AvelineDraven's call was all of a sudden, and I picked it up. I saw him storm out of the interrogation room; he might have found out already; that was the only reason why I picked up the call and nothing else. "Why are you calling?" Considering the fact that he might be of little help at the moment, I did not hold back from using my hoarse voice. "You should know that I'm always in the middle of something at times like this." I heard him sigh from the other end of the phone. "I'm sorry for that but I need–+"Just go on with what you called me for." I cut him off with a frown on my face. "I…I've got a favor to ask from you." I inhaled in anger. Calling me just to ask for a favor?! His company hijacked one of my shareholders after I granted him a contract out of pity and he thinks I would grant him another one? That is so stupid, just like he is. "I can't do any for you at the moment." My voice was infused with disdain and I felt no pity for telling him that. Not even the urge to te
AvelineAs I walked into the building, a sense of unease washed over me, but I looked back and saw the guards coming behind me, and a sigh of relief escaped my lips. 'Don't tell me you are afraid,' V whispered to me, but I shook my head. 'Not afraid, just uneasy.' I said while rolling my eyes in the process. There was nothing to be scared of, not even Beatrice nor Draven, and the same goes for Sophie and Emily. Every one of them. "You stay at the door when I get in okay?" I said without turning back to them and they all chorused."Yes, ma." "She's the one." "She's the CEO of Nova Empire I can't believe." I heard voices from different angles and my forehead knitted. "Who are you here for ma'am?" The receptionist made me pause in my tracks, and I turned to her with a smile, and immediately I did, I noticed the shock on her face. With an arched brow, I asked. "Do you still want to know who I am?" She shook her head and averted her gaze from mine. "You would get used to me in your
Aveline"Be…Beatrice's bag?" I stuttered. Beatrice threatened me in my own office and now I was in the office of her son. That gives her the upper hand in a lot of ways in which was not looking good to me. No, there are people outside, people that are heavily guarding me. One word from me, and they would barge into this place, so I was good…there was nothing to panic about. 'Do not show them that you are not feeling good here, Aveline, you just have to be yourself,' I whispered to myself, and a smile was plastered on my face."Hey," Draven's voice pulled me back to reality and I checked my wristwatch. I was supposed to be here this long; Beatrice's arrival would only be like salt that was added to a wound. "Do you have a problem with that?" His question made me turn in the direction of the bag. That was where he pointed to anyway. "No, I don't." I gave him an answer almost immediately. "I don't think we should be this casual considering the fact that it is only business that is be
DravenDraven walked out of the building and the look he had on his face showed how shocked he was after he saw Kade leaning on Aveline's car. "Hi." Kade waved to him with a smile on his face. "I think we've met before." He took off his dark shades but the smile was not off his face. The former nodded at what the latter said. "Yeah, Kade Pierce." Aveline constantly switched gazes from Draven to Kade, the only difference was the way she looked at them. She seemed to be shocked at Kade's coming and she was annoyed whenever she looked at the former. "Can you guys tell what the fuck is going on here?" Aveline demanded as he shielded her eyes from the sun with the back of her palm. Without sparing any of them a glance, she turned to leave when Draven held her wrist, but the guards pushed him back. "Leave him," Aveline muttered. "I should hear what he wants to say.""I can't talk here," Draven heaved a sigh after looking at each one of Aveline's bodyguards. "We both know this is someth
AvelineMy gaze remained fixed on Kade, my mind replaying the events that had transpired just moments before. The memory of his actions was etched vividly in my mind, and I couldn't help but wonder what had driven him to behave in such a way. The look on his face had been a mixture of determination and defiance, his eyes flashing with a fierce intensity as he stood his ground against Draven.As I continued to study Kade's expression, I couldn't help but ask, "Why did you do it?" My voice was barely above a whisper, but Kade's response was immediate. He shrugged, a small smile playing on his lips as he replied, "I just thought it was the right thing to do."I searched his face for any sign of regret or hesitation, but there was none. His voice was firm and resolute, his words laced with a conviction that was both admirable and unsettling. "He kept questioning you, and I didn't like it," Kade added, his eyes never leaving mine.I held his gaze for a long, tense moment, my mind racing wi
DravenDraven stared at the ceiling with his hands crossed above his chest, he enjoyed the silence after Beatrice questioned him, but the impatience in Beatrice's face only became stronger at each second that went by. If it was any other question he might have given an answer to it but the look of surprise that masked his face showed that the possibility of getting an answer to that question was more of a forty to sixty. Beatrice began to tap her foot on the floor since she had ran out of patience already, it could be said that even a pang was not in her again she was pushed to speak up."So are you going to give me an answer to that question?" She just had to voice out since she knew that she won't be getting an answer if she stayed mute. Draven turned to her with a hardened jaw."You showed up just to question me today right?"He demanded in a very firm tone but Beatrice shook her head sideways in a clear disagreement to what he said. "I just came to clear my mind off some things
