Chapter One
CHLEO
Three Years Ago…
His scent and touch invade my senses, making my heart race.
“You’re so beautiful,” he whispers to me.
I wish I could say the same. “Let me see you,” I say, breathless.
I’ve never seen his face, but without a shadow of a doubt I know we belong to each other. “Soon, Little Star,” he says. His nickname for me sends a chill down my spine and sets my skin on fire. He kisses down my neck, as he breathes in my scent and holds me close.
“I don’t even know your name,” I breathe out.
“You’re not meant to, not yet,” he tells me. He pulls me closer, holding me so close I can feel every muscle in his body. “But soon, you will have my name, my body, and my heart, and I’ll have yours.”
I woke up from my dream, sweaty and turned on. I’d been having that same dream every night for a year, since my seventeenth birthday. I didn’t know what to think about the dreams so I asked my mother about it after they started.
“Well, sweetheart,” she started. “When a wolf is ready to find her mate, she dreams about him. You won’t see his face in your dreams until you’ve met him in person.”
“So I’ll find him soon?” I asked.
“It’s hard to say, Chleo,” she said. “We start dreaming about our mates a year before we turn eighteen. Your father invaded my dreams for two years before I met him.”
“Two years?”
“A lot of wolves find their mates within their own pack, but others find theirs while visiting other packs, or vice versa.”
Mom was from Amethyst pack, she met my father while attending a ball in Pearl territory. As soon as she arrived, she could smell his scent and her wolf went crazy. As soon as their eyes met, he grabbed her hand and claimed her as his. Since he was to be the pack’s next Beta, he couldn’t leave so my mother stayed. They had their mating ceremony on the following full moon, a year later they had my brother, Adam and then me, two years after that.
“I hope I find him soon, these dreams are intense,” I admitted.
“I remember mine well,” she said. “Unfortunately, not much will help.”
“Oh my god,” I said, smacking my hand to my forehead. “You’re telling me I’m going to deal with this,” pointing between my legs, “until I meet him?”
“That is exactly what I’m telling you.”
Groaning, I stomped back to my bedroom. Later that day, my mom handed me a pink bag filled with different s*x toys. I gaped at her, eyes wide, and cheeks flushed.
“Mother!”
“Don’t be embarrassed, I know what you’re feeling and these will help. Don’t worry, you father doesn’t know.”
“How the hell does he not know?”
“Male wolves don’t dream of their mates before meeting, so they don’t feel the s****l tension that we do.”
“Well, lucky them, I guess.” I tried to push the bag away.
“Take them, I know it’s awkward but it will only get worse if you don’t ‘take care of things’ yourself, and sweetie,” she said, “I already know you’re not a virgin, so don’t act so prudish.” My mouth dropped.
“When will we meet him?” I asked my wolf. I don’t know, she whimpered in my head, I don’t feel the bond yet. I looked at my phone, 6:22AM. I groaned, rolled my eyes, kicked my blanket as I climbed out of bed, and got in the shower. I grabbed my vibrator from the shelf, placed it against my clit, and turned it on.
I was so horny that it didn’t take long before my orgasm made my knees buckle. Slamming my fist to the wall, I came so hard, I saw stars. Werwolves become sexually active after our first shifts as our wolves increase our drives. I’ve had casual s*x with some unmated males to ease the tension but nobody had ever made me come like that. Our mate can and will, my wolf said. The toys helped, but I couldn’t wait to meet my mate and today was my birthday.
After finishing my shower I got dressed and while I was towel drying my hair, a knock on my door pulled me from my thoughts. “Chleo,” my mom said, “are you awake?”
“Yeah,” I shouted, “come in.”
“Happy birthday, baby girl.”
“Thanks,” I replied.
She placed two wrapped gifts on my bed before walking to my bathroom door. “How bad was it this time?” The dream.
“Bad,” I admitted, “almost painful. The toys and s*x aren’t helping much anymore.”
“I’m sorry, sweetie,” she said and pouted her lip. “I hope you find your mate sooner rather than later.”
“Me too,” my wolf and I said in unison.
“Last day of Senior year, are you excited?”
