Oh Alyssa has some bite to her! Who do you think is laughing?
Startled, I turned and saw Thomas leaning in the doorway.“Admit it, Chelsie, she got you there.” He walked into the room, humor sparkling in his eyes. “Who knew you were so funny, Alyssa?” he said, grinning.Relief made me return his smile. “I was-” I started, but the woman, Chelsie, cut me off.“What are you doing, Thomas?” she demanded. “Why are you defending her? You realize she’s a pack bitch! They’re our enemy! Don’t tell me you’ve fallen in love with a pack bitch, Thomas!”At that moment, Kalen walked into the room and froze. His eyes darted around, falling on each one of us. His eyes narrowed as he looked at Thomas. Chelsie immediately rushed forward and clung to Kalen’s arm.“Alpha, she’s trying to seduce your people,” she said. “I came in here and found her practically throwing herself at Thomas instead of doing the work you ordered her to.”My eyes widened and Thomas wore a similar expression of shock.“Alpha-” Thomas started to say when Kalen glared at him.“Save it,” he sn
I spent more time than I should wondering what might be going on with Kalen. I’ve never seen anyone whose eyes change like his does. So far they’ve gone from near black to an icy blue. Maybe that was a rogue thing. I shook my head. Out of the things that were my problem, Kalen and his eyes weren’t even on the list. Instead, I focused on sorting the documents.It was late by the time I finished. When I stood up from my chair, I stumbled, feeling a bit dizzy. I took a moment to steady myself, and decided before going to my new room in the pack house, I decided to take a bit of fresh air.Stepping outside, I closed my eyes and let the cool night air wash over me. The chilly bite of the air helped my head clear and some of the tension eased. When I opened my eyes, I saw Thomas walking up to me with a girl, maybe twelve or thirteen, with him.“Hey, everything, alright?” Thomas asked.“Yeah, just getting a bit of air. What about you? You’re out late,” I replied.“Since I was stuck training t
“I’ve been doing what you asked. Only now did I finish,” I told Kalen, irritated and unsure at the same time. I’d never seen him drunk before.“Liar,” Kalen spat out at me.Anger filled me. “It takes one to know one.”“What’s that supposed to mean?”“It means you’re not a paragon of truth either, Kalen,” I told him, tired of him throwing accusations at me when he believed Carl and all that he said instead of me.“What is it you want, Kalen? Because it seems everything I do just seems to piss you off, so what the hell do you want?”“I don’t want anything from you,” Kalen said, his tone sharp and barking. He took a step towards me. “I already own you, Alyssa.”“So very caveman of you,” I said, rolling my eyes.“Is that what you like, Alyssa?” he said, and suddenly grabbed me and pulled me against him.“You want to be pushed around and dominated?” Kalen now grabbed my face, forcing me to look at him.“Kalen, what are you doing? Let me-” His lips crashed down on mine in a bruising kiss. Sh
Kalen’s PoVThe warmth of the morning sun dragged me from sleep, and I frowned, glancing at the window as I sat up. Morning already? I hadn’t slept through the night like this since the war began. Even stranger, I felt no tension, no haunting dreams--just a rare calm. My wolf was quiet, neither growling nor demanding control. For once, I actually felt…good.“Good, you’re awake,” a soft voice purred, and I felt Chelsie’s hand slide over my shoulder and down my chest, her bare skin pressed against my back.Shock ran through me, forcing me fully awake now. “What?” I demanded, pushing her hand off me. I got up from the bed, only to realize I was also naked.Chelsie smirked, a glint of mischief in her eyes as she admired me. Her gaze heated. I grabbed my clothes, which lay scattered on the floor, and started dressing.“Last night was wonderful, Kalen,” Chelsie purred, using my first name. It sent a wave of anger through me, but then her words caught up to me and my stomach sank.“Last night
I forced myself not to look at Kalen, even though Chelsie draped over him like she belonged there. I should have known what happened last night was all a lie. When I left Kalen’s room, I’d repeated it to myself over and over so I wouldn’t forget. What happened wasn’t real. Whatever had come over Kalen was just a passing thing, maybe even a trick. Watching him let that shallow blonde idiot cling to him. It seemed more likely he’d just wanted to manipulate me, to prove he could.But knowing that didn’t make it hurt less. Why could I still feel this much pain?Gritting my teeth, I approached them with a tray of food and drink. Chelsie shot me a smug, self-satisfied smirk, her heavily painted lips curling with contempt. “Just leave it there, servant,” she said, waving me off like I was beneath her notice.Kalen’s gaze flicked up to meet mine, but his eyes were cold and distant—a stark contrast to everything I’d seen in them last night. Chelsie leaned closer to him, her fingers tracing his
