"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
Everything else goes by in a blur. I end up sleeping alone in the penthouse that night and the next morning, I'm on the private jet alone with Drusila. Aiden and Zeke seem to have other scores to settle in Los Angeles. I can't stop thinking about last night. We crossed a boundary we shouldn't have crossed, and I have a bad feeling about it. They are literally all I can think about. His kisses, which are supposed to be—which are bad for me. Drusila breaks through my thoughts on our drive home. "Are you okay?" I stare blankly at her for a moment. I want to nod when the words roll out of their own volition. "What really happened to Scarlett Burns?" She doesn't expect my question, but I need to know the truth. Trusting blindly has helped no one, including me. Drusila hesitates and I don't know if I should take that as something bad. I think it's bad. I swear it is. "Marelyn." She sighs. "It's not my place to tell you what happened. Let's respect the Alpha's grief." Grief? I scof
*********************** ZEKE: Like the woods, I heard her calling me. I just returned from my travel with Aiden when it happened. The pack's Zeta tagged along because soon there will be a pack gathering, which he must attend. I saw what was happening in front of the café and immediately I jumped in to save her, especially when I glimpsed her intention to act. This is all my fault. I shouldn't have let her go out there on her own. I shouldn't have let her out of my sight. Drusila comes into my study as I'm pacing in front of my desk. "She's asleep now." I sigh, still pacing about the room, thinking hard about my next step. But my thoughts surprise me. I remember holding hands with Marelyn throughout the ride back, and it felt so natural. I've been staring in horror at my hands since then. Whatever happened in L.A stayed in L.A. Nothing prepared me for these heightened sparks between us. I want to protect her and do more for her, but I also want to
I'm staring at Marelyn's father in the flesh. The past sure has grown legs. First, it was Chase Erickson. Now Ivan Everdeen has paid me a visit, one I do not take likely. I snarl at his way of seeking me out. Ambushing me and trying to hold me down with a few silver wolves. Ivan doesn't know what I am yet. They know the rogue Alpha is powerful, but they are probably thinking their measly silver blood will make me tremble. "I haven't gone to see my daughter because I'm honouring our deal first," Ivan says, coming forward. The black cloak hanging off his shoulders tails him. "How noble of you." I don't take my eyes away from him, and I can tell my granite stare makes him uncomfortable. "I want my daughter back." There's fear in his eyes. He fears I will refuse his demand and he will have to return to Carodia without the daughter he sold off. I chuckle. I chuckle so hard I almost choke on the sounds resonating in my throat. "It's too late for that." Ivan grimaces and raises his
Three years ago... I climb a flight of stairs to get to the rooftop of the hospital building. It's my first time here, but Taz Brent's girlfriend had given birth to a human child last night and as Alpha, this has everything to do with me. Deserters have it easy with starting a family, but Taz is a Moon Grove wolf. The decision for a human child amongst us lies with me. We are here because it was born prematurely after seven months. He won't mate with her. Their relationship is already headed for rock bottom, and this might just be the final straw. I don't see any reason for his woman to know anything about our existence. My beta is still with him, but I've advised the pack doctor to make his choice. A human child has no place in Moon Grove. I shove the metal door open and cool air washes over my face like a wave. Dawn smells good, so good. Dust particles get stuck in my eyes for a jiffy and as I rub my hands over them, the first thing I see has me frozen like an icicle. The early m