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Chloe, an air traffic controller and secret heir to an aviation empire, built her husband Trevor's career—only to be betrayed on their anniversary. She divorces and marries Lucas, an Air Force general. Together, they turn the tables on Trevor, and Lucas grows to suspect her identity.
"She looked at her second chance mate with disappointment. “Wynta, I didn’t mean to...” he panicked. “No,” she cut him off, “The truth was— you left me in the storm to pick up another woman. And I almost died.” The moon goddess had arranged another jerk Alpha for her. But she will never say “yes” to a toxic mate bond. If she could reject the first, she wouldn't hesitate to reject the second. “Please—” He stared at her with begging eyes. Yet she just turned around and finished her words. “I, Wynta Morgan, reject you, Jared Hayes, as my second chance mate.” ===== *Wynta aged 18* “Come on, Wynta. You will see the stars when we both have you.” The first time Wynta let Nolan tease her clothes off, he wanted to bring his Beta Yale into her bedroom. Wynta believed her lover and future Alpha Nolan, was trying to coerce her into believing she was not only his Goddess-Gifted Mate but also that of his Beta's as well. All, so the two of them could have her in their bed at the same time, and she knew it. “Are you kidding, Nolan?"" A cool, assessing stare settled in Wynta's eyes as she deliberately took a step back, creating space. ""No, we’ve both scented it. You’re ours. We are both your actual Goddess-Gifted Mates."" Nolan’s voice was a low, coaxing purr. He reached out, tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear. Wynta didn't pull away, but she didn't lean into his touch either. ""No, Nolan. I didn't feel that."" ""You have to trust me, trust us, Wynta. The Goddess doesn’t make mistakes. Yale's outside now, you will let him in, right?"" His hand slid down to her waist, pulling her gently against him. His scent, usually a comfort, now felt cloying. “Imagine it. The three of us. No one will ever love you or protect you like we will.” She might be an orphan and wolf-less, but she wasn’t so stupid as to believe Nolan. Wynta pushed against his chest, creating a sliver of space. “What I want,” she said, her voice surprisingly steady, “is to wait for the moon. If what you’re saying is true, then waiting a few more days shouldn’t matter.” She decided to test them, it was only a week until the full moon and she was 18 now. She would be able to scent them both in just 7 days. If they were her Mates, why wouldn’t they just wait until they knew she could handle them, and would want them both? She had no interest in sleeping with Yale at all and didn’t really find him attractive. He was nice looking but not her type. He sighed, a sound of exaggerated patience. ""Fine, baby. The bond is already there, we will claim you, and you'd be the Future Luna."" He left a little on the annoyed side with her, and she’d heard Nolan stating, “These I’ll sweet talk her again, don’t you worry.” to his Beta from her window, they thought because she was wolf-less she wouldn't hear them, but they'd only been a few meters from her window. Even a human would have heard them. She’d not believed them, because she was, in fact, wolf-less and of an unknown lineage. All she had going for her was her pretty face, nice body and her brains. She’d liked Nolan’s sweet, charming attention over the past few months, and she had kind of stupidly fallen for him over the course of their relationship. He’d never rushed her for anything, took it slow and always wanted things to be at her pace. They’d only been sleeping together for two weeks and now, with this? What he’d said and told her, it was just wrong, and she knew it was all going to be a lie. And they would come to her again. Left with no other option, Wynta chose solitude over submission. So she had cuffed herself with Silver and chained herself to a tree in the deepest, darkest, most isolated part of the pack where there were no border patrols because this end of the woods was at the base of a steep, inaccessible gorge. Four days she sat out there chained and cuffed with silver, scent masked so no one would smell her or be able to locate her with a pack tether. She’d taken no water or food and was starving and dehydrating herself to prove it was all a lie. As that first day had turned into the second, there was no search for her. The third day came and still no warriors were scouring the pack for a missing pack member, which she’d seen the Alpha would do. Scouring every inch of the pack when searching for someone who was missing. The fourth day came and again, nothing: if Nolan and Yale were her Mates, they’d have gone to their father's and told them the truth of the matter, informed them she was missing, and they couldn’t find her anywhere. They would in fact be in a full-blown panic that their Mate was missing, and they had no contact with her. That night, on day four, she unchained herself and removed the cuff, stumbled her way back to her dorm and sank down in the shower, utterly exhausted by the long walk when she was already dehydrated. She kind of just fell out of the shower when she'd tried to get up and had mind-link to the pack doctor to tell him she needed help, and then had succumbed to the darkness of unconsciousness. Wynta woke up in the pack hospital with an IV in her arm and the pack doctor tending to the burn on her wrist from the silver cuff, “Finally awake after a full day, the Alpha will be happy, he needs to know what happened. He is investigating right now, tracking your scent to where you came from.” She’d said nothing at all; that just confirmed once more that neither Nolan nor Yale had known she was even missing. “Did I have any visitors?” she asked curiously. “No, I’m sorry, Wynta.” He sounded apologetic. “No one other than the Alpha and Luna wanting to know your actual state. “Alright,” she knew she had no family. She’d been given her name by the pack’s Luna, named after the season she had been found in. Winter, and given the last name Morgan for whatever reason the Luna had seen fit. That was how she’d become Wynta Morgan. That very night, as she lay there in the hospital bed wondering just what she was going to say to Nolan and Yale, about their behavior. Nolan connected a mind-link to her at 11pm, and he asked quite simply, “Where are you? It’s our date night, and I’m at your place. You’re not here.” She could hear the frown in his voice. Tonight was supposed to be their ordinary dating night. “I’m at the pack hospital,” she told him honestly. “On our date night? Why would you take a shift knowing we’re to be together?” he asked right back. He was only concerned about the fact that they weren’t going to be having sx. He had just presumed that she was working in the hospital, when she’d never once worked in the hospital before. “I’m sure you can wait until the full moon,” she stated blandly and cut the link. There was not one ounce of worry in his voice. It was she new without a doubt coercion. The full moon came and set just two days later, and it had been two hours since she’d scented out a Mate inside this pack. She even knew who it was because she recognized the two natural scents of her lover. There was, however, no other scent for her at all. She didn’t scent Yale, it was just more proof of the lie they had told her, to get what they wanted from her was all. She was still in the pack hospital, still attached to the IV with fluids running, the burns healing was slow-going because she didn’t have a wolf. There was a nurse sitting next to her bed with a wound trolley attending to the cleaning and redressing of the burn when Nolan walked into the room. Finally, he had tracked her down. He stood staring at her a little more than shocked. She stared at him as his eyes moved over her in that bed, being treated by a nurse, and he asked the nurse to give them a minute. Told her that his father had asked him to come and discuss something privately with her. He had to wait until the wound was dressed. She watched him pick up her chart and read through it, knew he was seeing all the details of what was wrong with her, how she’d been found; she’d read it herself. He put it back with a frown on his face without saying anything at all. She’d stupidly fallen for this man before her, who was the same age as her and would be off to Alpha College tomorrow morning if he didn’t scent out a Mate on this full moon. She also knew just from the fact that he was here alone, no parents trailing him to see who his Mate was, that he was here to reject her. That and the fact that it had been two hours since the moon had set, he would have recognized her scent as well. No one waited that long to hunt down a Mate they wanted to claim. The nurse finally left and Nolan closed the door. She understood that as well, it was going to be done privately, so none in this pack would know they’d paired up. “Why didn’t you tell me you were injured when I asked where you were?” he asked her directly. She raised an eyebrow at him, she’d told him she was at the hospital. That should have been all she needed to say. “I was missing for four days,” she stated. “You didn’t even know, did you? I was cuffed with silver and missing… if you had scented me out back then as you said, you’d have known and hunted everywhere for me… You and your Beta, just wanted to have sx with me at the same time is all, and I wouldn’t let you. “You’re also here two hours post the moon setting, Nolan, that speaks volumes… You’re not the man I thought you were.” She shook her head. She would not be accepting one such as his. “I, Wynta Morgan, reject you, Nolan Holland, as my Mate.” She voiced simply but meant every word. He just stood staring at her, almost not comprehending that she would reject him. “Imagine, Nolan, if I had been swayed by you and Yale, and let the two of you do me. You’d now be rejecting me on the basis that I did that, had sx with your own Beta…” she shook her head at him “I don’t want to be bound to one that clearly tried to coerce me. Just accept it Nolan.” He nodded slowly. “I, Nolan Holland, accept your rejection, Wynta Morgan. You are not my Mate or the future Luna to this pack,” he stated. She felt the complete severing of their bond and heard him hiss in pain. It only caused a dull ache in her chest. Being wolf-less had some perks, it seemed. “Wynta, we’ll come back to this when I get home from Alpha College,” he stated and turned and walked from the room. Did he expect her to just sit around and wait for him to change his mind? Because he was an Alpha and she was wolf-less. Not a chance. She was not going to just sit around and wait for an Alpha to decide if she was worthy of him. She would choose her future on her terms. *9 years later, Wynta aged 27* Wynta sat in the waiting room along with all the other job applicants, applying for the position of Marketing Specialist here at Hayes Enterprises. She had lost her previous job a few months back and was rapidly running out of funds. All the other applicants in this room were human. Though she had picked up a few wolves upon coming into the building, but there didn’t appear to be any working on this floor. But she was hopeful the interview today would be done by a panel of humans, seeing as all the applicants were human. She’d not been active in the wolfen world for nine years now. She had left it behind when she’d walked away from her home pack, the night she’d been released from the pack hospital. She’d simply gone to her single dorm two days after her future Alpha had left for Alpha College, and none had known what she was to him. She had packed her belongings into a suitcase and walked out of the pack. Turned herself rogue after stepping outside the pack’s territory. No one had come looking for her, as she’d walked calmly from that place, she was not going to just sit around and wait for an Alpha to decide if she was worthy of him. She’d fallen for him but also known it had all been a lie, everything he’d ever said to her, so no more would she be a part of that pack. She’d gotten on a train and just moved away, she’d picked up a couple of different jobs and put herself through university, getting scholarships where she could and student loans where possible, and now nine years later she was a marketing specialist, one that worked in the human world and stayed away from the world of wolves. She didn’t really consider Wolves to be her Kind, simply because she was in fact wolf-less. She considered herself to be human. So she lived and worked like a human did, she struggled to pay her rent and bills at times, like so many out here did. She bought only what she needed. Keeping five working outfits that could be mixed and matched to create different looks but were all professional at the same time. Then in her apartment she just lazed about in jeans and tee-shirts. She owned nothing fancy because she had no need of it. Her vacation days were spent laying in her apartment reading a good book or listening to music. She currently lived in a tiny studio apartment that just had a bedroom, a small kitchenette and a tiny bathroom. There was nothing fancy about it. She, at this time, couldn’t afford anything else at all. Having lost her previous job, she had already downgraded the one-bedroom proper apartment for a studio apartment. It was small, but she kept it neat and tidy, and after living there for a month, she’d realized it was all she actually needed. Though she had no luxuries here in this place, there was no TV or movie subscriptions, she’d canned everything to save money while looking for a new job. The only thing she had was her phone, which she needed for interviews and to take rejection calls, though she also used it for reading books online. She was aloof to all those around her. There were no contacts in her phone because she had no family and no pack attachments. She didn’t trust easily or form bonds with many around her. In an office environment she could do her job and hold proper conversations, work well in a team, but her trust was hard-earned. Despite being wolf-less, she could pick up things like the scent of other wolves, though couldn’t determine pack or bloodline, just understood wolfen kind smelt different to humans. They all had a more earthy/woodsy scent about them. She sometimes sat out in the parks and just watched the humans walk about interacting with other people. She could read mannerisms and facial expressions quite well. Pick a lie from the truth, because she listened to the inflexion of one’s voice, and saw the little things that humans did when lying. Fidgeting, no eye contact, excessive blinking or just closing their eyes, they bit their lips, a few even got flushed in the face. If she paid attention completely, she could hear the tone of their voice change and even pick up on the difference in sentence structure at times. Then there was that pause before they spoke, which often portrayed that they had to think about an answer, because they didn’t want to answer it honestly. She’d learn that humans were no different to wolves most of the time. They came to her when they wanted something from her and then screwed her over if they could, to take the credit for her own work. Both species were deceitful as far as she was concerned and all she was trying to do was live quietly unseen by all. She’d learned the hard way to live by herself, even roommates were deceitful and couldn’t be trusted. She’d found it was simply best to live alone and not make friends that would lie to her, and, or betray her trust. Steal from her or blame her for things that they’d done just to save their own ass. Her name and interview number were called, and it pulled her from her absent thoughts, and she stood and nodded to the woman looking for her, and then followed her quietly down the hall and around the corner to a room that stated Conference Room 2. The door was held open for her and she stepped inside. The moment she did, she could smell them, wolves, and not just any, she didn’t think. Just by looking at the sheer size of them and the way they were dressed and sat, they were going to be ranked members of some pack out there. She walked over and sat herself in the chair that was sitting before them as was expected of her, and looked at them. She knew they would all be able to scent her as not only a rogue but that she was wolf-less as well. They would have smelled it either while she sat out there in the waiting room or the moment she’d stepped into this room. Her sense of smell wasn’t the same as theirs, not even the same as an omega wolf. She watched as three of them leaned back in those chairs and left one leaning on the desk before him staring at her. That one thing told her they weren’t just ranked members but were, in fact, an Alpha and his Unit. The one that was watching her now, he was going to be the Alpha. He slid his eyes over her appearance and then turned his eyes to her application, read it through before returning his eyes to her and putting that paper down in front of him. “I’ll introduce myself formally to you,” he stated calmly. “I am Alpha Edward Hayes and this is my unit,” he waved a hand at the other wolves in this room. “May I enquire why you are a rogue?” he asked her directly, seems his curiosity about her non wolfen pack status outweighed the questions for this very job. Wynta frowned at his introduction. She didn’t really care who he was, and she didn’t think it was any of his business as to why she was a rogue. She knew one didn’t have to be part of a pack to live in this world. More and more wolves turned themselves rogue and left their packs to get away from the cruelty of their pack’s leadership. Especially those that were like herself. She’d seen and smelled many like herself over the past nine years, just out there like she was trying to make an honest living for themselves, and staying out of trouble in both the wolfen and human world alike. When she didn’t say anything to answer his question, he went on, “I see you’re 27. Surely someone with your skills could have found a pack to align yourself with… When did you go rogue or be turned rogue?” he asked once more. “I’m here for the job that was posted, not to relay my past history to you.” She finally spoke. “Do you have any questions for me that are related to my skills?” she asked him in return. He frowned at her now and she watched who she thought was the Beta lean forward and rest his arms on the desk “You could request sanctuary and ask to be a member of the pack. Then this job would be granted to you without issue,” he stated. Wynta raised an eyebrow at him, so that was the condition of getting this job, she thought absently. Clearly, all those humans out there were wasting their time coming here for an interview. This company was simply abiding by the human rules of appearing to hire honestly and fairly, when they intended to give the job to one of their own pack members. “Would you like to become a pack member, Wynta?” Alpha Edward asked her directly. “I would accept someone like yourself.” “Someone like me?” she murmured. “A rogue that is wolf-less and desperate for affiliation, you mean?” She shook her head a little dismayed, did she look desperate to them? She didn’t think so, her clothes were clean and presentable, as was her hair and light make-up. She certainly didn’t look underfed or unhealthy. “Are you going to ask me any actual interview questions about the position of a Marketing Specialist?” she asked once more. “My skills are as they are listed, and I have worked now for two separate companies as you can see.” “Wynta, we’ll get to your interview. I feel your rogue status is of more importance, and needs to be resolved first,” Alpha Edward stated. “Please, Mr Hayes, don’t address me so informally. I would prefer you call me Ms Morgan.” She put to him, showing him that she wasn’t interested in being a part of his pack, and she didn’t think that they were close enough to be on a first-name basis. All of them were frowning at her now, at her dismissing of them being an Alpha and his unit before her, but she was a rogue and didn’t have to acknowledge that. It was likely they’d not expected her to decline the offer of being initiated. But it wasn’t something she was looking for. She was just looking for a job to have an income once more, and to keep a roof over her head, and food in her belly, nothing more, nothing less. “How about you come and look at the pack? It’s an hour's drive from here, and you’ll see it’s a nice healthy pack; I even have several without wolves living there.” Edward offered. Again, she raised an eyebrow at him, this was not an interview anymore. She shook her head and stood up. “Thank you for wasting my time. I have other interviews to attend this week,” she stated simply and turned and walked from the room, showing them, she was clearly not interested in what they were offering. She handed in her lanyard and interview number to the lady out in the hall and made her way to the elevators to leave the building. She stood in that elevator as it took her to the ground floor and sighed internally to herself as she mentally ticked off another job that she’d not gotten; though this one was on her own doing. She’d walked away from it. Just one more day without working, that was going to eat into her savings. She knew the dollars in her bank account, knew she only had enough money to rent that studio apartment for three more months, and then she was going to be either out on the streets and in a women’s shelter or back to being an exotic dancer in a gentleman’s club just to make ends meet. Neither were nice thoughts for her; she’d been homeless for a few months after leaving her home pack, until she’d managed to get on campus living, but still it hadn’t been enough to survive on, so she’d had to take on a job that would bring in the dollars, and she wasn’t about to sell her body to men. So becoming an exotic dancer had been the only option open to her, that didn’t interfere with her class schedule. She’d not really liked it and only did it to make money was all. She pushed off the wall when the elevator stopped and walked out, as did several others and found herself face to face with who she thought was the Beta to that Alpha Unit. “Mr Hayes, would like a further word with you, Ms Morgan,” he stated with what appeared to be a friendly smile. “I’m not interested,” she told him, and went to step around him only to have his hand curl around her arm and halt her. “I’m afraid I’m going to have to insist,” he stated and tugged her along next to him down a bank of elevators and used a swipe card to have one open. She saw there were no floor markers on the outside or inside of it when she was escorted into it. The doors simply closed and the elevator moved. She understood it was an express elevator and likely only went to one floor, the top floor where the Alpha and his Unit all had offices. She leaned on the wall in there and just waited, said nothing at all to this man that was looking at her. She stared right back at him, uncaring of if it was offensive or not. Rogues didn’t have masters unless they chose to and she didn’t. It was a fast, smooth ride, and he escorted her out of the elevator down a corridor and directed her to sit on a couch. “Please stay here and wait.” He told her before turning to the woman at the desk next to the couch who was now looking at her with a slight frown on her face. “The Alpha will see Ms Morgan when his interviews are over for the day.” “Yes, Beta.” She nodded and he walked off. At least she’d guessed it right. He was the Beta to that group. She saw that she-wolf frown at her and wrinkle her nose as if she was offended by the stench of Wynta. She was, however, clean and, though of rogue status, took care of herself to make sure she didn’t scent terrible like other rogues out there in the wilderness. Though she honestly didn’t know what a Rogue scented like to other wolves, but to her, they kind of smelled like they were unclean and needed a bath. She didn’t think she smelled like that. She just sat as she was told. She wasn’t out to cause trouble for herself and knew how to behave herself. Even if she didn’t want to. After an hour of just sitting there, she was bored shitless, and so she stood up and stretched herself out and then walked away to have a look around the top floor for herself. There were a dozen offices up here, three conference rooms and an open coffee hub-like area where they all obviously ate. There were half a dozen tables and chairs and a couple of vending machines. She saw only the one elevator to this entire floor, and it had that swipe card access to it. She wasn’t going to be able to leave if she didn’t have one of them. She found the emergency stairwell and smiled to herself and pushed the door only to find it wouldn’t open, and frowned. It, too, had a swipe card box next to it. She appeared to be stuck here for now. She returned to the couch and sank down once more. Another hour passed, and she was more than unhappy, that she-wolf at her desk looked at her and stated, “Just be patient, he’s interviewing.” “You can’t keep me here like this,” she stated flatly. “I’m guessing he can, seeing as you’re still here. Just sit there,” she was told. Wynta thought about that, she knew there had to be away around the swipe card for everything, and as she leaned back there on the couch her eyes fell on the red emergency box, that had the words ‘Break glass in case of emergency.’ That she knew was going to unlock the emergency exit stairwell. A smile played on her lips as she sat up now. She’d get lost in the crowd of those all heading out of the building and be gone before they could find her once more. “Don’t do it Ms Morgan, it’s a very large fine.” Her thoughts were interrupted by the she-wolf. Her eyes moved towards her, and she watched her point to the ceiling, where she saw a camera, “It’ll be caught on camera, and the fine will come to you. Can you afford it? I believe it's $1600, and you could also face criminal charges. It’s a felony in this state, so you’ll also likely wind up with a criminal record if you don’t already have one.” “I don’t,” Wynta stated, and the she-wolf’s half smirk she likely thought that just because she was a rogue she did all sorts of illegal things to get by. She leaned back on the couch as she resigned herself to the fact that she was currently stuck here on this floor until someone escorted her from the building. By the third hour, she had laid down on that couch and made herself comfortable, ignored the she-wolf’s comment of it wasn’t very ladylike or professional to do so, and used her phone to read a book until she dozed off on that couch. Not one person on this floor had paid her the slightest bit of attention, except for the Alpha’s secretary, and she was just annoyed to have to watch over her, it seemed. She rolled over at one point in her half sleeping stated to try and be more comfortable and fell right off the couch, just lay there for a moment before sitting up with a huff. That secretary was staring at her. “You’re a lazy one I see,” she muttered. “I’ll tell the Alpha you’re finally awake.” And her eyes had glazed over. She picked herself up off the floor. He must be back up here, and she’d slept right through it, and he’d not woken her. That was a bit odd. He appeared in his office doorway, “Did you sleep well?” he smiled at her. “Come in, Ms Morgan.” He waved her into his office. She checked the time on her phone and saw it was the middle of the afternoon. Her interview had been at 10am this morning. The day was nearly over. It was nearly 3pm. She walked into the Alpha’s office and sat where he told her to. “Why am I still here?” she asked him directly. “Because I’m not willing to let you continue to be of rogue status, it’s unsafe for female rogues out there in the world. Even more so for those without wolves, who are defenseless against wolfen strength.” “Other rogues leave me alone, the wolf-less aren’t of interest to roaming bands of rogues. We’re worth nothing to those wanting to kidnap and sell she-wolves, we can’t take a beating or a lashing without winding up in the pack hospital or dying from it. It’s a waste of money to buy the wolf-less.” She informed him. “So, I’m perfectly safe out there on my own. Always have been.” She told him simply. “Mm, I see… but in all good consciousness, I can’t let you leave as you are. So, here’s what I’m willing to offer you. The job you applied for today, a house or apartment within the pack and full sanctuary where no harm will come to you. “You’ll be able to have full access to proper wolfen medical, at no cost to you. You’ll also be able to train with others like yourself, to be able to protect yourself when outside the pack. Attend mating balls to find your Mate and have a full wolfen social life.” He smiled at her as if that was an appealing offer. “I have an apartment here in the city, just a few blocks away. I don’t drive, so wouldn’t be able to get from the pack to the office if I took up that offer. I’ve never come to harm out here in the human world, and I’ve been in it for many years now. “I can also protect myself if I need to, and I have no interest in being initiated into or living inside a pack or attending any pack functions, including that of Mating Balls,” Wynta countered him, “I’ll, however, take the job that I do need.” He was frowning at her now. “All wolves need the social aspect, or they can become…” he trailed off. “Anti-social creatures.” She nodded. “I’m already that, and I don’t care that I am.” She shrugged but would take this opportunity to tell him how she’d work. “I will work quietly and cause you nor this company any problems. I get my work done on time or stay back, working late doesn’t particularly bother me all that much. “I can and will collaborate within a team and listen to and follow the instructions of my supervisor. I know how to be a contributing member of a working team and how to be professional even though I don’t take an interest in socializing personally with those on my team,” she told him. He leaned back in his chair and stared at her with narrowed eyes, and she mimicked his pose after a minute of silence. She would not be giving him what he wanted today. Another minute passed, and his mouth twitched in one corner. He seemed amused by her stubbornness. “What will it take,” she finally asked, breaking the silence, “to let me leave this office and get the job?” He smiled at her, “You agreeing to be initiated into my pack. I’ll allow you to retain your city apartment, seeing as you already have one and don’t drive.” She stared at him for a long moment and then laid out her own terms to get the job she needed. “Initiation into your pack will be on my terms.” She offered a compromise. “What exactly does that mean?” he frowned once more. “I’ll let you initiate me, only when I willingly set foot into your pack's official pack territory, and that’s what? An hour away, you stated.” “I did.” He nodded. “I can agree to that.” He smiled at her. “Let’s go and look at your work space then, shall we?” *5 years later, Wynta aged 32* Wynta got the pack invitation delivered right to her desk. She’d not known what it was at first; just had the mail delivery girl Louise, walk into her office at 10am and ask her to sign for a package as she’d put it on the desk. There was a small white sticky note on it that had her name clearly printed on it. Wynta had asked in return what the package was for and gotten “A gala invitation, I’m on delivery duty today for all of them.” And she’d indicated to her cart by the door. Wynta had seen that there were indeed many blue boxes in her delivery cart, that looked just like the one Louise had placed on her desk. She’d nodded and signed the slip to say she’d received it, and Louise had taken the sticker and attached it to her clipboard next to Wynta’s signature. Then she had smiled at Wynta and stated, “I’ll see you there. Signing for the invitation is you stating you’ll attend.” That had snapped Wynta’s head up, and she’d frowned right at Louise, who’d then smiled a little apologetically, “Sorry Ms Morgan, but Mr Hayes specifically told me I wasn’t to inform you of that, until after you signed for it.” She’d just nodded and waved the woman out, sat and watched her leave. Bloody Alpha Edward had finally found a way to make her step onto pack territory willingly, it seemed, and she didn’t know at this time if she could say it wasn’t willing or not. She’d have to do some research into the nitty-gritty of that one. He’d clearly tricked her into signing for it, so she’d technically stated she'd attend of her own free will. Which she knew was going to be considered, that it meant she would be stepping into pack territory of her own free will as well; to attend this Luna Ceremony. But was it really of her own free will? When, in reality, he’d gone about this in an underhanded manner, leaving out important information, and all in order just to get her to sign for that invitation. He knew she wouldn’t sign for it if she knew it meant she had to step foot inside his pack's territory. She shook her head, just knew it was his roundabout way of forcing her hand into being initiated into his pack. Though a small part of her was very amused by his underhanded tactics, because it had taken him five long years to get that which he wanted from her. She’d thought he’d have just learned to live with the fact she didn’t want to be a pack member, and that she was, in fact, happy living as a rogue, seemed not even after all these years. Wynta returned her attention to the invitation. It was a very pretty navy-blue box with embossed letting on it, and she even knew whose they were. She’d heard that Edwards' youngest son and fourth heir, Lance, had found his Fated Mate on the previous full moon. It was still the current talk of not only the office, but in the human world as well. This was the Luna Ceremony invitation by the look of it. Pack colors were in fashion, it seemed. She did know Cedar Rapids pack colors were navy blue, silver and, of course, the color of red cedar. She knew why, because the pack had rapids that ran right through it and there were many red cedar trees inside the pack. It was aptly named, she thought. Wynta opened the box and inside it was an envelope with a wax seal in there. She shook her head and wondered what the box was for. Was it a pack tradition or just that they wanted to be extra fancy. She broke the seal, which also held their initials L&R, and slid out the actual invitation; a nicely folded invitation, and again there was another seal. Only this one had three fine pieces of golden thread to hold it together and bound to the wax. It was all very fancy, she realized; Edward and Marian were going all out. She broke that seal and opened the actual invitation, and their names, Lance and Raelynn, were written in a big, bold flashy script, and then the event name time and the place, the pack’s ballroom of course, where all Luna Ceremonies were held, she supposed. Not that she had ever been to one, but she’d heard they were a grand event. On the inside of the right-hand side was a list of details, of what not to wear and the type of attire that was expected. It was a black-tie event and full formal wear was expected, and no pack member or affiliated guest was allowed to wear anything white or cream, in color. The Luna would be wearing a white gown and any upstaging of her or attempts at it would be fully punishable by three lashings on the shaming post. The event was mandatory, and the entire pack was expected to attend the event to celebrate the happy couple. Those that opted not to attend would see themselves on the shaming post and given one lash for disrespect. In brackets, it read, (those without wolves, one day on the shaming post and full admonishment by Alpha and Luna) Then on the left side of the invitation was the RSVP details. There was a QR Code and under that it stated all women had to state the color of the dress they would be wearing on the RSVP. It was preferred that bright or dark colors were to be worn, and all full pastel colors were to be avoided. She just shook her head. Though she sat and stared at that invitation for a long time, she’d worked for Hayes Industries now for five years, and still she’d managed to never set foot inside the pack itself. She had not attended a single mating ball because she saw no need to. She’d had a Mate once, and rejected him long ago, 14 years now, and so there was no reason to think she’d get another. She’d, however, gotten three invites a year for the past five years and ticked the decline box on all occasions. After that first year, those invites had stated that she was to list the reason she would not be attending. She’d shaken her head, understanding it was Alpha Edward’s way of trying, she thought, to find a way to get her onto pack territory. She’d written on three of them 'not a ranked member', on three others, 'I’ll be away on vacation', and on several of them she’d simply written ‘I don’t fit the criteria for the mating ball.’ She was still a rogue and so held no rank inside that pack, not even when she’d been sent and omega only invite, she’d declined that on not being an omega. But being of rogue status, she actually didn’t fit any of their criteria, and could claim just being a rogue, but it was she thought annoying for Edward to have to read all her reasons as to why she wouldn’t be attending. The last refusal had been ingenious on her part, she’d thought, because he’d thought he’d had her with that invite for all otherworldly creatures, regardless of having non-pack status within their own realms or the human realm, were invited to come and see if they might find their Mate. She’d actually laughed at the wording of it. It had been so she couldn’t play, she didn’t fit the criteria, or I’m a rogue card as a way of not attending the ball. Wynta thought she was now even beginning to frustrate Alpha Edward, that he now had to find other ways to try and get her into his pack. It was clear to her that he had read all her reasons for getting out of setting foot inside his pack territory. It kind of amused her more than a little bit to see all the effort he was going to. She’d used 'I'm going to a Marketing Conference' on him, and she had actually done so. It had also been booked four months prior to that mating ball, paid for by his own company. She’d written a politely worded email about she didn’t want to be seen as wasting the company's money because the event was nonrefundable, and she didn’t want to disappoint her team, who were also all going to the conference with her. It was out of state and fully booked and organized months in advance. She’d attached the booking list of employees and the accommodation and conference details for him to check it all. She’d laughed softly to herself when she’d hit the send button on that one, it had just been perfect timing for her, nothing more. She’d leaned back in her chair all happy that day and chuckled softly because it wasn’t the first time she’d used skills building courses to get out of mating balls. She always kept track of when and where those skill-building conferences took place, and if they ever fell on a full moon, or the travel to and or from one did, she signed herself up for them; did it months in advance just so she could state she hadn’t deliberately avoided the invite at the last minute. She had an education and team building budget to use, and that’s what she used it on. Sometimes she would take the whole team with her. Hell, once all three marketing teams had gone to it, including her and the other supervisors, everyone had signed up for it when she’d put it on the bulletin board in the office. The three departments had even split the cost of hiring a bus to get them there and back. He couldn’t stop her from continuing to learn what was needed, in the ever-changing world around them, that was considered the best way to target their buyers and promote their businesses; it was all necessary skill building. This invitation, however, she had a feeling she was unlikely to be able to get out of, he’d already probably checked into it himself. Though she did earn decent money now, and had moved up in the company from a Marketing Specialist to a Marketing Supervisor and that had come with a new office, and a higher pay check. She still begrudged the idea of having to go out there and buy a formal dress for this occasion. She wasn’t a pack member, so it shouldn’t be mandatory for her to attend, but he’d gotten her to sign for that bloody invitation, and now she had an obligation, even as a rogue, to attend it. Wynta sighed and shook her head, just knew there was not going to be a way to get out of it. He’d done his homework on this one. He was likely going to push for her to move into pack territory or that new apartment building he’d just finished building. It wasn’t massive, just six storeys high with six apartments on each floor, but the top that only had four and they were considered penthouse apartments. He’d given her and her team the job of marketing the ground floor space, where he’d wanted a restaurant and a café along with two boutique stores to go there for revenue, things that would need marketing not just advertising. Edward had even sent her and her team down to check out that building. They’d all been met there by Chester, the pack’s Gamma, or to her team, one of the founders of the company they worked for. She and her team had been walked onto every floor and allowed to look at the apartments. Just showing them around so they could get a feel for the type of people that were going to rent the apartments out. Chester had told them they would likely all be executive-type people. Nothing here was more than two bedrooms, and the space was large. There was no real room for children. Chester had been watching her as they’d walked around. He walked right next to her the entire time and, although he’d been professional in his talking to her and the team, telling them what they wanted. She wasn’t so dumb as to not know why she had been chosen to lead this little project. He’d stood and leaned on a window in one of the penthouse's living areas and stated, “It’s a nice apartment, got a fantastic view, close to the office,” He’d even pointed it out in the distance, for her to see. She knew where it was, she had walked down here with her team, a casual 30-minute stroll where they’d all gotten coffee along the way. “I think this particular penthouse apartment would be fit for a single woman like yourself, don’t you think? It’s got lots of closet space too.” Wynta had nodded and smiled at him, rolled her eyes a little and commented, “I’m certain one of the managers would like it.” and then casually walked away from him. She wasn’t going to be swayed into moving into a pack-bought apartment. She understood it was Edwards way of getting her to likely take a baby step into being part of his pack. She was not fooled by this; she’d heard Chester chuckle softly and murmur, “You’re one tough nut to crack.” “No, I’m not. I like my simple life, is all. It’s uncomplicated and no one tells me what to do.” She’d smiled at him. She’d looked at Chester after walking about that penthouse, “You may tell Edward, I have a place of my own, and I’m comfortable living there, have been now for five years. I have a good rapport with my landlord.” She’d tipped her coffee to him and left the apartment. She still lived in her ground floor studio apartment, just five blocks away, and she saw no need to upgrade to something bigger and better just for status’s sake. She also didn’t need the extra room; that just meant more cleaning to her, and shelling out more dollars for rent, not something she wanted to do. That was completely unnecessary in her eyes. Her landlord actually maintained the building she lived in. She’d gotten new carpet two years ago and the entire place had been painted as well. It looked really nice, her rent was always paid on time, and she caused no trouble for him at all, so she was considered a good tenant. Though the place had lots of people moving in and out of it, mostly students from the local university lived there, so she got new neighbors quite often. Living in her studio apartment had allowed her to create a nice amount of savings for herself, that money sat in her bank account, for that inevitable rainy day, when it came; that would see her up and leave, move away to a new place for whatever reason. It could be a bigger, better job or that she just wanted a change of scenery, but she was comfortable right now, and that was the only reason she’d not moved on. Well, that, and she liked annoying Alpha Edward with her constant refusal to step onto his pack territory and making him stick to their original handshake deal upon hiring her. She placed that invitation back into the envelope and then the box and put it on a shelf behind her desk. She had noted that there was no plus one on there. So at least she wasn’t expected to bring a date. Though that also told her Edward knew she didn’t have a date to bring. She sighed to herself at the thought of spending her hard-earned money, and although she had the money to spend, she didn’t want to spend it. She saw it as a complete waste of her savings. She had a dozen suits, all of which were acceptable to wear to functions and made her look professional and presentable. But now this having to buy a full formal dress, she wondered if she could sell it after wearing it just once, to get some of her money back? Buying a dress, she also knew she was going to have to buy some sort of heels to go with that dress as well. Wynta sighed at that thought, she didn’t wear heels. Even here in the office, simple, comfortable business style, black walking shoes was all. She was not out to attract attention to herself, and that aloof demeanor she had, kept most men at bay. Not all, but most, and she turned those that did ask her for coffee of lunch down, with a polite but firm “I’m sorry, I’m not interested.” She was straight to the point with all of them, so there were no misunderstandings to be had. Though she’d never once been hit on by a wolf within the company, only the humans, and she knew why. It was because she was of rogue status, and none of them knew how she’d become a rogue. She did smell like one to those that worked here. Several of the she-wolves didn’t like that a rogue worked within the company. Went out of their way to make sure she knew it as well, though she just ignored their so-called off-handed insults at how she smelled. One of her team had actually frowned once and muttered, “What