“Home?” Ariel scoffed at his ridiculousness. Maybe it was once home to her, but not anymore.“Come on, let us go inside.” Kane said, and Ariel's gaze drifted towards the pack building. The walls have been repainted to a light gray color in preparation for the new year, and the Christmas decorations still adorn the wall, their bright red lights twinkling in the night.The meadows were a little overgrown and unruly, but people could still pass through, and the lights lit up the dark pathway.Ariel noticed the lack of restraint in her hands, and she looked down to see her hands were free of the offending instrument, but she didn’t say anything.Instead, she walked inside the pack, opening the door with a confidence she didn’t know she possessed.It was too late to run away, and she had come to the fact that no matter where she may be or hide, Kane was always going to find her, so she decided to resign herself to fate.She opened the door and let her eyes wander across the common room, ho
The fireworks went off above them, painting the sky with a colorful hue, and shouts of jubilation were heard around them even as the couples observed the new year tradition.Ariel did not allow herself to think, because then everything would be ruined. She was just content with kissing this person next to her, the mate she had actually fallen in love with.She was going to deal with the consequences later.And sparks flew from their connection, their hearts beating as one. This was the first time since she shifted she was allowing him close to her romantically, and the result was explosive.The electricity cackled between them, flames engulfing their bodies as the fire spread from their connection. Theirs was a match made in werewolf heaven, and Ariel was just realizing what it meant to have a mate.They were getting greedy, and what was supposed to be a mild kiss had turned into something mind-blowing, earth-shattering, and they wanted more.But they parted for air, too quickly for h
With Kane out of the room, Ariel could breathe a little better, and she collapsed on the bed. The man was just determined to make things difficult for her.And it was making her go crazy.She resumed her activities on her phone, scrolling through it as she tried to catch up with all she had missed, but she soon got bored, and there was nothing for her to do again.Just then, her stomach rumbled, protesting its unfed state, and she managed to get out of bed and walk towards the mini kitchen.She let her gaze wander, looking for anything that could cure her anger, but the kitchen was empty; not even a cereal box was on the counter, and her anger only grew.“I thought he was so bent on winning me back, but he can’t even provide food around.” Ariel grumbled under her breath as she went back to the bed. “Argghhh.” She groaned as she flopped to her bed, picking up her phone again, hoping the people on the screen would distract her.And it worked; she was quickly hooked up on a series that sh
The next morning, Kane was gone before she could open her eyes, although she had heard his footsteps as he got dressed, and she opened her eyes in the dark, watching his movement.And when he left, Ariel closed her eyes again, trying to sleep, and this time when she woke up, she was greeted by bright sunlight streaming from the window. Ariel sat up, moving towards the window as if enchanted, and she just stared outside, marveling at the beautiful sight in front of her.She closed her eyes, taking in a deep breath, and inhaled in the clean air, a sharp contrast to when she was in Blue Ridge. Then she slowly exhaled, all of her troubles floating away like the air.It was almost breakfast, and she knew the pack would be gathering downstairs to eat, and Ariel knew she could no longer avoid them.She hurried to the bathroom, splashing water on her face, and she quickly brushed her teeth. When she was through, Ariel got dressed in a light blue dress that stopped above her knees, and she ran
The tears weren’t stopping anytime soon, no matter how she tried, and it was only pouring down from her eyes. She had cried so much that she had even forgotten the reason she was crying.But she had never felt so pathetic.After everything and all the promises never to go back here, she was back in Kane’s pack and even taking on the role of a Luna; her parents must be rolling in their graves seeing her frolicking with the enemy, and the thoughts pained her.Nothing could improve her mood, and she remained gloomy throughout the day and had laid down on the bed, just feeling pathetic for herself.And somehow, time had run until the door slowly opened and Kane entered inside.“Ariel.” He growled as he stepped inside, marching towards where she lay. “I thought we had gone over this before; I don’t care what happened between us, but you are not going to starve yourself.”Ariel rose up her head to look at him, and Kane caught sight of her red eyes, and he was rushing to her side.“Ariel, wh
When Ariel woke up, it was to streaming sunlight from the window slit, the chirping of birds as they sang sweetly in their trees, and her lips curled in a lazy smile, but the smile was quick to fade when she shifted on the bed, and she was met with restriction.A heavy arm encircled her waist, and her ass was painfully close to someone’s crotch, and the hard appendage was poking her ass cheeks. She was feeling a suspicious amount of breeze and freedom in her body.Ariel raised the sheet that had been covering her and looked inside, and she was right. She was stark naked on the bed, and the arm that was swung around her was none other than Kane.She wasn’t one to jump to conclusions, but from the tingles she was still feeling and the delicious soreness in her body, she had no doubt that something had gone down between them, but that didn’t put her to ease one bit.This wasn’t what she wanted.She had thought she could bear the consequences when the morning came, but she was only filled
