SCARLETT :After our tête-à-tête in the morning, I made up my mind to avoid him for the day. From Reyes' expression when I came out of the Alpha's office, he wasn't sure if he was ready to meet him, but he did it for me, only for his fears to be confirmed and for me to be pushed back into that cell he calls an office. I almost could not believe that he gave me a deadline. He really wanted to get rid of me.Would my plan actually work, or should I give up before it's too late? I thought.But then I remembered he was the one who drew me to him first, then tried to push me off just like that. I wasn't going to take it easy with him. He had to pay dearly for treating me worthlessly. I might be an Omega, but that does not make me completely useless.I dropped my bag and slumped on my bed. Not long after, Sophie dragged herself in. I could tell she was exhausted, maybe more than I was."I hate Beta Zharn. He's insufferable..." She began ranting immediately."What do you think? He's best fri
JAX:She has infiltrated my life completely, and I don't know whether it's schemed or not. I keep thinking about her, her stubbornness, and her defiance against me.I connect with my wolf, hoping he'd help me with guidance on how to get her out of my life faster, but he goes on to tell me about how strong our bond actually is and how I should give in to it. He clearly did not know how unfortunate the situation was.It's still early in the morning, and I'm already pouring myself a glass of whiskey while I run through paperwork. I didn't get drunk easily. It would take me more than ten bottles to get me drunk, however, the scorching hotness of the liquid running down my throat and the bulky contracts to read, both on paper and my laptop, gave me something else to worry about.A guard enters my office. I told him not to let anyone in if it wasn't for breakfast. I wasn't hungry; all I wanted was to see Scarlett so I could remind her that the clock was ticking. It wasn't going to be long b
SCARLETT :"Alpha Jax requests your presence, Miss De Luca," one of Alpha Jax's burly guards informed me.I groaned inwardly. "What else could he possibly want from me?" I made sure to drop the food on the table for him."I'll be there in a minute," I replied.They opened the door to his office for me."Taste the food," he ordered me without wasting time.I forgot about that. "Let me go get my cutlery and plate.""Use mine.""It's against the rules.""Who's in charge of making sure those rules are enforced, Scarlett?""You," I answered."Exactly.""So ironic. He's in charge of enforcing the rules but he's the same person breaking them," I grumbled."You really have to stop muttering to yourself when I'm close by. I'd rather you say those words to my face," he added. "And yes, I can bend the rules if I want."Dammit. I keep forgetting that his hearing was really sharp.After testing the food, my instincts told me it would be best to leave. "If that will be all, I'd like to take my leav
SCARLETT :"He's such a jerk, though," my sister rolled her eyes after I narrated the day's ordeal to her."I know."She giggled. "I bet it would have been so funny to see him in pain.""I didn't think he had any other emotion in him," I snorted."Next time, we should make it planned.""I don't think there'll be a next time, Soph," I sighed. "I think I ruined all my chances with him. I can sniff my quit notice from a mile away."Sophie scoffed. "For stomping the Alpha?"I gave her a knowing look."I know. I know. I just wanted to be optimistic," she beamed. "Don't worry, there are lots of amazing jobs around, and better men like Harrison Cageeee." She nudged her shoulder with mine, wiggling her eyebrows."Sophie, please," it was my turn to roll my eyes. "He's just a kind person.""No, he is.""I'm Zharn's assistant," she reminded me. "I've seen Sir Cage, and he's not nice. He's a robot, he's programmed, and he's dangerous. Yet, he was nice to you, and he said he'd see you later. Not t
SCARLETT :"Do you have everything you need?" My mother asked me for the umpteenth time.I've never spent the night away from home, let alone left our pack. My parents were mortified when I told them, but since it was work, they just had to let me.I knew better than to lie to myself. I heard his voice. I wasn't getting away from him so easily. Sophie told me to fake an illness, and I thought hard about the plan, only to back out at the last minute."What if he takes it out on my family or harms Reyes because of this?" He seemed shameless and petty, and I wasn't one to let others take the fall for my actions. The only solution would be to comply."Yes, I do. It's almost seven," I whined."I'll drive you there," my father got his keys."There's no need, papa," I told him. "I can get there on my own.""I just want to make sure you're safe," my father countered."I think your father should accompany you, Sophie can follow," my mother pushed further.We looked in Sophie's direction."Hell
SCARLETT :She buried her face in the crook of his neck, all that was left was a glimpse of her icy blue eyes staring directly into mine. I didn't need to see the rest of her expression to know that she disliked me."Rosie," Jax gently pushed her off him."Behave, sister. Jax just got here, at least let him get some rest," Aaron chided."Jax is a sweetheart, I'm sure he doesn't mind." She pouted. "Isn't that right, Jaxy?"Okay, there's a lot of things I already hate about this place, and it's all Rosie.Alpha Jax is a sweetheart?She already has a ridiculous nickname for him? Why is he letting her call him Jaxy?Are they lovers? My stomach churned at the thought."It's fine, Aaron," he replied. "Rosie's just excited.""Why wouldn't I be? I haven't seen you in two years." She linked her arm with his. "Come, let me show you to your room. I personally redesigned it to your liking." She giggled. My hunch tells me she's pretending to be all angel-like with pretty butterflies floating aroun
