ONE YEAR AGO“Alpha,” Damien’s voice interrupted my morning workout. Jumping down from the tree, I didn’t bother to wear my shirt as I grabbed the water bottle from his hands. Sweat dripped down my body making my gym shorts stick to my thighs as I looked irritably at him. Just like always, he didn’t feel any remorse for breaking my morning peace. Damien passed me a sheepish grin before tossing my shirt at me as I caught it in mid-air. “There’s an urgent schedule for you,” Damien said as I wiped the sweat and we walked towards the pack house where other wolves were doing their training. I usually keep Damien as their trainer, but I needed him to go with me today, so today’s schedule was mostly free. I was not informed about any meeting. I frowned in confusion. This was so sudden. “All of sudden?” I asked, suspicion bubbling inside me. “Yes, I received the message from Alpha Andrei this morning.” I eyed Damien as he walked beside me.“Andrei? What’s he doing here?” I was not in a ve
ONE YEAR AGOHe prayed. For the very first time in his life as he sped towards the apartment, Sofia resided in. He hadn’t gotten a wink of sleep in the last few hours and his whole body was tensed, but Xerxes couldn’t bring himself to care. As soon as he landed in Europe in his private jet, he drove towards Birmingham. A small town on the outskirts of the city. Peaceful and beautiful. Just like Sofia wanted. But now he was not at peace, his heart beating abnormally fast and new fear engulfing him. Damien was following him behind but Xerxes hardly paid any attention to him. His sole focus is on his sister. Xerxes had never been religious. He believed only in the moon, but he was afraid if after today he’d trust the moon goddess herself. A human’s life was meaningless in this big world where thousands of people die every day, but to him, it means so much. Sofia was his life after their parents died, she was his reason for existing. The roar of his car was deafening, but nothing compa
I awaken with a loud gasp and a forward jerk as my body lunge onwards. My fingertips dug into the mattresses tightly clutching the softness. My eager and scared eyes snapped to the window as I was met with a soft morning breeze and warm sun rays. My eyes widen. How long had it been?Swinging my legs over the bed I quickly flipped the duvet off me as I rushed towards the mirror. My cautious eyes eagerly looked at my reflection as I removed my dress and gazed at my naked body. Devoid of any marks. There were no blue or purple bruises nor there were any indication of them ever existing. I couldn’t bring myself to believe that whatever happened last night was not a dream. I had fully expected it to be one, but knowing Xerxes would never tell me lies, even if he hurt me so much, I was sure his words held as much truth as the grief I noticed in his eyes. I sighed as I walked to the closet. Unstoppable thoughts raged through my head yet I couldn’t find the reason why all of this was happen
The black dress she purposely wore to lure him now cascaded on the couch. Laura’s legs hung over his shoulders as he slammed into her. Mercilessly. As beautiful as she looked sprawled all over the mahogany wood, he couldn’t help but imagine those golden hairs to be chocolate waves. Her bright blue eyes were in the deepest shade of amber, brown and intense. The black heels she wore for him were now removed and thrown over his shoulder as he groaned and pounded into her. “Did you finish your work?” he said, groaning and moaning to her with every thrust. “Oh, you are so good,” said Kai, already breathless. “Fuck me more!” The word left her lips in a drawn-out whisper, and Kai turned his eyes down to look at her, never stopping his pounding for a second. Her breasts were really sensitive, she moaned, guiding his hands to her free tit. He gave it a squeeze that made her close her eyes and sigh. “I swear sometimes I can nearly come just from that – oh, Alpha, we should have done this the
“Think of it as my way of apologising.” He muttered, his voice low and deep. It seemed like he was struggling with the way he tightened his arms around me. I could feel his emotions yielding to him. So intense and overwhelming that seeped through my veins to my heart, plaguing it with a disease called to care. I did not. I reminded myself. But who was I to deny it anymore. “For how many things are you going to apologise?” I said, almost too broken that Xerxes flinched. His fingers dug into my waist as he pulled me close. Afraid that I might disappear if he let go. “Everything.” Everything. “Then that will take an eternity.” Maybe more than that. Many more lives. Where I knew I’d been born as his. His captor for always. “I shall wait for eternity then.”The knot in my stomach grew. And we stayed like that. He knelt and my hands automatically moved to his hair. Xerxes stiffened but did not make any move to jerk as I intertwined my fingers in his silky hair. Running my fingers throug
His hands were so gentle on my skin and I couldn’t believe that these was those hands that had hurt me to begin with. Each touch soothed me and helped to erase the heat from my body. The sound of his voice was helping to relax me further. In some strange way, I felt better, even though my body was sore.“Did I hurt you?” Xerxes asked, still massaging my sore flesh. “A little bit,” I told him. I wasn’t anxious to endure that again and I was feeling conflicted. I understood Xerxes’s point and I had consented to submit to him, but I was a grown woman and definitely not used to being used like this. It had been our relationship, though from the start. I just wanted to rest my mind and the onslaught of thoughts. Instead I focused on my unfulfilled need and gushing body.His gentle hands massaged my back as he cleaned my flesh.“My flower,” he cooed lovingly in my ears and I felt a rush of happiness from his words. Being with him made me suddenly relieved. I felt a rush of pleasure shoot t
