Chapter 1 Chapter 1

JACE. ‘Alpha, I bumped into Lady Amara. She was running toward the forest line and told me not to follow her. I think something happened to her. She looked bad.’ I kept repeating the warrior’s words in my head as my wolf, Zero, hiked up his speed, heading in the direction where we thought we could find her. My heart was pounding too hard, worried that something bad had happened to her. And, knowing Amara, she was the last female on the planet that would seek help. My name is Jackson Galhart, or you can call me Jace. Tomorrow, I will step up as the new Alpha of the Black Shadow Pack, something I have spent my whole life preparing for. Just a moment ago, I was standing on the training ground, watching as my father, Alpha Jacob Galhart, spent the last night of being an Alpha in friendly combat with his most trusted men, his Beta and Gamma. Pride rose in my chest as I watched my father display all the skills he learned and acquired through the years. He was a great Alpha and even a greater warrior. He might be in his forties, but he was still capable of rendering anyone immobile with his combat skills. But with him fighting both Beta Gavin and Gamma Aaron, who were almost on par with him, I doubted if any of them would end up submitting. They were by far the best fighters in this pack, and my only hope was that I, together with my Beta and Gamma, Tyler, and Austin, would be able to achieve what they had, if not surpass them. With the passing of the title happening tomorrow, I was supposed to be just taking it easy tonight. I blocked off my schedule this afternoon until the ceremony so I could have time for myself before I gave my all to this pack, but then one of the warriors reached out to me and told me about seeing Amara in the middle of the forest, near the Shadow Academy. It had been my mother’s dream to build a fortress for teenagers who would be taught about shifter and human ways through a regular high school, and my father, with the support of his closest friends, the Alpha Circle, had made it a reality. Thus, the Shadow Academy was born. Twelve years later, we had many students who resided within the academy under the protection of our pack. Most of the students here were Alpha heirs, including Amara, the firstborn Alpha Female from the Blood Moon Pack, Alpha Aeon, and Luna Alexa’s only daughter. Amara was only sixteen, the same age as Catherine. And although she started as one of my closest friends, puberty tore us apart as I navigated my adolescent years with the males of my age, while she became closer with my younger sister. But it didn’t mean I wasn’t looking out for her. Amara and I had a special bond since we were pups. I had vowed to her that I would mentor her and would always protect her at all costs. And an Alpha never backed down with his words, so despite the gap between us lately, my eyes had always seen her, even without her knowing it. Zero howled to the moon as Amara’s sweet scent hit our nose. I could also feel a sense of fear in her aura as we neared the clearing where she was. Amara was never one to show fear, even at difficult times. It was the reason why every female her age, and even those slightly older, looked up to her for advice. But if she was terrified at the moment, I could only imagine what she was going through. I found her two hundred meters away from her dormitory, lying on the forest ground, clutching her stomach and whimpering in pain. I let out a low growl at all the horrible thoughts that crossed my mind. Did someone assault her? My eyes roamed her body as I walked slowly toward her, hoping that I would not find any traces of blood or bruises that would tell me that she had been assaulted. Because heaven forbids, I will rip apart the person who touches her. …………….. AMARA. I whimpered loudly before breathing through my mouth as I curled my body into a fetal position. I was laying on the damp, cold forest ground, thinking of all the possible reasons I was having this burning pain in my stomach. Shifters rarely have period pains, and I had never experienced one, so I was sure this was not it. "Aaaah…" I screamed as tears trickled down my face while my teeth chattered. The pain erupted from my spine to every bone in my body, and I felt like I was being ripped apart. I had no idea how to make the pain go away, but I just wanted it to stop. I don’t even know what was happening to me. I heard movement in the bushes a few feet away — twigs snapped, leaves rustled and a wolf's paws thudded against the ground. Someone was approaching. Please let it be someone that could be trusted. I had no idea why I ran inside the forest at the first sign of pain instead of telling the dormitory headmistress. Maybe because I was so used to being the tough one, I thought I could handle anything. But all the bravery in me was already slipping away. My eyes were blurry from the tears that just kept coming, but I could make out an image of something approaching. A black wolf. An Alpha wolf. I swiped the tears with the back of my hand before I pushed myself off the ground so that I ended up on all fours before I titled my head in the direction of the wolf. "Zero…" My voice croaked before my arms buckled and my body stumbled on the ground. Zero, the black wolf, shifted before my eyes and was replaced by his human. Jace. Jace rushed forward and held my arms as he gently lifted my body off the ground, carrying me in bridal style. If this were any other time, my heart would