find her,¡± I urge him. Hesitantly, he looks ahead and squeezes my hand as if he never wants to let go.


    ¡°No, she¡¯s not here. Goddess, maybe I don¡¯t have a mate, not everyone does. Adlin Rain ¡­¡±. He turns to me again but his father is in front of him.


    ¡°No, my son. Adlin Rain is not your mate and I will not allow you to sacrifice her happiness for yours. She has a mate of her own who wille for her one day. And when he does, you should not stand in the way.¡± He took his son from me and led him outside. The ballroom was silent, everyone felt sorry for the Alpha¡¯s son.


    But then the opening melody ys again, and my mother runs to see my twin brother, who has not found a mate either. She looked disappointed, she had really hoped to have a daughter-inw and to be a grandmother soon. David Gorgio has to take over from our father, but Dad put the condition that he needs to have a Luna beside him first. So today does not seem to be his lucky day.


    As they head for the dance floor, there is a suddenmotion in the background.


    ¡°The royal jet has justnded,¡± someone whispers. The music stops as everyone looks to see which Lycan is visiting our party. The King and Queen have not confirmed their presence but of course, a representative is possible.


    And then Princess Micha enters, gloriously dressed in a low-cut white gown that hangs down to her ankles. The bottom is wide with frills, her appearance is very elitist.


    ¡°David Gorgio, who said you didn¡¯t have a mate? I¡¯ve known you were mine for several months, but I wanted that thirsty bitch to realize she¡¯s betting on the wrong horse. It¡¯s shameful the way she¡¯s chasing after you, as if she has no dignity,¡± she sounds merciless.


    Everyone gasps at her insensitivity and arrogance.


    And then it dawned on me that Micha had actually turned eighteen a few months ago. In the kingdom, a great celebration was held to honor her but none of us ordinary wolves were invited. She must have found out about my brother a weekter when she came to visit my mother on the Queen¡¯s orders.


    ¡®MATE,¡¯ David Gorgio eximed at the sight of the princess, his eyeballs jet ck with lust. The dark hairs of his wolf appear on his face as his breath falters. But then the unexpected happens.


    My brother fiercely fights his wolf and for what seems like an eternity he manages to get him down. His eyes change back to the gray-blue mix of our parents. And when the princess tried to wrap her arms around his neck, he took a step to the side.


    He looked at her with disgust, his eyes spitting a devastating fire.


    ¡°Never! My pack deserves a caring Luna, one who respects others¡¯ feelings and does not see them destroyed. What you did was purposely hurt Esmee, break rita¡¯s and take pleasure in it. You could have informed me that we were mates long ago but you didn¡¯t, just to enjoy her heartbreak. I don¡¯t want a cunning Luna,¡± he roars.Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°I, David Gorgio, future Alpha of Eclipse Howl and son of Alpha Gorgio and Luna Ariel, reject you, Princess Micha Vasconcellos, as my mate and future Luna. From now on, we are mere strangers and have no emotional ties.¡±


    All the jaws in the room dropped to the floor.


    Never before had a member of the royal family, a Lycan at it, been rejected. Lycans in the family are always a status upgrade, and the pups are always stronger than those of ordinary werewolves. With a Lycan like Luna, Eclipse Howl would be stronger than before. Jace¡¯s mating with Fiona, also a Lycan, has produced strong warriors, and their eldest son, Hester, promises to be an excellent Beta for Eclipse Howl.


    No one understands David Gorgio¡¯s actions, they seem like a selfish, thoughtless impulse that does not serve his pack.


    Princess Micha is grounded in horror.


    She had been so amused by Esmee rita¡¯s infatuation. She and her friends had beenughing at the girl behind her back.


    ¡°David Gorgio, you can¡¯t do this. I¡¯m a royal, a Lycan. No one rejects us!¡± she cried, her face white as a sheet. Her lips twitched in humiliation; she had not expected this toe. She had counted on herself being a coveted trophy that my brother could never reject.


