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
"Kasia, please come back!" Brian called out, but she was already down the hallway, her footsteps echoing off the walls. She didn't hear him. The only thing that was on Kasia's mind was getting as far away from Ethan as possible. "What is going on? Why do you need Kasia?" he asked as he waved Brian into the room as he fixed his shirt. Ethan took a deep breath, trying to get the lust he was feeling for Kasia under control. This had to be important for Brian to want to tell him information in person. "Because she needs to hear what I have to say," Brian replied gravely, closing the door to Ethan's office with an ominous click. "But maybe it is best that she doesn't find out now. It will give you time to decide what you want to do next. You should sit down for this." He gestured toward a chair. Ethan's heart hammered in his chest, but he remained standing, unwilling to yield even an inch. "You must have found out what the pills are made of. Is it worse than I originally expected?"
Aimee rushed towards him, her eyes brimming with tears as she looked up at him. "Ethan, Kasia...she's a monster! She shifted in the middle of our spar and attacked me!" Her words were hurried and desperate. Brian began tending to Aimee's arm. Ethan's gaze flickered between Aimee and the disheveled state of the gym, disbelief etched onto his features. He knew Kasia's capabilities, her strength, and her character, but he couldn't fathom her losing control like this without cause. She hadn't been taking the pills for over a week now. His instincts told him there was more to this story. "Enough!" he barked, silencing the murmurs of the gathered crowd. His voice reverberated through the room, commanding attention. "Janet, tell me what happened." Janet's voice trembled slightly as she began to recount the events. "Aimee challenged Kasia to a spar. Kasia defeated her fair and square, but Aimee refused to accept it. Then something changed in Kasia. She wasn't herself anymore. Aimee too