Fluttering my eyes open, I looked around my surroundings and realized I was comfortably sleeping in a clearing.Darkness was slowly taking over from the brightness of the day's sun and the warm breeze was also gaining a few cold streaks as the minutes progressed. The wind picked up its tempo whispering soft melodies that compelled the leaves and tree branches to wave, clap, and dance to the tempo the soft wind set as it swifts past them going wherever it pleased.When I left the Beta earlier, I had no idea where I was going but I found my feet leading me into the woods. I kept pushing my way further into the bush as the calmness and mysteries of the dense wood kept beckoning me.My puffy eyes ached from the sunlight that shone unapologetically on everyone and everything that came under its radar.Avoiding a conscious Jace and a possibly moody Addison was a smart move and I pat myself on the back for taking the decision whenever the thought of me going to see the Alpha pops in my head
The car drive was silent as Beta Ian drove the short distance to the pack house, I looked out from the tinted window at the glowing lights that illuminated the dark streets from the tall buildings."Thank you," I muttered when he pulled up in his reserved spot in the parking lot."Take care, and don't do anything stupid."Gathering my bag that lay by my feet on the car floor, I swung open the door and stepped out into the cold night air, slamming the door shut.Glancing over my shoulder, I saw the Beta drive off into the dark street as I made my way into the pack house where I'd bid my time.Didn't he say he had a business to do here?The pack house was big enough to accommodate hundreds of wolves though most mated wolves would rather buy houses outside for privacy. But teenagers and young adults prefer the pack house because of the endless dramas that characterize the pack house.It was mandatory for high-ranked wolves like the Alpha, Beta Gemma, and head warrior and the rest had spe
JACE BALDWIN'S POV As the darkness receded, giving room for consciousness to creep in, my ears tingled alert to my surroundings.I could hear the clanking of plates in the kitchen, and the sound of four sets of heartbeats beating at different tempos and rhythms.Confusion washed over me in waves as my mind reeled on who could be in my home.The door opened the second my eyes decided it had enough of the darkness that lurked within."Look who gave Hades a tease." The relief in Ian's voice and the sarcastic smile on his face made a weak smile indent on my face."What the hell happened?" I asked, a little confused as I looked around the foreign room that seemed to be the smallest in this house. "I don't remember coming here.""You don't remember what happened before you passed out? How are you feeling by the way?" He came close, clapping me on the back. "A little weak man but I'm good, it's been a while since I passed out from this," I said scratching the back of my head."It'll be alr
"It's nothing, Ian."I wanted to tell him I asked her to keep away from me but knowing Ian, he was going to over-analyze the situation and make it be what it wasn't. I couldn't tell him or anyone else for that matter. At least, not now."I'm not one to pry so I'll leave you to it, but whatever it is Jace, I hope you made the right decision." He said picking up the bowl of popcorn from the counter. I followed shortly after his retreating figure to the movie room where the gang was lounging around.The choice of movie did not interest me so I blocked out the voices that resonated from the sound system, relaxed my stiff shoulders, and shut my eyes while leaning my head on the backrest of the theater seat, my mind got stuck on Ian and Allen's words from earlier."Never seen a woman who isn't your mother going all out in worry for you, not even Addie. The little princess almost ripped my head with her hands.""That's what I thought until I was at the receiving end of her anger.""A spit
CARLY WOODS POV The next morning, the bright sunlight that shone without mercy from the opened blinds pulled me out of my peaceful slumber.I was in one of his white shirt he allowed me borrow from his wardrobe, my hair stick around in everything direction.Beta Ian and I had spent a few more hours in the open bar, talking about random things.He pushed me to tell him the problem between the Alpha and me, and I told him there wasn't any.Honestly, there weren't any problems between us. I told him Jace simply drew the boundary in our arrangement. He had Addison whom he was engaged to be married to then came the dare that ushered me into their picture-perfect life.Or not so perfect life.I didn't make the mistake of asking him about the curse or the earth wolf. Beta Diaz was a smart fellow, he was quite an observant fellow.The woman in question who prompted my visit to the bar left an hour later with one of the men she was drinking with.I didn't say anything to Ian, though I asked
JACE BALDWIN POV It was a Friday and Mr. Nelson the trainer fixed another combat session for the women. It was a way of keeping them interested and competing since most of them wanted nothing to do with fights.I didn't want to make an appearance since it wasn't necessary but Ian demanded I did because of some words going around that I was in a coma.That must have been the reason I got different surprised looks and gaps from some people.Some people just didn't have what to do with their lives.I didn't sleep much last night because my mind kept wandering around what Carly and her boyfriend were doing. Somewhere around 4 am, my brain finally shut off from exhaustion and I slept off, only to be woken by an angry Addison.Damn it, can't a man take a few hours without any drama?"I'm going to fucking kill that little shit, you left me to come to sleep in this cramped space with her? How dare you?" She screeched, stomping towards the closet door that was ajar from the night before."CA
Stephanie let out a short laugh as she gathered her raven hair into a tight bun. "No offense intended but you? You want to give me fighting tips?"My sentiments exactly.Her smile didn't falter which caused my heart to swell as a smile involuntarily crawled up my face.With that smile on her face, she was more beautiful than ever. "You want to learn this or what?" She sounded a bit annoyed, yet her smile was still in place."Humor me." "The first thing is very simple and I think you can do that, fight as if your life depends on it because it does with hundreds of others who would need your protection as a warrior. If Addison for some reason beats you, trust me when I say, I'll be the first to clap and hoot for her.A serious look graced her face as if she was an instructor rather than a harmless pregnant woman. Taking two steps forward, she got closer to Stephanie who also had a serious look and her face, the air around them thick with seriousness."The second and the most vital tip
I got home a few after midnight, and my tired feet led me to Carly's door. I stood behind the closed door, listening in on her slow and steady heartbeat that indicated she was trapped in a sleeping daze.Without giving much thought to it, I pushed the door open, before sneaking into the small confines of her room.Why on earth did she see the need to move into this cramped space, even if she wanted to change rooms she could have gone for a better one than this.I made a mental note to make her change her room the next day.Discarding my shoes and clothes, I sneaked into her bed, before pulling her into my warm chest with a soft kiss on her forehead.I missed this, try as I might, I couldn't keep away from her for too long, I needed her soft and translucent scent wafting through my nostrils, calming every nerve cell in my body.Unconsciously, she moved closer to me, her hands and legs instinctively wrapping around my large muscular body.We stayed that way for about thirty minutes befo
"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