Elena: I sat on the edge of the bed, waiting for him to come despite knowing how early it was for him to be showing up. I couldn’t help but find myself growing somewhat disappointed when he wasn’t lately. The man didn’t say a word when I told him that I trusted him the other night, and now, it’s been a few days since I’ve heard of Konstantin’s trip, and yet, the man was a no show. Tonight was a full moon, and though I expected at least an hour with him, looking at him, hearing him talk, I was surprised when he was nowhere to be seen. The bedroom door was knocked twice, and though excited, I stayed in my place, watching as the door opened, revealing Yigrette, one of the maids in the house, and Konstantin’s best ‘spy’. She would look, examine, and send all the information to Konstantin. Regardless of what it was, and if I was doing anything that he would find against the ‘rules’ that I am forced to live in, I would be punished the second he returned. “You are awake,” she stated, an
Vladimir: I woke up deep in the forest after my run last night. It’s been a long time since I shifted in Russia, and I couldn’t remember when the last time I ran as much as I have, freely, without worrying about people catching sight of me. Russians were mostly used to the wild life around them, provided that we neither attacked them and they didn't end up shooting us. I smiled and got up from the floor, getting dressed with the pair of shorts that I had hid there a long while before shifting. I had to admit, I missed home, my family and peace, but it was times like this when I knew that this was something that we needed. As a family, we needed to both grow and find out what’s been hidden right in front our eyes and behind our backs. And that was what we intended to do. My chest and stomach churned as I found myself missing my mate, but I knew that I was here with a task in hand, and with a fucked up maid following her around like a plague, I was going to have a problem reaching h
Elena: “Elena,” I heard Batrov call, taking me off guard as I walked out of the bathroom. Having taken a shower to freshen up, needing to get out of bed for the day, knowing that it was already late. And though I knew that I had nothing to do but sit on the chair in front of the window, knitting, reading, or watching the day turn into night; I still didn’t like spending my whole day in bed. His eyes met mine, and I couldn’t help but find myself frowning as I looked at the man, knowing that if he was here, then so was Konstantin. Seeming to notice my somewhat panicked expression, he shook his head in assurance. “Boss is still in England. He won’t be back for another few days.” The fact that he was telling me of Konstantin’s whereabouts was new to me, especially since I rarely ever knew where the man, if I could call him a man, was, and though I didn’t care; I was just glad that he wasn’t back yet. I didn’t want to find myself dealing with him, not when I didn’t even know where Vlad
Chapter 145 Vladimir: It took every ounce of patience and self control in me not to go and punch the man in the face for being around my mate. I didn’t know what he was doing, but I wasn’t dumb, I knew that they didn’t let her out of the room for no reason. And whatever that reason was, I intended to find out. I didn’t expect to find myself being as attached to the woman, and that was one of the things that I knew that I needed to be careful of. The way that her eyes would meet mine from a distance, and the fact that I knew that she was mostly always waiting for me to come. I hated keeping her waiting, but I knew that it was unsafe for me to visit her when I knew that Konstantin had his eyes everywhere. I heard her entering her room, and though I wanted to follow her, I knew better not to, not yet anyway. Batrov was back and that meant that the bitch maid was going to be a little more distracted. I knew that my words did not affect her as much as I wanted them to, but I also knew
Elena: I knew that the man was surprised to hear my voice. I could tell by his gaze, but I also knew that running away and hiding was not going to get me anywhere. He wasn’t going to understand that it was hurting me if I proceeded this way, and I didn’t know what game he was playing at just yet. “I’ll go first,” Vladimir said, and I nodded, looking the man dead in the eye as I waited for his question. “Why’d you trust me enough to speak?” “You kept your word,” I said, and he frowned in confusion. “You kept him away from me. I knew that he would have come if not for whatever you’re doing.” “Fair,” he said, “your turn.” “Why do you keep coming despite knowing the consequences?” I asked, knowing that it wasn’t something that he was going to want to answer. But I also knew that he expected the question. “You caught my attention.” He said, “a spark, a bond, if I can call it that. And now that I’ve felt it, I grew addicted.” “Your turn,” I said, satisfied enough with his answer. I st
Vladimir: I walked out of the room before my mate could process what happened completely. I didn’t want things to backfire, and I didn’t even know what got into me to have me kissing her. I just knew that I was more than a little happy doing it. I knew that she kissed me back, and that meant more to me than she could think of realizing. Her heart raced against her chest, and I knew that she was most likely lost in a thousand thoughts as she tried finding out what happened. But what I didn’t know was what was going to happen when it did, and that was something that I knew was going to play thousands of questions in her mind. I walked down the stairs and out of the front door, knowing that I needed some fresh air before I went back to her, giving into the mating bond that was becoming too strong for me to try and control. I knew that my wolf could tell that she was fragile and even he didn’t fight me to claim her, but after tasting her, I knew that keeping my hands off her was going
