JULIET Cold. Empty. Numb. Last night emotionally drained me, and I woke up today still exhausted. I haven’t left my room. Have barely left my bed. I turned my phone off to silence all communication, though Shay showed up with a sandwich this afternoon and made me tell her what happened as I forced down a few bites. I’m still angry. Heartbroken. But more than anything, I’m just tired. Tired of trying so hard to assert my independence in a world that will never see me as anything but a weak, naïve, sheltered little girl. Tired of being made to feel like asserting myself is somehow wrong, and that I should bite my tongue and bow to the authority of the men in charge. No more. I refuse to swallow my opinions or live my life as a mindless piece of arm candy. I’m done pretending to play the part of the perfect daughter and sister of the alpha. I want to be seen. Heard. Respected. I really thought Cole was different. I thought he was beginning to see the real me; to treat me as an equal

JULIETI have no idea what I’m doing. I’ve never been the type to run away from my problems, but I was so overwhelmed last night that I couldn’t see any other option. So I called and asked Jax and Quinn to come get me, blaming it on homesickness.I should’ve known they’d see through my lie.As soon as Quinn and I get into my room, she pulls me over to sit on the bed with her and asks me what’s really going on, and I come clean about all of it. About the crush I had on Cole and the way I pursued him. How I kept flirting with disaster until he finally caved. How I fell for him, gave myself to him completely, and how much he hurt me when he said I wasn’t what he wanted. How I ended things between us the night before last, then we discovered that we’re fated mates.I didn’t think I had any tears left to cry, but somehow, they still come. It’s cathartic in a way to let it all out. I tell Quinn everything, and when I’m done, it feels like a massive weight has been lifted. She doesn’t respon

JULIETI close my eyes as I step underneath the stream of hot water cascading down from the rainfall showerhead, tipping my head back and combing my fingers through my hair to wash out the shampoo. It smells like Cole, and so did the body wash. It’s a little ironic that I decided to take a shower so I didn’t walk into breakfast reeking of him, but by using the products in here, my scent is still a dead giveaway as to where I’ve spent the night. Part of me likes that. My wolf preens at the thought of everyone knowing I’m his. That he’s mine.I hear the shower door open behind me, resisting the urge to squirm under the weight of Cole’s attention as I hear him step inside. With my eyes still closed, I may not be able to see him, but that doesn’t mean I don’t feel the weight of his stare practically eating me alive.His feet slap against the tile as he moves closer, and despite the temperature of the water and the thick steam surrounding me, a shiver runs down my spine. My inner animal s

JULIETMy heart’s beating so fast that it feels like it’s going to lurch out of my chest. The interior of Atlantis nightclub is dimly lit in hues of blue and purple, the bass beat from the music pulsing into the soles of my feet as I stride through the main floor toward the VIP area. Although this whole plan was hatched from my idea, every angle examined to ensure it’ll be executed seamlessly, I’m still jittery with anticipation as I take the first steps to put it in motion.The bouncer at the entrance to the VIP section is tall and stocky, dressed in a well-tailored suit with his hair slicked back neatly. He gives me a once-over as I approach with confidence, my tight red dress accentuating every curve and my stiletto heels clicking against the floor, then angles his chin down to murmur something into the microphone on his lapel. Pressing a finger to the earpiece he’s wearing, whatever response he receives has him drawing back the black velvet rope and stepping aside to grant me entr

JULIETMy adrenaline must finally be waning, because exhaustion hits me like a lead weight when I park the Camaro in the underground garage at the packhouse and head inside. My mind feels a little fuzzy, my neck and shoulders stiff. The muscles in my thighs burn as I ascend the stairs from the garage, my breathing labored by the time I reach the landing at the top. I practically sigh in relief when I step through the door into the familiar foyer, hardly remembering a time I felt so glad to be home.Home.If Cole and I seal our bond, that’s what this packhouse will become to me, permanently.No more Westfield. No more six-pack. When I return there, I’ll merely be a visitor. An outsider, like I was when I came here. Like I still feel I am.On the precipice of such a major life change, I feel like I’ve got one foot in each world, struggling to decide which way to jump. I know how I feel about Cole, but it’s everything else that goes along with being his mate I’m unsure about. As Alpha, h