GUTTED That's how I felt. Deeply and irrevocably GUTTED. Did Rider really just run away from me? Tears stung the back of my eyes but I refused them clearance. I stuck my foot into the ground, grit my teeth and marched back over to Quinn feeling like a complete mess. I knew he wasn't happy with me tagging along and maybe he thought I was a nuisance, but I was his mate. That had to count for something right? I thought we were making progress. Sure he wasn't happy with being on his own last night but I needed to sort my feelings with Moi. I've got a boyfriend that's literally half an animal. That's not news a girl can swallow without having a nervous breakdown. On top of it all, I didn't know what any of this meant. Did it mean I'd have to stay here with him, would he come back to school with us? And to top it all off, there's a maniac that's obviously interested in me for some weird reason. Sure I haven't seen Ragna since the night he claimed he wanted me as his mate but....he ser
RIDER That was it. I had e-f***ing-enough. Every fiber of my being was pricked with awareness while my vision saw red. Damn rogues. Tonight wasn't the least fit for anything. Between fighting with Halie and the hunter I was beyond spent, now this?! My lips curled back into a snarl as I watched my opponent. What the hell was Ragna's goal having them come after us like this? His little mongrels were all over the place. Was the pack alright? No, they were fine, Jax would do everything in his power to ensure the remainder of our pack would survive. Wouldn't exactly be his happy number taking on that deranged wolf on his own but our hands were tied. Still, it places me on edge to no end to know we were out of communication range with him. F***ing hunters! We had bigger problems, right now, I reminded myself. More so Halie, than anyone else. We were some distance apart, which means I'd have to think carefully about how to get to where she is; before one of them decided to have her for
RIDER At some point, Halie's hands had wrapped around mine, seemingly pleased with my response. Only if she ever knew how dedicated I was to work on our relationship. To ensure that she was always happy. She was my priority right now. Then the pack. "I'm pregnant. " Sam's words felt like a bullet to the soul. Confused, I didn't respond for a while, and I was thoroughly aware that Halie's hand is no longer entangled with mine. What the f*** was Sam trying to pull? This wasn't in the least way hilarious. I could feel the lingering question from Quinn's glare. Was I a father or about to become one? Of course, the f*** not. "Congratulations," I said, finally gathering my wits and emerging from the astonishment of her words. Sam tucked her hands across her chest. "What'd you mean congratulations, you're the father. " "Excuse me?!" "No, " Halie waved her hands, shaking her head. "I can't deal with this. I just can't. " "Halie wait," I said, turning on my heels and catching her
I was f**** Undisputedly f***ed. I didn't know what to do. I didn't and I was terrified. In a matter of weeks, my not so perfect but rather comfortable life had been shaken upside down, and have been on a constant mudslide ever since. I didn't want to think about how Halie was going to take my revelation about how Sam managed to conceive our child. I was going to lose her. Everything. That is if I haven't lost her already. My stomach churned over the prospect of her walking away. I would deserve it wouldn't I? I keep f***ing up whichever way I tried. I didn't see my mate for the rest of the day. Didn't blame her either. Jax mentioned something about her being with Moi. Not sure if she's staying the night or what. The bastard took pleasure in my sorrow. Even went ahead offering me liquor to take the edge off my frustration. But I swore since that poison in a bottle was the beginning of my troubles, I was never touching another glass. When morning came I was more miserable tha
Sam's pregnant! That little thorn in my side was carrying Rider's child. I was so waiting for someone to jump from the bushes and scream "got ya!" But none came. Pregnant. I repeated the words over and over to myself. I felt so betrayed. I wanted to hit Rider and defiantly pound Sam to the ground for her conniving, selfish ways. And I've never felt so embarrassed in my life. Just days ago I had literally watched him make a spectacle of us, before almost the entire pack; only to find out now that he had been stringing me along. Guess he really wants to have his cake and eat it too. Asshole Bastard Son of a bitch. I thought walking away would make me less angry, only I'm more furious with him now, more than ever. He should have been more wary of Sam, he should have. He knew she didn't like me, and didn't want us to be together. So I blame him. The door to Moi's room slams abruptly, jolting her from her reading while I plop myself at the edge of her bed seething. She's been sit
My cramps faded in and out like little Christmas lights, peppery and torturous and I wrapped my hand around my torso heading back to the pack house. It was all that stress, all the stress I've been enduring day after day that led to this. My face scrunched up in pain as another wave rolled in and I felt my stomach churn. If I didn't get an aspirin soon and knocked out, the pain would do it for me. My empty stomach contents rose to my throat once more, causing me to empty my throat at my feet. My breasts were tender, and swollen, my stomach bloated, it was just all together a horrible day. "Halie!" "Ahhh!" I screamed jumping at the sudden voice to my left finding Moi. "Oh for pete's sake Ammoy, seriously?!" Warm liquid flooded my pants then and I could only bawl. "Oh shit" "What's wrong?" She questions looking concerned which earned her a glare from me. "Oh nothing, just my period deciding to kill me today. Not that my mate and his supposed ex with his baby isn't bad enough. " "Y
