Annora “P-please!”The monster didn't leave my side, neither did he hear any of my pleas.My voice had gone hoarse from begging for his mercy. I felt his large hand dip into my hair, yanking my head up to gaze at him, my mouth hanging open.My breath was caught in my throat, and I winced in pain, tears flowing down from my eyes, uncontrolled. But the monster wouldn't let go of my hair, rather he grinned as he locked eyes with me. His orbs were as dark as his soul, but I didn't dare look away, not while my hair was tangled around his fist and he yanked it harder, with a devilish precision while his red lips still formed a satisfied smile.My expression morphed into a wince and the tears wouldn't stop flowing.“I want this one…” he announced, a smile snaking his red thin lips, an opening to the hell of his mouth. “I love what her mouth looks like wide open. Keep her in a separate carriage.”Disgust bit through me and my stomach sank. I spat in his face. “Go to hell, Demon! Go to hell!
AnnoraMy heart had burst into a sprint, clamouring against my ribcage like it tried to tear itself out. The fear gripped me like a vice, choking the air out of my lungs. No. No.My legs wouldn't even move. I barely batted an eyelid and he was right before me, his eyes fixated on my skin and I grew hot. My entire nervous system and nerve endings reached disarray.“So delicate,” he cooed and something inside me rose. I didn't know what it was, but I hoped it was the intense hate I felt for him. My body wouldn't stop shaking.His fingers swept the strands of my hair to the side, and I felt sweat streaming down my forehead as I gazed up at him with eyes holding nothing but terror.I stared at the tattoo designs that adorned his arms, my eyes blazing with fury. He grabbed my chin and pulled me to look up at him. “Do you…like what you see?”He looked like a god. He was built like one. This was the devil they spoke of?Face modeled after the most gorgeous of angels, only for his personali
AnnoraThe carriage was driven into a castle, a majestic fortress of stone and steel. I lay coiled up like a snake, my body curled in a tight ball. Memories came flooding back, bringing anguish and causing my eyes to swell and redden. It was painful to even glance at the sky.The walls of his castle were thick and frightening, with a large gate of iron that seemed impenetrable. I felt the heaviness of the chain that was clamped around my wrist and its weight dragged me down as I moved my arms.This was hell. The sobbing tones of the other prisoners beside me reminded me that this captivity might be permanent. There was no way out!Aegon had taken it all.I was still trying to come to terms with my fate when a giant man, covered in tattoos that looked similar to Aegon's, approached our carriage.I felt his grip on my chain pulling me downward as other soldiers took the remaining prisoners. Our chains echoed through the floor like a rail track. “Move it!” he commanded, pushing me fo
AegonI could sense that look from miles away. I could smell it too. It was different from the smell of sex and sweat that filled this dungeon. Kairel remained rooted in one spot, his eyes keen on sin and he uttered, in a gravelly voice. “Mate.”My brows furrowed in disgust and anger punched through me. Sin was his mate? More like my plaything. Time seemed to still for those too and Sin sat there, trembling from the cold. Her bare body is a work of art that, for some reason, moved me. She was untouched— I knew that much, but managed to have the body of a goddess. Perky breasts that rounded nicely and the cold had helped to erect her nipples.They stared at me, red and plum, begging for me to indulge. Maybe she wouldn't suffer this much if her father weren't Alpha Fennic. That bastard needed to die many more times.My dick throbbed in my trousers, trying to free itself from its restraints and I was just as shocked as the guards, too. I tried to stuff down the feeling— that rush in m
ANNORASpikeboards. He wanted me to dance on Spikeboards. What kind of evil resided in this entity? My entire body had already begun to feel jittery. Everything hurts. Every joint, every board, and a hole had been carved into my chest. “What?" I uttered, my voice carrying no life.His lips stretched into a predatory smile that sent chills skittering down my backbone, and the hair behind my neck stood erect."Dance on the nails, Sin. Don't make me repeat myself.”My vision was clouded by the blob of tears that welled up in my eyes, and I tasted bitter bile in my throat. Lowering my head to the board on the floor, shivers rudely crashed into me. The top of the nails glistened, and my feet folded in fear."Please!” I cried and fell to my knees, scrambling to where he was sitting. "Please! I can't. This is too much. I'll do whatever you want!”Tears already flowed freely, and Alpha Aegon was humored. There was a maddening glint in his eyes as he laughed so heartily, throwing his head ba
AEGONI'd have gotten mad if it was anyone else, even Kairel. But it was Wendeline, and she'd not been in my chamber in what seemed like years. I spared Sin one last glance as she crawled into a corner of the room and wept into her hands. Why was she so pathetic yet brave? It was a kind of combination I hadn’t seen in a while.It felt like a game. I needed to break her— completely. Regardless, I rushed to the door and opened it. “And what do we have here?” I tried to find a cheer in my tone. “Quite the unexpected visit, my dear.”Wendeline offered a small smile and the most generic smile as she slipped past without looking at me. She was unable to.“I heard that you…” Her voice thinned, and she paused, standing in the very middle of the room. Her dark hair was heavily slicked back then adorned with clips, and she donned a dark, lacy dress that covered her shoes.And her mask, short, had the same imprints as her dress. Wendeline remained as beautiful as always, and I was happy that she
