MARE:Aiden crosses his arms and stands with his feet apart. He furrows his brows in thought as he and Zeke brainstorm about my situation. Isolde got the best of me. It's only a matter of time until she uses this to her advantage and tries to harm me. I want to fear them, but I remember Zeke's words. It should be the other way around."I suspect we only have a few more days to device a concrete plan against them, Alpha Zeke.""Isolde is their leader, but I'm only familiar with Bessie. Aiden, if she's the one at the top, then expect an attack now. But I think the eldest Diamond is more rational in her dealings. She will lie low."He grinds his teeth in distaste. "And Jai-Blynn?"My hearts skips as I hear the beta's name. I shoot my eyes up from the table and watch their conversation with an interested eye. I don't even know why I do it, but Jai-Blynn still affects me, even far away.Zeke says, wiping his mouth with a napkin. "We will talk about this when I get home from the set. You can
A while later, I read the sign that says 'The Burns Cafe' and it clicks. This is as far from his house as I can get. I'm still surrounded by Moon Grove, but at least I'm in Frida's hands. That part comforts me a little.The building's a sight for sore eyes, and there are people breezing in and out by the minute. I walk in last, and Frida holds the door out for me. It's a lovely place. I can tell I'm going to love it here. Brick walls and wooden seats and floorboards. There are posters and logos on every wall. A few chalkboards with daily quotes and song lyrics. It feels like a new home.A man is behind the counter. He's making two espressos. Frida sneaks up on him and slams her palms on the marble slab, startling the elderly man and startling me as well. He spills some of the coffee and curses under his breath. She has a bright smile on her face, which contrasts with his deep frown. I can tell this is Mr. Burns. There's this thing with his eyes. Like Frida's did, it reminds me of Scarl
Frida pokes my arm, calling my attention back to the present. It still feels weird, but I shake off the ominous feeling and mutter a quick apology. She makes coffee and serves a few times as the hours go by. They are short on hands. I wonder if Scarlett worked here before tragedy befell. Will it seem like I'm becoming her replacement for everything?I smack my head mentally after that thought. It's a ridiculous thing to centre my mind on and it's not up for argument. Zeke said I should learn my way around a kitchen, so I'll start here. I sit on the counter stool and watch the magic happen up close. Sometimes it's Keith or Nancy, and most times, it's just Frida and I loitering around the counter, conversing about various topics.We eat dinner at a taco stand after her shift ends. They all agreed I'll start officially on Monday, but I can always come around with Frida before then and while away time."How's his baby doing?" She asks on the last bite of her taco salad."I hardly feel anyt
A few days turned into three and then five. Aiden showed up every evening after that day. It's something I also suspect Zeke put him up to. He comes over with takeouts for dinner most of the time, but today, I want to do something different. I've officially started my shifts at the café, and it's been good. I was worried sick about Zeke, but now I've gotten used to being home alone. Of course, there's Taz living a few metres from Zeke's, but his home will always remind me of the hell underneath it. I'd rather stay here and worry about the journals I steal—technically, borrow—from Zeke's shelf. I'm on book number four already. Jai-Blynn led me to Spotify while YouTube was a personal discovery. Well, Frida has talked about the app a lot, but I decided on weaving my way around the kitchen and making dinner today. On that boat, Drusila welcomed me with clam soup. It's significant to me and that's why it's the first thing on my mind I want to try out. Aiden's not all mean as he present
"Won't your actress get the wrong idea, though?" I scrunch my lips, still crossing my arms. I play this card so well because I do not have an answer for him. It would have been a straight yes without my stalling, and that goes against every point I've made in this living room tonight. "Say that again." Zeke's tone is flat, and he's warning me with his eyes as well. I just do not know what threat to expect. It's not written on there. I can't find the words. It irks me. He still has his eyes focused only on me. I tap my foot on the ground in frustration because I do not want to give him the satisfaction of watching me not say it. "Whatever." I mutter after a pause, rolling my eyes and exiting the living room. I head straight for my room when he doesn't call me back. It's also surprising Aiden has been up here longer than is normal. I shove my door open, walk towards my closet and pull out the first dress my hand feels. I toss it over my bed and walk up to my dresser. In between t
We arrive at three am. There's a limo waiting for us at the airport where we land. I notice the drying puddles as we walk through the tarmac and climb into the car a minute later. After successfully sleeping throughout the ride here, I take in everything with owl eyes. It's mostly pitch black, except street lights and a few other lights coming from buildings we see on our way out of the airport. Zeke's taking his rest only now. He didn't sleep the entire way here, and I can't help but wonder what he's up to. We are on the road for another half-hour until the limo drives us into an establishment and stops in the building's underground parking lot. I shake his shoulder, whispering. "Zeke. We are here." He looks peaceful while sleeping, but he stirs in his sleep and opens his eyes. Zeke plants his dark stare on me. Then he throws his head back and releases a sigh. He says nothing as he climbs out of the car quickly and comes around to open my door. "Take my arm." He orders softly w
ZEKE: Watching the sunrise in this city and on this spot is the most enthralling thing I've ever seen. It's beautiful as it fills the sky with pink, orange, and purple hues. It's like a cheat code to seeing the other side of reality through a two-minute lasting lens that makes everything so much better. The woman at my side's competing with nature right now. Her smile and the way her eyes light up as she experiences the view define beauty. I'm happy I've given her something more than pain. I knew she would be trouble from the moment I set my eyes on her through the darkness in her room at Red Valley. She would come into my life and make me say things I shouldn't mean. I kept telling her I'm not a monster. I said I care and I shouldn't mean these things. It's scary to know I do. Marelyn must flee from the damage that is me. I swore I won't cause her pain again after finding her in the woods held captive by those witch sisters. I try to, but everything about her infuriates me these d
It feels like forever since I've seen him, and I want to flee. I want out. He can't be the one standing before me right now. He just can't. I may have cared for Jai-Blynn, but this is different. My wolf responds differently, too. She's nursing a broken heart, and still yearning because he's my alpha. My mate. I notice his black hair looks longer, and he's grown a stubble. Chase seems a lot older and rougher on the edges, but his eyes are still like I remember them. "Mare, I've turned the universe upside down looking for you." Hearing his voice makes me crumble-this is a nightmare. This entire trip was a mistake. I harden my stare. "What are you doing here, Chase?" He looks surprised by my question, like I'm crazy to even ask him something like that. After all, he just declared how much he cared. I maintain a poker face, letting him know it's definitely not rosy between us. I still have all the memories locked up inside me. The disrespect I faced because of his infidelity with my