It was the best decision I could have made, getting out of Fyrestone, a change of scenery. Rooting through the library crypt, assessing Eduardo's records I uncovered some facts that made my stomach churn. Eduardo had adopted the Humbling practice from Greenway, after Alpha Austin’s father bragged about its effectiveness on criminals. Five years ago, Eduardo ‘humbled’ eight smugglers. The sheer cliff faces of Cliffril would have meant almost instant death once they were turned out from his high-rise packhouse. Considering they had their sight and hearing ripped away with hot pokers, that fact was probably a blessing. The realisation Alpha Eduardo, with his easy manners and wide smiles, was not as good natured as I always assumed, meant all the hugs, the camaraderie and sly mocking of the other pack members left a bitter taste. Naive fool I had been. A fallen idol. One I had looked up instead of my father for the last few years. Observing him having fun, living an expansive, caref

At least being the most hated person in the Compound has a small advantage. Absolutely nobody will come and wake you up from your sleep, not even if it’s late at night and the library is ready for closing. A sharp rapping on the desk by the elderly, scowling librarian woke me with a fright. I quickly realised I had dry, itchy bread crumbs on my face and a huge ink stain on my most expensive course book. Of course. Of course my pen has leaked all over it. I picked up the weighty volume, flustered, flicking through the pages trying to work out the extent of the damage when I remembered, with a thought as clear and brash as gunfire. I’m done. It doesn’t matter anymore. I studied the small pile of notepads, stationary and books before me. I clung to this Assessment like a life raft. These past months, I had treated passing this course as the only thing keeping my life afloat. Yet now I can see, it is the course which is the millstone around my neck. The Assessment is slowly killin

Throwing me onto the bed It’s like a living dream. I’d allowed myself to wonder what would happen that first night and here I am. So what if I’m another notch on his bedpost, it doesn’t matter anymore. It’s like ticking a box, /you tell yourself that/ Raya sarcastically adds. The idea that I won't see him again after tonight does make my heart ache. Especially when he joins me on the bed. As the mattress sank with our combined weight, I rolled me towards him, my arm and shoulders against his solid chest. Laid down flat, gazing up at him, propped up by an elbow he watches me. Those dark eyes completely fixed on mine. I gently lift some fallen black locks from his forehead, pushing them behind his ear. It’s just a natural, comfortable position. Just two people gazing at each other. The fact we were completely naked, flushed and panting seemed immaterial. Stripped of everything, even the cool leather jacket Dex is still an intimidating presence. Those jet black tattoos, fierce strips

Stealing softly out of the bed was a wrench. It was so warm and comfortable there with him. Just a couple of weeks on the thin, iron railed bunk beds I called home made my body melt into the luxury of his room. Last night, even after my leg interrupted the fun, was perfect. Dex made me laugh until my sides hurt with his devious sense of humour, I was wrapped in a perfect cocoon of bonfire and white sheets with a man I couldn’t tell my secrets to. I’d rather be a mystery than a burden. Perhaps if I believed he could fix things I might have told him everything. But he can’t. Even the Alpha heir can’t make someone pass the Assessment. They can’t make people stop hating you. It is a beautiful morning. At least my run of luck didn’t extend to ruining things with Alpha Dex. I can leave with a heart full of happy memories at least. The image of his smolderingly dark eyes, his face grinning so triumphantly at me as I shove a towards him will sustain me through pretty much anything the w

Berlarot deserves an apology from me the next time we meet. From little seeds grow mighty oaks. In this case a furious, jealous, possibly unhinged oak in the figure of Rose who stood blatantly seething at Kate. That boring, stiff grey dress of hers meant business, as did the chunky black boots I could always imagine her kicking me with. I had to shove my way to get a good view of the spectacle. I had merrily arrived back in time for breakfast, intending to claim I’d been for a run and instead found Kate mid-trial. It was like watching a strange, twisted dream come true. Except my dreams at the moment still consist of me begging Alpha Dex to slam me over his car bonnet whilst hitching up my leather skirt. But you get my point. That red dress was so not her style. Why on earth would she choose to wear that for something like this? It’s the morning, not a formal event? As she hugged her waist it only emphasised her cleavage. Bitterly I found myself comparing, did I ever look as hot i