JAX:My reflexes helped me grab the attacker by the arm before I got to the ground, so we both crashed at the same time.I didn't hesitate to get up on my feet as soon as the momentum of the crash leaves me. I was ready to face the challenger without backing out when I notice it was someone I know."What the hell are you doing, Manuel?" I ask in annoyance as I face my right-hand man who looked like he wanted to do something dangerous."No... what are you doing?"The question he throws back puts me on the edge instantly even though I haven't deciphered what he's talking about. I check around for any intrusion first before saying, "What's going on here?"He takes a step toward me but I have my hand raised. "Stay where you are!" I tell him to which he adheres."I followed you all the way to the human girl's place thinking you were going to get the job done on her. But what did you do? You stayed there with her and helped her until the whole phase of her possible turning passed," he says
ROZETA:'Rozeta, take a deep breath. There's nothing wrong with you. It's just a stupid voice in your head. You're only imagining things, trust me,'I keep telling myself that inwardly just to ensure I have not gone crazy. As a matter of fact, I think I am crazy. Because if not, why would I be thinking I heard someone speak in my head when there was nothing of sort?There was absolutely no way that what I thought I heard was from my head. It was just a fraction of my imagination. Possibly from the stress of all that I've been going through this past one week.'When you're done reassuring yourself, then we can talk,'I jump from my bed all of a sudden at that. This time I was sure of it. It wasn't just me thinking some random thoughts. Someone was speaking to me. But I would be indeed crazy to think it was actually inside my head.I look around. I need to find the intruder. No, I have to leave this place before I get attacked by whoever it is that has made his way into my room.'There
ROZETA:I've been trying not to think about it but I'm not sure if that can work. No other thought seems to flow in my head other than that of the thing I still can't believe."What then will happen to me now that I have you?" That had been the question I clearly needed an answer to and the response I got was frightening.'Since I'm inside of you, it means we have become one. And that also means you are what I am now.'Where did I go wrong with my life? Why do unexpected things keep happening to me?To be honest, I still can't tell what I did to get to work because I shouldn't even be here in the first place with all of this. Perhaps it was the feeling of knowing I would get into trouble with my supervisor that actually created a rift between staying home and coming to work. But now that I think about it, I should have gone with the best option which is staying home.I haven't heard from the voice since I arrived at work. Not that I would want to hear it speak to me in the first place
JAX: "How sure are you about this?" I ask soon after i take a seat to act like i was genuinely interested in this conversation we are about to have. "A hundred percent," is his immediate response to the question. I have to try to think of what to say next because i didn't want to make the mistake of letting him know i might have a hand in the issue. With my hands folded below my chest, i ask him, "So why exactly are you here? It's clear to me you need something from me which is why you showed up here." "Of course i do," he says without blinking an eye. "Father asked me into look into it so i decided i'll be needing your help," "And you really think i would be key in helping you find the illegal bred?" I ask him. He nods to which i then move to act like i'm deliberating on the issue. But the pretence deliberation leads me to think about something that i think would help my personal affairs in place of his. "Whoever it is you are looking for, did you trace that down to the human
ROZETA: I expected to be in so much pain but the only thing i felt was numbness. So numb that i could feel any part of my body. It took me a long while to realize my body seems to be wrapped around something. I try to flicker my eyes open just so i could find out what that is and when i do, i am surprised to see i was not actually hit by the car. How it happened, i don't know. But i know i heard a loud thud that clearly signified an impact with the approaching vehicle. The fear of knowing that whoever it is must be badly injured now keeps me on edge. I am desperate now to see the face of the person that it has me asking in an almost incoherent voice: "Are you okay?" There was a bit of adjustment before the face of the person comes to view. And i won't lie, My heart skipped upon sighiting who it is. Seeing i was aware about the identity of the person, i was filled with a wave of safety that i didn't know i needed. Most especially when my eyes come in contact with his. The overhww
JAX:If i had been a fraction too late, I don't know what would have happened to her. For all i know, she could have been dead.There was a huge tendency that she could have made it out alive but her chances were slim as she waasn't fully developed yet to resist impacts like that. It would take her first shift to unlock that kind of potential in her.I'm surprised she took everything calmly when i spoke to her after the incident. I would say she was already getting a hang of the situation. Perhaps she was feeling like there was something outwrordly about her entire situation now.I had ben pushed to tell her the truth about her new existence. Even been pushed to tell her what i am. It was Voden's reminder about time not being right yet that prevented me from doing that.Thinking about it, I find Voden's stance on this whole issue confusing. He was annoyed that i made that kind of deadly mistake but then doesn't want any harm to come her way. I don't know how more confusing that could
ROZETA:"I need an answer." I say as I make a deliberate attempt to reach the entity in my head. Call me stupid but then I really needed more clarification on what I discussed yesterday with Jax.'To what?' almost as soon as that did I get a response from the entity in my head. Just enough to know that it was indeed there."Tell me the truth about the mark on my neck. Is it the reason I'm like this? The reason I can hear you? The reason things around me seem to be more different than normal?"I stand up from my bed and then walk up to the mirror to take a look at what I was trying to talk about with the voice in my head.As usual I reach for the mark and feel around it. I still have no idea how a mark that disappeared can come back to become a scar.'First I'll need to know what prompted your curiosity...'I give a ridiculous face that I can see through the mirror. "What other information do you need other than the fact that I'm not comfortable with the new change I'm going through?"
