MILA Sophomore Year“Hi! I’m Mila Davis. I am a strong, beautiful, black girl and I don't need…” I looked down at the text message from my friend, Gabe, who hasn’t been to school all week. Affirmation for the day he texted. I cleared my throat and looked back into the mirror. “...and I don’t need validation from anyone but myself.”Don’t get me wrong. I think I was pretty cute. Frizzy afro that I have given up on taming, pleasantly plump cheeks that grandies loved to pinched and small freckles that I think added a little flair to my face. Framing my face were thick, rounded glasses that magnified my light brown eyes, and honestly made me look smart. Who didn’t want to look smart? I took pride in dark brown skin, not a single blemish in sight. Well aside from the vitiligo in certain spots, but those spots were in places that only my beloved would be able to see. Still, despite societal stereotypes, I was determined to be seen. Just maybe after I graduate highschool.I took a deep brea
MILA“Hi, I’m Mila Davis. Welcome to Grand Mountain High.” I turned to my classmate, Jenna. “How was that? Too preppy?”“Does it matter?” Jenna sighed heavily at my concern. “No one cares about high school. They’re all the same and everyone is just trying to survive long enough to graduate.”I brushed it off, knowing the importance of a first impression. I continued to fix my unruly curly afro in the mirror, frowning when the hair tie popped out of my hand. I walked to retrieve it from the floor.“I know Jenna, but I’m part of the student council, and things like this matter when you need references for college. Besides, if I do this, it could get me closer to getting the Aliz Women in Arts Scholarship. They only give it to one student a year, and it's going to be mine before I graduate.”“Slow down, Mila,” Jenna urged. “You’re a sophomore. College is so far away and besides I think everyone should take the first year off to decide if they really need unnecessary debt.”“I can’t afford
MILAAfter showing the Mora girls to their lockers we ran into Gabe, who had a bouquet of flowers in his hands. His gaze met mine, a smile illuminating his face until he noticed the company I was with. Amber greeted him first, her playful banter revealing a history between them.“Grubbs, it’s been a while,” Amber smiled, pinching his cheeks. “Did you gain more weight since this summer?” “Stop,” Gabe said, obviously irritated, “and that’s not my name.”“How can I not call you that with those chipmunk cheeks like these?” Amber joked.I cringed at that word, chipmunk. I hated it but despite her teasing, I couldn’t help but find Gabe endearing. His rich, brown skin and his rosy cheeks and dimples exude a boyish charm. His eyes, a captivating blend of light brown hues, held a kindness that belied his own struggles. His curly hair, a wild mass framing his face, added to his allure. I thought it was always cute the way he constantly had to move his hair out of the way. He might not fit the
MILAThree weeks was all it took for the Mora girls to seize control over everything. In three months, everyone and their friends were clamoring to be part of their exclusive crew. Requests flooded in, only to be turned down left and right. I even heard a girl donated to their father’s non-profit fund to try to get a seat at their table. Now it was Tyler, Ari, Amber, Julia, Randall and Leo. I didn’t know what the fuss was about. It was just a table like any other table.“That’s what a loser would say,” Jenna teased me until I saw her a few days ago, hanging around them like a moth to a flame.I wasn’t that jealous or even that mad. Jenna wasn’t like my best friend. We both grew up in the orphanage and worked together at the packhouse sometimes. Now I heard she worked at the Moras’ residence. It made sense she would eventually hang with them. I’d caught her making out with Randall in the laundry room more times than I could count. It didn’t matter to me, but it sucked when I was on laun
MILAFor the past week, I avoided Gabe as much as I could. My mind kept drifting back to the awful incident in the sewing room. The humiliation, the pain, the feeling of helplessness–it all came back every time I closed my eyes. I couldn’t even work on my designs without going back there. Even though I kept my head down, Tyler and his friends would throw quips my way whenever they caught me alone or in the halls. Either snipping at me with scissors or loading my locker up with pieces of fabric. So, I made it my mission to try to leave as soon as I could.“Mila?” I jumped as the familiar voice broke my reverie. Gabe was standing beside me, concern etched on his face. “Hey, are you okay? You’ve been avoiding me lately.”His concern tore my heart. I wanted to tell him the truth–that his brother Tyler and his friends had tormented me, ruined my dress for the dance, and was making my life a living hell. But I couldn’t. Instead, I forced a smile and shook my head. “I’m fine, Gabe. Just…a l
