CARLY WOODSAlpha Jace hastily jerked away from me as though I burnt him."What?" He queried, knitting his brows together, struggling to make sense of what I had mumbled.Trying to figure me out.What would he do if he discovered I overheard his initial conversation with Ian?Why would Beta Ian concede to something like that? Were my feelings never considered when they imagined something as despicable as that?To think the decision was made by the commanders of the pack. The people who were supposed to protect their members. Granted I was a lowly omega but that didn't give them the right to treat me however they pleased.Would he try punishing me for eavesdropping on the Alpha, for invading his privacy or would he lock me up to prevent me from hightailing to the hills?Well, if he was willing to kill his first blood then I couldn't put anything past him now, could I?No. That became a chance I wasn't willing to take with my child.The thought of anything happening to my baby made my
Carly Woods "Good morning, Alice." I chirped with an extra dose of sweetness as I stepped into the kitchen in a red strap dress that stopped a little above my knees with white strap sandals, my brunette hair was in a messy high bun. I sit on the kitchen stool while biting into the apple I grabbed from the fruit basket, slowly glancing around the kitchen Alice was running around preparing a breakfast feast which was more than what she usually fixed for me. It's been a week since Alpha Jace kept me locked up in his mansion and life here was not filled with cotton candies, unicorns, or white clouds. "Hey, what's with all the food? Surely Jace and I can't finish up all this." My eyes stopped on a stack of fluffy buttermilk pancakes, waffles, omelets, and some French toast. There's a pitcher of orange juice which had me thinking we'll be having company. "Morning dear, you seem happy today." She paused to spare me a glance. "And you ain't looking bad." She said causing my fac
CARLY WOODS POVI sat in my favorite spot under the tangerine tree hugging my legs to my chest.I mostly come here to clear my head after an encounter with Addison."This place reeks of slut...."How could she possibly say that when she threatened me to sleep with Jace?I wished Jace would say something to stop her or Nate, but why would they? I was just an omega whose feelings could be trampled on.I wasn't expecting much from them but, it would've been nice to have someone stand up for me.I knew Jace wouldn't go against Addison, he just feigned to be unaware of the insults she throws my way, well he too isn't very far from her since he does throw his fair share of insults.I hate myself for wasting my tears on these people. Biting my lips, I tried to swallow a whimper that was forming in my throat.Allowing the tears to silently burn a path down my face, I closed my eyes, my head leaning on the tangerine tree as I placed a protective hand on my still-flat stomach.I still remember
JACE BALDWIN POVThere has been a recent rumor of the outlanders trying to attack my pack and that has brought an unsettling feeling of fear to my members.My Beta Ian and Gamma Nate came over for an early morning meeting so we can map out a plan, on how to scale through if they attack. I can't afford an attack right now with the Gaia curse yet to be broken. I was slowly losing my strength and the last thing I need is for my pack members to realize I was not strong enough to lead them.I know I shouldn't underestimate their potential, it could lead to disaster, by this evening, training time will have to double. It's about time my warriors know what is lurking in the dark.I wasn't too surprised to see Carly serving breakfast this morning, knowing Addison must have asked for her to be the server just so she could be ridiculed by her friend.After breakfast, the guys and I retreated to my office to continue working on some strategies to protect the pack.I focused on the task at hand
JACE BALDWIN POV "We had plans today remember?" Addison quirks with a voice that does nothing but irritate my ears.I had a bunch of things to deal with. With Nate's sudden attraction to Carly and Carly being in the condition she's in at the moment.If Nate wanted her back, then he'd have to wait for that child to be born then he could do as he pleased with her.I guess that child was the reason I had the strange urge to protect her. I can't have Nate try to sabotage the plans we had on ground with his unwanted jealousy.Yes, he was her destined mate but he did reject her, the unwanted omega. Besides, it could've been any omega.If Nate wasn't comfortable with the plan he should've said something. So why was he now after? Was what Carly said true? Was Nate jealous of me?It can't be, we've been friends from childhood, he just needed his mate. Nothing biggie."I'm sorry my love but we'll have to take a raincheck on that." My voice was soft, trying to coax her into not making a fuss ov
CARLY WOODS POV The first thing my brain registered when I started regaining consciousness was pain. An excruciating pain that had me groaning. My hand shot up to clutch my head, in an attempt to relieve the pain even in the slightest bit.Slowly, the events crashed down on me as I remembered how horrible my morning was. To think my day started with a slight happiness.Nate had attacked me and then played it out to be my fault at his friend's arrival.The cold look Jace had sent my way probably was what made me pass out completely. Yes, I was injured and was losing more blood than could be considered medically safe and I felt dizzy yet I still fought to stay awake, I fought the hazy feelings but one cold look from that stormy sea-green orb made shivers run down my spine. I couldn't stand being on the receiving end of his anger so passing out was the safest thing my weak body could adopt to keep us safe.I tried opening my eyes but my lids seemed to be too heavy for me to manage. Gro
