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Ch. 8
Last Updated:
2024-11-25 17:01:00
Cara AndersonThank you for reading!
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Tryst Of Fate: Caught Between The Alpha And Beta Ch. 1 Damaged
Olivia With a defeated sigh, I drop my towel in front of the full-length mirror and force myself to take in my pudgy form. I accepted long ago that I’d never have the svelte figure of most she-wolves. But on days like today, when I have to dress up and mingle with the rest of the pack, it’s a painful reminder of all the ways I’m different.I’d held out hope that with the birth of my wolf I’d finally attain the figure of my dreams, that my wolf would heal my damaged heart and I could finally do all the things other wolves do to stay fit and trim. But that dream was just the sour cherry on top of the sundae of my life’s many bitter disappointments. My softer, rounder figure is here to stay, just one more thing that makes me stand out. And I really hate to stand out. It’s not that I can’t handle what people think of me. I’m used to the ridicule by now. It’s my family I really feel bad for. My parents are the pack’s Betas, powerful wolves who should have had strong heirs, not a daughter
Tryst Of Fate: Caught Between The Alpha And Beta Ch. 2 Long Enough
Olivia Declan’s hateful words replay over and over in my mind as I make my escape, not even slowing when Ellie calls my name. I have to get out of here before the dam breaks because I refuse to let any of those monsters see me cry. They don’t deserve my tears. I’ve barely made it out the door before the familiar dull ache flares to life in my chest, telling me at least one of my mates is already more pleasantly occupied. As if I needed more proof that I’m less than nothing in their eyes, they don’t even stop to celebrate my misery before moving on to more entertaining things like their next conquest. Too many nights I’ve lain in bed on the brink of sleep, only for the throbbing in my chest to startle me awake. At least this time I’m prepared for the torture to ensue I hurry to make my way home as the discomfort intensifies, the pain a raging inferno, the torment too much to endure. By the time my house is in sight, I’m practically crawling, every step pure agony. I’m panting for
Tryst Of Fate: Caught Between The Alpha And Beta Ch. 3 Madness
Olivia It’s been months since the night I stood on that cliff, contemplating my own demise. Sometimes I still wonder if I made a mistake, not ending my life. But in the end, I just couldn’t do it, couldn’t cause my family any more pain, even if it means my own suffering. I’ve had a near perfect track record of avoiding my mates since the Full Moon party, though the pain of them betraying the bond visits me most nights. Unfortunately, that painfully short reprieve from their presence has come to an end. My best friend Ellie met her mates and we’re all in Sacred Moon for her Luna ceremony, making avoiding them impossible. The party is raging around us. Everyone is smiling, dancing, celebrating but I just don’t have the energy to pretend. My eyes wander to the dance floor of their own accord, immediately finding the men I least and most want to see. They’re each wrapped up in women far more beautiful than me, with smiles on their faces and laughter in their eyes. The pang of loss that
Tryst Of Fate: Caught Between The Alpha And Beta Ch. 4 Very Bad Idea
Kaden My sister and her new mates throw one hell of a party. It doesn’t hurt that there’s an open bar serving nothing but top shelf liquor. Declan and I have definitely taken advantage of the free alcohol, skating right past tipsy all the way to totally trashed. That’s my excuse for why I haven’t stopped lusting after Olivia Cross all damn night. My logical brain says this is a very bad idea, we’ll regret it later. But fuck if my hindbrain gives a shit about any of that right now. The curvy redhead has starred in my dreams too often lately and it’s a little disturbing. Then the second I laid eyes on her tonight, looking like sin in that skin-tight little black dress that hugs all her generous curves, the strapless sweetheart neckline showcasing the swell of her full tits, I knew I had to have her. Maybe fucking her will get her out of my system because this madness has to stop! “You’re so beautiful, Red. All lush curves and flawless skin. I’ve never seen anything sexier.” She pr
Tryst Of Fate: Caught Between The Alpha And Beta Ch. 5 Low Expectations
Olivia “Wake up, Red. Time to go.” I feel a nudge but I don’t move, my brain struggling to come online. My mouth is drier than the Sahara and a dozen tiny men with tiny little jackhammers are pummeling my skull. My limbs feel like lead bricks as I try to sit up. Where am I and why is something hard poking my backside?Blinking my eyes against the harsh sunlight, Kaden’s face comes into focus and I suck in a breath. Scenes from last night flood my brain and warmth fills my belly. They’re here. My mates, the men I love, are actually here and they spent the whole night making love to me.“Good morning,” I pull the sheet up to my chest and offer Kaden a shy smile. But he doesn’t smile back at me. His face is a stony mask and his eyes are cold. “Wh-, what’s wrong?” I stutter, trembling from the chill his look provokes.“Nothing at all, little flower.” His voice is hard, the pet name sounding all wrong in that tone. He shoves my dress at me just as Declan stirs behind me. “Last night was
Tryst Of Fate: Caught Between The Alpha And Beta Ch. 6 Positive Or Negative?
