Kade’s POV“Kade,” Holden said.“Kade.”Fuck him. I punched the punching bag until my knuckles bled.Holden gripped my shoulder and yanked back.“What the hell, man?!”“Let up, man. Someone’s here to see you.”“Tell them to fuck off. I need to kill something!”“Are you done with your screaming match?” Tristan strolled into the Sanders’ gym.“What the hell do you want?” I nodded at him.He smirked. This wasn’t the time, Tristan. Gabbie had been with that prick of Henry for an entire night. Because our bond was only half, I wouldn’t know if he slept with her. Just knowing he had already tasted her lips rattled me.“I’ll wipe that grin off your face, Richardson.”Tristan raised his hands in mock surrender. Holden marched off and tucked himself in a corner, just in case he needed to save Tristan.“I come in peace. Your girl’s in trouble.”“What?”“Supposedly attacked Leiah, now she’s on the run.”Damn it. She didn’t give me a chance to try to save her. I should have known Gabbie was a wil
Gabbie POVKade caressed my middle with his fingertips. His face pressed against my cheek, and my body curled up against his. No one bothered us last night. I was still in the lion’s den, but I didn’t plan on being a prisoner in the Alpha castle. If Alex hadn’t come to his senses, I wouldn’t be able to stay here. Would I be safe back home? Alex had more power there.Kade tightened his hold on me and exhaled.“I love this,” he murmured.“So, do I.”“I want to keep you here forever,” Kade whispered in my ear.I rolled over and smiled at him. “We have to leave, eventually.”He chuckled. “Is this you telling me you’re hungry?”I begged my stomach not to growl.“No…”He kissed my forehead. “I’ll take care of it.”“Are you going to take me back to the omega quarters?”Kade rolled out of bed. Butterflies formed in my stomach as his back muscles relaxed. His big and solid muscles were a result of hours in the gym.“No, I’m not.”“What?”“I’m going to take you to the shower first.”He stood an
Gabbie POV“Why’d you follow me?” Tristan asked.“You really think I believed you when you said you were going to have breakfast with Kade?” Alex barked.“Why would you say that?” Kade snapped.“I had to come up with something!” Tristan threw his arms up.“Gabbie, we’re going.”“Enough, Alex. I’m not going to be your omega. You won’t use me for pleasure ever. I’ll take any punishment you give me, but I won’t be yours.”“No one’s punishing you. The only way you’re taking her is if I’m dead.”“That can be arranged.” Alex stepped forward.“Whoa, whoa, guys.” Tristan stepped between them.“He disrespected my mate,” Kade blasted.“You’re fucking crazy. Admit that you’re only using her.”“I love her. Look at that mate mark. She’s mine!”“Stop. Stop fighting! I’m not going and that’s final, Alex.” I flopped on the bed and lifted my chin.Alex ran a frustrated hand down his face. “I can’t protect you if you choose him.”“Kade’s been protecting me for a long time, Alex.”Alex’s brows furrowed.
Gabbie POVI went to the Alpha’s cafeteria. Gasps went around when I appeared. It slowed my pace for a second, but I picked up when I saw Kade talking to his friends.“Kade,” I breathed out.He looked up and smiled. “I thought you wouldn’t come.”He pulled out the chair beside him. “Have a seat.”“I…” Alex sat five chairs away, talking to another Alpha. Eva sat next to her obnoxious mate, Gareth. Leiah and Harlow weren’t anywhere in sight.“No, we have to talk.”“Whatever it is, it can wait until you eat, baby.”Everyone was out of uniform except for me wearing the shirt that told everyone my rank. They gawked at me, and I felt small. Kade tugged on my hand.“Come on,” he said.I slowly lowered myself into the chair. Someone gasped but masked it with a cough. Kade rubbed my thigh and smirked. I felt Alex’s gaze just as hot as everyone else’s but I didn’t look at him. A full plate of two eggs, four sausages, baked beans and toast landed in front of me.“I don’t eat this much,” I said.