"Let's go" I called to Moi heading towards the pack house. "Okay, " She responds. "Do you think they'll be able to stop the fire?" "I don't know. Let's hope so. " "They might have more problems, " I glance at her from the sides of my eyes. "If the fire is as large as I think it is, they might be able to see it from the back of my house. Someone might contact the fire department. " Moi didn't move to expound, but I knew what she meant without the need to say it out loud. Everyone would be placed at risk of being discovered. Others would know that just behind their houses, lived large wolves that were hunted by other humans. But I had to admit, that would only be the beginning of our problems. Neither of us were equipped to deal with wolves, add the fact that right now we couldn't tell friend from foe and you'll realize that we were already sitting ducks. "Help!" "Help! Someone, please help!" Moi and I paused, listening for the direction of the voice. "Please, anyone!" The voice
MOI This was bad. This was bad. This was so bad. I couldn't keep my mind from conjuring up the ways this situation was horrible. The timing, the fact that I had no idea the f***ing where I was going or what I'd run into. Or maybe the fact that once Rider got wind of Halie's complete disregard for his instructions, he'd have our head. Mine first, not so preferably. Everything was just horribly, horribly wrong. Gunshots rang out and I ducked, covering my head, not even sure of the direction it was coming from. The smoke was horrendously, smelly and just like a little hairball clogging my throat. My heart broke as I glanced around. Wolves laid on the ground dead and dying, guts spilled all over the place, silver embedded into their bodies poisoning them slowly. Others, crying for help. Humans, hunters torn to pieces. Everything was just horrendous. My feet paused, reaching a band of wolves fighting, fur flying all over the place as the animals wrestled each other? My eyes followed
RIDER I hurried home, running through the living area and headed for my room grabbing my travel bag. I hadn't seen Halie since she left, haven't heard from her, wouldn't even know who to ask. But I had promised that we'd only be apart temporarily and I meant it. 'You're leaving!!' Quinn's voice screams in my head. 'When were you planning on telling me this?' 'Hopefully before you had the chance of screaming my ear off' I responded in the link. 'I give up my position too' Oliver says joining the conversation. I pause, grabbing a shirt and then two more. I wasn't sure how long I'd get to stay with her- not that I was hurrying, but I couldn't put off going to find Jax either. The asshole hadn't left a clue about his whereabouts and I pray to Selene that he hasn't gone Berserker either, but I'm almost sure he might have said something to Moi about where he might be. And that's what I'm counting on. 'No you can't' I reply to Oliver. 'What? You just walked away from yours'. 'I'm thi
RIDER I watched as Halie left, feeling the longing in her heart to stay. I wanted her to stay but she couldn't. With Jax gone, my father and the new Alpha would try to keep both her and Moi in holding. It had to be something special why an Alpha of all ranks chose a human for a mate. I haven't even divulged that she was my mate. But I wasn't gonna wait around for either secs to accept it. I only stayed to ensure there was no abuse of the Red Devil pack members. I was standing behind Halie's oath to give them safe passage. Which is what the argument between us is. "We rebuilt most of the destroyed buildings, men are working on the fences to get them up again. " Oliver explains. He is just as exhausted as I am at our Alpha's stubbornness. He might have been his father-in-law, but I swear Oliver rolls his eyes and mutters beneath his breath 'If it wasn't for Allison and the pup'. No one wants to deal with either of them. Neither my father or the current Alpha and the fact that I was
I was still pissed that Rider took his ex along but I knew he didn't do it on purpose. It's not like he could send her back. Besides the whole fact that I can't even think straight, Moi is dead and in the heat of things, Rider decides to admit that he loves me. Now, his pregnant ex tags along. I've been avoiding him for days now ever since we started the journey back to his pack. It's not that I dont love him, I do, but I'm confused as to where we go from here. If Gale hadn't rotted me out, I had agreed to leave Rider be. The guilt still gnaws at me, especially after what we shared last night and some part of me thinks it would be the right thing to do. Especially with a baby on the way. Sam would only continue to be petty and would likely require Rider for everything, even lifting a cup of water. I walk around checking on the pack members, smiling at the little kids. They were all so terrified. I had eavesdropped on some of their conversation a little earlier, hearing someone ment