the hell is she talking about? There’s no stench in here.” Looking about and that she-wolf, Carlotti had looked right at her on purpose, and then wrinkled her nose for her team to see and then just walked off. They’d all looked at her after she’d left, and she’d just shrugged it off. Carlotti, or Lotti to the wolves of the pack, was from what Wynta could tell the youngest stepdaughter of the pack’s Beta, she’d seen that she-wolf call him daddy at times. She knew Ernesto was mated, and that girl wasn’t, so it wasn’t a euphemism for something else. She’d also seen the Beta’s actual daughter roll her eyes at the girl’s behavior and try to pull her into line once. “He’s not your actual father and doesn’t need to give you anything.” Had come out of Meredith when Ernesto had left, “If you want money, go and get a bloody job and earn it like the rest of us do.” It had become a sibling dispute between one that worked hard, and one that apparently did nothing and thought she was entitled to everything. She’d seen Carlotti leave in tears when Meredith had snapped at her in front of the office, “You’re just a stepchild, will inherit nothing are not father’s actual kin. Just a greedy spoiled girl and when my brother takes over, you’ll be out on your ass for this behavior. I’ll gladly back him up.” She’d looked to the gathered crowd and muttered, “Sorry family dispute, back to work all of you.” Meredith didn’t seem to care that she was a rogue, but several others did. Likely Meredith saw that Wynta did her actual job within the company and didn’t cause any trouble either, so she was not offended by having a rogue work here. The weeks passed and there was suddenly talk of Jared Hayes, Edwards' oldest son, coming home from Europe for his brother's wedding. It was the talk of the office. She’d seen several pictures of him over the years in the company magazine, highlighting all the achievements he was making and the growth of the company with a new office in France. He was apparently the company’s hottest Batchelor, and still unmarried at 42, she’d nearly laughed at that, if only they knew his real age. Wynta knew that all of Edwards' children had reinvented themselves over the years and that Jared was in fact 82 years old but barely looked a day older than 35. He had jet black hair and blue eyes, and was rumored to be six-four. But all his brothers were roughly that height as Edward was, so it didn’t really surprise her. She’d never met the Alpha’s oldest heir. He rarely, if ever came home, and was busy it seemed off building his own empire. Though she’d seen all the others over the course of the years, Edward had walked them all through her department and stopped to introduce them all to her. She’d nodded and been polite in greeting them, then just turned back to her work. They didn’t pay her anymore attention than she did them, she only interacted with them if there was a need for it. Which mostly there wasn’t. None of them were in marketing, so it limited her exposure to them. Though each one of them had seen how aloof she was and that she only kept things to work terms. She never just talked freely with any wolf here in the building. Though she was good with her human team now, she could smile and chuckle at the things they did or the stories they told about something funny happening to them. She’d worked with them all for five years now, and only taken this promotion on the condition that her team went with her to the new floor. They worked like a well-oiled machine and she actually liked them. The office she had now was on the floor above the one they’d all originally worked in, and she had a large office with a glass wall and door between her and their desk out there. Though she had an open-door policy, and they could, at any time, holler out to her or just stroll in and talk to her. That window would frost over at the touch of a button, they’d been here now for a year and not once had she used it. Saw no need to. She looked at them now. They were all a buzz with the news that Edward was bringing Jared to walk through all the departments, to see if things needed improvement, the Monday after his brother’s wedding. Meanwhile, far away in Europe... Jared stood in his penthouse apartment listening to his father tell him that his brother Lance had found his Goddess-Gifted Mate, his band had lit up blue and when they put one on the she-wolf Raelynn, it had lit up as well. She’d not rejected Lance, and they were marked and mated. His father was very happy that finally one of his sons had found their Mate. Jared pinched the bridge of his nose at the thought that it was likely Lance who would be the first to have an heir, and then, when he turned 100, the pack would belong to his youngest brother. It wasn’t like Jared wasn’t looking for his Mate. He’d just simply moved countries to do so, he’d exhausted a lot of packs in the US looking for his Mate. Either she wasn’t born yet or lived in another country. He knew there were just as many packs here in Europe as there were in America, so he’d opted to move here and branch the pack’s business out at the same time. He’d made quite a few business allies over here in France, and there were many of their European allies, wolves, working in this building that he lived in. His penthouse was on the top floor like all of his units were. He was 82 years old and had not only searched in the US but in the Wolfen Realm as well back in his younger days. Now he was just simply here in Europe was all. “So, Jared, you’ll be coming home for Raelynn’s Luna Ceremony on the next full moon. Invites will be sent for you and your unit via email. Those here in the states will get one in person, though your mother will send you pictures of the actual invitations as well.” “Why would she need to do that?” he frowned. “Son, it’s so you can see what to expect when you find your own Mate, of course. She has been planning these events for many decades and allocated different colors to each of you. Well, actually her words were according from first to last mated. So where I know you, being the eldest would expect pack colors, Lance is getting that because he was the first to find his Mate. Sorry son.” “It’s fine.” He murmured. “I don’t think it really matters anyway… Isn’t it usually up to the Luna being celebrated?” he asked and turned to see his unit all walking into his apartment. He knew why they were here, it maybe 9pm in San Francisco, but it was only 6am here in France, and it was likely they’d all gotten a call from their fathers. Just like he was getting. ""Normally, it is son. It’s not yet discussed, but I know Lance wants that. So, it’s likely Raelynn will also agree.” Did it surprise him that his brother was going to want pack colors? No, the importance of him choosing and his mother agreeing to give him those colors; a full formal event in pack colors. It was a bold statement from Lance to his three brothers, himself, Ethan and Colby. That he was going to be the next Alpha to Cedar Rapids. ""Father, when I find a Mate I will allow her to choose whatever color she wants. Mother won’t get a say. Please remind her of that.” He told him simply, “She may plan for all her other heirs Luna Ceremonies, but I will follow wolfen tradition of letting the Luna that is being celebrated choose the color of the event.” “That is fine, son. So you’ll be coming home when exactly, how many days prior to the next full moon? There are a few people I want you to meet and talk with while you're here, so please plan to stay a week to a month would be good.” “A month?” he questioned right back. “Yes, like I said, I’ve got people I want you to meet.” “Goddess father, it’s not some bloody she-wolf of your choosing, is it? You know I won’t settle. Can’t if I want a chance to be the next Alpha.” “I’m aware of that Jared. I need your help with one very stubborn she-wolf on something; we’ll discuss it when you come home. Drives me a bit batty she does, so very resistant to all offers to come and live within the pack.” “Why do you need her to? If she’s allied she likely has a nice pack and likes it.” “A brilliant marketing mind. I’ve made many offers.” His father huffed at him, “I'm stuck, as are my unit and I need someone to charm her, so to speak.” He rolled his eyes and his entire unit snorted, fully amused. They all knew it was his father’s way of trying to get him to date someone he thought would be good for him. He let it go. “Just put Ethan or Colby to the task. They are right there.” “Hmm, she’s not interested in either of them, kind of dismissive of all ranked members.” His father sighed once more, a little on the heavy side. “Not even Chester is having any luck… seems to be immune to even a Gamma’s charm. Help your old man out, won’t you?” That was a curiosity to him. Though he wondered if it was true at all, not many could get past a Gamma. “I’ll have Dwane do it,” he stated, “I’ll get back to you on the date I’ll be arriving. I’ll have to look at flights and see what’s available.” His father sighed at the comment about him having his Beta charm the girl, but he let it go and stated, “I could send the Jet over.” “No need, Wolf Airline branched out into Europe this year, so we’ll travel safely and in wolfen comfort.” Jared stated simply, “Tell Lance congratulations, I’m looking forward to meeting Raelynn, that I’ll bring something from France as a Luna Gift. Get mother to find out what the woman likes and email me.” “Alright, but a few days prior to the full moon son, is what I expect and at least a week after as well. Business reasons, of course. I will not be meddling in your love life; I learned my lesson when you opted to move halfway around the world.” Jared smiled “Well done, father. I see old wolves can be taught.” He chuckled and clicked the line closed to his father's shocked gasp at hearing his words. He shook his head and turned to his unit, “I guess we’re finally going home, Dwane, you’ll be seeing to that she-wolf.” He shook his head. “It’s your department anyway.” “Hmm, I don’t think things are going to go your way, Jared. Your father can be underhanded and tricky. Sometimes what he says isn’t actually what he means,” Dwane stated. “I’m fully aware of how he goes about getting what he wants.” He nodded. He spent the next few weeks leading up to going back to the pack, attending business as usual, and reorganizing his schedule to fit in with his father’s request of a week to a month-long stay. He’d split that to make two weeks. A compromise that he was happy with, and he’d managed to get a flight that would see him arrive the day of the ceremony, but he needed that for himself, due to business meetings here and the rearranging of his schedule to fit in around others. His father had to deal with it. Though the boys were all headed back before he was, arriving a few days before the ceremony. His flight, however, couldn’t be helped, though he took a very unhappy call from both his parents about it because Lance was of the opinion it was disrespectful, and that he was trying to weasel his way out of being there at all. That he was going to claim that something came up, and so he couldn’t catch his flight. All because he was ticked off that Lance had found his Mate before him. Jared had rolled his eyes, “I’ve bought the ticket, I simply had to rearrange things here to suit others that I had scheduled meetings with over the period you insist I'm there and so have to be away from here. Not everyone fits around your schedule. They're not all wolfen so don't understand. It has nothing to do with my not being happy for Lance. I’m actually very happy for him. Lessens the pressure on me to find my Mate.” Both his parents had gone quiet with his words, and he’d smiled to himself, “Mother, father, I am one to abide by the rules you set out. I will not object to whoever is mated and has an heir first by the time they are 100. Lance has nothing to fear from me. My life is currently very busy anyway, as you both know.” “Well son, Lance has asked that a new stipulation be added to the invitation about attendance,” his father told him. “Oh, has he.” Jared leaned back in his chair and shook his head. “Pray tell, father, what is it?” “That no one turns up late and interrupts the ceremony. So, everyone must have arrived and be seated a full 1-hour prior to the event starting, or on the shaming post and a lashing they will receive for disrespect.” “That is fine. I believe my flight will get in around one thirtyish, and the ceremony is at 7pm. I’m certain father, it won’t take me 4 hours to get through customs, hire a car and drive the one hour to the pack.” “Good. That is what I want to hear. Now I have one thing to ask of you. A favor, so to speak.” Here we go he thought to himself, “And that would be?” “I just need you to stop and pick up a new pack member. She doesn’t drive and has no way to get out to the pack, it’ll be on your way, and take but a moment of your time.” He could hear the smile in his father’s voice and just knew this was part of his plotting. “Fine, send me the address,” he stated, “And make sure she is ready and waiting for me to pick her up. I’m not one for standing around waiting on people, especially she-wolves that are just putting on make-up.” “I’ll make sure she is aware of your attitude and request. Though I don’t see it being a problem, she’s not one to wear a great deal of make-up. A natural beauty, wouldn’t you say Marian?” his father asked his mother. “Oh, yes, pretty as a picture.” He was betting she was, and willing to climb right into his bed at his father's request as well, just like all the others. "
"She looked at her second chance mate with disappointment. “Wynta, I didn’t mean to...” he panicked. “No,” she cut him off, “The truth was— you left me in the storm to pick up another woman. And I almost died.” The moon goddess had arranged another jerk Alpha for her. But she will never say “yes” to a toxic mate bond. If she could reject the first, she wouldn't hesitate to reject the second. “Please—” He stared at her with begging eyes. Yet she just turned around and finished her words. “I, Wynta Morgan, reject you, Jared Hayes, as my second chance mate.” ===== *Wynta aged 18* “Come on, Wynta. You will see the stars when we both have you.” The first time Wynta let Nolan tease her clothes off, he wanted to bring his Beta Yale into her bedroom. Wynta believed her lover and future Alpha Nolan, was trying to coerce her into believing she was not only his Goddess-Gifted Mate but also that of his Beta's as well. All, so the two of them could have her in their bed at the same time, and she knew it. “Are you kidding, Nolan?"" A cool, assessing stare settled in Wynta's eyes as she deliberately took a step back, creating space. ""No, we’ve both scented it. You’re ours. We are both your actual Goddess-Gifted Mates."" Nolan’s voice was a low, coaxing purr. He reached out, tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear. Wynta didn't pull away, but she didn't lean into his touch either. ""No, Nolan. I didn't feel that."" ""You have to trust me, trust us, Wynta. The Goddess doesn’t make mistakes. Yale's outside now, you will let him in, right?"" His hand slid down to her waist, pulling her gently against him. His scent, usually a comfort, now felt cloying. “Imagine it. The three of us. No one will ever love you or protect you like we will.” She might be an orphan and wolf-less, but she wasn’t so stupid as to believe Nolan. Wynta pushed against his chest, creating a sliver of space. “What I want,” she said, her voice surprisingly steady, “is to wait for the moon. If what you’re saying is true, then waiting a few more days shouldn’t matter.” She decided to test them, it was only a week until the full moon and she was 18 now. She would be able to scent them both in just 7 days. If they were her Mates, why wouldn’t they just wait until they knew she could handle them, and would want them both? She had no interest in sleeping with Yale at all and didn’t really find him attractive. He was nice looking but not her type. He sighed, a sound of exaggerated patience. ""Fine, baby. The bond is already there, we will claim you, and you'd be the Future Luna."" He left a little on the annoyed side with her, and she’d heard Nolan stating, “These I’ll sweet talk her again, don’t you worry.” to his Beta from her window, they thought because she was wolf-less she wouldn't hear them, but they'd only been a few meters from her window. Even a human would have heard them. She’d not believed them, because she was, in fact, wolf-less and of an unknown lineage. All she had going for her was her pretty face, nice body and her brains. She’d liked Nolan’s sweet, charming attention over the past few months, and she had kind of stupidly fallen for him over the course of their relationship. He’d never rushed her for anything, took it slow and always wanted things to be at her pace. They’d only been sleeping together for two weeks and now, with this? What he’d said and told her, it was just wrong, and she knew it was all going to be a lie. And they would come to her again. Left with no other option, Wynta chose solitude over submission. So she had cuffed herself with Silver and chained herself to a tree in the deepest, darkest, most isolated part of the pack where there were no border patrols because this end of the woods was at the base of a steep, inaccessible gorge. Four days she sat out there chained and cuffed with silver, scent masked so no one would smell her or be able to locate her with a pack tether. She’d taken no water or food and was starving and dehydrating herself to prove it was all a lie. As that first day had turned into the second, there was no search for her. The third day came and still no warriors were scouring the pack for a missing pack member, which she’d seen the Alpha would do. Scouring every inch of the pack when searching for someone who was missing. The fourth day came and again, nothing: if Nolan and Yale were her Mates, they’d have gone to their father's and told them the truth of the matter, informed them she was missing, and they couldn’t find her anywhere. They would in fact be in a full-blown panic that their Mate was missing, and they had no contact with her. That night, on day four, she unchained herself and removed the cuff, stumbled her way back to her dorm and sank down in the shower, utterly exhausted by the long walk when she was already dehydrated. She kind of just fell out of the shower when she'd tried to get up and had mind-link to the pack doctor to tell him she needed help, and then had succumbed to the darkness of unconsciousness. Wynta woke up in the pack hospital with an IV in her arm and the pack doctor tending to the burn on her wrist from the silver cuff, “Finally awake after a full day, the Alpha will be happy, he needs to know what happened. He is investigating right now, tracking your scent to where you came from.” She’d said nothing at all; that just confirmed once more that neither Nolan nor Yale had known she was even missing. “Did I have any visitors?” she asked curiously. “No, I’m sorry, Wynta.” He sounded apologetic. “No one other than the Alpha and Luna wanting to know your actual state. “Alright,” she knew she had no family. She’d been given her name by the pack’s Luna, named after the season she had been found in. Winter, and given the last name Morgan for whatever reason the Luna had seen fit. That was how she’d become Wynta Morgan. That very night, as she lay there in the hospital bed wondering just what she was going to say to Nolan and Yale, about their behavior. Nolan connected a mind-link to her at 11pm, and he asked quite simply, “Where are you? It’s our date night, and I’m at your place. You’re not here.” She could hear the frown in his voice. Tonight was supposed to be their ordinary dating night. “I’m at the pack hospital,” she told him honestly. “On our date night? Why would you take a shift knowing we’re to be together?” he asked right back. He was only concerned about the fact that they weren’t going to be having sx. He had just presumed that she was working in the hospital, when she’d never once worked in the hospital before. “I’m sure you can wait until the full moon,” she stated blandly and cut the link. There was not one ounce of worry in his voice. It was she new without a doubt coercion. The full moon came and set just two days later, and it had been two hours since she’d scented out a Mate inside this pack. She even knew who it was because she recognized the two natural scents of her lover. There was, however, no other scent for her at all. She didn’t scent Yale, it was just more proof of the lie they had told her, to get what they wanted from her was all. She was still in the pack hospital, still attached to the IV with fluids running, the burns healing was slow-going because she didn’t have a wolf. There was a nurse sitting next to her bed with a wound trolley attending to the cleaning and redressing of the burn when Nolan walked into the room. Finally, he had tracked her down. He stood staring at her a little more than shocked. She stared at him as his eyes moved over her in that bed, being treated by a nurse, and he asked the nurse to give them a minute. Told her that his father had asked him to come and discuss something privately with her. He had to wait until the wound was dressed. She watched him pick up her chart and read through it, knew he was seeing all the details of what was wrong with her, how she’d been found; she’d read it herself. He put it back with a frown on his face without saying anything at all. She’d stupidly fallen for this man before her, who was the same age as her and would be off to Alpha College tomorrow morning if he didn’t scent out a Mate on this full moon. She also knew just from the fact that he was here alone, no parents trailing him to see who his Mate was, that he was here to reject her. That and the fact that it had been two hours since the moon had set, he would have recognized her scent as well. No one waited that long to hunt down a Mate they wanted to claim. The nurse finally left and Nolan closed the door. She understood that as well, it was going to be done privately, so none in this pack would know they’d paired up. “Why didn’t you tell me you were injured when I asked where you were?” he asked her directly. She raised an eyebrow at him, she’d told him she was at the hospital. That should have been all she needed to say. “I was missing for four days,” she stated. “You didn’t even know, did you? I was cuffed with silver and missing… if you had scented me out back then as you said, you’d have known and hunted everywhere for me… You and your Beta, just wanted to have sx with me at the same time is all, and I wouldn’t let you. “You’re also here two hours post the moon setting, Nolan, that speaks volumes… You’re not the man I thought you were.” She shook her head. She would not be accepting one such as his. “I, Wynta Morgan, reject you, Nolan Holland, as my Mate.” She voiced simply but meant every word. He just stood staring at her, almost not comprehending that she would reject him. “Imagine, Nolan, if I had been swayed by you and Yale, and let the two of you do me. You’d now be rejecting me on the basis that I did that, had sx with your own Beta…” she shook her head at him “I don’t want to be bound to one that clearly tried to coerce me. Just accept it Nolan.” He nodded slowly. “I, Nolan Holland, accept your rejection, Wynta Morgan. You are not my Mate or the future Luna to this pack,” he stated. She felt the complete severing of their bond and heard him hiss in pain. It only caused a dull ache in her chest. Being wolf-less had some perks, it seemed. “Wynta, we’ll come back to this when I get home from Alpha College,” he stated and turned and walked from the room. Did he expect her to just sit around and wait for him to change his mind? Because he was an Alpha and she was wolf-less. Not a chance. She was not going to just sit around and wait for an Alpha to decide if she was worthy of him. She would choose her future on her terms. *9 years later, Wynta aged 27* Wynta sat in the waiting room along with all the other job applicants, applying for the position of Marketing Specialist here at Hayes Enterprises. She had lost her previous job a few months back and was rapidly running out of funds. All the other applicants in this room were human. Though she had picked up a few wolves upon coming into the building, but there didn’t appear to be any working on this floor. But she was hopeful the interview today would be done by a panel of humans, seeing as all the applicants were human. She’d not been active in the wolfen world for nine years now. She had left it behind when she’d walked away from her home pack, the night she’d been released from the pack hospital. She’d simply gone to her single dorm two days after her future Alpha had left for Alpha College, and none had known what she was to him. She had packed her belongings into a suitcase and walked out of the pack. Turned herself rogue after stepping outside the pack’s territory. No one had come looking for her, as she’d walked calmly from that place, she was not going to just sit around and wait for an Alpha to decide if she was worthy of him. She’d fallen for him but also known it had all been a lie, everything he’d ever said to her, so no more would she be a part of that pack. She’d gotten on a train and just moved away, she’d picked up a couple of different jobs and put herself through university, getting scholarships where she could and student loans where possible, and now nine years later she was a marketing specialist, one that worked in the human world and stayed away from the world of wolves. She didn’t really consider Wolves to be her Kind, simply because she was in fact wolf-less. She considered herself to be human. So she lived and worked like a human did, she struggled to pay her rent and bills at times, like so many out here did. She bought only what she needed. Keeping five working outfits that could be mixed and matched to create different looks but were all professional at the same time. Then in her apartment she just lazed about in jeans and tee-shirts. She owned nothing fancy because she had no need of it. Her vacation days were spent laying in her apartment reading a good book or listening to music. She currently lived in a tiny studio apartment that just had a bedroom, a small kitchenette and a tiny bathroom. There was nothing fancy about it. She, at this time, couldn’t afford anything else at all. Having lost her previous job, she had already downgraded the one-bedroom proper apartment for a studio apartment. It was small, but she kept it neat and tidy, and after living there for a month, she’d realized it was all she actually needed. Though she had no luxuries here in this place, there was no TV or movie subscriptions, she’d canned everything to save money while looking for a new job. The only thing she had was her phone, which she needed for interviews and to take rejection calls, though she also used it for reading books online. She was aloof to all those around her. There were no contacts in her phone because she had no family and no pack attachments. She didn’t trust easily or form bonds with many around her. In an office environment she could do her job and hold proper conversations, work well in a team, but her trust was hard-earned. Despite being wolf-less, she could pick up things like the scent of other wolves, though couldn’t determine pack or bloodline, just understood wolfen kind smelt different to humans. They all had a more earthy/woodsy scent about them. She sometimes sat out in the parks and just watched the humans walk about interacting with other people. She could read mannerisms and facial expressions quite well. Pick a lie from the truth, because she listened to the inflexion of one’s voice, and saw the little things that humans did when lying. Fidgeting, no eye contact, excessive blinking or just closing their eyes, they bit their lips, a few even got flushed in the face. If she paid attention completely, she could hear the tone of their voice change and even pick up on the difference in sentence structure at times. Then there was that pause before they spoke, which often portrayed that they had to think about an answer, because they didn’t want to answer it honestly. She’d learn that humans were no different to wolves most of the time. They came to her when they wanted something from her and then screwed her over if they could, to take the credit for her own work. Both species were deceitful as far as she was concerned and all she was trying to do was live quietly unseen by all. She’d learned the hard way to live by herself, even roommates were deceitful and couldn’t be trusted. She’d found it was simply best to live alone and not make friends that would lie to her, and, or betray her trust. Steal from her or blame her for things that they’d done just to save their own ass. Her name and interview number were called, and it pulled her from her absent thoughts, and she stood and nodded to the woman looking for her, and then followed her quietly down the hall and around the corner to a room that stated Conference Room 2. The door was held open for her and she stepped inside. The moment she did, she could smell them, wolves, and not just any, she didn’t think. Just by looking at the sheer size of them and the way they were dressed and sat, they were going to be ranked members of some pack out there. She walked over and sat herself in the chair that was sitting before them as was expected of her, and looked at them. She knew they would all be able to scent her as not only a rogue but that she was wolf-less as well. They would have smelled it either while she sat out there in the waiting room or the moment she’d stepped into this room. Her sense of smell wasn’t the same as theirs, not even the same as an omega wolf. She watched as three of them leaned back in those chairs and left one leaning on the desk before him staring at her. That one thing told her they weren’t just ranked members but were, in fact, an Alpha and his Unit. The one that was watching her now, he was going to be the Alpha. He slid his eyes over her appearance and then turned his eyes to her application, read it through before returning his eyes to her and putting that paper down in front of him. “I’ll introduce myself formally to you,” he stated calmly. “I am Alpha Edward Hayes and this is my unit,” he waved a hand at the other wolves in this room. “May I enquire why you are a rogue?” he asked her directly, seems his curiosity about her non wolfen pack status outweighed the questions for this very job. Wynta frowned at his introduction. She didn’t really care who he was, and she didn’t think it was any of his business as to why she was a rogue. She knew one didn’t have to be part of a pack to live in this world. More and more wolves turned themselves rogue and left their packs to get away from the cruelty of their pack’s leadership. Especially those that were like herself. She’d seen and smelled many like herself over the past nine years, just out there like she was trying to make an honest living for themselves, and staying out of trouble in both the wolfen and human world alike. When she didn’t say anything to answer his question, he went on, “I see you’re 27. Surely someone with your skills could have found a pack to align yourself with… When did you go rogue or be turned rogue?” he asked once more. “I’m here for the job that was posted, not to relay my past history to you.” She finally spoke. “Do you have any questions for me that are related to my skills?” she asked him in return. He frowned at her now and she watched who she thought was the Beta lean forward and rest his arms on the desk “You could request sanctuary and ask to be a member of the pack. Then this job would be granted to you without issue,” he stated. Wynta raised an eyebrow at him, so that was the condition of getting this job, she thought absently. Clearly, all those humans out there were wasting their time coming here for an interview. This company was simply abiding by the human rules of appearing to hire honestly and fairly, when they intended to give the job to one of their own pack members. “Would you like to become a pack member, Wynta?” Alpha Edward asked her directly. “I would accept someone like yourself.” “Someone like me?” she murmured. “A rogue that is wolf-less and desperate for affiliation, you mean?” She shook her head a little dismayed, did she look desperate to them? She didn’t think so, her clothes were clean and presentable, as was her hair and light make-up. She certainly didn’t look underfed or unhealthy. “Are you going to ask me any actual interview questions about the position of a Marketing Specialist?” she asked once more. “My skills are as they are listed, and I have worked now for two separate companies as you can see.” “Wynta, we’ll get to your interview. I feel your rogue status is of more importance, and needs to be resolved first,” Alpha Edward stated. “Please, Mr Hayes, don’t address me so informally. I would prefer you call me Ms Morgan.” She put to him, showing him that she wasn’t interested in being a part of his pack, and she didn’t think that they were close enough to be on a first-name basis. All of them were frowning at her now, at her dismissing of them being an Alpha and his unit before her, but she was a rogue and didn’t have to acknowledge that. It was likely they’d not expected her to decline the offer of being initiated. But it wasn’t something she was looking for. She was just looking for a job to have an income once more, and to keep a roof over her head, and food in her belly, nothing more, nothing less. “How about you come and look at the pack? It’s an hour's drive from here, and you’ll see it’s a nice healthy pack; I even have several without wolves living there.” Edward offered. Again, she raised an eyebrow at him, this was not an interview anymore. She shook her head and stood up. “Thank you for wasting my time. I have other interviews to attend this week,” she stated simply and turned and walked from the room, showing them, she was clearly not interested in what they were offering. She handed in her lanyard and interview number to the lady out in the hall and made her way to the elevators to leave the building. She stood in that elevator as it took her to the ground floor and sighed internally to herself as she mentally ticked off another job that she’d not gotten; though this one was on her own doing. She’d walked away from it. Just one more day without working, that was going to eat into her savings. She knew the dollars in her bank account, knew she only had enough money to rent that studio apartment for three more months, and then she was going to be either out on the streets and in a women’s shelter or back to being an exotic dancer in a gentleman’s club just to make ends meet. Neither were nice thoughts for her; she’d been homeless for a few months after leaving her home pack, until she’d managed to get on campus living, but still it hadn’t been enough to survive on, so she’d had to take on a job that would bring in the dollars, and she wasn’t about to sell her body to men. So becoming an exotic dancer had been the only option open to her, that didn’t interfere with her class schedule. She’d not really liked it and only did it to make money was all. She pushed off the wall when the elevator stopped and walked out, as did several others and found herself face to face with who she thought was the Beta to that Alpha Unit. “Mr Hayes, would like a further word with you, Ms Morgan,” he stated with what appeared to be a friendly smile. “I’m not interested,” she told him, and went to step around him only to have his hand curl around her arm and halt her. “I’m afraid I’m going to have to insist,” he stated and tugged her along next to him down a bank of elevators and used a swipe card to have one open. She saw there were no floor markers on the outside or inside of it when she was escorted into it. The doors simply closed and the elevator moved. She understood it was an express elevator and likely only went to one floor, the top floor where the Alpha and his Unit all had offices. She leaned on the wall in there and just waited, said nothing at all to this man that was looking at her. She stared right back at him, uncaring of if it was offensive or not. Rogues didn’t have masters unless they chose to and she didn’t. It was a fast, smooth ride, and he escorted her out of the elevator down a corridor and directed her to sit on a couch. “Please stay here and wait.” He told her before turning to the woman at the desk next to the couch who was now looking at her with a slight frown on her face. “The Alpha will see Ms Morgan when his interviews are over for the day.” “Yes, Beta.” She nodded and he walked off. At least she’d guessed it right. He was the Beta to that group. She saw that she-wolf frown at her and wrinkle her nose as if she was offended by the stench of Wynta. She was, however, clean and, though of rogue status, took care of herself to make sure she didn’t scent terrible like other rogues out there in the wilderness. Though she honestly didn’t know what a Rogue scented like to other wolves, but to her, they kind of smelled like they were unclean and needed a bath. She didn’t think she smelled like that. She just sat as she was told. She wasn’t out to cause trouble for herself and knew how to behave herself. Even if she didn’t want to. After an hour of just sitting there, she was bored shitless, and so she stood up and stretched herself out and then walked away to have a look around the top floor for herself. There were a dozen offices up here, three conference rooms and an open coffee hub-like area where they all obviously ate. There were half a dozen tables and chairs and a couple of vending machines. She saw only the one elevator to this entire floor, and it had that swipe card access to it. She wasn’t going to be able to leave if she didn’t have one of them. She found the emergency stairwell and smiled to herself and pushed the door only to find it wouldn’t open, and frowned. It, too, had a swipe card box next to it. She appeared to be stuck here for now. She returned to the couch and sank down once more. Another hour passed, and she was more than unhappy, that she-wolf at her desk looked at her and stated, “Just be patient, he’s interviewing.” “You can’t keep me here like this,” she stated flatly. “I’m guessing he can, seeing as you’re still here. Just sit there,” she was told. Wynta thought about that, she knew there had to be away around the swipe card for everything, and as she leaned back there on the couch her eyes fell on the red emergency box, that had the words ‘Break glass in case of emergency.’ That she knew was going to unlock the emergency exit stairwell. A smile played on her lips as she sat up now. She’d get lost in the crowd of those all heading out of the building and be gone before they could find her once more. “Don’t do it Ms Morgan, it’s a very large fine.” Her thoughts were interrupted by the she-wolf. Her eyes moved towards her, and she watched her point to the ceiling, where she saw a camera, “It’ll be caught on camera, and the fine will come to you. Can you afford it? I believe it's $1600, and you could also face criminal charges. It’s a felony in this state, so you’ll also likely wind up with a criminal record if you don’t already have one.” “I don’t,” Wynta stated, and the she-wolf’s half smirk she likely thought that just because she was a rogue she did all sorts of illegal things to get by. She leaned back on the couch as she resigned herself to the fact that she was currently stuck here on this floor until someone escorted her from the building. By the third hour, she had laid down on that couch and made herself comfortable, ignored the she-wolf’s comment of it wasn’t very ladylike or professional to do so, and used her phone to read a book until she dozed off on that couch. Not one person on this floor had paid her the slightest bit of attention, except for the Alpha’s secretary, and she was just annoyed to have to watch over her, it seemed. She rolled over at one point in her half sleeping stated to try and be more comfortable and fell right off the couch, just lay there for a moment before sitting up with a huff. That secretary was staring at her. “You’re a lazy one I see,” she muttered. “I’ll tell the Alpha you’re finally awake.” And her eyes had glazed over. She picked herself up off the floor. He must be back up here, and she’d slept right through it, and he’d not woken her. That was a bit odd. He appeared in his office doorway, “Did you sleep well?” he smiled at her. “Come in, Ms Morgan.” He waved her into his office. She checked the time on her phone and saw it was the middle of the afternoon. Her interview had been at 10am this morning. The day was nearly over. It was nearly 3pm. She walked into the Alpha’s office and sat where he told her to. “Why am I still here?” she asked him directly. “Because I’m not willing to let you continue to be of rogue status, it’s unsafe for female rogues out there in the world. Even more so for those without wolves, who are defenseless against wolfen strength.” “Other rogues leave me alone, the wolf-less aren’t of interest to roaming bands of rogues. We’re worth nothing to those wanting to kidnap and sell she-wolves, we can’t take a beating or a lashing without winding up in the pack hospital or dying from it. It’s a waste of money to buy the wolf-less.” She informed him. “So, I’m perfectly safe out there on my own. Always have been.” She told him simply. “Mm, I see… but in all good consciousness, I can’t let you leave as you are. So, here’s what I’m willing to offer you. The job you applied for today, a house or apartment within the pack and full sanctuary where no harm will come to you. “You’ll be able to have full access to proper wolfen medical, at no cost to you. You’ll also be able to train with others like yourself, to be able to protect yourself when outside the pack. Attend mating balls to find your Mate and have a full wolfen social life.” He smiled at her as if that was an appealing offer. “I have an apartment here in the city, just a few blocks away. I don’t drive, so wouldn’t be able to get from the pack to the office if I took up that offer. I’ve never come to harm out here in the human world, and I’ve been in it for many years now. “I can also protect myself if I need to, and I have no interest in being initiated into or living inside a pack or attending any pack functions, including that of Mating Balls,” Wynta countered him, “I’ll, however, take the job that I do need.” He was frowning at her now. “All wolves need the social aspect, or they can become…” he trailed off. “Anti-social creatures.” She nodded. “I’m already that, and I don’t care that I am.” She shrugged but would take this opportunity to tell him how she’d work. “I will work quietly and cause you nor this company any problems. I get my work done on time or stay back, working late doesn’t particularly bother me all that much. “I can and will collaborate within a team and listen to and follow the instructions of my supervisor. I know how to be a contributing member of a working team and how to be professional even though I don’t take an interest in socializing personally with those on my team,” she told him. He leaned back in his chair and stared at her with narrowed eyes, and she mimicked his pose after a minute of silence. She would not be giving him what he wanted today. Another minute passed, and his mouth twitched in one corner. He seemed amused by her stubbornness. “What will it take,” she finally asked, breaking the silence, “to let me leave this office and get the job?” He smiled at her, “You agreeing to be initiated into my pack. I’ll allow you to retain your city apartment, seeing as you already have one and don’t drive.” She stared at him for a long moment and then laid out her own terms to get the job she needed. “Initiation into your pack will be on my terms.” She offered a compromise. “What exactly does that mean?” he frowned once more. “I’ll let you initiate me, only when I willingly set foot into your pack's official pack territory, and that’s what? An hour away, you stated.” “I did.” He nodded. “I can agree to that.” He smiled at her. “Let’s go and look at your work space then, shall we?” *5 years later, Wynta aged 32* Wynta got the pack invitation delivered right to her desk. She’d not known what it was at first; just had the mail delivery girl Louise, walk into her office at 10am and ask her to sign for a package as she’d put it on the desk. There was a small white sticky note on it that had her name clearly printed on it. Wynta had asked in return what the package was for and gotten “A gala invitation, I’m on delivery duty today for all of them.” And she’d indicated to her cart by the door. Wynta had seen that there were indeed many blue boxes in her delivery cart, that looked just like the one Louise had placed on her desk. She’d nodded and signed the slip to say she’d received it, and Louise had taken the sticker and attached it to her clipboard next to Wynta’s signature. Then she had smiled at Wynta and stated, “I’ll see you there. Signing for the invitation is you stating you’ll attend.” That had snapped Wynta’s head up, and she’d frowned right at Louise, who’d then smiled a little apologetically, “Sorry Ms Morgan, but Mr Hayes specifically told me I wasn’t to inform you of that, until after you signed for it.” She’d just nodded and waved the woman out, sat and watched her leave. Bloody Alpha Edward had finally found a way to make her step onto pack territory willingly, it seemed, and she didn’t know at this time if she could say it wasn’t willing or not. She’d have to do some research into the nitty-gritty of that one. He’d clearly tricked her into signing for it, so she’d technically stated she'd attend of her own free will. Which she knew was going to be considered, that it meant she would be stepping into pack territory of her own free will as well; to attend this Luna Ceremony. But was it really of her own free will? When, in reality, he’d gone about this in an underhanded manner, leaving out important information, and all in order just to get her to sign for that invitation. He knew she wouldn’t sign for it if she knew it meant she had to step foot inside his pack's territory. She shook her head, just knew it was his roundabout way of forcing her hand into being initiated into his pack. Though a small part of her was very amused by his underhanded tactics, because it had taken him five long years to get that which he wanted from her. She’d thought he’d have just learned to live with the fact she didn’t want to be a pack member, and that she was, in fact, happy living as a rogue, seemed not even after all these years. Wynta returned her attention to the invitation. It was a very pretty navy-blue box with embossed letting on it, and she even knew whose they were. She’d heard that Edwards' youngest son and fourth heir, Lance, had found his Fated Mate on the previous full moon. It was still the current talk of not only the office, but in the human world as well. This was the Luna Ceremony invitation by the look of it. Pack colors were in fashion, it seemed. She did know Cedar Rapids pack colors were navy blue, silver and, of course, the color of red cedar. She knew why, because the pack had rapids that ran right through it and there were many red cedar trees inside the pack. It was aptly named, she thought. Wynta opened the box and inside it was an envelope with a wax seal in there. She shook her head and wondered what the box was for. Was it a pack tradition or just that they wanted to be extra fancy. She broke the seal, which also held their initials L&R, and slid out the actual invitation; a nicely folded invitation, and again there was another seal. Only this one had three fine pieces of golden thread to hold it together and bound to the wax. It was all very fancy, she realized; Edward and Marian were going all out. She broke that seal and opened the actual invitation, and their names, Lance and Raelynn, were written in a big, bold flashy script, and then the event name time and the place, the pack’s ballroom of course, where all Luna Ceremonies were held, she supposed. Not that she had ever been to one, but she’d heard they were a grand event. On the inside of the right-hand side was a list of details, of what not to wear and the type of attire that was expected. It was a black-tie event and full formal wear was expected, and no pack member or affiliated guest was allowed to wear anything white or cream, in color. The Luna would be wearing a white gown and any upstaging of her or attempts at it would be fully punishable by three lashings on the shaming post. The event was mandatory, and the entire pack was expected to attend the event to celebrate the happy couple. Those that opted not to attend would see themselves on the shaming post and given one lash for disrespect. In brackets, it read, (those without wolves, one day on the shaming post and full admonishment by Alpha and Luna) Then on the left side of the invitation was the RSVP details. There was a QR Code and under that it stated all women had to state the color of the dress they would be wearing on the RSVP. It was preferred that bright or dark colors were to be worn, and all full pastel colors were to be avoided. She just shook her head. Though she sat and stared at that invitation for a long time, she’d worked for Hayes Industries now for five years, and still she’d managed to never set foot inside the pack itself. She had not attended a single mating ball because she saw no need to. She’d had a Mate once, and rejected him long ago, 14 years now, and so there was no reason to think she’d get another. She’d, however, gotten three invites a year for the past five years and ticked the decline box on all occasions. After that first year, those invites had stated that she was to list the reason she would not be attending. She’d shaken her head, understanding it was Alpha Edward’s way of trying, she thought, to find a way to get her onto pack territory. She’d written on three of them 'not a ranked member', on three others, 'I’ll be away on vacation', and on several of them she’d simply written ‘I don’t fit the criteria for the mating ball.’ She was still a rogue and so held no rank inside that pack, not even when she’d been sent and omega only invite, she’d declined that on not being an omega. But being of rogue status, she actually didn’t fit any of their criteria, and could claim just being a rogue, but it was she thought annoying for Edward to have to read all her reasons as to why she wouldn’t be attending. The last refusal had been ingenious on her part, she’d thought, because he’d thought he’d had her with that invite for all otherworldly creatures, regardless of having non-pack status within their own realms or the human realm, were invited to come and see if they might find their Mate. She’d actually laughed at the wording of it. It had been so she couldn’t play, she didn’t fit the criteria, or I’m a rogue card as a way of not attending the ball. Wynta thought she was now even beginning to frustrate Alpha Edward, that he now had to find other ways to try and get her into his pack. It was clear to her that he had read all her reasons for getting out of setting foot inside his pack territory. It kind of amused her more than a little bit to see all the effort he was going to. She’d used 'I'm going to a Marketing Conference' on him, and she had actually done so. It had also been booked four months prior to that mating ball, paid for by his own company. She’d written a politely worded email about she didn’t want to be seen as wasting the company's money because the event was nonrefundable, and she didn’t want to disappoint her team, who were also all going to the conference with her. It was out of state and fully booked and organized months in advance. She’d attached the booking list of employees and the accommodation and conference details for him to check it all. She’d laughed softly to herself when she’d hit the send button on that one, it had just been perfect timing for her, nothing more. She’d leaned back in her chair all happy that day and chuckled softly because it wasn’t the first time she’d used skills building courses to get out of mating balls. She always kept track of when and where those skill-building conferences took place, and if they ever fell on a full moon, or the travel to and or from one did, she signed herself up for them; did it months in advance just so she could state she hadn’t deliberately avoided the invite at the last minute. She had an education and team building budget to use, and that’s what she used it on. Sometimes she would take the whole team with her. Hell, once all three marketing teams had gone to it, including her and the other supervisors, everyone had signed up for it when she’d put it on the bulletin board in the office. The three departments had even split the cost of hiring a bus to get them there and back. He couldn’t stop her from continuing to learn what was needed, in the ever-changing world around them, that was considered the best way to target their buyers and promote their businesses; it was all necessary skill building. This invitation, however, she had a feeling she was unlikely to be able to get out of, he’d already probably checked into it himself. Though she did earn decent money now, and had moved up in the company from a Marketing Specialist to a Marketing Supervisor and that had come with a new office, and a higher pay check. She still begrudged the idea of having to go out there and buy a formal dress for this occasion. She wasn’t a pack member, so it shouldn’t be mandatory for her to attend, but he’d gotten her to sign for that bloody invitation, and now she had an obligation, even as a rogue, to attend it. Wynta sighed and shook her head, just knew there was not going to be a way to get out of it. He’d done his homework on this one. He was likely going to push for her to move into pack territory or that new apartment building he’d just finished building. It wasn’t massive, just six storeys high with six apartments on each floor, but the top that only had four and they were considered penthouse apartments. He’d given her and her team the job of marketing the ground floor space, where he’d wanted a restaurant and a café along with two boutique stores to go there for revenue, things that would need marketing not just advertising. Edward had even sent her and her team down to check out that building. They’d all been met there by Chester, the pack’s Gamma, or to her team, one of the founders of the company they worked for. She and her team had been walked onto every floor and allowed to look at the apartments. Just showing them around so they could get a feel for the type of people that were going to rent the apartments out. Chester had told them they would likely all be executive-type people. Nothing here was more than two bedrooms, and the space was large. There was no real room for children. Chester had been watching her as they’d walked around. He walked right next to her the entire time and, although he’d been professional in his talking to her and the team, telling them what they wanted. She wasn’t so dumb as to not know why she had been chosen to lead this little project. He’d stood and leaned on a window in one of the penthouse's living areas and stated, “It’s a nice apartment, got a fantastic view, close to the office,” He’d even pointed it out in the distance, for her to see. She knew where it was, she had walked down here with her team, a casual 30-minute stroll where they’d all gotten coffee along the way. “I think this particular penthouse apartment would be fit for a single woman like yourself, don’t you think? It’s got lots of closet space too.” Wynta had nodded and smiled at him, rolled her eyes a little and commented, “I’m certain one of the managers would like it.” and then casually walked away from him. She wasn’t going to be swayed into moving into a pack-bought apartment. She understood it was Edwards way of getting her to likely take a baby step into being part of his pack. She was not fooled by this; she’d heard Chester chuckle softly and murmur, “You’re one tough nut to crack.” “No, I’m not. I like my simple life, is all. It’s uncomplicated and no one tells me what to do.” She’d smiled at him. She’d looked at Chester after walking about that penthouse, “You may tell Edward, I have a place of my own, and I’m comfortable living there, have been now for five years. I have a good rapport with my landlord.” She’d tipped her coffee to him and left the apartment. She still lived in her ground floor studio apartment, just five blocks away, and she saw no need to upgrade to something bigger and better just for status’s sake. She also didn’t need the extra room; that just meant more cleaning to her, and shelling out more dollars for rent, not something she wanted to do. That was completely unnecessary in her eyes. Her landlord actually maintained the building she lived in. She’d gotten new carpet two years ago and the entire place had been painted as well. It looked really nice, her rent was always paid on time, and she caused no trouble for him at all, so she was considered a good tenant. Though the place had lots of people moving in and out of it, mostly students from the local university lived there, so she got new neighbors quite often. Living in her studio apartment had allowed her to create a nice amount of savings for herself, that money sat in her bank account, for that inevitable rainy day, when it came; that would see her up and leave, move away to a new place for whatever reason. It could be a bigger, better job or that she just wanted a change of scenery, but she was comfortable right now, and that was the only reason she’d not moved on. Well, that, and she liked annoying Alpha Edward with her constant refusal to step onto his pack territory and making him stick to their original handshake deal upon hiring her. She placed that invitation back into the envelope and then the box and put it on a shelf behind her desk. She had noted that there was no plus one on there. So at least she wasn’t expected to bring a date. Though that also told her Edward knew she didn’t have a date to bring. She sighed to herself at the thought of spending her hard-earned money, and although she had the money to spend, she didn’t want to spend it. She saw it as a complete waste of her savings. She had a dozen suits, all of which were acceptable to wear to functions and made her look professional and presentable. But now this having to buy a full formal dress, she wondered if she could sell it after wearing it just once, to get some of her money back? Buying a dress, she also knew she was going to have to buy some sort of heels to go with that dress as well. Wynta sighed at that thought, she didn’t wear heels. Even here in the office, simple, comfortable business style, black walking shoes was all. She was not out to attract attention to herself, and that aloof demeanor she had, kept most men at bay. Not all, but most, and she turned those that did ask her for coffee of lunch down, with a polite but firm “I’m sorry, I’m not interested.” She was straight to the point with all of them, so there were no misunderstandings to be had. Though she’d never once been hit on by a wolf within the company, only the humans, and she knew why. It was because she was of rogue status, and none of them knew how she’d become a rogue. She did smell like one to those that worked here. Several of the she-wolves didn’t like that a rogue worked within the company. Went out of their way to make sure she knew it as well, though she just ignored their so-called off-handed insults at how she smelled. One of her team had actually frowned once and muttered, “What the hell is she talking about? There’s no stench in here.” Looking about and that she-wolf, Carlotti had looked right at her on purpose, and then wrinkled her nose for her team to see and then just walked off. They’d all looked at her after she’d left, and she’d just shrugged it off. Carlotti, or Lotti to the wolves of the pack, was from what Wynta could tell the youngest stepdaughter of the pack’s Beta, she’d seen that she-wolf call him daddy at times. She knew Ernesto was mated, and that girl wasn’t, so it wasn’t a euphemism for something else. She’d also seen the Beta’s actual daughter roll her eyes at the girl’s behavior and try to pull her into line once. “He’s not your actual father and doesn’t need to give you anything.” Had come out of Meredith when Ernesto had left, “If you want money, go and get a bloody job and earn it like the rest of us do.” It had become a sibling dispute between one that worked hard, and one that apparently did nothing and thought she was entitled to everything. She’d seen Carlotti leave in tears when Meredith had snapped at her in front of the office, “You’re just a stepchild, will inherit nothing are not father’s actual kin. Just a greedy spoiled girl and when my brother takes over, you’ll be out on your ass for this behavior. I’ll gladly back him up.” She’d looked to the gathered crowd and muttered, “Sorry family dispute, back to work all of you.” Meredith didn’t seem to care that she was a rogue, but several others did. Likely Meredith saw that Wynta did her actual job within the company and didn’t cause any trouble either, so she was not offended by having a rogue work here. The weeks passed and there was suddenly talk of Jared Hayes, Edwards' oldest son, coming home from Europe for his brother's wedding. It was the talk of the office. She’d seen several pictures of him over the years in the company magazine, highlighting all the achievements he was making and the growth of the company with a new office in France. He was apparently the company’s hottest Batchelor, and still unmarried at 42, she’d nearly laughed at that, if only they knew his real age. Wynta knew that all of Edwards' children had reinvented themselves over the years and that Jared was in fact 82 years old but barely looked a day older than 35. He had jet black hair and blue eyes, and was rumored to be six-four. But all his brothers were roughly that height as Edward was, so it didn’t really surprise her. She’d never met the Alpha’s oldest heir. He rarely, if ever came home, and was busy it seemed off building his own empire. Though she’d seen all the others over the course of the years, Edward had walked them all through her department and stopped to introduce them all to her. She’d nodded and been polite in greeting them, then just turned back to her work. They didn’t pay her anymore attention than she did them, she only interacted with them if there was a need for it. Which mostly there wasn’t. None of them were in marketing, so it limited her exposure to them. Though each one of them had seen how aloof she was and that she only kept things to work terms. She never just talked freely with any wolf here in the building. Though she was good with her human team now, she could smile and chuckle at the things they did or the stories they told about something funny happening to them. She’d worked with them all for five years now, and only taken this promotion on the condition that her team went with her to the new floor. They worked like a well-oiled machine and she actually liked them. The office she had now was on the floor above the one they’d all originally worked in, and she had a large office with a glass wall and door between her and their desk out there. Though she had an open-door policy, and they could, at any time, holler out to her or just stroll in and talk to her. That window would frost over at the touch of a button, they’d been here now for a year and not once had she used it. Saw no need to. She looked at them now. They were all a buzz with the news that Edward was bringing Jared to walk through all the departments, to see if things needed improvement, the Monday after his brother’s wedding. Meanwhile, far away in Europe... Jared stood in his penthouse apartment listening to his father tell him that his brother Lance had found his Goddess-Gifted Mate, his band had lit up blue and when they put one on the she-wolf Raelynn, it had lit up as well. She’d not rejected Lance, and they were marked and mated. His father was very happy that finally one of his sons had found their Mate. Jared pinched the bridge of his nose at the thought that it was likely Lance who would be the first to have an heir, and then, when he turned 100, the pack would belong to his youngest brother. It wasn’t like Jared wasn’t looking for his Mate. He’d just simply moved countries to do so, he’d exhausted a lot of packs in the US looking for his Mate. Either she wasn’t born yet or lived in another country. He knew there were just as many packs here in Europe as there were in America, so he’d opted to move here and branch the pack’s business out at the same time. He’d made quite a few business allies over here in France, and there were many of their European allies, wolves, working in this building that he lived in. His penthouse was on the top floor like all of his units were. He was 82 years old and had not only searched in the US but in the Wolfen Realm as well back in his younger days. Now he was just simply here in Europe was all. “So, Jared, you’ll be coming home for Raelynn’s Luna Ceremony on the next full moon. Invites will be sent for you and your unit via email. Those here in the states will get one in person, though your mother will send you pictures of the actual invitations as well.” “Why would she need to do that?” he frowned. “Son, it’s so you can see what to expect when you find your own Mate, of course. She has been planning these events for many decades and allocated different colors to each of you. Well, actually her words were according from first to last mated. So where I know you, being the eldest would expect pack colors, Lance is getting that because he was the first to find his Mate. Sorry son.” “It’s fine.” He murmured. “I don’t think it really matters anyway… Isn’t it usually up to the Luna being celebrated?” he asked and turned to see his unit all walking into his apartment. He knew why they were here, it maybe 9pm in San Francisco, but it was only 6am here in France, and it was likely they’d all gotten a call from their fathers. Just like he was getting. ""Normally, it is son. It’s not yet discussed, but I know Lance wants that. So, it’s likely Raelynn will also agree.” Did it surprise him that his brother was going to want pack colors? No, the importance of him choosing and his mother agreeing to give him those colors; a full formal event in pack colors. It was a bold statement from Lance to his three brothers, himself, Ethan and Colby. That he was going to be the next Alpha to Cedar Rapids. ""Father, when I find a Mate I will allow her to choose whatever color she wants. Mother won’t get a say. Please remind her of that.” He told him simply, “She may plan for all her other heirs Luna Ceremonies, but I will follow wolfen tradition of letting the Luna that is being celebrated choose the color of the event.” “That is fine, son. So you’ll be coming home when exactly, how many days prior to the next full moon? There are a few people I want you to meet and talk with while you're here, so please plan to stay a week to a month would be good.” “A month?” he questioned right back. “Yes, like I said, I’ve got people I want you to meet.” “Goddess father, it’s not some bloody she-wolf of your choosing, is it? You know I won’t settle. Can’t if I want a chance to be the next Alpha.” “I’m aware of that Jared. I need your help with one very stubborn she-wolf on something; we’ll discuss it when you come home. Drives me a bit batty she does, so very resistant to all offers to come and live within the pack.” “Why do you need her to? If she’s allied she likely has a nice pack and likes it.” “A brilliant marketing mind. I’ve made many offers.” His father huffed at him, “I'm stuck, as are my unit and I need someone to charm her, so to speak.” He rolled his eyes and his entire unit snorted, fully amused. They all knew it was his father’s way of trying to get him to date someone he thought would be good for him. He let it go. “Just put Ethan or Colby to the task. They are right there.” “Hmm, she’s not interested in either of them, kind of dismissive of all ranked members.” His father sighed once more, a little on the heavy side. “Not even Chester is having any luck… seems to be immune to even a Gamma’s charm. Help your old man out, won’t you?” That was a curiosity to him. Though he wondered if it was true at all, not many could get past a Gamma. “I’ll have Dwane do it,” he stated, “I’ll get back to you on the date I’ll be arriving. I’ll have to look at flights and see what’s available.” His father sighed at the comment about him having his Beta charm the girl, but he let it go and stated, “I could send the Jet over.” “No need, Wolf Airline branched out into Europe this year, so we’ll travel safely and in wolfen comfort.” Jared stated simply, “Tell Lance congratulations, I’m looking forward to meeting Raelynn, that I’ll bring something from France as a Luna Gift. Get mother to find out what the woman likes and email me.” “Alright, but a few days prior to the full moon son, is what I expect and at least a week after as well. Business reasons, of course. I will not be meddling in your love life; I learned my lesson when you opted to move halfway around the world.” Jared smiled “Well done, father. I see old wolves can be taught.” He chuckled and clicked the line closed to his father's shocked gasp at hearing his words. He shook his head and turned to his unit, “I guess we’re finally going home, Dwane, you’ll be seeing to that she-wolf.” He shook his head. “It’s your department anyway.” “Hmm, I don’t think things are going to go your way, Jared. Your father can be underhanded and tricky. Sometimes what he says isn’t actually what he means,” Dwane stated. “I’m fully aware of how he goes about getting what he wants.” He nodded. He spent the next few weeks leading up to going back to the pack, attending business as usual, and reorganizing his schedule to fit in with his father’s request of a week to a month-long stay. He’d split that to make two weeks. A compromise that he was happy with, and he’d managed to get a flight that would see him arrive the day of the ceremony, but he needed that for himself, due to business meetings here and the rearranging of his schedule to fit in around others. His father had to deal with it. Though the boys were all headed back before he was, arriving a few days before the ceremony. His flight, however, couldn’t be helped, though he took a very unhappy call from both his parents about it because Lance was of the opinion it was disrespectful, and that he was trying to weasel his way out of being there at all. That he was going to claim that something came up, and so he couldn’t catch his flight. All because he was ticked off that Lance had found his Mate before him. Jared had rolled his eyes, “I’ve bought the ticket, I simply had to rearrange things here to suit others that I had scheduled meetings with over the period you insist I'm there and so have to be away from here. Not everyone fits around your schedule. They're not all wolfen so don't understand. It has nothing to do with my not being happy for Lance. I’m actually very happy for him. Lessens the pressure on me to find my Mate.” Both his parents had gone quiet with his words, and he’d smiled to himself, “Mother, father, I am one to abide by the rules you set out. I will not object to whoever is mated and has an heir first by the time they are 100. Lance has nothing to fear from me. My life is currently very busy anyway, as you both know.” “Well son, Lance has asked that a new stipulation be added to the invitation about attendance,” his father told him. “Oh, has he.” Jared leaned back in his chair and shook his head. “Pray tell, father, what is it?” “That no one turns up late and interrupts the ceremony. So, everyone must have arrived and be seated a full 1-hour prior to the event starting, or on the shaming post and a lashing they will receive for disrespect.” “That is fine. I believe my flight will get in around one thirtyish, and the ceremony is at 7pm. I’m certain father, it won’t take me 4 hours to get through customs, hire a car and drive the one hour to the pack.” “Good. That is what I want to hear. Now I have one thing to ask of you. A favor, so to speak.” Here we go he thought to himself, “And that would be?” “I just need you to stop and pick up a new pack member. She doesn’t drive and has no way to get out to the pack, it’ll be on your way, and take but a moment of your time.” He could hear the smile in his father’s voice and just knew this was part of his plotting. “Fine, send me the address,” he stated, “And make sure she is ready and waiting for me to pick her up. I’m not one for standing around waiting on people, especially she-wolves that are just putting on make-up.” “I’ll make sure she is aware of your attitude and request. Though I don’t see it being a problem, she’s not one to wear a great deal of make-up. A natural beauty, wouldn’t you say Marian?” his father asked his mother. “Oh, yes, pretty as a picture.” He was betting she was, and willing to climb right into his bed at his father's request as well, just like all the others. "
The hotel recognized her immediately… and what they implied made my stomach drop 👀
At Kiwitaxi we've just released a free practical guide for travel agents. It covers how agencies are growing client lifetime value and repeat bookings without increasing acquisition costs. Built from real data, with ready-to-use scripts, package structures, and timing guidance on when to offer what. Take it at our website for free. | At Kiwitaxi we've just released a free practical guide for travel agents. It covers how agencies are growing client lifetime value and repeat bookings without increasing acquisition costs. Built from real data, with ready-to-use scripts, package structures, and timing guidance on when to offer what. Take it at our website for free. | At Kiwitaxi we've just released a free practical guide for travel agents. It covers how agencies are growing client lifetime value and repeat bookings without increasing acquisition costs. Built from real data, with ready-to-use scripts, package structures, and timing guidance on when to offer what. Take it at our website for free.
Chloe, an air traffic controller and secret heir to an aviation empire, built her husband Trevor's career—only to be betrayed on their anniversary. She divorces and marries Lucas, an Air Force general. Together, they turn the tables on Trevor, and Lucas grows to suspect her identity.
"She looked at her second chance mate with disappointment. “Wynta, I didn’t mean to...” he panicked. “No,” she cut him off, “The truth was— you left me in the storm to pick up another woman. And I almost died.” The moon goddess had arranged another jerk Alpha for her. But she will never say “yes” to a toxic mate bond. If she could reject the first, she wouldn't hesitate to reject the second. “Please—” He stared at her with begging eyes. Yet she just turned around and finished her words. “I, Wynta Morgan, reject you, Jared Hayes, as my second chance mate.” ===== *Wynta aged 18* “Come on, Wynta. You will see the stars when we both have you.” The first time Wynta let Nolan tease her clothes off, he wanted to bring his Beta Yale into her bedroom. Wynta believed her lover and future Alpha Nolan, was trying to coerce her into believing she was not only his Goddess-Gifted Mate but also that of his Beta's as well. All, so the two of them could have her in their bed at the same time, and she knew it. “Are you kidding, Nolan?"" A cool, assessing stare settled in Wynta's eyes as she deliberately took a step back, creating space. ""No, we’ve both scented it. You’re ours. We are both your actual Goddess-Gifted Mates."" Nolan’s voice was a low, coaxing purr. He reached out, tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear. Wynta didn't pull away, but she didn't lean into his touch either. ""No, Nolan. I didn't feel that."" ""You have to trust me, trust us, Wynta. The Goddess doesn’t make mistakes. Yale's outside now, you will let him in, right?"" His hand slid down to her waist, pulling her gently against him. His scent, usually a comfort, now felt cloying. “Imagine it. The three of us. No one will ever love you or protect you like we will.” She might be an orphan and wolf-less, but she wasn’t so stupid as to believe Nolan. Wynta pushed against his chest, creating a sliver of space. “What I want,” she said, her voice surprisingly steady, “is to wait for the moon. If what you’re saying is true, then waiting a few more days shouldn’t matter.” She decided to test them, it was only a week until the full moon and she was 18 now. She would be able to scent them both in just 7 days. If they were her Mates, why wouldn’t they just wait until they knew she could handle them, and would want them both? She had no interest in sleeping with Yale at all and didn’t really find him attractive. He was nice looking but not her type. He sighed, a sound of exaggerated patience. ""Fine, baby. The bond is already there, we will claim you, and you'd be the Future Luna."" He left a little on the annoyed side with her, and she’d heard Nolan stating, “These I’ll sweet talk her again, don’t you worry.” to his Beta from her window, they thought because she was wolf-less she wouldn't hear them, but they'd only been a few meters from her window. Even a human would have heard them. She’d not believed them, because she was, in fact, wolf-less and of an unknown lineage. All she had going for her was her pretty face, nice body and her brains. She’d liked Nolan’s sweet, charming attention over the past few months, and she had kind of stupidly fallen for him over the course of their relationship. He’d never rushed her for anything, took it slow and always wanted things to be at her pace. They’d only been sleeping together for two weeks and now, with this? What he’d said and told her, it was just wrong, and she knew it was all going to be a lie. And they would come to her again. Left with no other option, Wynta chose solitude over submission. So she had cuffed herself with Silver and chained herself to a tree in the deepest, darkest, most isolated part of the pack where there were no border patrols because this end of the woods was at the base of a steep, inaccessible gorge. Four days she sat out there chained and cuffed with silver, scent masked so no one would smell her or be able to locate her with a pack tether. She’d taken no water or food and was starving and dehydrating herself to prove it was all a lie. As that first day had turned into the second, there was no search for her. The third day came and still no warriors were scouring the pack for a missing pack member, which she’d seen the Alpha would do. Scouring every inch of the pack when searching for someone who was missing. The fourth day came and again, nothing: if Nolan and Yale were her Mates, they’d have gone to their father's and told them the truth of the matter, informed them she was missing, and they couldn’t find her anywhere. They would in fact be in a full-blown panic that their Mate was missing, and they had no contact with her. That night, on day four, she unchained herself and removed the cuff, stumbled her way back to her dorm and sank down in the shower, utterly exhausted by the long walk when she was already dehydrated. She kind of just fell out of the shower when she'd tried to get up and had mind-link to the pack doctor to tell him she needed help, and then had succumbed to the darkness of unconsciousness. Wynta woke up in the pack hospital with an IV in her arm and the pack doctor tending to the burn on her wrist from the silver cuff, “Finally awake after a full day, the Alpha will be happy, he needs to know what happened. He is investigating right now, tracking your scent to where you came from.” She’d said nothing at all; that just confirmed once more that neither Nolan nor Yale had known she was even missing. “Did I have any visitors?” she asked curiously. “No, I’m sorry, Wynta.” He sounded apologetic. “No one other than the Alpha and Luna wanting to know your actual state. “Alright,” she knew she had no family. She’d been given her name by the pack’s Luna, named after the season she had been found in. Winter, and given the last name Morgan for whatever reason the Luna had seen fit. That was how she’d become Wynta Morgan. That very night, as she lay there in the hospital bed wondering just what she was going to say to Nolan and Yale, about their behavior. Nolan connected a mind-link to her at 11pm, and he asked quite simply, “Where are you? It’s our date night, and I’m at your place. You’re not here.” She could hear the frown in his voice. Tonight was supposed to be their ordinary dating night. “I’m at the pack hospital,” she told him honestly. “On our date night? Why would you take a shift knowing we’re to be together?” he asked right back. He was only concerned about the fact that they weren’t going to be having sx. He had just presumed that she was working in the hospital, when she’d never once worked in the hospital before. “I’m sure you can wait until the full moon,” she stated blandly and cut the link. There was not one ounce of worry in his voice. It was she new without a doubt coercion. The full moon came and set just two days later, and it had been two hours since she’d scented out a Mate inside this pack. She even knew who it was because she recognized the two natural scents of her lover. There was, however, no other scent for her at all. She didn’t scent Yale, it was just more proof of the lie they had told her, to get what they wanted from her was all. She was still in the pack hospital, still attached to the IV with fluids running, the burns healing was slow-going because she didn’t have a wolf. There was a nurse sitting next to her bed with a wound trolley attending to the cleaning and redressing of the burn when Nolan walked into the room. Finally, he had tracked her down. He stood staring at her a little more than shocked. She stared at him as his eyes moved over her in that bed, being treated by a nurse, and he asked the nurse to give them a minute. Told her that his father had asked him to come and discuss something privately with her. He had to wait until the wound was dressed. She watched him pick up her chart and read through it, knew he was seeing all the details of what was wrong with her, how she’d been found; she’d read it herself. He put it back with a frown on his face without saying anything at all. She’d stupidly fallen for this man before her, who was the same age as her and would be off to Alpha College tomorrow morning if he didn’t scent out a Mate on this full moon. She also knew just from the fact that he was here alone, no parents trailing him to see who his Mate was, that he was here to reject her. That and the fact that it had been two hours since the moon had set, he would have recognized her scent as well. No one waited that long to hunt down a Mate they wanted to claim. The nurse finally left and Nolan closed the door. She understood that as well, it was going to be done privately, so none in this pack would know they’d paired up. “Why didn’t you tell me you were injured when I asked where you were?” he asked her directly. She raised an eyebrow at him, she’d told him she was at the hospital. That should have been all she needed to say. “I was missing for four days,” she stated. “You didn’t even know, did you? I was cuffed with silver and missing… if you had scented me out back then as you said, you’d have known and hunted everywhere for me… You and your Beta, just wanted to have sx with me at the same time is all, and I wouldn’t let you. “You’re also here two hours post the moon setting, Nolan, that speaks volumes… You’re not the man I thought you were.” She shook her head. She would not be accepting one such as his. “I, Wynta Morgan, reject you, Nolan Holland, as my Mate.” She voiced simply but meant every word. He just stood staring at her, almost not comprehending that she would reject him. “Imagine, Nolan, if I had been swayed by you and Yale, and let the two of you do me. You’d now be rejecting me on the basis that I did that, had sx with your own Beta…” she shook her head at him “I don’t want to be bound to one that clearly tried to coerce me. Just accept it Nolan.” He nodded slowly. “I, Nolan Holland, accept your rejection, Wynta Morgan. You are not my Mate or the future Luna to this pack,” he stated. She felt the complete severing of their bond and heard him hiss in pain. It only caused a dull ache in her chest. Being wolf-less had some perks, it seemed. “Wynta, we’ll come back to this when I get home from Alpha College,” he stated and turned and walked from the room. Did he expect her to just sit around and wait for him to change his mind? Because he was an Alpha and she was wolf-less. Not a chance. She was not going to just sit around and wait for an Alpha to decide if she was worthy of him. She would choose her future on her terms. *9 years later, Wynta aged 27* Wynta sat in the waiting room along with all the other job applicants, applying for the position of Marketing Specialist here at Hayes Enterprises. She had lost her previous job a few months back and was rapidly running out of funds. All the other applicants in this room were human. Though she had picked up a few wolves upon coming into the building, but there didn’t appear to be any working on this floor. But she was hopeful the interview today would be done by a panel of humans, seeing as all the applicants were human. She’d not been active in the wolfen world for nine years now. She had left it behind when she’d walked away from her home pack, the night she’d been released from the pack hospital. She’d simply gone to her single dorm two days after her future Alpha had left for Alpha College, and none had known what she was to him. She had packed her belongings into a suitcase and walked out of the pack. Turned herself rogue after stepping outside the pack’s territory. No one had come looking for her, as she’d walked calmly from that place, she was not going to just sit around and wait for an Alpha to decide if she was worthy of him. She’d fallen for him but also known it had all been a lie, everything he’d ever said to her, so no more would she be a part of that pack. She’d gotten on a train and just moved away, she’d picked up a couple of different jobs and put herself through university, getting scholarships where she could and student loans where possible, and now nine years later she was a marketing specialist, one that worked in the human world and stayed away from the world of wolves. She didn’t really consider Wolves to be her Kind, simply because she was in fact wolf-less. She considered herself to be human. So she lived and worked like a human did, she struggled to pay her rent and bills at times, like so many out here did. She bought only what she needed. Keeping five working outfits that could be mixed and matched to create different looks but were all professional at the same time. Then in her apartment she just lazed about in jeans and tee-shirts. She owned nothing fancy because she had no need of it. Her vacation days were spent laying in her apartment reading a good book or listening to music. She currently lived in a tiny studio apartment that just had a bedroom, a small kitchenette and a tiny bathroom. There was nothing fancy about it. She, at this time, couldn’t afford anything else at all. Having lost her previous job, she had already downgraded the one-bedroom proper apartment for a studio apartment. It was small, but she kept it neat and tidy, and after living there for a month, she’d realized it was all she actually needed. Though she had no luxuries here in this place, there was no TV or movie subscriptions, she’d canned everything to save money while looking for a new job. The only thing she had was her phone, which she needed for interviews and to take rejection calls, though she also used it for reading books online. She was aloof to all those around her. There were no contacts in her phone because she had no family and no pack attachments. She didn’t trust easily or form bonds with many around her. In an office environment she could do her job and hold proper conversations, work well in a team, but her trust was hard-earned. Despite being wolf-less, she could pick up things like the scent of other wolves, though couldn’t determine pack or bloodline, just understood wolfen kind smelt different to humans. They all had a more earthy/woodsy scent about them. She sometimes sat out in the parks and just watched the humans walk about interacting with other people. She could read mannerisms and facial expressions quite well. Pick a lie from the truth, because she listened to the inflexion of one’s voice, and saw the little things that humans did when lying. Fidgeting, no eye contact, excessive blinking or just closing their eyes, they bit their lips, a few even got flushed in the face. If she paid attention completely, she could hear the tone of their voice change and even pick up on the difference in sentence structure at times. Then there was that pause before they spoke, which often portrayed that they had to think about an answer, because they didn’t want to answer it honestly. She’d learn that humans were no different to wolves most of the time. They came to her when they wanted something from her and then screwed her over if they could, to take the credit for her own work. Both species were deceitful as far as she was concerned and all she was trying to do was live quietly unseen by all. She’d learned the hard way to live by herself, even roommates were deceitful and couldn’t be trusted. She’d found it was simply best to live alone and not make friends that would lie to her, and, or betray her trust. Steal from her or blame her for things that they’d done just to save their own ass. Her name and interview number were called, and it pulled her from her absent thoughts, and she stood and nodded to the woman looking for her, and then followed her quietly down the hall and around the corner to a room that stated Conference Room 2. The door was held open for her and she stepped inside. The moment she did, she could smell them, wolves, and not just any, she didn’t think. Just by looking at the sheer size of them and the way they were dressed and sat, they were going to be ranked members of some pack out there. She walked over and sat herself in the chair that was sitting before them as was expected of her, and looked at them. She knew they would all be able to scent her as not only a rogue but that she was wolf-less as well. They would have smelled it either while she sat out there in the waiting room or the moment she’d stepped into this room. Her sense of smell wasn’t the same as theirs, not even the same as an omega wolf. She watched as three of them leaned back in those chairs and left one leaning on the desk before him staring at her. That one thing told her they weren’t just ranked members but were, in fact, an Alpha and his Unit. The one that was watching her now, he was going to be the Alpha. He slid his eyes over her appearance and then turned his eyes to her application, read it through before returning his eyes to her and putting that paper down in front of him. “I’ll introduce myself formally to you,” he stated calmly. “I am Alpha Edward Hayes and this is my unit,” he waved a hand at the other wolves in this room. “May I enquire why you are a rogue?” he asked her directly, seems his curiosity about her non wolfen pack status outweighed the questions for this very job. Wynta frowned at his introduction. She didn’t really care who he was, and she didn’t think it was any of his business as to why she was a rogue. She knew one didn’t have to be part of a pack to live in this world. More and more wolves turned themselves rogue and left their packs to get away from the cruelty of their pack’s leadership. Especially those that were like herself. She’d seen and smelled many like herself over the past nine years, just out there like she was trying to make an honest living for themselves, and staying out of trouble in both the wolfen and human world alike. When she didn’t say anything to answer his question, he went on, “I see you’re 27. Surely someone with your skills could have found a pack to align yourself with… When did you go rogue or be turned rogue?” he asked once more. “I’m here for the job that was posted, not to relay my past history to you.” She finally spoke. “Do you have any questions for me that are related to my skills?” she asked him in return. He frowned at her now and she watched who she thought was the Beta lean forward and rest his arms on the desk “You could request sanctuary and ask to be a member of the pack. Then this job would be granted to you without issue,” he stated. Wynta raised an eyebrow at him, so that was the condition of getting this job, she thought absently. Clearly, all those humans out there were wasting their time coming here for an interview. This company was simply abiding by the human rules of appearing to hire honestly and fairly, when they intended to give the job to one of their own pack members. “Would you like to become a pack member, Wynta?” Alpha Edward asked her directly. “I would accept someone like yourself.” “Someone like me?” she murmured. “A rogue that is wolf-less and desperate for affiliation, you mean?” She shook her head a little dismayed, did she look desperate to them? She didn’t think so, her clothes were clean and presentable, as was her hair and light make-up. She certainly didn’t look underfed or unhealthy. “Are you going to ask me any actual interview questions about the position of a Marketing Specialist?” she asked once more. “My skills are as they are listed, and I have worked now for two separate companies as you can see.” “Wynta, we’ll get to your interview. I feel your rogue status is of more importance, and needs to be resolved first,” Alpha Edward stated. “Please, Mr Hayes, don’t address me so informally. I would prefer you call me Ms Morgan.” She put to him, showing him that she wasn’t interested in being a part of his pack, and she didn’t think that they were close enough to be on a first-name basis. All of them were frowning at her now, at her dismissing of them being an Alpha and his unit before her, but she was a rogue and didn’t have to acknowledge that. It was likely they’d not expected her to decline the offer of being initiated. But it wasn’t something she was looking for. She was just looking for a job to have an income once more, and to keep a roof over her head, and food in her belly, nothing more, nothing less. “How about you come and look at the pack? It’s an hour's drive from here, and you’ll see it’s a nice healthy pack; I even have several without wolves living there.” Edward offered. Again, she raised an eyebrow at him, this was not an interview anymore. She shook her head and stood up. “Thank you for wasting my time. I have other interviews to attend this week,” she stated simply and turned and walked from the room, showing them, she was clearly not interested in what they were offering. She handed in her lanyard and interview number to the lady out in the hall and made her way to the elevators to leave the building. She stood in that elevator as it took her to the ground floor and sighed internally to herself as she mentally ticked off another job that she’d not gotten; though this one was on her own doing. She’d walked away from it. Just one more day without working, that was going to eat into her savings. She knew the dollars in her bank account, knew she only had enough money to rent that studio apartment for three more months, and then she was going to be either out on the streets and in a women’s shelter or back to being an exotic dancer in a gentleman’s club just to make ends meet. Neither were nice thoughts for her; she’d been homeless for a few months after leaving her home pack, until she’d managed to get on campus living, but still it hadn’t been enough to survive on, so she’d had to take on a job that would bring in the dollars, and she wasn’t about to sell her body to men. So becoming an exotic dancer had been the only option open to her, that didn’t interfere with her class schedule. She’d not really liked it and only did it to make money was all. She pushed off the wall when the elevator stopped and walked out, as did several others and found herself face to face with who she thought was the Beta to that Alpha Unit. “Mr Hayes, would like a further word with you, Ms Morgan,” he stated with what appeared to be a friendly smile. “I’m not interested,” she told him, and went to step around him only to have his hand curl around her arm and halt her. “I’m afraid I’m going to have to insist,” he stated and tugged her along next to him down a bank of elevators and used a swipe card to have one open. She saw there were no floor markers on the outside or inside of it when she was escorted into it. The doors simply closed and the elevator moved. She understood it was an express elevator and likely only went to one floor, the top floor where the Alpha and his Unit all had offices. She leaned on the wall in there and just waited, said nothing at all to this man that was looking at her. She stared right back at him, uncaring of if it was offensive or not. Rogues didn’t have masters unless they chose to and she didn’t. It was a fast, smooth ride, and he escorted her out of the elevator down a corridor and directed her to sit on a couch. “Please stay here and wait.” He told her before turning to the woman at the desk next to the couch who was now looking at her with a slight frown on her face. “The Alpha will see Ms Morgan when his interviews are over for the day.” “Yes, Beta.” She nodded and he walked off. At least she’d guessed it right. He was the Beta to that group. She saw that she-wolf frown at her and wrinkle her nose as if she was offended by the stench of Wynta. She was, however, clean and, though of rogue status, took care of herself to make sure she didn’t scent terrible like other rogues out there in the wilderness. Though she honestly didn’t know what a Rogue scented like to other wolves, but to her, they kind of smelled like they were unclean and needed a bath. She didn’t think she smelled like that. She just sat as she was told. She wasn’t out to cause trouble for herself and knew how to behave herself. Even if she didn’t want to. After an hour of just sitting there, she was bored shitless, and so she stood up and stretched herself out and then walked away to have a look around the top floor for herself. There were a dozen offices up here, three conference rooms and an open coffee hub-like area where they all obviously ate. There were half a dozen tables and chairs and a couple of vending machines. She saw only the one elevator to this entire floor, and it had that swipe card access to it. She wasn’t going to be able to leave if she didn’t have one of them. She found the emergency stairwell and smiled to herself and pushed the door only to find it wouldn’t open, and frowned. It, too, had a swipe card box next to it. She appeared to be stuck here for now. She returned to the couch and sank down once more. Another hour passed, and she was more than unhappy, that she-wolf at her desk looked at her and stated, “Just be patient, he’s interviewing.” “You can’t keep me here like this,” she stated flatly. “I’m guessing he can, seeing as you’re still here. Just sit there,” she was told. Wynta thought about that, she knew there had to be away around the swipe card for everything, and as she leaned back there on the couch her eyes fell on the red emergency box, that had the words ‘Break glass in case of emergency.’ That she knew was going to unlock the emergency exit stairwell. A smile played on her lips as she sat up now. She’d get lost in the crowd of those all heading out of the building and be gone before they could find her once more. “Don’t do it Ms Morgan, it’s a very large fine.” Her thoughts were interrupted by the she-wolf. Her eyes moved towards her, and she watched her point to the ceiling, where she saw a camera, “It’ll be caught on camera, and the fine will come to you. Can you afford it? I believe it's $1600, and you could also face criminal charges. It’s a felony in this state, so you’ll also likely wind up with a criminal record if you don’t already have one.” “I don’t,” Wynta stated, and the she-wolf’s half smirk she likely thought that just because she was a rogue she did all sorts of illegal things to get by. She leaned back on the couch as she resigned herself to the fact that she was currently stuck here on this floor until someone escorted her from the building. By the third hour, she had laid down on that couch and made herself comfortable, ignored the she-wolf’s comment of it wasn’t very ladylike or professional to do so, and used her phone to read a book until she dozed off on that couch. Not one person on this floor had paid her the slightest bit of attention, except for the Alpha’s secretary, and she was just annoyed to have to watch over her, it seemed. She rolled over at one point in her half sleeping stated to try and be more comfortable and fell right off the couch, just lay there for a moment before sitting up with a huff. That secretary was staring at her. “You’re a lazy one I see,” she muttered. “I’ll tell the Alpha you’re finally awake.” And her eyes had glazed over. She picked herself up off the floor. He must be back up here, and she’d slept right through it, and he’d not woken her. That was a bit odd. He appeared in his office doorway, “Did you sleep well?” he smiled at her. “Come in, Ms Morgan.” He waved her into his office. She checked the time on her phone and saw it was the middle of the afternoon. Her interview had been at 10am this morning. The day was nearly over. It was nearly 3pm. She walked into the Alpha’s office and sat where he told her to. “Why am I still here?” she asked him directly. “Because I’m not willing to let you continue to be of rogue status, it’s unsafe for female rogues out there in the world. Even more so for those without wolves, who are defenseless against wolfen strength.” “Other rogues leave me alone, the wolf-less aren’t of interest to roaming bands of rogues. We’re worth nothing to those wanting to kidnap and sell she-wolves, we can’t take a beating or a lashing without winding up in the pack hospital or dying from it. It’s a waste of money to buy the wolf-less.” She informed him. “So, I’m perfectly safe out there on my own. Always have been.” She told him simply. “Mm, I see… but in all good consciousness, I can’t let you leave as you are. So, here’s what I’m willing to offer you. The job you applied for today, a house or apartment within the pack and full sanctuary where no harm will come to you. “You’ll be able to have full access to proper wolfen medical, at no cost to you. You’ll also be able to train with others like yourself, to be able to protect yourself when outside the pack. Attend mating balls to find your Mate and have a full wolfen social life.” He smiled at her as if that was an appealing offer. “I have an apartment here in the city, just a few blocks away. I don’t drive, so wouldn’t be able to get from the pack to the office if I took up that offer. I’ve never come to harm out here in the human world, and I’ve been in it for many years now. “I can also protect myself if I need to, and I have no interest in being initiated into or living inside a pack or attending any pack functions, including that of Mating Balls,” Wynta countered him, “I’ll, however, take the job that I do need.” He was frowning at her now. “All wolves need the social aspect, or they can become…” he trailed off. “Anti-social creatures.” She nodded. “I’m already that, and I don’t care that I am.” She shrugged but would take this opportunity to tell him how she’d work. “I will work quietly and cause you nor this company any problems. I get my work done on time or stay back, working late doesn’t particularly bother me all that much. “I can and will collaborate within a team and listen to and follow the instructions of my supervisor. I know how to be a contributing member of a working team and how to be professional even though I don’t take an interest in socializing personally with those on my team,” she told him. He leaned back in his chair and stared at her with narrowed eyes, and she mimicked his pose after a minute of silence. She would not be giving him what he wanted today. Another minute passed, and his mouth twitched in one corner. He seemed amused by her stubbornness. “What will it take,” she finally asked, breaking the silence, “to let me leave this office and get the job?” He smiled at her, “You agreeing to be initiated into my pack. I’ll allow you to retain your city apartment, seeing as you already have one and don’t drive.” She stared at him for a long moment and then laid out her own terms to get the job she needed. “Initiation into your pack will be on my terms.” She offered a compromise. “What exactly does that mean?” he frowned once more. “I’ll let you initiate me, only when I willingly set foot into your pack's official pack territory, and that’s what? An hour away, you stated.” “I did.” He nodded. “I can agree to that.” He smiled at her. “Let’s go and look at your work space then, shall we?” *5 years later, Wynta aged 32* Wynta got the pack invitation delivered right to her desk. She’d not known what it was at first; just had the mail delivery girl Louise, walk into her office at 10am and ask her to sign for a package as she’d put it on the desk. There was a small white sticky note on it that had her name clearly printed on it. Wynta had asked in return what the package was for and gotten “A gala invitation, I’m on delivery duty today for all of them.” And she’d indicated to her cart by the door. Wynta had seen that there were indeed many blue boxes in her delivery cart, that looked just like the one Louise had placed on her desk. She’d nodded and signed the slip to say she’d received it, and Louise had taken the sticker and attached it to her clipboard next to Wynta’s signature. Then she had smiled at Wynta and stated, “I’ll see you there. Signing for the invitation is you stating you’ll attend.” That had snapped Wynta’s head up, and she’d frowned right at Louise, who’d then smiled a little apologetically, “Sorry Ms Morgan, but Mr Hayes specifically told me I wasn’t to inform you of that, until after you signed for it.” She’d just nodded and waved the woman out, sat and watched her leave. Bloody Alpha Edward had finally found a way to make her step onto pack territory willingly, it seemed, and she didn’t know at this time if she could say it wasn’t willing or not. She’d have to do some research into the nitty-gritty of that one. He’d clearly tricked her into signing for it, so she’d technically stated she'd attend of her own free will. Which she knew was going to be considered, that it meant she would be stepping into pack territory of her own free will as well; to attend this Luna Ceremony. But was it really of her own free will? When, in reality, he’d gone about this in an underhanded manner, leaving out important information, and all in order just to get her to sign for that invitation. He knew she wouldn’t sign for it if she knew it meant she had to step foot inside his pack's territory. She shook her head, just knew it was his roundabout way of forcing her hand into being initiated into his pack. Though a small part of her was very amused by his underhanded tactics, because it had taken him five long years to get that which he wanted from her. She’d thought he’d have just learned to live with the fact she didn’t want to be a pack member, and that she was, in fact, happy living as a rogue, seemed not even after all these years. Wynta returned her attention to the invitation. It was a very pretty navy-blue box with embossed letting on it, and she even knew whose they were. She’d heard that Edwards' youngest son and fourth heir, Lance, had found his Fated Mate on the previous full moon. It was still the current talk of not only the office, but in the human world as well. This was the Luna Ceremony invitation by the look of it. Pack colors were in fashion, it seemed. She did know Cedar Rapids pack colors were navy blue, silver and, of course, the color of red cedar. She knew why, because the pack had rapids that ran right through it and there were many red cedar trees inside the pack. It was aptly named, she thought. Wynta opened the box and inside it was an envelope with a wax seal in there. She shook her head and wondered what the box was for. Was it a pack tradition or just that they wanted to be extra fancy. She broke the seal, which also held their initials L&R, and slid out the actual invitation; a nicely folded invitation, and again there was another seal. Only this one had three fine pieces of golden thread to hold it together and bound to the wax. It was all very fancy, she realized; Edward and Marian were going all out. She broke that seal and opened the actual invitation, and their names, Lance and Raelynn, were written in a big, bold flashy script, and then the event name time and the place, the pack’s ballroom of course, where all Luna Ceremonies were held, she supposed. Not that she had ever been to one, but she’d heard they were a grand event. On the inside of the right-hand side was a list of details, of what not to wear and the type of attire that was expected. It was a black-tie event and full formal wear was expected, and no pack member or affiliated guest was allowed to wear anything white or cream, in color. The Luna would be wearing a white gown and any upstaging of her or attempts at it would be fully punishable by three lashings on the shaming post. The event was mandatory, and the entire pack was expected to attend the event to celebrate the happy couple. Those that opted not to attend would see themselves on the shaming post and given one lash for disrespect. In brackets, it read, (those without wolves, one day on the shaming post and full admonishment by Alpha and Luna) Then on the left side of the invitation was the RSVP details. There was a QR Code and under that it stated all women had to state the color of the dress they would be wearing on the RSVP. It was preferred that bright or dark colors were to be worn, and all full pastel colors were to be avoided. She just shook her head. Though she sat and stared at that invitation for a long time, she’d worked for Hayes Industries now for five years, and still she’d managed to never set foot inside the pack itself. She had not attended a single mating ball because she saw no need to. She’d had a Mate once, and rejected him long ago, 14 years now, and so there was no reason to think she’d get another. She’d, however, gotten three invites a year for the past five years and ticked the decline box on all occasions. After that first year, those invites had stated that she was to list the reason she would not be attending. She’d shaken her head, understanding it was Alpha Edward’s way of trying, she thought, to find a way to get her onto pack territory. She’d written on three of them 'not a ranked member', on three others, 'I’ll be away on vacation', and on several of them she’d simply written ‘I don’t fit the criteria for the mating ball.’ She was still a rogue and so held no rank inside that pack, not even when she’d been sent and omega only invite, she’d declined that on not being an omega. But being of rogue status, she actually didn’t fit any of their criteria, and could claim just being a rogue, but it was she thought annoying for Edward to have to read all her reasons as to why she wouldn’t be attending. The last refusal had been ingenious on her part, she’d thought, because he’d thought he’d had her with that invite for all otherworldly creatures, regardless of having non-pack status within their own realms or the human realm, were invited to come and see if they might find their Mate. She’d actually laughed at the wording of it. It had been so she couldn’t play, she didn’t fit the criteria, or I’m a rogue card as a way of not attending the ball. Wynta thought she was now even beginning to frustrate Alpha Edward, that he now had to find other ways to try and get her into his pack. It was clear to her that he had read all her reasons for getting out of setting foot inside his pack territory. It kind of amused her more than a little bit to see all the effort he was going to. She’d used 'I'm going to a Marketing Conference' on him, and she had actually done so. It had also been booked four months prior to that mating ball, paid for by his own company. She’d written a politely worded email about she didn’t want to be seen as wasting the company's money because the event was nonrefundable, and she didn’t want to disappoint her team, who were also all going to the conference with her. It was out of state and fully booked and organized months in advance. She’d attached the booking list of employees and the accommodation and conference details for him to check it all. She’d laughed softly to herself when she’d hit the send button on that one, it had just been perfect timing for her, nothing more. She’d leaned back in her chair all happy that day and chuckled softly because it wasn’t the first time she’d used skills building courses to get out of mating balls. She always kept track of when and where those skill-building conferences took place, and if they ever fell on a full moon, or the travel to and or from one did, she signed herself up for them; did it months in advance just so she could state she hadn’t deliberately avoided the invite at the last minute. She had an education and team building budget to use, and that’s what she used it on. Sometimes she would take the whole team with her. Hell, once all three marketing teams had gone to it, including her and the other supervisors, everyone had signed up for it when she’d put it on the bulletin board in the office. The three departments had even split the cost of hiring a bus to get them there and back. He couldn’t stop her from continuing to learn what was needed, in the ever-changing world around them, that was considered the best way to target their buyers and promote their businesses; it was all necessary skill building. This invitation, however, she had a feeling she was unlikely to be able to get out of, he’d already probably checked into it himself. Though she did earn decent money now, and had moved up in the company from a Marketing Specialist to a Marketing Supervisor and that had come with a new office, and a higher pay check. She still begrudged the idea of having to go out there and buy a formal dress for this occasion. She wasn’t a pack member, so it shouldn’t be mandatory for her to attend, but he’d gotten her to sign for that bloody invitation, and now she had an obligation, even as a rogue, to attend it. Wynta sighed and shook her head, just knew there was not going to be a way to get out of it. He’d done his homework on this one. He was likely going to push for her to move into pack territory or that new apartment building he’d just finished building. It wasn’t massive, just six storeys high with six apartments on each floor, but the top that only had four and they were considered penthouse apartments. He’d given her and her team the job of marketing the ground floor space, where he’d wanted a restaurant and a café along with two boutique stores to go there for revenue, things that would need marketing not just advertising. Edward had even sent her and her team down to check out that building. They’d all been met there by Chester, the pack’s Gamma, or to her team, one of the founders of the company they worked for. She and her team had been walked onto every floor and allowed to look at the apartments. Just showing them around so they could get a feel for the type of people that were going to rent the apartments out. Chester had told them they would likely all be executive-type people. Nothing here was more than two bedrooms, and the space was large. There was no real room for children. Chester had been watching her as they’d walked around. He walked right next to her the entire time and, although he’d been professional in his talking to her and the team, telling them what they wanted. She wasn’t so dumb as to not know why she had been chosen to lead this little project. He’d stood and leaned on a window in one of the penthouse's living areas and stated, “It’s a nice apartment, got a fantastic view, close to the office,” He’d even pointed it out in the distance, for her to see. She knew where it was, she had walked down here with her team, a casual 30-minute stroll where they’d all gotten coffee along the way. “I think this particular penthouse apartment would be fit for a single woman like yourself, don’t you think? It’s got lots of closet space too.” Wynta had nodded and smiled at him, rolled her eyes a little and commented, “I’m certain one of the managers would like it.” and then casually walked away from him. She wasn’t going to be swayed into moving into a pack-bought apartment. She understood it was Edwards way of getting her to likely take a baby step into being part of his pack. She was not fooled by this; she’d heard Chester chuckle softly and murmur, “You’re one tough nut to crack.” “No, I’m not. I like my simple life, is all. It’s uncomplicated and no one tells me what to do.” She’d smiled at him. She’d looked at Chester after walking about that penthouse, “You may tell Edward, I have a place of my own, and I’m comfortable living there, have been now for five years. I have a good rapport with my landlord.” She’d tipped her coffee to him and left the apartment. She still lived in her ground floor studio apartment, just five blocks away, and she saw no need to upgrade to something bigger and better just for status’s sake. She also didn’t need the extra room; that just meant more cleaning to her, and shelling out more dollars for rent, not something she wanted to do. That was completely unnecessary in her eyes. Her landlord actually maintained the building she lived in. She’d gotten new carpet two years ago and the entire place had been painted as well. It looked really nice, her rent was always paid on time, and she caused no trouble for him at all, so she was considered a good tenant. Though the place had lots of people moving in and out of it, mostly students from the local university lived there, so she got new neighbors quite often. Living in her studio apartment had allowed her to create a nice amount of savings for herself, that money sat in her bank account, for that inevitable rainy day, when it came; that would see her up and leave, move away to a new place for whatever reason. It could be a bigger, better job or that she just wanted a change of scenery, but she was comfortable right now, and that was the only reason she’d not moved on. Well, that, and she liked annoying Alpha Edward with her constant refusal to step onto his pack territory and making him stick to their original handshake deal upon hiring her. She placed that invitation back into the envelope and then the box and put it on a shelf behind her desk. She had noted that there was no plus one on there. So at least she wasn’t expected to bring a date. Though that also told her Edward knew she didn’t have a date to bring. She sighed to herself at the thought of spending her hard-earned money, and although she had the money to spend, she didn’t want to spend it. She saw it as a complete waste of her savings. She had a dozen suits, all of which were acceptable to wear to functions and made her look professional and presentable. But now this having to buy a full formal dress, she wondered if she could sell it after wearing it just once, to get some of her money back? Buying a dress, she also knew she was going to have to buy some sort of heels to go with that dress as well. Wynta sighed at that thought, she didn’t wear heels. Even here in the office, simple, comfortable business style, black walking shoes was all. She was not out to attract attention to herself, and that aloof demeanor she had, kept most men at bay. Not all, but most, and she turned those that did ask her for coffee of lunch down, with a polite but firm “I’m sorry, I’m not interested.” She was straight to the point with all of them, so there were no misunderstandings to be had. Though she’d never once been hit on by a wolf within the company, only the humans, and she knew why. It was because she was of rogue status, and none of them knew how she’d become a rogue. She did smell like one to those that worked here. Several of the she-wolves didn’t like that a rogue worked within the company. Went out of their way to make sure she knew it as well, though she just ignored their so-called off-handed insults at how she smelled. One of her team had actually frowned once and muttered, “What the hell is she talking about? There’s no stench in here.” Looking about and that she-wolf, Carlotti had looked right at her on purpose, and then wrinkled her nose for her team to see and then just walked off. They’d all looked at her after she’d left, and she’d just shrugged it off. Carlotti, or Lotti to the wolves of the pack, was from what Wynta could tell the youngest stepdaughter of the pack’s Beta, she’d seen that she-wolf call him daddy at times. She knew Ernesto was mated, and that girl wasn’t, so it wasn’t a euphemism for something else. She’d also seen the Beta’s actual daughter roll her eyes at the girl’s behavior and try to pull her into line once. “He’s not your actual father and doesn’t need to give you anything.” Had come out of Meredith when Ernesto had left, “If you want money, go and get a bloody job and earn it like the rest of us do.” It had become a sibling dispute between one that worked hard, and one that apparently did nothing and thought she was entitled to everything. She’d seen Carlotti leave in tears when Meredith had snapped at her in front of the office, “You’re just a stepchild, will inherit nothing are not father’s actual kin. Just a greedy spoiled girl and when my brother takes over, you’ll be out on your ass for this behavior. I’ll gladly back him up.” She’d looked to the gathered crowd and muttered, “Sorry family dispute, back to work all of you.” Meredith didn’t seem to care that she was a rogue, but several others did. Likely Meredith saw that Wynta did her actual job within the company and didn’t cause any trouble either, so she was not offended by having a rogue work here. The weeks passed and there was suddenly talk of Jared Hayes, Edwards' oldest son, coming home from Europe for his brother's wedding. It was the talk of the office. She’d seen several pictures of him over the years in the company magazine, highlighting all the achievements he was making and the growth of the company with a new office in France. He was apparently the company’s hottest Batchelor, and still unmarried at 42, she’d nearly laughed at that, if only they knew his real age. Wynta knew that all of Edwards' children had reinvented themselves over the years and that Jared was in fact 82 years old but barely looked a day older than 35. He had jet black hair and blue eyes, and was rumored to be six-four. But all his brothers were roughly that height as Edward was, so it didn’t really surprise her. She’d never met the Alpha’s oldest heir. He rarely, if ever came home, and was busy it seemed off building his own empire. Though she’d seen all the others over the course of the years, Edward had walked them all through her department and stopped to introduce them all to her. She’d nodded and been polite in greeting them, then just turned back to her work. They didn’t pay her anymore attention than she did them, she only interacted with them if there was a need for it. Which mostly there wasn’t. None of them were in marketing, so it limited her exposure to them. Though each one of them had seen how aloof she was and that she only kept things to work terms. She never just talked freely with any wolf here in the building. Though she was good with her human team now, she could smile and chuckle at the things they did or the stories they told about something funny happening to them. She’d worked with them all for five years now, and only taken this promotion on the condition that her team went with her to the new floor. They worked like a well-oiled machine and she actually liked them. The office she had now was on the floor above the one they’d all originally worked in, and she had a large office with a glass wall and door between her and their desk out there. Though she had an open-door policy, and they could, at any time, holler out to her or just stroll in and talk to her. That window would frost over at the touch of a button, they’d been here now for a year and not once had she used it. Saw no need to. She looked at them now. They were all a buzz with the news that Edward was bringing Jared to walk through all the departments, to see if things needed improvement, the Monday after his brother’s wedding. Meanwhile, far away in Europe... Jared stood in his penthouse apartment listening to his father tell him that his brother Lance had found his Goddess-Gifted Mate, his band had lit up blue and when they put one on the she-wolf Raelynn, it had lit up as well. She’d not rejected Lance, and they were marked and mated. His father was very happy that finally one of his sons had found their Mate. Jared pinched the bridge of his nose at the thought that it was likely Lance who would be the first to have an heir, and then, when he turned 100, the pack would belong to his youngest brother. It wasn’t like Jared wasn’t looking for his Mate. He’d just simply moved countries to do so, he’d exhausted a lot of packs in the US looking for his Mate. Either she wasn’t born yet or lived in another country. He knew there were just as many packs here in Europe as there were in America, so he’d opted to move here and branch the pack’s business out at the same time. He’d made quite a few business allies over here in France, and there were many of their European allies, wolves, working in this building that he lived in. His penthouse was on the top floor like all of his units were. He was 82 years old and had not only searched in the US but in the Wolfen Realm as well back in his younger days. Now he was just simply here in Europe was all. “So, Jared, you’ll be coming home for Raelynn’s Luna Ceremony on the next full moon. Invites will be sent for you and your unit via email. Those here in the states will get one in person, though your mother will send you pictures of the actual invitations as well.” “Why would she need to do that?” he frowned. “Son, it’s so you can see what to expect when you find your own Mate, of course. She has been planning these events for many decades and allocated different colors to each of you. Well, actually her words were according from first to last mated. So where I know you, being the eldest would expect pack colors, Lance is getting that because he was the first to find his Mate. Sorry son.” “It’s fine.” He murmured. “I don’t think it really matters anyway… Isn’t it usually up to the Luna being celebrated?” he asked and turned to see his unit all walking into his apartment. He knew why they were here, it maybe 9pm in San Francisco, but it was only 6am here in France, and it was likely they’d all gotten a call from their fathers. Just like he was getting. ""Normally, it is son. It’s not yet discussed, but I know Lance wants that. So, it’s likely Raelynn will also agree.” Did it surprise him that his brother was going to want pack colors? No, the importance of him choosing and his mother agreeing to give him those colors; a full formal event in pack colors. It was a bold statement from Lance to his three brothers, himself, Ethan and Colby. That he was going to be the next Alpha to Cedar Rapids. ""Father, when I find a Mate I will allow her to choose whatever color she wants. Mother won’t get a say. Please remind her of that.” He told him simply, “She may plan for all her other heirs Luna Ceremonies, but I will follow wolfen tradition of letting the Luna that is being celebrated choose the color of the event.” “That is fine, son. So you’ll be coming home when exactly, how many days prior to the next full moon? There are a few people I want you to meet and talk with while you're here, so please plan to stay a week to a month would be good.” “A month?” he questioned right back. “Yes, like I said, I’ve got people I want you to meet.” “Goddess father, it’s not some bloody she-wolf of your choosing, is it? You know I won’t settle. Can’t if I want a chance to be the next Alpha.” “I’m aware of that Jared. I need your help with one very stubborn she-wolf on something; we’ll discuss it when you come home. Drives me a bit batty she does, so very resistant to all offers to come and live within the pack.” “Why do you need her to? If she’s allied she likely has a nice pack and likes it.” “A brilliant marketing mind. I’ve made many offers.” His father huffed at him, “I'm stuck, as are my unit and I need someone to charm her, so to speak.” He rolled his eyes and his entire unit snorted, fully amused. They all knew it was his father’s way of trying to get him to date someone he thought would be good for him. He let it go. “Just put Ethan or Colby to the task. They are right there.” “Hmm, she’s not interested in either of them, kind of dismissive of all ranked members.” His father sighed once more, a little on the heavy side. “Not even Chester is having any luck… seems to be immune to even a Gamma’s charm. Help your old man out, won’t you?” That was a curiosity to him. Though he wondered if it was true at all, not many could get past a Gamma. “I’ll have Dwane do it,” he stated, “I’ll get back to you on the date I’ll be arriving. I’ll have to look at flights and see what’s available.” His father sighed at the comment about him having his Beta charm the girl, but he let it go and stated, “I could send the Jet over.” “No need, Wolf Airline branched out into Europe this year, so we’ll travel safely and in wolfen comfort.” Jared stated simply, “Tell Lance congratulations, I’m looking forward to meeting Raelynn, that I’ll bring something from France as a Luna Gift. Get mother to find out what the woman likes and email me.” “Alright, but a few days prior to the full moon son, is what I expect and at least a week after as well. Business reasons, of course. I will not be meddling in your love life; I learned my lesson when you opted to move halfway around the world.” Jared smiled “Well done, father. I see old wolves can be taught.” He chuckled and clicked the line closed to his father's shocked gasp at hearing his words. He shook his head and turned to his unit, “I guess we’re finally going home, Dwane, you’ll be seeing to that she-wolf.” He shook his head. “It’s your department anyway.” “Hmm, I don’t think things are going to go your way, Jared. Your father can be underhanded and tricky. Sometimes what he says isn’t actually what he means,” Dwane stated. “I’m fully aware of how he goes about getting what he wants.” He nodded. He spent the next few weeks leading up to going back to the pack, attending business as usual, and reorganizing his schedule to fit in with his father’s request of a week to a month-long stay. He’d split that to make two weeks. A compromise that he was happy with, and he’d managed to get a flight that would see him arrive the day of the ceremony, but he needed that for himself, due to business meetings here and the rearranging of his schedule to fit in around others. His father had to deal with it. Though the boys were all headed back before he was, arriving a few days before the ceremony. His flight, however, couldn’t be helped, though he took a very unhappy call from both his parents about it because Lance was of the opinion it was disrespectful, and that he was trying to weasel his way out of being there at all. That he was going to claim that something came up, and so he couldn’t catch his flight. All because he was ticked off that Lance had found his Mate before him. Jared had rolled his eyes, “I’ve bought the ticket, I simply had to rearrange things here to suit others that I had scheduled meetings with over the period you insist I'm there and so have to be away from here. Not everyone fits around your schedule. They're not all wolfen so don't understand. It has nothing to do with my not being happy for Lance. I’m actually very happy for him. Lessens the pressure on me to find my Mate.” Both his parents had gone quiet with his words, and he’d smiled to himself, “Mother, father, I am one to abide by the rules you set out. I will not object to whoever is mated and has an heir first by the time they are 100. Lance has nothing to fear from me. My life is currently very busy anyway, as you both know.” “Well son, Lance has asked that a new stipulation be added to the invitation about attendance,” his father told him. “Oh, has he.” Jared leaned back in his chair and shook his head. “Pray tell, father, what is it?” “That no one turns up late and interrupts the ceremony. So, everyone must have arrived and be seated a full 1-hour prior to the event starting, or on the shaming post and a lashing they will receive for disrespect.” “That is fine. I believe my flight will get in around one thirtyish, and the ceremony is at 7pm. I’m certain father, it won’t take me 4 hours to get through customs, hire a car and drive the one hour to the pack.” “Good. That is what I want to hear. Now I have one thing to ask of you. A favor, so to speak.” Here we go he thought to himself, “And that would be?” “I just need you to stop and pick up a new pack member. She doesn’t drive and has no way to get out to the pack, it’ll be on your way, and take but a moment of your time.” He could hear the smile in his father’s voice and just knew this was part of his plotting. “Fine, send me the address,” he stated, “And make sure she is ready and waiting for me to pick her up. I’m not one for standing around waiting on people, especially she-wolves that are just putting on make-up.” “I’ll make sure she is aware of your attitude and request. Though I don’t see it being a problem, she’s not one to wear a great deal of make-up. A natural beauty, wouldn’t you say Marian?” his father asked his mother. “Oh, yes, pretty as a picture.” He was betting she was, and willing to climb right into his bed at his father's request as well, just like all the others. "
