CARLY WOODS POV "What does it feel like to shift into your wolf?"The second the question flew out of my mouth, I knew it was too late to take it back. I had to suffer through the taunting I was sure was coming. With a crestfallen expression, I looked down at my lap twitching my fingers.What was I thinking, asking Jace of all people? That'll make me seem more pathetic. Ugh! Carly, did you truly have to?"Refreshing." His voice whispered. I slowly glanced up to sneak a look at him, only to find him already gazing down at me with a genuine smile."Huh?" I was a little perplexed. I wasn't expecting such gentleness from the man. Jace's hands shot out and covered my hands which were still fidgeting on my lap."It feels refreshing and exhilarating when we shift into our wolf but, let me tell you, the first shift for every wolf hurts more than a bitch." He chuckled at his joke "If I'm to say, there's always this adrenaline rush and a sense of liberation, as if we're shaking off our human
CARLY WOODS POV Leaning on a tree outside the meeting ground, my heel digs into the ground as I crane my neck in search of my best friend. It didn't take long before I caught sight of her wavy brown hair.The meeting had lasted for about thirty minutes, which I had conveniently tuned out on.A radiant smile instantly spread over my sore face when I spotted the wide smile on Mia's face the moment our gazes met."Look what the cat decided to drag to pack meetings today." Mia teased, pulling me into a bone-crushing hug, eyes gleaming with genuine joy.Mia was the only companion I had left in the pack. At some point, Ophelia and I were close, well, as close as cousins could get. But, soon after the accident with my parents, she, alongside everyone started ignoring me except Mia, who didn't mind sticking around even when the consequences of being friends with me entailed being subjected to mock and ridicule, Mia didn't mind. She was ready to go down to hell with me.Mia was that friend th
CARLY WOODS POVThe front door clicked shut, making me release the breath I was holding. Since I didn't know what Jace's consequence would be if he discovered I stayed back at the pack house. I decided that pretending I was home the whole time after the meeting was a better option.So here I am, sneaking around like a ninja in training. I poked my head around the vast lounge area with my fingers crossed in front of my wide eyes. I noticed the house was oddly quiet, as I tip-toed my way to the stairwell with one goal in mind. 'Make it to my room in one piece and pretend I've been in there since goddess knows when'. I thought with a dubious smile.So far, I was victorious since I didn't catch sight of anyone. When my room door came into view, I heard the sound of a door opening and clicking shut, down the hall, 'Oh no, my ninja moves can't go to waste that easily'. I thought as I hurriedly tip-toed to my room as if I stepped on hot coal. In the comfort of my room, I crouched by the wa
CARLY WOODS POV "Ohh, Someone seems happy today.""Well for one, Jace said it was okay for me to come see you today." I retorted trying to hide my smile and make it seem like the idea of spending my day with Mia was the only cause of my high spirit and not a certain Alpha."I'm glad he didn't go all caveman on your fat ass." Mia wiggled her brows suggestively making me blush at the thought of Jace going all caveman on me. Ha!"I knew there was more." She squealed like a kid in her favorite ice cream parlor.Today, Mia alongside three other omegas was assigned to go grocery shopping for the pack house which was a lot of responsibility considering the number of people living there. The girl in charge decided to split the list so they'd finish in record time.So I tagged along. Anything to keep me busy for the day was appreciated.Mia and I kept tossing different packs of cereals, juice, cartons of milk, and what's not into our trolley as we strutted around the mall."There's nothing, b
CARLY WOODS POV Open up.Open up.The weight of command on those two words left me frozen to the floor, my feet found it difficult to move at first, but when the sound of the knock came again, I scurried to the door, hastily swinging it open.Still in shock, I gawked at a brooding Beta Ian who had a slightly annoyed yet worried expression and I found myself wondering how he managed to pull that off.Beta Ian Diaz towered over me in a 6'8 posture, his jet black hair pulled up in a neat bun that not even a single hair was out of place. He was dressed in a pair of wheat-colored linen pants, a white full-sleeved shirt that feet him nicely over his muscled torso, and his feet were clad in what looked like expensive leather shoes."Beta Ian." I drawled, my fingers gingerly swiping at my face and nose. "What are you doing here?" Try as I might, I couldn't shake the bewilderment from dripping from my voice.At first, Ian said nothing. He just stood there, eyes switching between my hands and
CARLY WOODS POV My mind kept swirling with different thoughts as to why Jace staked his claim on me that night.It was supposed to be just sex. A one-night stand and we'd both be on our merry way the morning after but everything changed when his canine broke into the softness of my skin where my neck connected with my shoulder.He staked his claim, then brushed me off like an insignificant spec of dust on his expensive suit that wasn't worth his time of day. As if he didn't mark me as his.As if his mark- an Alpha mark, didn't send a fierce message to every unmated wolf that Carly the omega has been spoken for."Can we not talk about this now?" Jace's voice drew me back to reality, his hold tightening around me like he could predict my actions.He didn't want to talk about why he marked me out of nowhere."When can we talk about it?" I asked, pushing my head into the crook of his neck. It felt comfortable sleeping in his embrace, I didn't want to be away from him but I couldn't get
