Alpha's One Night Bride
Alpha’s One Night Bride – Chapter 7

She said yes. She actually said yes.

Jonathan stood outside, allowing the warmth of the sunlight to soak through his thick skin. The wolf inside of him was itching to come out.

As he transformed into his golden-red being, he stretched out his back and allowed the beast inside of him to breakthrough. His teeth were sharp enough to bite through the toughest metal; his fur was thick with claws that were still stained from the flesh he tore through not long ago.

His speed quickened as he lunged through the enclosed woods that surrounded his town. He could hear the water from the stream miles away and the animals that bathed in that very stream. His hunger only grew more intense the closer he got. Birds flew away in terror as he ran past them; his strength creating earthquakes as he moved.

He felt free.

He heard the crying of the deer that laid out in front of him; biting through the flesh and allowing the warm sweetness of the deer to feed his hunger.

He knew he was going to need more food before he transformed back to his human form. He also made a mental note to bring food back to his beloved luna to be. Once she was out of the shower, she too was going to want to transform and stretch out her paws.

After he finished with the deer, there was nothing left besides bones.

He perched himself on a nearby rock near the riverbed; the other animals had already fled the scene. Not that it mattered; if he wanted to, he could track their scents and find them.

One by one.

But at that moment, he had something more important to do.

“Mom,” he spoke through his mind, knowing it would reach her soon enough.

“Jonathan,” she spoke back. Her words flowed through his mind as though she was right next to him.

“I asked Arina to marry me,” he told her. She was silent for a moment.

“She’s only 18,” she said back.

“I know. But I couldn’t wait any longer. I just got her back; I didn’t want to lose her again.”

“She said yes?” She asked.

“Yes,” he confirmed. “It took a little convincing, but eventually she said yes.”

“Then we will arrange for a ceremony right away,” Jess said in return. She sounded unsure, but she also knew it was destined to happen.

“Actually,” Jonathan cut in. “I promised her something.”

“Go on.”

“She wants to investigate her mother’s death. She doesn’t think it was a suicide,” Jonathan began. Jess stayed quiet. “I was hoping you could tell me anything you might know. About Emlin I mean. You two were very close if I remember correctly.”

“We were yes. We were close to her father. We tried to remain close to Emlin after his passing, but it was difficult,” Jess confessed.

“Difficult?” Jonathan asked.

“Yes. After her father died, Emlin became distant. She fell into this deep depression and isolated herself. Whenever we saw her, she looked almost sick. She hadn’t been eating. She lost all color in her features. I couldn’t even remember the last time I saw her wolf form,” Jess recalled. She had sadness in her voice. “I told your father that something was going on in that pack, but he told me we had to stay out of it. I always worried for her though.”

“So, you think it could have been a suicide?” Jonathan asked.

“I think it’s a possibility,” Jess confirmed, but she didn’t sound too sure. “But I also knew that she loved Arina more than life and I don’t think she would have left her as she did.”

“So, what do you think happened?” Jonathan asked.

“I don’t know. But whatever it was, I don’t trust Rock. I never did.” She paused for a moment before continuing. “Jonathan?… if you are to look further into this, please be careful.”

Their link disconnected

Even his mother was suspecting that Rock had something to do with the death of Emlin. Maybe Arina was right when she said she doesn’t think it was a suicide.

After a few more moments of sitting there, Jonathan decided to link a couple of his closest friends: Anderson, Erick, and Gregory, and tell them of his upcoming marriage.

Anderson being the Paletooth Alpha, Gregory being the Moon-valley Alpha, and Erick being the Onyxfang Alpha.

“Only Jonathan would have a mate 6 years younger than him,” Erick teased.

“Yeah man; isn’t that a little much, even for you?” Anderson asked, he sounded more concerned.

“Though, out of all the werewolf ladies, Arina is pretty cool even though she’s still a kid,” Gregory chimed in.

“I always knew there was something special about her and once I turned 18 and figured out, she was mate, I was just as shocked as you guys,” Jonathan explained.

“You know, my wife Marian still runs that art studio in Sabrebite. We could probably get Arina a job; if I remembered correctly, she’s pretty good with an easel and paint,” Anderson suggested.

That pleased Jonathan.

“Thanks,” Jonathan said in return.

“But seriously? 6 years?” Erick asked, still in awe over that detail. “You couldn’t have waited another year?”

“I was afraid that if I waited, she would leave and I would miss the opportunity,” Jonathan admitted. “I can’t lose her again.”

“She’s your mate, you can’t lose her,” Gregory said back.

He was right; once you are set to be mates, it would be hard to avoid him. As a fated luna, once she turns 18, she would start to crave him; almost hungrily. She would feel what he feels, whether it’s emotional or physical pain, it would end up being her pain. It would continue until he marks her as his own.

“Without that link set in place, I’m honestly surprised she agreed to even marry you, to begin with,” Erick teased.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Jonathan asked sounding offended.

“You’re a big dumb loaf is what that means,” Erick laughed. “Eventually she’s going to see that and walk away from you.”

“Then come crawling back because she’s linked,” Gregory joined in on the teasing. Both Gregory and Erick laughed.

“Look man, just be careful,” Anderson warned. “You know who her father is. From what I’ve been hearing, he isn’t good news.”

“Wait…” Jonathan said hesitantly. “What have you heard?”

“I heard some wolves over in Ironclaw saying how he has a temper and is very protective of his family,” he explained.

“I can handle Rock,” Jonathan muttered, no trace of humor in his tone.

“I’m just warning you. I’d stay out of his way,” Anderson finished.

“Anyways,” Erick cut in. “You should probably get going because it’s probably your luna’s to be, bedtime by now.”

This made Gregory laugh again.

“Dude, shut the hell up,” Jonathan shot back at his friend; but he still had a bit of humor dancing on his expression.

“We’re all invited to the wedding, right?” Gregory asked, trying to calm down his laughter.

“Of course. You guys are family. You and your packs,” Jonathan answered.

“Cool,” Gregory breathed. “See you next full moon.”

He disconnected his link. Erick was the next to follow suit.

“Just be careful Jonathan,” Anderson warned before disconnecting his own link.

Leaving Jonathan there to ponder his thoughts.