Over the next few days Joseph became Jane’s shadow. Most times she didn’t notice him until she was actively looking for him and he would just appear. It freaked Jane out and Joseph seemed a natural Gamma. Reid had withdrawn completely and Ryan spent more and more time with Kyle or at the border. Jane spent more time with her mother and learning about Luna duties. Britney always seemed to hover wherever Reid was. “So what does a Luna actually do?” Jane asked her mother as they sat in her office, adjacent to Kyle’s. “Essentially you’ll be the pack’s mother. You organize every important event. You make sure your Alpha knows about births and ceremonies and outside events that you’re invited to. You will always be the one to pick out gifts when other Alpha’s take over and retire. It’s important to know which packs you have treaties with and which ones you don’t. The only times you’ll invite neutral packs to functions is if it’s to do with the Alpha committee and your pack hosts it, other
A week went by and Jane hadn’t spoken one word to Reid. He seemed to avoid her and he’d stopped attending school. Joseph had told her that Reid had switched to homeschooling for the last few months.It hurt more than she thought it would hurt. She saw Ryan at dinner and most nights he was so exhausted he was asleep before she was. He saw Reid every day though for their Alpha training and she couldn’t help but feel that it was just her Reid was avoiding.Jane walked softly down the stairs in the dark. It was past midnight and she couldn’t sleep. She found Reid in the kitchen and her shock was so great that she’d faltered in the doorway as he looked up at her.“Hey,” he said softly.Jane just stood there looking at him. He wasn’t wearing a shirt, just his flannel pajama bottoms and he seemed so foreign to her. She looked at the tattoo on his chest and she could feel the sting of it on her own chest.“Jane …”“Reid!” Britney’s voice came from the stairs and Reid rushed out of the kitchen
Jane had showered and dressed all before seven am. She couldn’t see any of them going to school today and she had no idea where Ryan was. Her phone was still on the bedside table and there wasn’t even a text from him.Her head snapped up as the bedroom door opened and Ryan walked inside looking pissed off. She frowned slightly and stood up from the bed. The anger was rolling off of him and it made her feel uneasy.“Is everything okay?”Ryan’s eyes had darkened as he turned to look at her. “I don’t get you, Jane. I’m here every single day. I give you everything you ask of me but at the first hiccup, you run. I get you’re feeling sensitive but I can’t have a Luna that runs every time something is difficult.”“I’m sorry …”“Sorry doesn’t cut it, Jane. I have to wake up in the middle of the night to find you gone! Then when I get to the hospital I have to hear that you’ve run, again! I’m getting sick of this bullshit!”“Ryan …”“Do you have any idea what it felt like to stand there with B
Jane cried herself to sleep that night and by the morning she could wiggle her toes. She’d snapped her spine in the fall and it taken her a full day to regain some motion. The doctor wanted to keep her there until she could walk.“Hi, sweetheart,” Sarah said as Jane opened her eyes and kissed her forehead.“Hi, mom,” she whispered.“The doctor says you’ve made amazing progress. He predicted that it would be a full week before you could move your toes.”Jane couldn’t even muster a smile as her mother sat down on a chair next to the bed. “He said I could go home when I could walk.”“Just concentrate on getting better. Ryan’s in a hearing right now with Kyle and Sebastian and his father.”“Why?” Jane asked perplexed.“You’re in the hospital, sweetheart, that constitutes an attack on a future Luna. Someone has to answer for that,” Sarah said.“It was an accident, Mom. Sebastian and Ryan were fighting and Joseph took the brunt of our first fall. He tried to save me.”Sarah smiled then and
After dinner Jane followed Britney back to her old room. It had been changed into a nursery since it was across from Reid’s room and right next to Britney’s room. Nobody had even asked her but she knew she was being childish. She had a whole wing on the other side or had.The room was very basic. It had a crib, a changing table and a rocking chair. A dresser stood on one side that held the baby’s diapers and toiletries. A nightlight was on and the lighting in the room was dim but Jane could still see that barely any money had been spent on this room.“It’s about time for her next feeding. You can stay if you like,” Britney said softly. Jane could tell she was nervous.“I’d like to if you don’t mind.”Britney smiled and her eyes lit up as she walked to the crib and lifted the pink bundle from it. She took her over to the changing table and gently unwrapped the blanket from around her. Jane was mesmerized at how different Britney seemed.“Her name’s Rein, R-E-I-N,” Britney said with a s
She continued her game with Ryan for the rest of that week, dressing in a way she knew would make him notice her and he went out of his way to ignore her. The attention from guys at school lessened and she knew it was Ryan's doing.It was Friday afternoon and she was packing an overnight bag. She was going to spend the night with Jenna and Claire and they were going out. There was a club they swore turned a blind eye if you were at least eighteen.Her dilemma though was Joseph. He’d follow her to Jenna’s house and then keep watch and if she dared to go out clubbing, he’d tell Ryan. She wasn’t sure how this Luna Gamma thing worked but there had to be a loophole.Her eyes sparkled suddenly and she pulled her phone from her handbag. Her bag was ready to go and she sat down on her bed and dialed a number. She felt hope blossom in her chest as it rang twice and was answered.“Hello.”“Hey, Connor …”“Jane! Man, I miss you around here. Jenner’s in love and Freya’s not as clued in to the who
