I reached into my pocket and pulled out my phone, the chiming growing louder as I did. I swiped the screen to life, and my heart skipped a beat as I saw the flood of messages from my sister, Amelia."Any problem?" Anne looked back at me."Oh, no. Go ahead I'll catch up." I smiled and she walked out while I went over to a secluded corner so I could read Amelia's text properly.As I scrolled through the messages, my eyes widened in concern.-How are you? I heard what happened yesterday at the ball--I still haven't heard from Stanley since yesterday--Are you sure you saw him leave?--He left before the whole chaos right?--Iris, please answer me! I'm getting really scared--I've tried calling him a million times, but it goes straight to voicemail--His mom hasn't heard from him either--I am so worried and scared that something might have happened to him--Iris????-I felt a knot form in my stomach as I read on. Amelia's messages grew more frantic, each one pleading for me to respond,
"Why can't we love who we want? And why do we even need to kill ourselves over the birth of the Ultima anyway." I said with confidence as I stood tall and they all listened to me intently."We weren't there when our ancestor Kushim cheated on his chosen mate, and the woman he cheated with is long dead anyway. So why are we being punished? I don't just understand." I said as I showed my vulnerability and they all seemed to understand me, because we have all suffered the same thing."That is true," one voiced out. "Why should be pay for the sins of a cheating Alpha. He's going to be reborn anyway. But why do we have to suffer." She stood up and the rest nodded."I'm tired of being treated like shit. It's okay being a servant, but I'm not going to let anyone talk so rudely to me anymore." Another declared."Yes. Like last night during the ball when I served drinks. A little grade A Omega was rude to me just because I am a forsaken. If I wasn't being watched closely, I would have smacked
I took a deep breath, launching into our plea. "Pack Master, we understand that the pack's safety is your top priority, but ignoring the kidnappings won't make them go away. Our fellow servants are innocent, and they deserve your protection too." I reasoned.The Pack Master's expression remained unreadable, but his eyes narrowed slightly. "I'm aware of the situation. But resources are limited, and we can't just rush into a potentially volatile situation. And we have our priorities." I bit my Jaws at his statement. Just tell me why we weren't considered priorities. The others in the room where just staring at us and not saying a word.I breathed in to control my emotions before speaking. "We cook and clean for you. We make sure the house is run properly. Without us, they would be chaos. Would you really let us keep dieing like this?" I threw the question and he frowned upon my words."Look here child, I have no time to play moral compass with you. Important pack members were abducted t
~ Leigh's POV ~After the whole ball incident, I had to go from Pack to Pack to try to reassure them that their members that were taken would be found, and we also needed their corporation. But these greedy men wanted the Troy Pack to bear all the responsibilities ourselves since the unfortunate incident happened in our territory."So you are saying you do not plan on putting in resources to help find your own pack members?" I asked because I couldn't believe what this man was saying."It is not that I do not want to put in the resources and the effort, but this is the Troy's responsibility to bear. You planned the ball. You invited us and we attended. If there was any accident you are to shoulder the responsibility." He said firmly."The Alpha taken is one of your son's right?" I asked the old man."Of course he is. But it is all your fault for having faulty security in place. Our Pack would decide not to offer our support to you and we would withdraw all of our previous investments
Thankfully, we arrived home safely thanks to Nicolas amazing driving skills. I got down from the vehicle but there was no security at the gate save the gate man. Most of them were seriously injured last night. Nicolas also had some battle wounds but he refused to sit still and rest up, because he wanted to catch these people quickly."Let's go up. Your father called again." He said to me and I nodded.We headed upstairs to father's private hall. My feet was getting heavier as I took every step. I hated this. I hated it so much. Being perceived as a failure. It was suffocating. We arrived at the hall and the guards opened up for us immediately.I walked in with Nicolas and I was surprised to see Pack Master Luka Lane here. Travis was here as well but I didn't acknowledge him, especially since he had that stupid look on his stupid face. Father was seated behind his gigantic desk and his eyes were cold as he gazed at me."Father!" I said but he didn't reply and went straight to business.
