Mariah POV
I swam away from the group. I couldn’t take it anymore. I don’t know what is going on with Nick. He never paid any mind to me growing up, even before he left for Alpha training during the summer. So why now? What changed? Ugh, I’m so frustrated. I don’t know why he makes me feel the things I do. I had to leave his touch, which almost had me moaning. I need to stay away from him.
“What’s troubling you, beautiful.” I hear Nick say, and I get startled.
“What are you doing here, Nick?” I ask.
“Just came to check on the most beautiful girl in the world,” He replies.
“I’m fine. I was just about to head inside.” I say, trying to swim past him.
He grips my arm and pushes me against the rocky wall behind the waterfall. I whimper as my back hits the wall. He has me pin again; this time, I don’t think I will get away quickly. He is looking at me with lust and hunger in his eyes. I swallow hard, feeling goosebumps all over my body. He leans in and licks my neck right where my mate mark belongs. I bite back a moan that threatens to come out.“Nick, please,” I say, but it sounds more like a moan.
“Please, what, Riah.” He replies huskily.
“This can’t happen,” I say and hitch my breath when he starts licking lower.
“Oh, goddess.” I think to myself.
He starts kissing in between my breasts. I struggle against him, hoping he will let go, but it’s worthless. He put his knee in between my legs and pinned me more to the wall. I groan in annoyance. He goes over my nipple and bites it. I feel he has traveling down my waist, and the moment it reaches my pussy, I lose it. I let go of a moan, not caring if they hear me. He puts his hand through my bikini, and he starts rubbing circles on my clit. My hands grip his shoulder tight.
“Oh Fuck.” I moan.
“Do you want me to stop?” He whispers in my ear and nibbles it.
“No,” I replied, breathless.
That’s all he needed to hear. He slammed his lips against mine. Kissing me like he is a starving man. I wrap my arms around his neck, pulling him closer to me. He starts rubbing my pussy faster, and I can feel my release nearing. I moan, and he takes that as an opportunity to explore my mouth with his tongue. I pull away to catch my breath, and he takes his hand from my bikini. I’m about to protest, but I squeal when he picks me up so I can straddle him. His hands grip my ass under the bikini, making me whimper. I can feel his hard dick right against my pussy. I grind on it, trying to find some relief, and he lets out a sexy groan.
“If you keep doing that, and I’m going to fuck you right here and now.” He growls.
I grind faster, trying to get my release, not caring about the consequences. I feel his hand reach for my panties and move them to the side. He starts rubbing slow circles on my clit. I close my eyes and lean back, my release almost there. He covers my mouth, and I moan into it, letting my release go, my juice squirting all over his hands. I’m trying to catch my breath when I feel him poking my entrance with his dick. “Ready for it?” he says huskily. I’m about to respond when he slams his lips and rams his dick inside me at the same time. I grip his hair while he is fucking me senseless. I feel my orgasm building up, and I can tell he is near, too. He grabs my boob and starts suckling on my nipple. He must have felt my walls tightening because he sped up even more, and I let go of my release, and he filled me up with his seed. We stay there for a few minutes; he is breathing hard, and I’m in a trace when we hear Rose calling out for me. I get off him in a rush, fixing myself.
“Oh shit, I hope they don’t come in here looking for me,” I say, panicked.
“Hey, look at me, breathe; everything will be ok.” He says and cups my face.
“No, Nick, this should have never happened, and it won’t ever happen again,” I reply, pushing his hands off me.
He grabs me and pulls me towards him. “Why? I know you like me just as much as I like you.”
“Not now, Nick, I can’t do this right now; your girlfriend, my brother, and your sister are there. I don’t want to see their face if they find us together. They are going to kill us.” I groan.
“Fine, but we are putting this conversation on hold because now that I have tasted you, there’s no way I’m letting you go.” He says and gives me a tap kiss on the lips.
“Fine, we’ll talk later and wait a few minutes before u come out,” I say, take a deep breath, and dive under the waterfall.
I try to swim fast underwater so they don’t see me near the waterfall; once I think I’m far enough, I rise from the water.
“Hey, there you are. I have been calling you.’ Rose says.
“Oh, sorry, I was trying to see how long I can hold my breath underwater,” I reply nervously.
“Oh, ok, cool. Well, come in. We are trying to play beer pong, boys versus girls. Have you seen Nick?” She asks.
“Me, why would I have seen Nick,” I say, and I feel my cheeks red.
“I’m Here,” Nick says.
I turn around, and I see him walking out of the waterfall with a smirk on his face. I bite my lip, nervous. I hope she doesn’t suspect we were together.
“Want to play beer pong with us?” Rose asks as he is getting out of the pool.
“Yeah, sure, why not?” He replies.
“Mariah, are you coming?” She asks.
“Uh Huh, yeah, coming,” I reply anxiously.
Fuck I hope no one asks if we were together. Ugh, help me, goddess, I think to myself and start walking inside.