Olivia “I think I really messed up, El.” I tell my best friend who’s staring at me with shock and a world of concern in her crystal blue eyes. I get it. Her new pack, where she is now my brother’s Luna, is hours away from where I live in Glass Lake. And I didn’t tell either of them I was coming, just showed up on their door like a little lost kitten. But the truth is, I didn't know I was coming myself. If that weren’t enough to earn her worried expression, the admission that I may have screwed up royally would be. Olivia Cross doesn’t make mistakes. She’s a rule follower, a people pleaser, the quintessential good girl to the core. Given my physical shortcomings, perfect behavior is my only superpower. Showing up here out of the blue, looking like something the cat dragged in would be enough to scare anyone who knew me. “I’m here, sweetie. What can I do?” She folds me in her arms and holds me tight. And that’s my best friend for you. No judgment, no third degree, willing to be w
Tryst Of Fate: Caught Between The Alpha And Beta Ch. 7 My Choice
Olivia7 Months Later“It’s official. I’m as big as a small country.” I grumble as I gingerly lower myself into a chair, one arm under my enormous belly. I’m so huge, it takes me a few tries to get my swollen feet up on the footrest, like lifting lead weights. I couldn’t tell you the last time I’ve actually seen the offending appendages. “You’re not that big.” Ellie lies through her teeth until I pin her with the “don’t bullshit me” look and she amends her statement. “Well, not that much bigger than me.”“Please, you look like a runway model for maternity wear with your tiny belly and toned legs. Meanwhile, my ankles could have their own zipcode.” I frown, making no effort to hide my envy. I’m fully aware I’ve been less than pleasant to live with lately but Ellie, my brother, and her other mates have been more than patient with me. A courtesy I definitely don’t deserve. I would have given myself the boot by now if I were them. Thankfully they’ve refrained from showing me the door, pr
Tryst Of Fate: Caught Between The Alpha And Beta Ch. 8 Never Good Enough
Olivia “It’s okay, I’ve got you. Livvy!” I hear a voice talking to me and feel myself lifted into someone’s arms, but I can’t focus on any of it. Pain. My body is wracked with it. Ripping, gnawing, searing, shredding. All of it at once. It’s all-consuming and demands every ounce of my attention. I have vague memories of the pain I suffered when my mates betrayed our unacknowledged bond. But that all blissfully stopped the night they refused to believe my claim. Maybe the months since have dulled my memory of that time, but I can’t remember it ever being as excruciating as this. Something scratches at the back of my mind as Mason carries me to the car. This pain serves a purpose, right? It will bring something good. But the band around my abdomen contracts again and the thought slips away again. Maybe I pass out. Or maybe my mind just shut down completely, protecting me from a reality I’m not ready to face. But the next time awareness creeps back in, it’s to the sound of people
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Tryst Of Fate: Caught Between The Alpha And Beta Ch. 8
Brynlee "Let's talk about trust."Dr. Mitchell's voice is gentle, but the words still make my shoulders tense. We've been dancing around this topic for weeks, but after what happened with Rhett at the coffee shop, I can't avoid it anymore."What about it?" I try to sound casual, but my heart rate betrays me."Your sister mentioned there was an incident yesterday. A strong reaction to someone you've known for years."Of course Olivia told her. Everyone's so worried about poor, broken Brynlee that they probably have a group chat dedicated to discussing my mental state."It wasn't an incident," I say. "My wolf just . . . reacted strangely.""And how did that make you feel?"I want to snap at her, to say I'm tired of being asked how I feel about every little thing. Instead, I find myself answering honestly. "Scared. Confused. My wolf recognized something in him, something that felt . . . safe. But I can't trust that feeling.""Because of Xavier?"The name makes my skin crawl. "Because I w
Tryst Of Fate: Caught Between The Alpha And Beta Ch. 7
