Taming The Beast Within

***

"Did you go with the hunters again, Lexi?" She heard their mother ask her half-sister, Lexi Lane, the very moment she entered their small bungalow house.

From the sink where she was washing the plates, she took a swift glance at what was happening in their living room from a small opening in the furniture were their books where placed. She saw how Lexi rolled her eyes before she looked at their mother and pasted her faked smile – covering her irritation towards their mother's possible interrogation. Well, it was more of a litany, perhaps.

Shea mentally heaved a deep sigh as she continued washing the plates instead. It wasn't new to her anyway. Her half-sister was truly stubborn, and she always did what she wanted to do. She couldn't blame her, though. She was a seventeen-year-old lady with a tough, strong, and independent personality.

She couldn't stay here at the house – and do nothing but household chores and farming – like her. She bit her lower lip as she felt jealousy creeping inside her. She didn't want to feel that way – that she instantly extinguished it away.

Besides, maybe Lexi was just trying to find her mate, too. Unlike her, she couldn't do what she was doing – lurking in the woods, being with a lot of male wolves, and socializing with them.

Shea swallowed the bitterness that was trying to resurface inside her. Well, she was happy that she could be of help with her mother in the house.

"Mother, we didn't even go another mile away. So, spare me with all of those sermons now, please. I am so exhausted." Lexi tried to act as if she was pleading for their mother to leave her alone.

Sandra, their mother, let out a deep sigh and squinted her eyes at Lexi. It seemed like she wouldn't let her off the hook just like that. Well, Sandra might have already reached her limit. Lexi was becoming more and more liberated at that.

"Stop going out with them! They are all bad influences!" Sandra annoyedly reminded her again.

However, this time, Lexi felt so rebellious that she angrily stood up and faced their mother's irritated face.

Sandra was taken aback because of that.

"At least, they are teaching me how to become stronger, Mother." She sardonically stated.

Before she crossed her arms – and smirked evilly.

"Unlike someone I know, who is trying to be strong, she is the weakest among all of our pack." She continued mockingly.

Shea bit her lower lip. She knew that Lexi was talking about her – teasing her – once again.

"I can't believe that after all this time, she just couldn't make her inner wolf strong. She can't even shift in a snap nor remain in her wolf form for five minutes." She sarcastically added – as she wickedly looked at her with a vicious smile pasted on her face.

She let out a deep sigh. She was so aware of the fact that she was really a weak wolf – the weakest to be exact. But she was trying her best to shift and remain in her wolf form.

However, she just couldn't do it.

And she was totally embarrassed because of the fact. Not to mention that everyone in their pack were truly belittling her already.

And now, Lexi... again. She was constantly telling her those things – but it was as if it was her first time again. I just couldn't ignore her nasty remarks.

"Lexi!" Sandra instantly called her, but Lexi just stood up and proceeded to her room without even saying anything.

She even rolled her eyes at me – as she stomped her feet, making Sandra know that she was also as annoyed as her.

Sandra let out a loud breath as she frustratedly held her head – couldn't find any other possible way to straighten out Lexi's hard-headed attitude.

Shea felt like she had been part of her mother's problems once again. She knew somehow that Lexi had been holding grudges against her – which she didn't know for what reason. She always did that to her – pointing out her mistakes, her weaknesses, and always finding a way to humiliate her.

"Leandro, Lexi went out with the hunters again." Sandra told her husband about Lexi's escapades a while ago – the very moment he entered their small house.

But like any other time, Leandro just gave her a proud smile. He wasn't even bothered at that. Instead, he was supporting Lexi for being out there in the woods – hunting and socializing with the other male werewolves.

"Great. What did she catch this time?" He smilingly inquired – as if it wasn't that dangerous to be out of the pack's territory.

Her mother's face grimaced just by hearing about what he said.

"Leandro, Lexi is a woman! And those friends of hers are bad influences! Have you seen who she is with? She's with the son of our Alpha! I already told her that they were doing things that they were not supposed to do! The other packs are already too mad at us." Sandra angrily explained.

But Leandro groaned at his wife's litanies.

His face darkened – as his nose crinkled while he looked at her.

"Stop this nonsense, Sandra! I trust Lexi and I know that she knows what she is doing." He snapped at her – with his eyes squinted into thin slits.

Shea knew that he was already at his limits – and was furious now. She swallowed the lump in his throat.