definitely flutter at the sight of him being naked, but my mind couldn’t think of anything aside from the pain coursing through my whole body. "What’s going on? Does it hurt somewhere?" He asked as he walked forward, his voice laced with concern. "Everywhere hurts.""Did someone... did someone assault you?" I saw his eyes dilate as his jaw clenched. His grip on my body tightened before he pulled me into his chest, that I could hear the heavy beating of his heart. "No. I don’t even know what’s happening to me!" And then I screamed again! It was so loud that it made Jace stop in his tracks and drop to one knee before he laid me on the ground. "Amara, I think you’re shifting." He told me. Shifting? No one should be shifting. It wasn’t even a full moon. But then, there were things in this world that couldn’t be explained. "I just turned sixteen." I tried to say it in a straight voice. "And a firstborn Alpha Female…" He added. "Only male… shifts… early…" I spoke haltingly from the pain. In the world of shifters, shifting into our wolves for the first time happens on the last full moon before we turn eighteen. Except for male Alpha heirs such as Jace. They were expected to shift earlier, around the age of 14 or 15. But I had not heard of a female Alpha heir who shifted at this age, so I was not sure if he was right about this. I was still lost in my thoughts when I felt his hand wipe the sweat from my forehead, and my panting turned into a soft moan. His touch gave relief to the burn I was feeling inside. "Touch me again, please. The burn lessens.""Like this?" He placed his palm on my forehead, and I nodded before pushing my head forward to be closer to him. Jace snaked his arms around my body and adjusted our position. He sat on the grounds, with me sitting on his lap — coiled and cradled like a baby in his arms. "We need to take off your clothes, or at least your shorts and your bra, so nothing will restrict you if you’re shifting." Being naked in the middle of a forest was the last thing I wanted, but I nodded my head. I trusted Jace. He would never put me in danger or abandon me. As much as I wanted to move, I couldn’t. My face was resting against his neck, seeking comfort from his body and his scent. "Don’t sleep. You need to shift…" His voice came out hoarsely. "It feels good here.""They stay there but don’t sleep. Do you want me to take off your shorts?"

Chapter 2 Chapter 2

AMARA. "Then stay there but don’t sleep. Do you want me to take off your shorts? But I have to rip it apart if you don’t want to move.""Yes, please," I replied in a soft voice. Claws erupted from his nails before he ripped my shorts open. I felt the air on my ass as he tossed away the torn piece of cloth before his hand went up inside the back of my shirt. "I will just unclasp your bra…" I nodded my head again with my eyes closed as I tried to steady my breathing. The burn was still there, but having Jace around helped calm my senses. "Shit.." I heard him mutter under his breath as his fingers fumbled on the clasp of my bra. "Fuck. How on earth do I take this off?" His voice sounded annoyed, and I couldn’t help but smile despite the pain in my body. I bent my arm and reached for my back, but before I could even touch my bra, I heard a piece of fabric rip, and I knew he had destroyed my favorite sea-blue undergarment. Same old Jace — sometimes he would get impatient. I lifted my arms and wrapped them around his neck as I hugged him tighter. I just want to go to sleep now. "That’s my favorite," I mumbled against his skin. "You need to tell me where to buy those, and I’ll buy you a new one. Damn those little clothes, why does anyone need to wear them anyway?""Hmmm…" He untangled my arms from his neck before he held them and withdrew my body away from him. "How are you feeling? You look too pale?""I’m so tired and burning…""You need to fight it if you want to shift successfully.""It’s painful.""What happened to the brave girl I knew who could take down anyone in her way? A little pain and you’re giving up? Come on, Amara, you can do better." I was about to answer him back when a screeching pain erupted again from my spine as if it were being pulled out of my body. I screamed at the top of my lungs before I sank my teeth into his arm, biting him hard. "Mother fucker!" Jace growled, and it was the first time I heard him growl so loudly that it hurt my ears. I snapped out of my senses as my eyes widened, fear flitting in them. My bite must have hurt too much because his eyes were dilating and his arm was too red with my bite mark. I was sure there were wounds as blood was visible in them. "I’m…" I was not able to finish my words as my face twisted with pain, making me arch my body, and I stumbled backward. "Amara!" He growled again while I tried to crawl away from him. "Stop! Please make it stop! Goddess, please!" I pleaded through my cries and tears began trickling down my face as my body stiffened, but my elbows and knees were still buckling. Jace crouched in front of me, his eyes dilating and his jaw clenching as he cupped my cheeks, his thumb brushing against the corner of my mouth. "You’re doing great, brave heart…" I forced a smile when he used the term he would always call me when we were younger — when I kept climbing those tall trees even though I kept falling on my ass. "I don’t know how to be brave tonight. It’s too painful, Jace.""I’m here. Do you remember what I always told you when you got scratches and wounds?""The pain