143.There were loud sirens in her head, different types, screaming at her one after the other like a ceaseless cacophony of sounds.She could hardly shut her ears to it, because there was no way to do so. She couldn’t feel her hands, her body.She was drowning, sinking deep into terrible nightmares that she couldn’t fight her way out of. A scream threatened to rip its way out of her throat.Anna jerked up, her eyes wide with terror as she panted. The first thing that caught her attention was how much her eyes hurt.Everywhere was so damn bright. What was going on?“Miss,” she heard an unfamiliar voice and her eyes snapped to the door, only to find that a girl was staring at her.What was going on? Where was she?Her mind whirled; the only thing she remembered before she was being trapped by the Hunters.Immediately, she stood up and her feet felt like jelly as she stumbled toward the girl.Grabbing the girl’s shoulders, she could barely fight the nausea that bloomed in her gut and wou
Lily could hardly contain her scowl as William entered the bedroom with Anna practically in his arms, holding to him for dear life and trembling like a leaf.She had to be enjoying this, the werewolf sneered at the redhead as she disappeared with LILY’S fiancé behind the door.“Are you going to explain what happened just now?” She turned to Ethan, as no one else would be able to explain. He looked unbothered strangely about his woman being with his brother and relying on him when she had lashed at everyone else.“Whatever do you mean?” The younger brother of the Alpha noticed the tic in Lily’s beautiful face; she looked more than a little pissed off, and confused about the situation to boot.But Ethan had no interest in catering to her whims now. All he wanted to do was make sure he didn’t get wrapped up on much more than he already had.If he could leave the damn city now he would, he thought furiously.“Don’t play games with me, Ethan,” Lily snapped at him. Luckily, the two men’s mo
The sound of the clock ticking and the sound of pacing were the only thing that filled Ethan’s ears. He sipped his whiskey, his legs crossed as he leaned against the comfortable cushions, and watched as Lily paced up and down the length of the living room.He finally sighed as he watched her muttering to herself.“Lily, for fuck’s sake, sit down. You’re not doing yourself any favors with how you’re acting,” he said.Still she didn’t respond, to his annoyance. Ethan hated being ignored.He added, “William is going to come down in a couple of minutes, and you two can talk. That’s what you want, right?Lily stopped with a sigh and turned around to ask, “What happened last night?”Her eyes peered at him unblinkingly like a hawks’.“My dear brother already explained what happened last night. Asking me isn’t going to yield you different results,” Ethan replied with.A frown sat on her pretty lips and he didn’t like that. Something about her being frayed at the edges and about to lose her coo
“What do you want to discuss?” William sounded weary and altogether done with Lily’s shit for the day. He was dealing with the weight of his decisions all coming back to bite him in the ass one after the other and he didn’t fucking like it one bit.The fact that he had chosen to get engaged to Lily pipped in his head like a horrific Jack-in-the-box to remind him of his mistakes in trying to avoid his fate and his feelings for Anna. Now all of those were coming home to roost and it was infuriating to say the least.Lily folded her arms across her sachets and asked plainly, “What are you hiding from me, William? And don’t try to deflect or tell the half-truths. I want to know everything.”She was tired of being left in the dark. For someone like her who relished in being at the top of her game. Somehow in this game, she had the dread of losing. And she didn’t think it was just paranoia. This threat was real. And that girl was at the center of it all, damn it.The Alpha sighed and gave i
Ethan, who had been silent all this while, decided to play his part now.With a cocked brow at the Alpha of the Eclipse Pack, he asked, “Are you insinuating that my brother is lying?”“He was only making a comment,” Lily jumped in to defend her uncle.“A comment which should not have been made,” William said, feeling protective of his twins. “And for your information, Drake, the reason my brother and I went after the Hunters is because the twins’ mother was in danger. There was no choice.”That seemed to spur Alpha Drake into more ranting.“No choice?!” He slammed his hand on the desk. “She is a human, right? That means she wasn’t as important as our own kin! Who cares if she dies?!”William stood to his feet, incensed.“You should keep your opinions about my family to yourself, DRAKE! And for your sake, I would hope that you don’t repeat such words in front of me again!” He bit out, barely able to control his rage. His wolf roared within him, aching to come out and destroy whoever it
William considered Ethan’s question while thinking furiously, making calculations in his head.His fingers tapped repeatedly on his lap as he considered all game plans.The only option the Alpha-Slash-CEO decided was to wait it out.“We’ll wait.” He said with a sigh.“Wait?” Ethan raised a brow at his brother. “Is that the best course of action?”“It’s the only thing we can do,” he turned to glance at Ethan. “Because we need to be in hiding. I suspect this is another one of Damon’s methods to try and force us, myself especially, out into the open so his men can attack us. There isn’t a hell of a chance of me falling for that.”It was a surprising thing to Ethan, that William, the workaholic who was strict even about the most flexible deadlines, would consider letting the Hayes’ Corp stocks fall. Under his leadership, Hayes’ corp had grown to double the annual revenue and profits within record time. That was another reason many werewolves in the country and region regarded William high
For Doctor Wayne, one of the best doctors in the region for werewolves and humans alike, to admit that he had no idea at all what was happening to Anna was nothing short of scary and opened the floor for a lot of questions which William had no answers to.What had happened to her when she was in the Hunters’ hold?“Will she be alright at least?” William asked the doctor who seemed weary.“Well, Alpha William… I’d say for now, yes,” Doctor Wayne replied. “She seems to be having a fever but it isn’t that high.”William remembered Anna’s strange behavior that morning and stated, “What about deliriousness? She acted out of sorts this morning.“Out of sorts was an understatement, William thought. She acted in a way that terrified him, and he had seen a lot before.The recollection of Anna crying and staring like she couldn’t see, scared and asking about their twins was heartbreaking.“Ah,” Doctor Wayne nodded. He looked troubled to William’s trained eye. “Your brother said it might be as a
Evening had fallen over the first day since the city-wide Hunter lockdown on all werewolves in the city. Many werewolves were dying at the hands of his men, yet Damon Erikson didn’t feel pleased in any way.His hands gripped the tempered glass of the balcony of his penthouse. The city lights were akin to tiny stars glittering in the night sky, and the sounds of the city filled his ears. He was much more used to the idyllic pace in the UK compared to the US. Nevertheless, he couldn’t doubt that this city was a central hub of activity.The report of one of his men rang loudly through the speaker of his phone.At some point, Damon cut the man off, tired of listening to drivel. If Aiden was still alive, he would have relegated his best friend to their duties. But alas, now he had to take charge of them by himself.“And has there been words of Anna Clandestine?” He asked, listening for the answer half-heartedly.There was a pause before the Hunter on the other end of the phone spluttered.
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