“Yes,” I replied. “I know I’ll still be around the same people because we’re a pack but at least I won’t be crammed in a small building while I’m horny.”
“I don’t miss those says,” she said with a laugh and walked back to my bed. “Open your presents, maybe they’ll help you feel better.”
“I don’t need anymore s*x toys, mom.”
“I promise that is not what is in these boxes. Just open them.”
I unwrapped the first box to find a brand new iMac. “Wow,” I said “thank you.”
“You’ve needed a new computer for a while. Open the next one.”
It was a small box and inside was a set of car keys. “Mom!” I exclaimed. “No you didn’t!”
“You’re right,” she said. “I didn’t. Your dad bought a new car and he’s picking it up later today so he’s giving you the Mustang.”
“Thank you, but you didn’t have to. I don’t mind riding my bike or even letting my wolf run.”
“You’re eighteen, you need a car.”
“Your mother’s right,” Dad said, stepping into my room. “Happy birthday and happy graduation day, Chleo.” I jumped up and hugged him.
“Thanks, Daddy.”
“You’re welcome, baby girl. Now, finish getting ready, Adam’s coming over to take you to breakfast before school.”
“I’m already here,” Adam shouted from the foyer. “Happy birthday baby sister, let’s go get some food.”
“Two minutes,” I shouted back.
I grabbed my backpack and cell phone and ran out of the door. “Where’s Nat?” Adam met his mate, Natalie, a week after his eighteenth birthday, they mated and moved into an apartment.
“She’s at home, resting.” Natalie announced her pregnancy six months ago.
“How is my little niece or nephew?”
“Healthy and growing,” Adam said. “The doctor said we’ve only got a couple of weeks to go.”
“Have you picked out any names?” I asked.
“Yes, for a boy we’ve decided on Elliot Michael and for a girl, Leah Marie.”
“I love them both.”
After breakfast, Adam brought me back home so I could drive my car to school. “Have a good last day, Natalie and I will be there to watch you walk across that stage tonight.”
“Thanks Adam,” I said. “I love you.”
“I love you, too, baby sister.”
I picked up my best friend, Rebecca, before driving to school.
“Damn, I didn’t think your dad would ever let you drive this car.”
“It’s my car now,” I said.
“Ummm, excuse me?” She replied. “Rewind, what?”
“It’s my birthday, s***h, graduation present. Dad bought a new car so he gave the Mustang to me.”
“Talk about a great gift. All I got for my eighteenth birthday was a new iPhone.”
“I got an iMac, too.”
“s**t, your parents spoiled you today.”
“I know,” I said. “I think mom feels bad about my dreams.”
“That bad, today?”
“They’ve been getting worse and worse.”
“I’m sorry girl, hopefully -,”
Her words cut off like she wasn’t even speaking when the most amazing smell invaded my nose. I slammed on the breaks, put the car in park, and got out.
“Chleo, what the f**k, are you alright?”
“My mate is close,” I said.
“Really? You caught his scent?”
“Yeah, he’s not too close though, because I can’t feel the bond yet.”
“He must be at school, we’re only a few blocks away.”
We got back into the car and drove. As we pulled into the parking lot, I felt something tug at my stomach, like a line on a fish. “He’s here,” I said to Rebecca.
“Go find him!”
“Come with me,” I said.
“No way,” she said, “this is something you need to do alone. I don’t want to be a third wheel. I’m fine, go.”
“I’ll catch up with you later,” I said as I hugged her.
I followed the bond to where it was pulling me and found myself standing in front of the auditorium. I took a deep breath, the nerves settling in my stomach, and opened the doors. As I stepped inside, someone grabbed my arm and shoved me against the wall, pinning my body with is own.
“Mate,” he said and turned on a light. My eyes adjusted and I stared into the eyes of Jake Reynolds. “Hello, Chleo.”
My heart was beating faster than a car at a race track. I’d found my mate and he was standing in front of me. “Jake,” I said. I was ecstatic with a smile on my face but Jake looked upset, almost sad. “What’s wrong?”
“I’m so sorry, Chleo.”
“Sorry?” I asked. “Sorry for what?