will go... away.""Right. It will soon be over and you will forget about the pain." I nodded my head as I bit my bottom lip a little too hard to suppress my cries. "Does your gum itch?" I nodded. "It’s painful now…""Open your mouth..." I slowly parted my mouth and closed my eyes. The pain was still too much, but Jace’s hands on my cheeks were making me brave. He didn’t let go and continued to caress my cheeks until I could feel my saliva dripping but I couldn’t stop it. I heard movement as his hands withdrew, and tears fell from my eyes, although they were closed. Did he move back because my saliva was dripping? He was probably grossed out. I heard a piece of fabric being torn. I snapped my eyes open and saw him with a piece of my shirt, and he gently wiped the drool off the side of my mouth. And it just made me cry harder. "Hey, don’t cry. You’re making me feel so useless because I can’t help you." His sounded hurt. If he only knew I was crying because I wasn’t expecting him to do this for me. "I promise you, once you meet your wolf, the pain will be worth it. So just hang in there, brave heart." He rested his forehead against mine, his peppermint breath fanning against my face. "Zero and I, can’t wait to meet your wolf, Amara. I’m sure she’s as beautiful as you." Then it happened. A screeching pain erupted in multiple places in my body — my shoulders, stomach, spine, limbs, knees, elbows, everywhere. I just wanted it to end, so I let another torturous scream escape my throat before I heard my bones snapping one by one. And the gums that had been painful and itchy for a while now began ripping — something was coming out. My eyes darted back to Jace as he scooted backward without taking his gaze off me. The wide, smug grin on his face and the pride flitting in his eyes gave me the assurance I needed. I was doing things right. Soon enough, my screaming filled the forest around us until it turned into a howl of triumph. Fur sprouted out of my skin, and my face elongated as fangs erupted from my gums. Before I knew it, I had already shifted. "Holy mother fucker! You’re a black wolf!" Jace exclaimed. His eyes rounded in awe, but he remained fixed on his spot. My head tilted down to look at my paws. He wasn’t lying. I am a black wolf. An Alpha wolf. Ice. My wolf’s name was Ice. How ironic was it when I was all black? Ice whimpered and slumped her body to the ground, telling me that she wanted Jace to approach us, but since we couldn’t mindlink him, there was no way to let him know we wanted him to come to us. This felt so strange. My wolf was so happy to be out and kept chattering in my head while I remained silent and still in awe of everything. I have a wolf at sixteen. Ice tilted her head up, and our eyes locked with Jace’s piercing blue eyes. He was no longer smiling, and the brooding Alpha that I see all the time was back. Where was the nice Jace earlier, the one that cradled me in his arms? ‘Did we do something wrong, Ice?’ I asked my wolf, confused at the sudden change in his mood. Ice didn’t answer and just whimpered. And just like in a movie, Jace’s face slowly twitched into a warm smile as he spread his arms open as if welcoming me for a hug. "Come here, brave heart. Don’t be lazy. Get up and practice walking…" His voice sounded excited, and it made Ice excited as well. She pushed her body up and bravely threaded her way to Jace, slipping and sliding twice before she was able to get her footing. "There you go! You’re fucking beautiful! I wish I knew your name. But I guess I have to wait until Amara tells me." Jace’s face looked so happy that I had no idea if I should be happy as well or get jealous. He liked my wolf, and I wonder when he will look at me that way. My name is Amara Grace Mikaelson. Firstborn Alpha Female. Sixteen years old. And yes, I’d been harboring a crush on the eighteen-year-old, soon-to-be Alpha, in front of me. I had no idea when I started noticing that the hugs I was giving him were no longer the brotherly hugs that I was used to, that he had been occupying my thoughts whenever I was alone, or that I hated all the females throwing themselves at him. But I kept it all a secret and acted as if he meant nothing to me. No one had to know. Especially not my best friend Catherine - Jace’s younger sister. "Would you like to play? Run with me? Every young wolf needs to run after they shift for the first time…" Jace asked, his hand running and smoothing against my fur, and I was basking in the attention he was giving us, even if it was just to my wolf. "How about you lick my face if it’s a yes, or push me away if it’s a no? So…" He smiled, and his deep dimples offset his chiseled jaw. Could this male be more handsome than he already is? My eyes widened when Ice raised her paws and pushed Jace’s shoulders so that he stumbled backward, but she didn’t let go and instead hovered over him. ‘What are you doing? I want to run with Zero!" I snapped at my wolf. Oh, Goddess! First day, and I was already fighting with her. Ice huffed in my head as if teasing me before her head leaned down and began licking his face. Jace laughed heartily before he cupped her jaws while she continued licking his face. "Aren’t you a tease?" Yup! That’s exactly what I was thinking. And I couldn’t stop the smile that formed on my lips this time. Jace seldom smiled at me or anyone else, so it warmed my heart that he was smiling and laughing at the moment, even if he was sharing it with my wolf and not directly with me.

