JACE BALDWIN'S POV As the darkness receded, giving room for consciousness to creep in, my ears tingled alert to my surroundings.I could hear the clanking of plates in the kitchen, and the sound of four sets of heartbeats beating at different tempos and rhythms.Confusion washed over me in waves as my mind reeled on who could be in my home.The door opened the second my eyes decided it had enough of the darkness that lurked within."Look who gave Hades a tease." The relief in Ian's voice and the sarcastic smile on his face made a weak smile indent on my face."What the hell happened?" I asked, a little confused as I looked around the foreign room that seemed to be the smallest in this house. "I don't remember coming here.""You don't remember what happened before you passed out? How are you feeling by the way?" He came close, clapping me on the back. "A little weak man but I'm good, it's been a while since I passed out from this," I said scratching the back of my head."It'll be alr
"It's nothing, Ian."I wanted to tell him I asked her to keep away from me but knowing Ian, he was going to over-analyze the situation and make it be what it wasn't. I couldn't tell him or anyone else for that matter. At least, not now."I'm not one to pry so I'll leave you to it, but whatever it is Jace, I hope you made the right decision." He said picking up the bowl of popcorn from the counter. I followed shortly after his retreating figure to the movie room where the gang was lounging around.The choice of movie did not interest me so I blocked out the voices that resonated from the sound system, relaxed my stiff shoulders, and shut my eyes while leaning my head on the backrest of the theater seat, my mind got stuck on Ian and Allen's words from earlier."Never seen a woman who isn't your mother going all out in worry for you, not even Addie. The little princess almost ripped my head with her hands.""That's what I thought until I was at the receiving end of her anger.""A spit
CARLY WOODS POV The next morning, the bright sunlight that shone without mercy from the opened blinds pulled me out of my peaceful slumber.I was in one of his white shirt he allowed me borrow from his wardrobe, my hair stick around in everything direction.Beta Ian and I had spent a few more hours in the open bar, talking about random things.He pushed me to tell him the problem between the Alpha and me, and I told him there wasn't any.Honestly, there weren't any problems between us. I told him Jace simply drew the boundary in our arrangement. He had Addison whom he was engaged to be married to then came the dare that ushered me into their picture-perfect life.Or not so perfect life.I didn't make the mistake of asking him about the curse or the earth wolf. Beta Diaz was a smart fellow, he was quite an observant fellow.The woman in question who prompted my visit to the bar left an hour later with one of the men she was drinking with.I didn't say anything to Ian, though I asked
JACE BALDWIN POV It was a Friday and Mr. Nelson the trainer fixed another combat session for the women. It was a way of keeping them interested and competing since most of them wanted nothing to do with fights.I didn't want to make an appearance since it wasn't necessary but Ian demanded I did because of some words going around that I was in a coma.That must have been the reason I got different surprised looks and gaps from some people.Some people just didn't have what to do with their lives.I didn't sleep much last night because my mind kept wandering around what Carly and her boyfriend were doing. Somewhere around 4 am, my brain finally shut off from exhaustion and I slept off, only to be woken by an angry Addison.Damn it, can't a man take a few hours without any drama?"I'm going to fucking kill that little shit, you left me to come to sleep in this cramped space with her? How dare you?" She screeched, stomping towards the closet door that was ajar from the night before."CA
Stephanie let out a short laugh as she gathered her raven hair into a tight bun. "No offense intended but you? You want to give me fighting tips?"My sentiments exactly.Her smile didn't falter which caused my heart to swell as a smile involuntarily crawled up my face.With that smile on her face, she was more beautiful than ever. "You want to learn this or what?" She sounded a bit annoyed, yet her smile was still in place."Humor me." "The first thing is very simple and I think you can do that, fight as if your life depends on it because it does with hundreds of others who would need your protection as a warrior. If Addison for some reason beats you, trust me when I say, I'll be the first to clap and hoot for her.A serious look graced her face as if she was an instructor rather than a harmless pregnant woman. Taking two steps forward, she got closer to Stephanie who also had a serious look and her face, the air around them thick with seriousness."The second and the most vital tip
I got home a few after midnight, and my tired feet led me to Carly's door. I stood behind the closed door, listening in on her slow and steady heartbeat that indicated she was trapped in a sleeping daze.Without giving much thought to it, I pushed the door open, before sneaking into the small confines of her room.Why on earth did she see the need to move into this cramped space, even if she wanted to change rooms she could have gone for a better one than this.I made a mental note to make her change her room the next day.Discarding my shoes and clothes, I sneaked into her bed, before pulling her into my warm chest with a soft kiss on her forehead.I missed this, try as I might, I couldn't keep away from her for too long, I needed her soft and translucent scent wafting through my nostrils, calming every nerve cell in my body.Unconsciously, she moved closer to me, her hands and legs instinctively wrapping around my large muscular body.We stayed that way for about thirty minutes befo
