ROZETA:The dread... The horror... Everything came back to me all at once.It was a struggle as I stare right at the stream of water. Different thoughts ran through my head and before I knew it was, I was tensive.My breathing became irregulated and so did my legs. Made me start to wobble as I stood and I had to put a hand on my chest just to get myself in check."Hey, hey, hey," Jax was beside me, holding my hand to help me balance well, "Breath with me." And he acts that out by breathing in and out.I comply with what he said. It was difficult at first but then I was getting a hang of things. With a bit of force, Jax makes me sit on the ground while I keep getting myself in order. However, I ensure that I was staring far away from the stream because it was all going to come back if I had my gaze in that direction.For a long time, nothing is said as I sit on the ground. Jax was standing beside me with a hand on my shoulder while his friend was not even in sight at the moment. Pretty
ROZETA:"The first thing you need to know about basic survival skills is that you never know when you'll need it. But with the situation going on, I guess it will be at a frequent pace."I couldn't help but roll my eyes at Jax's speech. There he goes again with his contradictory statement. It doesn't seem to ever end and it keeps getting more annoying because of how light he seems to be taking it."Hope you heard that right?" he asks, bringing me on track with him."I sure did," I say, "even though it was a little confusing..."He gives me a weird look but then takes it off. Or was he finding my statement as contradictory as his?"Anyways, the process to begin involves you learning how to defend yourself. I'm pretty sure you know it's the first step in anything combat,""Yeah, yeah, I've heard about that different times,"He looks skeptical. "From where?" he asks."Movies? Seen a lot of 'em," I do not hesitate to answer.The skepticism on his face switches to realization as he seems t
MANUEL:It was a strange scenario, most definitely. Especially with how tucked up I was in the hoodie I'm in.I have my hands in the side pockets with the hood covering most of my face to prevent any sort of instant recognition. I was in the city again and who knows, I just might be sought after without knowing.There was something I needed to do. I would say it was worth the risk because otherwise, I wouldn't be out here when I have been made a target for being an accomplice of treason.I have been able to manipulate a lot of things all my life but I don't think I would be able to manipulate the warriors this time around as they were clearly on high alert.Jax cannot know I was out here. He would be mad at me once he does. Which is why I'm trying my best to keep my tracks hidden until I get the hell out of here and back to the haven. My work here shouldn't take me too long. And if it does, I was going to see to it that he doesn't find out just why I got back late.I stop in front of
ROZETA:"Why do you always have to bring me here?" That was the first question I ask the instant I was back in the zone that I still couldn't place a name around it. Swiftly I turn back and I was face-to-face with Dera whom I already knew was behind me.Since the last time I was here, I've gone through a lot of internal changes. Ranging from being able to feel the presence of my spirit wolf to being able to sense things that I shouldn't perhaps be able to sense."This is the only time I can have you here with me. So why not give me the chance?" she responds to my question."And you're sure it won't affect my well-being?""I pulled your soul in here and not your entire being. So no it won't affect it,""But if the soul's tired, wouldn't the entire being be as well—"She interrupts me before I could complete my question: "Trust me, Rozeta. I know what I'm doing."I have no other choice but to nod. From there I plop down to the ground, laying flat on it. I intend to change my routine of
JAX:Manuel seems to stare at me for a while before taking his hands out of his pocket.About a minute later and he asks, "Why would you think that way?""You tell me," I do not hesitate to say. "Where have you been all day?""Took a walk around. Needed to clear my head off a lot of things that's all,""It had better be what you said. I won't be taking any slip up from you,"I suddenly felt uncomfortable with my attitude. Especially knowing that I was not supposed to be speaking to my right-hand man that way. Who am I? My brother, who doesn't give a fuck about the personality of others?Instantly I am pushed to apologize to Manuel who hasn't moved an inch from where he has been standing. "Look, I'm sorry, man," I start to say, "I really shouldn't be speaking to you that way. You don't deserve it,"He sort of nods at that and without a word to me passes by and walks straight into the cottage. I couldn't even look in his direction all through because I felt guilty about what I did. I sh
JAX:The excitement that mounted on Rozeta's face the instant I told her to come train with me was indescribable. It was like she was waiting to hear that all morning and I just fulfilled her heartfelt desire.It didn't take too long for her to come to meet me outside and from there the training began.The training was something similar to the last one we had two days ago. Just basic skills that would help in ensuring she knew how to defend herself. Although this time, even though she wasn't fast yet, I increased the pace of my hits. And trust me she hasn't been able to duck any yet.She looked like she was getting fed up but she still kept on with the energy. To be honest she keeps surprising me with her strong will and I would say that I was this close to envying it. Perhaps it's because of how much I lacked in that aspect."How am I going to learn this when you won't even give me the chance to test my actual limit?" she asks, already exhausted from the training. Her breathing was n
ROZETA:"Have you ever tried bringing out your wolf?" Jax asks me deep into the stroll we were having away from the cottage. I'm sure we were about five minutes walk away from there now even though I didn't necessarily keep count.I stop to look at him with raised brows. "No. But how do I do that?""Like this," he says and then starts unbuttoning his shirt, pulling it off when he was done."And what do you think you're doing?" I ask him when I see him reach for his pants. It was obvious that he was going to take that off as well."Taking off my clothes?" he says, making the face that what he was doing was clear enough for me to see."I know. But why do you have to take off your clothes?"He takes his hands off his pants, standing upright to give me a full view of his ripped chest. I think this is the first time I was getting a clean view of him being shirtless while still being sane.I try not to gape at him because that would only make me lose the rest of my dignity. At least the one
ROZETA:After we both agreed that it wasn't entirely safe for me to leave the area to take off my clothes, we both decided to back each other while I do my thing. He also told me that he'll be instructing me from the position he was standing and that is what we are set to do soon.I am reluctant to take off the top. It's the same one I've had on for about three days now and it was due to the fact that there was no clothing inside the new cottage that I could change into, unlike the first one. I guess their survival plan didn't extend to this region.I've already finished unbuttoning it when I hear Jax say something:"I know there's something that has been bothering you for some time now and you're reluctant to say so I'll just answer it for you without the need for you to ask," he says. "No, we didn't do anything. We didn't have sex. I couldn't take advantage of your drunken state and I stopped touching you then after unintentionally marking you."I was shocked. Couldn't even move my
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