CARLY WOODS POV "What does it feel like to shift into your wolf?"The second the question flew out of my mouth, I knew it was too late to take it back. I had to suffer through the taunting I was sure was coming. With a crestfallen expression, I looked down at my lap twitching my fingers.What was I thinking, asking Jace of all people? That'll make me seem more pathetic. Ugh! Carly, did you truly have to?"Refreshing." His voice whispered. I slowly glanced up to sneak a look at him, only to find him already gazing down at me with a genuine smile."Huh?" I was a little perplexed. I wasn't expecting such gentleness from the man. Jace's hands shot out and covered my hands which were still fidgeting on my lap."It feels refreshing and exhilarating when we shift into our wolf but, let me tell you, the first shift for every wolf hurts more than a bitch." He chuckled at his joke "If I'm to say, there's always this adrenaline rush and a sense of liberation, as if we're shaking off our human
CARLY WOODS POV Leaning on a tree outside the meeting ground, my heel digs into the ground as I crane my neck in search of my best friend. It didn't take long before I caught sight of her wavy brown hair.The meeting had lasted for about thirty minutes, which I had conveniently tuned out on.A radiant smile instantly spread over my sore face when I spotted the wide smile on Mia's face the moment our gazes met."Look what the cat decided to drag to pack meetings today." Mia teased, pulling me into a bone-crushing hug, eyes gleaming with genuine joy.Mia was the only companion I had left in the pack. At some point, Ophelia and I were close, well, as close as cousins could get. But, soon after the accident with my parents, she, alongside everyone started ignoring me except Mia, who didn't mind sticking around even when the consequences of being friends with me entailed being subjected to mock and ridicule, Mia didn't mind. She was ready to go down to hell with me.Mia was that friend th
CARLY WOODS POVThe front door clicked shut, making me release the breath I was holding. Since I didn't know what Jace's consequence would be if he discovered I stayed back at the pack house. I decided that pretending I was home the whole time after the meeting was a better option.So here I am, sneaking around like a ninja in training. I poked my head around the vast lounge area with my fingers crossed in front of my wide eyes. I noticed the house was oddly quiet, as I tip-toed my way to the stairwell with one goal in mind. 'Make it to my room in one piece and pretend I've been in there since goddess knows when'. I thought with a dubious smile.So far, I was victorious since I didn't catch sight of anyone. When my room door came into view, I heard the sound of a door opening and clicking shut, down the hall, 'Oh no, my ninja moves can't go to waste that easily'. I thought as I hurriedly tip-toed to my room as if I stepped on hot coal. In the comfort of my room, I crouched by the wa
CARLY WOODS POV "Ohh, Someone seems happy today.""Well for one, Jace said it was okay for me to come see you today." I retorted trying to hide my smile and make it seem like the idea of spending my day with Mia was the only cause of my high spirit and not a certain Alpha."I'm glad he didn't go all caveman on your fat ass." Mia wiggled her brows suggestively making me blush at the thought of Jace going all caveman on me. Ha!"I knew there was more." She squealed like a kid in her favorite ice cream parlor.Today, Mia alongside three other omegas was assigned to go grocery shopping for the pack house which was a lot of responsibility considering the number of people living there. The girl in charge decided to split the list so they'd finish in record time.So I tagged along. Anything to keep me busy for the day was appreciated.Mia and I kept tossing different packs of cereals, juice, cartons of milk, and what's not into our trolley as we strutted around the mall."There's nothing, b
CARLY WOODS "Do Omegas moan when they're having sex?" Addison Cobbler, aka 'Pack Slut' burst forth in laughter almost spilling her mouthful of Bourbon. I trained my gaze on the task of pouring bourbon neat into the glasses by the bar not daring to look in their direction. "How about Nate answer the question?" Ophelia, her super bitchy best friend giggled swatting Nate's bulged arm. Gamma Nate and I were fated mates but he rejected me on the spot a few months ago. He was embarrassed of me and his squad didn't hesitate to tease him over it. Hating my life, I took the drinks from the bar closer to the most powerful squad in the Brookside Pack in the private club where they hung out once in a blue moon. "How about Alpha Jace clear this doubt?" Alpha Jace's caramel blond head snapped from his phone at Addison, his girlfriend's smirking face. "It's a dare sweetheart," the drunk girl chuckled, "I'm allowing you one night of liberty before our wedding. This lowly runt is all y
ALPHA JACE Despite my best efforts to ignore this Omega she did things to heighten the burn in my loins. A chuckle almost left me as I watched her shrivel under the duvet pulling it above her head. Fighting the sting in my chest, I propped up on one arm to watch her still body, pretending to be asleep yet, her heart thundered in my ears. "What is your name?" I tugged the duvet from her flushed face. Her big brown eyes fluttered open, met mine, and instantly averted hers to beddings before she sat up causing the duvet to drop to her waist. "Carly." I'd never seen such luscious lips, skin that begged my hands to touch. Tits molded to scramble a lesser man's brain. Honey brown eyes cluelessly searching my face. This omega was such a sexual fantasy yet Nate chose to look the other way. I had studied her the entire night as she served, her innocence gave her an air of being off limits—to bastards like me. "Don't do that again." I sounded harsher and louder than intended.