"I have something to report.""And that is?" Father asked in an intimidating tone and the guard flinched as he contemplated whether to speak or not."What do you want to say? Speak or get lost." Father said irritated and the young man jolted."Master, they are a group of servants outside requesting audience with you Master." He said with his head bowed."Servants? Why should I speak with mere servants?" He said in a condescending tone."What do they want?" I asked the already shaking guard."They request audience concerning yesterday's event." He said in a low tone."Why do they have to come bother me now. I am very busy as it is. Send them away." Father commanded and the guard hurried out."I suggest you listen to them." Luka said in a low but commanding tone as he took a sip of his coffee."You think so?" Father asked facing him."So they wouldn't say you are unfair." He shrugged."Okay then. Let them in. Let me see what they dare to say in front of me." He said and the guard nodded
Eleanor has bitten more than she can chew. She needed to be out of here, but first, I needed to go see Iris.I had heard from the guards that those that escaped were also seriously hurt last night including Iris. She had fought with the criminals last night and ended up in a bad state. This made me all the more annoyed with that damned Eleanor.I couldn't even protect the woman I claimed to love, and I was busy dozing off over whatever Eleanor had drugged me with. She also seemed pretty pissed off at me when she was meeting with father earlier. I needed to know why she was mad at me, and what I had done. If anything, I should be mad. She left just like that, after we shared such a passionate moment, but that was not the main problem for now.I do not know if she is already aware of her sisters mate condition or not. She was also really worried about the missing girls and I needed to assure her that all would be fine.So, I went to her quarters to wait for her. A few servants walked pa
I could feel that our hearts were the same. Two people denied of love and scared to fall in love. She was definitely afraid. She has known betrayal, and she was uncertain about me. But I was absolutely sure that I loved this woman and wanted to be with her. If I could carve my heart out, I would hand it over to her without a second thought."I am worthless without you." Right now, I was expressing my all but Nicolas just had to come ruin it with his stupid face."Leigh!" He called out to me and I was furious. Iris backed away upon hearing his voice and she was completely flushed."Sorry to interrupt your lovey dovey moment but we have work to do. Clarrise also just called." He informed in a formal tone. He was probably still a little upset about the whole Eleanor stuff and him seeing me with Iris now would definitely get him confused. I seriously need to explain things to him as soon as possible. He was the only one I could talk to and I didn't want him to see me as a failure just lik
~ Iris POV ~Three years had passed since the blood and chaos of that night in Luka’s mansion, three years since I had looked into the cold, dead eyes of Luka Lane. In those three years, Leigh and I had built a life together, a sanctuary away from the shadows of the past. Our own mansion was where we lived now, far away from the main Troy mansion. Two years ago, under the glow of the full moon, we had finally become one, our souls bound together in a love forged in fire and tempered by time. He had made me his mate and we were blessed by the moon goddess. Leigh had sworn not to return to the old Troy mansion until the old Alpha breathed his last and he had kept to his words, it was a heart breaking but necessary severing of ties. We had found our own happiness, clinging to each other as we navigated our own future together.Today also, was a day for celebration. Nicolas and Clarisse were finally tying the knot. The air in our bedroom was thick with the pleasant chaos of getting rea
~ Leigh’s POV ~My lungs burned, each ragged breath shot pain through my entire body. But I knew I had to forget this pain I was feeling, I knew the ceremony was fast approaching, and Travis was unreachable this whole time too so we did not know whether he had arrived Lane’s pack or not. There was no time. No time to rest, no time to fully heal. Iris was in danger and I must save her.Every fibre of my being screamed at me to move faster, to bridge the impossible distance that separated us. Every mile felt like a lifetime, every rustle of leaves a potential delay. Clarisse was so worried. “I can’t reach Travis… we don’t know if he made it.” She said on the way. Nicolas’s updated us not too long after. “Travis just called… they encountered heavy resistance. It is clear that Luka anticipated them.” I clenched my jaw. That bastard. He is indeed an old weasel. “No matter what,” I snarled, “we break through and defeat him. We have to.”And we did. The fight was brutal. When we arrive
What I felt inside wasn’t just a power. It was an understanding. An understanding that made me feel ancient, yet utterly present, as if the moon goddess and I were two halves of a perfect whole. My vision were sharpened, and I could see everything. Every sin, every judgement. Every weakness and strength. I could see it all. With a roar that echoed through the hall, I launched myself at Luka, and flinged him far, sending him crashing against the wall. He hadn’t even fully regained his footing before I slammed into him again, sending his hulking form sprawling again once more. My eyes, I could feel, burned with an otherworldly light, fixed on Luka with an intensity that made him flinch.“Your opponent is me, Luka Lane!” I stated, my voice resonating with a newfound authority, a power that was both mine and something far more greater.Luka snarled, pushing himself up, his grey fur bristling. “So, the little moonflower has finally found her thorns, huh! Too bad for little one, you shoul
