“Deep Breaths, Molly. Deep Breaths.” I say to myself in the mirror as I place my white gold and diamond earrings in my ears. My dad gave these to me on my 18th birthday, the birthday they hoped I would find my mate, but that was 4 years ago. I’ve spent every day since attempting to avoid meeting anyone who could possibly be my mate to be sure I avoid the pain of their rejection.
I check my hair, falling in perfect dark waves down my back, and touch up my lipstick one last time before I slip into my sage green dress and head downstairs. Today, my brother Robbie will officially be named Alpha Robert of the Lunar Falls Pack. All the Alphas of nearby packs are expected to attend, and some from further distances decided to make the trip when word spread that the royal family would be in attendance. I had hoped to stay in the kitchens, avoiding anyone of any importance, but since the royal family will be here, I’ll be put on display. This is how I ended up here- actually looking presentable in a dress my mother selected because it “really brings out my eyes.”
I roll my eyes at the memory of my mother coming in with an arm full of dresses for me to try, acting as if the King and Queen coming was something special and that she wasn’t the best of friends with Queen Audrey and my father didn’t complete his Alpha training with King Peter over 30 years ago. She was right, though. The color of the dress does make my bright green eyes pop, and the cut is very flattering on my curves.
My mother doesn’t understand, though, just how much I hate my eyes to shine green when we’re all together. I’m the oldest child- they think. See, my birthday isn’t my actual birthday but my gotcha day, as my dad likes to call it. Sixteen years ago, my dad was helping on patrol and found me curled in a ball, asleep under a tree on the edge of the pack territory. There was no one around and no scent to follow. He took me back to the pack house, and I stayed with them while they searched for where I had come from. Days turned to weeks and weeks to months, but there were no leads- no reports of packs of a missing child. After a year, my parents decided to adopt me and with a blood adoption blessed by the King. This is my family, and I have the scar on my hand from the adoption to prove it. But when we stand together, my eyes always show how much I truly don’t belong here.
My brother Robbie has always treated me like a real sister, probably even more so. Judging by my size when they found me, they think I was around six when Dad found me. Robbie was five. He’s younger than me, but as we got older, he definitely took the typical older brother role in our relationship as he grew into his alpha powers while everyone realized I was a broken wolf. My family never treated me any differently, but I know it was probably really hard to be the family of one of the kingdom's strongest alphas with an adopted daughter who was basically a human.
I AM a wolf, though. I smell like one, and no one has ever questioned that. But I never had my wolf inside communicating with me. I have advanced hearing and smell- but that’s as far as my wolf abilities go. I think my family had hoped that once I reached 16, a switch would flip inside, my wolf would wake, and I’d be normal, but that day never came.
“Molly, we don’t know your exact birthday. Just wait; someday, you’ll shift,” my mom would say to me every full moon. But here I am, 22 years old, never shifted, and barely helpful to my pack. Still, my parents love me.
High School was hard once the other kids realized I wasn’t shifting. Robbie tried to protect me from them, but I remember one time during my senior year, the pack was attacked. While everyone went to protect the pack and our land, I was shuffled into the safe room of the pack house with the kids too small to shift and the elderly, who were utterly useless to my pack.
I decided then that if I couldn’t physically protect my pack, I would make myself completely indispensable to them. My dad was pretty unhappy with my choice at first. He said cooking was the job of an omega and not the alpha's daughter, but my mom and brother saw how much I needed my pack to need me and convinced him to let me learn.
I spent so much time learning from the previous head cook. When she passed away three years ago, my dad let me take over the head cook position, though he insists the job title now be Head Chef of the Lunar Falls Pack.
Generally, the job would go to an Omega who is less likely to leave the pack if they find their mate. Being the Alpha's daughter, I’m more likely to find my mate in another pack, but being the Alpha’s adopted daughter means no one knows what will happen. I’m a broken wolf, and I don’t think I even have a mate, but my mom is convinced I do. Or she could just be holding out hope because the reality of being mateless is too sad.
If my mom is right, though, and I do have a mate out there, you can be sure that they will reject me as soon as they realize how useless of a wolf I am, which is why I tend to stay in the kitchen and avoid any outsiders when they visit. Whichever theory you prefer, I’m not in much danger of ever leaving the pack, and I’m sure that’s the only reason my dad let me have the job.
There is a knock on my door, and I immediately smell my dad. He always smells of cedar and tobacco—the most comforting smell. “Molly, Love, you look absolutely beautiful,” he tells me, looking at me in the mirror from my doorway. He's wearing a black suit, with a white shirt and black tie—very classic, very Dad. His dark hair is sprinkled with some gray now, matching his gray eyes. He looks handsome, as he always does.
“Thanks, Dad. I’m almost ready, I promise. I just need to put on my shoes and run down to the kitchen to make sure everything is ready for dinner,” I reply with a smile.
“You have staff and have been down there all morning, Kiddo. What else could you possibly need to check on?”
“I know, Dad. They’re great. But it’s Robbie's big day- and it’s YOUR retirement, too. Don’t you want your meal to be perfect?”
“It will be fine, but go ahead and run down to check. Meet us out front in 10 minutes. The guests should start arriving soon. I know it’s a big day for your brother, but who knows, maybe you’ll meet someone special, and it’ll be a big day for you, too.”
“It won’t be. But I’ll be there in just a few minutes”, I tell him. They are the perfect addition to the dress as it wraps and falls with a little ruffle below my knees. I fully expected him to say something about how low the top is on my chest, but he didn’t, which means he’s either desperate for me to find my non-existent mate or he’s worrying about handing the pack over to my mateless brother.
I head into the kitchen, and as I get to the door, I can smell that everything is OK. My dad is right; I do have a staff capable of handling this. After one more sniff of the room to verify that all is well, I decide not to enter and head outside to greet our guests.
My mother is the Luna to end all Lunas. There is absolutely no comparison to how she handles her duties. The pack house is immaculately decorated at all times, but for my brother today it is perfection. Our pack's deep emerald green and gold colors adorn the walls, and as I step outside on the stone stairs, I see that the decorations extend over the outside of the house as well. A banner hangs above the door with the current pack crest- gold embroidery on the green, of the falls we’re so famous for with four stars next to a silver crescent moon. Robbie will update this when he’s ready to fit his family, as it hasn’t been updated since my adoption, and my dad (probably mom) had a star added to represent me.
