“Bella, it's not that easy.”“Buy me one,” she pouts and if it were possible I would go and get her one just now. I hate denying my little girl, she deserves it all and top it all off, she has the eyes that hypnotize one into giving her the world. “I want cute little pups, just Onyx.”“We can't buy babies.” I laugh.Arabella shrugs, “Worth a shooter.”She can't say shot, I've tried multiple times to get her to say the phrase right but it never comes out right, and so I cherish her way of saying it because one day she'll be too grown to say it.There's a light knock on my door and before I can say to enter, Arabella beat me to it. Mariella enters, she's got her hair done to match Arabella, whose hair matches Thalia. The color is different, and while it makes her look even more like Thalia, I'm appalled, I wouldn't touch her like this. “Hello,” Mariella grins, peaking down at Arabella. “Someone has made themselves at home.”I nod watching Bella offer her chocolate. “Mommy, did you see
Ryan chuckles nervously, “Shall we?” he points to the elevator. I make quick bringing the elevator, is this what he missed? Arguing with her? I see how that bit might be fun, she's a lawyer, she argues for a living and I suppose he does the same as an Alpha but it's wrong to bring her here just for that, she's sick. Or at least she looked it before he appeared. The elevator door opens and Rose gets in, watching Ryan and Alpha Knox. “Get in.” she tells me, “You're coming.” I don't ask why, I simply enter, with Alpha Knox and Ryan following after me. Ryan selects the ground floor and falls into conversation with Alpha Knox about one of his sisters. They're talking about a husband they want to beat up and I guess it's Nova because I heard she doesn't live with him anymore but won't divorce him. Rose makes a gagging sound, stealing my attention away from the conversation I'm ease dropping in. “Are you okay?” She nods, at the sound of my voice but Alpha and Beta turn around. Aga
THALIA I miss work, somehow sitting in my office alone would heal me better than this. Keir is smothering me with affection, I'm desperate for physical touch yet his makes my stomach churn sometimes. A few minutes ago, Keir hugged me and since then I've been in the bathroom heaving my breakfast. I was doing just fine today so this is a shock to me, just as is the way my stomach pain disappeared this morning after a night of whimpering and crying in silence. When I leave the bathroom, Keir is waiting for me. “Babe.” I frown, gauche with the concern in his stare. “Flower, I don't want you dying on me.” Dying? I haven't been that sick, if anything I think the medications Amara bought me are helping. “I'm not going to die,” I assure him, retreating to the kitchen to hydrate myself. “You've been throwing up all morning,” Keir says, following me closely. It's not all morning, just at random moments in the last two hours. It's because he stinks, his new cologne is nauseating
This time I open my eyes, finding him staring at me with the same worried expression he had when I walked out of the bathroom. “I didn't want to wake you but we need to leave for your appointment.” “Okay, I'll grab my tongue.” I nod, my eyes closing again. Keir laughs, “Flower, you're saying things again.” I giggle, my body being pulled up by him. I'm still sleepy, I must have fallen asleep to the thoughts of a dream that could never be. “Come on,” Keir coos. I nod, “Let me freshen up and I'll meet you.” “Okay, I'll pack your food so you can get on the drive, the hospital is a little too far from here.” An hour later I'm laid down on a hospital bed dressed in a gown with the doctor asking me questions while we wait on my blood work. Keir is beside me, massaging my hand to ease the tension that will only leave me when we go walk out of this building. “Miss Laurel, it says here you're a were?” I nod, “I don't shift, I don't have a wolf but I do experience most things you-all d
KNOX Alpha Hendrix asked to meet with Ryan and me in solidarity with his idiot friend who had the audacity to get a few punches in on me while I was drunk. I'm on my way to pick up Ryan from the office because I spent all morning back at home, keeping Victor company. He and Cassidy arrived last night, but she's been stolen away by his cousins. Having Victor around has been a real breeze, he doesn't ask nor speak about Thalia and he's got enough crazy stories to keep me from thinking about her myself. It's a nice change, considering everyone around me is obsessed with speaking of her, even Mariella is making a habit of bringing her up when I shut her out like it's new to her. My phone rings, it's Nova. “Hi, Knox. How's it going?” She sounds agitated, and nervous from probably being with her boyfriend. “Nova, I'm really busy right.” I sigh, “Man up and face Ethan. He's your husband not crush.” “This isn't about him!” she defends, “I'm calling because I need you to do me a favor.”