Jane woke up feeling groggy, her head pounded and her eyes felt like a whole desert wind had blown sand in them. Her throat was dry and she felt nauseous. The previous night’s events had her eyes snap open and only then did she register Ryan’s scent. Lavender infused chocolate surrounded her and she inhaled sharply.“We should talk,” Ryan said from her window. He stood with his back to her and his arms were crossed over his chest.Jane shifted on the bed and she clutched her head as the room spun. She gulped greedily from the glass of water on her nightstand and looked at Ryan as he turned to look at her and leaned down on the window sill.“I’ve placed you under house arrest. You won’t set foot outside this house without Joseph by your side. Your shopping trip has been confiscated as has your car. Your credit card has been revoked and is in my possession. The guards have been notified that you’re not to set foot out of pack territory unless you’re accompanied by me.”At first her bloo
Jane smiled as she walked to the parking lot that afternoon, trailed by Joseph. She’d aced her test, she was sure of it. The wind was nipping at her through her hoodie and Ryan already stood next to his truck, leaning against it.She'd chosen every other open seat in class, as far away from him as she could get. The doors unlocked and Jane slid into the backseat once again and stuck her earphones in her ear and turned the volume up on her phone.She jumped from his truck the moment he parked it in the garage and headed inside the house. She took the stairs two at a time and practically ran down the hallway and into her room. She locked her door behind her and slid down against it.“Jane.” The knock on her door startled her and she stood up and unlocked the door before opening yet.“Yes, Joseph?”“Are you okay? Do you want me to bring you something?”“I’m fine. I have homework to get to.”She started to close the door but Joseph’s hand blocked it. “You keep saying you’re fine but I can
The front door to the football house opened and Jane looked at Cliff. His eyes widened slightly when he saw her and she felt relief that it was someone she knew. Her heart was pounding and her blood was pumping through her veins. She only knew that she had to find them.“Are you okay?”“Is Ryan here? Or Reid?”Cliff frowned as he took a step toward her. “No, they moved out this morning. They live off campus now. They didn’t tell you?”Jane felt her heart sink. Why would they move off campus? It dawned on her suddenly. They’d done it for her. Ryan had told her that they were a package deal. All three of them. They’d moved so they could be together, all three of them.“I don’t have time to explain now but I really need to find them, it’s life or death,” Jane said. Cliff must’ve seen something in her eyes because he nodded his head.“They got a house over on Blakeley Road. It’s the last one in the cul-de-sac. It has a red door with the forest behind it.”Jane grinned then. “Thank you, Cl
Her dorm room was empty and it was nearing five am. Jane let out a breath of relief. Nobody would know she hadn’t been here the whole night. She lowered her head in shame as she thought back to the previous night.Would they tell people what had happened between them? She felt like a notch on their bedpost. She tried to remember what Ryan had said, she hadn’t been concentrating, she’d heard his voice but not the actual words.For all she knew he could’ve been telling her to smile for the camera. She shivered, goddess, she hoped there wasn’t a camera. She could still smell their scents on her as she lay back on her bed and closed her eyes.She sat upright again as her phone started ringing and she frowned at the private number that was displayed on her phone’s screen. “Hello?”“Did you really run away from us?” Ryan asked her.“Look … I’m not sure what happened last night … I know what happened last night but it shouldn’t have. I don’t know what I was thinking and …”“What are you talk
Jane closed her notebook and placed it back into her bag. So far college had been a blast. Summer had passed painfully slow and she hadn’t seen Reid or Ryan again since the night of prom. Ryan had left sometime during the night because she’d woken up alone the next morning.She’d spent her summer holidays with her father and his wife. Reid and Ryan had spent it at some Alpha camp and she’d gone back to Midnight Pack a week before she had to leave for college. She had a dorm room and she spent most of her time in the library.She didn’t see her roommate often and some nights she’d fallen asleep on the couch in the library when the tie was around their doorhandle, which meant her roommate, Shelley, had company. It was the only part of college she hated thus far.She’d made a few friends and she’d actually been invited to a party. It was a football party but still, it was a party. She was excited and care-free and she loved her life at Camden. There weren’t any bullies like in high schoo
