Aimee’s P.O.V
My hands shook as I slid a key into the mailbox. The sight of the thick envelope with the WSC College logo made my heart race, and it felt surreal to hold the result between my fingers.I've worked so hard for this, and it terrified me to think of what the letter would say. Swallowing the lump in my throat, I carefully ripped the seal off the envelope and scanned the first two lines.Dear Aimee Moore:You have impressed us with your application, and we are pleased to admit you to WSC…“Yes!!” I jumped into the air as I confirmed my admission to my dream college. "Oh, goddess. Yes!"Thinking of my brother Ty waiting for me outside, I stuck my acceptance letter into the envelope, hurrying out of the pack’s postal office.Ty was still in the same spot I'd left him, leaning against his car with his foot propped on the bumper. Sun rays made his brown hair sparkle with golden streaks as his eyes met mine with a soft expression.Although he had inherited our father’s Gamma position, he never acted like it. Always smiling and cheerful.As for me? Unfortunately, I was the odd one out. Born with an Omega wolf in a Gamma family, life was supposed to be tough because most people in the pack treated Omega breeds like servants or worse. But I was lucky enough to have a family who protected me.Grinning cheekily, I slid into the car after Ty patted my back. He soon got into the driver’s seat and peeled out of the driveway. The drive home was silent for a few minutes before he cleared his throat and glanced at me.“So…how was it, ant?” He quirked a brow, a trail of sweat dripping off his forehead.I rolled my eyes at the stupid name he had dubbed me since I was twelve and tiny. Then my grin grew wider as I thought back to the good news. “I got in, Ty. I did!”His eyes lit up, and he left the steering wheel to rub my head.“That’s my nerd sister. What would our family be without you? A clan of good-looking but brainless people?”I snorted and then pretended to be angry, pouting. “What do you mean?”He shrugged, a sly look in his eyes. “It’s pretty obvious that you are not the beauty of the family.”Leaning over, I punched him in the arm, and our laughter bounced off the interior of the car. After some time, Ty glanced at me again. “So what do you want? You deserve a reward, ant.”“Nothing, I mean…nothing you could give me.” I shook my head, a warm sensation spreading in my lower belly. “All I want is to mate with Jake on my eighteenth birthday.” Heat rushed to my cheeks as I imagined Jake’s announcement to the pack. He would stand on the podium with my hand in his, declaring me as his Luna!It would be amazing to rule beside Jake as the new Alpha and Luna of the pack. He was soon going to take over since his father was gravely ill. I felt sorry for the old Alpha but I couldn’t deny a rush of thrill at the prospect of Jake succeeding his father.From the corner of my eyes, I saw Ty shaking his head and I arched a brow. “What’s with you?!”His fingers tightened around the wheels as he muttered, “I don’t know why you choose to be blind... A dickhead boyfriend is the last thing you need and I swear I wouldn’t be there to break his nose the next time gaslights you.”“He cares about me a lot and that one mistake isn’t enough for you to just judge him.” I blurted out, even though the voice inward whispered that Ty probably was right. “Besides, you can't just blame everything on him !”He shot me an incredulous glare. "You're not seriously justifying your boyfriend kissing another girl just because you couldn't make it to prom."His words were hitting close to home, reviving buried memories and it was starting to piss me off.“At least he’ll be our next Alpha,” I muttered as I dug my nails into my purse like a lifeline. “Show some respect!”Ty opened his mouth to speak but I beat him to it. “I really don’t wanna talk about this anymore, Ty. Drop me off at his place.”Cursing under his breath, he sped up the car until we reached a tall brick house. He didn't even wait for me to get out before he drove away, giving me a dirty look.*Such a pain in the neck sometimes.* I sighed, smoothing my messy hair that swished around my shoulder.Pushing Ty aside, I couldn’t help myself curving a big smile when Jake's handsome face rose up in my mind’s eye. His Basil & Naroli cologne still lingered in my nose from the day he rescued me from rogues who tried to rape me a year ago.I knew he loved me. I knew it. He would be overjoyed to know that I got into college.Sucking in a deep breath, I reached for the doorbell. But then I heard a female voice coming from inside. Who was that?"When will you tell her?" She sputtered, impatient and annoyed."Jess, look. You know I'm doing all I can here..." Jake's voice trailed off and my heart sank.Jess? As in Jessica, the Beta's daughter and the most popular girl in school? What was she doing here with Jake?I didn't wait to hear more. I slammed the door open, storming into the foyer, arms swinging and all.My eyes zeroed in on Jessica Hunt (Cunt is what I call her) practically sitting on Jake’s lap and the blood rushed to my cheeks.Jessica was the worst kind of bitch. The type that’ll ‘mistakenly’ bump into you at a party, spill her red wine over your yellow cotton dress and then break into tears while claiming that you shoved her out of hatred.I cleared my throat and their heads both snapped up in surprise. Clearly, they hadn't even heard me come in. What could they be doing together that got them so engrossed? I wondered as a sick feeling threatened to choke me.The smug smile she shot my way made my hands itchy with the urge to slap her. I'd admit I was a bit insecure because the whole pack adored her. And I get terrified whenever pack members speculate that she might be the next Luna since she had a powerful Delta wolf but you really can't blame me. Jake hardly did anything to allay my fears.