Elena: “What are you doing back here?” I asked, hissing at Vladimir as he entered my room. It was late at night, and I was about to go to sleep, and after he kissed me a few hours ago, I couldn’t find myself getting any shut eye. “I came to see you,” he said, and I raised an eyebrow. “I thought that you were coming to my room to play cards.” I said, choosing to be sarcastic. Though it wasn’t my smartest comeback, I knew that it served the point of what I wanted it to. “It is late and you were here earlier…” “For a woman who was waiting for me…” “You are foolish to think that I am going to expect you to come barging here when you can risk your life by anyone seeing you.” I said, stopping the man. His eyes widened in surprise at my words and I forced myself to take a deep breath, reminding myself of who the man was and what he was capable of doing if he wanted to. “Please take your leave if you don’t have anything that is important to tell me. The last thing that I would want is
Vladimir: I walked out of my mate’s room, leaving a small part of me there with her as I found myself wanting nothing more than to be by her side. Her eyes, which met mine, told me that the feeling was mutual, and though I couldn’t do anything about it, not yet anyway. The fact that she was more than willing to accept me, despite not truly knowing or understanding it, was something that meant more than I could describe to her. “You are out early,” Claire said, catching my attention as I walked into the room. I turned to the woman, knowing that Beatrice was on her break. Having sent the medicine needed to her family, new clothes, and the best doctors to tend to her siblings; I knew that she was more than a little thankful. The headmistress allowed her a day off when she found out about her ill sister, and I knew that seeing her in a better state was something that she was thankful for. “And you are back under my nose,” I said, crossing my arms over my chest as I looked at the wom
Epilogue:“I now pronounce you husband and wife, you may kiss your bride.” Vladimir didn’t wait to be told twice to kiss Elena.He smiled into the kiss and she wrapped her arms around him, pulling him closer.“Elena Ivanov.” He said, taking both her hands in his as he kissed her knuckles. The two of them smiled as they looked at one another, and she blushed.Killian, who was his beta’s best man, looked at her and the two of them smiled before he walked toward towards Eleanor. Elena frowned in confusion, but the Alpha was quick to turn to face her with a black box in his hands. His eyes met hers and he took a step forward.Vladimir tightened his arm around her, pulling her to his chest as she looked at the Alpha. His eyes were fixed on her as he opened the box, revealing a topaz and diamond necklace.“You are now not only our Beta’s mate, but also my brother’s wife. The two of us may not be brothers by blood, but we have chosen to be ones. We have chosen to make it our duty and goal to
Vladimir:I looked at Elena who laid on my bed, not saying a word.It was on Natasha that I couldn’t approach her. The woman would not let me near my mate. And though I understood her reason, I had to admit, I couldn’t help but find myself hating it.“She is going to need to think, don’t press on her, Vladimir.” Natasha said as she and Eleanor walked out of the room, leaving us alone. My chest ached as I walked toward her, and when I sat by her side and she didn’t turn to face me, I had to admit, I couldn’t help but find myself regretting the fact that I brought her family over for her.“I know that you are in pain, malyshka. But had I known that them being here was going to hurt you this much…”“I had to see them, Vladimir.” She said, stopping me. She sat up, and I watched as she wiped her tears from her eyes as she curled on the bed. I don’t even remember when was the last time I saw her this broken. But it pained me to know that I was the reason behind it. “I just didn’t think that
Elena:“We didn’t think that he was being honest when he told us that you were alive. The fact that we believed that you were dead…”“Why didn’t you come looking for me?” I asked, stopping my father. His eyes dropped to the ground and for a moment, I had to admit, I regretted the fact that I asked. Seeing his pain in his eyes told me that there was more to the story than I knew. But even so, I knew that nothing was going to explain what I went through. I lost my life because of them.“We did, Elena. For months, we searched for you. Konstantin convinced us that you were dead. He wouldn’t allow us to see your body. But he showed us your pictures, he showed us your grave, and it was then that we left.” Mom said, choosing to be the one to answer. “I know that you have been through a lot…”“You know nothing of what I’ve been through.” I said, looking at my brother and sister. “I lost my life and everything because of all of you. You chose to sacrifice me to a monster, and not once did you s
