Karina.Shit.I could have cursed for hours and the days beyond if I could. I would scream out curses like they did in the movies and within all the seedy parts of the city. This was the last thing I wanted. Yet here I was, facing him.My gaze roved over his face. His jaw, chiselled and angled. The tiny bit of stubble that shadowed his face. His hair, though seemingly darker in my view, flopped on his forehead.His lips. My heart skipped a beat despite everything.I was in the forest, alone with him. Even with my natural strengths and evasion, he was far larger and stronger than me. I could easily be overpowered when push came to shove. It was a situation to be afraid of. I should be afraid.Yet, looking at him, against every survival instinct I bore and had honed for years, there was still no ounce of fear in me. Even now, as he stood by the door, he didn't look like he would harm me.What happened to my gut instincts?“Long time no see." I tilted my head to the side, trying to g

Karina.Waking up the next morning was a breeze. I was filled with enough determination and adrenaline to fill a horse.A sharp wail rang out and I rushed toward the sound, only to see that it was none other than my son wailing.“It's okay, baby.” I patted him comfortingly as I prepared to feed him. “Mommy's here.”He was returned to me by Sam, who was called on by an exhausted Agathe. Seeing him again filled me with relief, but then I couldn't get Connor's words off my mind.There was that human phrase; once bitten, twice shy. I never made the same mistake twice.Which was why I had devised a new strategy.With a bath that left us both refreshed, I quickly started dressing up, preparing to head to the city.I didn't want to take any chances this time. Taking Levi with me was also for safety. Even though I was sure neither Sam or Isabella would let out the location of my house, there was no chance of him finding out for himself.It also helped, considering I had a job shift there.‘Ru

The next day, I woke up to two new messages on my phone.The first was from an unknown number. I couldn't recognize it until I read it.‘Hi. It's the guy from the cafe. Will you be working today?'Looking at it for a few more seconds, I didn't know what to reply to him or why I had collected the number in the first place. Instead, I looked at the second one.The second was from a familiar number. Lola's number to be more specific.‘I heard that you took a shift for almost the entire day. Don't try coming over for the next two days.'Immediately, a growl left me as I rested back on my pillow, shutting my eyes tightly.I should have known this would happen or, at least, predicted it.Even before finding the Rogue pack, she was plenty weary about letting me work for long hours, especially considering my pregnancy situation. As such, I was only limited to working slight shifts with the same pay.The same was true now. As a nursing mother, she didn't let me work more than one or two shifts

Kiara.By the time we were done, I was ready to race out of the place. I did so, eventually, but not before receiving one of Kayla's pack-famous lectures.This time unlike others, she didn't seem as passionate and into it as usual. Perhaps because she noticed that I was so out of it, or perhaps because I was so out of it that I didn't take the full brunt of what she said.Either way, by the time she was done, I ran out like the devil was hot on my heels. Entering my house was the greatest reprieve, only that Mary was there.“Kiara?” She spoke in a hushed tone, her eyes filled with evident worry.Swallowing my pants and attempting to regain my lost composure, I shook my head.“I think I've had enough of Kayla now,” I sputtered out without any hesitation. Inside, I grasped myself.‘Please let her believe me.’ I inwardly prayed, sucking in the guilt that came from lying.Thankfully she did, her face twisting into a sympathetic expression.“That bad, huh?” She asked, moving toward me.A t

Kariana.Isabella and Leo emerged from the side of the podium, reaching the two other people. Immediately, the place was bathed in an even louder applause, yet I couldn't hear it over my racing heart as I eyed the corner where they came from.‘Was he by chance also going to emerge?' The thought kept me still.Wasn't it more or less bad luck if I met him twice in a row? Even though I now had this new plan, I still needed time to think.“Kiara?” I swiftly turned to meet Felix's gaze. He looked sheepish as he took a step away.“Hate to break it to you, but even I have a level of grip strength I can handle. This tux has even less." He chuckled, raising the arm I'd just released to show the rumples in his tuxedo.I did that, I realised. I hadn't even noticed myself gripping his arm so badly.“Sorry,” I muttered, eyes darting toward the podium to see that there were still only four people there. No green eyed brunette man in sight.Inwardly, I let out a sigh of relief, turning back to Felix