CARLY WOODS POV I groaned in irritation as glaring light from the sun hit my face, successfully snagging me out of my peaceful slumber.My hands fumbled around in wild search of a pillow to block out the light rays. I must have forgotten to pull the blinds the night before.I've never been a morning person even though my body has been accustomed to waking up early in the park house for morning chores.After about fifteen minutes of tossing and being unable to fall back asleep, I decided it was time to get started with my day.It's not like I had anything tangible to do here, Alice, the housekeeper made sure everything was in place and omegas are usually sent here for cleanup. It seems being pregnant was the only thing in my job description.I stared into my honey-brown eyes with tiny golden flecks that I shared with my father, I winced at the sight of my hair that was no different from a badly knitted bird nest and my nightdress was a wrinkled mess.I splashed some water on my face b
CARLY WOODS POV The days to Jace's birthday were slowly drawing close and I was yet to decide on what to gift him.What do you gift a man that needs redemption?Today was not like any other regular day for me in the Brookside pack. The day on its own started with the warmth of the sun and the sound of birds tweeting away merrily on trees and anything they found pleasant enough to perch on.But my day took a turn for the worse when I got a call from the head omega, requesting my presence in the pack house. I didn't think much of it at first, but when I was informed upon my arrival that Addison required me to clean out her room and closet, I knew something wasn't right.I have this nagging feeling she was up to something. Something I couldn't figure out.Jace had left before I woke up so I assumed he was already at the pack house but I later found out he, alongside Ian and some of the pack warriors, left for a meeting in another pack's land.So, I spent the day arranging and rearrangin
"Now that's a question," Darren smirked turning back to sit on the wooden cushion chair "What's that supposed to mean?" I asked, leaning on the wall behind me for physical support since my knees were too wobbly and no longer able to keep my weight up.Darren was a known name around the Were community and a major threat to Jace's pack. The Brookside pack.I remember hearing his name a lot in Jace, Beta Ian, and Nate's conversation."We need to increase our training time with the pack warriors if we want to stand a chance against Darren," Nate offered his candid suggestion as they continued with their discussion over breakfast."Darren isn't dumb enough to risk an attack in the Brookside pack. He wouldn't want to dare me." Jace had countered with visible anger clear in his eyes."These are the outlanders we're dealing with, Alpha. We're talking rouges. Everyone knows how vicious they can be." Beta Ian had supplied, putting Jace straight when he tried belittling his opponent.It was the
I froze in time lost in the most beautiful dark grey eyes I've ever seen in my entire life, the pillow dangling behind my back.The man before me was the real definition of dark, mysterious, and dangerous.He was almost as tall as Jace but Jace still had a few 5-6 inches on him, he had a mob of black hair that was combed into perfection, and thick and long lashes cast a shadow over his dark grey eyes which were cold and menacing as he glared me down. His lips had a pink tinge which had me wondering if he used men's makeup or if it was natural. He had sharp jawlines that could cut a paper and his face was on full display and free of facial hair, his nose was perfectly sculpted on his face and his lips were drawn into a thin disapproving line. He had broad shoulders that were covered in a black suit jacket that was tailored and made for him, the top three buttons on his black shirt were popped to reveal the swirls of tattoos that decorated his skin and I found myself imagining what his
Darkness.Gross darkness.Gross and intense darkness.That was all I saw when my eyes fluttered open. My head craned in all directions, eyes darting around trying to get a glimpse of light from any angle. Disappointed, I briefly shut my eyes in disappointment when there was no trace of light, not even from a cracked wall or a sip of light from the space in between the door and the floor or a window.At this point, even the dullest light in the history of light will be appreciated.Where am I?I thought, tuning into my other senses since my sights were disadvantaged at the moment. I strained my ears in the hope of picking up on a sound but everywhere was eerily quiet. Almost dead.A soft lavender fragrance tingled my nose from the pillowcase my head rested on. At least one sense organ was responding when needed even though the fragrance couldn't relate any vital information as to what my fate was in this unknown place. But it was sufficient enough to let me know I wasn't tied up in
