For the last two years, Kane has been dreaming of the day when his mate finally turns 18 and they can finally claim each other. However, his world suddenly comes crashing down and his dream is instantly destroyed when the alpha announces that his son (Kane's mate) has found his mate, who is the daughter of a neighboring pack's alpha. However, he can't bring himself to say anything. He has kept this a secret for two years and he was waiting for another few months until his mate's birthday, but that day is never coming now. He can't stand seeing his mate with another, and he can no longer handle being in his pack. He can't let his father know either, since he is the pack's Beta. What can he do? The only thing that he can think of.... He will keep his secret and run as far away as possible. He will no longer be Kane, but he will become a new person, with a new name. Blake. That sounds nice. It also reminds him of black, which is what his past is now.
Kane POV
How long have I been running? I don't remember. However, I can't stop now. I have to keep going. I have to get as far away from there as possible.
My paws pound on the forest floor as I dash around a tree and over a fallen log. With each step, my legs cramp a little more, but I can't pay attention to it now. I have to get away.
With sheer determination in my eyes, I focus my attention on the terrain ahead. My escape almost came to a crashing halt a few minutes ago when I took my eyes off of the path ahead and I almost slammed into a tree trunk. Good thing my wolf has good reflexes.
I still can't believe that I could be this stupid. What was I thinking?
Oh, yeah. I was hoping that when my mate turned 18 and could finally sense my presence that he would love me and claim me. What a joke?
I've known since my 18th birthday, which has been two years now, that the one person that I've hated for these last few years is my mate. However, being the coward that I am, I didn't tell him. Well, it didn't help that he would continuously tease and belittle me.
Plus, I didn't have enough courage to walk up to the alpha's son and announce that he is my mate. Everyone would have laughed at me, so I kept my mouth shut.
However, I never would have expected what happened a few days ago. My heart aches just thinking about it. No. I have to forget. I have to move on.
My wolf whines. Even though my mate didn't mark me, my wolf already knows who our true mate is and still wants him. However, that will never happen now.
Ugh... I have to keep going.
As I dash over a crest of a hill, my eyes suddenly lock onto the glow through the trees on the horizon. Yes. I have finally made it to a big city. They should have a bus station here and I can go as far as the bus will take me. Now, I just have to blend in with the humans and not be discovered. I can do this.
I suddenly have a spring in my step, and with a renewed energy, I bolt ahead. I should be able to make it to town before morning. All I need to do is to find something to eat and a place to clean up. Then I will start my new life.
***
I settle down into the back seat on the bus. For the first time in the last two years, I finally have hope. My heart still aches, and my wolf still wants to go back to our pack, but I know that that isn't possible now. However, I'm sure that my father is looking for me, and that is why I have to get as far away from my pack as possible.
I'm sure that my father has tried to contact other packs, but I can't have them find out my real name. From now on, Kane is gone. He died the moment I left my pack.
The only person that is left is the new one that I have created. Welcome to my new life, Blake.
I sigh as I turn my head and look out the window. There are so many uncertainties about the future, but I can't let that control my life. For once, I need to live for myself. Not for my parents. Not for my mate. Not for the family name. No. I will only live for myself now.
I hope the Moon Goddess is on my side now. If she is, she will guide me to the place that I need to be and to a place where I can heal. Someday, I will be 100% again. Only then, I will be able to come out of hiding, but not before.
I don't even know if there are werewolves where I'm going. My father has never talked about this area before. Well, it is rather far from my pack, but my pack has never dealt with any werewolf packs in this area. So, I can only assume that there isn't any out this direction, which is why I'm heading there. From now on, I will live as a human.
I have gone to college for a couple years. However, now, I won't be going back, which surprisingly, I'm fine with that. Well, I'm sure the fact that my mate is starting there this next semester is helping with me not wanting to go there.
Ugh... I have to stop thinking about him.
As the bus begins to move and head down the road, I continue to watch the scenery as it slowly begins to blur past, and for the first time in my life, I think about what I want to do with my life. I have nothing holding me back now.
First thing is that I have to get a job, and then I can maybe think about going back to college. Is there even a college around this area? I'm sure there is. I will have to look into it when I get there.
As I continue to think about the possibilities, my eyelids slowly close and sleep quickly consumes me.
***
"Hey. Sir. You need to wake up. We are at the end of the line."
What? Someone nudges my shoulder as my eyes slowly flicker open. Oh, my body is stiff. How long have I been sleeping?
