JAX:"I'd prefer to see your stylist myself, please. That would be more convenient," I replied."Alright," he smiled."My personal assistant and I would like to excuse ourselves," I announced."She's not done eating," Aaron spoke for her."I see," I narrowed my eyes, went to her side of the table, grabbed her plate of spaghetti and meatballs, and gestured for her to get up. "I'll sort that out with her. Isn't that right, Scarlett? We have a schedule to plan.""Yes, Alpha Jax," she stood up. "Thank you for the meal, your majesties." She bowed, following behind me."Next time, you don't have to bow to them. You're my person, you came with me-""As an assistant," she interrupted me."As my assistant," I corrected her. "And as your employer, I believe I have the right to make clarifications regarding the things you do wrong, but of course, you can treat yourself so little if you wish to.""Why do you care? I'm just your employee," she laid emphasis on the last words."Just because," I sim
JAX:"With this ointment, the marks will quickly fade," the nurse at the infirmary said."Thank you."She blushed. "Yes, Alpha Jax.""If you're okay, we can go now." I turned to Scarlett, who sat examining her semi-bruised wrist."I'm okay." She stood and followed me as I led her to the car. My guards and chauffeurs were waiting, but I dismissed them, much to Scarlett's dismay.I knew she was dying to know why we were going alone, but instead, she remained quiet throughout the ride. I was making her uncomfortable, and I hadn't even tried to. Yet.I stopped in front of the building that caught my attention on our way to the palace. A luxury store for jewelry, accessories, and clothing.YARA; FOR WOMEN. A well-known popular clothing brand.Scarlett looked at me bewildered."Get down," I told her."Why are we here?" She finally said something."Because I want to be here," I replied. "What color was the dress Aaron gave you to wear to the party?""Floral green," she replied."I want to ge
SCARLETT :Alpha Jax had been acting entirely weird towards me in the last forty-eight hours, as if he had multiple personalities. After trying to explain why it would look weird not to wear what I had already accepted, I gave in to the breeze and let it carry me into an unconscious state that was disrupted by the feeling of someone's hand on my face."What are you doing?" My voice was almost inaudible due to our proximity."I was waking you up," he lied. No one wakes another person by touching their lips and cheek."By touching my lips and face?" I was conflicted by my inability to seduce him, but maybe I didn't have to try so hard. This was another chance. I just had to see if it would work."Would you be okay with me shaking you awake like an object?" he asked."No, there are many other ways," I replied, still speaking softly. I unbuckled my seat belt and leaned towards him to match the closeness of his body to mine. The car windows were tinted, ensuring no one could see inside.I
SCARLETT :"Scarlett," he called after me. "Stop walking." I continued."I'm going to drive away and leave you here. Is that what you want?"My heart tugged harder as the tears kept rolling. Like he cares. I moved as fast as I was able to.He was behind me, the next minute he wasn't. He was really going to leave. Water from nowhere fell on my nose. I was still crying, but I was damn sure those weren't from the salty waters of my eyes.I looked up to the sky and saw it begin to darken, like my life was only the shades of grey in the skies had meaning, purpose, and usefulness. The darkness in mine didn't.Just when I was lost, swarming in my thoughts, did I realize I was in the middle of the road, a loud speeding truck honked in my direction.I needed to move, or I'd die, yet I stood there. I mean, I wanted to run to avoid meeting an inevitable doom, but that seemed hopeless, not when I had watched someone dear to me pass away due to something similar.My aunt Darla, my father's sister.
