Melissa looked around when the lack of worrisome gazes from Lola became too obvious. Her hair flung over her shoulder when she frantically looked over the park. She pulled away from Ed’s arm and left him standing by the pretzel stand when she ran to Lola after finally spotting her by the roundabout.She saw them gathered around the car and Jax’s men were coming in to help get rid of Cyrus’s body.“What happened here?” Melissa asked. She looked past Lola and Ash and saw the vampire slumped back against the car.“Oh my god,” she mumbled.“Oh my god!” A loud voice said behind her.They all turned and saw Ed dropping the pretzel to the ground with utter fear spreading on his face.“Is he…” Ed began.“Drunk and sleeping? Yes, he is,” Ash said and blocked Ed’s view.Two men walked into the group and carried Cyrus away, they walked with him like a passed-out drunk with his arms flung over their shoulders and put him in a car. Anytime a human looked at them they would roll their eyes and heav
They screamed and felt their hearts pounding against their chests. Their nails dug painfully into the soft foam and their eyes were vastly expanded. Lola screamed and Melissa slammed the pillow onto her face and buried her screams into the velvet cover.“How are you not scared right now?” Melissa asked, her voice muffled by the pillow that she refused to remove from her face- it acted like a protective barrier between her and the demons on the screen.Ed chucked gravely and turned with the brightest smile.He shrugged and pouted his lips. “I don't get scared easily, especially by things that are contained in a TV,” the girls shivered and Lola whined as she pressed herself onto Melissa.“I wish,” she said and burrowed closer to Melissa who was pressed further against Ed. He didn't mind being squished against the side of the couch because he loved her closeness and to feel as though he was protecting her the more she pressed onto him.Ed reached around, his hand tugged against her waist
The sun rose and banished the clouds from the sky. It was a blue morning as they called it in Wild Cliff when the clouds were gone. It didn't happen often but when it did, everyone was outside.Lola and Melisssa woke up to an email from their professors asking where they'd been the last few days. They knew by now that if they couldn't get a hold of Lola, Melissa was their biggest chance of reaching out to her.She groaned and pressed her face into the pillow while Melissa stirred awake next to her and tossed the phone down the bed.“The sun’s out,” Melissa said against her pillow. The sun was lighting up the whole room and the girls were messily spread out on the bed.“I know,” Lola said, her voice muffled by her arm.They had been staying at Melissa’s house for the past three days after the harvest moon festival, hiding in her bed with snacks and board games.These few days had been nothing short of an escape for Lola and Melissa was happy to help her.“Is today the day we face reali
Was there a right thing to say when being told that your husband's ex-girlfriend was moving back? Not only to the same town but also the same house. And that she was single because her mate had been killed.Lola was standing in shock trying to find the right words.“I-I’m sorry for your loss,” Lola said. Lavina smiled through the tears and buried her nose in the napkin.“Let’s talk outside,” Jax said and guided Lola out of the study.They walked out of the mansion and around the big estate to the edge of the hill.“I’m sorry to spring all of this on you like this but she’s a mess and she’s alone now,”Lola shook her head.“I understand, you don't have to explain yourself.” She said.They walked to the bench overlooking the townhouses and sat down. Lola’s leg brushed against Jax’s and in a moment of discomfort, she folded one leg over the other to create a distance.“How does it feel to have her back?” She asked. Jax shrugged his shoulders and smiled but he had caught the gesture, watc
Lola woke up alone in the guest room with the drapes drawn in darkness.Her head fell heavy down on the pillow and it was near impossible to get out of bed, even the idea was too much for her exhausted mind to handle.She touched her waist where the wood had staked her that night in the barn- her fingers moved up over her shoulder where the metal bar had stabbed straight through her and she graced her fingers over every part that had been wounded but where nothing showed. All reminders of her wounds were gone except for the mental scars that would forever be burned onto her bones.She knew she couldn't stay in bed forever but it was safe in here and she didn't have to face Jax or Lavina.Her phone lit up next to her and she saw Melissa’s name.“Hello?”“Hi! Are you just now getting up?” Melissa asked.“I wasn't planning on getting up so technically, no,”“Meet me in town in ten. We’re having coffee and I'm going to tell you all about my lake date.”Lola flew up in bed and cast the cov
Lola felt like the air was being sucked from her lungs and the floor was being pulled away from under her feet. Melissa tried to grab her attention but it was futile, all Lola saw was Jax’s gleaming smile and the beautiful girl on his arm.“Jealousy doesn't become you,” Ash’s gravely voice brought her back and her eyes cast down on the floor.He moved closer so his arm brushed against her.“Don’t stare, it’ll just feed the delight,”“What?” Lola said.“They want a reaction, don't give them one. Trust Jax’s feelings for you, it’s the only choice you have,”“But look at them,” Lola said.“They kind of are the picture-perfect couple aren't they?” Ash cocked his head.Melissa slammed her elbow into Ash’s side and shared her deep scowl.“Ouch,” he groaned.“Remember how hurt you were when I told you that I didn't trust you?" Lola asked.Ash didn’t answer but she saw in his eyes that he remembered, they both did and it wasn’t a pain they would gladly relive.“I’m going to ask you something
