Stealing Friends Novels & Stories

I gasp when my wrists are locked in handcuffs, and my own pack mates start to drag me towards the pack house. “Farris?! Farris, WAIT! Please!” I scream, “I’m not a stealer, I swear! I’m normal! I’m normal and I love you, baby, please! Stealers aren't real!” Sobs fall from my lips, and this time the pain I feel is my heart breaking. This time, the tears don’t burn but are ice cold. ***

"Tell me we don't sacrifice our own to those—those monsters." I couldn't lie to her. Not about this. "It's complicated," I'd said instead, which was perhaps worse than a lie. "Complicated?" She'd nearly spat the word. "There's nothing complicated about stealing newborns from their mothers! About telling families their cubs died in birth when you're really feeding them to slavers!" "It's to protect the pack," I'd argued, the justification sounding hollow even to my own ears. "The arrangement has kept us safe for generations. One cub to save hundreds."

Controlled. Just like me.

I wasn't just uninterested in Cohen. I was going to go back and report him to Ruben so he could properly punish this idiot. I didn't want to waste another second dealing with this toxic pair, so I turned to leave. However, Kate suddenly reached out and snatched the bag I had just bought. "Bitch, you can leave, but the bag stays!" Oh, so she was just going to rob me in broad daylight? I grabbed her arm hard. She let out a sharp scream, and her grip loosened. The bag slipped back into my hand.

"Maybe I should introduce one of my juniors to you. He's studying architecture and design, and he's a really good man." I shook my head. "It's fine, Leanna. You don't have to." "Why not? You're going to be lonely all by yourself." I thought about it for a while and decided to tell her the truth. "Actually… I'm kind of talking to someone at the moment." "What?" Leanna's eyes widened again. "I met him while I was applying for my visa. We're planning to enroll in the same program." Her eyes brightened up at once as she clapped her hands in delight. "That's wonderful news! I have to tell your brother about it! Your friend needs to pass all the tests first. We have to make sure that he isn't some

“I am your friend and you don’t need them.” There was jealousy written all over his voice. “Do not be jealous of my friend requests you are the one who tagged me in your post.” “I am just kidding. You can have as many friends as you like but some are just nosey people, so keep them aside because they will complicate your life. I am glad I am not in trouble.” “Who said you are not in trouble.” “My darling, I will massage you.” I laughed at the way he was begging me. “I do not want a massage. I am still thinking of what I want from you.”

“Hmm. True. But credit should really go to your friend and her parents. After all, they were the ones who stole my birthright. So technically, they're to blame for me ‘living in the slum’.” Her expression flickered. I gasped softly, hand flying to my chest. “Oh wait, silly me – how could I forget? It runs in the circle, doesn’t it? You’re all professionals at stealing people's places.” Before she could speak, I raised a manicured finger, leaned closer to the saleslady and said, loud enough for everyone to hear, “You might want to keep an eye on them. They’re thieves.” Their faces drained of color. “Excuse you?” Co-chief bridesmaid retorted.

We were still alive. “Who were they?” I asked at last, quietly. Aaric took a breath, then looked over at the guards standing alert near the steel door. One of them was bleeding from his temple, but stayed silent, waiting for orders. They looked like military statues carved out of steel and bullets. “Insiders,” Aaric said. His voice was flatter now. More dangerous. “Traitors. Someone leaked intel. And someone paid a lot to get rid of me tonight.”

I borrowed a pair of shoes from my friend, who was suffering from a severe athlete’s foot, and left them outside. Just as I expected, the shoes were stolen that very night. But I did not expect the whole rotten family to show up at my door in the middle of the night to throw filthy water at me and hurl insults. Did they really think they owned the building? They had pushed me too far. I was going to drive them out!

The black car soon disappears, leaving me standing alone on the sidewalk. I walk the remaining block to Rowan's building slowly, my mind spinning with everything that just happened. I've made a deal with Sebastian Oberon. I've agreed to spy on Jane, to dig through her things, to keep secrets from my best friend. I've crossed a line I can never uncross. And I still don't know if I'm doing the right thing. When I let myself back into the apartment, the smell of garlic and tomatoes hits me immediately. Jane calls out from the kitchen, her voice bright.