Mariah POVThe music was soft, the kind that was supposed to lift spirits but only made the air heavier. The packhouse smelled like food and faint cologne, and laughter drifted from the main room, but I could feel the hollowness under it all.This wasn’t really a party.It was a performance.A celebration “for Nick and Josh” — to cheer them up after my supposed death. Wolves raised glasses and gave sympathetic smiles, clapping the future Alpha and Beta on the back like they hadn’t just buried a piece of themselves.They had no idea I was still breathing.Only our close friends and family knew the truth. And tonight, that truth was a weapon.The adults weren't here tonight and everyone that knew the plan where in the spot they were assigned making sure Mila didn't have a chance to escape in case she tried. I crouched in the shadow of the staircase, hidden by the curve of the banister. My heart thudded with adrenaline, not fear. For the first time in weeks, I wasn’t trembling because I
Mariah POVI woke up with fire in my chest.No more crying. No more hiding in blankets and pretending I didn’t hear my own screams echo in my head. I was done being the victim. Mila wanted to play dirty? Good. Because I was done playing nice.Nick stirred beside me, still asleep, one arm locked protectively around my waist. His grip was tight, like even in sleep he thought I might vanish again.I didn’t move. I just stared at the ceiling and replayed her voice in my head. Mila, laughing. She thought she’d get away with it.Not a chance.I slowly slid out of Nick’s grasp and got out of bed. My legs were shaky, but they worked. My body ached, but I was breathing.And I was ready.I made it to the bathroom and looked in the mirror. Pale. A little sore.But alive.And soon? I’d make sure Mila regretted every second of it.Nick walked in a few minutes later, his face soft with concern but eyes sharp, scanning me from head to toe. “You okay?”“No,” I said honestly. “But I know what I want
Mariah POV“I’ll check in later,” Rose said, already halfway out the door. She gave me a small wink. “Don’t overdo it.”I smiled faintly and nodded, watching her close the door behind her with a soft click.The room felt still again. Too still.Nick sat silently in the chair beside my bed, his elbows resting on his knees, eyes fixed on the floor like he was stuck in a thought he couldn’t shake.I shifted slightly, wincing as a sharp ache rolled through my side. “She worries more than my mom,” I said, trying to lighten the air.He looked up and cracked a smile. “She’s earned the right. You scared the hell out of all of us.”I glanced down at my hands, pale and thinner than I remembered. “I scared myself.”Nick reached for my hand. “But you’re here.”“Yeah,” I said softly. “I’m here.”I let that settle between us for a moment — the truth of it. I was here. Breathing. Healing. But still hiding. Nick’s thumb brushed against my wrist, slow and steady. I knew he was holding back everything
Nick POVI was finally allowed to bring Mariah home after two long weeks at the hospital. I ordered the Doctor not to let her go until she managed to walk on her own, which didn’t sit right with Mariah but I didn't want to risk her or our pups so she ended up accepting it. When we arrived at the packhouse I ordered two of my trusted guards to make sure Mila was nowhere in the packhouse. Logan and Taylor had been keeping an eye on her in school but she was absent today so we didn't want to risk it. Once they alert me that the close is clear I sneak in Mariah into one of the guest bedrooms.I helped her onto the bed slowly, keeping a hand on her waist the entire time. She was still weak, and even though she wouldn’t say it out loud, I could tell she hated it. She hated feeling useless. I wish she didn’t feel like that if only she knew how strong we all thought she was. She leaned back against the pillows and looked around the room. “This isn’t our room,” she said quietly.“I know. It'
Mariah POVThe room was quiet again. Nick had just shut the door behind the rest of them, and the sound of their footsteps receded into the hallway, but he didn’t move. Of course, he stayed. I don’t think I could’ve let him go if I tried. He didn’t say a word for the first few minutes. Just pulled the chair closer to the side of the bed, his eyes never leaving me. There was a storm behind them—rage, heartbreak, guilt—and something softer beneath it all. Love. Relief. “You should rest,” he said quietly. I gave him a weak smile. “I’ve been resting. That’s all I’ve done.” He reached for my hand again, and I laced my fingers through his. The warmth of his touch grounded me. It was the only thing that felt real in a world that had turned upside down. “I thought I lost you,” he whispered, eyes dropping to our joined hands. “When the link broke, when no one could find you… it nearly destroyed me.” “I know,” I said. “I felt it. That night… I thought it was over. I could feel
Nick POVMariah’s voice was hoarse, but her words hit like a bomb.“Mila planned it all. She sent someone to poison me. She wanted me dead.”The air in the hospital room thickened instantly. Every breath turned heavy. My heart stuttered, then roared to life.“She what?” Taylor growled, stepping forward.Mariah’s hand tightened around mine. Her body was still weak, bruised, but there was a fire in her eyes now — sharp and unflinching.“She told him to make it painful,” she said. “She wanted me to suffer. Then she’d step in and try to comfort Nick, so that he can choose her as his Chosen Luna.”Rose cursed under her breath. “That psycho always had her eye on you, Nick.”“He did date her at some point,” Logan says, and Nick growls.“I wouldn’t call that dating,” Rose says with a huff.“Didn’t she try offering you her help for Mariah’s search?” Josh seethe.“Yeah, I told her no.” I snap.“And now we know why,” Logan growled.The rage building inside me was hard to contain. It wasn’t just