I was drenched in sweat, my heart still pounding from the exhilarating run. But man, I felt alive like no chemical concoction had ever made me feel. The world had sharper edges, brighter colors, and Clay was beside me.The drugs never stood a chance.We returned to the treehouse, our spirits high. Lexi looked at us, a smile forming as if she knew just how transformative that run had been for us."Do you want a ride back?" Clay asked her. "The house is a bit of a trek from here.""Do we have to cross the river again?" Lexi questioned, raising an eyebrow.Clay laughed, a hearty sound that filled the air. "Yeah, but we'll take the bridge this time. He has a thing for swimming when shifted. Me? Not so much."Lexi agreed and then climbed onto Clay's back after he shifted, and I couldn't help but notice how natural it looked, like she belonged there.This time, we moved at a gentler pace, unlike my earlier frantic sprint that had Lexi clinging onto me for dear life. Now, she seemed comforta

I sat on the edge of the couch, reeling in a cocktail of emotions that had become my daily regimen. A part of me couldn't believe Clay had just left Lexi alone with me. Sure, I was volatile, unpredictable, even dangerous. But the thing was, even Clay couldn't ignore the calming effect Lexi had on me. Physically, my symptoms were a raging fire, but mentally? Emotionally? Lexi was like cool water dousing the flames. As long as Clay wasn't purposely stoking it, that is. The sound of the door clicking shut snapped me back to reality. My stomach twisted, a riot of emptiness and nausea. I doubled over, clutching the trash can for another bout of dry heaving. There was nothing left in me to vomit, but my body hadn't received the memo. Lexi, meanwhile, leaned forward to set the metal vial—a six-dose lifeline—on the coffee table. Then she was there again, her hand on my back, tracing soothing circles as I convulsed. When the worst of it had passed, I sat back and wiped my face with a tired

The world seemed to hum around me, a low, intoxicating melody that resonated deep within my core. As I sat on the balcony the following day, the sunlight filtering through the buildings casting shadows on the ground, I couldn't help but replay last night's conversations in my head. A Beta for Clay and a Luna mark for me—everything felt like it was falling into place, as if pieces of a cosmic puzzle were clicking together. Is this what they mean when they talk about fated mates? Or was there something more intense, something even more profound? My eyes drifted to Clay and Luke, who were engrossed in their morning workout below. Their synchronicity was like an art form—each move perfectly in tandem, yet inherently unique to each. "God, look at them," I muttered under my breath. My eyes traced the contours of their bodies, captivated by how their muscles contracted and relaxed in harmonious movement. Luke was leaner than Clay, his lifestyle slowly etched away the weight, revealing a s

I watched as Luke, Clay, and Louis descended the steps and approached the moving vans. Their movements had a refreshing energy, like the simple carrying of boxes together breathed new life into them. I felt a curious mixture of pride and nostalgia watching them. My gaze lingered on Luke for a moment longer. The man he was becoming filled me with a sense of wonder. Elena and I remained on the porch, cocooned in the comforting aura of the house that had seen so many memories unfold. "It's good to see Luke so clear-eyed and focused," Elena finally said, her eyes sparkling with evident relief. "I couldn't agree more," I nodded. Elena smiled, sensing the profound connection I had with Luke. "I can see that you care deeply for him. That's good. He needs people who genuinely care." "More than you'll ever know," I whispered, a warmth spreading through me at the thought of our shared life ahead. Elena stood and gestured toward a glass-fronted cabinet. "Wine?" "Sure," I accepted, feeli

Walking into the kitchen, my eyes landed on my mom and Lexi sitting at the island, wine glasses in hand. They both looked deep in conversation, sharing the intimacy only women can conjure with a glance or a laugh."Look, Luke, there isn't a Beta house on the property. Just figured you could shack up here in the main house for a while," I said, turning back to my friend, making an effort to sound casual.Luke glanced at Lexi, a mixture of contemplation and, was it longing, crossing his face? "Well, one wing of this place is already bigger than our apartments combined," he mused.His gaze met mine, and a mutual understanding passed between us. "Alright, that's okay with me," he finally said, breaking into a small, accepting smile.As I moved to the fridge, I couldn't help but catch snippets of their conversation, of mom's hearty laughter, and Lexi's soft-spoken questions. My eyes shifted toward Lexi, then back to Luke. They shared a bond, something palpable and real. It was like a strin