JULIAN POV Downing the bourbon in the shot cup in a gulp, I grimaced as the liquor glided down my throat, scorching. I poured myself another cup, downed it, and poured again. "Fuck," I grunted. How the fuck could she be pregnant? And she was stupid fucking liar. She probably thought I wouldn't find out the truth. I trusted Avery more than any of the women I had been with. I trusted her never to lie to me or keep things away from me. Yet, she had gazed at me with a straight face and lied. How could she?! Snatching the bottle from the bar counter, I hurled it across the room, and it flew towards the door. "Woah, Woah," Jack let out, narrowing and dodging the flying bottle. It slammed into the wall closest to him and crashed on the floor. Jack jumped away from it before staring at me. He frowned, walking into the room, "What's up, bro?" I turned my back away from him, ignoring him. Pushing my hand into my hair, I tugged it in frustration before kicking at the cen
AVERY POVAfter staying indoors in what seemed to be like forever, even though it was only a few hours since Julian left.I was feeling choked, and if I stayed in the room one more time, I might do something cruel to myself.Putting my hair up in a messy bun, I rolled the sleeves of Julian's shirt on me.I was wearing my denim shorts. Aisha washed it and handed it back to me. At least Julian was kind enough to give me back the clothes I had come in.The irony of that.If he wouldn't let me have decent clothes, I might as well start using his clothes as mine.I couldn't tell where I was going as I wandered around, Glancing around where I was in what seemed to be the gallery, I furrowed my brows, looking at each painting on the wall.The paintings weren't familiar. They seemed ancient and not like anyone who lived in the pack house at the moment.I walked around, searching for Julian's picture, but I couldn't find any on the wall filled with ancient pictures.Perhaps they didn't take a
AVERY POVJulian paced away from me. His shoulders were trembling with rage.Then he turned again, "Emily will be what you can never be, Avery. She's a proper she-wolf, and you're a fucking whore who goes about sleeping with every man you see on the fucking street of London.""How much were you paid for them to lay with you?" Julian asked."Do not insult me, Julian," I whispered. "I might be stupid and hopelessly in love with you. That doesn't make me a whore!""You deserve every insult from me, Avery. Because you have never been faithful, and today, I am going to show you exactly how a lying whore should be treated." Julian said and began to strip out of his clothes.I stood from the bed and tried to rush towards the door, but Julian gripped me by my neck, dragging me towards the bed once more.He flung me on it, coming down on the bed as well."Let me go!" I cried out as he parted my legs.Instead, Julian flashed me a smile and leaned in.No.This wasn't the Julian I knew. He might
AVERY POVA groan escaped me as I came awake. My eyelashes fluttered against my cheeks. I rolled on the hard surface that I was before attempting to open my eyes.For a brief second, nothing happened. It was somewhat challenging to do so.I stayed where I was counting to tell and tried again. I winced as soon as I opened my eyes. A bright light flashed into them, causing me to snap them close."Shit," I whispered, my hand clasping my throat as it throbbed.It felt like my throat had been scrapped intentionally with some metals, and sawdust was stuffed into it afterward.I swallowed, regretting it instantly as it only worsened my situation.Breathing out slowly, I opened my eyes again. Luckily, it accommodated the brightness of the room instantly, and I rose slowly from where I was.I noticed I was on the floor and beside a vast queen-sized bed.I must have fallen from it, but there was no indication that it had happened.I tried to stand to my feet, and I noticed that my legs were bou
JULIAN POVARGENT PACKHOUSETHAT SAME DAYStaring at my hands, I shook my head before gazing towards the door. I had been doing this since I came awake.It was as if I was waiting for someone to burst into the room. Well, I was.I was expecting Avery to step into the room. But ever since I was in this room, she was nowhere to be found. I had literally searched everywhere in this room for her, but nothing.The bag she had packed was still on the floor beside the wardrobe, and although I had told Aisha to take the clothes she could possibly flee with as well, mine were still in the wardrobe.I didn't know Avery would flee the pack house with my clothes on her.I sighed, brushing my hands into my hair.I wouldn't fault Avery. The blame was entirely mine. I had fucking chase her out of the pack house.At the same time, I didn't cause it.I swallowed hard, falling back on the bed, my gaze flickering to the ceiling. I couldn't tell why I had acted impulsive around her last night, went as fa
JULIAN POVGripping Jack by the shirt, I shoved him toward the wall before letting my fists collide with his jaw."Fuck," Jack grunted, nudging me."What the fuck is wrong with you?" He hissed before folding his hand into a fist and returning the favor to me.That made me stagger backward. I gripped my jaw, spitting out blood, before scowling at Jack."How can you go about lusting after her when you know we are together?!" I yelled at him, darting towards him once more.Jack, who seemed to be restraining himself from hitting me, grunted, ripping his shirt offf his body, "Damned consequences. If you fucking hit me, I'll fucking return the favor. Now come at me.""Now I am convinced the little slut opened her legs for you to be inside her. How does she feel? Good?" I barely had the time to finish my words as Jack's punch connected with my jaw.I guessed I deserved the punch. I didn't know why I kept saying mean and nasty things about Avery."You don't speak to her in that manner," Jack
