AdeaBy the time we reached the top of the stairs, my heart was in overdrive. It didn’t matter what I knew he said or what I knew wasn’t going to happen. I was nervous, my mind was racing, and my heart was pumping twice as fast. My eyes lingered on the door to my old room as we passed. Shane made his way towards the room Luna Rose had used as her private reading room.I let out a sigh of relief when he reached for the handle. Walking in after him, I realized this room had also changed. I’d never been allowed in here other than to clean. Back then, the walls had been covered in bookshelves. The shelves had been packed with books from fantasy to dark romance.The reader in me wished I could have sat in here for hours but couldn’t even touch the books. The only books I was permitted to read had been the ones in the pack library. A fancy hair had been in the middle of the room with one small table to hold a handful of books, tea, and a desk light.Now, all the bookshelves had been replace
Adea“Well, there was another reason I came up here,” Shane said, distracting me from my thoughts. Before my mind could go off spouting off a whirlwind of possible reasons. Shane motioned with his hand towards the one wall that didn’t have any paintings on it.I’d been so enamored with all of the paintings, I hadn’t seen the large wooden wardrobe. It had to be twice the size of the dresser I had back on Desert Moon. There were intricate designs and swirls cut into the wood.I followed him until we stood in front of the large doors. Shane reached out and gripped the handles. Pulling them open, we were met with a blur of colors. Everything from fancy dresses to jeans and comfortable leggings hung on the racks.“I told you I’m taking you out. That means a date. This-”“What is all this, Shane?” I asked.“These are your clothes.”“Why do you have clothes for me here in this room?” Should I even be surprised? I’m not sure if I’m more surprised at the fact that he has clothes for me or by t
Adea Of all the people he could have sent to help me, he chooses the person who bullied me as a teenager? Wait, I don’t know why I’m surprised. I am talking about Shane, my number one bully. What else was I expecting? I wanted to scream at being face-to-face with this two-faced bitch again. I can’t even count how many times she pretended to hit my books down, bump into me so hard that I was shoved into the lockers, or just tripped me for no damn good reason. The young Adea had cowered under her gaze and kept her head down in front of her. Goddess, maybe this was a blessing in disguise. Now, I had the chance to make things right, to make things better, to get a slice of revenge for all the shitty times I had to endure. I bit the left side of my bottom lip to try and calm myself, to stop myself from reaching out and wringing her neck. It could have only been a little longer than a year since the last time I’d had to deal with Beka. Beka looked as surprised to see me as I was to see
Adea Shane had given me a specific time to be downstairs. Did that make me rush? No. Did that make Beka rush? Not one bit. From the history we shared and the argument we had when she walked in, you would think she would be trying to sabotage me but that’s not what happened. Beka was not only quick at what she did but she was really good at what she did. And from what I remember Nikki saying once upon a time, beauty can’t be rushed. It didn’t matter how good I thought I looked. Beka was not about to let me leave until she thought I was flawless. I already knew it wasn’t for me. We didn’t share an ounce of friendship or any kind of bond outside of pure hate for the other. She only had one motive. She was trying to please her Alpha. “There,” she said with a satisfied smile. She took her time looking down my body, eyeing everything, and praising her handiwork. “No one can do a better job than I can.” With one spin, she turned me around so that I was facing the mirror by the wardrobe.
AdeaThe look on Devin’s face clearly told me I didn’t have an option. Shane wasn’t the only one to have changed. I noticed this at the meeting but my focus was mainly on his Alpha. Since the meeting, Devin had buzzed his black hair short. His lip was pierced and a small silver ring looped over his bottom lip.I hadn’t seen it before but now that I could look at him up close, he had a black sleeve of skulls and flames that started at his right wrist and went up to his shoulder. He’s wearing white slacks and a loose silk tank. A silver chain hung from his neck.“I don’t care what Alpha is or isn’t. He knows that perfection takes time and this,” Beka said as she waved her hand up and down my body, “is perfection. I don’t like to be rushed.” She has her hand on her hip and she’s glaring at Devin.My eyebrows raise. From what I remember of Beka, she was always bowing and doing whatever she could to please Shane. This was the exact opposite of how she used to act and I hated to admit that
AdeaWhen my feet hit the landing, I scanned the room for him. There’s a handful of people scattered around the room. There is one staff member present who is rearranging a vase of flowers. When my eyes land on him across the room, I relax. I’ve never been more relieved in my life to see Shane. Devin is not the best company and I’m so ready to be off of his arm. Receiving threats, or promises all day isn’t my favorite thing to do.The man I came here to kill looks like a model straight out of a magazine. You know, one of those motorcycle ones with the shirtless guy on the front? The one where the model sits with their legs on both sides of the motorcycle, their legs wide and muscular, their hands tatted and tightly gripping the handle as he stares the camera straight in the eye? Making it look like he’s staring through your soul and leaving you hot and bothered?I hate how my breath hitches at the sight of him. Shane is oozing with sex appeal, he looks like someone picked out his ward
AdeaSince Liam had walked it, he hadn’t looked at me, or Shane. His eyes were downcast. Devin made a noise by my side and when I turned to him, I didn’t miss the look of clear disapproval on his face as he glared at Liam in the doorway.“What are you doing here? I clearly told you to stay clear of the packhouse. I gave you tasks to do,” Devin said.He’s in full Beta mode and I’m caught off guard by the tone of his voice. Liam is one of them, always has been. I’m curious about what could have brought about this animosity that I’m hearing.“Yes, Beta. I’m aware. Alpha Shane instructed me to get the car since you were preoccupied,” Liam said. He kept his eyes on the ground as he spoke. Devin let out a stressful-sounding sigh and looks at Shane.“We talked about this, Alpha,” Devin said.“You were doing something important,” Shane said as his hand caressed up and down my back. “I wanted the car ready for when she came down. Is there a problem, Beta?” Shane asked.“No, Alpha. Liam…” Devin
