How are we feeling so far? lol
“I’m not the one who’s a tease. Do you always smile at other men like that?” Shane asked.“Like what? I don’t even know what you’re talking about,” I huffed.“This morning at breakfast. I saw you and Gabby giggling,” Shane growled.“We’re friends, best friends. Why are you jealous?” I asked. Teeth grazed my skin and I gasped.“I told you that day in the gym and I told you this morning. I’m a jealous man and I don’t like sharing,” Shane said.“I’m waiting for my mate. I won’t sleep with you,” I said. Irritation flashed in his eyes.“I could be your mate,” Shane said.“I’ll know in a few days if you are,” I said. Shane shook his head.“It never fails to surprise me how much importance is placed on a person that is chosen by someone else for you. I won’t take a partner because the Goddess tells me to. I take a mate because that’s who I’ve chosen. And come your coming of age party Adea, mate or not, you are mine.”“You can’t do that!” I said.“I thought you weren’t looking for your mate?
The door closes behind him and I’m left alone in the library. I’m staring at the door in shock, my back against the seat at a loss for words. My mouth hangs open like a fly trap, my chest rises and falls with my hurried breathing, my body still tingling from what he’d done to me. Once again, Shane leaves me in a web of thoughts, missing him more than I have a right to.The longing I feel for him unsettles me and the way he looks at me has conflicting emotions run through me. I want to run for the hills and stay right where I am. After I composed myself, I wandered into the kitchen. I’d already started to prep for dinner when someone tapped me on the shoulder. I turned and found green eyes scanning my features, for what, I wasn’t sure. I gasped as I took in his face. A cut lip and a red cheek.“Gabe! What the fuck?” I yelled as I dropped the knife in my hand.“What?” He shrugged nonchalantly.“What happened to your face?” I asked. I reached up and gently touched his face.“I may or may
It didn’t matter how hard I tried to fight it, I drifted off again until my phone went off. I stirred and finally was able to break the spell sleep had cast on me. Rolling over, I sat up and pulled my phone from my pocket. There was a text from Nikki telling me to go into the bathroom and wash my face clean. Apparently, she needed a clean canvas before she painted. I rolled my eyes and dropped my phone to the bed. Luckily for me, my face was clean.The sound of heels clacking alerted me to Nikki’s arrival. That and her loud voice echoing down the halls while she talked on the phone. My feet dangled over the edge of the bed. I couldn’t help but remember the voice in my head. Had it been a dream? Or had Shane really been in my room? The door opened with a bang as she stood in the door frame. She sighed and slowly slid down while she looked at me, stopping when her knees were bent and she was in a squatting position.“The party has arriiivveed,” she sang.Nikki wore fitted jeans, black f
While the girls checked their coats at the door, I checked in my newfound confidence when faced with this posh environment. An hour later I was sitting in the lounge of Territory’s End watching Nikki and Mavy stare at dresses one of the attendants brought in. Mavy scrutinized each dress one at a time, while Nikki felt each one. When she found one she liked she would practically purr, which should have been weird since she was human. I felt out of place, the plush seat against my back was softer than anything I owned. I jumped as an ear splitting scream filled the air.“Try this one, Adea!” Mavy threw a dress on the lounge chair beside me. “And this one… and this one…” she said as she picked dress after dress from the new selection. I’d already tried on a couple of dresses and I was in need of a break. A knock at the door announced the arrival of another attendant. She walked through the door with a smile on her face and a handful of dresses. “Come on, we don’t have all night!” Mavy sa
I take a deep breath and pretend to be as confident as the girl in the mirror. Glancing once more at my reflection, I turn from the mirror and walk out of my dressing room. Mavy’s jaw drops as her eyes land on me and Nikki’s eyes grow wide with surprise. Smiles flash across their faces as I strutted forward. I threw my foot out and rest my hands on my hips.“Purr… okay girl,” Nikki said.“You look…” Mavy trailed off.“Lie a fucking Goddess!” Nikki squeals. I blush under their gaze. “I always knew you were gorgeous under that hoodie and jeans you hide beneath!”“I think this is the one,” I said.“It definitely is,” Mavy said excitedly.“Fuck yes it is! If you didn’t get it I would have gotten it for you!” Nikki said. “Don’t. be shy now, turn around and give us a twirl.” Nikki lifted her finger and drew a circle in the air for me. I did as she said and she nodded. “It’s perfect Adea!”“Yes! It looks so good on you! I think black stilettos would pair really well with it,” Mavy said.“I-”