THALIA I'm in disbelief, I desperately yearned to cling to the fact that I wasn't pregnant but when Dr Erin told me I was thirteen weeks? I couldn't deny it anymore, the thought crossed my mind so many times but I just couldn't let it sink in. I don't want a baby, I don't want the trauma, and I don't want to have to go through another four years crying for not one but two kids. Why does it have to be Knox? Keir said nothing to me on our way back, and thank God because I can't carry a conversation right now, I feel like a stranger in my skin. I feel like an awful person because I'd rather the doctor declared I'm chronically ill and not pregnant with my ex's child, the ex I traumatized as much as he did me. My phone has been ringing and I don't have the strength to decline the calls, Nova, Ryan, and Amara have been calling me non-stop. Even as I enter the house, my phone vibrates with yet another call. “Answer it, who is it?” Keir snaps, evidently aggravated by the buzzing of m
“Thank you.” I blanky retort, staring at nothing. How the hell did he even know where to find me? “Where is he?” Knox repeats, and I shake my head a little too fast I feel dizzy. “I don't know, getting medicine, groceries?” My heart hurts, I don't know what I'm saying. Knox sneers, “Groceries? After assaulting you like that?” I am quick to defend Keir, if Knox finds out about what happened he's good as dead, he looks irritated that he had to come here and tend to my wounds. Keir caused them so by extension, he's an intended vessel for unleashing the anger that currently twinkles in Knox's eyes. “He didn't assault me.” “Thalia hun,” Ryan shakes his head. “We're looking at the proof, you cat cover for him.” I maintain my lie, as stupid as it sounds, changing statements will mean I'm lying. “I told you, I fell.” Knox hums, “Okay. Let's say you feel, but what kind of fall did this?” “It's none of your business,” I glare at him, only now noticing how close he is to me.
MARIELLA Knox walks into his room, pissed. I see him startle when he slams the door shut and he sees me folding his clothes. “Ella, what are you doing here?”Right, what am I doing here? But I could think of several questions to ask him like why did he meet her today? He smells like her, and even though we've been together for years, he hasn't moved me into his bedroom. “What happened?” I frown, studying him. His clothes have a few blood stains on them but I don't smell alcohol on him which means he didn't get drunk and go crying to her. “I got the results from Madison.” “Can we talk about that, later?” he frowns, unbuttoning his shirt. “Actually, no.” I sigh, “I have a monthly retreat coming up in like two days. We have to talk about things, so we can–” “Okay, fine.” he settles on the edge of his bed, with a laundry basket between us. “Let's talk.” Not knowing how long I have his attention for, I get right into it. “She cleared me, we can try for another baby and this time the
“Novie? Are you okay?” Thalia repeats, her tone laced with concern. “Yes,” I nod, jumping off the bed. “I just remembered I have a proposal to submit at work, Knox might be here but he will still scold me.” “Okay, goodbye?” she calls out, but I'm already opening the door. My first instinct is to run to Knox, but I can't find him. The doctor says he went out to buy some special vitamins for Thalia. I book an Uber, my whole body shaking thanks to the information I just learned. The car couldn't go fast enough, in my opinion. My foot jitters the entire ride home, and when I'm finally dropped off, I nearly forget to pay the driver in my haste to find Mariella. “Mariella!” I scream, my voice bitter than it is most times I address her. This is someone Thalia trusted with her life, someone who betrayed her just so she can fuck Knox
The words hit me like a thousand bricks to the head. I sit there, frozen, her voice echoing in my head long after she’s turned her face away. She doesn't know, she thinks the baby—babies are gone. In her head, they couldn't have made it through the blood, screaming and chaos. I want to correct her, I ache to tell her. To see her eyes taken with something other than pain, to watch life crawl back into her bones but not only do I not deserve the satisfaction, but the way she’s looking at me right now as if I’m the ghost that haunts her dreams makes me stop. She hates me as much as I long to hate her or even more and right now? I hate myself too. I hate the way I hurt her, the way I didn’t protect her from herself—or from me. “Thalia,” I call out, in an attempt to tell her the truth but when she looks at me with her teary eyes and tear-stained cheeks, the words get stuck in my throat. “Everything is okay,” I tell her but it's more for me, to ease some of the guilt that comes
KNOX It's been six hours since Thalia was rushed to the hospital, and four since the doctor let us see her. Ryan, Nova, Amara and I surround her hospital room while she just lays in the bed which makes her look so small and frail. She's still unconscious but the doctors swear both she and the pup are fine, I even had my pack doctor Madison come here to aid the other doctors because I trust her work, and believe in her methods. The doctor said she bled due to stress, and knowing I've been the biggest inducer of her stress has done something to me. I have this pain in my chest that won't go away, it intensifies each time I hear her name or think of it. I feel like crap, but if the need had been there I would have chosen her over our pup, I would rather she walk out on he own than take the pup from her. My words must have hurt her, I put both her and the pup at risk and now I don't know what to do. Amara came to the hospital a few hours ago, she and Nova are closely watching Thalia