    ¡°Yes, I just did. And now, ept my rejection or I swear there is much more I can say about you,¡± he threatens. He grabs her upper arm and shakes her.


    ¡°Now!¡±


    ¡°I ¡­ I ept,¡± she stutters, trembling in fear. I almost feel sorry for her.


    I think I¡¯m a lucky one here. Surely it is better not to find a mate on your anniversary than to be rejected on the spot. Holy Goddess, I hope my mate is happy with me, that he finds me worthy enough to stand beside him. I pray to Selene that I will not end up like this princess.


    ¡°Esmee rita, where are you?¡± David Gorgio¡¯s eyes now scan the crowd in search of the girl who has been a thorn in his side for years. But can¡¯t find her.


    ¡°She¡¯s gone, she¡¯s not here anymore,¡± I tell everyone¡­

 Seek Oblivion In Solitude

    Future Alpha David Gorgio¡¯s POINT OF VIEW


    My head spins, my vision blurred as the impact of Adlin Rain¡¯s words hits me.


    Esmee rita is gone, gone, out of my reach. She will no longer swarm around me seeking my attention. I was so used to seeing her, it was natural for me to keep running into her and getting annoyed with her. And thenin to my mother to send her away for good, but of course, she would never do that.


    And now she¡¯s gone, really gone, and I don¡¯t know if she¡¯s evering back. This is hard, the sting of pain in my heart at this realization is unbearable. Never again her husky voice and vani scent, her hand on my arm when I refuse to offer her the attention she craves.


    ¡°What do you mean she¡¯s gone? Why would she leave? She was waiting for Albert Zane and me toe down,¡± I ask firmly. Threateningly, I walk towards my little sister, I am in no mood for nonsense right now.


    ¡°Hey brother, weren¡¯t you the one who was tired of her presence? And now that she¡¯s really moved out, you have a problem. Make up your mind, please.¡± Adlin Rain looks at me in surprise, her eyebrows raised. Oh yes, she wants to throw all this at me, the way I have treated her friend over thest few years.


    ¡°None of your business. And where is she now? You two are best friends, so get on with it,¡± I growl at my sister for the first time. I have always treated her like a precious flower, but today the stakes are high. I have to find Esmee rita, but I don¡¯t know why.


    But when the Lycan princess spoke so little of her, it was then that I knew I could never live without this affectionate girl. She drives me nuts like hell, but that¡¯s what I need in life. She is the perfect Luna, she has the values I want in my mate.Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.


    Hey, wait. Do I see Esmee rita as my Luna and my mate?


    Damn right, I do! And now I have to find her. It seems like the opposite world now, I¡¯m the one going after her. But I am willing to do anything to make sure that shees back here, in Eclipse Howl, and never leaves.


    Adlin Rain holds a letter out to me. ¡°She left this for you. I hope you will find something in it that will lead you to her. I will not betray her trust by telling you anything.¡±


    Oohh holy, I feel so drained. I can¡¯t lose my greatest admirer, I have to find her.


    I tear open the envelope, aware of theplete silence in the ballroom. All eyes are on me, my parents watching me closely. I know my father trusts me, he knows I will always do the right thing to keep the family and the pack safe. His energy radiates out at me, trying to steady me, and he ispletely sessful.


    My eyes raced over the lines written for me by the loveliest annoyance of my life.


    ¡®David Gorgio, I¡¯m a coward, I admit it. Deep inside, I know that I will not turn out to be your mate. You have never tolerated me around you, you have never loved me. The mate bond cannot exist between us. And to spare myself the pain tonight, I left. To see you with another woman, to witness the love for her in your eyes, to see your mark on her, would destroy me. I must protect my wolf and my heart, and spare you embarrassment if I could not restrain myself.


    I wish you much happiness. Your mate cannot do anything but love you, you are an outstanding man, the best a she-wolf can have. How I wish I could be the one in your arms, to have your love, but the Moon Goddess has decided otherwise. Goodbye, my love. Perhaps we will meet again, many years from now. Your Esmee rita, always¡¯.


