Avery Elise's P. O. V."Duke?" I looked around me to search for my husband but because of how dark the forest is, I can't see him anywhere. "Duke, where are you?"It really is not a good idea to go with him to hunt tonight. Look now, just because he knew that I can't shift with my throbbing lower body, he has decided to run on his own, leaving me walking behind him! I can still remember how he didn't want me to walk earlier and yet he left me now that we're here and he saw that I can walk already!Where is he now? I stopped walking while still looking around me. My irritation is slowly having the goodness out of me, but I tried my best to remain calm and patient. I still don't feel good. Why did my husband even bring me here at this hour?We really should've stayed inside the mansion. I released a deep breath. I didn't even know that we're going to this place as I assumed that Duke and I would stay in the yacht the whole night, but of course, he has a different plan and I only learned
Avery Elise's P. O. V.None of us speak again, as if we're both waiting for each other to say something. I was actually waiting for him to take back what he said, I mean, he just said that we'll be staying here for a while and we even left someone else to do some of our jobs and yet, he's telling me now that we need to go back.It's work, I guess… So, we really need to go back. I can't question him for that or beg him to stay here and ignore his job. I secretly took a deep breath while feeling a disappointment inside me. Huh… Why would I even feel that? I should be understanding.I picked up the fork before I silently started slicing the pancake in my plate, "Okay." I looked back at him while chewing my food. "Are we leaving now?"Duke looked at me with no emotion in his face. He was obviously trying to read me, but of course, I would never let him see that disappointment I'm feeling inside me. I didn't try to smile at him as my smile can fade and he might have caught me with the trut
Avery Elise's P. O. V.I abruptly stood up from sitting on the couch when I heard a car coming. Lory was surprised because of the sudden movement that I did, but didn't say anything to stop me. She only stood there and guided me. The doors opened and two men came in to clear the way. I stood near the entrance until I saw Duke walking in the house. He looked really tired and drained but he still has that serious and cold looking face as he looks at his surroundings. And when he turned in front of him, he stopped walking with his face getting more serious every passing second.It didn't take him long and he started walking towards me again. "It's still early. Why did you wake up so early?" His voice was deep and I could even sense something I can't name when he finally reached me, and it made me slowly weak."A-Ah… I—" "You should've stayed in bed!" I was taken aback when he suddenly snapped at me before he clicked his tongue. "Lory.""Yes, Lycan King?" Lory attentively answered back
Avery Elise's P. O. V.While holding my nape, I slowly stretched my neck to the side when I heard the sound of an oncoming car. I opened my eyes and saw that it wasn't alone, there were two cars following behind my husband's car.I'm actually surprised that Duke is here today after he didn't come home for the whole three days straight. If I'd be honest, I could say that I somehow felt sullen after he went and didn't inform me where he would be to do his job.I sat down and didn't approach Duke when he got out of the car while wearing his usual serious and dark face. From where I'm sitting, I can sense the anger building inside him. Something probably happened again to anger him that much.None of them glanced at my direction so I believed that they didn't see me, but when Duke stopped in front of the door and he suddenly glanced at my direction, I almost jumped out of my seat in surprise. Good thing, I managed to calm myself even after my heart beat faster than it did earlier.He rais
Avery Elise's P. O. V.Chairman Myers and Duke had been talking seriously all throughout our dinner time. I needed to be attentive to at least know what my husband's up to these past few days. I heard that they're having a hard time this time because someone else's helping the rogue vampires.It's been a question what the army that they're forming is for. Even I, who doesn't know much about the situation, is questioning their real motive for this action that they're doing.After dinner, Duke stood up so I followed him. He looked at me before he glanced down at my plate and after seeing that my plate was empty, he held my hand and pulled me away with him."Where are we going, Duke?" I asked in confusion after seeing him pulling me to the garden.I looked around us and found no one here other than us. Duke didn't answer my question. We continued walking until we reached the closed butterfly garden. Duke opened the door and we went inside.I couldn't spot any butterflies when we entered,
Avery Elise's P. O. V."What are you saying?" After a long silence between us, Duke chose to break it with his cold and deep voice. I gulped while looking at his emotionless and cruel eyes. "You think you were interfering in my life?" Duke took a step closer to me. "Do you still think that our marriage is all about the 'job' like how you view it?"I took a step back after hearing his question. There's something about his question that doesn't sit right to me. I mean, it feels… dangerous. It feels that if I answer him wrongly, he'll do something I wouldn't like.I took a deep breath to calm myself before I spoke to him again, "No, Duke. It's not like that.""My Luna?" His hand moved to caress my cheek. "Stop it." I creased my brows at him and gave him a confused look. "What?"He clenched his jaw before he released a deep breath. Duke held my hand and he pulled me to sit on the nearest bench.He placed a kiss on my shoulder as his arms wrapped around my waist again."Forget it," he whi
