Kamari's Point of View The shower was a glorious feat. Steam curled around me as I stepped out. The thwack of my wet hair against my back as I let it fall was satisfying. Having my own bathroom without my father's things cluttering every surface? Now that was a fucking ten out of ten. But when I walked out and found three men sitting on my bed and conversing, that was scary to behold. Not something I ever thought I would see in my lifetime. All of their eyes darted toward me. The conversation they were having died in their throats. I felt like an intruder. Until I realized that I was half naked and they were blatantly staring at me as if I was a meal on display. "Hello," I bleated out, increasingly becoming aware of how naked I was. Zayan's eyes trailed the length of my body. His eyes became hungry as he most likely imagined me as the first night we slept together. Naked and quivering beneath him Nolan's face flamed up and he hurriedly looked away, his shoulders twisting away as
Kamari's Point of View Malakai's eyebrows shot up into his hair at the news. Zayan and Nolan looked at each other, baffled. But I was too stunned to speak. I had seen this coming in some way or another. Knew that it was only a matter of time before my parents realized their mistakes and tried to fix them. Some part of me had always chalked up their animosity toward each other as love that couldn't escape. They bickered often. Fought even more often than that. It might have been because the mate bond wanted them together and the two of them were reluctant. Either way, it was high time they realized what they wanted. Stopped the pretense that they would never love each other again. For the small child in me, I was elated. Beyond that. It was like getting a second chance at being a family. But the bad blood between my mother and me was far from being over. On the contrary, we had barely spoken about what had happened since I returned the first time around. Yes, we fought and argued
Kamari's Point of View "Your plan is absolute insanity, Kamari! Using you as bait? Come on! You are the fucking only heir of Jagged Rock. What if something goes wrong?" Malakai all but screamed as he followed me inside the house. He slammed the door shut behind us, effectively isolating me. My parents were still outside. Zayan was sent to check up on Eris and to see if she had told Rachel's enforcers anything yet. Apparently, her screams wouldn't reach the top of the house. None of us had known they were already busy with her. Had assumed Rachel would carry out the task by herself. Although, why would she? My mother was currently in mating bliss. A part of me thought my mother was cruel for sending Zayan. Her way of reminding him that there were two sides to this fight and if he fucked up it would be him inside that room next. But it was his mate that she was freely torturing. His allegiance might be with me but she still held a piece of his soul. Gaelan had asked Nolan to go and
Zayan's Point of View The lower I descended the clearer I could hear her screams. Muffled cries of a woman in despair. Pain. My wolf reared its head with the first cry. Now it was a raging beast just beneath my skin. Rachel had taught her men well, I had to give it to her. From what I could hear, Eris was on the verge of dying. Or so it seemed. No well-trained man would let her die so easily. But her screams were laced with years' worth of pain. There was no denying that. The stench of blood was overwhelming, even from this distance. Even as my shoes clacked against the cold stone, I could smell it all around me. From what I was hearing, they were at the end of this long hall. Only lit by a single bulb hanging lonely in the middle of the passage. Although with each new slice, the sound echoed all around me. Enveloped me in a blanket of anguish. Somehow, I felt like that bulb. It was flickering and somewhat faint but still going strong. I wasn't as alone as it was but it felt lik
Kamari's Point of View The covers here were better than at home. Softer. Comfier. It was strange to think that I had lived with such scratchy bedding most of my life. Even stranger to note that I now slept in a room fit for a queen. Only the highest thread count that you could possibly find was right. Only the most expensive towels that melted against your skin after a shower. Opulent luxury. How did the pack not hate my mother for all the money she spent? The sheets alone could feed an impoverished family for well over six months. The curtains in my room could cover several medium-sized windows in any given home. No wonder Arik could rally them up so easily. Their Luna gave most of her money away on bettering her own life than theirs. Which wasn't what an Alpha stood for. An Alpha had to give his or her life for their people. It was that simple. Yet Jagged Rock had little to no homeless. No one went unfed at night. Shelters for those in need had been raised during my grandfather
Kamari's Point of View After an hour of back and forth, we finally came to a conclusion on the party. The guest list was considered modest, with only two hundred of Rachel's closest people, seeing as it was such short notice. It was Monday and the party was Friday. Most of the event was going to be held outside. The food was a seven-course meal, served by the wait staff. Fine champagne would be served, alongside an open bar. All of it paid, of course, out of my mother's personal funds. "It is going to be the event of the year, I assure you, Luna," Genevieve said, beaming up at my mother. Not up, perhaps. They stood at almost the same length. But my mother's gaze could make anyone seem small and insignificant, even a gossip-hungry woman. "Then I am happy. I want a progress report by noon tomorrow. After that, I will be unavailable. I am going to show Kamari the charity projects I have been working on. Have everyone invoice to my personal email, none of this will be on the pack's e
