And there I was, sitting on a single couch, reading a book while enjoying a hot chocolate far from my bastard Mate. I can't even remember the last time I did that. I think it was before the tragedy happened.It had been a few days since I arrived at the mansion, and Alpha Jared had been very kind. He allowed me to do anything, letting me roam at will throughout the mansion. I wouldn't say anything about living in Ace's mansion. Trust me, I felt more alive here.Lowering the book slightly, I could see the door to Alpha Jared's workroom, which was not closed tightly. He was sitting there behind his desk. Working on something with some papers, his expression was solemn. The man looked mature. No... not old, mature. As I looked at his face, I felt something hard to describe. His deep eyes seemed to change. Sometimes, they were calm and soothing, but other times, they seemed cold and dangerous. That contradiction was precisely the attraction. Many girls would scream for him, for sure."I s
My head was so heavy like a giant rock was pressing down on it. I heard someone talking. Well, not one person. There were two different voices. I wanted to open my eyes, but it felt so heavy. It took a while until I finally managed to do so. And I realized I was in my room, in my bed."Victoria? Are you awake?"My eyes were still too heavy to open, but I could see Alpha Jared rushing over to me. The bed swayed gently as Alpha Jared sat beside me."What do you feel now?" Alpha Jared touched my forehead."What's going on?" With all my might, I tried to make a sound."You passed out. You had a fever, and it looked like you threw up." He explained patiently, his voice sounding soothing.My mind flashed back to the last thing I'd done. Yes, Alpha Jared was right. My head hurt like hell, and it still does now. Then I got nauseous and threw up until it felt like my stomach was coming out."Excuse me, Miss Russell. Can I ask you something?" The voice sounded unfamiliar.I turned to him. It was
Alpha Jared had just returned from hunting. Every pack does this. I'd often heard Ace and his pack hunting, too. Of course, Omegas like me weren't on the list. Only those with high ranks do it. It's an instinct. After all, we are predatory by nature. Deer are our favorite quarry, but rabbits are to be noticed, too. Usually, we hunt for several days. The highlight is when the full moon rises, and we feast—enjoying the quarry, beer, and an orgy. That's what we do.But... none of that applies to me.As I said, my parents severely restricted my socializing. Whenever the Nightfall Pack had an event, I would be a spectator hiding in the distance. My mother once said she was worried that Alpha Ace would find me and make me one of his sluts. And look at what's happening now! My parents were desperate to hide and protect me, only to fall into the darkness of Ace's desire as his mate.How pathetic.To make matters worse, I was carrying his baby.I hated Ace, but not this baby. No matter what, I
Alpha Jared left me a few steps behind, and I quickly caught up with him."Some people know him as The Emperor Salvatore," Alpha Jared said.I saw a wooden bow with a silver symbol near the painting. Next to it were two silver-edged arrows. We stopped there."Silver Bow." Alpha Jared pointed to the bow in the glass case.I looked away. Deliberately not saying anything, I waited for him to explain the bow."The Silver Bow is the weapon the hunters used to kill Salvatore's descendants. And this one is used to kill The Alpha King Salvatore," he explained."Hunters? Why were they hunted?" My curiosity got the better of me.Alpha Jared turned to me and smiled. "As I said earlier, Salvatore is a cursed creature. He is a bloodthirsty king. Killing is the most satisfying thing for him. No matter whether human or werewolf, he will slaughter them to gain power and immortality. He was indeed dead for now. However, if his descendants still exist, he can be resurrected."I shuddered at his explana
Chapter 15~Ace~I didn't know what else to use to get rid of her face from my mind. I've tried all sorts of things, but they're all useless. Those hateful eyes kept haunting me every time I closed my eyes. I hated to admit it, but this longing was killing me slowly. I missed everything about her, and it was frustrating. I knew Hayley was always around me, always there whenever I wanted her, but I couldn't see her.Believe it or not, I hadn't even had sex with any girls after she left. I've tried with several girls, even Hayley. But I got nothing but emptiness because all I wanted was Victoria.Goddamn it!Just the mere mention of her name made my chest ripple."Alpha Ace, I have news for you."Ben came at a time when I was in a bad mood. It had never been good since that girl left. It"Hope it's important news, Ben. I don't have time to listen to all that junk.""I'm sure you'll be interested to hear it." The corners of Ben's lips lifted, and he seemed very sure of his words."What d
Later that night, Ben and I went to South River City. I was sure that the girl at the bar was Victoria. No one else had her wrist tattooed with a black crescent moon, only Victoria."What will you do if Miss Russell is there?" Ben turned to me briefly, then refocused on the road ahead."She is mine, so she must come back to me." No one can take what's mine."If Miss Russell returns, will you keep her imprisoned?"I turned to Ben, who was driving. It should have been an easy question for me to answer, but my mouth couldn't get the words out."If I make a suggestion, Alpha, you should consider treating Miss Russell better, giving her a little freedom to do what she likes. Maybe then she can become more... docile."Victoria had lied to me. Should I treat her well after what she did? If she had been too wild, it was not because of me."If I treat one liar well, the others will follow. They'll think I'm weak." Ben should know that I don't apologize for dishonesty."Yeah, I know. Ms. Russel
