EVE I'm pretty sure that was the best sex I'd ever had. Even considering the times with Drake. The thought stung a little, but I couldn't deny its truth. A warm, pleasant shiver ran through me as Kha leaned up and kissed my neck."What are you so amused about?" he asked.I debated whether to tell him or if it would cause more issues. Deciding it was a compliment, I said, "That was the best sex I've ever had... ever."He smiled, his eyes lighting up as he kissed my neck again. Each kiss sent waves of pleasure through me, stronger and more intense than before. "Why does it feel so much more potent now?" I asked."I think it's because you've been to the land now. We aren't just random, you know. We were fated for one another. The land knows. It feels it," he replied, his voice filled with a reverence that made me giggle.He pulled me closer, wrapping his arms around me protectively. "I love feeling you like this. So happy. With me, no less."We were happy. I loved him. I really did.
EVE I stumbled up to my dorm room, sobbing uncontrollably. The whole damn situation was crushing me, and I needed to escape the chaos.I had to make this better. I was clearly the only one that could. I changed clothes, putting on the typical frat shirt and jeans I always wore to this. It brought me a small measure of comfort, smelling him after these tense situations. Sadly, they also often coincided with having to bail him out of jail. Grabbing Kha's credit card, I headed to the station. At the station, the officer told me I could bail Kha out, but I wasn't listed for Drake. I begged the officer, telling him I had the same effect on Drake as on Kha. I poured every ounce of sincerity and urgency into my plea, my voice cracking as I started to cry. Finally, he relented and allowed me to bail them out. I used Kha's credit card for both.When they came out, they were already eyeing one another. Drake's cast was wrapped back up with ace bandages.I snapped. "You know what? If you
DRAKE Emory wouldn't stop whining, his anxious energy reverberating through my mind. The need to see Eve was overwhelming, and before I realized it, I was already at her door. Thankfully, despite being a Bane, Marley could see the desperation in my eyes and let me in without many questions. Now, I was sitting in a holding cell at the station while Kha raised hell in the one beside me. His shouts and curses echoed off the cold, dirty walls. I finally snapped, "Shut the fuck up and sit down." "Fuck you!" he retorted, punching the wall with a force that made me wince. "We wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you. I was trying to walk away, you know." I was surprised when both our names were called at the same time. I guess Eve got a hold of my dad. Great, this was going to be a fantastic ass-chewing. Walking out and seeing her standing there, bailing us both out, was an even more significant blow to my ego. However, finding out her bailing me out meant I had to stay near her
EVE I got up and made breakfast for both of them. I could tell they were getting along a little better, which made me happy, but I knew it wouldn't last.I sat at the bar at the end, with Kha and Drake flanking me and facing each other. "So, you two grew up together obviously. Like your whole life. It sounds like you even got along at one point. Why so much hatred now?"Drake sighed and leaned back, avoiding my eyes. He glanced at Kha, then said, "Well, I'm not going to say it."After a pause, he continued, "Dad was always in my ear about the Banes tainting me, so we started getting into fights around puberty... then there was a girl. She played us both in high school and made total fools out of us. After that, that was pretty much the end of any type of friendship." Kha snorted. "That's a colorful recounting, but yeah, the general details are there, I guess."I turned to Kha. "Well, if you wanted it told your way, you should have said it."Kha's eyes narrowed. "You're right.
