Maeve's pov I was sitting in Mrs. Donovan’s office, feeling like I wanted to be anywhere else. Home, my bed—really, anywhere but here. Mrs. Donovan was one of those teachers that you couldn’t help but notice. She wore these big, round glasses that made her eyes look huge. And her clothes—oh boy. Today, she was wearing a purple dress with orange spots, and it looked like something from a cartoon. If it weren’t for her serious face, she’d look like a quirky aunt at a family reunion. But right now, her serious face was aimed at me, and it made me feel like shrinking into my chair. All I wanted was to go home, lie down, and pretend today hadn’t happened. I glanced around her office, trying to distract myself. The walls were covered with old pictures of students and little motivational posters. “Reach for the stars,” one said, with a cartoon rocket on it. There was a weird smell in the air, like old books mixed with peppermint. "Miss Whitlock, are you even listening to me?" Mrs. Don
Maeve's pov I looked at the clock on Mrs. Donovan’s wall, ignoring Jaxon completely. I wasn’t about to give him the satisfaction of knowing he’d even registered on my radar. Nope. He didn’t exist, not to me, not right now. Besides, I wasn’t going to let him ruin my day any more than he already had. He was just… a nobody, I told myself, trying to focus on the tick-tock of the clock hands. But then, I felt him sit into the chair right beside me. His presence was annoyingly obvious, like a shadow I couldn’t get rid of. He didn’t say anything, and I could feel the tension rolling off him, but I kept my eyes forward, determined to pretend he was invisible. Tick. Tock. I could hear every sound in the room, even my own breathing, and it only reminded me of how close he was. Why wasn’t he saying anything? And why did he choose to sit so close? There were plenty of other chairs, after all. A part of me wanted to turn and ask what he was doing, why he’d come, but I didn’t trust myself n
Maeve's pov"I’m not done, okay?” I said, narrowing my eyes and leaning in even closer. “Now, about that scene with Carter—tell me, what the hell was that show of dominance?”Jaxon’s jaw clenched again, but I could see the hesitation in his eyes. He was trying to decide whether to defend himself or keep his mouth shut. Either way, I didn’t care. I wasn’t about to let him get away with anything anymore.“You made a scene, Jaxon,” I continued. “and it was pathetic. You acted like a child just because Carter was talking to me. Why do you care so much? You were the one who rejected me .We are nothing to each other"Jaxon’s eyes narrowed, a sneer pulling at his lips. “Why are you making me out to be the villain?” he spat “I rejected you because I couldn’t stand your self-righteous, bitchy attitude. You think you’re so special, but the only reason anyone even tolerates your existence is because of my sister. Let’s be honest, Maeve—you would have been a terrible Mate anyway.”The words hit m
Maeve's povShe took a breath, her eyes narrowing. “Take your seats. Both of you. Now.”The command left no room for argument. I released a shaky breath, swallowing my pride as I moved back to my chair. Jaxon shot me one last, venomous look before he dropped into his seat.“I called you both here because of a united decision made by all the teachers” she began, irritation flashing in her eyes.Mrs. Donovan's eyes settled on me. “Miss Whitlock, I’m deeply concerned about your grades. Your assignments are incomplete, and your test scores have been slipping. You’ve always had potential, but these past few months, it’s like you’ve checked out completely. At this rate, you’re risking failure in several subjects.” It wasn’t news to me that my grades were struggling—I’d barely managed to keep up with everything since Jaxon rejected me. But hearing it laid out so plainly, with Jaxon sitting there, felt like salt in a wound.Mrs. Donovan’s gaze turned on Jaxon. “And Mr. Thorn, your behavior
Jaxon's povMy wolf, Ares, was restless, growling deep in my mind as I pressed my lips to Kayla's. She leaned into me, wrapping her arms around my neck, but I could feel Ares anger in me.**_Maeve is better_** Ares snarled, his voice loud in my thoughts.**_Why waste time on this?_**I ignored him, forcing myself to keep kissing Kayla, letting her hands roam over my shoulders. She was easy, always around and never asking for more than a bit of fun. That was what I needed—something simple, something that didn’t make me feel so conflicted and out of control.But Ares wouldn’t let me enjoy even a second of it. **_Our mate_**, he growled again, filling my mind with memories of her—her face, the way her eyes flashed when she argued with me, her scent that somehow lingered no matter how hard I tried to forget it. I clenched my fists, trying to push Ares back, to silence him, but he was stronger than usual, and I found it hard to control him.**_She’s nothing_,** I tried to argue back in my m
Maeve's povAs I walked home, Jaxon’s words kept swirling around in my head like an annoying echo that wouldn’t stop. Weak. Useless. Naive. His voice played over and over in my mind, as if he were still right there, sneering at me. I knew he didn’t like me, but this… this was different. Crueler. I kicked a small rock along the road, watching it skip over the ground, trying to focus on anything but the sting of his words.And what hurt even more? He acted like he was doing me some kind of favor. Like rejecting me was for my own good. As if he were saving me from something instead of just hiding behind his own hate for me. It made me so angry, I could practically feel my fists tightening as I thought about it. And the way he dragged Carter into it? That was low. Just because Carter was kind to me, Jaxon had to make it seem like he was some kind of threat. Pathetic.Carter had been the only one there for me when I’d felt completely shattered at the mating ball.When everyone else had tu