Avery Elise's P. O. V.I glanced at Lory's direction in the corner, she nodded at me before she moved and gave an order for the staff to start serving the food that we prepared."Please, enjoy the food!" That happiness I have inside me for them to have what we prepared for everyone is still there. "I assume that you took a lot of time in preparing for tonight, judging as to how wonderful you're all dressed up!"They all looked surprised because of what I said. I can see that and had confirmed it after they gave me a questionable look.Even Lory, who was back in the corner again, is surprised as well with my words. I looked at each of them, still wearing my smile on my lips. Could it be…. I clenched my fist under the table. Is it against the law to speak too much? Or is it because of some kind of tradition that I should not get involved much with them nor should I compliment any of them? Whichever the real reason is, I don't exactly know.My view for a party is all about noises: Loud m
Avery Elise's P. O. V."Beg for what?" I asked in surprise as I felt a tingling sensation of excitement in my belly.I stopped myself from smiling even though it's what I was feeling. I don't want to make it so obvious that his words excite me, but Duke had surely managed to see through me.Duke smirked at me with his eyes full of cruelty, "You tell me. What should you beg for?" His fingers slowly traced its way down in between my thighs. I silently gasped after feeling that heat inside me, intensified after feeling his fingers, caressing each sides of my cl*t. Now that Duke is answering the feeling that I had since the dinner party, I'm slowly understanding what it meant. And I know that he can feel it too."Duke, please… Do it, please." I beg in a hoarse voice as my hands grab his nape for our lips to crash.I felt when he chuckled and his moans were suppressed by our kisses. I moved to push Duke in the bed, but his body was so strong that I failed to do it. I stopped kissing him
I knew it'll be her, I always did since my father handed me the Catalina's folder. I knew because it was impossible for Kenzo Catalina to hand over his ace in the mafia, Valerie Catalina.She was spoiled and most loved, adored and looked up by many people. Even humans can't keep her eyes out of her and are all willing to pay her high just to buy her service. While her sister, Avery, is a different type.I saw it the first time she looked into my eyes. The pain, agony, and endurance she has while hearing everything that people say about her.Looking into her in front of me felt different. She looked confident despite the emotion in her eyes that she can always manage to hide from everyone. Maybe because she's being forced?She doesn't feel comfortable being in this place, in front of everyone and most of all, under her father's presence who did nothing but to intimidate and threaten her with his gazes.I did feel something the first time she looked at me. It felt different and strange y
"Duke, you're getting married tonight." Was the first thing my father told me the morning before he would pass down his position to me.Not showing any interest, I nodded my head at him as I sat on the couch beside him and in front of my mother who looked displeased with the news."Would it be Tiffany?" Mom asked. Honestly, I can't even describe the right word to use while looking at her.I don't really care whoever my father chooses for me to marry. All I need is to finally inherit his positions as the head of the Myers's mafia and the Lycan King. My pack and I have been waiting for this moment. We have trained countless days and nights just to be ready for this.And after a lot of hard work, we're getting there, but the only problem I had was the part that I need to get married first. It's never my intention to settle down. Well, at least, not after I'm done getting more from my competitors and I'm not even looking for an heir.Though my parents disagree. For them, before I can be c
Duke Devon Myers P. O. V."We haven't heard anything suspicious from Valerie." Koby informed me the moment he entered the torture room. "She came back there just this morning."I paid him a quick glance and watched as my men in the mafia whip the traitors we finally caught. Did they really think that they got past me with the help of a rogue lycan?She might've not revealed anything about our kind, but she would remain us a traitor and should be punished with the others."That's good. What about Turner?" I clenched my jaw while thinking of him watching my wife like a hawk and waiting for his prey. "Any news about him?""Adriel was the one around and watching over him. If he gets any closer to the Lycan Queen, we would know right away." I nodded at him and left that room. "What about Tiffany?""Did she do something?" I opened the door to my office and took off my coat."Alpha Alexander has been holding her captive, but what are we gonna do to her? Madame Morgan had suffered enough from