Lola had the dress on and left the guest room. She had applied just a thin layer of makeup and put her hair half up. It wasn't anything fancy but she felt confident enough to face the entire pack.It was still baffling to her how everyone here except for Melissa and her were werewolves.She walked downstairs and heard Ash’s voice echoing through the hall.“Melissa!” He stood in the hallway with something in his hand and flushed cheeks.“Is everything okay?” Lola asked.“Melissa got a phone call and bolted somewhere, she dropped this on the way. Can you give it to her when you see her?” His eyes were looking around distractedly and his hand shot out with the necklace towards Lola. The pendant pressed against her arm, and a burning pain shot out over her skin and d
Her heavy breaths could fan the face of every pack member in the crowd. She watched with tremors and weakness in her body as their judging eyes began to roll in dismissal.She turned her head an inch to the side, just to see Jax for a second and gain some courage.Lola looked and tried to meet his eyes, she just needed him to look at her for a moment but he seemed occupied. Her eyes followed Jax’s and she saw how he and Ash were having a stare down.Everyone was waiting, exaggerated sighs and nonchalant head tosses were pushing her luck on getting Jax’s attention.She drew a deep breath and filled her lungs before it all disappeared anew.“To lead is to trust, it is to believe in the ones who follow and trust that they see what you do not. As Luna, I devo
“Get your butt in here right now, young lady!” Lola scolded while running around with a towel chasing her two-year-old daughter who was running down the hallways butt naked. With her arms swinging in the air and laughing menacingly, the water traced her steps on the carpets, and she headed towards the stairs. Just before reaching the end of the hallway, she was lifted into the air by two large arms and flown around like an airplane. “Daddy!” “My darling Ophelia,” he said and lowered her gently. He tickled her nose and hugged her tight when Lola came to a stop with the towel. “That little girl is definitely wolf,” Lola panted. She halted to a stop and raised a brow when she took in Jax’s appearance. “Daddy indeed,” Lola purred when she watched her husband’s bare upper body as he stood sweating after his workout with the warriors. “She could be a Doe,” Jax said and looked into his daughters’ eyes. “She has your big, beautiful eyes,” he remarked. Lola giggled and cupped Jax’s che
They were back at the mansion and had constructed a plan on the way. The danger was still not altogether eliminated, not all enemies had been neutralized and they were those on the inside still aiming to break Jax and Lola apart.Jax and Ash walked into the mansion with Lola keeping her distance behind them. She turned away from them and hid where they wouldn't see her until it was time. Jax had called for a meeting on the way and told his parents and Lavina to meet him in the study. Nobody had suspected a thing, they were all just glad to hear that he was alright and their Alpha and son were returning home. The Blackwood boys entered the office and let the door fall to a near close. “It is so good to see you again, darling,” Mrs. Blackwood gleamed.Lavina ran up and wrapped her arms around him. The wide smile on her face and the wrinkles on her eyes deepened as relief washed over her. “I was so worried I almost went after you myself but Lola insisted she had it covered,” she said
Lucien clapped his hands, starting slow as the sound echoed in the room before he picked up the speed and laughed menacingly. He slammed his fist in the air and blew into his hands in celebration.“I have played this in my mind for months, going over what it would be like to have you all here and to tell you the things I knew but now that it is happening, holy shit, there is not a feeling like it.” He licked his lips and wiped the sweat from his face.He used his speed and kneeled next to Lola in a second. She fell back and tried to widen the distance between them by crawling backward but Lucien circled his fingers around her ankle and pulled her in with a rough grip. He gestured with his hand towards Jax and said through a deep smirk, “How I have been waiting for this. Be honest now, which do you prefer- getting fucked by a werewolf-” he grabbed her chin and forced her head back, “-or a vampire?” He asked. Jax’s mouth fell open and his eyes glistened as though all the pain came rus
Ash’s eyes glowed as his wolf stepped up, his canines extended and his growl shook the walls of the house when he pulled the knife out of his side and he flung it at his cousin's hands. They all turned their heads and watched as the knife cut through the air and went clean through the chains that bound Jax's hands. Jax fell into a pool of his blood, his heart barely beating and his body weakened from the poison in his wounds.“What the fuck?” One of the vampires spat and tried to overrun Ash. Ash grabbed the vampire's arm and spared no time as he ripped his head clean of his body and through against one of the windows, shattering the glass.“Let go of her.” He growled and walked towards Lucien. Whatever they had laced the blade with was eating at his insides, burning his flesh like acid but Ash refused to fall, not until he knew that she was safe.Lucien pulled out his fangs and lifted his head, looking toward the ceiling in a euphoric high.Three of his men jumped on Ash who was alre
They went to sleep not long after their talk and Ash slept on top of the covers. He watched Lola drift off into slumber and lay awake completing his choices.His cousin had been taken and he was making moves on his girl. Though he knew what he wanted, he now began to regret the many decisions he’d made that had led him this far. He looked at her lips slightly parted in her sleep and her eyes softly closed still, the faint freckles on her nose and her thick hair landing over her shoulder.She was a special girl, loved by many and desired by more. Perhaps it was the curse of being the Doe or maybe it was just her heart that sparked interest once she trusted people enough to show it to them. Regardless of the reasons, Ash realized now that his fighting was futile because her heart was not his to win. He should've been grateful to have felt her love, the one she gave him when she chose to trust him. The love was addictive, at first taste he wanted more, and he wanted what his cousin had.