“What are you doing here?” I questioned, standing in front of her.Tucking a strand of her fire-truck-colored tresses behind her ears, her eyes watered and she leaned away from Jake.Seriously? How could he eat up her act; hook, line, and sinker? There was no way a powerful Delta like her would be intimidated by me.“I—uh…” she stuttered, looking at him with obnoxious goo-goo eyes. “Alpha Jake invited me over for a talk.”I scoffed, crossing my arms over my tank top. “Talk Indeed.”“Yes, Aimee.” Jake rose to his feet, his expression livid. “I invited her to discuss my succession because her father is the Beta of the pack if you have forgotten due to your insecurity.”“Oh, shoot.” My lips formed the phrase but no sound came as I felt heat crawling up my face.“Next time, call me before coming over.” His jaw clenched as he spoke.However, when he looked at Jessica, his cold eyes softened immediately. “Now you’ve managed to scare her.”I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. “I’m sorry, Jake. I thought…”“That’s the problem, Aimee. You do not fucking think.” He interrupted me, throwing his hands in the air. “It’s like you lose brain cells daily.”His words stung me like a bee and the hint of smugness in Jessica’s eyes felt like she was rubbing salt into my open wound.Maybe I overreacted but he was in no position to humiliate me in front of Jessica.Embarrassment washed over me and I stormed out of Jake’s house, afraid my tears would escape from my eyes if I stayed there a second more.My feet slapped against the wet pavement as tears blurred my vision, the cold numbing my senses. Thunder roared in the sky while Jake's words echoed in my head. He had called me insecure, stupid, and brainless in front of the girl whom everyone said he was cheating on me with. Was it true? I had no way to know.Arriving home, I crept into the back door and tiptoed up the stairs in hopes that no one would notice me. I didn't want my family to see the hurt and shame on my face. I wasn't ready to hear their "I told you so's" whilst reminding me that Jake was no good for me, that I was wasting my life on him. I just wanted to be alone in my room, where I could cry and scream without anyone hearing me.Wrapping myself in a blanket, I curled up on my bed, hugging a pillow to my chest. I wished it was Jake, but then his cruel words echoed in my head again. I hated him... I hated them... I buried my face in the pillow and let out a muffled sob.A knock on the door pulled me out of misery and my father’s voice filtered through the door. “Hey, princess. Are you in there?”Jumping out of bed, I hastily threw on some clothes before opening the door.“Yes, Father.” I planted my gaze on the carpet as I settled on the edge of my bed.He walked in and narrowed his eyes when he saw my red-rimmed eyes but thankfully made no comment. “I just got an invitation from the Alpha. We are to attend Jake’s coronation tomorrow…” “Oh…” I muttered, a bitter taste in my mouth.He nodded, staring at me closely. “And he’ll also be announcing the future Luna at the coronation.”Aimee’s P.O.V “What?” I sprang to my feet, a slow smile forming on my face. I couldn't believe what I heard. My father had just given me the best news: The night I had dreamed of all my life was only a few hours away. I was an Omega, the lowest rank in our pack, and usually forbidden from attending important occasions. But this was different. I couldn’t miss this for anything in the whole world. This was the night Jake would declare me as his Luna, his mate for life. I felt like the moon goddess herself had blessed me with good fortune. Joy again flooded my veins, washing away the sadness of Jake’s earlier treatment. Suddenly, everything made sense to me. Jake wanted to make it up to me after what happened today, and that’s why the announcement was so soon. "Dad?" I called out as I rummaged through my closet. "What should I wear? Something blue or something red?" There was no answer. I turned around and saw my father standing in the doorway, his face dark and angry. "You are not
Logan’s P.O.V I twisted the cufflinks on my wrist, feeling the cold metal bite into my skin—a sign of impatience, boredom, or both. My Beta yanked the door open, his eyes wide with anxiety. He knew better than to keep me waiting. We should turn back. My wolf snarled in my mind, his primal instincts urging me to flee from this place. Severing the link with a sharp mental snap, I silenced his protests. We rarely saw eye to eye, so it was easier to ignore him. Curtly nodding at Damien, I stepped out of the limo, my jaw tightening as I saw the swarm of wolves crowding the entrance. I cleared my throat once, a low and menacing growl that made them flinch. Their faces turned white as they recognized me and scrambled to make way for me. ‘That’s more like it,’ I muttered, walking past the crowd who whispered and gawked at me. My brow arched at the man approaching me with a wide grin. He was holding a leash attached to a young girl's neck. His black hair was streaked with gray, the deep g