MILA“Miss Josalyn! Hey!”Wow, that was too excited. I thought as Head Housekeeper, Josalyn, looked at me suspiciously. She must’ve had the straightest spine I’ve ever seen. She barely moved her head even when looking down at me and she always kept her hands clasped in front of her. She took a deep breath before speaking.“It has come to my attention that you are behind on your chores, Miss Davis,” she started with a hint of malice. “I do not tolerate laziness on any of my shifts. Do you understand?”“Of course, Miss–”She waved me off. “Since it seems you are prone to laziness, I’ve added a few extra chores to get you up to par. If I were you I would start now to ensure proper sleep for the morning chores.”She placed the list in my hands and turned quickly to leave. The workload was definitely enough for three people at least and the dance started in two hours. “Now I’m never going to the dance,” I cried, walking to the first list of things. “I won’t even have time to go buy a dress
ARI“Ahhhh!”I jumped back from another boy trying to ask me for a dance. Chad Fredrick, a stupid name by the way, stood in front of me with his hand held out. I looked him up and down, not concealing my disdain. The dance was in full swing, lights flashing and music thumping, but it wasn’t loud enough for me to miss his request. What was with these losers thinking they had a chance with me? They should know by now, Arianna Crystal Mora, doesn’t bottom feed. I would rather die. “Look, Charles…” I start swiping his hand away.“It’s Chad,” he corrected, but I ignored him. I knew his name. I just didn’t care to get it right.“...it’s cute you think you have a chance and honestly I’m surprised to see you breathing within ten feet of my personal space. So how about you go find someone in the cesspit of losers to dance with?”Chad’s face fell and the little hopeful light dimmed in his eyes–something I was proud of. “I just thought–”“No, you don’t think,” I cut him off. “I’m way out of you
GABEDammit! Why were my hands so clammy? Stupid handkerchief wasn’t useful at all. I stuffed it back into my front pocket as I glanced over at Mila, my date. I still couldn’t believe I was here with her. Of course, that was why I was nervous. She was standing next to me, and she was stunning. The most beautiful girl at the dance, and by the looks of it, I wasn’t the only one that thought so. Every eye seemed to be on us, making me more nervous than I already was. Mila, on the other hand, was oblivious. She was more enthralled by the decorations, music, and arcade on the other side of the gym.“This is so awesome,” she geeked. “I don’t even know what to do.”“Oh,” I said, remembering the last thing I got her. “I forgot about this.”I pulled her mom’s necklace from my pocket and watched as her eyes grew big. No sooner had I placed it around her neck, she turned and pulled me into a tight hug. My breath caught in my throat and my mind went blank.All I could focus on was the feeling of
MILAI woke up to a sharp ache that radiated through my body. I was surprised it was still there. I tried to sit up when I noticed the weight on my mid-section. Tyler was fast asleep, arms wrapped around my waist and drool pooling from his mouth. It took me a minute to get him off of me and to the other side of the bed. His features were relaxed and I envied his peace, the way he seemed untouched by the weight bearing down on me. Hours ago had been a blur of heat and desperation, a reckless attempt to drown out the pain. I thought Tyler’s touch, his closeness, would be enough to numb what Gabe had created.But it wasn’t.The ache lingered, sharper now, like a knife twisting deeper with every beat of my heart.We had to do it.“It was sudden, but we had no choice,” Rayne said softly, but I could feel the sorrow in her voice as she paced, restless and wounded in my mind.I swallowed hard, my throat tight. No choice. I hated those words. They made me feel like a puppet, dancing on string
TYLERHoly shit! Fuck! What the hell was I thinking bringing her here? I rarely brought women to the packhouse. Hotel rooms were my domain for this kind of thing. A quick getaway if needed. But now? Now I was making an exception for her. Mila. Damn it, why was resisting her so damn impossible? Everything about her, from the way she looked at me to the way she moved, shredded whatever resolve I had left. And then there was Gabe. Something had happened back there, I could feel it. But the moment the elevator doors closed, and her lips crushed against mine with that fiery urgency, I knew. I knew exactly where this was going. Gabe? Fuck him. He had a mate already. He wasn’t here. I didn’t care what he’d do if he was. I cared about her.By the time we reached the front door, our clothes were practically gone. She pulled me in with a hunger that matched my own, and her kiss–it was everything. The heat radiating off her skin seemed to burn through me, leaving me aching in ways I didn’t unde
MILAWhat the fuck was he doing? And why was I letting him?The moment his tongue touched my skin, I nearly fell to the floor, but his grip kept me planted. I wanted to pull away but it felt… so good. I had half a mind to make another cut.No, focus you fool! I shook my head, deciding on placing my anger someplace else.“Rayne, you could’ve healed us.”Hey, I’m good but I’m not that good,” Rayne protested, her voice low and amusing. “Alpha’s and Luna’s attacks are much more difficult to heal. You know that. Besides, I don’t protest this. Let him lick our wounds.”“You have no control,” I snapped, even as my body betrayed me, leaning into his touch.“Said the woman who decided to get into two fights,” Rayne retorted. “Now this is more my lane.”When he finished, Gabe looked up at me, and my heart raced. There, in his light brown eyes that were flashing gold, was desire–no, an animalistic hunger–and my body responded. My panties could no longer keep the desire from sliding down my leg.
