"Here you go, Miss Clandestine." Anna received the packaged watch from the sales clerk, an older woman who smiled kindly at her. "He's a lucky guy." Anna snorted. "Yeah, he is. He has me, and I just busted my ass to get him a Hublot. He is damned lucky." The sales clerk laughed at the young woman's assertiveness. Anna was quite beautiful. Brilliant red hair was curled in beautiful layers, radiating different shades ranging from brown to red. Her eyes were hazel and they popped with an eyeliner rimmed around it. A splatter of freckles stained her nose giving her a cute, innocent look until she opened her mouth. Tossing a grin at the saleswoman, she strutted out of the shop, adjusting her short black dress as she walked to the bus stop. Despite her bold words, her stomach fluttered inside at the thought of seeing Karl. She hoped he liked his birthday gift; she had spent a large quarter of her savings that year on the watch and the hot-as-hell lingerie that was hidden underneath he
William smelt a sweet, seductive scent when he walked into the bar. It was uncommon cause the bar was for humans, and as he knew, no wolves should be around. That was why he looked around and walked close to the woman whose red hair looked a bit tousled like that of a person who just got out of bed and wouldn't mind going back right in. He gulped, knowing that his assumption was wrong. The woman's hair was messy because she must have run her fingers through the strands repeatedly - just like she was doing at the moment He looked at her and winced when her hazel eyes, coated with smears from her mascara, lifted up to look at him. The freckles on her nose looked like they had a life of their own, looking so brightly obvious in the dimmed light of the club.When he came close to her, the woman suddenly brushed his arm with her fingers. The scent he had been smelling became stronger, and he felt a strong desire inside him to claim this beauty before him.What? He realized this was not a
"Where the hell were you?!" Sophie screamed as soon as Anna stepped into her home. Anna winced at the loudness, clutching her head in pain. Her headache had intensified, and she felt quite miserable. "Why the hell are you screaming?" Anna asked calmly, rubbing her forehead. She shrugged off her shoes, pushed them to the side, and fell on a couch in the living room. "I couldn't find you! I looked everywhere ..." As Sophie ranted on, Anna peeked at her sister through her lashes. If Sophie had truly searched for her, there should have been missed calls on her phone. She had gotten nothing. Hell, she was certain Sophie had forgotten all about her until she had stepped into the house. "Anna, where were you?" A louder much more mature voice spoke up, and Anna sat up to see her mother approach. "I was out." She replied simply, raising her shoulders in a shrug. "Out, blowing money on drinks!" Sophie snarled. Anna furrowed her brows in wonder. What the hell was Sophie's problem? She w
Five years later. "Momma!" Anna's shoulders slumped at the scream that pierced through the entire building. The twins were at it again. Hell, she could imagine her neighbors rushing out of their rooms just so they could glare at her. The British were polite as hell, but that didn't mean they couldn't be condescending when they intended to be. But it didn't matter. After five solid years of living with them, she was used to them glaring at her from the tip of their nose. She dropped the clothes she had been folding into the suitcase that way, exhausted from staying up all night to take care of her daughter, Andrea. Rapidly, her feet hit the ground, carrying her to the living room. "No." She moaned in anguish at the sight before her. Andrew had his sister's hair in a knot. No scratch that, he had his sister's hair tangled in many knots. Anna closed her eyes, fighting the tears that threatened to spill. She had spent hours brushing that hair! She had no idea where Andrea got her spri
The restaurant was beautiful. It paled in comparison to the expensive rich-as-hell restaurants in the UK, but for an American restaurant, it was quite fancy. Anna sat in her car, taking in deep breaths to steady her nerves. She had not been on a date in a very long time. Hell, the last time she had been on a date was with Karl. And that was five solid years ago. She eyed the time displayed on her phone screen. They had agreed to meet by eight that night, and she still had ten minutes left. She ought to be excited, right? It was Dylan for goodness sake. Handsome, stacked, ripped Dylan. He had been the number one heartthrob back in high school, and he had invited her on a date! Hell, if any of her friends then heard about this, they would pass out on her behalf. She was certain.Her eyes flitted to the mirror. Her face was almost bare. She had simply powdered it, worn a lip gloss, and slipped into the fanciest dress her hands had touched first. It was a green gala gown that had an ela
"Good lord! What the hell happened?" Benjamin Clandestine yelled as soon as he opened the door. Outside stood his daughter, Anna, drenched all over holding her kids in both arms. Anna gave her father a tired smile. Hell, she was sure she looked quite the sight. Dripping from head to toe, dressed in a skirt and blazer, carrying the twins in her arms. To think it was her first day at work and bad things were already happening. "Grandpa!" Andrea and Andrew cried, clapping their hands excitedly. "Come in," Benjamin urged, stepping aside to allow them in. "Sophie isn't home and your mother is asleep." Anna's shoulders slumped in relief. She didn't think she could handle any snarky remarks from either of them at the moment. She has done a good job of hiding from them ever since she arrived in New York and she would love to keep it that way. However, considering her present state, she wasn't sure how much longer she would be able to avoid them. Her father took Andrea out of her hands, p
William wasn’t in the best of moods right this moment. His cheek aching so fucking much from the slap his mother had just given him in her rampage that was as constant as the Northern Star.Paying little attention to the person that came in just seconds after, he straightened himself up, catching a glimpse of his reflection on the reflective windows.Good, he didn’t look too disturbed.“Good morning.” He barked out after the silence stretched out for too damn long. Raising his gaze, he appraised the woman in front of him, only to stop short.Red hair.His mind stuttered.She looked so damn familiar. This time, William remembered where he had seen this vixen of a woman before.In that restaurant with that guy. She had been the only interesting thing there and pity, she had been clearly bored out of her mind.Her gaze was magnetic, but so filled with shock that he had to wonder if there was something on his face.His eyes flickered over her body.Why was she wearing such a tight dress?
Damn it!She felt like she was going to cry.Anna walked over to the secretary’s desk she had seen before. This time, there was no longer the excitement of being the secretary to the CEO of the Hayes Company. This time, what Anna felt was a huge pit in her stomach and an overwhelming need for a cry.All his words that had been said to her in his office made her rest her head in her hands. This was turning out to be the worst start to her first day.“I should have just stayed in the UK.” She mumbled, trying to think of anything other than the father of her children… who now turned out to be her boss.Anna’s mind worked furiously as she rifled through the drawers of the desk, replaying the encounter she had with him at the restaurant and also here at the company.Why did it seem to her that he didn’t even recognize her?It was as if she was no one to him, which of course she didn’t blame him for.After all, it had been over five
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