JAX:All day I have been trying to reach Wade. I'm not comfortable with knowing that he left my apartment just like that last night. Who knows what he could have done during the time frame of me trying to ensure Rozeta's safety?One thing I know for sure is that Wade was good at tracking someone down. I won't be surprised if he actually did look into my sudden disappearance... that's if he noticed. Which is why I have to ensure he doesn't do anything like that."Manuel, what have you got now?" I say into the phone as I pace about in my office. I should be talking to him through the mind link but then my state of mind wouldn't let me get that done the proper way I should."Nothing yet," Manuel says, "But do me a favor and wait for me to reach you. You're not helping me out here with your numerous calls.""How do you expect me to wait on you? It's nighttime and I still haven't been able to get to my brother. Who knows what he could be doing now?"I hear Manuel sigh from the other end. T
ROZETA:I went through a lot before getting here. Had to deal with some pests that threatened to cut short my existence.Even right now, I was feeling the impact of having to go against a lot and it was that little energy I carried along with me until I arrived back at the scene where it all seemed to be going down between Jax and Manuel.However, I was too late. The one thing I tried to prevent happened. And it just had to happen right about the time I arrived on the scene.The slice through the air, and the little grunt that followed it told me what I needed to know. Jax has just clawed through Manuel and that was the end of it all.I did try to stop Jax just in time by yelling out a loud 'No' but then it didn't seem to have an impact. Instead, it only rained in the air before it did happen.I should be happy, shouldn't I? Jax has just gotten rid of the biggest threat to the both of us. And that was fine because walking on the face of this earth with Manuel still in it wasn't worth
MANUEL:For a moment, I was disoriented. I couldn't make sense of what I did. It was as if everything was happening so fast for me.I let go of the being in my hand, dropping her to the ground as I turn my full attention toward the area that I just shot at. And the only question I keep asking myself repeatedly is: Why is Beta Zeke on the ground instead of Jax's wolf?I know what I shot at. I know who I shot. I know who my target was. But why am I seeing something different?Have I just ruined everything with my hands? Did I just make a mess of a plan that has been coming together for such a long time? Why in the world is this happening?I have to take a look at my hand that had the gun in it. It's something I've known how to handle since I was little. A survival training, it was. And that meant I should be able to have a grip on myself whenever I shoot at something.Did the bullet deviate? Did it take a turn on its own? How did it end up meeting the wrong person?I wasn't even given a
ROZETA:I could feel my heart beating against my chest as I stared into the eyes of the man determined to end my life. Imagine being this close to death and knowing just how inevitable it was. Well, that was my situation at the moment.I've never been this scared all my life. Maybe I have but I don't think any other way I've ever felt could be compared to this one.Perhaps to taunt me, Manuel clicks the trigger, making it seem like he was going to shoot me. I shut my eyes the instant I hear the sound, expecting a loud bang but nothing comes out of it.The only problem was my heart beating even faster and I found satisfaction on Manuel's face when I open my eyes to look at him. He was apparently enjoying my predicament and I wasn't even sure what to feel about that."You've always interfered in everything that concerns this mission I started years ago," Manuel starts to say. "Now I don't know what you have to do with all of this especially when it was me who got you linked with all of
JAX:"What are you doing?" I hear Rozeta's desperate voice from behind but ignore it, my mind only focused on getting back to where I got her out from.I didn't even care about the wound on my arm or the pain that I felt radiating from it. I just wanted to do things my way from now on. And that starts from the mess that had caught up with my pack.I feel a strong grip on my arm, putting me to a halt. Actually, an impulse took over, resulting in me turning around to challenge the one who just halted my movement.I restrained myself from doing anything drastic. Instead, I snap and I sure as hell regretted doing that after."What?" is what I say out. And that mere action makes Rozeta tremble as she supposedly was the one who stopped me.She lets go of my arm, taking two steps backward to keep her distance from me. It was at that point that I realized what I just did and I instantly hate myself for it."I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that," I tell her, apologizing for my ill attitude. S