Jane looked at herself in the mirror. The silver dress she’d chosen fit her perfectly, showed off the curve of her hip and the back was so low that she’d actually debated buying it. It swept the floor and her silver heels sparkled in the light.She’d swept her hair up with silver pins, leaving her neck bare, except for the diamond necklace Kyle had given her for her birthday. She matched it with the earrings she’d received from the twins and her make-up was subtle, except for the bright red lipstick.She had five minutes before Kenneth was due to pick her up and she grabbed her small clutch and ventured out of her bedroom door. She felt beautiful, knew that she looked beautiful too but she was waiting for her mother’s reaction before letting happiness completely fill her.She took a deep breath when she reached the staircase and four pairs of eyes latched onto her. Her mother gasped and Kyle’s eyes narrowed just like she knew her father’s would have. Reid and Ryan stood watching her,
This time when she walked back into the meeting room, she walked in with Ryan and Reid next to her. They all went to their respective seats. Ryan hadn’t wanted to tell her what the Council had said to them about their part in everything and now she was more worried than ever.She took a deep breath and sat down, her heart beating erratically, her blood rushing through her veins and the sound of it drowning out everything else around her. She looked up as everything quieted down and the three Council members walked in and sat down in front of her.“Welcome back, everyone. We’ll start with Clarissa and Roxanne,” the first man said again.Clarissa and Roxanne both stood up behind their table and Clarissa sent Jane a scalding look. It spoke of contempt, malice and she seemed to enjoy the predicament Jane currently found herself in. Jane looked down, not wanting to look at her any more.“Your current status of omega will remain in place for six months after which your previous status’s wil
Jane woke up to a cold and empty bed. The bite marks on her shoulders had healed and she could feel them pulse inside her. She closed her eyes and focused on Ryan and smiled. She could sense him, his emotions were stable and she turned her thoughts to Reid. He was happy and that made her smile more.Jane showered and got dressed, ready for a new day. She hadn’t been to school in more than a week and she really didn’t feel like going back but the knock on her door told her that Joseph was probably ready to leave.“Morning,” she said with a fake smile and Joseph grinned at her when she opened the bedroom door.“We’re not going to school today,” he said as he leaned against the doorway.“Why not?”“Alpha Kyle has called for a meeting,” Joseph said.Jane straightened up and looked at him with a serious expression on her face. “Do you know what it’s about?”Joseph snorted and furrowed his brows. “Really? Did you really just ask me that?”“Oh, come on. You know everything that goes on aroun
Jane looked at the faces around the dinner table. Her mother, Sarah, was holding Kyle’s hand. She wondered what Kyle had told her about Callan, but whatever it was, she was supporting him now as he faced his sons.Neither Reid nor Ryan were happy sitting there. Ryan was still pissed off and Reid wanted answers. Jane knew that any discussions they would have that night would probably end up in a fight and she wasn’t looking forward to it.“You kept this from us for eighteen years,” Ryan spoke first.“With good reason,” Kyle said and Jane turned her head as the door to the dining room was opened.“He’s here, Alpha.” Kyle nodded his head and stood up from his chair.Callan walked into the dining room and Ryan’s jaw was clenched tightly together. Callan smiled when he saw Jane and she gave him a small smile. “My men have orders to burn your pack to the ground should I not return alive.”Ryan was in Callan’s face in seconds and he slammed him against the wall. “If and when you die, it will
Jane sat in the backseat of a large SUV with two men on either side of her. She’d gone with them willingly, not wanting anything to happen to Joseph or Travis. She knew they’d follow her and probably raise the entire Midnight Pack army to follow as well.“Where are we going?”“We’re taking you to speak with our leader, Alpha Callan.”Jane didn’t recognize the name but her heart rate increased when she realized they were driving towards the Moonstone Pack territory. She had no idea what had happened to the people of that pack, hadn’t even thought to ask since their Alpha was incarcerated.Warriors were posted throughout the territory and the SUV parked in front of their pack hall. It was a large building, not as large as theirs but still impressive. Their territory didn’t look like it had been attacked and Jane had to wonder what exactly was going on here.She was led out of the SUV and into the pack hall. It was deathly quiet and warriors stood on either side as her footsteps echoed i
Ryan led her into Reid’s old bedroom, right across from where Rein lay sleeping. Reid closed the door behind him and Jane looked around. She’d never actually been in Reid’s bedroom before and his scent overwhelmed her senses.“Why did you do that?” Reid’s intense stare was fixed on her and Jane didn’t really know how to answer him. She had mixed feelings about everything, Rein included.“The omegas are busy and she needed a bath,” Jane said. Reid shook his head but the smile on his face resonated sadness and Jane wished she knew what was going through his mind. She hated feeling like this, so unsure of herself, so insecure about her own future.“What did you want to talk about?” Jane looked at Ryan first and then back at Reid as she asked that question. She wasn’t sure she was ready to talk about everything.“Britney’s death has left Reid free to ascend with me,” Ryan began. She couldn’t decipher the look in his eyes.“I’m sure you’re both glad about that.” Jane felt uncomfortable. T