Maeve's povI could still remember Claire laughing with my mom, the way she’d always pat my hand and tell me to be strong, to believe in myself. I could picture her laugh—full and warm, the kind of laugh that could fill an entire room. She was always so kind, always looking out for everyone else. When I was a kid, Claire would come over almost every week, bringing little treats or flowers she’d picked on her way. She’d always ruffle my hair and tell me I was “the brightest little star.”Lyle’s voice was quiet, almost too quiet, as he spoke. “She went into labor too early, Maeve. The baby didn’t survive. They lost everything, all at once.”I felt my knees grow weak, and I sat down, barely able to process the pain that was now filling the room. George and Claire, both gone, and their unborn child, lost. It was too much to think about, too much to bear.“I’m so sorry,” I whispered, looking at my mom, who had been close friends with Claire for years. They’d been inseparable since I could
Jaxon’s POVI stepped into the house, and the familiar smell of home hit me. It was strange—after being gone for so long, I didn’t think I’d feel anything stepping back through this door. But here I was, and everything came rushing back. The arguments, the tension, the looks everyone gave me like I was a problem they couldn’t solve.Before I could even take another step, my father’s voice boomed through the room.“So, the prodigal son returns,” he said, his tone sharp, full of anger. He was standing in the living room, arms crossed, his glare cutting through me like a knife.I clenched my jaw, my fists tightening at my sides. “I came back for Mom,” I said flatly. “Not you.”His eyes narrowed, and he took a step closer. “Oh, really? You’ve been ignoring her calls for weeks, ignoring all of us. Now you suddenly care about your mother? Spare me.” my mom’s voice came from behind him. She stepped into the room, her face tired and worried. “Let’s not start this now.”But my father wasn’t h
Maeve's pov The hallway was a storm. People scattered like leaves caught in a violent wind. Shouts, screams, and the sound of fists meeting flesh filled the air. My body was frozen in place, my mind was unable to process what was happening.Jaxon and Trevor were locked in a brutal fight. No, this wasn’t a fight—it was a massacre.Trevor tried to throw a punch, but Jaxon caught his wrist with inhuman speed, twisting it with a sickening crack. Trevor screamed in pain, his face pale as he stumbled back, holding his arm. Blood dripped from Jaxon’s knuckles, but he didn’t stop. His glowing golden eyes burned with rage, and his chest heaved with each breath.“How dare you do that to her!” Jaxon roared, his voice not entirely human. It was deeper, rougher, and filled with fury. His wolf was in control, and it was terrifying.Trevor didn’t have time to recover. Jaxon lunged, slamming him against the lockers with enough force to leave a dent. The sound echoed through the hallway as Trevor cr
Maeve's pov Ava’s voice cut through my thoughts, sharp and furious. “You’re pathetic, Kayla. You and your little lapdog.”Trevor straightened, his grin fading as he took a step forward. “Watch it, Ava,” he warned, his tone darkening. “You don’t wanna start something you can’t finish.”Ava didn’t back down. She stood her ground, her eyes blazing. “Oh, please. You wouldn’t last five seconds in a fight with me. Sit down, Trevor. You’re embarrassing yourself.”The tension in the air was thick, like a storm about to break. I wanted to step in, to stop Ava before things escalated, but I couldn’t move. My body felt like it was made of lead, weighed down by the shame.Kayla laughed, tossing her hair over her shoulder. “oh my gosh! Please. I’m just having a little fun. It’s not my fault the omega makes it so easy.”Trevor leaned in, his grin widening as he looked me up and down. “She really does. I mean, come on, look at her. Covered in paint, standing there like a scared little puppy. It’s
Maeve's pov Kayla’s gang erupted in laughter, their voices were loud and sharp cutting through the air like knives. I could feel every pair of eyes on me, some wide with shock, others looking at me like I was a clown. All I felt was embarrassment .My hair was a mess, heavy and dripping. I desperately clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms to keep the tears from falling Ava was yelling now. Her voice rose above the laughter. “What the hell, Kayla? Are you serious? What’s wrong with you?”Kayla didn’t even flinch. If anything, her smirk deepened as she crossed her arms “What’s wrong with me? Oh, honey, what’s wrong with her? She’s the one walking around like she’s better than everyone else when she’s just—well, you know. Nothing.”Her words hit like a slap. I felt like I was shrinking under her gaze, like I was being peeled apart for everyone to see.“You’re disgusting,” Ava snapped, stepping in front of me like a shield. “You’re just jealous because Maeve has something y
