Kacie
Jake left shortly after and I slipped into the bathroom. Steam billowed up and fogged the mirror and window. I stepped under the water and thoughts of Haley filtered through my mind. I attempt to shut the thoughts threatening to mentally drag me down. I let the searing water wash over my body. I don’t know how long I’m in the shower but when I’m done, I wrap a towel around my body and step out of the shower.
When I make my way from the bathroom, I look towards the bed and see the outline of Viktor’s body still in bed. I walk towards my dresser and pull out clothes as I try to figure out what I’m wearing today.
Before I can decide on my outfit, something silky covers my eyes and is knotted securely around the back of my head. I jump but Viktor’s smell fills my senses and my body relaxes.
“What are you doing?” I asked, my voice
KacieAs we walked into the lobby, I couldn’t help but fidget and sneak glances at him. He made love to me in the shower but when we got dressed we did so in silence. He didn’t speak a word to me and I feel like he’s been avoiding my gaze since we got downstairs.He opened the door for me and my heart squeezed. Even when we were… awkward or arguing he still did these small things for me. I walked past him and outside into the sunlight.The warmth could be felt on my clothes and it warmed my skin. The breeze tossed my hair behind me and smelled of grass and pine. I was tempted to take off running but Viktor’s hand closed around mine.He stood beside me looking like a God, black shorts and a black t-shirt molded to his body. His hair was wet and water beaded on his forehead.“I heard your conversation with Jake this morni
Kacie“As much as I’d love to take you right here in the middle of these woods, I brought you out here for a reason,” Viktor murmured against my lips.“Forget the reason,” I murmured breathlessly. “Tell me more about what you want to do to me in these woods.”Viktor chuckled and looked down at me. The lust was clear in his eyes but as his eyes flashed, he strained against Flash. I could feel his need against my belly but he was fighting me.“I’d love to play out one of your fantasies out here,” I whisper quietly. “Against the tree? In the dirt?” I suggested.“The Goddess tempts me,” he murmured. “I brought you out here so you can try calling on your power.”“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” I said and tried to move back.
KacieBy the time we were done, sweat coated our skin and we were exhausted. Viktor and I trained for hours and when we stepped out of the woods the moon was high in the sky. I accidentally burned him a few times but I had to admit I had control the entire time and I’d had fun letting go.I hadn’t let Athena out today, as badly as she wanted to, I couldn’t let her convince me. I told her baby steps. I wanted to be this “badass” Viktor thought I was but I couldn’t afford to do this rashly.No matter how much I was breaking down inside, there was one person in the world that could always make me smile. Being able to have this time with Viktor. Yes, it hadn’t been long since I’d come back, and yeah, it hadn’t been long since we’d been attacked in the middle of the night, but my mate could always quell the sadness in me. At least, for a few ho
Jake“Get your head out of your ass, Haley!” Jamie yelled. She sat to my right perched on top of the ledge for the box for higher-ranked pack members. The sun was high in the sky and I hadn’t talked to Luna since last night. I knew she would ask them today about her gift.I focused on the two women fighting in the middle of the field. They had our undivided attention. Luna’s fist had just connected with Haley’s belly and the smile on her face expressed how she felt knowing she’d landed a painful blow. Her hair was tied up in a loose ponytail and her shirt stuck to her tight form underneath. The fire I knew lay under the surface burned brightly in her eyes.Haley’s shirt was soaked from sweat and her eyes never left her opponent as she took turns jabbing with her right and left. Her eyes filled with determination; she was taking her opponent seriously after the l
KacieJake ended the night by scheduling the next training and Jamie stepped forward and dismissed everyone. I may be Luna but on the field, I’m just like everyone else; a pack member with the wish to become stronger.The members gathered began pouring off the field and the promise of a hot shower had my feet moving in the same direction. The shuffling of tired feet and side conversations told me I wasn’t the only one ready for bed.I was already aching and I let out a grunt when someone fell against me. A hand gripped my side and pulled me aside. “Excuse me,” the pack member said to me before continuing on. I quickly turned to see Jake staring down at me with a flirtatious grin. He wasn’t out of breath or sweating. Must be nice.“I saved your life, Luna,” he said.“Beta,” I said. I rolled my eyes and pulled awa
KacieMy heart thumped as I walked away from him. I wasn’t swayed and I wouldn’t be. My heart and body belonged to Viktor. I wasn’t the same girl I was when I first came here but one thing would never change; my love. Jake’s flirting was harmless.I wasn’t used to boys or men flirting with me. Jake liked to lightly flirt with me and it caught me off guard every time he did it. My heart thumped nervously as I forced myself to walk slowly back to my room. It wasn’t until the door was closed and locked behind me that I exhaled the breath I’d been holding.I shook my head. My yawn turned into a stretch and I made my way to the bathroom. As soon as the steam rose, I slid into the tub. Time didn’t pass under the hot water. I closed my eyes and relished in the heat as it cascaded down my body. I welcomed the way the scorching water relaxed my sore muscles.