Hey wonderful readers, I hope you’re all doing amazing mentally, physically, and emotionally (because these characters sure aren’t helping with that, are they?). I am dying to know how you are feeling about the story so far. Who’s your favourite character? Who’s making you want to fling your phone across the room? Are Thalia and Knox making you scream too, or is it just me?? How’s the pacing—do you need more heartbreak, fights, or more kissing (or all)? Let me know in the comments and leave me a review, I’d love to know what’s got you hooked or raging. Thank you for reading, supporting, and choosing to fall into the chaos with me.♡ With love and just a dash of angst, XO, Athena.❦
MARIELLA The sharp snap of the bullet tearing through the paper is the only thing that calms me but not today, I don't vengeance know what to do. I've been at the shooting range since I heard about the secret Knox has been keeping from me. I was having the best day, knowing I settled Arabella's obsession with Thalia but then a certain someone called and told me they overheard another say that Thalia was rushed to the hospital with Nova, and Alpha Knox and that was merely the opening statement, the final straw for me was learning she's pregnant. That bit of information turned my spa date into a rage outlet activity. I went to the shooting range, with Kennedy who has been nothing short of N instigator. I've stuck seven pictures of her on the body targets I paid extra for and so far, four are down, this little ritual of mine is practically more sacred today but with each shot, I'm reminded Thalia is still alive because none of the dummies bleeds like I know she would. “I hate
I knock on the bathroom door twice, my knuckles stinging slightly from how hard I'm knocking. “Thalia? Are you okay in there?” I knock again, but I hear nothing. The restaurant has one bathroom with two stalls, and Thalia is the only one with the keys. Something feels wrong; it sends alarms ringing in my head. I rush to the reception for the spare key, but then it dawns on me that I didn't try to open the door, so I head back and twist it open. Thalia is on the floor when I get in, cradling her knees, arms wrapped around them while staring into nothingness. “Thalia, you had me worried.” I sigh, “What are you doing on the floor?” She doesn't answer, nor react to my presence. I crouch down beside her, tapping her shoulder, “What's wrong?” I ask, only then does she acknowledge me. She stares at me, eyes wide and distant. I start to panic, this doesn't look or feel normal. “Are you okay?” “Call Knox,” she swallows. Knox? What did my idiot brother do this time, did he scold her for
“Maybe if he wasn't my chosen then I'd be happy.” I swallow, I picked Aaron for a mate, my ancestors really cursed me there by crossbreeding with lycans and interfering with the perfect assortment by the moon goddess. Okay, maybe not perfect, there's Thalia and Knox are proof even the moon goddess can get things wrong. “You know, I would have waited for my fated mate or died waiting, anything would be better than this.” “Aww, I'm sorry, Novie.” Thalia caresses my arm. “I wish I knew what to say but my love life is a bigger fuck up.” “True,” we share a laugh. “But I am fine, I'll get over him and start over, just me and Katie Rose...” I trail off, forgetting he will always be around because we share a child, and he will torment me with that. “It's not your fault, you're not wrong for wanting a peaceful life.” “I'm wrong for not forgiving him,” I admit. Many women would overlook this and hand him a second chance but I'm just not there yet, I don't think I'll ever be there. “No
“Calm down,” I tell her, watching how easily her emotional state has escalated. I'm just trying to find something that works for me and my children and not having her around worked just fine for me. “No, you,” she points at me, shaking still. “You don't tell me what to do, you're sick! I just found out you knocked up for sport, tortured me because I didn't get pregnant when you hate me for killing our child?” “Thalia,” I warn, not liking the way her breathing pattern has quickened with each word she says. “Sorry, touchy subject, I know.” she nervously laughs, misreading my concern. “But I'm not giving up my baby to some sadistic psychopath with had a brain cell.” I ignore the jab at my intelligence, and still unsure of why she's so upset when she's mentioned she doesn't want a baby. “You yourself have expressed your need to not have a baby, if you give the child to me I'll raise it better than you can.” I tell her, knowing the example of my parenting is sitting at home happy a
I lift her and sit her in my lap, holding her close while I try to find words that won't sound too resentful. “Your daddy doesn't like your auntie Thalia and when you're so close to her, it hurts him. And me too, she's nice but she can be very bad sometimes.” “Why?” “I don't know,” I sigh. “But if you want to go to school, and be a flower girl in Mommy and Daddy's wedding then you have to stop liking Thalia.” I prompt, watching her frown, her gaze a multitude of unspoken questions. “If you do that, I can convince Daddy to let you go to school.” She frowns, “But Mommy, I like her.” “So I do,” I frown. “But if you really want to go to school, and get that pretty dollhouse daddy said no to then you have to stay away from Thalia and treat her like strangers.” Arabella doesn't respond, she's been wanting to attend school since she