SHIT!! Did I miss my stop?
I whip my head up and look at the bus driver. "Where are we? I was supposed to get off...."
The older gentleman smiles and interrupts me. "You looked so tired that I didn't want to wake you. Even now, I let you sleep on the bus for several hours, but it is time for me to go home. You need to get off now. I have gotten your bag out from the luggage compartment and put it next to the bus."
Wait! I missed my stop. I don't even know where I am.
I don't know what to say. However, my mind seems to suddenly begin working as I mumble, "Is there even any place to find a job here or eat? I don't even know where I'm going to sleep tonight."
The bus driver gently begins to pat my shoulder, as he softly replies, "Don't worry about that. You can come with me to the pack house, and we will figure things out. I'll talk to the alpha and see if he will let you stay with us."
Did he just say pack house and alpha?
For the first time after waking up, I finally look at the bus driver's face. This is the first time in years that I'm actually met with a warm a smile. The few grey hairs that are scattered around his dark brown hair seem to give him an air of experience, but also a sense of wisdom.
As I continue to stare blankly at the bus driver and think about what I should do, the bus driver gently grabs my arm and chimes, "Let's go. It is about supper time and if we don't get there on time, those rascals may eat everything."
I still don't know what is going on, but I don't protest. I let the older gentleman pull me out of my seat and guide me out of the bus.
We grab my one bag, and he guides me to a car in the parking lot next to the bus station. I still don't know what is going on, but the thought of having a meal at a pack house warms my heart.
An image of me when I was younger suddenly pops into my mind. I was only about 10 at the time and I had gone to another pack for several weeks to visit my aunt and uncle along with my cousins. I was so excited to finally be back home and with my parents, that I went running into the pack house. I didn't care that it was mealtime.
When I dashed through the doors and into the dining hall, I was met with my mother's joyous smile and her open arms. I ran across the room and threw myself into her arms. Her soft voice happily hummed, "Welcome home, baby. I've missed you so much."
Within seconds, my father was also hugging me and my mother. His warm voice whispering in my ear, "Welcome back, son."
My father was never a person for a lot of words, but I felt so loved in that moment. I never wanted to leave that spot.
As I get into the vehicle, a lone tear slides down my face as the realization finally hits me. I will never see my parents again.
The older gentleman gets into the driver's seat, and as he starts the vehicle, he softly chimes, "By the way, I'm Gus. I don't know what you have gone through, but clearly you are running from something or someone. I hope that you aren't too mad at me, but that is why I let you sleep through the whole bus route. You looked so tired, and I can only imagine that you have been running for a while."
I slowly nod my head as I look down at my lap. How can he figure that out? Do I look that bad?
I softly reply, "I'm Blake."
The vehicle begins to move, and I shift my eyes to look out the window.
Gus continues, "I have already linked with the pack and asked for you to take shelter with us. I just can't let someone so innocent and pure suffer. Plus, you are an omega, and it isn't safe to have you roaming around without a pack."
Shit. I didn't even think about that.
Another lone tear slides down my cheek as I bite my lower lip and hum, "hmm."
As we pull out of the parking lot and head down the road, Gus lightly pats my arm. "Don't worry. Our alpha is actually an omega. His mate was killed in a fight a few years ago. We have always been hiding thus the reason why many of us have jobs in neighboring towns. We have also learned how to hide our scent, so other werewolves can't detect us. They think that we are just another human."
Oh, so that is why I didn't realize that he is a werewolf.
I continue to stare out the window as Gus continues. "Our alpha, Wyatt, is excited to meet you. Besides our alpha, all other omegas are female. You will be the first male omega that he has ever met."
I nod my head. Well besides my best friend Ben, who is also a male omega, this will be the first time that I'll be meeting another male omega too. However, I'm not that excited. My heart is still aching, and now my body is too.
Right now, I just want to eat, take a bath and get some rest.
As I watch the scenery whiz past, I can't help but to wonder if they will let me stay. I have nowhere else to go and Gus even said that the pack stays hidden. Would they allow me to stay hidden there too?
Is this where the Moon Goddess wants me to be?