My throat dried up and I forgot how to breathe for a second.“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I chuckled nervously.“Come on now,” Nikki teased.“What do you mean? What’s going on with my brother?” Mavy asked.“Come on, M. Are you telling me you haven’t seen the way he looks at her? How about the way electricity crackles in the air when they are in the same room together?” Nikki asked.“I… I don’t know. I never noticed any of that,” Mavy murmured.“Okay…” Nikki said in disbelief. “How about the fact that he wants to escort her and is super protective of her?” Nikki asked.“I thought that was because we grew up together,” Mavy said.“I have brothers and none of them treat me the way that he treats her,” Nikki said knowingly.“Adea?” Mavy asked.“I…” I trail off as I panic.The waitress comes back with our drinks and the table goes quiet while she places them on the table. Nikki thanks her and watches her walk away. When she’s left the room she turns back to us.“Don’t you reme
The rest of the night flies as we eat delicious food, drink sweet drinks, and get way too personal. It’s a bit much and they’re more than a bit crazy, but I wouldn’t change them for anything in the world.Nikki and Mavy had ordered a few rounds of drinks after we ate and now I was left with two girls that were more tipsy than they had any right to be. Mavy was more far gone than Nikki, but we’d had a good night and had fun, so that was all that mattered. The three of us walked out into the night, our arms linked. It was a bit of a struggle, but I lead us to the right, in the direction we needed to head.The moon is high in the sky and I’m ready to get back to the packhouse. The warmth of my bed and quiet of my room calls me. Mavy sings a song, while Nikki fails at pretending to be sober. Her cheeks are stained red and her eyes are drowsy as we walk past the line of people still waiting to get into The Palisades. I could feel the weight of someone’s gaze on my back, but when I turned t
Shane looks like a god as he steps into the light. Light gray sweat pants hang low on his hips and a fitted white t-shirt is pulled taunt against his muscular body as he moves. My mouth waters at the sight of his pecs. The veins on his forearms stick out and pulse are hotter than they have any right being. His upper lip was raised, his eyebrows lowered, and his nostrils flared as he looked from where I lay on the floor to where the man stood with his boot on my stomach.The man above me had enough sense to remove his boot from my body and placed it on the floor. He took a step back as Shane neared, he kept a calm pace, but you could feel the temperature go up. Recognition flared in the mans eyes and he looked from me to Mavy.“Greetings to the heir, is there something I can help you with?” The man stuttered out.My attacker lifted his arms in front of his chest as Shane stepped up on the side walk an
Odis takes a step to the side, and the crowd’s attention turns to me and my mate. As my gaze travels over them, their cheeks stained, their eyes are shocked, and blood splattered at their feet. A lot has happened and everything is moving so quickly now. I don’t know what I was expecting to happen after Shane killed Ethan. I thought everything would go back to the way it always should have been. Becoming Luna and taking over a pack wasn’t what I had in mind. My mate turns to leave, but Odis block him. “Move,” Shane growled. Odis tucked his chin, but held eye contact. “While I am not your chosen Beta, I will hold this position until you choose your own,” Odis growled. “I’ve already got a lineup. Your services are no longer needed,” Shane said coldly. “Until it’s official then,” Odis replied firmly. “Please allow me to have my-to have the remains moved.” My mate went still. He didn’t look back at the body, and I didn’t either. His gaze remained on Odis. “Permission granted,” Shane sa
I love you.I love you.I love you.The words repeat in my mind and I struggle with not linking him. Shane’s eyes widen as he takes in the words that are on repeat in my mind. It’s utter chaos up there, and I don’t want him to hear any of it. His head tilts to the side in question, as if he can’t believe what I just said, and his brows furrow. Shane’s fingers dig into my side as he pulls me flush against his chest. My heart is beating so loud I’d be surprised if he couldn’t hear it. The curse’s broken, the true villain defeated and dead at our feet. It restored the way things always should have been. There’s nothing in our way, and we can finally be together. I have my mate’s full attention as screams of despair ensue behind him.
