MARLA’S POVI’m in so much pain, my wounds are aching, leaving me delirious. But once Nicholas returns, I feel a bit better. Everything is better when he’s near me. I know he’s my mate, and I want him more than anything. I desperately want him to feel the same way. I can’t imagine living my life without him.Hope flutters within me as I see him though. I see the way he’s looking at me, and it’s almost like he wants me as much as I want him. “I’m so sorry for leaving you,” Nicholas says as he drops down to my side. “It’s okay,” I tell him. “I know you had to go check on Rachel.”My heart aches at the thought of him with her. I can’t let him go, despite how much this all hurts me. I can’t seem to move on from him. He’s my mate and my life won’t be the same without him in it.“Rachel is fine,” Nicholas says. “She was just manipulating me, and I realize she has been manipulating me all along.”Nicholas looks like he’s in pain, and I want to help him. I want to ease him of this b
MARLA’S POVI’m unsure of what to believe and think. My mind is so hazy that I can’t seem to pick out the truth among the lies. And I want to believe in the best of people.I truly want the drama between Rachel and I to be over. I want to put it all in the past and move forward. I want to be happy with Nicholas without all of this nonsense hanging over our heads.Maybe in order to do so, I need to forgive Rachel. And hopefully she’ll let go of all of this. Hopefully she’ll find her own mate some day and leave us alone.Despite all she’s done, I don’t believe anyone is beyond redemption. So, I accept the cupcake.Then, I notice it. Nicholas hesitates in the doorway, hoping Rachel and I are having a moment to make up. But I suddenly don’t think that’s what Rachel wants.As I bring the cupcake to my lips, I see it in her eyes. They’re gleaming. They’re scheming. I hesitate.“You know, I’d hate to eat this alone.” I say, bringing the cupcake down from my mouth and splitting it in
Dean looks across the table at me and smiles.He is one of the sweetest betas in the pack.I should be happy we are arranged to marry each other.But I am not.I have a secret.It burns inside me of me."Marla? Are you okay?" Dean asks.I snap back to attention and look at him."Yes," I say."You're barely touched your meat."I look at the fresh steak on my plate.The hunters brought back deer today.My favorite food, that I usually devour.I have hardly touched it today."Sorry. I was daydreaming."He looks amused. "What about?"I blush. "Nothing."I cannot tell him I am in love with someone else.I cannot tell anyone.It is forbidden to seek mates outside the pack.But that it exactly what my heart desires.Dean is a good man.He is kind and honest.And he will make a great husband to someone.Just not me."You are quiet," he says."Just thinking," I reply.He takes my hand."I know it has been a long year," he says."It has been hard. Losing your father
I walk toward the center of the village where my mother lives.It is loud and bustling.My mother's house is small and slightly removed from the others.It has a small vegetable patch and a wooden fence that surrounds it.I am feeling a little nervous.But Dean is right.I have to do this.I knock on the door.She opens it."Marla!" she says. "What a nice surprise!"She gestures for me to come in."Hi, Mom," I tell her. "I was wondering if I could have a word with you.""Of course, sweetie," she says.She smiles and lets me inside.My mother wants me to marry Dean.She believes we are the perfect coupling.Before my father died, he was besotted with my mother.Theirs was an arranged coupling, just like everyone in the pack.They grew to love one another, fiercely.It was beautiful to see growing up.Mother things I will grow to love Dean.But I know I will not.We reach the sitting room.I lower myself to the couch.Mom sits beside me."Is something wrong?" she
I run out into the night.I am supposed to wait until the solstice to see Lucas.But now the secret is out, I decide to waste no more time.I cannot go back to Dean's.I cannot stay at mother's.The alpha will certainly disapprove.That leaves me just one choice.To run to the next village where my lover lives.The moon is bright above me.I try not to think of the battle that killed my father and brother in these very hillsides.I think instead of Lucas.I make it to his village.And I find his cabin.He is sitting on the front steps.He looks up at me."Marla," he says, surprised. "What are you doing here?"He stands and gives me a hug.I melt into his arms."I was not expecting to see you until solstice.""I missed you too much," I say."I missed you, too."I move out of his embrace.I look behind me."I have to warn you about something," I say.He nods. "Go on.""I told Dean about you. And my mother."He shakes his head. "Marla, this is not good.""I know
I wake the next morning to his warmth.I do not want to get up.I want to stay here forever.I don't want to leave this cabin.I don't want anything to change.But somehow, I know it will.I sit up and peer down at him.I run my fingers through his hair.He looks so peaceful.I bring my knees to my chest and stare out the window.Lucas rolls onto his side.He opens his eyes and smiles at me.I force a smile.He sits up and wraps his arms around me.I watch Lucas.I don't say anything.I am so angry with Christine.I know it is not her fault. But still.I know that Lucas is not mine. And I wouldn't know that if it wasn't for her. And if I didn't know that, I could still pretend that it wasn't true.I don't want to lose what we have. I love him.I hear a knock on the door.I look up."Who's that?" I ask.Lucas hears it too.He goes to answer it.I hear him speaking.I can't make out the words.Then there is another voice.I hear Christine's voice again."What
I scream.I'm sinking into the water.The flood rushes towards me.I try to swim, but the water is so heavy. I can't move my arms."Help!" I scream, but nobody hears me.There's no one around. I am alone. Completely alone.I silently curse Lucas for doing this to me. This wasn't supposed to be how things would go. We were supposed to be together. Forever.Instead, I'm going to die in this river, unwanted and alone.I hate him for making me feel this way. I hate myself for letting him.I see a tree branch floating toward me, and I grab it.I try to use it to push myself along the water's surface, but I still can't move my arms.The water is everywhere.It fills my mouth and burns my eyes until I can no longer see.The water rushes over me, and I pull myself forward.I still can't see anything.I am so scared!I need to get out of the water, but my clothes are heavy, and I'm so tired.I can't think.I let go of the branch. And in this moment, I know this is it. This is
I take a step back, stunned, and a branch crunches underneath my feet.I curse myself and my clumsiness. I want to run away before they see me here, but I'm afraid it's too late. The noise has given me away.I'm right. They both stop and turn to face my direction immediately. "Marla!" Julie exclaims. "You're up!"She sounds surprised, but also relieved.Lucas says nothing. He just looks at me. I try to return his gaze, but there's too much hurt inside me.My eyes start to fill with tears.And my legs begin to tremble.I start to feel dizzy, and my head begins to spin.Lucas walks over to me and reaches out his hand."It's ok," he says softly. "Come here."He leads me to the blanket and helps me sit down. I don't want to see Julie or Lucas, but I have nowhere to look but at them."I don't know how she got out of bed," Julie says, "but I'm glad she did. I was worried.""You should be resting," Lucas says.He seems genuinely concerned, and I find myself wondering if I've be