Needless to say, the man was way stronger and he easily overpowered and shoved me against the sturdy tree trunk. Instinctively, I snapped my eyes shut as pains shot through my growing baby bump. His hands held mine in a firm grip that caused pains to shoot up my entire arm and shoulders."Not so tough now huh?" Paul whispered breathily into my ear his left hand draping around my mid-drift, restraining my body from further struggles.My breathing was heavy as hot tears escaped my closed eyelids from the intensity of the pains my body endured. I could feel my baby wiggle in his position as the man shoved his weight into me, his breath fanning the side of my face."I don't think so, princess. You're going to stay quiet and do as we say if you don't want me ripping that bastard out of you, yeah?" I whimpered in fear as his words settled in my head, bile rose from my throat as the hand he draped around my waist snuck under the grey sweatshirt I wore over its matching grey sweatpants. His
"Look what we have here." Lost in my thoughts, I didn't take notice of the two men in front of me, until I bumped into one of them.I stumbled backward in an attempt to put some distance between us. The man I bumped into had a mop of black hair that was gelled back perfectly without a single strand out of place and sharp blue eyes that pierced into my soul. His friend also had black hair but his was free of gel."A runaway pack member?" The second man said easily giving themselves away as rogue wolves. My heartbeat picked up speed at the realization of what doom I'd run into. I should've been more observant of my environment maybe I would've avoided crossing paths with them."A pregnant runaway human who happens to be mated to a wolf."Great! I thought sarcastically when the first man's blue eyes became glued to Jace's bite mark on my neck. "The devil's in the picture." The second man said in a sing-song voice that could be easily mistaken for amusement if not for the wicked glint
CARLY WOODS POV I couldn't believe walking away from all this would be this easy. I didn't know where to go from here but I had to figure something out before it was too late.I didn't want to be in the middle of nowhere when night washed over with the thick cloak of darkness. The decision to leave was great but right now it didn't seem too awesome to journey alone to an unknown destination."Being the Alpha's fiance does have its perks you know? I've taken care of the patrol team in the south and Southeast borders the decision on where to go is up to you." Addison had said when I told her escaping a pack as big as Brookside was a dumb move only an idiot would try considering.I went south, and I wasn't too surprised when I didn't come across any patrol guards anywhere by the borders. Addison was a woman that wasn't afraid to make demands from anyone and she knew how to use her soon-to-be Luna to her full advantage.Because of my pregnant state, I couldn't run far, so I settled for
JACE BALDWIN'S POV It was noon the following day yet, there was no trace of Carly anywhere in the pack, there was no report of rogues sited anywhere around the pack.Order then Ian and I spent our entire morning searching every possible place for the missing pregnant young woman, I had my trackers and a search team parading everywhere nook of the pack. "She was heading south when I saw her yesterday evening." "It's been a while since I saw Ms Woods.""Maybe she ran away with another man."The words from some people I questioned did nothing to ease the growing tension I felt neither did it ease the tightness in my chest. I didn't want to believe the worst."I think there'll be a clue in her room." I reasoned after six long unfruitful hours of a wild goose chase."You think she ran away?" Ian asked his tired voice doubtful yet there was a slight hope that he wished she didn't."I don't know what to think, man. I have a gut feeling she wasn't abducted, I don't know how, maybe it's an
ADDISON COBBLER POV As the night dragged on, I watched in silent amusement as Jace tried to figure out what was going on with Carly's sudden disappearance from the house. "Give it till the morning Alpha, I'm sure she'll come back from wherever she went." Nate tried to reason with Jace but he was too far gone in his anger. "Gemma Nate is right, Carly loves disappearing to unknown places whenever she wants to be on her own." The gentle voice of Carly's friend piped in making me smile inwardly because they were unknowingly buying me enough time to get the omega as far as possible from the Brookside pack. "Where is the most common place she visits during one of her 'I want to go M.I.A'?" Jace asks the young omega his eyes are the darkest shade of black I've ever seen on him. Jace had requested she come to the mansion as soon as possible. He needed all the information he could gather before deciding whether she was abducted or hiding out somewhere. I knew better. Another r
The study room grew unnaturally quiet as the raven-haired woman rushed back into the room with her report."Carly enjoys spending her evening in the movie room or library.""Yes Alpha, I'll be right back."She pivoted back out of the study and immediately, a light chitchat started between the other occupants of the space.Ian and I discussed quietly the possible outcome of these meetings, if indeed a rat was residing in the Brookside pack, we were about to find out.Addison relaxed into her seat, her arms crossed under her boobs effectively pushing the twins into her face with a blank look on her face. Looking at her closely, I could detect amusement in her demeanor even though she tried hiding it from everyone.Nate sat quietly not engaging anyone in a conversation. His eyes were trained on the door in anticipation.My eyes stayed glued on Julian as he talked with Stan and Jean. The slight chuckle he released annoyed me beyond words as I imagined him smiling at my Carly after making