Kasia stood outside the pack house, her fingers smoothing over the green fabric of her dress. The early evening air held a brisk chill, raising goosebumps along her bare arms. Shivering, she rubbed her hands over the sleeves of her black leggings. This was a mistake. Going anywhere with him, especially tonight, would only lead to heartache. Denying it felt futile; this outing felt dangerously close to something she couldn't—wouldn't—put a name to. 'It's not a date,' she sternly reminded herself. But the voice in her mind mocked her naivety. 'Oh really? Then why are you dressed up and waiting for him like a smitten schoolgirl?' Kasia scowled, even as warmth flushed her cheeks. She wasn't smitten. Ethan was the enemy, and her traitorous heart fluttered at the thought of spending time alone with him. He was the Alpha King, a monster like the rest of them, and she was a hunter sworn to destroy his kind. This wasn't a date; it was a mistake. 'Keep telling yourself that, suga,'
Milo. With his sandy gray hair and the slight limp in his walk, Kasia would never mistake him. He was the one who trained her, and he was also one of the top 10 lethal hunters that the Hunters had. So, for him to be here meant only a few things: he was tracking someone, he was tracking her, or he was here for the Alpha King. None of these options bode well for Kasia. Milo turned, surprise flashing across his face, when he saw Kasia. Kasia expected his facial expression to turn into a scowl, and they would get into a fight right then and there, but Milo maintained a calm expression. He actually seemed relieved to see her. "I could ask you the same thing," he said. "It's good to see you, Kasia." "I'm here with...a friend," she said evasively. "I'm just blowing off some steam." Milo raised an eyebrow. "A friend, huh? Does this friend happen to be a certain Alpha King?" Kasia stiffened. How did he know about Ethan? "That's not really your business," she said sharply. Milo
Lana sat on the bench, her body tense, as she watched the couple with a mix of envy and bitterness. She took a sip of her smoothie, but instead of the sweet taste she craved, the liquid tasted like mud. A surge of anger rose within her-this should be her with someone, not alone on a bench. "This isn't fair," Lana muttered through gritted teeth, her hands clenched into fists. But then she felt a chilling sensation-the feeling of being watched. Without looking around, she quickly got up from the bench and began to retreat back to her room. But before she could even make it to the hallway, Lana was shoved hard against the brick wall, pain shooting through her body as rough edges dug into her skin. She whirled around in a defensive stance, only to come face-to-face with Miraya, her cold eyes boring into Lana's. "So, you're going to fight now?" Miraya taunted with a cruel smirk. "Just leave me alone," Lana pleaded, trying to push past Miraya. But Miraya only laughed at her feeble
The gleaming black sports car pulled into the pack house's driveway, and Kasia's heart raced. She had not looked at Ethan since they left the city, which concerned Ethan. The prolonged contact soothed him, but this was unlike her. Ethan glanced at Kasia, her eyes wide with fear and confusion as she clung to the hand he held in hers. The adrenaline rush from their accident faded away, leaving her shaken and drained. He saved her life; there was no denying that. Something had snapped in her, and because of that, Kasia didn't want to leave his side. Ethan released his seatbelt, but Kasia didn't let go of his hand, giving it a gentle squeeze to reassure her. His voice was low and soothing. "We need to go inside. You have to let go now." Kasia didn't respond; her mind was still stuck on the events that had unfolded and the danger she'd faced. She held onto his hand tighter, unable or unwilling to move away from him. "If you don't let go, I am going to think you like me after all."
Kasia wandered through the outskirts of the pack territory, her boots crunching on the gravel pathway. She shivered against the chill of the early morning air, drawing her jacket tighter around her. She had locked herself away after seeing the bruise on her neck from Ethan's love nip. After two days of locking herself away from embarrassment, Kasia snuck out of the pack house in the early hours of the morning before anyone was stirring. She couldn't sleep, waking up from another fevered dream of what could have happened if she stayed in the car. "I can't believe I kissed him. What the hell is wrong with me?" Kasia muttered to herself as she kicked a rock out of her way. Kasia's stomach churned with unease. Ever since Ethan saved her from that deadly fall at the amusement park, her mind has been in turmoil. She still didn't understand why he had caught her and prevented her death. Kasia didn't understand why she responded the way she did when she accidentally kissed him. It was
Upon entering the tea room, Kasia's eyes immediately locked on two unfamiliar women. Annoyance flared within her when she also spotted Miraya and Aimee seated with them. A pointed glare at Janet went unnoticed as she introduced the newcomers. "Kasia, meet Meranda and Deanna," Janet said. "Meranda is the mate of Alpha's Beta, and Deanna is the mate of Alpha's Delta." "It is a pleasure to meet you both," Kasia greeted them while ignoring Aimee and Miraya. Deanna, with honey-colored skin, exuded a relaxed demeanor. She had full lips, sharp cheekbones, and tightly curled chestnut hair, but a scar that ran from the bridge of her nose to her chin marred her appearance. Curiosity flickered in her chocolate-brown eyes, hinting at a keen interest in Kasia. Toned arms and wide shoulders revealed that she was trained in hand-to-hand combat, a fact not lost on Kasia. "You don't have to be so formal," Deanna said. "She definitely does," Meranda retorted. "When are you going to take anyt
Kasia hesitated at the door of Ethan's office, her hand hovering over the doorknob. The last time they'd spoken, they ended up passionately making out in his car, which left her breathless and confused. A shiver coursed through her body as she remembered the feel of his strong arms around her and the taste of his lips. 'You should just let him bend you over the desk. That's what you really want,' the voice within her mind taunted her. Kasia couldn't help but blush at the thought. What was she, a silly schoolgirl? With a deep breath, she forced her mind to focus on the present and pushed the door open. "Kasia," Ethan greeted her, his piercing eyes meeting hers as he straightened up from behind his desk. "Hey Ethan." Her voice was barely audible, betraying her unease. "You wanted to see me?" Ethan's gaze never wavered from Kasia's eyes, making her feel more exposed than ever before. She could almost feel his thoughts probing into her soul, searching for answers that neither of
Kasia kicked her door open as she stormed back to her room. 'How could I have let him do that again?' she scolded herself. Kasia paced her room, trying to forget the way he made her feel. She let out a frustrated scream. 'You should just go back there and get it out of your system,' the voice within her head said. 'You just shut up. You're not helping,' Kasia snapped. The voice laughed and said, 'When did I say I was going to help you? I remember specifically saying I was going to make you suffer.' "Got dammit!" Kasia groaned. She needed an outlet for the storm of emotions raging inside her, something to silence the questions that were threatening to drive her even more crazy than she was. Kasia rummaged through her drawers, hastily grabbing workout clothes. As she tugged the tank top over her head and pulled her hair up into a puff, she was reminded of the many times she had sought refuge in physical exertion. It had always helped her find a sense of peace and order when h