“Oh, Molly. That dress was the perfect choice!” My mother exclaims and pulls me out of my thoughts. She looks perfect, as always. She’s tall and thin, with her straight brown hair in an elegant twist. She never looks bad, but she looks absolutely stunning today. She’ll never admit it, but I know she’s nervous to have the King and Queen here in such a formal setting. She’s been friends with Queen Audrey since they were kids, but they’re rarely seen together in such a public setting.
“Thank you, Mom,” I return to her in earnest. Her opinion means so much to me.
My brother lucked out and doesn’t have to greet people even though it’s his own Alpha ceremony. “How’s Robbie doing today?” I ask.
“Alpha Robert,” she says, emphasizing his full first name, “Is doing wonderfully today. He’s prepared for this role his entire life and is ready. I wish he had found his Luna before assuming the role, but he will be fine. You and I will have to help him out with the Luna duties until he finds her.” she tells me, and while I’d rather do anything than decorate, there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for my brother.
I hear my dad sigh as he hears with his Alpha hearing what I assume are cars coming. “It’s show time, ladies.”
A short moment later, I see a car approach, and before they even get to us, a second and third car are seen just behind. The first car stops in front of the pack house, and a gentleman with salt and pepper hair and a woman with dulling blonde hair step out, followed by a large, dark-haired man with olive skin. “Ahh, Blake! It is so good to have you at the Falls! Thank you for joining us,” my dad exclaims, seeing his old friend. “Celeste, Molly, this is Alpha Blake and his lovely Luna, Amanda. I’m sorry, Blake. I'm not sure I’ve met this young man before,” he says before extending his hand to the younger, very handsome man with them.
“It’s nice to meet you, Alpha Randall,” he says to my dad while accepting his hand to shake. “I’m the future Alpha Chris. Thank you for inviting us to the ceremony. Luna Celeste, Molly, the pack house looks lovely,” he says to my mother and me. She looks at me, and I know that look. She’s asking if he’s maybe my mate, to which I barely shake my head.
“It’s lovely to meet you all,” my mother expertly says to them with a smile. There’s no social situation my mother can’t handle with grace, and while I’m in awe of her skills, I realize I probably should have said something- anything. But I didn’t. They all stand looking at me, waiting for me to pull it together, but alas, I do not. High-pressure social situations aren’t my forte. Everyone continues to look at me when my dad finally steps in to save me from myself.
“We can’t express how much we appreciate you all making the trip here for our son,” he says to them, and they, thankfully, all turn their attention to him.
Perhaps I shouldn’t have spent quite so much time hiding in the kitchens because that was the first car and I’ve already messed up. A whole line of cars is now waiting for us to greet them.
Alpha Blake walks off with his family, and as I’m about to apologize to my father, his eyes go slightly out of focus, a sign that someone has mind-linked him. He gathers his focus back, and with a sigh, he turns to me. “Molly, there’s a situation in the kitchen that they need you for. If you could please hurry back after, that would be most appreciated.”
Thank the Goddess! I quickly hug my dad, and he whispers in my ear, “You had better be in there for the ceremony.” I turn around, going to the kitchen in a near run. I’m not sure if I’m moving so quickly because I don’t know the situation in the kitchen or because I’m excited not to greet any more guests, but either way, I head to the kitchen and get there in record time.
When I walk into the kitchen, nothing seems amiss. Everything smells fine, and everyone looks pretty calm. I’m confused. “What happened?”.
“What do you mean?” Katie Mae asks me.
“Someone linked my dad and said there was a situation in the kitchen,” I tell her.
“Oh, I don’t know,” Katie replies, “But Oliver is in your office. Go check with him.”
Confused, I head to my office to check in with my sous chef, who is running things for dinner tonight. I find him sitting back with his feet propped up on my desk, smirking at me.
“Just how badly did you do, Molly?” he asks me.
“What do you mean? What’s the emergency?” I ask in a confused panic.
“I do believe YOU are the emergency. Alpha Randall linked me and told me he was sending you back to the kitchen. Apparently, you just needed to be let out of your greeting duties. I was told never to speak of this to the Luna.” he says while trying to stifle a laugh.
I smile and link my dad. “Thanks, old man.” I can feel his slight chuckle in return. He’s always looking out for me—and probably the whole pack if I was supposed to continue attempting to greet people.
“So, what did you do?” Oliver asks me.
“I didn’t DO anything, which is the problem. I just forgot to talk.”
“Oh, Molls. You’ve got to be the worst-mannered Alpha’s daughter there ever was.”
I laugh, but honestly, he’s right. Daughters in the Alpha lineage are always trained to be mated to an Alpha and become their Luna. But since I’m adopted and broken, I’ve never taken the training seriously. I could throw together a dinner party if I had to, but I’d much prefer to be in the kitchen cooking for it instead.
“See any hot guys up there?” Oliver asks, breaking me out of my thoughts of my failure.
“Oli, I met one family before Dad sent me down. But, of course, I found an attractive guy. He’s the future Alpha of some pack. I don’t think they ever said where. My dad knew his dad well, though.”
“I’ll have to sneak up and check out the options during the ceremony, not that I’ll be finding my mate in a room full of Alphas. It doesn’t hurt to enjoy looking,” he tells me as his face falls.
My heart stings for my best friend. Oliver is an omega. He probably would have been named head chef if it hadn’t been for me. We’re the same age and became friends while in school. Most Alphas don’t send their kids to the pack schools so that they won’t fraternize with the Omegas, but my dad felt it was important for pack unity if Robbie and I attended the school. He was right, too. Robbie and I made friends with kids from all class structures, and it helped us to understand how privileged we are to be the Alpha’s kids and to have everything we do.
Oliver and I met in elementary school and became the best of friends. His dad had passed away when he was small, but his mom was amazing. She used to let me come over after school to play, and sometimes, I’d get to stay for dinner. She taught me how to cook, even though she didn’t work in the pack kitchens. She loved food and taught us everything she could in those years after school and during summer break when we’d go play in the falls and come back completely filthy and starving.
When we were in middle school, Oliver came out to me. I’d never met a gay wolf, but it didn’t bother me. Unfortunately, as Oli got older and confided in more people, word spread, and he was treated very poorly by other kids who didn’t understand him. Robbie tried to step in and would hang out with us, but it didn’t matter to the other kids as much as he’d hoped. Oliver's mom died in a rogue attack just before he turned 18, so as soon as he finished school, he started working in the pack kitchen. What happened was terrible, but I’m glad we landed in the kitchen together.
Oliver has always been the person who encourages me the most, and it’s helped me be brave. Brave enough to tell my dad I wanted to work in the kitchen. Brave enough to accept that I’m just a broken wolf. Brave enough to try all the new things we wanted in the kitchen and beyond.
