EVAN'S POV"What do we do with your mother if you're not back by the fifth day?" My Father's Beta, Henry, asks, taking a step back as I mount my horse. I had ordered that she shouldn't be given food or water for five days. I want her to have an idea of what it was like for my mate. The wicked woman already proved that she is too dense to understand anything that is said by words. So I assumed that experience will be me a better teacher. "If I am not back after the fifth day you should ask my father and his council to decide her sentence," I answer."Yes sir. I really hope that you find her. She is a special woman." Henry says, turns and heads back to the palace. I have a feeling that this isn't going to be an easy quest. Slaves are bought and resold now and then. Some don't even last long enough to see their next buyer. I fear that my mate's family may not even be alive considering the monsters that my so-called mother chose to sell them to. I regret agreeing to have the mother so
TALIA'S POVThe Beta stands to welcome his alpha into the room. One of the slaves runs out to fetch the man a drink."Our guest just arrived. I didn't call you since you said the meeting was important." The Beta explains, his respect for the Alpha is very vivid in his voice. The man walks past my friend without uttering a single word and heads towards me. I rise to my feet even if I am disgusted by the sight of him. He is a monster inside, the sweet smile cannot fool me."You're more beautiful than Prince Evan himself." He compliments me, placing a kiss on the back of my hand. "Sorry if I kept you waiting." He apologises."It's alright, we didn't wait for long. Thanks for meeting us." I say."The honour is mine, Miss Abrams. You and I have a lot to discuss." He takes a seat next to me and a drink is handed to him by the slave that had gone to get it."You're searching for your family alone while you could just ask your mate to find them for you. Did he reject you or do you hate him f
TALIA'S POVWhat was the point of being reborn if I wasn't going to find and rescue my family? What were the special powers for? Making me a good enough mate for Evan? The super gorgeous King must be happy now that I am no longer in his kingdom. He and his mother must be proud of what they have achieved since they brought down my family. She is now the best female warrior and the most respected woman in the Kingdom. The only thing that may have really pained her son is being mated to me. But all he has to do is accept my rejection and choose someone else. Over a dozen pretty girls are always stalking him after all. People would accept and idolize anyone he chooses. They never question his words or actions, to them, he is always right and just. Claim otherwise and you become an enemy. He can enjoy the power and adoration for now. Because once I find my family I will start formulating my revenge. He may be the most powerful, but even the strongest have a weakness. I just have to lear
EVAN'S POV I figured out that I was never going to get to her unless I dumped my escort and moved faster. She is visiting dangerous people and that got me too worried. I am so glad none of those monsters hurt her already. Men like Alpha Jason have no sense of morality, sympathy or restraint. If I didn't use portal travel we would only be running after her with no hope of ever catching up. Then I wouldn't be there when some psycho dares hurt her. I wanted to keep some of my most stupefying powers secret as people are afraid of me enough even without knowing that I can be wherever I want in a matter of seconds. I want them to see me as their noble leader, not a super-powerful ruler they should fear. I didn't want to scare the hell out of my mate by breaking in through the door. It however appears like seeing me enter the room through a portal frightened her even more. She still manages to look like the most breathtaking creature I have ever laid my eyes on despite being in an oversized,
TALIA'S POVI walk back to the bed, feeling relieved that I am still breathing. I lay on top of the covers to give my brain a moment to cool off and refocus. It's like my heart is scolding me for letting the gorgeous jerk leave. I was pounding hysterically when he was standing so close to me. Now it feels like it has gone cold like it is moaning some kind of unbearable loss. I may be still alive, but everything is still too messed up. I was feeling angry for having been mated to him, someone who wouldn't accept or care for me. Now I feel even angrier that he showed up expecting me to accept him like he wasn't the man that made sure I was well executed for something he and his mother did. But since my heart doesn't have a brain, it is stupidly moaning about his departure. He is our mate, but I will never make the mistake of allowing him the chance to hurt us again. He may be plotting another set-up to destroy us completely, that's why he is seeking some closeness. Just like the Quee
TALIA'S POV"It's been a long time since we got a worthy buyer. My sincere apologies for the rude welcome." The Lady puts on a smile as she rises from her seat and the young slave quickly crawls out of her way. Seems like money is all it takes to change her moods.I am barely managing to keep my anger from showing on my face. Guess I am not very good at ignoring how mean these people are to their submissive slaves. It's so hard to focus on acting like an actual slave buyer. "It's fine," I say in a hoarse voice. I know I sound sad and angry but I carry on anyway. "I don't care if a slave is a man, woman or child. All genders can do the work I need to do. What I really want is to choose them myself."The lady's smile widens even further. Her guard grins too. I will have to use my powers whether or not I find my family here. This woman won't react so well if we fail to find my family and be forced to tell her that we are not buying. If I find them and she realises they are my family sh
