*Jared*When we were just about to shift and set out to track down the vile Blood Moon pack, a hurried voice stopped us.“Alpha Jared!”I ignored the voice, unwilling to turn my attention away from the task at hand, but Kent grabbed my arm, pulling me back. I gave him an irritated look but dutifully turned around.Todd, the rogue was running toward us. He was probably not much younger than me, but there was an eagerness about him that was childish.I sneered at him, angry that he had slowed us down.“Why are you still on my land?” I snapped.As a courtesy that I felt was too kind, we had Avery look the guy over before sending him on his way once it was clear he had sustained no serious injuries.Most of the vicious rogues we encountered in the past had scars, patched fur, or wounds that told us they were belligerent, but Todd wasn’t like them. Especially after he was fully back to himself, he actually carried himself more like a traveling scholar than a filthy rogue. Because of that,
*Claire*A part of me was marveling at how I keep finding myself in situations like this one. The amount of turmoil and danger I managed to put myself in since coming to Moonstone was starting to make my previous life as a rogue seem like a merry picnic.I dug my teeth into my lip as the pain increased in my wrists. I had been working for hours to get the Wolfsbane cuffs loose and I was finally able to wiggle my wrists enough to reveal a loose thread. My fingers stung when I grabbed the end and tug on it to slowly unravel the cuffs. I stayed on my side and tried to look meek and depressed as I worked on the cuffs.Eventually, I had it to the point where I was certain that I would be able to break free of them.I still couldn’t believe the witch actually thought I might agree to kill Jared. I thought she might kill me on the spot after my immediate refusal, but she just looked amused, as if I was a little girl that told her that I wanted to be a fairy one day. She had chuckled, patted
It wasn’t Jared.I looked up into the emerald eyes of the stranger. He was gripping the top of my arms, close to my shoulders and it caused my breath to hitch and my heart to speed up. My back was pressed up against his firm chest. I stepped away from him quickly, turning so that I was facing him.“Sorry about that,” I said quickly. “I’m just a little tired.”He nodded in understanding, causing the dark curls on his head to bounce slightly. “You’ve been through a lot, I imagine,” he said. Then held out his hand to me. “I’m Todd.”I accepted his hand. I felt my head tilt to the side. “Claire,” I told him. I furrowed my eyebrows. “I don’t think we’ve met before.”I was unsure before, but I was certain now that he wasn’t a Moonstone member. I was fairly good with faces, and even though Moonstone was a larger pack, Todd’s extraordinarily good-looking face would have at least registered as familiar if I had seen him in passing.He looked uncomfortable, shifting slightly as he dropped my ha
I could feel my body start to shake as rage shot through me.There were no patients in the large exam room, which only served to make me angrier. Claire and that guy were all alone, sitting mere feet from each other in the metal medical chairs.I tried to take a calming breath, reminding myself that we were in a public space. It did little to settle the fire building in me.A small part of me was relieved to see that Claire was indeed alright. She had a couple of light bruises on her arms and another on the side of her face, just below her ear. She was smiling widely at something that the rogue said to her, which caused my blood to boil.This was the thanks that she was showing me after I sent out a rescue team to go retrieve her from whatever prison she was just in?No. Absolutely not.I stepped away from the door. “Avery,” I said through the mind link. “To the infirmary. Now.”It took a brief second for Avery
*Claire*“Wait, wait!” Avery interrupted me, holding her hand out to me as her bright green eyes widened into saucers. “You were kidnapped by Bentley, the same Bentley that attacked you and Alpha and attacked our pack?”I watched my friend warily. She was starting to pace around in circles.“Yes,” I confirmed with a nod.Avery wasn’t looking at me anymore as she paced. “And he didn’t ra … hurt you, or kill you because he was ordered by some witch to bring you to her?”“Yup.”Avery’s face had paled considerably. “And this witch tried to strike a deal with you, saying she could wake your wolf in exchange for you killing our alpha?”I sighed. “That sums it up, yes.”Avery’s small hands flew to her hair. She buried her fingers in her brown tresses, looking ready to yank them out at any moment. “This is bad, Clair
I looked at Todd’s earnest expression, my eyes widening.Ever since the encounter with Reeva, I had thought about leaving Moonstone again, especially if I did get my wolf back.Whether Reeva was trustworthy or not, she confirmed the curse of my own blood. I didn’t belong to Moonstone. No mixed-blood hybrid would be truly accepted by any pack, or even, any race.Especially with Jared’s hatred towards witches, Amanda’s endless harassment, and my father and Uncle Ben’s death wishes, I wasn’t sure that I belonged in Moonstone anymore.My initial plan was to stay here until I figured out a way to defend myself anyway… However, after a brief consideration, I shook my head.“Todd, that’s really sweet of you to offer, but I don’t have any plans to leave Moonstone in the foreseeable future,” I lied.If I ever became a rogue again, it would be nice to have someone around, especially so
I sat at my desk for a couple of hours, trying to get some work done, but failed. I was just lying to myself that I was working, but all I had done was shove papers and pens around on the table, while my mind filled with images of Claire’s deep blue eyes and heart-shaped face.I slammed my fist down on the table, causing the whole thing to rattle. I hated myself for making her cry, for forcing myself onto her the way I had.There was no way I was going to get anything done. Claire’s delicious scent still lingered on my body, causing my head to spin. I strode into the bathroom, chucking my clothes off as I went. I turned the tap on cold, needing to wash the scent off of me.I must stop thinking about her.The shower did little to get my mind off of her though, the droplets dripping from the walls just reminding me of her shining tears as they fell from her eyes. She had looked so fragile as I had her pinned against her own bed, her lips swollen
*Claire*What on earth just happened?I raised a hand to my swollen lips, tears still pooling in my eyes as I sat in a daze.My lips tingled as I still felt Jared's warm ones against them. He hadn't just kissed me that time. I swallowed thickly. I kissed him back. I responded and wanted to do so much more with him.I wanted him to touch me and feel me. I loved the feeling of his body pressing against mine.More tears trailed down my cheeks as the shocking realization slammed into me.I wanted him.I was hurt that he didn’t fully trust me for not killing Rob. I was jealous that Amanda was his mate. I was furious that he threw me in the lake for Goddess’ judgment, and I was so angry that he didn’t come to rescue me from Reeva even though deep down I knew none of the other warriors, Kent, or Todd could come without Jared’s approval.I was so upset because I loved him, but I knew my love for him was stupid a