Chapter from Leia's pov. I kind of missed her. I did have to g.oo.gle synonyms very often for this chapter though.
Zuri’s pov “Why are you looking at him?” Rain growled at Maggie. “Really? Because he’s singing. Rain, just stop. Kyra is my friend, so can’t you just pretend to be okay with Ari here?” Maggie replied. “I don’t trust him.” “He’s marked! They both are, so let it go. I have. It was one stupid date. If Zuri got upset every time she ran into an ex of Roman, she’d be upset all the time.” Maggie said, looking at me to help her out. I shook my head and laughed, “don’t drag me into this. At least you and Rain are an official couple. Roman and I are still figuring things out.” Rain sighed, “fine. But don’t expect me to sing any time soon. Who even does that?” Maggie and I both giggled, “a romantic man who love their mates? He only stared at Kyra. I think he was just serenating her, to be honest.” Rain didn’t like my answer, clearly, because he had a big scowl on his face. Rain and Maggie were doing well, gone on several dates and were taking things slow. Roman and I weren’t taking thing
Roman’s pov Why did Kyra have to bring up love? Things with Zuri and I were great. I remembered how she had said that dating the same person was actually less work than chasing girls all the time and that part was true. It wasn’t work being with Zuri. It felt easy, a bit too easy. Soon I would get used to having Zuri around me all the time and then what? Then if it didn’t work out or if she wasn’t my mate, we’d both be heartbroken. Not to mention the fact, that I don’t want a mate. My wolf Carter disagreed, he actually really wanted a mate. But we discussed this. I would never want to go through what mom did. She was merely living her life, she wasn’t the same mom as she was with dad here. It was like her world had been filled with color and now everything was black and white. She still enjoyed things, but never to the fullest. She could still laugh, but her eyes were sad. “You should be a poet,” Carter joked. “But if she didn’t meet your dad, you wouldn't exist, Sierra wouldn’t. A
Mia’s pov “Thank you for meeting me for coffee.” I said to Femi. “No problem, thanks for inviting me. Has Roman been as miserable as Zuri?” he asked. I nodded, “he’s so damn stubborn. I could say he gets it from his dad, but I think he actually gets it from me.” Femi laughed. He had a beautiful laugh. It was surprising to me how at easy I felt around him. I hadn’t really looked at other men since Riker died. I wasn’t ready and most of the men I hang around with were mated. But there was something about Femi that made him stand out from the rest. “Maybe it's because you felt sparks when you shook his hand?” My wolf, Sallie said. I always thought she would have a harder time than I would, if I found my second mate or if I found someone I chose to date. But Sallie seemed to be handling it better than I did. I was nervous and unsure how to act around Femi. The thought of a second mate had crossed my mind often. How would I feel? Would I accept another man in my life and would Salli
Zuri’s pov “Are you going to mope around every day now? It’s been over a month.” Rishi asked before Maggie could shush him. “I can’t help it that you both have boyfriends now and are happy all the time.” I replied rolling my eyes. “Of course I look moody in comparison.” “I don’t have a boyfriend. “ Rishi said. “Mmm, yet you talk to Dax on the phone daily and you’re coming with Maggie to see Kyra and Ari.” Maggie smiled, “she’s got you there, Rish.” “Whatever, we’re just friends. Where one of the friends finds the other very attractive and fantasises about him every day.” I laughed, “you’re that friend aren’t you?” “Maybe. But Zuzu, please, go out and find another boy to kiss instead of pining over Roman. It’s not like he’s been celibate since you broke up.” Rishi said. He was right. Roman had gone back to his man-ho ways. He ignored me most of the time, which was hard considering our parents were dating. Tonight our parents wanted to have a big family meal with all the kids a
Roman’s pov “You have been behaving like an idiot!” Carter shouted at me as I left. I might have been, but should I just be fine with my mom replacing my dad? Knowing how much she could get hurt? Should I just be fine with Zuri finding someone else? Like she didn’t feel the same way about me, as I did about her. Carter growled, “if you really felt the same way, you wouldn’t be trying to have sex with other girls.” Trying was the keyword here. I went on dates, then I tried to have sex with them and I couldn’t. So I just went down on them and pretended I needed to go. But none tasted like Zuri, none felt like her. All I could think about was Zuri. I was sure if Zuri started to date someone, it wouldn’t be a one night stand. It would be serious and she would forget about me. It’s like that stupid song from that Capaldi dude. “I’m not ready to find out you know how to forget me.” “Stupid?!” Carter laughed, “you have listened to it nonstop. Not to mention all the other crap love son
Maggie’s pov “I’ve sent him away,” Rain said, looking so shy. “We don’t have to do anything.” I said, “we can just stop here, it’s fine.” Rain shook his head, “I want to. I just got a bit distracted by Roman. He’s been so angry and he’s not okay. I know he should treat Zuri better, I’m not defending him. I’m just worried.” I nodded, “I get it. But even when you’re upset, it doesn’t mean he’s not going to be held accountable for his behavior. He’s choosing to behave like a dick instead of dealing with shit the normal way.” “And what is the normal way?” Rain joked. “Hitting a punching bag, talking to someone, crying. I don’t know, anything that doesn’t hurt someone else in the process.” I replied. “You’re smart.” Rain said, moving closer to me, “and really pretty.” “Am I?” I said, removing my shirt. “Am I really pretty?” I was standing in front of Rain naked, we already removed my clothes before Roman interupted us. I wasn’t this confident about my body before, but I knew Rain w