Chapter 3 Chapter 3

JACE. Zero spent a long time running around and playing with Amara’s wolf, whose name we didn’t even know. Amara and I came from different packs, which means mindlink doesn’t work between us and our wolves. Although Zero could sense her aura and her emotions, like the excitement she felt at the moment, there was no way to communicate with them. But despite that, our wolves seemed to enjoy each other’s company so much that I didn’t even notice that we had run too far from her dormitory. I wanted to tell her to turn around, but I had no way to communicate with her, so Zero just followed her around. We had been running for some time now when my mother’s words dug into my head. ‘Jace?’ ‘Mom...’ ‘It’s dinner time. Your dad will be here soon. Where did you go?’ ‘I went for a run. I think I will miss dinner tonight. Can I make it up some other nights?’ I had no idea why I didn’t tell her about Amara’s shifting. Maybe a part of me just wanted to be the only one to know at this point. ‘Are you okay?’ She asked, her voice laced with worry. ‘I am. I just want to be alone for now. Tomorrow night, my mind won’t be mine alone anymore once the whole pack’s mindlinks are passed on to me.’ ‘I understand. Be careful, okay? I will set aside food for you.’ ‘Thanks, Mom.’ ‘I love you, Alpha.’ ‘I love you too.’ I smiled at the warmth of her voice before I cut off our mindlink. My mother, Luna Clair Galhart, had never seen me pass the little boy that clung possessively onto her arms, and although it did suffocate me sometimes, I knew she meant well and had always my best interest at heart. When Dad finally decided to retire from being an Alpha the moment I turned eighteen, Mom was against it. She thought I was still too young to have the responsibility of an Alpha. Not that she thought I was not capable — she just didn’t want to push and force me into taking responsibility if I didn’t want to. But I wanted this. And good thing that Dad couldn’t be swayed. He was banking on me, and it was now all up to me to prove to my mother that I was prepared to be one. This Alpha title was the reason I spent my whole life trying to excel at everything I needed to do to prepare myself for this day, and I never allowed any females around me to throw me off track. I have a loving mother and a smart younger sister. For the time being, having them as the only females in my life was enough — until I met my fated mate. Zero stopped running all of a sudden, his paws firmly gripping the ground so he wouldn’t crash into Amara’s wolf as she was already slowing down. We let her run in front of us so I could see the whole perimeter and make sure she was secured. She must be tired as we’ve been running and playing for a long time now. I immediately shifted back into my human form and walked around her until I ended up in front of her. I didn’t miss her wolf’s eyes as they lingered on my cck and I couldn’t help but chuckle before I crouched down to the ground. "Eyes up here, kitten." I put my hand on her wolf’s jaw and tilted her head. "Are you tired? We’ve been running for a while now. You can rest." I was not even done with my words when Amara shifted back into her human form. Her eyes rounded before she slammed her body against mine, and it caught me off guard. Our bodies stumbled backward, but my reflexes were fast enough to secure her in my arms and catch our fall. Our bodies were pressed against each other, with her arms in between our chests. "I’m naked." Her voice croaked. She threw herself on me to prevent me from seeing her naked, but the problem was that my dck was also naked. And I wasn't sure it could remain flaccid in the position we were in. I nodded my head before I closed my eyes, while she stayed still, laying on top of me. "I know there are clothes somewhere here. I’ll pick up one but I need to stand up." She moved her body away from me, and I pushed myself off the ground without opening my eyes. I only had them open when I was already standing and was sure that she was out of my peripheral view. I had no problem with nakedness. I’d seen females naked — on the few occasions that I’d been in bed with them and during ordinary days, when they had to shift or during training. I was sure it would be the same case for Amara, but I wanted her to be comfortable and not think I was taking advantage. In time, she would get used to being naked around males as she had shifted already. And if she became an Alpha, it would be an inevitable thing to do. I hissed at the thought of her being the only female and naked in a swarm of male warriors. She might be a future Alpha, but she was my little kitten. And I couldn’t believe she was growing up already. I rounded the area until I was able to find a spot where clothes were left. There was only one set. It was a good thing that the shirt was too big for her, enough to cover up to her thighs. I came back to where she was and found her sitting with her back against the tree and her legs pulled up against her chest. She rested her chin on her knees as she hugged them. It was great that she crossed her ankles, covering her private parts from my view. "Here," I told her as I handed her the shirt. I was already wearing shorts. "Thanks, Jace." I heard her mumble while I walked to the other side of the tree and rested under it while she put on her shirt. "What’s your wolf’s name?" I asked. "Ice…""Beautiful name. And she’s beautiful too.""Prettier than me?" She inquired as she took a seat beside me. I chuckled as I snaked an arm around her shoulders and pulled her closer to my side. "As pretty as you. No need to be jealous of your wolf." She laid her head on my shoulder as she let out a soft cackle. "Well, Zero is more mesmerizing than you.""Aha! Now that’s not fair! I tried to make you feel good, and you couldn’t return the favor." I snickered before my hand slid down to her waist and gently pressed my fingers against her soft skin. I knew she was ticklish on this part. Her giggles rang in the air as she squirmed beside me. "Stop…" But it only made me press my fingers harder onto her skin and begin tickling her while my other hand held her shoulder, keeping her from getting away from me as we laughed together. Her body kept squirming and moving until her ass landed on my lap. My arms automatically wrapped around her waist and pulled her closer. I stiffened when I realized what I was doing and the position we were in.

