Malakai's Point of View The prisoner's screams had become a melody to me. A sharp-pitched prayer to a goddess that wouldn't answer. The fear of the dungeon was also slowly eroding away. It no longer gripped my chest when I had to go down. On the contrary, a warped part of me enjoyed the sound of my steps as I descended down down down. As if it gave the hurt part of my soul a new meaning to the word. To the sights, sounds, and smells. I was no longer afraid but the person on the other side of this door had to be. Had to fear for their lives. "I see you have been happily mated for four years now. One child born, and another on the way," I flicked my gaze up from the mess of papers Rachel had given me. Noticed more sweat on the man's brow than he ever had before. His mouth was gagged but his neck strained against the restraints we had him in. "I wonder what they would think if they knew what you did. Falsely accusing someone? That is horrible. Especially if you know that person will
Kamari's Point of View By the time I was dressed and ready to go, my dad showed his face at my door. His eyes scanned me once. Twice. Three times before they settled on my face. His face settled into a frown and I felt the world around me slowly cave in. Gaelan was less than pleased with the decision I made. "Are you sure you want to do this, Kami? There is no need for it. I mean, the odds of him being put to death for his crimes is high..." Concern dripped from his voice. Forcing the best smile I could to my lips, I nodded and threw on the small cardigan that matched the dress I chose. The buttons fastened just above my navel, giving me a more cinched looked. The colors I had chosen also made my eyes stand out. Forest green. And a mini-skirt that would make any man look in my direction twice. "I want to do this, dad. I know it isn't what the rest of you want but it is what I want. He needs to feel more pain than just killing him can provide. Besides, the money can fund my coll
Kamari's Point of View The house was in complete disarray. Everything was out of place. Red cups littered the floors and any other open space. Pizza boxes had maggots spilling out of them. It was a far cry from the pack house I could remember. The clean one with fresh-cut flowers and perfumed sprays. This was the first warning sign I got when I walked in. Arik was losing it slowly but surely. Jordan noticed my reaction before I could mask it properly. His face fell. Shook his head and sighed deeply. "He has been a mess. Fired almost all of the staff." I nodded. Tip-toed over the debris as best I could. With my outfit, I felt out of place here in this mess. Hell, even without my clothes I was utterly horrified at the state of the place. "Any particular reason?" I innocently asked and nearly kicked a mound of beer bottles on the floor. Grimacing, I sidestepped it, making sure not to fall over whatever else was around. Jordan gave me a flat look. Stared back up the swooping stairca
Kamari's Point of View Nerves were eating me up on the inside. Gnawed on my spine until the small of my back ached. I could feel small dots of sweat gather on my forehead. Felt the urge to pluck at my nails extensively. All of this happened in the span between Jordan leaving the room to find coffee and Arik standing up from his chair. When he was upright, I could fully assess his state. Rumpled clothes with stains. Boxers that hugged his hips tightly but in the best kind of way. Holes in his shirt that looked new. Letting my eyes trail down his body, I flicked them away the moment his eyes landed on me again. Disapproval coated his face in one large sheen. Guilt stabbed into my gut. "Laugh at me, if you want. I know that I am rather unsightly." His voice lacked the oomph I had always heard in it. Or maybe it just lacked the arrogance. The ego to back it up. "When I came here I just didn't expect you to look like-" Arik nodded knowingly before I could finish. He turned once. Tw
Kamari's Point of View Looking Arik up and down, I placed my handbag on the closest chair I could find. Shrugged off my little cardigan and disposed of it over my purse. Once I turned back, Arik was still staring at me. Keenly. Intently. It was unnerving. Never before had he paid this much attention to me. Not the day he rejected me nor the few times we interacted afterward. This time something in him had snapped. Opened him up to me more. I wasn't sure whether I should have been elated or petrified. But I knew where this was coming from. He thought Eris had rejected him as well. Discarded him as she had done with Zayan. Combined with the immense pressure of fucking up another pack, Arik was cracking at the seams and I was lapping it up. In between my sorrow for him, of course. Because some part of me would never stop caring fully. Because some part of me would always be softer than it had a right to be. "If we are going to be spending the rest of the day together, I suggest we
Kamari's Point of View I was patiently waiting for Arik to finish showering. Took in the cracks and crevices with my eyes. His bed was plush beneath me. An al silk bedsheet set. At least he made it before turning on the tap. At least he didn't talk down to me again or I might have lost it completely. I knew by now Zayan and Nolan would be worried about me. Malakai might send in a swat team. The adoration all three of them had shown me in their own ways was unbelievable. Made my realize how lucky I was lately, even with all of the drama happening around me. Arik on the other hand. Well, I could sympathize with him up until a point. Up until I realized all the shit that was happening around me was mainly his fault. The thought of him touching me now almost repulsed me. This also made me realize that when I was planning on seducing him, I was hoping the mating bond would do most of the work. Now I knew I was foolish. A normal person would have realized this and run for the hills. But
Malakai's Point of View The conversation I had with Kamari left my soul feeling heavy. Maybe it was the fact that I knew what Arik was capable of. Or maybe it was because I knew he was her mate and I was simply scared that she chose him in the end. Arik would never accept the arrangement I had put forth to her. The kind of relationships I knew she would be able to get the most out of. If she went to Arik now and decided he was the one, I might be fucked. Or I could simply chalk up my anxiety and growing rage to the fact that I might lose another ally to the cunt. A future Alpha of Jagged Rock. If they were to be mated, Kamari would become Luna and Arik would get what he wanted. Jagged Rock pack. "We have a problem." I had now resigned myself to the fact that if there was a problem concerning Kamari, Rachel would be the only one to fix it. She has also resigned herself to the fact that I no longer knocked when I entered her office. Simply barged in as I saw fit. Rachel no longer
Kamari's Point of View Arik was lounging on his sunbed outside whilst I sat beside him. Looked out across the whole pack. Never before had I noticed this view. How well he knew the ins and outs of this place. I had a clear view of everything. Everyone. I knew the house was slightly on a hill but I never thought Crescent Shine was so far down below. "They look like ants from up here," I whispered, continuing my staring. Arik barely looked at me whilst I spoke. Remained laid down and looked at the clouds with a bored expression on his face. It had been this way for the last hour. After dropping his abuse bombshell on my head, Arik remained silent. Brooding. Bored for most of our time together. Although, if I put his previous conversations from today into perspective, he was most likely just hiding away from the world. Looking away from the view, I squinted at Arik. Noticed his arm lazily draped across his face. The sun had passed the prime of the day but the light was still harsh