~Serena~‘Skipper. That name had been on my watchlist since I moved to Brille. Everyone on the street knows his name, but only a few know how he looked or have direct contact with him. He deals everything, from drugs to guns to people. The department has nothing on him apart from his alias,’ Chief Ramirez said when I asked him if he heard the alias Skipper. This case just kept getting more and more interesting as we followed Julie’s steps.“What do you have in mind?” Declan asked. We were still parked in front of the university, unsure of our next move.“Nothing.” I tilted my head in his direction, plastering on a blank expression. “You?”“Nothing?” Declan trailed off, as though my answer was a mystery of the century. “Chief Ramirez regarded you as the best in this field.”“He did?” My eyebrows crinkled. “The Chief is exaggerating.”Declan was quiet, assessing me like a specimen under a microscope lenses.“We can slip into The Lab and find out who this Skipper is ourselves,” Declan su
~Serena~“It was a long shot,” was the best reason I could come up with, which Declan obviously didn’t buy. Standing with my statement, I held my head high and walked past Declan, sniffing his delicious masculine scent that I had been trying to ignore since this morning. A note of tobacco also hit my senses. On the pavement beside his shoes was a still smoking cigarette butt.‘How long did he stay here?’Being in this job required vigilance. And I’m pretty sure I didn’t let my guard down even for a second. How did I not sense Declan? It’s either I’m losing my shit or Declan is just one hell of a tracker.He caught up with my steps. Walking casually, as if my obvious annoyance didn’t bother him at all.“So, this long shot of yours, does it have a second step?” I could hear the laughter in his voice.I exhaled. “Nope.”As we stepped out into the streets, I realized his car was parked on the curb.“I know someone who can trace where that call came from,” he sing song, an evidence that he
~Serena~The phone call address was a construction site in the city. Based on their permit, they’re building up a mall under ‘A Brown Company.’ The site was massive. I haven’t been in this city that long, but from what I could see, they had taken down a handful of establishments just to get this construction up and going.Men in safety hat, reflectorized vest and safety shoes milled about the disturbed parcel of land. Excavators dig into the ground and filling up trucks with dirt. Cranes and backhoe also take part in this construction site’s busy day.Declan parked in front of the restaurant across from our target location.“How are we going to find our guy?” he voiced my own thoughts.It was broad daylight, and the construction site was off limits to the public. There were almost fifty people in sight, and there were probably more people inside the spot fenced with a high, blue tarpaulin in the middle of the location.Observing the scene, I noted a pile of trailer trucks on the othe
~Serena~“Yeah, man… we don’t know who she is. She’s not one of the missing girls, but she looked like she needed saving,” Declan informed Alpha Seth over the phone. We were already five blocks from the construction site, driving without a destination in mind. Saving this girl from the trailer was a spur-of-the-moment decision; now we had no idea where to take her.Declan and I were both shaken. Yet on the outside, we’re calm and collected.The girl sitting unconscious beside me on the backseat had bruises all over her exposed skin. Dried blood stained her threadbare dress. Declan left the windows often, but the pungent scent of what she’d gone through had already clung to my senses.Although she was covered in pain and suffering, her beautiful features can still be recognized. Blood and dirt matted long, dark hair covered half of her face. Pouty lips, pointed nose, and prominent cheekbones wore purple bruises instead of makeup. Her arms, petite and as pale as bond paper, bore needle
~Serena~Based on everyone’s reaction, Clint was the only one who didn’t know about my newfound connection to Declan. Alpha Seth and Jared clearly understood why a very cross alpha was descending the stairs, a lion eyeing its prey.Clint’s glamorous beta position was no match for Declan’s rights and power. Alpha Seth and I were the only ones who could keep our heads held high as Declan made his way to the living area. Jared and Clint had their heads hung low, a wolf’s nature in bowing down to an alpha.“She put my pack in danger, Alpha Declan,” Clint forced every word out. The veins on his hands and neck were ready to snap at any minute. “I was the one who lifted that girl from that reeking cot in that trailer truck. It was my decision to bring her inside the car, and I was the one who called Seth. If you want to blame someone, blame me.” I didn’t need Declan’s protection or his saving. For five years, I had been all by myself, fighting for my life each day, relying on no one.As De
~Declan~I’ve been with Serena since this morning and with that frame, I figured out one thing. This version of her has a wall as high as Mt. Everest. It’s not gonna be an easy climb. I need crucial and intricate planning if I wanted to conquer her anger.I had changed strategies since the university. Showing her I am on her side didn’t work. Protecting her didn’t work either, even saving that girl didn’t even shake her resolve. And now that I had confessed guilt for what happened five years ago, her anger only escalated.Serena stared at me, trying to decide whether to rip my head off or tear me apart limb by limb. She might not voice it out, but I could feel her desire to end me through the bond. She hasn’t decided yet. Maybe that’s a good thing. At least I still have time to fulfill my promise.“Declan,” Seth carefully stepped out of the house. He could feel the tension between Serena and me. “Heart, the girl is awake.”Serena pinned me with one more daggered glare, then she huffed
