- Jace -

As soon as the words leave my mouth my phone vibrates in my front trouser pocket.

I reach for it, pulling it out...her name flashing up on my home screen.

Cleo.

The one person I had hurt more than my own family...and that is really saying something.

I knew what I had done, walked out on her the morning after the night I can't forget.

She was perfection.

Waking to find her next to me...in an ideal world that's all I would ever want. But I can't, I can't have that.

So I did what I knew would hurt her again.

I left her, I didn't even leave a note.

I had ghosted her.

I've ignored every attempt of hers to make contact since the hotel, I had nothing to say to her.

Nothing that she would want to hear. I lost control that night....I refuse to lose control again.

Nothing can happen between us again, not now I am back.

I got lost in the heat of the moment, the red hot heat of jealousy surging through my body. Knowing if it wasn't me...then another male would take my place.

She was determined, and I refused to let another male take her virginity.

Opening the message, I am aware that the eyes of my family are on me having just declared to them that I had found my Luna...fuck, it's almost as if fate is trying to remind me of her own plans.

Fuck that shit.

I quickly type out a reply to Cleo, she wanted to talk...says it is important. What better way for her to find out my news than in person. Once I have text Cleo to come here, I place my phone away, returning my attention to my parents and brother.

"Well...this is happy news. We must celebrate." Mum beams out, her hands reaching for Dad's.

"We will...but first, we can't have it be public knowledge not until Callie's parents have been informed." I place an arm around Cleo's shoulder, remembering I need to touch her more.

"You haven't told your parents?" Mum seemed to be the only one asking questions, Jaxon and Dad continuing to watch...testing us.

"No, our relationship is strained." Callie responds, her eyes turning to me.

"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that."

"I'm not innocent by any means Luna, I ran out and they told me not to return to their pack."

"Their pack?" Dad's body shifts forward, intrigue getting the better of him.

"My parents are the alpha and luna....I'm their only child."

"I see, so you are an alpha born?"

"Yes." Callie smiles out to Mum, her relationship with her own parents and pack the main reason she talked sense into me to return. To take what is mine.

I first met her with a group of others, living it day by day not quite rogues, but living in the human world earning their daily crust.

When I happened to discover them, Callie knew immediately that I was an alpha born, my aura unmistakable in the human city.

We hit it off right away, the two of us making a fresh start for ourselves on the east coast.

"Would you like to reach out to them?"

“I've tried, numerous of times, they won't accept my call." Callie sighs out, I being with her the last couple of times she tried. They really had cut her off.

"Leave it with me." Mum's hands clap together, a plan coming to her.

"You don't have to. I don't want to get you involved with my family drama."

"But you are to be family are you not? So we are now involved."

I knew Mum and Callie would get along, Callie was strong. She was independent...capable of handling bad situations.

"You said there were things to update me with? Things about here?" I ask, changing the topic of conversation.noveldrama

"Perhaps...we will wait until you have settled in. This is a happy moment, let's not spoil it with pack politics. There is always later." Dad firmly states, his aura seeping out of him to inform us that it was non negotiable.

To be honest, I could do with a break...regathering myself and resting.

“In that case, we've been travelling through the night. We could do with some rest before I show

Callie the pack."

After sleeping throughout most of the day, I jump into the shower. My room hadn't changed since the last time I was in it, even the box for the wedding shoes remained placed on the chair in the corner.

I try not to think back on that night, the memories creating a storm of emotions within me.

Over the noise of the streaming water I can hear Callie talking to somebody in the bedroom, I turn the shower down, trying to listen from the ensuite. "Is somebody there?" I call out to Callie.

"It was just one of the house staff, here...your towel." She hands me a towel as I step out of the shower, drying myself off in front of her.

Her eyes roam the length of me, as she leans against the doorway. She was in a red lace bra and knicker set, her curves owning the material.

"What?" I look at her wondering what she was thinking.

"You need to do a work out..."

"Ouch!" I laugh out at her undiluted bluntness.

"Have you seen how big your brother is?"