~Victoria~ I kissed him. I didn't know. I did it without thinking. All I could think about was how to make Ace leave this place immediately. And now I regret it. I shouldn't have used Alpha Jared for my interests. After Alpha Jared killed Meggie for me, he should be the tool to make Ace see what I've seen. I know this sounds selfish and cruel, but I really did it. I won't deny that what I did was retaliation. Whether Ace considered me his mate or not, I was pretty sure that what I did had hurt his pride. And I have no regrets about that one. I was pleased to see him growl with emotion. It's just... there's one problem I need to solve right now. I stood in front of Alpha Jared's study, pacing back and forth, waiting for him to come out since an hour ago. Here, I felt so uneasy. My fingers squeezed together while I bit my lip until it ached. "When will he come out?" I muttered. I repeatedly looked at the door, and there was still no sign of it opening. I had no idea what he was doin
I was surprised. Yes, this was beyond my expectations. I thought Alpha Jared would say something about combat training or something else. But instead, he came up with the solution of marriage.He snorted and said, "I want to protect you freely. I have no other intentions. If you're still bound to Alpha Ace, then I won't be able to do anything."I licked my lips. If I were to be honest, I had no words to respond to his words. Being Alpha Jared's wife meant I betrayed my mate's bond with Ace. It might sound easy, but the wolf inside me would rebel. She would suffer and might even die if this bond was broken. I didn't know the risks of rejecting Ace, but with all his cruelty, I couldn't accept this fate."I know this is hard for you, and I won't push." Alpha Jared seemed to understand what I was feeling. And this made me wonder."What about your mate?" I asked.Like Ace before fate bound us, I didn't see a Luna in this pack. Alpha Jared was an Alpha without Luna. My question was, where w
~Rose~The party began. Bonfires were lit, and music played. Everyone was happy. Beer and venison were the main dishes. Everyone partied, danced and enjoyed the beer. That was for the adults. For us children, they forbade us from drinking beer and gave us fresh lemonade. There were only a few children in the pack. While I struggled to adapt to this new place, Rylee was already familiar with the other children. But it didn't matter. I could handle it."Hi, Rose," a boy with dark curly hair and bright brown eyes greeted me. He looked awkward and shy with red cheeks."Hi," I replied."Do you mind if I sit here?" He pointed to the seat next to me.I was actually in the mood to be alone. I'd rather sit by myself and watch the people partying. But I promised myself I would change. I wouldn't be the rude Rosemary anymore. So, I allowed him to sit next to me."Yes, of course," I said.The boy smiled broadly and sat down beside me. Then he held out his hand and introduced himself. "I'm Robby.
~Rose~The next day was my busiest day. I had to pack all my things. I had so much stuff that I needed four big suitcases to fit it all in."Dad! Help me!" I called from the door.Dad, who was talking to Uncle Ben, turned and said, "I'll be right there."I frowned at Dad's answer. These suitcases were so heavy. I wouldn't be able to carry them to the car by myself.I turned around and left, stomping my feet. I stood by the window waiting for Dad while I watched Rylee load the suitcases into the car trunk. I was surprised to see that Rylee had so few things."Didn't he bring all his stuff?" I muttered."Who doesn't bring all the stuff?" That question made me turn around immediately."Uncle Ben? Where's Dad?" I asked, looking towards the door."Luna Victoria needs his help. Sorry, I came in. Your door wasn't closed," Uncle Ben replied.I was annoyed. Wasn't I the one who called Dad first? Why does it always have to be Mom first?"So, what can I do for you?" Uncle Ben asked later.I was
~Rose~"Dad, can I have some time alone with Collin?" I looked up at Dad, hoping he would permit me.Dad smiled. "Sure, sweetheart. I'll leave you two alone," he said, kissing my forehead."Thanks, Dad," I said.Dad left the room after that. I can't explain my feelings. Collin looked sick, and I couldn't bear looking at him."Sorry," I started the conversation after hearing the room door close.Collin smiled weakly. "Why apologize? It's not your fault.""You got like this because you saved me," I said."You think so?" Even in his weakened state, Collin made a skeptical face. "I hate my father. I don't want him to get what he wants," he continued.I didn't want to argue with Collin. Whether what he said was true or not, he had saved me."Whatever it is, thank you," I said."I accept your thanks," Collin replied with a smile.We were silent for a moment. No one spoke, and only the monitor's sound could be heard."Why are you looking at me like that?" Collin's question snapped me out of
~Rose~I thought I was dead. I still remember how much it hurt when Dad stabbed me in the chest. I don't know how to describe it, but the pain was unbelievable. All the horrible things I saw about King Salvatore made me want to die. He had to be stopped, and the only way was to kill me. I was like a mother to this demon, and I didn't want him to use my body to commit such a terrible crime.Surprisingly, I didn't expect to wake up, but I am still alive. Whether I should be grateful or not, I was scared to death when I first opened my eyes and saw the light. Everything was so bright that it felt like my eyes were being pierced, and it hurt like hell. I went into shock, and after a while, I started to feel better. The doctor examined me and explained that I was in the hospital. I asked who had brought me to the hospital, and the doctor said my father did. The doctor also said that my family was waiting outside. Thank God, because I was afraid that Mr. Adams would take me to the hospital.