SCARLETT :"Pardon me," I cleared my throat using my fist as a microphone. "Welcome, oh your royal highness," I drawled with sarcasm."Save it," she shut me up."Your majesty, I am quite exhausted. Is it urgent?" I deadpanned."It is actually," she sat on my bed. "What's your relationship with the Alpha?" she asked me."I thought he told you that earlier.""I forgot. Remind me.""I thought princesses were meant to be smart. I'm his assistant.""Jax has never had a female assistant," she flipped her hair. "And I'm more intelligent than your lower-class ass would ever be.""Didn't know you were a stalker. Also, there's always time for firsts.""Our fathers were friends. I've known him since he was struggling to memorize the pack rules. You did something to get the job."Is there an award for that? I thought to myself."The point is," she continued. "If you're an assistant, let it remain that way. I hope you're not sleeping with him," she shot arrows into my eyes with her stare."Or are
JAX:When it comes to her, I don't think. I just do whatever comes to mind. I become irrational in ways that leave me in awe. I didn't plan to kiss her in my office. A part of me itched to, probably because our bond was still there, and I had always managed to keep my fickle desires at bay until then.I was partially grateful for her stomping on my foot so harshly; I would've gone all the way with her. The aftermath of that was something I wasn't ready to deal with. The only issue was how to get her out of my life and mine as soon as possible before she completely infiltrates my existence and I have no control over my actions.I usually don't like to use torture; hell, it wasn't like she was my enemy, the moon goddess was. She paired me with such a stubborn woman after all. I thought I had succeeded in making it clear to her, yet she seemed far from understanding.For the first time in a while, I thought about what to do with Scarlett De Luca, and it was clear that I had to make it ha
HARRISON CAGE :I was on my way to make a report to the Alpha, my old friend, when I collided with a woman who caught my attention by simply being there. Those who had known me since before I was born, or at least since my birth, would say that I fell for her because she reminded me of a certain person. Scarlett De Luca.After our brief encounter, I longed to see her again, to hear her voice at least. I had never cared much for another being until her. Words cannot describe the way she made me feel.Subtly, yet desperately, I would pass by the Alpha's chambers just to see if she would come out or something. I wanted to step in to catch a glimpse of her, but the Alpha's glare deterred me at first.I was content with seeing her leave work. I was content with Sophie rambling loudly about how cool Scarlett was to the Beta. I was fine until Logan captured her. That was when all my morale disappeared. I, a man who was said to never glance at another woman, not even once, was filled with rag
SCARLETT :The kiss awakened feelings I thought were dead within me, emotions I believed I would never experience again after what Logan did to me. The touch of his lips elicited soft gasps from me, which he took advantage of by slipping his tongue into my mouth, intertwining us completely. There was tenderness and urgency in his movements.I clutched his shirt at the sides to steady myself. We broke the kiss to catch our breath, our foreheads touching as I stood on my toes to add a bit to my height."See? You want me too," his voice was gruff, deep, and filled with lust. He whispered in my ear, "And I bet even if you try to deny it, the scent of your arousal won't lie."If we were in a different situation, I might have reacted differently, but his words made my chest tighten. The heat between us dissipated, memories resurfaced like an abyss I couldn't escape. My heart raced, but this time it wasn't with pleasure or desire; it was with terror."Look at how wet you are for me. Do you d
SCARLETT :The noise outside the door grew rowdier. I stepped out of the water, grabbed a towel, and my phone to text Sophie.Scar: Hey!I texted her, waiting so long that my lower teeth dug into my lower lip, thinking it might bleed. I would have called, but I was too scared to speak in case the boys realized there was a girl in the bathroom.Soph: ... Sup.Scar: I'm trapped in the steam bathroom for trainees.Soph: I'll get help.Scar: No, wait. Just come, there's a bunch of dudes outside, and I need you to distract them so I can get my clothes and leave.Soph: On it.I waited on the bench opposite the steam bath, hoping my twin would arrive in time. Suddenly, the murmurs increased, quieted down, and I heard footsteps fading away.I could finally breathe. The doorknob moved, and I proceeded to open the door."Soph—" I looked up and found whiskey eyes looking down on me, literally because the Alpha towered over me in size and height. "What are you doing here?" I seethed."Saving you