ANNORA“Ouch!” I hit the ground with a thud after the nasty guard threw me to the ground like I was a piece of rag. He smelled like rotten onions.I didn’t know what to do with the ache in my chest— the truth was that everyone I knew was dead, and my pack was destroyed. I’ve had tough pills to swallow, like the fact that my father might not have cared about me, but none were as tough as the heavy truth that had been dumped into my arms. There was a sinking feeling in my stomach that ate me up, it sucked all forms of life out of me, and my eyes felt dry. My throat mirrored a desert.Was this really it? Was this…how it ended for us? My mother…and sister, they are just gone? The disbelief hurt more than anything I’d ever known. Rage and tears didn’t work well together. As I cried, I hated myself a bit more. If I hadn’t been so weak, this would have turned out differently.The floor was cold and arid, cracked just like my heart and pride. The temperature made my bones ache. Sitting was j
AEGONIt was a complete uproar as I ambled down the corridor. The guards and maids cleared out at the sight of my presence. For some reason, more of a crowd than I’d expected gathered at the front of the manor.It was a commotion out here, and I could barely see what was happening. “The Alpha is here!” one of my guards announced, and the crowd slowly dissipated. The maids scurried away in fear, and the guards straightened up. I still didn’t see her—the slave girl.Not until I heard groaning and one of the guards yelling at her. “The Alpha is here! You’ll meet your death soon!”Oh. So she dared to stab my guard? How dare she? Where had she gotten the weapon? I found the middle of the commotion, and the sight unraveled before my eyes, taking me completely by surprise.Bent to her knees with her arms held to her back was Annora; she had blood stains on her hands and a tattered dress. While just a few steps away was Kairel. And he was busy tying a bandage around his blood-wet shoulder. I
KAIREL The morning of a new week arrived. I was supposed to be better than last week, but it looked like I had become worse than the previous week and this was why I chose to spend time alone in my chamber until I had a reason to be out. Opening my eyes on the bed this morning, I wondered what to do when I was ready for the morning. I let my eyes shut and sleep took hold of me, while I spent the rest of my time in a world that existed only when the eyes were shut. Opening them the next time, it was the sound of someone hitting the door of my chamber. Why? What for? “My lord?” The womanly voice called. I sat up on the bed, thoughts of how I got here in the first place running around in my head. Then, I heaved a sigh and managed to stand on my feet, after which I reached the door so that I could unlock it and when I did, it was a maid. Not just any type of maid. It was Sora. The woman with the keys to achieving something. “Good morning, Sora—” I opened the door w
ANNORAHow did I not think about this from the onset? Sora moped at me but she wasn't my problem in the meantime even though it was her assistance I needed in order to achieve this. “My lady?” “Yes, Sora?” I looked up after some time. “You don't want to know what I have come up with. I'll let you know what it is about in a moment.” I adjusted on the bed where I sat. “You like Lord Kairel, don't you?”“My lady—” she cried. “What sort of a question is that?” She adjusted on the couch and looked around the chamber. “I'm not supposed to hate the man, should I?” “That's not what I mean, and you know.” A chuckle escaped my mouth and I was standing on my feet, walking to the couch so that we could stay closer to each other for this conversation. “Do you like Lord Kairel in a way of sex? Even marriage.” I took a seat on the couch next to her. “I like the former Beta.” She admitted. “But I cannot have anything to do with a man who took my best friend to prison even though it wasn't
ANNORA “You rejected him?” “Yes, Aegon.” Alpha Aegon heaved a sigh. “He must be so heartbroken. The poor man who should understand.” “Why should you care if he's heartbroken or not, Aegon? You should be happy he's no longer linked with me. Do you need me to accept him back?” What the fuck was wrong with this man? I heaved a sigh and looked around the room even though there was no one there with us. “It's funny but I thought you wanted me to not have a thing to do with Kairel any longer. I have put an end to that and you have an issue with it.” “I don't want you to have a thing to do with Kairel. I'm just saying I feel bad for him.” “I see.” “Is it that hard that you cannot understand?” A sigh ran out of his mouth as he walked away from the window, taking a seat on the bed next to me. What to say, I didn't know. Maybe I did, but not anymore. “Thank you, baby—” he took my hand in his for a moment so that he could kiss it. “Do you want to know why I feel for him? I