Chapter 4 Chapter 4

JACE. I stiffened when I realized what I was doing and the position we were in. Shit! I needed to stop. I did not remove her from my lap, and she did not leave either, even after I stopped tickling her. Instead, she rested her back against my torso and slightly turned her body to the side so her cheek was resting on my shoulder, and her hair, which smelled of strawberries, pressed against my mouth. We stayed still in this position until I heard her breathing slow down. I let out a deep sigh before I spoke. "I should take you back to the dormitory.""How far are we?""Thirty to forty minutes.""I don’t think I can wait any longer. I want to sleep, and besides, the main doors are locked. I don’t want to ring the headmistress and be interrogated.""You’re with me. She won’t argue with that, and besides, you shifted.""I don’t want anyone to know I shifted.""They will still smell your wolf.""I should call Mom and let her know.""They’re here tomorrow for my ceremony. You can tell them personally." I told her as I rested my head back against the tree, with my hands on the ground, gripping the dirt and earth. I wanted to keep my hands off of her. I waited for her to reply, and when she didn’t, I tipped my head down to look at her. She fell asleep. It was nothing unusual. Females usually pass out after they shifted. Amara had lasted more than an hour running, which was already a record for females shifting for the first time, but then she was an Alpha Female. ‘And only sixteen.’ Zero growled in my head. He was frustrated that he could not connect with Ice, so he kept snapping at me. But what choice did we have? I adjusted Amara’s position and let her sleep comfortably in my arms. My stomach was growling. I didn’t have lunch or dinner, but I didn’t want to wake her up, so I sat still and closed my eyes. I would let her rest for a while. "Jace…" A sweet voice woke me up from a deep slumber. My eyes immediately snapped open, and my body jolted forward, making whoever was on my lap fall backward. "Fuck!" I growled as I moved and tried to catch Amara, but she was already on the ground, laughing as she clutched her stomach. My eyes went to her exposed thighs, and if she moved her arms up, I would see something I was not supposed to see. Eyes on her face, Jace. I kept reminding myself. My forehead creased as I leaned forward and pulled her abruptly up from the ground, and my grip might be so tight that she grimaced and scowled at me. "Careful!" She snapped at me, tugging her arms away from my hold. "I forgot you were grumpy when you just woke up.""You startled me," I told her as I brushed my hand over my hair. "We should head home.""I can’t. It’s midnight.""Packhouse is just a 10-minute run from here.""Okay. I’ll shift back.""Zero can take you on his back. Just hop on him. It’ll be faster than having Ice run with him.""Grumpy old man." I heard her mutter under her breath, but I ignored her as I slipped the shorts off my body, folded them, and tossed them behind the bushes. "Eyes up, Amara. Not on my ass." I told her with a voice devoid of any emotion. "You have dimples on your ass." She giggled. "I’d been told," I huffed as I crouched on the ground. "Who told you? Your girlfriend, or girlfriends?" she asked, her voice mocking me. Instead of answering, I shifted into my wolf. Girlfriends? I never had one, and I would never have one. The only one I would commit to is the one bestowed upon me by the Goddess. And I will wait for her, even if it takes forever. Zero slumped his body down to the ground so it would be easier for Amara to climb. "Of course, you will not answer." She huffed. "Mr. Alpha is always too nice not to talk about his females." I could imagine her rolling her eyes as she climbed on the back of my wolf. "You know you can tell me about your females. I can keep secrets, and maybe you can ask me about what a female wants in a relationship. Maybe I can help you." She kept talking as she leaned her body forward and wrapped her arms around Zero’s neck. Amara. Same old Amara. She would always dominate our conversations. I smiled despite myself as Zero rose from the ground and prepared to run. What made her think that a girl who just turned sixteen could give advice about