Ariel stared outside the window, the world now at peace as the snow had ceased falling, but she failed to notice the vibrant hues of the sky or the gentle quietness of the morning. Her mind was still consumed with the thoughts of her mate.The pain in his voice was something she couldn’t stand, and she only had herself to blame. What they had shared last night had been mutual, and she had enjoyed every moment of it, but she had allowed her fears to push him away.Ariel cringed as she recalled the word he had called himself. How could she even face him now?And the things he said about her father? It had to be a lie; her father would never do that. At least from the glimpse she had seen of him, he seemed like a good man.She ran her head through her finger several times in frustration.Yet she couldn’t shake the feeling of guilt that settled at the pit of her stomach. He had done everything she had accused him of, and he was also a murderer. If there was anyone that was going to be ang
Ariel woke up the next morning with a scowl on my face, annoyed by the sleepless night. She was practically turning and tossing on the bed until it was dawn.She made sure to avoid all of the mirrors or anything that could show her reflection, as she didn’t need to know how horrible she looked.No doubt, there were huge eye bags in her eyes and horrible dark circles, but she refused to care; instead, she splashed water in her eyes and made for downstairs.Her heart lifted as she perceived the scent of pine cones and oranges, and she quickened her pace, hoping she would just get a glimpse of him.But it was just his scent that lingered as he was long gone, and her face fell even more. However, Ariel managed to slap a smile on her face as the pack began to greet her.There was no need to let them know that their leaders were not on speaking terms; instead, she settled on her seat and waited for the food to come while she was scanning for familiar faces.Her eyes met with Liza, and she r
As Ariel stood in the makeshift raised platform that had been constructed in the balcony, staring into the eyes of her mate, she could see nothing but love.All of the moments that brought them here had been a conscious effort on their part, and going for therapy had been a major factor.The first few weeks had been awkward as neither of them was ready to pour out their hearts open, and they had been going around in circles, but they finally broke when the therapist had asked Kane a question.“Is there anything you would like to say to Ariel but you are afraid it will hurt her?”Kane had hesitated at first, his eyes darting to his mate, and he shook his head for a No, there was something about the way Ariel was looking at him, and he didn’t know when he began to talk.“You always act before you think. Most times, you do things that put yourself at risk, not considering people around you, and when it starts getting back, you pull away, leaving us to clean up the mess.”“It is a lie.” Ar
Ariel started devising a plan immediately after she got to her room. Kane had been trying to prove stubborn, but he had no idea she was a greater force to contend with.Ariel was determined to let bygones be bygones and focused on the future, but Kane seemed to think she was still holding onto the pass, and she was determined to prove him wrong.She began by packing a few essentials she was going to need for the night, and she stuffed them in a tote bag. She peeped inside, making sure everything she needed for a sleepover was there, and she nodded her head in satisfaction.Then she picked up the bag, hanging it on her shoulder, and she made for the door. Now outside the door, she let her nose guide her, and she began to look for Kane’s scent.The man had continued to prove stubborn, so drastic times call for drastic action.Ariel was able to trace the scent to the room at the end of the hall, and she held the doorknob, pushing it gently, and a sigh of relief left her as it gave way—gr
Ariel slumped on the bed as she got to her room, the rejection too much for her to bear. She wanted to bury herself in the mattress if it meant never to face him.The rejection had stung so much that she couldn’t believe it.But she had brought it upon herself.This was the least she deserved after the way she had treated him, but that didn’t soothe the ache in her chest.She began to replay all that she had said to him, her pity excuse to get him back, and she was cringing hard, but thinking of it now, therapy seems to be a good idea.Their relationship was founded in lies and deceit; although she couldn’t deny their sexual chemistry, their bond was shaky, and there are so many things that were wrong, and if given the chance, she would want to start afresh.With that determination surging in her veins, Ariel picked up her phone, clicking on the message app, and composing a short text to Maddie. The girl knew whatever was happening in the werewolf world, so there was no doubt she woul
