Anna entered the company’s daycare at the end of the work day. Thankfully, it was uneventful, but she had a feeling it was because William had barely come out of his office all day. In fact, he had not even called the intercom to ask her for something throughout the day. Somehow, it made her miss his presence.Her two adorable munchkins were waiting for her, playing with the wooden blocks on the carpeted floor.“Andrea, Andrew.” She called their names as the minder brought her their bags and lunchboxes that were lighter than when she handed them to them in the morning.“Thanks.” She told the minder, a young-looking woman that seemed to be about 18 or 19. “Did they cause any trouble?”“Not more than the usual, Miss Clandestine.” The minder replied with a smile. “They are lovely children.”She smiled in return. But then the minder’s eyes turned a bit worried and her heart rate rose.“Anything?” Anna asked, and the minder’s brows furrowed before she slowly nodded.“Well… I wouldn’t say i
William knew he was causing chaos as he said those words. But he didn’t care. If his mother wanted grandchildren, and Alpha Drake wanted to arrange a marriage, then there was one other member of the Hayes family that would be suited for it.With that, he walked away, ignoring two loud exclamations from the two conspirators. As he went to his bedroom, he thought over what he had just said.It was actually a solid plan, he realized. Ethan’s antics were becoming too much for him to defend. Perhaps marrying him to someone would cool down his more temperamental habits. He knew his mother wasn’t going to like the idea of her favorite son getting married off like that but he didn’t care. He was the Alpha and what he decides goes.He brushed away any lingering thoughts on what the decision might do for the relationship between the two packs. He doubted Alpha Drake was going to be so foolish as to try and start a war over which brother got married first, and even though he did, William knew th
“You told me that you would pay me yesterday. Where the fuck’s my money?” The man all but spat at Sophie, pointing a finger at her accusingly.Anna was at the corner listening to it all and as she did, she felt shock coursing through her system.Sophie’s voice was clear, full of exasperation and frustration. “Told you that but something came up. Come on, you have to believe me. I just need a little more money right now.” The man visibly pushed her away even as she tried to wrap a hand around his neck and kiss him.Anna was even more shocked. Didn’t her sister have a fiancé?Surreptitiously, Anna whipped out her phone and turned on her camera to record a video. She pressed the red button and began recording. It was better to have evidence on hand if Sophie denied those accusations, after all.Sophie whined as the man pushed her away one too many times. “Please baby. Don’t do this to me.”The man scoffed.“You call every man who gives you what you want baby, right?” There was a threat
“You say you recorded this tonight?” This was the third time her father had asked this question and this time, he looked even more weary. “It was noisy. It couldn’t have been…”Anna sighed inwardly, feeling frustration rise up. She had shown her father the video and still he was making excuses for Sophie. Typical.“Come on, dad. I didn’t even know she was going to be there in the first place. How could I have set this up for her? She said all of this and she said a lot more before then but this alone is pretty damning.” She paused, taking in her father’s reaction. She spied Andrew and Andrea busy watching the cartoons on TV.She had only been gone for about two hours and she was glad she eventually didn’t stay with Dylan as she had expected - through the night. Being with her children sounded like a better night than mingling in between musty smelling girls and guys grinding on each other.Tonight had been revealing for a lot of things, not just for Sophie and her horrible behavior an
Drake Finnigan, Alpha of the Eclipse Pack, was none too happy about this arrangement. And neither was his subordinate.“I thought it was Alpha William himself that my dear Lily is to marry? Not his younger brother? He has no claims to the Alpha title, does he?” The subordinate asked, looking very disappointed.Alpha Drake could understand. His own anger stemmed from the fact that William was so strong minded that even he could not succeed to change the young Alpha’s mind. His dreams of getting one of his own most loyal in the strongest pack in the region was slowly becoming a pipe dream.“Father?” It was Lily, and Drake turned to survey his goddaughter. She looked ever beautiful, with her dark eyes, pale skin and black hair that made her glow and look so ethereal. She would have made a good Luna to William. She looked confused as she noticed her father’s and godfather’s expressions.“What’s going on? Is it done?” She asked about the marriage arrangement. Her sights had been set on Wil
“Thank you once again for your generosity and for hosting us, Alpha William.” The female delegate from the Golden Moon Pack said last, and William nodded, shaking her hand as well.Now that the full moon was over, the Alpha was glad to see the delegates off at the gate. And he was very much satisfied that his pack’s relationship with the neighboring packs was continuing on a positive note.However, that still left one pack - the Eclipse Pack, of which Alpha Drake was waiting in William’s home.The talks for the arranged marriage between Drake’s choice and Ethan was supposed to start today, and William was expecting the girl to be engaged to Ethan to show up soon.He went to his study, after returning from the gates, letting Drake and his mother talk at the breakfast table. Ethan was nowhere to be seen but that was just to be expected of his disdainful little brother.He busied himself with paperwork that he had put off for too long and organizing the rest of his monthly schedule while
Anna jolted awake to the feeling of her phone ringing by her ear. Reaching for it, she picked up the call without checking who it was that was calling.“Hello?” Her voice cracked and she cleared her throat. “Hello?”“Anna.” It was her father and he sounded strangely joyful for some reason. “Sorry, dear. Were you asleep?”“Huh? Um… yeah. But it’s okay, dad. What’s up?” She asked, sitting up in her bed. Her eyes spied the signs of dawn, the sun making its way over the horizon.“Well, it’s good news. Don’t worry.” Her father chuckled. “Jacob is back on duty, finally.”Jacob?Her brows furrowed before she remembered that Jacob in fact meant Jacob Touren, Sophie’s fiancé and wealthy businessman. Her mood soured immediately upon that thought. Why did her father have to go and remind her of all the reasons she didn’t like Sophie right now?“What does that have to do with me?” Her tone turned harsh and her father seemed to get that she was upset too.“Honestly, Anna. Please can you be happy f
Alpha Drake Finnigan waited until after the talks on potential engagement were over. He noticed William giving Lily stares throughout the entire meeting, even though Lily didn’t reciprocate in any way. Another notable point, he thought, was that Ethan, the Alpha William’s younger brother and supposed groom in question, wasn’t even present.Regardless, it would be at least another meeting before the two Alphas came to an agreement regarding the future of this arranged marriage.After they got back to the Eclipse pack, Lily finally turned to Alpha Drake with a smile. She looked triumphant and happy.“I think that went well,” was what she said, sitting down at the couch in his study. Her father was present, looking broodingly at her.“You always have an optimistic outlook on everything, Lily dear.” Her father said, and Alpha Drake had to agree. Still the smile on Lily’s face only grew wider. “Today was not exactly the best start to your engagement. The younger brother, that is…” He frown
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