Zayan's Point of ViewThe first thing I thought of when I saw the lake house was Kamari. Her hair blew behind her through the bottom of the helmet. Her stunned face when I fell.Our conversation that followed.Back then, I thought we had made progress. Took a step deeper into our relationship. But she had chosen Nolan and I had chosen Eris and now she was just another memory to me.One that lingered a bit too close to home.Sometimes I wondered what it would be like if we didn't have to choose. We could have more than one person. More than one right fit for you. Then I snapped out of it and carried on.Eris was smiling at me as she walked to the house. This time around, we weren't going into the garage or even close to it. Some staff would drop by tomorrow and clean the place up a bit.For now, it had to do."This place is magnificent." Eris cooed as I trotted closer with most of my clothing bags. We had stopped by the shopping center in the human town to get her some clothes. Got he
Kamari's Point of ViewMy dad went to the shower the moment we got home. Whilst Nolan said his timid goodbye and fled the scene of my house.He barely made eye contact. Stripped down and left his clothes when he shifted. I had hurt him and we barely even had a chance to explore what this was. But I explained my needs. Or the needs I thought I had. It was strange to think that this could have ended up in any other way. The two of us, together. But then I would have to shove away my feelings for Zayan. The growing feelings I had for Malakai. Who seemed to be the sanest of the three.If I told any of these thoughts to my dad, he would call me crazy on the spot. Or just plain selfish. None of which I wanted to hear.If none of them were comfortable with the idea, I would back down. Not that I could count on Zayan to join the party on this one.He was somewhere off with Eris.And until that point, I had never faced my feelings for him. But now that I was home and I was somewhat alone, th
Zayan's Point of View The call came in just after midnight. I was expecting it. Knew that she had found the box the moment she got home. But I also knew that she would be diligent in speaking to me. I answered on the second ring. Sat back in my mother's beautiful armchair. Watched the fire crackle in the fireplace. This high up in the mountains, people would think it was simply clouded. Never smoke. "You broke into my house." Her voice came out flat. Unhappy. As I thought she would sound. But I couldn't contain my happiness at hearing it. At speaking to her again. Fucking hell. "Hello to you too," I whispered back, amused already by her outburst. Or the Kamari version of an outburst. The girl always hid herself away so well under lock and key. "On what fucking planet do you think it is okay to break into someone's house?" She uttered again. I could hear the rustling of leaves through the phone. Her footsteps crunched on fallen branches. She was outside, walking alone. But I k
Malakai's Point of ViewRachel was still standing on the porch when I emerged from the house. Her back was to me. Blonde hair untamed falling behind her. She had a glass in her hand as she watched the driveway.I approached with caution, already reading her like a book.The lines of her back were set in rigid rows. Shoulders drawn back. Arm was stiff as she lifted the glass to her lips. Unlike most days, she skipped the jeans and shirt. Donned black dress pants, a white collared shirt, and kitten heels. This was her business mode."Don't you think it is a bit too early to drink?" I asked and stood beside her. Shoved my hands into the pockets of my pants as I watched from the corner of my eyes.Rachel took another long drink and clasped the rim with the tips of her fingers. Let her arms fall to her sides whilst she carried on staring out at nothing. As if Kamari's car would drive back up the road at any minute."Don't you think it is a bit too late to come out now?" She fired back, ke
Kamari's Point of ViewMy dad was waiting on the couch for me when I returned home. His eyes never left the door, even as I closed it. Hung the car keys up. Waited for him to speak without approaching."At least this time I had the common sense not to call Arik when I didn't find you in your bed. I almost imeddiately knew who you had gone to see." He grumbled but not because he was angry with me. More he was tired and it was the early morning hours. "Thanks for not calling him. I had to go speak with him after the phone-"His eyes narrowed in on me immediately. Lips twitched at the corners. "You should have at least told me that you were going out, Kamari. We still aren't sure if those cunts will come after you. I need to keep an eye on you at all times." He ground out.This was a matter of my safety, not about the person I had gone to see. At least he would let that one slide. I scooted closer to him, dragging my feet the further I got. Fell into the couch in front of him with a hef
Zayan's Point of ViewWhat the fuck was I doing? What the fuck was I thinking? Promising Kamari that she was the one I wanted. That I needed...All while Eris was home tending to her wounds after a man had beat her senseless. It was a heartless feeling. I was a coward choosing the easier route.Instead of facing all the troubles and trauma that Eris and I faced,, I chose her. Instead of admitting Eris had grown and changed, I was willing to chalk it up to her being strange.Or sinister.I thanked my father for that. For thinking she was a snake when she was nothing more than a woman that needed help. Comfort. Understanding. Of course, she would be different. So much time had passed between us. Neither could fully admit that the other person wasn't a stranger. Because we were. It still didn't stop my mind from wandering to Kamari. How natural it felt to be around her. After my confession that Eris had been beaten, I could see the color drain out of Kamari's face. The guilt that ate
Malakai's Point of View He has been screaming for hours already. It echoed throughout the entire cellblock. Burnt itself into the back of my mind until all I could hear were his pleas. A never-ending cycle of questions and no answers until Rachel decided to waterboard him. That was even more unpleasant to listen to. The gargling. Choking. Cried in pain when the towel came off of his head. Yet the bastard refused to crack. To give away the smallest glimpse as to who orchestrated the attack. At some point, one of the guards threw up in the corner. I think it was when they started plucking out his nails. Or toenails. I couldn't fully recall. And I was fucking thankful for that part at least. Blood was never my forte. Nor was torture. But things like this had to get done when running a pack. When people tried to dismantle all you had built up. Rogues were often subject to this kind of behavior when they lingered too long and too close to the borders of packs. That was just the way of
Nolan's Point of View By the time Gaelan was in the distance, Kamari had woken up. Stood in the door rubbing her eyes. I smiled at her. Beamed, actually, before walking toward her. Her clothes from the previous day were wrinkled in all the wrong places. Crumpled up over her abdomen. Made her look more unkept than she normally was in the morning. One long and hot shower should fix her up. Along with an energy drink. I looked over her again. Noticed the black bags beneath her eyes. Pale skin with no color to speak of. Maybe more than one energy drink. We had spent many nights watching movies and never slept. Eating junk food. Babbling about the world. But she looked worse than those nights. As if she hadn't slept for years and not just for 24 hours. "Penny for your thoughts?" I asked, keeping the smile firmly on my lips. Kamari seemed to look past me to the road beyond. Her eyes narrowed in on the SUV. Sighing, she waved me over. Stood to the side when I walked in past her. Onc
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