(Cara's POV)Grateful was an understatement.The noise distracted us, and Teo flung me to his back with such ease that I felt offended.Why can't I be like that?, why can't I be like them?"What is going on?" I asked as he ran with such speed that the trees were almost a blur. Could it be that the war has started? My heart slammed faster."Hey, calm that heart of yours; this is not the war." Teo said as if reading my mind, "I think an announcement is about to be made; strangely, the Alpha didn't mind linking me he was going to do that, he's not even supposed to be at the pack right now.""Are you sure?" I asked, still worried."Pretty sure, but stay close to me, always."I nodded, then I realized he wasn't seeing me. "Yes, I would," I said. Why did I have this weird feeling that my answer meant more than it should mean?We arrived quickly, and I noticed he wasn't heading for the pack house."Where are we going?" My question was cut short when I saw the pack members gathered around. I
(Cara's POV)I would never be good enough.Those were the only thoughts on my mind. Even as I slept, I dreamt of Emmaline as the Luna; I dreamt of being nothing but a simple slut for the Alpha.Could that be what I would become?When I trained with Teo the next day, I put in everything I had. We stayed for hours, but I didn't stop to even have a single break; I pushed my body to the breaking limit."Are you alright?" Teo asked"Yes...No. Of course I am not alright. Do I look alright?" I asked, my voice sharper than I wanted it to be; it wasn't Teo's fault; I couldn't put my frustrations on him. "I am sorry, could we just keep on training?""You are good at it already; are you sure you don't want to rest for a few minutes?""No""Sure?""Positive""The Alpha had a little delay coming; he should be here in a few hours," Teo said, hoping it would lighten my mood. It did, actually, but it didn't make me stop thinking about her."Does he know?" I asked, referring to what happened only a da
(Cara's POV)It was like walking into the Shadow Pack for the first time, but this time they didn't hide their stares. In the Shadow Pack, I was the Luna, but not here; they stared openly; some even paused what they were doing to look. I didn't know I was this popular, not that I like this kind of popularity; it only made me feel weird.They were the weird ones.But here, being a werewolf was normal, and being a human amongst them wasn't.Rollins held me close; it was clear, not that I hadn't known before now; Rollins was feared; they treated him the same way they would their Alpha; but most of them stayed away from him, bowing their eyes when he passed by; but I, on the other hand was treated me like some artifact in the museum; it was getting irritating; I couldn't wait for it to be all over; to get back home; not that home held anything promising for me; I couldn't go past the shame I felt; that I was not strong enough; some part of me still wanted to accept the challenge; I knew
(Cara's POV)Still, I couldn't help but imagine what it would be like if Rollins had come here with Emmaline; she would have been his perfect Luna; they only disrespected him because of me.Rollins pinned the woman against the wall. She struggled against his grip, but it was futile. He was shaking, more furious than I've ever seen him. Every other person kept their distance. The Luna's Mate stood there, hopeless, he couldn't stop Rollins, he would kill her- I knew it.I walked to him. I placed my hands softly against his back, and he inhaled sharply, letting her go. The woman held her throat, and her mate looked disappointed in her. Surely she crossed the boundary. I didn't care anymore. I wanted to go home. I've heard enough of people repeating over and over that I was human, like I didn't know that, like it was some sorth of curse."I think we are done with this meeting; it is settled then. We go with Cara's plan," he said, and the others agreed without hesitation. The woman who he
(Cara POV)Silence. Complete silence; everyone knew the risk and what I had just done. Emmaline smiled wide; she looked at me like I was the fool; maybe I was. I never was the one who stood up to challenges, but this time it was different. I could almost feel the weight of the Luna title on my shoulder, and it changed many things. For one, I didn't like being threatened; I didn't like to cower away like some coward; if I was given the title, I should be able to fight for it."No," Rollins growled. "There would be no fight." His eyes sparkled gold. He was angry; way more than that, he was furious."You can't stop it," I say, surprising not just everyone there but myself. "I would fight for the title.""And if you lose?" He asked, not bothering to hide the fact; it was clear, and everyone saw it too."Then I lose; she takes the position," I say, indifferent, but deep down, I tried hiding the fear; it would only be a matter of time before the regret would kick in. That was why I had to m
