***POV: Trent*** ***POV: Trent*** How the hell a human just beat me, I have no clue. This is humiliating and I have to make him pay. No human is good enough to be with one of our alphas, even if this oaf is good at fighting. I stormed out of the training center, making sure to avoid speaking to anyone. I can feel my body trying to start to heal itself. I am pretty sure I have a broken rib or two, and definitely plenty of bruising. This is just so fucking embarrassing. There has to be some sort of explanation for it. I have to consult the witches. I know it will cost me, they are always so damn uncooperative for anyone, even their own kind. I make it back to the packhouse and mind-link for the pack doctor. I stumble up the stairs, praying that Heather is nowhere in sight. She’s the last thing I need right now. I push our bedroom door open and breathe out a sigh of relief when I find the room empty. I can't even stand the sigh of her at this point. I carefully strip all my clothes of
***POV: Amara***I am barely keeping it together right now. I am stuck in a constant struggle with my wolf over control. She is fighting me with everything she has to go back to our mate. I am holding steady and trying to stay distracted. I know we are fated to each other, and I know that I love him, but he is not the best choice for me given the current situation. My father is right, he is always right. So even though my heart is breaking, I will do as he asks.I look around at the girls and smile and nod when it seems appropriate, completely unable to focus on what they are saying. I stand up and excuse myself, telling them I have pack matters to get back to, but to continue enjoying their day. I head back to the packhouse.I walk in and listen, and the house sounds completely quiet. I walk towards my father’s office, and my instincts are right, he is in there.“Hey papi.” I say softly. He looks up at me and gives me a tenuous smile. His eyes are heavy with worry, and I wonder if I
***POV: Amara***I run down to the docks near the refugee center. With no incoming humans, I expect it to be empty and quiet. Much to my surprise, I find Heather there sitting on a bench looking out at the water. I try to decide quickly what to do but she hears me and turns to me before I can decide on my escape.“Oh, it’s you. Of course, it’s you.”I want to roll my eyes and say something smart back but the look on her face stops me. It’s not only the expression, but the color of her skin, her stringy hair, everything about her looks sickly.“Are you alright?” I can’t help myself, with the way she looks and her swollen belly, concern overtakes my ire towards her.“Please, as if you care.” She spits out at me. I approach her slowly, and the closer I get, the worse she looks.“I do actually, you don’t look well.”“Apparently pregnancy doesn’t suit me. Who knows? I feel like this baby is literally sucking the life out of me and apparently, I look like it too.”This is so awkward; I don’
***POV: Cole***I am sore and feeling the bruising after the fight. I walk away from my conversation with the fairy to find Cyrus and Tobias. I see them huddled up in the corner speaking in hushed tones, and as they see me approach, they go completely silent. “What’s up guys?” I ask as casually as I can.Tobias and Cyrus exchange glances. Tobias speaks up first. “We were just talking about how bizarre it is, what just went down with you and Trent.”Cyrus pipes in. “I don’t think you get the magnitude of what just happened here. It is unheard of for anyone to get the best of an Alpha unless it is another Alpha, but you are not even a wolf.”“But can you imagine what he could do if he was a wolf? It’s like he was born to be one, to be like a super wolf.” Tobias finishes his sentence and then they both look at each other again, something coming over their faces.“What if there is something to that? We need to talk to someone.” Cyrus says with a far off look on his face, clearly his thoug
***POV: Cole***I am furious, who do these people think they are? Tobias is trying to talk to me and I can’t hear a thing. I am literally seeing red. Suddenly I realize that Cyrus is pulling me back off Tobias, when I didn’t realize I was even putting my hands on him. I let go of Tobias, and walk off a bit to breath and calm down,I gather myself for a few minutes and walk back over there. Through gritted teeth I demand, “Explain yourself.”“I have not touched her inappropriately. That’s the first thing I need you to hear.”I nod and exhale, loosening up a bit, but waiting for more information.He starts again. “I realized who she was to me immediately at the club that night. When our skin touched, she felt it too. The only other thing that has happened between us is a chaste peck on the lips. That’s it, that’s all.”I don’t love this but it’s better than the things that were going through my head. Logical me realizes that she is almost 18, but she is still my baby sister, and she has
***POV: Tobias***With that difficult conversation wrapped up and having gone easier than expected, we gather our few things and head out of the training arena. I am ecstatic and leaving feeling far lighter than when I came in. I know that Cole was one of my biggest barriers in my pursuit of Imogen. My thoughts drift to her and what her day with the girl must be going. I have no doubt that Amara and Violet are taking good care of her, and will give me all their opinions.Cyrus clears his throat. “Cole, one question, what did Charlotte want with you?”Cole stops and looks at him, clearly surprised. “Well, she was impressed with the fact that I kicked Trent’s ass.”We all laughed in unison, the kind of relaxed laughter that friends would share easily.“In all seriousness, she wants me to consider working for her. She said her people need training in hand to hand combat skills, so basically it was a job offer.”I look over at Cyrus, both of us thinking of the implications of those words.
***POV: Amara***I make my way back to the packhouse slowly. I need to clear my head. There is just so much going on now, and I need to process. It’s a beautiful day out, clear skies, warm temperature, slight breeze blowing. I stop walking and close my eyes for a moment, let the wind blow across me. My thoughts drift to Cole, and the soft touch of his hands, his particular scent. I stop, realizing that this is not a healthy thought pattern. I need to find a new mate to help me get Cole out of my head and my heart.I open my eyes, taking in my location, and realize I am close to the training center. I don’t even know how I made it over here. I look over to where I hear voices from the entrance and spot Cole immediately. No wonder my thoughts drifter, I probably subconsciously picked up his scent. I watch him, knowing he hasn’t seen me yet. He looks like he’s been in a fight. Oh God, I wonder what happened. I want to go to him and ask him but I am trying to keep my distance right now.
***POV: Cole***Just as it was getting good, just as I thought she might cave, the trance was broken. I would be more pissed if I thought we had been making any kind of significant progress. When I realized it was Charlotte, it was almost comical that she would be the one interrupting. The same person offering me a future here, interfering with the one sure thing that could keep me here. It’s obvious that she and Amara know and like each other. When she greets with the wink, I immediately catch Amara tensing next to me.I look at her, and the jealousy is plain as day on her face. Does she think so little of me that she thinks I have moved on in 12 hours? Charlotte keeps walking and goes down the path away from us quickly. Amara takes a step back from me, arms folded across her chest and looks so betrayed. This is ridiculous.“What was that about? How do you two know each other?” She demands.“Why do you care?”“Don’t be obtuse Cole. You were inside me all night last night, you know I