AVERY POV"Daughter?" I echoed out the words aloud, staring at the man before me.He nodded, a smile on his face. His face looked overly familiar. It felt like one of those times I stared at myself in the mirror while pretending to do a commercial.His eyes crinkle just like mine—likewise, the corner of his mouth. The only difference was his dark brown hair, which now had grey streaks in it, and his eyes. They were a lighter shade of blue."Avery," he said."I do not understand," I murmured."Come," he beckoned to me.I turned to stare at Eric, who nodded in affirmation. It wasn't as if I didn't trust this man. At least I had trusted Eric and arrived at this place with him.I didn't know why I felt a strange vibe around this man. It was a good feeling, though, and I almost felt as if I had known him all my life.He walked away from me, and I followed him behind.He led me outside the grand hall towards what seemed to be a hallway.When we reached another door, he stepped in and held t
JULIAN POVShielding my eyes from the bright light in the room, I opened them slowly.The curtain was up, and I knew I hadn't put it up. I was still in bed. However, I had come awake since I wasn't motivated to stand up."Come on," Jack said as he stepped out of the bathroom."What?" I groaned, clutching the duvet as he attempted to yank it away from me."You can't stay indoors all day doing nothing? It's two days now, and you're the Alpha. I thought she was just a fling to you. So, why are you hung up on her?"I turned to Jack sharply, glaring at him. I sat up straight, shoving my hand into my hair. He was right; I was the alpha and couldn't stay indoors all day doing nothing.But then, neither do I have the motivation to do anything."You don't love Avery," Jack pointed out.Even though we had set our differences aside after the first time he confessed loving her, I wasn't still okay talking about Avery with him. I had told him never to mention her in our discussion, but then Jack w
JULLIAN POVI paced from the bed where Avery was lying down to the window and returned to the bed again. I had been doing that since she became unconscious.The doctor who was supposed to check her was yet to be here, and I wondered what was taking him that long. I couldn't believe he didn't have a reserve doctor for emergencies for a packhouse as big as Jack's.I had wanted the ones available to at least look at what was happening to Avery, but they seemed inexperienced. They could only stabilize her and ensure she was still living.I groaned, pushing a hand through my hair, tugging."You need to sit; my eyes are starting to spin because of you," James said, rubbing his eyes."I never asked you to be here," I stated, glaring at him."Aren't you a ray of sunshine, big brother?" James replied sarcastically, and I glared at him.Avery was in my room at the moment, even though Jack had been against it. Despite the fact that he had told me I didn't have a say over his pack house, I still
AVERY POVI shouldn't have said that, and I couldn't take my words back. Jullian's eyes darkened. They stayed on mine for a brief second.He said nothing to me. He just watched me. I couldn't exactly say what he was staring at, but if the look could kill, I should be dead by now because it felt like he would strangle me if he had the chance to do so."You've been sleeping with my best friend?" It was a simple question, yet it sounded overly dangerous to him."What does it have to do with you?" I retorted, holding his gaze.Jullian snarled; he clutched my chin, tilting it towards his. I stood on the ball of my feet due to how he was pulling me and our height difference."It has every fucking thing to do with me, Avery. Are you trying to test my patience? Are you lying to me now, and do you want to see what I can do for you?" he asked me."Avery!" Jack interrupted me before I could speak.Fuck! Why the hell was he here? Jullian was furious and looking for someone to pass the aggression
AVERY POVMy heart thumped wildly in my chest as I gazed around the room. Jason wasn't here. Aisha had left with him.His absence made my anxiety even skyrocketed. I didn't want to be alone with Jullian, and I didn't even want to speak to him. But now that he was inside my room, I doubted I could do anything.The lock clicked, and I bit on my lower, avoiding his gaze."Avery," he said. His voice was gruff.I shook my head, not responding to him directly because what could I say? I had nothing to say to him!"Avery," he said again. I took a step backward, hoping he wouldn't come closer, but he did anyway.Turning to face him sharply, I glared. What does he want with me? That was the question that kept swirling in my mind. Had he not done enough? No, he was definitely enjoying tormenting me!He enjoyed seeing me in pain and he had come back to torment me even more."Glare at me all you want, but you should speak to me, Avery," He said.I sucked in a deep breath. Then stared at him, poin
AVERY POVI had always been prepared for the unexpected. I believed that was how my life was set out. The goddess had created me and deposited me in the middle of chaos, so I wasn't often fazed when it came to things happening in my life, except for when Jason was taken.This wasn't the unexpected I had wanted to happen or be expecting.Biting my lower lip, I stole a glance at Jack. I noticed he was staring at me, and I saw Jullian staring at him from the corner of my eyes.Aside from the chattering from James and his mother, the tension in the dining room was as thick as steel.I could feel it and wondered if the rest were feeling it. The food I often enjoyed was barely enjoyable due to the silent communication going on between Jack and Jullian.Swallowing, I set my fork on my plate, still filled with food, and stood to my feet.Jack and Jullian did the same.I started from Jack to Jullian and then back to Jack."I volunteered to be in the field. They are short of workers," I said."
