~∆~ Rain's POV ~∆~"Why didn't you listen to me?" I turn from where I've been humming while preparing Mariah's favorite cinnamon rolls, and the expression on my sister's face makes my stomach drop."Luna, what are you doing here? How did you even get in?""Guardian privileges," she says dismissively. "Rain, do you have any idea what you've done?"I set down the mixing bowl, fear gripping me. The urge to protect Mariah takes over. "I mated with the woman I love. Is that suddenly a crime?""You marked her without understanding the consequences." Luna moves closer, and I see panic flickering in her eyes. "The curse placed on you seven years ago doesn't just disappear when you find your mate, like you believe, Rain."Cold dread pools in my stomach. "What do you mean?""I mean that marking her didn't break your curse, Rain. It transferred it."The words knock the air out of me. I grab the counter for support, my knees suddenly weak. "That's not possible.""The sorcerer who cursed you was v
~∆~ Rain’s POV ~∆~The apartment smelled faintly of the groceries I had just unpacked. I had been arranging everything carefully, planning to make Mariah’s favorite food. It shouldn’t have been this difficult to know what she likes, but it had been. Every time I tried to find out what she liked, it felt like pulling teeth. Well, I asked everyone except for her because I wanted it to be special and a surprise.At first, I had wanted to ask Sophia, her best friend, but Alpha Kane had been unhelpful. I had even begged him, pleaded, but he simply ignored me, telling me she wasn’t available. It frustrated me, but I didn’t push too hard. After all, Mariah and Sophia had spoken on the phone before we left Alpha Kane’s pack, and that was why Mariah hadn’t screamed to see her friend like she usually did.So I had turned to Luna. I had pleaded with my sister to use her foresight just this once. I wanted to surprise Mariah. Luna had quickly agreed, of course, but only with conditions; I woul
~∆~ Mariah's POV ~∆~The second the apartment door shut behind us, there was immediate silence. Rain doesn’t say anything, and neither do I.Funny how, a few seconds ago, we were babbling and now, indoors... I look forward and shake my head. Maybe I will start the conversation.He sets the grocery bags down on the counter with that quiet patient way of his, and I stand there uselessly, clutching my phone as I think about the next best thing to say.Why isn't he looking at me? Are the grocery bags more important to him than I am? What if he's tired of having me in his space already?Again, the truth is, the silence isn’t his fault, it’s mine. For three days now I’ve been keeping my words and my distance short, because I don’t trust myself.I don’t trust the way my heart stutters when he laughs. I don’t trust the way his arm brushing mine mistakenly can undo me more than Ethan’s kisses ever did.And most of all, I don’t trust the hunger that simmers low in my stomach whenever he’s near.
~∆~ Mariah's POV ~∆~I'm halfway to Rain's apartment, no, our apartment? This temporary living situation is getting confusing. Hell, my life is confusing. My phone rings pulling me from my wandering thoughts. The caller ID shows "Mom," and I realize with horror that I haven't talked to my mother in over a week."Hi, Mom.""Mariah Elena Rivera, what in God's name is happening to you?"I wince. Full name usage is never a good sign. I try to play dumb."What do you mean, Mom?""I mean I just saw a news report claiming my daughter is living in sin with a hockey player and involved in some kind of cult!"Forgot to mention my mom is overly religious. I wish I had the faith she did, maybe the devil would have fled from me like she would always say, rebuke the devil and he will flee from you. The devil certainly didn't flee from me because..."Mom, it's not...""And apparently you broke up with Ethan? When were you planning to tell me that? I liked Ethan!"I nearly drop the phone. "You
~∆~ Rain's POV ~∆~One week after the pack house incident, I'm standing in the parking lot of the United Center trying to convince myself that walking into practice is a good idea. The media madness has only gotten worse since Luna managed to get us out of Chicago temporarily, and now that we're back, the reporters are back."Rain Cross! Over here!" A reporter waves frantically from behind the security barriers. "What do you have to say about the leaked photos of you and Mariah?"I pause mid-step, wondering if I should ignore my agent and put an end to these bastards by suing the life out of them."Mr. Cross! Is it true you've been living a double life involving underground rituals?"My blood runs cold. That's not that far from the truth, which means someone with real information is feeding the press."Any comment on Natasha's claims that you're involved in cult activities?"Of course, Natasha found a way to make this worse. I pull my phone out to text Mariah, who's waiting in the c
~∆~ Mariah's POV ~∆~The insults I've endured from these she-wolves have been constant and cruel. I can never understand the logic behind their stupid whispers when they can't even chase me out of their pack.I haven't told Rain about what I've been dealing with. Whenever the pack women enter my room to clean or bring food, they whisper just loud enough for me to hear every word."Whore," they call me. "Mate stealer."I've learned that most of these women know Rain is a famous hockey player, and quite a few of them had crushes on him before this whole mess started. So, they don't blame him. They blame me for seducing him and using a kind of magic on him. Although, I am wondering if all of them believe all humans have some abilities like them.Then, there were the younger ones, who followed Natasha's social media. These set call me a slut for "stealing another woman's boyfriend" when I "had a fiancé."They still believe Ethan is my mate, despite everything Kane learned during his inte