I woke up the next morning with a blanket thrown over me on Desiree's couch. I had a light headache, which was a testament to just how much I had drank since werewolves rarely get hangovers.The living room was a mess, and what I could see of the kitchen was no better. Forcing myself to get up, I started collecting bottles and glasses and carrying them to the kitchen. I couldn't leave this mess for Desiree to clean up before her mate and kids would be back in the afternoon.Betty appeared in the hall. "Oh, you're up. Don't worry about the mess."I shook my head. "I've got nothing else to do."She looked uncertain.I frowned. "I can't be acting Luna when he's got his real Luna now." Maybe it was irresponsible of me to abruptly quit doing everything I did for the pack, but I was pretty sure I would simply spend the entire time there crying and not getting anything done either way. Those duties were a part of our relationship, and pretending they were still, mine would be little more tha
My day rapidly plummeted to intolerable when Diesel continued showing Cameron around the pack house, and of course, he had to bring her down to show her Luna's office. I don't know what he had been expecting since his eyes widened as if he was somehow surprised to find me there. It was almost as if it had not been him who had forced me to resume Luna's duties temporarily. All I knew was that I wanted to punch him in his imbecilic face. "And this is Carrie. She's been taking care of the Luna's duties and will show you the ropes," Diesel introduced, barely taking his eyes off the silly girl he had brought back. Cameron was blond and very pretty, but she looked young, probably at least thirteen years his junior. It was a pretty big age gap for a mated pair, although that was the least of my problems with it. I pasted a warm smile onto my face. "Nice to meet you, Luna." She seemed to have momentary misgivings, and I wondered if she saw through my best acting or if she could sense t
Before I could even ride my car, a voice broke through the sounds of the forest. "Arie."My eerie calm exploded into anger and pain. "What do you want, Diesel?"My words echoed in the stillness, angry and cold. "What do you want, Diesel?""I just thought—""What, that you could have the final blow against me? I'm out of your territory and not part of your pack anymore, so I owe you nothing," I nearly growled at him and started walking away."Carrie, listen—"I whirled on Diesel. "No, you've done enough! Leave me the hell alone! I'm leaving, like you wanted. Do you get some sort of sick pleasure out of screwing me around now?""This isn't what I wanted!"I shot him a look that contained all the hate I had built up for him in the month since he had found Cameron and started treating me like garbage. "I don't care anymore, as long as you're away from me. You started everything, then discarded me and pushed me into the corner, and I'm the one who is paying for all of it.""Care—""Sto
I had come full circle, again secretly living among the humans where I had begun to build a life. I went to work and home and repeated my familiar routines like I was on autopilot. It wasn't that I missed having a mate. I was curious to know if Fate still had plans for me. Our time together had made me not believe it anymore. Fate is cruel. Period. I helped a brown-haired customer get a large box down from a shelf. I was pretty sure he was a werewolf from his scent, which was unusual in the store, but I didn't say anything, and he didn't indicate that he knew I was a werewolf, too. It was a weird moment, two supernaturals in a mundane setting surrounded by a sea of humans who didn't know our nature. He thanked me and went on his way. I went to the back to clock out. My gregarious red-headed human co-worker, Pinky caught me as soon as I walked in the door. I put on a smile for her benefit. "So, do you feel like coming out tonight?" she asked. She had her own issues, but she
Trespasser?This was not a pack territory. I had encountered no other wolves on any of my previous visits, and there had been no border of scent trail or any other signs to warn me of this night. How dare they suggest I had been trespassing? I growled again."Your best bet is to come quietly," he said. His voice was level and calm, and for one insane moment, I almost thought I could trust him.Instead of allowing him to lull me, I leveled my gaze at him rebelliously and bared my teeth. Although it was my best bet, I had no interest in cooperating. But I could play along for now since I could not take them all on. I just had to wait for my chance to dash away when their guards were down.That chance did not come. Instead, I was herded forward, surrounded by these rogues playing pack, until we reached a clearing with several trailers and outbuildings situated around the skeletal frame of a building. It was obvious that the wide open space was a recent addition to the area because the gr
The man frowned. "Come on. I don't have time for this.""Good, I don't either. I'll stop bothering you and be on my way." I had some important moping around my apartment to get to. I yanked my arm again.His grip was like iron."Let me go! You're hurting me.""You're hurting yourself by fighting against me."I gritted my teeth. The man was like a brick wall. Solid and stubborn and stupid. "Let me go!""No.""Fine. Whatever." I stopped struggling because it was clearly getting me nowhere.He released my wrist. I rubbed it and glared at him. How the hell was this my mate? It was another cruel joke in their lifetime of them."What's your name?""Carrie.""Carrie... You haven't been a rogue long, have you? You still smell faintly of pack. Which was your former?""None of your business." He didn't need to know about all the drama I'd left behind me.He looked irritated with me all over again. I didn't want to spend my life under that disapproving expression. Been there, done that. Besides
What I needed was my mate's name. I didn't need it to reject him, but if I was going to do this, I would sever it properly. I wasn't going to prostrate myself and beg for my own mate's acceptance. Not anymore; I'm putting myself first. Frustrated and restless, I searched his trailer again, this time specifically for information, but came up empty. This trailer seemed determined to keep my mate anonymous.It didn't take me that long to thoroughly search the entire place. There was nothing with his name on it, not a paper, not a nostalgic childhood toy with a name. He appeared to be a minimalist, and his one virtue—besides that handsome face and excellent body that I was absolutely not thinking about—was neatness. The more I considered it, the more I believed that the faint traces of other werewolves were too faint to have been here long enough to clean up after him.So maybe there was one good thing about the joke of a mate I had been stuck again with, other than his striking appearan
He wanted to talk, did he? Well, I was ready to talk, but I wasn't ready to let him control the conversation as if I were some subordinate who had to obey him. I must stand my ground even though this Alpha has already made my wolf surrender. "Sure, let's talk. We can start with you telling me that you're calling off your cute little pack and letting me leave since you don't have any right to keep me here.""Cute little...?" He tensed as he frowned, and my snarky amusement faded a bit. Maybe pushing him when I was completely outnumbered and in his power might not have been my wisest plan."Which pack is this, anyway?"He relaxed on the couch slightly, watching me. "We haven't named it yet.""Well, that doesn't matter. The only name I really need is yours." I stared at him down, not willing to break eye contact."Why do you want it so badly?" he asked."I-""Because you want to reject me properly? Really twist the knife in when you do it? Honestly, that doesn't motivate me to introduce