RIDER I can't move. I think I might have broken every bone in my body, plus the additional ones that were broken prior to embarking on this adventure. Now that I had the time, I felt every radiation of f**king pain soaring through my body. "Hey, " Halie whispers, her face contorted in concern as he held onto me. "You're going to be okay. There's so much blood" She chuckles nervously. "So much blood but you're going to be okay, I promise. " 'Okay' I told her, even if she couldn't hear me. But I trusted her. I can hear Veron, thank goddess he was still breathing, Quinn still in enough shape to make jokes. I can almost smile at the thought. I can't believe we actually won a f**king war, killed Ragna. I killed a Red Devil. Yeah I was never going to live this one down. Something cold slips into my veins, my eyes opening momentarily finding Halie still beside me. She glances up with a smile, her eyes moving back to whatever she was doing. Her small hands skim my fur, chest relaxing as sh
RIDER It's a small jerk, then another and then the sound of sputtering that pulls me from my reverie and to her side. I lift my mate, helping her to sit forward as she coughs up water swallowed from having gone under. Halie immediately wraps her arms around my neck, shivering, pressing her mouth to mine and I return her kiss in fervor. Maybe she didn't think I'd make it while I was losing hope that she'll remain alive. Halie pulled back, staring into my face for a while, tears streamed down her cheeks, lips trembling and I pulled her closer, squeezing her against my chest. She didn't need to say anything. I already knew and understood. "You actually came," she whispers. "For me. " "I promised I'll always find you, didn't I?" "That's so corny. " Halie chuckles against me and I soak everything up, determined not to let these memories slip. I decided here and then that I was going to do better, be better for her. Believe in her. "Erhem, " Someone coughs from behind me, and Halie pe
RIDER Ragna was dead. I wanted him dead and unidentifiable beneath me. Halie was mine and now she was his. He stole her from me, ripped her from my arms and now from my soul. Apart of me doesn't feel any different, I don't feel as if the bond I have with Halie has broken, but I'm so apprehensive at the thought that it makes me giddy and irrational. Ragna roars with anguish as he rips me from his hand that I had latched unto, taking a chunk of flesh with me as I roll, before hurrying back to my four paws. That molten feeling spreads through me once more, shoulders tense and pain radiates through every limb. Soon I wouldn't be able to control my actions anymore, but I don't want to. Not with this bastard. He walks around me going in circles and I watch him, my tail wagging excitedly. I've never felt this excited over a prey, not since the last time I had training with my father. The alarm that registered in his eyes when I tackled him to the ground, when I had only missed his main v
My body feels heavy, like lead, my mouth dry and when I open my eyes, everything is suddenly too bright. I lifted my hand to my eyes, feeling my body suddenly spilling over and I fought to catch myself, hands pulling me backwards instead. When I finally open my eyes, it's almost noon, and I'm strapped to a chair, a cream-colored lace grown attached to my person while women placed the remaining decorations in my hair. My feet are bare, my shoes confiscated and if I run away by some weird chance, I wouldn't be able to get far. Flower petals and blossoms line the way to some final destination, children running around happily as if sealing my fate with a monster was a royal decree. Eventually someone releases the bands that keep my body and feet hostage and I hold onto the chair, standing up. "How was your sleep?" Ragna asks, his unexpected presence making me jump. "What did you do to me?" "Nothing that you didn't cause on yourself, " He says looking me over. His eyes slid down my body
I glance up and down the hall ensuring that no one sees me before slipping into the room, hearing a groaning wolf toss and turn in her bed. Gale had given me monkshood a few days ago and I've managed to get a little of it into the she-wolf's water. I know it poisons, but just enough will render her powerless for me to do what I need. The door slips shut with a click and I hurry over when she moves to sit up groaning and clutching his stomach. "What the hell are you doing in my room?!" Celene hisses at me. "Careful, you're already in a bad state, don't want to worsen your situation do you?" Celene grits her teeth at me from her position against her bed, glaring at me. "You're the runt that poisoned my water?!" "I'm the runt that could potentially cure you should you heed my instructions. " Celene laughs, throwing her head back against the headboard. "Oh you've got some balls on you, waltzing into my bedroom with ultimatums. Who says I can't just rip your head off and do the ceremo
RIDER "Are we gonna talk about last night?" "No", I brushed Oliver's question to the side and kept walking, a scowl on my face. "Wait, " he grips my upper arm but I yank it away refusing to stand and talk. I already said no, he should just let it go. "Hey! " Oliver runs up blocking my path. "I get it okay. You don't know what to do about your mate, you don't know if you'll be able to save her. I get that. " "Really?" "Yeah, " he answers, either oblivious to the sarcasm in my voice or he chose to ignore it "No, no you don't get it. " "I'm a brother too, you know. I'm a part of the family. I get it. I'm the outsider between you and Jax. We all know you both grew up together. The only other reason I'm here is because Allison is my mate. So I get how you feel. It's the same way I felt when Jax took his sister away without even consulting me first. It made me feel insufficient, makes me question my role as the pack's Gamma. I wondered if he didn't trust me enough. But most of all, I