Kamari's Point of View Everything around me was green. Green and shimmering with life. The flowers were in bloom. The trees rustled with squirrels and birds. Everything was serene. Nothing out of place. For a second, I felt at home in my own skin. No bad memories could get to me here. One with nature and the lives all around me. Hunter and Randal were looming close but even their presence wasn't fully known to me. All I could feel was the wind nipping at my arms and the dirt squishing beneath my toes. This was what I needed. The reprieve of my mind. A break from the constant questions and answers. Push and pull. This moment, it only belonged to me. When I became Alpha, I knew this wasn't going to be an option all of the time. I would have to abide by other people's schedules. Make sure that everyone was happy and not just me. Meetings, charities, events. All of it would consume my time. Hopefully, it would make all of my bad thoughts go away as well. "Someone is approaching he
Kamari's Point of View Zayan refused to sit down in my mother's office. Instead, he was a brooding mess behind me. His fingers were curled around the back of my chair. Dug in deep. Refused to let go. As if I was his sole lifeline and he wasn't about to give me up. Convincing his father to help him was a task I had entrusted my mother with. She was a persuasive person and wouldn't take no for an answer. She also couldn't resist my pleading, even when it drove her up the walls. "And you are sure he won't be busy at this time of the day? I mean, we get shit done better at night than during working hours. I chalk it up to no one calling me once the sun has set." Rachel explained and looked at Zayan with penetrating eyes. In her own way, she was summing him up. Adding all of the risks and throwing it all to the wind. All because I had asked her to. Because I needed an ally in Crescent Shine and who would be better than a man I loved... LOVED? Fucking hell. I needed to wait on that word
Malakai's Point of ViewThree Years LaterWhen I got home from being kidnapped as a child, I knew I would never be able to have children. They had stolen that privilege from me. Snatched it away like thieves in the night.For many years I tried to make peace with it. Work through it.It always stung.Until I met my wife. Until I married her alongside two other men I now called my brothers.Finally, I was able to fit into my own skin. Accept that I might not have biological children of my own but I will have children.The first one took three years to make but it was well worth it. Seeing Kamari with her little belly around the house was always the highlight of my day. It made my world brighter. Shinier. I adored it.Every last drop was wonderful.All four of us lived happily within Jagged Rock. I managed my pack remotely, giving my father some control from time to time. Zayan did the same thing, only his father held almost no control and the old man was pissy about it.Nolan was offi
Malakai's Point of ViewTwo days. Two days and we would be married to the most wonderful woman on earth. Two days and she will become one of the strongest women in werewolf history.Not only did she have her own pack, she also had three mates. Three men that worshipped the ground she walked on. Loved every single aspect of her soul.This was the life I had chosen. The one I had always wanted. Needed.Now more than ever, I was thankful for this blessing. Thankful that Keanus was a pain in my asshole when it came to Kamari.I hated to admit it but the little bugged scored me the biggest prize of my life."Please tell me I'm not the only one that hasn't started on my vows," Zayan whined from his desk on the other side of the room.His hair stood in every direction thanks to his constant ruffling. He looked like a parrot that just took a bath. Every feather in every direction."I did mine last week. I wanted to focus on some other things for the wedding." Nolan offered up as he scanned t
Kamari's Point of ViewThree Months LaterWinter wasn't as bad in Jagged Rock as I remembered. Everything was dead, yes, but it wasn't as cold. Nor as wet. Not that I minded either. With three men sleeping in my bed at night, a girl got hot rather fast.I wasn't complaining. Neither were they.A brush with death made them all realize that I was the one. They were all adamant that this type of arrangement was fine. That they were fine. We bickered from time to time, as one would expect of engaged couples. they bickered all the time. As one would expect from three overgrown toddlers.But everything was right. All of it neatly in place."Hey, what are you doing out here? Do you want to catch a cold the week before your wedding?" My mother called from her cottage.Strange to think that she had changed as well. Handed over the reins to me the moment I was out and about again.According to her, I earned it and then some."Just getting some peace and quiet away from all the people," I call