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
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
I swear my eyes are shimmering with stars, as various alternative means to avenge the omega girl shuffled through my head. "You want her to suffer that much?" I was too busy glowing at the opportunity of dishing out Carly's punishment to notice the edge in Jace's voice not the suspicion on his face. "What can I say, my hate for that omega girl knows no bounds. As long as she's carrying your seed and putting our mating ceremony on hold? I'm licensed to hate her." "You do realize you're ridiculous?" Jace murmured, giving me the 'Are you serious' look. "If anything, you owe that little omega for saving you from living the horror of a mother losing her child." I scoffed crossing my hands under my boobs, effectively pushing it up his face. "Does it look like I fucking care? That girl lived with you when you expressly declared I couldn't until the mating ceremony. Then the omega rolls in because of the abominable child she carries." I snap leaning into his heavy mahogany table. Jace
ADDISONMy head snapped quickly to a towering male figure by the cell entrance, the movement was so quick I was afraid I had a whiplash.What could he be possibly doing down here? Don't tell me he was secretly involved with Carly.The pause amongst the girls was comical. Ophelia's left hand was in Carly's hair, her right hand was balled into a visibly tight fist in the air as she stood gaping at a furious Beta Ian. Paula's leg was hanging in the air ready to kick into Carly's back but stopped at the thundering male voice. Carly on the other side, was sitting on the floor, blood dripping on the floor, her hands extended to block out any assault from my girls.The silence dragged out for another one to three minutes, before Ian shattered the stillness with his booming Beta voice."I ask again, what is going on here?""Nothing much, we only stopped by to ask Carly here a few questions Ian, but she-" Ian cuts Ophelia off as she fumbles around for what to say. "What I need to know is what
ADDISON POVThe girls and I had our day all figured out. After the whole 'Carly stole my necklace display', the girls and I proceeded to Ophelia and Nate's room to put some plans on the ground.I couldn't risk going to my room cause Jace could easily find me there. He rarely goes to Ian's room much more to Nate's.Jace was easy to track down with his boring routine life, if he wasn't in his office working his ass off, he'd be in a meeting in his conference room or another pack for some alpha meetings or conference. Or he is in his mansion or training. Carly was yet to see what I'm made of. If she thinks she can walk into my perfect life and ruin everything I'd worked so hard to get, then she better be ready for the consequences.Pregnant or not I couldn't give a flying pink pig about that. After all that thing she was carrying was doomed the moment it was shot into her.It was pitiful seeing her try to protect that thing.My displeasure for omegas couldn't be imagined by any but the
CARLY WOODS POVIt was the early hours of the next day when Jace returned to do goddess knows what.After the fight with Jace, I was tired out so I fell asleep on him.In a way, his presence had eased the anxiety, and agitation I felt when I was first cast down here. The cozy robe he draped over my shoulder was warm and comforting, and I found myself snuggling into its warmth and taking a not-so-subtle whiff of his manly essence.We settled side by side on the hard concrete floor. Jace didn't seem to mind the unkempt state of the prison floor, if anything, he was calm, way too calm.I was still pissed at him for what he did but there was a sliver of amusement in my eyes when he tried defending himself.The fight started as a benign argument that swiftly escalated into a harsh confrontation that had me breathing hard like I was in a race.The ache in those leafy eyes when I accused him of having a part in Addison's ploy almost had me pulling back but I was too irritated to stop, too st
CARLY WOODS POV Darkness. Thick gross darkness. That was all I saw as I sat by the wall on the cold prison floor. The darkness played different kinds of tricks on my narrowed eyes. It was even worse that the only available light bulb kept flickering on and off after every ten minutes which made my heart race rapidly. It was moments like this that I wished I was a full wolf with all the necessary benefits Fear gripped my heart as I saw zombie-like creatures wobble their way to me. I was either hallucinating or I was slowly losing it, but I couldn't stop myself from being afraid in the pitch darkness. It didn't take me long to realize that begging and pleading wasn't going to take me anywhere, Addison had made she backed me in the worst corner ever. The waterworks had ceased about an hour or two ago and I was left a snuffing and hiccupping mess. The swelling around my eyes was enough evidence of how hard and long I cried. I was positive my tear duct had been wrung out well.