SCARLETT :His warmth, in contrast to the cold weather, usually unmatched, made me want to open up. I knew the probability of him actually caring only existed in my dreams. He must've pitied me so much that he had to pretend to be extraordinarily affectionate, and I truly didn't mind. I'd take it if it was all I could get.I had no understanding of what this feeling was. Chances were it wouldn't count after I broke our bond, yet I wanted to sink myself into it."I was only nine," I began. "My twin and I were out with our Aunt, her name was Darla." I shifted, recollecting the memories. "She was exactly like the female version of my father. She was a hard worker, so she didn't come around much, and when she did, we would go out to the park, get ice cream. She was like that big older sister, only eighteen years older. On that day..."Alpha Jax stayed silent, but his gentle stroking of my hair gave me all the encouragement I needed. "We went to the park like we had always done. Some time
JAX:I asked her to surprise me, and she's been doing so unintentionally for a while now. My private investigators didn't tell me this part of Scarlett's past. I did know she saw a therapist for two years in my city when her family finally returned to the pack. I told my private investigators to check out the reasons, and they had yet to get back to me.It brought me a weird sense of satisfaction that she chose to confide in me. All her walls were torn down, and her fears were laid bare in front of me. As she spoke, I was glad that it wasn't with another person. I felt so selfish, and I didn't want to feel any other way. It made me want to be the only one who saw every side of her. No one could see every aspect she bears except for me.I brought this upon myself the moment I touched her in my cabin. How could I not have known or thought of the aftermath of my actions? My wolf was the strongest between both of us, and it seems like I never rejected her.My Scarlett didn't shiver or whi
SCARLETT :Who would have thought Rosie was crazy enough to stand in the rain waiting for Alpha Jax to return? Next time I feel like I'm too desperate, I'll try to remember her. Rosie is unmatched.We drove for two more hours, totally ticking nothing off his schedule except breakfast, calling the beta Zharn, and attending the council meeting with the pack elders of the Moonrock pack. There were eight more tedious tasks to do. As I dragged my feet to my room after one of the most tedious days of my life, I found Rosie waiting at my door.Hell no. I turned back."Don't move, you slut." I stopped in my tracks, spinning around on my heels to meet the fury in her eyes. Alcohol clouded all the other scents coming off her.Aaron said he had the servants put her to sleep, but she was right in front of my room, with her lengthy pink dress clinging onto her body. She could have at least tried to change out of her drenched clothing.I was not going to deny that she was beautiful. Icy blue eyes,
JAX:"Can I have a word with you?" Aaron added. "In private." He took a swift glance at Scarlett. This was all after he had told us about how Rosie was scared that I had run off with Scarlett. My guards were still in the palace. There was no way I'd just leave them there and run off with a woman. Her reason only proved how mad she was.I wanted to believe I should have been shocked, but then, it's Rosie. After Rosie was out of sight and the servants stayed clear, Aaron laid out his plan for me.It was as stupid as it was logical. All I had to do was pretend to love Rosie until her party was over and we departed.She'd be on her best behavior as long as she got what she wanted. Apparently, she developed a few mental issues during the last two weeks, and I had unfortunately become the object of her obsession. If I did well, she was bound to feel obliged to act in a way that pleased me, therefore tricking her to get mental help and use her prescription. If I said I needed her to act more
JAX:All good things come in good time. As Doctor Rachael said, Scarlett was discharged on the seventh day with no issues.And it wasn't a dream.It's a blissful reality.She changed out of hospital clothes into a black dress that hugged her slim figure. The diva that she was. I'm completely mesmerized by her."I've waited long enough," I said as I pulled her by the waist and embraced her.She stilled for a moment as if she was rethinking everything.Please don't.Don't leave me again.I don't say those words out loudand let them burn at the back of my throat.Soon she relaxed in my arms and gently hugged me back.Yes.She felt so small in my arms. I made it my responsibility to help her regain her previous weight. She looked too thin."Let's stop before someone sees."Right. Anyone could come in.It wasn't going to be her parents because they were planning a surprise party for Scarlett. I sensed that they must've gotten a hint about us but weren't willing to discuss it yet, which wa
JAX:I reached the front of her room, the buff guards still in place."Alpha Jax!" Scarlett's mother called out to me."Is she?" I asked."Yes," Sophie responded as she embraced Zharn, who was happy for her. For all of us.Her parents had come to terms with it. Those two were never leaving each other.I creaked open the door. No one accompanied me inside. There was no need for me to voice it out. I wanted to see her alone.Her head slowly turned.My chest was about to explode.Amber eyes filled with longing.I think I'm gone."Scarlett," I breathed out. How much breath was I holding back? It was hard for me to recognize the sound of my own voice."Jax," she replied in the same tone.I'm about to scream with joy.Stow your inability to be calm as well as your restless spirit, Jax!She was right in front of me.Her eyes open, staring at me intently.Say something else, you fool. My inner voice taunted me.Ah, yes. I had to say something. Now, if the words would come out."How are you?"
JAX:"Three out of the six shelters have been completed, Alpha Jax," one of the council members informed me."Fifteen people who survived the attack but have been in a coma passed away today," another informed us."Shall we then have a moment of silence for them?" I asked the council members and elders who were left.Three whole months had passed, and things weren't fully back in shape. There had been improvements, but it wasn't enough. How do I do justice to what happened? My soul felt utterly crushed. Meeting upon meeting at least thrice a week.I have never had to go through so many paper documents in my life.How dreadful.The minute of silence was quickly over, and there was much more to discuss. Cage had resumed duties as the Lord of the Harrison family, much to the disappointment of every person who contested his right and replaced the family in the council. The Harrisons were a crucial part of the pack, and his father was present for every important meeting.That aside, I had
SCARLETT :Jax cared, I felt it. I saw it. And the guards knew he'd probably listen to me when it came down to it, and it worked in my favor. I was in the garden in no time.Oh, it was chilly."Get her a blanket, now!" One of the men told the nurses. "The Alpha must not find her this way.""You don't need to. I want to feel the cold.""He's right, Miss. You need to maintain a warm temperature for the sake of your heart." The nurse differed before rushing off to get a blanket.Oh, all these constrictions. I hated them.The moon wasn't full; it was in half, and there were many beautiful stars in the sky, twinkling in the sky.It felt surreal. One moment I was with Herrera, then I was back."What date is it?" I asked him."Ma'am, it's..." One of the men responded."Three months!" I exclaimed.I was out for three whole months.No wonder a part of me was eager to see the sky. I deserved it.It's not as bad as I thought. In Herrera's paradise, it seemed as though I had been there for years.