~Victoria~I was talking to Mala, but Rose's screams immediately caught my attention. I turned to her, and panic gripped me. My daughter's hands were clenched into fists, and her eyes were wide. Rose's breathing was rapid. The monitor screen showed a significant increase in heart activity. She looked frightened. I took Rose's hand and stroked her head."Rose. It's Mommy, honey," I whispered, hoping she could hear me."What happened?" Ace came and stood beside me.I turned to Ace and replied, "I don't know. I was talking to Mala, and suddenly Rose became like this.""Baby, can you hear me?" Ace moved closer to Rose and stroked her face, but there was still no response. Rose was still in the same condition. "Call the doctor!" he ordered.My trembling hand pressed the nurse call button. A nurse arrived shortly after that. Ace and I made room for the nurse to examine Rose."She just started screaming. Please do something," I explained without prompting.The nurse didn't seem to know what
~Ace~"Ace," the soft call echoed in my ears. I felt a soft touch on my shoulder. I feel so tired. My muscles felt stiff. But suddenly, my blood rushed, and my eyes snapped open as I remembered what had happened to my daughter."Rose!" I woke up spontaneously. "Hey, it's me. It's okay!" Victoria held my shoulders. She sat next to me, took my fingers, and smiled warmly. "We're at the hospital. Rose is stable."I turned to the bed and saw my daughter on life support. I don't know how many times my heart broke seeing my daughter lying there helpless. I thought she was dead, but she had survived."I woke you up because you were sweating a lot. Nightmare?" Victoria looked worried. Ever since Alpha Mark and Alpha Sanchez invaded my home, all I could think about was how to keep my family safe. The nightmares made me afraid to sleep. I'm thankful that Beta Ben helped me get through it all. My Beta was the savior I never thought would come at the right time. I thought he had died thirteen y
~Ace~As a father, I felt a great sense of failure knowing that my daughter was in danger. I had entrusted her to the wrong man. Maxton Adams, I swore that I would tear his body apart. I promised I would crush his heart with my own hands.I sniffed the trail my daughter left. I sniffed at home. Rose came home, but I didn't find her there.If I'm right, Rose is in the cursed place where Maxton Adams performed the Alpha King Salvatore resurrection ritual."Motherfucker! I will kill Maxton Adams if he dares to lay a hand on my daughter!" I swear by the moon goddess.The place was far away, in the middle of the forest. I drove hundreds of miles from home to the forest, following my instincts until my daughter's scent grew more assertive. I ran into the woods."It's not far from here." I stopped for a moment. My breathing quickened in sync with my rising heartbeat. My eyes darted around. I could only hear the sounds of the nocturnal animals in the area, but I was sure my daughter's whereab
~Rosemary~I screamed, but no one listened. I cried bitterly, but no one cared. All I could see in front of me was a bunch of crazy people performing a ritual while casting spells. I was tired. I was in pain. I wanted to go home."Mom, Dad, take me home!" I begged with a voice I couldn't even hear.I closed my eyes and remembered all my good memories with my family. No more sobs were coming out of my mouth, but the tears were flowing harder and harder. Then, suddenly, everything went silent. The voices of the spell casters faded, and all I could hear was Rylee's laughter. I missed him."Rylee, I'm sorry." If this was the last day I lived and God gave me a chance to hug Rylee, I wanted to tell him I was sorry.I knew it wasn't real, but seeing Rylee laughing and taunting me felt natural. It was just an illusion, but the corners of my lips turned up. I missed him. I realized that he was the one who had always tried to protect me. He always took care of me when Dad wasn't around.The nex
~Rosemary~I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes. Mr. Adams was the one behind the attack on Collin's house. But why would he do that?"Oh, Rosemary. I'm sorry if I frightened you." Mr. Adams made a concerned expression, but I knew it was fake."Why are you doing this?" I dared to ask.My head felt empty. I couldn't think. I still didn't believe that what Collin had said about Mr. Adams was true. But I don't think so Mr. Adams is a demon worshipper. If he can do all that and act like an angel while all he's doing is acting like a demon, then he's a demon himself.Dad was fierce and strict with me, but he never hurt me like Mr. Adams hurt Collin. Dad never hurt Mom either, even though Mom was in a coma for a very long time. If Dad wanted, he could have remarried another woman and sought his happiness, but Dad chose to be loyal to Mom and take care of her until she woke up from her coma. I am so thankful to have my family. I can't imagine what life must have b