Erus' POV After spending almost twenty hours in a meeting, my assistant is the first to meet me by the door. I am exhausted, I don't want to look at his face. He has news and I am not looking forward to fearing it. “Good evening, Brandon,” “Yes, Brandon, what do you want?” I roll my eyes. I turn around and take off my jacket. I walk to the car and he is fast behind me. “Whatever it is that you want from me, I don't want to hear it.” I shake my head. “Get someone to prepare a hot bath for me before we get to the hotel.” Brandon gets into the car with me and the car moves down the road. I rub between my eyes. I just need to rest, I feel a mess. I still feel Brandon's eyes on me and I exhale. “I'm sorry, Alpha, but I need to tell you that your mother called her.” He says. “Tell her I will get back to her when I have the time.” I mutter. “Sir, I don't think that's going to be possible. Today is supposed to be the due date for your wife…” It feels like a drop has been dropped o
**Seven years later** Erus' POV I am walking around the pool in my penthouse. Holding a bottle of wine that seems not to do anything for my pain. Last three days made it seven years since I lost Naya and my daughter. I never thought that Naya would be someone whose absence would wreck my life, but here we are. I left my family house seven years ago and I haven't been able to go back. I have lived in almost ten different houses, but I have never gotten back my peace. What of the women? None. Not even one of them could fill the void that Naya left in my heart. It didn't matter their level of education, their beautyl, their achievements, how well-to-do their family was, it just never worked out. It was just sex and never went beyond that, that doesn't mean my mother even got tired and stopped sending them my way. Running the pack, running the companies has slowly turned me into an emotionless shadow of myself. I refused to accept that Naya was truly dead at the beginning
Naya's POV ****Seven years later**** After working for twelve hours, all I want to do is to go back home to my daughter, Jordan. I get into the car and shut the door, only then do I completely fall back against my seat. I'm so exhausted. I glance at my wristwatch, it's 12.15 am. I smile because it's my daughter's birthday. Seven years ago today, I was a teenager who had just given birth. I survived Luna Bloodton and ran away to a far away city, something that I would have never thought I would have the courage to do. Seven years ago, I was a teenager, running away from my mother in-law, clutching a few hours old child as the train headed towards what seemed to be oblivion. Now I am twenty four, a registered nurse, and my baby just turned seven years old. Life has been very scary, but I did it. I don't know how, but I have survived for seven years and I am so proud of myself. I feel my eyes getting filled with tears, but I wipe them away. I can't cry now. I nee
Naya's POV Meadow is already grabbing her jacket and bag as she gets ready to leave. It's not a problem, because she lives a few houses away. Our neighborhood is very safe. “Thank you so much for today.” I say to her as I take my purse and give her some money. “Thanks.” She takes the money with a grateful smile. “You should rest, you look so exhausted.” “I will, darling, right after I wrap my gifts.” I sigh. “Say hi to your mum, okay?” “Okay. I will call Jordan tomorrow, she is very excited for her birthday.” She tells me. I walk her to the door and wave her. I wait to see her get to the front yard of her house, before I go back into the house and shut the door. I grab myself a glass of wine and as I take out the gifts I bought for Jordan. An iPad, new trainers, a coloring set, about ten storybooks, she is going to be overjoyed tomorrow…. I am interrupted by my phone ringing. I glance at it and a wide smile appears on my face. It's my mum calling…. After ru
Naya's POV I can't believe that after seven years, I will be going back to Moonclaw. I knew that one day I would be forced to go to Moonclaw, but I didn't know that it would be this soon. It's frightening, but I pack some things for a very long trip, and get Jordan ready to go to Moonclaw. I decide to take my car, that way, I don't have to rent one when I get there. Jordan is excited. I haven't told her that Grandma is gone now. I tried alone, when I was sure that she wasn't going to see me, but I haven't been able to tell her the truth. She is sitting at the back, holding a coloring book and I drive. I have just driven past the ‘goodbye Flearock’ sign. Goddess, give me strength. I need strength to go through this with my daughter. I need strength to mourn my mother. “Hey, mum?” Jordan looks up. “Yes?” I look at her through the mirror. “Do you like salty cake?” “What?” I screw my face. “I saw you crying and eating cake yesterday. I was wondering if it's because you like
Naya's POV Tracy is quiet at the other end of the phone. I smack my lips against each other, it's either that or the tears come out again. “Are you finally back? Is this permanent?” Tracy sighs. “I… I don't know.” I push my hair away from my face. “This place has not been good to me, Tracy.” “It has been seven years, Naya. You are free now. I'm sure that he won't recognize you, even if you encounter him on the road.” I smile. I appreciate Tracy's good words. She has been my only source of comfort. “The moon is out today. That's your mother smiling down at you.” *****Sitting on the ground in my mother's house. Her urn is next to me as I sort her mail. I thought that it would be harder, seeing her pale body on that table. I thought I would fall and go unconscious too, but it wasn't. She has been cremated and I held onto the urn in the car for an hour straight. I felt her in my arms, I feel her close to me now. “I can't move here.” I speak to the urn. To my mother. “I can't e