“Chleo, please don’t take this the wrong way.” This isn’t good, my wolf said. “As happy as I am that I found you, I don’t love you.”
“That’s okay,” I said. “I don’t expect love right away. We already know we’re compatible sexually, we can work our way there.” Jake had been one of my f**k buddies over the last couple of years, it wasn’t surprising that my mate would be one of them.
“No, you’re not understanding me, Chleo. You are gorgeous and amazing in bed but I don’t want to be with you.”
“What?”
“Chleo Evers, daughter of Beta Evers, I, Jacob Reynolds reject you as my fated mate.”
The rejection slammed into my chest, cutting the bond like scissors to a string. “Why?”
“It’s nothing personal, Chleo, but there’s someone else I want and I’m taking her as my chosen mate.”
“Who,” I asked.
“Chleo,” he started.
“Who?!” I asked again.
“Rebecca Clare.” No f*****g way.
“My best friend, Rebecca?”
“I’m sorry,” he said, shaking his head. “Rebecca and I are in love.”
“You’re lying,” I insisted. “She would’ve told me.”
“We haven’t told anyone. We were hoping to be mates but we’re not and I knew I’d have to reject my mate just like she did hers.”
My head was spinning, Rebecca’s eighteenth birthday was three months prior, which means she’d not only found and rejected her mate but was secretly dating Jake and didn’t tell me. My heart was shattered and my wolf howled inside my head.
“Who was her mate?”
“Owen Pierce.” I remember the day Owen requested to leave school early and missed an entire week. Everyone suspected he’d found his mate and been rejected. Rebecca was even jumping in on the suspicion.“Poor Owen, his mate must’ve rejected him,” she’d said.
“I have to go,” I said, pushing Jake away from me.
“Chleo, I’m sorry,” he said.
“Save it,” I replied, “you’ve done enough.”
I ran out of the auditorium and straight to our guidance counsellor, Mrs. Danverse.
“Chleo, what can I do for -,” she stopped speaking as soon as she saw my tear streaked face. “Oh, sweetheart. Come on in.” She stepped around me and shut her office door. “Who is it?”
“Jake Reynolds,” I said.
“I’m so sorry,” she grabbed an index card and scribbled something down before handing it to me. “Go home, I’ll make sure your diploma is mailed to you.”
“I’m not going to let this destroy me, Mrs. Danverse. I’ll take the pass to go home, but I am walking across that stage tonight.”
“Okay, if you’re sure.”
“I am,” I said. I took the pass and started walking to my car. Rebecca stopped me before I made it to the doors.
“Hey, where are you going?” I turned to face her, tears stained my face and anger flared in my eyes. “Oh no, he rejected you? I’m so sorry, Chleo. Who is it, I’ll kick his ass.”
“I doubt that,” I said.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“I have it on good authority that you’ve been secretly f*****g him, so I doubt you’ll kick his ass.”
Shock and realisation took over her expression. “Jake’s your mate?”
“He was but he not anymore, thanks to you.”
“Chleo,” she said.
“Owen Pierce,” I said, cutting her off. “You stood there and acted like you had no idea who ripped his heart from his chest that day he left. You joined in with the skeptics and the person who destroyed him, was you!”
“Chleo, please let me explain,” she said. “I didn’t know Jake would be your mate. Come on, you know I’d never hurt you.”
“Well, you have. I hope you have a great life being Jake’s chosen mate. Goddess knows you deserve each other.” I pushed her away when she tried to grab my shoulder. I walked to my car, got in, and locked the door before breaking down into a mess of tears and calling my mother.
“Hey sweetie,” she answered.
“Momma,” I said, sniffling.
“What’s wrong? Why are you crying?”
“He,” *sniff*, “he rejected me,” I said and started to sob.
“Paul, get in the car,” she shouted. “We’re on our way, baby. Stay right there.”
Ten minutes later, my mom’s car raced into the school parking lot, stopping right in front of mine. Dad was out of the car before mom could put it in park. “Where is he?” He asked me. “Where the f**k is the dead man who rejected my baby girl?”
“Dad, stop,” I said.
