“Nicolas,” I repeated, my voice rough, “What happened to Iris?” The silence that followed stretched longer than I thought necessary. It was so thick and suffocating, and this silence just seemed to amplify the frantic thumping of my heart.Nicolas shifted his weight uncomfortably, his gaze fixed on the hard cold floor. He finally sighed, a sound heavy with reluctance. “Leigh please. You need to focus on getting better. This isn’t something you should be worrying about right now.” He tried to reason. It was not a reasonable thing for him to say though. At least to me.I hissed harshly. The dismissive tone ignited a spark of fury within me, overriding the weakness that still clung to my limbs. I pushed myself up against the pillows, the sudden movement causing a sharp tug on the IV drip in my wrist, sending a jolt of pain through my arm and to my brain. “I cannot relax Nicolas! Iris is out there, in Luka Lane’s clutches. What do you think he wants with her? It’s not a good thing obvious
It is often said that we get the opposite of what we wish for. How true is that? I didn't quite believe that saying till it became my entire life. Living opposite to what I desired. "Iris, why are you standing over there looking lost? Get those flowers to the table quickly!" Madam Maureen yelled, and I snapped back to reality. "Yes ma'am," I replied politely as I picked up the flowers and arranged them quickly. The ceremony was starting soon. It was a marking ceremony where an alpha announces his mate publicly before marking her privately. It was like a wedding ceremony that only the rich and powerful got to partake in. I had always imagined myself having such a ceremony too, but that was almost impossible because I was a low ranked omega. Although I already had my special someone who I hoped to be mated with. And he was everything I could ever wish for. I looked once more at my lock screen which was a photo of me and my boyfriend Archie, and I smiled to myself. "The ceremony is co
"Please help me." I begged before my knees gave in and I fell, thumping my body on the hard cold floor. He picked me up from the ground and carried me through the long corridor. He smelled of sweet spices, and his scent calmed me down. This was not my first time experiencing heat, but this was the first time I was close to an alpha during my heat period. My body desired things it shouldn't, and I couldn't control it. He took me to a room, which was probably his, and laid me on the bed. "Rest up," he said curtly, and he attempted to leave. I jumped up and enveloped him in an embrace. His scent was so calming, and I didn't want to let go. "Please help me," I whispered into his ears softly. "Little Omega, don't tempt me," he said in a low tone, almost in a whisper. I buried my head on his shoulder so I could take in more of his scent. He suddenly held my neck in place. "You asked for this," he whispered softly before he dug his fangs through my skin and bit my nape. I felt a shar
I accepted my fate and got out of the bathroom. I went to my drawer and grabbed the handkerchief the alpha had given to me during our first encounter. I caressed the T symbol engraved on it. "So it meant Troy after all" I said to myself. I had wondered what the T stood for. I sniffed it smelled like him. I had thought I'd never see him again but I met him again in such a situation. I'd have to seek him out and try to resolve the misunderstanding. I'd also have to return his belonging back to him. I got dressed and went to the kitchen. I paused in my steps when I saw dad serving breakfast with his apron tied to his waist. He looked up to meet my eyes and he had a blank expression on his face. "Someone's in trouble." Amelia smirked as she brushed past me and sat down. "Come eat." Dad said in a neutral tone and I slowly walked over and sat down. He didn't say anything but just served our food and sat down. Amelia was staring at me with a suspicious expression. "What?" I asked. He
I rushed out of the house because I didn't want to be late. She always scolded me for arriving later than I was supposed to. Luckily, I arrived at the restaurant just in time, the elegant facade a stark contrast to the shabby apartment I called home. I pulled out my phone and called Miss Maureen. "Hello, it's Iris. I'm here already." "Oh dear, I'm running a little late. Please wait at the entrance." Now she's the one running late. "Of course," I replied, hanging up the phone. I took a deep breath, as I surveyed the scene. The restaurant was buzzing with activity, it was full of well dressed faces, their laughter and chatter mingling with the clinking of glasses. They all looked so expensive and I couldn't help but feel a wave of self consciousness wash over me. I was so out of place, my simple dress feeling drab compared to the designer gowns and tailored suits that shimmered around me. A waiter approached me, his expression a mixture of disdain and impatience. "What are you doin
Convincing my father to let me leave had been an epic battle. Days of pleading, bargaining, and even a brief but dramatic hunger strike had finally worn him down. He had grumbled and cursed, muttering about the dangers of the outside world and the importance of a woman's place being in the home. But in the end, my stubbornness paved the way. Amelia was particularly ecstatic when she heard I'd be leaving. "Finally, the imposter is leaving." She had laughed. I'd called Madam Maureen immediately, my voice full of excitement. "Miss Maureen I'm ready. I'll take the job." "Excellent!" she'd exclaimed. "Meet me at the office tomorrow morning. The employer will be there to meet you and the other girls. You'll be taken to the mansion tomorrow." Excitement bubbled within me. I spent the rest of the day packing, my small suitcase overflowing with my meager belongings. And, of course, my father had insisted on 'supplementing' my luggage. His idea of supplements involved a generous helping of s
~A Day Earlier~"Welcome to the Troy household." Miss Felice said with a bright smile on her face.My luck couldn't be this bad right? Maybe it was a different Troy. I looked around nervously as I already had a bad feeling. There was a knot in my stomach that made me uncomfortable."Compose yourself." Miss Felice said strictly to me. She probably noticed how uncomfortable I was.We were led to the servant quarters. We lined up in an orderly manner and older servants were called to welcome us.Miss Felice was the head servant and a B ranked omega. She had probably worked in this household for two generations. She looked very strict and carried herself with pride. She walked around inspecting the quarters and other servants were reporting activities that had occurred during her absence. She finally remembered the existence of the newly hired servants and walked towards us to probably give a speech about how lucky we were to be in such a household."It is a great honour to be chosen to s