Ariel didn’t wait to see if Kane was going to listen to her; she had decided to take law into her hands, and she grabbed him by his hands and began to pull him away.But she was met with little resistance as he dug his heel on the floor, refusing to follow her, and she turned to look at him, a challenge in her eyes. Goddess, help her; she could claim him right now if he continued like this.There was a twinkle in Kane’s eyes as he understood what she was trying to convey, and he allowed himself to be led by hand until they got to the comfort of his office and she dropped his hands.Ariel tucked her arms in each other, and she fastened her eyes on him, with a look that could burn, but Kane was immune to all this, and he looked at her, although the sides of his mouth tugged up in a small smile.“What were you doing with her?” Ariel demanded, hoping her jealousy didn’t shine through. But who was she kidding? When it comes to Kane, she seems to lose all her senses. “What did you say that
Ariel woke up the next morning with a scowl on my face, annoyed by the sleepless night. She was practically turning and tossing on the bed until it was dawn.She made sure to avoid all of the mirrors or anything that could show her reflection, as she didn’t need to know how horrible she looked.No doubt, there were huge eye bags in her eyes and horrible dark circles, but she refused to care; instead, she splashed water in her eyes and made for downstairs.Her heart lifted as she perceived the scent of pine cones and oranges, and she quickened her pace, hoping she would just get a glimpse of him.But it was just his scent that lingered as he was long gone, and her face fell even more. However, Ariel managed to slap a smile on her face as the pack began to greet her.There was no need to let them know that their leaders were not on speaking terms; instead, she settled on her seat and waited for the food to come while she was scanning for familiar faces.Her eyes met with Liza, and she r
Ariel stared outside the window, the world now at peace as the snow had ceased falling, but she failed to notice the vibrant hues of the sky or the gentle quietness of the morning. Her mind was still consumed with the thoughts of her mate.The pain in his voice was something she couldn’t stand, and she only had herself to blame. What they had shared last night had been mutual, and she had enjoyed every moment of it, but she had allowed her fears to push him away.Ariel cringed as she recalled the word he had called himself. How could she even face him now?And the things he said about her father? It had to be a lie; her father would never do that. At least from the glimpse she had seen of him, he seemed like a good man.She ran her head through her finger several times in frustration.Yet she couldn’t shake the feeling of guilt that settled at the pit of her stomach. He had done everything she had accused him of, and he was also a murderer. If there was anyone that was going to be ang
When Ariel woke up, it was to streaming sunlight from the window slit, the chirping of birds as they sang sweetly in their trees, and her lips curled in a lazy smile, but the smile was quick to fade when she shifted on the bed, and she was met with restriction.A heavy arm encircled her waist, and her ass was painfully close to someone’s crotch, and the hard appendage was poking her ass cheeks. She was feeling a suspicious amount of breeze and freedom in her body.Ariel raised the sheet that had been covering her and looked inside, and she was right. She was stark naked on the bed, and the arm that was swung around her was none other than Kane.She wasn’t one to jump to conclusions, but from the tingles she was still feeling and the delicious soreness in her body, she had no doubt that something had gone down between them, but that didn’t put her to ease one bit.This wasn’t what she wanted.She had thought she could bear the consequences when the morning came, but she was only filled
The tears weren’t stopping anytime soon, no matter how she tried, and it was only pouring down from her eyes. She had cried so much that she had even forgotten the reason she was crying.But she had never felt so pathetic.After everything and all the promises never to go back here, she was back in Kane’s pack and even taking on the role of a Luna; her parents must be rolling in their graves seeing her frolicking with the enemy, and the thoughts pained her.Nothing could improve her mood, and she remained gloomy throughout the day and had laid down on the bed, just feeling pathetic for herself.And somehow, time had run until the door slowly opened and Kane entered inside.“Ariel.” He growled as he stepped inside, marching towards where she lay. “I thought we had gone over this before; I don’t care what happened between us, but you are not going to starve yourself.”Ariel rose up her head to look at him, and Kane caught sight of her red eyes, and he was rushing to her side.“Ariel, wh
The next morning, Kane was gone before she could open her eyes, although she had heard his footsteps as he got dressed, and she opened her eyes in the dark, watching his movement.And when he left, Ariel closed her eyes again, trying to sleep, and this time when she woke up, she was greeted by bright sunlight streaming from the window. Ariel sat up, moving towards the window as if enchanted, and she just stared outside, marveling at the beautiful sight in front of her.She closed her eyes, taking in a deep breath, and inhaled in the clean air, a sharp contrast to when she was in Blue Ridge. Then she slowly exhaled, all of her troubles floating away like the air.It was almost breakfast, and she knew the pack would be gathering downstairs to eat, and Ariel knew she could no longer avoid them.She hurried to the bathroom, splashing water on her face, and she quickly brushed her teeth. When she was through, Ariel got dressed in a light blue dress that stopped above her knees, and she ran