A few years ago, we cut back the overgrown area behind the pack house and planted a huge edible garden. The first two years weren’t amazing, but we did more research, and with our hard work this year, it has been successful. The packhouse grocery bill was cut almost in half for the summer from everything we’ve been able to harvest, though we didn’t have the abundance we’d hoped for to store for the winter months.
I know I’ll find Oliver peeking in during the Alpha ceremony to check out all the guys there. I truly hope that he finds a mate one day. One of us should be happy, and I’m OK that it’s him.
“Oli, you better not burn my brother’s dinner because you’re sneaking off to check out the Alphas,” I tell him, mostly joking but completely serious at the same time.
“I’d never dream of burning Alpha Robert’s celebration dinner, my dear,” he tells me while grabbing my hand.
Suddenly, I’m met with the smell of pine and tobacco and instantly know my brother is walking in. He smells so much like my dad, but still his own. I turn to make a joke about him becoming Alpha today, but when I see his face, I know it’s not the time. He’s so serious, too serious. He’s never like this around me.
“Molly, I, uh, I need you to come up to Dad’s office… my office, with me,” he says. He’s so uncomfortable, and he’s rarely ever like this around me- serious and unsure.
“What’s wrong? Is everyone OK?” I ask, knowing deep inside that something is wrong.
“Everyone is fine, Molly. Dad needs to speak with you,” he tells me, looking anywhere but my eyes.
“Dad? Why isn’t he greeting the guests? Why didn’t he mindlink me? Robert,” I say to him, almost in a panic. “What’s going on?!”
“Molly,” he says. Finally, he looks me in the eyes. There’s so much emotion and sympathy in his hazel eyes, and I know whatever it is has to be bad. It’s very bad. “Your mate is here.”
My brother’s voice rings through my head as my heart falls to the pit of my stomach. My mate?
“How… how does he know he’s my mate?” I ask meekly. “I haven’t met anyone but Alpha Blake and Future Alpha Chris. One of them is mated, and the other, well, he didn’t say anything when we met.”
“It’s not either of them, it’s Seth. He could smell you on Dad. He said you hugged him just before you came here, and I guess your scent lingered.”
“It could be anyone that Dad was near. It’s not me. It CAN’T be me.”
“Molly. It’s you. Come on, they’re all waiting.”
“All? How many mates do I have?”
“It’s just one, kiddo. We’ve got to get up there. You can’t keep them waiting.”
“No, Robbie. No. I’m not going up there just to be rejected and hurt,” I tell him. This isn’t happening. It has to be a mistake. I can’t have a mate.
“Molly, it’s ok,” Oliver tells me as he sees my panic and recognizes that my brother does not have control of this situation. “You’ve always assumed you have no mate or that they’ll reject you if you do. Maybe he won’t. Maybe he’ll see you for the amazing wolf you are.”
He’s trying. They both are. Trying to convince me that it’s going to be ok, but you can see in their eyes they both know it won’t be—especially my brother. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a look like this on his face before. He’s so worried about me. My mate must be terrible for him to be so concerned.
I can barely breathe. It feels like the walls are closing in on me, and my chest hurts with each breath. My fears bubble to the surface, and I can’t contain them. I slowly slip out of my shoes without either of them noticing. There’s a back door out of here right behind them. They’re both faster than me- my brother has the Alpha gene, making him far superior physically to me. There’s only one way I’ll make it past them, so I do what I have to, and I cry.
My brother’s face softens, and he walks across the room, enveloping me in a huge hug. It’s a move I wasn’t expecting, making it even harder to remove myself from the kitchen. In all honesty, his hug feels good. I feel so safe when I’m with Robbie. Still, I remember he’s trying to take me to meet my dad, mate, and whoever else is there. I don’t want to be rejected and feel that pain. These thoughts make me cry even harder. Oliver moves closer, so I decide to make my final move to get out of here.
“Robbie, I need to sit down,” I tell him, and my ever-doting brother does just what I expected this time and immediately releases me and turns to grab the chair that Oliver had just vacated. I make my move and run to the door. My hand reaches the knob, and the goddess must be with me because it’s unlocked.
I take off running to the garden. To my surprise, the smell of my brother gets fainter with each step. I decide to chance a look over my shoulder to see both men standing outside the back kitchen door. Oliver’s arm is across my brother’s chest.
“Just let her go, Robert. Give her a few minutes,” Oliver tells him.
I run a bit further, but since I know they’re not following me, I finally stop and walk. I’m sure I’ve destroyed all the work I did to look presentable just a few hours ago as I walk barefoot through my favorite place. I can’t be bothered to care right now, though.
This was not the plan. This is not the life that I’m supposed to have. I know my family loves me, but it’s obvious at every turn I’m not really theirs. My family always said they loved me so much they couldn’t stand the thought of me leaving when I was small, but who would kick a homeless six-year-old out? I was found under a tree, alone- tiny, with no memory of who I was or where I came from. Was I lost? Or abandoned? Did I have a family that loved and missed me? Or did they leave me in the woods, hoping they’d never have to see me again?
I’d accepted all these possibilities before, but as I got older, it became obvious I wasn’t like all the other pups. It became harder and harder to feel like I belonged. I couldn’t play with the kids as I got older because I couldn’t physically keep up with them. That’s what made me love Oliver so much.
When the other kids wanted to play tag and throw balls, he’d be there to go on an adventure with me. The first time we made it back to the falls alone was amazing! My dad had taken me once shortly after he found me, but they looked much more amazing when we found them on our own. We got into so much trouble when we got back. I remember Oliver’s mom apologizing repeatedly to my dad. He was angry we’d gone so far without her knowledge. The entire time my dad explained my punishment, my mom smirked and kept telling him we were fine and to calm down.
As I got older, I realized that my dad was always worried about me more than anyone else because of my broken wolf. Eventually, he forbade me to go into the woods without a pack warrior nearby- even if I was with Oliver. A few years ago, Robbie had too much to drink and let it slip that Dad was worried someone would kidnap me to use it against him because I wouldn’t be able to get away myself. I was so angry when he first told me, but I quickly realized he was right to be concerned. If another pack did kidnap me, I’d never be able to escape on my own. I’m basically useless and a huge liability.
Useless and a liability to my own pack and now, to the mate I never thought I’d have. There’s no reason anyone would not reject me, short of needing a chef, but I don’t think that’s enough to keep around a broken wolf. I don’t know how I'd ever be able to help a mate. And if my mate is in Lunar Falls now for the Alpha ceremony, he’s likely an Alpha himself. While most she-wolves would be thrilled, this is the worst possible scenario for me.