I layed on my bed pondering about all I've heard from the girls today. I have never really concerned myself with the affairs of the higher species and I was bad at names to the extent I didn't know about the influential families. I only knew about the Addams because that was Archie's family. I have always thought they were very Noble but I just found out today that they are not so powerful. Archie is really impressive, and he probably wants to raise the status of his family. This is something I can't help him with. As much as I want to hate him, I also want to understand him.As a kid, I have heard stories about the Ultima who is destined to be the most powerful werewolf and will lead all the pack. The Ultima is said to possess the power of the primordial werewolf as he will be a reincarnation of Kushim. Kushim was the very first of our kind created by the moon goddess. He was omnipotent and lived for thousands of years before he was taken back by the moon goddess. It is believed that
“Nicolas,” I repeated, my voice rough, “What happened to Iris?” The silence that followed stretched longer than I thought necessary. It was so thick and suffocating, and this silence just seemed to amplify the frantic thumping of my heart.Nicolas shifted his weight uncomfortably, his gaze fixed on the hard cold floor. He finally sighed, a sound heavy with reluctance. “Leigh please. You need to focus on getting better. This isn’t something you should be worrying about right now.” He tried to reason. It was not a reasonable thing for him to say though. At least to me.I hissed harshly. The dismissive tone ignited a spark of fury within me, overriding the weakness that still clung to my limbs. I pushed myself up against the pillows, the sudden movement causing a sharp tug on the IV drip in my wrist, sending a jolt of pain through my arm and to my brain. “I cannot relax Nicolas! Iris is out there, in Luka Lane’s clutches. What do you think he wants with her? It’s not a good thing obvious
It’s been three days already. Three agonizing days since I had become conscious. Each breath I took still felt like I was dragging sandpaper across my lungs, and there was a constant pain all over my body. I could still feel how badly I was when Luka Lane clawed me down and leaving me in that lab for dead. If it hadn’t been for Clarisse who came quickly… She had dragged me back up the mountain to her pack. They used their ancient remedies that was gifted by the moon goddess to their ancestors. They used their concoction to help heal the deep wounds, combined with the surprisingly advanced technology tucked away in this secluded pack. It had pulled me back from the land of the dead. I was propped up against a mountain of soft hand stitched pillows, as a nurse offered me another spoonful of the bland but nourishing broth they had been feeding me for days. Across the room, Nicolas stood like a statue carved from worry as he stared at me ever so quietly. His usual easy going demeanour
~ Leigh’s POV ~The world was a muffled, distorted echo. There was this constant rhythmic thumping hammering within the confines of my skull, like a relentless drumbeat that threatened to shatter the fragile remnants of my little consciousness. It was a dark and suffocating, a place where sound and sensation were twisted from reality. I was lost in unconsciousness and couldn’t seem to fight my way out of it as I kept floating without having any sensation except for pain that spread through my bones.I tried to grasp at the edges of my consciousness, to pull myself back from the abyss, but my efforts were futile. My eyelids were heavy as lead, refused to obey my commands. All I could see was an overwhelming darkness, a void that stretched endlessly before me. The thumping intensified in my brain, a relentless hammer against the inside of my skull, and I felt myself slipping further down and sinking deeper into the dark.A series of sounds began to penetrate the darkness. I heard muff
The servants led me to my chambers as they closed the heavy oak doors behind me, the soft click echoing the finality of my confinement. I sank onto the bed as I sighed. I was losing my mind at this point and I really wonder how long I can continue to suffer confinement like this. The room, though luxurious, felt like a cage, each ornate detail a reminder of my isolation. Luka Lane was keeping me prisoner and he says I’m to be his bride. What sort of bride am I even?I gazed around the room, my eyes tracing the intricate patterns of the wallpaper, the delicate porcelain figurines on the side of the room, the shimmering golden silk drapes that framed the tall windows. It was a beautiful prison indeed, a place of comfort and opulence, but a cell room nonetheless and I wanted to get out.My thoughts drifted to the upcoming mating ceremony, it seemed scary to me, an event that filled me with a sense of dread. Luka Lane, the pack master, my supposed betrothed. The very idea of marrying hi
I was feeling so frustrated and I didn’t even want to be here or do any of these. There was actually no use having me here since the head servant practically picked out everything herself. From the dress to shoes to the jewellery. I just sat there like a pile of nothing as my thoughts kept wandering around like someone lost. Well, I was lost. My memory was. After the hassle, we were finally done and the servants escorted me back to my room. It was like procession, as the servants walked in front of and behind me, as if shielding me from something dangerous. I felt suffocated and trapped here. "Could I… could I take a short walk?" I asked the head servant, my voice barely audible. I knew I wouldn’t be allowed, but I just wanted to try. "Just a brief look around the grounds? And we’ll be back.” I said innocently.But she shook her head. "I am afraid that would not be possible, Mistress Amore. Master Luka would not approve and he gave strict instructions to not let you wander."“But...