(Cara's POV)I knew who it was; even before I looked, I recognized those hands.Teo."What the fuck? You scared the hell out of me.""You were roaming about in the pack this late; it is not safe. I heard what happened. Why Cara?""Please just... don't ask me why I did it; don't tell me I was crazy to do it or that I am out of my mind; I've gotten enough of that; I just couldn't..." I broke down, sobbing harder. I just had no one to cry to, no one who would understand me. "He left too," I say in between the sobs. I didn't need to mention his name for Teo to understand."Oh, Cara, come here." His arms were around me, and I held on like my life depended on it. I had never felt this confused in my life."I know I can't beat her, but I was just so damn tired. At the meeting, there was this woman who spoke publicly about it—right there in the meeting, I should have ignored her, but I just can't; I can't keep on living like this.""Shhh," he cooled, and I obeyed. My tears socked his gray shi
(Cara POV)I woke up on his bed.He had been soft last night, very careful with me; he hadn't forced me to do anything I didn't want to; he knew who I thought about all through; I woke up in tears; Teo was also awake; he only watched me as I cried, holding me close. I love Rollins, I really do, but I refused to be the girl that is left broken at the end.I didn't know which hurt more, knowing that I just cheated on him or knowing that he didn't return back last night to check on me. A part of me wanted him to; a part of me wanted to see that he didn't mean what he said and he wouldn't leave me alone, but that would be a lie. He meant what he said; he left me alone. I imagined how I would have felt, broken and alone, awaiting the fight... I should be grateful to Teo; I shouldn't make him feel bad, but he didn't seem to mind; he understood me. Being with Teo was easy; I didn't have to be good enough; I didn't have to earn up to my position; I just had to be... there.Now I wondered how
(Cara's POV)The day had finally come. The fight would begin by sundown."You can do this," Teo said to me, even if I wasn't sure I could.Rollins hasn't returned; I was in this alone. Well, at least I still had Teo.I arrived at the clearing with Teo and Lucian; almost all the pack members were there, and they seemed surprised that I even showed up—that wasn't a shock to me either. They parted the way for me.Emmaline was already there, right in the middle of the ring that had been set on fire. She was ready; I could see it in her stance, and so was I too. Even if I knew deep down that I couldn't beat her, I wasn't ready to lose either; it was just some strange determination in me."We fight to surrender," she said to me. I knew she would have preferred a fight to death, but that wasn't possible. She knew that, being the mate to the Alpha, she couldn't kill me.I nodded, taking off my coat and discarding it on the bare ground. Then I felt his presence.He was there, my eyes searched
(Epilouge, Part One)(ROLLIN'S POV) I walked into my room to see Gwen there. I didn't know how to tell her. Cara had decided that she would stay in one of the guests rooms till it was all over, but I knew that I wouldn't be able to stay here knowing that Cara was just a few rooms away and I had never been the one to get sneaky. Gwen had to know."We need to talk," I said to Gwen. She looked tiny now, too thin, but I still thought she was beautiful."It's about her, right?" she asked."I don't want you to stress yourself.""Let me guess, she is back at the pack, you both are back together, and you guys are waiting for me to die so you could go on with your relationships, right?" She asked, and I was silent. I had never felt this kind of guilt, but she surprised me when she smiled."I knew this was going to happen, but you see, I don't even care about the fact that all that went on between the both of us isn't real; I don't care about any of that. I am happy; you made me happy, and you
Three days after the war.I wished I could follow Rollins back to our pack; I wished... but I knew that things would never be the same, and so here I was, with Teo. I couldn't deny that I wanted to be with Rollins; every fiber of my being wanted him, but I couldn't have him.Teo walked down the stairs, fully dressed."Are we going somewhere?" I asked"No, not we, me."I shrugged. "Okay, when would you be back? ", He stared at me, giving me that long look. "Are you leaving me?" I asked, and I couldn't hold back the sob."Is not... is not in that way.""I don't understand.""We were never a thing; as much as I wanted it and still do, I know you love someone else, and I've learned some good lessons, we don't always get what we want , I would always love you, but not in that way, not anymore. You love Rollins; you would never settle for less. I want you to go get him.""What if he doesn't want me?""You both were meant for each other; I don't know what the outcome will be, but what I can
(Cara's POV)Teo led me towards the exit; he held the most of my weight, and I limped trying to go faster."Wait!""No, we have to go," he said, tugging me on, but I had stopped moving. I thought I saw something. "That window," I said, pointing to the window we just passed."No, Cara, not now.""Take me back," I said.Teo made an annoyed sound before taking me back. I looked through the window; I knew what I had seen. The 'human' girls ran out of the gate, but there were two vampires running after them. Those two vampires alone would be able to finish them off; how did they escape?"Sophie," I gasped."I'm sorry, Cara, we can't save them.""Yes, we can't, but you can.""Cara, I was given an order; I have failed him enough; please, we need to go.""Face the truth, Teo, I won't be allowed out of here, but they... they are so close to freedom, please. I have done so many wrongs; I want to do this one right thing, please.""Wait here, don't move one bit; you hear me, don't fucking move."