CARLY WOODS "You don't look good, are you sick?"Mia, my best friend, observed as she loaded the dishwasher. I yawned, shook my head, and wearily rubbed my eyes. My mind became the worst place to be in. The previous night haunted my mind with guilt and fear. I should've been warned about the guilt that accompanied a reckless night. He marked me. Alpha Jace marked me. It happened in the heat of our recklessness. He never would want me. I knew the Alpha didn't want me yet I chose to act shamelessly. The handsome Alpha was getting married in the next full moon and I only wanted to sate my sexual curiosity. I did and it felt way better than I'd imagined it would be. Why couldn't things feel as easy as this?I heaved a sigh and worked on plucking the bird for lunch. "Did Mr. Harold yell at you?" Mia prodded. Mr. Harold was the head of the Omegas around here and the least of my problems at the moment. Jace being much sober that noon would never entertain rumors flying around the pa
CARLY WOODS"I need the test results this second." Jace's hardened face and eyes were solid on the doctor's face. I sat ramrod straight in the vast office, staring blankly at the stout doctor who walked in from the lab with the test results in hand. "It's positive, right?" Jace looked more eager to know the result—too eager to get a positive than I ever could be. But why?He made it clear he didn't want anything to ruin his big day but why this attitude?"Congratulations," the doctor gave a brisk smile that didn't meet his eyes. The congratulations wasn't directed at me but to the grim-faced Alpha which made him seem to relax for the first time that evening. "That can't be!" I countered springing to my feet. "I can't be pregnant!" A teenage and an unwed Mom was so out of the equation. "That's impossible, run the tests again." My tone faltered with my empty gaze on the papers handed to me by Dr. Walters."We'll be on our way now."Jace snatched the results from my quivering hand
CARLY WOODS POV "Ohh, Someone seems happy today.""Well for one, Jace said it was okay for me to come see you today." I retorted trying to hide my smile and make it seem like the idea of spending my day with Mia was the only cause of my high spirit and not a certain Alpha."I'm glad he didn't go all caveman on your fat ass." Mia wiggled her brows suggestively making me blush at the thought of Jace going all caveman on me. Ha!"I knew there was more." She squealed like a kid in her favorite ice cream parlor.Today, Mia alongside three other omegas was assigned to go grocery shopping for the pack house which was a lot of responsibility considering the number of people living there. The girl in charge decided to split the list so they'd finish in record time.So I tagged along. Anything to keep me busy for the day was appreciated.Mia and I kept tossing different packs of cereals, juice, cartons of milk, and what's not into our trolley as we strutted around the mall."There's nothing, b
CARLY WOODS POVThe front door clicked shut, making me release the breath I was holding. Since I didn't know what Jace's consequence would be if he discovered I stayed back at the pack house. I decided that pretending I was home the whole time after the meeting was a better option.So here I am, sneaking around like a ninja in training. I poked my head around the vast lounge area with my fingers crossed in front of my wide eyes. I noticed the house was oddly quiet, as I tip-toed my way to the stairwell with one goal in mind. 'Make it to my room in one piece and pretend I've been in there since goddess knows when'. I thought with a dubious smile.So far, I was victorious since I didn't catch sight of anyone. When my room door came into view, I heard the sound of a door opening and clicking shut, down the hall, 'Oh no, my ninja moves can't go to waste that easily'. I thought as I hurriedly tip-toed to my room as if I stepped on hot coal. In the comfort of my room, I crouched by the wa
CARLY WOODS POV Leaning on a tree outside the meeting ground, my heel digs into the ground as I crane my neck in search of my best friend. It didn't take long before I caught sight of her wavy brown hair.The meeting had lasted for about thirty minutes, which I had conveniently tuned out on.A radiant smile instantly spread over my sore face when I spotted the wide smile on Mia's face the moment our gazes met."Look what the cat decided to drag to pack meetings today." Mia teased, pulling me into a bone-crushing hug, eyes gleaming with genuine joy.Mia was the only companion I had left in the pack. At some point, Ophelia and I were close, well, as close as cousins could get. But, soon after the accident with my parents, she, alongside everyone started ignoring me except Mia, who didn't mind sticking around even when the consequences of being friends with me entailed being subjected to mock and ridicule, Mia didn't mind. She was ready to go down to hell with me.Mia was that friend th
CARLY WOODS POV "What does it feel like to shift into your wolf?"The second the question flew out of my mouth, I knew it was too late to take it back. I had to suffer through the taunting I was sure was coming. With a crestfallen expression, I looked down at my lap twitching my fingers.What was I thinking, asking Jace of all people? That'll make me seem more pathetic. Ugh! Carly, did you truly have to?"Refreshing." His voice whispered. I slowly glanced up to sneak a look at him, only to find him already gazing down at me with a genuine smile."Huh?" I was a little perplexed. I wasn't expecting such gentleness from the man. Jace's hands shot out and covered my hands which were still fidgeting on my lap."It feels refreshing and exhilarating when we shift into our wolf but, let me tell you, the first shift for every wolf hurts more than a bitch." He chuckled at his joke "If I'm to say, there's always this adrenaline rush and a sense of liberation, as if we're shaking off our human