JACE BALDWIN POV The prison guard hurriedly clicked the heavy padlock that kept the barred door in place before flicking it open with a loud clattering noise as the door slammed into the brick prison wall.A whimper reached my ear and my heart constricted when Carly's curled form shifted into the wall as if trying to hide herself from intruders.Maybe to protect herself from further harm.She lay on her side, her knees pulled up to her chest, her head dropped down such that her chin rested on her knee, her right hand served as a pillow while her left hand tightened around her folded legs.Carly made no further move, she was shivering as her flimsy pale blue tank top and denim cut-offs did nothing to protect her from the cold hard floor she lay on.With a silent nod, the prison guard trotted off somewhere.Silently, I placed the small plate of peanut butter and jelly sandwich I brought along on the floor.I scanned around the tiny space that reeked of blood, sweat, cigarettes, and sal
JACE BALDWIN POV I spent the remainder of the day doing my Alpha duties as if nothing happened. I buried my nose in the pile of work I had on my desk, meeting with those who had appointments with me.I was only trying but failing to push Carly out of my head. It was frustrating when the only thing I saw was her broken face as those dark eyes begged and pleaded to be heard.The day she asked what it felt like to shift was when I realized she was a broken soul. More broken than she lets on.Living as half-human in the werewolf community without your wolf must be hard for her. The agony and vulnerability she tried to hide cut deep into the depths of my heart. She was alone trying to push her way through then I stumbled in and made it more complicated.When she ran away after a tear slipped through, I wanted to go after her but my butt was glued to the theater seat and I knew she needed time to recollect herself.It was amusing to make her think she could easily sneak in after spending
JACE BALDWIN POVI was in my office in the pack house with my Beta, Ian Diaz, and Gamma, Nate Moore, after a stressful day of lengthy meetings and driving about to and from the Crescent Hill pack to form allies should Darren, the leader of the Outlanders- the rouge group, decide to launch an attack when Lykos and I are weakened from the Gaia curse.In my office, there was a tall walnut bookshelf lining the entire right-hand wall, a comfortable sleek black leather couch, double seats, and single seats arranged in a square shape for small office meetings. There's a fireplace at the far wall that is flanked by two dominating bookshelves by the side, on the other side was a mahogany table with stacks of papers, files, a pencil holder, a MacBook computer, and a glass of whiskey I dropped a minute ago. Behind the table was a black swirl leather chair. There was a file cabinet by the wall beside my work table. On the left was a wide floor-to-ceiling window that overlooked the gates. There wa
CARLY WOODS POVSteady streaks of tears cascaded down my face, soaking deep into my pale tank top causing it to cling onto my skin.Addison had carefully thought this through, whatever was intended was quickly unveiled and I'd rather be anywhere but at the receiving end of this conniving bitch ploy.My cries fell on the deaf ears of the small crowd that rapidly formed in the room and doorway, Mia had squeezed her way into the room and was silently observing in the corner like everyone else, but unlike the rest of the people who had disgust and contempt in their eyes, Mia was anxious and apprehensive of what will happen when Jace got here.I wasn't afraid of Jace's reaction to this, I was sure as hell that Jace would believe me. He did believe me the day Addison came on me in the kitchen.Would he even for a second doubt my character? My chest constricted at the thought of his accusing eyes."Mia, please tell her I didn't do it," I begged in desperation but the fear in her wide doe br