Gabbie POV“Fuck. I have to check this out,” Kade said.“I’ll come with you.”Holden and Kade shared a look.“I could be dangerous, baby. I’ll feel more comfortable if you stay in my room until I come back.”I shook my head. “I’ll go to the omega quarters instead.”They’re all looking at me funny, but there were predators in the Alpha castle. I had a domestic exam coming up. I went to my room and dragged out my clothes. I needed to be perfect at folding and washing to ace this class.The dorm was quiet. I was the only one to fill the silence with the soft sound of clothes being folded and put away. A ripple through the silence happened when two girls burst into the room.“The academy’s never had attacks like this,” the girl with long knee socks told her friend with ponytails.“Or any attacks. Martin said he saw the beast run off after hurting that guy.”“Are you sure he isn’t making it up? How did he see it?“He said he was outside when he saw a huge black wolf run off.”“Ginger, don’
Gabbie POVKade had been quiet. He joined me in the tub and let me lie on his chest while he poured water on my back with his hand. He stared off into nothing. His mind was probably working a million miles per hour. His body was tense, but I couldn’t come up with what was bothering him. The monster? The trial I would have to go through? Was there more he kept to himself?Later, we wound up in his bed, tangled in each other’s limbs. He held me tightly as if I were a rope keeping him from falling into a river of crocodiles.“Tell me what’s bothering you,” I said.“Don’t worry about it, baby. It’s nothing I can’t handle.”I smoothed the hair on his thigh. “What if I can help?”He chuckled. “You’re helping me now. Are you spending the night with me?”“No, I shouldn’t.”“Why not?”I untangled myself from him and sat up to face him.“I don’t belong here, Kade, you do. I’ll be more comfortable at the quarters.”“At the dark, ugly quarters infested with rats?”I raised a brow at him. “You kno
Gabbie POVEva handed me a brand-new strip of pills. I received it, thankfully.“Why did you go to the nurse’s alone, if you don’t mind me asking?”“Um, I didn’t want to bother anyone. Since Kade announced me as his mate, everyone’s been giving me the side eye.”Eva pouted. “I’m sorry. You can ask me next time.”“Why?” She knew Harlow and Leiah before me.It was easier to go along with the masses than stand out and do the right thing.“Because I don’t believe any of this is your fault. Alex is— was your best friend, and Kade is your mate, destined by fate. Sometimes we don’t choose who we fall in love with. Harlow doesn’t love Kade. She’s obligated to be with him. She’s blinded by humiliation and rage. Kade didn’t reject her, the moon goddess did them both a favour by erasing the mark Kade gave her. Do you know how rare that is?”I lifted a shoulder. I was accustomed to being hated and taunted. I couldn’t easily accept someone’s kindness. Especially a girl part of the clique that trie
Gabbie POVKade grabbed a clean shirt from his closet while I dressed in my uniform. He grumbled as he stalked to the door. He yanked it open. Alex waited impatiently on the other side.“They sent you, of all people, to get me?” Kade barked.Alex took me in for a moment before returning to Kade.“Who was attacked?” Kade demanded.“Sabrina,” Alex replied. “Ryan, too.”“Damn it,” he muttered.He turned to me. “Gabbie…”“Let me check out the scene. I won’t touch anything.”“No,” Alex and Kade said in unison.They stared at one another for a brief second.“Alphas only, and the wolf could still be out there,” Alex said.“It’s getting ballsy attacking during daylight.”“Ryan’s my friend, I want to know what happened to him.”“He was your one-time babysitter,” Alex said.“A bad one if he let the baby get slammed against a tree.”“What?” Alex exclaimed. “When did that happen?”“Uh… It’s in the past. I’ll check out anyway, so you might as well take me.”“Giving me orders now, huh?” Kade took m
Gabbie POVDad grabbed my arm and dragged me towards the lake.“What are you doing?”“Can’t you hear them?”This wasn’t an ideal time to tell my Father that I had a mate. Kade must have believed I was dead. If he joined forces with Alex, I can imagine how bad things got for him.“I know them!”“Not now, Gabriella, get into the water. Wolves hate water,” he ordered and shoved me two feet into the water.I hate water too!Dad pulled out a silver blade as long as my arm.“Dad, stop!” I yelled as two wolves burst through the trees.The black one, who was Alex, ground to a halt while my hot-headed mate didn’t stop to pull back his teeth, all he saw was red. I doubted he saw the silver blade my Dad held.The water yanked me backwards as I tried to run out and stop Dad from killing Kade. Dad ducked under the wolf and held his blade out. Alex watched in wolf form as the battle went on.“Both of you! Quit it!”Alex shifted into a naked human.Kade knocked the blade out of Dad’s hand, and I bre