~Serena~I will never forget the day the life I knew was ripped from my grasp by the people I trusted and loved. This was the day I tasted the bitter tang of betrayal, leaving me with nothing apart from anger and hatred. This was the day I learned how revenge can motivate a person to endure anything, even death.~~The chains linking the shackles around my wrist sang a terrible song of death and agony. It was heavy and cold, leaving bruising marks on my blood-matted skin.Anton and Mike dragged me by the arms, their fingers digging into my skin. They had been part of my family’s security detail since I was a little girl. Now, they’re the entourage leading me to my execution. They were indifferent. Cold and distant. They don’t see me as the princess of this pack anymore, but a mere criminal who tainted their pack with disgrace.Everyone we came across through this excruciating walk towards the amphitheater where I’ll meet my end vibrated with hate and anger.We halted before a metal do
~Serena~The raging sentiments of the townspeople, the blistering heat of the sun, and Gerald’s protest on the podium became trivial as Declan served me a one-way ticket to my death on a silver platter. We stared at each other, our eyes conveying what our mouths couldn’t utter.Mine was a culmination of confusion and anger. While Declan had already detached himself somewhere no one could reach him, hiding behind a mask of indifference. I knew a way to reach that side of him, but there was only one way we would be touching again, and that was me shoving a dagger in his heart.Anton and Mike grabbed my arms, ushering me at their alpha’s command. Declan’s eyes were heavy on my back as I stepped down the platform. It was like stepping back into reality. I became aware of the outraged pack members in the arena. Words were thrown at me, demeaning my rights in this pack.Behind the double door, more soldiers joined my entourage. For a sentence given seconds ago, I say they were more than pre
~Declan~I’ve been with Serena since this morning and with that frame, I figured out one thing. This version of her has a wall as high as Mt. Everest. It’s not gonna be an easy climb. I need crucial and intricate planning if I wanted to conquer her anger.I had changed strategies since the university. Showing her I am on her side didn’t work. Protecting her didn’t work either, even saving that girl didn’t even shake her resolve. And now that I had confessed guilt for what happened five years ago, her anger only escalated.Serena stared at me, trying to decide whether to rip my head off or tear me apart limb by limb. She might not voice it out, but I could feel her desire to end me through the bond. She hasn’t decided yet. Maybe that’s a good thing. At least I still have time to fulfill my promise.“Declan,” Seth carefully stepped out of the house. He could feel the tension between Serena and me. “Heart, the girl is awake.”Serena pinned me with one more daggered glare, then she huffed
~Serena~Based on everyone’s reaction, Clint was the only one who didn’t know about my newfound connection to Declan. Alpha Seth and Jared clearly understood why a very cross alpha was descending the stairs, a lion eyeing its prey.Clint’s glamorous beta position was no match for Declan’s rights and power. Alpha Seth and I were the only ones who could keep our heads held high as Declan made his way to the living area. Jared and Clint had their heads hung low, a wolf’s nature in bowing down to an alpha.“She put my pack in danger, Alpha Declan,” Clint forced every word out. The veins on his hands and neck were ready to snap at any minute. “I was the one who lifted that girl from that reeking cot in that trailer truck. It was my decision to bring her inside the car, and I was the one who called Seth. If you want to blame someone, blame me.” I didn’t need Declan’s protection or his saving. For five years, I had been all by myself, fighting for my life each day, relying on no one.As De
~Serena~“Yeah, man… we don’t know who she is. She’s not one of the missing girls, but she looked like she needed saving,” Declan informed Alpha Seth over the phone. We were already five blocks from the construction site, driving without a destination in mind. Saving this girl from the trailer was a spur-of-the-moment decision; now we had no idea where to take her.Declan and I were both shaken. Yet on the outside, we’re calm and collected.The girl sitting unconscious beside me on the backseat had bruises all over her exposed skin. Dried blood stained her threadbare dress. Declan left the windows often, but the pungent scent of what she’d gone through had already clung to my senses.Although she was covered in pain and suffering, her beautiful features can still be recognized. Blood and dirt matted long, dark hair covered half of her face. Pouty lips, pointed nose, and prominent cheekbones wore purple bruises instead of makeup. Her arms, petite and as pale as bond paper, bore needle
