CHAPTER ONE – The Meeting
Jacob’s POV
“Come on, Jake, stop moping around,” Dylan sighed. “We are running late.”
I rolled my eyes and stood up.
“I am not moping around,” I mumbled as I walked past him. “Are you coming or not?”
I heard him following behind me.
“You are the chief of patrol now,” Dylan said. “You shouldn’t be late for an important meeting.”
I sighed and narrowed my eyes.
“We still have half an hour left until we have to be there,” I said, trying to remain calm. “Will you get off my back?”
“It’s 20 minutes, not half an hour,” Dylan said, making my anger grow.
I tightened my jaw and took a deep breath.
I had to ignore him, or his annoying attitude would make me snap.
“What the hell is with you today?” Dylan asked. “Your mood is going to destroy this meeting.”
I was really going to punch him.
Dylan grabbed my arm and made me stop walking. I growled at him, trying to pull my arm out of his grip.
“Talk to me, Jacob,” Dylan said. “I am not letting you go there like this. Something is obviously bugging you.”
I tightened my jaw to the point where I thought my teeth would break.
“Is this about Emma again?” Dylan sighed. “You have to stop, Jake. She is married. She has kids.”
I saw fucking red.
I was so fucking tired of everyone asking me if my every bad mood was about Emma. It fucking wasn’t. I would always love that girl, and I would never stop believing that she should have been mine, but I moved on. She had a mate. She had two kids with him. She wasn’t fucking mine, and I found a way to be okay with it. I just wished that everyone would stop bugging the fuck out of me.
“It’s not about Emma,” I said, pulling my arm out of his grasp.
“Then what is it?” Dylan sighed.
I started walking again.
I didn’t know what it was about. I was just pissed off from the moment I woke up this morning.
Dylan was right. This meeting was necessary. We were meeting with Alpha Henry’s head of patrol to discuss border security. Logan was cautious after everything that had happened. It was understandable, and I ultimately agreed with him regarding the border issue. Alpha Henry was one of our allies whose pack was on our northern border. He was more than happy to let his head of patrol meet with me. I needed to get my shit together and do my job.
It would be easier if I knew what the fuck was bothering me.
“Jake?” Dylan called me again, making me sigh.
“I don’t know what’s wrong,” I mumbled. “I’ve been pissed off since I woke up this morning. Jared is restless, but he doesn’t know either.”
“Keep it together until after the meeting,” Dylan said.
I clenched my fists and stayed silent.
He was right, but he was really pissing me off.
We were almost at the arranged spot when Jared stirred.
‘What’s wrong?’ I asked.
‘Something is going to happen,’ Jared said, growling quietly. ‘Be careful.’
“Guard up, Dylan,” I told him. “Jared said that something was going to happen.”
Dylan’s head snapped in my direction.
“What?” he asked, his eyes widening.
“I said, guard up,” I growled at him. “Stop staring at me, and be careful.”
I could smell and hear Alpha Henry’s pack members, who were already waiting for us on the other side of the border.
There was one smell that stood out. It smelled of mango with a hint of watermelon. Why the fuck was I smelling mango and watermelon in the middle of the fucking forest?!
I rushed toward the meeting spot when my whole world completely shifted.
My eyes fell on a woman standing next to Jason, Alpha Henry’s chief of patrol.
She was fucking beautiful. Her scent made me drool. Every fucking thing that worried me just dissipated.
I heard her gasp. I watched as she turned around and looked at me.
Goddess, she was gorgeous. Her black hair was cut into a short bob. Her green eyes melted with the forest around us.
I was totally and completely in love with her.
“Mate,” we said at the same time.
I heard people around us gasp, but I didn’t pay even the slightest attention to them. I could only see her. I only wanted to listen to her voice.
I hurried toward her. I couldn’t fucking wait to touch her. I couldn’t wait to feel her skin on mine.
She smiled and reached out for me.
I grabbed her hand and pulled her into a hug.
My whole body tingled. A pleasurable shiver went up and down my spine. Every ache in my body disappeared.
I buried my nose into her hair and took a deep breath.
“Well, now we know why you were so nervous since you woke up this morning,” Dylan snorted, making Jason laugh.
