Amara’s POV The rain outside hadn’t let up, the heavy droplets tapping against the roof of the car as if mirroring the chaos within me. My breathing was uneven, my heart racing as I sat there, wrapped in the warmth of Caden’s arms. He didn’t move, his grip firm yet comforting, as though he was afraid I’d slip away if he let go. His forehead rested against mine, and I could feel the gentle rise and fall of his chest against me, grounding me in a way I hadn’t felt in so long. "Amara," he whispered my name like it was sacred, his voice breaking the silence that had settled between us. I pulled back slightly, just enough to look into his eyes. The pain in them was unmistakable—raw, unfiltered, and completely vulnerable. It wasn’t just jealousy or anger. It was deeper than that. His golden eyes searched mine, and I saw the unspoken words there, the silent plea. My chest ached, my wolf stirring uneasily as she tried to make sense of the storm of emotions within me. "I don’t know how t
Amara’s POV I stormed into Elian’s cabin, tears blurring my vision. My chest felt like it was caving in, the weight of everything crushing me. I hadn’t planned on coming here, but my feet had brought me to the one person I trusted. Elian was sitting by the fire, his dark hair tousled, his piercing green eyes focused on the flames. The moment he saw me, his expression shifted from calm to concerned. “Amara?” he said, standing up immediately. “What’s wrong?” I didn’t answer right away. My voice was caught in my throat, the lump there too painful to swallow. I just shook my head, collapsing onto the couch. “Amara, talk to me,” he urged, sitting down beside me. His warm hand rested on my shoulder, grounding me. “I-I don’t know what to do,” I choked out, the tears finally breaking free. He didn’t say anything, just waited, giving me the space I needed to gather myself. “They’re cursed,” I finally said, my voice trembling. “The Triplets… they’re not themselves. Selena and Stephanie
Amara’s POVThe next morning, I dragged myself to school, dreading another encounter with the triplets. The air outside was crisp, but the chill I felt came from within. Memories of their betrayal and the spell that now enslaved them haunted me, leaving my heart heavy. As I walked through the school hallways, I felt the weight of their presence before I even saw them. Ryder, Jaxon, and Caden stood near the lockers, their once-bright eyes now dull and distant. They looked like shadows of themselves—cold, unfeeling, and utterly detached. I hesitated, my heart twisting painfully at the sight of them. Part of me wanted to turn and run, to escape the ache of seeing them like this. But another part of me—a foolish, hopeful part—wanted to march right up to them and demand they snap out of it. Before I could decide, Ryder’s gaze locked on me. His expression was unreadable, but his eyes—those stormy, magnetic eyes—seemed to pierce through me. "Amara," he said flatly, his tone devoid of the
Amara’s POV The cafeteria was buzzing with energy, laughter, and conversation echoing off the walls. I pushed the doors open, stepping inside with as much indifference as I could muster. I’d perfected this façade over the past year—unbothered, untouchable. Until my eyes landed on him. Jaxon. He was sitting at a table in the middle of the room, looking as effortlessly handsome as ever in his letterman jacket. His golden hair caught the light, and his jawline was sharp enough to cut glass. For a split second, my heart betrayed me, fluttering in my chest. But the moment shattered when I noticed who was with him. Stephanie. She was practically glued to his side, her arm resting possessively on his bicep. Her laugh—high-pitched and grating—carried across the room. She leaned closer, whispering something in his ear. Whatever it was, it made him smirk. My stomach twisted into knots. My wolf growled softly in my mind. She’s taunting you. Look at her, flaunting herself like she owns hi
Amara's POVCaden was standing near the lockers with his usual group of friends, his back turned as he laughed at something they said. I tried to push the pit of dread in my stomach down as I approached him.As I got closer, he turned and caught my eye. The cold look in his eyes made my breath hitch. "Well, well, if it isn't the lost princess," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. He leaned back against the lockers, arms crossed, a smirk playing at his lips. "Did you finally realize you were out of your league with us?"I felt my stomach churn. He never spoke to me like that before. The bitterness in his words stung, each one like a knife twisting deeper into my chest.I opened my mouth, but nothing came out. What was I supposed to say to that? How could I explain to him that I still cared, still wanted to believe the person I knew was buried somewhere beneath all the anger and confusion?His eyes narrowed, and the smirk deepened. "You must think you're special, huh? But you're
Amara's POV The rest of the day passed in a blur, but my heart felt like it had been hollowed out. Caden’s words replayed in my mind on an endless loop, each one cutting deeper than the last. By the time I got home, the ache in my chest had only worsened. I tried to push it down, to focus on something else—anything else—but no matter what I did, his voice haunted me."You deserve better than this."Why did he think that? Why did he have to push me away when all I wanted was to help him? I stared at the ceiling in my room, my wolf pacing restlessly in the back of my mind. "He’s hurting, just like we are," she murmured. "But he won’t let us in.""And how can we help him if he won’t even try?" I replied bitterly. My voice cracked, and I pressed my palms against my eyes, willing the tears to stop. "Why does he have to make everything so difficult?"My wolf let out a low growl. "Because he’s scared, Amara. He’s scared of losing us, of losing control. This curse is eating away at him."
