Astrid's POV:“She was just everywhere I went,” Dominic said, referring to Isabella. “I told her I have a mate, one I love. And that I have my kids too. It was difficult for her, but surprisingly, she understood. And just today when I was in the chamber, she sent a maid to inform me that she found herbs to cure the infection. Then she tagged along with me. I couldn't say no to her.”“But why didn't you tell me about her?” I asked.“When she first came here, you didn't have your memories. It wasn’t possible to tell you when you even didn't remember me. Then after we married, I didn't want to tell you, especially since I’d decided to ask her to stay with another pack or in the human world. But then this disease and then the cure… well, it messed everything up.”“But she was clinging to you... And I feel she wants to take my place.” I sobbed, though I hadn’t wanted to cry over something so stupid.“Yes, she was, and you have no idea how moody she can get. If I would have pushed her away,
Astrid's POV:Alpha Salem served my food and made fun of the odd taste of the berries. He was pleasant to talk with, and I felt comfortable with him.“We’ll use the cure and also find the reason for this sudden pandemic,” Alpha Salem said, then wiped his mouth with a napkin.“I think we should start with our pack,” Isabella said, interjecting. “So we can immunize them against the infection.”“Why are you so selfish?” Alpha Salem accused. “Our pack? We signed the cooperation agreement a year ago. That makes every pack equal.”“I haven’t talked with Dominic about—”“There’s nothing to talk about,” Dominic said. “We’ve already signed the agreement.”Isabella shut up after that, at least until we were almost done with dinner. Then she whispered something in Dominic's ear. Jealousy and pain tore through me. The situation was definitely hurting me more than I had thought.“Are you okay?” Alpha Salem asked, noticing my distress.I gave him a soft smile and nodded. “I should leave now. I’m ke
Astrid's POV:Alpha Salem and I spent a while in the library reviewing our plan to grab Dominic's attention. “I hope we don't do too much,” I said nervously. “Luna Astrid, I will never cross that line. We just need him to get over his weakness where Isabella is concerned. As it is, it’s been too much of a worrisome year with the infection and all.”Dominic entered the library and cleared his throat. His eyes lowered to our touching hands, and he shot me a glare. Then he approached. “Astrid,” he said, extending his hand while angrily eyeing Alpha Salem. Alpha Salem rose from his seat. “Have a good night, Astrid,” he said with a polite nod. “You too, Salem,” I answered.Dominic’s grip tightened on my hand, but he said nothing. Absolutely nothing. After Alpha Salem left, we walked from the library to the hall with the maids bowing to us along the way. We entered the chamber, filled with the sweet scent of our pups. I gave them each a peck before feeding them. Taking care of them seem
Astrid's POV:Alpha Salem, Beta Alexander, and I exited the border, with Beta Alexander in the lead and Alpha Salem walking behind me. No one spoke, and my mind wouldn’t stop whirring. I felt so tense and fragile. How could Dominic leave with Isabella to find the cure without telling me? As if I would have stopped them. He could have just informed me, and maybe I could have gone with him, too.So it was his fault I was going into the woods to search for a seer with Alpha Salem.We reached the tree line where mud puddles dotted the area from the previous night’s rain. But as soon as we hit the woods, the cool breeze blew against my face, and my spirits calmed. I missed the forest so much. So I shifted my focus to the beauty of my surroundings. I had always found solace in the woods. It felt so lively. After a rain, everything glistened. It was a sight to behold. I took a deep breath, inhaling the scent of nature. Droplets clung to the leaves and branches and sparkled in the sunlight, c
Astrid's POV:The three of us ran back in wolf form, and I reached the pack border first, ahead of Alpha Salem and Beta Alexander. I didn't know if it was my imagination playing tricks on me, but the more I focused on winning and doing my best, the more I felt the shine around my fur go lighter and brighter.Then one pack member actually said, “She’s shining!”For a second, excitement filled me. But then it faded when no one else said anything further.I told Alpha Salem and Beta Alexander that I would head straight to my chamber. As soon as I got there, I shifted back into human form and asked the maid about Dominic. She told me he was still away, and there was no message from him. Somehow, that both relaxed and angered me at the same time. Of course, I kept that to myself when I asked the maid to have Laura bring my babies to me. I dressed quickly and waited for the boys. Laura left after my kids were in the bed with me. It was so nice being with them. Even when I wasn't in the moo