females and relationships to an eighteen-year-old boy? "I’m smarter than my age, just in case you forget." She added, and for a while, I thought she was hearing my thoughts. But she was right, she was smarter than her age. I couldn’t argue with that. --------------------- "You did not just walk in naked, with Amara almost naked beside you!" Austin’s voice rang around the entrance of the packhouse, and my hand immediately flew to the back of his head, slapping him before we ended up chuckling. Austin was my cousin and would step in as the Gamma of the pack with me tomorrow night, or tonight, to be specific. "Why the fuck are you still awake?" I asked, and my eyes darted to the big wall clock that read two o’clock in the morning. "I just came home…" He winked at Amara, who had her arms crossed against her chest. "You will have a ceremony tomorrow, and you went out partying?" Amara asked him. "I have to be responsible starting tomorrow, so I went out and celebrated, which was the exact same thing you did. So you’re no good too." He smirked before turning serious and shifting his gaze between me and Amara. "So, did you two... cross the friendship line?""Fuck you. I’m not like you. I don’t bang everyone that wears a skirt." I scowled at him before taking Amara’s hand and tagging her along with me as we headed for the stairs on the back side going to the basement. "Besides, I don’t wear skirts," Amara added, giggling. I heard Austin laugh. "She just turned sixteen, Jace! Uncle Aeon will kill you." Amara laughed beside me as we threaded down the stairs with our hands clasped together. ‘Amara shifted. She doesn’t want anyone to know yet. So stop spreading rumors, or I will cut your balls and give them as a gift to the last female you fucked.’ ‘You’re fucking gross, man. But she shifted? At sixteen? Wow! She’s a fucking Alpha!’ ‘Where have you been, man? Everyone knows she’s a fucking Alpha.’ ‘I know. I just want to say it out loud. Anyway, I’m off to bed. I just want to remind you again, that she is sixteen years old, so if you have any thoughts of...’ ‘Fuck off and sleep.’ I growled at him and cut off the mindlink at the same time we entered the laundry area in the basement. "What are we doing here?" Amara asked. "Here." I handed her the Tweety Bird pajamas that belong to Catherine. "So you can sleep better because I don’t know how many shifters have worn that shirt you’re wearing.""Seriously? Is Catherine still wearing this? We went shopping last week for nicer nightwear.""That will do for tonight. I had no plans on rummaging through my sister’s skimpy and sexy pajamas.""Fair enough. So, can you turn around so I can change?""Nah, I’ll go and wait for you outside this room." I grabbed my sweatpants and walked out of the laundry area without waiting for her reply. After I put on my pants, I went to the cupboard where extra toothbrushes and toothpaste were kept and took one set for her. "Am I sleeping in your room?" She asked as I handed them to her. I shook my head. "If we overslept, I’m sure it will not do us good.""I used to sleep in your room.""Yes, you did, when you were seven, and I’m ten. Not when you have boobs and periods already. The last thing I want is to have my balls cut off before I even find my mate." She giggled softly before responding. "You’re no fun. I was just kidding. I can crawl into Catherine’s bed.""You can take the guest room. She locks her room. Besides, if I’m grumpy when I wake up… You should know…""That Catherine is the devil when her sleep is interrupted." She finished the words, and we both ended up chuckling. It had been a long time since I had a moment with Amara alone. And it felt good that being with her felt like there was no gap or missed time between us. "Come now, kitten. You need to sleep. Or do you want to eat first? My stomach was growling the whole night.""Of course eat! Is that even an option? I’m famished!" She playfully glared at me. "Yup. Let’s go eat then!""Race you to the kitchen, rockstar!" She exclaimed, using the nickname she gave me when we were younger, before dashing off towards the stairs. I couldn’t help but shake my head and cackle as I ran after her, but knowing fully well that I would just let her win this race like the old times.

