~ Leigh's POV ~I had a splitting headache after hearing all the bullshit the family elders had to say in this morning meeting. They all just cared about their own interests and not that of the pack as a whole."Dirty old maggots." I muttered to myself."You'd get old quickly if you keep frowning like that."Hearing this made me frown even more."I think I see wrinkles on your head Leigh. You're gonna get ugly soon." Nicolas said laughing loudly."It's probably been a long time since you got kicked." I said threatening him."Awwww! the cute puppy wants to bite." he said in an annoying tone. I didn't bother to answer as he was always like this.Nicolas was a friend I had met in highschool. He was a B ranked alpha from a less powerful pack, but we seemed to get along really well. Back then, he was being bullied by other stronger alphas, I initially ignored it as I didn't bother with things that were not my business but one day, it had gone out of hand and I stepped in to help him. Since
"Morning charming." Nicolas said as soon as I came down to the parking lot. I didn't bother to answer as usual."Jeez, stop frowning Gramps, you're gonna get old quick. I keep telling you this." he said jokingly but when he saw I wasn't going to indulge him he quit."I have to go see my doctor later today. Book an appointment." I said curtly."Yes boss!" he replied in a mocking manner.During the meeting, I couldn't concentrate at all. I was mad. Mad at myself for not being careful enough and falling into a trap. I can't believe I almost marked her. Jezz, all I said in the hotel was bullshit, I had no self control and the only reason I couldn't completely mark her was because she passed out probably due to her intake of the pills."Shit!" I said out loud unconsciously and everyone in the conference room looked at me shocked."Please continue." I said to the man making his presentation. He hesitated before he finally continued. He probably thought I was dissatisfied with what he was sa
I didn't return home for a week because I didn't have the energy to exchange words with father. He had his servants come fetch me countless times but I remained adamant.Nicolas had called that evening about an important document we needed for a meeting the next day but it was at the main house. I sighed defeated as I realized I'd have to go back home if I needed to retrieve it. The next day, I drove back home. I met with Miss Felice at the entrance and she was delighted to see me. She commented on how I had lost weight and told me she would get me breakfast privately as she knew I didn't want to eat with the rest of the family.In the entire household, Miss Felice was the only one I could rely on. She has been in the Troy household for two generations and she basically raised me after my mother passed away.I informed her about the reason for my coming as I didn't intend to eat anything now but I promised I'd be home later.I went straight to my room to grab the files I needed. When
~ Iris POV ~It has been a week since I started working in the Troy household and as Chad had promised, I wasn't sent anywhere near Leigh's quarters. I had also adjusted to my new life and was more familiar with my responsibilities. My only fear was running into Leigh and surprisenly, he hasn't been home since the past week. This was good news for me as I didn't have to encounter any more weird situations with him.As much as I wanted to resolve the misunderstanding between us, I wanted to avoid him as much.There are so many rumors about him from the older servants, he is known to be hot tempered and rude that all the other servants avoided close contact with him. The younger ladies all talk about how much of a pretty boy he was but his bad temper disqualifies him from being a perfect man, hence they all shifted their love and attention to Chad who was more likeable and easy to relate to.Chad was so likeable and easy going. He was loved and well received by all the servants. He was a
"Chad!" I exclaimed looking back to find him holding my arms firmly."What are you doing?" Leigh asked curtly as he turned to face Chad."I should be the one asking. What are you doing Leigh?" He said sounding pissed while Leigh tilted his head to the side in amusement."And what do you think I'm doing?" Leigh asked and I just stared at the both of them confused and afraid to utter a word."Wasn't it enough that you almost strangled her, now you also hurt her like this?" Chad said pointing at the injury in my arms."Umm it's actually... ""So what?" Leigh interrupted me. "What does it have to do with you?" He said raising a brow."Let go!" Chad said in an intimidating tone."You let go." Leigh said aggressively as they both gripped my hands tightly causing me to wince in pain.They both let go immediately."Are you alright?" Chad asked concerned while Leigh just stood there without saying a word. He seemed upset and irritated. He probably felt bad for being misunderstood and I couldn'
