Kasia made an effort to concentrate on the food that the omegas were offering her. She pushed her eggs around her plate while Janet stirred her coffee. The snickering of the women was making it hard for her to focus on the food.　　 　　"Stop frowning," Janet scolded, her disapproving tone like a sharp slap to Kasia's psyche. Her expression tightened into a scowl, the anger simmering just beneath the surface. She felt as though she were in a pressure cooker, ready to explode at any moment.　　 　　But Janet's warning rang true- if she kept this up, they would surely come over to investigate. Kasia took a deep breath, trying to calm the tumultuous emotions swirling inside her. She forced her features into a neutral mask, but her fists remained clenched at her sides, ready for action.　　 　　"Tell me, Janet," Kasia said. "Why is Lana being bullied? What is going on?"　　 　　Janet hesitated, her gaze shifting away from Kasia's intense stare. "It's not for me to tell you. Lana should be the on

　　Ethan couldn't focus as he felt a sharp pain on his left side. Resisting the urge to yelp, he wondered, 'What the hell was that?' As the pain subsided, thoughts of Kasia flooded his mind. Was this connected to her somehow?　　Quickly opening a telepathic link with Janet, Ethan's attempt to speak was abruptly interrupted. Janet lashed out at him. "As your advisor, I should be made aware of everything, yes?" she said.　　"Yes, Janet, what's..." Ethan began.　　"So, why wasn't I informed that Kasia is not a normal human? Is she even human?" Janet questioned.　　"She's human. What's happening?" Ethan answered.　　"She fought Aimee and won," Janet explained.　　"No, that's impossible," Ethan protested. "Are you sure that's what happened?"　　"Tell that to Aimee. They were the only two in the restroom. I intervened before it escalated, but you can see for yourself. I am sure she is on her way to complain to you," Janet explained.　　Without warning, the heavy doors to Ethan's office were forcefull

　　Kasia stood outside the pack house, her fingers smoothing over the green fabric of her dress. The early evening air held a brisk chill, raising goosebumps along her bare arms. Shivering, she rubbed her hands over the sleeves of her black leggings.　　This was a mistake. Going anywhere with him, especially tonight, would only lead to heartache. Denying it felt futile; this outing felt dangerously close to something she couldn't—wouldn't—put a name to.　　'It's not a date,' she sternly reminded herself.　　But the voice in her mind mocked her naivety. 'Oh really? Then why are you dressed up and waiting for him like a smitten schoolgirl?'　　Kasia scowled, even as warmth flushed her cheeks. She wasn't smitten. Ethan was the enemy, and her traitorous heart fluttered at the thought of spending time alone with him. He was the Alpha King, a monster like the rest of them, and she was a hunter sworn to destroy his kind.　　This wasn't a date; it was a mistake.　　'Keep telling yourself that, suga,'

　　Lana sat on the bench, her body tense, as she watched the couple with a mix of envy and bitterness. She took a sip of her smoothie, but instead of the sweet taste she craved, the liquid tasted like mud. A surge of anger rose within her-this should be her with someone, not alone on a bench.　　"This isn't fair," Lana muttered through gritted teeth, her hands clenched into fists. But then she felt a chilling sensation-the feeling of being watched. Without looking around, she quickly got up from the bench and began to retreat back to her room.　　But before she could even make it to the hallway, Lana was shoved hard against the brick wall, pain shooting through her body as rough edges dug into her skin. She whirled around in a defensive stance, only to come face-to-face with Miraya, her cold eyes boring into Lana's.　　"So, you're going to fight now?" Miraya taunted with a cruel smirk.　　"Just leave me alone," Lana pleaded, trying to push past Miraya. But Miraya only laughed at her feeble

　　Kasia wandered through the outskirts of the pack territory, her boots crunching on the gravel pathway. She shivered against the chill of the early morning air, drawing her jacket tighter around her. 　　She had locked herself away after seeing the bruise on her neck from Ethan's love nip. After two days of locking herself away from embarrassment, Kasia snuck out of the pack house in the early hours of the morning before anyone was stirring. She couldn't sleep, waking up from another fevered dream of what could have happened if she stayed in the car.　　"I can't believe I kissed him. What the hell is wrong with me?" Kasia muttered to herself as she kicked a rock out of her way.　　Kasia's stomach churned with unease. Ever since Ethan saved her from that deadly fall at the amusement park, her mind has been in turmoil. She still didn't understand why he had caught her and prevented her death. Kasia didn't understand why she responded the way she did when she accidentally kissed him. It was