I cried on top of my desk until there were no more left for me to shed. I felt so broken and so incredibly foolish. My instinct had warned me about this, and I had ignored it. It hadn't mattered when Diesel and I were up against the naysayers; it had brought us closer together, but now it was only me. I was alone, and it was so cold. I didn't want to leave the room, but his words had clearly been an order from my alpha, not a suggestion from my chosen mate. My ex-chosen mate, I corrected bitterly. The worst was I still loved him under all my misery. If he suddenly changed his mind, I would absolutely abandon my pride and forgive it all. My wolf was upset. I imagined being rejected by my true mate was not as bad as it would be, but she was hurting. She had grown attached to Diesel and his wolf, and this dismissal hurt her, too. I would go for a run after I moved my things. I didn't make eye contact with anyone in the halls as I moved forward and wound my familiar way to my—to
I woke up the next morning with a blanket thrown over me on Desiree's couch. I had a light headache, which was a testament to just how much I had drank since werewolves rarely get hangovers.The living room was a mess, and what I could see of the kitchen was no better. Forcing myself to get up, I started collecting bottles and glasses and carrying them to the kitchen. I couldn't leave this mess for Desiree to clean up before her mate and kids would be back in the afternoon.Betty appeared in the hall. "Oh, you're up. Don't worry about the mess."I shook my head. "I've got nothing else to do."She looked uncertain.I frowned. "I can't be acting Luna when he's got his real Luna now." Maybe it was irresponsible of me to abruptly quit doing everything I did for the pack, but I was pretty sure I would simply spend the entire time there crying and not getting anything done either way. Those duties were a part of our relationship, and pretending they were still, mine would be little more tha
My day rapidly plummeted to intolerable when Diesel continued showing Cameron around the pack house, and of course, he had to bring her down to show her Luna's office. I don't know what he had been expecting since his eyes widened as if he was somehow surprised to find me there. It was almost as if it had not been him who had forced me to resume Luna's duties temporarily. All I knew was that I wanted to punch him in his imbecilic face. "And this is Carrie. She's been taking care of the Luna's duties and will show you the ropes," Diesel introduced, barely taking his eyes off the silly girl he had brought back. Cameron was blond and very pretty, but she looked young, probably at least thirteen years his junior. It was a pretty big age gap for a mated pair, although that was the least of my problems with it. I pasted a warm smile onto my face. "Nice to meet you, Luna." She seemed to have momentary misgivings, and I wondered if she saw through my best acting or if she could sense t
Before I could even ride my car, a voice broke through the sounds of the forest. "Arie."My eerie calm exploded into anger and pain. "What do you want, Diesel?"My words echoed in the stillness, angry and cold. "What do you want, Diesel?""I just thought—""What, that you could have the final blow against me? I'm out of your territory and not part of your pack anymore, so I owe you nothing," I nearly growled at him and started walking away."Carrie, listen—"I whirled on Diesel. "No, you've done enough! Leave me the hell alone! I'm leaving, like you wanted. Do you get some sort of sick pleasure out of screwing me around now?""This isn't what I wanted!"I shot him a look that contained all the hate I had built up for him in the month since he had found Cameron and started treating me like garbage. "I don't care anymore, as long as you're away from me. You started everything, then discarded me and pushed me into the corner, and I'm the one who is paying for all of it.""Care—""Sto
I had come full circle, again secretly living among the humans where I had begun to build a life. I went to work and home and repeated my familiar routines like I was on autopilot. It wasn't that I missed having a mate. I was curious to know if Fate still had plans for me. Our time together had made me not believe it anymore. Fate is cruel. Period. I helped a brown-haired customer get a large box down from a shelf. I was pretty sure he was a werewolf from his scent, which was unusual in the store, but I didn't say anything, and he didn't indicate that he knew I was a werewolf, too. It was a weird moment, two supernaturals in a mundane setting surrounded by a sea of humans who didn't know our nature. He thanked me and went on his way. I went to the back to clock out. My gregarious red-headed human co-worker, Pinky caught me as soon as I walked in the door. I put on a smile for her benefit. "So, do you feel like coming out tonight?" she asked. She had her own issues, but she
Trespasser?This was not a pack territory. I had encountered no other wolves on any of my previous visits, and there had been no border of scent trail or any other signs to warn me of this night. How dare they suggest I had been trespassing? I growled again."Your best bet is to come quietly," he said. His voice was level and calm, and for one insane moment, I almost thought I could trust him.Instead of allowing him to lull me, I leveled my gaze at him rebelliously and bared my teeth. Although it was my best bet, I had no interest in cooperating. But I could play along for now since I could not take them all on. I just had to wait for my chance to dash away when their guards were down.That chance did not come. Instead, I was herded forward, surrounded by these rogues playing pack, until we reached a clearing with several trailers and outbuildings situated around the skeletal frame of a building. It was obvious that the wide open space was a recent addition to the area because the gr