“Was he?” Jason asked. “Rose was on edge the whole day too.”
Rose? Her name was Rose?
I let her go and looked down at her. I smiled and caressed her cheek.
“Hi, Rose,” I said quietly. “My name is Jacob.”
She smiled, and my knees buckled.
“Hi, Jacob,” she said. “It is so nice to finally meet you.”
Her voice was melodic. I already knew that I would enjoy it each time she spoke.
She was right. It was so fucking nice to meet her.
“I didn’t think that you existed,” I said quietly as I cupped her cheeks and leaned my forehead on hers. “I already gave up on finding you.”
She placed her hand over mine and smiled. She was so fucking beautiful when she smiled. I would never get tired of watching her smile.
“I was always waiting for you,” she said, making my heart skip a beat. “I am so happy that you finally found me.
I did.
I finally found her, and I would never let her go.
CHAPTER TWO – In Love
Rose’s POV
He was so beautiful, and I was so in love with him.
There wasn’t another word to describe him. He was beautiful. He was tall, muscular, and so freaking hot that I had to stop myself from drooling.
He was great with kids too.
“Yes, Alex, I will be back soon,” he said with a small smile. “Yes, I will bring you back a gift.”
He looked up at me and smiled.
Who was Alex? I could tell he was a child by how he babbled over the phone. I didn’t even know how Jacob understood him.
“Give your sister a kiss for me, will you?” Jacob said.
I heard the kid say something that made Jacob laugh. My heart fluttered. He was so freaking hot when he laughed.
“Hi, Amy,” I heard him say, but I focused only on his lips.
I wanted to know what they felt like against mine. I wanted to know what they tasted like. I was drooling after him, and Roxy wasn’t helping with her constant comments.
‘He is so pretty,’she sighed.‘I can’t wait to meet his wolf.’
‘Stop sighing all the time,’I told her.‘You are distracting me.’
‘He is distracting us,’Roxy mumbled.‘How could he not? He is perfect.’
I rolled my eyes and ignored her. I had trouble keeping my own emotions in check, and I didn’t need hers as well.
“I will be home soon,” Jacob said. “Yes, you will get to meet her.”
He called to tell his cousin and his friend about me. Based on their reactions, I could tell that they were really excited to meet me. I was excited to meet them too.
“Say hi to my niece for me,” Jacob said with a small smile.
He told me that his cousin was pregnant and that he couldn’t wait to meet her baby. I could tell that he really loved and cared for his family.
Jacob hung up the phone and looked at me. He smiled, and I immediately approached him. I really needed to touch him.
He pulled me onto his lap, and I pressed my lips against his immediately. Both of us moaned quietly. He tasted as delicious as I knew he would.
“Fuck, Rose,” he mumbled and tightened his arms around me.
I could feel something hard under my butt, and I grinned.
I kissed him again, pressing myself closer to him. His hands traveled down my body. He gripped my butt and squeezed.
I shivered. I wanted more. I really, really wanted more.
We would have to wait, though. We couldn’t have sex in the middle of my parents’ living room.
“So, who is Alex?” I asked as I stopped kissing him.
I needed a distraction. We needed a distraction.
“My friend’s kid,” he said with a small smile. “He is cute. I love him.”
He smiled, and it made my heart skip a beat. I could tell that he was going to be a great father.
“He has a sister?” I asked, remembering his conversation with the boy.
“Yes,” Jacob nodded. “A twin. They are inseparable.”
“How old are they?” I asked, wanting to know more about the people who mattered to him.
My family was small. I didn’t have siblings or cousins. I could tell that Jacob had a big family, and I was excited to be a part of it. I wanted to know more about them.
“They will be three in a couple of months,” Jacob said, giving me a small smile.
“I can’t wait to meet them,” I said, smiling back at him.
“So, you are really taking our daughter to your pack?” I heard my mom’s voice behind me.
I flinched and stood up immediately. My parents were cool, but I was sure that they didn’t want to see me sitting on my mate’s lap.
Jacob smiled, but I could sense his nervousness.
“I am,” he nodded. “We will come to visit all the time, and you are more than welcome to come to my pack. My parents are excited to meet you.”
