Amaris This is getting totally too weird! First Maxon and now Zach? What on earth is going on?From beside me, Zara glances toward Zach and then back at me, a look of shock on her face. “Zach!” she gasps. “What about Rayna! I thought—You know she has been waiting forever for you!”Zach tosses his sister a frown. “I don’t know why! I have never looked twice at her. So, whatever it is that you thought, you’re wrong.”With a shake of her head, Zara argues, “No! That’s not true and you know it! What about—”“Zara!” Zach snaps, interrupting her. Then growls, “That is enough!” Although she is clearly irritated and confused with her brother, I also feel confusion, and maybe even a little resentfulness toward me, coming off Zara. Which irritates me because I have done nothing to give him the impression that I have interest in him in anything other than a friend.Without casting a second glance back in either of our directions, she huffs and then changes into her wolf form, bolting away and i
!!Trigger Warning!!The following Prologue Contains acts of sexual violence, self-harm, and assault. Reader discretion is strongly advised.Skip to Chapter One if being triggered is a possibility.-----------------------------------------------------------------------PrologueIt's my eighteenth birthday and instead of celebrating, I'm standing alone in the pouring rain, shivers racking my body as I watch the casket being lowered down into the ground, my heart shattering as I say goodbye to the only person that I have ever been able to rely on in my whole life. Where do I go from here? Is this my life? Destined to be alone forever?My brother, Axel, and I grew up bouncing around foster homes, one after another. No one ever wanted us, at least that was how it always seemed. We almost had a family once. The Montgomery's had told us they wanted to adopt us. God, we were so excited. We were finally going to have a family. A place to call home. But then a few days later, all of our d
Amaris"Now, if everyone would turn to page 253 of their texts, we will begin,” our teacher says, trying to gain our attention over all of the noise of students chattering. Instead of paying attention, I lay my head on my desk, not caring in the least about this class, or school altogether. I'm only here so that I can finish my education, get my diploma and leave this godforsaken town and these godforsaken people.I begin to feel itchy, achy, and restless again. It's a feeling that has been happening off and on since I'd first woken up this morning and is one that I don't understand. It's like my skin is crawling and my entire body feels like I've been run over by a MACK truck, and I'm So. Damn. Tired. Maybe I'm coming down with the flu. Outside of the itchy, restless feeling, which is the closest thing that I can think of to describe this feeling.I hear the door to the classroom swing open, and a shiver racks my entire body, the scent of sandalwood, earth, and something else that I
KentonI sit back and watch her from a distance as she stays by the creek, likely trying to work through this new revelation.I want to be there, desperately, to help her figure all of this out. But, she clearly needs to do this on her own.'I don't like this,' my wolf grumbles, wanting more than anything to go to our mate, to help her—to be close to her now that we've found her. He's desperate to be with her.How had she been right in front of my face this whole time and I not have any idea? I question, She's gone to the same school as me for the last six months, and not once did I get any indication that she was mine. Did she just recently turn eighteen?'I don't like it either, but from her reaction, she didn't know that she had been anything other than human. She needs time,' I tell him, hoping to placate him.'She's beautiful,' he says, admiring his mate. I'm surprised that she's a white wolf—they're incredibly rare—basically unheard of. Not to mention, typically our wolf's coat
Amaris When I wake next to the creek, darkness has taken over the forest save for the moon peeking through the treetops. Getting to my feet, I decide that I should probably try to find my way back to town. Although, it will likely prove difficult since I'm not familiar with these woods.'I got you,' the voice in my head says.'How?' I ask, curious.'Give me control and I can scent our way back,' she tells me as I begin walking away from the creek.Not far from where I had lain, hidden by a bush, I stumble across the black wolf who had been chasing me earlier. He'd been watching me.The thought makes me uncomfortable since I hadn't picked up on his presence, but my wolf speaks up, bringing me some comfort.'He means us no harm, and if he had, he would have taken us having been asleep to his advantage.''But how can you be sure?' I ask as I give the wolf a wide berth, walking as quietly as a field mouse, determined to not wake him.'Because he is ours, as I already told you,' she says
Kenton'Everything go okay with the she-wolf?' My best friend and future beta, Asher asks through the mind link as soon as I've dressed and fall into the driver's seat of my car.'Yeah.''That was crazy. I can't believe she almost wolfed out right in the middle of class,' he says, laughing likely at the memory. 'Did you know? I wonder which pack she belongs to.''No, I didn't,' I tell him as I put the car in gear and begin pulling from the lot, heading toward our pack lands. 'And I don't know that she has a pack. I got the impression that she didn't even know that she was a wolf.''What?' He asks, shouting through the link. 'What are you going to do about her?'Sighing, I run my hands through my hair, 'I've got to talk to my dad.''Woah, man,' he says, sounding surprised. 'You're going to the alpha?''I have to,' I tell him as I turn down an all too familiar gravel road.'What? Why?' He asks, 'Why not find out more about her first?''Because...,' I say, hesitating to say the next part
AmarisI stay back in the far recess of my mind, trying to come to grips with being a wolf, while she enjoys running through the forest, loving the feel of the wind whipping through her fur, splashing through the shallow streams of water, and enjoying her freedom.My wolf.I am a wolf.I've always felt out of place like I've never belonged anywhere. But, I always assumed it was due to Axel and I being orphans, not because we were fricking shapeshifters.I figured with my high, prominent cheekbones, nearly black hair, and naturally tanned skin, that I was of Native American descent, belonging to a tribe somewhere.And I guess in a way, I do. A fricking werewolf tribe—pack. They're called packs, not tribes.But do I? That would mean that I have an Alpha, but I don't. If I did, I would have known what I was, right?The sound of howls off in the distance breaks me from my inner monologue—and makes her still, ears perked, assessing if there is a threat nearby.The howls become closer with
KentonI turn to look at Amaris, thrilled and full-on excited as Dad announces our pack. But, the look in her eyes and the frown turning down her full, plump lips causes my stomach to turn and the smile to fall from my face.Why is she so mad? I wonder, dread filling me as she pulls away and takes a step back."Amaris—" I begin, reaching out for her, but she shakes her head as she takes another step away from me, putting even more distance between us."No..." she whispers. Panic, dread, and a dozen other emotions wash across her face before she takes off running. Mid step, she shifts—way too smoothly for a new wolf—and then leaps across the chasm that she created in the earth to keep the rogues at bay."How did she...?" I begin to say as she lands on the other side, then continues running as fast as her wolf's legs will take her."Son?" Dad says, watching her as well."She doesn't want me?" I whisper the words as hurt and anger war inside of me."I'm sorry. Maybe, it was too soon. Too