JUSTIN“I am only doing this to protect Astrid. The fucker wants my mate, I can’t let him have her, J. I only just got her back. Plus, you and I both know that he couldn’t possibly be here just to be friends with her.” Ryder was already even more convinced but Jonah looked rather skeptical, his brows were knitted into a frown.“If it is to protect Astrid then I am in,” Ryder said and I smiled at him. Thanks buddy.A minute passed and Jonah still hadn’t agreed to this plan.“Look,” I started. “This is my chance to show her that he’s not friend material and to get on her good graces. I need her to forgive me and want me back. I can’t lose her, J.” The corners of my lips already started to tug into a smile from the expression I saw on his face. I had him where I wanted him.“Fine geez. You look like you’re about to hug me or some shit. I’m in…” he frowned as he moved closer, “...but I still think it is a bad idea though.”“Thank you,” I said sincerely, already backing away to head to cla
JUSTINI couldn’t do this!I couldn’t pretend to be friendly with Hunter, not when every nerve in me was screaming at me to put him in his place. But I had no choice. If I wanted to protect Astrid, I needed to keep Hunter close. I don’t have a choice but to play this game.“For Astrid,” I muttered under my breath, my voice raw. “I have to do this for myself.”I gripped my hands tightly together, trying to steady my breathing. Hunter couldn’t win. Not now, not ever. And now with this Raina girl showing up, things were only going to get more complicated. There was something off about her, something dangerous. She wasn’t just some random new student. There was an unsettling familiarity between her and Hunter, like they shared a secret and they made them both even more of a threat. I had no idea who she was or what she wanted, but whatever it was, I knew one thing- Astrid had to be shielded from it all.I saw them moving closer to where I was staying so I moved away to hide myself from t
ASTRIDA date, he said. The words tumbled through my mind, jumbled and disorganized, like a storm of thoughts I couldn’t control as I gently closed the door behind me and walked to my room. Justin asked me out, and even though I despised him, the thought of spending a day with him made my heart race. It was absurd, really. I had never been asked out before, and the one time it happened, it was him- the same person who had caused me so much pain. I hated him, that was true. I hated him for the way her made me feel, for how he had seen the truth and now wouldn’t leave me alone. He was asking me out only because I hadn’t killed his sister and I was his mate and not because he had feeling for me. It wasn’t a genuine invitation- it was just something he had to do as per his duty or maybe some misguided form of redemption. Yet, the thought of being with him, even in a purely formal sense made my pulse quicken. I walked to the mirror and glanced at my reflection in the mirror, trying to
JUSTINI stood outside Astrid’s house, feeling like my chest was about to burst out of my chest. My palms were sweaty, and no matter how many times I wiped them on my jeans, they stayed damp. The butterflies had been relentless all day, twisting my stomach into knots since the moment I woke up. I could still hear Jonah and Ryder’s teasing voice echoing in my head from earlier. “So, you are taking Astrid on a date?” Ryder smirked, folding his arms over his chest, clearly enjoying my discomfort. “Yeah, she finally said yes...” I had replied, trying to play it cool. “So where are you taking her, man?” Ryder asked, now grinning like a child with candy. I chucked nervously, shaking my head. “It is a secret,” I said, smirking. There was no way I was letting this out. The truth was, I hadn’t completely figured out whether the spot I chose would be the right one, but I hoped it would make her happy. Jonah laughed, nudging my shoulders. “Oh come on, Justin. You have been acting like a lov
ASTRIDI was not sure how to feel when Justin told me he wanted to come with me. It was meant to be a simple request for permission to leave the pack to find a witch, I had known he’d say he wanted to come along but now it seemed like everything was about to spiral out of control. His insistence on coming along with me only complicated things further.How was I supposed to find a way to leave if he was right there with me?I stared blankly at his moving lips, barely hearing what he was saying. My mind was racing. I could not let him accompany me. He might have been sincere with his offer, but I didn’t want to risk another emotional entanglement or worse, being blamed if something went wrong. Justin was so adamant about keeping me safe. I understood that he was trying to protect me, and I knew that deep down he cared. But I didn’t want to be the cause of him getting hurt or worse, getting myself imprisoned again because he got hurt for my sake. I wanted to avoid that possibility altog
JUSTIN“I need to go,” she said as she stood up from there she was sitting and headed for the door and it felt like my life was going to end. My heart was pounding loudly, each beat louder than the last as I watched her walk to the door. She looked so certain and was hell bent on leaving, but I could not let her walk away like this especially not tonight. “Astrid, wait. Please.” My voice came out a little hoarse, but I pushed forward. “Stay. Please, just for tonight.”She stopped as she got to the door but she didn’t turn around immediately and my breath caught in my throat at I wanted for her to respond, to turn, to say something, anything. There was a moment of silence and I could see was hesitant, then she slowly turned to face me. Her eyes that filled with uncertainty, met mine and I walked closer to her. “We don’t have to do anything,” I added quickly, desperate to get the words out, to get through to her before she could refuse. “I just… I just want to prove to you that I me
JUSTIN“You like that don’t you?” I asked but before she could answer, I sucked down on that spot again earning a moan from her. When I was done kissing her neck, I trialed my way back to her lips and she kissed me back hungrily as I flipped her over with me now being on top, her hands moved to my shirt once again and I aided her in taking it off. She followed my lead, taking off her own shirt, and my mind was going crazy with every passing second. The sight of her bare skin against the soft glow of the cabin lights was almost too much to handle. Her fingers worked her way to the waistband of my shorts, and she pulled them down my legs, leaving me in nothing but boxers. I kicked them off before leaning down to kiss her again, this time with a hunger that I could not control and could only be satisfied by her. I climbed on top of her, my way making it to her nipples as I pinched them softly and she responded with a soft moan which only made me harder than I already was. I paused f
ASTRIDI had been so tired that I didn’t know when I had fallen asleep in Justin’s arms. This was the second time this was happening. I let out a sigh as I lay there, my mind whirling with thoughts. I was still groggy but I was aware of Justin beside me, his warmth pressed against me. This was what I was scared of, I had promised myself that something like this was never going to happen again but look at me here again tangled up with him and sleeping in his arms. I didn't now what came over me, maybe it was the feeling of leaving and never returning or maybe it was because of the bond but I could not believe I had just given myself to him just like that. I turned towards him, careful not to disturb him so he wouldn’t wake up, and stared at his face. Even while sleeping, he looked… innocent, peaceful which was a contrast to everything I was feeling at the moment. I felt my heart pull at how happy he looked even in his sleep. Was this how it was with Audrey? Had it always been lik