"Just mind your daughter, who can't even shift into her own wolf." Leandro scornfully retorted back.

"She is just too weak! She's almost eighteen and she couldn't even find her mate?! What the heck is she?" He contemptuously continued – making her mother shut her mouth and just growl at him silently.

Instead of going to their dining table to eat, she stepped back to her own room and locked herself inside. She didn't want to hear any of it anymore.

Shea's eyes blurred as she leaned against the closed door. She should have been used to how his stepfather and Lexi's harsh words were – especially to her. But she still felt the hurt and the sadness lingering inside her. She felt her body weakening as she faintly sat on the cold wooden floor.

This always happened inside their house. The mockeries, the harsh words, the embarrassment – rolled into one.

And like always, she couldn't bear the pain that always reach her heart, mind, and soul. No matter how much she tried to ignore it – it just wouldn't go away.

She covered her mouth with her hands to stifle the sobs that might escape into her mouth.

"Shea?" Her mother's voice resonated from the other side of the door before she heard her knock.

She swallowed the lump in her throat and bit her lower lip to compose herself. She didn't want her to get worried again – just because of this simple thing.

"Dinner is ready. Come on." She heard her mother continued her words – before knocking on her door once again.

"I..." She must have been saying the words, but they just came out of her like a whisper.

She swallowed hard and cleared her throat.

"I... I am not hungry, M-Mother." Her voice almost broke, and she instantly took a deep breath before clearing her throat once again.

"I am sleepy." She tried to reason it out – and faked a yawn, just to make her mother believe that she was really tired.

She heard her mother let out a deep sigh from the other side of the door. It seemed like she was contemplating something. But no matter what, she wouldn't let her see her in that kind of state.

"Okay, then. But I will leave you some food in the fridge. You can just heat it up later if you feel hungry, okay?" Her mother's sweet voice told her.

"O-Okay." She softly replied.

She bit her lower lip once again as she felt her mother walk away in front of her door. She felt her fresh tears flow freely in her cheeks. She didn't want to face them again. She was sure that Lexi and her father would just mock her throughout the entire time. She might also get constipation because of them.

Shea folded her legs and rested her arms on her knees before leaning into her arms. She just missed her father – even though she was just adopted by the Vestine Clan.

Ellis Vestine – his late father – had found her in the woods near the South Side. Since they didn't have a child, Ellis and Sandra Vestine adopted her. They were the best parents for her – that they filled the gap that her real parents should have had. For her, they were more than what her real parents were.

They had given her comfort, love, and care. They treated her as their own daughter – regardless of her unknown identity. She had been very grateful to them.

That's why when her father died, more than a decade ago, she was shattered and lost. Her mother almost lost herself, if she hadn't stood up for them. She worked hard for herself and for her mother. She tried to go with the hunters, but they were always bullying her because of her weak inner wolf. She couldn't even shift flawlessly, and if she shifted into her wolf form, she couldn't remain in her wolf form for even five minutes.

She just sowed fruits and vegetables in their garden. She was scared that if she went hunting by herself, she would just end up being hurt. She didn't want to leave her mother behind.

After five years, her mother recovered and met Leandro Lane, Lexi's father. He was already a widower like her mother. They decided to get married because of the 'connection' that her stepfather was talking about.

Shea let out a deep breath as she felt exhausted because of the tears that she cried.

Now, she knew what her mother was worried about. Three days from now is her eighteenth birthday. She knew the strange tradition of their pack. She knew what would happen if she still couldn't find her mate.

Even Lexi was worrying about it because she was turning eighteen next month, but she knew that a lot of the male members of their pack wanted her. Even Connor, the son of the Alpha of their pack, always bullies her and mocks her. She wouldn't have to worry about it, unlike her.

Because once she hadn't found her mate at that time, she would be sent to the South Side – a place where the ruthless rogues, the wicked half-blooded werewolves, and a lot of bad bloods were located. And she knew that no one had ever escaped the South Side. Especially not her, not a weak wolf like her.

Shea walked into her bed while looking out her window – more specifically, at the moon, which was full and illuminating brightly in the dark night sky.

She placed her arms into the frame and rested her chin in her arms as her eyes never left the moon. Her heart was hoping for a miracle – the moon's miracle that would save her from being sent into the South Side.