Gabbie POVMy back hit the watch and the current sucked me under. The icy cold water attacked me at every angle. I was powerless to fight my invisible enemy. The rush of the water dragged me forward. There was nothing for me to hold on to and no air to aid my attempt to stay alive. The dark blue abyss of water threatened to make a permanent resident of its mysterious abode.My need for air intensified. I kicked my legs and pushed out my arms but I couldn’t reach the surface in time.***I felt like a rundown car trying to start. Every time I tried to wake up, my body protested. My bones cried, and I couldn’t stop trembling. The orange sky was my last memory before I blacked out.When I fluttered my eyes open again, I felt heat on my back. My clothes were still wet, and my hair stuck to my face. A large jacket covered my chest and part of my face.“You’re finally awake,” a deep masculine voice said.I gasped and jumped up. My bones scolded me for the sudden action.I scooted against th
Kade POVI just declared myself as an Alpha King contender and I wanted to tell Gabbie, but she was stuck doing a dumb punishment. I didn’t know how long she would be doing it, and I bet she would be exhausted when she was done. I couldn’t wait to nurse her back to health in the privacy of my bedroom.I set the weight down and reached for my water bottle. It’s been over five hours; shouldn’t she be done now? My wolf was impatient. Its appetite for Gabbie was larger than most days today. I couldn’t blame him, our mate was gorgeous.She was more than gorgeous. She’s funny, brave, and she’s my peace. That’s why I couldn’t lose her. My suspicions of what Gabbie might be only intensified after she told me about her latest episode of illegal blows. I couldn’t bring myself to say it. I hated to think of us apart but it might be better for us if she left the school.I grabbed a towel and walked out of the gym with it hanging around my neck. I bumped into Alex walking out of the Henry pack gym
Gabbie POV“These forests are full of all sorts of animals. You can’t be sure it was the beast,” Ivan said.“But look at—”“You can’t be sure, omega. You’re not getting out of this that easily.”“Frankly, I don’t feel safe,” Leiah said, straightening her spine.“Yeah Ivan, we should be careful.”“Enough. We were given orders and we’re going to follow through. If the beast comes through here, we’ll take care of it.”“Don’t be cocky Ivan. I’ve come against it and it’s incredibly powerful.”“You’re a beta. I’m an alpha. See the difference?”I frowned. Ivan’s judgment was clouded by his inflated ego, and it could put the rest of us in danger. I hoped Ryan would push the issue, but he nodded and walked out of the hanging vine door.“Five hours,” Ivan reminded us.“Dick,” Leiah muttered.“Yeah.” Finally, we could agree on something.Minutes later, I had my boots and rubber gloves on, trying to rake up the leaves, but there was too much mud to do it quickly. I wasn’t thrilled about cleaning
Gabbie POV“Kade,” I said between kisses. “Slow down.”“I can’t,” he said between kisses. “We might not make it back to the Alpha Castle. Unless I carry you.”I giggled. We made it halfway from the bonfire. Kade stroked my thigh, sending tingles throughout my body. He kissed my neck. He led me to a tree and pinned me there.“Kade,” I moaned.He grunted with satisfaction. He bit the soft flesh on my neck. I sunk my claws into his back. I melted into him. We wouldn’t make it to Kade’s bedroom, and then I remembered the wolf I came face to face with. My heart slammed forward. Kade felt it and pulled back. He cupped my cheeks and held my gaze.“What’s wrong?”“Kade, I saw it. The wolf. It attacked me.”“What?” He blasted, and I cringed. “Why didn’t you tell me?”“Sorry, I just— I kicked its tail.”Kade’s features stilled. He swallowed. “Another illegal blow, Gabbie.”Kade’s a wolf. I wasn’t surprised he was concerned about my new bad habit.“I didn’t know what else to do. It lunged at me.
