Adea
When Kristina leaves I have a list of things I need to do on my end to research and have prepared by our next meeting. I head to the kitchen and fix up a snack to take upstairs and took the opportunity to update the kitchen staff. Thankfully, they were more than willing to help out.
I rush upstairs, nervous to get started. I don’t know how long I was researching and planning when I looked up from the mac to a darkened room. Deciding I needed a shower, I closed the laptop and headed to the bathroom. Turning the nob to heat, I unzip my dress, and when steam starts rising I step into the shower.
When I walked out of the bathroom, Ethan was sitting in the semi-darkness, dressed in black, the sleeves of his sweater pushed up his forearms, his eyes closed as he leaned back against the chair, his hair pushed back. I watched his chest rise and fall in slumber.
He was magnificent.
Anyone else excited about Adea's Luna Ceremony?
I walked into the meeting room Ethan said was available for use. Large trucks had been coming to the packhouse all morning. The Desert Boutique had set up the meeting room and as I walked in, my heart sped up and my eyes widened. There were dresses of every shade lining the walls of the room, they had set up a changing room that opened up to mirrors. Lounge chairs sat in the middle of the room for guests. The sweetest aroma wafted around the room.Sadness pricked my heart at the thought of not having anyone here with me today. I couldn’t ask Gabe to be here when he was in mourning. How crappy would he feel having to smile and look at dresses when all he had on his mind was Olivia?“Good afternoon Luna,” a wry feminine voice called from beside me, making me jump. A tall and slender woman walked towards me. “Allow me to introduce myself,” she said with a quick bow.“I’m Je
**TRIGGER WARNING: This chapter contains severe depression and suicidal thoughts that may be triggering.**Song: Billie Eilish- Happier Than EverGabePain.I’m suffocating.Every breath in is shaky. Every breath out is ragged. Every breath I take is a painful reminder my mate no longer breathes. The stab wound reminds me how much I’ve failed. Her absence left a gaping hole in my chest, in my life.I can’t function.I can’t breathe.I haven’t left my room, I haven’t bathed, I haven’t shaved. I can’t remember when the last time I ate something was. I don’t deserve to eat. I don’t deserve to go on without her.The wind blows outside and the sun rises and sets. The stars light u
**TRIGGER WARNING: This chapter contains severe depression and suicidal thoughts that may be triggering.**GabeEverything I’ve done wrong replays in my head.Running to Ady. I’m running to Ady. I couldn’t find Olivia and everyone I spoke to hadn’t seen her. I knew in my gut something happened. My heart screamed something happened… screamed that something was happening.I could feel her fear, her pain, her desperation and I couldn’t do anything about it.One of the things I regret the most.I was rendered speechless as I ran around with no clue where she was. I was fucking useless. Ady'seyes widened as she stares at me, fear crawling into her features as she asks me what’s wrong.I couldn’t find her. She never came home
GabeStumbling to my feet, all of the blood rushes to my head and the world spins. I focus on Olivia’s jacket on the chair across the room and try to get a grip.“Please stop spinning,” I breathe.A firm grip steadies me and my eyes slide over Odis by my side. His hands hold me up as he looks at everything but me.I swallow.Breathe.Breathe in.Breathe out.I can do this.“You can’t,” the darkness whispers. For Ady… I can pretend for today.“You look like shit,” Odis grumbles, “and you smell even worse if that’s possible.” My lip curls on one side. Funny. I probably do. “You need to be presentable for Luna,” he says quietly.I nod
AdeaTurning around, my eyes wander the room until they land on Gabe sitting on the lounge chair for guests. My chest deflates as I exhale letting out the breath I didn’t know I was holding. I run to him.“Oh Gabe,” I cry.My eyes filled with tears and my best friend opened his arms. Lurching forward, I crushed my face to his and squeezed him hard. It’s so good to see him out of his room. I’ve been so busy I haven’t had the chance to check in on him. I bite my lip as guilt slithers its way up my chest.“How-“, I start before he shakes his head.“Not today, Ady. Today is all about you and you look beautiful,” he murmurs. He makes an attempt at a crooked smile and my heart sinks when it doesn’t reach his eyes. His shoulders weren’t tense and strong, they were slumped and haggard. He’s lost
“Every unmated male is going to wish you were theirs,” he teased.“There’s only ever been one for me,” I tell him “But… I’ve shared my bed with two,” I taunt.He lets out an audible gasp and feigns outrage. “Ludicrous! Ady, you shouldn’t speak of it. Our time together would be frowned upon,” he says and bumps his hip against mine.He put some power in those hips and I catch myself before I fall to my knees. Laughter bubbles up and out of my chest as I think of the old days where we’d get shit-faced. Once upon a time, I would have no choice but to sit through intensely specific details of his explicit fun with women and sometimes men.“I don’t know how you ever made it home! Mr. Life of the party,” I said and pressed the tip of my finger into his shoulder. “The trouble you would get yours
I wake up gasping, sweat coating my entire body. The dream decided to visit me last night. I take in a deep breath and wait for my racing heart to slow. Ethan lays beside me sleeping peacefully and I resist the urge to reach out and touch him. Carefully I slide out from under the sheets and move towards the dresser.Quickly, I grab joggers and a workout bra for training. The sun hadn’t risen yet and the moonlight filtered in through the window. The outcome replaying over and over in my mind. A constant reminder of what could happen to everyone I care about.My heart restricted, pushing the thoughts aside I headed into the shower to prepare myself for the busy day I had ahead of me. I didn’t have time to sit and wallow in sadness and depression over something that hasn’t happened yet.Soon I was walking down to the eating area with a zip-up windbreaker over my training clothes. My body tingled a
“But what?” He repeats.“There is someone who doesn’t particularly give me friend vibes,” I say.“How so?” He inquires.“I beat him in a fight and I think it bruised his ego,” I laugh.“Ignore him and everyone who gives you a hard time. They’ll know this weekend who you are anyway. Their mentality and behavior towards you will do a 360 as soon as they know who they’ve been harassing,” he says, waving him off.I broke into a grin and his shoulders relaxed as he returned it.“I’ve also got a cake tasting thing today. I can’t wait to try all the different flavors,” I sigh.“To answer your question earlier, I can’t go with you to practice. I’m meeting with one of the Deltas regarding some irregularities,
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