My dad approached me and pulled me into his arms.
“Take care of my little girl,” my dad said as he hugged me tightly.
“I will,” I heard my mate’s voice. “I am honored to have a mate as beautiful and kind as your daughter. I will love her and cherish her.”
“You better do that,” my mom said as she joined in on our hug.
Her voice was quiet and raspy. I could tell that she was crying.
I looked up at my mom and gave her a small smile.
“You will see me all the time, mom,” I told her. “I am not moving far away.”
My mom wiped her cheeks and gave me a small smile.
“I know, Rosie,” she said softly. “I will still miss seeing you every day, though.”
“I will miss seeing you too, mom,” I said, letting go of my dad and wrapping my arms around my mom.
She hugged me tightly and kissed my temple.
“We need to get going,” Jacob said, making my mom sigh.
My mom let me go and cupped my cheeks.
“Call me when you get there, okay?” she said. “And let us know when we can come to visit.”
“Of course,” Jacob answered instead of me. “I will talk to my Alpha and let you know when you can come.”
I smiled at my mom. She kissed me again before letting me go.
Jacob walked to the front door and picked up my bags. He opened the front door and stepped outside. My dad went to help him bring my bags to my car.
I took a deep breath and looked around my childhood home. I was sad that I had to leave, but I was so excited to start my life with my mate. I waited for him for a long time. I thought that I would never find him, and now that I did, I couldn’t wait to spend every second with him.
CHAPTER THREE – My Daughter
Jacob’s POV
“We won’t be having any more children after this one,” Rosie said, pacing around the room slowly.
“You don’t want another boy?” I asked, smirking a little.
Rosie looked at me, making me raise my hands in surrender.
“Hey, I am just repeating what you said,” I defended myself.
After we found out that our second baby was a girl, Rosie was so excited. She did say that she wanted another boy, though. She adored our son, and they had a special relationship.
She rolled her eyes and continued pacing around the room. She looked like a little penguin.
I chuckled and shook my head.
“I forgot how painful it is to give birth,” Rosie said, groaning a little.
I stood up and approached her. I caressed her belly and kissed her temple.
“You can do it,” I mumbled quietly. “I love you, and I am so proud of you.”
Rosie leaned on me, and I rubbed her back gently.
“I love you too,” she mumbled, making me smile.
There was a knock on the door, and a second later, Emma peered in. She was still volunteering at the hospital when she had time, and she was here when we came in.
“Hi, guys,” she said with a huge smile on her face. “How is it going?”
“Slowly,” Rosie sighed as she walked over to the bed and sat down. “She is a stubborn kid, and apparently, she doesn’t want to come out.”
Emma chuckled and adjusted Rosie’s pillows.
“I remember that,” she said. “We will have another stubborn girl in the family, apparently. Sophie didn’t want to come out either. Alex was practically talking by the time we managed to convince her to join us.”
I snorted and shook my head. I wasn’t surprised. Sophie really was a stubborn little girl.
“I am not surprised,” Rosie chuckled. “She is a stubborn little girl.”
“She’s gotten that from her dad,” Emma said, rolling her eyes playfully.
I laughed and shook my head.
“I’ve known you for ages,” I said. “She’s got that from you.”
Emma looked at me and shook her head, making me laugh again.
“So, where are Alex and Soph?” I asked, rubbing my mate’s back gently.
“They are with Daisy as well,” Emma said. “Mason, Alex, and Sophie took the responsibility of watching over Danny very seriously.”
I smiled. My boy loved his older friends. He loved spending time with them.
“Is he behaving?” Rosie asked.
“Oh, I am sure that he is,” Emma smiled. “He is a great boy, Rosie. You did an amazing job raising him.”
Rosie smiled and took Emma’s hand in hers.
“Thank you, Emmy,” Rosie said softly.
I smiled and took my mate’s other hand in mine. I loved the friendship between Emma and Rosie. I even got closer to Logan after finding my mate. He was way more relaxed around me, and I could even call him my friend now.
I still loved Emma a lot. She was still my best friend, and I would still do everything for her and everything in my power to protect her. I didn’t want her like I wanted her before. That feeling of that intense need for her disappeared the moment I met my mate.
