William’s concern made guilt run through her, and she gently extricated herself from his arms. Her heart couldn’t take it.“I’m fine,” she said with a small smile. “I have to get some rest, okay?”William was confused by his mate’s behavior and didn’t know what to do about it. However, he thought, she must have even been really tired, and so he nodded.“We can talk tomorrow morning,” he said before turning to the twins to spend time with his children before he too slept.Anna was glad to leave the twins’ bedroom and her lips trembled as she returned to her room. As soon as she locked the door, she covered her face in her hands and began to sniffle.“Oh God, what can I do?” She whimpered.She stayed in that position for hours, mourning the loss of the peaceful life she wanted for her family and the feelings she had for William amounting to nothing.It was when she heard a small knock on the door that she finally realized it was midnight. Opening her eyes, Anna slowly stood, her limbs f
The car ride was going so smoothly that Anna’s mind had settled into a lull, pulling her to sleep.It was only the fact that she hadn’t yet gotten to her destination that stopped her.Her thoughts went to her children, and how they might react to her absence. Would they be okay?And William?Her fingers clenched into tightly balled up fists. Already she was missing them, but she knew she had no other way to stay.This was something she could only do by herself.“Uh-oh,” her attention was caught as soon as the man said that.That was when she noticed the checkpoint which made her brows raise as the driver slowed down. A couple of cars were lined up before them and Anna spied men checking each one.She wondered when a checkpoint had existed on this road. To her memory, it hadn’t.Was this Damon’s doing?As one of the men began to walk down the rows of cars walked towards their vehicle, Anna didn’t waste time in making the connection that this could be the work of the Hunters.What coul
An hour later, and Anna was driven to the building where Damon supposedly lived. As she walked, she was flanked by two Hunters, each of whom looked more like hit men with the way they all looked extremely muscular and full of an intimidating aura. Surprisingly to the redhead, she didn’t feel intimidated at all by them, only a little amused.Whether it was the fact that she had given up all reasons to be afraid of the Hunters, or that she was bo longer just a mere human, either way, she didn’t mind the company, as they entered the elevator. The quiet gave her space to think and formulate a plan of action.If she could get to convince Damon that she would stay away from this fight between the werewolves and Hunters, then perhaps he would agree to help her.If he didn’t…Anna didn’t want to think about the possibility of Damon dismissing her. She didn’t believe he was incapable of being reasonable just yet. He was a Hunter, bot a psychopath, right?As the elevator doors opened, Anna took
Anna’s heart sank as soon as he said those words and her mind began to whirl as she looked back over her shoulder and glared at him.Damon looked incredibly unbothered as he continued to peel almonds and pop them into his mouth, with his sleeves rolled up and like this was a friendly hangout.“What is that supposed to mean?” She asked him, her voice coming out shaky, a result from the compounded frustration, anger and fear that shot up in her at the mention of her children. What kind of games was Damon Erikson playing this time?It took everything in her to not flinch when he finally looked up at her, gazing through her and shattering the facade of calm she had with his cold, dead eyes.“I already know where all the packs in this city are located, Anna,” he stated without hesitation. “It’s only a small obstacle that prevents me from going into it right now and burning everyone and everything in it to the ground. If I want, I can have it searched soon and the packs will be found and ki
After Ethan finished explaining, the Alpha was left at a loss, speechless for a couple of seconds.“So that’s what happened, brother. She couldn’t stay here even if you wanted her to,” Ethan folded his arms across his chest. The blow to his cheek had mostly healed but there was still a faint twinge every time he moved his jaw, and he longed to get his lick in with William.William scowled as soon as he heard his younger brother’s words. He was still processing what Ethan had said - about Anna’s experience being injected by a strange substance, and how s had changed. He still was reeling from it, but he couldn’t let Ethan win.“Was that your fucking decision to make, Ethan? Or mine?” William growled at his brother. They were alone in the study, having moved to avoid their mother as she had awoken. He slammed his hand in the desk and it shook. “You took this decision without my fucking permission. Forcing my mate to leave?!”“Do you expect her to stay regardless?” Ethan raised his hands
Alpha Drake was nothing short of fuming as he pushed through the guards of Alpha William’s mansion and began to raise his voice angrily.“Where is that Alpha?! Come out, Alpha William!” He snarled. His voice echoed through the foyer and it caused chaos as the former Luna and Ethan came down t he steps, each with varying expressions of dread.“You,” Ethan blinked at the sound of Alpha Drake’s hiss as an accusing finger was pointed right at him. “Where has that brother of yours gone, huh?! Where is he?!”Ethan noticed Lily step in behind her godfather. She looked just as furious, if only that her face was stoic but her eyes blazing. Their eyes met and he looked back to Alpha Drake. He was all but foaming at the mouth at this point.Wow brother, you have done it again, Ethan thought. He had warned William that acting rashly would lead to problems, but did he fucking listen? Ethan had no intention of dealing with this at all.At least his mother was trying to calm things down, smiling ne