Shea was deeply hoping to find her mate soon. And she was hoping to find a mate that was kind, caring, and a strong man – who would protect her, just like her father. She was deeply hopeful even though she knew that it was impossible to happen.

With that thought in mind, she finally fell asleep.

Chapter 1

Alpha

***

POV: Shea Vestine

"That witch! She never changed! I really hate her to the core!" Her best friend, Carrie, angrily cursed Lexi after telling her what happened yesterday.

She let out a deep sigh as she threw the stone into the river. Her long dark chocolate hair was dancing in the cold wind. She gathered it on one side of her shoulder and tied it using her stretchable bracelet. Her fair white skin was glistening in the sun.

They were in their usual spot on the riverbank. She was sitting on the huge rock while Carrie was eating the rice cakes that her mother had told her to bring. She was hoping to catch some fish in the river when Carrie appeared in front of her, asking her about what happened to her yesterday. She might be worried because she didn't see her around.

Carrie was her only best friend.

Well, honestly, she was the only person who befriended her.

She met her because their families were both servant omegas – the lowest rank in the pack. Working together as servant omegas made them closer. And another thing might be that Carrie had a giddy and funny personality. She always made her laugh, and she was very reliable.

Furthermore, she was tougher than her and she could also do the shifting better than her, but it never got into her head. She was humble and she treated everyone with goodness. Well, at times. But she could be a b*tch if she wanted too. Especially if she was being bullied, she fought.

She was always there for her, no matter what. Which was her blessing and one thing that was worrying her, to be.

One time, she tried to avoid her because she didn't want to drag her down. Her bullies were trying to target her, too, and she didn't want that. But instead of avoiding her, too, she was so pissed at her. She even told her how disappointed she was for doing such a thing. She was so thankful to her. She couldn't believe that there was someone she could lean on – aside from her parents.

They got along so well. And she was more of a sister than Lexi.

It must be true that being a sister is measured not only by blood but also by the connection and relationship that you both build together.

"Let her be. You know how rude she is, right? Don't let her get into your system, Carrie." She softly stated, as her foxy dark brown eyes moved towards her best friend.

Carrie let out a deep sigh.

"Until now, I really can't figure out whether you are just really that gentle and kind or you are already a saint, Shea." She amusedly commented.

Shea just gave her a soft smile.

"Nah! I will just light you a candle and pray in front of you. Don't you think?" She sarcastically teased her.

"Carrie!" She pouted like a kid to stop her playful mockeries.

Carrie just giggled at her reaction.

"You think you are being cute at that?" Her left brow shot upwards, and Shea playfully nodded her head.

"Then, think again, my friend." She bouncily joked around.

"You are so bad!" Shea replied before they burst into laughter.

"Anyway, your sister should look at her back and stop seeing Connor." Carrie suddenly told her after a short moment.

Her forehead instantly creased.

"What do you mean?" She curiously inquired.

Carrie heaved a deep sigh – like she was disappointed in herself or something – before she shook her head.

She moved slightly closer towards her – as if she wanted their words to be discreet.

"Haven't you heard about the latest news?" Carrie suddenly turned serious as her light green almond-shaped eyes squinted as she turned towards her.

"W-What about it?" She felt anxious all of a sudden.

Her best friend's tone of voice was just so scary, and it gave her shivers down her spine. She swallowed hard and bit her lower lip to prevent the fear that was slowly creeping into her system.

"You're hopeless, Shea." Carrie disappointedly stated before shaking her head and moving away from her.

"W-What?" She nervously asked her before holding her arm.

"Come on, just t-tell me." She bravely told her and shook her best friend's arm.

Carrie rolled her eyes and snorted at her.

"Fine, fine, stop shaking me." She annoyingly said before pulling her arm at her.

Shea just pouted at her.

"But it won't be my fault if you're gonna freak out about it, okay?" Carrie unhesitatingly replied.

Shea nodded her head.

"Well, it isn't a secret that our Alpha is doing illegal things that shouldn't be done because of the organization that we belong to, right?" Carrie told her and moved closer to her once again.

Shea nodded her head once again. Their Alpha was the worst Alpha that led their pack, and it was Connor's father, Conrad Hill. He was asking the hunters, including his son, to go to the other pack's territory to hunt – which was a great defiance to the rules of peace and agreement with the other packs. The Alpha was also collecting a large tax from his pack members – the very reason why her mother married her stepfather now.

