When the bell rang at 4 O'clock, my heart sank.
Detention.
I walked to Mr Greggory's classroom to see Logan already sitting at a desk.
Shit.
I was kind of hoping/expecting that he wouldn't turn up.
"Oh hey, little Miss rogue," He said in his usual arrogant tone.
"It's bad enough that I'm even here, let alone with you and because of you, so do me a favour and don't even fucking breath in my direction," I said, sitting down as far away as possible from him.
He immediately scooted across a few desks until he was next to me.
I looked at him and scowled, shuffling to the very edge of my chair before Mr Greggory came in.
"I know you two are no strangers to detention so I won't bother you with the rules," He said. "Just get on with some work and make use of this time."
I often landed myself in detention. I always did my homework and didn't go out my way to break the rules but my problem was: if I don't agree with something, I'm going to make it known to the world.
Arguing with teachers about stupid policies, unfair dress codes, irrelevant content, pointless pieces of homework and unfair treatment of students was my speciality and adults don't like it when you point out something wrong. Especially if you do it with curse words and a fairly short temper.
But I mean well. I'm just trying to make the school less of a shit hole and the world a fairer place.
Logan, however, was just an all-around horrible student. As the Alpha's son, his future had been determined since the word go and has no reason to work hard. Or at all really.
"I've got some test papers to collect from the office, I'm sure I can trust you for a few minutes," He said, leaving us alone.
I don't know what made him think he could trust Logan but okay. I got out my history essay and started to go over what I was going to write in my head.
"Do you wanna play truth or dare?" Logan asked, prodding me in the stomach.
"Um, personal space and no.”
"Twenty-one dares?" He asked, prodding me again.
"No," I hissed, smacking his hand away, stopping it from coming in for prod number three.
"Come on babe loosen up a bit, just imagine I'm Cameron. Or maybe that wouldn't help considering-"
"Can you just leave me alone before I am forced to punch you?" I interrupted.
"No need to get pissed. I think we both knew that your relationship was never going to work anyway. What were you planning on doing when you find your mate?" He asked, rocking his chair back slightly so it was leaning on only two legs.
I stood up to move to another seat. The thought of pushing him was a tantalising one.
Maybe that story that the teachers always tell about the kid they knew that smashed their head open and died from swinging would finally come true...
"On a scale of 16-72, how much would you hate to have to marry me?"
"108."
"Imagine living in the same house as me, sleeping in the same bed as me, having pups with me and spending the rest of your life with me..." he said with an evil smile that put me slightly on edge.
"I think I would off myself," I replied, looking back at the essay sheet and my blank piece of lined paper.
"Could you think of anything worse?" He asked.
"Hmmm, let me think," I said, pausing for effect, "No."
"Perfect," I thought I heard him mumble under his breath.
"What?" I asked.
"Oh, nothing,"
"Can I finish my homework now?"
He grinned, "Alright, I'll leave you alone but at least let me give you this."
He then delved into his pocket and pulled out a golden envelope.
"What is it?" I asked, the shining paper catching my eye.
"Oh, just something about you and your brother getting kicked off pack territory if you don't meet some... conditions," He said.
I quickly got out of my seat, alarmed by the words ‘kicked’ and ‘territory’ in one sentence. I lunged forward to grab the envelope, but he held it above his head.
"Give it to me," I ordered.
"Come to my house at 8:00 pm then you can have it," He said.
"There is no way I am going anywhere near your house and I'm going out anyway.”
His eyebrows raised and his lips curled into a grin.
"You're going to Cameron's party?" He asked, "awe, do you miss him?"
I gave him a sarcastic smile.
"Fine, then I'll meet you there," He said and with that he slung his bag over his shoulder and walked out into the corridor, gold envelope still in his hand.
"It's only 4:05!" I shouted but he just waved his hand dismissively and carried on.
A few moments later, Mr Greggory came back into the room.
"Where has Wilson gone?" He asked, looking down the corridor.
"Shockingly, he left," I said.
Mr Greggory sighed, "Well, you may go too, Ella. I understand that you are here because of him, but in the future, don't let him provoke you. You are a smart kid, but boys like him easily lead you astray."
Lead me astray? He wants to fucking evict me!
"Yes, sir.”
"Get home. I'm sure you've got Friday night plans to be getting on with."
