Alpha Mars' POV Twelve fucking hours! I have been in this stuffy SUV for twelve fucking hours. The only reason we didn’t fly is because my mother thought we might be bringing back some new pack members if pack members found their mates. Makes sense, but TWELVE FUCKING HOURS!!!Hunter and Artemis are sitting in the front while I am laying down in the back with my boots propped up on the windowsill and my hands behind my head. I kicked everyone out of this SUV at the beginning of the fucking trip, so I didn’t have to deal with chatter and annoying conversation. I just wanted to sleep. “Alpha, we are fifteen minutes from the front gate.” Beta Artemis chirps up.I growl in irritation and push myself up in a sitting position. “Let’s get this fucking shit show of a circus performance over with.”Artemis laughs, “Alpha, tell us how you really feel.” She turns slightly in the passenger seat to look at me with a smile. She’s always treats me her little big brother, like I am some fucking man
Ciara's POV I think we are lost… Ember and I were so frustrated about Noah's comments that Ember ran too far out from the pack lands, and now we spent all morning wandering in the open fields when we are supposed to be staying in the cover of the woods. The fields are right next to the main road that leads to our pack; it is a very open area that isn’t safe cause of potential rogues and other predators. At night, I am fine being alone out here because I can blend well with my surroundings and am shielded in the shadows, but during the day, I am way too exposed to possible danger.Ember slows down her running and plops down for a breather, her tongue flopping out panting. Her front paws sticking straight out so she can rest. Thankfully, the tall grass is partially shielding us.‘You sure put us in a sticky situation…’ I say to her. She sneezes in response.I must admit it is nice being out in the daylight in the open for once, especially in one of my animal forms. The sky is pretty blu
Ciara's POV I wish I could say I fully survived Maximo’s training of brimstone and fire, but I think I only have about 2 percent of my soul and body left. I saw my life pass before my eyes, and I must admit, it was not very impressive. He pushed me harder than any of our previous training and sparring sessions. Today he showed me no mercy in his attack, jabs, punches, and kicks all came flying at me like an unhinged shopper during Black Friday sales who really wanted that flat-screen TV and would take out anyone who got in their way.Maximo barely spoke to me; the flames from his nostrils said it all. His body must have been taken over by a training demon. He set the rules at the beginning of training, and I had to obey them. Usually, the rule is no shifting, until your opponent shifts first. He wants me to depend on my own body strength and abilities so I don’t become dependent on my other animal forms. However, today, I had to shift back and forth between forms as he calls them out
Ciara’s DreamA putrid smell woke me from my deep sleep as the sound of whispered sobs echoed all around me. I pushed myself up from the cold metal ground in a dirty hospital gown that was tied in the back. It left my back exposed to the chill in the air. Blue and Pink teddy bears covered the thin fabric of the gown. Their smiling faces giving off an eerie look in the dim light. I tried to stand to my feet, but my head hit hard metal of a ceiling, forcing me back down onto my knees. I crawled to the bars of the cage and shook them; they didn’t budge. I peered around my surroundings but couldn’t see anything but a room with several other rusty and decrypted cages, just like mine. Where am I? “Hello?” A child’s voice escaped my lips. “Is anyone there? Mommy? Daddy?” But no one answered me. Suddenly, a loud, blood-curdling scream broke through the sobs before silence engulfed the room. I quickly pushed myself back to the back of the cage, pulling my knees up to my chin and wrapping my
Ciara's POV I gasped awake and quickly sat up in the very cold tub of water. The once-lit room from the late afternoon summer sun was now dark from the night sky. The opened balcony doors let in some of the streetlamps glow in.Breathing heavy while shivering in the tub, I try to reign in my fear. I hate that I still suffer from nightmares after so much time has passed. I feel like I will never escape from the cage I spent so many years of my childhood in. The dream of my first time in the laboratory haunts my mind, a constant reminder that I am the Dark Alpha’s pet, Experiment 399. I subconsciously ran my fingers down the back of my leg, feeling the permanent engraved scar of 399, and then felt the scar over my lower abdomen. Closing my eyes, I let out a whimpered sigh.The buzzing of my phone breaks into my thoughts and I see its Benji calling. I swipe it open, and press the speaker before resting it on top of the small stool I keep near the side of the tub. “Hello?”“Hey girl, w
Alpha Mars' POV I am laying on the couch in my alpha guest suite at the Crystal Lake Pack packhouse, sound asleep. The marriage contract I am trying to dissect to find a loophole on my broad chest.I feel a nudge against my boot and crack one eye open. My Beta, Hunter, is staring down at me. He’s all dressed up in a black tuxedo, his dark hair slicked back, and a stupid grin on his freshly shaven face.“Why do you look like a fucking penguin?” I grunt out in my sleepy state.He grins down at me. “Tonight’s Hazel’s 18th coming-of-age ceremony. Oh, and your mother had a penguin suit made for you, too, asshole.” He says in a cheeky tone.I let out a growl. “No thanks, asshat.” I say, glaring at Hunter’s attire with disgust. Today has already been a shitty day of dealing with annoying Alphas. Plus, I had to sit next to that overly talkative Gamma’s daughter, Hazel, during lunch, and she constantly touched my arm as she tried talking to me. Now I have to go to a fucking party and deal wit
Alpha Mars' POV“Look who’s here, Miss Hazel. Your date has finally arrived.” Alpha Radar beckons Hazel over.Hazel saunters over with her hips swaying seductively but stops suddenly with a frown. “Oh, Alpha Mars, did you not receive the note about the tux dress code?”“Guess I missed that bit of information.” I lied. All of my friends roll their eyes. Hazel is wearing a shiny all-silver tassel fringe mini dress with a low-cut neckline that’s showing off her breasts and slim body. Reminds me of a disco ball. “Oh, and Happy Birthday.” I growl out as an afterthought.“Oh! Thank you!” Hazel blushes like I had just asked her to marry me. “Well, maybe at the next party, we can get you into a tux. I know you would look just like Prince Charming.” She says as she moves to my side and slides her hand around my bicep. “Shall we go find our seats? My ceremony is about to begin.”‘Prince Charming? Oh. for fuck’s sake, kill me now.’ I glare daggers at my Beta, who’s holding two thumbs up. I am goi
Ciara's POV The party is slowly picking up and guests are making their way to their seats. I see my family all dressed up with smiling faces as they say hello to some of the pack members. I can’t help but feel a sting in my heart for being left out. Lost in thought of my own misery, I didn’t see the spotlights suddenly turn on and flash across my eyes, momentarily blinding me and my Owl’s sight. ‘Shit… I can’t see…’ I hop around shaking my head, trying to clear yellow and red spots from my eyes.Once my vision clears, I realized I missed Hazel’s big entrance with Alpha Mars. The ballroom lights are so dim, I can’t see anything but shadowy figures. The spotlight shines brightly at the empty podium where Alpha Radar will make his typical coming of age ceremony speech, like he does at all these events.Ember is rolling on her back letting out some of our scent. ‘What are you doing! Stop that!’ But she ignores me.‘I know he’s here…’ She says as she continues to release pheromones.‘Wha