Malakai's Point of ViewI had dozed off on the couch whilst Keanu carried on with his cartoons. The boy was a brimming ball of energy but soon enough, he had crawled into my arms. Settled in until he fell asleep as well.So, imagine our surprise when our mother came storming into the room. Her shrill voice all but screamed our eardrums out."Malakai! It's Kamari!" She repeated once she realized I was awake.At the mention of her name, I was up. Rushed to the other side of the room to where she stood. Her hand was barely out before I grabbed the phone. Pressed it so hard to my ear that i would have a headache an hour from now."Yes?""The doctor says she is waking up. How fast can you get here?" It was Nolan on the other end.His glee was nearly contagious. Brimmed with excitement. Joy. All of it bled into me. Drummed a steady beat into my step."Give me an hour and clear out the garden. I'm taking the chopper."***The pilot puked the minute we landed. With my flying, I understood wh
Nolan's Point of ViewIt was the perfect day for a funeral. Storm clouds brewed overhead. People were dressed in black. Wrapped in scarves and staring down into a dark pit.It was a miracle it wasn't raining. That the sky relented just for this one moment in time. To commemorate the fall of someone. The sky could mourn later. We wanted to mourn now. Was fully entitled to it, all things considered.Even mother nature had a heart, after all. Malakai had gone back home. Tail tucked between his. Back bowed. His people needed him now. Feared that the rebellion and troubles would spill into their territory. he had gone back to appease them. Put their minds at ease.Zayan was holed up in his room most days. Cried from time to time but always denied it.But I was left to run two packs for the time being. Rachel couldn't. Nor could Gaelan. The state they were in wouldn't allow for rational decision-making. The other alternative was me. The one person on this earth that wasn't born to do t
Kamari's Point of ViewHe was ripping at his hair. Cursing everyone and everything. Screaming. Crying. A grown man reduced to shambles right in front of me. I almost felt sorry for him. Almost but not entirely. "He's dead. He's dead. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck!" He was unraveling before my eyes.Arik fired a shot. Another shot. Let the bullets pepper into the ceiling.I knew he was sick. Knew that he had surely gone mad when Eris also left him. That was no secret but I never imagined he would go this far. Deteriorate this much in such a short span of time."You killed him! You fucking did this! What did you think will happen? You ride off into the sunset a hero? As fucking if!" I screamed.Malakai braced himself. Crouched down enough that he could lung at him at any second without hesitation. But I was already on my feet. Touched Malakai gently.Even when Arik turned the gun on me, I carried on walking until he was right in front of me. Had the gun pressed between my ribs."I didn't... I did
Kamari's Point of View My blood ran cold at the sight of those guns aimed at them. No one from below could see the men. They were well hidden. A death trap for anyone below. This was the last piece of evidence I had need. The last straw that broke the camel's back. Shifting back, I didn't even bother with getting dressed. Rushed over to the crowd in a blur. Nolan and Malakai weren't far behind. Remained on my heels as I shoved myself through everyone. Arik noticed my scent then. His nostrils flared. Eyes narrowed in on the tightly packed crowd in front of him. "Arik!" I screeched and broke the front of the line. His eyes landed on me. Were two small slits compared to the rest of his face. Bags lined the bottom of them. Black, not blue. Hair seemed more undone than ever before. He wasn't tearing at the seams anymore. He had gone full-on mad. Pointing guns at his pack. Looking like utter hell. This was a madman. A tyrant about to lose control and he knew it. "Ah, the prodigal
Kamari's Point of View "There is no way in fucking hell that I am allowing you to go! Do you understand me, Kamari? Not a fucking chance!" My mother screamed at me from across the room. Her eyes were bulging out of her head. Veins popped out on her neck and forehead. But my mind was made up. Nolan, Malakai, and I were going to Crescent Shine tonight. Already had most of what we needed loaded into the car. If things went south, I instructed both of them to leave me there. To head back this side. They had a lot to lose and I wasn't willing to put their lives on the line. "My mind is made up and there is no going back. He crossed a fucking line! Bombed the school! Hurt Zayan! I need to do this!" I screeched back and flung my leather jacket over my shoulders. Another present from the man now laying in a hospital bed somewhere in this house. I couldn't bring myself to see him yet. Silently promised that I would come back, just to make sure he was fine. That he was alright. Thriving,
Malakai's Point of View We were all stationed at opposite ends of the school. Had our eyes peeled for anything that might look out of the ordinary. Even a car passing by one too many times would be reported. Nothing and no one came in or out. Until the explosion hit. It was on the side Zayan had been stationed at. Was ear-deafening, even from so far away. Shook the wind from my lungs. "No," I gasped and made my way through the school. All of the guards ran with me. Not a single one was spared as we traversed this foreign ground. It took us two minutes to get to the other end. To see the chaos in front of us. Body parts were strewn all along the path. Dust floated in the air above a crater in the ground. Another second passed as I mutely stood and took in the carnage in front of me. The vague smell of cooked pork drifted up my nose. Reminded me of the time I had tried to help someone trapped in a housefire. Then my mind jumped to Kamari. To her well-being and everythin