BLAKE’S P.O.VRunning a rebellion is exhausting. There is so much that goes into it that I never knew about. I had to be in two places at once without letting both lives overlap. Jamal helped to keep things quiet and keep the men from acting too early and ruining our plans. We still hadn’t found a way to get Gregory alone, he was strong and he was paranoid and that seemed to be the only thing keeping him alive. He changed his guards every few hours in case of an attack and he didn’t follow a regular schedule.He was the missing piece to finish our puzzle and I couldn’t wait until we found a strategy to get to him. He was all that was left standing between me and victory. Brittany was a great help to me in more ways than one. She hated my guts but she could never refuse when I forced her to speak. She fed me information at every turn and with each word she spilled, I could feel her hate burrow deeper and I basked in that feeling.It would give her a taste of the kind of life she made o
AMELIA’S P.O.VI woke up to some whimpering from Kaden. My eyes were still blurred with sleep but I could feel him tossing and turning in bed. I had never known him to have nightmares before and I couldn’t help but wonder if whatever thing he was keeping secret was part of the reason for the sudden nightmares. I hesitated to touch him because I wasn’t sure how things like this worked but when he continued thrashing, I reached out for him.“Kaden?” I kept my voice deliberately soft so as not to startle him awake. “Hey, it is alright, you’re having a nightmare but I’m here now.”He didn’t wake, he just kept moving around. I cursed to myself when I realized that it wasn’t working and I tried to think of what to do. I had never been in this kind of situation before and I had no idea what was expected of me. I knew that a mate’s presence could help but it seemed that wasn’t enough. I stroked his hair out of his face with gentle fingers and stroked down his cheek that now had a light sheen
AMELIA’S P.O.VI saw the shock register on his face as my words filled the air between us. He opened and closed his mouth but no words would come out. My mind was already conjuring up the worst but I forced myself to hold back, I forced myself to wait for an answer from him. I wasn’t going to jump to conclusions until he gave me a good reason to do so.“Where did you hear that name?” he asked and I shrugged.“Does it matter? You clearly know what or who I am talking about. I don’t want to fight, Kaden, I just want you to be honest with me. Who is Nadine and what is she to you? Is she someone you’re seeing?”“Of course not,” he looked insulted that I would even suggest that. He crossed the length of the room until he was standing in front of me. “Is that what this is about? You thought that I was cheating on you? I would never do that.”“You called out for her in your sleep,” I told him and he froze. “Last night, I thought you were having a nightmare so I tried to wake you up. You woul
AMELIA’S P.O.V“What are you on about now, mother? I have things to do that do not include listening to pack gossip.”“You brought a stranger into the pack. She could very well be a rogue. You are supposed to kill them on sight and not bring them into the pack.”Kaden looked fed up with her and I could see where his stubbornness came from because I knew that neither of them was going to back down from the conversation. I could see the nurse as well as some other curiously watching as if they were looking for the juiciest piece of gossip and I knew that I would have to step in.“Perhaps we should take this conversation somewhere more private,” I offered. “There have to be some empty rooms around here or perhaps the parking lot might be a good place.”Kaden didn’t even look at me as he spoke. “There is nothing to take privately because there is no conversation to be had. I am not having this discussion with you, mother. What I choose to do or not to do in regards to my pack is my busine
KADEN’S P.O.VThe conversation with my mother left a sour taste in my mouth for the rest of the day. I wasn’t sure why I expected anything less from her but I guess a part of me hoped that when faced with the reality of the situation then she would be forced to tell me the truth about everything but she was even more tight lipped than usual. I told her I was getting my memories back and she didn’t even seem to care. She was adamant that I threw Nadine out but there was no way I was going to do that when she was the only person excluding my mother who could have an idea of what happened to me.“Do you not think it is weird?” I heard a voice from behind me and I nearly jumped but relaxed slightly when I saw Dr. Brown. “You just remembered her face two days ago and now she is here. I think it is suspicious.”“It might just be a coincidence.”“In my line of work, I have learned that there is no such thing as that,” she walked further into the room and began looking over Nadine and her cha
AMELIA’S P.O.VThere was a knock on the door but I ignored it. I didn’t want to see anyone right now. The only person I wanted was Kaden but he had made his choice and it was not me. The knocking became worse and I forced my body out of bed and towards the front door. I looked through the peephole and was shocked to see Clara and Caleb standing there.I hesitated before opening it hoping that they would leave but Clara spoke. “I know you’re there, Amelia. Just open the door, it won’t take long.”I let out a sigh of defeat and pulled it open. “Kaden isn’t here if that is who you came to see. You would have better luck at the hospital.”“I know where he is,” it was Caleb who answered as Clara made her way inside and climbed up the stairs. “I also know that you are alone here and we don’t want you to be alone right now.”“I’m fine,” I began but he shot me a look that had me going quiet. He didn’t say any other thing until Clara retuned with a small duffel bag. “Thank you, both of you.”“
