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 night was cold. The full moon hung low in the sky, casting a pale, silver light over the clearing where we had all gathered. The forest seemed quieter than usual, like even the trees and animals were mourning with us. Hundreds of pack members stood in silence, their faces drawn with sorrow as we prepared to say goodbye to the brave wolves who had been lost. I stood near the back with my mom, dad, and Lyle. My mom held a small handkerchief and her eyes were red from crying. My dad stood beside her, his eyes filled with sadness. Lyle’s jaw was clenched, and he kept looking at the ground like he didn’t want anyone to see his tears. The bodies of the fallen were laid on wooden biers in the center of the forest , they werewrapped in thick white cloth. There were about twenty of them, each one a wolf who had fought to protect us, to keep our pack safe. Their scents were faint now, fading with the chill of death, but their sacrifice was deep into the hearts of everyone h
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
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 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 I stood in the hallway, leaning against the cold wall, my arms wrapped around myself like they could somehow hold me together. Ava’s words still echoed in my mind.“You didn’t trust me.”The pain in her voice. The betrayal. It was more than I could bear. I tried to tell myself I did what I thought was right, but deep down, I knew I’d messed up. Ava had always been there for me. She deserved better. She deserved the truth. And I’d kept it from her.I let out a shaky breath, staring at the empty hallway ahead. My chest felt tight, like something heavy was crushing me from the inside. The argument played in my head on a loop. I’d hurt her, the one person who had always had my back. And for what? To protect her? To protect myself? It didn’t even matter anymore. The damage was done.Ava’s face flashed in my mind again—the hurt in her eyes, the way she stepped back like I was a stranger. I closed my eyes, leaning my head back against the wall. I wanted to go back, to say someth
Maeve's pov Her expression twisted with hurt, and she took a step back as if I’d struck her. “You both should have trusted me,” she said quietly. “And you of all people,should have told me the truth.”“I couldn’t,” I said, my voice cracking. “You don’t understand—he doesn’t want me. He made that perfectly clear.”Ava’s eyes softened for a moment, but the anger quickly returned. “So that’s why he’s been acting like this,” she muttered, more to herself than to me. “That’s why he’s been so… unhinged.”She wasn’t wrong—Jaxon had been different since the mate bond revealed itself. Darker. Angrier. And now Trevor’s blood was on his hands because of it.Ava’s stared at me, her jaw tight, her eyes flashing with a mixture of betrayal and disbelief.“He’s my brother, Maeve,” she said.“My brother. And you didn’t think I deserved to know?”Her words hit me like a blow, and I flinched, guilt twisting in my chest. “I couldn’t, Ava,” I whispered, my voice trembling. “I didn’t know how—”“How?” she
Maeve's pov He reached for me again, his hand trembling slightly, as if he was afraid to touch me. “Maeve,” he said, his voice low and rough.I pulled my hand back sharply, glaring at him through the tears in my eyes. “Don’t touch me,” I snapped, my voice shaking with anger and fear. “You don’t get to do this. Not after what you’ve done.”Before Ares—or Jaxon—could respond, the heavy sound of a door slamming open echoed through the hallway. Mr. Hargrove, the principal, stormed in, his face red with fury. His eyes looked over the chaos: Trevor’s broken form, the crowd of stunned students, and Jaxon standing like a predator who’d just been interrupted mid-hunt.“What in the hell is going on here?” Mr. Hargrove’s voice boomed through the corridor, silencing the whispers and mutterings that had begun to rise. Teachers hurried in behind him, their faces pale as they took in the scene.“Jaxon !” Mr. Hargrove barked, his gaze locking onto Jaxon. “My office. Now.”Jaxon’s jaw tightened, bu
His fist was mid-swing, his knuckles were inches from Trevor’s already bruised face. His golden eyes flicked toward me, and for a moment, it was like time itself had stopped. The hallway went silent. The cheering, the screaming, the jeering—it all faded into nothingness. Even the crowd seemed stunned. Ava stood there with tears streaming down her face, her mouth slightly open in shock. Kayla’s hand fell to her side, her face pale and confused. No one said a word. And Jaxon… he just stared at me. Our eyes locked, and the pull in my chest tightened. It was unbearable now, like it was yanking me forward with invisible chains. My feet moved on their own, one step, then another. I couldn’t stop myself. “Maeve, what are you doing?” Ava’s voice was faint, almost like an echo, but I ignored her. I walked toward him, my heart pounding in my chest. Each step felt heavier than the last, but I couldn’t stop. My gaze stayed locked on Jaxon’s, and it was like the rest of the world didn’t exi
Maeve’s POV The world around me was chaos, but my mind felt like it was unraveling. Everything was too loud—the shouts, the jeers, the sickening sound of flesh meeting flesh. I stood frozen, my feet rooted to the ground as if someone had glued me in place. My thoughts swirled in a dizzying storm. Why was Jaxon doing this? Why was he tearing Trevor apart like this? Was it because of me? No, that didn’t make sense. Jaxon hated me. He’d made that clear enough when he rejected me.But then why was he so angry? Why was he defending me with such brutal, unrelenting fury? I watched him. I couldn’t look away. His golden eyes were glowing brightly and his movements were sharp and deadly, like a predator playing with its prey. Blood dripped from his fists, his knuckles raw and red, but it didn’t slow him down. He was unstoppable, and it terrified me. And yet… deep down, I wasn’t scared of him. Not really. I should’ve been. Any sane person would’ve been terrified of the beast he’d
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