LOGINLIANA POVI jerkily stand upright, my heart nearly leaping to my throat as I reflexively squeeze the paper in my hand and fling it somewhere near me. Kane is standing in front of me with the usual smirk on his face. Speak of the devil. His hair is slightly longer, just brushing the collar of his shirt, and there's a hint of stubble along his jawline. He looks even more handsome than before, like he'd grown more into himself overnight.But of course, the flutters are born to be squashed, and that we shall be doing."What would you like to order?" I ask, pretending to be calm."The usual," Kane replies.Fuck, that eye contact is eating me right up.“Fine then, please wait at your table.”I must have not clarified the actual table to be waited at because he is leaning over the counter, very close to me."I had to run some errands for my dad last week," he announces out of the blue. Are 8 days enough to make someone’s baritone get deeper?"I didn't ask," I retorted without looking at him,
LIANA POV It’s not even been six hours since the cafeteria encounter. As shocked as I am to see Kane, I’m also not that surprised. It's a small town, after all, and someone like him could easily track me down if he wanted to. And I know it isn't a coincidence that he is here, in this small, unpopular restaurant where I work, that too, around the time of my shift. Still, I try to compose myself and let my customer service smile slide into place. It’s not like I can afford to be unprofessional and risk losing the only source of income I have at the moment."Of course, sir. Would you like any sides with that?"The amused twinkle in his eyes shows he’s enjoying my forced politeness."Just a side salad, thanks. And maybe a smile that doesn't look like it hurts?" he answers, smirking.I ignore his last comment and focus on getting his order down. "Please take a seat, and we'll bring your order out shortly."Just before he turns to find a seat, he throws me a wink that catches me off guard.
LIANA POVThere's a kind of anonymity in crowds; it’s like a camouflage of sorts. That’s why I’m here, sitting amid clattering trays and chatters just like any other face in the sea of students at the cafeteria. The noise should be overwhelming to me, but I find it somewhat comforting.The zipper of my lunch bag sticks, as usual, and I have to yank it a bit harder than necessary to get it to budge. I made some quinoa and roasted vegetable salad from the leftover ingredients my boss let me take home from the restaurant where I work—not something I particularly liked, but it was still a far cry from the bland sandwiches I always pack for lunch, which is because I can't afford the food they serve at the school cafeteria or any of the meal plans.My cooking is not that great, and even though I grew up having to make my own food and technically should have a lot of experience in it, I’m still no master chef. The quinoa is a bit overcooked, I notice, as I spear the mushy concoction with my
KANE POVI've got a role to play and an image to maintain so I often paste on that cocky grin and pretend like I've got it all figured out… like I'm not actually terrified of screwing it all up."You know, I thought college was supposed to be about actually learning shit, but here you all are, acting like you’re still in high school. Don't you have anything better to do with your pathetic lives than harass people? Let me make this crystal fucking clear. This is your last warning. If I catch any of you bullying Liana, or anyone else for that matter… again, you're gonna have a real problem on your hands," I say to not just Juliet and her minions, but everyone under the sound of my voice in that lecture hall.Did that sound future-alpha-like enough?But let’s have the alpha stuff take a backseat for now, because I’m just angry at the mean people always cornering Liana, and what else would be my duty, if not to protect her.I can't stop thinking about it, even hours later; the way her arm
KANE POVLife has been a real snooze-fest lately. I mean, don't get me wrong, being the golden boy of Blood Moon Pack is great; girls fawning over me 24/7, professors kissing my ass, and pretty much everyone wanting to be my BFF. But after a while, it all starts to feel like the same old song and dance, you know?I'm strolling across campus, flanked by my usual crew and trying not to yawn as some freshman girls giggle and bat their eyelashes at me. I flash them my trademark grin, but inside I'm thinking: Is this really all there is? There's gotta be more to life than just coasting on my dad's Alpha status and my admittedly killer good looks. Don't they say college is supposed to be a wild adventure or whatever? So far it's been about as exciting as watching paint dry.I'm barely paying attention as we pass by the lecture halls. My mind is wandering to what kind of trouble I could stir up to break the monotony."I'm not a thief. I didn't steal anything."My ears literally perk up at t
LIANA POV"I know this belongs to Kane. Ugh, your audacity to even put it on in public like you wouldn't get caught or something."She takes a step closer to me. “Come on, little thief. Enlighten us. How did this get into your hands?"One of the other girls whose name I can’t remember pipes up. "Or maybe we could learn a few tricks? After all, it runs in the family, right?"The laughter that rises around me makes my stomach turn again and I feel dizzy. That very scarf is one of the very few acts of kindness I've experienced from a pack member while doing some menial jobs, so being accused of stealing it is just… disheartening.“I did not—”A tall frame suddenly comes between me and Juliet, blocking her sneering face from my view. I step back a bit, caught off guard by the intervention. A tingling warmth spreads from my core to radiate outward to my fingertips and toes. Even from behind, the tension in his stance is obvious and I can’t stop myself from inhaling his distinctly masculine
Matthew POV The city is still asleep as I walk the streets restlessly. I can’t stop thinking about last night. It shouldn’t have happened. In a moment of weakness, with my wolf’s emotions heightened, I’d forgotten who she is and her relation to my parents’ death.When I woke and saw her sleeping b
JillI try to imagine kissing the businessman in front of me but feel no sort of excitement at the idea.Maybe it’s just him? Not hot enough to hold a flame to my ex?“I’m kind of busy this week. Maybe another time?” I say politely.He nods with a smile.“Not a problem. I can wait for a beautiful g
Jill POV The sunlight gently wakes me, forcing me to open my eyes. I groan, wanting nothing more than to fall back asleep, but I know I have to get to the bakery to serve the breakfast rush.I glance at the clock on my bedside. It’s 6 a.m., so I have a little time before we open. I sigh when I sud
MatthewJill’s mouth meets mine once more, capturing my breath as I steal hers. I move us to a wall, pressing against her as my other arm wanders down her curves. I slip the straps of her dress down her shoulders enough to reveal her torso. My lips eagerly find the peaks of her breasts, and I kiss