Avery Elise's P. O. V.I wasn't talking to anyone when we got to the place that they had brought us since that night. It took me a lot of times before I finally managed to be able to slowly move forward.Nightmares plague me every night. Maybe because silently, I was hoping for Duke to come and get us, but the image of him telling me about Tiffany was the one reason I couldn't sleep well at night.It hurts. It hurts more than pushing him away from me with the thought of saving him, but I didn't let those thoughts keep on distracting me. Not especially that I have my son to take care of.I don't know what else happened about our divorce settlement in court, but I knew that my father took care of everything. It's just that.. since the last time I saw him, he hasn't visited us yet to tell me everything personally.The only way I could get through to him was by texting him. He was too busy at work, he said. Especially in taking care of Catalina's assassins that almost went down after what
Avery Elise's P. O. V.I stretched my arms when I opened my eyes and saw Cairo awake beside me. He was enjoying himself and honestly, I'd been questioning myself how can he be awake while I'm asleep.I carefully stood up and looked around me. Duke was already gone and so was his clothes on the sofa. He probably went to work again. I sighed in disappointment and carried Cairo to his crib before I went to the tub and ready myself for a quick bath. After filling up the tub, I went out of the bathroom and saw Lory already changing Cairo's diaper and baby clothes. I watched her do it so the next time, I can do it on my own. It wasn't hard to watch, but when Lory made me try it, only then I figured how hard it can be."I think I need private lessons for this one, Lory." I blurted out and I heard her laughing at what I said."Let me take care of that now, Lycan Queen." Lory took the wipes from my hand. "Go and take a shower, the Lycan King is waiting downstairs for you two.""What?" I asked
Avery Elise's P. O. V.The sound of a machine beeping beside me was the one that's keeping me awake. My vision was spinning and wasn't clear when I roamed my eyes around me.There was no one beside me and the place was all white. There are a lot of flowers and fruits on the table. But what confuses me more was the fact that there's an oxygen mask connected to me and I couldn't move my whole body without feeling pain at all.I closed my eyes and tried to remember what happened, but the last thing I can remember is we're on our way home. I heard when the door opened and someone came in. I couldn't open my eyes yet so I remained still and not moving when I felt someone holding my hand."I hope she wakes up soon." It was Tricia's voice! "Cairo wouldn't sleep well at night without looking for her. Poor baby, he had been expecting his mother's touch."Cairo? What happened to my baby? Is he okay?If I am in this pain, then what about my child? I need to get out of here and get to him!"She
Avery Elise's P. O. V.The next week, I was preparing to go to the mall with my son, but Lory stopped me, telling me that my baby's not ready yet for some kind of activities like that. I quickly felt guilty for what I planned to do and I felt like being a terrible mother already, but I have to stop myself from throwing a fit. Though when I'm alone at night, I couldn't help but to cry and hope that Duke is beside us."You're getting thinner, Avery." Dad pointed out. "Have you been stressing yourself a lot? Again?"I shake my head and twist my pasta in my fork. We're at my mother's grave house and paying her a visit today."I'm fine—""No, you're not. Lory told me that you haven't been eating well and in time if not for Valerie forcing you to do so. Though your cousin is not with you most of the time, Avery." Dad said in a strict voice. "Look at your eyes, obviously you're not sleeping well. Do you want to get sick?"I boredly looked up to my dad, not caring about his lectures at all.
Avery Elise's P. O. V."Ready?" My father held my hand while looking outside of the window. We were the last one they called to come in here so I wouldn't be able to intervene with the official members of the council.From now on, to avoid making mistakes just like the last time from the past, there'll be a council meeting and to see who are the rogues that can be forgiven. The council was made to review and study the behaviors of the rogues who will come to me. It'll be led by the chosen leaders of every race by the Moon Goddess.Our job was simple to discuss, but hard to do. So everyone was preparing a lot. This is the only way we have to keep the peace and for the Moon Goddess's threats to not happen. If they were to harm me, they would all lose their abilities and start weakening. The first ones to agree were the vampires, as they were dead from the inside already and losing their abilities meant losing their life too. Next was the werewolves, especially that I came from their
Avery Elise's P. O. V.I clutched my head when I slowly opened my eyes after I woke up. I looked around me and saw Duke in the corner. He was eyeing me differently.I sat on the bed and roamed my eyes around me, realizing where I was, I faced Duke to ask a question when I suddenly remembered what happened.I bit my lower lip, I should've listened to Lory and stayed in my room. I should've just made Tricia go there and let Duke know that I want my dad inside."What time is it?" I asked in a small voice.Duke went to the table and he handed me water so I accepted it before he sat down beside me. His eyes never leave mine."It's dinner time." Duke simply said and took the water from me. "Now tell me who your real father is."I froze after hearing his direct answer. Duke didn't even stroll just to have the answer he's looking for.I avoided my eyes from his direction. "Can you let him come here, please?" "Not until you tell me the truth. Why does your uncle claim that he's your father?"