Chapter 5 Chapter 5

ALMOST TWO YEARS AFTER. JACE. I climbed out of my four-wheel drive and adjusted my sunglasses before heading inside the packhouse. It was fucking hot this afternoon, and I wanted to dip in the pool. I had our packhouse extended and rebuilt to make the indoor pool bigger, so I had a place to hang out with the Alpha Circle. At this point in our lives, only a few of us were Alphas and the rest were still waiting for their fathers to hand down the title. All of my friends were Alphas of the South. I was the only one on the East Coast, and because my territory was big and too far from the South, I refused to leave it for a while, as I didn’t have the luxury of time to travel back and forth just to see them. So instead, I forced them to see me from time to time and spend a day or two here so we could all catch up with each other. I tossed my glasses and shirt, which I had pulled off my body on the couch, down the hallway of the large building that led to the pool. I wanted to jump in and cool down, only to be disappointed when I heard giggles ringing in the air. Someone got in there before me, but I wanted to check to see if they were done already. I heard footsteps behind me before I could reach the extension to the pool. "Do you want to swim?" I tilted my head back to look at my Beta, Tyler, and my forehead creased at the sight of him carrying two tall glasses of fruit smoothies. "Catherine asked you again instead of the Omegas.""No problem, man. I volunteered." I just nodded my head as we swung into the corner and the indoor pool came into view. Catherine was in the pool and immediately climbed out when she saw us. While Amara was standing there looking at her with her back to us. Her round ass was in my view. She was wearing a white string bikini that hid almost nothing. I’d seen her many times in those bikinis, but this was definitely skimpier than the last one. This one looked like a fucking string with just a little piece of cloth attached to it. And I should stop staring. "There’s my smoothie! What took you so long?" Catherine took the long glass from Tyler before mouthing a thank you to him. "The omegas are occupied, so I had to do it myself.""Aren’t you a sweetheart, Beta Tyler?" Amara said as she took a glass from him. "That’s why Catherine is taking advantage of you." Of course, everyone knew that what Catherine wants, Catherine gets. She had an innocent smile and puppy eyes that could make anyone obey even her most absurd request. And Tyler wasn’t immune to it. "Exactly." I shook my head before I faced Catherine. "How many times do I have to tell you, Tyler is my Beta, not your errand boy…" Catherine swallowed as her eyes turned glassy, and I knew what would come next. "It’s okay, Alpha. I’m not complaining. I’m done with my task, and…" I raised my hand to stop him from talking. Growing up, this was the scenario all the time. Tyler always had her back, and she was taking advantage of it. "I didn’t force him. I asked if he could... I didn’t order." Catherine stated as she looked at my Beta as if she was asking help. "It’s okay. Seriously. Let’s move on." Tyler looked at me, and I knew this look was a plea to let it go. "Are you done with the pool?" I asked instead, crossing my arms against my chest as my eyes shifted from my sister to Amara. "Flexing your muscles won’t help you from throwing us out of the pool. We just started." Amara said. "Why are you here anyway? It’s the weekend. You should be driving home." I asked her. Amara was in her last year in the academy, and she would usually head home on weekends. "Catherine wants to hang out," she answered back. "And where are Amber and Cassidy?" The other two females with whom they spend the majority of their time. "Cassidy is at the dorm. She needs to finish some project due on Monday." Catherine answered. Among the four of them, Cassidy was the most serious when it came to studying. But all of them were doing so well at school that I had no complaints at all. So I just let Catherine do whatever she wanted since she was in good company. "While Zach picked up Amber, and they’re heading home," Amara added as she bent directly in front of me to pick up her drink from the low table, and I was sure she hiked up her ass a bit so I could see it. "You mean Amber demanded Zach pick her up, drive twenty-six fucking hours back and forth when she could have taken the train to head home or used her car to drive on her own?""Zach is gentlemanly enough to do it. Unlike you, who snapped at everything. Goddess, Jace, loosen up." Amara rolled her eyes at me before sipping her smoothies, and my eyes got stuck on her lips because of the way she was sucking the straw. "Well, Zach wasn’t forced to pick her up. And I think he likes being Amber’s bodyguard." Catherine defended her. "Like you self-proclaimed Beta Tyler as yours?" Amara teased her. Tyler laughed, but he didn’t say anything. I knew my sister and him had been inseparable since birth, but I was not worried. Tyler was like me, he would never cross any lines with Catherine. And I would never trust Catherine with anyone as much as I trusted him with her. Only my Gamma was a man-whore here, and I was grateful that he was my cousin, so all the females in the packhouse were his relatives. "I’m the only one without a bodyguard." Amara huffed. "You’re probably stronger than any warrior that will be assigned to you," Tyler told her. "Except if he’s an Alpha." Her eyes locked with mine, and I saw the mischievousness flitting in them. "Would you like to be my bodyguard, Jace?""Alpha Jace, Amara." I corrected her. "He’s so grumpy." I heard Cathrine murmur to Tyler. "Nope. Not calling you Alpha. You can wish that to the Goddess, but it’s not happening. I’m an Alpha too.""But you address Tyler as Beta, and Austin as Gamma Austin?""If that makes you jealous, then maybe you should step down and become a Beta instead." I shook my head. It was a mistake to argue with Amara. I turned around and raised my hands in the air, ready to walk away from them. "I’m out of here. Have…" I heard small and hurried footsteps behind me, and before I could figure out what was happening, my body was already flying towards the pool and