GABEThe scent of blood filled my nose as Spencer growled low, his presence pressing against my mind. We moved forward, eyes scanning the women’s torn attire, and the red streaks on the floor. Mila.She’s hurt. The realization hit hard, the pull to her undeniable. She must’ve seen it in my face because she shook her head slowly, her eyes a silent plea. I couldn’t move to her anyway as Arianna practically flung herself into my arms.“That beast attacked me,” she cried, her arms wrapped around my neck, face buried into my chest. Even as she did this, my eyes were on Mila. The need to comfort so strong, I felt myself pulling Arianna’s arms off of me. That didn’t stop her from clinging on as her hands gripped my arm. She continued. “She has to be banned from this pack immediately.”“Banned?” That word felt heavy in my mouth. “Really, Ari?” I looked at Arianna as if she was crazy and she almost took a step back. She recovered and a hateful look spread across her face when she looked at M
ARIThe gala was dead, my parents left with no word, Julia was found beaten in the women’s restroom, and Gabe was still a no-show. I called the packhouse and everyone kept saying he was in the office. So I decided to check myself. When I opened the door to his office, I was surprised to see so much had changed and Mila was standing near the desk. Of course it was her. That huge silhouette was unmistakable in the low light.“Oh,” she said, her lips curving into a smile that made my stomach churn. “Luna Arianna. Fancy seeing you here.”“Really?” I asked coolly, stepping fully into the room. “I would think out of the two of us, I would make more sense. What are you doing here?”She leaned against the desk with her arms crossed. “Not that it’s any of your business, but this is my office now. This is what happens when you’re a success, ya know.”This girl was starting to become a real headache. “You can’t be serious? Gabe wouldn’t just give you his office.”“More like he decorated it himse
MILAThe moment I kicked them out, I took a tour of my new office, feeling a sense of belonging. I won’t lie and say the personal touches were amazing, but the fact that Gabe was the one who did it made everything a bit complicated. What’s so complicated? He’s an asshole just like the rest of them. I thought, staring at the colored pencils on my desk and the treadmill tucked underneath it. Seriously, Camila must’ve had something to do with this. No one and I mean no one knew about the treadmill.I shook my head not wanting to delve into it deeper. I had to stay focused on the plan. The night was still young and there was still some damage I could do. I texted Camila to deliver the little gift I had for Luna Emily and Alpha Troy, while I tried to stir up some drama on the news. I pulled out my phone and called Laura.“Hey, I think it’s time to leak some information?”“Already ahead of you,” Laura answered happily. “Looks like our little hacker already did it. The news should be reporti
GABEI stepped away from the window in my old office after watching the flashing lights of the van taking Leo away. “Guess the party’s over.”I closed my laptop, taking a look at the redesign I did for Mila’s office. I tried to make it as personable as I could. Granted she had changed much, so hopefully I remembered enough to get her going.“We should tell her who she is to us,” Spencer urged.He’s been bugging me to tell ever since he found out. Wolves were so one-track minded. Let’s not worry about the fact that we were still mated to Arianna, right? None of this made sense.“Do you remember what she said to us the first time we saw her?” I reminded him. “I broke her heart, Spencer. I can’t just expect her to forgive us because there’s a possibility she’s our mate.”Even saying it sounded strange. I continued to decorate the room, carefully placing pictures of her older designs and textiles on the wall. Suddenly the door opened and Tyler rushed in like he was running from someone.
MILAJulia watched me with a confident look on her face, but I could smell the fear coming off her skin. She tried to laugh it off. “What is this? Some kind of fantasy of yours? A little girl on girl action?” I moved to block the door when I saw her eyeing it. “Not quite,” I smiled. “But it will be.”Before Julia could say another word, I lunged for her, grabbing her head and bringing it down into my knee. She stumbled back, holding her nose and looking at me with a shocked expression.“What the fuck!”“That’s for Jenna.”Julia distanced herself from me as I slowly approached. Surprisingly, she stood her ground when she noticed I wasn’t going to let her escape.Good girl. Julia grabbed her broken nose, and popped it back in place, her hand trembling as she wiped the blood from her lip.“Jenna? How is little ol’ Jenna doing?” she asked with a bloody grin. “Heard she lost a piece of herself. Maybe I should send her a ‘Get Well’ card.”I stalked forward, the edge of my vision blurring
MILA“Alpha Tyler! I’ve been trying to get your attention all night.” Mirabella practically squeezed between us, making a point to size me up, which I didn’t mind. I had to keep Tyler at a distance for Rayne’s horny sake.“As you can see, I’m a bit preoccupied,” Tyler began. “So…”“Yeah, I can tell,” Mirabella interrupted, her voice carrying the kind of sweetness that could make my teeth ache. “Someone’s been monopolizing all your time.”She shot a glance in my direction.“It’s not monopolizing when they’re here willingly,” I said, matching her fake sweetness. “But I can understand why that concept might be… unfamiliar to you.”Mirabella faked a laugh before grabbing onto Tyler’s arm. “Ty, would you give me a moment please? Girl talk and all. Maybe a few drinks?”Tyler looked at me as if he wanted confirmation. I didn’t want to waste my time with her but whatever. She was on my shit list anyway. I gave him a subtle nod and we both watched him disappear into the crowd before Mirabella