AdeaGoddess, he was right. Not only was The Iron Pot the prettiest place I’ve ever eaten at but the food was orgasmic. A sweet little Korean woman came out shortly after we arrived and took our order. Shane told me to trust him and ordered for me. Turns out, The Iron Pot is a Korean restaurant!He ordered Kalbi, Chicken bulgogi, Miso soup, battered cod, and two bottles of strawberry soju. After placing our order, she came back out and put little dishes in the middle of the table.Shane banned me from touching and trying. When she arrived five minutes after placing our order, I was shocked by how quickly it came out. She placed everything on our table and was out of our hair but not before leaving a pile of napkins.There’s no way the food could already be cooked. Our table was so full! We had a large one too but almost every inch of it was covered in food and not just that, the number of side dishes doubled. I couldn’t even name half of them.The entrees sat atop hot iron plates and
The first month back at Desert Moon had been hard. Not a day went by without us fighting. Ethan rejected Mavy as his mate before we came home. A part of me knew he was hurt about it, missed her like I missed Shane. I felt like he was only with me because I was his Luna, because of obligation and duty. I didn’t know why he wanted to be with me. He didn’t know why I was with him when I loved Shane. We were at our lowest. We were ugly, we were at our rawest. It wasn’t until month two that we finally talked about everything. We talked bout what happened and we talked about the past. The one that I remembered and by this time, the one that he remembered. It was hard, facing the man I loved in this life and the man I hated in the past. He wasn’t him anymore, he hadn’t been him for a long time. We dug into the past and were completely honest with each other. He fell to his knees and apologized for what he’d done even though I told him it wasn’t him, that wasn’t him anymore. He asked me if I
Mavy fell back as if she’d been physically struck. She collapsed on the couch, her eyes watering. She didn’t look back at me, she kept her gaze focused on Ethan. I watched as her world crashed around her again for the second time in five minutes.“Where does that leave me?” Mavy asked. “I’m… your…” she shook her head and turned to look back at Ethan. “That’s not possible. I’m… I can smell it. I can feel it. Can’t you?” Mavy whispered. I heard the desperation in her voice.“I don’t care what you think or how you feel. I am already mated and my mate, my partner, my love, MY QUEEN sits in this room. Don’t disrespect her again.” The emotion in his voice caused me to choke up. Mavy bit into her lower lip and tears streamed down her cheeks. She dropped her head.“Yes, Alpha,” she said submissively.“I killed your Alpha,” Ethan said. “I’ve killed your brother.”“Yes,” she murmured.“Will you fight me on this?” Ethan asked.“As the next in line, I submit to you,” Mavy whispered.Ethan dismiss
The voices were getting louder, my head was hurting. I wanted to roll up into a ball and disappear from the world. Instead, I closed my eyes and tried to drown it all out, trying to ignore everyone. I wasn’t ready to deal with it.“She’s in shock…”“She’s confused…”“Enough!”A door slammed and footsteps paddled quickly towards me. Soft frail arms wrapped around me. Tears soaked my cheeks and my neck as Mavy cried. Did she know? She had to know.“Are you okay?” Mavy sobbed.I wrapped my arms around her and nodded. The tears started up again and streamed down my cheeks. Her t-shirt bunched in my fingers as I held her close. We cried and held each other.She inhaled deeply and froze. Slowly, she lifted her nose into the air and took another deep breath. Turning from me, she tried to follow the scent. She stopped, her gaze locked on someone, I turned and followed her gaze.I should have known, expected it but I’d been so caught up in my feelings that I didn’t think. I don’t know how it w
I didn’t have an answer for him and I don’t think he would have liked what I would have said. Hell, I didn’t know if I liked what I thought or how I felt. Instead of hurting him and cutting myself open for him, I didn’t say anything. I remained quiet. My world was crashing around me and my ears were ringing. I lowered my head and the tears flowed of their own volition.Ethan leaned down and I flinched as his arms wrapped around me. They were strong and broad. His embrace was warm and promised I could lean on him. I attempted to get to my feet only to fall. My face twisted from the pain and I wanted to cry and wallow in my own self-pity. Standing, he pulled me up and held me as my body gave up. I collapsed against him.I wanted to get to Shane, needed to. As if on cue, the weak mate bond snapped, and just like in my dream, it was gone. Only, this time, the pain I was feeling was because of Shane and not because of Ethan. The world was cold, the warmth I’d been able to feel from Shane f
Did what I do to him last night not bother him? I betrayed him. Did he not care that I came here to hurt him? Did he not care that I chose Ethan? I wanted to cry and scream. I wanted to run into his arms. I wanted this to stop. I wanted them to stop fighting. I wanted it all to stop. I screamed, it was painful and gut-wrenching but I screamed. I cursed the Goddess, damn her, she was useless in all of this. She sat up there above the clouds and did nothing to help us. Did she enjoy watching us suffer? When I couldn’t scream anymore, I inhaled deep breaths of air. I looked up and froze as Shane stared back at me. The way he looked at me told me he knew he was going to die. The look in his eye told me he knew he lost but for me, there was a small spark as if he wouldn’t just lay down and take it. I watched Ethan punch him. It was as if he was moving in slow motion. He hit his jaw and Shane’s head snapped back hard against the ground. Shane’s body tensed and he punched Ethan in the gut.
