The doors open as I'm thanking Aaron for his help and both boys get into the car, but I don't bother to get up."Hey, Healer," Laurie calls to me, surprising me, "I bought you a salad. You like that, right?"Even though I have no appetite at all, that little act of kindness surprises me so much that I sit down to grab the container he extends to me. I can't waste the fact that Laurent did something nice, maybe it will teach him not to be such a big asshole in the future."Yes, thank you," I reply. Laurie hands Rio a burger and he takes it, but does nothing to eat as Laurie starts driving again, eating at the same time. I force myself to take a couple of bites of the salad, but it's all I can take before I start to feel nauseous."Rio, at least try to take a little bite," Laurie mutters some time later, "Or I'll eat it myself.""Go ahead, I'm not hungry," Rio says, tossing the closed burger in Laurie's lap and turning toward the window. He stays that way the rest of the way until we re
"Wait," Rio says, raising a hand to stop me as I move to leave, "Of course you can't just leave by yourself like that. We still have to find a place for you to stay. We have to travel to Toronto."Does he seriously think we can travel more than ten hours in these conditions? He's crazy. And wrong. "No," I say, "I can leave by myself, don't worry about it.""How? Luna, you're being irrational again," he shakes his head, "There are no buses to take you out of the clan. I have to take you."No way. Because I'm not leaving. "I'll find my own way," I insist, ignoring his 'what the fuck’ face, "Listen, friend, you've been a great support to me, always willing to help me and I really appreciate it, but I'm not really helpless. I'm pretty good at surviving on my own.""I don't believe that for a damn second, Lunanci. You've been downright suicidal many, many times," he spits as if that's a bad thing. I actually consider it an advantage in life. Being ready to die means I’m not really that s
Knowing that Laurent is really on my side now gives me a glimmer of hope, but I won't let that make me delusional. I won’t be looking forward to everything magically coming together because that will make everything more difficult if Rio never decides to 'go for it' as Laurie put it. I'm just going to enjoy the fact that from now on I'm a real citizen of Tallahide. I'm going to enjoy that I'm now considered part wolf... I don't feel like a wolf at all, but I'm not going to admit that out loud ever, if these people think that, I'm just going to enjoy it. I take the money and keys Rio left me on the small table and get out of there. The first thing I do when I'm inside Rio's car is check the location Aaron sent me and head straight there. Surprisingly, it's much closer than I expected. All this time we've been fifteen minutes away from Alex and Rio has no idea. I don’t know what I’m going to say to him, I have no idea what he’s like, all I know about Alex so far is that he's being
{ Rio }It's been eight days since Luna left and so far, life sucks. She sent me a message the next day letting me know she was perfectly fine and that was it, she didn't even answer my following texts demanding more information. Ever since, my wolf has been literally trying to kill me from the inside because he's mad at me for sending her away. Things got so bad between us that I had to start taking inhibitors to put him to sleep. His incessant whining wouldn't let me sleep or even just exist, it was a constant pain. Since yesterday when I started taking the inhibitors I have been waiting for my sadness to start to go down or go away but it hasn't happened yet. I'm still sad and I think I miss her more today than I did yesterday, it's just so boring without her. I could say I don't remember what it was like to live before I was with her but I do remember, I used to spend all my time with some idiot named Alex. But now I don't have anyone. Laurent seems to think we’re back to norm
{ Lunanci }I’m currently driving back to Tallahide after spending two days in Fallonmore. And not only that, I just had a nice breakfast with some of Rio's family. I managed to meet two more of his aunts and an omega uncle. Rosie is the most adorable person I have ever met in my entire life, Andy is shy and calm, plus beautiful and perfect like all the omegas I have met. Mallory is Rosie's wife and Isabelle's daughter. And Olivia was also there of course, she’s just as cool as the last time I saw her. They all know about everything that has happened with me and Rio. They told me they are this cool exclusive group and that supposedly they’re perfect at keeping secrets... however, Andy told his husband about me, Olivia also told his husband about me. Their gossipy husbands told the other alphas and that's how everyone now knows that Rio 'has a girlfriend' including Rio's parents.Fortunately, no one talked about details about me, nothing about me not being a full wolf. Or even about
"Rio's here early," Aaron comments, not giving a second thought to the fact that Rio is walking into the restaurant making a complete racket when he throws the door so hard it crashes into the wall, "He's pissed or something?”Rio walks up to us and before Aaron can ask him what the hell is wrong with him, Rio grabs Aaron by the collar and pulls him towards him."What the fuck do you think you're doing?" he snarls in his face, furious. He looks completely wild, like I said."What are you doing?" Aaron groans and tries to push him away, but Rio doesn't let go. I get up before this gets even worse."Rio, let's talk," I say, "Let him go.""Why is he touching your hair like that?" He demands, his eyes fixed on Aaron, "Who the fuck is this guy?! And what are you doing with him? What the fuck are you even doing here?!""Stop yelling. Please," I beg, grabbing his arm and trying to pull him, but it’s like trying to move a building. There aren't many people around, but the ones who are here do