creating a big splash when I landed. "Mother fucker!" I growled the moment I surfaced out of the water. I squinted my eyes and looked at the two giggling females by the side of the pool. I usually don’t have time for this, but since I have no work on the line at the moment, maybe it was time for a payback. I swam to the end of the pool and pushed my body up to climb out of it. Catherine and Amara shrieked, their eyes widening as they scrambled on their feet to run away from me. "Mission abort! Alien on the loose!" Amara shrieked as she giggled loudly and ran away from the area, while Catherine dashed to where Tyler was. And my fucking Beta knew where his loyalty lies - to the females of my family. He blocked my view of Cathrine, and I knew it was no fun arm wrestling with my Beta, so I chose the other option for revenge. Find the little cat who thought she could toss me into the pool without facing any consequences. "I’ll get back to you, stinky!" I pointed at my sister, my eyes squinting before I spun my body around and walked to the direction where Amara head off, not minding that I was dripping water. "I don’t stink!" Catherine yelled before Tyler’s laugh erupted in the air. I knew Catherine would be pissed off. Well, she started this. "I hate you, Jackson Galhart!" Catherine’s scream reached my ear as I rounded the corner. It made me snicker. I had no reason to call her stinky, as Catherine was very high maintenance when it came to hygiene, but I just wanted to rile her up today. Now, where the fuck did Amara hide? Her sweet scent was so strong that even the chlorine mixture in the pool water didn’t keep me from tracking her. I climbed down the stairs to the basement and opened the empty built-in closet at the far end, near the laundry area. I found her on the top shelf, trying to fit herself in there. "Seriously, Amara? Get out there!" My brows furrowed before I motioned with my hand. "No. Not until you promise me you won’t throw your wrath at me.""One!" My voice was slightly higher. "Two!""Go away, Jace!" She glared at me. "We’re too old for hide and seek. Get the fuck out of there! If that collapsed, you will spend the next few days fixing it, and I will command everyone not to help you at all.""You’re no funl!" She snapped at me before scooting her body forward so that she was now sitting on the edge with her legs hanging. "Catch me, I’ll jump.""What? No way. You went up there on your own, now get back down…" I was not done with my words yet when my eyes widened and a growl escaped my throat. Amara jumped out of the closet, which was just eight feet off the ground, but she jumped right in my direction, so I was left with no choice but to catch her in my arms. "What the fuck were you thinking? We could have fallen and bumped our heads!" She laughed heartily as her arms were locked on my neck and her legs wrapped around my hips, and I was very much aware she had a skimpy swimsuit. The tops of her breasts were flashing right before my eyes. "And then we’ll die and go to heaven. Correction, I will go to heaven, and you will go straight to hell. End of our story. Too bad you didn’t even get the chance to meet the mate you’ve been waiting for all your life." Her last words were full of sarcasm. I steadied my breathing as I tried to control myself. I knew I said I would wait for my mate, but that didn’t mean females had never affected me. And Amara was so good at doing that. But I kept praising myself for my self-control, but the position we were in was too much. "You’re having a hard-on, Jace." Shit. My lips pursed into a thin line, and I smiled at her before I spoke. "So better get off me so it won’t get harder.""No. It feels good here." She chuckled softly and wiggled her ass, rubbing my erection slightly. "Amara…" I groaned. "I’m going to drop you.""You can let go, and I’ll still cling in here. I’m good at that." I swallowed hard, contemplating if I should drop her or remain in this position and just think of something else to calm my dick. But my mind refused to go somewhere else. "Cut it off, Amara. This is not funny anymore." She giggled and scrambled out of my hold. I let her go and let out a deep breath. I was not sure if the sigh was out of relief or disappointment. She placed a finger on my lips before she spoke, her eyes flitting with mischievousness. "Thank you for letting me get away without any punishment, Jace." I raised my brows, but I remained silent. I just wanted her to get away from me. Which she would usually do when I refused to acknowledge her. But it looked like she had no plans today. She removed her fingers from my lips and rose on her toes, and soon, her lips were brushing lightly against mine. I should have stepped back, but I didn‘t. I remained frozen in my spot. She was teasing me. Like she was doing for the last two years. I wanted to close my eyes as her soft lips began sucking my bottom lip, but I didn’t. I knew if I closed my eyes, I would lose it. So I just let her do what she wants while praying she would not press her front against mine because my dick was already painfully hard. Amara had never gone this far. She would hug and flirt with me, and she would steal kisses when no one was looking, but never this way. And I was slowly losing control. But I knew I shouldn‘t. If I thought she would leave because of my lack of response, I was wrong again. Her arms coiled around my neck as she withdrew her mouth from mine. Her hand went to my face as she trailed her fingers down my eyebrows and to the bridge of my nose. "I don‘t know how you can control yourself so much. If I do this with other guys, I’m sure I’d already be pinned against the wall." I cleared my throat before I smirked at her. "Perhaps that‘s why you enjoy doing this to me because I never budge.""Maybe..." she said it seductively while her fingers were playing on my lips. "I should ask for payment every time you steal kisses from me." I chuckled, trying to hide her effect on me. My eyes were just staring at her while she stared at my lips. "Name your price, Jace. I saved up so much I’m sure I can pay you." She answered in a hoarse voice, and I was just about to counter her when all of a sudden her mouth crashed against mine.