"She looked at her second chance mate with disappointment. “Wynta, I didn’t mean to...” he panicked. “No,” she cut him off, “The truth was— you left me in the storm to pick up another woman. And I almost died.” The moon goddess had arranged another jerk Alpha for her. But she will never say “yes” to a toxic mate bond. If she could reject the first, she wouldn't hesitate to reject the second. “Please—” He stared at her with begging eyes. Yet she just turned around and finished her words. “I, Wynta Morgan, reject you, Jared Hayes, as my second chance mate.” ===== *Wynta aged 18* “Come on, Wynta. You will see the stars when we both have you.” The first time Wynta let Nolan tease her clothes off, he wanted to bring his Beta Yale into her bedroom. Wynta believed her lover and future Alpha Nolan, was trying to coerce her into believing she was not only his Goddess-Gifted Mate but also that of his Beta's as well. All, so the two of them could have her in their bed at the same time, and she knew it. “Are you kidding, Nolan?"" A cool, assessing stare settled in Wynta's eyes as she deliberately took a step back, creating space. ""No, we’ve both scented it. You’re ours. We are both your actual Goddess-Gifted Mates."" Nolan’s voice was a low, coaxing purr. He reached out, tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear. Wynta didn't pull away, but she didn't lean into his touch either. ""No, Nolan. I didn't feel that."" ""You have to trust me, trust us, Wynta. The Goddess doesn’t make mistakes. Yale's outside now, you will let him in, right?"" His hand slid down to her waist, pulling her gently against him. His scent, usually a comfort, now felt cloying. “Imagine it. The three of us. No one will ever love you or protect you like we will.” She might be an orphan and wolf-less, but she wasn’t so stupid as to believe Nolan. Wynta pushed against his chest, creating a sliver of space. “What I want,” she said, her voice surprisingly steady, “is to wait for the moon. If what you’re saying is true, then waiting a few more days shouldn’t matter.” She decided to test them, it was only a week until the full moon and she was 18 now. She would be able to scent them both in just 7 days. If they were her Mates, why wouldn’t they just wait until they knew she could handle them, and would want them both? She had no interest in sleeping with Yale at all and didn’t really find him attractive. He was nice looking but not her type. He sighed, a sound of exaggerated patience. ""Fine, baby. The bond is already there, we will claim you, and you'd be the Future Luna."" He left a little on the annoyed side with her, and she’d heard Nolan stating, “These I’ll sweet talk her again, don’t you worry.” to his Beta from her window, they thought because she was wolf-less she wouldn't hear them, but they'd only been a few meters from her window. Even a human would have heard them. She’d not believed them, because she was, in fact, wolf-less and of an unknown lineage. All she had going for her was her pretty face, nice body and her brains. She’d liked Nolan’s sweet, charming attention over the past few months, and she had kind of stupidly fallen for him over the course of their relationship. He’d never rushed her for anything, took it slow and always wanted things to be at her pace. They’d only been sleeping together for two weeks and now, with this? What he’d said and told her, it was just wrong, and she knew it was all going to be a lie. And they would come to her again. Left with no other option, Wynta chose solitude over submission. So she had cuffed herself with Silver and chained herself to a tree in the deepest, darkest, most isolated part of the pack where there were no border patrols because this end of the woods was at the base of a steep, inaccessible gorge. Four days she sat out there chained and cuffed with silver, scent masked so no one would smell her or be able to locate her with a pack tether. She’d taken no water or food and was starving and dehydrating herself to prove it was all a lie. As that first day had turned into the second, there was no search for her. The third day came and still no warriors were scouring the pack for a missing pack member, which she’d seen the Alpha would do. Scouring every inch of the pack when searching for someone who was missing. The fourth day came and again, nothing: if Nolan and Yale were her Mates, they’d have gone to their father's and told them the truth of the matter, informed them she was missing, and they couldn’t find her anywhere. They would in fact be in a full-blown panic that their Mate was missing, and they had no contact with her. That night, on day four, she unchained herself and removed the cuff, stumbled her way back to her dorm and sank down in the shower, utterly exhausted by the long walk when she was already dehydrated. She kind of just fell out of the shower when she'd tried to get up and had mind-link to the pack doctor to tell him she needed help, and then had succumbed to the darkness of unconsciousness. Wynta woke up in the pack hospital with an IV in her arm and the pack doctor tending to the burn on her wrist from the silver cuff, “Finally awake after a full day, the Alpha will be happy, he needs to know what happened. He is investigating right now, tracking your scent to where you came from.” She’d said nothing at all; that just confirmed once more that neither Nolan nor Yale had known she was even missing. “Did I have any visitors?” she asked curiously. “No, I’m sorry, Wynta.” He sounded apologetic. “No one other than the Alpha and Luna wanting to know your actual state. “Alright,” she knew she had no family. She’d been given her name by the pack’s Luna, named after the season she had been found in. Winter, and given the last name Morgan for whatever reason the Luna had seen fit. That was how she’d become Wynta Morgan. That very night, as she lay there in the hospital bed wondering just what she was going to say to Nolan and Yale, about their behavior. Nolan connected a mind-link to her at 11pm, and he asked quite simply, “Where are you? It’s our date night, and I’m at your place. You’re not here.” She could hear the frown in his voice. Tonight was supposed to be their ordinary dating night. “I’m at the pack hospital,” she told him honestly. “On our date night? Why would you take a shift knowing we’re to be together?” he asked right back. He was only concerned about the fact that they weren’t going to be having sx. He had just presumed that she was working in the hospital, when she’d never once worked in the hospital before. “I’m sure you can wait until the full moon,” she stated blandly and cut the link. There was not one ounce of worry in his voice. It was she new without a doubt coercion. The full moon came and set just two days later, and it had been two hours since she’d scented out a Mate inside this pack. She even knew who it was because she recognized the two natural scents of her lover. There was, however, no other scent for her at all. She didn’t scent Yale, it was just more proof of the lie they had told her, to get what they wanted from her was all. She was still in the pack hospital, still attached to the IV with fluids running, the burns healing was slow-going because she didn’t have a wolf. There was a nurse sitting next to her bed with a wound trolley attending to the cleaning and redressing of the burn when Nolan walked into the room. Finally, he had tracked her down. He stood staring at her a little more than shocked. She stared at him as his eyes moved over her in that bed, being treated by a nurse, and he asked the nurse to give them a minute. Told her that his father had asked him to come and discuss something privately with her. He had to wait until the wound was dressed. She watched him pick up her chart and read through it, knew he was seeing all the details of what was wrong with her, how she’d been found; she’d read it herself. He put it back with a frown on his face without saying anything at all. She’d stupidly fallen for this man before her, who was the same age as her and would be off to Alpha College tomorrow morning if he didn’t scent out a Mate on this full moon. She also knew just from the fact that he was here alone, no parents trailing him to see who his Mate was, that he was here to reject her. That and the fact that it had been two hours since the moon had set, he would have recognized her scent as well. No one waited that long to hunt down a Mate they wanted to claim. The nurse finally left and Nolan closed the door. She understood that as well, it was going to be done privately, so none in this pack would know they’d paired up. “Why didn’t you tell me you were injured when I asked where you were?” he asked her directly. She raised an eyebrow at him, she’d told him she was at the hospital. That should have been all she needed to say. “I was missing for four days,” she stated. “You didn’t even know, did you? I was cuffed with silver and missing… if you had scented me out back then as you said, you’d have known and hunted everywhere for me… You and your Beta, just wanted to have sx with me at the same time is all, and I wouldn’t let you. “You’re also here two hours post the moon setting, Nolan, that speaks volumes… You’re not the man I thought you were.” She shook her head. She would not be accepting one such as his. “I, Wynta Morgan, reject you, Nolan Holland, as my Mate.” She voiced simply but meant every word. He just stood staring at her, almost not comprehending that she would reject him. “Imagine, Nolan, if I had been swayed by you and Yale, and let the two of you do me. You’d now be rejecting me on the basis that I did that, had sx with your own Beta…” she shook her head at him “I don’t want to be bound to one that clearly tried to coerce me. Just accept it Nolan.” He nodded slowly. “I, Nolan Holland, accept your rejection, Wynta Morgan. You are not my Mate or the future Luna to this pack,” he stated. She felt the complete severing of their bond and heard him hiss in pain. It only caused a dull ache in her chest. Being wolf-less had some perks, it seemed. “Wynta, we’ll come back to this when I get home from Alpha College,” he stated and turned and walked from the room. Did he expect her to just sit around and wait for him to change his mind? Because he was an Alpha and she was wolf-less. Not a chance. She was not going to just sit around and wait for an Alpha to decide if she was worthy of him. She would choose her future on her terms. *9 years later, Wynta aged 27* Wynta sat in the waiting room along with all the other job applicants, applying for the position of Marketing Specialist here at Hayes Enterprises. She had lost her previous job a few months back and was rapidly running out of funds. All the other applicants in this room were human. Though she had picked up a few wolves upon coming into the building, but there didn’t appear to be any working on this floor. But she was hopeful the interview today would be done by a panel of humans, seeing as all the applicants were human. She’d not been active in the wolfen world for nine years now. She had left it behind when she’d walked away from her home pack, the night she’d been released from the pack hospital. She’d simply gone to her single dorm two days after her future Alpha had left for Alpha College, and none had known what she was to him. She had packed her belongings into a suitcase and walked out of the pack. Turned herself rogue after stepping outside the pack’s territory. No one had come looking for her, as she’d walked calmly from that place, she was not going to just sit around and wait for an Alpha to decide if she was worthy of him. She’d fallen for him but also known it had all been a lie, everything he’d ever said to her, so no more would she be a part of that pack. She’d gotten on a train and just moved away, she’d picked up a couple of different jobs and put herself through university, getting scholarships where she could and student loans where possible, and now nine years later she was a marketing specialist, one that worked in the human world and stayed away from the world of wolves. She didn’t really consider Wolves to be her Kind, simply because she was in fact wolf-less. She considered herself to be human. So she lived and worked like a human did, she struggled to pay her rent and bills at times, like so many out here did. She bought only what she needed. Keeping five working outfits that could be mixed and matched to create different looks but were all professional at the same time. Then in her apartment she just lazed about in jeans and tee-shirts. She owned nothing fancy because she had no need of it. Her vacation days were spent laying in her apartment reading a good book or listening to music. She currently lived in a tiny studio apartment that just had a bedroom, a small kitchenette and a tiny bathroom. There was nothing fancy about it. She, at this time, couldn’t afford anything else at all. Having lost her previous job, she had already downgraded the one-bedroom proper apartment for a studio apartment. It was small, but she kept it neat and tidy, and after living there for a month, she’d realized it was all she actually needed. Though she had no luxuries here in this place, there was no TV or movie subscriptions, she’d canned everything to save money while looking for a new job. The only thing she had was her phone, which she needed for interviews and to take rejection calls, though she also used it for reading books online. She was aloof to all those around her. There were no contacts in her phone because she had no family and no pack attachments. She didn’t trust easily or form bonds with many around her. In an office environment she could do her job and hold proper conversations, work well in a team, but her trust was hard-earned. Despite being wolf-less, she could pick up things like the scent of other wolves, though couldn’t determine pack or bloodline, just understood wolfen kind smelt different to humans. They all had a more earthy/woodsy scent about them. She sometimes sat out in the parks and just watched the humans walk about interacting with other people. She could read mannerisms and facial expressions quite well. Pick a lie from the truth, because she listened to the inflexion of one’s voice, and saw the little things that humans did when lying. Fidgeting, no eye contact, excessive blinking or just closing their eyes, they bit their lips, a few even got flushed in the face. If she paid attention completely, she could hear the tone of their voice change and even pick up on the difference in sentence structure at times. Then there was that pause before they spoke, which often portrayed that they had to think about an answer, because they didn’t want to answer it honestly. She’d learn that humans were no different to wolves most of the time. They came to her when they wanted something from her and then screwed her over if they could, to take the credit for her own work. Both species were deceitful as far as she was concerned and all she was trying to do was live quietly unseen by all. She’d learned the hard way to live by herself, even roommates were deceitful and couldn’t be trusted. She’d found it was simply best to live alone and not make friends that would lie to her, and, or betray her trust. Steal from her or blame her for things that they’d done just to save their own ass. Her name and interview number were called, and it pulled her from her absent thoughts, and she stood and nodded to the woman looking for her, and then followed her quietly down the hall and around the corner to a room that stated Conference Room 2. The door was held open for her and she stepped inside. The moment she did, she could smell them, wolves, and not just any, she didn’t think. Just by looking at the sheer size of them and the way they were dressed and sat, they were going to be ranked members of some pack out there. She walked over and sat herself in the chair that was sitting before them as was expected of her, and looked at them. She knew they would all be able to scent her as not only a rogue but that she was wolf-less as well. They would have smelled it either while she sat out there in the waiting room or the moment she’d stepped into this room. Her sense of smell wasn’t the same as theirs, not even the same as an omega wolf. She watched as three of them leaned back in those chairs and left one leaning on the desk before him staring at her. That one thing told her they weren’t just ranked members but were, in fact, an Alpha and his Unit. The one that was watching her now, he was going to be the Alpha. He slid his eyes over her appearance and then turned his eyes to her application, read it through before returning his eyes to her and putting that paper down in front of him. “I’ll introduce myself formally to you,” he stated calmly. “I am Alpha Edward Hayes and this is my unit,” he waved a hand at the other wolves in this room. “May I enquire why you are a rogue?” he asked her directly, seems his curiosity about her non wolfen pack status outweighed the questions for this very job. Wynta frowned at his introduction. She didn’t really care who he was, and she didn’t think it was any of his business as to why she was a rogue. She knew one didn’t have to be part of a pack to live in this world. More and more wolves turned themselves rogue and left their packs to get away from the cruelty of their pack’s leadership. Especially those that were like herself. She’d seen and smelled many like herself over the past nine years, just out there like she was trying to make an honest living for themselves, and staying out of trouble in both the wolfen and human world alike. When she didn’t say anything to answer his question, he went on, “I see you’re 27. Surely someone with your skills could have found a pack to align yourself with… When did you go rogue or be turned rogue?” he asked once more. “I’m here for the job that was posted, not to relay my past history to you.” She finally spoke. “Do you have any questions for me that are related to my skills?” she asked him in return. He frowned at her now and she watched who she thought was the Beta lean forward and rest his arms on the desk “You could request sanctuary and ask to be a member of the pack. Then this job would be granted to you without issue,” he stated. Wynta raised an eyebrow at him, so that was the condition of getting this job, she thought absently. Clearly, all those humans out there were wasting their time coming here for an interview. This company was simply abiding by the human rules of appearing to hire honestly and fairly, when they intended to give the job to one of their own pack members. “Would you like to become a pack member, Wynta?” Alpha Edward asked her directly. “I would accept someone like yourself.” “Someone like me?” she murmured. “A rogue that is wolf-less and desperate for affiliation, you mean?” She shook her head a little dismayed, did she look desperate to them? She didn’t think so, her clothes were clean and presentable, as was her hair and light make-up. She certainly didn’t look underfed or unhealthy. “Are you going to ask me any actual interview questions about the position of a Marketing Specialist?” she asked once more. “My skills are as they are listed, and I have worked now for two separate companies as you can see.” “Wynta, we’ll get to your interview. I feel your rogue status is of more importance, and needs to be resolved first,” Alpha Edward stated. “Please, Mr Hayes, don’t address me so informally. I would prefer you call me Ms Morgan.” She put to him, showing him that she wasn’t interested in being a part of his pack, and she didn’t think that they were close enough to be on a first-name basis. All of them were frowning at her now, at her dismissing of them being an Alpha and his unit before her, but she was a rogue and didn’t have to acknowledge that. It was likely they’d not expected her to decline the offer of being initiated. But it wasn’t something she was looking for. She was just looking for a job to have an income once more, and to keep a roof over her head, and food in her belly, nothing more, nothing less. “How about you come and look at the pack? It’s an hour's drive from here, and you’ll see it’s a nice healthy pack; I even have several without wolves living there.” Edward offered. Again, she raised an eyebrow at him, this was not an interview anymore. She shook her head and stood up. “Thank you for wasting my time. I have other interviews to attend this week,” she stated simply and turned and walked from the room, showing them, she was clearly not interested in what they were offering. She handed in her lanyard and interview number to the lady out in the hall and made her way to the elevators to leave the building. She stood in that elevator as it took her to the ground floor and sighed internally to herself as she mentally ticked off another job that she’d not gotten; though this one was on her own doing. She’d walked away from it. Just one more day without working, that was going to eat into her savings. She knew the dollars in her bank account, knew she only had enough money to rent that studio apartment for three more months, and then she was going to be either out on the streets and in a women’s shelter or back to being an exotic dancer in a gentleman’s club just to make ends meet. Neither were nice thoughts for her; she’d been homeless for a few months after leaving her home pack, until she’d managed to get on campus living, but still it hadn’t been enough to survive on, so she’d had to take on a job that would bring in the dollars, and she wasn’t about to sell her body to men. So becoming an exotic dancer had been the only option open to her, that didn’t interfere with her class schedule. She’d not really liked it and only did it to make money was all. She pushed off the wall when the elevator stopped and walked out, as did several others and found herself face to face with who she thought was the Beta to that Alpha Unit. “Mr Hayes, would like a further word with you, Ms Morgan,” he stated with what appeared to be a friendly smile. “I’m not interested,” she told him, and went to step around him only to have his hand curl around her arm and halt her. “I’m afraid I’m going to have to insist,” he stated and tugged her along next to him down a bank of elevators and used a swipe card to have one open. She saw there were no floor markers on the outside or inside of it when she was escorted into it. The doors simply closed and the elevator moved. She understood it was an express elevator and likely only went to one floor, the top floor where the Alpha and his Unit all had offices. She leaned on the wall in there and just waited, said nothing at all to this man that was looking at her. She stared right back at him, uncaring of if it was offensive or not. Rogues didn’t have masters unless they chose to and she didn’t. It was a fast, smooth ride, and he escorted her out of the elevator down a corridor and directed her to sit on a couch. “Please stay here and wait.” He told her before turning to the woman at the desk next to the couch who was now looking at her with a slight frown on her face. “The Alpha will see Ms Morgan when his interviews are over for the day.” “Yes, Beta.” She nodded and he walked off. At least she’d guessed it right. He was the Beta to that group. She saw that she-wolf frown at her and wrinkle her nose as if she was offended by the stench of Wynta. She was, however, clean and, though of rogue status, took care of herself to make sure she didn’t scent terrible like other rogues out there in the wilderness. Though she honestly didn’t know what a Rogue scented like to other wolves, but to her, they kind of smelled like they were unclean and needed a bath. She didn’t think she smelled like that. She just sat as she was told. She wasn’t out to cause trouble for herself and knew how to behave herself. Even if she didn’t want to. After an hour of just sitting there, she was bored shitless, and so she stood up and stretched herself out and then walked away to have a look around the top floor for herself. There were a dozen offices up here, three conference rooms and an open coffee hub-like area where they all obviously ate. There were half a dozen tables and chairs and a couple of vending machines. She saw only the one elevator to this entire floor, and it had that swipe card access to it. She wasn’t going to be able to leave if she didn’t have one of them. She found the emergency stairwell and smiled to herself and pushed the door only to find it wouldn’t open, and frowned. It, too, had a swipe card box next to it. She appeared to be stuck here for now. She returned to the couch and sank down once more. Another hour passed, and she was more than unhappy, that she-wolf at her desk looked at her and stated, “Just be patient, he’s interviewing.” “You can’t keep me here like this,” she stated flatly. “I’m guessing he can, seeing as you’re still here. Just sit there,” she was told. Wynta thought about that, she knew there had to be away around the swipe card for everything, and as she leaned back there on the couch her eyes fell on the red emergency box, that had the words ‘Break glass in case of emergency.’ That she knew was going to unlock the emergency exit stairwell. A smile played on her lips as she sat up now. She’d get lost in the crowd of those all heading out of the building and be gone before they could find her once more. “Don’t do it Ms Morgan, it’s a very large fine.” Her thoughts were interrupted by the she-wolf. Her eyes moved towards her, and she watched her point to the ceiling, where she saw a camera, “It’ll be caught on camera, and the fine will come to you. Can you afford it? I believe it's $1600, and you could also face criminal charges. It’s a felony in this state, so you’ll also likely wind up with a criminal record if you don’t already have one.” “I don’t,” Wynta stated, and the she-wolf’s half smirk she likely thought that just because she was a rogue she did all sorts of illegal things to get by. She leaned back on the couch as she resigned herself to the fact that she was currently stuck here on this floor until someone escorted her from the building. By the third hour, she had laid down on that couch and made herself comfortable, ignored the she-wolf’s comment of it wasn’t very ladylike or professional to do so, and used her phone to read a book until she dozed off on that couch. Not one person on this floor had paid her the slightest bit of attention, except for the Alpha’s secretary, and she was just annoyed to have to watch over her, it seemed. She rolled over at one point in her half sleeping stated to try and be more comfortable and fell right off the couch, just lay there for a moment before sitting up with a huff. That secretary was staring at her. “You’re a lazy one I see,” she muttered. “I’ll tell the Alpha you’re finally awake.” And her eyes had glazed over. She picked herself up off the floor. He must be back up here, and she’d slept right through it, and he’d not woken her. That was a bit odd. He appeared in his office doorway, “Did you sleep well?” he smiled at her. “Come in, Ms Morgan.” He waved her into his office. She checked the time on her phone and saw it was the middle of the afternoon. Her interview had been at 10am this morning. The day was nearly over. It was nearly 3pm. She walked into the Alpha’s office and sat where he told her to. “Why am I still here?” she asked him directly. “Because I’m not willing to let you continue to be of rogue status, it’s unsafe for female rogues out there in the world. Even more so for those without wolves, who are defenseless against wolfen strength.” “Other rogues leave me alone, the wolf-less aren’t of interest to roaming bands of rogues. We’re worth nothing to those wanting to kidnap and sell she-wolves, we can’t take a beating or a lashing without winding up in the pack hospital or dying from it. It’s a waste of money to buy the wolf-less.” She informed him. “So, I’m perfectly safe out there on my own. Always have been.” She told him simply. “Mm, I see… but in all good consciousness, I can’t let you leave as you are. So, here’s what I’m willing to offer you. The job you applied for today, a house or apartment within the pack and full sanctuary where no harm will come to you. “You’ll be able to have full access to proper wolfen medical, at no cost to you. You’ll also be able to train with others like yourself, to be able to protect yourself when outside the pack. Attend mating balls to find your Mate and have a full wolfen social life.” He smiled at her as if that was an appealing offer. “I have an apartment here in the city, just a few blocks away. I don’t drive, so wouldn’t be able to get from the pack to the office if I took up that offer. I’ve never come to harm out here in the human world, and I’ve been in it for many years now. “I can also protect myself if I need to, and I have no interest in being initiated into or living inside a pack or attending any pack functions, including that of Mating Balls,” Wynta countered him, “I’ll, however, take the job that I do need.” He was frowning at her now. “All wolves need the social aspect, or they can become…” he trailed off. “Anti-social creatures.” She nodded. “I’m already that, and I don’t care that I am.” She shrugged but would take this opportunity to tell him how she’d work. “I will work quietly and cause you nor this company any problems. I get my work done on time or stay back, working late doesn’t particularly bother me all that much. “I can and will collaborate within a team and listen to and follow the instructions of my supervisor. I know how to be a contributing member of a working team and how to be professional even though I don’t take an interest in socializing personally with those on my team,” she told him. He leaned back in his chair and stared at her with narrowed eyes, and she mimicked his pose after a minute of silence. She would not be giving him what he wanted today. Another minute passed, and his mouth twitched in one corner. He seemed amused by her stubbornness. “What will it take,” she finally asked, breaking the silence, “to let me leave this office and get the job?” He smiled at her, “You agreeing to be initiated into my pack. I’ll allow you to retain your city apartment, seeing as you already have one and don’t drive.” She stared at him for a long moment and then laid out her own terms to get the job she needed. “Initiation into your pack will be on my terms.” She offered a compromise. “What exactly does that mean?” he frowned once more. “I’ll let you initiate me, only when I willingly set foot into your pack's official pack territory, and that’s what? An hour away, you stated.” “I did.” He nodded. “I can agree to that.” He smiled at her. “Let’s go and look at your work space then, shall we?” *5 years later, Wynta aged 32* Wynta got the pack invitation delivered right to her desk. She’d not known what it was at first; just had the mail delivery girl Louise, walk into her office at 10am and ask her to sign for a package as she’d put it on the desk. There was a small white sticky note on it that had her name clearly printed on it. Wynta had asked in return what the package was for and gotten “A gala invitation, I’m on delivery duty today for all of them.” And she’d indicated to her cart by the door. Wynta had seen that there were indeed many blue boxes in her delivery cart, that looked just like the one Louise had placed on her desk. She’d nodded and signed the slip to say she’d received it, and Louise had taken the sticker and attached it to her clipboard next to Wynta’s signature. Then she had smiled at Wynta and stated, “I’ll see you there. Signing for the invitation is you stating you’ll attend.” That had snapped Wynta’s head up, and she’d frowned right at Louise, who’d then smiled a little apologetically, “Sorry Ms Morgan, but Mr Hayes specifically told me I wasn’t to inform you of that, until after you signed for it.” She’d just nodded and waved the woman out, sat and watched her leave. Bloody Alpha Edward had finally found a way to make her step onto pack territory willingly, it seemed, and she didn’t know at this time if she could say it wasn’t willing or not. She’d have to do some research into the nitty-gritty of that one. He’d clearly tricked her into signing for it, so she’d technically stated she'd attend of her own free will. Which she knew was going to be considered, that it meant she would be stepping into pack territory of her own free will as well; to attend this Luna Ceremony. But was it really of her own free will? When, in reality, he’d gone about this in an underhanded manner, leaving out important information, and all in order just to get her to sign for that invitation. He knew she wouldn’t sign for it if she knew it meant she had to step foot inside his pack's territory. She shook her head, just knew it was his roundabout way of forcing her hand into being initiated into his pack. Though a small part of her was very amused by his underhanded tactics, because it had taken him five long years to get that which he wanted from her. She’d thought he’d have just learned to live with the fact she didn’t want to be a pack member, and that she was, in fact, happy living as a rogue, seemed not even after all these years. Wynta returned her attention to the invitation. It was a very pretty navy-blue box with embossed letting on it, and she even knew whose they were. She’d heard that Edwards' youngest son and fourth heir, Lance, had found his Fated Mate on the previous full moon. It was still the current talk of not only the office, but in the human world as well. This was the Luna Ceremony invitation by the look of it. Pack colors were in fashion, it seemed. She did know Cedar Rapids pack colors were navy blue, silver and, of course, the color of red cedar. She knew why, because the pack had rapids that ran right through it and there were many red cedar trees inside the pack. It was aptly named, she thought. Wynta opened the box and inside it was an envelope with a wax seal in there. She shook her head and wondered what the box was for. Was it a pack tradition or just that they wanted to be extra fancy. She broke the seal, which also held their initials L&R, and slid out the actual invitation; a nicely folded invitation, and again there was another seal. Only this one had three fine pieces of golden thread to hold it together and bound to the wax. It was all very fancy, she realized; Edward and Marian were going all out. She broke that seal and opened the actual invitation, and their names, Lance and Raelynn, were written in a big, bold flashy script, and then the event name time and the place, the pack’s ballroom of course, where all Luna Ceremonies were held, she supposed. Not that she had ever been to one, but she’d heard they were a grand event. On the inside of the right-hand side was a list of details, of what not to wear and the type of attire that was expected. It was a black-tie event and full formal wear was expected, and no pack member or affiliated guest was allowed to wear anything white or cream, in color. The Luna would be wearing a white gown and any upstaging of her or attempts at it would be fully punishable by three lashings on the shaming post. The event was mandatory, and the entire pack was expected to attend the event to celebrate the happy couple. Those that opted not to attend would see themselves on the shaming post and given one lash for disrespect. In brackets, it read, (those without wolves, one day on the shaming post and full admonishment by Alpha and Luna) Then on the left side of the invitation was the RSVP details. There was a QR Code and under that it stated all women had to state the color of the dress they would be wearing on the RSVP. It was preferred that bright or dark colors were to be worn, and all full pastel colors were to be avoided. She just shook her head. Though she sat and stared at that invitation for a long time, she’d worked for Hayes Industries now for five years, and still she’d managed to never set foot inside the pack itself. She had not attended a single mating ball because she saw no need to. She’d had a Mate once, and rejected him long ago, 14 years now, and so there was no reason to think she’d get another. She’d, however, gotten three invites a year for the past five years and ticked the decline box on all occasions. After that first year, those invites had stated that she was to list the reason she would not be attending. She’d shaken her head, understanding it was Alpha Edward’s way of trying, she thought, to find a way to get her onto pack territory. She’d written on three of them 'not a ranked member', on three others, 'I’ll be away on vacation', and on several of them she’d simply written ‘I don’t fit the criteria for the mating ball.’ She was still a rogue and so held no rank inside that pack, not even when she’d been sent and omega only invite, she’d declined that on not being an omega. But being of rogue status, she actually didn’t fit any of their criteria, and could claim just being a rogue, but it was she thought annoying for Edward to have to read all her reasons as to why she wouldn’t be attending. The last refusal had been ingenious on her part, she’d thought, because he’d thought he’d had her with that invite for all otherworldly creatures, regardless of having non-pack status within their own realms or the human realm, were invited to come and see if they might find their Mate. She’d actually laughed at the wording of it. It had been so she couldn’t play, she didn’t fit the criteria, or I’m a rogue card as a way of not attending the ball. Wynta thought she was now even beginning to frustrate Alpha Edward, that he now had to find other ways to try and get her into his pack. It was clear to her that he had read all her reasons for getting out of setting foot inside his pack territory. It kind of amused her more than a little bit to see all the effort he was going to. She’d used 'I'm going to a Marketing Conference' on him, and she had actually done so. It had also been booked four months prior to that mating ball, paid for by his own company. She’d written a politely worded email about she didn’t want to be seen as wasting the company's money because the event was nonrefundable, and she didn’t want to disappoint her team, who were also all going to the conference with her. It was out of state and fully booked and organized months in advance. She’d attached the booking list of employees and the accommodation and conference details for him to check it all. She’d laughed softly to herself when she’d hit the send button on that one, it had just been perfect timing for her, nothing more. She’d leaned back in her chair all happy that day and chuckled softly because it wasn’t the first time she’d used skills building courses to get out of mating balls. She always kept track of when and where those skill-building conferences took place, and if they ever fell on a full moon, or the travel to and or from one did, she signed herself up for them; did it months in advance just so she could state she hadn’t deliberately avoided the invite at the last minute. She had an education and team building budget to use, and that’s what she used it on. Sometimes she would take the whole team with her. Hell, once all three marketing teams had gone to it, including her and the other supervisors, everyone had signed up for it when she’d put it on the bulletin board in the office. The three departments had even split the cost of hiring a bus to get them there and back. He couldn’t stop her from continuing to learn what was needed, in the ever-changing world around them, that was considered the best way to target their buyers and promote their businesses; it was all necessary skill building. This invitation, however, she had a feeling she was unlikely to be able to get out of, he’d already probably checked into it himself. Though she did earn decent money now, and had moved up in the company from a Marketing Specialist to a Marketing Supervisor and that had come with a new office, and a higher pay check. She still begrudged the idea of having to go out there and buy a formal dress for this occasion. She wasn’t a pack member, so it shouldn’t be mandatory for her to attend, but he’d gotten her to sign for that bloody invitation, and now she had an obligation, even as a rogue, to attend it. Wynta sighed and shook her head, just knew there was not going to be a way to get out of it. He’d done his homework on this one. He was likely going to push for her to move into pack territory or that new apartment building he’d just finished building. It wasn’t massive, just six storeys high with six apartments on each floor, but the top that only had four and they were considered penthouse apartments. He’d given her and her team the job of marketing the ground floor space, where he’d wanted a restaurant and a café along with two boutique stores to go there for revenue, things that would need marketing not just advertising. Edward had even sent her and her team down to check out that building. They’d all been met there by Chester, the pack’s Gamma, or to her team, one of the founders of the company they worked for. She and her team had been walked onto every floor and allowed to look at the apartments. Just showing them around so they could get a feel for the type of people that were going to rent the apartments out. Chester had told them they would likely all be executive-type people. Nothing here was more than two bedrooms, and the space was large. There was no real room for children. Chester had been watching her as they’d walked around. He walked right next to her the entire time and, although he’d been professional in his talking to her and the team, telling them what they wanted. She wasn’t so dumb as to not know why she had been chosen to lead this little project. He’d stood and leaned on a window in one of the penthouse's living areas and stated, “It’s a nice apartment, got a fantastic view, close to the office,” He’d even pointed it out in the distance, for her to see. She knew where it was, she had walked down here with her team, a casual 30-minute stroll where they’d all gotten coffee along the way. “I think this particular penthouse apartment would be fit for a single woman like yourself, don’t you think? It’s got lots of closet space too.” Wynta had nodded and smiled at him, rolled her eyes a little and commented, “I’m certain one of the managers would like it.” and then casually walked away from him. She wasn’t going to be swayed into moving into a pack-bought apartment. She understood it was Edwards way of getting her to likely take a baby step into being part of his pack. She was not fooled by this; she’d heard Chester chuckle softly and murmur, “You’re one tough nut to crack.” “No, I’m not. I like my simple life, is all. It’s uncomplicated and no one tells me what to do.” She’d smiled at him. She’d looked at Chester after walking about that penthouse, “You may tell Edward, I have a place of my own, and I’m comfortable living there, have been now for five years. I have a good rapport with my landlord.” She’d tipped her coffee to him and left the apartment. She still lived in her ground floor studio apartment, just five blocks away, and she saw no need to upgrade to something bigger and better just for status’s sake. She also didn’t need the extra room; that just meant more cleaning to her, and shelling out more dollars for rent, not something she wanted to do. That was completely unnecessary in her eyes. Her landlord actually maintained the building she lived in. She’d gotten new carpet two years ago and the entire place had been painted as well. It looked really nice, her rent was always paid on time, and she caused no trouble for him at all, so she was considered a good tenant. Though the place had lots of people moving in and out of it, mostly students from the local university lived there, so she got new neighbors quite often. Living in her studio apartment had allowed her to create a nice amount of savings for herself, that money sat in her bank account, for that inevitable rainy day, when it came; that would see her up and leave, move away to a new place for whatever reason. It could be a bigger, better job or that she just wanted a change of scenery, but she was comfortable right now, and that was the only reason she’d not moved on. Well, that, and she liked annoying Alpha Edward with her constant refusal to step onto his pack territory and making him stick to their original handshake deal upon hiring her. She placed that invitation back into the envelope and then the box and put it on a shelf behind her desk. She had noted that there was no plus one on there. So at least she wasn’t expected to bring a date. Though that also told her Edward knew she didn’t have a date to bring. She sighed to herself at the thought of spending her hard-earned money, and although she had the money to spend, she didn’t want to spend it. She saw it as a complete waste of her savings. She had a dozen suits, all of which were acceptable to wear to functions and made her look professional and presentable. But now this having to buy a full formal dress, she wondered if she could sell it after wearing it just once, to get some of her money back? Buying a dress, she also knew she was going to have to buy some sort of heels to go with that dress as well. Wynta sighed at that thought, she didn’t wear heels. Even here in the office, simple, comfortable business style, black walking shoes was all. She was not out to attract attention to herself, and that aloof demeanor she had, kept most men at bay. Not all, but most, and she turned those that did ask her for coffee of lunch down, with a polite but firm “I’m sorry, I’m not interested.” She was straight to the point with all of them, so there were no misunderstandings to be had. Though she’d never once been hit on by a wolf within the company, only the humans, and she knew why. It was because she was of rogue status, and none of them knew how she’d become a rogue. She did smell like one to those that worked here. Several of the she-wolves didn’t like that a rogue worked within the company. Went out of their way to make sure she knew it as well, though she just ignored their so-called off-handed insults at how she smelled. One of her team had actually frowned once and muttered, “What the hell is she talking about? There’s no stench in here.” Looking about and that she-wolf, Carlotti had looked right at her on purpose, and then wrinkled her nose for her team to see and then just walked off. They’d all looked at her after she’d left, and she’d just shrugged it off. Carlotti, or Lotti to the wolves of the pack, was from what Wynta could tell the youngest stepdaughter of the pack’s Beta, she’d seen that she-wolf call him daddy at times. She knew Ernesto was mated, and that girl wasn’t, so it wasn’t a euphemism for something else. She’d also seen the Beta’s actual daughter roll her eyes at the girl’s behavior and try to pull her into line once. “He’s not your actual father and doesn’t need to give you anything.” Had come out of Meredith when Ernesto had left, “If you want money, go and get a bloody job and earn it like the rest of us do.” It had become a sibling dispute between one that worked hard, and one that apparently did nothing and thought she was entitled to everything. She’d seen Carlotti leave in tears when Meredith had snapped at her in front of the office, “You’re just a stepchild, will inherit nothing are not father’s actual kin. Just a greedy spoiled girl and when my brother takes over, you’ll be out on your ass for this behavior. I’ll gladly back him up.” She’d looked to the gathered crowd and muttered, “Sorry family dispute, back to work all of you.” Meredith didn’t seem to care that she was a rogue, but several others did. Likely Meredith saw that Wynta did her actual job within the company and didn’t cause any trouble either, so she was not offended by having a rogue work here. The weeks passed and there was suddenly talk of Jared Hayes, Edwards' oldest son, coming home from Europe for his brother's wedding. It was the talk of the office. She’d seen several pictures of him over the years in the company magazine, highlighting all the achievements he was making and the growth of the company with a new office in France. He was apparently the company’s hottest Batchelor, and still unmarried at 42, she’d nearly laughed at that, if only they knew his real age. Wynta knew that all of Edwards' children had reinvented themselves over the years and that Jared was in fact 82 years old but barely looked a day older than 35. He had jet black hair and blue eyes, and was rumored to be six-four. But all his brothers were roughly that height as Edward was, so it didn’t really surprise her. She’d never met the Alpha’s oldest heir. He rarely, if ever came home, and was busy it seemed off building his own empire. Though she’d seen all the others over the course of the years, Edward had walked them all through her department and stopped to introduce them all to her. She’d nodded and been polite in greeting them, then just turned back to her work. They didn’t pay her anymore attention than she did them, she only interacted with them if there was a need for it. Which mostly there wasn’t. None of them were in marketing, so it limited her exposure to them. Though each one of them had seen how aloof she was and that she only kept things to work terms. She never just talked freely with any wolf here in the building. Though she was good with her human team now, she could smile and chuckle at the things they did or the stories they told about something funny happening to them. She’d worked with them all for five years now, and only taken this promotion on the condition that her team went with her to the new floor. They worked like a well-oiled machine and she actually liked them. The office she had now was on the floor above the one they’d all originally worked in, and she had a large office with a glass wall and door between her and their desk out there. Though she had an open-door policy, and they could, at any time, holler out to her or just stroll in and talk to her. That window would frost over at the touch of a button, they’d been here now for a year and not once had she used it. Saw no need to. She looked at them now. They were all a buzz with the news that Edward was bringing Jared to walk through all the departments, to see if things needed improvement, the Monday after his brother’s wedding. Meanwhile, far away in Europe... Jared stood in his penthouse apartment listening to his father tell him that his brother Lance had found his Goddess-Gifted Mate, his band had lit up blue and when they put one on the she-wolf Raelynn, it had lit up as well. She’d not rejected Lance, and they were marked and mated. His father was very happy that finally one of his sons had found their Mate. Jared pinched the bridge of his nose at the thought that it was likely Lance who would be the first to have an heir, and then, when he turned 100, the pack would belong to his youngest brother. It wasn’t like Jared wasn’t looking for his Mate. He’d just simply moved countries to do so, he’d exhausted a lot of packs in the US looking for his Mate. Either she wasn’t born yet or lived in another country. He knew there were just as many packs here in Europe as there were in America, so he’d opted to move here and branch the pack’s business out at the same time. He’d made quite a few business allies over here in France, and there were many of their European allies, wolves, working in this building that he lived in. His penthouse was on the top floor like all of his units were. He was 82 years old and had not only searched in the US but in the Wolfen Realm as well back in his younger days. Now he was just simply here in Europe was all. “So, Jared, you’ll be coming home for Raelynn’s Luna Ceremony on the next full moon. Invites