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
Kamari's Point of View We woke up to the sound of Nolan's phone going off. It was a screeching tone that rocked the entire house. Even the owner himself fell from his seat. Jolted upright on the floor and grabbed aimlessly for the device on the table. It was some metal rendition of a song I had long since forgotten. But it was the worst thing to wake up to. Sitting upright, I rubbed my eyes as he still fumbled on the table for the thing. The entire living room was cast into an ominous shadow that crawled along the walls. "Put it off," I groaned, unaware of what time it might be. There was no light coming from outside. Not even a slight glow. Then it must be around two in the morning, or somewhere there, seeing as the streetlights were also off. Hunting time. "I can't find it," Nolan grumbled back at me, voice still heavy with sleep. The husky tone made my stomach tighten as if I hadn't heard it a million times before. As if only now it had a severe impact on my body. How stra
Kamari's Point of View An hour passed in total silence. Gaelan resigned himself to a shower after speaking extensively with Malakai about what this news entailed for us. Both of them thought I was unwise for sending for Zayan so soon, which in their minds would only tip him off and give him an advantage. Nolan remained mute whilst looking out the window. Stared at nothing in particular. Every once in a while he would move. Realize I was also sitting there and smiled timidly my way. Right before his face would fall back into a blank stare. He was hurting more than he tried to let on. A horrible decision to make but I understood. He needed space to process. Most likely, he was questioning his entire friendship at this point. If he even knew the man as well as he had thought. And me... Well. I couldn't wrap my mind around why Zayan would pull something like this. Why he would promise me the world only to let me fall flat on my face. None of it made sense. But feelings often didn't.