“Uh,” Rosie groaned, placing her hand on her belly.
She had another contraction.
She squeezed my hand, and I bent down to kiss the top of her head.
“They are getting closer together,” Rosie mumbled, taking a deep breath.
“I will go get Wren,” Emma said.
“Thank you,” I told her as I watched her leave the room.
She smiled at us before she closed the door behind herself.
I pulled up a chair and sat down next to my mate. She was taking slow, deep breaths. She smiled at me, and I kissed her hand.
“I can’t wait to meet our baby girl,” I said, trying to keep the tears away.
I couldn’t wait to hold my baby. I couldn’t wait to meet my daughter.
“What did we decide on the name?” Rosie asked.
“The last two names we fought over were Olivia and Hazel,” I chuckled.
“What about Amelia?” Rosie asked.
“We eliminated that name ages ago,” I said, shaking my head at her.
She groaned and squeezed my hand again just as doctor Wren walked inside.
“Hi, Rosie,” he said with a huge smile on his face. “Is the baby girl ready to come out?”
“It sure feels like it,” Rosie said, breathing through the contraction.
Wren walked to the cupboard and put some gloves on.
“Let’s see how long until you can push,” Wren said as she approached the bed.
I looked at my mate’s beautiful face. I bent down and kissed her cheek. She looked at me and smiled.
“I love you,” I told her. “Thank you for making me a father again.”
She smiled and squeezed my hand.
“I love you too, Jake,” she said. “I adore watching you with our son, and I can’t wait to see you holding our little girl.”
My heart skipped a beat. I couldn’t wait for that either.
“Daniel is going to be the best big brother ever,” Rosie added, making me smile.
Danny was two and a half years old, but I already knew that Rosie was right. He was so kind and gentle, and I knew that he was going to be a great big brother.
“Okay, Rosie,” Wren said, making me look at him. “You will be ready to push soon. How are you feeling?”
“Like I’m being torn in two,” Rosie said, groaning as another contraction started.
I took a deep breath and kissed her temple. I wished that I could take the pain away. I wished that I could endure it for her.
“Just think about your little girl and that you will get to meet her soon,” Wren said, smiling at Rosie.
She smiled and nodded.
“Have you decided on the name yet?” Wren asked us.
Rosie looked at me and smiled. We both knew what name we wanted to give to our baby girl.
“Hazel,” we both said at the same time.
I grinned and bent down to place a soft kiss on my mate’s lips.
I was the happiest man alive.
CHAPTER FOUR – Happily Ever After
Rose’s POV
“Stop it, Danny!” my daughter screamed while laughing out loud.
Danny didn’t listen to her. Of course he didn’t. He continued splashing her with water.
“It’s my birthday!” Hazel yelled. “You have to listen to me today!”
I couldn’t believe that my baby was already six years old. The time was going by so fast. Alex, Mason, and Sophie were babies when I came to the pack, and now they were already teenagers. I sometimes wished that I could slow down the time.
“Never!” Danny yelled as he ran away.
I chuckled and shook my head.
“Thank God I don’t have an older brother,” Mason sighed, rolling his eyes.
“Your younger brother torments you just as much,” Alex chuckled.
“Yes, I do,” I heard Mike’s voice behind me.
I turned around and saw Daisy and Mike approaching.
“That’s just because I let him,” Mason said, frowning. “If he was older, I’m sure it would be worse.”
“Yes, it would,” Mike laughed, making Mason roll his eyes.
Mike was a funny little troublemaker. He always found a way to make us laugh. He was loving and kind, but he could really annoy the shit out of his older brother and the rest of his cousins.
“Did Amy and Drake arrive?” Daisy asked, placing a plate filled with different cupcakes on the table.
“Not yet,” I said. “Amy called. They are running late because Halley spilled yogurt all over herself just as they were about to leave.”
Daisy chuckled and shook her head.
“She reminds me so much of me when I was a kid,” Daisy said. “I was just as clumsy.”
“Where is Soph?” Mike asked, making Alex sigh.
“She isn’t feeling well,” Alex mumbled worriedly. “Mom and dad are with her.”