I stop walking as I reach the back of my garden. This truly is my absolute favorite place in the pack territory. It’s so peaceful here, and few people ever bother to come this far back. It’s where I spend so much time doing what I can to help take care of my pack in my own way. I know it’s not much, but it’s at least something.
The sun is shining brightly now and making it hot, so I climb under the leaning trellis where the squash grow and hide in the shade. I know that eventually someone will be out here to drag me inside, but I decide to stay put until that happens.
I hide in the garden for what seems like hours, though I don’t think it’s been that long. I am surprised I’ve been able to stay here alone for so long, but I’m not upset about it either. I peek out from my hiding spot like a small child and see the window to my Father’s study. A man I don’t recognize is staring outside.
For just a moment, I wonder if that’s my mate. He’s attractive, from what I can tell. He has longer dark hair above his shoulders and looks pretty muscular. He’s holding a glass with something brown in it- probably some expensive drink that my dad hopes will help him overlook my behavior. Maybe he has enough drink to have him overlook my brokenness. Doubtful, as I’m not just a broken wolf, but I’m now a filthy wolf wearing no shoes and hiding in actual plants.
I smell the familiar scent of my best friend as he approaches and climbs under the trellis with me. The look he’s giving me tells me he knows the situation isn’t great. Oliver knows me so well. He knows that I’m not able to articulate my feelings at the moment, so he doesn’t say a word. He just puts his arms around me and holds me, and I let go of tears I didn’t even realize I’d been holding.
I cry for the little girl who didn’t get a wolf, and for all the times another kid made me feel less than. I cry for all the nights I spent wondering why I was left by a tree, and I cry for all the memories that I don’t have from before then. I cry for the kid who grew up not meeting anyone's expectations, and for all the times I know I disappointed my parents. They tried so hard to hide it, but I knew. But most of all, I cry for the fear of having to face a mate that I never dreamed I’d have and the pain of the rejection that I’ll have to endure.
“He’s not going to reject you,” Oliver tells me. I know he truly thinks that, but there’s no chance someone would want me.
“I’m going to go up there, but I need to change clothes first,” I tell him. He looks at me and nods but doesn’t say a word about how I look an absolute mess.
I mind link my dad. I’m going to change and make myself presentable, and then I’ll be there. I’m sorry. I know I’ve embarrassed him.
“Okay, Molly, I’ll let him know. He’s a good man. You’re going to be alright,” he tells me. I find a small amount of comfort from the man who would do anything to protect me telling me it will all be fine.
I’m back in my room. I showered, re-curled my hair, and did my makeup. Oliver wouldn’t leave me. I realize now that I’ve caused the Alpha ceremony to begin late, which is causing the dinner to start late, and I’ve all but ruined my brother’s day. I feel worse than I did before.
Ollie comes from my closet carrying a darker green dress for me to put on. I realize my shoes I left in my kitchen office are now in my room, but I’m too emotionally exhausted to care how they got here. Ollie zips my dress and hands me the shoes.
“Good as new,” he says, taking in my appearance with a critical eye. I’m nervous, but he won’t let me walk in to meet my mate looking anything less than amazing. He grabs my hand and starts to walk, but I’m hesitant to move. He turns to meet my eyes. “No running this time. You have to meet him.”
I know he’s right, but I’m still absolutely terrified.
We make our way across the packhouse to the Alpha office. As we get closer, I begin to smell him, and I know, without a doubt, that my mate is in there. He smells like juniper, with orange and cinnamon. It’s almost overwhelming. I feel so pulled towards him, and I’ve not even seen him. If this is how finding your mate feels with a broken wolf, then maybe it will be so strong for him that I won’t be rejected. I grasp onto that sliver of hope. I take a deep breath and turn the door knob to enter.
My Dad and Robert are sitting propped on the edge of their desk. My mom is sitting elegantly in the chair across from them, and in the other chair is… Queen Audrey? With King Peter behind her? I briefly wonder why they are here for this, but thoughts are lost when my eyes go to the window and land on my mate.
He IS who I saw from out in the garden, but instead of looking across the grounds, he’s staring at me intently. Our eyes lock, and I start to feel unsteady. Oliver places his hand on my back to steady me and whispers in my ear. “Go say hi.” Biting my mouth, I nod and start to close the space between us.
To my shock, my mate starts walking towards me as well. Once we’ve made it to each other, he places a gentle hand on my shoulder.
“Are you alright?” he asks.
His pale blue eyes are kind, and he seems genuinely concerned for me. I can’t bring myself to speak, so I nod in response. I see my brother out of the corner of my eye and feel such guilt about how I’ve behaved today on his day.
I walk towards my brother, and I can tell he wasn’t expecting me to, but he pulls me into a giant hug.
“I’m sorry I ruined your ceremony,” I tell him, and it’s the truth. I was so deeply in my feelings that I wasn’t concerned with time, and I knew it was set to begin hours ago.
“You didn’t ruin anything, kiddo. You just delayed it,” he tells me, smiling down at me. Releasing me from his hug, he grabs my hand and walks back towards my mate. “Prince Seth, I’m glad to finally introduce you to my sister, Molly. Molls, this is my friend, Prince Seth.” Prince? So that explains why the king and queen are here. I swallow my nerves down. “Prince Seth and I did all our physical training together. He’s a good guy, Molls,” he tells me, squeezing my hand for comfort.
“Hi,” I say, looking up at Prince Seth.
He’s big, the biggest in the room. He's so tall, and his shoulders are broad and strong. As I saw from the window, his hair is dark and nearly to his shoulders, but he has his mom’s light blue eyes. I know I should say something more, but this situation feels intimidating.
“Hi,” he returns with a kind smile and reaches out his hand to me. I release my brother and place my hand in his. “It’s so nice to finally meet the famous Molly I’ve heard so much about.”
Everyone is watching me, and I feel even more uncomfortable. I wish I could take their attention off of me. “Umm, maybe we should get the ceremony started soon.”
“We should get ready to start the ceremony soon. Why don’t we head down and give Molly and Seth a few moments alone,” my dad suggests as he stands and walks over to me.
My mom follows over just behind him and grabs my free hand while she leans in and whispers in my ear. “He’s handsome.”
They head to the door with Robbie while King Peter and Queen Audrey meet them there. They all exit with my dad closing the door behind them. I thought I’d feel more comfortable without everyone looking at us, but now that we’re alone, I’m even more nervous. He seems kind. Maybe he won’t be too harsh when he rejects me.