~Serena~The phone call address was a construction site in the city. Based on their permit, they’re building up a mall under ‘A Brown Company.’ The site was massive. I haven’t been in this city that long, but from what I could see, they had taken down a handful of establishments just to get this construction up and going.Men in safety hat, reflectorized vest and safety shoes milled about the disturbed parcel of land. Excavators dig into the ground and filling up trucks with dirt. Cranes and backhoe also take part in this construction site’s busy day.Declan parked in front of the restaurant across from our target location.“How are we going to find our guy?” he voiced my own thoughts.It was broad daylight, and the construction site was off limits to the public. There were almost fifty people in sight, and there were probably more people inside the spot fenced with a high, blue tarpaulin in the middle of the location.Observing the scene, I noted a pile of trailer trucks on the othe
~Serena~“It was a long shot,” was the best reason I could come up with, which Declan obviously didn’t buy. Standing with my statement, I held my head high and walked past Declan, sniffing his delicious masculine scent that I had been trying to ignore since this morning. A note of tobacco also hit my senses. On the pavement beside his shoes was a still smoking cigarette butt.‘How long did he stay here?’Being in this job required vigilance. And I’m pretty sure I didn’t let my guard down even for a second. How did I not sense Declan? It’s either I’m losing my shit or Declan is just one hell of a tracker.He caught up with my steps. Walking casually, as if my obvious annoyance didn’t bother him at all.“So, this long shot of yours, does it have a second step?” I could hear the laughter in his voice.I exhaled. “Nope.”As we stepped out into the streets, I realized his car was parked on the curb.“I know someone who can trace where that call came from,” he sing song, an evidence that he
~Serena~‘Skipper. That name had been on my watchlist since I moved to Brille. Everyone on the street knows his name, but only a few know how he looked or have direct contact with him. He deals everything, from drugs to guns to people. The department has nothing on him apart from his alias,’ Chief Ramirez said when I asked him if he heard the alias Skipper. This case just kept getting more and more interesting as we followed Julie’s steps.“What do you have in mind?” Declan asked. We were still parked in front of the university, unsure of our next move.“Nothing.” I tilted my head in his direction, plastering on a blank expression. “You?”“Nothing?” Declan trailed off, as though my answer was a mystery of the century. “Chief Ramirez regarded you as the best in this field.”“He did?” My eyebrows crinkled. “The Chief is exaggerating.”Declan was quiet, assessing me like a specimen under a microscope lenses.“We can slip into The Lab and find out who this Skipper is ourselves,” Declan su
~Serena~“What are you talking about?” Declan’s eyebrows knitted together, genuine confusion coating his face.This oblivious facade he was putting in front of me was so excellent I would believe him if I didn’t know the truth.“Take over Embercrest?” he continued to act innocent of my accusations. “And Serena, I married you because…” he paused, catching himself before he admitted why he really married me. “Because…”I arched an eyebrow, daring him to finish that sentence. Tension swelled inside the car. The sedan became more and more cramped even though the windows were open.“Don’t bother finishing that sentence. Like I said, we can’t change anything.” I slid my gaze away from him, setting all my effort in scrutinizing each student proceeding to the university. To my luck, Declan didn’t bother to say another word. He was lost in his thoughts, and there was still silence in the mate bond. He was concealing his feelings. I’m not surprised that he already knew how to close the window
~Declan~“Wha… what?” I stuttered, shock short-circuiting my brain.She just admitted that she’s my mate. Now what do I do?Realization loomed on Serena’s face. She answered on the spur of the moment. Now she can’t take back what she said. She snatched her arm from my grip, my hand dropping on my lap as I pondered over her admission. Everything made sense now. All these years, no matter how hard I try to forget about her, I just can’t. Goddess knows I tried to move on. I tried to kiss and fuck another woman just to get Serena out of my head, but I fail every fucking time. The thought of being with another woman disgusted me. It was like fighting a losing battle.And now that I’ve seen her, this constant urge to rub my body against hers, coat her with my scent, and mark her as mine… It’s the mate pull.“This changes everything,” I murmured, tasting the weight of my words.My annoyance from her attitude earlier simmered down, but as my rapid heartbeat lulled, another pulse stood out. I
~Serena~“What do you mean you have to drive back home?” my voice was pitchy.I woke up to Spade already eating his breakfast, his duffle bag resting on the couch. He was dressed as usual, with a white shirt and dark jeans, and his boots were waiting beside his duffle bag.“Alpha wanted me back,” he explained, sipping his coffee. “I made you breakfast.”As if pancakes and bacon would pacify my annoyance. I stomped further into the kitchen. My elephant footsteps echoed how pissed off I was.I grabbed the coffeemaker, glaring at the dark liquid filling the cup. “And you conveniently choose this day to drive back home.”I slammed my mug onto the table, gripping the knife and fork with so much force that the veins on my hand were ready to snap. This wasn’t me. I’m used to being alone, I enjoy working at my own pace and on my own rules. Spade knew this, which resulted in the crease on his forehead.“Do you have separation anxiety from me now?” he looked at me quizzically.“Separation anxie