will be sent for you and your unit via email. Those here in the states will get one in person, though your mother will send you pictures of the actual invitations as well.” “Why would she need to do that?” he frowned. “Son, it’s so you can see what to expect when you find your own Mate, of course. She has been planning these events for many decades and allocated different colors to each of you. Well, actually her words were according from first to last mated. So where I know you, being the eldest would expect pack colors, Lance is getting that because he was the first to find his Mate. Sorry son.” “It’s fine.” He murmured. “I don’t think it really matters anyway… Isn’t it usually up to the Luna being celebrated?” he asked and turned to see his unit all walking into his apartment. He knew why they were here, it maybe 9pm in San Francisco, but it was only 6am here in France, and it was likely they’d all gotten a call from their fathers. Just like he was getting. ""Normally, it is son. It’s not yet discussed, but I know Lance wants that. So, it’s likely Raelynn will also agree.” Did it surprise him that his brother was going to want pack colors? No, the importance of him choosing and his mother agreeing to give him those colors; a full formal event in pack colors. It was a bold statement from Lance to his three brothers, himself, Ethan and Colby. That he was going to be the next Alpha to Cedar Rapids. ""Father, when I find a Mate I will allow her to choose whatever color she wants. Mother won’t get a say. Please remind her of that.” He told him simply, “She may plan for all her other heirs Luna Ceremonies, but I will follow wolfen tradition of letting the Luna that is being celebrated choose the color of the event.” “That is fine, son. So you’ll be coming home when exactly, how many days prior to the next full moon? There are a few people I want you to meet and talk with while you're here, so please plan to stay a week to a month would be good.” “A month?” he questioned right back. “Yes, like I said, I’ve got people I want you to meet.” “Goddess father, it’s not some bloody she-wolf of your choosing, is it? You know I won’t settle. Can’t if I want a chance to be the next Alpha.” “I’m aware of that Jared. I need your help with one very stubborn she-wolf on something; we’ll discuss it when you come home. Drives me a bit batty she does, so very resistant to all offers to come and live within the pack.” “Why do you need her to? If she’s allied she likely has a nice pack and likes it.” “A brilliant marketing mind. I’ve made many offers.” His father huffed at him, “I'm stuck, as are my unit and I need someone to charm her, so to speak.” He rolled his eyes and his entire unit snorted, fully amused. They all knew it was his father’s way of trying to get him to date someone he thought would be good for him. He let it go. “Just put Ethan or Colby to the task. They are right there.” “Hmm, she’s not interested in either of them, kind of dismissive of all ranked members.” His father sighed once more, a little on the heavy side. “Not even Chester is having any luck… seems to be immune to even a Gamma’s charm. Help your old man out, won’t you?” That was a curiosity to him. Though he wondered if it was true at all, not many could get past a Gamma. “I’ll have Dwane do it,” he stated, “I’ll get back to you on the date I’ll be arriving. I’ll have to look at flights and see what’s available.” His father sighed at the comment about him having his Beta charm the girl, but he let it go and stated, “I could send the Jet over.” “No need, Wolf Airline branched out into Europe this year, so we’ll travel safely and in wolfen comfort.” Jared stated simply, “Tell Lance congratulations, I’m looking forward to meeting Raelynn, that I’ll bring something from France as a Luna Gift. Get mother to find out what the woman likes and email me.” “Alright, but a few days prior to the full moon son, is what I expect and at least a week after as well. Business reasons, of course. I will not be meddling in your love life; I learned my lesson when you opted to move halfway around the world.” Jared smiled “Well done, father. I see old wolves can be taught.” He chuckled and clicked the line closed to his father's shocked gasp at hearing his words. He shook his head and turned to his unit, “I guess we’re finally going home, Dwane, you’ll be seeing to that she-wolf.” He shook his head. “It’s your department anyway.” “Hmm, I don’t think things are going to go your way, Jared. Your father can be underhanded and tricky. Sometimes what he says isn’t actually what he means,” Dwane stated. “I’m fully aware of how he goes about getting what he wants.” He nodded. He spent the next few weeks leading up to going back to the pack, attending business as usual, and reorganizing his schedule to fit in with his father’s request of a week to a month-long stay. He’d split that to make two weeks. A compromise that he was happy with, and he’d managed to get a flight that would see him arrive the day of the ceremony, but he needed that for himself, due to business meetings here and the rearranging of his schedule to fit in around others. His father had to deal with it. Though the boys were all headed back before he was, arriving a few days before the ceremony. His flight, however, couldn’t be helped, though he took a very unhappy call from both his parents about it because Lance was of the opinion it was disrespectful, and that he was trying to weasel his way out of being there at all. That he was going to claim that something came up, and so he couldn’t catch his flight. All because he was ticked off that Lance had found his Mate before him. Jared had rolled his eyes, “I’ve bought the ticket, I simply had to rearrange things here to suit others that I had scheduled meetings with over the period you insist I'm there and so have to be away from here. Not everyone fits around your schedule. They're not all wolfen so don't understand. It has nothing to do with my not being happy for Lance. I’m actually very happy for him. Lessens the pressure on me to find my Mate.” Both his parents had gone quiet with his words, and he’d smiled to himself, “Mother, father, I am one to abide by the rules you set out. I will not object to whoever is mated and has an heir first by the time they are 100. Lance has nothing to fear from me. My life is currently very busy anyway, as you both know.” “Well son, Lance has asked that a new stipulation be added to the invitation about attendance,” his father told him. “Oh, has he.” Jared leaned back in his chair and shook his head. “Pray tell, father, what is it?” “That no one turns up late and interrupts the ceremony. So, everyone must have arrived and be seated a full 1-hour prior to the event starting, or on the shaming post and a lashing they will receive for disrespect.” “That is fine. I believe my flight will get in around one thirtyish, and the ceremony is at 7pm. I’m certain father, it won’t take me 4 hours to get through customs, hire a car and drive the one hour to the pack.” “Good. That is what I want to hear. Now I have one thing to ask of you. A favor, so to speak.” Here we go he thought to himself, “And that would be?” “I just need you to stop and pick up a new pack member. She doesn’t drive and has no way to get out to the pack, it’ll be on your way, and take but a moment of your time.” He could hear the smile in his father’s voice and just knew this was part of his plotting. “Fine, send me the address,” he stated, “And make sure she is ready and waiting for me to pick her up. I’m not one for standing around waiting on people, especially she-wolves that are just putting on make-up.” “I’ll make sure she is aware of your attitude and request. Though I don’t see it being a problem, she’s not one to wear a great deal of make-up. A natural beauty, wouldn’t you say Marian?” his father asked his mother. “Oh, yes, pretty as a picture.” He was betting she was, and willing to climb right into his bed at his father's request as well, just like all the others. "
The hotel recognized her immediately… and what they implied made my stomach drop 👀
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"She looked at her second chance mate with disappointment. “Wynta, I didn’t mean to...” he panicked. “No,” she cut him off, “The truth was— you left me in the storm to pick up another woman. And I almost died.” The moon goddess had arranged another jerk Alpha for her. But she will never say “yes” to a toxic mate bond. If she could reject the first, she wouldn't hesitate to reject the second. “Please—” He stared at her with begging eyes. Yet she just turned around and finished her words. “I, Wynta Morgan, reject you, Jared Hayes, as my second chance mate.” ===== *Wynta aged 18* “Come on, Wynta. You will see the stars when we both have you.” The first time Wynta let Nolan tease her clothes off, he wanted to bring his Beta Yale into her bedroom. Wynta believed her lover and future Alpha Nolan, was trying to coerce her into believing she was not only his Goddess-Gifted Mate but also that of his Beta's as well. All, so the two of them could have her in their bed at the same time, and she knew it. “Are you kidding, Nolan?"" A cool, assessing stare settled in Wynta's eyes as she deliberately took a step back, creating space. ""No, we’ve both scented it. You’re ours. We are both your actual Goddess-Gifted Mates."" Nolan’s voice was a low, coaxing purr. He reached out, tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear. Wynta didn't pull away, but she didn't lean into his touch either. ""No, Nolan. I didn't feel that."" ""You have to trust me, trust us, Wynta. The Goddess doesn’t make mistakes. Yale's outside now, you will let him in, right?"" His hand slid down to her waist, pulling her gently against him. His scent, usually a comfort, now felt cloying. “Imagine it. The three of us. No one will ever love you or protect you like we will.” She might be an orphan and wolf-less, but she wasn’t so stupid as to believe Nolan. Wynta pushed against his chest, creating a sliver of space. “What I want,” she said, her voice surprisingly steady, “is to wait for the moon. If what you’re saying is true, then waiting a few more days shouldn’t matter.” She decided to test them, it was only a week until the full moon and she was 18 now. She would be able to scent them both in just 7 days. If they were her Mates, why wouldn’t they just wait until they knew she could handle them, and would want them both? She had no interest in sleeping with Yale at all and didn’t really find him attractive. He was nice looking but not her type. He sighed, a sound of exaggerated patience. ""Fine, baby. The bond is already there, we will claim you, and you'd be the Future Luna."" He left a little on the annoyed side with her, and she’d heard Nolan stating, “These I’ll sweet talk her again, don’t you worry.” to his Beta from her window, they thought because she was wolf-less she wouldn't hear them, but they'd only been a few meters from her window. Even a human would have heard them. She’d not believed them, because she was, in fact, wolf-less and of an unknown lineage. All she had going for her was her pretty face, nice body and her brains. She’d liked Nolan’s sweet, charming attention over the past few months, and she had kind of stupidly fallen for him over the course of their relationship. He’d never rushed her for anything, took it slow and always wanted things to be at her pace. They’d only been sleeping together for two weeks and now, with this? What he’d said and told her, it was just wrong, and she knew it was all going to be a lie. And they would come to her again. Left with no other option, Wynta chose solitude over submission. So she had cuffed herself with Silver and chained herself to a tree in the deepest, darkest, most isolated part of the pack where there were no border patrols because this end of the woods was at the base of a steep, inaccessible gorge. Four days she sat out there chained and cuffed with silver, scent masked so no one would smell her or be able to locate her with a pack tether. She’d taken no water or food and was starving and dehydrating herself to prove it was all a lie. As that first day had turned into the second, there was no search for her. The third day came and still no warriors were scouring the pack for a missing pack member, which she’d seen the Alpha would do. Scouring every inch of the pack when searching for someone who was missing. The fourth day came and again, nothing: if Nolan and Yale were her Mates, they’d have gone to their father's and told them the truth of the matter, informed them she was missing, and they couldn’t find her anywhere. They would in fact be in a full-blown panic that their Mate was missing, and they had no contact with her. That night, on day four, she unchained herself and removed the cuff, stumbled her way back to her dorm and sank down in the shower, utterly exhausted by the long walk when she was already dehydrated. She kind of just fell out of the shower when she'd tried to get up and had mind-link to the pack doctor to tell him she needed help, and then had succumbed to the darkness of unconsciousness. Wynta woke up in the pack hospital with an IV in her arm and the pack doctor tending to the burn on her wrist from the silver cuff, “Finally awake after a full day, the Alpha will be happy, he needs to know what happened. He is investigating right now, tracking your scent to where you came from.” She’d said nothing at all; that just confirmed once more that neither Nolan nor Yale had known she was even missing. “Did I have any visitors?” she asked curiously. “No, I’m sorry, Wynta.” He sounded apologetic. “No one other than the Alpha and Luna wanting to know your actual state. “Alright,” she knew she had no family. She’d been given her name by the pack’s Luna, named after the season she had been found in. Winter, and given the last name Morgan for whatever reason the Luna had seen fit. That was how she’d become Wynta Morgan. That very night, as she lay there in the hospital bed wondering just what she was going to say to Nolan and Yale, about their behavior. Nolan connected a mind-link to her at 11pm, and he asked quite simply, “Where are you? It’s our date night, and I’m at your place. You’re not here.” She could hear the frown in his voice. Tonight was supposed to be their ordinary dating night. “I’m at the pack hospital,” she told him honestly. “On our date night? Why would you take a shift knowing we’re to be together?” he asked right back. He was only concerned about the fact that they weren’t going to be having sx. He had just presumed that she was working in the hospital, when she’d never once worked in the hospital before. “I’m sure you can wait until the full moon,” she stated blandly and cut the link. There was not one ounce of worry in his voice. It was she new without a doubt coercion. The full moon came and set just two days later, and it had been two hours since she’d scented out a Mate inside this pack. She even knew who it was because she recognized the two natural scents of her lover. There was, however, no other scent for her at all. She didn’t scent Yale, it was just more proof of the lie they had told her, to get what they wanted from her was all. She was still in the pack hospital, still attached to the IV with fluids running, the burns healing was slow-going because she didn’t have a wolf. There was a nurse sitting next to her bed with a wound trolley attending to the cleaning and redressing of the burn when Nolan walked into the room. Finally, he had tracked her down. He stood staring at her a little more than shocked. She stared at him as his eyes moved over her in that bed, being treated by a nurse, and he asked the nurse to give them a minute. Told her that his father had asked him to come and discuss something privately with her. He had to wait until the wound was dressed. She watched him pick up her chart and read through it, knew he was seeing all the details of what was wrong with her, how she’d been found; she’d read it herself. He put it back with a frown on his face without saying anything at all. She’d stupidly fallen for this man before her, who was the same age as her and would be off to Alpha College tomorrow morning if he didn’t scent out a Mate on this full moon. She also knew just from the fact that he was here alone, no parents trailing him to see who his Mate was, that he was here to reject her. That and the fact that it had been two hours since the moon had set, he would have recognized her scent as well. No one waited that long to hunt down a Mate they wanted to claim. The nurse finally left and Nolan closed the door. She understood that as well, it was going to be done privately, so none in this pack would know they’d paired up. “Why didn’t you tell me you were injured when I asked where you were?” he asked her directly. She raised an eyebrow at him, she’d told him she was at the hospital. That should have been all she needed to say. “I was missing for four days,” she stated. “You didn’t even know, did you? I was cuffed with silver and missing… if you had scented me out back then as you said, you’d have known and hunted everywhere for me… You and your Beta, just wanted to have sx with me at the same time is all, and I wouldn’t let you. “You’re also here two hours post the moon setting, Nolan, that speaks volumes… You’re not the man I thought you were.” She shook her head. She would not be accepting one such as his. “I, Wynta Morgan, reject you, Nolan Holland, as my Mate.” She voiced simply but meant every word. He just stood staring at her, almost not comprehending that she would reject him. “Imagine, Nolan, if I had been swayed by you and Yale, and let the two of you do me. You’d now be rejecting me on the basis that I did that, had sx with your own Beta…” she shook her head at him “I don’t want to be bound to one that clearly tried to coerce me. Just accept it Nolan.” He nodded slowly. “I, Nolan Holland, accept your rejection, Wynta Morgan. You are not my Mate or the future Luna to this pack,” he stated. She felt the complete severing of their bond and heard him hiss in pain. It only caused a dull ache in her chest. Being wolf-less had some perks, it seemed. “Wynta, we’ll come back to this when I get home from Alpha College,” he stated and turned and walked from the room. Did he expect her to just sit around and wait for him to change his mind? Because he was an Alpha and she was wolf-less. Not a chance. She was not going to just sit around and wait for an Alpha to decide if she was worthy of him. She would choose her future on her terms. *9 years later, Wynta aged 27* Wynta sat in the waiting room along with all the other job applicants, applying for the position of Marketing Specialist here at Hayes Enterprises. She had lost her previous job a few months back and was rapidly running out of funds. All the other applicants in this room were human. Though she had picked up a few wolves upon coming into the building, but there didn’t appear to be any working on this floor. But she was hopeful the interview today would be done by a panel of humans, seeing as all the applicants were human. She’d not been active in the wolfen world for nine years now. She had left it behind when she’d walked away from her home pack, the night she’d been released from the pack hospital. She’d simply gone to her single dorm two days after her future Alpha had left for Alpha College, and none had known what she was to him. She had packed her belongings into a suitcase and walked out of the pack. Turned herself rogue after stepping outside the pack’s territory. No one had come looking for her, as she’d walked calmly from that place, she was not going to just sit around and wait for an Alpha to decide if she was worthy of him. She’d fallen for him but also known it had all been a lie, everything he’d ever said to her, so no more would she be a part of that pack. She’d gotten on a train and just moved away, she’d picked up a couple of different jobs and put herself through university, getting scholarships where she could and student loans where possible, and now nine years later she was a marketing specialist, one that worked in the human world and stayed away from the world of wolves. She didn’t really consider Wolves to be her Kind, simply because she was in fact wolf-less. She considered herself to be human. So she lived and worked like a human did, she struggled to pay her rent and bills at times, like so many out here did. She bought only what she needed. Keeping five working outfits that could be mixed and matched to create different looks but were all professional at the same time. Then in her apartment she just lazed about in jeans and tee-shirts. She owned nothing fancy because she had no need of it. Her vacation days were spent laying in her apartment reading a good book or listening to music. She currently lived in a tiny studio apartment that just had a bedroom, a small kitchenette and a tiny bathroom. There was nothing fancy about it. She, at this time, couldn’t afford anything else at all. Having lost her previous job, she had already downgraded the one-bedroom proper apartment for a studio apartment. It was small, but she kept it neat and tidy, and after living there for a month, she’d realized it was all she actually needed. Though she had no luxuries here in this place, there was no TV or movie subscriptions, she’d canned everything to save money while looking for a new job. The only thing she had was her phone, which she needed for interviews and to take rejection calls, though she also used it for reading books online. She was aloof to all those around her. There were no contacts in her phone because she had no family and no pack attachments. She didn’t trust easily or form bonds with many around her. In an office environment she could do her job and hold proper conversations, work well in a team, but her trust was hard-earned. Despite being wolf-less, she could pick up things like the scent of other wolves, though couldn’t determine pack or bloodline, just understood wolfen kind smelt different to humans. They all had a more earthy/woodsy scent about them. She sometimes sat out in the parks and just watched the humans walk about interacting with other people. She could read mannerisms and facial expressions quite well. Pick a lie from the truth, because she listened to the inflexion of one’s voice, and saw the little things that humans did when lying. Fidgeting, no eye contact, excessive blinking or just closing their eyes, they bit their lips, a few even got flushed in the face. If she paid attention completely, she could hear the tone of their voice change and even pick up on the difference in sentence structure at times. Then there was that pause before they spoke, which often portrayed that they had to think about an answer, because they didn’t want to answer it honestly. She’d learn that humans were no different to wolves most of the time. They came to her when they wanted something from her and then screwed her over if they could, to take the credit for her own work. Both species were deceitful as far as she was concerned and all she was trying to do was live quietly unseen by all. She’d learned the hard way to live by herself, even roommates were deceitful and couldn’t be trusted. She’d found it was simply best to live alone and not make friends that would lie to her, and, or betray her trust. Steal from her or blame her for things that they’d done just to save their own ass. Her name and interview number were called, and it pulled her from her absent thoughts, and she stood and nodded to the woman looking for her, and then followed her quietly down the hall and around the corner to a room that stated Conference Room 2. The door was held open for her and she stepped inside. The moment she did, she could smell them, wolves, and not just any, she didn’t think. Just by looking at the sheer size of them and the way they were dressed and sat, they were going to be ranked members of some pack out there. She walked over and sat herself in the chair that was sitting before them as was expected of her, and looked at them. She knew they would all be able to scent her as not only a rogue but that she was wolf-less as well. They would have smelled it either while she sat out there in the waiting room or the moment she’d stepped into this room. Her sense of smell wasn’t the same as theirs, not even the same as an omega wolf. She watched as three of them leaned back in those chairs and left one leaning on the desk before him staring at her. That one thing told her they weren’t just ranked members but were, in fact, an Alpha and his Unit. The one that was watching her now, he was going to be the Alpha. He slid his eyes over her appearance and then turned his eyes to her application, read it through before returning his eyes to her and putting that paper down in front of him. “I’ll introduce myself formally to you,” he stated calmly. “I am Alpha Edward Hayes and this is my unit,” he waved a hand at the other wolves in this room. “May I enquire why you are a rogue?” he asked her directly, seems his curiosity about her non wolfen pack status outweighed the questions for this very job. Wynta frowned at his introduction. She didn’t really care who he was, and she didn’t think it was any of his business as to why she was a rogue. She knew one didn’t have to be part of a pack to live in this world. More and more wolves turned themselves rogue and left their packs to get away from the cruelty of their pack’s leadership. Especially those that were like herself. She’d seen and smelled many like herself over the past nine years, just out there like she was trying to make an honest living for themselves, and staying out of trouble in both the wolfen and human world alike. When she didn’t say anything to answer his question, he went on, “I see you’re 27. Surely someone with your skills could have found a pack to align yourself with… When did you go rogue or be turned rogue?” he asked once more. “I’m here for the job that was posted, not to relay my past history to you.” She finally spoke. “Do you have any questions for me that are related to my skills?” she asked him in return. He frowned at her now and she watched who she thought was the Beta lean forward and rest his arms on the desk “You could request sanctuary and ask to be a member of the pack. Then this job would be granted to you without issue,” he stated. Wynta raised an eyebrow at him, so that was the condition of getting this job, she thought absently. Clearly, all those humans out there were wasting their time coming here for an interview. This company was simply abiding by the human rules of appearing to hire honestly and fairly, when they intended to give the job to one of their own pack members. “Would you like to become a pack member, Wynta?” Alpha Edward asked her directly. “I would accept someone like yourself.” “Someone like me?” she murmured. “A rogue that is wolf-less and desperate for affiliation, you mean?” She shook her head a little dismayed, did she look desperate to them? She didn’t think so, her clothes were clean and presentable, as was her hair and light make-up. She certainly didn’t look underfed or unhealthy. “Are you going to ask me any actual interview questions about the position of a Marketing Specialist?” she asked once more. “My skills are as they are listed, and I have worked now for two separate companies as you can see.” “Wynta, we’ll get to your interview. I feel your rogue status is of more importance, and needs to be resolved first,” Alpha Edward stated. “Please, Mr Hayes, don’t address me so informally. I would prefer you call me Ms Morgan.” She put to him, showing him that she wasn’t interested in being a part of his pack, and she didn’t think that they were close enough to be on a first-name basis. All of them were frowning at her now, at her dismissing of them being an Alpha and his unit before her, but she was a rogue and didn’t have to acknowledge that. It was likely they’d not expected her to decline the offer of being initiated. But it wasn’t something she was looking for. She was just looking for a job to have an income once more, and to keep a roof over her head, and food in her belly, nothing more, nothing less. “How about you come and look at the pack? It’s an hour's drive from here, and you’ll see it’s a nice healthy pack; I even have several without wolves living there.” Edward offered. Again, she raised an eyebrow at him, this was not an interview anymore. She shook her head and stood up. “Thank you for wasting my time. I have other interviews to attend this week,” she stated simply and turned and walked from the room, showing them, she was clearly not interested in what they were offering. She handed in her lanyard and interview number to the lady out in the hall and made her way to the elevators to leave the building. She stood in that elevator as it took her to the ground floor and sighed internally to herself as she mentally ticked off another job that she’d not gotten; though this one was on her own doing. She’d walked away from it. Just one more day without working, that was going to eat into her savings. She knew the dollars in her bank account, knew she only had enough money to rent that studio apartment for three more months, and then she was going to be either out on the streets and in a women’s shelter or back to being an exotic dancer in a gentleman’s club just to make ends meet. Neither were nice thoughts for her; she’d been homeless for a few months after leaving her home pack, until she’d managed to get on campus living, but still it hadn’t been enough to survive on, so she’d had to take on a job that would bring in the dollars, and she wasn’t about to sell her body to men. So becoming an exotic dancer had been the only option open to her, that didn’t interfere with her class schedule. She’d not really liked it and only did it to make money was all. She pushed off the wall when the elevator stopped and walked out, as did several others and found herself face to face with who she thought was the Beta to that Alpha Unit. “Mr Hayes, would like a further word with you, Ms Morgan,” he stated with what appeared to be a friendly smile. “I’m not interested,” she told him, and went to step around him only to have his hand curl around her arm and halt her. “I’m afraid I’m going to have to insist,” he stated and tugged her along next to him down a bank of elevators and used a swipe card to have one open. She saw there were no floor markers on the outside or inside of it when she was escorted into it. The doors simply closed and the elevator moved. She understood it was an express elevator and likely only went to one floor, the top floor where the Alpha and his Unit all had offices. She leaned on the wall in there and just waited, said nothing at all to this man that was looking at her. She stared right back at him, uncaring of if it was offensive or not. Rogues didn’t have masters unless they chose to and she didn’t. It was a fast, smooth ride, and he escorted her out of the elevator down a corridor and directed her to sit on a couch. “Please stay here and wait.” He told her before turning to the woman at the desk next to the couch who was now looking at her with a slight frown on her face. “The Alpha will see Ms Morgan when his interviews are over for the day.” “Yes, Beta.” She nodded and he walked off. At least she’d guessed it right. He was the Beta to that group. She saw that she-wolf frown at her and wrinkle her nose as if she was offended by the stench of Wynta. She was, however, clean and, though of rogue status, took care of herself to make sure she didn’t scent terrible like other rogues out there in the wilderness. Though she honestly didn’t know what a Rogue scented like to other wolves, but to her, they kind of smelled like they were unclean and needed a bath. She didn’t think she smelled like that. She just sat as she was told. She wasn’t out to cause trouble for herself and knew how to behave herself. Even if she didn’t want to. After an hour of just sitting there, she was bored shitless, and so she stood up and stretched herself out and then walked away to have a look around the top floor for herself. There were a dozen offices up here, three conference rooms and an open coffee hub-like area where they all obviously ate. There were half a dozen tables and chairs and a couple of vending machines. She saw only the one elevator to this entire floor, and it had that swipe card access to it. She wasn’t going to be able to leave if she didn’t have one of them. She found the emergency stairwell and smiled to herself and pushed the door only to find it wouldn’t open, and frowned. It, too, had a swipe card box next to it. She appeared to be stuck here for now. She returned to the couch and sank down once more. Another hour passed, and she was more than unhappy, that she-wolf at her desk looked at her and stated, “Just be patient, he’s interviewing.” “You can’t keep me here like this,” she stated flatly. “I’m guessing he can, seeing as you’re still here. Just sit there,” she was told. Wynta thought about that, she knew there had to be away around the swipe card for everything, and as she leaned back there on the couch her eyes fell on the red emergency box, that had the words ‘Break glass in case of emergency.’ That she knew was going to unlock the emergency exit stairwell. A smile played on her lips as she sat up now. She’d get lost in the crowd of those all heading out of the building and be gone before they could find her once more. “Don’t do it Ms Morgan, it’s a very large fine.” Her thoughts were interrupted by the she-wolf. Her eyes moved towards her, and she watched her point to the ceiling, where she saw a camera, “It’ll be caught on camera, and the fine will come to you. Can you afford it? I believe it's $1600, and you could also face criminal charges. It’s a felony in this state, so you’ll also likely wind up with a criminal record if you don’t already have one.” “I don’t,” Wynta stated, and the she-wolf’s half smirk she likely thought that just because she was a rogue she did all sorts of illegal things to get by. She leaned back on the couch as she resigned herself to the fact that she was currently stuck here on this floor until someone escorted her from the building. By the third hour, she had laid down on that couch and made herself comfortable, ignored the she-wolf’s comment of it wasn’t very ladylike or professional to do so, and used her phone to read a book until she dozed off on that couch. Not one person on this floor had paid her the slightest bit of attention, except for the Alpha’s secretary, and she was just annoyed to have to watch over her, it seemed. She rolled over at one point in her half sleeping stated to try and be more comfortable and fell right off the couch, just lay there for a moment before sitting up with a huff. That secretary was staring at her. “You’re a lazy one I see,” she muttered. “I’ll tell the Alpha you’re finally awake.” And her eyes had glazed over. She picked herself up off the floor. He must be back up here, and she’d slept right through it, and he’d not woken her. That was a bit odd. He appeared in his office doorway, “Did you sleep well?” he smiled at her. “Come in, Ms Morgan.” He waved her into his office. She checked the time on her phone and saw it was the middle of the afternoon. Her interview had been at 10am this morning. The day was nearly over. It was nearly 3pm. She walked into the Alpha’s office and sat where he told her to. “Why am I still here?” she asked him directly. “Because I’m not willing to let you continue to be of rogue status, it’s unsafe for female rogues out there in the world. Even more so for those without wolves, who are defenseless against wolfen strength.” “Other rogues leave me alone, the wolf-less aren’t of interest to roaming bands of rogues. We’re worth nothing to those wanting to kidnap and sell she-wolves, we can’t take a beating or a lashing without winding up in the pack hospital or dying from it. It’s a waste of money to buy the wolf-less.” She informed him. “So, I’m perfectly safe out there on my own. Always have been.” She told him simply. “Mm, I see… but in all good consciousness, I can’t let you leave as you are. So, here’s what I’m willing to offer you. The job you applied for today, a house or apartment within the pack and full sanctuary where no harm will come to you. “You’ll be able to have full access to proper wolfen medical, at no cost to you. You’ll also be able to train with others like yourself, to be able to protect yourself when outside the pack. Attend mating balls to find your Mate and have a full wolfen social life.” He smiled at her as if that was an appealing offer. “I have an apartment here in the city, just a few blocks away. I don’t drive, so wouldn’t be able to get from the pack to the office if I took up that offer. I’ve never come to harm out here in the human world, and I’ve been in it for many years now. “I can also protect myself if I need to, and I have no interest in being initiated into or living inside a pack or attending any pack functions, including that of Mating Balls,” Wynta countered him, “I’ll, however, take the job that I do need.” He was frowning at her now. “All wolves need the social aspect, or they can become…” he trailed off. “Anti-social creatures.” She nodded. “I’m already that, and I don’t care that I am.” She shrugged but would take this opportunity to tell him how she’d work. “I will work quietly and cause you nor this company any problems. I get my work done on time or stay back, working late doesn’t particularly bother me all that much. “I can and will collaborate within a team and listen to and follow the instructions of my supervisor. I know how to be a contributing member of a working team and how to be professional even though I don’t take an interest in socializing personally with those on my team,” she told him. He leaned back in his chair and stared at her with narrowed eyes, and she mimicked his pose after a minute of silence. She would not be giving him what he wanted today. Another minute passed, and his mouth twitched in one corner. He seemed amused by her stubbornness. “What will it take,” she finally asked, breaking the silence, “to let me leave this office and get the job?” He smiled at her, “You agreeing to be initiated into my pack. I’ll allow you to retain your city apartment, seeing as you already have one and don’t drive.” She stared at him for a long moment and then laid out her own terms to get the job she needed. “Initiation into your pack will be on my terms.” She offered a compromise. “What exactly does that mean?” he frowned once more. “I’ll let you initiate me, only when I willingly set foot into your pack's official pack territory, and that’s what? An hour away, you stated.” “I did.” He nodded. “I can agree to that.” He smiled at her. “Let’s go and look at your work space then, shall we?” *5 years later, Wynta aged 32* Wynta got the pack invitation delivered right to her desk. She’d not known what it was at first; just had the mail delivery girl Louise, walk into her office at 10am and ask her to sign for a package as she’d put it on the desk. There was a small white sticky note on it that had her name clearly printed on it. Wynta had asked in return what the package was for and gotten “A gala invitation, I’m on delivery duty today for all of them.” And she’d indicated to her cart by the door. Wynta had seen that there were indeed many blue boxes in her delivery cart, that looked just like the one Louise had placed on her desk. She’d nodded and signed the slip to say she’d received it, and Louise had taken the sticker and attached it to her clipboard next to Wynta’s signature. Then she had smiled at Wynta and stated, “I’ll see you there. Signing for the invitation is you stating you’ll attend.” That had snapped Wynta’s head up, and she’d frowned right at Louise, who’d then smiled a little apologetically, “Sorry Ms Morgan, but Mr Hayes specifically told me I wasn’t to inform you of that, until after you signed for it.” She’d just nodded and waved the woman out, sat and watched her leave. Bloody Alpha Edward had finally found a way to make her step onto pack territory willingly, it seemed, and she didn’t know at this time if she could say it wasn’t willing or not. She’d have to do some research into the nitty-gritty of that one. He’d clearly tricked her into signing for it, so she’d technically stated she'd attend of her own free will. Which she knew was going to be considered, that it meant she would be stepping into pack territory of her own free will as well; to attend this Luna Ceremony. But was it really of her own free will? When, in reality, he’d gone about this in an underhanded manner, leaving out important information, and all in order just to get her to sign for that invitation. He knew she wouldn’t sign for it if she knew it meant she had to step foot inside his pack's territory. She shook her head, just knew it was his roundabout way of forcing her hand into being initiated into his pack. Though a small part of her was very amused by his underhanded tactics, because it had taken him five long years to get that which he wanted from her. She’d thought he’d have just learned to live with the fact she didn’t want to be a pack member, and that she was, in fact, happy living as a rogue, seemed not even after all these years. Wynta returned her attention to the invitation. It was a very pretty navy-blue box with embossed letting on it, and she even knew whose they were. She’d heard that Edwards' youngest son and fourth heir, Lance, had found his Fated Mate on the previous full moon. It was still the current talk of not only the office, but in the human world as well. This was the Luna Ceremony invitation by the look of it. Pack colors were in fashion, it seemed. She did know Cedar Rapids pack colors were navy blue, silver and, of course, the color of red cedar. She knew why, because the pack had rapids that ran right through it and there were many red cedar trees inside the pack. It was aptly named, she thought. Wynta opened the box and inside it was an envelope with a wax seal in there. She shook her head and wondered what the box was for. Was it a pack tradition or just that they wanted to be extra fancy. She broke the seal, which also held their initials L&R, and slid out the actual invitation; a nicely folded invitation, and again there was another seal. Only this one had three fine pieces of golden thread to hold it together and bound to the wax. It was all very fancy, she realized; Edward and Marian were going all out. She broke that seal and opened the actual invitation, and their names, Lance and Raelynn, were written in a big, bold flashy script, and then the event name time and the place, the pack’s ballroom of course, where all Luna Ceremonies were held, she supposed. Not that she had ever been to one, but she’d heard they were a grand event. On the inside of the right-hand side was a list of details, of what not to wear and the type of attire that was expected. It was a black-tie event and full formal wear was expected, and no pack member or affiliated guest was allowed to wear anything white or cream, in color. The Luna would be wearing a white gown and any upstaging of her or attempts at it would be fully punishable by three lashings on the shaming post. The event was mandatory, and the entire pack was expected to attend the event to celebrate the happy couple. Those that opted not to attend would see themselves on the shaming post and given one lash for disrespect. In brackets, it read, (those without wolves, one day on the shaming post and full admonishment by Alpha and Luna) Then on the left side of the invitation was the RSVP details. There was a QR Code and under that it stated all women had to state the color of the dress they would be wearing on the RSVP. It was preferred that bright or dark colors were to be worn, and all full pastel colors were to be avoided. She just shook her head. Though she sat and stared at that invitation for a long time, she’d worked for Hayes Industries now for five years, and still she’d managed to never set foot inside the pack itself. She had not attended a single mating ball because she saw no need to. She’d had a Mate once, and rejected him long ago, 14 years now, and so there was no reason to think she’d get another. She’d, however, gotten three invites a year for the past five years and ticked the decline box on all occasions. After that first year, those invites had stated that she was to list the reason she would not be attending. She’d shaken her head, understanding it was Alpha Edward’s way of trying, she thought, to find a way to get her onto pack territory. She’d written on three of them 'not a ranked member', on three others, 'I’ll be away on vacation', and on several of them she’d simply written ‘I don’t fit the criteria for the mating ball.’ She was still a rogue and so held no rank inside that pack, not even when she’d been sent and omega only invite, she’d declined that on not being an omega. But being of rogue status, she actually didn’t fit any of their criteria, and could claim just being a rogue, but it was she thought annoying for Edward to have to read all her reasons as to why she wouldn’t be attending. The last refusal had been ingenious on her part, she’d thought, because he’d thought he’d had her with that invite for all otherworldly creatures, regardless of having non-pack status within their own realms or the human realm, were invited to come and see if they might find their Mate. She’d actually laughed at the wording of it. It had been so she couldn’t play, she didn’t fit the criteria, or I’m a rogue card as a way of not attending the ball. Wynta thought she was now even beginning to frustrate Alpha Edward, that he now had to find other ways to try and get her into his pack. It was clear to her that he had read all her reasons for getting out of setting foot inside his pack territory. It kind of amused her more than a little bit to see all the effort he was going to. She’d used 'I'm going to a Marketing Conference' on him, and she had actually done so. It had also been booked four months prior to that mating ball, paid for by his own company. She’d written a politely worded email about she didn’t want to be seen as wasting the company's money because the event was nonrefundable, and she didn’t want to disappoint her team, who were also all going to the conference with her. It was out of state and fully booked and organized months in advance. She’d attached the booking list of employees and the accommodation and conference details for him to check it all. She’d laughed softly to herself when she’d hit the send button on that one, it had just been perfect timing for her, nothing more. She’d leaned back in her chair all happy that day and chuckled softly because it wasn’t the first time she’d used skills building courses to get out of mating balls. She always kept track of when and where those skill-building conferences took place, and if they ever fell on a full moon, or the travel to and or from one did, she signed herself up for them; did it months in advance just so she could state she hadn’t deliberately avoided the invite at the last minute. She had an education and team building budget to use, and that’s what she used it on. Sometimes she would take the whole team with her. Hell, once all three marketing teams had gone to it, including her and the other supervisors, everyone had signed up for it when she’d put it on the bulletin board in the office. The three departments had even split the cost of hiring a bus to get them there and back. He couldn’t stop her from continuing to learn what was needed, in the ever-changing world around them, that was considered the best way to target their buyers and promote their businesses; it was all necessary skill building. This invitation, however, she had a feeling she was unlikely to be able to get out of, he’d already probably checked into it himself. Though she did earn decent money now, and had moved up in the company from a Marketing Specialist to a Marketing Supervisor and that had come with a new office, and a higher pay check. She still begrudged the idea of having to go out there and buy a formal dress for this occasion. She wasn’t a pack member, so it shouldn’t be mandatory for her to attend, but he’d gotten her to sign for that bloody invitation, and now she had an obligation, even as a rogue, to attend it. Wynta sighed and shook her head, just knew there was not going to be a way to get out of it. He’d done his homework on this one. He was likely going to push for her to move into pack territory or that new apartment building he’d just finished building. It wasn’t massive, just six storeys high with six apartments on each floor, but the top that only had four and they were considered penthouse apartments. He’d given her and her team the job of marketing the ground floor space, where he’d wanted a restaurant and a café along with two boutique stores to go there for revenue, things that would need marketing not just advertising. Edward had even sent her and her team down to check out that building. They’d all been met there by Chester, the pack’s Gamma, or to her team, one of the founders of the company they worked for. She and her team had been walked onto every floor and allowed to look at the apartments. Just showing them around so they could get a feel for the type of people that were going to rent the apartments out. Chester had told them they would likely all be executive-type people. Nothing here was more than two bedrooms, and the space was large. There was no real room for children. Chester had been watching her as they’d walked around. He walked right next to her the entire time and, although he’d been professional in his talking to her and the team, telling them what they wanted. She wasn’t so dumb as to not know why she had been chosen to lead this little project. He’d stood and leaned on a window in one of the penthouse's living areas and stated, “It’s a nice apartment, got a fantastic view, close to the office,” He’d even pointed it out in the distance, for her to see. She knew where it was, she had walked down here with her team, a casual 30-minute stroll where they’d all gotten coffee along the way. “I think this particular penthouse apartment would be fit for a single woman like yourself, don’t you think? It’s got lots of closet space too.” Wynta had nodded and smiled at him, rolled her eyes a little and commented, “I’m certain one of the managers would like it.” and then casually walked away from him. She wasn’t going to be swayed into moving into a pack-bought apartment. She understood it was Edwards way of getting her to likely take a baby step into being part of his pack. She was not fooled by this; she’d heard Chester chuckle softly and murmur, “You’re one tough nut to crack.” “No, I’m not. I like my simple life, is all. It’s uncomplicated and no one tells me what to do.” She’d smiled at him. She’d looked at Chester after walking about that penthouse, “You may tell Edward, I have a place of my own, and I’m comfortable living there, have been now for five years. I have a good rapport with my landlord.” She’d tipped her coffee to him and left the apartment. She still lived in her ground floor studio apartment, just five blocks away, and she saw no need to upgrade to something bigger and better just for status’s sake. She also didn’t need the extra room; that just meant more cleaning to her, and shelling out more dollars for rent, not something she wanted to do. That was completely unnecessary in her eyes. Her landlord actually maintained the building she lived in. She’d gotten new carpet two years ago and the entire place had been painted as well. It looked really nice, her rent was always paid on time, and she caused no trouble for him at all, so she was considered a good tenant. Though the place had lots of people moving in and out of it, mostly students from the local university lived there, so she got new neighbors quite often. Living in her studio apartment had allowed her to create a nice amount of savings for herself, that money sat in her bank account, for that inevitable rainy day, when it came; that would see her up and leave, move away to a new place for whatever reason. It could be a bigger, better job or that she just wanted a change of scenery, but she was comfortable right now, and that was the only reason she’d not moved on. Well, that, and she liked annoying Alpha Edward with her constant refusal to step onto his pack territory and making him stick to their original handshake deal upon hiring her. She placed that invitation back into the envelope and then the box and put it on a shelf behind her desk. She had noted that there was no plus one on there. So at least she wasn’t expected to bring a date. Though that also told her Edward knew she didn’t have a date to bring. She sighed to herself at the thought of spending her hard-earned money, and although she had the money to spend, she didn’t want to spend it. She saw it as a complete waste of her savings. She had a dozen suits, all of which were acceptable to wear to functions and made her look professional and presentable. But now this having to buy a full formal dress, she wondered if she could sell it after wearing it just once, to get some of her money back? Buying a dress, she also knew she was going to have to buy some sort of heels to go with that dress as well. Wynta sighed at that thought, she didn’t wear heels. Even here in the office, simple, comfortable business style, black walking shoes was all. She was not out to attract attention to herself, and that aloof demeanor she had, kept most men at bay. Not all, but most, and she turned those that did ask her for coffee of lunch down, with a polite but firm “I’m sorry, I’m not interested.” She was straight to the point with all of them, so there were no misunderstandings to be had. Though she’d never once been hit on by a wolf within the company, only the humans, and she knew why. It was because she was of rogue status, and none of them knew how she’d become a rogue. She did smell like one to those that worked here. Several of the she-wolves didn’t like that a rogue worked within the company. Went out of their way to make sure she knew it as well, though she just ignored their so-called off-handed insults at how she smelled. One of her team had actually frowned once and muttered, “What the hell is she talking about? There’s no stench in here.” Looking about and that she-wolf, Carlotti had looked right at her on purpose, and then wrinkled her nose for her team to see and then just walked off. They’d all looked at her after she’d left, and she’d just shrugged it off. Carlotti, or Lotti to the wolves of the pack, was from what Wynta could tell the youngest stepdaughter of the pack’s Beta, she’d seen that she-wolf call him daddy at times. She knew Ernesto was mated, and that girl wasn’t, so it wasn’t a euphemism for something else. She’d also seen the Beta’s actual daughter roll her eyes at the girl’s behavior and try to pull her into line once. “He’s not your actual father and doesn’t need to give you anything.” Had come out of Meredith when Ernesto had left, “If you want money, go and get a bloody job and earn it like the rest of us do.” It had become a sibling dispute between one that worked hard, and one that apparently did nothing and thought she was entitled to everything. She’d seen Carlotti leave in tears when Meredith had snapped at her in front of the office, “You’re just a stepchild, will inherit nothing are not father’s actual kin. Just a greedy spoiled girl and when my brother takes over, you’ll be out on your ass for this behavior. I’ll gladly back him up.” She’d looked to the gathered crowd and muttered, “Sorry family dispute, back to work all of you.” Meredith didn’t seem to care that she was a rogue, but several others did. Likely Meredith saw that Wynta did her actual job within the company and didn’t cause any trouble either, so she was not offended by having a rogue work here. The weeks passed and there was suddenly talk of Jared Hayes, Edwards' oldest son, coming home from Europe for his brother's wedding. It was the talk of the office. She’d seen several pictures of him over the years in the company magazine, highlighting all the achievements he was making and the growth of the company with a new office in France. He was apparently the company’s hottest Batchelor, and still unmarried at 42, she’d nearly laughed at that, if only they knew his real age. Wynta knew that all of Edwards' children had reinvented themselves over the years and that Jared was in fact 82 years old but barely looked a day older than 35. He had jet black hair and blue eyes, and was rumored to be six-four. But all his brothers were roughly that height as Edward was, so it didn’t really surprise her. She’d never met the Alpha’s oldest heir. He rarely, if ever came home, and was busy it seemed off building his own empire. Though she’d seen all the others over the course of the years, Edward had walked them all through her department and stopped to introduce them all to her. She’d nodded and been polite in greeting them, then just turned back to her work. They didn’t pay her anymore attention than she did them, she only interacted with them if there was a need for it. Which mostly there wasn’t. None of them were in marketing, so it limited her exposure to them. Though each one of them had seen how aloof she was and that she only kept things to work terms. She never just talked freely with any wolf here in the building. Though she was good with her human team now, she could smile and chuckle at the things they did or the stories they told about something funny happening to them. She’d worked with them all for five years now, and only taken this promotion on the condition that her team went with her to the new floor. They worked like a well-oiled machine and she actually liked them. The office she had now was on the floor above the one they’d all originally worked in, and she had a large office with a glass wall and door between her and their desk out there. Though she had an open-door policy, and they could, at any time, holler out to her or just stroll in and talk to her. That window would frost over at the touch of a button, they’d been here now for a year and not once had she used it. Saw no need to. She looked at them now. They were all a buzz with the news that Edward was bringing Jared to walk through all the departments, to see if things needed improvement, the Monday after his brother’s wedding. Meanwhile, far away in Europe... Jared stood in his penthouse apartment listening to his father tell him that his brother Lance had found his Goddess-Gifted Mate, his band had lit up blue and when they put one on the she-wolf Raelynn, it had lit up as well. She’d not rejected Lance, and they were marked and mated. His father was very happy that finally one of his sons had found their Mate. Jared pinched the bridge of his nose at the thought that it was likely Lance who would be the first to have an heir, and then, when he turned 100, the pack would belong to his youngest brother. It wasn’t like Jared wasn’t looking for his Mate. He’d just simply moved countries to do so, he’d exhausted a lot of packs in the US looking for his Mate. Either she wasn’t born yet or lived in another country. He knew there were just as many packs here in Europe as there were in America, so he’d opted to move here and branch the pack’s business out at the same time. He’d made quite a few business allies over here in France, and there were many of their European allies, wolves, working in this building that he lived in. His penthouse was on the top floor like all of his units were. He was 82 years old and had not only searched in the US but in the Wolfen Realm as well back in his younger days. Now he was just simply here in Europe was all. “So, Jared, you’ll be coming home for Raelynn’s Luna Ceremony on the next full moon. Invites will be sent for you and your unit via email. Those here in the states will get one in person, though your mother will send you pictures of the actual invitations as well.” “Why would she need to do that?” he frowned. “Son, it’s so you can see what to expect when you find your own Mate, of course. She has been planning these events for many decades and allocated different colors to each of you. Well, actually her words were according from first to last mated. So where I know you, being the eldest would expect pack colors, Lance is getting that because he was the first to find his Mate. Sorry son.” “It’s fine.” He murmured. “I don’t think it really matters anyway… Isn’t it usually up to the Luna being celebrated?” he asked and turned to see his unit all walking into his apartment. He knew why they were here, it maybe 9pm in San Francisco, but it was only 6am here in France, and it was likely they’d all gotten a call from their fathers. Just like he was getting. ""Normally, it is son. It’s not yet discussed, but I know Lance wants that. So, it’s likely Raelynn will also agree.” Did it surprise him that his brother was going to want pack colors? No, the importance of him choosing and his mother agreeing to give him those colors; a full formal event in pack colors. It was a bold statement from Lance to his three brothers, himself, Ethan and Colby. That he was going to be the next Alpha to Cedar Rapids. ""Father, when I find a Mate I will allow her to choose whatever color she wants. Mother won’t get a say. Please remind her of that.” He told him simply, “She may plan for all her other heirs Luna Ceremonies, but I will follow wolfen tradition of letting the Luna that is being celebrated choose the color of the event.” “That is fine, son. So you’ll be coming home when exactly, how many days prior to the next full moon? There are a few people I want you to meet and talk with while you're here, so please plan to stay a week to a month would be good.” “A month?” he questioned right back. “Yes, like I said, I’ve got people I want you to meet.” “Goddess father, it’s not some bloody she-wolf of your choosing, is it? You know I won’t settle. Can’t if I want a chance to be the next Alpha.” “I’m aware of that Jared. I need your help with one very stubborn she-wolf on something; we’ll discuss it when you come home. Drives me a bit batty she does, so very resistant to all offers to come and live within the pack.” “Why do you need her to? If she’s allied she likely has a nice pack and likes it.” “A brilliant marketing mind. I’ve made many offers.” His father huffed at him, “I'm stuck, as are my unit and I need someone to charm her, so to speak.” He rolled his eyes and his entire unit snorted, fully amused. They all knew it was his father’s way of trying to get him to date someone he thought would be good for him. He let it go. “Just put Ethan or Colby to the task. They are right there.” “Hmm, she’s not interested in either of them, kind of dismissive of all ranked members.” His father sighed once more, a little on the heavy side. “Not even Chester is having any luck… seems to be immune to even a Gamma’s charm. Help your old man out, won’t you?” That was a curiosity to him. Though he wondered if it was true at all, not many could get past a Gamma. “I’ll have Dwane do it,” he stated, “I’ll get back to you on the date I’ll be arriving. I’ll have to look at flights and see what’s available.” His father sighed at the comment about him having his Beta charm the girl, but he let it go and stated, “I could send the Jet over.” “No need, Wolf Airline branched out into Europe this year, so we’ll travel safely and in wolfen comfort.” Jared stated simply, “Tell Lance congratulations, I’m looking forward to meeting Raelynn, that I’ll bring something from France as a Luna Gift. Get mother to find out what the woman likes and email me.” “Alright, but a few days prior to the full moon son, is what I expect and at least a week after as well. Business reasons, of course. I will not be meddling in your love life; I learned my lesson when you opted to move halfway around the world.” Jared smiled “Well done, father. I see old wolves can be taught.” He chuckled and clicked the line closed to his father's shocked gasp at hearing his words. He shook his head and turned to his unit, “I guess we’re finally going home, Dwane, you’ll be seeing to that she-wolf.” He shook his head. “It’s your department anyway.” “Hmm, I don’t think things are going to go your way, Jared. Your father can be underhanded and tricky. Sometimes what he says isn’t actually what he means,” Dwane stated. “I’m fully aware of how he goes about getting what he wants.” He nodded. He spent the next few weeks leading up to going back to the pack, attending business as usual, and reorganizing his schedule to fit in with his father’s request of a week to a month-long stay. He’d split that to make two weeks. A compromise that he was happy with, and he’d managed to get a flight that would see him arrive the day of the ceremony, but he needed that for himself, due to business meetings here and the rearranging of his schedule to fit in around others. His father had to deal with it. Though the boys were all headed back before he was, arriving a few days before the ceremony. His flight, however, couldn’t be helped, though he took a very unhappy call from both his parents about it because Lance was of the opinion it was disrespectful, and that he was trying to weasel his way out of being there at all. That he was going to claim that something came up, and so he couldn’t catch his flight. All because he was ticked off that Lance had found his Mate before him. Jared had rolled his eyes, “I’ve bought the ticket, I simply had to rearrange things here to suit others that I had scheduled meetings with over the period you insist I'm there and so have to be away from here. Not everyone fits around your schedule. They're not all wolfen so don't understand. It has nothing to do with my not being happy for Lance. I’m actually very happy for him. Lessens the pressure on me to find my Mate.” Both his parents had gone quiet with his words, and he’d smiled to himself, “Mother, father, I am one to abide by the rules you set out. I will not object to whoever is mated and has an heir first by the time they are 100. Lance has nothing to fear from me. My life is currently very busy anyway, as you both know.” “Well son, Lance has asked that a new stipulation be added to the invitation about attendance,” his father told him. “Oh, has he.” Jared leaned back in his chair and shook his head. “Pray tell, father, what is it?” “That no one turns up late and interrupts the ceremony. So, everyone must have arrived and be seated a full 1-hour prior to the event starting, or on the shaming post and a lashing they will receive for disrespect.” “That is fine. I believe my flight will get in around one thirtyish, and the ceremony is at 7pm. I’m certain father, it won’t take me 4 hours to get through customs, hire a car and drive the one hour to the pack.” “Good. That is what I want to hear. Now I have one thing to ask of you. A favor, so to speak.” Here we go he thought to himself, “And that would be?” “I just need you to stop and pick up a new pack member. She doesn’t drive and has no way to get out to the pack, it’ll be on your way, and take but a moment of your time.” He could hear the smile in his father’s voice and just knew this was part of his plotting. “Fine, send me the address,” he stated, “And make sure she is ready and waiting for me to pick her up. I’m not one for standing around waiting on people, especially she-wolves that are just putting on make-up.” “I’ll make sure she is aware of your attitude and request. Though I don’t see it being a problem, she’s not one to wear a great deal of make-up. A natural beauty, wouldn’t you say Marian?” his father asked his mother. “Oh, yes, pretty as a picture.” He was betting she was, and willing to climb right into his bed at his father's request as well, just like all the others. "
"She looked at her second chance mate with disappointment. “Wynta, I didn’t mean to...” he panicked. “No,” she cut him off, “The truth was— you left me in the storm to pick up another woman. And I almost died.” The moon goddess had arranged another jerk Alpha for her. But she will never say “yes” to a toxic mate bond. If she could reject the first, she wouldn't hesitate to reject the second. “Please—” He stared at her with begging eyes. Yet she just turned around and finished her words. “I, Wynta Morgan, reject you, Jared Hayes, as my second chance mate.” ===== *Wynta aged 18* “Come on, Wynta. You will see the stars when we both have you.” The first time Wynta let Nolan tease her clothes off, he wanted to bring his Beta Yale into her bedroom. Wynta believed her lover and future Alpha Nolan, was trying to coerce her into believing she was not only his Goddess-Gifted Mate but also that of his Beta's as well. All, so the two of them could have her in their bed at the same time, and she knew it. “Are you kidding, Nolan?"" A cool, assessing stare settled in Wynta's eyes as she deliberately took a step back, creating space. ""No, we’ve both scented it. You’re ours. We are both your actual Goddess-Gifted Mates."" Nolan’s voice was a low, coaxing purr. He reached out, tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear. Wynta didn't pull away, but she didn't lean into his touch either. ""No, Nolan. I didn't feel that."" ""You have to trust me, trust us, Wynta. The Goddess doesn’t make mistakes. Yale's outside now, you will let him in, right?"" His hand slid down to her waist, pulling her gently against him. His scent, usually a comfort, now felt cloying. “Imagine it. The three of us. No one will ever love you or protect you like we will.” She might be an orphan and wolf-less, but she wasn’t so stupid as to believe Nolan. Wynta pushed against his chest, creating a sliver of space. “What I want,” she said, her voice surprisingly steady, “is to wait for the moon. If what you’re saying is true, then waiting a few more days shouldn’t matter.” She decided to test them, it was only a week until the full moon and she was 18 now. She would be able to scent them both in just 7 days. If they were her Mates, why wouldn’t they just wait until they knew she could handle them, and would want them both? She had no interest in sleeping with Yale at all and didn’t really find him attractive. He was nice looking but not her type. He sighed, a sound of exaggerated patience. ""Fine, baby. The bond is already there, we will claim you, and you'd be the Future Luna."" He left a little on the annoyed side with her, and she’d heard Nolan stating, “These I’ll sweet talk her again, don’t you worry.” to his Beta from her window, they thought because she was wolf-less she wouldn't hear them, but they'd only been a few meters from her window. Even a human would have heard them. She’d not believed them, because she was, in fact, wolf-less and of an unknown lineage. All she had going for her was her pretty face, nice body and her brains. She’d liked Nolan’s sweet, charming attention over the past few months, and she had kind of stupidly fallen for him over the course of their relationship. He’d never rushed her for anything, took it slow and always wanted things to be at her pace. They’d only been sleeping together for two weeks and now, with this? What he’d said and told her, it was just wrong, and she knew it was all going to be a lie. And they would come to her again. Left with no other option, Wynta chose solitude over submission. So she had cuffed herself with Silver and chained herself to a tree in the deepest, darkest, most isolated part of the pack where there were no border patrols because this end of the woods was at the base of a steep, inaccessible gorge. Four days she sat out there chained and cuffed with silver, scent masked so no one would smell her or be able to locate her with a pack tether. She’d taken no water or food and was starving and dehydrating herself to prove it was all a lie. As that first day had turned into the second, there was no search for her. The third day came and still no warriors were scouring the pack for a missing pack member, which she’d seen the Alpha would do. Scouring every inch of the pack when searching for someone who was missing. The fourth day came and again, nothing: if Nolan and Yale were her Mates, they’d have gone to their father's and told them the truth of the matter, informed them she was missing, and they couldn’t find her anywhere. They would in fact be in a full-blown panic that their Mate was missing, and they had no contact with her. That night, on day four, she unchained herself and removed the cuff, stumbled her way back to her dorm and sank down in the shower, utterly exhausted by the long walk when she was already dehydrated. She kind of just fell out of the shower when she'd tried to get up and had mind-link to the pack doctor to tell him she needed help, and then had succumbed to the darkness of unconsciousness. Wynta woke up in the pack hospital with an IV in her arm and the pack doctor tending to the burn on her wrist from the silver cuff, “Finally awake after a full day, the Alpha will be happy, he needs to know what happened. He is investigating right now, tracking your scent to where you came from.” She’d said nothing at all; that just confirmed once more that neither Nolan nor Yale had known she was even missing. “Did I have any visitors?” she asked curiously. “No, I’m sorry, Wynta.” He sounded apologetic. “No one other than the Alpha and Luna wanting to know your actual state. “Alright,” she knew she had no family. She’d been given her name by the pack’s Luna, named after the season she had been found in. Winter, and given the last name Morgan for whatever reason the Luna had seen fit. That was how she’d become Wynta Morgan. That very night, as she lay there in the hospital bed wondering just what she was going to say to Nolan and Yale, about their behavior. Nolan connected a mind-link to her at 11pm, and he asked quite simply, “Where are you? It’s our date night, and I’m at your place. You’re not here.” She could hear the frown in his voice. Tonight was supposed to be their ordinary dating night. “I’m at the pack hospital,” she told him honestly. “On our date night? Why would you take a shift knowing we’re to be together?” he asked right back. He was only concerned about the fact that they weren’t going to be having sx. He had just presumed that she was working in the hospital, when she’d never once worked in the hospital before. “I’m sure you can wait until the full moon,” she stated blandly and cut the link. There was not one ounce of worry in his voice. It was she new without a doubt coercion. The full moon came and set just two days later, and it had been two hours since she’d scented out a Mate inside this pack. She even knew who it was because she recognized the two natural scents of her lover. There was, however, no other scent for her at all. She didn’t scent Yale, it was just more proof of the lie they had told her, to get what they wanted from her was all. She was still in the pack hospital, still attached to the IV with fluids running, the burns healing was slow-going because she didn’t have a wolf. There was a nurse sitting next to her bed with a wound trolley attending to the cleaning and redressing of the burn when Nolan walked into the room. Finally, he had tracked her down. He stood staring at her a little more than shocked. She stared at him as his eyes moved over her in that bed, being treated by a nurse, and he asked the nurse to give them a minute. Told her that his father had asked him to come and discuss something privately with her. He had to wait until the wound was dressed. She watched him pick up her chart and read through it, knew he was seeing all the details of what was wrong with her, how she’d been found; she’d read it herself. He put it back with a frown on his face without saying anything at all. She’d stupidly fallen for this man before her, who was the same age as her and would be off to Alpha College tomorrow morning if he didn’t scent out a Mate on this full moon. She also knew just from the fact that he was here alone, no parents trailing him to see who his Mate was, that he was here to reject her. That and the fact that it had been two hours since the moon had set, he would have recognized her scent as well. No one waited that long to hunt down a Mate they wanted to claim. The nurse finally left and Nolan closed the door. She understood that as well, it was going to be done privately, so none in this pack would know they’d paired up. “Why didn’t you tell me you were injured when I asked where you were?” he asked her directly. She raised an eyebrow at him, she’d told him she was at the hospital. That should have been all she needed to say. “I was missing for four days,” she stated. “You didn’t even know, did you? I was cuffed with silver and missing… if you had scented me out back then as you said, you’d have known and hunted everywhere for me… You and your Beta, just wanted to have sx with me at the same time is all, and I wouldn’t let you. “You’re also here two hours post the moon setting, Nolan, that speaks volumes… You’re not the man I thought you were.” She shook her head. She would not be accepting one such as his. “I, Wynta Morgan, reject you, Nolan Holland, as my Mate.” She voiced simply but meant every word. He just stood staring at her, almost not comprehending that she would reject him. “Imagine, Nolan, if I had been swayed by you and Yale, and let the two of you do me. You’d now be rejecting me on the basis that I did that, had sx with your own Beta…” she shook her head at him “I don’t want to be bound to one that clearly tried to coerce me. Just accept it Nolan.” He nodded slowly. “I, Nolan Holland, accept your rejection, Wynta Morgan. You are not my Mate or the future Luna to this pack,” he stated. She felt the complete severing of their bond and heard him hiss in pain. It only caused a dull ache in her chest. Being wolf-less had some perks, it seemed. “Wynta, we’ll come back to this when I get home from Alpha College,” he stated and turned and walked from the room. Did he expect her to just sit around and wait for him to change his mind? Because he was an Alpha and she was wolf-less. Not a chance. She was not going to just sit around and wait for an Alpha to decide if she was worthy of him. She would choose her future on her terms. *9 years later, Wynta aged 27* Wynta sat in the waiting room along with all the other job applicants, applying for the position of Marketing Specialist here at Hayes Enterprises. She had lost her previous job a few months back and was rapidly running out of funds. All the other applicants in this room were human. Though she had picked up a few wolves upon coming into the building, but there didn’t appear to be any working on this floor. But she was hopeful the interview today would be done by a panel of humans, seeing as all the applicants were human. She’d not been active in the wolfen world for nine years now. She had left it behind when she’d walked away from her home pack, the night she’d been released from the pack hospital. She’d simply gone to her single dorm two days after her future Alpha had left for Alpha College, and none had known what she was to him. She had packed her belongings into a suitcase and walked out of the pack. Turned herself rogue after stepping outside the pack’s territory. No one had come looking for her, as she’d walked calmly from that place, she was not going to just sit around and wait for an Alpha to decide if she was worthy of him. She’d fallen for him but also known it had all been a lie, everything he’d ever said to her, so no more would she be a part of that pack. She’d gotten on a train and just moved away, she’d picked up a couple of different jobs and put herself through university, getting scholarships where she could and student loans where possible, and now nine years later she was a marketing specialist, one that worked in the human world and stayed away from the world of wolves. She didn’t really consider Wolves to be her Kind, simply because she was in fact wolf-less. She considered herself to be human. So she lived and worked like a human did, she struggled to pay her rent and bills at times, like so many out here did. She bought only what she needed. Keeping five working outfits that could be mixed and matched to create different looks but were all professional at the same time. Then in her apartment she just lazed about in jeans and tee-shirts. She owned nothing fancy because she had no need of it. Her vacation days were spent laying in her apartment reading a good book or listening to music. She currently lived in a tiny studio apartment that just had a bedroom, a small kitchenette and a tiny bathroom. There was nothing fancy about it. She, at this time, couldn’t afford anything else at all. Having lost her previous job, she had already downgraded the one-bedroom proper apartment for a studio apartment. It was small, but she kept it neat and tidy, and after living there for a month, she’d realized it was all she actually needed. Though she had no luxuries here in this place, there was no TV or movie subscriptions, she’d canned everything to save money while looking for a new job. The only thing she had was her phone, which she needed for interviews and to take rejection calls, though she also used it for reading books online. She was aloof to all those around her. There were no contacts in her phone because she had no family and no pack attachments. She didn’t trust easily or form bonds with many around her. In an office environment she could do her job and hold proper conversations, work well in a team, but her trust was hard-earned. Despite being wolf-less, she could pick up things like the scent of other wolves, though couldn’t determine pack or bloodline, just understood wolfen kind smelt different to humans. They all had a more earthy/woodsy scent about them. She sometimes sat out in the parks and just watched the humans walk about interacting with other people. She could read mannerisms and facial expressions quite well. Pick a lie from the truth, because she listened to the inflexion of one’s voice, and saw the little things that humans did when lying. Fidgeting, no eye contact, excessive blinking or just closing their eyes, they bit their lips, a few even got flushed in the face. If she paid attention completely, she could hear the tone of their voice change and even pick up on the difference in sentence structure at times. Then there was that pause before they spoke, which often portrayed that they had to think about an answer, because they didn’t want to answer it honestly. She’d learn that humans were no different to wolves most of the time. They came to her when they wanted something from her and then screwed her over if they could, to take the credit for her own work. Both species were deceitful as far as she was concerned and all she was trying to do was live quietly unseen by all. She’d learned the hard way to live by herself, even roommates were deceitful and couldn’t be trusted. She’d found it was simply best to live alone and not make friends that would lie to her, and, or betray her trust. Steal from her or blame her for things that they’d done just to save their own ass. Her name and interview number were called, and it pulled her from her absent thoughts, and she stood and nodded to the woman looking for her, and then followed her quietly down the hall and around the corner to a room that stated Conference Room 2. The door was held open for her and she stepped inside. The moment she did, she could smell them, wolves, and not just any, she didn’t think. Just by looking at the sheer size of them and the way they were dressed and sat, they were going to be ranked members of some pack out there. She walked over and sat herself in the chair that was sitting before them as was expected of her, and looked at them. She knew they would all be able to scent her as not only a rogue but that she was wolf-less as well. They would have smelled it either while she sat out there in the waiting room or the moment she’d stepped into this room. Her sense of smell wasn’t the same as theirs, not even the same as an omega wolf. She watched as three of them leaned back in those chairs and left one leaning on the desk before him staring at her. That one thing told her they weren’t just ranked members but were, in fact, an Alpha and his Unit. The one that was watching her now, he was going to be the Alpha. He slid his eyes over her appearance and then turned his eyes to her application, read it through before returning his eyes to her and putting that paper down in front of him. “I’ll introduce myself formally to you,” he stated calmly. “I am Alpha Edward Hayes and this is my unit,” he waved a hand at the other wolves in this room. “May I enquire why you are a rogue?” he asked her directly, seems his curiosity about her non wolfen pack status outweighed the questions for this very job. Wynta frowned at his introduction. She didn’t really care who he was, and she didn’t think it was any of his business as to why she was a rogue. She knew one didn’t have to be part of a pack to live in this world. More and more wolves turned themselves rogue and left their packs to get away from the cruelty of their pack’s leadership. Especially those that were like herself. She’d seen and smelled many like herself over the past nine years, just out there like she was trying to make an honest living for themselves, and staying out of trouble in both the wolfen and human world alike. When she didn’t say anything to answer his question, he went on, “I see you’re 27. Surely someone with your skills could have found a pack to align yourself with… When did you go rogue or be turned rogue?” he asked once more. “I’m here for the job that was posted, not to relay my past history to you.” She finally spoke. “Do you have any questions for me that are related to my skills?” she asked him in return. He frowned at her now and she watched who she thought was the Beta lean forward and rest his arms on the desk “You could request sanctuary and ask to be a member of the pack. Then this job would be granted to you without issue,” he stated. Wynta raised an eyebrow at him, so that was the condition of getting this job, she thought absently. Clearly, all those humans out there were wasting their time coming here for an interview. This company was simply abiding by the human rules of appearing to hire honestly and fairly, when they intended to give the job to one of their own pack members. “Would you like to become a pack member, Wynta?” Alpha Edward asked her directly. “I would accept someone like yourself.” “Someone like me?” she murmured. “A rogue that is wolf-less and desperate for affiliation, you mean?” She shook her head a little dismayed, did she look desperate to them? She didn’t think so, her clothes were clean and presentable, as was her hair and light make-up. She certainly didn’t look underfed or unhealthy. “Are you going to ask me any actual interview questions about the position of a Marketing Specialist?” she asked once more. “My skills are as they are listed, and I have worked now for two separate companies as you can see.” “Wynta, we’ll get to your interview. I feel your rogue status is of more importance, and needs to be resolved first,” Alpha Edward stated. “Please, Mr Hayes, don’t address me so informally. I would prefer you call me Ms Morgan.” She put to him, showing him that she wasn’t interested in being a part of his pack, and she didn’t think that they were close enough to be on a first-name basis. All of them were frowning at her now, at her dismissing of them being an Alpha and his unit before her, but she was a rogue and didn’t have to acknowledge that. It was likely they’d not expected her to decline the offer of being initiated. But it wasn’t something she was looking for. She was just looking for a job to have an income once more, and to keep a roof over her head, and food in her belly, nothing more, nothing less. “How about you come and look at the pack? It’s an hour's drive from here, and you’ll see it’s a nice healthy pack; I even have several without wolves living there.” Edward offered. Again, she raised an eyebrow at him, this was not an interview anymore. She shook her head and stood up. “Thank you for wasting my time. I have other interviews to attend this week,” she stated simply and turned and walked from the room, showing them, she was clearly not interested in what they were offering. She handed in her lanyard and interview number to the lady out in the hall and made her way to the elevators to leave the building. She stood in that elevator as it took her to the ground floor and sighed internally to herself as she mentally ticked off another job that she’d not gotten; though this one was on her own doing. She’d walked away from it. Just one more day without working, that was going to eat into her savings. She knew the dollars in her bank account, knew she only had enough money to rent that studio apartment for three more months, and then she was going to be either out on the streets and in a women’s shelter or back to being an exotic dancer in a gentleman’s club just to make ends meet. Neither were nice thoughts for her; she’d been homeless for a few months after leaving her home pack, until she’d managed to get on campus living, but still it hadn’t been enough to survive on, so she’d had to take on a job that would bring in the dollars, and she wasn’t about to sell her body to men. So becoming an exotic dancer had been the only option open to her, that didn’t interfere with her class schedule. She’d not really liked it and only did it to make money was all. She pushed off the wall when the elevator stopped and walked out, as did several others and found herself face to face with who she thought was the Beta to that Alpha Unit. “Mr Hayes, would like a further word with you, Ms Morgan,” he stated with what appeared to be a friendly smile. “I’m not interested,” she told him, and went to step around him only to have his hand curl around her arm and halt her. “I’m afraid I’m going to have to insist,” he stated and tugged her along next to him down a bank of elevators and used a swipe card to have one open. She saw there were no floor markers on the outside or inside of it when she was escorted into it. The doors simply closed and the elevator moved. She understood it was an express elevator and likely only went to one floor, the top floor where the Alpha and his Unit all had offices. She leaned on the wall in there and just waited, said nothing at all to this man that was looking at her. She stared right back at him, uncaring of if it was offensive or not. Rogues didn’t have masters unless they chose to and she didn’t. It was a fast, smooth ride, and he escorted her out of the elevator down a corridor and directed her to sit on a couch. “Please stay here and wait.” He told her before turning to the woman at the desk next to the couch who was now looking at her with a slight frown on her face. “The Alpha will see Ms Morgan when his interviews are over for the day.” “Yes, Beta.” She nodded and he walked off. At least she’d guessed it right. He was the Beta to that group. She saw that she-wolf frown at her and wrinkle her nose as if she was offended by the stench of Wynta. She was, however, clean and, though of rogue status, took care of herself to make sure she didn’t scent terrible like other rogues out there in the wilderness. Though she honestly didn’t know what a Rogue scented like to other wolves, but to her, they kind of smelled like they were unclean and needed a bath. She didn’t think she smelled like that. She just sat as she was told. She wasn’t out to cause trouble for herself and knew how to behave herself. Even if she didn’t want to. After an hour of just sitting there, she was bored shitless, and so she stood up and stretched herself out and then walked away to have a look around the top floor for herself. There were a dozen offices up here, three conference rooms and an open coffee hub-like area where they all obviously ate. There were half a dozen tables and chairs and a couple of vending machines. She saw only the one elevator to this entire floor, and it had that swipe card access to it. She wasn’t going to be able to leave if she didn’t have one of them. She found the emergency stairwell and smiled to herself and pushed the door only to find it wouldn’t open, and frowned. It, too, had a swipe card box next to it. She appeared to be stuck here for now. She returned to the couch and sank down once more. Another hour passed, and she was more than unhappy, that she-wolf at her desk looked at her and stated, “Just be patient, he’s interviewing.” “You can’t keep me here like this,” she stated flatly. “I’m guessing he can, seeing as you’re still here. Just sit there,” she was told. Wynta thought about that, she knew there had to be away around the swipe card for everything, and as she leaned back there on the couch her eyes fell on the red emergency box, that had the words ‘Break glass in case of emergency.’ That she knew was going to unlock the emergency exit stairwell. A smile played on her lips as she sat up now. She’d get lost in the crowd of those all heading out of the building and be gone before they could find her once more. “Don’t do it Ms Morgan, it’s a very large fine.” Her thoughts were interrupted by the she-wolf. Her eyes moved towards her, and she watched her point to the ceiling, where she saw a camera, “It’ll be caught on camera, and the fine will come to you. Can you afford it? I believe it's $1600, and you could also face criminal charges. It’s a felony in this state, so you’ll also likely wind up with a criminal record if you don’t already have one.” “I don’t,” Wynta stated, and the she-wolf’s half smirk she likely thought that just because she was a rogue she did all sorts of illegal things to get by. She leaned back on the couch as she resigned herself to the fact that she was currently stuck here on this floor until someone escorted her from the building. By the third hour, she had laid down on that couch and made herself comfortable, ignored the she-wolf’s comment of it wasn’t very ladylike or professional to do so, and used her phone to read a book until she dozed off on that couch. Not one person on this floor had paid her the slightest bit of attention, except for the Alpha’s secretary, and she was just annoyed to have to watch over her, it seemed. She rolled over at one point in her half sleeping stated to try and be more comfortable and fell right off the couch, just lay there for a moment before sitting up with a huff. That secretary was staring at her. “You’re a lazy one I see,” she muttered. “I’ll tell the Alpha you’re finally awake.” And her eyes had glazed over. She picked herself up off the floor. He must be back up here, and she’d slept right through it, and he’d not woken her. That was a bit odd. He appeared in his office doorway, “Did you sleep well?” he smiled at her. “Come in, Ms Morgan.” He waved her into his office. She checked the time on her phone and saw it was the middle of the afternoon. Her interview had been at 10am this morning. The day was nearly over. It was nearly 3pm. She walked into the Alpha’s office and sat where he told her to. “Why am I still here?” she asked him directly. “Because I’m not willing to let you continue to be of rogue status, it’s unsafe for female rogues out there in the world. Even more so for those without wolves, who are defenseless against wolfen strength.” “Other rogues leave me alone, the wolf-less aren’t of interest to roaming bands of rogues. We’re worth nothing to those wanting to kidnap and sell she-wolves, we can’t take a beating or a lashing without winding up in the pack hospital or dying from it. It’s a waste of money to buy the wolf-less.” She informed him. “So, I’m perfectly safe out there on my own. Always have been.” She told him simply. “Mm, I see… but in all good consciousness, I can’t let you leave as you are. So, here’s what I’m willing to offer you. The job you applied for today, a house or apartment within the pack and full sanctuary where no harm will come to you. “You’ll be able to have full access to proper wolfen medical, at no cost to you. You’ll also be able to train with others like yourself, to be able to protect yourself when outside the pack. Attend mating balls to find your Mate and have a full wolfen social life.” He smiled at her as if that was an appealing offer. “I have an apartment here in the city, just a few blocks away. I don’t drive, so wouldn’t be able to get from the pack to the office if I took up that offer. I’ve never come to harm out here in the human world, and I’ve been in it for many years now. “I can also protect myself if I need to, and I have no interest in being initiated into or living inside a pack or attending any pack functions, including that of Mating Balls,” Wynta countered him, “I’ll, however, take the job that I do need.” He was frowning at her now. “All wolves need the social aspect, or they can become…” he trailed off. “Anti-social creatures.” She nodded. “I’m already that, and I don’t care that I am.” She shrugged but would take this opportunity to tell him how she’d work. “I will work quietly and cause you nor this company any problems. I get my work done on time or stay back, working late doesn’t particularly bother me all that much. “I can and will collaborate within a team and listen to and follow the instructions of my supervisor. I know how to be a contributing member of a working team and how to be professional even though I don’t take an interest in socializing personally with those on my team,” she told him. He leaned back in his chair and stared at her with narrowed eyes, and she mimicked his pose after a minute of silence. She would not be giving him what he wanted today. Another minute passed, and his mouth twitched in one corner. He seemed amused by her stubbornness. “What will it take,” she finally asked, breaking the silence, “to let me leave this office and get the job?” He smiled at her, “You agreeing to be initiated into my pack. I’ll allow you to retain your city apartment, seeing as you already have one and don’t drive.” She stared at him for a long moment and then laid out her own terms to get the job she needed. “Initiation into your pack will be on my terms.” She offered a compromise. “What exactly does that mean?” he frowned once more. “I’ll let you initiate me, only when I willingly set foot into your pack's official pack territory, and that’s what? An hour away, you stated.” “I did.” He nodded. “I can agree to that.” He smiled at her. “Let’s go and look at your work space then, shall we?” *5 years later, Wynta aged 32* Wynta got the pack invitation delivered right to her desk. She’d not known what it was at first; just had the mail delivery girl Louise, walk into her office at 10am and ask her to sign for a package as she’d put it on the desk. There was a small white sticky note on it that had her name clearly printed on it. Wynta had asked in return what the package was for and gotten “A gala invitation, I’m on delivery duty today for all of them.” And she’d indicated to her cart by the door. Wynta had seen that there were indeed many blue boxes in her delivery cart, that looked just like the one Louise had placed on her desk. She’d nodded and signed the slip to say she’d received it, and Louise had taken the sticker and attached it to her clipboard next to Wynta’s signature. Then she had smiled at Wynta and stated, “I’ll see you there. Signing for the invitation is you stating you’ll attend.” That had snapped Wynta’s head up, and she’d frowned right at Louise, who’d then smiled a little apologetically, “Sorry Ms Morgan, but Mr Hayes specifically told me I wasn’t to inform you of that, until after you signed for it.” She’d just nodded and waved the woman out, sat and watched her leave. Bloody Alpha Edward had finally found a way to make her step onto pack territory willingly, it seemed, and she didn’t know at this time if she could say it wasn’t willing or not. She’d have to do some research into the nitty-gritty of that one. He’d clearly tricked her into signing for it, so she’d technically stated she'd attend of her own free will. Which she knew was going to be considered, that it meant she would be stepping into pack territory of her own free will as well; to attend this Luna Ceremony. But was it really of her own free will? When, in reality, he’d gone about this in an underhanded manner, leaving out important information, and all in order just to get her to sign for that invitation. He knew she wouldn’t sign for it if she knew it meant she had to step foot inside his pack's territory. She shook her head, just knew it was his roundabout way of forcing her hand into being initiated into his pack. Though a small part of her was very amused by his underhanded tactics, because it had taken him five long years to get that which he wanted from her. She’d thought he’d have just learned to live with the fact she didn’t want to be a pack member, and that she was, in fact, happy living as a rogue, seemed not even after all these years. Wynta returned her attention to the invitation. It was a very pretty navy-blue box with embossed letting on it, and she even knew whose they were. She’d heard that Edwards' youngest son and fourth heir, Lance, had found his Fated Mate on the previous full moon. It was still the current talk of not only the office, but in the human world as well. This was the Luna Ceremony invitation by the look of it. Pack colors were in fashion, it seemed. She did know Cedar Rapids pack colors were navy blue, silver and, of course, the color of red cedar. She knew why, because the pack had rapids that ran right through it and there were many red cedar trees inside the pack. It was aptly named, she thought. Wynta opened the box and inside it was an envelope with a wax seal in there. She shook her head and wondered what the box was for. Was it a pack tradition or just that they wanted to be extra fancy. She broke the seal, which also held their initials L&R, and slid out the actual invitation; a nicely folded invitation, and again there was another seal. Only this one had three fine pieces of golden thread to hold it together and bound to the wax. It was all very fancy, she realized; Edward and Marian were going all out. She broke that seal and opened the actual invitation, and their names, Lance and Raelynn, were written in a big, bold flashy script, and then the event name time and the place, the pack’s ballroom of course, where all Luna Ceremonies were held, she supposed. Not that she had ever been to one, but she’d heard they were a grand event. On the inside of the right-hand side was a list of details, of what not to wear and the type of attire that was expected. It was a black-tie event and full formal wear was expected, and no pack member or affiliated guest was allowed to wear anything white or cream, in color. The Luna would be wearing a white gown and any upstaging of her or attempts at it would be fully punishable by three lashings on the shaming post. The event was mandatory, and the entire pack was expected to attend the event to celebrate the happy couple. Those that opted not to attend would see themselves on the shaming post and given one lash for disrespect. In brackets, it read, (those without wolves, one day on the shaming post and full admonishment by Alpha and Luna) Then on the left side of the invitation was the RSVP details. There was a QR Code and under that it stated all women had to state the color of the dress they would be wearing on the RSVP. It was preferred that bright or dark colors were to be worn, and all full pastel colors were to be avoided. She just shook her head. Though she sat and stared at that invitation for a long time, she’d worked for Hayes Industries now for five years, and still she’d managed to never set foot inside the pack itself. She had not attended a single mating ball because she saw no need to. She’d had a Mate once, and rejected him long ago, 14 years now, and so there was no reason to think she’d get another. She’d, however, gotten three invites a year for the past five years and ticked the decline box on all occasions. After that first year, those invites had stated that she was to list the reason she would not be attending. She’d shaken her head, understanding it was Alpha Edward’s way of trying, she thought, to find a way to get her onto pack territory. She’d written on three of them 'not a ranked member', on three others, 'I’ll be away on vacation', and on several of them she’d simply written ‘I don’t fit the criteria for the mating ball.’ She was still a rogue and so held no rank inside that pack, not even when she’d been sent and omega only invite, she’d declined that on not being an omega. But being of rogue status, she actually didn’t fit any of their criteria, and could claim just being a rogue, but it was she thought annoying for Edward to have to read all her reasons as to why she wouldn’t be attending. The last refusal had been ingenious on her part, she’d thought, because he’d thought he’d had her with that invite for all otherworldly creatures, regardless of having non-pack status within their own realms or the human realm, were invited to come and see if they might find their Mate. She’d actually laughed at the wording of it. It had been so she couldn’t play, she didn’t fit the criteria, or I’m a rogue card as a way of not attending the ball. Wynta thought she was now even beginning to frustrate Alpha Edward, that he now had to find other ways to try and get her into his pack. It was clear to her that he had read all her reasons for getting out of setting foot inside his pack territory. It kind of amused her more than a little bit to see all the effort he was going to. She’d used 'I'm going to a Marketing Conference' on him, and she had actually done so. It had also been booked four months prior to that mating ball, paid for by his own company. She’d written a politely worded email about she didn’t want to be seen as wasting the company's money because the event was nonrefundable, and she didn’t want to disappoint her team, who were also all going to the conference with her. It was out of state and fully booked and organized months in advance. She’d attached the booking list of employees and the accommodation and conference details for him to check it all. She’d laughed softly to herself when she’d hit the send button on that one, it had just been perfect timing for her, nothing more. She’d leaned back in her chair all happy that day and chuckled softly because it wasn’t the first time she’d used skills building courses to get out of mating balls. She always kept track of when and where those skill-building conferences took place, and if they ever fell on a full moon, or the travel to and or from one did, she signed herself up for them; did it months in advance just so she could state she hadn’t deliberately avoided the invite at the last minute. She had an education and team building budget to use, and that’s what she used it on. Sometimes she would take the whole team with her. Hell, once all three marketing teams had gone to it, including her and the other supervisors, everyone had signed up for it when she’d put it on the bulletin board in the office. The three departments had even split the cost of hiring a bus to get them there and back. He couldn’t stop her from continuing to learn what was needed, in the ever-changing world around them, that was considered the best way to target their buyers and promote their businesses; it was all necessary skill building. This invitation, however, she had a feeling she was unlikely to be able to get out of, he’d already probably checked into it himself. Though she did earn decent money now, and had moved up in the company from a Marketing Specialist to a Marketing Supervisor and that had come with a new office, and a higher pay check. She still begrudged the idea of having to go out there and buy a formal dress for this occasion. She wasn’t a pack member, so it shouldn’t be mandatory for her to attend, but he’d gotten her to sign for that bloody invitation, and now she had an obligation, even as a rogue, to attend it. Wynta sighed and shook her head, just knew there was not going to be a way to get out of it. He’d done his homework on this one. He was likely going to push for her to move into pack territory or that new apartment building he’d just finished building. It wasn’t massive, just six storeys high with six apartments on each floor, but the top that only had four and they were considered penthouse apartments. He’d given her and her team the job of marketing the ground floor space, where he’d wanted a restaurant and a café along with two boutique stores to go there for revenue, things that would need marketing not just advertising. Edward had even sent her and her team down to check out that building. They’d all been met there by Chester, the pack’s Gamma, or to her team, one of the founders of the company they worked for. She and her team had been walked onto every floor and allowed to look at the apartments. Just showing them around so they could get a feel for the type of people that were going to rent the apartments out. Chester had told them they would likely all be executive-type people. Nothing here was more than two bedrooms, and the space was large. There was no real room for children. Chester had been watching her as they’d walked around. He walked right next to her the entire time and, although he’d been professional in his talking to her and the team, telling them what they wanted. She wasn’t so dumb as to not know why she had been chosen to lead this little project. He’d stood and leaned on a window in one of the penthouse's living areas and stated, “It’s a nice apartment, got a fantastic view, close to the office,” He’d even pointed it out in the distance, for her to see. She knew where it was, she had walked down here with her team, a casual 30-minute stroll where they’d all gotten coffee along the way. “I think this particular penthouse apartment would be fit for a single woman like yourself, don’t you think? It’s got lots of closet space too.” Wynta had nodded and smiled at him, rolled her eyes a little and commented, “I’m certain one of the managers would like it.” and then casually walked away from him. She wasn’t going to be swayed into moving into a pack-bought apartment. She understood it was Edwards way of getting her to likely take a baby step into being part of his pack. She was not fooled by this; she’d heard Chester chuckle softly and murmur, “You’re one tough nut to crack.” “No, I’m not. I like my simple life, is all. It’s uncomplicated and no one tells me what to do.” She’d smiled at him. She’d looked at Chester after walking about that penthouse, “You may tell Edward, I have a place of my own, and I’m comfortable living there, have been now for five years. I have a good rapport with my landlord.” She’d tipped her coffee to him and left the apartment. She still lived in her ground floor studio apartment, just five blocks away, and she saw no need to upgrade to something bigger and better just for status’s sake. She also didn’t need the extra room; that just meant more cleaning to her, and shelling out more dollars for rent, not something she wanted to do. That was completely unnecessary in her eyes. Her landlord actually maintained the building she lived in. She’d gotten new carpet two years ago and the entire place had been painted as well. It looked really nice, her rent was always paid on time, and she caused no trouble for him at all, so she was considered a good tenant. Though the place had lots of people moving in and out of it, mostly students from the local university lived there, so she got new neighbors quite often. Living in her studio apartment had allowed her to create a nice amount of savings for herself, that money sat in her bank account, for that inevitable rainy day, when it came; that would see her up and leave, move away to a new place for whatever reason. It could be a bigger, better job or that she just wanted a change of scenery, but she was comfortable right now, and that was the only reason she’d not moved on. Well, that, and she liked annoying Alpha Edward with her constant refusal to step onto his pack territory and making him stick to their original handshake deal upon hiring her. She placed that invitation back into the envelope and then the box and put it on a shelf behind her desk. She had noted that there was no plus one on there. So at least she wasn’t expected to bring a date. Though that also told her Edward knew she didn’t have a date to bring. She sighed to herself at the thought of spending her hard-earned money, and although she had the money to spend, she didn’t want to spend it. She saw it as a complete waste of her savings. She had a dozen suits, all of which were acceptable to wear to functions and made her look professional and presentable. But now this having to buy a full formal dress, she wondered if she could sell it after wearing it just once, to get some of her money back? Buying a dress, she also knew she was going to have to buy some sort of heels to go with that dress as well. Wynta sighed at that thought, she didn’t wear heels. Even here in the office, simple, comfortable business style, black walking shoes was all. She was not out to attract attention to herself, and that aloof demeanor she had, kept most men at bay. Not all, but most, and she turned those that did ask her for coffee of lunch down, with a polite but firm “I’m sorry, I’m not interested.” She was straight to the point with all of them, so there were no misunderstandings to be had. Though she’d never once been hit on by a wolf within the company, only the humans, and she knew why. It was because she was of rogue status, and none of them knew how she’d become a rogue. She did smell like one to those that worked here. Several of the she-wolves didn’t like that a rogue worked within the company. Went out of their way to make sure she knew it as well, though she just ignored their so-called off-handed insults at how she smelled. One of her team had actually frowned once and muttered, “What the hell is she talking about? There’s no stench in here.” Looking about and that she-wolf, Carlotti had looked right at her on purpose, and then wrinkled her nose for her team to see and then just walked off. They’d all looked at her after she’d left, and she’d just shrugged it off. Carlotti, or Lotti to the wolves of the pack, was from what Wynta could tell the youngest stepdaughter of the pack’s Beta, she’d seen that she-wolf call him daddy at times. She knew Ernesto was mated, and that girl wasn’t, so it wasn’t a euphemism for something else. She’d also seen the Beta’s actual daughter roll her eyes at the girl’s behavior and try to pull her into line once. “He’s not your actual father and doesn’t need to give you anything.” Had come out of Meredith when Ernesto had left, “If you want money, go and get a bloody job and earn it like the rest of us do.” It had become a sibling dispute between one that worked hard, and one that apparently did nothing and thought she was entitled to everything. She’d seen Carlotti leave in tears when Meredith had snapped at her in front of the office, “You’re just a stepchild, will inherit nothing are not father’s actual kin. Just a greedy spoiled girl and when my brother takes over, you’ll be out on your ass for this behavior. I’ll gladly back him up.” She’d looked to the gathered crowd and muttered, “Sorry family dispute, back to work all of you.” Meredith didn’t seem to care that she was a rogue, but several others did. Likely Meredith saw that Wynta did her actual job within the company and didn’t cause any trouble either, so she was not offended by having a rogue work here. The weeks passed and there was suddenly talk of Jared Hayes, Edwards' oldest son, coming home from Europe for his brother's wedding. It was the talk of the office. She’d seen several pictures of him over the years in the company magazine, highlighting all the achievements he was making and the growth of the company with a new office in France. He was apparently the company’s hottest Batchelor, and still unmarried at 42, she’d nearly laughed at that, if only they knew his real age. Wynta knew that all of Edwards' children had reinvented themselves over the years and that Jared was in fact 82 years old but barely looked a day older than 35. He had jet black hair and blue eyes, and was rumored to be six-four. But all his brothers were roughly that height as Edward was, so it didn’t really surprise her. She’d never met the Alpha’s oldest heir. He rarely, if ever came home, and was busy it seemed off building his own empire. Though she’d seen all the others over the course of the years, Edward had walked them all through her department and stopped to introduce them all to her. She’d nodded and been polite in greeting them, then just turned back to her work. They didn’t pay her anymore attention than she did them, she only interacted with them if there was a need for it. Which mostly there wasn’t. None of them were in marketing, so it limited her exposure to them. Though each one of them had seen how aloof she was and that she only kept things to work terms. She never just talked freely with any wolf here in the building. Though she was good with her human team now, she could smile and chuckle at the things they did or the stories they told about something funny happening to them. She’d worked with them all for five years now, and only taken this promotion on the condition that her team went with her to the new floor. They worked like a well-oiled machine and she actually liked them. The office she had now was on the floor above the one they’d all originally worked in, and she had a large office with a glass wall and door between her and their desk out there. Though she had an open-door policy, and they could, at any time, holler out to her or just stroll in and talk to her. That window would frost over at the touch of a button, they’d been here now for a year and not once had she used it. Saw no need to. She looked at them now. They were all a buzz with the news that Edward was bringing Jared to walk through all the departments, to see if things needed improvement, the Monday after his brother’s wedding. Meanwhile, far away in Europe... Jared stood in his penthouse apartment listening to his father tell him that his brother Lance had found his Goddess-Gifted Mate, his band had lit up blue and when they put one on the she-wolf Raelynn, it had lit up as well. She’d not rejected Lance, and they were marked and mated. His father was very happy that finally one of his sons had found their Mate. Jared pinched the bridge of his nose at the thought that it was likely Lance who would be the first to have an heir, and then, when he turned 100, the pack would belong to his youngest brother. It wasn’t like Jared wasn’t looking for his Mate. He’d just simply moved countries to do so, he’d exhausted a lot of packs in the US looking for his Mate. Either she wasn’t born yet or lived in another country. He knew there were just as many packs here in Europe as there were in America, so he’d opted to move here and branch the pack’s business out at the same time. He’d made quite a few business allies over here in France, and there were many of their European allies, wolves, working in this building that he lived in. His penthouse was on the top floor like all of his units were. He was 82 years old and had not only searched in the US but in the Wolfen Realm as well back in his younger days. Now he was just simply here in Europe was all. “So, Jared, you’ll be coming home for Raelynn’s Luna Ceremony on the next full moon. Invites will be sent for you and your unit via email. Those here in the states will get one in person, though your mother will send you pictures of the actual invitations as well.” “Why would she need to do that?” he frowned. “Son, it’s so you can see what to expect when you find your own Mate, of course. She has been planning these events for many decades and allocated different colors to each of you. Well, actually her words were according from first to last mated. So where I know you, being the eldest would expect pack colors, Lance is getting that because he was the first to find his Mate. Sorry son.” “It’s fine.” He murmured. “I don’t think it really matters anyway… Isn’t it usually up to the Luna being celebrated?” he asked and turned to see his unit all walking into his apartment. He knew why they were here, it maybe 9pm in San Francisco, but it was only 6am here in France, and it was likely they’d all gotten a call from their fathers. Just like he was getting. ""Normally, it is son. It’s not yet discussed, but I know Lance wants that. So, it’s likely Raelynn will also agree.” Did it surprise him that his brother was going to want pack colors? No, the importance of him choosing and his mother agreeing to give him those colors; a full formal event in pack colors. It was a bold statement from Lance to his three brothers, himself, Ethan and Colby. That he was going to be the next Alpha to Cedar Rapids. ""Father, when I find a Mate I will allow her to choose whatever color she wants. Mother won’t get a say. Please remind her of that.” He told him simply, “She may plan for all her other heirs Luna Ceremonies, but I will follow wolfen tradition of letting the Luna that is being celebrated choose the color of the event.” “That is fine, son. So you’ll be coming home when exactly, how many days prior to the next full moon? There are a few people I want you to meet and talk with while you're here, so please plan to stay a week to a month would be good.” “A month?” he questioned right back. “Yes, like I said, I’ve got people I want you to meet.” “Goddess father, it’s not some bloody she-wolf of your choosing, is it? You know I won’t settle. Can’t if I want a chance to be the next Alpha.” “I’m aware of that Jared. I need your help with one very stubborn she-wolf on something; we’ll discuss it when you come home. Drives me a bit batty she does, so very resistant to all offers to come and live within the pack.” “Why do you need her to? If she’s allied she likely has a nice pack and likes it.” “A brilliant marketing mind. I’ve made many offers.” His father huffed at him, “I'm stuck, as are my unit and I need someone to charm her, so to speak.” He rolled his eyes and his entire unit snorted, fully amused. They all knew it was his father’s way of trying to get him to date someone he thought would be good for him. He let it go. “Just put Ethan or Colby to the task. They are right there.” “Hmm, she’s not interested in either of them, kind of dismissive of all ranked members.” His father sighed once more, a little on the heavy side. “Not even Chester is having any luck… seems to be immune to even a Gamma’s charm. Help your old man out, won’t you?” That was a curiosity to him. Though he wondered if it was true at all, not many could get past a Gamma. “I’ll have Dwane do it,” he stated, “I’ll get back to you on the date I’ll be arriving. I’ll have to look at flights and see what’s available.” His father sighed at the comment about him having his Beta charm the girl, but he let it go and stated, “I could send the Jet over.” “No need, Wolf Airline branched out into Europe this year, so we’ll travel safely and in wolfen comfort.” Jared stated simply, “Tell Lance congratulations, I’m looking forward to meeting Raelynn, that I’ll bring something from France as a Luna Gift. Get mother to find out what the woman likes and email me.” “Alright, but a few days prior to the full moon son, is what I expect and at least a week after as well. Business reasons, of course. I will not be meddling in your love life; I learned my lesson when you opted to move halfway around the world.” Jared smiled “Well done, father. I see old wolves can be taught.” He chuckled and clicked the line closed to his father's shocked gasp at hearing his words. He shook his head and turned to his unit, “I guess we’re finally going home, Dwane, you’ll be seeing to that she-wolf.” He shook his head. “It’s your department anyway.” “Hmm, I don’t think things are going to go your way, Jared. Your father can be underhanded and tricky. Sometimes what he says isn’t actually what he means,” Dwane stated. “I’m fully aware of how he goes about getting what he wants.” He nodded. He spent the next few weeks leading up to going back to the pack, attending business as usual, and reorganizing his schedule to fit in with his father’s request of a week to a month-long stay. He’d split that to make two weeks. A compromise that he was happy with, and he’d managed to get a flight that would see him arrive the day of the ceremony, but he needed that for himself, due to business meetings here and the rearranging of his schedule to fit in around others. His father had to deal with it. Though the boys were all headed back before he was, arriving a few days before the ceremony. His flight, however, couldn’t be helped, though he took a very unhappy call from both his parents about it because Lance was of the opinion it was disrespectful, and that he was trying to weasel his way out of being there at all. That he was going to claim that something came up, and so he couldn’t catch his flight. All because he was ticked off that Lance had found his Mate before him. Jared had rolled his eyes, “I’ve bought the ticket, I simply had to rearrange things here to suit others that I had scheduled meetings with over the period you insist I'm there and so have to be away from here. Not everyone fits around your schedule. They're not all wolfen so don't understand. It has nothing to do with my not being happy for Lance. I’m actually very happy for him. Lessens the pressure on me to find my Mate.” Both his parents had gone quiet with his words, and he’d smiled to himself, “Mother, father, I am one to abide by the rules you set out. I will not object to whoever is mated and has an heir first by the time they are 100. Lance has nothing to fear from me. My life is currently very busy anyway, as you both know.” “Well son, Lance has asked that a new stipulation be added to the invitation about attendance,” his father told him. “Oh, has he.” Jared leaned back in his chair and shook his head. “Pray tell, father, what is it?” “That no one turns up late and interrupts the ceremony. So, everyone must have arrived and be seated a full 1-hour prior to the event starting, or on the shaming post and a lashing they will receive for disrespect.” “That is fine. I believe my flight will get in around one thirtyish, and the ceremony is at 7pm. I’m certain father, it won’t take me 4 hours to get through customs, hire a car and drive the one hour to the pack.” “Good. That is what I want to hear. Now I have one thing to ask of you. A favor, so to speak.” Here we go he thought to himself, “And that would be?” “I just need you to stop and pick up a new pack member. She doesn’t drive and has no way to get out to the pack, it’ll be on your way, and take but a moment of your time.” He could hear the smile in his father’s voice and just knew this was part of his plotting. “Fine, send me the address,” he stated, “And make sure she is ready and waiting for me to pick her up. I’m not one for standing around waiting on people, especially she-wolves that are just putting on make-up.” “I’ll make sure she is aware of your attitude and request. Though I don’t see it being a problem, she’s not one to wear a great deal of make-up. A natural beauty, wouldn’t you say Marian?” his father asked his mother. “Oh, yes, pretty as a picture.” He was betting she was, and willing to climb right into his bed at his father's request as well, just like all the others. "
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Chloe, controladora de voo e herdeira secreta, construiu a carreira de seu marido Trevor, mas foi traída no aniversário deles. Ela se divorcia e se casa com Lucas, um general da Aeronáutica. Juntos, eles humilham Trevor, enquanto Lucas começa a suspeitar da verdadeira identidade de sua esposa.
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Chloe, controladora de voo e herdeira secreta, construiu a carreira de seu marido Trevor, mas foi traída no aniversário deles. Ela se divorcia e se casa com Lucas, um general da Aeronáutica. Juntos, eles humilham Trevor, enquanto Lucas começa a suspeitar da verdadeira identidade de sua esposa.
Chloe, řídící letového provozu a tajná dědička leteckého impéria, vybudovala kariéru svému manželovi Trevorovi – jen aby byla zrazena na jejich výročí. Rozvede se a provdá se za Lucase, generála letectva. Společně otočí karty proti Trevorovi a Lucas začne tušit její pravou identitu.
Chloe, an air traffic controller and secret heir to an aviation empire, built her husband Trevor's career—only to be betrayed on their anniversary. She divorces and marries Lucas, an Air Force general. Together, they turn the tables on Trevor, and Lucas grows to suspect her identity.
Havacılık imparatorluğunun gizli varisi Chloe, kocasının ihanetiyle sarsılır. Boşanıp bir hava generaliyle evlenen Chloe, eski kocasından intikam alırken yeni eşi onun gerçek kimliğini keşfetmeye başlar. Gizli güç ve aşk arasında, havadaki büyük hesaplaşma her an daha da kızışır.
Chloe, o controlor de trafic aerian și moștenitoare secretă a unui imperiu aviatic, a construit cariera soțului ei, Trevor—doar pentru a fi trădată la aniversarea lor. Ea divorțează și se căsătorește cu Lucas, un general al Forțelor Aeriene. Împreună, îi întorc situația lui Trevor, iar Lucas ajunge să-i suspecteze identitatea.
Chloe, o controlor de trafic aerian și moștenitoare secretă a unui imperiu aviatic, a construit cariera soțului ei, Trevor—doar pentru a fi trădată la aniversarea lor. Ea divorțează și se căsătorește cu Lucas, un general al Forțelor Aeriene. Împreună, îi întorc situația lui Trevor, iar Lucas ajunge să-i suspecteze identitatea.
Chloe, o controlor de trafic aerian și moștenitoare secretă a unui imperiu aviatic, a construit cariera soțului ei, Trevor—doar pentru a fi trădată la aniversarea lor. Ea divorțează și se căsătorește cu Lucas, un general al Forțelor Aeriene. Împreună, îi întorc situația lui Trevor, iar Lucas ajunge să-i suspecteze identitatea.
Хлоя, авиадиспетчер и тайная наследница авиационной империи, построила карьеру своего мужа Тревора — но в их годовщину он предал её. Она разводится и выходит за генерала Лукаса. Вместе они меняют ситуацию в свою пользу, и Лукас начинает подозревать её истинную личность.
Хлоя, авиадиспетчер и тайная наследница авиационной империи, построила карьеру своего мужа Тревора — но в их годовщину он предал её. Она разводится и выходит за генерала Лукаса. Вместе они меняют ситуацию в свою пользу, и Лукас начинает подозревать её истинную личность.
Chloé, contrôleuse aérienne et héritière secrète d'un empire aérien, a fait la carrière de son mari Trevor, pour être trahie le jour de leur anniversaire. Elle divorce et épouse Lucas, Général de l'Air. Ensemble, ils se vengent, tandis que Lucas commence à douter de son identité.
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Chloe, an air traffic controller and secret heir to an aviation empire, built her husband Trevor's career—only to be betrayed on their anniversary. She divorces and marries Lucas, an Air Force general. Together, they turn the tables on Trevor, and Lucas grows to suspect her identity.
Chloé, contrôleuse aérienne et héritière secrète d'un empire aérien, a fait la carrière de son mari Trevor, pour être trahie le jour de leur anniversaire. Elle divorce et épouse Lucas, Général de l'Air. Ensemble, ils se vengent, tandis que Lucas commence à douter de son identité.
Chloe, erede segreta di un impero aereo, lancia la carriera del marito Trevor, che però la tradisce. Dopo il divorzio, sposa il generale Lucas. Insieme distruggono Trevor, mentre Lucas inizia a sospettare la vera, potente identità di sua moglie.
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Chloe, an air traffic controller and secret heir to an aviation empire, built her husband Trevor's career—only to be betrayed on their anniversary. She divorces and marries Lucas, an Air Force general. Together, they turn the tables on Trevor, and Lucas grows to suspect her identity.
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The best escapes are planned in advance. Book 30 days ahead at Avani+ Khao Lak and enjoy: 🌟 25% off your stay 🍽️ Complimentary daily breakfast 🧖♀️ 20% off dining, spa & laundry services ✨ An additional 10% savings for Discovery Members. DIRECT BOOKING BENEFITS ☑️ Complimentary resort credit ☑️ 20% savings on spa ☑️Complimentary sunset cocktail Don't wait — lock in your luxury stay now and embrace a world of comfort. | The best escapes are planned in advance. Book 30 days ahead at Avani+ Khao Lak and enjoy: 🌟 25% off your stay 🍽️ Complimentary daily breakfast 🧖♀️ 20% off dining, spa & laundry services ✨ An additional 10% savings for Discovery Members. DIRECT BOOKING BENEFITS ☑️ Complimentary resort credit ☑️ 20% savings on spa ☑️Complimentary sunset cocktail Don't wait — lock in your luxury stay now and embrace a world of comfort. | The best escapes are planned in advance. Book 30 days ahead at Avani+ Khao Lak and enjoy: 🌟 25% off your stay 🍽️ Complimentary daily breakfast 🧖♀️ 20% off dining, spa & laundry services ✨ An additional 10% savings for Discovery Members. DIRECT BOOKING BENEFITS ☑️ Complimentary resort credit ☑️ 20% savings on spa ☑️Complimentary sunset cocktail Don't wait — lock in your luxury stay now and embrace a world of comfort.
The best escapes are planned in advance. Book 30 days ahead at Avani+ Khao Lak and enjoy: 🌟 25% off your stay 🍽️ Complimentary daily breakfast 🧖♀️ 20% off dining, spa & laundry services ✨ An additional 10% savings for Discovery Members. DIRECT BOOKING BENEFITS ☑️ Complimentary resort credit ☑️ 20% savings on spa ☑️Complimentary sunset cocktail Don't wait — lock in your luxury stay now and embrace a world of comfort. | The best escapes are planned in advance. Book 30 days ahead at Avani+ Khao Lak and enjoy: 🌟 25% off your stay 🍽️ Complimentary daily breakfast 🧖♀️ 20% off dining, spa & laundry services ✨ An additional 10% savings for Discovery Members. DIRECT BOOKING BENEFITS ☑️ Complimentary resort credit ☑️ 20% savings on spa ☑️Complimentary sunset cocktail Don't wait — lock in your luxury stay now and embrace a world of comfort. | The best escapes are planned in advance. Book 30 days ahead at Avani+ Khao Lak and enjoy: 🌟 25% off your stay 🍽️ Complimentary daily breakfast 🧖♀️ 20% off dining, spa & laundry services ✨ An additional 10% savings for Discovery Members. DIRECT BOOKING BENEFITS ☑️ Complimentary resort credit ☑️ 20% savings on spa ☑️Complimentary sunset cocktail Don't wait — lock in your luxury stay now and embrace a world of comfort.
Escape the noise and slow down in the heart of Chiang Mai 🌿🇹🇭 THEE Kashatharn Hotel is a boutique stay inspired by the warmth of Northern Thailand — where peaceful mornings, Lanna-inspired rooms, relaxing poolside afternoons, and thoughtful experiences come together effortlessly. Whether you are here to unwind, explore the old town, or simply enjoy a slower pace of life, every stay is designed to feel calm, comfortable, and meaningful. Book directly with us and enjoy exclusive benefits: ◽Use code THAINESS for 12% off direct bookings via our website ◽Savor unlimited Hearty & Healthy à la carte breakfast (or choose a room-only rate at a lower price) ◽Enjoy a complimentary Signature Drink from The 5th wall (per booking) ◽Free-Flow complimentary snacks and beverages ◽Enjoy a free ice bath experience ◽Your stay supports Thai elephants. 📝 All benefits are available only when you book directly through our website. 🏨 Stay period: From now until 31 December 2026 Click the link to learn more. We guarantee you will receive the very best when you stay at THEE Kashatharn Hotel. > https://theekashatharn.com/landingpage-en-2/ . . Book Now !> https://reservation.travelanium.net/propertyibe2/?propertyId=654&onlineId=21&accesscode=THAINESS ------------- #theekashatharn #Chiangmaitravel #ThailandTravel #chiangmaihotel #chiangmaioldtown #ChiangmaiTravel | Escape the noise and slow down in the heart of Chiang Mai 🌿🇹🇭 THEE Kashatharn Hotel is a boutique stay inspired by the warmth of Northern Thailand — where peaceful mornings, Lanna-inspired rooms, relaxing poolside afternoons, and thoughtful experiences come together effortlessly. Whether you are here to unwind, explore the old town, or simply enjoy a slower pace of life, every stay is designed to feel calm, comfortable, and meaningful. Book directly with us and enjoy exclusive benefits: ◽Use code THAINESS for 12% off direct bookings via our website ◽Savor unlimited Hearty & Healthy à la carte breakfast (or choose a room-only rate at a lower price) ◽Enjoy a complimentary Signature Drink from The 5th wall (per booking) ◽Free-Flow complimentary snacks and beverages ◽Enjoy a free ice bath experience ◽Your stay supports Thai elephants. 📝 All benefits are available only when you book directly through our website. 🏨 Stay period: From now until 31 December 2026 Click the link to learn more. We guarantee you will receive the very best when you stay at THEE Kashatharn Hotel. > https://theekashatharn.com/landingpage-en-2/ . . Book Now !> https://reservation.travelanium.net/propertyibe2/?propertyId=654&onlineId=21&accesscode=THAINESS ------------- #theekashatharn #Chiangmaitravel #ThailandTravel #chiangmaihotel #chiangmaioldtown #ChiangmaiTravel | Escape the noise and slow down in the heart of Chiang Mai 🌿🇹🇭 THEE Kashatharn Hotel is a boutique stay inspired by the warmth of Northern Thailand — where peaceful mornings, Lanna-inspired rooms, relaxing poolside afternoons, and thoughtful experiences come together effortlessly. Whether you are here to unwind, explore the old town, or simply enjoy a slower pace of life, every stay is designed to feel calm, comfortable, and meaningful. Book directly with us and enjoy exclusive benefits: ◽Use code THAINESS for 12% off direct bookings via our website ◽Savor unlimited Hearty & Healthy à la carte breakfast (or choose a room-only rate at a lower price) ◽Enjoy a complimentary Signature Drink from The 5th wall (per booking) ◽Free-Flow complimentary snacks and beverages ◽Enjoy a free ice bath experience ◽Your stay supports Thai elephants. 📝 All benefits are available only when you book directly through our website. 🏨 Stay period: From now until 31 December 2026 Click the link to learn more. We guarantee you will receive the very best when you stay at THEE Kashatharn Hotel. > https://theekashatharn.com/landingpage-en-2/ . . Book Now !> https://reservation.travelanium.net/propertyibe2/?propertyId=654&onlineId=21&accesscode=THAINESS ------------- #theekashatharn #Chiangmaitravel #ThailandTravel #chiangmaihotel #chiangmaioldtown #ChiangmaiTravel
Chloé, contrôleuse aérienne et héritière secrète d'un empire aérien, a fait la carrière de son mari Trevor, pour être trahie le jour de leur anniversaire. Elle divorce et épouse Lucas, Général de l'Air. Ensemble, ils se vengent, tandis que Lucas commence à douter de son identité.
The hotel recognized her immediately… and what they implied made my stomach drop 👀
Chloe, an air traffic controller and secret heir to an aviation empire, built her husband Trevor's career—only to be betrayed on their anniversary. She divorces and marries Lucas, an Air Force general. Together, they turn the tables on Trevor, and Lucas grows to suspect her identity.
Chloé, contrôleuse aérienne et héritière secrète d'un empire aérien, a fait la carrière de son mari Trevor, pour être trahie le jour de leur anniversaire. Elle divorce et épouse Lucas, Général de l'Air. Ensemble, ils se vengent, tandis que Lucas commence à douter de son identité.