    My head shoots up, my eyes fixed on my twin sister.


    ¡®And where is she now? I promise to bring her back as the Luna of our pack. Help me, Adlin Rain, I beg you. Only now do I see how much she is worth,¡¯ I plead with my sister in the mind link.


    ¡®Goddess, I hope you will keep your word. Otherwise, I will have betrayed my best friend and she will not forgive me easily.¡¯ She pauses for a moment as if considering whether to grant my request.


    ¡®Get on Alpha Zane¡¯s yacht. The boat has a special value to her, her parents conceived her there. She will sail out to sea to seek oblivion in solitude. She left by car and is now about an hour ahead of you.¡¯


    A broad smile spreads across my face, damn, I am so happy.


    ¡®I owe you, Adlin Rain. I promise she will be eternally grateful. And so will I.¡¯ I sprint to the garage to discover to my shock that Esmee rita has taken off in my sister¡¯s Bugatti. Which is obviously much faster than my beloved SUVs. Damn, next time I¡¯ll buy a couple of sports cars, this can¡¯t happen again.


    Leaving a big cloud of dust in my wake, I speed across the boundary of the pack, onto the highway of the humans. It¡¯s about a two to three hour drive to the harbor where the yacht is docked, but at this speed I know she¡¯ll make it in two hours. Swearin¡¯, I hit the elerator, hoping she will stop somewhere that will buy me some time.


    Now I have time to think about the past few years. My heart shrinks painfully as I consider how badly I treated her when all she wanted was my attention and love. Simple things that cost nothing. But I was so arrogant, so sure of her affection, that I took it all for granted.


    ¡®And now she is making us pay. We ran after her like little boys,¡¯ my wolf sneered. At first, he disagreed with me for rejecting our destined mate. Every wolf prefers his fated mate by default. But when I voiced what I expected from my Luna, he waspletely on board and finally admitted that the princess was not the best match for us and the pack.


    Hex and I officially met early this morning on my first shift. And we were best friends straight away, happy to have each other until the princess incident. But all is well now, and we are off on a new adventure.


    I finally arrived at the harbor. Hurriedly, I park the car and jump out. I ran to the pier and searched the moored yachts. Alpha Zane¡¯s is nowhere to be seen. In seconds, I am at the coastguard station. Just my luck, the officer on duty is a werewolf.


    ¡°Dude, have you seen Midnight Moon¡¯s yacht? Alpha Female Esmee rita must be on it,¡± I ask the man urgently, pulling some notes out of my pocket. Of course, it has an effect.


    ¡°She left a few minutes ago. Hold on, I¡¯ll check her position on the monitor.¡±


    I join him in looking at the screen, and yes, there she is, not far from the shore. ¡°Do you have a boat I can use to get to her? It¡¯s urgent,¡± I push, pulling out a few more notes. The man¡¯s eyes widen, he jumps up and takes a key from a cupboard.


    ¡°Get the red watercraft. But bring it back in one piece, or I¡¯ll be in trouble¡±.


    I grabbed the key and ran out of the cabin¡­

 A Second Chance

    Still Future Alpha David Gorgio¡¯s POINT OF VIEW


    At high speed, I fly over the smooth water towards the yacht that keeps sailing.


    Goddess, let me find her right there, I need her so much in my life. I can¡¯t imagine her not bothering me with questions while I¡¯m at work, not feeling the need to show me everything new she¡¯s bought.


    No, the princess could not fill my life. What possessed Selene to saddle me with an elitist mate? It¡¯s not my style at all, I don¡¯t like that kind of disy. Rather an annoyance, never stylish.


    As I get closer to the yacht, I slow down.


    I am surprised that she has not heard the watercraft approaching and hase to take a look. Suddenly I am gripped by fear. No, it is not possible that she has hurt herself. That¡¯s not my girl. If she could endure years of rejection, she could endure anything.