Naya’s POV Driving to the hospital is a smooth ride. I find myself at peace and nothing about meeting Erus crosses my mind. I get to the hospital and drive to the parking lot. I grab my baseball hat and put it on my head, just in case anyone recognizes me. I grab the basket and walk to the front. The reception is calm. I can see that nothing much is happening in the hospital today. “Hi, good afternoon.” I say to the nurse at the front. “I am here to drop off some clothes that are to be donated to the Good People foundation.” “Okay, Miss,” she smiles. She hands me a clipboard with a paper to fill. I heave as I start to fill. It's nothing much, I am almost done in two minutes. “Take your for your donation, please make sure you leave your phone number as someone will call you to appreciate–” The loud blowing of the siren makes both of us turn around. Five ambulances screech as they come to stop in front. The workers rushes out, bringing in injured people on stretchers. Almost tw
Naya's POV Twenty people, that's how many people I snatched from the hands of death and now, they are lying in their beds stable and recovering. I slide to the ground, my entire shirt and trousers are covered with blood and other bodily fluids.Even though I am exhausted and so sweaty, the feeling of fulfillment that comes with saving lives is heavy in my heart today. A nurse is next to me, she is panting and her head is against the wall. We look at each other and we laugh. “Hi, I'm Pat.” She stretches out her gloved hand. “Naya.” I shake her equally gloved hand. “Hi. You are not a new hire, are you?” “No. I am a registered nurse that coincidentally walked into the hospital when it happened.” I say. “I see.” Pat says. “I saw all that you did. You are incredible. You are a hero.” The Chief comes into the room and everyone immediately stands up. Pat and I go to clean up and dispose of our gloves. The Chief goes around, commending the staff for a well done job. With the sever
Erus' POV I read through the proposal that Devon left on my table for a long while, and as I slip through the pages, I find out that his proposal is actually brilliant. This would actually put a whole lot of money in my pocket! I angrily pick up the telephone and punch Brandon's number in there. Today is supposed to be his day off, he doesn't even know that I'm back from my trip yet….He yawns when he picks up the phone. “... Erus Bloodton's office…” “Why didn't you tell me that Devon's proposal was this fucking great?” I slam it against the table. “Alpha? Is that you?” He asks, his voice has suddenly gotten clearer. “Don't tell me that you are drunk.” I sigh. “Why am I just seeing this proposal, Brandon? You are supposed to be bright and let me know when something this great is laying around!” Brandon drags a sigh. “Sir, I have kept that on top of all the work on your desk for like four weeks straight!” “Yeah, whatever.” I huff. “If something like this happens again and I
Naya's POV I should have turned around and ran, but my stupid legs won't move. I just hold on to my shopping basket as I stare at her. I still remember that night at the hospital that triggered my prolonged absence, and I still remember that she was one of the causes of it. Pam comes over to me, and puts her hands around me in a hug. I want to pull away, but I don't. Her hands feel so cold to me, so does her hug. “Girl, where the hell have you been?” She gently rocks my shoulders. Her wife stands beside her, her curious blue eyes flickering at me. “Is this she?” She points and whispers. “The Alpha's wife?” “Yes, yes, this is Naya Woods.” Pam nods. “Naya, this is my wife, Camilla.” I manage to smile at Camilla and shake her hand. “It's nice to meet you, Camilla.” Camilla smiles back, then Pam whispers something to her before she goes away. “I have been trying so hard to get in contact with you. We have all been worried about you. We thought you fled Bloodton again, or someth
Naya's POV Dropping Jordan off to school is an extreme sport. She is happy and bubbling, she doesn't know how shitty our lives are right now, and she doesn't know about the scary rogues that are crawling around the city. But it's okay, she deserves to be a happy girl. “Mum, can we get a happy meal after school?” She asks, looking out the window. “Of course, my love. As much as you want.” I smile at her. “And Daddy, can he come with us too?” She asks, playing with a strand of her hair. My breath stiffens, but I manage to keep my smile in place. “I don't think your Dad is available, cupcake, but I will give him a call.” I assure her. He has been away for some days now. He has pulled back on the phone calls too, so I'm not surprised that she is asking. I don't want to call him. If Erus isn't in my business, I take that as a breath of fresh air and stay away from his. After walking Jordan to the door, and her teacher flashes me a smile before taking her down the hall. I am abo