“So,” he says, breaking the silence between us, “Your mom thinks I’m handsome.”
I can’t help but laugh. I don’t think she meant for him to hear her, but I’m glad he did and that he can joke about it. He leads me over to the sofa in the corner by my hand, which I note he still hasn’t let go of. I sit, and he takes the space beside me. He’s close, and he’s warm. He smells so good, but I can’t allow myself to become too attached.
“I’m sorry I ran away earlier,” I tell him, trying to take responsibility for my stupidity. He doesn’t respond. He just continues to look at me. “I wasn’t trying to be rude. I know this is really disappointing for you”, I finish as my voice lowers to barely above a whisper.
“Why would I ever be disappointed with you?” he says, and I can see from his face that he appears to be genuinely surprised by my words.
Maybe I read this whole situation wrong. All of BOTH our families were up in my dad’s office while I sat in the garden and cried. They must have talked about me. He has to know.
“I, uhh...” I don’t know the words to adequately describe what a mess I am, but I try because he deserves to know before he gets stuck with me. “I’m a broken wolf, Prince Seth.”
As I pause to figure out how to explain myself, he finally lets go of my hand, but only so he can gently place his finger under my chin to pull my face to look at him.
“It’s just Seth to you. You’re my mate- my equal. Never Prince to you, only ever Seth. You’ll be Princess Molly soon and eventually Queen. But you’ll always be my equal.”
It’s at that moment that it hits me that Prince Seth isn’t just his name but his actual identity. Being his mate comes with much more that I’m not made for. Little girls dream of being a princess someday, but it’s an absolute nightmare for me.
“I can’t be the queen. I’m not even a real wolf. I saw you in the window and thought my family would have told you. I… I’m so sorry.” My chest begins to hurt as the words come out, and I can barely breathe.
“You are a real wolf. It’s in your scent. My wolf is sure of it.”
“I’m not, though. I don’t have a wolf. I’ve never shifted. I’m not built as muscular. If anything happens to me, I can’t save myself. I’ll be a huge liability.”
“No,” he snaps, and I see a flash of anger in his eyes. “You are NOT a liability. You’re my mate. The Goddess made you for me.”
“The Goddess didn’t make me for anyone, Seth. No one wanted me,” I say as my voice begins to waiver. This isn’t going how I thought. I never dreamed I’d have to convince my mate I wasn’t good enough. This man keeps surprising me as he grabs me and pulls me into his arm.
“There are people who DO want you, Molly. I want you. Your parents adopted you- they wanted you. Robert always wanted you. He never stopped talking about you during training. You’re different, Molly, but that doesn’t mean you’re not enough and that you’re not wanted,” he tells me as he holds me around.
“I think maybe we should talk about this later,” I tell him as I stand up. He lets me but keeps his hands on me. “I’ve ruined Robbie’s day enough. We should head downstairs.”
“ OK, Molly, we can talk about it later tonight,” he says as he stands. I note that he still hasn’t let go of me as he leans down and kisses my forehead. It’s sweet and makes my heart flutter.
“You are wanted,” he says, taking my hand and leading me towards the door. “You’re mine.”
We arrive at the side yard of the house, where the ceremony is to be held in silence. Everyone is seated and ready to begin, and both our seats are in front. Seth holds my hand, leading me forward when I suddenly stop and refuse to continue walking.
“What’s wrong?” he asks with concern on his face.
“I can’t hold your hand. They can’t know I’m your mate,” I tell him, looking away. He won’t want me tomorrow, or maybe next week it will hit him. I don’t know when, but at some point, he’ll see past the bond and know he can find better than me.
I hear him growl, and he steps towards me. He gently grabs my chin and tilts my head to look into my eyes. Seth starts to say something but then stops himself. He’s towering over me, and it’s intimidating, but I feel safe with him. It’s probably just from the bond.
“OK, Molly. I won’t hold your hand, but they will eventually find out. You win for now, but we WILL talk about this later tonight,” he says firmly as his eyes flash with danger. I realize I’ve hurt him. I didn’t mean to do that.
“I’m sorry. It’s not that I don’t want to be seen with you,” I begin to try to explain. “But you’re the prince. If people know you’ve found your mate, especially that it’s me, word will spread. It will hurt more when you finally reject me if everyone knows.” My voice is barely a whisper as I finish. I feel so awkward and vulnerable.
His hand moves behind my head. “I will not change my mind, but I won’t hold your hand in public for now if that’s what you truly want. We will figure things out tonight.” He releases me and moves his hands up.
“It’s a full moon. You’ll be expected at the run tonight. It’s not every day a fancy-pants prince graces Lunar Falls with his presence,” I half-joke with him.
“And where will you be? You can’t be alone.”
“I usually lock myself in my suite. It’s by the kitchen in the basement and right across from the safe room, just in case.”
“Alone?” Seth asks me, concern evident in his voice.
“I’ve lived my whole life without a wolf. This isn’t my first full moon. Sometimes, I stay with the young kids who aren’t old enough to shift, but I just want to be alone tonight,” I tell him with complete honesty.
“We have a few hours until we need to worry about that. Go on and take your seat. I’ll follow behind in a moment,” Seth tells me. He releases me but quickly reaches out and squeezes my hand. Honestly, he seems like a really nice man. I’ve caused him more headache today than I’m worth, so I do as he told me and head down the aisle to take my seat.
My dad is sitting on his Alpha throne on the stage. Mom stands behind him, and Robbie is beside him. Since it’s the passing of the Alpha, no other family members are on stage, and I’ll be sitting alone.
As I’m walking to my seat, I hear the whispers start. I’ve gotten used to it from my own pack- and they all know I got the wolf hearing. These guests, though, don’t seem to know.
“That’s the wolfless one that Alpha Bardulf found and adopted.”
“I heard she’s human.”
“Do you think I could make her my bimbo? She looks too good to go to waste. Too bad she’s not a wolf.”
And with that whispered comment, I feel overwhelming anger, but it’s not mine. It’s not like I haven’t heard these kinds of comments before. I realize then that I’m feeling Seth’s emotions through our bond. I know I can’t turn around and look at him.
I look up and see my brother coming straight to me in a hurry and my dad with a murderous look on his face. Robbie reaches me and, to my surprise, continues past me to a younger-looking man sitting where I had just walked past. He grabs him by the collar of his shirt and lifts him.
“You would do well to remember she’s the daughter of an Alpha,” Robbie tells him, releasing him unceremoniously back into his chair. By this time, my brother’s new Beta and Gama are headed to us.