"Well, according to what I heard, the Alpha King heard all about it." Carrie's eyes widened – as if she was daunting her.

Her eyes widened at what she said. She unconsciously felt like her breathing had just stopped.

"T-The Alpha K-King knew?" She nervously repeated.

Carrie nodded her head.

"And I heard that he would be here tomorrow." Carrie anxiously said.

Her heart thumped fast and hard inside her ribs. She hadn't met the King nor seen him personally, but everyone knew who the Alpha King was. He was cruel, ruthless, and merciless. And that was enough for everyone to feel scared of him – especially her, who was a weak person.

"W-What will happen to our pack now?" Shea fearfully whispered.

Carrie shook her head.

"I don't know. But I heard the elders talking. They said that they would beg the King for mercy. Because he might be eradiating the entire pack." Carrie dreadfully replied.

Shea felt the fear slowly creeping inside her heart. She was also hoping for the best now.

***

POV: Denvereaux Thorne

"I am not qualified for the position." He seriously told his cousin – who was the Alpha King.

"But I am the King, and I am ordering you to take the position, Denver." His cold but calm voice resonated throughout the entire room.

Denver let out a deep sigh before he placed his arms on the table and intertwined his hands together.

The Alpha King Levi Storm – the leader of all the packs as well as his cousin – called him to inform him about this.

He shook his head.

"I am not taking it and you know the reason why." He equaled the same coldness and seriousness in his words.

He knew that he just couldn't do it.

"You might find the one for you there." He playfully stated that Denver had just shot him a death glare.

King Levi just let out a loud laugh.

"You are so short-tempered, really." He mockingly added.

"All of us are." Denver icily replied before leaning against his seat and drinking his wine.

King Levi chuckled – as if he was amused or something.

"But you can't say 'no' to me, Denver. You gave this position, and I took it. Now, follow me and calm the beast within you." He suddenly turned ruthless this time.

Denver smirked at his cousin.

"It isn't as if it is only applicable to me, my dear cousin." He told him.

Now, it was his time to give back his playful remarks. But King Levi just smirked at him – as if he didn't really care about his mocking words.

"You still need to go." King Levi said with finality in his tone.

Denver groaned in frustration.

"Besides, it hasn't even resurfaced for a long time." The King pointed out – making his brows furrowed.

"But it doesn't mean that it won't resurface. If it was triggered..." He let out a deep breath as his gray eyes slightly turned into a darker shade.

"Then, you can just go back here." King Levi told him before he got his own wine and drank it straight.

"Is there any way for me not to follow you?" Denver expressed with dissatisfaction.

King Levi burst into laughter before shaking his head.

"Unfortunately, you don't have any other choice but to follow, Denver. Besides, I also need to do something with that insolent." King Levi suddenly turned livid.

Right there and then, he knew that he had no more things to say or do. His cousin's decision was final, and he couldn't do anything about it.

"Fine, but if nothing interests me there, I will drop that position." He finally agreed – making King Levi smiled victoriously.

"And I will be needing Tristan's help during my stay. If not, I won't agree with this." He seriously replied before standing up and bidding his goodbye.

He didn't even take a glance at the King, who was already cursing his back. He smirked at his naughtiness. Well, it wasn't as if he would let him win – just like that.

Chapter 2

Strange Emotions

***

POV: Shea Vestine

Everyone in the pack was trying their best to clean their garden as well as their own home – dressing up to their best, or they might be trying to impress the King instead.

But no matter what they were doing now, Shea felt like she was terribly nervous about facing the King. It was two days before her birthday, and she didn't want to die in the hands of a horrible and wicked King. She was hoping that it wasn't the case, though.

She heard from Carrie that the Hill Clan was being held prisoner in their own house, and they weren't allowed to go out – not until this day. Lexi, too, was taken aback when she heard it and promptly locked herself in her room.

It was a blessing in disguise for her anyway. She had a lot of things to do. She was just grateful – well, a bit – because the Alpha's family were asked not to communicate to anyone, even to the servant omegas like her.

With that, she was spared by Connor's mockeries – even for that day. She heaved a deep sigh as she was choosing her own dress to welcome the King – and the newly assigned Alpha, which she didn't know whether it was the truth or not.

She was looking at herself absentmindedly in the mirror when a loud knock from her door brought her back to reality.