CARLY WOODS POV After about fifteen minutes of silence passed between us, I finally let out a heavy sigh as I passed Jace a side glace from my peripheral.Right now, I couldn't trust anyone that's why my mind was searching for a thousand meanings to what he meant by 'coming to a safe page.'Did he realize he was asking for me to trust him with my son's life even after knowing his very existence was a danger to not only my child but my peace of mind and sanity?He was a threat to my already broken and fragile heart. A threat I was fully ready to confront.The game in which I was the pawn started a long time ago without my knowledge, but, as of this moment, the rules had changed to my terms and I wouldn't mind playing dirty.Ooh, how had the table turned? I snorted mentally.But, I could try and play along and see where this goes. If his squad think they can play then I can also play with changes to the rules of the game though.They'll never know what's hitting them until it's too lat
CARLY WOODS POV Fear.That's what I felt as I lay curled up in a fetal position for the remainder of the day.When the morning rolled by, Alice brought a breakfast tray that contained a small stack of pancakes, fresh strawberries, maple syrup, and a glass of juice. Finishing my food, I said my thanks which she responded with a sad smile. After that incident, Alice tried being friendly with me which I didn't appreciate. I didn't want her pity or anyone else for that. I didn't quite understand why she was nice to me again after she spent the last five days giving me cold shoulders. I wondered if what happened yesterday was hot enough to warm her shoulders. I thought sarcastically and mentally rolling my eyes. She told me how I almost lost my baby. I couldn't help but cry at the near loss of my unborn child.My child was the only thing I had to call mine even though he wasn't here. He was mine to love and protect.I don't know what I'd do if something were to happen to him.If the eve
JACE BALDWIN POV I ran to Carly's room with Ian hot on my heel, he was equally as anxious as I was. Carly's son had to be okay, he was our only way out. He was my hope for a better future, for a stronger Brookside pack. I know it sounds crazy for a father to want to sacrifice their child to stay alive but it needed to be done. It had to be done. My pack needed me, my friends needed me, and Addison needed me. And Carly and her child don't need you? Your child? My wolf snorted at the back of my mind. It's either that or we lose all our power, now would you want to become a weak and pathetic wolf? Let me guess from a big bad Alpha wolf to a nonentity. Is that what you want, huh? Because I certainly don't wish that for myself." I snapped back before blocking him out. I could feel him push his irritation on me, I can't deal with him at the moment. I had more pressing issues. In Carly's room, I caught a glimpse of the broken plate of food and glass of milk on the floor, maybe Alic
CARLY WOODS POV In the last 5 days, I was stuck in a room with nothing but my mind to keep me busy. I wanted to go out, oh, how I missed the feel of the fresh evening breeze on my skin as I sat in the garden.Thankfully, the pain in my head had slowly died out and my ankle was healing fast, thanks to whatever medication doctor Allen gave me.Well, now I could move around with a clutch. Even though I couldn't shift, I still healed faster than a regular human because of my werewolf blood but I was surprised at how quickly my injuries were healing."I want to go out," I murmured as Jace was about to step out of my room. Jace came a few minutes ago to check how I was doing and I was hoping he'd let me go out for even an hour, I needed to breathe fresh air, I needed to feel the heat of the sun on my skin again, to feel the wind clashing against me as it whips my hair in whichever direction it pleased.Jace halted his steps, hand on the doorknob, shoulders growing rigid."Run that again b
CARLY WOODS POV "Oh, come on I can't swallow another spoon of anything, I'm already stuffed up," I whine with a pout lowering my spoon in the wooded tray, stretching out my arms and body in an awkward position until I heard a few cracks. Hmm, that felt so good. As the doctor had explained I wasn't allowed to move around so my ankle could heal properly. But, me being me, tried getting up to prove that I was fine and ended up tumbling on the floor because of the pain that shot through me. Damn, I didn't know it was that bad. Since I wasn't blessed in the luck department, Jace had sauntered in a few seconds later to see me writhing in pain on the floor. To say he was furious would be the understatement of the century. He went all 'I told you to stay in bed' speech on me, telling me how I was trying to defy him which would only get me punished, and that he'd let this one slide since I was already damaged. "You either eat on your own or suffer through as I feed you." There was a warni