Vladimir:I watched as Elena walked out of the house, gathering her courage to see her family.Her eyes were fixed on them, and though I would have normally gone out to stand by her side, I knew better than to do so. For this, she was going to have to do that on her own. I was going to have to stand back for her to be able to do it“Mom?” She whispered, looking at her mother.“Elena?” Her mother responded. Her whole family got up, and I smiled before taking a step back. I turned to find Natasha standing behind me. Her eyes met mine and I smiled, extending my hand toward her, hugging the woman who grew as my sister for a long time.“I haven’t thanked you after saving her.” I said, and she smiled.“You know that you didn’t need to thank me. She is my brother’s mate and I wasn’t going to leave her to die.” She said, making me smile. I kissed her forehead, letting my lips linger there for a moment.Flashback:I watched as Konstantin’s body dropped to the ground before rushing to Killian as
Elena:“You are the famous Elena who had Vladimir staying a bit longer than we expected.” A woman, who I learned is Eleanor, said.“Human,” Natasha, the woman who actually got me out of the room, said. The fact that she did had me scared to death, but when my eyes met Vladimir’s…Flashback:“Open the damn door, Elena, I am Natasha.” She said, making my heart drop at the urgency in her tone. I opened the door, and she nodded, holding her gun in her left hand as she bared her canines. Her eyes were golden, but she didn’t bother as she nodded at me to follow her. “Vladimir…”“Come on, now is not the time to ask questions. There was a lot of gunfire, and the last thing that I am going to need for you is to be caught in an ambush.” She said, making my heart drop. “We’ll get you to Vladimir when he is out of this place.” “He’s…”“So far,” she said, looking down at me. “Let’s hope that things proceed to remain in our favor. But you know, being his mate, and being as special as you are, we
Konstantin:“Everything is going to be over very soon.” I said, looking at Vladimir who nodded.“Indeed. However it may end, I will be sure that things take the path that we chose.” My nephew said, and though I stayed quiet, I was forced to stop myself from scoffing. I needed his loyalty to be mine, and sometimes, I doubted that it was.“You are going to be killing Killian. It is going to be the one way that his reign ends. While Eleanor may have lost the child, it does not mean that he might not have more. I do not want that to be a matter of…”“The two of us already discussed the matter, and with Killian’s death, we are going to gain the power that we lost. We are just going to need to be careful. You know, he has his men swarming around the corner. One wrong word, sound, or even tone, and these wolves are going to be more than willing to tear everyone down.” He said, stopping me. “I am going to take charge of killing him. It is going to be in your office where they cannot hear us. Y
Elena:I was quiet as Vladimir walked out of the room.For a whole week, the two of us wouldn’t speak. However, to my surprise, neither once did he insult me. Even when I knew that I was doing something that he didn’t like, when I tried to attract his attention. All he did was look at me. He didn’t say a word to comment.Tears fell from my eyes, but I was quick to wipe them before anyone saw them. I knew that I was going to need to leave the room, and the idea of meeting Konstantin was not one that I wanted. But I knew better than to keep hiding.I walked out of the bedroom, my heart aching when I saw Vladimir with one of the maids. The two of them spoke, and I could swear that I saw her trying to flirt with him.“You see, I told you, it was only a matter of time before he grew tired of you. And here it is, the man has grown tired of you to the point where he doesn’t even bother looking at you.” Konstantin said, catching my attention. I took a step back and turned to look at him, knowi
Vladimir:I had to fight back my anger as I knew that my mate was doubting me. And the fact that Konstantin was going to be taking advantage of everything that he could do to break my mate. And the idea of that happening was not one that I wanted to allow him to try, not again.“Think, Vladimir, think.” I muttered to myself, knowing that the night was going to be longer than I wanted it to be. “You are not going to betray your pack, your Alpha, nor are you going to let your mate go. But how the fuck do you intend to do so without breaking her heart?”I tapped the sink counter twice before looking down at my reflection. I was furious, but I didn’t know how things were going to be, not now at least. “You are going to need to choose. Are you going to weaken for your love? Or are you going to be pulling yourself together to do what you came here to do?” I whispered before turning the water tap. My hands shook, and I knew what I had to do. Elena, for her safety, I was going to have to do
Elena:Now, if I thought that I would be getting used to the peace this much, I was going to believe that I finally lost it.Konstantin has been gone a week, and never in my life have I felt like everything was finally in place.No one was there to argue or fight, and I was able to get full sleeping nights without the fear of him approaching me in the middle of the night if Vladimir wasn’t around.“You are lost in your thoughts,” Vladimir commented, wrapping his arms around me from behind. I smiled and leaned in to his touch, thankful for it.“I am embracing the peace that we are living through. You know, it is not one that I am used to,” I said, turning to face him. “I thought that you would be at work?”I wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him to me as he wrapped his around my waist, raising me to sit on the dresser. He smirked and leaned in, brushing his lips against my own as he did before he bit my bottom lip gently.“I was supposed to be, but I have a few things to deal wi