Aimee’s P.O.V“Aimee! Aimee! Don’t you faint on me!...”Lily's voice was muffled like she was talking through a wall. I felt her hands tapping my cheeks, trying to snap me out of it. But I didn't want to. Reality sucked; it crushed me.I wanted to stay in the darkness, where I could escape everything.But then a sharp sting brought me back, and I gasped, blinking at the bright lights overhead. My hand flew to my cheek, where it burned like hell. Ow! Lily had slapped me. Hard. I knew she meant well, but that hurt like hell.A sob caught in my throat as I looked up at her. She was kneeling beside me, her eyes wide with worry.“Are you okay, Aimee?” She shook my shoulders, making me wince, and I realized that I was in the party hall, on the floor.Shit, did I pass out?“You look red, babe.” She frowned. “I swear, I’ll hang Jake’s balls on….”My eyes drifted shut as my throat tightened, tuning out her voice. A wave of nausea churned through me as Jake's words echoed in my head.He’d ripp
Logan’s P.O.V. I forced myself to get on the stage and face the Crescent pack, ignoring the tempting smell that drove me crazy. Damien laid a hand on my arm, and I could feel his calmer energy washing over me. He had noticed the scent too, and how it had shaken me. I shot him a grim smile, absorbing his serenity. Damien had been my beta for years, so much so that he’d become the brother I never knew I needed. Like all Betas, he was calm and thoughtful, and I was a much better person when he was around me. Slightly appalled at my passion for the scent, I sucked in a deep breath and turned to the crowd, speaking into the microphone. "For decades, wolves have been slain from my pack and yours, our blood desecrating the territories." I begin. "We've lost great men, fathers, brothers, uncles, and sons all because of the greed of the former pack leaders." A few nods of approval and choruses echoed in the halls. "But as a new moon rises, the sorrows and darkness of the past are washed
Aimee’s P.O.V Sounds of waves lapping against rocks reached my ears, followed by the fresh scent of the stream. When I finally burst out through the dense woods, a weak smile pulled at my lips as I saw the sparkling water. It was just as magical as the first time I’d laid my eyes on it. Sparkling and shimmering, I could almost convince my young mind that fairies came out here at night and this was their spot. Who knew? I could be right. ‘I should take a swim,’ I thought, grabbing the hem of my dress. ‘It might help take my mind away from…’ Oh, Jake. His name stabbed my heart like a knife, and I doubled over, choking on my tears. Oh, It hurt so much. The nature around me had blocked him out of my mind, but now all I could hear were his words on the stage and how Jessica was wrapped around him like a leech, kissing what belonged to me. Then he’d slapped me. Why? No, I couldn't swim. Tears flowed down my cheeks as I settled on my favorite spot, gathering stones to toss into th
Aimee’s P.O.V My fingers dug into the edge of my seat to hold on for dear life as the vehicle bounced over rocks and potholes. I should have known that the journey would be rough when Alpha Logan pulled his limo to a stop in Sacramento Hills, exchanging the luxurious limo for jagged trucks. But I was too busy avoiding him to pay any more attention. Although, I think my disgusted expression worked out for the best as he'd refused to stay in the same truck with me. "Get into that truck with Ella." He growled at his Beta whilst glaring at me. "Aimee will ride in the other truck with the Jackson brothers." A snort rose to my lips as I recalled his words. Who the hell did he think he was? Did he think I'd be intimidated by two strange burly men who barely spoke to me? Good riddance. I huffed under my breath. As the sun dipped and long shadows emerged over the hills, dust poured in through the windows; filling the car with a choking haze. My throat burned and I began coughing. I pull
Aimee’s P.O.V I had never been this scared in my life. So scared that my heart was pounding so loudly I swear it echoed through the still forest. So scared that Ella’s hands were bruised from how hard I was clutching them as we ran, dodging over branches and roots. Our breaths were ragged, and our legs were sore, but we didn’t dare stop. We both knew Alpha Logan wouldn’t easily give up on finding us. Last night when we tried camping under the stars, we didn’t get up to thirty minutes of shuteye before his scent permeated the air, alerting me to his closeness, and we picked up running again. I glanced at Ella, who was trudging beside me, and flinched. Her eyes were sunken and red-rimmed, but that wasn’t what scared me. It was the emptiness in their depths that terrified me. Ella was in shock from everything that had happened, and no matter how many roast squirrels I tried to feed her, she didn’t open her mouth. Sensing my gaze, she lifted her head, and I pulled my lips in a small sm
Aimee's P.O.VIn panic, I turned my head to look at her, only to find her totally asleep. Lifting her into my arms, a chuckle slipped out of me. “I found us a shelter, Ella. You’re going to be safe!” Quickening my pace, I reached the cavern in mere seconds. Gently, I dropped her by the entrance and checked inside. Thankfully, it was empty and spacious enough for us. From the moth-eaten blankets and pots, I could tell someone had once lived here. “Perfect,” I murmured under my breath and went back outside. I carried Ella back into the cavern and she almost fell from my arms. “I’m so tired.” She murmured sleepily, her eyes shut tightly. She was so fragile, like a porcelain doll that could break at any moment. “I know, Ella,” I said into her ears. “Me too.” Rising to my feet, I grabbed a few empty bottles from the corner of the room. “Just hang on while I go fetch some wood for a fire. I’ll also wander a bit to see if I could find a stream or something to get water.” She only murm