“No, Chleo!” He yelled. “You’re the Beta’s daughter. Who in his right mind would reject you? A dead man, that’s who. If you were the Alpha’s daughter the punishment would be even worse.”
“Dad, what’s done is done. He’s Rebecca’s secret chosen mate, Jake Reynolds.”
“Rebecca’s secret what?” Mom asked.
I explained the entire thing to them both before dad told me to move over to the passenger seat so he could drive my car home. When we arrived back home, Adam was standing in the driveway, fury on his face.
“I’ll kill him,” he said.
“Adam, don’t,” mom said.
“Don’t?” He asked. “Some asshole rejects my little sister, and you say ‘don’t’?”
“It’s done, Adam. He chose Rebecca.” I said. Adam looked up at my mom who only nodded as she rubbed my back. Adam put his arm around my shoulder and walked me inside and straight to my room where Natalie was sitting in my desk chair.
“Adam told me,” she said. “Come here, tell me everything.”
“Nat, you don’t need the stress,” I said.
“You’re my sister in-law and you need me. Talk.” I told Natalie every detail and cried while she held my hand. After I was done, she ran me a bubble bath with mint and eucalyptus and told me to soak while she brushed my hair. “Tonight’s your graduation, too. Asshole.”
“I’m still going, Nat.”
“Chleo, nobody would blame you for skipping the ceremony.”
“I need to do this, Nat. I don’t want to be like Owen Pierce. I don’t want people to give me their pity and feel sorry for me. I’m going to pick myself up, face my classmates, and leave with my diploma in hand.”
“If that’s what you really want, of course we will all support you.”
“Yes, we will,” my mom said.
Six hours later, I walked into the school auditorium and held my head up high while I sat with my classmates.
“Chleo Nicole Evers,” Mrs. Danverse announced. My family clapped as I was given my diploma. Mrs. Danverse gave me a hug. “I’m proud of you,” she whispered in my ear. After the ceremony, as I reunited with my family in the lobby, Alpha Johnson approached me.
“Congratulations, Chleo,” he said.
I bowed my head. “Thank you, Alpha.”
“May I speak with you?”
“Of course, Alpha.” We walked a few feet away from my family. “Your father called and told me what happened today.” I looked down, ashamed. “Don’t do that, Chleo. Jacob Reynolds and Rebecca Clare are despicable and tarnished the sanctity of the mate bond. You have nothing to be ashamed of, they do.”
“I am ashamed, Alpha. I’m a wolf who couldn’t keep her mate. I’m a disappointment to this pack, to you.”
“You are the opposite of a disappointment, Chleo Evers. Most rejected wolves sulk and hide, especially on the first day of rejection. But you, you held your head high and faced not only your classmates, but the two people who hurt you most. That is admirable and because of that, I am offering you a job.”
“A job?”
“Yes, as my personal assistant.”
“Alpha Johnson, I’m only a high school graduate. That position is for pack members who’ve earned it.”
“Correct, and you have. You’re smart, brave, and strong. You clearly don’t let anyone get the better of you and that is what makes you perfect for the job. I’m offering you an annual salary of seventy-five thousand dollars. There’s room to grow as well.” My mouth dropped, no eighteen year old made that kind of money. “Take your time, it’s an open offer.” He shook my hand and walked away.
Later, back home, I told my family about Alpha Johnson’s offer. My dad was thrilled. “You’d be working closely with me and Alpha Johnson, this is an honourable position, Chleo.”
“Dad’s right,” Adam said. “This is a job most wolves would kill for. You’d be third in command, right under dad.”
“It’s your choice, baby girl,” mom said.
“We’ll support whatever you decide,” dad agreed, and kissed my forehead.
I pondered the offer for hours, weighing the pros and cons. The position meant I wouldn’t be going to college, but I wouldn’t need college with a job like that. It would put me in a position to work not just with Pearl Pack but with the other Gem packs. I picked up the phone and called Alpha Johnson.
“Hello,” he answered.
“Alpha Johnson, this is Chleo Evers.”
“Hello, Miss Evers, what can I do for you?”
“I accept the job.”