JadenThe room fell into a heavy silence as we all contemplated Stacey’s words. My gaze shifted to her striking blue eyes, filled with worry and uncertainty. Gently, I took her hands in mine, feeling the warmth of her skin against mine, and pulled her close to me. “Don’t worry, pumpkin,” I reassured her, pressing a tender kiss to her knuckles. “Hunter’s right. We’ve been monitoring all entrances and exits. If she was here, we would know.” A small smile tugged at the corners of her lips and her tense shoulders relaxed slightly at my words.Caleb’s sharp gaze followed our interaction, his hand absently rubbing his stubbled chin. “Why didn’t you take Stacey as a chosen mate from the beginning? You never would have had Felicity here if you had,” I seethed at him, but he only shrugged nonchalantly. Stacey’s cheeks flushed a deep shade of pink, her gaze fixed on the ground as she avoided my burning stare. Her nervousness was palpable, evident in the way her fingers fidgeted and her breath h
JadenI read through the first journal, careful not to tear any of the pages. There wasn’t much to find to begin with, as there was nothing about the moonstone pack or Claxton. Night had come, and the fire crackled in the lounge as they sat on the floor, tearing through the pages. The smell of smoke wafted through the air, mingling with the musty scent of old books. We tore through the journal’s contents like wild animals ripping apart their prey, desperate for any scrap of knowledge that could aid us in our mission.A deep, exasperated groan escaped Stacey’s lips as she tossed my jacket off her shoulders in frustration. She impatiently pulled at the tie holding her hair back, letting it cascade down her shoulders and reach her waist. “Why does your father feel the need to meticulously document every time our neighbours borrow sugar, yet the information on other packs is scattered across pages and multiple books?” she complained. “I have to read everything at least 20 times just to fin
GemmaVivid images of the monstrous Arachne, its sharp fangs sinking into Stacey’s flesh and ripping her to shreds, filled my dreams like a nightmare on repeat. Her blood-curdling scream echoed in my mind, only to be drowned out by my own as I desperately shielded her from the creature’s attack. Stacey’s biggest fear had always been spiders, yet even in the face of this terror she was still trying to save me. She had always been the protector, but now it was my turn to be the hero and save her. My heart raced with fear and determination as I faced off against the Arachne, ready to do whatever it took to keep Stacey safe.My screams were swallowed up by the incessant piercing beep that filled my ears. It was joined by a cacophony of other noises - thuds, shuffles, and the tapping of shoes on linoleum floors. My body felt heavy and sluggish, like I had been submerged in water and encased in cement. I struggled to open my eyes and find the source of the infernal beeping, but even that eff
GemmaWhat was she doing here?Her eyes were wild, like a storm brewing in the depths of her soul. They held a glint of madness that I had never noticed before, even during our intense games. She stood before me in a tight body con dress, every curve and line accentuated as if it was painted on her skin. She sat down on the bed next to me as she crossed her legs; her heel catching one of my wires and pulling on the cord as it tugged against my skin. I hissed as she flickered her hair over her shoulder, looking completely annoyed and inconvenienced that she was here.“Don’t give me that look Gem, you and I are going to have a chat,” I swallowed, scanning the rest of the room for help, but without the buzzer I was too weak to do anything else. Even my wolf didn’t stir as my fear spiked. She swung her leg as I felt the needle move in my arm, pinching my skin. pain ebbed through me until she stopped and kicked her leg over, ripping the wires from my wrist.My skin felt like it was on fire
JadenStacey bolts upright in bed, her body drenched in sweat and her breathing ragged. I quickly follow, checking every inch of her skin for injuries. As she tries to catch her breath, her panicked eyes dart around the room, searching for something or someone. “Pumpkin, what’s wrong?” I ask, my heart racing with worry. Stacey takes a few deep breaths before finally meeting my gaze with wide, scared blue eyes. “I don’t know,” she says between gasps. “I think something’s wrong.”“Your safe pumpkin. I told you I’m not going to let anything happen to you.” I wrap my arms around her trembling body, trying to soothe her as she clings to me. “It was just a dream,” I whisper, pressing a kiss to her forehead. But she shakes her head, adamant that something is wrong. “No Jaden, I have this awful feeling something isn’t right,” I kiss her temple as I quickly mind link the guards to see if there has been any breeches to the pack boarders. “The boarders are clear, pumpkin. No sign of anyone tryin
JadenThe first thing that hits me is the deafening silence. No more beeps from machines, no rhythmic drip from the IV, and no steady beat of a heart. I run to Gemma’s bedside, where Stacey is clutching her hand, tears streaming down her face. Hunter and Pax burst into the room, followed by a doctor, and I see the alert control tossed to the floor. As I reach out to touch Gemma’s cheek, I pull back in shock at how cold she feels.“She’s gone,” I murmur to Pax and Hunter, avoiding saying the word “dead” as Stacey wails and clings to Gemma’s lifeless body. I feel like I’ve been punched in the gut. Despite my efforts to prevent this, providing Gemma with the best care and two security guards, it wasn’t enough. All because I chose to be with the woman I love. As I look at Stacey’s tear-streaked face, I can’t help but feel like I’ve let her down again. Despite the notes and threats against my mate, I did everything I could to protect her and her family, but it still wasn’t enough to save G
JadenGemma’s parents arrived in a frenzy, their faces contorted with grief and anger. I could see the pain in their eyes as I tried to explain myself, but my words fell on deaf ears. Their daughter was gone, and it was my fault. I hugged Stacey tightly, feeling the disapproving glares from Gemma’s parents as I carried her out of the hospital room. She clung to me, her legs wrapped tightly around my waist as her tears staining my black t-shirt as she buried her face in my chest. My heart ached for all of us in this moment of unimaginable loss. Guilt and sadness on my shoulders, knowing that Gemma’s death was partly my fault.I didn’t care; I left them all to it. I knew Hunter and Pax would follow me, but I just needed to make sure that my pumpkin was alright before I dealt with any more of this. “I’m so sorry,” I whispered into her ear as she clung to me. I found an empty room and sat down on the bed and gently rocked her back and forth. I rocked her, soothing my hand down her back, e
JadenAs the afternoon wore on, the once vibrant atmosphere of the house was now shrouded in a thick blanket of sorrow. People gathered in the lounge and hushed conversations could be heard throughout the rooms. I wanted to give Gemma’s parents some privacy to mourn their daughter at the hospital. I had mind linked to the funeral director earlier, and I had promised to cover all expenses for the service, no matter what decisions the family made.Stacey sunk into the plush leather armchair, with Gretchen curled up in her lap. She ran her fingers through Gretchen’s soft curls. I ran my fingers through her hair as I leaned back in the chair beside her, my arm hung over her shoulder. Aurora was sandwiched in between her mates on the large sofa. Sabastian and Gabriel were on either side of her as Caleb lounged further back, pinching his brows.Kara perched on Elio’s lap in one corner of the room, while Pax sat next to them on the sofa. Elio glared at Pax as Kara casually chatted with him, o