The man frowned. "Come on. I don't have time for this.""Good, I don't either. I'll stop bothering you and be on my way." I had some important moping around my apartment to get to. I yanked my arm again.His grip was like iron."Let me go! You're hurting me.""You're hurting yourself by fighting against me."I gritted my teeth. The man was like a brick wall. Solid and stubborn and stupid. "Let me go!""No.""Fine. Whatever." I stopped struggling because it was clearly getting me nowhere.He released my wrist. I rubbed it and glared at him. How the hell was this my mate? It was another cruel joke in their lifetime of them."What's your name?""Carrie.""Carrie... You haven't been a rogue long, have you? You still smell faintly of pack. Which was your former?""None of your business." He didn't need to know about all the drama I'd left behind me.He looked irritated with me all over again. I didn't want to spend my life under that disapproving expression. Been there, done that. Besides
What I needed was my mate's name. I didn't need it to reject him, but if I was going to do this, I would sever it properly. I wasn't going to prostrate myself and beg for my own mate's acceptance. Not anymore; I'm putting myself first. Frustrated and restless, I searched his trailer again, this time specifically for information, but came up empty. This trailer seemed determined to keep my mate anonymous.It didn't take me that long to thoroughly search the entire place. There was nothing with his name on it, not a paper, not a nostalgic childhood toy with a name. He appeared to be a minimalist, and his one virtue—besides that handsome face and excellent body that I was absolutely not thinking about—was neatness. The more I considered it, the more I believed that the faint traces of other werewolves were too faint to have been here long enough to clean up after him.So maybe there was one good thing about the joke of a mate I had been stuck again with, other than his striking appearan
Madoka had frozen in shock when I had informed him of the news that we were getting an addition to our little family. Once he recovered, he picked me up and spun me around in excitement.He managed to impregnate me without my heat, so I guess all those cringey informational videos and parental lectures they'd subjected us to in our teenage years had been valid.Telling Madoka I was pregnant again had been easy, because I had always been able to tell him everything since the moment we discovered we were mates.Spencer, on the other hand, I was worried about. He was five years old now, and he had been the sole centre of my adoration for as long as he'd existed. Meeting Nathan was the best thing I did and now I learned that I am pregnant after so long. But I was still nervous. Madoka probably wasn't expecting it either. His attitude was comforting, although it was a bit annoying how he always took everything in stride while I was busy being stressed out. It always took a lot to get him
Carrie's point of viewI woke to the light of dawn hitting my eyes, and I instantly recognized that I was lying on some velvet bedsheet and remembered what had happened.Madoka was still sleeping beside me, his breathing deep and even, and normally I would not have bothered him. Last night was so intense. And we did it all through the night. That was a new experience with Madoka, I was eager for more. What he had done to my body was amazing and helped satisfy that ache for a long time and what he had done was...interesting"Madoka?"I watched him as he moved slightly but not opening his eyes. I liked his dumbstruck reaction and his satisfaction more than anything else, and I especially liked the way he seemed so unusually relaxed afterwards. He always seemed so tense, but for once, it seemed like he had not a care in the world, and it had been me who had done that to him. I understand it. We were separated many times.I slept in his arms in just a t-shirt and panties. I was about to
I turned the corner to find the open foyer with the beige spiral stairs. Golden lights mounted on the walls protected by zigzag semitransparent glass. It gave the walls an elegant glow with jagged slices of lights against the exposed brick wall.Annoyed, I stepped inside to leave through the front gate when suddenly, high heels clicked against the grey stone tiles stealing my attention, halting me in place. I waited for the woman to pass.Tall slender legs appeared from behind the wall. The lighting made her legs look like molten caramel. The navy silk dress slid behind as she stepped forward revealing her silky thighs. Her long hair waved around her perfectly semi moon ass. My gazed caressed up her hips to her luscious chest that were barely hidden by the scrap of clothing hanging of her creamy shoulders.My lower region tightened. It's been a while since someone evoked an arousal like that from me. Actually, no one had ever been able to evoke the fire I left inside. My eyes finally
