Suvi’s POVI slowly open my eyes. Then I bolt upright.Myla!“Where’s Myla?”“Shssss,” Josh says, smoothing the hair from my forehead. “Myla’s fine. I asked Ethan to go and get Lucinda. You need to rest.”“What…what happened?” I asked. I’m in a strange bed. The blankets are pure heaven, though. Soft as silk.“You fainted, Suvi. From exhaustion.”“I want to see Myla.”“I know you do. I just spoke with Sarah. Myla’s doing much better. She’s completely stable. Sarah said she’ll make a full recovery. Lucinda will be here soon too to help.”I push back the covers to get out of bed. But Josh stops me.“Not so fast. You need to rest. You need to get your strength back so you can take care of Myla.”Maybe he’s right. I still feel a little dizzy. Weak even. He hands me a cup of orange juice. “I promise. Myla’s in great hands. Drink this. It has extra vitamins in it.”I take the cup gratefully.Josh has done so much for me. For Myla, too. So has Dr. Peredine. I’ve never had anyone look after me
Suvi’s POVI’m torn.It’s an amazing offer, marrying Josh. And I know that being his mate would come with so many advantages. Money. Security. Status. I wouldn’t have to worry any more about all the things I worry about every day. Having enough food. Affording new clothes. Paying the electricity bill…And Myla?She’d have a beautiful house. Good, healthy food. The best doctors. I’d never have to worry about Myla getting sick and having the proper care. Plus, Myla would be exposed to educated people. Successful people. Life in the slums is tough sometimes. There’s not a lot of opportunity. Most of the kids just finish school and then get jobs. They don’t go to University. If I married Josh, Myla would have the opportunity to go to University, or get other training, if that’s what she chose. Top notch training. Myla could be anything she wanted to be. She’d have options. Right now, her options are limited. I can’t afford anything besides her basic needs. Food. Clothes. Housing. That’s
Suvi’s POV“Join me for dinner? Suvi? Lucinda? Let’s celebrate little Myla’s recovery!”“That’s a generous offer,” Lucinda smiles. “But I have a client booked for tonight. Rain check?” She casts me a side eye and a sly smile.I know that look. I know what she’s doing. She’s trying to give me and Josh some ‘alone time’. She doesn’t have a client! Liar! I laugh to myself.She wants me to spend more time with Josh. She likes him. And Lucinda is a really good judge of character. If she trusts him, then maybe I should give him a chance?Some alone time with Josh would be good. So I can confront him directly. I still have no idea why he wants someone like me. I need to ask him. Outright. I need a clear answer. “I’ll drive you home, Lucinda?” Ethan says.If I didn’t know better, I’d swear he blushed when he said it.Hmmm. Curious.Lucinda doesn’t notice though. She rarely notices things like that…“You bet! I’d love another ride in that swanky car of yours,” Lucinda replies.“It’s not swank
Josh’s POVI can tell she’s been through something. You know? Like something really bad. But I won’t ask her. I don’t want to push her. I’m afraid it might be too painful, too difficult for her to talk about now. And I don’t think she fully trusts me yet. So I’ll be patient and wait until she’s ready to talk.Suvi turns her eyes back to Myla. She’s so beautiful. My breath hitches in my throat. Silky, soft hair. Tiny freckles along the bridge of her nose. But she’s mature. Not like the other girls I know. There’s something about her eyes, about the way she looks at me. She has depth. She sighs deeply. I watch her chest rise and fall. Her body is stunning. Pretty perfect if you ask me. My eyes wander back to her lips. Her sweet, wet lips.I feel a tug in my stomach. I know it’s the last thing I should be thinking about right now, but damn, I want to kiss her.“Don’t take it too personally, please,” she says, looking back at me. “I just…I need time, Josh. Time to think.”I nod. In this m
Suvi’s POV“I’m sorry to interrupt,” I say. “It’s just that, my phone is dead. And I wanted to ask Sarah to come and check on Myla again. I came to find you to see if you could call her for me?”I feel awkward, like I’ve just interrupted something very important. Brooke’s giving me the side-eye, arms folded across her chest defensively.I look at them both, standing together. Josh is so handsome. And Brooke is so elegant. If I didn’t know better, I’d say they belong together. They honestly look like the perfect couple. They’re the same age, for starters, which is a lot more than I can say for me and Josh. And they both have that ‘polished, poised look’ that comes from money.My heart lurches. I feel a sadness wash over me.Yup. They look like they belong together.I feel frumpy next to Brooke. Inadequate. Like I’m not good enough.I don’t want either of them to see that I’m sad, though, so I plaster a bright smile on my face.“Can you give her a call for me?” I ask Josh. “Sarah?”“Of
Suvi’s POVI ran away from my ex-husband Adam, two years ago, so I'm used to raising my daughter Myla alone. It was a dark time, being with him. Even though he was the Beta of the Blackthorn Pack, I got no respect as his wife. He pushed me to a breaking point, physically and mentally. One day, he beat me so bad I couldn’t open my left eye for a week. That was when I knew I had to leave. I couldn’t stay. If I did…well…it was only a matter of time before he beat me to death.Leaving was tough, REALLY. I was pregnant, terrified, broke, and I had nowhere to go. The Moon Goddess must have been looking out for me though because I found a kind pack. The Clover Pack. They took me in. Welcomed me with open arms. Gave me a place to stay, food, support. It was a miracle. I FINALLY had somewhere safe to live! They were so kind, so caring, so warm. All the things I wasn’t used to…It’s been two years now. I’ve made a life for myself with the Clover Pack. I used to be terrified that he’d find me
Suvi’s POVThe man glares at Ricky. He’s stronger than Ricky, and taller. Ricky’s no match for him, and Ricky knows it, too. So he gets up from the ground and dusts himself off. "Whatever, man," Ricky says, rolling his eyes. “Come on guys. This slut isn’t worth it.” They leave, following Ricky back into the forest."Thank you," I breathe.“My pleasure,” he smiles. “I saw them grab you back there at the market. It looks like you needed some help. I have no patience for assholes like those guys. Where were they taking you, anyway?”“It doesn’t matter,” I reply. He’s younger than me, maybe mid-twenties? He has an essence about him though. He’s mature for his age, I can tell. He smiles at me again, and his green eyes light up. Something inside me stirs. He’s actually really handsome. A bit too young for me, but handsome none-the-less.He reminds me of the basketball players I used to know from the university campus. Energetic, charismatic, fit. I can't help but think that if I were stil
Suvi’s POV“I literally just met this guy!” I tell Lucinda. She chuckles.“Yeah right,” she says dismissively, rolling her eyes. “As if. Nice joke, Suvi!”His face is plastered on the TV screen, clear as day. It’s Josh, all right.“No, I’m serious! I did. Pinky swear.”Lucinda plants her hands on her hips and cocks her head to the side. “Get real. Are you trying to tell me you just happened to run into a famous race car driver here? Here, in the slums? Everyone here is dirt poor. Besides, Josh is the Alpha’s son. I’m sure he lives in the pack house, which is miles away from here.”“I didn’t meet him here,” I explain. “I met him at the market. Well, in the forest, actually. You see, I…uh…ran into some of Adam’s friends. From Blackthorn?” Lucinda’s expression turns serious.“Go on,” she says, narrowing her eyes. She hates Adam almost as much as I do. The mere mention of his name is taboo in our house.“They tried to kidnap me. Adam put a bounty on my head. So they dragged me into the fo