“Thomas, please,” I begged, feeling his hands tightened around my neck. “Listen to my voice. Remember me. I’m Alyssa, your friend. Wake up, Thomas.”Thomas didn’t let me go, but his grip didn’t tighten. Keeping my tone even and calm, I said, “That’s it. Just keep listening to me.”The sounds of people rushing towards us broke the silence of the forest. A moment later, Kalen and several others burst out of the brush and trees. Kalen’s eyes scanned the area, then fell on Thomas and me. His eyes darkened to a deep blue as a wild fury glowed in them. “Get your hands off her,” he demanded. His voice was a gruff roar echoing through the trees, making several birds take flight.Startled, Thomas jerked, spinning me around and yanking me close with his arm tight around my neck, one hand twisted painfully in my hair. “You won’t take me alive!” he shouted, wild-eyed.Kalen snarled, taking a step forward, but Thomas only tightened his hold, making me wince in pain. Kalen’s expression promised viol
Kalen’s PoVI ran, well, more like sprinted through the woods, trying to sweat out the last remnants of anger, anxiety, jealousy and fear coursing through me. Yet, I couldn’t get the image of Thomas’ hands round Alyssa’s neck, squeezing the life out of her or the one where she threw herself at him to protect him from me. Why was she so eager to give herself to anyone that wasn’t me? Shaking my head, I tried to get rid of the question and all these emotions that weren’t doing me any good.Exhausted, I headed back. I took a shower, then went to meet Jack for our meeting. “What do you have for me?” I asked as I sat down in my chair.“Thomas is fine. No lasting damage,” Jack replied. “Though he is desperate to make sure Alyssa knows he’s sorry.”Despite that, I knew I hit him hard that day since my wolf took me over for a moment. I worked my jaw, jealousy still filling me. “Did he say what he was doing with her?” I tried to keep the bitterness out of my voice.Jack looked a little uncomfor
Silence…Ever since Kalen dropped me here, no one came by.I laid down on the cot, trying not to think about anything. Not about the guilt I felt for making Thomas have a flashback, the pain of the bruises he caused, and anger at Kalen for his cruelty and violence, to his own people even.The sunlight trudged through the narrow window, casting a faint light that barely dispelled the darkness. I watched grains of dust, which are like small, wayward spirits, whirled around in the faint light as if this room had trapped them as well.The sound of the lock click broke through the silence and a moment later, the door opened. I sat up expecting Kalen, but instead a thin, blonde woman walked inside. She raced to the bed with a large box in her arms. Afte placing it on the bed, she clapped her hands with a long sigh of relief, “finally here!”“Hello! You must be Alyssa,” she said. The sweet trill reminded me of the birds and she had an intense curiosity burning through her green and bright e
I walked over to the shattered remains of my necklace on the ground. “Caden,” I whispered as I fell to my knees in front of the pieces.“Who is Caden?” Kalen growled, kneeling next to me. There wasn’t a hint of regret in his face as he glared at me, the jealousy obvious in his face.Tears stung my eyes. “Our son. He was our son,” I told him, my voice cracking.Kalen’s eyes shot wide and his complexion went a shade whiter. “What?”I picked up a piece of glass from the pendant, a tear slipping down my cheek. “Shortly after you and father left for the war, I found out I was pregnant. I told Carl and asked for his help to find you. That’s when he told me about who you were, but I didn’t believe him,” I said, then glared at Kalen with bitterness. “I was sure something like that you would’ve told me.”Kalen didn’t say anything, and I continued with a sniff, tears stinging my eyes. “When I refused to believe it, he said it didn’t really matter. You were dead. Carl even faked a scout report
Once I couldn’t hear Kalen and James shouting at each other, I relaxed. I owed the rogue king for letting me leave. For a moment, I worried that he’d want to keep me there too. I walked through the trees of the forest, knowing more or less what direction I’m going. My father taught me how to find my way through the forest.I knew more or less the direction Kalen and I went to meet with the lycan king. He might know something about my father. That was who I needed now, my father. He would make all of this right, somehow. I know it. Dad could always make things right.I’d been walking for hours when I stopped and to take a small break. Setting my bag down, I took out a sandwich and ate it quietly, trying not to think about anything too hard. As I prepared to get up and continue, I heard a twig snap. When I looked in the direction of the sound, I saw three men walking towards me. All three were dirty and looked like they’d been out here for a long time. These men were probably deserters
Kalen“Oh, don’t you dare judge me,” I growled at my uncle. I couldn’t believe what he was doing. “Especially when you have no fucking idea what’s going on,” I told him. Where did he get off saying any of the crap he did? He knew nothing about Alyssa and me, or Chelsie, for that matter. In fact, I didn’t know why either he or father stuck their noses in my relationships. Neither of them mattered. All that mattered was Alyssa.I turned to reason with Alyssa, to explain to myself when I realized she wasn’t there. Panic slammed into me as I looked around. “Where’s Alyssa,” I said, ignoring James and my father. I didn’t see her anywhere.“Kalen,” my father said as I started to walk away from them, his tone sharp and serious. “Stop. She’s gone. Leave her be for now.”“For now? You don’t get it, Father. She’s leaving,” I growled at him, then before I could say anything I added, “And it’s your fault! You let her slip away!” I glared at my father, feeling my rage build. My wolf wanted out. He
