“Hey!” Jade shouts from the treehouse. A moment later she’s marching over to us, her hair a mess, that smell of just been fucked potent in the air, eyes ablaze, blanket wrapped around her. Never in my life have I ever felt this type of divide between me and my wolf, who wants to claim her right here to cover Rev’s scent, and the man who is at his wits end with everyone and everything and just wants to walk the fuck away. “Cut this shit out, Dustin!” she shrieks, getting right in my face. I can see the fire in her eyes, and this close to me I can see her lips are still swollen from kissing Reverie.

  “Me? Why the hell do you think this is my fault?” I growl, moving forward into her space. We’re mere inches apart and the smell of him on her has me teetering on the edge of insanity. In my peripheral vision I can see Ranger chewing on his bottom lip like he is waiting for the real fight to break out. He knows I would never hurt Jade, I can tell from his stance. If he thought I would hurt her, he’d be in my face right now. Not standing off to the side. But if I ever lost it, he wouldn’t have to do a damn thing. The human in me would win out and I’d turn around and leave this place for good. Leave everyone and everything behind. Because if I turn into that much of a monster, then I shouldn’t be here.

  “Are you kidding?” she scowls. ”This is just like you,” she fumes.

  “Fucking hell, Jade! I’m never going to be good enough for you, am I? I can beat every fucking trial, give up everything I have, and it still wouldn’t be enough for you!” The words flow out of me without warning. “No, I’m just a goddamn joke. No matter what I do, I’m wrong. In your eyes, I can’t fucking do anything right. I could tell you the sky is blue and you’d find a way to fight me on it!” Jade’s eyes soften for a moment. The sight alone brings up a flurry of emotion I don't want to display to her, but most of all not to Ranger or Reverie.

  “Dustin—”

  “No,” I interject, running my hand through my hair. “No, Jade. I’m done with this back and forth shit. It’s always been hot and cold with you, and I’m over it.” Movement catches my eye and I see Rev dropping to the ground, in nothing but a pair of jeans. I growl deeply, my wolf wanting to come to the forefront, to tear his ass into shreds with my bare fucking teeth. Standing there in his jeans, with that dark look on his face, and I want to ruin him. Hell, I could. Right here, I could take my stand, show them all who’s really in charge. I should have never agreed to bust him out of the shack. I should have let Donevan and my father do their worst. Maybe then I wouldn’t be standing here having a damn meltdown. I take a step in Reverie’s direction but Jade cuts me off.

  “Step back, Dustin,” she says harshly. Is she seriously protecting this asshole?“Or what? You’ll do something neither of us will like?” I growl.

  Jade’s eyes flash with anger, but there is a hint of sadness.

  Pity. Anger flares in my blood, and my shoulders tense.

  “What did you expect to happen here, Jade?” I ask, truly not understanding what she’s even thinking. “You know what our future holds. You know we will be married, there’s no way around it.”

  “Says the stupid fucking council!” She glares angrily at me. Her blanket falls around her shoulders, exposing just one beautifully bare shoulder. “Don’t act like you care. You don’t want to be married to me anyway. It doesn’t mean anything to you. It’s just politics. I ruined your life, remember Dustin?!” she shouts, her voice cracking with emotion.

  “Doesn’t mean anything? Just like that kiss this morning didn’t mean anything? Huh, Jade? You just gonna lead me on, kiss me, then come back here and fuck this piece of shit human.”

  “You kissed him?” Rev butts in.

  Ranger’s words are spoken at the same time, but take a little bit longer to register in my brain.

  “He’s not a human anymore.”

  My eyes find Ranger. “What did you just say?” My voice is calm and quiet. Every bit of anger I had has washed away. Fucking disappeared. Over just a few short words.

  He’s not human anymore.

  “I think you need to cool off, go for a run. Clear your head a bit. Then we can talk.” Ranger pulls Jade to his side, and she leans into him reflexively. It pisses me off more than it should. He takes a step back. Reverie moves to stand behind Jade and Ranger, and don’t they look like the picture perfect fucking family. Like a pack.