ROZETA:Was I sure about what I heard? Was I even sure it could be linked to my assumption? I couldn't say. But there was this conviction that I just might be right.The Beta looked like he was in a tight position. It was as if I just accused him of the most grievous offense and for a moment, I thought I didn't hear right.However, everything was pointing toward what I heard. The eye contact with Manuel, the partial look of guilt, the cold silence that ensued... I know I was right for accusing the Beta."What are you talking about?" the Beta says, letting out a dry laugh as he says that. "Who am I with? Him? Don't be ridiculous.""If you're not with him, then why did you tell him to kill me already?" I ask in return, standing up in the process.For a second, I notice the look of bewilderment flashes on his face. It was only for a second and certainly enough for him to act like it was all good. But I know what I saw."Where did you hear me say that? Did becoming an ill-bred turn your b
ROZETA: All of a sudden I was uncomfortable. And, no, I wasn't suffering discomfort from seeing Jax's old friend around. I can't fully pinpoint where the uneasiness was coming from but I was going to rely on it because it felt like something I had to hold on to. This was the point where the cuffs had to be taken off our arms. Jax and I were about to be caught in the middle of a confrontation between the warriors of his pack and the one who has a thing against them. Although he came out alone, all the warriors had their weapons pointed toward his direction, all active and ready to attack. This could get messy and it is one of the reasons I shouldn't be here. Neither should Jax. I notice as Manuel's eyes linger until it lands on Jax standing beside me. And the way he looked at him, it seems he has something against him. "You just wouldn't leave, would you?" is what he says. It wasn't loud enough but certainly enough for me to gauge something. "And you just can't quit, right?" Jax
ROZETA:It was weird, but I felt an instant connection the moment Jax and I arrived in front of a gateway similar to the one we exited from.I couldn't help but ask, "This is it, right?" My eyes were up as I looked toward him, anticipating an answer that way.He looks down for a brief second and instead of saying anything, just nods. At least that was confirmation of my question.After all the travels and trials I've been through, I was finally in front of the Silver Falls pack. The pack where I should be called a member but then I was placed on a death radar due to unforeseen circumstances.Anxiety begins to eat me up almost instantly, especially when I figure that we are this close to getting in. Okay, this might sound stupid but I want to go back already.I don't know if Jax was feeling the same way I was feeling. Looking at him, he looked more relaxed than ever. It could be a fake because he was certainly good at hiding his true emotions. So until he says to me that he was indeed
JAX: I couldn't help but plant a kiss on her forehead moments after waking up. It didn't do anything to disturb her sleep but she must have felt that because she winced in her sleep. I couldn't lay a decent explanation for how I was feeling now. A lot of complications radiated through me. But one thing for sure is that I was excited. How was she going to convince me now to take her to the Silver Falls pack with me? Does she expect me to fall into a well of depression now that I was certain of my stand with her? Hell no, I can't. I just can't. As crazy as it sounds, one thing went through my head during my intimate moment with her. And that was to mark her fully as mine. I'm surprised my fangs didn't even elongate during the process. It would have been a bit of a stupid idea to make use of that momentum to do something as huge as that but I was not thinking straight when the thought first went through my head. Now I'm not even sure if it was right that I even let it into me in the
ROZETA:Being wrapped in the arms of a man is not how I pictured waking up in the woods. Even with how unplanned it was, it still felt therapeutic enough for a lost soul like me.As my eyes become clear enough, I try to gauge my environment. It didn't take me long to discover it was where I slept off and the supposed man who had his arms around me was Jax, judging from his particular scent that has come to make an impact on me.My head lay on his broad chest, giving me a direct connection with his heartbeat. It was soft and almost too calm for me that I find myself craving more of it often.I have to gently shift back to give me space to check his face. He could still be sleeping so I pushed back with ease until I had enough space to look up.As soon as my eyes linger up, it goes back down at the same time, with my heart almost going into a frenzy. This is because Jax was fully awake with his eyes looking down at me.I didn't expect him to be awake. Neither did I expect that he would