"Do you really have to seduce someone else?""What?" I asked confused."I'm talking about Chad, did you really have to get him involved?" He said with an expression I couldn't read.I really began to wonder what was going on inside of this man's head. Okay, I can understand the fact that he thought I had seduced him but him thinking I was doing the same with Chad was unacceptable. Angrily I pulled my hands from his grip."Master Leigh, I do not care what you think about me in that head of yours, but I will not have you insult me like this. I already told you that time at the hotel was a misunderstanding but you didn't believe me and I do not blame you, but you talking about my character like this as related to your brother Chad is unacceptable. If you would please excuse me." I said angrily as I stormed out.I knew I had spoken harshly and that I could probably lose my job, but I wasn't going to be insulted like that.I headed towards the servant quarters and I met Chad waiting at the
"You do know I can smell you." He said looking towards the direction where I hid."Hi!" I said awkwardly as I came out to his sight but he didn't answer, he didn't even look up at me. I stood nervously at the side contemplating if I should go back or not."Come here!" He ordered and I quickly moved closer."Give me a push." he said signalling at the swing and I tilted my head to the side at his request."Just do it." he said curtly. I moved slowly behind the swing and gave a light push. I pushed for a couple more times and we just remained there quietly."This was my mother's garden." he said suddenly and I just nodded."The empty quarter by the side also belonged to her. And this swing.." he said caressing it softly "was her favorite thing in this whole house" he said with a light smile."The garden is beautiful." I said softly as I didn't know what to say and he chuckled softly. I knew his mother was dead and we weren't exactly friends so I didn't know how to react now that he is su
~ Leigh's POV ~I really wonder why I can't bring myself to say the things I actually want to say but I always end up saying the wrongest and stupidest stuff. I sat restlessly in the car as I remembered the rubbish I had spilled to Iris."Do you really have to seduce someone else?" I cringed at the memory."Ahh!" I screamed going crazy over the crazy stuff I said."What?" Nicolas asked alarmed as he heard my scream."Nothing, just keep driving." I said composing myself."I think you are going crazy." he said as he shifted his focus back on the road. I was actually going crazy, I've been acting out of character for the past few days all because of Iris."What's bothering you bro?" He said looking at me from the rear view mirror."Nothing." I said curtly."Must be an Iris problem." he said smiling mischievously. I didn't bother to answer as I knew he was only going to make fun of me."Oh by the way, she looks really good. I understand why you have your heads in the clouds." he said wink
"No...please...stop," I whispered, my voice barely audible.Chad's laughter echoed through the room as he leaned in close to my ears. "You'll be my greatest experiment Iris. You should feel very honoured," he whispered softly as his eyes held a vicious gaze. My world darkened slowly, my thoughts dissolving into despair."Chad...why?" I struggled to utter, my voice barely audible."Science," he replied, his voice distant and cold. "Progress. Humanity's advancement requires sacrifice. I have sacrificed a lot. My time, my energy, a lot I have given.” He said as if in pain. “Surely, a little sacrifice from your path is not comparable to the time I have had to spend on each failed experiment. I’m the best researcher in the land, but all those drugs....they are nothing compared to the discovery of your blood.” He laughed hysterically. My gaze locked onto Chad's, “Your humanity...where's your heart?"Chad's smile twisted. "My heart beats for innovation. I simply want to make my kind bett
“You are pitiful Chad.” I spat on his face. “I can’t believe I trusted and had faith in you. But you did all these evil things just because you are jealous of your brot.... Ack!” I groaned in pain as he punched me in my guts and the pain sent a shiver to my brain. I gasped as I was running out of air. “Don’t you ever call me jealous. I have everything.” He shrugged. “And the only thing that loser has is his pure blood. I should be Pack master, not a motherless freak like Leigh.” He sneered. I struggled for air as I tried to speak. “You claim you have everything, but you also want the one thing he has. You are selfi... selfish.. I know... you would never be as good as Leigh. Nothing can beat the goddess’s gift. Your so called pills will fail you.” I sneered as I looked him straight into his eyes. He smirked and grabbed my hair again before banging my head hard on the iron wall behind me. I felt my consciousness leaving my body as blood dripped down from my the back of my head.
~ Iris POV ~I woke to a splitting headache, groaning as throbbing pain spread through my temples. My whole body was aching and every muscle hurt. My neck and arms seemed heavier than usual and I was also in an unusual position. I tried to move, then I realized my body was stiff and unresponsive. Slowly, I opened my eyes and I was met with a harsh reality. Chains was bound to my neck, wrists, waist, and ankles. And they hurt like hell.Memories of the previous night flooded back into my mind. How Chad's hands was around my neck and squeezing the life from me, then he knocked me unconscious with some hard and that was the last thing i remembered. I groaned as I tried to touch the spot hurting on my head and neck, but the cold chains restricted me.A cold sweat broke out as I took in my surroundings. The room was a sterile lab, walls, floor, and ceiling a blinding white colour, and for some reason it made me feel so sick in the stomach. The air reeked of disinfectant and faintly of.