EVAN'S POV"So you're not disappointed that she turned down your request to help?" My servant asks, riding his horse beside mine. "I would have been disappointed if she agreed. A perfect woman wouldn't forgive so easily." I respond, stopping my horse a few metres from the line of over a hundred soldiers waiting at the front of the blue gate looking very ready for battle. No doubt they got informed that we are coming and got ready. The border guards did see us enter their Kingdom but they took off running as soon as they saw me.I wasn't expecting this to be a walk in a pack though. You don't walk into your enemy's territory and expect a warm welcome. I am here to buy back my mate's little brother, peacefully, but if they choose war I will definitely be more thrilled.Alpha Anderson and his four sons have been nothing but hostile to all the people within their territory. I wouldn't mind giving them a taste of the suffering they give others. I wish that Talia was safe at home while I
TALIA'S POV"I think I will accept Alpha Jason's offer to help me find my family. I can't keep guessing where they are when they are probably near death like all other slaves." I say to Edward.I can't see his face since he is facing away from me. But he is the man that reminded me of that option early today so I am sure he will approve."I thought you said you would only consider it as the last option?" He asks after making the carriage stop outside the same building we had rented rooms last night. "I don't see any other option that can help me find them faster. I am afraid that they have been in slavery for far too long." I answer. Why did he even ask that question when he clearly saw how those slaves were being treated? Wasn't it obvious that I need a faster method of finding them before they are dead too?"There is another option I think will work" He says, helping me get off the carriage by holding my hand. "But let's get inside first so we can discuss it." I nod and we make o
TALIA'S POVI thought he would act a little smarter in front of the council and my mate, but he apparently can't get any smarter than he was a few hours ago. I really hope that none of us inherited his stupidity. "How many times will I be punished for that crime? How much more torture do I have to endure before you're satisfied?" He yells out loud, his voice cracking with emotion and fear. I see Evan's jaws clench with annoyance."You condemn me for locking up my daughter but none of you cared when her notorious mother disrespected and humiliated me in the most hurtful ways! Don't your laws apply equally to all?" My so-called father carries on shouting.The entire council regards him with contempt and disgust. "And how exactly did her mother humiliate you?" One of the council members questions."She wouldn't obey me as her mate or husband. She trained to fight against my will and even challenged me into a match when I could no longer stand her immodest behaviour." He answers with a
TALIA'S POVThe tiny cell stinks worse than the time I was locked in it. I had sworn that I would not be coming back here after the last time I walked out fuming. But I feel like it's right that I hear my father's side of the story first before he gets sentenced by a council that doesn't really give a shit about the truth. Their main aim is always to please their king, not to make a fair judgement.I don't think there is anything he can say that can justify what he did to Taylor. Only an insane person would confine their teenage daughter in a dark cabin for months and rarely give her food. Our mother called him a monster and I believe that's what he is. I still want to know what happened between him and our mother before he left. Why did he leave with so much resentment? The soldier that unlocked the door followed me inside but I gesture at him to leave because I don't want the public to know about every one of my family issues. What our father did to Taylor is already shameful eno
TALIA'S POV"You weigh a tonne." I tease and the man resting his head and chest on me chuckles but doesn't move. The waves of his pitch-black hair look like a glorious mess and I couldn't resist the urge to bury my fingers in them. The thick strands feel incredibly soft against the skin of my hand. I am laying on his massive bed, courtesy of my sister spending another night in my room. I am however grateful that I am here instead of alone in that spacious room. At least my mate's scent is doing a good job of lulling my nerves so I can sleep. I had a headache immediately after my argument with Taylor which left me feeling like a wreck on the inside. She didn't say a single word to appreciate everything I have for her or our mother. All she cared about was revenge which I have had enough of. Luckily Michael chose to stay with us. Which is better than if he followed our mother back to a house that no longer looks like what we left behind. And starting off again will not be as blissful
