Yes, Erix and Carrie are cousins.
"Who is she!?" I asked Mom after I arrived from Erix's pack. I thought I could stop thinking about Diesel's game, but it worsened. Flashes of unknown women flooded my mind, and even if Rain comforted me, I couldn't stop myself from thinking. So I made a drastic decision: I returned to the pack and confronted my mother. I wanted to end all this misery and let her speak, tell me the truth before I go insane."Mom!" I yelled inside their house. I don't care if the former Alpha was there. "Carrie? You're back so soon? I-""Tell me everything you know, Mom, before I lose my respect for you," I said, cutting her up. My mother bowed her head and couldn't meet me in the eyes. "Carrie sweet-""Do not sweet talk me, Mom! Tell me when did it start and if the whole pack knew about it!" I yelled, clenching my fist. My wolf has been fighting her way within me, wanting to shred our mother into pieces to keep us from what was actually happening. "I-It started after you got engaged with Diesel y
I cried on top of my desk until there were no more left for me to shed. I felt so broken and so incredibly foolish. My instinct had warned me about this, and I had ignored it. It hadn't mattered when Diesel and I were up against the naysayers; it had brought us closer together, but now it was only me. I was alone, and it was so cold. I didn't want to leave the room, but his words had clearly been an order from my alpha, not a suggestion from my chosen mate. My ex-chosen mate, I corrected bitterly. The worst was I still loved him under all my misery. If he suddenly changed his mind, I would absolutely abandon my pride and forgive it all. My wolf was upset. I imagined being rejected by my true mate was not as bad as it would be, but she was hurting. She had grown attached to Diesel and his wolf, and this dismissal hurt her, too. I would go for a run after I moved my things. I didn't make eye contact with anyone in the halls as I moved forward and wound my familiar way to my—to
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