{ Lunanci }For a couple of seconds, no one can even move, we’re all frozen just watching uselessly as Rio walks away until he finally disappears. That was beyond horrible. Far, far worse than I thought it would be. Rio was dishing low blows left and right and I can’t even be mad because I’m just concerned.Zion and I only move when we hear Alex let out a small sob. We both rush to his side."He didn't mean any of that. At all," I assure him. Alex raises his hands to cover his face and hide his tears, but he lets me touch and comfort him, "You and I both know that, Alex. He's not like that. Something is going on with him, but I'm still so sorry he said it.""He just hates me now and it's all my fault," he says through his tears, his body shaking uncontrollably with his crying, "I've never seen him act like this before, he's never been mad at me, not even once. Not like this. Now he... he hates me. He wants me to die.""Please don't believe that," I beg, trying to make him feel better
{ Rio }All through school a lot of kids wanted to be our friends and although we were always friendly with everyone, we never formed real friendships with anyone because it was always just the three of us and that's the way we liked it. Alex, Laurie and I, that was all we needed. The others were just people we would sometimes go out to dinner with or who would invite us to their parties, but we never formed meaningful connections with anyone. I'm regretting that now. Because both Alex and Laurie are now dead to me, of course, but also because it means that when I get to Fallonmore I have no one to call. I have no one to turn to, no one who's not part of my family. I mean, I could call some old friends to go for a drink or hang out, but to ask them for a place to stay? I don't think so. Fortunately, I have money and that's all I need to go lock myself in the hotel of Fallonmore.That's where I stay, marinating in self-pity and deep hatred for my old friends. Including Lunanci now.
"Remember how I said I was going to kill myself if you say no? I wasn't kidding," Alex says, still holding the ring out to me. His eyes are starting to get crazier with each passing second I don't answer."Yes. Yes, I'll fucking marry you," I reply just to stop him from going crazy, but I can't even comprehend this shit. Alex sighs with relief so I grab his arm to pull him up. He takes the ring he bought and lifts my hand to put it on my finger. It’s a gold band. I never thought for even a second that someone could propose to me, "Can I ask what the fuck is going on without you threatening to kill yourself or lying?" "You said yes just so I wouldn't kill myself?" Alex asks with a pout, "You don't really want to marry me?""Yes I do! But I'm still angry and confused," I tell him, not knowing what to do with my hands. Or with him. He looks so much prettier today than the last time I saw him. His hair is a little longer, his cheeks red, his eyes bright. "I saw you on that damn TV show
Rio told me all about how Grandpa helped him with his new business, that damn cookie place he wanted so badly and still hasn't taken me to. Rio told me everything, so I know perfectly well who to go to first. "Hi, Grandpa, good morning.”“Good morning, Alex, what brings you here so damn early?” He asks.“Uhm, well. I know you helped Rio with his cookie place. So... today I come to you with my own business plan. And I dare say, mine is even better," I blurt out as soon as my grandfather comes down to the living room. I'm already sitting on the couch waiting for him in my formal clothes, although I intercepted him on his day off so my grandfather is wearing his pajamas and robe. Grandma comes down the stairs behind him too and looks at me with a smile."Oh, look at you, you look so cute with your little bow tie," she says as she comes over to give me a kiss, "Have you had breakfast yet? I'll make you something, sweetie.""Okay, grandma, thank you," I say and wait for my grandfather to
When I get out of the car and I look up at my house, I suddenly start crying, unable to control it. Lunanci arrives at my side and she holds my hand as the guys walk inside the house to give me space. I'm crying because being here feels good, it feels right. Running away after my presentation because I was angry at the world and at myself was very silly. Before that day I was actually very happy. My life was very good. So, I let one single problem snowball into the biggest shit-show ever. It made me hate my own family because of some dumb harmless comments. It made me hate myself and it made me put on a whole circus that culminated in everyone hating my guts. But at this point, I realize that I should have just eaten one of Rio's cookies and accepted myself as I am. Because there is no other option. I can't change myself and I can't be miserable and bitter forever. So all I can do is, accept my lame ass fate and make the best of it, as Luna told me. "Are you ready?" She asks. I
{ Alejandro }After my wolf cried for hours, dejected and depressed because Zee is going to leave him, I manage to calm him down a little but only when I promise him that we are going to go see his Alpha. What am I going to tell Zee when I see him? I have no fucking idea, but it's the only thing I could think of to make my wolf feel better.So, now I'm heading to Zee's apartment in the middle of the night. I guess maybe I'll say goodbye... and thenmaybe my wolf can convince him to stay here. If Zion really loves me like he said, he'll stay. And he’ll give me a chance to make things right with him. That’s all I need, a little chance. I get to the restaurant and fortunately, it's open, so I go upstairs and I knock on the door. No answer. When almost fifteen minutes go by and no one answers the door, I start to worry. It's only three in the morning, the party should still be on, right? Usually around four or five is when people start leaving. But I guess they left early this time.