I grabbed the duffle bag that was still in the corner. My tears stung my eyes and a few tears slipped down my cheeks as I set it on the bed. I wiped them off, angry they fell in the first place. I didn’t want to cry. Not for Kalen. Not again. I slung the strap on my shoulder and started to leave, then remembered the ring. I took it off and set it on the nightstand. If he was telling the truth about its history, then it didn’t belong to me, but Chelsie. The thought made my stomach churn.Taking paths that led me around the community instead of through it, I did my best to avoid everyone. I didn’t want to talk or explain myself. All I wanted was to leave and get as far away from here as I could. I was nearing the edge of town when I heard the voice of the very last person I wanted to talk to.“Alyssa, wait,” Kalen called after me. I
The next few days, I didn’t see much of Kalen. He seemed to always be in a meeting with someone. I usually kept myself busy in the kitchen and taking walks with Adelaide or Thomas and Sara. Today, however, I was walking alone until I ran into James. He seemed surprised to see me. “Hello, Little Luna. What are you still doing here?”Confused, I asked, “Why wouldn’t I be here?”“I didn’t think you’d want to stick around to see Kalen marry someone else.”“He’s not,” I told him as a matter of fact. This was Kalen’s uncle, so I don’t see the reason to hide that fact: the wedding wouldn’t be happening. “Kalen is going to break it off, tell everyone it was a misunderstanding.”“And when exactly did he say he was going to do this?” James asked, giving me a curious look.“A few days ago. Well, he said it would take time, but still doesn’t change the fact the wedding isn’t happening. Why?”His brow furrowed as he frowned. It was the first time I’d seen him with anything other than that smug smi
“Well, good news is that your heart seems to have only suffered minor damage from the poisonings and currently, your baby seems fine,” the doctor said as we finished up. “But I want you to take some precautions. I know you said you believe you were poisoned when you were in the lycan king’s peace talks, but until we can be sure, I don’t want you taking food from anyone outside the kitchen staff and I also want to do weekly blood draws.”Talking about this sent a chill through me and I nodded. “Of course, whatever you think is best.”“Good. Now I will see you here next week for a blood draw and two weeks after that, we’ll have our first prenatal visit.”Just hearing the word prenatal made my heart jump. I still couldn’t quite believe it. Pregnant. I was pregnant again. “Yeah, okay. See you then,” I said and left the doctor’s office. I took a roundabout way to the communal building to avoid Chelsie.Kalen had said it’d take time to untangle this wedding business, and I don’t think I cou
I stare at the sunlight streaming through the window, surprised and confused. Had I slept through the night? No nightmares? I sat up and rubbed my sleep numb face. For once, I felt rested and ready for the day. I heard Kalen yawn, wrapping his arm around me. He pulled me against him. “Good morning,” he said as he rested his chin on my shoulder.I leaned into his touch and close my eyes, just wanting to live in this moment. “Morning, Kalen.”As if he could read my thoughts, Kalen whispered, “I want every day to be like this, Alyssa. Just you and me.”“It can be. We can be like this every day,” I told him. “But only after you talk to your dad, Cheslie, and whoever about this wedding.” I can’t help the bitterness in my voice as I mention his wedding with the blonde idiot.“Yeah, I know,” he said. His expression seemed to mirror my thoughts on the idea of him marrying her. It settled some of the uneasiness inside me. “However, her dad is a big supporter of my fathers. It’s going to take m
Kalen“Father, what are you doing here?” I asked as I walked into my office. Jack had told me he came, but I hoped my beta was wrong. The idea of my father being here made me nervous, especially after nearly losing it. If Alyssa hadn’t been there…I didn’t even want to think what might have happened.“Can’t a father check up on his son?” The king said, leaning back in my chair, sitting at my desk as if he owned the place.“We’re in the middle of a war, right after a failed attempt at peace. I’d assume you’d have other things to do besides pay me a visit,” I told him, crossing my arms over my chest.My father sighed and sat up. “Look, Kalen, I’ve been hearing some things and I’m not sure what to make of them.”A jolt of panic rushed through me, but I fought it down. Clenching my jaw, I took a moment to master myself. “You came all the way here for rumors?”“Are they rumors?” Father asked, leaning forward to look at me. “Why is the Crimson Fang Luna here? Why did you take her to the peac
I hurried away from Kalen as fast as I could, without it looking like I was running from him. Once I was calmer and had a better control over my emotions, I would talk to him. Right now, I needed space and something to do. I knew the perfect place to go to help me think and do something — the kitchen.The chef was an older, lithe man who lit up as soon as I offered to help. “Ah, wonderful! Alyssa, you are a lifesaver. Can you take that on?” he said, gesturing toward the mountain of dishes accumulated after breakfast.“Of course, Marcel,” I tell him, and walk over to the large sink.“Thank you,” he said, then glanced at me. “Few people volunteer for the grunt work of cooking.”“It helps me think,” I admit,