I woke up to the sound of grunts, clinking weights, and the muffled impact of feet against the floor. For a second, I was disoriented. Then I remembered: Luke was here, and they'd planned to work out in the living room to avoid disturbing the neighbors. Curiosity got the best of me, and I padded to the doorway, still in my nightgown. The sight that met my eyes was nothing short of primal. Clay's muscles flexed with beads of sweat glistening on his forehead as he pushed through the burn. Every lift was precise and controlled, and his eyes were ablaze with an almost electrifying ferocity. He was in a deep lunge, his muscles rippling through his t-shirt as he lowered himself, steadying a dumbbell in each hand. Luke was beside him, following suit, his form slightly shaky but determined. Their synchronization was almost poetic—a dance of strength and willpower. Sweat made their shirts cling to their torsos, highlighting every muscle in vivid detail. The sight was electrifying, and my
The sizzle of eggs and bacon filled the small kitchen as I focused on the task at hand. Cooking had always been a therapeutic activity, a way to shut out the chaos and concentrate on something simple and tangible. I plated the food and carried it to the living room. "Here you go," I said, setting a plate in front of Lexi and another in front of Luke before settling onto the couch with my own.I took a few bites before I noticed Luke poking at his food. My eyes narrowed. He needed to eat, especially given the ordeal he was about to go through. A low growl escaped my throat before I could stop it. "Eat it," I commanded, my voice laced with an urgency that surprised even me.Lexi and Luke looked up, caught off guard by the forcefulness in my tone. I could see Lexi's eyes wide with curiosity, but I held Luke's gaze. The atmosphere was tense with numerous unasked questions, and I couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt for the harshness in my voice.Slowly, Luke picked up his fork and took
I'll admit, I had forgotten how invigorating a good workout could feel. It was like every fiber of my body was alight with renewed energy. But watching Clay move, I couldn't help but wonder: how the hell did he manage to keep up this kind of intensity without the aid of substances anymore? And then came breakfast. The moment he set that plate of food in front of me, the first wave of nausea hit. The aroma of the eggs and bacon, which would generally be appealing, twisted my insides like a wet rag. I couldn't help but think, did he do this on purpose? Was this some convoluted coercion to remind me of my weakened state? Every bite was a struggle. My body begged me to stop, but my mind screamed louder, urging me to hold it together, to not give Clay the satisfaction of seeing me crumble. Anger bubbled within me with each mouthful, stewing and festering as if fed by the food I was forcing down. Then we transitioned to video games, but it was far from the distraction I needed. Each mist
The tension was almost tangible as we drove down the winding road in Lexi's spacious SUV. I knew the upcoming confrontation with my father was inevitable, and the thought weighed heavily on my mind. I'd seen my dad lose control more times than I'd care to admit, but the hope that Lexi's presence might have a calming effect on him clung to me like a lifeline.Luke shifted uncomfortably in his seat, breaking my chain of thought. "Is there any way to dodge your dad today?"I chuckled, shaking my head. "You know better, Luke. Dodging my dad is like trying to dodge rain in a thunderstorm. You're gonna get wet. It's just a matter of how much."As I drove, my eyes wandered to the rearview mirror often. Lexi had insisted Luke and I sit up front, which left her sprawled in the back seat, staring out the sunroof at the sky. The serene expression on her face fascinated me, and I couldn't help but wonder how she was handling all of this—me, Luke, the pending visit to pack land, everything."What
I watched her hand retreat, her fingers leaving a lingering warmth in my fur. My thoughts whirled as I processed the revelation. Lexi could hear me. Not just Clay, but me. If she had only been connected with Clay, they might have kept it a secret, stashed away in a vault of unspeakable truths. But now, she also heard my thoughts, opening up a channel I hadn't considered possible. I wasn't her fated mate. I'd come to terms with that a while ago, accepting it reluctantly as an inflexible fact. But there was an indisputable energy between us, something that transcended reason. Now, in my wolf form, that something became crystal clear. A link existed, intangible yet impossible to ignore. She'd petted me and told me Clay was excited about our newfound ability to communicate during our runs. The concept baffled me. The last thing I wanted was to make Lexi the middleman in any discourse between Clay and me. Even in our prime, when we would've considered ourselves best friends, our interact
I felt an overwhelming sense of vulnerability as I returned to my human form. I hurriedly picked up my shorts from the car, put them on, and sat on the porch, bracing myself for what would happen. My dad was on his way, and the air was filled with the scent of his Alpha pheromones, making the atmosphere edgy, even with the breeze blowing. Footsteps resonated through the ground; I felt them before I saw him. His wolf form exuded a raw, domineering aura as he emerged from the dense woods. He shifted back to human, quicker than I ever could, an unsettling reminder of his years of experience and control over his powers. "You let him back in your life, Clay? That deranged failure of an Alpha? After everything he did?" His voice tremored with disdain, piercing through the silence. My blood boiled. I was no longer a kid who'd shy away from confrontation. "First off, Luke's not a failure. Second, even if he was, it would be my choice to have him in my life. Not yours." Dad snarled, pacing
I was drenched in sweat, my heart still pounding from the exhilarating run. But man, I felt alive like no chemical concoction had ever made me feel. The world had sharper edges, brighter colors, and Clay was beside me.The drugs never stood a chance.We returned to the treehouse, our spirits high. Lexi looked at us, a smile forming as if she knew just how transformative that run had been for us."Do you want a ride back?" Clay asked her. "The house is a bit of a trek from here.""Do we have to cross the river again?" Lexi questioned, raising an eyebrow.Clay laughed, a hearty sound that filled the air. "Yeah, but we'll take the bridge this time. He has a thing for swimming when shifted. Me? Not so much."Lexi agreed and then climbed onto Clay's back after he shifted, and I couldn't help but notice how natural it looked, like she belonged there.This time, we moved at a gentler pace, unlike my earlier frantic sprint that had Lexi clinging onto me for dear life. Now, she seemed comforta
The next four days felt like tiptoeing through a minefield, each step loaded with clear tension. Luke oscillated between moments of seeming clarity and agitated outbursts. His nerves were frayed guitar strings about to snap. After much debate and several intense discussions, we finally persuaded him to take a minuscule amount, once or twice a day, to stave off the worst withdrawal symptoms. His physical body needed to catch up to the resilience of his spirit.Clay and Luke had more than one standoff, usually over trivial matters, magnified by the emotional weight Luke was carrying. They still kept up with their morning workouts, but those sessions were strained, a fragile truce on the balcony. I often hung out with them during these workouts until both their eyes started the light show flashing thing. At night, the clock on the wall seemed to mock us, its hands ticking away into the early morning hours. Despite the ungodly time, our conversation flowed naturally, words spilling out