The next day of school flew by. Dad was less annoying and overprotective today, so he actually let me take my car. I got up early, picked myself up some breakfast from the local diner, and listened to my favorite jams on the way to school. With plans to hang out with Jasmine in the afternoon, I was looking forward to a taste of normal teenage life.I didn't spot Dante in English class or anywhere in school, but I hesitated to inquire about it from Jasmine. Texting him seemed intrusive; after all, who was I to pry into his business? Still, a part of me genuinely wanted to make sure he was okay.After the last bell, Jasmine invited me to meet her at the mall. Peach and Mya were tagging along, so it felt like an opportunity to get to know them better. Nervous but excited, I embraced the chance to spend time with the whole group.I approached the food court and spotted them sitting at a round table. Jasmine noticed me and ran over, pulling me in for a tight hug. Her excitement was contagi
Once Peach removed her slutty hands from him, Jasmine eagerly stepped in for a hug. "I'm so glad you're here. You've been too busy to hang out with me for a while now," she teased. "You know that's not personal Jazzy," he replied, kissing her on the forehead. It was nice seeing them being nice to each other. Rashaad grinned upon spotting me awkwardly standing behind the other girls. "Well, well, well...if it isn't my angel!" he shouted. Striding over, he wrapped me in his bulky arms, slightly lifting me off the ground. His scent was a blend of citrus and sandalwood, emanating a wonderfully masculine aroma. If I weren't entirely uninterested in him, I might have been impressed. Out of the corner of my eye, I watched Dante's face harden. Was he jealous? Wait, what was I saying... of course, he wasn't; he had Peach throwing her ass at him. Rashaad put me down but kept an arm around my waist. If looks could kill, Dante would have stabbed him a hundred times by now.Peach scoffed, as if
My thoughts drifted as we navigated through the mall, entering practically every shop. Despite my reluctance to be here, Jasmine had a point. With my dad not returning until tonight, going home would only lead to driving myself crazy with thoughts about the looming secret. However, staying here didn't seem to offer much relief either. Seriously, what did my dad do that everyone knew about but me? Why relocate us to a place where all his secrets could be unveiled? The questions echoed in my mind, demanding answers I didn't yet possess."Angel! Angelique!" Jasmine's voice pierced through my thoughts, bringing me back to the present. I looked around, noticing that the boys had vanished. Damn, I was dissociating so intensely that I hadn't even noticed their departure. We were in Charlotte Russe, the girls engrossed in trying on clothes while I waited for them to finish. Although this was my favorite mall shop, my mood had taken a nosedive, and all I wanted was to go home and confront my
I entered the house, finding Dad seated on the couch, patiently awaiting my arrival. The ambient lights danced, casting ominous shadows on his face, intensifying the gravity of the moment. A palpable tension hung in the air, nearly suffocating the room. "Hey honey, take a seat," he uttered with a calm demeanor, yet the worry line etched deep on his forehead betrayed an underlying concern.Inhaling deeply, I settled into the chair opposite him. "Do you know what I want to talk about?" I inquired in a hushed tone.He offered a simple nod. "Yes, I've been made aware."Made aware? How? When?"Angel, there's a lot of things that I haven't told you. I-I've just been waiting for the right time, and I hope you don't hate me for this," he began, his words hesitant and weighted with a mix of remorse and apprehension.I held my breath. My heart pounded so fiercely that it felt as if it could explode at any moment. An overwhelming fear gripped me as I awaited the next words from his lips. Was he
Dante's POVAlpha, I finally told her, David's voice echoed through the mind-link as I was running the perimeter at the edge of my territory.I'm guessing that didn't go well, I replied.No, she sped off in her car. She just needs to process it. I know she will come around eventually, David responded, his words carrying a mix of concern and optimism.Let me know the second she does. I cut off the connection, frustrated that David didn't know where Angelique was. His calm demeanor unsettled me; I needed to ensure her safety. With only three days until she shifted for the first time, the urgency weighed heavily on my mind. I couldn't fathom how terrifying it must be for her. While I had my entire childhood to prepare, she only had until Friday. I didn't agree with him waiting so long to tell her, but it wasn't my place or anyone else's to intervene.Jazzy nearly slipped up today, but thankfully she didn't. It was nearly unbearable watching Angel in so much emotional distress and still n
Angel's POV It was around midnight as I stepped into the house. As I flicked on the kitchen light, my heart skipped a beat at the sight of my dad seated at the table. Despite his evident exhaustion, there was a palpable eagerness in his eyes as he spoke, "Angel, I'm glad that you came back. Where have you been?" "Sitting in my car on the side of the road," I mumbled, settling into the chair across from him. My body felt drained from the tears that had flowed relentlessly."Are...are you feeling better now?" he hesitated to ask. I breathed out a heavy sigh, "No, but there's nothing I can do but accept it, right?" It would have been nice to have known all this shit a few years earlier, or at least to have had a say in the decision to move here. However, I realized that embracing the inevitable was the only path forward.He nodded silently."I have some questions then."Again, he nodded. "I knew that you would. What would you like to know?" His nervous habit of rubbing the back of hi
Dante's POVThree days had passed since I last saw Angelique. Tonight, she would be getting her wolf, and I would finally discover if she was my mate or not. I had been checking in daily with David to inquire about her well-being, but his response remained consistent.She had locked herself in her room and refused to come out, even to eat. David claimed that he kept slipping granola bars underneath the door, but they were starting to pile up on the other side. She was starving herself, and who knew if she was getting any sleep. If she continued down this path, she would end up in the pack hospital. Shifting for the first time was excruciating and exhausting, and it would be even worse for her if she hadn't slept or eaten in three days.Jasmine and I had arranged to visit her after my pack meeting this afternoon. The Alpha from our neighboring allied pack, the SilverClaw Nightwalkers, was in town to discuss the recent surge in rogue attacks. I felt a growing sense of concern as the att
Angel's POVToday was my birthday. Every child grows up wishing and waiting for the day they turn eighteen, but the last week only made me dread it. I spent the last three days telling myself that I couldn't just sleep until this significant change that would potentially ruin my life happened, but the more I said it, the more depressed I felt. I didn't understand how I could sleep so much and still feel like shit. Glancing from my bed, I spotted the stack of granola bars piled near my door. The notion of eating didn't exactly excite me, but my stomach's growls were relentless. Summoning the will to get up, I plopped down on the floor and reluctantly unwrapped one of the bars. With a hesitant bite, I couldn't help but emit a quiet moan of satisfaction. Either I was starving, or this was the best fucking thing I had ever tasted!In no time, a pile of wrappers had accumulated on the floor beside me. I marveled at the fact that I had devoured over ten granola bars in a matter of minutes.