Chapter 11: How To Fool Absolutely No One

RAE “YOUR ONS TURNED OUT TO BE YOUR DOCUMENTARY SUBJECT?! AND HE’S A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT?” I brought my phone to my ear again. “Mandy, I’m pretty sure yelling was created for only dire situations.” Water from the faucet splashed as I rinsed my toothbrush and I mumbled a curse. My parents weren’t home when I arrived and Johnie was already in bed, so I just locked myself in my room. After the day I just had, I was hoping to sleep and wake up as a completely different species, but someone else’s body might also work. “How is this not dire? Rachel Delaney Kane, did you not just hear yourself?” Uh oh, my full government name was out. I leaned against the sink, sporting my favorite baby pink pajama set, nose crinkled. “It’s that bad?” “Yes! It is. Your whole life is literally on the line—“ “I didn’t know he was THAT young. Defend me a little here.” “Defend? You could be tagged as a cougar, or worse, serve time. This can never get out.” I held my forehead. “I know, I kn

Chapter 12: How To Pitch Your Way Out of Disaster

RAE I canceled the Q&A session with Talullah right after that unsettling exchange with my mother and left. She probably resented me, but I could live with that. I let out a heavy sigh as I trudged toward my car parked at the curb across from a Starbucks. I leaned against the driver’s door, sipping from my cup of coffee, checking my wristwatch. It was now or never. I had to face the board. But I wasn’t walking into Wondra without a plan to save my ass. After I had gotten a change of clothes and left my parents’ house, I spent the next few hours scrambling for a replacement pitch. If I could convince Jameson that my decision to quit the documentary project was wise, then he might approve of my new vertical. Of course, things could still go downhill and even Mandy’s influence would not be enough to stop Jameson Bran from unleashing his wrath. I was headed for war. Because I wasn’t destined to be famous, or to be anything else but this. As a baby, my favorite toy

Chapter 13: How To Covet What Isn’t Yours

MALACHAR I had been hunting the Alpha of the Trydon pack for two years. And I was miraculously supposed to bring this war to a close in six months, before the next blood moon. Crisp night wind rattled through the balcony of Club Obsidian, one of the many ventures under my control. I watched the vibrant city lights and bustling streets ahead, musing. Alphas were the hardest werewolves to kill. When a wolf ascended their pack’s throne, a Sigil of Authority was bestowed upon them. That Sigil prevented us from being killed by silver and other known vulnerabilities, save for death by natural causes. But once it was destroyed, immunity would cease to exist. Until a few weeks ago, I didn’t know what the Trydon pack Alpha’s Sigil was because its form varied for every crowned wolf. The day I discovered what it was, I realized this war was only just beginning. My phone rang. “What?” I snapped. “Mal,” an old man croaked on the other end of the line. I didn’t have to look at

Chapter 14: How To Get Kidnapped Without Technically Being Kidnapped

RAEI was perfectly capable of having fun on my own, like every other normal person on earth. How hard could it really be?The DJ began playing a popular pop song and everyone on the dance floor went crazy. Bodies shoved into me. I had to hold out my hands to shield myself, but the dance floor wasn’t exactly the ideal place to stand completely still. I could do this.Growing up, I wasn’t a terrible dancer. In fact when I was six, I came third in a neighborhood dance competition. That trophy was still on my award shelf in my old bedroom.I moved my hips to the beat, whipping my hair back and forth because I thought people still did that.I stepped on someone behind me.“Sorry!” I yelped and drew back, but then I stepped on someone else again, twisting my ankle this time.“Fuck!” I winced and hopped on one foot.“Are you blind?!”I assumed that was my cue.If I didn’t leave now, the club staff might have to remove me from this dance floor on a wheelchair.“I’m so sorry.” I pressed my

Chapter 15: How To Break Every Rule

RAEI stepped back, barely breathing.I knew he was here. I knew coming up here was a bad idea. “You are beginning to get on my nerves, Malachar Kane,” I ground out, and the tips of my fingers burned as they dug into the crested box.“It would surprise you how overjoyed I am to hear that.” His smile seemed to grow bigger. And my heart raced faster.“Seriously, what is the meaning of this?!” I screamed, nerves and anger exploding into my voice. Malachar walked over and I willed my chin higher. I would not cower in the face of a child who was having the time of day toying with me. But he just passed me by, headed for the arrangement of seats behind. I released the deep breath I didn’t know I had been holding. My knees almost sank to the floor in relief.“I saw you and I had the bright idea that family should party together.”My throat narrowed as I whirled on my heels. “Whatever game this is—““Don’t you think we should keep each other company?” He threw a leg over his knee, spread

Chapter 16: How To Be Saved By Bad Timing

RAEGods, just a little more.But he removed his finger before I could cum. And I was so frustrated a tear escaped my closed eyelids. I hadn’t even been able to get off on my own. Why couldn’t he just finish what he already started?I opened my eyes.Malachar was sucking me off his finger. I glimpsed the smile creeping onto his face while I just stood there, gulping air like it was my first time breathing. Words would never be able to describe how mortified I was now. I had let it happen again. My fingers shakily tucked the strands of my hair that had left my bun behind my ear. How was I supposed to fix this?I felt so slick in between my legs. The ache, the sensations he had stirred up with his fingers. I clenched my thighs and a bolt of pleasure shot through me. Fuck, I shouldn’t have done that.I bit my bottom lip to hold back a groan. Any more friction would make me combust. “I’m not going to sleep with you. What happened between us was a mistake—“He came at me again and I