Rhett I barely make it into my truck before Kian rages to the surface, clawing at my control. My wolf wants to turn around, to go back and claim what's ours. The memory of her scent – honey and lavender tinged with fear – makes us both want to howl.“Protect. Claim. Ours.” He demands."Not now," I growl, gripping the steering wheel until my knuckles turn white. We've had this argument too many times since that day at the hospital.The memory hits me like a physical blow . . . Two months earlierThe antiseptic hospital smell burns my nose as I follow Kaden down the sterile hallway. "Her scent might help us track whoever did this," he's saying. "But be prepared. She's . . . it's bad, Rhett."I've seen bad before. Done bad things to bad people. But nothing prepares me for the sight of Brynlee – sweet, innocent Brynlee who I've known since she was a pup – lying broken in that hospital bed. Tubes everywhere. Monitors beeping. Bruises marking every visible inch of skin.Then I catch her sc
Tryst Of Fate: Caught Between The Alpha And Beta Ch. 6
Brynlee I'm not supposed to be here. That's all I can think as I stand frozen in the small coffee shop just outside pack territory. I'm supposed to be safe at home, hiding in my room like the broken thing I am. But Dr. Mitchell's voice echoes in my head – "small steps toward normalcy" – and somehow that translated into convincing Olivia to bring me here."Just a quick stop," she'd promised. "Ten minutes tops."But Olivia got pulled into an urgent phone call outside, and now here I am, alone in a coffee shop that isn't the one where Xavier found me, but might as well be. Every chime of the door sends my heart racing. Every male scent makes my skin crawl. Every—The bell chimes again and a scent hits me – wild and masculine and startlingly familiar, but somehow . . . different. Rhett. I recognize him immediately – my family's friend, my friend, kind of, once upon a time. I've known him for years, seen him at countless family gatherings. He's always been kind but distant, treating me wit
Tryst Of Fate: Caught Between The Alpha And Beta Ch. 5
Rhett Another dead end. Another false lead. Another day of Xander's trail growing colder while my control grows weaker.I stare at the abandoned cabin that was supposed to be his latest hiding place, fighting the urge to tear the whole structure apart in frustration. The scent is old – at least two weeks – and deliberately misleading. The bastard knows how to cover his tracks, I'll give him that.My phone buzzes. Another text from Kaden with another possible sighting to check out. This one's closer to Glass Lake territory. Too close. My wolf snarls at the thought, torn between the hunt for Xander and the pull toward her.Focus. I can't think about her right now. Can't think about how her scent lingered in the air yesterday, tinged with fear and something else – something that made my wolf pace and whine. Can't think about how close I was to jumping the fence and . . .And what? Revealing myself? Trying to comfort a traumatized woman who doesn't even know she has a mate? Who's fighting
Tryst Of Fate: Caught Between The Alpha And Beta Ch. 4
Brynlee Therapy is bullshit.That's what I keep telling myself as I sit in this too-soft chair, surrounded by crystals and dreamcatchers and all the other crap that's supposed to make this place feel "safe and nurturing." What a joke. Like any space can feel safe anymore.But I'm here, aren't I? Sitting across from Dr. Sharon Mitchell, pack therapist extraordinaire, because my family won't stop looking at me with those worried eyes. Won't stop suggesting "it might help to talk to someone." As if talking about it will somehow make it all better. As if words can erase what happened to me."How are you feeling today, Brynlee?" Dr. Mitchell's voice is exactly what you'd expect from a therapist – gentle, measured, trying so hard to be non-threatening that it becomes threatening in its own way."Fine." The word comes out automatically. It's my default response these days, even though we both know it's a lie.I thought I was fine. After I woke up, it was like all my trauma was tucked away in
Tryst Of Fate: Caught Between The Alpha And Beta Ch. 3
Rhett The familiar scent of pine and earthy dampness greets me as I cross into Forest Trails territory. Home. Though that word feels hollow now, more obligation than comfort. Like everything else in my life lately, it’s complicated by duty and expectations I never asked for.Tracy will be waiting at the clubhouse, neutral territory for what promises to be anything but a neutral conversation. We agreed to meet here rather than the dungeon where we usually play. This isn't about scene negotiation or pleasure; this is about ending something that should have been simple but never really was.She’s already there when I arrive, perched on the edge of a leather armchair like she’s ready to spring into action. The sight of her makes my chest tight with guilt. Tracy is beautiful, willing, and uncomplicated – everything I should want. Everything I might have settled for if fate hadn't fucked with my plans."Master." The word slips from her lips automatically before she catches herself. "Rhett."