Maeve's pov Sometimes, the hardest person to believe in is yourself.Ever since Grandma said those words, I couldn’t shake them from my mind. They looped around in my head like a song I couldn’t turn off. Every time I closed my eyes, I heard her voice, telling me that I could be more. That I was more. But how was I supposed to take that first step, to agree to the training, when everything felt so overwhelming?I barely slept. The night stretched on forever, and even when I managed to fall asleep, I kept waking up. Images of Carter pacing in the garden, Grandma’s determined face, and my own reflection—weak —kept flashing through my mind.By the time morning came, I felt like a zombie. My limbs were heavy, and my eyes stung from lack of sleep. The weight of everything I’d heard, everything I’d felt, pressed down on me, making it hard to move, hard to breathe.School felt impossible. The chatter in the hallways was too loud, the lights too bright.I caught sight of my reflection in the
maeve's pov “But you’re not weak now,” I said, struggling to reconcile the woman before me with the image she’d painted of her past.“No, I’m not,” she agreed. “I decided that I wasn’t going to let my circumstances define me. I wasn’t going to let other people’s opinions shape my future. I started training—harder than anyone else. Not just physically, but mentally. But it took me a long time to get here. And it wasn’t easy. I had to fight for every ounce of strength, every shred of respect. I had to prove to myself—and to everyone else—that I was more than the labels they tried to pin on me.And slowly, I started to change. Not just how I saw myself, but how others saw me.”I swallowed hard, my emotions swirling. “That’s different. You... you’re you. You’re strong. I’m just... broken. How did you do it? How did you go from... from that to this?”Her smile turned wistful. “It wasn’t one big moment, Maeve. It was a series of small choices. I stopped believing the lies they told me abou
Maeve's pov Carter stood up without saying a word, his chair scraping against the floor. His jaw was tight, and his hands were clenched into fists at his sides. He didn’t look at me, or at Grandma. He just walked to the door and stepped outside, letting it slam shut behind him. The sound echoed through the room. “Carter!” Grandma called after him, her voice breaking a little. She stood up, as if she might follow, but then she stopped. Her shoulders drooped, and she sighed deeply. “Oh, that boy...” she muttered, more to herself than to me. The air in the room felt thick, like a storm cloud had settled over us. I didn’t know what to say. It wasn’t just the sadness that hung in the air—it was something heavier. I glanced out the window. Carter was standing in the garden, his back to us, staring at nothing. The sharp edges of his shadow made him look bigger, more menacing. He didn’t move, but there was something about the way he stood—tense, like a coiled spring—that made my stomach
maeve's pov But Grandma wasn’t going to let us get too comfortable in our teasing. She was already jumping up, shuffling across the room with another tray of cookies. “Well, no time to waste!” she said, setting the tray in front of us with an energy I envied. “Let me show you both something.” She winked at Carter and pointed to the wall near the fireplace. “I’ve got the photo albums you’ll love.” I raised my brows. “Photo albums?” I echoed. “Oh, yes!” Her voice was full of excitement. “All the best memories of Carter when he was just a little troublemaker. You’ll see.” She walked off to the shelf and pulled out an old, worn-out album. “Carter used to stay with me for a while, you know. Before he got all... grown-up and moved to his parents pack.” Carter groaned from the armchair, crossing his arms over his chest. “Grandma, no. Please don’t.” But she ignored him, flipping through the pages with determination. “Oh, this one,” she said, showing me a picture of a much younger C
Maeve's pov Carter's expression shifted from surprise to annoyance as he stepped closer, hands shoved into the pockets of his hoodie. His hair was tousled like he'd just rolled out of bed, and there were faint dark circles under his eyes. "Grandma," he said, his tone affectionate but filled with annoyance, "what are you doing out here? I thought you said you’d stay home today." The old woman—his grandmother—waved a hand dismissively. “Oh, nonsense. I needed some fresh air. Besides, I met this lovely young lady.” She gestured to me, her smile as bright as ever. “Maeve, this is my grandson, Carter. Carter, this is Maeve.” Carter’s gaze flicked to me, his brows rising slightly. “We’ve met.” “Really?” His grandmother’s eyes twinkled. “How wonderful! Then you won’t mind escorting us back to the house. I was just about to invite Maeve over for tea.” “What?” Carter and I said in unison, though his tone was weird while mine was more uncertain. “Oh, don’t look so shocked, Carter,”
Maeve's pov I walked through the park, my head heavy with thoughts. The events of the burial was stuck in my mind like a storm cloud I couldn’t shake. Everywhere I went, I felt the weight of it—of the flames, the howls, and the empty space inside me where my wolf should have been. The morning sun was warm, but it didn’t reach me. I shuffled along the gravel path, kicking at small stones. Around me, the park was peaceful. Children played on the swings, their laughter ringing in the air. Birds chirped from the branches of tall oak trees, their leaves golden with autumn. It was beautiful, but I couldn’t feel it. Not really. Why can’t I shift? I thought for the hundredth time. What’s wrong with me? Every other wolf in the pack had their wolf, their other half. Even the younger ones could shift by now. But me? I was just... broken. I sighed, rubbing my arms as I walked farther into the park. The gravel gave way to soft grass, and I spotted an old wooden bench near a cluster of rose