“I-It’s not what you think,”“Then, explain.”“I-I don’t know…it’s just…I can not tell.”“And here I was believing we were starting to trust each other.” Xerxes scoffed to himself running his fingers through his hair. A deep frown marring his features and betrayal flashed through his eyes. I know what was happening was partially my fault. Only if I hadn’t become so attached to Augustus. Thinking of Augustus, I was not sure what was happening in my life anymore. Whenever there was pinch of happiness, fate twist and turn my life into miserable hell.“Trust can not be earned in one day-“ I tried to make him understand as he snapped his head in my direction. Fury and rage infiltered through his senses with such an intense fervour that I could feel it passing through me to the distance. I gulped as I eagerly swayed my legs off the bed and clutched the sheets around my chest as he raised his hand stopping me in my track as his furious gaze pinned me to the spot.“But it can be broken in a s
After every storm come the sort of sunshine that went all the way to the soul, the sort that make one glow a little brighter within. This storm was just the same, the strong gusts and the kind of rain that danced in the streets, yet after it was so glorious, it brought the most honest of rage. The furry from within, deepest part of my soul. “This is for touching her.” My claws elongated as I dug them deeper into his chest. My claws scratched against his heart, the palpable organ beating so hard, threatening to escape through his heart. Fear. I could taste it in the air. The man I thought to be my friend bled with his head half smashed. Her every cry still ringing in my ear felt like a knife twisting in my heart. Her cries for help and vulnerable words not only emotionally impacted me but made the beast inside me roar with anger and rage. Furry that was dissolving me. But first I needed some answers.“Ah!” His cries roared in the dungeons, music to my ears. My teeth clenched with forc
“Xerina! Stop right there! It’s dangerous!” Luca’s shouts filled the air as he chased after me. His voice was irritated and concerned as I laughed and ran through the forest. Jumping over the lodges of wood and hay, I was covered in mud and dirt. Everyone in the pack loved how energetic and relaxed I was even though I was going to get a better earful of scolds from my father later. But now he had gotten quite used to my tactics. “Hurry up, Luca!” I screeched dashing down the muddy road that led to the cave just between the forest. I stopped when my breathing become haggard and I could no longer hear Luca behind me. Where was he? Did I lose him? A grin managed to creep on my face at the thought. Now I would be able to enjoy myself-“Ah!” A scream left my mouth when Luca suddenly jumped in front of me. Faking a startled gasp I narrowed my eyes at him. “You scared me.”“It’s enough, let’s go back.” He panted as he grabbed my wrist and I jerked my hand back. Placing both of my hands on my
In that captivating moment, as he lifted one of his legs gracefully in the air, a surge of anticipation pulsed through me. It was as if time had momentarily stood still, allowing us to surrender to the intensity of our connection. His fervent kiss upon my ankle ignited a fiery passion that resonated with the same depth as his kisses upon my lips.With each deliberate movement, he embarked on a seductive journey along the contours of my leg, his tongue tracing a tantalizing path. A tender pause at my knee ensued, where his lips delicately danced, leaving an imprint of affection that sent shivers of pleasure cascading through my entire being. The sheer intimacy of his touch captured my senses, causing me to succumb to an all-encompassing desire that left me vulnerable and yearning.As he descended upon my thigh, his tongue became an instrument of pure ecstasy. Each stroke, each exploration, evoked a blissful surrender within. I, consumed by an indescribable hunger, felt my very essence m
There weren’t too many people, but I was so nervous all of sudden. I was mucous since morning, even Aurora had scolded me once in between that I was being paranoid for no reason. Well, damn her. It was not like I was getting married everyday. We had completed our rituals for the ceremony, and now I wa awaiting for my mate to come and take me to our shared chambers to consummate the marriage. I was fidgeting with my fingers when I looked myself in the mirror. Wearing a white wedding dress that reached my ankles and a deep cut over the neck that was decorated with lace. The door opened and I gasped as Xerxes stepped inside wearing his black tuxedo. I blushed. He looked so handsome and beautiful that it was almost unrealistic. I averted my gaze from his with embarrassment as he smirked and stepped forward. “You ready?” He asked in his masculine voice and I shyly nodded. Leaning down to my face, he brushed his lips against my cheek. “I can not wait anymore.” I could senses his arousal. P