December 23rdCato’s point of viewI stood by my office window in the base, my Dad beside me. In the street below, a nurse walked Adelaide out of the hospital. When she flew in from Vermont two days ago, she couldn’t walk, her skin sickly white and her body frail and weak.Now we watched as she sprinted across the street to where her father was standing. She leapt into his arms as he squeezed her tight and swung her around, kissing her head repeatedly.“You may come to regret letting him walk free, Cato,” Dad said, “But must say, I’ve never seen him love anyone, let alone that much.”I’d spent all morning speaking to Adelaide. Everything she and Luciano said matched perfectly, giving me no reason to suspect any malicious intent.“Maybe he had no one to love until Adelaide came along,” I said, “With no parents and you as his only friend, it must have been lonely.&rdq
December 20th Cato’s point of viewWhen Dad and I came home, I was greeted by Jess striding down the hall. She grabbed my face in my cheeks and kissed me, clutching my shirt in her fist.“Thank you,” she said as I pressed my forehead against hers, “I’m so glad we’re all safe.”I glanced over her shoulder. Her parents sat in the living room, wrapped in blankets, watching us.“Have you told them about us?”She nodded as she took my hand to lead me into the living room. My Mom and Grandad sat with them, steaming cups of coffee in their hands.“Alpha,” Jess’s father said, getting to his feet, “Thank you again.”I nodded, but I couldn’t bring myself to smile. The last time I looked into those eyes, he was punishing Jess and me for loving each other.“... I also owe you an apology. I sho
December 20thCato’s point of viewLuciano sat on the opposite of the table, his wrists shackled and four guards in the room. My Dad sat next to me, staring at Luciano, not saying a word.“Why didn’t you just ask?” I said.Dad scoffed, “Because he knew the answer he’d get.”“I would never refuse to help a nine-year-old with terminal leukaemia,” I said.“Then your father failed to raise you well,” Luciano said, his eyes shifting from Dad to me, “You don’t help your enemies.”“He has his mother’s heart,” Dad said, “She helped you even after you gave Andrea Martinez the coordinates of the bunker all our children hid in.”“And if she hadn’t, you would be drinking champagne with your Lunas tonight. But here you are in a dark prison cell with me.”I res
December 20th- at duskCato’s point of viewI walked through the forest with Elias and Milly, only our heartbeats pounding in our ribcages to fill the silence. After crossing the border, we soon reached the designated meeting point.“Are you ready, Milly?” I asked.“I haven’t used my powers for anything other than healing in years,” she said, looking at her hands, “Let’s hope it’s a force of memory.”Two figures emerged from the shadows of the trees, the fading light falling on their faces.“Good evening, Alpha,” one said.He looked as Elias had described. An unsettling smile and dark boring eyes. A couple of feet behind him stood Nicolos Jones.“Grandfather?”With his face stony and cold, he didn’t utter a word.“Your Grandfather has decided I can offer him more than y
December 20th Leo’s point of viewElla and I were in the kitchen opening a bottle of champagne, awaiting all our family and friends for a party.“Is that the one we’ve been saving?” she asked.I drew behind her and rested my hand on her hip.“Yes. We have a lot to celebrate. I have finally retired, our son is successfully Alpha, and has found his Luna. Elias is also remarkably alive and maybe won’t be an entirely useless Beta.”She grinned as I leant in to kiss her.“I also have a beautiful mate and a reason to celebrate every day.”Through her sheer cotton dress, my fingers pressed against her curves. I had to drag my lips away and take a deep breath.“If I touch you any more, I won’t stop.”She turned and rested her hands on my chest.Her lips were millimetres from mine as her fingers
December 20th Cato’s point of viewWhen Elias, Jess and I escaped the crowd to a quiet part of the forest, I lifted Jess and spun around. She giggled and grabbed my face, pressing her lips against mine.“My handsome Alpha,” she said, running her hands down my chest, “And Elias, you never told me you were going to be Beta!”Elias’s lips twitched, “Well, we were busy running for our lives.”I put Jess on the ground as Elias held his shoulders tense, worry etched on his face.“What?”“I found Jess in Vermont,” he said.Vermont...“Alongside men with dark markings on their skin like those who attacked-”“Lili,” I whispered, “The ones after something from Stella.”Jess nodded, “We didn’t know until it was too late. When the Alpha learnt of my relati