DravenDraven arched an eyebrow immediately, his eyes moving in the direction of the cops that were behind Emily. "And you guys are here for?" Beatrice whose voice was completely infused with fear. "Above all, did you think coming here uninvited is something that is acceptable to us?" "I'm sorry, ma'am, but I think we need to ask some questions." One of the cops said in an apologetic tone. "And after that, we think we can let her go." "You could place a call and—-""Fine, go on with your question," Draven interrupted Beatrice while motioning his hand to the cop who had talked earlier. "But as you all know, I'm a busy person so be quick with what you wanna ask." "Thank you," he turned to Beatrice and her eyes widened in fear. Emily could have done something stupid already and the fear was in her face. Draven, on the other hand, remained focused. "Do you have something to ask me," Beatrice held her hand that had started to fidget, and immediately she looked at Emily. The latter sho
AvelineDays had passed since the incident with Draven, and an unsettling silence had fallen over me. No calls, no threats from Beatrice – it was as if they had vanished into thin air. I couldn't help but feel a sense of relief wash over me. Their victory, if you could even call it that, was short-lived. I was still bagging contracts, still succeeding despite their best efforts to bring me down.The sound of a soft knock on my door broke the silence, and I made my way over to answer it. Ever since Beatrice's uninvited visits, I had taken to locking my door, a habit I couldn't seem to shake. I half-opened the door to find Kade standing in the hallway, a wave of surprise crossing his face before he quickly composed himself."Hey," he said, his voice low and smooth.I smiled, feeling a sense of comfort in his presence. "Hey," I replied, pushing the door open wider to let him in.Kade walked into the office, his eyes scanning the room before coming to rest on me. "Well, I thought I'd be s
MasonThe night was short but Mason was used to it by now -- going for missions. He took this one like another hunting mission and that was the only way he was able to remain calm even though Leemah still tried to advise him against it twice."All set? Now we have to find a way to carry her without letting it weigh on us so much." Ethan stated the obvious as the two men met outside the pack at dawn."I think Leemah has that covered," Mason replied and Ethan nodded with a pout.They went to the room where Aveline lay and just like Mason said, Leemah got it covered.She made a flatbed with wood and fur on both sides. It had leather stripes for easy carriage."How does this work?" Ethan asked, visibly confused."You strap it to your back, she lays on the other side. These fur ropes are also to strap her tight on the other side while the other helps you carry her."Let's try it out." Mason turned his back, ready for the strap to be tied to his arms, chest and lower back.When it was all d
MasonIt's been two days since Aveline collapsed and she was getting pale by the day."Are you sure the book didn't cast a spell on her? What if it was a curse?" Mason asked Leemah who tapped her cane on the floor of the room without saying anything."I'm not an expert with her kind but I know who can help." She stated and it made Mason all the more interested. He had not known Aveline for the longest but he knew that she had a family waiting for her back at home and she had unfinished business with his enemy. If he couldn't get revenge, the woman believed she lived to get revenge on the people who had hurt her and as much as he didn't want to endanger his pack members or get into trouble himself, he also wanted revenge.If he was going to get it from someone else, he had to ensure she remained alive at least."Give me the address." He replied with urgency in his tone."It is risky, too risky. The place is located in the mountains. You might not make it." Leemah replied. She didn't w
DravenSince Sabrina returned and told Draven a piece of her mind, he had lost the little sleep he usually manages to catch during the day and was roaming about, looking for the best way to organize a search party for Aveline without being seen or caught by the Lycans and wild beasts in the forest."Julian's men are also on the lookout for her. That means she is not in the pack. She truly escaped like the slave girl said. We need to trade carefully so we don't fall into their hands." Draven's spy informed Draven who nodded absent-mindedly.He wondered why it was so hard to get Aveline back. Every time they wanted to go get her back, there was always something new coming up to prevent them from reaching her.She had been gone for long, and Draven doubted if she still looked like she did before she left. Hell, he had no idea if she was still in one piece."Is there no way we can explore the forest at a certain time and leave before they begin their search?" Draven asked."If... I know s