Astrid's POV:After Caronlina left, I sat in my room in silence for several minutes. Then I spoke to Malessia, saying, “I want to go for a run and practice more.’ ‘Yes, practice is good,’ Malessa said excitedly. ‘But first, I need to learn that shifting technique.” I rose from the bed and closed my eyes. I had to focus on the light in the center of my head. Meanwhile, I let my body and arms relax while the bones changed and reformed. In about a minute, I stood on four limbs and opened my eyes slowly.‘Not great, but faster than our usual time,’ Malessia noted.‘Then, as Alpha Salem said, I need to practice again and again until I reach perfection.’ I shifted back to my human form and repeated the exercise. By the seventh time, I could easily shift into my primal or human form within seconds, and the transition seemed less hectic, too. I learned to listen to my surroundings carefully and knew how to control my senses without losing command over my wild state.‘Why is everything so e
Alpha Dominic's POV:Leaving without telling Astrid about my trip to the mountains was one of the hardest things I’d ever done. I had wanted to tell her, but she was sleeping so peacefully with the kids. Then again, who was I kidding? I also didn’t want to tell her about Isabella accompanying me. It wasn’t that I was hiding anything untoward from her. I just didn't want to hurt her more.“Dominic, we should stop now,” Isabella said, frowning. She stomped her feet dramatically with the words, a ridiculous habit of hers. “No. Keep going. I have a spot saved at the top, and a few maids are there too in case you need a massage or something,” I said, keeping a couple of feet of distance between us. Still, she tried to get closer every time I stopped to check the path ahead.“Aww. You know what I want.” Her voice was deep and sultry. “I need a massage something fierce.” I continued, hacking at branches that blocked our way, wishing she’d shut up. “Did you never miss me?” She grabbed my a
Alpha Dominic’s POV:Isabella went from being a seductive vixen to looking at me with enough hatred for ten enemies. I wasn't surprised. “What made you think I wouldn't figure out your game?” I asked.When she didn’t answer, my father sighed heavily. “I'm glad you could see beyond her charms this time,” he said, rubbing his brow. “Thank Mood Goddess that you weren’t under her spell anymore.”Isabella’s eyes went from angry to pleading, and she directed her gaze at me. “Don’t you see, Dominic? He’s always been against me, and he’s been trying to turn you against me from the beginning.” My father laughed. “It’s my responsibility as a parent, and as Alpha, to alert my son to any potential enemies and possible sabotage. You’re not going to make me feel guilty about that.”Her shoulders slumped.“Now, are you going to tell me about your plan and those involved?” I asked, thinking she’d finally given up.“Never!” she yelled, perking up considerably.I had hoped I wouldn’t have to play the
Aeryn's POV:I had been running for half an hour by now and yet the woods seemed never ending. Leaving Dante in that critical condition and his life at danger had been the most difficult decision of my life. I would never let anything happen to him even if it meant for me to die in his place. He was wronged as a child and an adult by everyone around him. He deserved happiness and now when he wanted to ask for forgiveness from father and Kai was with those traitors, I knew they would be ready to accept Dante as my mate. With more determination and motivation, I didn't stop even when my legs started to hurt. But I promised myself that nothing could stop me before I reached pack. It was just another twenty minutes until I would be crossing the pack borders. A series of angry howls roared behind me and I froze in my steps scared of the truth that the rogues had gotten to me first before I could go to the pack. I turned behind to see the leader Rogue running after me with an army of aro
Dante's POV:Azriel had felt her presence in the woods as shown as she had stepped her feet in there. I could also feel her pain and I had hurriedly gone to search her only to find her in chains. Even though, I should have hated her for accepting Kai as her mate, I didn't like how she was crying from the pain and Alpha Grayson and was hitting her. "Keep your mouth shut! He isn't your mate anymore. We need know that you are going to fu*k Kai sooner than later. " Alpha Grayson spat angrily. I felt my fists clenching at his words, "What are you exactly doing here, Aeryn? Is it a trap? "She shook her head, " No, Dante. I will never betray you. I want to tell you that this war is not needed because we can stop it. I love you and I am never going to be with another man. "Her words sent a soothing feeling to my heart. I was happy that she chose to be here with me and had the guts to run away from her parents and come here among so much dangers. "Do you think you can go against your pare
Aeryn's POV :I was still shaking from anger after my parents and brothers left me in my room again. I had to fight against the injustice of them making me have another mate. Dante wasn't aware of his father's reality and his mother's suicide reason. If he would know, then I was sure he wouldn't be initiating a war against anyone. As a mate, I had to take the first step. I quietly made my way out of my room and ran to the corridor leading to Dante's chamber. It was extremely quiet there and I couldn't find anyone. Confusion dawned me and I went to the training ground to find him but he wasn't there either. The palace looked in a hurry, almost running guards everywhere around me. The environment didn't feel right. The air didn't seem comfortable. "What are you doing here? " I heard Alpha Kai behind me. I didn't like him around me for some reason because even though he knew that I had a made he was ready to be with me without any shame. "Nothing. Just looking for... " I hesitated.