SCARLETT :"Fine," he groaned."Thank you," I breathed out. "See, it wasn't that hard.""Let's start over tomorrow," he suggested.I refuted, "I want back in today. I'll get some rest, handle my work, ask Sophie to get me a protein bar or something, and I'll take it from the beginning again.""I'm just starting to realize how stubborn you are," a small grin appeared at the corner of his lips, more like a smirk."I do hope you do not think that I stand here before you today by being meek and agreeing with everybody," I told him."Certainly not! I like my people fiery like fireballs," he smiled fully, making me return the same energy."Then get ready because I come in blazing flames.""I'm always ready," he groaned and stretched. "Alright, enough chit and chatter. Go back to getting some rest, I'll give the boys a day off, that way, I can focus on you.""Alright, captain," I mockingly saluted. "I'll get to texting Sophie for a protein bar and an energy drink.""Make that a protein bar,"
SCARLETT :My head was blank for a while, and I felt like I was back in the hellhole I was in weeks ago. My head stung bitterly from the migraine threatening to cut my thought process to smithereens.I opened my eyes to the familiar ambiance of the Alpha's office.No, Cage wouldn't have brought me here after telling me to stay away from the Alpha. Although my entire body ached with the need for rest, I got to my feet and made my way out of his chambers. It was still early, but the guards were outside his door with their usual grunting expressions. I'd give anything to see them smile or get mad. They were like programmed machineries.It was only a matter of time before Reyes and the rest of the staff resumed, and the Alpha, who rarely came to work that early, was obviously at the pack house.My heart thumped at the prospect of seeing him again after what happened between us the previous day. I didn't want to react to that man in any way. I just needed my freaking heart to understand me
SCARLETT :I braced myself for the next warm-up.Jogging through tires couldn't be as hard as push-ups.I stumbled at first, my foot catching on the rubber, nearly sending me sprawling.Cage's barked laugh echoed behind me. "Coordination isn’t your strong suit, is it?""Shut up!" I shouted, fuming. "I barely caught a break, that's why." I retorted before hopping through the tires with renewed determination.Next came stability drills. He balanced a heavy sandbag on my shoulders while I stood on one leg atop a wobbly wooden platform."This is ridiculous," I groaned, the bag threatening to topple me."This is survival," he corrected, circling me like a predator. "If you can hold steady under pressure here, you won’t falter in the field.""What field?" I almost yelled. "I'm doing this for self-protection!""Just saying. Who knows, you might sign up for war if it comes down to it.""Never." I nearly fell but caught myself, shooting him a triumphant glare before he could mock me. "Still st
SCARLETT :Today marked my official turning point, the day where I leave all my physical weaknesses behind to embrace strength. I was out in the cold morning; summer was fading, and winter was here.It had been more than three months since the Alpha and the bond walked into my life.I was clad in a warm hoodie, flexible thick leggings, and combat boots Cage gifted me. Relying on finding training clothing in a dressing room mostly designed for men because, of course, ninety-five percent of the pack's army was made up of men.Cage walked me to the training ground, and I was amused.It stretched out under the mid-morning growing sun with racks of training weapons lined up in their tracks: swords, knives, arrows, and guns. Oh my goodness. The only weapon I had ever held in my life was a knife for cooking, and those knives could even be called daggers; they looked so pointy and sharp that I bet they'd kill in an instant.Goosebumps covered my skin at the thought; I hoped to never have a re
SCARLETT :"Wait, Scarlett," Cage followed behind me. "You just looked so cute with your dimples I wanted to capture the moment," he explained, walking behind me, ignoring the fact that the pack house was busy and staff could see what was going on."I don't look cute," I spun around, lowering my voice. "Don't speak too loudly; I don't want people getting any funny ideas.""Okay," he spoke in a whisper. "But I'm not deleting the picture.""Cage," I whined. "I mean, Sir Cage.""It's Sir Cage now?""There are people around.""Sophie would agree with me," he defended himself."Too bad she's not here," I retorted."Yo! Bestie and twin."Speak of the devil. My sister ran to meet us, leaving the Beta's side, who stood waiting like a bodyguard. I forgot how close Cage's office was to the Beta's. The buildings weren't so distant like the Alpha's place. Sophie and I rarely saw each other at work. I was glad I'd be able to see her more often.I re-registered her words. When did she and Cage beco
SCARLETT :Shame.That, paired with guilt, washed over me as I left the Alpha's chambers.How could I give in so easily?Why was using my brains so hard?I threw all my self-respect away again. I shouldn't have let him kiss me. I should have pushed him away, yet, I did not. I allowed the man I vowed to never touch to get to me once more. It would have been super easy to deny if my core wasn't throbbing with need or if I did not feel any sort of stickiness between my thighs. Clearly, my hormones did not grasp the severity of the situation.I kept ranting in my head when a large arm gripped my small one, turning me back. My heart skipped like it would jump out of me, thinking it was the Alpha, but calmed down when I saw Cage's face."Are you okay?" He asked me. "I have been calling you for some time now.""Oh," I said, still trying to compose myself. "I'm sorry." I shook my head. "I was thinking about something.""It's fine," he sighed. "I'm just glad you're okay.""Yeah," I faked a smi