~∆~ 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
~∆~ Rain's POV ~∆~The ride to the pack house feels endless. Marcus, the driver Alpha Kane left us with, maintains a stony silence despite my attempts at conversation."Nice weather we're having," I try, looking out at the streets and trees passing by.Still, I got nothing. I was sitting at the front so I was trying my damn best. I needed to know what kind of person Alpha Kane is, so I tried again."How long have you been with the pack?"Still nothing.I'm about to try again when I hear him mutter, " I don't talk to rogues. Especially mate stealers." He wanted me to listen to that. Rogue and mate stealer? I am not a rogue, I still carry my pack's scent.The words, however, seem to annoy Mariah as her entire body goes rigid beside me. I guess she knows what a rogue means then."Excuse me?" she says, her voice dangerously quiet. "What did you just say?"Marcus glances at her in the rearview mirror, his expression full of disdain. "You heard me.""Shut your mouth if you don't know the t
~∆~ Ethan's POV ~∆~I'm sitting in my office, trying to focus on the case files spread across my desk, but my mind keeps wandering to Alpha Kane's demand to meet Mariah. Why would he want to meet my fake mate? And how am I supposed to present her as my mate when she won't even speak to me? I need to find to fix this mess.The knock on my door interrupts my scattered thoughts."Come in," I call, straightening my tie and putting on my professional face.The woman who enters is in her forties, with dark circles under her eyes and a careful way of moving that I recognize immediately. Another one of those people. Humans can be so stupid and foolish. Looking at the one in front of me, I am hundred percent sure she is one of those foolish women. I've seen it in dozens of clients over the years, the cautious posture of someone who's learned to expect pain. This is going to be long one. I couldn't help but grumble."Mr. Summers?" she says softly. "I'm Sarah Mart. I have an appointment abou