Ari's POVWatching her run away from me triggered something in me. It also made me ask myself a question. Why did I torment her about the kiss with Dev?I wasn't a cruel or mean person but somehow she brings out the worst in me whenever she's around me.I mean what about Ani brings out my most horrible and primal instinct?Was my hostility a cloak hiding a deeper problem? Or was I just a bad person?I strolled back to the Impala and I tried to push Ani out of my mind as I drove Dev to the clinic.I turned my attention to the girl beside me. She seemed lost in her own head. I wondered whether I should talk about the kiss we shared, I mean it was the only logical explanation for her showing up on my doorstep an hour after the incident that happened in the gym with a bleeding hand that had a piece of silver dagger still embedded in it.We didn't have a conversation about why she showed up at the mansion instead of going to the clinic. I simply took my keys and I offered to drive her to a

Dev's POV I understood the fears of a father...at least a good father, Uncle Jared was nothing like his brother. I wish my father was a concerned parent not a power hunger asshole who's willing to do anything including sell his firstborn.I shook my head and allowed my thoughts to focus on more positive things like Alyssa.I also knew Alyssa was capable of protecting herself with her pepper spray and limited self defense technique plus she was a Beta blood too.The person Alyssa saw was a young girl of about sixteen years of age. Fair skinned with a sour expression and uncertain demeanor.She was standing by the door holding a red scarf and she wore a faded dress. She was a beautiful child if she took more interest in her appearance."Hello! I am Dr Alyssa, come in and have a seat" The girl moved like she was uncertain whether she wanted to be in a clinic or not but nevertheless she obeyed Alyssa and sat on the edge of the seat in the waiting room."Can you tell me your name?" Alyss

Ari's POV I frowned.I made her look at me."I hate myself that I hurt you, Ani. I am sorry" it was a sincere apology."I am not crying because of you jackass, just leave me alone!" Her voice was snobby and mean, probably a defense mechanism….I know all about masking feely touchy emotion with anger."Do you want to talk about it?" I asked her.She laughed out loud like I made a joke. It made me wince."Why? So, you could abandon me again. No thanks but I am good. I am great! I am powerful! I am unbreakable. I don't need your pity, Ari thunderbolt and I certainly don't need you. I need nobody"She cried harder even as she talked. I gathered her into my arms. At first, she fought me but I didn't give up and then she relaxed. Before long, I was patting her hair and wiping any remnant of tears on her face."Hush now…it will be alright" I told her over and over again."No. It won't but thanks for trying""I should go" I murmured.I don't think she liked that very much. She jerked up immed

Ari's POVWhen I was five years old, I saw a baby scorpion in the sandbox in the playground slowly crawling towards me. I had been fascinated on how something so small could have such big determination. This prompted me to go play with it.It wasn't a good decision, especially when I tried to kiss it and it stung my tongue.I was in so much pain that I may or may not have peed my pants.Anyway, you can't prove it neither did Luna because I may or may not have blamed it on six months old Storm who well…peed on me all the time.My point is that was literally the worst pain I felt growing up, it was physical pain and I dreaded scorpions since then…but it taught me a lesson. It made me stay away from scorpions.Watching Aniston dance with some random man was almost equivalent to what happened to me when I was five years old…the pain part not the wetting my pants part, just so we are clear.I watched her from the bar as she rubbed her body against his.I would really prefer a scorpion abou

Ari's POV I sat on the edge of my seat as I waited patiently for the bartender to talk to me. Whatever it was seemed to be a secret or maybe of utmost importance because he looked around to check whether anyone was listening in before he spoke to me."The guy she left with is Reid, he is the future Alpha of red moon pack and all around a douchebag; he is not exactly a good guy. I know because I work for him and his brother, Jason. If you still like your friend, you should go after her"I was still trying to wrap my head around what the bartender just told me…to make sense of it, when I heard a cry for help.It was sharp…I could taste the panic of the person who sent the distress call.Whatever that was frightening them was doing a damn good job.(Ari, help!)Aniston!I jerk up in an instance. My body was flooded with the flight or fight hormone, and I can tell you it wasn't going to be flight, I don't run ever…well, i did run but still i didn't.I mean I ran towards danger, not away