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.
Kamari's Point of ViewAn hour and a half had passed. Only half an hour since my father confronted me about accepting my mother's proposal. Half an hour after he promised to help me in any which way he could to make my transition over into Alpha smoother.I appreciated the sentiment.But another thought struck me. If I became Alpha, I would never get the opportunity to study. To become something more than just an heiress. Which was exactly what I had wanted in my life. Achieve greatness on my own.Now it was just another deluded dream.Although some part of me was shriveled up and cold, I couldn't help but feel the twang of pain that followed when I thought of Zayan. The hurt that clouded my vision when I lingered on him too long. "Hey, you took a while, are you fine?" Nolan asked from behind me.Rubbing my eyes, I turned to look at him. Noticed the moonlight casting a perfect halo over his blonde hair. The twinkle in his eyes when he looked at me. Behind me, my cupboard doors stood
Kamari's Point of ViewThe next two hours were the longest of my life. I could barely contain myself. Paced up and down the living room until I was sure the soles of my shoes were worn through.Every time I would pick at my cuticles, Malakai's voice would pop into my head. Spread out across my body until I let my hands fall to my sides.Gaelan had decided on drinking whiskey at this time in the morning. With the sun rising slowly, I could see the amber liquid slosh in his glass as he walked back and forth between the kitchen and the living room. Nolan on the other hand was much calmer than the two of us.He kept to himself on the couch. Opened up the curtains enough to see the cars coming and going. Most of them were heading to work or school. Some stopped on the sidewalks to pick up more people. It was an endless loop. One that shattered my nerves every time I heard a car engine come down the street.When I had spoken to Zayan over the phone, it was different. I was another person.
Kamari's Point of ViewWe were all huddled behind an old laptop I had gotten for my sixteenth birthday. Nolan was at the helm of it, even when Zayan protested, saying he was the one on trial and should clear his name. Neither Hunter nor Randal let him.It was only my dad that refused to move. Kept watch from the safety of his chair. His eyes never missed a thing. The smallest of movements could be made on Zayan's part and he would instantly call it out.In actuality, it was Gaelan that told Nolan not to let Zayan near the laptop. He couldn't be trusted not to pull something just to get loose. Break away. Leave this place forever without being punished for his crimes.I had no idea what strings Zayan was pulling. Knew something was off the moment he got that look of realization on his face.There was a large part of my soul that believed him when he claimed he was innocent. Unlike my dad, I had hopes that this would sort itself out. That the full truth would be revealed."Stop fidgetin
Kamari's Point of ViewFifteen times in the last two days, that's how much she spoke to him. When a call came through, she would speak as if it was nothing. Talk about how well Zayan was treating her. How the house was perfect and she wanted to change a few things.Minutes into the conversation, she would stalk upstairs, go into the bathroom and turn on the tap. What was said after that was a mystery. But it proved that she knew the cameras could hear her. She was smart enough to know to cover her tracks.It seemed a whole lot more suspicious than I could fathom but it still wasn't concrete evidence that Zayan was innocent.A long stretch, that was what it was. Arik and Eris setting him up for something? It nearly sounded absurd. What would they gain by throwing him under the bus? Why would they even instigate the attacks of Jagged Rock?Maybe for the same reasons we thought Zayan could be the culprit. Once the dust was settled and Rachel was overthrown Arik could easily step in and p
Malakai's Point of ViewRachel was already in her office when I entered. She had on a different color suit than yesterday although the cut was much the same. Her hair was pulled back into a sleek ponytail. Eyes darted across the papers in front of her.When I entered, she barely acknowledged me. Carried on reading whatever was in front of her. Her aloofness could be attributed to being the informal Alpha for so long. Work came first and the world came second. in essence, an Alpha was enslaved to the people they served. Forever trapped within the loop of being judge, jury, and executioner.All while still catering to the whims of the people around you."Close the door." She instructed without so much as looking up.Turning, I shut it. Locked it as well. No one was privy to the information that spiraled out in this office. Not even her little boy toy of the hour, Robert. This way, no one could just walk in."Have you spoken with Kamari as of late?" I asked. Sank down into an overstuffe
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