Novels by Cailey Marie Lupiccini

I rush to get ready, knowing Jack will be here for 6 a.m. on the dot. I’m incredibly nervous after what happened yesterday; they all saw it. I open the door at 6 a.m. and go to walk out and find Jack about to knock. He just glares at me for a moment, then turns and starts walking towards the forest, expecting me to follow. He doesn’t say a word the entire walk to the clearing. Once there, the day goes by exactly how the last training session went, with a couple of different instructions from Jack, but that’s it. He speaks as little as possible. I understand; people are afraid of the unknown. I’m afraid of the unknown. “You will learn, you will succeed, and you will survive.” Star states it as fact. I am strong. I am smart. And I will survive. I repeat my own mantra. On the way back, Jack speaks up as we’re almost back at the cabin, “You’re not trusted here.” He states it as a fact. I sigh, “I know Jack,” I reply. I go to walk into my cabin and hear him whisper quietly, threatening, “I

“That reminds me, I told you my name, now you have to share what your wolf has been saying about me.” I can hear his smile without even looking at him. I turn to sit on the bed and lean back onto my hands. “I said she was commenting, I never said she was saying anything about you specifically, ”I lift my eye brow mimicking him. He’s staring at me, but he crosses his arms and leans back against the counter. Waiting. “Tell him” Star says, encouraging me. “Nothings happening Star calm down it’s just shameless flirting.” She huffs, “Very shameless considering your attire.” Ouch. “It was said with love,” she adds. She clearly thinks she’s funny. “What’s she saying now?” He asks. I sigh, and he tch’s his tongue. I smile and notice he’s trying to hide his. “What do you want Noah?” I ask, pausing purposely. Then add, “Would you like to know what she said then, or what she’s saying now?” I ask as I pretend to pluck something off my bra causing his eyes to drift. “Your good,” Star comments,

I wake up screaming my lungs out. Ang walks in glaring at me. “Are you going to scream every night and wake up the Alpha every time? You’re really making me look bad here Akira.” He looks down at the book on my lap as catch my breath. “The Moon Goddess? You read about the Moon Goddess and you’re screaming your head off still? You seriously have some prob-“, “Don’t you dare finish that sentence Ang,” I cut him off before he could go on and trigger my anger more. “Ang?” He questions. “Yeah stands for Asshole Night Guard,” I say as I make my way over to the sink to grab my water and chug it down. He’s weirdly silent after my explanation of his new name so I turn around to realize he’s not there and it’s Noah in his place. I freeze for a second, trying not to make it obvious, I blurt out, “Good morning Noah,” he tilts his head at the sound of his name. “Akira” he tch’s his tongue again, I may be starting to like that too, I feel like it means I’m in trouble and it gives me a thrill. “Is

“Noah,” I say out loud trying his name out, liking the way it sounds. I smile to myself. Star is still purring. “Okay miss thing, you stop that right now. Your emotions are effecting me.” “I can’t help it. I feed off yours as well,” she replies. Damn, I need a very cold shower right frikken now. I jump in trying to numb myself to everything that just happened. All of it. He’s right, I put myself into these situations. I should just leave, I don’t want to hurt anyone or do anything wrong. “You can’t leave Akira, you thinking that way, that it’s wrong and you want to do better is already a step in the right direction. You heard Noah, he wants to help us. He’s here for you, he cares.” “Stop saying that Star, he may be attracted to me but that doesn’t mean he cares, trust me I’ve had a lot of experiences with guys and those two things don’t always go together,” I try to explain to her. “It’s different with wolves,” she says, “You remember the couple, they were mates. Wolves have bonds t

“How are you so calm and patient with me? And before you ask no I’m not reading your feelings, just your actions. And I’m also very observant,” I point out. He turns to look at me and we’re basically face to face but I’m still shorter and have to angle my head upwards to look at him. He stares for a moment, tracing my whole face with those deep eyes. “You’re terrified and traumatized, and it’s completely valid. You’ve been through so much in such little time,” he turns away. He speaks after a long minute “I can remember my first shift and that shit was horrible. I was scared and it was incredibly painful, but I also was born into this. I had all the information needed not to mention a family, friends, and a pack all there to help me through everything, every step of the way. I can’t even begin to imagine what this whole experience has been like for you.” I’m stunned. That was not what I was expecting. “See he does care,” Star says, “Oh shut up!” I reply, except that was out loud and

“I’m sorry,” I say “You’re probably right, it is all my fault. It’s my fault they’re dead. It’s my fault they’re all dead.” I close my eyes, tears flowing freely. “All dead?” He questions. “The couple, I don’t even know their names,” I choke out in sobs, “My mom,” I fall to my knees, “My mom died because I was gone and they couldn’t find me,” I don’t want to say the last one but I have to get it out. “My brother, when we fought, I saw red and next thing you know my claws slashed across his throat.” I’m crying so hard I can’t see. “I didn’t even know I had claws, he always used to hit me but I never hit back, but after he came at me this time I- I couldn’t help it, I went to hit back but it wasn’t my hand, it was claws.” He picked me up and he was…. He was hugging me. I felt comfort but it wasn’t enough to stop the sobbing. “You’re right to see me as a threat. You’re right to not want me here. I just wanted to learn what I am and be able to control it. I can’t let that happen again.