“Do you know how many times I’ve killed you? You won in the first life, but I made it my mission, to end every one of yours after. I’ve become the villain so many times, I don’t know if I can be the hero. I don’t know if I can be the man she deserves. What I do know is that I’m the man she’s got…,” Shane trailed off. His shoulders shook and I wondered if he was crying, when he started laughing.“I should not atone for sins I know nothing of. This is not the way an alpha should run a pack. There was no trial, and I wasn’t given the opportunity to defend myself,” Ethan grunted.“Defend?” Shane asked incredulously. “Defend?! At what point did you give my mate the opportunity to defend herself? Was there a single moment in the time she spent shackled to you that you gave her a reprieve? On the nights she begged you to stop, did you?&rdq
As the unwanted feeling began welling up inside of me, I wanted to slap myself across the face. I needed to do something to snap out of it, anything to shake this feeling. Ethan’s face started to grow pale and my hands trembled as I stared at the man I’d spent lifetimes with. I wanted him gone, I didn’t want to see his face any longer. The sooner the better, before this disgusting feeling could grow any larger than it already had. I had asked Shane to take his time and make Ethan’s blood run, but now I just wanted him gone, erased from my memory, erased from this life.I wanted him to suffer as I had, but no amount of torturing would make him feel what I had felt. Nothing Shane did could make him feel what I was going through now that I had all of my memories back. Nothing could make the wrongs he’s done right and I hate that I know this. My throat dries as Shane grabs a handful of hair and the largest part of me that loves him a
“Watch as I kill the man that cursed us,” Shane murmured.Everything clicks into place and my mate’s glowing eyes stare back at me. I lean up and press a kiss to his chin. Shane’s breathing shutters and he devours my lips as I cry. His hand slides up my neck and cups my cheek. I nuzzle into it, but he releases me too soon. My knees are weak and I sway on my feet without him. Turning to look down at Ethan, I follow Shane’s gaze and take in the man on his knees. His hair is in his face, blood drips down the side of his face, and oozes down his body. He’s losing a lot of it and fast.“The two of you need help,” Ethan spat.“I don’t think you’ve got much time left,” I said to Shane.I should sick at the sight of what Shane has done to him, but all I can think about is how fate still brought us together. Even as Shane fought for me, it was as if this was all a fairy tale story with a shitty ending. And somewhere out there, an author was getting off on our pain. That, or the Moon Goddess pu
My mate’s shoulders shake and he rolls his head back until he’s looking up at the sky. He closes his eyes and a tear breaks free and rolls down his cheek. He laughs hysterically before his head drops forward. The muscles in his jaw twitched before he lifts his chin and he looks at me with haunted eyes.“Now I know I’m dreaming, but I pray I never wake,” Shane murmured.How is it that even after I tell him I’ve remembered, he still can’t believe me? My soul bled for him as more tears blurred my vision. Would I ever be able to make it up to him? He turns from me as people poured from the halls and into the courtyard. A crowd was forming around us and worry filled me as I feared for my mate. We were on Ethan’s territory, surrounded by his pack, and soon his ranked members would be here. I could only hope the law in place for alpha fights kept them back.“Shane,&
Hate. I hate myself. Self-loathing filled me and threatened to explode. I felt like I was going to combust. How? How has he done it? How can he still stand to touch me, to be near me? Just the thought of what I’ve done is enough to make me sick. I’m disgusted with myself. This world is getting blurry and I focus on the moon above. I’m out of air, out of the will to live, out of time. I don’t deserve it, I shouldn’t want it, I shouldn’t dare, but I do. I wish to see him. I want… I want to see those obsidian eyes one last time. My hands fall to my side as my head lolls to the side.There’s a roar that cuts through my thoughts and fills the garden. The hand around my throat loosens as green eyes turn from me and for the first time oxygen fills my lungs. Little breaths of air as I suck in more and more air. I follow his gaze, my eyes locking on the open door. Light spills out from the party and a dark shadow fills the doorway. My body convulses as my eyes lock on obsidian eyes. Betrayal s
I’m ripped away from him, my chest flush against a table, fingers prodding me. I shake my head and claw at the table. Tears fill my eyes and the feel of his body against mine makes me want to vomit. I hate him. The world spins and I’m begging my best friend to take me. He does what I need. Helps me erase the vile touch from my body. He takes what’s promised to another.I want him. I choose him. They know. They’re going after him. They already have him. Obey or he dies. That’s what father said. My heart screams for me to run and find him, but my mind controls my feet. I’ll do whatever I have to. He comes for me. I beg him to take me away, beg him to run away together. He can’t, no, he won’t. My heart shatters as he walks away.Hell. I’m in hell. My feet land on the ground as the monster drives into me from behind. I scream and wail. I want to wake up now. Let me out. I don’t want to be here. A firm had wraps around my neck and squeezes as I’m torn apart from the inside out. I don’t lik
“What have you done?” Ethan whispered. Green eyes were wide with shock and his brows arched high, as he shook his head. The claws that had dug into my shoulder were now scratching at his chest. They were sharper than any blade and ripped at his shirt. Blood gushed as he tore at his chest. I took a step away from him, completely confused. We were fated to be mates but there had been no pain. Why? I’d heard rejecting your mate was the most painful thing that a wolf could go through. Ethan’s eyes flashed and he was on me, his blood soaked shirt squelched against my chin. I shoved my hands against his abdomen to try and push him off.“I cannot lose you,” he breathed.“You never had me,” I said honestly.“Who you were seeing before me doesn’t concern me,” he growled. “What matters is that today you became mine.”