    I reach the boat floating, jump onto the low tform and tie up the scooter.


    Then I climb the short stairs and get in. This is my first time here, my parents often took trips with the Alpha and Luna of Midnight Moon on this yacht. I stayed behind for the pack.


    I open some doors, but my girl is nowhere to be found. Then I sharpen my were-hearing, I hear faint sounds somewhere. Now I know I must be on deck, so I run up the steep stairs.


    And there she is, lying on arge towel under the covered deck.


    She was on her stomach, her head on her folded hands. She was sobbing and babbling a little, wiping her eyes with the towel, then crying uncontrobly again. And as I moved closer, I could hear her words more clearly.


    ¡°David Gorgio, why can¡¯t you love me? Moon Goddess, I won¡¯t survive this, I can¡¯t live without him. Who will I tell everything to now? I have no one left. My heart beats for nothing, it has no destiny. Why can¡¯t I be his mate? What am I missing?¡±


    She sounds so broken that my heart cannot bear it. It is as if there is a stone in my stomach that is getting heavier every second. I want a mate who loves me, not one who sees me as a trophy, the grandson of the Alpha King, a good mate for a strong bloodline. Esmee rita has always loved me, she is everything I want.


    ¡°Nothing is missing on you. You are perfect,¡± I whisper, wanting to ease her pain. I have never seen her in tears before, disappointed, yes, but never sad. And it hurts like hell to see her like this.


    She stiffens at first, before slowly turning onto her back.


    And then our eyes locked and a fire shot up into my head.


    ¡®MATE! MATE! MINE!¡¯ Hex shouts in my head. ¡®Take her in your arms and kiss her.¡¯Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    Esmee rita carefully sits up, while I crouch down until I am face to face with her. Yes, she is my second chance mate, thank you, Moon Goddess, you have corrected your mistake.


    ¡®MATE!¡¯ she whispers as she crawls towards me, uncertain. I grab her like a life preserver, our lips sucking together. My tongue prates her mouth, eager to taste and conquer. Tenderly, I lean her back on the towel and hover over her.


    But then Hex overpowers me, and we partially shift, as does Esmee rita and her wolf.


    My hands run down her body, the bikini she is wearing sooning off. I wanted to take it slow, but, goddess, her scent is driving me crazy and her wolf isn¡¯t making it easy either. Her hands are all over my skin, wing wherever they can find a grip.


    Breathless, my mouth leaves her lips and goes to her neck and shoulders. I try to say something, but Hex chokes me immediately. He nips at her skin until we reach her bare breasts and feast on them.


    ¡°David, David,¡± I hear her whisper hoarsely as she pushes her back closer to my mouth.


    ¡°Mate, I love you, I¡¯m so sorry,¡± I hear Hex whisper hoarsely. ¡°Let me make it up to you. I promise you the world as long as you stay with me. You can continue to annoy me, demand my attention, do whatever you want. As long as you never leave.¡±


    Shit, my wolf is stealing my sentences, I will have a serious talk with him about thister.


    ¡°Promise me, mate. Words, I need words. I want you to promise me. The name is Hex,¡± he forces.


    ¡°Yes, yes Hex. I¡¯ll stay. For as long as you want. I love you,¡± she exims, her voice thick with lust.


    ¡°Perfect. Because this willst a lifetime. I want you, Mira. Are you ready for me?¡±


    I try to warn him to be careful with her and especially not to hurt her, but this beast pushes me away hard. This will be thest time he takes control of me like this, I swear. There is nothing I can do to save Esmee rita from its ws. I had imagined our mating to be different, but my horny wolf wants to stop her running away from us again. His fear rivals mine, the terrible uncertainty of thest few hours is something I never want to experience again.


    He lowers himself further until he is between her legs. He spreads them wide until they meet her stomach and dips down. His rough tongue rolls over her folds, rasping at the nub. My mate is going mad with desire, the shivers in her body betraying her desperate state.