Zuri’s pov “Should I really go?” I texted Maggie, who was on the way to see Kyra with Rain and Rishi. “Yes! Landon has been nothing but nice and you deserve nice. And if there is no chemistry, you at least had a night out.” “I hope you all have fun and I hope that Rain and Ari won’t fight.” I replied. “L.O.L. Rain would be stupid to go up against Ari. Kyra would beat his ass before he could. She is really protective of her mate and then I would have to fight with Kyra and I’m not sure who would win.” “She would.” “No. I am a good fighter. I could win.” I shook my head, while looking at my phone. Yes, Maggie was a very good fighter, but she didn’t have her wolf like Kyra and she was a lot shorter. Besides, Kyra had wanted to become Gamma, I’m pretty sure she was a better fighter. “You should spar together. See who wins.” Kyra would win, but I’m sure Ari and Rain would get a kick out of seeing their women spar. Or maybe Maggie would play dirty. She was trained by her dad daily a
Roman’s pov"So you and Zuri?" Rain asked, mindlinking me."Yeah, me and Zuri." I said, happily."Start from the beginning, because when I left, you were still telling me how you didn’t want a relationship."Rain, Maggie, and Rishi left to see Ari and Kyra for the weekend. I wasn’t sure why Rishi went along, Rain said something about him being friends with Ari’s brother? I didn’t care either way, I didn’t really hung out with Rishi. He was a bit much."You don’t hang out with anyone," Carter growled.He was getting more annoyed with me every day."You’re the one who’s annoyed, and you’re rubbing off on me. You have been in a bad mood for a month." Carter said.I had even considered talking to Doctor Angela. Something to help me get rid of the rage I was feelingIt wasn’t like I didn’t have a reason to be angry, but this is not how I wanted my life to look like. It was starting to look like my mom and Mr. Abara were getting serious, and there wasn’t anything I could do about it.I either
Aaro’s povI shouldn’t have said that, but it was the fucking truth. No matter how much this wasn’t Storm’s choice any more than it was mine, he was still going to mark me against my will. Maybe if things were different, then I would have chosen Storm as my mate.I always hoped I would find my true mate, but that ship had fucking sailed the moment I was bought. Maybe even before then—maybe the moment I was brought to the damn school. It didn’t fucking matter anyway.I saw how my remark hurt Storm, and all I could think of to make this better was to ask him to kiss me. I knew it fucking made me feel better. More than better. The orgasm he gave me was out of this fucking world, and I just wanted to make him feel good too.I didn’t know what the fuck I was doing, but he seemed to enjoy it, and to be honest, I was enjoying it too. I didn’t think having someone’s dick inside my mouth would be fun, but hearing Storm grunt and hold on to my hair and knowing I was the one doing it to him was a
Storm’s povI knew if I got pissed off, Aaro would stop telling me the truth, so I let her talk while inside of me a storm was raging. I wanted to go to the school and kill everyone who ever hurt Aaro. I wanted to destroy the entire school and get everyone out, but I knew I couldn’t. I was a fucking hypocrite. My father had bought Aaro for me and had funded the school for years. I didn’t realize where part of our money was going until I checked the books today. Our pack had been giving money to the Goldacres for decades. How could I say I would destroy the school if I still profited from it? If it wasn’t for the school, I wouldn’t have met Aaro.I wanted to be Aaro’s home, her safe place. She deserved that. Despite the fucked up situation she was thrown into, she was trying to do things her own way. She could have ignored my mother like the rest, but instead she decided to learn Dutch. The thing that bonded me and mam together. If Aaro was smart, she would have sucked up to Dad and R
Aaro’s povEve explained the phone to me, but I still felt like a fucking idiot using it. She was so patient with me, but I knew if others saw me fumbling with the phone, they’d think I was raised under a damn rock. Everyone used technology for everything, and I felt like I didn’t belong in this world.To be honest, I don’t belong here. I belong with my sister; I belong back home.But a part of me wished I did belong here. That I could give Storm what he deserved. He wanted a real person who didn’t have that many secrets, someone who could be themselves around him, and I wasn’t that at fucking all. I had to think before I spoke, because otherwise I could reveal the truth."I really am sorry, Aaro." Eve said again.I shook my head, "don’t be. I’ll be fine."Eve sighed, "it can be really hard sometimes, Aaro. I try to put on a brave face for Storm. I don’t want him to feel bad for me, but it’s really lonely for me. I miss my family and just having a life. Don’t get me wrong; if I had to