KHA Vance was losing his damn mind while I was trying to shower. He hated everything about this situation, but what could I do, really? I was here because of him, after all. He was what made me an alpha. "You need to get a grip, Kha," Vance snarled. "I'm trying, Vance," I muttered, letting the hot water cascade over my shoulders. "But it's not exactly easy with you pacing around like a caged animal." "I'm not the one who let things get this messed up," he shot back. "You couldn't even tell who that black-haired girl is. How drunk were you? Drake wouldn't have had the chance had you not given her an opportunity." I clenched my fists, the heat of the water doing little to calm my rising anger. "I know she's a wolf, but her pack is a mystery. She's not local. That much is clear." "Think it's on purpose? Drake getting a chance while you're distracted?" Vance's thoughts were laced with suspicion. I didn't want to consider it, but hell, anything was possible. "It's not like I c
EVE He was relentless, and I couldn't stop. I could tell he was too far gone, lost in the intensity. After making me cum for the third time, his breathing turned ragged, his teeth biting into his lip. I pushed up on my knees, and he moved with me. This was a new position for us, and he was frantic, almost desperate.As he leaned down over my back, his thrusts never losing their rhythm, he whispered, "Don't freak out." I glanced back, realizing he was literally fighting not to shift while touching me.While inside me. I panicked. I shot up to the headboard. He fell back on his heels, his eyes glowing red. He looked so defeated as he shook his head.He crawled up to me. "It always happens when I'm close... nothing is different. I just closed my eyes before. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you by showing you."I trembled, fear and adrenaline coursing through me. It had scared me, but deep down, I knew he wouldn't let anything happen to me. Vance wouldn't either. After all, Vance
DRAKESeeing her agree to go with him, knowing what they were about to do, was unbearable. Emory howled inside my head louder than I'd ever heard. As they started getting louder, their sounds began echoing through the house. I looked around the rental and noticed Eve's headphones on the table. I also remembered the bottle of wine in the fridge. Why not? I grabbed both and headed to the back porch, connecting my phone and blasting the loudest metal music I could find. I needed the jarring noise to drown out them and Emory's turmoil.I poured a glass of wine and downed it quickly, then poured another. I settled into a chair, tucking my casted arm against my chest. The pain was intense, but I wasn't about to admit that to anyone. Lost in the music, I finally managed to block everything else out. I smelled her before I felt her hand on my arm.Opening my eyes, I saw Eve standing above me, her face close to mine. She gently removed the headphones from my head. "You scared me. I though
EVEThe world seemed to close in on me as I watched the car drive away with Kha in it. They weren't taking him to the school station. They were taking him to the county jail. This was real. Terrifyingly real. There was no way he did what they said he did, but I had a sinking feeling about what had happened. It had to be the black-haired girl.Drake picked me up, and as my legs gave out beneath me and I collapsed on the driveway. He carried me inside the house, cradling me like I was a child or something. I was losing it, spiraling into a panic, and he didn't seem to know what to do either. He just sat on the couch with me in his lap, his arm wrapped tightly around me and his cast tucked under my arm as I melted down.I sobbed into his chest for what felt like an eternity, the tears pouring out uncontrollably. After ten solid minutes, he finally spoke. "We need to call his dad.""I can't do it," I whispered, my voice breaking.Drake nodded, taking his phone out. "I'll do it," he
DRAKE The stadium roared with energy, the stands packed with students, parents, and alumni, ready for the season's first game. Eve and I sat near the middle. I glanced at her, her bright blue eyes fixed on the field, her lips tight as she scanned the players."Kha's still safety, right?" she asked, her voice quieter than usual, her nerves showing."Yeah, and Con's the quarterback this year," I confirmed. "Con played well last season, so he'll probably dominate. I was watching his highlight reels, and I'm impressed."Eve bit her lip, her hands gripping the edge of the seat. Her anxiety was obvious. Every time Con or Kha got the ball, her whole body stiffened like she was bracing for impact herself."Are they always this intense?" she asked, her eyes following Kha as he positioned himself for the next play."Yeah," I shrugged, glancing at her. "You'll get used to it. Con especially. He lives for this stuff."Just as I spoke, Con took the snap, dropping back to pass. Kha darted across t
EVE He pulled the towel off of my body as he positioned me on the bed. He got up to lock the door, and I couldn't help but watch him, appreciating how much care he took in everything he did these days. He may have been rubbing off on Drake, but Drake was doing the same in return. When he closed his eyes briefly, I spoke up, "Rissa won't come back anytime soon. She's in class." He looked back at me with a small smile. "I just wanted to make sure," he replied before returning to the bed. As he climbed back onto the bed, the playfulness in his eyes was unmistakable. It reminded me of the first time we were together, how he both treated me with gentleness and teased me throughout. He started tracing my breast, circling my nipple before lightly tugging on the ring. The sensation made me arch my back slightly, pressing into his touch. He smiled at me, and then he leaned down, kissing my nipple before looping his tongue through the ring. I couldn't hold back the loud moan, my hips i