William didn’t expect what Anna said to him, and so it took him some time to process it before he ended up replying.“What did you expect? That I would let you just leave the pack without saying anything? You didn’t even bother to say goodbye, much less tell me what happened to you,” William sounded really bitter. “I had to find out from Ethan of all fucking people what happened. Did you ever think telling me might be the right thing to do?”“I’m sorry,” she murmured quietly.“There’s nothing more to say now, Anna. Just, end this. Come home with me and I’ll protect you,” He extended his hand to her, wanting her to take it. “Trust me, Anna.”“I do. But I can’t,” Anna said. All traces of pain and regret and guilt were gone from her eyes now. She was holding back tears and her hands trembled, just a little bit. She tried to hide it by tightening them into fists, but it only made her feel even weaker.It was Damon who had told her to do this - to tell William that it was over between them
The sound of Anna’s whimpering was the only thing that was heard in the large bedroom. Despite the luxurious looking surroundings, nothing appealed to the redhead that moment. All she wanted to do was go back to that point in time when she spoke to William and choose differently. She wished the past two weeks had not happened, and she hadn’t ever come into contact with the Eriksons.Less than thirty minutes ago, she practically bade goodbye to the man she was in love with.There was no going back now. And that hurt the most.As Anna sobbed in the bedroom, the full pain in her chest deepened. Her entire body felt like it was out of strength, and all the energy she could have ever had was sucked out of her.Her life had become a dark, gloomy path she couldn’t find her way out of, no matter what. And she was trapped in this damn building and apartment with the Devil himself, Damon fucking Erikson.The thought made her want to bash her head into the wall and just end it then and there for
Lily couldn’t contain her smirk as she saw Anna’s wide-eyed stare aimed at her. It had taken the work of a couple of her connections for her to figure out William’s whereabouts.It had just been her luck that she had a standing reservation here.The Alpha growled lowly under his breath as she turned to look at him. “What a surprise,” Lily remarked with sarcasm dripping from her voice. Then she turned to Anna, the redhead whom she glared venomously at. She blamed the formerly human woman for ruining her life, and her future with William. “Don’t tell me you two are on a little date.“What are you doing here, Lily?” The emerald eyed Alpha demanded.“What? You didn’t think you’re the only one that can step out on a nice night like this?” She scoffed and folded her arms across her chest. “You know, I was just wondering how you two could be here having a good time when you both have caused so much chaos. You, especially, Anna.” She spat out the redhead’s name with such venom that Anna coul
It was an hour later when Anna arrived at her parent’s place.She knocked meekly on the door, and was startled when the door was flung open.“Anna?” Her father was the one who answered it and she could have nearly cried at the relief in his eyes. He pulled her close into a hug and she closed her eyes briefly from the warmth.“Where have you been?” He asked her, curiosity in his voice. “And how are the twins?”“I had to travel for a bit. For work,” she clarified, the lie that she had come up with left her lips so easily. “The kids are okay as well.”She stepped into the house that she had lived in all her childhood.…Anna woke up from the bed of her childhood room early the next morning. Sleep hadn’t come easily but she eventually drifted off. After an hour of tossing and turning, she got up for a jog and had breakfast.“Good morning mum, dad,” she greeted her parents as she returned for breakfast.Her mother eyed her in silence, and Anna could sense questions on her mind. Having lied
“Of course,” William said in an imperious voice. “My brother saw fit to take his anger out on human girls and murdered ten of them in one night. There is even news to prove that, and he has confessed it to me.”Gasps left the lips of all who had no idea, and Camille’s face turned pale as she processed that.“T-this cant be true-““It is the truth,” William turned to say to his mother unabashedly. His eyes pierced hers with a look of certainty on his face. “And it will always be the truth. That is why,” he continued, turning to his brother. “From now henceforth, I cut all our ties to him.”There was a wave of confusion in the air and Alpha Drake seethed silently.“You are banishing him from your pack?” The Alpha of the Eclipse pack asked and William nodded in the affirmative.“Now that you have seen the truth of what caused the Hunters to come into the city, you have no right to hold these charges over my mate’s head. And you will release her at once. Council, your decision?”The Elder