AMELIA’S P.O.V Kaden didn’t return that day and I ended up staying in the empty house despite Clara and Caleb offering a place for me in their house. I didn’t want to be there because I didn’t want to be a burden to them and I also wanted some time alone to my thoughts. I also had school the next morning and I knew it would be easier for me to face school if I was on my own. Clara always had a way of bringing out the emotional side of me and the last thing I needed was to walk into that frenzy while I was emotionally vulnerable because if Aiden knew about Nadine’s presence then everyone else did too. As soon as I got to school, Serena was instantly by my side. She tried to keep a calm demeanor but I could tell that she was just as worried as I was. Everyone was staring and whispering under their breaths as we passed. Thankfully, no one bothered us- at least until our free period. We were in the café as usual and I had somehow gotten used to the whispers and the pointing when I notice
AMELIA’S P.O.VI ended up in front of the hospital. I took a detour home first and I made him lunch. I wasn’t sure if he had eaten but if I had to guess, I would have said no. Kaden tended to have a one track mind in the sense that once something became the object of his focus, it would take a lot to drag him away from it. Right now, his focus was Nadine and nothing else mattered for better or for worse.I stopped in front of the desk where a new and unfamiliar nurse stood. “I want to see Nadine.”“Are you family?” she asked and I hesitated. “Are you a friend or a relative? I am under clear instructions not to allow anyone into her room that isn’t any of the above.”“Actually, I want to see the Alpha but he is in Nadine’s room.”She scoffed. “Do you know how many people want to see the Alpha, girl? You are better off making an appointment at the office but he doesn’t make time out for groupies. I hear he has a girl now so maybe try a new target. The beta might be a good one.”My cheek
CHAPTER 195AMELIA’S P.O.VFor a moment, Kaden just stood there staring at me and I wondered if I had pushed him too far. Perhaps it was never about me being ready, maybe he wasn’t ready to be with me after everything that happened.I felt so incredibly stupid and attempted to turn away from him when he grabbed my chin and forced me to look at him. I didn’t want to but we were like magnets, always drawn to each other and I couldn’t stop myself from staring straight into his eyes.“I’m only going to say this once so get this straight,” he began slowly. “I don’t ever want to see that fucking look on your face again. The only reason I said nothing is because I was thinking of how much of a bastard I would be if I fucked you right here instead of taking you up into a room.”I cracked a smile. “I don’t think I can make it upstairs.”“Me neither.”The words were barely out of his mouth before he kissed me again. I felt something akin to relief in the center of my chest. It felt good to be a
AMELIA’S P.O.VIt had been two days since Aiden came to visit and Kaden had not spoken about him. We acted as if it were a fever dream that was locked away in the far parts of our minds.I knew that Aiden wouldn’t give up anytime soon and I knew that one day, I needed to tell Kaden about what had happened but I couldn’t even figure out how to bring it up. It was unsettling and uncomfortable but I didn’t have solid proof that he meant for anything malicious to happen.“You’re thinking hard,” Kaden’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts and I turned to find him standing at the doorway to the kitchenIt was his presence that reminded me of what I was doing and I cursed as I pulled the oven open. I let out a sigh of relief when I saw that my cake hadn’t burnt but if I had left it for a few more minutes, I wouldn’t have been able to say that at all.I rushed to get it out and put it on a cooling rack all the while I could see Kaden trying to hide a smile out of the corner of his eye.I was
AMELIA’S P.O.V“Hi,” I managed out as I made my way over to them and their conversation instantly ceased. I could see that Serena was itching to touch me but they both held back for my sake. “I’m not going to shatter just because you hug me.”That was all Serena needed before she rushed to her feet and threw her arms around my shoulders. She didn’t cry like the last time but I could feel her relief as she held me. I wasn’t sure how long that lasted but as soon as she pulled away, Clara’s arms were around me.“I’m so sorry,” she whispered and I could almost taste the guilt that was radiating off her.“It wasn’t your fault,” I assured her. “We were ambushed, we were sidetracked. Thar had nothing to do with you. I need you to know that.”“You were gone, for so long.”“But I’m back now,” I pulled away and grasped her shoulders. “All that matters is that I’m back now.”She gave me a small nod. I knew it would take more than that to deal with the guilt that she felt but it was a good start