KAIREL “What?” Forced to look around so that I could be certain that no one was watching, I looked at Annora. “What do you mean?” The smile on her face faded completely. “I'm rejecting you as my mate, Kairel. Can't you see? I don't have anything to do with you any longer and I am sure you're certain of this.” “No, I am not certain.” “What do you mean, Annora?” “Make me understand why you've rejected me as your mate when you're not supposed to.” A sigh ran out of my mouth and I held myself from shouting so much at the woman who moped at me, a wicked smile on her countenance. It looked like this was a moment of hers she spent all her years waiting for. And I wasn't going to let her have power over me. Not now or ever. “Lord Kairel?” I looked at her, walked back to the stone, and took a seat on it. “Of course, Annora.” “I am happy with the Alpha, Lord Kairel,” she announced and it made me more angered than I already was. “Myself and the Alpha are happy with each othe
ANNORA Weeks passed since the feast was thrown for Kairel and we had yet to come across each other. I walked through the compound of the Pack with Sora who walked behind me. She mouthed words I did not correctly hear and no one needed to let me know she wasn't speaking to me. “Sora, will you go to play with the kids?” She chuckled. “No, lady Annora. What do you think Alpha Aegon will say about me not watching over you when he sees it?” I stopped smiling when I saw somebody. Kairel. What was he doing in my face? A sigh ran out of my mouth and I stopped walking so that Sora could meet up with me. “There he is—” “Who?” Acting as though I didn't know what she was talking about, I asked, my gaze fixed on Kairel who walked in my direction. “Do you mean—” “Lord Kairel—” she chuckled. “Such a handsome fine man who doesn't look in the way of other women. Don't you think it's not fair?” What was she talking about? Did she—I looked in Kairel's direction and turned to look
KAIREL When did she hate me so much? And why? Seated on the special chair meant for me, my gaze met Annora's for a moment. Not a smile was on her countenance. I didn't need to ask anyone before understanding that I was hated so much. But what did I do? Did I not set her free and give her a chance to run back to Aegon so that she could be safe and alive? Didn't I ask her to let Aegon know about the war? What did I not do for the woman? I sighed and looked away, recalling also that if it were not for me, Aegon and the rest of the men would not know about what was coming for them. They would not know about the war because Annora will be in The Stormbringers Pack, and she could not let anyone know about the plans. What an ingrate. I looked away from her side because I had been staring a while ago. Now, I channeled my thoughts on the young man who held the local microphone, my name in his mouth as he praised the outfit I wore for the feast. “Kairel happens to be the f
AEGON Seven days passed. The day we've waited for had finally come. More than ready for the feast, I woke up with a smile on my countenance. I looked at each side of the bed for the woman I loved, and then I recalled we didn't share a chamber in the first place. I got on my feet and caught up with the bathroom, and then the closet before the bathroom door once again. After my bath, the next moment was spent admiring the outfit I would wear for this feast. I had asked the pack designer to make something new and that was what I wanted to use. “My lord.” Darius sounded. “Darius—” I called from inside. “What can I do for you on a day as beautiful as this?” “Have you forgotten?” He asked. “It's the day when I get you ready, or do you plan to do that on your own? I thought you might need—” I opened the door and he stopped talking. “Come on in, Darius. I need all the help I can get.” The door shut and he walked further into the space of my chamber, giving a nod at the si
ANNORAWas he kidding me? How could he make such a decision without telling me about it? Or didn't he think that I deserved to know about it in the first place? Was it because I was a woman? A while ago, I walked out on Kairel and Aegon after mopping at him as though I knew what he was up to when I didn't. Not for a single moment. Something was off. I could not lay hands on what exactly was off, but I knew there was something off about Kairel coming back to the pack. What did he want to do? What was he up to? I arrived at my chamber and began to pace. Something was off. There was something off. The urge to shout at the top of my voice was more than overwhelming, but I held back myself from making a noise. One person I was angry at was the man I was having a baby for. Why would he do a thing like this? Did he think I didn't matter? Sighs ran out of my mouth. After locking the door, I fell on the bed and heaved yet another sigh. Aegon had better answer me as soon as he could.
KAIREL What did he just say to me? A smile threatened to appear on my countenance but I held it back from showing. This was a game and I was supposed to play it well. But did Aegon mean what he just said? I looked at him and shook my head and looked on. “Did you say I should kill you, Aegon?” “Yes,” he gave me a nod. “Take out a weapon from your bag and kill me with it. What do you say?” Did he really ask me that? I would love to! But I wasn't going to show him. “I cannot kill you, Aegon—” I muttered. “I would do that a long time ago if I could.” I let out with a smile I didn't mean. How could I smile genuinely at him when we both knew what he'd done? On the other side of the field was a woman I loved so much and more than anything. Did she think another man could have her while I was alive? A smile came on my countenance at the thought of the plot I came up with at this moment. Then, I looked at a man who was supposed to be my best friend. “I cannot kill you. You s