The next morning, as sunlight streamed in through the windows and bathed the room with a warm glow, William stirred first.Anna slept soundly in his arms, both of them half-naked. The memories of the full moon the previous night made him smile. It had been better than he had expected. Luckily his Beta had fulfilled most of the duties William delegated to him, so the Aloha was free to enjoy the night with his family.“Hey,” Anna woke up with a small whisper leaving her lips. She felt his warmth all around her and she felt safe.It had been a long time coming, she thought, and she didn’t want to leave the bed anytime soon.“Sleep well?” He smirked down at her as she pressed her body against his.“Too well,” her voice was akin to a purr as she spoke. “Anyway, I think it’s nearly last breakfast. I’ll have to get ready to go into the city soon.”Ah yes, that.William’s mood soured and she noticed it quickly.“Will,” she sighed and leaned into him. “Please. You know this is necessary.”“I k
Anna was surprised to find Ethan approaching them.“Ethan?” Camille also sounded stunned to see her younger son there, and coming to Anna’s defense.“Mother, enough of this,” Ethan said in a calm tone, not showing any signs of anger.“B-but-“ Camille’s face reddened, out of anger or embarrassment or both… she didn’t know.“Focus on the festival. Stop with this,” he told her. “Focus on the festival.”“Focus on the festival? What about the Eclipse pack, and our relations with them? What about Alpha Drake?”“Everything is being taken care of,” Was all Ethan said before turning to glance at a stupefied Anna.She looked away, not wanting to show emotion to him of all people.She noticed the twins were staring at them from afar with curiosity in their faces.Camille was shocked at her younger son.“Ethan, I had never expected you of all people to defend her after all she has done,” she vehemently said.“And I am not,” Ethan sighed; his mother was hard to dissuade when she fixated on certain
“This is so cool!” Andrew jumped atop the picnic blanket in an excited manner that Anna couldn’t help but smile.There was a buzz of excitement in the air.As Anna played the snacks and fruits out for the twins to eat, there was the sound of a throat clearing that made her and William turn to see who it was.“Alpha,” it was a guard who bowed deeply. “There are some delegates from the Grey Hills Pack and the Moonlight Pack here. They wish to see you.”William refrained from giving into the urge to pinch his nose and only let oit a small sigh, and nodded.“Very well. I will be there in a bit. Have them wait for me in the study,” he ordered the guard and dismissed him with a wave. The guard bowed and left, before William turned to his mate, meeting her gaze.Before he could say anything, she spoke, “It’s alright, Will. I’ll handle things here for the time being.After William left - but not before giving her and the twins kisses each - she sat and enjoyed the snacks while they watched m
Ethan wasn’t surprised about his brother wanting to spend time with his family, and he kept his opinions on that to himself - being the one who never saw the point in all that, he wouldn’t even touch that topic with a fucking ten foot pole.However, he did have a point to make.“It’s easy to forget your duties if you focus too much on your family, brother,” he crossed his arms as William’s glare increased. “Alpha Drake will come for blood soon enough. I don’t think we’re ready for that in any way.”“Let me worry about that, Ethan. And focus on enjoying the rest of the day. The festival is just starting, you wouldn’t want to miss it. And afterward, Ethan, then we will have much to discuss.”William’s words made Ethan’s brows furrowed in confusion. Why did his brother have that tone, as if he had some plan he had kept under his sleeve? It couldn’t be could it? The Alpha had never shown any indication in the past day of strategizing.However he couldn’t outright question the Alpha now.“
Anna didn’t know what to say after William was done talking. She had not expected to hear that sort of thing coming from him. He used to be so stone cold towards her, at least on the surface… and now things had changed. For the better or for worse, she didn't know just yet, but she was pleased and warmed by it.“Will…” she began to say only for him to continue.“Anna, all you have to do is promise me that, and I won't have a problem with anything else. No matter what, don’t forget you're my mate and you are my top priority. You and our children, and our family. It matters more to me than anything.”The honesty wasn’t one thing he expected either to come from himself, especially with her. He had once prided himself on being unruffled by shows of love and affection that most other 5 men his age seemed to fall under the thrall of. William particularly recalled an occasion in which a VIP client spoke fondly of his wife and daughters and asked William if he had any himself to which the Alp
The sight of her two children writhing in pain on their beds made her heart beat faster and she rushed towards them, frantic.“Andrea? Andrew?” She pressed her hand atop their foreheads to check their temperatures and found, to her dismay, they were feverish.The sight of their pale, withdrawn faces even in their sleep was heart wrenching. Anna felt helpless. What could have been wrong with them? They were fine yesterday!As though some supreme power had read her mind, the door opened and William walked in, his lips moving.“Good morning-” his words were cut off as he took in the look on his mate’s face. She looked incredible, her hair down to the blue dress she wore, but it was the display of terror in her eyes that stopped him in his tracks.“What’s going on?” he asked, and she rushed to him, tugging him to their children’s beds.“They were like this when I found them. Will, what could have happened? Maybe they ate something or… or-”The emerald-eyed Alpha grabbed his mate’s hands a