They drove up to the Inn though it was further away from the street than advertised and they circled a sharp turn that led up a narrow path.As they arrived at a red neon sign saying ’open’ and a lady sitting with headphones on behind the desk inside they looked at each other, a lingering silence that was questioning just how good of an idea it was to go in. The rain poured around them. Drops on the roof of the car began to sound like firecrackers went off in a tunnel.Ash gave Lola his jacket to hold over her head and they shared a look before they ran from the car and slammed open the door as they tumbled inside.The lady looked up, slowly and gently as though a couple of strangers hadn't just tumbled into her hallway. She slowly leaned to the side to look past them and watch the pour outside of the Inn.“You kids don’t listen to the news, do ya?” She laughed.She wiggled her finger in front of Lola and pointed to the den.“There are towels in there, go grab yourselves some and I'll
They were back in the mansion. Ash had gathered the Alpha's warriors and filled them in on the situation. One of the cleaners had turned on the radio and Lola heard on the news that extreme weather was to be expected as she walked down after having changed clothes. Extreme rainfall was to occur during the night and the following days in and around town.She had the keys to her car and a small bag with toiletries.Ash and the warriors came out of the office and saw Lola standing at the entrance. His shoulders rose in a predatory bow as he stalked towards her.“Where do you think you’re going?” He asked. “To find Jax. Whatever he and I are, it’s my fault that he’s been taken. I'm going to bring him home,”Ash was in front of her before she could blink and ripped the keys from her hand.“The hell you are.” He put the keys in his pocket and grabbed her wrists when she tried to get them back. “It’s my fault that he was taken, he was protecting ME!” “And I will get him back!” He growled
She froze, time stilled around them and that picture would now be etched in her mind forever as it was all she saw wherever she looked.Nobody moved, she heard faint gasps and a low growl behind her but she couldn't turn around.For Lola, it felt as though hours passed without either Jax or Lavina moving but when a hand weighed down on her shoulder and forced her to turn she noticed everything moving a lot faster and people not having noticed what happened.She looked over her shoulder at Jax and Lavina and saw that they stood apart from each other, Lavina was by the table and Jax wiped his thumb over his lips and turned his head, his eyes locked with Lola’s, and his hand fell to his side. “Lola,” Ash said and tried to get her attention.Melissa had her arm hooked in Ed’s and watched with a glimmer in her eyes as her worst fear came true.But at that moment Lola couldn't breathe, she couldn't hear what anyone said and needed to get away from all of the people that surrounded her.On
“She did an amazing job,” Lola said, trying to break the thick ice coating when they were alone.“She did.” He said huskily and looked down at her. His gaze burned into her skin, his eyes glistened as they scanned her as they had many times before and his tongue slid over his lips.They stood staring into each other's eyes and Lola noticed the life in Jax’s eyes had dimmed. It wasn't what she looked into before, he seemed hardened and cold. Not just towards her but in general.Lola didn't know the first thing about being an Alpha but she was starting to realize that perhaps it entailed your persona shifting from tough but fair to cold and hard.Was it Alphas or just Jax?There didn't seem to be any in-between.“You wanted to talk.” He said.Taken aback by the hurry in his tone she realized he wanted to leave.“We haven’t talked since that night in the guest room. You slept in my bed, told me to be patient with you and then I don't hear from you for weeks.” Jax’s brows furrow and a ch