TALIA'S POV"Why are you so shocked?" I ask as I approach the bed and Taylor keeps watching me with a baffled face. I had imagined she would be happy to see me. But don't see a hint of joy on her face. Her gaze doesn't leave my face until I reach the bed and peck her forehead. A timid smile curves on her lips. I was however hoping for a more jubilant reaction."Don't you remember me?" "Of course I do . . . you're my sister. You just look . . . so different. Like a heavenly Queen." She stutters the look of shock finally fading away. I sigh in relief because I had thought she had lost her memory or worse gone mad."You're exaggerating. I only look older because it's been three years since the last you saw me. Your face on the other hand has grown prettier." I give her another peck on her left cheek and she giggles. "I look like a living skeleton thanks to our mad father. I didn't even know he existed until he locked me in a dark room for months." She mutters with pursed lips.I take
TALIA'S POV"Please quit trusting him too much. He is no different from his mother. Don't forget that her evil blood runs in his veins." Her venomous words make my stomach churn. Not because there is any truth in what she is in them, but because the bitterness in her voice is too much that I am afraid she may never be able to see the truth and admit she is wrong. I take in deep breaths and blink away the tears before turning to embrace my mate and my little brother. "What happened to our mom? She doesn't want us!" Michael cries as I hug him. I force a smile and cup his face. "No sweetie, mum still loves us. She is just . . . a little confused right now. She will come back and stay with us soon." I soothe even though I am not sure she will ever accept to return back here. I know she loves us, she would never abandon us forever unless she really doesn't have the chance to be with us. "She thinks you're bad," Michael says looking up at Evan. My stunning mat
TALIA'S POVI told her that I couldn't have saved her, Michael or Taylor without Evan's help, and those are the first words she says to him?! What happened to her reasonable and diligent mind? Can anyone be more thankless?Evan's beautiful face doesn't show any signs of annoyance, he looks totally unfazed by even as she takes a couple of steps back and glares at him. I wish I have the same control over my emotions especially when I know someone is acting irrationally. The fact that he isn't taking her mad raving seriously doesn't mean he is totally fine with it. He is annoyed, of course, his face is, however, good at masking it. Michael looks terrified as he looks up at his mother who has a tight grip on his arm. I imagine this isn't the happy reunion he has been looking forward to, she isn't acting like the incredible mother we knew. "Stay away from my family! We have had enough of your evils!" She again snaps at an unbothered Evan. The beta shakes his head in ast
EVAN'S POVI knew this meeting was going to be fun, after all, Talia herself was so terrified of me the first time I appeared in her rented room. She didn't immediately forgive my mistakes and I didn't expect her to. But she reasoned like a sane person. Her sister is totally different, she reeks of witless hostility. She has been through hell and she is a teenager. Her cold demeanour is understandable. You don't live in a dark room for half a year and come out stress-free and amicable. "Go be a slave for three years then come back and say that you're sorry!" She yells, her eyes glowing with rage. She is clearly struggling to force the words out. She is still in pain and physically weak. Days of starvation have left her body emaciated and bony. I imagine her outburst is only fueled by anger, not strength because she can't have much."I don't need to experience what you have been through to understand your pain. But there is no way of changing the past so I am t
TALIA'S POVMother shakes her head in denial for the hundredth time. She refuses to believe that Evan wasn't part of his mother's plan to destroy our family. I didn't want to believe it either at the start. Letting go of the hate is hard when you have been through the hell each of us has been through. "He told you that he didn't know and you believed it?" She questions, looking disappointed.We didn't tell her much last night because I wanted her to finally have a peaceful night as a free woman. She is eager to know everything before we head back home. We have an escort of Miles's ten soldiers to go with us. Not that we needed them but Miles insisted that it will be the perfect show of our alliance. Good Alphas like him are rare, I am glad we ended up allies even though I have not been exactly looking forward to being a Queen. Alpha Owen earnestly apologized for having hosted Miles's father together with his hostage in his palace. He offered Miles five good horses
TALIA'S POV"They must have seen us coming," Miles says looking ahead at the heavily guarded palace of the Blue Mountain pack. It's another palace without a tall wall surrounding it or massive gates to keep strangers from strolling in at will.What however surrounds the magnificent building ahead is a big army of werewolves that look well-prepared for battle. But they are not strong enough or too many to intimidate me. As long as my mother is within that palace I will get her out safely.They obviously didn't have the time to run off again since they had no way of knowing we are coming. They saw us coming from afar and hurried to get soldiers in a line outside to protect the palace. I objected to Miles's idea to bring with us his best lycan soldiers to attack and capture the palace. After witnessing how ruthless he can be I know he won't spare a single life if I let him fight. There is no need for bloodshed when I have my powers. "Don't worry about how many the