The air in the grand dressing room was thick, not with dust, but with the nerve wrenching sweetness of a hundred different floral perfumes, all battling for dominance to get to my nostrils. I was perched on a soft royal blue cushion, and I could feel the weight and pressure on my shoulders, though my mind was currently miles away, lost in the swirling, fragmented images of my dream. It was still a puzzle that I couldn’t quite piece together, so it bothered me so much. Much more than having to pick out the perfect dress for my mating ceremony.Around me, a flurry of activity unfolded, a meticulously choreographed dance of silks and laces as designers, with faces etched with practiced professional smiles and a hint of desperation, paraded their creations before me, sampling them as the best of the best for the occasion. Each gown was a masterpiece of its own, having intricate beadings and embroidery, meant to enhance my beauty for the upcoming mating ceremony. But to me, they were just…
"Betrothed?" I repeated extremely surprised, it possibly can’t be true. Isn’t he too..too old? "But aren't you… aren't you old enough to be my father?" I asked him.His eyes narrowed at me as the grey turned to ice. "You had no problems with it before. Besides, you have been betrothed to me since your birth." He sounded a bit annoyed as he spoke."But…" I tried to counter, but the words got caught in my throat as he cut me off, his voice sharper and firmer this time.“I won't blame you for the misunderstanding this time Amore. You got into an accident and lost your memory. It happens. Anyway, our mating ceremony is in a few days. I do not wish to postpone it. You better get yourself ready." He turned away and dismissed me with a wave of his hand. I stood there, completely frozen, unable to process his words. Betrothed to him? To a man who could easily be my father? He was handsome, undeniably so, with his sharp features and piercing grey eyes, but the thought of marrying him… it was
The morning light filtering through large windows didn’t make me feel as excited much. It was just like any other day, just like the rest I had spent here. Days and nights has passed by like a continuous endless cycle. A cycle of sleep, bland meals delivered by silent servants, and endless waiting. They all called me ‘Mistress,’ yet I had no recollection of who I was, what this place was, or why I was even here. All I knew was that the servants, though unfailingly polite, were also all awfully tight lipped that it grated on my nerves so much that I felt like pulling my hair some times.“The Master will see you soon and tell you everything you need to know Mistress." They would say, as their eyes evaded mine.Frustration clawed at my chest and I yearned for answers, for a glimpse of the outside world too. The door was always locked when they left, as if they wanted to mock my imprisonment. Why was I even imprisoned here? These questions I couldn’t answer. I scrambled to my feet as my
~ Iris POV ~The first thing that I was aware of was the sound around me. A low unfamiliar hum, like a distant buzzing in my ear. Then voices, muffled and indistinct, like words spoken under water. I tried to open my eyes, but they felt heavy, glued shut with heavy weights. It took a lot of effort, a desperate struggle against the thick pressure that seemed to surround me to finally peer them open.Finally, a sliver of light pierced the darkness, and I blinked, the sudden assault of bright light in my eyes making me to wince and recoil, shutting my eyelids once again. I heard a gasp, a soft, feminine voice, and then a flurry of movement. “She’s awake.” The soft voice said."Get the master quick!" another voice, sharper and more urgent commanded and I could hear clattering around as people moved about. I struggled to open my eyes again to see the people making the sounds, but the light intensified, blinding me again. I squeezed my eyes shut, groaning softly from the sudden sting