(ROLLINS POV)"I want to give you a more honorable death. I'll let you kill yourself," he said, throwing the gun at me. "One shot to the brain, that would do," he said, his face still having that smirk I hated."And what do you know about honor?" I asked, staring at the gun, that wouldn't kill him, I knew it."Nothing. That would have been a better death... but now," his eyes glittered. "Welcome to hell," and then there was darkness. I could not see a single thing, and then Cara came into view, it was like a clip was being replayed before my eyes, a clip from my mind. She walked into Teo's room and let her robe fall to the ground.Teo waited on the bed, watching her, his eyes watching every part of her. I couldn't run from this; it was like I had been trapped by some invisible force in a very dark room.And then I saw Teo again, forcing himself on her. I watched her sob.I inhaled. "Get out of my head," I growled."Not yet," Vlad whispered, and then I was in my pack. The Shadow Pack
(Laurent's POV)I couldn't look her in the eyes; she didn't know that I had come searching for her. When Teo told me she was here too, I knew that I had to find her, but I couldn't even look at her. I couldn't let her deceive me this one more time.Maybe we were never meant to be. The thought alone caused a strange kind of anger to rise in me, and I finished off the vampire. I exited her room, her scent in there was too strong. Finally, I could focus; I knew my next target. Ken.I ran through the hallways, checking through room, to find him. Nothing."I guess I am the one you have been looking for." Slowly, I turned back to see Ken, and a smirk spread on my face."I've always wanted to pass a stake into your heart.""Why? Because I have every right to fuck your mate, or perhaps because she would always be left with a part of me any fucking place she goes.""Maybe you are right, but guess what?" I asked, not even waiting for his answer, "We both won't be getting her.""Not if I kill
(SOPHIE'S POV)Ken left to help his master. Vlad. There had been an attack; I heard the shouts; I didn't know what exactly was happening, and maybe I didn't want to know anymore.I had made so many bad decisions in my life; I know I deserved this. I had never been a good girl, unlike Cara. I played with the feelings of others and was only loyal to Cara as a friend.My thoughts were cut short when the door to my room busted open and a vampire walked in. I knew him; he had always watched me with an expression on his face. I could only place it as hunger... and lust; he wanted my blood; he wanted to feed; and he wouldn't care if I died in the process. Ken was nowhere to be found; maybe he was dead. I was shocked that the thought of Ken dead didn't make me feel anything at all.The vampire licked his whitish lips as he moved closer, his dark red eyes regarding me, maybe deciding where to sink his teeth, and then they settled on my baby bump."No!, stay away from me!" I cried out. I hadn'
(ROLLINS POV)I knew I was in the right location when I got to the castle-like building; it had this dark loom over it; this had to be the place.Teo walked forward; he knew the directions. All through the journey here, I had given the two brothers some distance, as I knew they had a lot of catching up to do."That is the main gate; there are vampires guarding the gates—the strong ones; there is no way we can go in without being detected.""Then we would have to kill them as fast as we can," I said to him, and we walked towards the gates. Of course, the vampires noticed that we were not a part of them quicker than I anticipated. We had to act fast; there were about five of them at the entry. Teo ran forward; his speed alone told me he was stronger now, different. He faced two, engaging in hand-to-hand combat. I threw a wooden stake I had carved to him, and he slammed into the eyes of one. The remaining three came at me, all ready. I tried holding them all back at once till Laurent j
(Cara's POV)Shade walked into my room. I knew why he was here; it was time for my doze of wolf's bane. The past few days, I have begun to feel less pain anytime the liquid was injected into my veins, but I didn't know how much longer I would last.I didn't know where Rollins was now or what he would be doing. Had Teo found somewhere to start a new life? That would be better for him."It's so funny how this little liquid causes your kind so much pain," Shade said with a smirk as he drew closer. "I love seeing you in pain, and guess what? Vlad had been busy recently..." he trailed off, his hands on my throat. "And right now... he isn't watching you; he has finally seen you for what you are—a slut. He has that already; he doesn't need you, but I want to know... I've always wanted to know what he enjoyed when he was with you and what he saw so differently.His hands went down to my breast, and he pressed hard on it, his eyes brightening up. "Does this turn you on?""Get your hands off me
(ROLLIN'S POV)I couldn't bear it, that she was there with HIM. Teo assured me that he wouldn't harm her; Vlad wanted her alive... for other purposes, and that made me furious at the fact that he had touched her, but I guessed she knew when she was going to work for him.She was only helping. I tried to tell myself, after all she had said it, that I could be with anyone I wanted to be with, and I shouldn't be mad at her for fucking the vampire prince to get what she wanted. I couldn't help but wonder if she was hurt; if the bastard hurt her, I was going to kill him. But then again, vampires were already dead.Teo had managed to bring Laurent back from the woods. It was a wonder to me how he had yet again changed; little by little, he was becoming the Laurent I knew, but if you looked deeper into his eyes, you would see the little emptiness. Still, it was better; he was back now.Teo, Laurent, and Lucian sat in my office as we discussed tactics. Though deep down we knew the odds were a