Amara's POVI didn’t wait for him to stop me. Didn’t wait for him to apologize. I couldn’t—if I did, I’d break. If I stayed and listened to him, I knew I’d fall apart. So I ran. I ran from Caden, from the suffocating air between us, from the hurt in his eyes that mirrored my own.My footsteps echoed in the empty hallways, my heart pounding in my chest like a war drum. I could feel his eyes on me, could almost hear him calling out to me, but I refused to look back. I just needed to get away.The campus blurred around me as I pushed through the doors and out into the cool, crisp air. The world felt muffled—like everything was happening behind a thick wall of glass. I didn’t know where I was going, but I didn’t care. All I could hear was the echo of his words. "Maybe I never did."That hurt more than I cared to admit. More than I wanted to admit.My wolf howled in agony inside my mind, but even her protests couldn’t silence the truth of what he’d said. He didn’t trust me. He didn’t tru
Amara's POV I walked through the school corridors, my mind racing with everything that had happened over the past few days. The betrayal, the confusion, and the pain were like a heavy weight on my chest. It felt like the walls were closing in on me, and no matter how hard I tried to ignore it, the anger kept boiling under the surface.I had trusted them all—Jaxon, Ryder, Caden—but now it seemed like they were all turning away from me. But worst of all, the people I never wanted to deal with again were back—Selena and Stephanie. I could feel their eyes on me before I even saw them. As soon as I turned the corner, I locked eyes with Selena, her face twisting into a smug grin. My blood boiled, my hands clenched into fists at my sides. How dare they? After everything, they still had the audacity to walk around like nothing had happened. "Well, look who's here," Selena sneered, crossing her arms and leaning against the locker. Stephanie stepped forward, her lips curling into a smirk. "
Amara’s POVI barely made it through my next class.Jaxon’s words—I’m not done with you yet, princess—played on a loop in my head. His touch, his kiss, the way he owned every moment with me… it was driving me insane.By the time the final bell rang, I was practically bolting toward the parking lot, hoping to escape before Jaxon could find me.Spoiler alert: I failed.The second I stepped outside, a familiar arm wrapped around my waist, yanking me back against a warm, hard chest.“Running from me, princess?” Jaxon’s voice was all smug amusement, his lips brushing against my ear.I shivered. “I—I wasn’t—”His low chuckle sent heat straight through me. “Liar.”I turned in his hold, scowling up at him. “You love tormenting me, don’t you?”Jaxon smirked, tilting his head. “Only because you look so damn cute when you’re flustered.”I groaned, shoving at his chest. “Just take me home.”“Gladly.”He grabbed my wrist and led me toward his car, opening the passenger door with an exaggerated flo
Amara’s POVI wanted to disappear. Right then and there.Jaxon, of course, was absolutely loving this. His arm stayed draped around my shoulders, his fingers casually playing with the ends of my scarf like he knew exactly what he had done.Ryder leaned against the lockers, arms crossed, his grin way too amused. “So… did Jaxon finally claim you, or did he just get really hungry last night?”I groaned, burying my face in my hands. “I hate all of you.”Caden didn’t look nearly as amused. His arms were crossed, his expression unreadable. “It’s not funny,” he muttered, his sharp gaze flickering toward Jaxon. “You should have more control.”Jaxon smirked, pulling me closer. “I don’t want control when it comes to her.”My breath hitched.Caden’s jaw tensed. “She’s not a possession, Jaxon.”Jaxon’s smirk faltered just slightly, but he didn’t let go of me. Instead, his grip tightened.I quickly intervened before things got tense. “Okay, enough. We’re not doing this.”Ryder grinned. “Oh, this i
Amara’s POVI barely made it into my room before collapsing onto my bed, pressing my fingers against my still-tingling lips.What the hell had just happened?Jaxon had kissed me before, teased me before—but this? This was something else. This was dangerous.And the worst part?I wanted more.I groaned, burying my face in my pillow.Get it together, Amara.But no amount of scolding could stop the way my heart raced at the memory of his hands on my waist, his breath against my skin, the way he had looked at me like I was his.I exhaled sharply, sitting up and running my hands through my hair.There was no way I was going to be able to sleep.My phone buzzed.I grabbed it quickly, my pulse spiking when I saw Jaxon’s name.Jaxon: Are you in bed?I hesitated before typing back.Me: Maybe.His reply came almost instantly.Jaxon: That’s not a real answer, princess.I bit my lip.Me: Yes, I’m in bed. Why?Jaxon: Good. Now close your eyes and imagine me next to you.My breath hitched.Before I
Amara’s POVMy heart pounded so hard I was sure Jaxon could hear it. His words echoed in my mind—I think I’m falling for you.I swallowed, unsure how to respond. I wasn’t used to this—wasn’t used to him being so serious.Jaxon, the arrogant flirt. The teasing troublemaker. The guy who drove me crazy in every possible way.And yet, here he was—vulnerable, open, laying his feelings bare in a way I never expected.I didn’t trust my voice, so instead of speaking, I did the only thing that felt right.I kissed him.Jaxon tensed for half a second, then groaned against my lips, his arms tightening around me as he kissed me back. This time, it was slower, more deliberate—like he was savoring every second.When we finally pulled apart, he rested his forehead against mine, his breath warm against my skin.“That’s a dangerous way to answer, princess,” he murmured, his fingers tracing slow circles against my lower back.I exhaled shakily. “You started it.”Jaxon chuckled, his lips brushing agains
Amara’s POVJaxon’s car rumbled beneath us as he pulled out of the school parking lot, one hand lazily gripping the steering wheel while the other rested on the gear shift. The afternoon sun streamed through the windows, making everything feel warm, golden—almost too perfect. I tried to ignore the way my heart sped up just being near him. “So,” he drawled, flicking his gaze toward me, “did anyone give you trouble about the mark?” I huffed, crossing my arms. “No. But thanks to you, Lily wouldn’t shut up about it all day.” Jaxon grinned, clearly proud of himself. “Good. I like knowing people see it.” I rolled my eyes, looking out the window. “You’re so possessive.” His hand suddenly left the gear shift, fingers trailing along my thigh. My breath hitched. “You like it,” he murmured, voice low, teasing. I swallowed, refusing to meet his eyes. “You’re delusional.” Jaxon chuckled, giving my thigh a gentle squeeze before returning his hand to the wheel. “Whatever you say, princess.”