After the waiter took our order, Mia and Delta Bruce started full-on making out. I was not expecting their blatant public displays of affection. I must have made a face because Gamma Jamie noticed my unease. She burst into laughter and bumped her shoulder into mine. “You’ll get used to them,” she said. “Bruce is unmated.” “Okay?” I said. “I’m unsure why that is an explanation.” “Mia is his favorite side piece,” she said. “He is a man.” “He doesn’t think about his mate?” I ask her as quietly as I can while yelling over the music. She shrugged nonchalantly. “He’s been unmatedfor a few years. He might have given up on finding her,” she said. “She’s still out there though,” I said. “Not everyone is blessed to find their other half, Luna,” she said. “That’s so sad,” I said qui
KacieIt took everything I had to stop myself from taking a step back. I sensed him moving closer and I stayed still. I didn’t want to run and put him in hunt mode. He stared at me with a look that bordered lust. He took a step closer and wrapped his arms around my waist. My eyes automatically skimmed down his muscular chest then snapped back up to meet his gaze.I reminded myself we were dancing. This is what normal people do. Maybe not with a wolf and maybe not their mate’s best friend but people dance all the time. We were both intoxicated but I would not let anything come from this. We were just dancing. I would just have to befriend Jason like I have Jake. Determination fueled what I did next. I lifted my hands and wrapped my arms around his wide shoulders. I could feel the hard muscles under my soft skin.He started moving his body and his grip on my waist tightened. I was his Luna. He wouldn&r
My heat aches as the thoughts flit through my mind one after the other. Tears prick the corners of my eyes before filling them. My chest pangs with the need to be wrapped up in his arms. I know without a shadow of a doubt that Jake would do all of those things. He would care for me as he had before. He would look after me as my Beta, my partner, and the father of our child.My soul wept for him, my heart broke for him, and my mind went mad for him. I curled into a ball on the bed and grasped at the sheets as the pain poured from my body. I screamed as it became unbearable and my vision went white. I cried out, my cry turning into a scream, as the door burst open. It slammed against the wall, but still my vision remained impaired.I couldn’t see anyone, but I heard voices. I felt the rush of people around me and hands checking me and prodding my belly. I froze when I felt the warmth of a hand on my shoulder and a familiar scent I didn’t think I would ever smell again. I threw my head ba
Kacie I want to bury my head into his chest but I can’t. I can’t bring myself to look away. I continue staring at him as Viktor lays down by his side. He props himself up and stares down at him. The love and sadness in his eyes blend into one. His gaze darts back and forth between the two of us. A sad smile pulling at the corners of his lips. “I love you,” I whisper. “I love you,” Viktor says quietly. We shared stories, we cried, we laughed. I told him about one of the mornings after my Luna Ceremony when I woke up and found Jake naked across from me. He flexed and tried to show off. Viktor chuckled and shared a precious memory from when they first kissed. It was sweet and I wished I could have seen the look in Jake’s eyes if he had heard Viktor tell the story. The next memory Viktor shared with me was the look on Jake’s face when I walked out that first day in Ken’s house. When he smelled me and knew I was his mate, he only trusted Jake to be alone with me. That’s why he let him
Kacie“I have one request,” I said.“Anything my love,” Viktor said.“I don’t want him in the lobby. I want him in our room. Can we do that?” I asked.“We can do whatever we want Kacie,” Viktor answered.In the olden days, it was common for our kind to spend the dead’s last night with them. It was like a ritual, we clean their bodies with a cloth, wash their hair, and clothe them in something loose. After the ritual the body is placed in the living room or the pack lobby if the dead was an alpha. The family would then bring their blankets and pillows to sleep in the front on the couch or the floor. It’s the last night you get with the dead. It’s a form of closure and was done away with one hundred years ago, or at least that’s what Viktor told me. When he told me about it I clung to the knowledge and asked him if we could do it too. He admitted that he mentioned it to gouge my reaction. We looked into each others eyes and knew without a doubt that we needed to do it.It may have been
Kacie “I’ve failed. I failed and lost him,” Viktor said. The weight on his shoulders was large enough to make anyone crumble beneath it. Still, my mate stood firm. My heart broke for the mate we’d lost, but it soared knowing that he was safe. Instead of keeping my thoughts to myself I would make sure he knew. I would make sure he knew every day how much I loved him, how much I needed him in my life. I would make sure he knew how loved he was, but first, he needed to face Jake. He needed to come to grips with it as I have. He needs to make peace with it, so he can move forward. We both needed this. “Come here,” I said. I watched as he mentally drew back, away from me as if he would hurt me. As if he thought he’d lose me too if he touched me. I reached for him, my outstretched hand open in offering for him to take it. He had to take it. Viktor stared at my hand for a moment before his eyes darted to Jake on the ground between us. Desperation clear in his eyes when he looked back at m
