Chapter 86
Selena's POV"That was fun", Lily giggled. "I mean, I could've believed for a second there that those slides were built for me."I laughed along with her.She had been so excited, almost as excited as the kids when her eyes met the waterslide. I didn't do much, only sat aside, watch them play and record a few videos in between, yet there was an exhaustion overwhelming my being until I could only perform the motions, like torture."You played more than the kids", I stated in a matter of fact tone.Lily laughed aloud, adjusting her hold on Zephyr as we walked out of the park. Orion and Zephyr seem to be in some heated argument about dinosaurs but I tuned them out, facing Lily as we spoke."What's wrong? You seem really tired lately.""I don't know", I sighed. "I've just been a bit down."Lily looked sympathetically at me. "Do you think it concerns Alpha Axel?", her voice loweredChapter 87Selena's POV With every question Axel dished out, the guilt weighed deeper until I could swear I was drowning. My lungs constricted and the painful prickle of incoming tears behind my eyelids was enough evidence to reveal how miserable I feel. "I trust you", I blurted out, not just to stop his questions but because I mean it. Axel didn't look relieved as I expected. He looked even more hurt. "You left, without any notice or reason, you simply just walked away like that. It was so easy for you to leave but did you ever think about me? How did you think I felt when you were suddenly reported missing?", his voice was still eerily calm, his eyes unblinking. "I searched for a letter, a clue, something, anything at all that showed you still thought about me even when you were walking off", he scoffed. "Guess what? I didn't find shit.""I'm sorry", I repeated again, blinking back the tears. "I'm so sorry. I was
Chapter 88Selena POV Reynold looked between me and Axel who had my hand in a death like grip. He has been that way, keeping me so close, like I'd disappear if he spends a single minute looking away. As much as I love it, I also couldn't ignore the glaring fact that it's my fault for leaving him this way. He's bound to be protective. His presence made my blood warm and tingle with an unknown emotion, or maybe it's just the mate bond, tugging us closer. Either way, a considerable burden has been lifted up my shoulders. "Let me get something straight", Reynold adjusted himself, moving closer to the edge of the couch. "So, you just took the kids to an amusement park and you met with Alpha Axel whom you haven't seen for...three years?""Yes", I reply, throwing a quick look to Axel. His eyes scanned the surroundings, clearly uninterested in the ongoing conversation. "What do we call this? Fate or coincidence?",
Chapter 89Axel's POV I woke up to the sunlight streaming directly on my eyes, causing me to squint against it. I brought my hand up, shielding my face from the merciless rays of the morning. My heart stuttered when I felt warm hands encircle my torso, attempting to move closer. Last night felt like a dream. A good dream. And throughout the years of being away from Selena, I had conjured a thousand scenarios of meeting her again. But, out of it all, none prepared me for seeing her near an ice-cream truck. I knew I would do things differently this time. The moment we return to the pack house, I will declare her my mate and I honestly don't mind the consequences. I'll protect my kids, make up for the years I was away from them. There's a relief in my heart, and even now, looking down at a sleeping Selena, it still seemed like a dream. "You're awake? Already?", Selena groaned, snuggling f
Chapter 90Selena's POV The trepidation growing steadily at the pit of my stomach kind of made me regret eating lunch as it threatened to come up. As we moved along the path, I recognized more things than I care to admit which made the glaring fact that we were getting closer to the pack house. The twins sat on Axel's lap, with Orion asking him a million questions and Zephyr attempting to punch Axel repeatedly for no reason and failing every time. I had snapped at the kids twice in the last thirty minutes from my anxiety and annoyance at their ignorance which made Axel keep a steady hand over mine in comfort.The car slowed considerably and the moment I looked up, my heart lurched again, hitting mercilessly against my ribcage. I was going into full on panic mode and if there was space to bolt, I'd gladly do it. Except I'm in a moving car with acres of a forest stretching on for miles. So, staying still was a safer option.
Chapter 91Selena's POV The emotions that crossed Asher's face ranged from shock, to fear and then betrayal. Except, he had absolutely no right to feel betrayed. I glared at him, the anger overshadowing my fear. "How...", he spluttered. "That's not possible. You..", his face was steadily changing to a shade of red from the disbelief of our exchange. "It's possible", Axel stood in between me and a fuming Asher. "Those are my kids."Asher looked beyond Axel, his eyes clashing with mine, pure hatred oozing from it. "How dare you? You're married to me!", he exclaimed, his voice cracking at the end by how loud he was screaming. "No. She's mine now", I sensed the palpable authority in Axel's voice, his posture stiff and back straight as he addressed his brother. The tension was obvious between the two, a recent development that I missed after leaving the palace. Axel had always been a bit... lenient wh
Chapter 92Selena's POV I woke up earlier than usual. Or rather, I could barely sleep during the night even though my body protested and the exhaustion was almost impossible to shake off. But, Cecelia and Asher plagued my dreams, so when I woke up startled for the third time in the past two hours, I gave up trying to sleep and simply watched Axel. His chest rose and fell in a peaceful rhythm and even watching him made a smile sneak its way to my lips. The vividness of my nightmares soon receded to the back of my mind, but it lingered, just at the corner. I stretched, opting for a shower to get rid of the cold sweat and once I stepped out of the bathroom, I felt lighter and much more awake. It was barely dawn and most members of the pack were still asleep, so I grasped the opportunity to take a walk. It needed my headspace clear especially now that there was every possibility I would be called upon by the Elders. Ax
Chapter 93Selena's POV I stood before the Elders, head bowed and hands tightly intertwined in front of me. I had heard of them, four Elders made up of the oldest of the pack. There were three men and a woman, with gray hairs and wrinkles on their faces which was rare. Usually, werewolves age slowly and if they looked old in werewolf age, then they must be over two hundred years old. "Selena", one of the Elders called out, causing me to look up. I scanned their faces for some sort of reaction, something to indicate how the end of this trial will go, that is, if Axel doesn't interfere, but their faces held nothing but neutrality. "Yes Elder."His eyes went to Asher who stood on my left while Axel sat with them, his chair decorated like a throne. Asher took a step forward before speaking. "Selena here, was given to me by her family and with the permission of the Elders, I went ahead to marry her. A
Chapter 94Unknown POV Asher drummed his fingers on the desk in his study yet his eyes remained fixed at a particular spot. The anger from his encounter with Selena and Axel still steamed in his brain and he was royally pissed off. It was ironic how Selena who previously recoiled from his touch and stared at him with caution, had the audacity to speak so fearlessly just because Axel had her back. How long had they known? How long had they been deceiving him?The drumming of his fingers grew more persistent. Without a thought, he jumped to his feet, rushing off to see Selena. He needed to clarify everything. How long? The question rang in his brain like a mantra, his body felt a little too hot for the weather and he could only hear the rushing of his blood. Selena was leaning against her balcony, laughing at some joke Lily cracked when he barged in. His eyes searched the space, finally resting in Selena who