  “I don’t know what you think you’ve got going here Jade, but you need to get one thing straight. You belong to me. Always have, always will. And it’s out of both of our control. Whether you like it or not.”

  I turn around, shed my clothes, shift into my wolf, and I run. I run and run until I have no idea where the hell I am.

  And then I run some more.

  Chapter 29

  Jade

  I have never been submissive to anyone or anything in my entire life. The closest I ever came to such an instinctual feeling was when I lost my virginity to Dustin at sixteen.

  In the same treehouse, no less. Perhaps there’s some poetry to that.

  I can still remember my wolf trying to take over when I was with Dustin, trying to get my brain where it needed to be. The feelings it stirred up inside me that I felt didn’t belong to me.

  I freaked out halfway through. The idea of anyone claiming me, of dominating me scared me, and I resisted. But it wasn’t just the reality of what was happening that scared me, it was how right it felt.

  I turned Reverie.

  I would do it again in a heartbeat, no questions asked. I knew it was what needed to be done, and in my heart I knew it was right. That he’d live. Because of me.

  I imagine it must have been overwhelming for him, coming to with a new entity in your head that wasn’t there before. With a whole new set of desires and instincts that are clamoring in your head to be heard, it couldn’t have been easy.

  Reverie looked at me in those first few moments, and I understood everything.

  I’d been attracted to him from the start—my hot human and all—but it wasn’t his looks that did it for me. It was his heart. Like folding the clothes at the lake, when we just ran free.

  Ranger acted as if Rev was this shy, quiet, don’t-want-no-trouble-ma’am type, but I never saw that. With me, Rev was mysterious, alluring, bold, and hot as hell.

  With a wolf stuffed inside him, he was ten times more intense than before.

  And I like it.

  My wolf instinctively knew what was happening before I did.

  The transition took, but it needed a bond to solidify it. It was my saliva, my venom which pushed through his blood, taking over the human DNA and leaving its mark. That essence that called to me, that hunger I felt when I bit him, was nothing compared to the feeling of what it felt like to submit to him. To be claimed by him.

  I know Dustin and Ranger think I’ve got a decent list of lovers, but they couldn’t be more wrong. I’ve had my share of hook ups, sure—when I was feeling lonely or bored even. But the truth was, most of them never got past first or second base.

  I hadn’t gone all the way with anyone since Dustin.

  Since I freaked out, and ran off.

  So as I watch Dustin take off into the woods, I understand.

  It’s the reaction I’d expect him to have.

  But it's my anxiety and heartbreak I don’t expect. The fear that he’ll never come back.

  That he’ll truly be done with me.

  I’m never going to be good enough for you, am I? I could see the pain in his eyes as he looked at me when he said those words. Pain I’d caused.

  How did he not understand? How could he think so little of himself? He’s the son of an alpha for God’s sake.

  Reverie squeezes my hand.

  “Let him go. He’ll be fine.” Ranger’s voice pulls me from my thoughts.

  “What if he doesn’t come back?” I ask, my voice cracking.

  Ranger smirks at me over his shoulder.

  “Easy there, baby. He’ll be back. He can’t help himself. No matter what you throw at him, he’ll find his way back. To you.”

  I hope Ranger is right. Because if he isn’t...

  Would Dustin give us up? Would he tell Samuel or Donevan about what I'd done? If he was pissed off enough, would he do it?

  Would he hurt me to take away his own pain? To get back at me? Is that the kind of person Dustin Blackridge is? It’s something his father would do, but… Dustin isn’t his father.

  Reverie must have felt my anxiety. He pulls me into his arms, and his sweet orange and ginger scent is like pure Heaven.

  “We’ll figure this out,” he whispers in my ear, and I sigh.

  “I’m sorry. I’m stealing your moment.” I say, a slow smile tugging at my lips.

  I can also feel the bulge forming in his jeans against my thigh.

  I let out a small laugh.

