Chapter 1-The Text

Chapter 1

Crystal’s POV

The first text came in while I am fastening my bonnet after getting into my relaxing clothes.  Normally Jared and I put our phones in the basket by the door.  But tonight I am expecting my assistant to send over a file.  And Jared is still a work. 

A security protocol failed this afternoon on the new software for a governmental department in Europe.  Jared may have risen to Owner and CEO, but when programmers and coders need the big brain, he still pulls all nighters.

As soon as my hair is safely tucked away I look at my phone.  The text is from a number I don’t recognize.  The preview is not at all vague.

“This is Amilee.  I have been sleeping your husband for 4 months.  He keeps promising to leave you for me.  I can’t keep hiding and sneaking around.  I want to be honest with you.  I love him and he tells me he loves me.”

Attached on screen shots of texts between Amilee and a contact named Jared.  Then a photo comes in.  A pretty young woman, maybe 20, maybe 19, laying on a chest I know well. 

I bite my lip and laugh at the mole on the underside of the man’s chin.  I always wondered why Jared’s twin brother Jason kept his hair and beard exactly like Jared’s.  He uses Jared’s name to seduce women. 

Another thing this, Amilee, must not understand.  Jared, Jason, and I are werewolves.  Jared isn’t just my husband, he is my mate.  We are bonded by our souls.  If Jared were to even look at another with lust my heart would feel it.  If he were to sleep with someone I would be hospitalized.  And if another was truly laying on his chest, I would feel their weight on my own. 

Right now I know Jared is stressed.  He brain is working overtime.  I know he is in the office with other coders and programmers trying to make the new software secure.  I can’t help him in this.  I know numbers, not code.  He understands systems, but cost and money management, not at all.  I love him so much. 

I’m about to respond about how absolutely insane this poor girl is, and let her know she is being played when she presses my bitch button with just 24 words.

“You can’t give him a child.  I can.  Step aside you barren old hag.  You are useless as a woman.  Just leave him already.”

I smile to myself.  This poor pathic insect of a human, she has to be human, a werewolf would know about mate bonds, thinks I’m barren, and old?

I’m 26, an Alpha’s Daughter, and Jared and I are waiting to have kids because we like our life, and not having a baby right now is our choice. 

Jared’s parents have 19 children, I’m one of 8, we like being child free at the moment.  And when we do have kids it will be one or maybe two if we have twins.  Neither of us wants what our parents had.  Too much chaos. 

So the petty bitch, my Mama, and Tyler Perry taught me to be, is about to reign down on this bitch like fire from heaven.

“I’m sorry Amilee, but I think you have the wrong number. I’m married to Jared Laine, a loyal and loving man.  I’m not stepping aside for anyone.”

Hitting send I smile to myself.  Later tonight my man is going have his dick so far inside of me, I’m going to push him back a little. 

My phone dings again and a picture of a face so similar to my husband’s only me and their mother could tell appears with text following.

“Jared Laine is in my bed.  His dick is still slick with my juices.  His neck covered in my bite marks.  I left one for you on his inner thigh.  Look for it when he returns to you in the morning.  He promised to spend the whole night with me.”

Now I smile.  Okay, let’s play along.

“You can have him tonight.  Enjoy.  I’m not agreeing to divorce. And if you go public then you will be the homewreaker.  Chose your path.”

I put the phone down and shake my head.  Jason is the idiot brother.  He is unmated but I think he is hiding from his mate.  I don’t know if Jason has done this before, but as I start thinking back to the odd looks some women give me when Jared and I take rare nights out.  Has he been doing this since he and Jared moved here eight years ago?

If I call Jason right now, Amilee is going to answer.  So I call Jared.

“Hey, Baby,” Jared sounds as stressed as I can feel he is.  “There is a huge security hole in this software.  The interns hacked it.  I can’t sell this if it’s that variable.”

I decide not to discuss this with him right now.  He needs something else.

“I am just calling to tell you that you are the most brilliant man I know and I believe you will find the solution tonight,” I smile into the phone. 

Jared lets out a long sigh.  “You have no idea how much that means to me.  I love you so much.  I don’t know what I did right in my life to be honored to be yours, but I know I’m not good enough.”

I roll my eyes at the jump in my stomach. 

Eight years ago at Cambridge he and I felt each other.  He was a scholarship student in the Computer Engineering Program. My parents sent me to Cambridge to give me a chance to breath.  My brother had taken over our pack two years before and his mate is well, a complete bitch.  There really is no other way to describe her. 

Jared and I were walking to different classes.  His pale almost transparent skin almost gave him a glow in the gray sun.  The first time my dark black skin touched him the contrast made us laugh. 

Everyone always said white boys had no lips and no dick.  Jared proved that wrong.  We missed classes that day.  My parents were so excited for us. But the real excitement was my Uncle, Mom’s Brother.  His mate died before they had children.  As the niece who reminded him the most of her he wanted to give me his pack in Atlanta, GA, USA.  He was waiting for me to find my mate.  He wanted to see who the goddess chose. 

The day Uncle met Jared, an Omega a birth, I was concerned.  But Uncle hugged Jared seeing the drive behind his pale blue eyes. 

Jared’s only request before me becoming Alpha was that he get degree and get a company started.  Coding, software, and security are Jared’s passions.  He sold his first software at 19, by 20 he had three more complete and ready for market.  Uncle helped him with an HQ in Atlanta.  When we graduated at 21 we moved here.  I helped Jared set up his business and then Uncle trained me.

Now I am the Alpha of a city pack and the CFO of Laine Software. 

I look at my phone when Tina, my assistant sends the files I need.  We had three customers who loved to pay late.  They operate on the other side of the world, and I need to call them tonight but left the files in my office.

I start reviewing the files and making my calls.  Two wired funds, the other refused to talk to me.  I put the phone down after being on hold for two hours.

When I settle back into my seat on the couch with a glass of wine the stress that had occupied my evening lifts.

“My man did it,”  I smile and pick up my phone again. He is calling. “Hey Baby, you did it.”

“I really love this part of the mate bond,” Jared smiles widely, I can hear it through the phone, it’s that wide. “When I get home in 20 minutes I’m going to worship your body like the goddess you are.”

“My body and I can’t wait,” I tell him.  We hang up, I finish my wine, and go brush my teeth. 

When I heard the door open again, my husband delivers on his promise.  Three times, leaving us both sated and asleep.