William was already about to give an excuse as Anna flung open the door but before he could, she huffed and said, “Don’t bother. Just come in.”He closed his mouth with a click - never before in his life had a woman ever thought to command him that way - and entered the house.The air was filled with a mix of scents - pastries baking in the oven, the menthol scent that tickled his nose, and the overwhelming scent of his children above all else.“Did you use vapor rub?” He asked, wrinkling his nose to which Anna glared at him. “How mundane of you.” He muttered his thoughts before his brain to mouth filter could work properly.“Well, forgive me for trying to find some sort of relief for them, Mr I Am So Wealthy! And how am I to know if it wouldn’t work? Do I look like a damn werewolf?” She slammed the oven doors shut after checking the chocolate chip cookies. It was nearly done.He closed his eyes briefly and counted down from ten. The sound had truly irritated him as well as her shouti
85.The night had come, finally. And the silence in the house was surprising to Anna who expected her children to be in tears, or unable to sit still.However, instead she was staring at quite the unusual sight of William, who cradled the two without any discomfort obvious to her. And the twins were awake, but snuggled into their father’s arms. They were breathing in and out so deeply that she would have assumed they were sleeping if not for their eyes being open.“They’re very well behaved,” William remarked in such a low tone that she almost thought it was a dream.She cleared her throat, taking another sip of her tea before saying, “They’re always well behaved. But I guess you being here makes it easier.”Then she pursed her lips before asking what was on her mind for hours. “Do they know that you’re…? I mean…” He looked up to give her a curious gaze, green eyes glittering. “I-Is that something that comes by instinct?”William could tell that she was asking if the twins knew that h
Lily was shocked by her uncle’s question as he looked at her, clasping his hands together. She opened her mouth while her mind worked overtime to think up an excuse.“There’s no reason for me not to have a scarf over my neck, uncle, is there? It’s still spring, isn’t it?” She pointed out.However his gaze unwavering as he stared at her told the 20-something year old that he wasn’t pleased or moved by her tricks.“Lily,” he sighed, and she could just hear the disappointment in his tone. “Don’t try to deny this. Your mask is slipping right in front of me.”She froze, and immediately pulled her expression into a stoic one, ber eyes piercing as they stared at each other.“And,” he continued patiently, as though he was talking about the weather and her father couldn’t walk into their conversation at any point in time. “You shouldn’t forget why you returned from France in the first place. Remember?”Her lips thinned as she tried not to think too much.But still he pointed it out, “I remembe
Her face had reddened as her mind processed the words Ethan had told her. William had a fiancé?! Since when?! How?!Ethan felt pleased upon hearing Anna’s mix of emotions in her voice as she asked, a tad desperate. “What do you mean, Ethan? William’s fiancé?”She clutched him closer, like her knees were going to buckle from the shock of the news.Ethan knew that this would make Anna come to him and break the small link that William had to Anna so easily.That was exactly why he had mentioned Lily.Oh, brother, he thought delightfully. You shouldn’t have made things so easy for me to play with you.“It’s exactly what I mean, Anna.” He said.Anna felt betrayed and at the same time angry. She felt like such a fool for falling for that act of his again. Why had she not known? After all, it explained the way that he had insisted at first that she was a gold digger. He had a woman he was going to marry. And having children out of wedlock would have honed everything for him.Ethan continued
William knocked on Anna’s door that evening. The sun was setting and he had just bade his client's daughter a goodbye, and after giving his chauffeur the rest of the day off, sped down here to talk with Anna. He had tried calling her throughout the meal during the restaurant and yet she hadn’t even bothered picking up. At some point, his calls weren’t even going through anymore, leading him to believe that she had blocked him.All William felt was confusion over everything, so much so that it irritated him. His lunch ‘date’ with the busty brunette ended in a pretty sour note when he refused to return with her to her hotel room. It had been a first for the CEO-slash-werewolf, but that was what Anna did to him.After many more moments stood waiting, he heard footsteps from the other side of the door and then it opened.William saw how Anna’s eyes narrowed onto him as soon as she recognized he was the one on the other end of the door, and she began to try closing it.But he stopped her w
But the bubble burst, and she remembered Ethan telling her that he has a fiancé. Anna trusted Ethan’s word. And that meant William was once again playing the innocent one, making her out to be the bad guy.“That’s enough.” She pointed to the door. “You should leave now. And if you don’t, I’m gonna call the cops on you.”William looked disappointed at her attitude. He could sense she was definitely not joking about her threats. Ergo, he had no choice.With a sigh, he reached into his pocket and brought out a black card, which made Anna look surprised.“What is this?” She took the black card from him and peered into it.“I know you’re upset.” He started to say. “But that doesn’t mean I’m going to just up and leave. I’m willing to prove that I want to be in their lives if that’s what you want. So anything you need for the twins, you should get it. Whether it be toys or even hiring babysitters. I’ll even get contacts of a daycare owned by our kind to make things easier. Whatever it is, An
Lily couldn’t contain herself from looking around as she walked up the steps of the mansion.The sun had set, therefore William was suppose to be in the pack compound by now. As she entered the foyer through the front door, she turned to the first servant she saw.“Where is Alpha William?” She asked the maid, whose eyes look was of awe and envy at Lily’s beauty. The latter was used to it - from her peers included.The maid stammered out, “Um, Alpha William is in his bedroom suite, Miss . Should I let him know you’re here?”Lily shook her head and dismissed the maid with a wave.“No need.”As soon as the maid bowed and scurried away and she went up the steps, the smile she had on her face faded away and a stoic gaze took its place. Honestly, she hated having to converse with maids. When she got here, she would train them to anticipate her desires and orders so she didn’t have to raise a finger or say a damn word.She knocked once on William’s door before opening it, and walking in jus
As Lily left William’s bedroom, she had to conceal the relief that she felt upon not arousing any sort of suspicion from her fiancé. She had to remember to be more careful, she told herself. Keeping not only to her Uncle Drake’s warnings, but remembering the plan was a good recipe for success. She couldn’t do it any other way. It would positively bring her to ruin.The dark haired beauty went gently down the steps, and she nearly reached the front door when she heard a voice that made her stop in her tracks.“Was my brother pleased to see you?” It was full of glee and an unspoken knowledge that made chills roll down her spine.Lily whipped her head around and tried to keep her cool as her dark eyes spotted Ethan seated at a corner she hadn’t noticed before.He had a book in hand, which looked to be written in Italian, judging by the cover.It was just another element she didn’t know about Ethan that made her wonder who this brother of Alpha William was. Certainly, he was more than
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