~Gemma~ Shit! He looked pissed. Like really pissed. “Dev.” His rage-filled roar reverberated in the office. “Do not call me that!” I risked it. My hand rested on his chest. “Why did you ask if you didn’t want to hear the truth?” “I knew the goddamn truth. I saw the way you two stared at each other, the way you touched. I had to hear you say it. I had to know what he said was the truth and not fucking bragging.” He pulled at his hair. “How did this happen?” It felt like a rhetorical question. I attempted anyway. “It just happened organically. No magic, no fucking predestined bullshit. It happened along the way, amidst all our interactions, sharing, caring, and plenty of fighting. One day I just knew.” He stared at me, eyes roaming over my face. The crushing weight of his pain crept over me. I thought he would punish me by letting me wallow in his hurt. Instead, he wiped away my tears with his thumbs before pulling me into his embrace. I hated my tears. I hated the way he held

~Gemma~ Our Gamma was a fucking badass bitch. We did our pre-game dance, which included an embarassing amount of twerking and hand movement. We ignored the snickers and laughs directed our way. I didn’t hug her or get mushy. Instead, I encouraged her. “You go out there and kick some wannabe ass! Show us all why you are the mothereffing Gamma! Go get this done so we can get drunk later tonight!” I swatted her ass. “Claws out. Balls out, baby!” “You got it, shorty!” Sammie cracked her knuckles and then her neck. She wore a black sports bra and some fitted, knee length shorts. Earlier, I braided her hair and helped her with makeup, mainly lipstick and mascara. Let’s be honest. The girl needed no adornments. We gathered outside in a cleared area in the woods. The snake pit, we called it. Sammie made her way to the ring where Tim already waited. Fucker. I fidgeted, pulled at the skirt of my dress. It upset me that Sammie had to go through this more often than I liked. It was hard to

~Gemma~ We sat on his bed. It was that or the floor. I wrinkled my nose. It smelled like guy in here. “Sorry. I wasn’t expecting company.” He apologized. “Whatever. So this is simple. We will share truths until the debt is satisfied.” I squared my shoulders. “Ask your question.” He shrugged. “ Are you and Alpha Devlin dating?” “No.” I answered, frowning. “My turn. Why do you want to be Gamma?” He rubbed his face. “I’m tired of being worthless. Being Gamma will ensure my importance within the pack. A female, such as Sammie, should be an easy target. Unfortunately, that wolf is fierce.” I frowned again. “You realize that line of thinking is all kinds of messed up?” “Yeah. You helped me realize that. Next question. Do you actually think you are the lowest member of the pack?” I nodded. “Without the goddess, I would have little of value to offer the pack. I couldn’t heal anyone. I cannot shift into wolf to help defend the pack. I hold no real position. Nobody can ever challenge m

~Gemma~ Someone tickled my foot. “Go the fuck away!” I buried deeper under my comforter. A heavy sigh sounded. “I thought you wanted to party with your new friends?” Tyson asked reasonably. I hated that. Wait! “Did you say party?” I sat up in bed, fully alert. Tyson leaned against my dresser in jeans and no shirt. He must have gone for a run. “What’s with that creepy smile, baby bro?” He cringed when I called him that. WTF? Alpha Devlin entered my room. “What the fuck, Gems? Why are you naked?” “What?” I shrieked, looking down at my naked chest. I covered myself with the comforter, searching my bed for any article of clothing. Nothing! “This is how Tyson put me to bed! I never sleep naked!” Alpha Devlin smacked Tyson upside the head. “I trust you with her!” “No! I remember now. Tyson behaved himself. All he did was unzip me. I asked him for help with my bra and he refused.” I confessed. “Just remember! I am an adult! I can take care of myself without a handler.” I insiste

~Gemma~ His lips brushed my skin first. Then, his fangs struck. I grasped handfuls of his shirt as he fed. I leaned against him as my eyes fluttered closed. “That’s enough!” Sammie growled at him. “You’ve taken too much! We all take too much from her. I see that now.” I stood, feeling light on my feet. “Hey, Sammie. I’m fine.” “No! You are not!” Sammie supported my weight. “I hope your mate lives, bloodsucker. I also hope you stay the fuck out of Gemma’s life now. You are no good for her.” “Gemma! Thank you. For everything.” He ran a hand through his tousled hair. At least he returned home and took down the vacancy sign in his eyes. “I will call you soon.” I stared at him, blinking slowly. Was this the reason our story did not end sooner? Tori needed me? Fate fucked around with my life in cruel and twisted ways. Sammie dragged me away like a rag doll. Out in the hall, I warned her. “I’m going to be sick. Here! This bathroom is an employee only and private.” We went inside and