JULLIAN POV"That isn't good on you, brother," James said as he stepped into the room.What was he doing here? I believed Jack's pack house was large enough to accommodate my mother, James, and me in different rooms.Also, Jack had not said anything about me sharing rooms, although I wouldn't object to it if I were asked to. This wasn't my pack house, so I shouldn't be choosing what I do in it and whatnot."Tea, coffee? Whichever," James said, setting the glass tray with him on the table.I frowned staring at the steam coming from the cup, before letting my eyes wander to James.He undid the rope on the robe he was wearing to reveal a plaid blue t-shirt, and then he sat on the sofa in the room's center and crossed his legs. Taking one of the cups, which I believed to be the tea's Cups, he took a sip of the steaming liquid before wincing."Fuck, that's hot," He hissed. "I told that little shit to make it fit for drinking.""She probably did that to bring this shitty reaction from you,"
JULLIAN POVWhile coming here, I had prepared my mind for what I would see exactly but didn't think I prepared enough.I thought I didn't care about Avery. At least, I made myself believe that I didn't and wouldn't bat a lash where she was involved.But what was this weird feeling that kept surging into him? Also, her nearness, her scent. It had ignited all that I didn't want to feel anymore.Of course, my thoughts were also to be mad at her. She had escaped with my best friend, and only the goddess knew what they had been doing together. I wanted to demand she say everything that had happened between them, but I knew I wasn't in the proper position to do so as I had awfully failed her."My dear friend," Jack said, causing my attention to leave Avery.I searched his face. It was void of humor. Somehow, I could read every of the damned expression on his face.I saw fear, and another time, I saw anger. Then, I saw determination as well and fear again."To what pleasure do I owe you a vi
AVERY POVRather than respond to my question, Jullian continued to stare at me. It was as if he was seeing me for the first time.He didn't just stare alone and accessed me from head to toe. I wondered if it was due to the robe I was wearing, but then, knowing Jullian, I doubted it was the reason his gaze continued to linger on me."Where is Jason, Jullian?" I question.Jullian blinked as if he was snapped from the daze he had been in."Um, Jason..." he frowned, trailing off.He glanced around himself and then back at me. I did the same thing he had done. Maybe Jason was hiding behind him, and I hadn't checked properly. But Jason was not an inconsequential being not to be seen.In fact, it would have been easy to spot him due to his size."You left my son at the mercy of that witch?!" I growled before I could help myself, and I lunged towards him, folding my hands into fists and slamming them into his broad chest."You fucking left my son to be with that witch!" I cried out as I conti
AVERY POVGroaning, I gripped the seat of the toilet. My stomach hurt from hurling all the food I had eaten the night before, and so did my jaw because I had slammed it into the bathroom room while making my way to the toilet."How do you feel?" Jack asked, gripping my hair out of my face and rubbing my back."I feel like shit," I murmured, wincing."How about we call the doctor?" he asked.I shook my head, wincing at the pain that spread through it. "I'm fine. I believe I ate something bad last night."I couldn't really recall what was wrong with what I had eaten—beef and broccoli stir-fried with soy sauce.Or maybe it was the cake I had eaten soon after but I doubted that was the cause."Maybe not," Jack said. "I look perfectly fine," he pointed to himself.He was right. We had dined together and he looked healthy. He didn't look like he would be sick any moment from now."Maybe it's the flu then," I said. It was that time of the year for it. Although I would be the first person com
JULLIAN POV"Will you quit doing that?" I grimace, kneading its temple.I glared at James, who was still playing with the chains that were used to hold his hands in place."Sorry," he shrugged with a smile on his face. I knew he wasn't sorry. "I'm just trying to keep this place livelier.""While I am trying to think of a way out. You are not helping," I said.James stopped what he was doing, held his face with his hands, and stared at me with a raised brow. "What's the secret? I am curious to know how you wish to get us past these guards in front of us."Right. That was what I was thinking, too. Emily thought it funny to double the guards in the room. There were about ten before; I knew that because I counted each of the people that had come here in the last few hours. They kept changing.Now, I was seeing more faces. I wondered why she had done so. Maybe she knew an escape plan was in place, hence she didn't want to take the chance of us escaping."I do not believe we can get out of