CARLY WOODS POV I woke up the next morning a Saturday feeling refreshed and happy for no real reason. I didn't want to leave my bed because of Jace's comforting cologne that lingered on my bed from when he fainted the day before.I couldn't get enough of his scent on my pillow. Sighing, I pushed my nose further into the pillow willing myself to go back to sleep. After twenty minutes of hugging my pillow like a koala, I decided I'd had enough and needed to get on with my day.Humming to random tunes that popped up in my head, I went to the washroom where I prepped myself for the day.Today was Saturday and since I was feeling happy and giddy, I decided not to waste a good day lounging in my room. Unlike my previous room, I didn't like this new one and I'd rather spend less time here."Hello there my little Alpha, how are you feeling in there?" I spoke into the mirror while running a brush down my hair, trying to unknot all the tangles from my hair. "You're hanging in there, yeah?" I
After fifteen more minutes of playing with the kids, some mothers approached him and they talked while occasionally glancing at the kids happily running around with smiles on their faces."I'm afraid of not being strong enough for him," I murmur looking down at my intertwined fingers, feeling a little bit sad at the thoughts plaguing my mind.What if I'm not able to protect him and he gets snatched from me? Will I be able to live with myself knowing my son was taken because of my weakness because I couldn't shield him from the harshness of this world?"By him you mean the alpha or your son?" Mia tilted her head, her hands grabbing her bent knees as she stretched her back into the tree trunk."I'll have to be the alpha's mate first before I think about being good enough for him, of course, I'm talking about my son." I rolled my eyes at her, tucking my hair behind my ears. "Hmm. Don't look but he's coming this way." My head whipped around to see the alpha casually approaching where we
JACE BALDWIN'S POV "I FOUND IT MAN!" The following day, I was busy in my office when Ian busted in, a lottery-winning smile wide on his face."What are you talking about?" I asked, leaning back on the leather backrest of my office chair, a bit startled by his sudden outburst."You remember the encounter Carly had with those rogues?" Snatching the seat on the other end of the table, he plopped down on it, the seat squeaking under his weight."What about it?" I sat up immediately giving him my undivided attention at the mention of that disastrous night."She said those rogues were certain the earth wolf is in the Brookside pack, the other rogue said the same thing. He came to scout the territory hoping he got lucky.""I remember and from what I could gather, there's no specific sign for anyone to know who this mystery wolf is. She has no emblem on her. The goddess of fertility wasn't bothered enough to drop some hints." I ran a hand through my hair before slumping back into the chair.
Carly pushed her small frame into my large and muscular body, her hands holding mine behind her back, trapping her body into mine, her swelling stomach pressed into my hard six-packs.Her hair was pulled into a messy bun, and a few strands decided they were too prim to be held in such a bun."I'm sorry," she cried out, her tears instantly soaking up my round-neck T-shirt where her face was pressed on."Carly?" I tried to release my hand from her hold to check if she was alright but she cried harder, pushing her body to become one with mine."No, stop." Her grip on me was firm and I decided to keep my hands where she wanted."What's going on?" I was perplexed by her behavior which was a polar difference from the spite fire feisty woman that smacked me earlier."I'm sorry please don't hurt me, tell Lykos I said I'm sorry okay, that I was so mad and right now I don't even know what got me so worked up to the point of disrespecting you and him."What the fuck? She thought I came to punish
JACE BALDWIN'S POV When I approached Carly, I was hoping to have a casual conversation, I never expected to be slapped twice within 3 minutes by the same woman.Damn woman!Still in shock at the unexpected turn of events, I stayed rooted in place as I watched the angry woman blur away.Strangely, I wasn't offended by her actions in any way, if anything Lykos was cracking up at the back of my head."I didn't think this day would ever come." Lykos chortled."I'm honored to be the object of your entertainment," I grunted at him. Slowly, my hand touched the spot on my cheek that was already burning up from the impact of the assault. I could bet my wisdom teeth and her little fingers were duplicated on my face.A smile appeared on my face. That woman was something, why kiss a man when she was going to slap him for returning her kisses?That kiss, even though it was short was the kiss I'd never forget in a hurry. How could I when I received the first slap of my life after something as hot