Amara’s POVThe morning sun streamed through my bedroom window as I stood in front of the mirror, adjusting my sweater. My hair was still damp from my shower, and I was debating whether to leave it down or tie it up when I felt a warm presence behind me.Before I could react, strong arms wrapped around my waist, pulling me against a familiar, solid chest.“Morning, princess,” Jaxon’s deep, teasing voice murmured against my ear.I rolled my eyes but didn’t pull away. “You do know there’s this thing called personal space, right?”Jaxon chuckled, his breath warm against my neck. “Never heard of it.”His arms tightened slightly, holding me close as he dipped his head. Before I could protest, I felt the sharp nip of his teeth against the sensitive skin of my neck.I gasped. “Jaxon—”He pulled back just enough to admire his work, a smug grin tugging at his lips. “There. Now everyone knows you’re mine.”I spun around, narrowing my eyes at him. “You marked me?” I reached up, touching the tend
Amara's POV The days passed in a blur, each one filled with moments that chipped away at the walls I had built around my heart. Caden, Ryder, and Jaxon were proving themselves in ways I hadn’t expected. They were changing—slowly, steadily—but undeniably.Every morning, one of them would wake me up with breakfast, though it usually ended up being a playful argument over who would get the honor.“I made it first,” Caden would grumble, holding out a plate of toast and eggs.“Yeah, well, I made pancakes,” Ryder would counter, flipping one onto a second plate.Jaxon, always the wildcard, would slide a cup of coffee in front of me with a lazy smirk. “And I made sure you get caffeine before dealing with these two idiots.”I’d roll my eyes, but deep down, the warmth of their efforts settled in my chest like a quiet comfort.Throughout the day, they went out of their way to make sure I felt safe, taken care of—even cherished. Ryder would insist on driving me anywhere I needed to go, opening d
Amara's POV The SurpriseBy the time I had finished eating, showered, and dressed, Caden was nowhere to be found.I searched the entire house. No sign of him.Where was he?Just when I was starting to get frustrated, my phone chimed with a text.Come outside.Caden.I slipped on a pair of shoes and headed out the front door, curious.My jaw dropped.A horse-drawn carriage was parked in the driveway, decorated with a garland of flowers. Caden stood next to it, dressed in a suit and tie. He held a bouquet of roses in one hand and a picnic basket in the other.My face grew hot.He was insane. Absolutely, utterly insane.I marched up to him, crossing my arms.His eyes sparkled with amusement.I shook my head.He grinned.I sighed.Then, I grabbed the roses and kissed him.After All...It was a perfect day—blue skies, gentle breeze, the smell of fresh earth and blooming flowers. We strolled through the town, stopping for a bite to eat, admiring the architecture. He held my hand the entire
Amara's POV The mansion was quiet, save for the soft crackling of the fireplace and the distant rustling of the trees outside. The night air was cool, but inside, the warmth from the fire wrapped around me like a blanket. I was curled up on the couch, a book resting open on my lap, though I wasn’t paying much attention to it. My mind was too preoccupied. With him.Caden.I could still feel his touch from earlier—the way his fingers had brushed against my skin, the way his lips had lingered against my shoulder. It was different with him. It always had been.A creak from the doorway made me glance up, and there he was, leaning against the frame with that signature smirk tugging at his lips. He was dressed casually—gray sweatpants and a fitted black shirt that did nothing to hide the way his muscles flexed beneath the fabric. His golden hair was tousled like he’d just run his fingers through it.“You’re still awake,” he mused, stepping into the room. His voice was a soft rumble in the q