“Papa! Papa!” I peered through the kitchen door at my three-year-old running through the lobby and rushing to her father. An unpleased frown on her face as she immediately looked at her father with a pout on her lips. “Luca scolded me.”Faking a frown, my husband scooped the little bundle of joy in his arms and cradled her in his lap. “Why?” He asked wiping the remnants of chocolate on the corner of her lips. Xerina was fond of sweets and probably Luca found her chocolate hiding spot, that’s why he scolded her. Xerina’s eyes visibly narrowed while she glared at her father. “He stole my choci-chose.” She complained and I chuckled knowing I was right. Xerxes’s laugh filled the air and my chest squeezed–as it did every time I saw him with our family. Joy. Unrestrained joy and happiness. I would never tire of seeing him like this. “He did? Where did you get those from?” Xerxes asked shifting her and caressing her stuffed cheeks. She immediately looked away. “I-I…from mama.” My eyes wi
Her life these past years or more had been akin to sprinting through fog. When she often feel to the core of her soul that life was sacred, when she conclude that the natural world was woven into her heart–illusions and diabolical, that their love was all part of this great tapestry of creation, then she would finally be home. Then her Mother Moon would feel that she had returned. Finally in her arms. She loves her children equally. “We haven’t seen Alpha, there’s no sign of either of them,” one of the wolves said through the door. “But wolves are searching for them, the borders are seized.” Marcus bobbed his head and then his eyes moved to the bed. Aurora had gained consciousness a few hours back and on James’s instructions, she had been resting since then. Daniella was traumatised and he suggested she go back, but the little girl was too stubborn, she insisted on being here with her injured brother and Katarina. Katraina. Marcus was worried for her. She had lost so much blood and
“Hold them down!” Marcus growled as he ducked through the hoard of rouges coming his way. He snarled with anger as several of them tried to hold him down. The battlegrounds were bloodied, but it didn’t stop him from shedding more as he tore them limb by limb. Some were in their wolf forms while others were inhuman, Marcus shifted into his wolf form and roared like a wild beast before running through the pile and making his way to the house where he last left Aurora. Aurora. Her name should bring him anger, malice and betrayal, but right now he couldn’t think that way. He should be angry at her that sleeping with another man before him, she gave birth to a pup who didn’t carry his blood, and she spiked their mate bond. But strangely, right now all he cared was about her. Nothing mattered. Nothing. He realised he had been hating her for nothing. He loved her, even knowing she had betrayed him. Their relationship was not that was built upon trust and love, but he could change that. He
“I didn’t want to do this, cupcake. I was getting fond of you.” His hands held onto the thick strand of my story hair and he sniffed it making me cry h my nose in disgust. “But power is power. This is the moment I always dreamed of–to be in charge of power.” I swam for the light and he did everything he could to take me into the abyss. He betrayed me, not the other way around.“Why did you lied to me?” I seethed. His eyes looked mockingly at me. It was fear that brought rage, that hot burning anger that seeked to harm. It was a biological button better left alone. When we see something that frightened us, a primitive part of the brain was activated to produce aggression. So, I, when I see all the things around me that make me scared... I was being deliberately triggered... as were my emotions. That rage destroyed me from the inside.“I never did. I really loved you.” He whispered. “You fucking psycho!” Rage filled my voice and I thrashed. Betrayal was a conscious choice for cold indi
“A-Augustus…” I breathed out stumbling a step back. His blue eyes narrowed as he assessed me with his gaze. Concern was an act of deep and real caring and as such was a marker of our intertwined souls. I sighed in contempt. If he wasn’t here- I didn’t want to think what would have happened to us. “I don’t have time, Katraina. You have to come with me.” He quickly looked around and motioned me to follow him. I gazed at Aurora as she groaned in pain. Leon crying as Daniella looked terrifyingly between us. She was but a child, this must have shocked her to the core. My first reaction should be taking care of my females than fleeing. I shook my head. “I-I can not leave them behind.” Augustus narrowed his eyes. I could see the worry in his eyes, but they seemed somewhat strange. What Madrei told me earlier flooded through my head and I pondered over it once again. It must be Andrei. Did Augustus know? He probably did cause then he wouldn’t be here. But still, something didn’t feel right.
“Katarina…” his voice was as sharp as I last remembered, profound. I just couldn’t believe my eyes. Never before had I noticed how time was so much like water; that it could pass slowly, a drop at a time, even freeze, or rush by in a blink. The clock said it was measured and constant, tick tock, part of an orderly world; the clock lied. “What are you doing here?” My brain stuttered for a moment and my eyes took in more light than I expected, every part of me went on pause while my thoughts caught up. After a wash of reality, I stepped forward, feeling a new danger in my living room. “I need to talk to you, it’s urgent.” He stepped forward, his fists clenched on his sides and a frown resting between his brows. He looked tensed for some reason. I couldn’t believe a man as terrific as him would step foot in here only to talk to his enemy’s mate. I didn’t know much, but Xerxes had filled me with how much dangerous Andrei could be. The man seemed like he breathed in danger and lived on o