Kacie In an attempt to feel whatever warmth Jake had left I pushed my body as close as I could to his. I ignored the unevenness of his body, the difference between it now and what I remembered. Everything in me came flowing out as my hair flowed out all around me. My hands grasped at his muddy shirt and my heart broke for the second time today. Jake’s body was hard and the finality of it pulled the sheet from beneath my feet. I was no longer able to deny the crushing reality. The warmth was seeping out of him as quickly as the clouds had formed above us. Footsteps squelched behind me announcing Viktor’s presence. My pain vibrated in his chest as he stopped behind me. It was enough to pull him away from mourning his sister. The curiosity outweighing the fear led him to me. I could feel his pain as he felt mine. I knew when he saw who lay beneath me because he made an unintelligible sound behind me. Still, I couldn’t bring myself to lift my head. I couldn’t look back at him. I couldn’
KacieI’ll hurt you.I don’t want to hurt you.I don’t want to hurt him. I wouldn’t hurt him. The urge, no, the need to make sure I don’t hurt him runs through my veins as the idea of burning him strikes me hard in the chest. It’s like an ice cold bucket of water and I feel like I’ve jolted awake from a dream. The flames protest against my will as my mind refuses to hurt the man in front of me. For the first time since becoming aware I look at him. My eyes wander over black hair, a sharp jaw, and full lips. Dark tired eyes filled with worry stared down at me. My mate reaches for me a second time and this time I extinguish the flames with the flick of my wrist as realization dawned on me.My mate.He’s okay.He’s alive.If my mate is here than why am I so hurt?My does my heart bleed?I lean in toward him and his hand gently grazes over my cheek, his shoulders relaxed, and relief stared back at me. I was safe. I was in one piece. I had survived. If he hadn’t gotten my attention things
Kacie My father’s breathing is haggard and strained beneath me. At my words he roars angrily. He’s weak, useless below me, unable to get away. When I straighten my back, lift myself up, and stare down at him. I take a moment to look over the expression of fear and regret in his eyes. I don’t bother with emotion because right now, I feel nothing. There’s only a high, a haze of bliss from his acceptance. It’s settled over me as I hover over him. The power of taking what I want, getting the revenge I sent out for. I’m hurting him, torturing him, killing him. I focus on this as he stares up at me. “All of this will do nothing. You may have killed my friends and you may have won the fight between you and I, but there’s one you haven’t and can’t win. You can’t win against death,” Charles chokes. I don’t want to hear anymore. I don’t want to hear the truth drip from his lips like poisoned honey. I won’t let him win and I won’t let his words get to me. I won’t change my mind and I won’t hea
Charles yanked his arm back but I didn’t let go. I did the opposite, I dug my nails in as he pulled, my claws dug into his skin and ripped. Blood pooled and burned, he yanked again this time, ignoring the bite of my nails as they pierced deeper. He wrenched his arm free, or what was left of it. I could feel his skin under my claws, chunks of meat between my fingers, as he cried out in pain. I take a moment to enjoy my work. His once scorched pink skin had turned black, blood ran down his arm and dripped to the floor. Charles turned to glare at me, and for the first time since meeting him, fear stares back at me. He clutched his injured arm and I watch as his Adam’s apple bobs as he swallows nervously. Sweat pools on his temple and slides down his brow. I chuckle at this small victory. He must have thought that I would be an easy kill. The young girl he once knew died a long time ago. Did he think that his words would have weakened me? Did he think that his words would have an affect
KacieNow that I knew Viktor would be okay, I could give in to what I’ve wanted since seeing the devastation the Elders caused. Now that I knew that Clara would have Viktor, I felt the opposite of what I’ve before at the thought of them together alone. I felt relief. She would make sure he was safe. I turned from Clara and focused on that man I once called father.Answering to the call of my growing flames I dashed forward. I promised to give them what they wished soon. The need for blood, for sliced skin, and the smell of burning flesh drove me forward. I would have what I desired, I would have my vengeance, my revenge. My anger fanned the flames and they grew hotter than they ever have before. I screamed out in anguish as I rushed toward the man who should have been the father I deserved. He was nothing but a disappointment.Tears run down my cheeks before they dry up and evaporate. I don’t cry for him or what I’m going to do, no, I’ll revel in my father’s death. The tears continue