Tryst Of Fate: Caught Between The Alpha And Beta Ch. 2
Rhett “Fuck!” I shove the papers off my makeshift desk in a fit of rage. I fight the urge to toss the un-fucking-helpful computer too, knowing how satisfying it would be to watch it shatter against the wall. But it’s a loaner so I restrain myself. “Problems?” Kaden’s gigantic frame fills the doorway, casually leaning in with an amused smirk on his face. “All I’ve got is fucking problems.” I kick the leg of the desk for emphasis, and because I need an outlet for this fury threatening to consume me. “How can someone attempting such a massive coup hide so effectively? His fingerprints are everywhere, evidence of his plans basically begging to be found now that we know what we’re looking for, but Xander himself is a fucking ghost!” “We’ll find him.” He says so confidently I want to punch out a few of his pearly white teeth. “But none of this is on you. You know that, right?” I open my mouth to argue, to assure him it absolutely fucking is on me, but he’s running his damn mouth aga
Tryst Of Fate: Caught Between The Alpha And Beta His Shattered Mate, Her Savage Protector Ch. 1
Brynlee Who am I? It’s the last thing I ask myself before I fall asleep and the first thing that comes to mind the minute I wake up. Who am I now that the person I used to be no longer exists. Sweet, innocent Brynlee is gone. She died the moment Xavier cornered her in that coffee shop all those weeks ago, even if she didn’t know it yet. But when he, and then his son Xander, put their hands on me, brutalized me in unspeakable ways, there was no coming back from that. No, sweet, innocent Brynlee, the girl everyone loved, who never put a toe out of line, she burned to ash in those moments. But what’s awoken in her place is something I can’t begin to wrap my head around. Contemplating a question I can’t stop asking myself but that has no easy answer is hard. Going to sleep and never waking up would be easier. But I don't. I won’t. For them. Everything I do is for them, the people that love me. My family who would never recover from my loss. A sentence I can’t impose upon them, even if
Tryst Of Fate: Caught Between The Alpha And Beta Ch. 120 Epilogue
Olivia "That's the last box," I announce, setting down a container marked 'Isla's stuffed animals' in what will become the nursery of our new packhouse. The sprawling structure sits perfectly between Glass Lake and Crimson Moon territories, a physical representation of the bridges we've built between our packs.Through the window, I watch Ryan and Reegan directing the placement of outdoor furniture while Kat and Declan’s mom, Isabella, supervise the unpacking of the kitchen. Having Kaden's and Declan’s parents move in with us feels right – the pups adore their grandparents, and after everything we've faced, keeping family close has become even more important.My own parents chose to stay in their home, a decision I understand completely. Brynlee needs the familiar comfort of those walls right now, needs the safety of the place she's known her whole life while she heals. The haunted look in my sister's eyes is slowly fading, but her recovery will take time. Time, and probably vengeance