Madoka’s Point of ViewCarrie has returned. I was so excited to finally come back home despite her strong warning not to come for her. My wolf has been angry. He kept on pushing me to come and save her. The long agonising days finally ended and she came home victorious. Not only did she kill Lucas, she also set herself free from the potion. Now, she’s back as the real Carrie who loved her pack and her family. She was fine and doing her Luna duties. Other than not wanting to eat any food that our omega has cooked for, everything seemed fine. “Babe, can you please look out for Spencer? I’m tired. I want to sleep,” she said and stood up from her desk. “Sure, babe,” I answered her back but I knew something was off. She hasn't eaten even a bit and when asking Marcus and Brigit about what happened to her, they would always answer that there’s nothing wrong with her. But I knew something was wrong. That night, I was about to enter our room when I heard a crashing sound inside. I immedi
I walked in through the doorway, sighing loudly. It had been a long and trying day. I didn’t look around me too closely as I laid the keys on the counter and collapsed on the couch.My legs hung off the edge with my feet dangling above the ground. I swayed slightly while closing my eyes, trying to find some peace on this day. It has been scheduled that tonight, we will go back to my pack. “Carrie.” I jumped slightly at the noise suddenly coming from behind me. Without opening my eyes, I knew who it was. I sighed internally at the thing drawing me away from my relaxation.“Carrie.” The voice spoke again, now in a normal tone.I groaned and split my eyes open, letting cracks of light appear in my vision. “What do you want?”The light in my vision dimmed as the figure of Brigit appeared. Her hair fell over her face and into mine, tickling my forehead. I groaned again, louder now, knowing what she wanted me to do.“Come on. It’s been too long and you know you’re tired.” Brigit disappeare
I slowly descended upon his convulsing body, prey now becoming predator. I put my other hand around his neck wringing it in the process, preparing to end this once and for all. I stared down at the monster's frame, no remorse hitting my body. All there was, was a bloodthirsty motive to kill him. As I leaned over his head, a hand on my shoulder tried to whip me around. I turned to face Brigit, a bloodied, broken, and bruised Brigit. I relaxed when I realised it was her, before questioning her move. "Let go of me, I'm going to finish this." I turned back around with her hand still gripping my shoulder. My hands shook and my vision was dark, but I was going to kill this monster once and for all. "Let’s do this together" Brigit started. I looked at her incredulously before he continued on. "We will end this monster once and for all." Her eyes searched mine and I saw the worried expression she held. I was surprised at her words and struggled to form my own. "But-I-Brigit you can hardl
"I'm ok." My whisper seemed to echo through the Hall. I listened to it as it escaped my lips, knowing I was far from alright. Memories from my life kept fading in and out of my mind. They were almost as painful as the poison running its course through my veins. "We can't stay here anymore." Brigit sounded next to me." They heard your screams and know we're here. We have to hide somewhere else."As she was speaking she lifted herself from the floor we had been crouched in. She attempted to help me up as well, but failed in the effort. Her arm was still badly wounded and she could barely stand herself. As she looked to see if the coast was clear, I lifted myself off the ground as well. Every inch of my being burned, but I knew our only chance was to get out of here. Just as we were emerging from the foliage, a sweet voice met my ears. "Girls, where do you think you're going?" I stared in horror at what once was my friend. Her calm and cool collection from earlier was gone, replaced
If I was lucky, the shadow of the gigantic sofa would swallow me and leave no trace of where I was.I waited, breathless, for what seemed like hours. In reality, barely seconds had passed. I heard footsteps drawing near to me, heavy on the tiles beneath them. They came quickly towards where I lay, but stopped feet away. I could hear whoever it was panting hard, clearly out of breath.“Carrie?” A quiet whisper rang out in the night.I recognized the voice immediately, and sprang from my spot on the floor.“Brigit, I’m here.” I whispered back to her.I saw her face turn towards me, and her body relaxed. She ran towards where I was, half standing on the ground.“Thank god you’re safe. I thought I was too late.” She helped me up and brought me into her arms in a rushed hug. “Now come on, we’ve gotta get out of here. We don’t have a lot of time. Lucas’s minions are still lurking in this house. We need to hide and go far from them.”Brigit grabbed my arm and began to lead me back to the mai
Thoughts swarmed my mind. Why would they hesitate? I don’t understand. Leonardo lingered over me, breathing heavily with rage. "By the time you die, you'll be nothing but bones. Once this poison is in your system, I'm afraid there's no going back. You are so dumb Carrie. You’re trying to kill every one of my kind and yours." His voice was low, almost a whisper. It seemed the time for yelling was gone. Now there was a rage so malicious and a hint of fear. I wished he would scream.I smirked. “Well, that would be fun. Even if I die, I’m dragging you two with me.” My voice came out in calm breaths. The burning inside of me was still growing. “It’s such sight seeing fear in your eyes, Lucas. What happened to the proud and ambitious vampire?”Lucas looked at me with disgust."Oh, my dear Carrie. Haven't you figured it out yet?" I met his question with a glare, at which he responded, laughing. "This 'poison' you and Brigit keep talking about isn't a poison. It's a weapon. But not just