I can feel Seth relax some, though he is still very mad. George, Robbie's Beta, offers his arm to me and escorts me to the front row to be seated beside Queen Audrey. We both bow our heads to her and King Peter. She stands up and, to my surprise, pulls me into a hug and kisses my cheek.
“You look stunning, Molly Dear,” She says loudly while she releases me but holds my hand as we sit down and squeezes it. It would seem that everyone in the room heard the comments. I smell Seth as he gets close and realize I’m in his seat beside his mother. I stand to move, but he shakes his head and motions for me to sit back down where I was.
The pack elder stands and walks up to my dad and Robbie. He welcomes everyone, and as he begins, I feel Seth’s arm come up and rest behind my shoulders. He rests his hand on his mother's shoulder beside me. Queen Audrey smiles at Seth before returning to my dad and brother.
The ceremony is beautiful. I know today is hard for my dad, handing over his pack to someone else, even if it is his own son. Robbie will do well. His Beta, Delta, and Gamma are all great guys and will do what’s best for the pack. The Elder instructs everyone to stand as Dad stands, and Robbie finally sits on the pack throne, officially becoming Alpha Robert of the Lunar Falls Pack. As I stand, I feel Seth bring his arm across my shoulders and back before completely releasing me, leaving me suddenly cold and alone. I’ve avoided acknowledging the bond thus far, but after feeling Seth's anger and loneliness at the lack of his touch, it’s really hard to ignore that it’s there.
Everyone in the room is looking at my brother, so I take a chance and reach my left hand over just enough to find Seth’s as he wraps his around mine and gently squeezes it. He’s so comforting, and I begin to think that maybe we can make this work. My parents start to descend the stage, and I realize now that people may look our way, so I reluctantly release his hand.
Robert sits on the pack throne with his men behind him and releases his first howl as Alpha, causing all but the royal family and present alphas to bow their heads and bare their necks in submission. I notice that I’m not affected, but I always respond to my dad’s Alpha commands.
Seth has noticed because he leans over slightly and explains in the lowest of whispers in my ear. “You’re the mate of a royal. Alpha commands won’t work on you anymore.” It definitely wasn’t what I expected him to say, and I suddenly feel more uncomfortable about the situation.
The ceremony is complete, and as we stand to leave, I realize my being between Seth and the King and Queen has complicated our exit now. Typically, the new Alpha would exit first, with everyone after in order of hierarchy, but since the Royals are here, they must exit first.
As they turn to leave first, King Peter turns back to us, “Seth, why don’t you escort sweet Molly out? I’m sure our new Alpha Robert won’t mind.”
He turns to Robbie, who smiles. “Of course,” he agrees easily, but not without shooting a look at the guy he mildly assaulted just 40 minutes before.
Seth steps before me and offers me his arm while wiggling his eyebrows. “My lady.”
I honestly can’t help but giggle at his face. I catch my mom out of the corner of my eye and she’s simply beaming at the entire interaction. I take Seth's arm with my hand, and he reaches his other hand over to place it on mine. It’s warm, and the bond sparks with excitement over our contact.
We walk out behind his parents. Once we reach the end of the aisle and out of view of everyone, my brother reaches forward and grabs Seth and me.
He leans forward behind us and tells Seth, “Watch your hands, bro,” with a smirk.
“Oh, I will absolutely be watching where they go,” Seth returns to Robbie, and for a moment, I think my brother might actually lose control of his wolf. “I’m joking, Rob. I’ll always take care of her.”
The sincerity in his voice touches me. He barely knows me, though. It’s an empty promise, but he’s trying.
With the ceremony over, it’s almost time for the reception. Hopefully, my actions earlier and the delay haven’t hurt the dinner service too much. I know I’m not supposed to be in the kitchens today, but Dad has already sent me down once, and it would look terrible on the pack if things didn’t go smoothly. I make up my mind and decide to head down.
“Seth, I need to go down to the kitchens and make sure things are ready. I’ll meet you in the dining room once they’re settled,” I tell him, and his brow furrows. “I’m the head chef for the pack, and while my sous chef is handling everything since this was a family gathering, I’d feel much better if I could ensure everything is ready, and they don’t need extra hands,” I continue, realizing I’m unsure if he even knows I’m a chef.
“I can come with you if you really need to. I don’t want to leave you.”
“I’ll be fine, honestly. It’s just my staff down there, and you met Oliver earlier. I’ll be fine and head up once they’re all ready.”
“Molly, you’re the future Queen now. You don’t have to work anymore,” he tells me, and I know he’s trying to be kind, but that hurts.
“I’ve never been required to work. I had to convince my dad to let me have this job. I enjoy it. It’s how I’m able to contribute to my pack,” I explain, but I realize that in my hurt, I’ve said more than I meant to. I have complicated feelings about my role in this pack, and I didn’t mean to start telling him about them.
“I understand. At least let me walk you to the kitchen so I know you’re safe, please.”
I know his request is genuine, and he wants me to be safe, but with more people leaving the ceremony and coming around, I don’t want anyone to see us together.
I nod at him but release his arm. “It’s this way,” I tell him, and I start walking toward the service stairs.
I can feel his irritation at me for releasing his arm through our bond, but I continue, and he doesn’t say anything. We reach the bottom of the stairs when he suddenly grabs my arm and sniffs the air. He sniffs again, pushes me against a door, and sniffs me slowly. His body is pressed against mine, and his breath is hot against my skin. He’s so close and towers over me. His scent has enveloped me, and I’m beginning to feel completely overwhelmed.
“Everything down here smells like you,” he finally tells me. ”It’s so strong.”
“Oh, uhh, yeah. I spend all my time down here. The kitchen is down that hall, and my office is there. The door behind me is the one to my suite.” I tell him.
“Show me, please,” he says, and I consider it momentarily. He’s so close, and it’s making my heart race. He pushes himself against me the slightest bit more and kisses the spot on where his mate’s mark would go.
I almost cave and let him in, but we’re too close to think clearly, and I need to tell him the endless list of problems we have with being together.
“Later,” I whisper because it’s as much as I can squeak out with him so close. It’s intoxicating.
He takes a deep breath as he pushes his weight off me, but he still stays where he is, towering over me. “Later,” he whispers back to me while we both take a moment to regain our composure. “Are you ready?” he asks after a moment, and all I can do is nod. He steps back and waves his arm, motioning for me to go in front.
I walk to the kitchen door with him behind me before I turn to him. “Thank you for walking down with me.”