  “Don’t worry about it. I think we’re going to have a lot more moments to make up for it,” He says as he gazes down at me with the most perfect look in his eyes.

  I know when I look back he is absolutely right.

  Chapter 30

  Dustin

  I come to a stop at the border of my land. Well, soon enough it won’t be my land at all. It will remain my father’s. For how long, I have no idea. My father and Maverick are around the same age. The age of letting go and moving the fuck on. Maverick isn’t too proud to admit when it’s time to give up. My father? He’s probably going to die an alpha. It’s not the way to go, it’s not good for the pack. But really… It’s not my problem.

  The rivalry between the Blackridge and Hollow packs should come to an end with me taking the Hollow’s alpha position. It should, but something tells me this isn't even close to being over. After what my father said… the thoughts won’t leave my mind. I feel as if I should be loyal to my father, he is my blood after all, he raised me, and even though I don’t agree with everything he does, he is my family.

  Then there’s Jade. The only person in the world I would do anything for. Including cutting all ties with my father. Even after the bullshit that just happened. But is that really the best decision? Is going against that man something I am ready for?

  I wish she was easier to talk to, I wish it were easier for me to talk. For us to work out these things together. She’s going to be my wife, we’ve been friends since we were little pups. We should be able to talk to one another about these things. We were close once. Why does she have to be so difficult? What went wrong?

  I find myself getting angrier, but not with her and much to my dismay, not with Reverie either. I can’t blame the little shit for catching feelings for her. I’m not angry at her being with Reverie, but why? I have no fucking idea. I’m pissed because why should he get everything and I get nothing? I’m the one who’s been here from the beginning. I’m the one who’s loved her for years. We used to say up late at night and talk about our future together for fuck’s sake.

  There was a time when she loved me, when we planned our lives together. And then as quickly as it was there, it was gone. Jade built up a wall and instead of keeping me inside of it with her, she locked me out. How is it this human gets thrown into the mix and she lets him right in without a care in the world, but still keeps me out? I don’t care if he’s no longer human, he will always be different.

  And it isn’t fucking fair.

  “Fancy meeting you here.” The voice sends shivers up my spine, but not out of fear. Out of anger. Donevan is not who I want to see right now. It’s not the best time for me to be going head to head with this man. I’m torn with what to do. I can’t speak to him like this, in my wolf form, but I don’t want to shift to speak with him either. I could run, but that’ll only make me look weak. I turn with the plan to just bite his nuts off and call it a day. That’ll teach him to fuck with me. My father would be pissed, but he can find a new beta. Or maybe he’d just survive it. He is a wolf after all, he’d probably heal, but an injury like that would have permanent damage. We can heal but we can’t grow appendages back. Not sure he’d want to live without his cock, though I’m surprised the thing hasn’t fallen off yet with all the places he shoves it in.

  Or maybe it’s already gone from his wife chopping it off. It would be less than he deserved.

  I realize I'm spending way too much time thinking about another man’s dick, so instead, I bare my teeth with the full intention of sinking them anywhere on his flesh. Just the thought of the bite, the blood underneath my tongue, has me excited. I’ve never been big on inflicting pain on others, but the thought of this man being in pain brings me pleasure. Especially right now.

  As I get fully around though, a sharp pain pierces through my chest, so agonizing it forces me to shift to my human form. I can’t help the curses as I clutch my chest.

  Donevan’s laughter is like a trigger, setting every nerve in my body on fire, on edge with the need to kill him. I open my eyes, pure rage fueling me to get up and destroy this little shit. Only I don’t move, as I find him hovering over me, a crossbow in hand, cocked back and loaded. It’s then I realize my wound. An arrow is pierced through my upper chest by my right shoulder.

  “You know, Dustin, you really didn’t have to be such a shit to me all the time. We could have been friends.”

  I growl and then spit, even from this distance I hit him right in the face. All he does is laugh. He’s smart—won’t even pull his hand from the cross bow to wipe it from his face.