SCARLETT:A cold monitor pressed against me through my hospital gown as a wave of shock surged through me. My back arched, lungs convulsing—then I gasped into life.No more Herrera. No more golden everything.A chorus of relieved sighs filled the room."Patient has responded!" The doctor’s voice rang through the tension. "She's awake!"The defibrillator paddles were pulled away, the scent of burnt skin lingering in the air.Beep. Beep. Beep.My heart was beating again. I was alive.I almost died.I almost died.My mind struggled to catch up, pieces of the past shattering and reforming in fragments I couldn't quite grasp. My heart rate spiked. The machine beside me echoed the rising panic.Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep."Miss, you're fine," the doctor assured me, her voice was steady but firm. "You need to stay calm. You cannot overwork your heart." She leaned over me, her sharp eyes assessing every change in my expression. "Take deep breaths. Slowly. In through your nose, out through your mo
SCARLETT:How long has it been since I left my world? Days? Months? Years?Sigh.Time here moved really fast.And it felt like such a long time since that divine being took control of my body.I would never forget how she transformed into a white angel. White long silky hair, blazing blue eyes, and a garment too white I thought it'd get stained once she hugged my body to take control of it.I remembered faintly how Jax held me in his arms. For what it's worth. I knew I could never have him anyway, and so I allowed myself to have him in that moment. My desire spoke out for me, and it didn't matter.The divine spirit said I could go back; her name was Herrera, and she's a pest most of the time, but the rest of the time she's fun."I can hear your thoughts, you know." Ah, there she was. In a vast space that was only made of pure gold. She sat goddess-like on a large couch with an enormous backrest while her servants clad in white cloaks served her red wine and grapes. We wore the same wh
LOGAN DE VAUNT:It was a well-organized scheme to ruin everything my brother cherished. The northern rogues were the deadliest, alive or not, since most of them got killed fighting against the Moonstone pack.My plan was easy. I only had to rat out information about my pack and the formation that held the walls of our border strong and secure. Our borders were our strength. The moment something goes wrong with it, all will come crashing down. I wanted nothing more than to see my brothers deflate as his ego broke.Everyone thought he was the perfect leader. I wanted to see just how good he was, how he would be able to handle the situation. The northern rogues had sought the help of evil grim witches who granted them immense power to do whatever they pleased. Each wielded different magic except for the children of the leader of the rogues. From a young age, they had been given the power to control their magic and wield it together, or so I heard.Over a century, they had destroyed sever
JAX:I took her pale hand in mine; her temperature seemed normal, a good sign that life coursed well through her. My mother had surprisingly been waiting for her to wake up. I don't know what she had planned in that conniving head of hers, but she'd be wrong to think her sad methods of motherly manipulation would work.Since the last dinner I attempted to have with her, I realized that it was foolish of me to hope that we'd be able to form a strong mother and son bond; again, a man can only dream. She had been saying confusing things about Scarlett, hinting at the power she wielded in the attack. She was unwilling to divulge it all until Scarlett woke up, and that seemed to be taking forever. Seriously, I would grow old and miserable if she never does.I had asked around, and the elders suggested that such a person could have lost connection with their wolves. Our wolves were a huge part of us, even if most of us rarely communicated with them. They served as a part of our life source,
JAX:Days have been longer, times have been slower since Scarlett went into a coma. I had changed doctors over and over with the same results until I came to the conclusion that she just had to wake up. Perhaps, it wasn't the doctor; it could be the power that was granted to her. Whatever it was, it drained her completely, yet not enough to take her life. Thankfully, because I doubt I'd survive if that were the case.Every night after meeting upon meeting, I'd go to see her. It became my tradition, it became a must-do for me. Seeing her peacefully resting made me feel very much at peace. Hearing her breathe softly was also more than enough, seeing her steady heart rate on the monitor brought me a sense of security I could not fathom.Many lives were lost due to the attack, many properties were destroyed. Councilmen dead, elders of the pack dead, a lot wounded, a lot unscathed as well. Zharn suggested dedicating land to all those who did not survive the attack. Families who were okay w