Filed To Story: In the Shadow of the Past Luna (Lily & James)
I say softly.
I feel his lips stretch into a smile against my neck. “I do?”
he asks.
“Yes.”
I take advantage of the opportunity to run my fingers through his hair. It feels soft and silky.
“Chocolate, raspberries, vanilla, and coffee beans. I think that quite the compatible combination, don’t you think?”
I smile. “Yes, I think it is.”
After taking another big whiff of my scent, James stands up straight so that he can peer into my eyes.
“Have you gotten a little bit taller?”
he asks curiously.
“A little bit,”
I confirm.
He takes my hand and spins me around. “You have changed so much.”
I furrow my eyebrows, and he laughs.
“All positive changes, I promise. It’s just that you have been gone way too long. Please promise me that you will never leave for me for that long again. I cannot bear it.”
At this point, I am ready to make him any promises he wants. But before I can respond, he adds, “I must say, I always loved your blond hair, but the reddish brown really suits you.”
Wait, what?
“James, I
“Ssshhhh. I know we have a lot to talk about. A lot has happened in the past six years, and I am sure you have a ton of questions, as do I. But you are here now, and we are mates, and we will work through it all together in time, okay?”
My stomach starts to hurt, serving as a warning to me that something is not right. But then Rose pipes up again, “Mate is so dreamy. He is perfect.”
“James, we do need to talk. There is so much —“
“Sssshhhh. Please, let’s just take a little while just to appreciate this moment, okay? We can talk later.
We have all the time in the world.”
With that, James leans down and kisses me. His lips feel so soft, and the sparks are so strong, that I immediately forget what I was worrying about. His tongue runs along the seam of my lips, begging for entrance, which I immediately give him. The kiss quickly becomes more and more passionate and heated.
We continue kissing until we need to break for air.
sing until we need to break f
“How is it possible that you have become such a better kisser in the past six years? That was… wow. I guess they are right about the mate bond.”
I furrow my eyebrows. “That was my first kiss-
James smirks proudly as he interrupts me. “It had better be your first kiss in six years. I cannot bear the thought of anyone else touching what is mine. And you, Stephanie Brogan, are mine. All mine.”
And that is the moment in which I felt my world crashing down all around me.
(A couple of hours earlier)
(James POV)
At 6:00 in the morning, an Omega knocks on my bedroom door. She informs me that my father needs to see me in his office right away.
I am not happy to be summoned, especially at this early hour. I got very little sleep last night, due to tossing and turning and Luke being restless as well. I knew that Stephanie’s first remembrance event of the day was not to begin until 11 am, so I had hoped to get a little more rest before beginning the day.
I want to shout at the Omega to go away and leave me alone, but I know that it is not her fault.
I am tempted to instead send her away with an “f—you”
message to my father, but I do not think that is a good idea either. My father rarely talks to me anymore, so I know whatever it is that he wants to talk about, it must be important. Plus, he is still the alpha.
Sighing, I thank the Omega and politely tell her to tell my father that I will be there in 15 minutes. She nods and walks away.
I take a quick shower and throw on a pair of jeans and a plain gray t-shirt. Given that I am going to my father’s office, I briefly consider putting on a suit, but I figure that if my father wanted to see me in formal clothes, he would have either given me more notice of the meeting or set it for a more reasonable time.
I walk into my father’s office ten minutes late. I could have easily been on time, but tardiness is one of my father’s pet peeves, and I was feeling a bit spiteful. Being late is my subtle form of protest.
As I walk into the alpha office, I immediately notice that my father is not alone. My mother and Stephanie’s parents are also there.
I raise my left eyebrow. “What is this about?”
I ask.
“Sit down, Son.”
I take a seat next to my mother
“What’s going on, Father?”
“You are 26 years old. It is time for you to start thinking about taking over the pack.”
“I agree,”
I respond cautiously.
My mother hands me a glass of water. Her gesture tells me that whatever my father is about to say, I am.
not going to like it. I take a sip of the water, preparing myself for what I am about to hear.
“It is also time for you to select a luna.”
I immediately spit out the water and glance over at Stephanie’s parents.
“What?”
“Stephanie has been gone for a long time. We all miss her, but none of us are getting any younger. It is time for you to marry, take over the pack, and produce an heir.”
I glance at Stephanie’s parents, expecting them to look just as surprised and aghast as I am. However, both of them look at me as though they had been prepared for this conversation.
“Father, may I ask why you have chosen to bring this up today of all days? This is Stephanie’s death anniversary. Her remembrance events are set to begin in just a few hours. Shouldn’t we be getting ready for those?”
Beta Robert speaks up. “It was my idea.
“What? Why?”
“We want to announce it to the pack today,”
Beta Robert responds.
“Announce what?”
1
“Your marriage, one year from today.”
“What marriage? I am pretty sure that I need a bride to get married. I have not met my second chance mate yet.”
“And you may not,”
my mother says gently, placing her hand on my shoulder. “Second chance mates are not guaranteed. It has been six years. In a year, it will be seven. You cannot continue to wait for something that may never happen. It is time for you to choose a luna and move on.”
“I do not understand the rush. I am only 26 years old. Why does it have to be now?”
New Book: Veiled Desires of the Alpha King Novel
Dayson was the alpha of the largest pack in North America. Powerful figures from other packs sought to offer gorgeous girls as potential mates for Dayson. He steadfastly rejected these advances, he was not a pawn to be manipulated. But eventually there came a mysterious girl he could hardly say No. Who was she?