The Black Alder Series (Books 1-3)

Arabella Pov

I hear someone talking. It sounds like people are arguing. Men arguing. No… Mates. I don’t like that. Why are my friends arguing? I have a battle with my eyes that I don’t want to open until I win it. It’s so bright at first, but everything is now coming into focus. It looks like I’m in a hospital room. Well, that’s nice. I looked around the room and saw Sam asleep on a couch. Ares and Adonis are arguing back and forth with each other. Ash is just watching them.

“Mates,” I slurred, trying to get them to stop arguing. Adonis and Ash are at my side instantly, smothering my face in kisses. Ares is leaning against the wall, looking at me with an unreadable expression. Do I see relief?

“Bella, I’m so sorry,” Adonis says, still planting kisses on me.

“It’s okay, guys; I know it wasn’t on purpose, and I can feel that I’m almost healed,” I tell them. I sat up on the bed. Ares gave me a full-body look before turning around and walking out of the room.

“Ares?” I called out, but he was already gone. I feel my wolf is upset. She wants all her mates, not just two. I have to remind her that he doesn’t want us. Sam woke up and smothered me in huge hugs. I’m grateful that they are here.

“What were you guys arguing about?” I asked Ash.

“We chewed him out for cheating on you, causing you pain, and causing your wolf to force herself out,” he said. The memory of the pain makes my head hurt, as I felt like he knew what he was doing and was using my pain to punish me. Well, fuck him then. I won’t keep wanting after someone who does not want me. Royal disagrees and says he will come around. I guess we will have to see. It’s been a week since I’ve been out of the hospital, and I’ve been getting to know my way around the pack grounds. Thankfully, I had Cassie give me the history of the grounds. Everyone here bows their heads towards me in respect. Some have even started calling me Luna, but I am not yet mated or marked. I do not deserve the title until it happens. Ash and Adonis introduced me to their family. Everyone is so nice, and it’s all comforting. Sam finally moves in with Kyle, and they are marked and mated. I admit that I am a little envious. Everyone can see that they are so in love, but it has been rocky with Sam worrying over me constantly, which I tell her not to do. It’s crazy. Ares has been avoiding me. I’ve been avoiding him just as much.

I see him sometimes walking around with what people call the pack slut. I feel my wolf stir in anger about it, but what am I going to do? I can’t make someone want me who doesn’t. I occupy my time enjoying the company of my other friends. I moved into their room right after Ares moved out of it. It hurts knowing that 1/3 of my heart feels shattered when he rejects me or avoids me. I try hard not to let it get me down. Ash and Adonis are busy in their office, on the phone with their dads about the recent vampire attacks.

The vampires are looking for something or someone, but that is all the boys will tell me. I decided to go for a run in the forest to get some fresh air. I grab some clothes in a bag and shift to Royal, who is happy to be let out again. Shifting for me is painless now, and I’m able to do it extremely fast. I end up back at the waterfall lake where I first met Ares. It’s quiet here, minus the sounds of the water. The day is so pretty, and the clouds are beautiful in the sky. I decided to take a swim, so I shifted back and changed into a swimsuit.

The water feels incredible, and I relax in it. I close my eyes and sing a song since no one is around to hear my terrible voice. Music helps the pain, though. One of my favorite songs is Someone That I Used to Know by Gotye.

But you didn’t have to cut me off.

Make it sound like it never happened and that we were nothing.

And I don’t even need your love.

But you treat me like a stranger, and that feels so rough.

No, you didn’t have to stoop so low.

Have your friends collect your records and then change your number.

I guess that I don’t need that, though.

Now you’re just somebody that I used to know. Somebody…… “Nice voice,” someone says from behind me, making me drop fully into the water. I came back up, using a rock to support myself. Fucking Ares. He is just standing there with a smirk on his face and his arms crossed. I narrowed my eyes toward him.

“What do you want?” I asked him, annoyed, and he startled me.

“What little mate, I can’t listen to you sing,” he says with another smirk, and this increases my anger.

“So, I’m your mate now, whereas a week ago, you said I wasn’t. You need to choose a side, Ares, and I’m losing my patience with you. Go find that whore you’ve been with and bother her,” I told him, climbing out of the water. I can see I upset him, but he plays it off with a smirk.

“I do believe I will. Nothing of interest to me here anyway,” he says and shifts, running back into the forest. I know he is trying to get under my skin, but I won’t let him. I hate him.

No, you don’t reply. I mentally rolled my eyes at her before getting my stuff and going back to pack grounds. Once I reach my room, I see Adonis and Ash both in there, watching TV on the bed.

“My guys” greeted them, and their faces lit up. They jump off the bed.

“Bella, beauty,” I’m greeted as they kiss my wet face.

“Sorry, we couldn’t spend the day with you,” Adonis says.

“Yeah, this vampire problem has been crazy lately,” Ash says.

“It’s okay, my guys; just do what you need to do. I’m fine. I need to shower, guys. Be back in a minute,” I told them, and I headed to the bathroom. They had someone do some shopping for me, so I have a whole new wardrobe of clothes, thankfully.

After my shower, I dress in some casual clothes and get in bed between them. It’s comforting. They breathed in my scent, and soon they were all drifting off to sleep.Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.