I wish I was in love since it's spring.It just so happened that the full moon and Valentine's Day fell on the same night this year. I'm sure that for some people it was the ideal fusion of desire and romance, but I chose to spend it alone , because I'm a mateless, love-deprived fool.Around the den, wildflowers are beginning to bloom everywhere. These are the first brave blooms to emerge from the winter's gloom. I move over the grass barefoot, my jeans rolled up to just above my ankles, and wrapped in a soft pink sweater that shields the rest of me from the breeze.My toes occasionally dip into the warm ground as I explore the area near our den.I wrap my fingers around the wire as I look through the fence at the surrounding prairie. Omegas and betas haven't been permitted beyond the fence since the Dark Moon pack attack because our leadership is concerned that someone is hiding there. However, everything has been peaceful and I haven't scented any of the folks I fear. The feeling of

JackI've never thought of myself as an emotional man.Since I was born by the sea, the sea law governs how those of us who are from this area live and pass away. I've lived in coastal cities, on islands, and on various types of ships, boats, and barges. The Rig is equally harsh and cruel to the weak among us as those locations. It never mattered because I've always been strong.But I've never had to capture an escaped person of this particular type.A girl.An omega.Omegas are believed to be timid, submissive, and polite. They don't survive long in our world if they aren't. Elsa Woods—or Cherry, if that's truly her name—is, as far as I can tell, exactly what an omega should be. Submissive, docile, having lamblike manners.So why was she escaping?Why is she being treated like a criminal, furthermore?I leave the structure they refer to as the citadel with my hands in my pockets since I don't feel comfortable with the entire affair. I have a tingly, crawling sensation on my skin. I m

JackWith a sigh, I peer out at the turbulent ocean and consider if we can depart today or if we will need to spend another night. Brian and I, as well as possibly the beta we retrieved from the mess, need to leave this place. I'm not a man of honor by any means, but something about this facility smells fishy, and it has more to do with it than the reward we received for bringing in a helpless omega.The way Arthur acts, the way they keep the communal women in the mess, the way Arthur's generals misbehave—it's all about the rig. On the barge off the shore of what used to be Miami, where I was raised, life was hard, but it wasn't like this. The rig is absolutely not civilized; it is primitive. These people won't be giving us another contract.The girl's name turned out to be Rose, and after we rescued her from Lucas's grasp, they immediately clicked. Brian prefers to avoid interacting with alphas, but he was pleased to smuggle her out. She then volunteered to share all of her knowledge

Cherry As soon as Arthur fires his gun, chaos breaks out all around me.Alphas morph into wolves all around, some charging directly at me before they have a chance to transform, while the others wager that they will be able to catch up to them after they have changed. I can quickly leave because of the internal conflict, despite my chest hurting from the abrupt effort. I'm not used to doing things like this, but I have no choice.I make a beeline for the edge of the platform, briefly believing that I will dive into the water and swim to safety. Even though I only managed to survive the previous time thanks to dumb luck, I've done it before. When I reach the edge, though, I am forced to confront my death as I stare out at the raging sea and the cyclone that is hurling the waves up toward the edge. I'll be pulled under by the tide if I don't perish immediately because I'm at least 200 feet below the surface.Alphas behind me and an angry ocean in front of me…I desire to live.As soon