I was sure that the rest of the room felt the same.As soon as Jared made his way across the room, a hush fell over the crowd. Everyone stared straight ahead toward the stage but wasn’t looking at me. The only sound that could be heard was the clicking of Jared’s shoes as he walked.I couldn’t read Jared’s expression as he made his way toward me. How did he feel knowing that he almost welcomed a wolfless omega into his pack? He must have figured it out when we were attacked, but he still brought me back.Even normal omegas got their wolves. It was possible for the weakest of the weak not to, but it was extremely rare. Packs with such omegas could expect to carry huge burdens in order to accommodate them.Naturally, this led to many of them, if their pack is especially sympathetic, to acquire work as maids or servants. Others were forced to do hard labor. This was the kind of work that was fitting in order for them to earn their place among the pack.In the less merciful packs, however
I was right to fear a Moonstone party.I had been content to turn in early and was getting ready to do so, dressed in a comfy nightgown and thick socks. I slipped beneath the covers, sighing and letting the plush pillows and comforter engulf me.Avery burst into my room the moment I shut my eyes.I didn’t even have to open them to know it was her. We had gotten to know each other so well that I was beginning to feel like I could sense her presence.“Really, Claire?” she demanded as she peered at me through the darkness. “You heard what Alpha said. Everyone has to come to this party.”I groaned when she flipped the light on. I rolled over so my back was to her.“It was an invitation,” I corrected her. I grumbled but knew she could still hear me. “What kind of jerk orders attendance at a party anyway?”Avery just laughed and pulled the covers off me.I opened my eyes finally so that I could glare at her.Avery was beaming widely at me. She was wearing a midnight blue dress that was remi
*Jared*I paced back and forth in the pitch-blackness of the watch room, running a hand through my hair and wondering what the hell I was doing.I had a few drinks. Before I was about to go back to my office to finish up a few documents, I was told that someone wanted to see me in the watch room in private. As I was heading over, I was offered another drink and I took it. And here I was, locked in the watch room, and stupidly drugged.It didn’t take me long to figure out it was spiked with freaking aphrodisiac for Goddess' sake!Who did this? Amanda? It seemed to be the only reasonable answer, but she should’ve known better because I had told her to wait until the announcement.If not her, then who else?I shook my head hard, hoping to lessen some of the fogginess that seemed to be taking over my mind. All the rough movement did was cause me to think of a certain blue-eyed omega.No fucking way!I shoved the intrusive thoughts away and punched the wall with frustration.But what if
Naturally, I hardly got any sleep.After tossing and turning the entire night, I dragged myself up to get ready for the day. Contrary to the pretty girl I saw in the mirror yesterday before the party, I flinched at the reflection of a messy face with pale skin and the dark shadows beneath my eyes, even though I was still in the same dress that Avery made for me.I spent several minutes running a comb through the bird’s nest on my head before Avery knocked on the door.“You better have a good explanation for why you didn’t come … Claire, you okay?”I wasn’t shocked when Avery demanded where I had gone last night. I did break my promise to her.“I’m so sorry, Avery. I suddenly didn’t feel very well and decided to come back and take some rest.”Of course, I was too ashamed to tell her about me and Jared in the watch house, but what I told her wasn’t a complete lie either, especially with the tears and nausea from the night before.She looked me up and down, her expression softened, and h
Jared’s intense gaze locked on me, his strong body towering over me at his full height while I cowered slightly. He grabbed my arm and dragged me to my feet.I flinched, tugging uselessly at his hold on me, my face starting to heat up as he stared down at me. I could hear my own breathing start to quicken as I hated myself for comparing this with when he had my wrists pinned above my head at the watch house.He tightened his hold on me but didn’t speak for a while.I swallowed, forcing myself to look him in the eye despite how badly I wanted to look at the wooden floor. Finally, I asked in the most possible leveled tone I could muster. “How am I going to make myself useful?”Once again, his firm words surprised me. “By learning to be a healer.”Instantly, my entire body relaxed. I scoffed inwardly at myself, unable to believe how badly I overreacted. Jared probably had no idea what happened the night before if my theory was correct, especially since he had indeed been drugged.And eve
*Jared*From the moment I was old enough to comprehend the concept, I knew that I would be the next Alpha. According to the elders and my parents, ever since I was little, I was a natural-born leader. I had strong opinions and I cared deeply for the pack.It helped that my father was the fiercest and bravest alpha that Moonstone had ever known.I remembered being a boy, I could only strive to be half of what he was. My twelve-year-old self wasn’t ignorant. I knew that I still had a lot to learn about leading my pack, but luckily, I would have a lot of time to do that.Or I thought I would.Then…everything happened too soon, and I had to grow up fast and take on responsibilities way earlier than I anticipated.It had been more than a decade and I’d figured things out. The problem was, there were people who thought I was still a twelve-year-old.That frustrated the hell out of me.I hardened my gaze as Travis, Moonstone’s beta, continued his rant concerning a recent decision I had made.
*Claire*I was finally starting to feel like I belonged, emphasis on starting. There were definitely times when I would walk through Moonstone where I would get dirty looks from members. I felt self-conscious every time I left my room. There was no chance of going anywhere without being recognized. Jared had put me in front of the whole pack multiple times now. Everyone knew me.What kept me from feeling completely uncomfortable was my healing lessons with Avery. We spent a lot of time going through different journals on healing. Avery was a patient teacher and was helping me memorize some basic herbs and their uses. I could finally make a substance that was used to put on minor cuts and scrapes to keep them from getting infected.We worked for at least 10 hours each day, and I even helped Avery while she tended to injured and sick members of the pack. I didn’t do anything complicated, just went to fetch any tools or herbs that Avery needed or helped her with things like bandaging wou
*Claire*I winced as I rolled over in bed, still feeling the extent of my injuries from Amanda. It wasn’t anything serious, especially after Avery paid extra care to my wounds and made me a special serum that would take most of the pain away. She warned me that I would probably be feeling the cuts and bruises well into the next day, but the serum would at least help me get a night of good sleep.She seemed frustrated with herself, apologizing for not stepping in sooner. I assured her that it was completely fine because it was me who stopped Avery each time she tried to come to my aid.Even though Amanda beat me, she wasn’t able to beat me into surrender. I wouldn’t let her win and get her way. If Amanda thought that would make me leave here, she was wrong.I had worked so hard to earn my stay and I wasn’t going to give up so easily because of a spoiled brat. She wasn’t worth it. Besides the benefit of being able to stay within the safe border and not worry about unforeseeable attacks