  “I’m not sure your father will care that you’re dead once he finds out you were the one hiding the human. He’ll probably be happy. A traitor for a son? He’d never tolerate that. And maybe he’ll kill your little girlfriend too, just for good measure, or maybe just for pleasure. Who knows. Now get the fuck up and walk before I put this arrow through your fucking skull.”

  Donevan forces me to walk for at least a mile. It sucks on bare human feet, but I don’t have a choice. I’m thankful the arrow piercing me didn’t hit anything important. It isn’t even bleeding all that much, though my body won’t be able to heal with it still in me. I refrain from pulling it out, knowing it’ll only piss him off and I’m in no place to do that when he has a crossbow aimed at the back of my head.

  We end up at a shack I’ve never seen before. One hidden so deep in the woods that no one would ever find it. Funnily enough, I can sense it isn’t too far from the treehouse. Which means we’re just north beyond the Hollow’s border. Right past the border of Starfall Creek. How have I not known of this place before?

  The shack in question isn’t new, the wood is just as old and weathered as everything else around here.

  “Go,” he urges as I reach the door. I push it open and step inside. There are no windows and it’s dark as hell, the musty smell of dried blood is pertinent in the air. “There’s a lantern to the right, light it and set it down.”

  My wolf stirs, the need to argue is intense, but I’m smarter than that. I do as he asks, the large lantern illuminating the entire shed. Old tools line the walls, a work bench to the left and a few chairs towards the back of the wall. This guy is fucked in the head. “Take a seat,” he growls, jabbing me with the tip of the arrow. It pierces my skin and enrages me, but I don’t react the way I want to.

  “I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” I say darkly as I spin and take a seat. He throws his head back and laughs.

  “Oh, yeah? The fuck you gonna do about it, little boy? I have the upperhand here, not you.”

  I huff out a laugh, letting the grin spread across my face.

  “Perhaps now. But when I get out? You’re going to wish you’d been born to another pack.”

  Chapter 31

  Reverie

  I keep my words kind, even though I feel anger deep within me. Something I’ve never felt before. I’ve never been an angry person, or a jealous person. Yet I feel irrationally possessive over Jade and knowing her lips were on Dustin’s only a short time ago... It’s torture.

  Though I know I cannot fully blame her. I don’t know their history, I only know what I see and what I am told. I can tell this situation is not going to be easy, for any of us... but I saw how she looked when Dustin got angry, when he took off. Acting that way is not going to get me anywhere with her. Staying here, trying to be understanding, helping her through those feelings, that’s what I need to do.

  And I need to remember that she isn’t mine. She isn’t my girlfriend. In fact, she’s going to be Dustin’s wife.

  She told me Ranger isn’t a competitive person. Well, I never used to be either, but it seems this wolf who is now living inside of me is. He wants what is his and he doesn’t want to share. To him, Jade does belong to us.

  We make our way back up to the treehouse and Jade gets dressed properly. I sit on the mattress with my back against the wall, Jade lies down with her head in my lap. I run my fingers through her hair, comforting her as best as I can. She wraps her arms around my legs, and I can feel her tension. Ranger paces the room, deep in thought.

  Soon enough, Jade’s breathing slows, and I can tell she’s fallen asleep. Ranger notices immediately, and takes a seat on a bean bag chair not too far from us. He leans forward, resting his forearms on his knees. He doesn’t look at me when he speaks. “You know you can’t go back now.” His voice is serious. Probably the most serious I’ve ever heard him.

  I stare out the window, at the dark forest, catching spots of moonlight filtering through the leaves.

  I know he’s right. I knew it from the moment I woke up, and felt something else inside of me.

  The crazy part? I don’t even want to go back. To any of it. Not now.

  There’s so much I could say, but all I say is, “I know.”

  “It may not be easy, but we don’t have a choice now. I have to be honest with you, Rev, I have no idea what kind of shit we’re going to get into for this. What Jade did...” It’s strange seeing this serious side of Ranger. He’s worried, I can tell. I should be worried too, but somehow I am not.