    ¡°Hex, Hex, please don¡¯t stop. Keep going! God ¡­¡± she cries hoarsely as she moves her hips against my face. My hands move over her body, summoning the sparks that sent us out of our minds. At the same time as I roll her nipple, Hex plunges his long, rough tongue into her.


    ¡°Aaahh. I can¡¯t hold out any longer, I¡¯ming ¡­ goddess. I ¡­ I¡±. A cry of pleasure escapes my mate as her orgasm surges through her, rendering her helpless. She lifts her hips to take it all in, but falls back onto the towel after a few seconds, out of breath. Her juices fill my mouth and I drink everyst drop.


    And then Hex hovers over her, the tip of his member at her entrance.


    ¡°Look at me, mate. We will be one from now on. There is no more running. Do you understand me?¡± Swallowing hard, still numb from her overwhelming orgasm, Esmee nods.


    ¡°Then spread yourself wide for me. Let me take all of you.¡± Obediently, she pushes her thighs back until she ispletely open for us. With their eyes locked, he prates deep inside her in one fluid motion, breaking her virgin barrier in the process.


    Horrified, my mate lets out a cry of pain, tears streaming from her eyes. Hex lies still for a moment to allow her to adjust to his dominance, kissing her all the while. His member twists inside her, sending another wave of desire through her.


    And when she nods, he starts to move, slowly at first, but then with impatient thrusts towards the fulfillment he and I crave.


    ¡°Aahh, yes ¡­ Hex, David ¡­ yes, go on ¡­ go deeper,¡± our mate cries out, her hips now pressing and demanding. And as their joint orgasm approaches, their fangs lengthen, both Hex¡¯s and Mira¡¯s. Hex bites deep into her neck first, keeping his fangs inside her for a few seconds before pulling them out. He then licks the wound clean, causing it to close. As soon as he lifts his face to look at her, Mira sinks her fangs deep into me, marking me for life.


    ¡°You are mine, David Gorgio. Atst,¡± she sighs as she falls back onto the deck, tired but satisfied¡­

 EPILOGUE – No More Running

    Alpha Female Adlin Rain¡¯s POINT OF VIEW


    Yay!


    Seeing my twin brother so happy was the greatest experience of my life. David Gorgio returned to Eclipse Howl a week ago and proudly presented Esmee rita as his mate and Luna to the pack. The mark on their necks was clearly visible, it¡¯s official. It was a grand celebration, the pack went wild at the sight of the happy, tanned couple who were clearly very much in love.


    And with that, the criticism of Princess Micha¡¯s rejection was silenced. After my brother¡¯s departure on the night of our anniversary, many voiced their displeasure. The fact that the future Alpha had rejected a Lycan in favor of a half-human was unthinkable. For many, it was a missed opportunity to provide the next Alpha line with a strong bloodline; an Alpha King mix with Lycan traits would be formidable. Humans are supposed to be weak, so Esmee rita was opposed out of hand.


    But after seeing the couple together, the naysayers disappeared.


    To see their future Alpha happy is priceless. His love for his Luna beams in his eyes, Esmee rita glows under his gaze. Many are in awe when the two are together, their chemistry is undeniable.


    And tonight, Dad hands over his position to David Gorgio.


    My brother has been away for more than six weeks, he wanted to spend some time with his mate before they start their duties in the pack. Of course, he understands that the constant attention Esmee rita has been seeking for the past few years was a desperate cry for eptance. And now that he has reassured her, she is less likely to chase after him like a lost pup.


    I still haven¡¯t met my mate, by the way. Not that I have bothered to look for him, he will turn up in time. I am still young, so there is no hurry.


    The open hall is packed, and of course, the unmated Alphas are out in force again. They don¡¯t miss a chance to find their mate. As a member of the Alpha family, I sit on the stage next to my mother. My two remaining younger sisters sit to her left. The event is more about my father, the Elders and the new Alpha; we are just witnesses to the transfer of leadership.