As I turn to march out of the room, my feet stop and my breath hitches. "Bryanna. Why…” I whip back around and glare at them. "You aren't to use that name in public. Only when we are in private and alone.” Jacob flashes me a crooked smile. His eyes sparkle as he waves his finger around in the air. “We are alone. It is only us three in here.” He rests his arm on the table and gives me a cheesy grin, almost daring me to slap it off him. His t-shirt stretches tight against his muscular chest and accents his well-defined muscles. He has a true alpha body. The sparkle in his light brown eyes shimmers as he leans forward. In a deep, husky voice, he adds, “We know all your secrets. Plus, we can see your true self. The one nobody else can see because of the magic spell. Should I go on?” My heartbeat echoes in my ears as I stumble forward. How could he act like this? Bryanna, the heir to her pack, is forced into a contract relationship right before her eighteenth birthday which her father claims to be the best for both her and the pack. However, as she gets older, she soon realizes the contract relationship may not be the best choice for her, but it was a great choice for her father. When Bryanna and the contract are on the verge of falling apart, she faces a choice only she can make. Does she fight for the mate she can't detect at the risk of her secret coming out? Or does she sacrifice her happiness for the pack and her father's wishes while also keeping her secret buried?
Chance takes another drink of beer and points his finger at Alex. "I bet you can't." Alex doesn't understand why they think it is such a big deal. He can go without sex if he wanted to. He just doesn't want to. What is so wrong with that? They should be thankful. It keeps him entertained and relaxed. Alex points his finger back at Chance. "I bet I can." Will Alex find it as easy as he thinks it will be to win the bet? Or will he run into some obstacles along the way? One of which is a tan muscular man who is willing to help Alex with whatever Alex needs, but is the man's help to win the best or is it to win Alex?
In her previous life, Kimberly endured the betrayal of her husband, the cruel machinations of an evil woman, and the endless tyranny of her in-laws. It culminated in the bankruptcy of her family, and ultimately, her death. After being reborn, she resolved to seek retribution against those who had wronged her, and ensure her family's prosperity. To her shock, the most unattainable man from her past suddenly set his sights on her. "You may have overlooked me before, but I shall capture your heart this time around."
Life was perfect until she met her boyfriend's big brother. There was a forbidden law in the Night Shade Pack that if the head Alpha rejected his mate, he would be stripped of his position. Sophia's life would get connected with the law. She was an Omega who was dating the head Alpha's younger brother. Bryan Morrison, the head Alpha, was not only a cold-blooded man but also a charming business tycoon. His name was enough to cause other packs to tremble. He was known as a ruthless man. What if, by some twist of destiny, Sophia's path were to intertwine with his?
Anabel found out she was pregnant and dialed her husband's number to share the good news to him. They have been married for two years without a child. Desmond's mother had been accusing her of being barren and unproductive. When the call was picked, she was flabbergasted and broken. She was hearing a loud moan of feminine voice. "Ohh! Yeah! Don't stop fucking me! Fuck me harder baby!" accompanied with sound of skins slapping against the other. She went home to confront her husband and end up receiving a divorce paper. Desmond divorced him for a lady his mother was rooting. Few months later when he found out that his ex-wife is a billionaire heiress and she is pregnant with twins, he went crazy!
After three years of loveless marriage, Kira was slapped with divorce papers. She has shown him her unrequited love throughout her entire marriage with him, but he decided to turn blind eyes all because of his lover. Distraught and heartbroken, Kira choose to sign the divorce papers with bitter heart. But then and there, she promised herself that when she's back, he will come crawling to her, but she will make him pay for hurting her. Join Kira as she transform to a wealthy heiress and soared as the CEO of a multi-billion-dollar empire, a remarkable healer and make her ex-husband pay!
Natalie used to think she could melt Connor’s icy heart, but she was sorely mistaken. When at last she decided to leave, she discovered that she was pregnant. Even so, she chose to quietly leave his world, prompting Connor to mobilize all of his resources and expand his business to a global scale—all in a bid to find her. But there was no trace of Natalie. Connor slowly spiraled into madness, turning the city upside down and leaving chaos in his wake. Natalie finally surfaced years later, with wealth and power of her own, only to find herself entangled with Connor once again.
The whispers said that out of bitter jealousy, Hadley shoved Eric's beloved down the stairs, robbing the unborn child of life. To avenge, Eric forced Hadley abroad and completely cut her off. Years later, she reemerged, and they felt like strangers. When they met again, she was the nightclub's star, with men ready to pay fortunes just to glimpse her elusive performance. Unable to contain himself, Eric blocked her path, asking, "Is this truly how you earn a living now? Why not come back to me?" Hadley's lips curved faintly. "If you’re eager to see me, you’d better join the queue, darling."