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Lately, I’d been more tongue-tied around him and more shy, especially when I couldn’t help but inhale his scent of the sea. His scent reminded me of nights when we would sneak away to the water during holidays as friends. Once or twice, we’d come close to kissing, but it never happened.
“I’ll saddle him up for you,” said Jasper, quickly grabbing supplies and getting to work. I’ve always wondered why he never sought out a pack to join. Werewolves naturally gravitated to one another to form packs, but Jasper was different.
He had explained he hated the rigidity and rules of being in a pack. He would instead choose to roam free and be without an omega for the rest of his life.
“Thanks,” I said, deftly climbing onto the saddle like I’ve done for years.
“Before you ride off there,” started Jasper. “Do you want to hang out later?”
“I’m having lunch with my family today, but I’ll see if I can sneak out later,” I said, my heart beating fast. The older I got, the more awkward things got between us.
With a gentle nudge of my heels, I urged Whisper forward, feeling the rhythm of his powerful strides beneath me as we setoff into the field. While I rode, I thought about our friendship and how neither one of us was willing to cross the boundaries and make it something more.
I knew he could feel the attraction between us, the way I felt. I could hardly even be in the same room as him without sweating.
There was no way I could feel the same powerful attraction with anyone else, but I was scared to admit my feelings to him without thinking of the consequences. My family would never allow it- especially since my fathers’ were esteemed alphas of the community.
Later that day,I was eating lunch with my father, and they were all quiet for some reason. The oldest of my fathers, Benjamin, had long gray hair and a goatee.
“Is something wrong?” I asked him. My other fathers, Oberon and Quinton, looked at him as if waiting for him to talk. Dread began to settle in my stomach as I wondered what the hell happened. “Dad, what happened?”
He sighed, “Nothing happened, Ruby. We just need to talk to you about something, that’s all.”
“Okay?” I asked, setting my fork down next to a half-eaten baked salmon.
A look of seriousness overcame him. I’d never seen him acting like this with me.
“Tomorrow, the Crawford Pack will be coming over for dinner,” he said to me as if nervous of what I would say.
“What does that have to do with me?” I asked, already having a bad feeling about it.
“They’re coming over to meet you,” Benjamin said slowly without looking at me.
“What do you mean?”
“Years ago, you were promised to this pack and I would likefor you to give them a chance,” he said, his gaze shifting away like he wasn’t being totally honest with me.
This was the first time I heard about getting matched to a pack, and anger bloomed within me. I didn’t want to be strapped to a pack for life, birthing multiple pups for them.
I pursed my lips as I struggled to contain my emotions.
“Why would you promise me to a pack?”
“To protect you,” he said simply.
“That’s bullshit!” I shouted, jumping up from my chair. I couldn’t stand still as I paced around the dining table, prepared to fight for my life. “Protect me from what? I’m about to be twenty-three and still young. I have a whole life to live.”
“That’s more than old enough,” said Benjamin.
“We’re sorry, daughter,” said Quinton, walking over to stroke my hair. “This is supposed to bring you lots of joy. Why are you so angry?”
“Because she wants to be with someone she loves,” said a voice from behind me. I spun around to see my mom standing there, the look in her eyes clear as she focused on me.
“Mom,” I said, tears in my eyes as I rushed over to her in her moment of clarity. “You’re absolutely right.”
Then suddenly, her eyes rolled back in terror. “He’s going to take her. Please save my baby.”
I sighed.