After fifteen more minutes of playing with the kids, some mothers approached him and they talked while occasionally glancing at the kids happily running around with smiles on their faces."I'm afraid of not being strong enough for him," I murmur looking down at my intertwined fingers, feeling a little bit sad at the thoughts plaguing my mind.What if I'm not able to protect him and he gets snatched from me? Will I be able to live with myself knowing my son was taken because of my weakness because I couldn't shield him from the harshness of this world?"By him you mean the alpha or your son?" Mia tilted her head, her hands grabbing her bent knees as she stretched her back into the tree trunk."I'll have to be the alpha's mate first before I think about being good enough for him, of course, I'm talking about my son." I rolled my eyes at her, tucking my hair behind my ears. "Hmm. Don't look but he's coming this way." My head whipped around to see the alpha casually approaching where we
CARLY WOODS POV I woke up the next morning a Saturday feeling refreshed and happy for no real reason. I didn't want to leave my bed because of Jace's comforting cologne that lingered on my bed from when he fainted the day before.I couldn't get enough of his scent on my pillow. Sighing, I pushed my nose further into the pillow willing myself to go back to sleep. After twenty minutes of hugging my pillow like a koala, I decided I'd had enough and needed to get on with my day.Humming to random tunes that popped up in my head, I went to the washroom where I prepped myself for the day.Today was Saturday and since I was feeling happy and giddy, I decided not to waste a good day lounging in my room. Unlike my previous room, I didn't like this new one and I'd rather spend less time here."Hello there my little Alpha, how are you feeling in there?" I spoke into the mirror while running a brush down my hair, trying to unknot all the tangles from my hair. "You're hanging in there, yeah?" I
I got home a few after midnight, and my tired feet led me to Carly's door. I stood behind the closed door, listening in on her slow and steady heartbeat that indicated she was trapped in a sleeping daze.Without giving much thought to it, I pushed the door open, before sneaking into the small confines of her room.Why on earth did she see the need to move into this cramped space, even if she wanted to change rooms she could have gone for a better one than this.I made a mental note to make her change her room the next day.Discarding my shoes and clothes, I sneaked into her bed, before pulling her into my warm chest with a soft kiss on her forehead.I missed this, try as I might, I couldn't keep away from her for too long, I needed her soft and translucent scent wafting through my nostrils, calming every nerve cell in my body.Unconsciously, she moved closer to me, her hands and legs instinctively wrapping around my large muscular body.We stayed that way for about thirty minutes befo
Stephanie let out a short laugh as she gathered her raven hair into a tight bun. "No offense intended but you? You want to give me fighting tips?"My sentiments exactly.Her smile didn't falter which caused my heart to swell as a smile involuntarily crawled up my face.With that smile on her face, she was more beautiful than ever. "You want to learn this or what?" She sounded a bit annoyed, yet her smile was still in place."Humor me." "The first thing is very simple and I think you can do that, fight as if your life depends on it because it does with hundreds of others who would need your protection as a warrior. If Addison for some reason beats you, trust me when I say, I'll be the first to clap and hoot for her.A serious look graced her face as if she was an instructor rather than a harmless pregnant woman. Taking two steps forward, she got closer to Stephanie who also had a serious look and her face, the air around them thick with seriousness."The second and the most vital tip
JACE BALDWIN POV It was a Friday and Mr. Nelson the trainer fixed another combat session for the women. It was a way of keeping them interested and competing since most of them wanted nothing to do with fights.I didn't want to make an appearance since it wasn't necessary but Ian demanded I did because of some words going around that I was in a coma.That must have been the reason I got different surprised looks and gaps from some people.Some people just didn't have what to do with their lives.I didn't sleep much last night because my mind kept wandering around what Carly and her boyfriend were doing. Somewhere around 4 am, my brain finally shut off from exhaustion and I slept off, only to be woken by an angry Addison.Damn it, can't a man take a few hours without any drama?"I'm going to fucking kill that little shit, you left me to come to sleep in this cramped space with her? How dare you?" She screeched, stomping towards the closet door that was ajar from the night before."CA
CARLY WOODS POV The next morning, the bright sunlight that shone without mercy from the opened blinds pulled me out of my peaceful slumber.I was in one of his white shirt he allowed me borrow from his wardrobe, my hair stick around in everything direction.Beta Ian and I had spent a few more hours in the open bar, talking about random things.He pushed me to tell him the problem between the Alpha and me, and I told him there wasn't any.Honestly, there weren't any problems between us. I told him Jace simply drew the boundary in our arrangement. He had Addison whom he was engaged to be married to then came the dare that ushered me into their picture-perfect life.Or not so perfect life.I didn't make the mistake of asking him about the curse or the earth wolf. Beta Diaz was a smart fellow, he was quite an observant fellow.The woman in question who prompted my visit to the bar left an hour later with one of the men she was drinking with.I didn't say anything to Ian, though I asked