I don't know how much time has passed, how many days have passed since I got dumped by everyone, but my mind doesn't leave me alone for a single second. And it’s not even my wolf, it’s all myself.I don't have to take inhibitors anymore because there is no reason to, but I keep doing it mostly because I like the silence but also because I want to protect my wolf. I know he’d hate the way my life is going right now. My life is still in a dark abyss and I can't get out out there because there is no way out. I have no direction and no one to guide me out of there. I’m all alone and miserable. The only good thing I have in my life at the moment is Lunanci, forcing me to go out with her, to eat with her and she makes me laugh for a while. I feel good while I'm with her, but when she leaves me alone I remember that I have nothing else. Just me, myself and I, and we all hate each-other. Laurent stopped talking to me, just like Rio. They both hate me now. Zee hates me, too. My whole famil
{ Zion }Seeing Alex and Rio side by side confuses me a lot. They’re not identical at all, Rio is totally an alpha. And Alex is totally an omega. A tall one. I don't understand why he's so conflicted about that.Seeing Alex hurt by his brother's horrible words soften my heart, it even helps me push my wolf away and make him forget his jealousy right now because Alex looks so sad all of a sudden. "Why is everything so damn hard for me? I just want to have everything I want, why can't I?" he lets out, in a vulnerable little voice that makes me forget the fact that he is a manipulative liar. He's just a kid and everything is blowing up around him. "Baby..." I say, trying to move closer to him and take him in my arms. "You need to stop," he spits towards me suddenly, walking close to me menacingly with wild, crazy eyes just like his brother's. In that they're totally the same, they're both crazy, "I'm not your baby. I've been telling you I don't want you and I don't want this, why can
{ Alejandro }Rio is here, I just ran into him on my way to the restaurant. And he doesn't look good at all. He looks too thin, too pale, too upset. "Rio," I whisper, unable to believe he's really here. He gives me an angry look, but I ignore it for a second because I look behind Rio and I realize Zee is there. And Lunanci. Fuck, "I-I'll explain.""Don't worry, I don't need explanations," my brother says, laughing in a sinister way, "Your lover boy here wants to call Mom. We should, right? We should have mom come here and find out everything her omega son has been up to.""No," I whisper, unable to even come up with an excuse or anything because this is so sudden, I hadn't planned anything, "Please.""Ow, that's such a soft voice now that you've been fucking caught," Rio spits towards me, sounding completely not like himself. Rio's not like that, he never gets angry and certainly not in such a serious way, "I would love to see you cry when she finds out, but I'll just let you do your
My throat closes up as I watch Rio get into the ring. This could go very badly or maybe not as much, but no matter what, I just don't want to see anyone beat Rio up. It's just not supposed to be like this. Why the hell did I end up with the craziest omega on the continent? "Next up, Rio Taffy and," I pretend to think about it, "Mario Ramirez, come here."Rio snorts and starts shaking his head as soon as he sees Mario approaching. Mario is the smallest, he's even shorter than Rio. Rio should take the easy way out I'm offering him, but of course his ego won't let him. I close my eyes in stress as soon as I see his chest popping out. "I want to fight an Alpha, please," he says. Mario rolls his eyes, he's too used to being looked down on at this point to be phased. He tries to walk away, but I stop him."Sorry, but no. He's the only option," I say as if it makes me very sad to have to break the news to him, but he knows I'm lying. "I want to fight an alpha, Zion, are you going to let
The next day at the academy, I see Rio on the track because we’re having another endurance test. This time he surprises me by running at the same pace as his teammates for two full hours. I'm watching him proudly when a guy named Jerry loses his stride and ends up falling face first to the ground. I silently cheer for his failure because that means Rio won't be punished today. Fifteen minutes later, Rio falls to his knees, completely exhausted. I immediately run to him to get him off the track before he gets hurt, and he slaps my hands as soon as he's stable."I can walk by myself," he growls, and I let him go. I follow his slow pace until we reach the loser's bench and sit down next to Jerry. Now that Rio’s here, I don't look at the track at all because I don't care what's going on there. I just want to see his face. And it's even funnier because he can feel my gaze and he starts to get all nervous under my eyes, so much so that he suddenly can't stand it anymore and gets up."I'm