EVE I saw Kha lingering outside the locker room and pulled him aside. His posture was tense, and his usual confidence was absent. I didn't want him to go back in there, not after everything that had happened."Kha, let's just go," I urged. "I don't want to wait for you to change."He looked down at me, the stress in his shoulders easing slightly. "Sure," he agreed, though I sensed some hesitation. "What about Drake? I drove here with him in his truck."I frowned, realizing this could complicate things. Drake and I already had our moment. It was Kha's turn now. I needed some time alone with Kha, away from all the tension building up. "Let him know we're leaving. I'll call for an Uber."Kha nodded and jogged over to Drake, who was sitting nearby. I watched as they exchanged a few words, with Kha gesturing in my direction. Drake looked concerned but didn't argue. He just nodded, and Kha headed back to me.While waiting for the car, I decided to text Con. I didn't want him worrying or wo
EVE The day with Conrad was easy, almost too easy. After the morning's chaos, it was strange how simple everything felt when just the two of us were in his room. We didn't do much. We just hung out, letting the hours slip away without worrying about what was happening outside those walls. He was easy to be around, and the stress that usually came with Kha and Drake was nowhere to be found. It was a relief, even if I felt guilty for enjoying it.As the afternoon crept closer to practice time, I realized I needed to change clothes. My usual routine of heading to my room was out of the question. I couldn't bear the thought of running into Kha or Drake or them getting updates from pack members after everything that had happened. They were probably still fuming, and I wasn't ready to face that just yet."I need to change," I said, glancing at the time. "But I don't want to go to my room."Con nodded, understanding immediately. He got up from where he was sitting and rummaged through a d
DRAKE Kha and I sat in silence, both of us trying to calm down after the near fight that had driven Eve away. My chest still burned with frustration, and I could see the strain in Kha's every movement. We'd almost come to blows, and the close we'd come to tearing each other apart made me sick. We both knew better. But knowing better hadn't stopped us. "She's not in her room," Kha muttered. "How do you know?" I asked. After everything that just happened, the thought of her being alone right now was agonizing. I was about to chase her down if we didn't figure out where she was. Command be damned. "Rissa just told me," he replied through gritted teeth. "She checked. Eve didn't go back to her room." It hit me. I knew where she had gone. There was only one place she would feel safe after what had happened. "She's with Ford." Kha didn't say anything at first, but I could see the fear in his eyes. "Of course she is," he finally said. "Why wouldn't she go to him? He's perfect fo
CONI couldn't believe she was here, lounging on my bed like it was the most natural thing in the world. After breakfast, I thought she'd stick with Kha and Drake, but she came to my room instead. She didn't hesitate, didn't second-guess it. Once I got her to calm down, she just walked in and made herself comfortable. Now, she was stretched across my bed, propped up on her elbows, watching me work on her bracelet. I wasn't even trying, yet she seemed drawn to me, like some invisible force kept pulling us together. She looked so calm and at ease in my room, and I wondered how she fit here so perfectly.I focused on weaving together a couple of leather bands with orange glittery strings. I laid the materials on the desk.She tilted her head. "Where do you keep orange glitter clothing?" she teased.I smiled. "They're from my old jersey from my last college. It became my good luck charm after a while, and I thought it might also bring you some luck."She narrowed her eyes slightly, not
EVE We headed to Kha's room after breakfast, and I knew why. Because Drake's room was directly beneath Con's.As soon as we entered the room, I sighed heavily, knowing what was coming."Just get it out," I said, bracing myself.Kha and Drake exchanged a look, biting back their words. I could see the storm brewing in their eyes, but they were holding back. I wasn't going to let them stew in their frustrations all day, not when I could feel their emotions swirling around us, threatening to suffocate me."No," I insisted. "You're not stewing in this all day. Get it out. Now."That was all it took. The dam broke, and it all came pouring out. Drake started. "We're upset, Eve. This whole thing with Ford... it's driving us crazy. We're jealous, okay? We don't like the way he looks at you, the way he's always there, always perfect. It's like he's this perfect guy for you, and we're scared. We're scared you'll want him more than us."Kha jumped in, his emotions even more raw than expected. "
EVE I woke up feeling queasy, but I pushed through it, determined to start the day on a good note. Kha, Drake, and I headed to the dining hall for breakfast. The usual smells hit me like a freight train, and I had to swallow hard to keep the nausea at bay. I tried to focus on the conversation with Kha and Drake, but ignoring the churning in my stomach was hard.I was picking at my food when I saw Conrad walk in. My stomach clenched harder, but it wasn't just the nausea this time. Something compelled me to move, to go to him. I stood up, ignoring the questioning looks from Kha and Drake, and walked over to Conrad.Before I could even speak, Conrad's hand found my arm, his touch steadying me almost instantaneously. The nausea vanished, and I felt clear-headed for the first time that morning. Without thinking, I invited him to join us once he got his food. But it wasn't just an invitation. It was a command. I realized what I'd done the moment the words left my mouth, but it was too
CONRAD I didn't plan on kissing her. Hell, I wasn't even sure how we ended up so close that it happened. But when it did, everything changed. The moment our lips touched, it was like something inside me shifted. I finally understood why those two guys were so damn obsessed with her. The connection between us was intense and something I couldn't shake even after it ended.I would do anything to kiss her again. The spark, the way it made me feel...I couldn't even put it into words. It was more than just a physical connection. It was like a piece of her had lodged itself inside me, and I didn't want to let it go.The fact that she was pregnant, something that had always made me hesitant, suddenly didn't matter. The baby was a part of her, and that was enough for me. Realizing that what had kept me from taking things further with her was now irrelevant should have been unsettling. But it wasn't.Instead, it felt like everything was falling into place, like this was where I was supposed