"Shea, are you done?"

It was her mother who was calling her. She instantly opened the door for her. Sandra looked at her from head to toe. She saw the love and gentleness in her mother's eyes.

"Mother, what is it?" She softly asked her.

Sandra swallowed hard as she tried to compose herself. She smiled at her mother's reaction.

"You looked stunningly beautiful, my daughter." Sandra gently said, as she moved towards her and held her head.

She was wearing her floral purple and white sundress that reached her knees. It emphasized her fair white skin. She paired it with a white slip-on strappy sandal. She braided half of her long dark chocolate-colored hair into a bun, letting some strands fall freely at the sides of her head. She wasn't wearing any of the make-up except face powder and a cherry lip balm.

"Thank you, Mother." She replied and gave her a small smile.

"You are so beautiful, too." She honestly added.

Her mother was truly an epitome of beauty, regardless of her age. She still looked so gorgeous. She was wearing a simple midnight blue chemise dress that reached under her knees. She matched it with a simple black slip-on shoe. Her ash blonde curly hair was now tied into a high messy bun. She was wearing light pink lipstick and a natural light-colored blush on, to just give color to her pale face.

"Are you ready?" Her mother's soft voice was making her feel at ease, but knowing what might happen later, she couldn't find the real peace inside her.

Shea held her mother's hands.

"M-Mother..." She nervously called her.

Her mother looked at her with the unspoken question plastered on her face.

"Uhmm..." She opened her mouth, but she couldn't speak the words that were running through her mind.

She closed her lips and opened them again – but she couldn't really find the right words. She just smiled at her mother.

"Uhm, nothing, Mother. Are we going now?" She carefully inquired.

Sandra heaved a deep sigh.

"I know that something is bugging you, Shea. What is it?" Her mother simply told her.

It was really true that her mother knew her in every way. She couldn't even hide her uneasiness and curiosity from her.

Shea mentally let out a deep sigh before looking directly at her mother's forest green eyes.

"Well, uhm, about that... I am t-thinking about what could possibly happen w-when the K-King arrives." She nervously asked.

Shea bit her lower lip as she said the question that kept on popping into her mind. Sandra heaved a deep sigh.

"To be honest, I really don't know, sweetheart. We are just servant omegas, and we aren't allowed to talk about it, nor to mention any of it, either." Sandra sadly stated.

Shea felt like her fear was intensifying.

"We are just hoping for the best now." Sandra added.

Her face was also reflecting worry and nervousness like her.

"Hey, let's go!"

They both heard Leandro call them. Sandra nodded at her and held her hand before closing her room. They saw Lexi, who was wearing a sexy black bodycon dress that only reached half of her thighs. While her stepfather was wearing his light blue button-down shirt and was tucked into his black pants. He was also dressed formally in his gleaming black shoes.

Lexi's eft brow shot upwards and smirked mockingly at her. But before she could say anything, they all heard the loud clanking sound of the bell – alerting everyone to gather on the vast lawn near their Alpha's house.

"They must be almost here. We must go." Leandro seriously spoke before storming out of the house.

Lexi and her mother followed him. Shea heaved a deep sigh before she finally went out of the house. She immediately closed it and looked at the members of their pack who were gathering in the place where they were asked to wait for the King.

"Shea!" Carrie called her.

But her mind was drifting again because of nervousness. Her palms were already getting cold, and her heart was thumping so fast that it was as if it wanted to go out of its cage.

"Hey!" Carrie placed her arm on her shoulder as they walked towards where their parents were.

"You are really pretty." Carrie smilingly commented, and she just gave her a small smile.

"You, too." She replied.

Honestly, it was true. Her best friend was truly beautiful.

She was wearing a simple light blue shirtdress that reached her knees and matched it with the same-colored doll shoes. She let her blonde-colored curly hair flow freely behind her. Like her, she wasn't wearing any make-up but face powder and lip balm.

Shea remained silent as Carrie started to talk about anything and everything under the sun. She just couldn't comprehend what she was talking about. Her mind was preoccupied with something else – something about what might possibly happen to them.

"Hey, are you listening to me?" Carrie asked her as they stood beside their parents.

She was about to reply when the loud neighing of the horses resonated near them. It was the King's royal carriage. She couldn't believe that he had those. He might really be the Alpha King because having a carriage like this would instantly protect him from any possible attack.

