Demetria followed quietly beside Kerry on their way to the pack house. It'd taken over an hour for her to gain the courage to leave the room. Even with Jane reassuring Demetria, and Kerry on her side, Demetria was hurting.The guilt felt like it would eat her alive.It showed she had a soft heart, but it made Kerry fear that it would weigh her down just after she freed herself. He interlaced his fingers with hers. He hadn't been to the pack house since the night before, but he figured it would be doom and gloom. He sensed the pack's heartache well into the night, until hefinally had to block his mind from any mind link so that he could sleep.The closer they walked to the pack house, the harder Demetria's heart pounded."There is no need to be nervous, D."She pressed her mouth into a hard line. "I don't know if I can face them right now. Grace, Alex…all the pack..."Kerry turned her to face her. "We need to see them now. Waiting will look like we don't care." He tipped her chin upwa
Demetria walked with Cynthia from the pack house to Kerry's with nervous butterflies in her stomach. Dan and Kerry stayed back at the pack house to deal with some pack-related issues surrounding the upcoming funerals.She was glad to have something to do other than stick around for that. She felt bad enough, and dealing with funeral arrangements made her skin crawl. Grace had been kind, but she didn't miss the absent look in Alex’s eyes. She worried about him the most. That was his father, and he looked up to him."You're thinking about it, aren't you?" Cynthia asked.Demetria glanced over at her pretty face, and the way her smile warmed Demetria's heart."Yeah. I can't help it. It's just ... engraved into my thoughts, ya know."She nodded. "I do. It will fade with time, but in the meantime, we'll focus our energy on Sabrina. I'm sure she's ready to get out of that thing. I don't get it. Of all things to put her in, ya know. Why not something you can actually cuddle with?"Demetria sm
EpilogueThe smell of freshly cleaned hardwood floors and bittersweet excitement lingered in the air as Kerry stepped into the banquet hall with Demetria.They'd spent the last week alone in his house, healing from the guilt that Demetria held inside.It'd taken Kerry days to convince her to go shopping for a dress for the coronation.It'd taken him even longer to convince her that none of this was her fault. He wasn't sure she really believed him, but she believed him enough to attend the coronation. It was her niece being announced as Luna. She had to be there.Kerry tucked Demetria into the crook of his arm and admired the way she twisted her hair into a braid on top of her head, and the way it exposed her slender neck. He'd made her pick out an expensive dress, one that curved to her body, and showcased just enough, but not too much because Kerry's wolf wasn't having any of that.Kerry caught a glimpse of Dan and Cynthia sitting at a round table in the midst of the main floor. The
Jane tossed her final throw pillow onto her bed and stepped back to admire her work. Her pale white and pink flowery comforter brightened the brick interior of her apartment. It matched the fluffy white rug she'd saved a month to buy the summer before.She caught a glimpse of her blonde ponytail in the thrift store mirror above her bed, smiling at the way her green eyes lit up for the first time in what seemed like forever. Her small one-bedroom apartment was nothing to brag about, but it was hers. Plus, it was an hour away from her hometown where she left her miserable memories of high school.She'd been the epitome of shy and awkward growing up, which tossed her into the shadows during her high school years. She didn't mind- blending in fit her much better than standing out. However, that wasn't the case once he showed up and ruined everything. Jane walked into her small kitchen and opened her refrigerator. Only a carton of milk, some eggs, butter, and cheese made the trip with her
AlexHe had to be wrong. Alex wolf pawed and spun circles, wanting out, wanting her-Jane William. No. Alex refused to believe that she was his mate. But he couldn't deny the pull toward her or the ungodly need to sink his fingers into her hair and his fangs into her neck. Everything she did growing up dug underneath his skin. Her smile. Her laugh. Alex hated her-and he never understood why. Plus, she was human. Alex was the next Alpha of his father's pack. Why would he get a human mate?Suddenly, being pissed off about Jane dating Patrick Kelly in eighth grade made sense. It didn't then, when Alex felt like ripping Patrick's arm off his shoulder for holding her hand. After that, everything she did pissed him off, but not as badly as the fact that she was human and had no idea the supernatural existed just like everyone else in the room.The neighboring packs, the ones that wanted to, attended the local college to stay close to home. Alex had been offered numerous scholarships thro
Jane's chest felt as if it would explode any minute. The look on Alex's face, the way his masculine jaw went slack-everything about talking back to him made her heart race. She couldn't let this boy dictate her life any longer. Even if standing up to him made her legs wobble.Jane made her way toward the coffee shop, since her class let out early, to grab a coffee before heading back for her Psychology 101 class."Hey! Quiet Girl! Wait up!"She stopped and glanced over her shoulder at Cat running toward her, waving her hand in the air like a lunatic. She stopped, placed her palm on Jane's shoulder, and bent down to catch her breath. "Whew," she said, brushing back her hair. "That was... amazing! I totally pegged youwrong. One wrong look and you snap. So, tell me you know Mr. Super Hottie back there."Jane smirked but continued toward the coffee shop, holding the straps of her bags against her shoulders. "Oh, I know him. We went to school together, and he is a jackass. Don't waste
Alex swiped the empty seat at the end of the cafeteria table where all the football players sat. His roommate, Jaxton Phillips, sat beside him, talking to someone at the other end while smacking on his food with his mouth open.Freshman football players were required to stay on campus and always roomed with another player. He didn't mind. He grew up in a pack house full of rambunctious werewolves; these guys were nothing compared to them. "How about that fresh meat this year, Tibbs," Cash, the team's quarterback, said down the table.The running back Lincoln Tibbs chuckled. "I've noticed some promising ventures. There is a red head in my calculus class that's been asking for it."Alex zoned out on their conversation, not tempting himself with the idea of another girl. He knew what mates meant, and it meant he was stuck with Jane.Speaking of, he'd noticed her sitting in a corner booth with that girl from class moments before. She'd let her hair down her shoulders and wore cut-off blu
Jane pulled her long blonde hair into a highponytail and grabbed her keys. She spent an hour after her morning classes getting groceries before she had to go check in with Sydney at the coffee shop.She had so much pep in her step that she tripped on the last stair at her apartment complex and skinned her palms and knees. She didn't care because nothing could bring her down today- figuratively speaking, of course.She drove her small Honda toward campus and raced toward the library to check in with Sydney. She stood with her back to her, vigorously writing on a clipboard and speaking to a coworker on the other side of her.Jane cleared her throat, not wanting to interrupt, and smiled when Sydney turned around to look at her. "Hey! There she is. Jane, this is Delia. Delia, this is Jane."They exchanged greetings while Claire grabbed her apron and her coffee house T-shirt from underneath the counter. "Delia is working the morning shift, and you'll relieve her around three for the eveni