AvelineIt felt surreal even after the hours that went by that I took down a Jaguar by myself and with one blow.Leemah sat beside me all the while but she was not amazed by what I did, it was almost like she expected me to do it and it got me even more confused."What happened?" Mason asked running into the study room where Leemah and I sat dumbfounded. The Jaguar spoils were outside in the pack compound and I was certain he had seen them before running to meet us."Speak of the devil." Leemah hissed."I told you going hunting with all the able men was a bad idea but you insisted." Leemah rolled her eyes at him."I know, you were right but that is the only way to have a real fight and access the men." Mason tried to explain but Leemah would hear none of it."I still think it is a dumb move. Did you see what we had to face while you were gone, lying outside?" She asked, referring to the dead Jaguar. "About that... who took it down? It looked shattered from the inside. The men examin
JulianHe had sent out some of his men to search for Aveline in the forest but they returned with no news.Hell, he did not even know why he cared about Aveline or her whereabouts. It was not something he would normally do but thinking about the next shareholders meeting taking place in Aveline's company, he knew he had to find her no matter what.Sabrina hated him already for agreeing to a deal with Kade and keeping her friend hostage. She would go ghost mode on him when she finds out that her friend is no longer in his clan and is nowhere to be seen."Hello, Beatrice." Julian started when the line connected. "Just calling to get info from your own end," Julian replied after Beatrice said some words from the other end."I see. Does she know about it yet?" Julian asked "Okay. Let it remain that way. Update me on any further happenings Beatrice." Julian ended the call before the woman could say any more words.She had often called his attention to the way he asked after Sabrina and s
AvelineThe training took its toll on me. Even though it was just throwing punches and blocking them, my body ached from the movements and Mason was not just any opponent.He was a skilled opponent who had overcome a lot of enemies and had learned to be quick over the years so his punches were fast and I had to be fast enough to dodge them. I tried being fast but I still earned a lot of punches, especially on the first and second day. But on the third day, I started getting a hang of it and I tried to keep his pace too.That day was however the fourth day and Mason was nowhere to be seen. I was out at the usual training time and I have gone round the pack but I haven't sighted him anywhere."Excuse me, do you know where I can find Mason?" I asked one of the females I found around the pack."Oh, he went for his hunt with most of the males in the pack. They will be back towards nightfall." She replied with a welcoming smile."Thank you." I walked away from her while I thought about what
Julian Julian was not the happiest that he had to return from his trip but he had no option since he got the news from his trusted warrior that Kade was turning the clan upside down.He led with rage and foolishness. Although Julian could easily control Kade, he still wanted to watch him for some time and let him go too deep into his rage and make a mistake that he would not be able to recover from. Only on those grounds would he break their deal and have his men deal with Kade. But for now, all he could do was watch."Welcome back boss." His closest warrior greeted him when he walked into the clan."Where is he?" Julian asked as he strolled in."He is in the meeting hall." The warrior replied."I see." Julian nodded and headed to the meeting hall.Julian stopped some meters away from the hall and he heard Kade yelling at his warriors for being so incompetent and even useless."He has been on and on like that ever since Aveline escaped." The warrior informed Julian and Julian looke
AvelineMy eyes blinked open and I saw myself in the same room I woke up from the first day but this time around, I was not alone. Leemah sat beside me and she grinded some herbs so quietly. She stopped when she noticed my movement."You are finally awake." She greeted and squeezed the herb's liquid into a cup."How long was I out for?" I asked with a wince."You slept for two nights. I told you you needed to rest but you insisted on walking around now look where that got you." She pouted and brought a cup to my mouth."Drink up. It will help you with strength." She added and I gulped down the contents of the cup. I was used to taking different herbs by now.I sat up after drinking the liquid from the herbs, trying to remember how I got there in the first place before it struck me."The book..." I muttered to myself but Leemah heard me and she pressed her lips tightly. She had been waiting for us to have the conversation."Yeah. The book. What happened back there?" She asked with a s
Draven "How do you expect me to calm down when I don't know where she went to? How can you stand there and tell me that she will find her way home when all we can see around the clan are forests?" It had been a few days since Draven returned to his pack and awaited Aveline's return and he was no longer having it."All I am saying is you should calm down, you would not be able to make the right decision if you go on like that," Brian replied. He was the only one who could speak to Draven while he raved."What has being calm done for me these past days?" Draven's voice reverberated across the walls of the hall.Angel was seated on one of the seats and Scar in another.The she-wolf had no more ideas left. Aveline was her last hope and not seeing her by this time could mean that she did not make it. And the thought alone broke her. All the risk she took for her sake would be in vain."The slimy slave girl must have lied to you all." Beatrice's voice started from the door and everyone shi