“I think the best way to test out her fighting skills is to do a mock fight,” Lavender says as the crowd disperses.They watch me warily as they go back to their daily lives. But it’s like they’re not sure how to approach me, and I certainly don’t know how to approach them.“It’s been a long day. I’m sure she’s tired,” Zach says. “How about a mock fight tomorrow?”Yet I see my chance right now. I am beyond tired. It would be so much better to wait until tomorrow. It’s unfair to expect me to be able to fight after everything that happened today.But the smug look on Lavender’s face is enough to convince me that I have to do it. I have to prove myself to her and everyone else in the pack. “It’s okay,” I say. “I am exhausted, but I’m always up for a challenge. Let’s do this.”Lavender’s smile falters a little. I don’t think she thought I’d agree.“Okay,” she says. “Let’s do it.”Zach looks hesitant, but he doesn’t try to stop us as we walk to a dirt circle in the middle of their
“You look so much more energized,” Zach says, as I leave his cabin. “Do you feel refreshed?”He looks hopeful, like he really wants me to like it here.“I do,” I say. “It’s been great. Thank you for bringing me here.”“Thank you for agreeing to come,” Zach says. “I’ve got so much to show you. You’ll love everything, I know you will.”“I’d rather just wander around on my own right now,” I reply, though it pains me to say that. Lines need to be drawn or else my heart is going to collect more bruises. “Is that okay?”“Of course,” Zach says, though he does look a little hurt by it. “Especially after seeing what you did in that fight, I think most everyone around here will be happy to answer any questions you might have or show you around.“Feel free to reach out, of course. I want you to like it here. I want you to feel comfortable here.”I want to like it here too. Though dealing with Lavender and Zach together is difficult, I don’t have anywhere else to go. So, for the rest of t
“I love you,” Zach says.I unravel.“I love you too,” Sasha replies.I can’t believe it. I knew when I saw them together. I just knew they were interested in each other. But I thought I had time. That’s why I threatened her.I thought I had time enough to stop this. I thought if I kept her away from him, I’d be able to keep my mate.Zach is my mate, but now he’s saying all these awful things to her. And I just can’t believe it. I can’t fathom it.Why?What does she have that I don’t have? How could he be so cruel to me like this?I shake with fury and pain.I plan on being the Alpha’s mate someday, no matter what I have to do to get there. I want that status. I want that power. I know I can be a good leader.I know what I need to do.*“I miss you,” Caden says. “I miss you too,” I reply.And I do. Though Zach is my mate and I’ll always want to stay with him because of his status, what Caden and I have is different. It’s hard to explain so I try not to think about i
“I love you.”When I wake up the next morning, I feel amazing. I think about the kisses and sweet exchanges. But most of all, I think about the I love yous.I love Sasha, I really do. And I’m going to prove that today. I’m going to break things off with Lavender.It won’t be easy. Mates breaking up is almost unheard of anyway, but especially not those in my kind of position.I must though. I need to be with my mate. I need to be with Sasha.“We need to talk,” I say to Lavender as soon as I’m dressed and ready. “We do,” she agrees. “There are certainly some things that we need to discuss.”“There are,” I say. I hope this means she sees what’s going on. Maybe she feels the same way I do.I’m not her mate, so maybe she feels that. Maybe she wants to find her mate too.“Let’s go to our spot by the lake,” I suggest. “Where we used to talk as friends.”“So much has changed since then,” she says.“It has, but for the better.”I don’t hate Lavender. I’m just not her mate, so I hop
“Good morning,” I say, to the first member of the pack I see. “Good morning,” she replies shakily. “Are you adjusting well?”“I think so,” I reply. “Though I guess only time will tell.”She seems uncomfortable around me. Most of the members of the pack seem uncomfortable around me. But I’ve accepted that.I’m a stranger who brings some drama with me. I’m not going to let it get to me though. I’ve decided I’m going to do my best to fit in here.Of course, that’s mostly because I love Zach.I love him with my whole heart, and he needs to be here. He’s the Beta of this pack, so I need to figure out a way to belong here as well. So, of course when I see him, it makes my whole day better.I want to kiss him right in front of everyone. I want to show the world he’s mine.“Good morning, Sasha,” he says in a rather cold demeanor.It’s difficult but it makes sense. He has to be careful as the Beta of the pack. He probably hasn’t told them about us yet. “Good morning, Zach,” I say.
“What happened?” Caden asks as he looks at me with concern.“My heart is shattered,” I admit. “Want to go grab some food?”He looks at me warily, but we grab a whole plateful of random stuff before finding a picnic table by the lake to eat on. “So, I want to know what’s been going on with you since you left,” I say.I hope that will distract me from Sasha. Having to banish her is the hardest thing I’ve ever done. Even though I know I had to do it, I already miss her. I still love her. “You know, just exploring the woods,” Caden replies, as he looks down at his food.It makes sense. This conversation is probably tough for him if he felt even near the same way about Sasha as I do. Though it’s difficult to imagine that would be the case. I can’t fathom anyone loving her as much as I do, but I guess it’s possible.I guess I didn’t know her at all anyway.“I want to know what’s going on in your mind though,” Caden says. “It’s concerning, how distraught you look. I’m worried about
Water hemlock.The answer is so simple. I look at the leaves and I question what to do next.I never wanted to die before all this. But this is too much.My whole pack, my friends and family, they were all slaughtered. I was forced into this terrible situation with Tobias and his awful pack. I was terrified, fighting for my life, thinking that my new friend could die. Then, I met Zach and I thought I found my place. But I didn’t. I guess I didn’t because he’s banished me from the only place I had to go.I’m without a pack, without a mate, without anything.All of the things I once had are back at my old home, and I can’t go back there without risking my life. I doubt any other pack is going to take me in.How am I supposed to survive on my own?I’m not one to just give up, but I don’t have any other choice.I look out at the lake. At least the last view I have will be beautiful and all this hurt can end. All this drama can be done with.Everything will just stop.That’s all
“I want to start by making it up to you right away,” Zach says. “So, if you’re willing to go with me, there’s somewhere I want to take you.”Though I’m scared to get my heart broken again, I’m not scared of Zac. I know he wouldn’t do anything to intentionally hurt me.“Okay, I say. “I’ll go with you. Just try to be careful with my heart. I don’t want you to break it again.”“I won’t,” he vows. “I’m going to prove that to you.”He takes my hand and leads me away from the water, away from the poison. I hope I’m moving in a much more pleasant direction with him.“What are you going to do about Caden and Lavender?” I ask.“I don’t know yet,” Zach says. “What do you think I should do about them? I’ll do whatever you want. You’re the one they hurt most of all.”I think on that for a moment. “I don’t know,” I say. “But I think you should wait to cool off a little before making any big decisions.“I don’t want to come between you and your best friend, and I even worry about Lavender