Alpha Dante's POV :F*ck! F*ck this pack! Aeryn was with Kai, he was holding her hand, he was walking her around, he had been all over her and Dominic was happy with the stupid arrangement. I was sure there was something going on between Kai and Dominic. He had suddenly appointed him as the border controller for his pack and also was given high status in the training for young wolves. "Maybe he wants Aeryn to be with Kai. " Azriel hissed. I smashed the vase into pieces and crushed it with my boots. No way in hell was going to let any man take her from me. She was my mate, carrying my Mark and had promised me a child. And even after that, I was going to keep her with me. She wasn't related to Dominic and Astrid's crimes. They had even lost her when she was babu, indicating they never cared for their only daughter and instead adopted a dumb human girl to take her place. They were power hungry and could go to any limits to secure their pack and throne. Even if it meant, making Aeryn
Aeryn's POV :I ran back to my room and locked the door behind me so that I didn't have to talk to anyone including my parents. I was Furious and sad to know that my own parents had decided to give me off to another man as if I was an object. They were blinded by power and rank of Alpha Kai. I should have known that being a princess meant to keep the family ties high by marrying into another powerful Clan. I was the most worthless girl in the whole Kingdom as compared to even the normal females in the Pack because of the reason that I didn't have my wolf yet. I heard a knock on the door and knew that it was mom but I was not going to talk to her until and unless she was ready to listen to me. But to my shock, I heard the lock turning in the door and both of my parents walked in with a key in their hands. Mom must have been crying because I could see her eyes were puffy and even my father was sad. They sat beside me on the bed and I turned my head to look away from them. Still, I fe
Aeryn's POV :I felt disheartened by the sight of my mate who was not trying to understand my condition and was in the wrong this whole time. Only if I could tell him about how much he was missing by being angry towards me and my family then we would have been together by now and fighting everyone else. I was going to be loyal to my blood even though I knew that the bond was supposed to be stronger than anything else. I forgot that Alpha Kai had been waiting for me after he left and he might have noticed the weird exchange we both had. "Coffee? " He offered as we sat together. I didn't want to be sitting there in the public with a fake smile plastered on my face but I couldn't just run away from everything because I was not feeling well. My dad was gone too after he checked that I was safe with Alpha Kai. if my parents at trusted this man then I was not at any risk from him. "Are you okay? You don't look comfortable enough. " He asked. I sipped my coffee, " It's nothing serious.
Aeryn's POV :I wanted to talk to him about his special treatment in the class but the teacher looked at me angrily, her eyes telling me to get away from the Alpha. I knew that she would never say something to the Alpha but she could only use her scary eyes on me. "Alpha Kai has been included in the team of the Alphas to keep the borders secure and the enemies away from the Pack house. " Mrs. Harrison told us and I realised I was sitting with one of the best warriors in the entire packs. He nodded his head, " I am still your student and would like to train more young wolves so that they can join the team. " Mrs. Harrison was overjoyed and enthusiastically opened one of the thickest books I had ever seen. She flipped through pages after a while pages and finally settled on one of the main chapters. She fixed her glasses and licked her lips before starting the lesson. "In a small town nestled among the hills, there was a visionary human teacher named Mrs. Johnson. " She said, " She
Aeryn's POV :I woke up at 5 AM precisely and took a shower. After getting dressed in a simple crop top and Jean I decided to put my hair in a high ponytail. By the time I was ready to go, it was already 7 AM and Emerald was waiting for me outside my room. She had brought the map of all the packs with her and we found a quiet corner in the school Garden so that she could tell me more about the ranking. The school Gates were still closed and we had around 40 minutes before the time the classes would start. "The North Packs are all under Alpha Dominic and these one marked in red are also ruled by him but they are having some sort of revolution because most of the Alphas want slavery to be legal. And Alpha Dominic is against the cruelty. " She said, running her finger along the lines on the map. I nodded, " But I don't think anyone will support them because in no one wants this type of ill practice in the packs in these modern Times. " Emerald scoffed, " You have no idea about the Ri
Aeryn's POV: "What were you thinking, Aeryn? " My mom shouted at me. I kept my head low and my face burned with embarrassment as her blaming eyes looked right through my soul. It was better that she hadn't told anyone else about it. "I am sorry. I shouldn't have done that. " I muttered. She rubbed her forehead, " I mean what if someone had seen you. This would have created a havoc in the pack. Most of them don't even know you have a mate. " " But mom, I have a mate and you know that. How can I pretend that he doesn't exist? " She sighed and hugged me, " I know and I am sorry for being so rude and harsh with you. But, honey you need to understand that he is not a friend of our pack. That guy wants to ruin you just like his father... " She stopped from completing her statement and something changed in her eyes. She grew angry towards Dante more and shook her head to ignore whatever thoughts were crossing her mind at this moment. " What do you mean, mom? Can you tell me about the