“You’re welcome. Are you sure you’ll be up for dinner?”
“Yeah, Dad will drag me up there if I try anything,” I tell him, and he smiles.
“Good. I can’t wait to see you again,” he says, grabbing my right hand and bringing it to his mouth for a kiss.
----------
“I’m surprised you weren’t in here sooner,” Oliver says with a smirk as I step into the kitchen. “I can’t believe you’re making another appearance. Don’t you trust me?” he says, faking hurt.
“Oh, Oliver. You know that I don’t,” I respond jokingly and stick my tongue out at him.
“How was the ceremony?” He asked.
“It was an Alpha Ceremony. Nothing amazing, kinda boring, there’s a new Alpha.”
“Oh really? Because I heard our dear Alpha Robert punched an Alpha visiting from another pack.”
“Umm, technically, that happened before, so he wasn’t Alpha Robert… yet,” I tell him with a smirk. “And it wasn’t exactly a punch.”
“You want to talk about WHY Robbie punched people you walked by just before being named the Alpha?”
I sigh. “You know how it is being me. Someone always says SOMETHING.” I’m exhausted from the day and don’t want to think about anything. “So, how is dinner? Can I help out?”
“Molly, I’m capable of running this.”
“I know, I know you are. I’m here to help if you need me. I’m not taking over for you.”
“I think we’re good. Honestly, someone decided to delay the dinner a few hours while they were running away from their very attractive mate, which gave us more time to prep. I assume you’re not ready to talk about that?” he questions me.
“No. Maybe. I don’t know. It’s just so much to take in. I think tonight is the first full moon I’m glad to be left out of.”
“If you want me to stay with you to talk, just let me know. I don’t mind.”
“I appreciate it, Oli, but I need some time alone just to think. It’s been overwhelming.”
“You’re really not going to mention that your mate is the prince?”
“Nope. I’m not ready to even think about that. It just complicates things even more. I don’t know why he hasn’t already rejected me,” I tell him, looking around. Everything appears to be going very well for my brother’s dinner.
“Molls,” Oliver says to get my attention while I’m looking around the kitchen and sighs, not saying what I know he wants to. “Why don’t you sleep in tomorrow, and I’ll handle breakfast.”
“I’d hate to do that to you. There’s a lot of people with all the visitors staying tonight.” I tell him, feeling guilty about throwing a second meal service on him.
“Honestly, I’d appreciate the chance to show our new Alpha that I can fill your shoes. When you’re marked, you’ll be moving with Prince Seth, and I want to prove that I can handle this.”
I hadn’t considered leaving with a mate- ever. Seth will come to his senses at some point and finally reject me, but Oliver is right. He’s not had many chances to prove himself as head chef. I know he’s capable, and he deserves the chance to show Robbie that, too.
“Ok, Oliver. Breakfast service is yours. And if, by some miracle, Seth doesn’t reject me, I’ll put in a good word with the Alpha- though I don’t think you have anything to worry about,” I tell him with a small giggle.
It’s weird to think my brother is the Alpha we’re talking about. I turn to leave but have an idea for tomorrow.
“I’m just going to check and see if we have the stuff to make something tonight during the run, and then I’ll leave.”
“Thank you,” he says. “I promise it’ll be amazing. You should change and show the prince all the reasons he shouldn’t reject you. Go put on something Hot and wow him.”
I turn to the pantry to check for the ingredients I’ll need. I look around and then move to the fridge and verify that everything I need is on hand before I turn, walk out the door, and head down the hall to my suite. I’ve worn two dresses today, and neither of them was really my choice. It’s been a long day, and I decide to do as Oliver suggested.
I walk in and go straight to my closet, looking around. I find a dress that I love and while it’s probably a little bit too formal, I decide to go with it anyway. I head to my bathroom and pull my hair back so it’s finally off my shoulders. I put on a little more makeup to darken my eyes just a tad more and use a red lip. The dress is an off-the-shoulder black satin dress in a mermaid cut. It’s basic but classy and feels much more like how I would usually look. I pull out some black strappy heels and look at myself in the mirror. I realize I need to put on a necklace and select one that was handed down from my mom, that was her mom’s. It’s a white gold necklace with just a lot of diamonds, but it dresses up the dress that’s so plain.
I look in the mirror, and it’s perfect. I look and feel like myself, and my parents will still be pleased. But then the thought comes that I wonder what Seth will think. With a sigh, I stop just a moment to think about everything that has happened today. I never actually thought I’d have a mate, but if I did, I was sure they would reject me on the spot. I was prepared for it.
Instead, I have a mate who is a prince and has not given any indication that he plans to reject me. He hasn’t thought things through, though. He has a wolf, so what he’s feeling from our bond is probably stronger than what I can, and it’s a lot. I don’t have a wolf, and I can’t shift. The only wolf I can mind link is my dad, and it’s probably only because he’s the Alpha or was. I’m not built like a wolf. What if I can’t get pregnant with the heir to the kingdom, or worse, what if I can’t carry a wolf pregnancy? The entire wolf kingdom will surely not accept me and probably wouldn’t accept Seth as King for keeping a broken wolf as a mate.
He does seem kind, though. I’m not sure what he was told about me before I made it to Dad’s office, but he’s friends with Robbie, so he has to know a lot. He’s reassured me a few times today that he won’t reject me. He called me “his” earlier, making my heart flutter with hope. And the way he was pressed against me in the hall was more than I could have hoped for.
I sigh. There’s not much I can do now, and I need not worry about it. I am who I am, and while he’s given me some hope, I don’t want to have my heart crushed when he realizes I’m no good. I will have to go with it and see what happens. It’s out of my hands.
And with that, I decide to head upstairs and find my family. And maybe my mate. I still don’t want the whole kingdom to know, but I enjoy being near him. As much as I try to ignore it, the bond is still tugging at me to get close to him.
I reach the door to the dining room and can hear that everyone is already inside. I crack it and slowly slip in, hoping to go unnoticed, which I don’t need to worry about since everyone is walking about mingling and hasn’t been seated yet. I see my mom across the room and head towards her. I haven’t been able to spend time with her since meeting Seth. I just need her hugs.
“Hi, Mom,” I say as I approach.
“Oh, Molly. You changed clothes. You look lovely!” she tells me, genuine in her compliment.
“You look stunning,” I hear from my side and see Queen Audrey as she approaches me. “That lip color suits you.”
I can’t help but glow a little as not only the queen but also my mate’s mother complimented me so generously.