For a moment in time, they stood glaring at each other. The sun was blaring down on us. My gaze darted back and forth between the two. Shane’s eyes wandered away from Ethan and landed on me. “Look at me, mutt. You don’t get to look at her after what you’ve done,” Ethan spat. “I’m not so weak that you can look away from me in the middle of a fight.” “What have I done?” Shane taunted. “You’ve touched what’s mine,” Ethan growled. “I haven’t done anything other than touch what is mine. I haven’t done anything but make love to what is mine. I’ve claimed her. She may not wear my mark, thief but she is mine. Don’t claim her as yours. She was mine, she was always mine. She doesn’t belong to you, she never did.” A look came over Ethan’s face as if he knew as if this was confirmation as if he was reminded of something he’d forgotten. “You’re the one who touched someone who wasn’t yours. You are the one who took what was mine. Don’t try to play the victim. Don’t pretend to be something you’re
No.Not Odis.“Devin,” I gasped.Devin heard me but didn’t stop. He didn’t look up at me, didn’t even hesitate as he continued to stomp Odis into the ground. Blood spurt from Odis’ mouth and I think I heard his ribs crack. I took a step closer to stop it, to stop him. In a flash, someone was on top of Devin. Strong arms held Devin’s prisoner in a headlock and his legs wrapped around Devin’s abdomen.I wanted to scream but it quickly died in my throat as Odis and I realized the man in front of me was Gabe. Gabe. It was Gabe and he was on top of Devin. Well, he was wrapped around him like a python ready to suffocate his prey. Gabe grunted as he continued to squeeze Devin’s head, blocking his airflow.I wanted to cry out happily but I couldn’t. Gabe was here. Why was he here? He wasn’t supposed to be here. Things were going differently since he was alive. He was standing, breathing, his head was still attached to his body. Maybe things were turning out differently.Maybe Gabe was safe, ma
“Do you understand what I’m saying?” Odis asked. I couldn’t find the words to speak, so I nodded. “Good,” Odis said as his grip on me loosened. “Why don’t you let her go?” A voice called out to us. Looking up, I searched for the source of the voice. My eyes widened as I found Devin watching up. His gaze locked around Odis’ arms that were still wrapped around me to his hands that gripped my arms. “I promise I’m more fun,” Devin teased. I know what it looked like. It looked like I was being held back from moving. It looked like Odis was stopping me from helping Shane. It looked like I was stuck between two packs, two men. The situation I found myself in was precarious. I was now stuck between two Betas who were supposed to protect me, despite their conflicting thoughts regarding me. I hadn’t had much time with Devin since I’d been back. He hadn’t been the nicest, shit, I don’t think he even liked me. That didn’t change the fact that Devin was Beta of Half Moon pack. Shane was his
I didn’t have an answer and I prayed I didn’t have to make the choice. Not only had everyone stopped moving but it had gone deathly silent. For a moment, everyone and everything froze. There wasn’t a whisper of wind in the air, the trees stood still, and it was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. It was the calm before the storm. It felt like someone had pushed the pause button and all at once the play button was pressed and all hell broke loose. As if planned, the two of them ran toward each other. I looked past Ethan and my gaze landed on Shane’s chest. The sword had been taken out, a gaping hole was left in its place right next to his heart. Now that it was gone, I could see I had barely missed his heart. If I’d been one inch to the right, he would have died. How had I missed that? I didn’t kill him. Was I not paying attention? Why hadn’t I looked at his heart? I had aimed, hadn’t I? Had I meant to miss it? No, I had meant it, or else I wouldn’t have stabbed him at all. I tried to