I woke up as quickly as I fell asleep. Felt like I didn’t even sleep a wink because of how drained I was. I took a quick bath and headed downstairs, searching for Nicolas so I could borrow his phone and call Iris. I really needed to check on her. "Good morning Master Leigh," a servant greeted. “Hmm, where’s Nicolas?” I asked curtly as I descended the stairs. "Master Nicolas is still asleep sir. He returned very late last night." She informed politely. I nodded, slightly disappointed. "Breakfast is served sir." “I’ll pass.” I waved my arms in the air but my stomach protested with a loud growl, betraying my initial reluctance to eat. The servants exchanged knowing glances, their faces hinting at amusement and my faced flushed in embarrassment. "Ah, I suppose I'll have some," I conceded. “Okay sir.” She smiled. I ended up joining Archie and others who were already seated having their breakfast. "Morning Master Leigh," Archie said, his voice polite but distant. I nod
"I know. But we need to be careful. The rogues are getting desperate, and we don't know what they're capable of. We still don’t even know exactly what they want.”“We would get them soon.” I said trying to reassure Nicolas but mostly trying to reassure myself.“Okay then. Have you guys gotten the girl?” he asked.I hissed. “Not yet Nick. She’s been avoiding us like a plague and it’s becoming so annoying.” I hissed the words out. “This really is going not how I had expected. Anyway, I’ll get Amelia to a shelter. She’s still so shaken so I’ll have her stay there for a while.” He informed and I nodded.“Okay. Thanks man. I’ll see you back at the meeting point.”“Okay Leigh.” He said before hanging up. As he hung up the phone, Archie turned to me, his expression concerned. "What's wrong? I heard something about Dr Eli. Is he okay?" He asked concerned and I studied his expression before deciding to reply."Dr Eli's been taken," I said, my voice firm. "We need to get him back."Arc
I sat in the passenger seat of the car, my eyes fixed on the GPS screen as we navigated through the winding streets. Archie was driving, his hands moving deftly over the wheel as he expertly maneuvered the vehicle. He surprisingly impressed me with his driving skills, makes me hate him less for being such a jerk to Iris in the past. Just kidding. Still hate him just the same, but I have to work with him for now. And he’s actually been working pretty hard."Come on, come on," I muttered under my breath, my frustration growing. We had been tracking Gina for hours, but she was proving to be a slippery target. More slippery than anyone I had ever had to chase. Even Alaric."I know," Archie said, his voice calm and reassuring. "We will get her. She definitely can't keep running forever. Besides we are the good guys.” He said composed with his eyes still on the road as he expertly turned the stirring wheel.I nodded, but my doubts lingered. Gina was sly, observant, and clearly resourceful.
~ Leigh’s POV ~I had brought Iris back to the house. Dr Eli had secretly told me that something was awfully wrong and I should keep Iris with me by all means. I didn’t exactly know what was wrong, but I knew I had to protect her. She was so worried and I tried to console her as I held her firmly in my arms. Suddenly my phone rang and I frowned a little. It was Archie. I excused myself to go pick up.“What?” I said curtly.“I think we have our guy.” He said from the other end of the line. They have found the culprit? “Who is it?” I asked. “Its better you come here yourself. It’s not something I can say on the phone.” I don’t know why but I just had a really bad feeling. "I'll be there soon," I said finally, before hanging up the phone."What's wrong, Leigh?" Iris asked and I could sense the worry in her voice.I tried to keep my expression neutral. "Nothing Iris, Just pack business.""Tell me Leigh, what's going on?" She said unconvinced.I sighed and rubbed my temples. "I
"What is it?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.“I can’t tell you on the phone. Let’s meet up immediately. And come alone.”My heart raced with questions as I heard his words. I took a peek at Travis who was still talking to the security guard. “Okay. I’m on my way.” I said to chad before hanging up. He texted me a location and I considered for a quick second. “Hey,” Travis said to get my attention and I didn’t even know when he got back from speaking with the guards. “I’ve spoken to them to know the exact time Amelia had left. He said she had gone out to meet someone. Do you know anyone she might have gone out to see?” I tried to recall, but I literally do not know anything about my sister. If she went out to see someone, it’s definitely not her fiance, maybe his parents? “I think she must have gone to see her soon to be in laws. Maybe she’s there.” I said as I immediately started dialing their numbers but it was unreachable. “Let me try... in fact let’s go over t
I lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling as sadness and worry washed over me. I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. Why did those people suddenly want dad specifically? And this issue about my mother probably being a Crescent Pack member. Leigh hadn't also come back that night, and I was getting more and more anxious by the minute. I needed him. I needed his comfort, and not being close to him at this moment of confusion in my life, made me all the more frustrated and nervous.I tossed and turned, trying to get comfortable, but my mind was racing with various unanswered questions. I kept thinking about Leigh and where he could be. Was he okay? Was he hurt too? No. I shouldn’t think like that. He was definitely okay.As the hours ticked by, I finally started to drift off to sleep, slowly but surely. But as soon as I closed my eyes, I felt myself falling into a void. I was drowning, unable to breathe, and I felt like I was being pulled down into the depths of the ocean.I