AMELIA’S P.O.VIt was exactly one week since I had been back and I was yet to leave the house.Kaden had been patient with me, not forcing me to go anywhere until I was ready or making me do anything I didn’t want to but even I knew that life had to move on. I couldn’t just sit in here forever and pretend like things were fine and the constant state of boredom was driving me mad.We were having breakfast when I spoke. “I want to go out.”Kaden stopped eating, his eyes finding mine and I could see the worry in them as he slowly ran his eyes over me. He was more protective over me than usual and I didn’t blame him, especially not after what happened. If I wanted to go anywhere, especially now, I knew that there would be crazy rules to come with it.“Where do you want to go?”I shrugged. I hadn’t really thought that far. All I knew was that I didn’t want to be within the four walls of the house anymore. I wanted to talk to my friends, I wanted to be normal, I wanted to see people without
KADEN’S P.O.VWhat Amelia needed whether she realized it or not were her friends.Just those few minutes with Serena had brightened her day more than I thought was possible. It hurt that they could do more for her than I could but I didn’t care as long as it meant that she was fine, that was all that mattered to me.After the interaction with Serena, Amelia declared that she wanted to go home. I didn’t protest, didn’t even make any other suggestions, we just got into the car and drove. She didn’t hide from me when we returned which was a plus in my books, she simply sat on the couch, laying her head on my shoulder in silence.I wasn’t sure how long we stayed there but it could have been ten hours and I wouldn’t have minded. She seemed so peaceful, more than she had since she got back and I loved that for her.“I hate the silence,” she whispered and I turned to her. “When I was there with him, it was always quiet. I couldn’t go anywhere, couldn’t do anything, it was just the two of us
AMELIA’S P.O.VI didn’t want to leave the house the next morning but when Kaden told me that it was to say goodbye to Jackson, I forced myself out.Going to the pack house was terrifying and the entire time, it felt like someone was breathing down my neck and the worst was yet to come. Kaden was a firm pillar by my side the entire time, he never once took his hand out of mine and he never strayed from my side. I knew that I was safe with him but that didn’t mean I still wasn’t a little scared.“You look like shit,” Jackson drawled as soon as he saw me.Kaden stiffened, not liking his tone but waiting to see my reaction. I was silent for a second before a small smile pulled at the corner of my lips. I wrapped my arms around his center clearly catching him off guard.For a moment, he didn’t move and then, ever so slowly, he wrapped his arms around me and squeezed softly.“I would say you look like shit but you actually look better,” I whispered as I pulled back.He had clearly taken a s
AMELIA’S P.O.VI knew I was hurting him by not letting him in but I couldn’t.How could he help when even I didn’t know how to help myself? I was home and that should have been the most important thing but I still found myself terrified. In my nightmare, I was back in Blake’s little hideaway house. I was back with him and my baby was gone.How could I tell Kaden that knowing fully well that he was going to lose his mind and panic? I didn’t want him stressed- didn’t need him stressed right now. One of us needed a clear head and it was obvious that person wasn’t going to be me.“Amelia, baby, please look at me,” Kaden’s voice was soft and coaxing as he wiped my tears off my cheeks. “Please.”I wasn’t sure if it was the please or the sound of pure defeat in his voice that had me slowly opening my eyes. He gave me a small smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes and I couldn’t help it, I leaned up to kiss him. It wasn’t a deep kiss of unbridled passion, it was soft, almost explorative, just
KADEN’S P.O.VI couldn’t bring myself to fall asleep.Amelia claimed to be fine but I knew her better than I knew myself. I knew every bit of her, every smile, every freckle, every curve of her skin, I knew her emotions better than I knew my own sometimes and I knew for a fact that despite her saying otherwise, she was far from fine.I could see it in the way she hardly ever met my eyes, in the hesitation in her voice and in her determination to avoid speaking about whatever she might have faced in that place. I knew the guilt that she felt, sometimes when she let her wall down by accident, I could feel it like a bitter poison at the back of my throat threatening to choke me.It didn’t matter how many times I told her that I was fine with what happened, she couldn’t forgive herself and if she couldn’t, there was no way she was going to move past it. I wasn’t a fan of the idea of her being with Blake sexually but she did what she had to in order to survive and as much as I hated it, I
AMELIA’S P.O.VI was discharged before the end of the day.Kaden clearly didn’t agree with my choice but I doubted he could bring himself to refuse me. I knew I was being a little irrational and illogical but I couldn’t bear to be anywhere else. I wanted to be surrounded by people I knew and by my home, I wanted to be surrounded by him.He carried me into the car despite knowing I could walk and for once, I didn’t protest. Clara and Caleb were nowhere to be seen by the time we were leaving, I presumed they were giving us our space and for that, I was grateful. I loved my friends but today was not that day.As we drove past the turn to the house, I turned to Kaden. “Where are we going?”“Our home.”“But it’s that way,” I pointed towards the turn that we had missed. “Kaden, where are you taking me?”“That was my house, I’m taking you to ours.”I didn’t realize what he was talking about until he pulled up in front of a familiar building. The last time I saw it, he was still trying to per