The morning sun shone in through the window and woke Lola up from her light sleep. The day would bring warmth and crowded streets as people soaked up these rare rays of sunshine.Early winter cold wouldn't stop them as they layered on the clothing to stay outside for as long as possible.Lola groaned, the pain of knowing where she had to head off to in just under an hour had her questioning whether she should get out of bed at all.She and Lavina are supposed to meet at Mayor Clan's house to help plan for the Winter Whimsy- company she'd rather avoid and plans she couldn’t care less about, it wasn’t shaping up to be a good day after an awful night.She rolled out of bed, dragged herself to the closet, and got dressed.The Omegas whose job it was to look after the mansion had fixed the guest room in under a day. They had put in new closets, as well as other amenities, to make it more homey for her. As if they’d somehow gotten orders from high up as if they knew she wouldn't be spendin
The inside of the Mayor's house was nothing compared to the Blackwood mansion. It wasn't half as lavish and the size was perhaps a third of the mansion on the hill.However, it was clear that it had been passed down through generations ever since the first settlers of Wild Cliff. Portraits of the previous owners of the estate hung on the walls to remind every guest of the bloodline that lived there.They were guided through the long hall and gathered in the living room to start planning the Winter Whimsy.Already there was another University student, Justin O’hare. Lola stared bewildered at his shrunken presence on the couch.“His parents must’ve dragged him here,” she whispered to Melissa who nodded agreeably.“Girls, come and sit!” Mrs. Clan called and waved her bronzed hand delicately in the air.They all took a seat around the glass table in between two beige four-person couches.Mrs. Clan walked out and returned with a tray of cups, sugar, and cream, and a teakettle.It was all ve
They stood around the painting depicting a small cottage with a family outside in the front yard. Two children were painted playing on the grass and a woman holding a rake while a man shook hands with another.“Do you think she has a connection to Freja? If so, what does it mean?” Melissa asked quietly.The smell of whiskey on her warm breath hit Lola and provoked her gag reflexes. She stepped to the side and created enough distance between her and Melissa to where her breath was neutralized by the air between them. Melissa, embarrassed and tipsy, pinched her lips shut and covered her mouth subtly with her hand. “I don’t know but what if she does? What if she knew more than she let on when we were there? She did seem intrigued by you,” Lola said. They thought back to the pendant that occasionally hung around Melissa’s neck. The gaudy stone in the middle of swirling metal wires tied around the silver which protected the core. They heard loud breaths and the smell of whiskey filled
Justin O’Hare, the golden boy of Wild Cliff, football quarterback and party prince of the small town. After graduating high school many thought he would leave, go to college elsewhere or perhaps just drive his car through the country but just like he had his whole life he shocked everyone when he stayed put and attended Lilac University.The parties continued, the unhinged drinking and flirting. The sex, the on-and-off relationships with any girl he deemed was worthy to spend a night in his bed and yet he somehow kept up his grades and was top in his class as a psych major. They lay on the grass and looked up at the sky. Melissa shook the bottle over her open mouth and the last drops slid down the glass and wetted her lips. Her tongue played over her lips to catch the drops and she savored that last taste of something historical.Lola chuckled as she looked at the ominous clouds that were forming above them. “I can't believe we’re adopting Justin O’Hares’s conflict solution,”Melis
“If Jax saw you cuddling up to Justin like that…”“I wasn't cuddling him and it wasn't Jax that he saw in the woods!” Lola hissed. She licked her lips and looked across the restaurant where Justin was sitting at the bar.“It doesn't matter if it wasn't Jax, it was one of his wolves and that wolf will tuck his tail and run back to his Alpha to spew the information,” Melissa warned.“Even so it wouldn't matter to him, he made it abundantly clear where we stand.” She continued. They stood by the divider about to walk up the wooden stairs. Justin had ordered for them and was waiting for the drinks. He’d already thrown back two shots after what he saw outside and was staring mindlessly at the wall while waiting for the girls. After he saw the wolf he refused to stay outside and hurried to the restaurant, pushing the girls in front of him even though they knew that there wasn't any imminent danger- but Justin didn’t know that and they would have to come up with a good excuse for why he sa
The music got louder and the bartender smiled from ear to ear as Lola and Melissa threw back their fifth shot.He turned to his colleague and whispered, “I'm betting the girls will throw one more back and then throw up,” “What about O’hare?” The other said. “Nah he can hold his liquor, I'll give him three more shots before he picks a fight though,” he grinned and they shook hands, locking in the bet. Lola drank from the straw in her daiquiri and Melissa gulped down the last of her gin and tonic.Justin dragged a hand through his hair, flicking the waves back and downing another shot before grabbing his whiskey-filled glass and swirling it around.The smell of booze circled the air and their jackets swayed over the chairs when they moved around.Lola leaned over the bar and laughed as she grabbed a cherry and tossed it in the air. Her lips parted and the cherry landed softly on her tongue as her lips closed around it- the stem poked out between her lips and Justin’s cologne wafted to
Justin’s lips parted in a choked scream when Jax pressed the stake into his side. Melissa stood frozen by the bar, her eyes as big as saucers as she stared in disbelief at the scene unfolding in front of her eyes. Several people were seated, eating their food, drinking their coffee but all of them were silent as they carried on like normal.Nobody reacted to the guy about to be publicly executed.Lola’s voice was hoarse, barely making a sound after her screams were left to disappear into the air like they couldn't be heard.She saw the wounds and bruises forming on his face and his skin was turning blue from the lack of air. His bloodshot eyes looked pleadingly into Jax’s as the stake was driven into his flesh.Lola turned halfway, she cast a last desperate glance at Justin and Jax and then she turned to Ash. “If you let this happen I swear to god I will never speak to you again. You will be dead to me now and forever and nothing you do will ever redeem you.” She seethed, spit fle
They were all back at the mansion. A group of Omegas had been called to clean up the mess made in the restaurant. Of course, when they were done, it was immaculate and cleaner than before the fight broke out, not a speck of blood could be seen.Melissa was sitting on the couch with her hands wrapped around a steaming cup of tea given to her by the chef. Lola’s cup was on the table, the steam rose and disappeared and the smell of camomile wafted in the air.The chef had looked at the girls and sighed, his face twisted with worry when he noticed how far off they were from the girls he first met all those months ago. Lola paced around the living room and refused to go anywhere or do anything until she saw that Justin was alright.Footsteps closed in on them, sounding louder and heavier the closer they got and she knew it was a man.Ash stepped inside and raised his brow when he saw Lola’s determined expression.“Enjoy your tea?” He asked, glancing at the untouched cup sitting on the gla
“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