AVERY POVSince my existence, I have heard about people getting attacked while in their homes. Even with the recent kidnappings that had been happening, the captors often went to people's homes to take them captive.I had thought it would never happen to me. Well, I was careful and often looked around me whenever I was going indoors. Also, I ensured I didn't get followed, and if I noticed any movement, I made sure the police number was within reach—likewise, Grace's number.Even though I didn't know what she'd do to me in the context of getting attacked, I guess listening to her voice while she cursed at the attackers was enough for me.Now, I was in the same situation I never thought I'd be in. I wasn't getting attacked by the kidnappers, but this was worse.I was going to get ripped apart by a murderous-looking werewolf!"Stop fucking trembling," Julian said through gritted teeth.I was still behind him and holding onto him. My hands every part of my body, were shaking like crazy.I
AVERY POVJulian's hands were all over my body while I allowed him to do as he desired. Even if I had the chance, I didn't think I could push him away from me.I didn't want to.His hands clasped my butt, squeezing, earning a low throaty moan from me."Fuck Avery," Julian growled as I bit on his lower lips. I didn't intend to.I broke the kiss, placing a hand between us, wincing as I stared at his blood-stained lips, "I'm sorry.""Sorry?" Julian raised a brow to stare at me.Then he pulled me into his chest once more, "The only apology I can accept at this moment is you licking the blood off of my lips."Oh, sweet goddess Selene.My eyes widened as I stared from him to his lips and then to his face again. He was dead serious."Are you certain?" I asked him. That wasn't the question I wanted to ask him, but somehow, it came out, and I couldn't take it back."Of course, Avery. I don't say what I don't mean. Now be a good girl and do as you are told," Julian pursed his lips.Nodding, I g
AVERY POVI woke up to the sound of voices. I didn't know who they were, but they sounded overly familiar.Grimacing, I tried to open my eyes, but it was almost difficult for me to do so. It felt as though they were glued together by gorilla glue or something stronger.Also, I could barely move my body. I didn't know why they suddenly felt so heavy."Avery?" That was Julian's voice.He sounded somewhat concerned, but I couldn't see his face to ascertain his expression."Yes?" I croaked out."Are you awake?"Of course. Someone who's asleep wouldn't be responding to you. I wanted to sass at him but didn't think it was necessary."Why can't I open my eyes? What did you do to me?" I asked him.Julian let out a relieved sigh. "I wonder why you'd think I did something rather than save your ass from having a cracked skull.""You didn't answer my question," I said to him."You'll be fine," Julian murmured, and I felt the bed dipped, guessing he was sitting on it.My nostrils flared as I perce
JULIAN POV"Really, Julian Saint Clair?" Sophia hissed.She bristled, her hands folded in front of her, as she paced here and there in the spacious room that was used for meetings.A massive table was situated in the room's center, made of an ancient slab of wood, scarred from having several markings due to the werewolves that unexpectedly shifted during full moons in the room.Comfortable, plush chairs were arranged around the table, adorned with intricate carvings of wolves and Celtic knotwork. Likewise, The walls were decorated with mystical symbols, talismans, and eerie taxidermy pieces of heads, owls, and other night creatures.Well, that was done to symbolize the creatures present in the pack house, as we weren't made of werewolves alone."Julian!" Sophia exclaimed, causing me to drag my gaze away from the room to hers."She's my secretary, Sophia. She works for me," I pointed out, even as I owed her no explanation as to why Avery was in the pack house."You mean the secretary y
AVERY POVI jumped as the door opened. Glancing towards it, Julian strode into the room."What the hell are you doing?" he asked me, with a frown etched on his face as I snatched the small bag I had taken from his wardrobe on the floor.I had stuffed the cloth I wore the day before into it. I was leaving.There wasn't a need for me to remain in this pack house. I didn't belong here. Julian was getting mated.My heart ached. I didn't know if it was from the fact that he and Emily were really getting together, and he hadn't denied the truth or from the goddess making me pine down on a man who already had a mate.The goddess was undoubtedly aware of this. I didn't know the reason she had made me feel the mate bond when Julian wasn't going to be mine."I asked you a question," Julian let out a grunt, leaving the door side to step into the center of the room."Leaving," I simply said."To where?" he questioned."Home," I responded monotonously."You don't have a home," Julian said. "This i
AVERY POV"You've got guts," a voice said from behind me, and my head whipped back to stare at the person.It was James. His thin lips curved up in a smile that seemed so much like Julian's. I didn't know why I hated the fact that when I gazed at him, I saw Julian's features in him."What do you mean?" I asked him, inhaling deeply, bending over the rose flower pot.From where I had stayed in the room, I had seen this kiosk with a beautiful display of flowers. So, I came down to explore, and it didn't disappoint me.Even though Julian didn't want me to leave the room, I couldn't stay indoors all day.Different flower fragrances almost surrounded me the moment I reached the shop, and the one that got to me the most was the rose flower. White rose, to be precise. It was so beautiful that I had the urge to purchase as many as I could and use them to decorate my room. But I wasn't even close to home, and I didn't know the distance from this pack house to my house, So there was a possibilit
JULIAN POVMy eyes narrowed, clenching the window sill as I gazed outside. Despite the bustling of the activities outside, my eyes were centered on two people alone.Avery and James. What were they discussing? Avery laughed at something James said, but James kept moving towards her for reasons I couldn't comprehend.It was hard to pick up what they were talking about because I was on the topmost floor of the pack house, which was a seven-story building, and the sound of the wind made it almost impossible to hear anything."You are barely concentrating, Julian," Sophia said.I rolled my eyes, turning to her slightly as she crossed and uncrossed her legs.We were in my private room. It was a small room located in the meeting room, and it was primarily used by the elders and me when an urgent matter came up and we wanted to discuss it from the prying ears of the pack house members.The room was designed to make it difficult for others to eavesdrop—courtesy of the spells cast on it by the
AVERY POV "So, are you going to take me around the pack house?" I asked Jack, gazing around. James had already left. I was alone with Jack in one of the kiosks. Although he didn't say why he was there, as I kept asking him several times, he only mentioned that he was Julian's friend and didn't need permission to visit him. I guess that was a good enough reason. Jack picked up a white pearl bead, tilting it up, and his eyes were narrowed. He kept scrutinizing it for a brief second, making me wonder if he intended to wear it after he was done. Although the image of Jack with the beaded necklace around his neck was hilarious, I wanted to see him try it. I believed he'd look cute regardless of how funny it would be. "It's lovely," Jack finally said, and then he turned towards me, extending it, "It'll even be perfect on you." "Me?" I asked with a raised brow. "Yes, you," Jack nodded. "You have the perfect shade of skin for a pearl." My skin, which I believed was too pale and transl
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