Gabbie POV“Where have you been, Gabbie? We have to go?” Blair yelled.“I was—”“You have to get dressed. Your outfits are on the bed.”“But—”“Emery’s been itching to do your hair.”“Gabbie!” Emery appeared wearing a petite flowy denim skirt and a white tube top.She styled her hair into massive coils. She brought our dangling earrings and a black choker. Emery never missed an opportunity to dress up.She sat me down and set my ponytail free. With all the buzz happening, no one would listen to me about the beast. Would it come back after I hurt it?“We don’t have much time. Were you with Kade?” She asked.“N-no. Forget it. I’m sorry.”“You’re going to look great! Blair’s dancing around the bonfire, so we need excellent seats.”“She is?”“Yeah, Blair’s been here a long time.”“Right. Glad I don’t have to dance though.”Ten minutes went by quickly, and then I was ushered to the bathroom to change. Emery and I were the last ones in the dorm. The whole school was supposed to be there. Th
Gabbie POV“Gabriella.”I cringed. Every time someone called me by my full name it meant something was wrong.“What?” I turned around to find Alex leaning on the bookshelf.The library was quiet especially since it was late afternoon. Even the librarian wasn’t in. With classes suspended, there was no need to study, though I wanted to keep myself busy. The Omega dance ceremony was tonight which involved petite skirts, tops barely covering our breasts and old folk songs. Plenty of food as well. A huge bonfire would be lit to welcome battle season.A day after the ceremony would be a ceremony where the betas would be pre-chosen for their Alphas. A lot of food would be involved as well.“Shouldn’t you be learning dance steps?” Alex smirked.“I’m not dancing. The older omegas are doing it.”“You’d look hot in those skirts.”“We’re all wearing them.” I shifted on the spot. Communicating with him was still weird because of all that happened between us.“Look Gabbie, I’m sorry. I went overboa
Gabbie POV“Kade?” I asked as he dragged me along the hall of the Alpha castle. “Slow down.”I stumbled, but Kade didn’t stop. He only paused to jam his key into the hole and drag me inside.“Sorry, but things are complicated. I have to start training, and my opponents for Alpha will turn up soon.”“Alpha King?”“No, Babe, for Alpha of Sanders pack.”“You have to fight for that too!”He took my hands and tugged me close. I snuggled into him.“I do if there are any challengers.”“Do you think there will be any?” I asked.“Baxter might but he’s too cocky I’m not worried about him.”“I’m worried about this monster wolf and… it smelling like me. Kade, what if it comes back and someone notices?”He rubbed the back of his head. He opened his mouth to speak, but he closed it.“What?” I probed.“Gabbie.”I planted my hand on my hip and glared at him.“Alex knows. I don’t like that he knows your scent. He knows I set the field on fire.”“You did!”“I had to! I couldn’t risk someone else puttin
Gabbie POV“We have to go.”Kade appeared as I picked up the teacup. I hadn’t gotten a chance to try the blueberry muffins yet.“Where to?” I asked.“Your trial. It’s right now.”My palms sweat, and I set the cup down.“I thought it was tonight,” I said as I stood from the comfy patio chair.Eva and Gareth stared at us in disbelief.“I meant it when I said I would testify about when Harlow and Leiah attacked you the first time,” Eva said.“Are you sure you want to do that, mate?” Gareth said, rubbing her arm.“I’m not scared of them.”“Thanks, Eva, but Harlow did most of the attacking.”“It still shows that she’s capable of attacking you again,” Eva replied.“I have a strong and compassionate mate,” Gareth said and planted a kiss on Eva’s lips.She blushed and giggled.Kade hauled me away. I had no idea what to expect. I knew for a fact I would be punished because I used illegal blows but if I didn’t, I would be dead. Kade squeezed my hand as we neared the castle.“Don’t worry about i