    Proudly I watch as my twin brother, with his mate beside him, repeats the oath the Elder recites to them. Then the Elder cuts his palm, drips the blood into a goblet and repeats it to my father. After the blood is mixed, another elixir is added. David Gorgio and Esmee rita drink from the goblet, and immediately a shock goes through the pack link.


    Eclipse Howl has new leaders, power has shifted to the next Alpha in line.


    A loud cheer erupts, the invited guests leaping to their feet as some of the pack members shift in joy. David Gorgio has the full support of the pack, he is the perfect leader.


    Suddenly, a gleaming Maserati pulls up in front of the entrance to the hall, the crest on its body indicating a visit from the Kingdom. The room falls silent, all eyes fixed on the brown-skinned god who steps out confidently. The man buttons his jacket as he stares out into the hall. His eyes are hidden by a few shades, but he soon removes them.


    Purposefully, he walks up the aisle and climbs onto the stage.


    ¡°Alpha David Gorgio, Luna Esmee rita. I am here to convey the congrattions of King Jasper, my uncle. He looks forward to continuing the great leadership of your father and mother. He also offers you a seat on the Council, effective immediately.¡±


    All the pack leaders present gasped in surprise. None of them had seen thising, especially since David Gorgio had rejected the King¡¯s granddaughter. My brother gratefully epts. But as the golden Greek god turns to leave the stage, our eyes collide.


    A jolt of recognition runs through me, and only now do I realize that it is none other than Hester standing there. Thest time I saw the son of Aunt Fiona and Uncle Jace, my father¡¯s Beta, he was only ten years old. He had an unnerving tendency to stare at me until I noticed, then quickly lower his eyes. After that, he moved to the Kingdom and I never saw him again.


    Anyway, he has grown into a gorgeous guy who makes my heart beat faster.


    ¡®MATE!¡¯ Cera¡¯s voice echoes in my head. I sat up straight in shock, this was beyond my expectations. I thought I would stay single for a few more years. Now I know why I didn¡¯t find my mate on my birthday, he was in the Kingdom all the time.


    Hester walks up to me with a big smile on his face.


    ¡°I knew it. When I heard that you hadn¡¯t found your mate on your birthday, it was easy to guess that your wolf was waiting for me, that I was your fated,¡± he sounds cocky. He holds out a hand for me to put mine in. Then he gently pulls me into his arms.


    ¡°Ever since I first saw you, I begged the Moon Goddess to keep you for me. I was still young, but I already knew I wanted you as a mate. That is why I requested the King to take on this task, so that I could meet you again, now that I am eighteen myself,¡± he smiles broadly.


    Stunned, I continued to stare at him, unable toprehend.


    With his arm around my waist, he walks towards my father. The sparks of the mate bond go straight to work, a delicious shiver runs from where our bodies touch to my core.


    ¡°Alpha Gorgio, I know how protective you are of your eldest daughter. But I am here to take her with me. I would be happy to have the blessing of you, your mate and the new Alpha¡±.N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    Kill me now! If that is not the perfect gentleman, I could fall in love with a thousand times over.


    To my surprise, both my father and brother nod in approval. My mother stands there looking overjoyed, her smile spreading from ear to ear.


    ¡°Of course, Hester. You¡¯re my Beta¡¯s son, I trust you with my daughter more than anyone¡±. I blink away a tear, never imagining that my father, who was so emotional at the prospect of my mating, would be so epting today.


    Well, it seems that love softens the hearts of men.


    My mate turns to me. ¡°Just get your handbag with your personal items. You can leave your clothes and toiletries, I¡¯ve already reced them all at the Pce, you won¡¯t need them anymore.¡±


    ¡°The Pce?¡± Mum¡¯s eyes widen in surprise.


    ¡°Yes, I am the King¡¯s Personal Assistant. My title is actually Sir Hester¡±.


    Again, all jaws drop to the floor.


    ¡°And now, get your things together, love. The Royal Jet is waiting for us. You have about fifteen minutes before we leave¡±¡­


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