I remember myself and bow. “Thank you, Your Highness. I feel more myself with the red.” I should have stopped there, but I never know when to quit talking until it’s too late. “Truthfully, I don’t wear much makeup.”
“Oh, really, dear? Because you wear it so well.”
“I appreciate that,” I tell her. “I don’t wear it often, but my mom taught me well.”
“How are you doing, dear? I know it’s been a pretty exciting day for you,” Queen Audrey asks me.
“I’m ok, Ma’am. I’m looking forward to some time alone tonight to think about everything while you all go for the run,” I tell her honestly.
My mom realizes I’m not quite sure I’m ok and comes to my side to wrap me in a hug. “I’m sure it’s been a bit overwhelming, finding your mate and realizing he’s so attractive,” and that’s just what I needed to calm me some. I start giggling, and with the stress of today, I just can’t stop.
I smell him and then feel his hand on my lower back. He comes to stand on my other side and pulls me to him. “What’s so funny?” Seth asks me.
“Just some girl talk,” Queen Audrey smiles at him, probably to be sure I wouldn’t tell him my mom was drooling over him. Again.
Seth releases me, and I suddenly feel sad, but he steps forward, hugs his mother, and kisses her cheek. He releases her and turns back to me, grabbing my hand.
“Take a walk with me?” he asks, and I nod.
He leads me outside to the balcony, which is not nearly as crowded. It’s a little chilly, but it feels like a perfect fall night.
“You look absolutely stunning,” he says when we stop at the railing.
“Thanks,” I respond. “It’s the first dress I got to pick for myself all day.”
“It’s perfect, Molly. You're perfect,” he says as he places his arm behind me and pulls me to his chest. “The Goddess blessed me when she made you,” he murmurs into the top of my head.
I let myself sigh and just be content for a moment. This feels so perfect. If he rejects me, at least I had this precious moment.
“I honestly wasn’t sure you’d be back upstairs,” he tells me. “I take it everything was ok in the kitchen?”
“Yeah, all was well. Dinner was going well, and Dad’s cake was still good,” I say, realizing I let the surprise slip.
“Don’t you mean your brother’s cake?” he inquires, looking down at me.
“I mean, I didn’t check on that one. I assumed they could handle it. But there’s a surprise for my dad, too,” I tell him, placing my finger on my lips, indicating it’s a secret, and he smiles at me.
“I’m going to skip the run tonight. My parents will be there. That will be enough for the people,” he tells me, and I realize that he’s worried about me being alone.
“Umm, I have plans tonight now,” I tell him nervously, and he raises an eyebrow at me. I can tell he’s not happy, so I try to explain. “Sorry, it’s nothing exciting. I’m going to lock myself into my suite and bake. It helps me relax and think clearly.”
“I’m worried about you being alone.” He tells me.
“I know. Being around someone with a broken wolf is new for you, but it’s been like this my whole life. Do you think my dad would leave me here alone if he didn’t think I was completely safe?” I ask him, and I can tell he’s considering it. “Please don’t miss out on something that would make you happy just for me. I’ll feel terrible if you do.”
“But what if something happens to you while we’re all out?” he asks, and I realize there are things he doesn’t know about my situation.
“I can mind link my dad and maybe my brother now that he’s Alpha. I promise I’ll reach out if anything happens,” I promise, and I can see him relax.
“OK, but make sure your dad knows I’ll always be near him,” he says, and honestly, the thought that he cares enough to do that but still respects my decision warms my heart.
“I will. And thank you,” I tell him, pulling him down towards me and kissing his cheek. He growls and rests his forehead against mine.
“Aren’t you worried someone will see?” he asks me teasingly, but I can tell he’s serious with his inquiry.
“A little, but I’m trying,” I tell him. We stand like that for a while- alone in the quiet.
“If we stay like this much longer, everyone will be able to smell me on you,” he points out.
“It’s OK,” I whisper to him as I break the contact with our foreheads, but only to lean into him.
I reach into his jacket to embrace him, resting my head against his chest. He lowers his chin to the top of my head. The bond is so calm yet still strong. Somehow, though, it is tugging at me for more. We stay just like that until they announce for everyone to take their seats for dinner.
“Do you want to go in before me, and I’ll follow again?” he asks me, and it’s so kind and considerate of him.
“No, I don’t think I do,” I tell him as we finally separate, but I place my hand inside his.
He looks down at our hands and then up at me. “Are you sure? People will definitely see.”
“I know,” I tell him. “I’m trying to trust you. I’m trying to be brave.”
He beams at me with the biggest smile and leans over to kiss my head before squeezing my hand and leading me into the ballroom.
The ballroom is crowded, but no one is paying much attention to us as we enter, as everyone is looking for their seats. We reach our table, which has both of our families, and they’re already seated. I don’t miss how every single set of eyes at our table makes their way to our connected hands, but thankfully, no one says anything. My brother smirks, though.
Seth releases my hand and pulls a chair out for me, grazing his hand across the small of my back as I sit. I’m fairly sure this man will miss no opportunity to tou^h me in some way. I’m seated directly next to Seth, something I doubt was originally planned, but my mother changed once we met. My mom is to my right, and my dad is seated next to her. Robert is across from my parents, with the King and Queen to his right, and directly across from Seth and me.
We’ve barely been seated when I feel Seth’s warm hand rest on my skin. “You good?” he asks me.
“Yeah, I’m OK,” I return, and I really am.
I lean forward and grab my dad’s attention. “Do you think you’d like to go for a hike with me to the falls in the morning?” I ask.
I thought he’d jump at the chance, but he looks hesitant. “I’m sorry, Molly. I’m taking King Peter down there in the morning,” he says.
“Oh, that’s OK. Another time.” I tell him.
Seth squeezes my leg to comfort me. I can tell he’s about to say something when King Peter speaks up.
“I’d love to have you join us, Molly. It’d be a great chance to get to know you a bit better, and from what I remember your dad saying while you were young, you probably know a path or two to get there that the old man doesn’t even know,” he says with a chuckle.
I’m unsure what to say to that, and who knows what my dad told him. He’s not wrong, either. “That would be nice, thank you. I’ll make Dad’s favorite muffins to bring along for breakfast. And yes, I’m SURE I know a few paths Dad’s never seen.”
“I doubt that, Kiddo. I haven’t always been the Alpha, stuck in my office running my pack,” my dad chimes in. I’m sure he’s spent plenty of time out there, but I’m also sure that Oliver and I created quite a few new paths while we spent time out there as kids.
Seth leans over to me and whispers in my ear, “Do you want me to get my dad to ...
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