My heart skipped a beat. Sophie was struggling with magic lately. She had trouble controlling it, and it drained her energy completely.
We were all very worried about her.
“How come you aren’t with her?” Mike asked Alex.
Alex and Sophie were inseparable, especially if one of them wasn’t feeling well.
“She chased me out of the house,” Alex sighed. “She said that I needed to relax and enjoy the party.”
Mason snorted. “It’s like she doesn’t even know you.”
“I said the same thing,” Alex mumbled, frowning.
He wouldn’t be able to relax until Sophie was okay.
“Don’t worry, bud,” Daisy said softly. “Your uncle is there, and he mind-linked me a few minutes ago. She is doing much better, and they are on their way here.”
Is Emma okay? I mind-linked Daisy.
I knew why Andrew went there. Emma was a complete mess lately. She barely slept because she was trying to find a way to help Sophie with her magic. Unfortunately, she wasn’t able to find anything. Sophie was the first one to have powers like that.
She is better. Daisy responded. Andrew managed to calm her down a little.
I took a deep breath and looked back at Alex. He was distraught.
“Alex!” my daughter screamed, making him turn around.
“Hey, that’s not fair!” Danny shouted.
“You are Alpha,” Hazel said, running into Alex’s arms. “You can order Danny to stop bugging me.”
Alex picked Hazel up and sat her on his lap.
“Stop bugging your sister, Daniel,” Alex said, making Hazel grin.
“You are cheating!” Danny shouted, making us laugh.
“Amy and Drake should be here any moment now,” I heard my mate’s voice behind me.
I turned around and saw him put his phone back in his pocket.
I smiled and reached out for him. He wrapped his arms around me and kissed my temple.
“Is Sophie okay?” Jacob asked quietly.
I looked at the kids. Alex, Mason, and Mike were laughing at something Hazel had said.
“She is better now,” Daisy said. “She had a rough morning. She couldn’t control the magic.”
“Fuck,” Jacob mumbled as he ran his fingers through his hair.
“Emma and Anna managed to contain it,” Daisy continued softly. “She didn’t hurt anyone.”
I took a deep breath and released it slowly. I was relieved.
“Hi, guys,” I heard Emma’s voice behind us.
I turned around and saw her, Logan, Andrew, and Sophie approaching us.
Alex placed Hazel down and rushed toward Sophie.
“Are you okay?” he asked as he grabbed her shoulders and looked her up and down.
She smiled and nodded. I could see Alex relax a little.
“Sophia, the boys are bugging me!” my daughter complained, making Sophie laugh.
Alex took her hand in his and pulled her toward the rest of the kids.
“Are you okay?” Jacob asked Emma.
“Tired, but better,” she said with a small smile on her face. “Where are Drake and Amy?”
“On their way,” Jacob said. “Halley spilled yogurt on herself.”
Emma and Logan chuckled.
“Of course she did,” Emma said, shaking her head.
“Sit down,” I told them. “We will eat when they get here.”
Emma and Andrew approached the table and sat down. Jake walked back to the house to get the drinks.
“Soph,” Logan called his daughter, making her look at him. “Come here, princess.”
She let Alex’s hand go and approached her dad. He pulled her into a hug and kissed the top of her head.
He whispered something to her. She nodded and smiled.
“I love you, princess,” Logan said softly.
“I love you too, dad,” Sophie said.
Logan let her go, and she walked back to the kids.
“She is okay, Logan,” Andrew said quietly.
Logan looked at him and took a deep breath. He approached us and sat down at the table. Emma took his hand in hers.
“If something happens to my little girl…” Logan mumbled worriedly.
“Nothing is going to happen,” Emma said. “I will find a way to get rid of the dark magic. I will find a way to help her.”
Logan pulled Emma into a tight hug.
I looked at our kids and smiled. They were our biggest treasure. All of them were so kind and gentle. My eyes fell on my two little troublemakers, and my heart grew double. They were perfect, and I was so proud of both of them.
I loved how my life turned out. I adored my mate and my children. I loved my friends so much. I couldn’t help but wonder what the future held for our children.
Would they find love just like we did? Would they be happy just like we were?
I didn’t know the answers to those questions, but I knew that I would be here for them every step of the way.