Storm’s pov"Aaro is bijna klaar; douchen liep een beetje uit. [Aaro is almost done; the shower took a bit longer than expected.]Mam laughed, "Ik zie dat jij ook ging douchen? [I see you took a shower as well?] She ruffled my wet hair."Dus? [so?]""Niks. Ik ben blij voor je. Ze is speciaal vind je niet? Ik durf het bijna niet te zeggen, maar misschien is zij je, - [Nothing. I am happy for you. She’s special, isn’t she? I am almost too scared to say, but maybe she’s your, -] " I stopped my mom from finishing her sentence."Mam zeg het niet dan! Fuck, je weet zelf wat pap zou doen. [Then don’t say it! Fuck, you know what Dad would do.]"My mother knew better than anyone what my dad thought of true mates, considering she was his. Dad and mom fell in love when they were seventeen. Love at first sight, she called it, and then my grandfather got killed and my dad turned into a paranoid asshole. Too scared of what a true mate meant. He wasn't just scared of losing half his soul if his true
Aaro’s povFucking phone. That stupid fucking phone. Phones didn’t used to be like this, were they? I remember mom and dad having a phone, and I sometimes watched videos on it or played a game. But this thing was totally different.I felt so fucking out of place. I knew nothing about this world. I guess that the school does this on purpose. Make sure to isolate the girls once they’re out of the school. Make sure we don’t know how to use technology to ask for help.We’re not supposed to tell anyone about the school, but even if we only wanted to help ourselves once we were out, we wouldn’t be able to. We had no one to turn to and no way to set up any support system. Maybe I should talk to Eve. She had been isolated, stuck inside this packhouse. She knows how it feels, and maybe she knows how to get out of here.I opened the stupid phone again, cursing at it."You better not fuck this up again. Send text to Eve.""Send text to Eve," the phone said."Do you want to join me and Storm for l
Storm’s povI put Aaro on my lap and let her eat."So what’s her deal?" Cara asked, mind-linking me."What do you mean?""She seems nice, but is she like the rest? Does she want you because of your title?"I laughed, "no, she isn’t like the rest. Not at fucking all. I don’t think she cares about becoming Luna at all.""Did she have any say in coming here? Did her parents force her?"I sighed, "she’s an orphan. It’s fucking complicated Cara, but she doesn’t really have a choice. So I’m trying my fucking best to make everything not suck as fucking much."Cara smiled at me, "you want her to like you."Aaro started giving me bites to eat, and although it surprised me, I let her. It was fucking adorable that she cared enough to feed me."She likes you already. She was straddling you, and now she’s feeding you!" Cara shouted inside my head.That kiss was amazing. And when Aaro started moving her fucking hips, I went insane. If Cara hadn’t stopped us, I don’t know what would have happened. Wh
Aaro’s povBrand was cool. He reminded me of my dad’s wolf, Logan. He was as fast as him, too. How would it feel to run as a wolf? Would I be that fast?It was easier around Brand because he didn’t talk to me and I didn’t have to pretend so hard.Even when I was myself, I still had to pretend. I couldn’t let anyone know my real name or identity. It wasn’t easy. I so badly wanted to tell Brand about Logan. I wanted to tell the girl in the orphanage more about Ero. And when we discussed our names, I really wanted to tell Peter what Aaro fucking stood for.It bothered me how scared everyone was. It was supposed to be like this. In my dad’s pack, people weren’t scared of us. And although my grandpa Os could be a bit scary, people respected him more than they feared him.Then he shifted back, and although Storm looked a lot better, like a whole fuckload better, I went back to pretending. Pretending that he didn’t look fucking good, and I wondered what it would feel like to touch him. Preten
Storm’s povI tried to get some work done, but my mind kept wondering about tonight. What would be a good date idea?"Let me meet her," Brand said."And then what, have a picknick? It’s fucking freezing outside.""Please?" Brand asked and I think it was the first time he said please to me."I’ll see what I can do, okay, buddy?"Dad had given me her tracker information, and I felt like a fucking stalker, tracking Aaro’s moves. She went from the hospital to the orphanages, to lunch somewhere, and then to one of the elders' houses.When it was around four, I just gave up on working and decided to pick up Aaro early. I'm sure she'd appreciate it; I couldn't imagine spending the entire day with Ruby.I went to the O'Hares' home and watched as Aaro spoke to a young boy. He must be one of the grandkids or great-grandkids of the O'Hares. Mister O'Hare was 104 years old and looked no older than 70.When the boy saw me, he bowed his head and seemed scared. It was such an obvious contrast between
Aaro’s povStupid fucking nightmare. I used to have them when we were younger. I would dream about Marco taking us away. We were asleep when he took us, but we woke up before he brought us to the man who transported us to the school.Doctor Marco had always been so kind to us, but suddenly he was cold. He ignored our cries, he ignored me begging him to let my sister go. In the end, he threatened to hurt Elora if I didn’t help him calm her down.He showed me bones and said they belonged to a girl, and if I didn't help my sister out of her pajamas and make her shut the fuck up, he could turn my sister into a bag of bones too.For years, I wondered what he needed the bones and the pajamas for. I thought he might have pretended it was one of us who died, so my parents wouldn’t come looking for us. Or my parents were dead themselves; there must have been a reason why they didn't find us. Auntie Kat was too smart to not see through Marco’s plan, I was sure. She was the smartest person alive;