Travis’s strength was visibly slipping away but I could only watch. Each blow, each snarl, seemed to cost him more. Then, the unthinkable happened. Luka, with a brutal swiftness, plunged his massive claws deep into Travis’s chest. An agonizing shout ripped through the air, a sound that tore at my soul.Luka ripped his claws out, and Travis’s powerful wolf form faltered. He crashed to the ground, as a dark stain of blood spread rapidly under him. His gaze was filled with pain and exhaustion, flickered towards me. In his eyes, I saw a heart breaking message. “I’m tired. I tried.” That’s all I could see in his eyes. He was tired and I was powerless. Tears streamed down my face, blurring the horrific scene before me.Luka with his eyes gleaming with a cruel triumph, loomed over Travis. “Insect!” he sneered as he opened his massive jaws, ready to deliver the killing blow, aiming for Travis’s throat.“NO!” The shriek tore from my own throat, it was a desperate shout, hoping it could somehow
“What was that sound?” Archie demanded of the guards turned towards the door.They all looked confused as their eyes darted nervously around “We… do not know Alpha,” one stammered, “but it sounds… it sounds like someone is blowing the place up.”My heart leaped into my throat. Could it be? Could it possibly be him? A flicker of desperate hope ignited in me, chasing away the fear in my heart. Leigh was here. It had to be Leigh. He wouldn’t let them keep me here.Archie’s jaw tightened, his gaze locking onto mine, then a cruel smirk twisted on his lips. “Keep her contained,” he snarled at the servants who stood. “Do not let her escape. I will go and see what this… disturbance… is.” He shot me one last venomous look before turning and striding out of the room, the guards hurrying after him.My mind was a whirlwind of possibilities. Explosions? Fighting? It had to be Leigh. My eyes felt hot with unshed tears of relief and anticipation. He was here. He was really here to save me.“Come my
Sleep. That word felt foreign. After what I had heard from Ethel, how could I possibly fall asleep. The locked door was a solid testament to my captivity, and the high, narrow window offered no solace at all or a route of escape. I was trapped, and those guards were outside watching. I paced back and forth in the confines of the room. My mind was running like a hamster on a wheel with no way to stop. As I turned sharply, my foot caught on the edge of the bed, sending me sprawling on the ground hard. The back of my head slammed against the marble floor, as a sharp blinding pain shot through me. A loud groan escaped my lips, and for a dizzying moment, darkness threatened to take me again. But then, as the pain subsided, a torrent of memories, sharp and vivid, began to flood my consciousness wildly. The fragmented dreams, the unsettling whispers, the faces I couldn’t quite grasp, they all snapped into place with startling clarity. I could remember everything all of a sudden. I wasn’t
This was supposed to be my escape, but it wasn’t anymore as there were about two dozens of imposing figures, their faces grim and unyielding, lined in the corridor, their presence suffocating the last grasp of hope Ethel had built in me. And Luka Lane just stood there watching us, his very stillness radiating an icy authority. His grey eyes were as sharp as shards of glass.Ethel, who had moments ago been very courageous was now visibly trembling beside me. Her breath hitched in her throat and her hand clutched my own tightly, her fingers digging into my skin. Luka’s lips peeled back into a slow, cruel sneer. “Well, well, well,” he drawled, his voice a violent threat that sent shivers and sweat running down my temples. “I guess you are playing hide and seek in the dead of night, my little runaway? And you, Ethel? Playing accomplice are you?” he sneered.Ethel’s voice, when she finally managed to speak, was full of tremor. “Father… we were just… she wasn’t feeling well. I was only ta
~ Iris POV ~From the moment I woke up, I felt uneasy. It was like there was something pressing against my chest. It was because I knew tomorrow was fast approaching. Tomorrow was the day I was supposed to become Luka Lane’s mate. The thought felt like air was being sucked out of my lungs. This morning, my gown had also arrived and I was made to come test it out. It was truly beautiful and a perfect fit. Perfect for my discomfort actually, because there is no way I would be happy wearing that knowing who my groom is.I got confined to my room afterwards, under the guise of pre wedding pampering, felt more like imprisonment, like they have been doing since I got here. On the brief walk back from the gown testing room, I saw how everyone was busy with activity. Servants scurried with floral arrangements, and trying to get things arranged. I sighed heavily as I jumped on my bed with a thud. My gaze drifted to the window, and I yearned to feel the cool night air on my face, to run until
“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