Aside from that, four more carriages were with the royal carriage. She instantly felt the tension, especially when they saw how the sentinels – or the palace guards – opened one of the carriages and carried out a golden throne.

A man with a cold expression and burgundy hair stood in front of the golden throne. He was good-looking, and she would give that to him, but his aura was just so impossible to ignore that it was making her uneasiness grow.

Shea swallowed hard, and the royal carriage opened up.

"Give respect to the Alpha King, King Levi Storm." His cold voice thundered – giving her a shiver down her spine.

Every one of them bowed their heads. She couldn't deny how her legs trembled in fear, but she knew that it wasn't just her – but everyone around her. No one dared to talk nor to create any sound as they felt a man with a glowing aura encircling the entire place.

Shea swallowed hard.

"You may now stand up." The cold voice of the man with burgundy hair said and they all straightened out.

She bit her lower lip as she saw the man with long blonde hair was sitting on the golden throne. A golden crown was resting on his head, and he looked like a royalty, based on his luxurious clothes.

'He must be the king.' Shea mentally guessed.

His face was boredly looking at everyone, but when he saw the Beta of their pack, Beta Wilson, his face suddenly darkened.

Beta Wilson bowed his head to pay his respects before facing the King.

"Where are they?" The King's low but menacing voice made everyone gasp in silence – including her.

Then, the sentinels followed. With them, were Alpha Conrad and his son, Connor. But what shocked them the most was that they both had bruises all over their faces and bodies. They truly looked awful.

"Y-Your M-Majesty..." Alpha Conrad whispered – fear was visibly heard in his tone of voice.

His tears began to flow from his eyes, but the King was just too merciless that he just smirked at him.

"So, you are the one who dared to break the rules, huh? I must say that you have guts." King Levi mockingly stated – making the Hill trembled in terror.

He lifted his index finger and looked at the man with burgundy hair. And the sentinels instantly put Alpha Conrad and Connor in one of the carriages that had a prison inside. They were both sobbing uncontrollably.

Shea felt a sudden pity for the two. They might really break the rules and not be good people, but they were still the Alpha of their pack.

"But they must pay the consequences of their actions. That should remind you not to cross the line that I drew, okay?" King Levi ominously stated – making everyone agree with him.

"B-But who will lead the pack now, Your Majesty?" Beta Wilson politely inquired.

Shea mentally heaved a deep sigh. She knew that their Alpha was a bad person, but he was way worse than he was. He was a cunning and sly man who only thought of himself instead of the pack. But no one could ever contradict the King, especially when he finally designates him in the vacant position.

The King suddenly chuckled at the beta's question and slightly shook his head.

"Why? Are you interested about it?" He mockingly asked.

Beta Wilson swallowed hard but the eagerness to get that power was visibly written all over her face.

"I-If you will grant me the position, Your Majesty, then, who am I to say 'no.'" He acted so innocent, but Shea wanted to groan in disagreement because of how ungenuine he was.

Even her inner wolf – who was trying to hide inside her because of the fear, agreed with her, too.

"You could've said 'no.' I might have spared your life." He mercilessly stated – making everyone gasp in shock.

"Y-Your M-Majesty..." Beta Wilson stammered and swallowed hard.

"You think I am that stupid? You might be the one who told us about your Alpha's escapades, but I know what you are trying to do." He wickedly said – making Beta Wilson's eyes bulge in shock.

And before he could even utter another word, the man with burgundy hair instantly knocked their beta and was left unconscious before carrying him into the prison where Alpha Conrad and Connor were.

"Now, everyone must listen. Your Alpha, his son, and your beta will be executed in the palace after deliberation with the council. In the meantime, let me introduce to you, the new Alpha of your pack." The King seriously announced.

Shea couldn't help but to stare at their King, who seemed amused by something. But her eyes widened when she saw that he was staring directly at her!

Her legs instantly trembled and she bowed her head down.

No, it was impossible that he was looking at her. She might be dreaming.

"May I call in the new Alpha of your pack, Denvereaux Thorne."

Shea felt something strange that her eyes move in front. But what's more peculiar was her heart suddenly beat so fast the moment she took a glimpse of the man with tall man with a well-tone body and slightly tan skin. His dark brown hair was almost touching his nape. But what caught her attention more was his soulful gray eyes.

Right there and then, Shea felt so drown with her own emotions.