Naya's POV “ I know that you have gloated and relished in the fact that my son chose you over me, and kicked me out of the house that I've lived in for decades, but I need you to give your word that you won't say a thing about me being here.” My throat feels dry. To even think that Luna Bloodton would ever ask me to do something for her. “Yes, Luna, you have my word. I won't tell him about this, I swear.” She nods and turns to her guards, nodding at them too, they step out of the house. Sherry can't stand Luna Bloodton, because she knows everything the woman did to me when I was a young bride to her son. She gently squeezes her hands as she turns to me. “I will be going up the stairs.” “Thanks, Sherry.” I briefly hold her hand. As soon as she is gone, I turn back to Luna Bloodton. It's ironic that I have turned into a host in a house that she has lived in longer than me. “Would you like some wine, Luna?” I offer as I walk her to the living room. “I'm not as young as I was y
Erus' POV “You had had to ruin the fun, Gwen.” I wipe my knife and put it away. She annoys me more than anything right now. Did she know how long it took to get that rogue? We weren't even able to get one good answer out of it! She heaves as she drops the gun to the ground “I'm sorry, okay? He was looking at me weirdly and it freaked me out.” “Yeah, of course it did.” I huff. “Now, it's your mess to clean up.” I give Brandon a glance, and I head to the door. “This meeting has come to an end.” I murmur. “But sir, we haven't spoken on how to deal with this problem. What if the rogues appears and start to kill people again? What are we supposed to do?” “Double your security measures, and call me as soon as you see a rogue.” I order. Brandon and I leave the room and head to the elevator. Brandon is sighing over and over again, I have to turn to look at him. “Are you dying or something?” I ask him. He is now sweaty and white like a ghost. “I hope not, sir,” he pulls at his coll
Erus' POV There, she said it. I have always known that she couldn't stand Naya, even when she tried to deny it. I shut my eyes and drop my face into my hands. Brandon immediately stands up and tries to curb this crisis. “Miss Bloodton, I don't think that you are using the right words.” He laughs nervously, raising his finger in protest. "It's true that Naya was attacked, but she is not working with the rogues, that's absurd." She twists her neck around with a look of absolute disgust on her face. “Are you speaking to me, little boy? Do you think because you are my brother's personal servant that you should suddenly be able to speak to me?” Brandon immediately bites down his lips, swallowing the rest of his words as he backs away. I didn't say a single word, so he sits back down behind me. “Miss Gwen, are you saying that the Alpha's wife is part of the enemy?” one of them asks. “Exactly.” Gwen affirms. “She might look like she is very innocent, but she is the answer to conque
Erus' POV She says goodnight and the door clicks as she goes back into the house. If I was told that I would ever be driving late at night to give my daughter her favorite toy, I would have called it bluff. I inhale the cold air as I turn around and start to walk back to my car. My phone vibrates in my pocket. It's a text message from Brandon, reminding me about the meeting I am supposed to be in right now. I put the car in motion and drive away from the house…It takes me almost twenty minutes to get back to the office, where Brandon is waiting for me outside, he is shivering from all the cold. “Sir, I'm sorry for blowing up your phone like that.” He rubs his hands together. “They are all waiting inside.” We walk into the building, through the turns and elevator, and then he opens the door of the conference room. There are over twenty men sitting in the room right now, they all stand up and bow as soon as they see me. “Gentlemen, you may take your seats.” I sit by myself.
Naya's POV Don't get me wrong, if there is anyone who deserves romance, it's Sherry, she has been through a lot and she deserves Devon and happiness. I'm just frustrated with my own life. It's been almost ten years being stuck on Erus, and I don't even know what I am doing. He won't have me, and he won't let go of me. I'm known all over Moonclaw as his wife, but that's just about it. I have to pretend to want this because I don't want to hurt Jordan, but I want to be happy for the first time in my life…I'm happy for Sherry, I'm very happy for her, but I feel burdened with my own tragedy. My nose is runny, and I sniff as I keep stirring the car through the road. “It's alright, Naya. You will be fine.” I whisper to myself. Maybe one day I will get enough courage to tell him off….I gently turn the wheel because the black jeep in front of me suddenly stops. “What the hell?” I have to pull the car to the side as the person repeats the reckless move again. They almost got me into a
Naya's POV Suddenly, Debbie, the pondering peacock tucks her feathers between her legs. Did Devon just say that he bought the entire street? I know that he is rich, but this is on another level entirely! Debby turns white in the face, but she laughs it off and pushes her hair away from her face. “Sorry, Mister, but I think that you have been mistaken. I mean, I know Devon Greene, he is my husband's business partner. We were supposed to host him like two days ago, but he cancelled due to a personal problem.” “Yeah, I was supposed to be hosted by you and your husband, but…” Devon glances at Sherry. “Her tummy was aching and I had to nurse her.” Sherry huffs, Debby looks like she wishes the ground open her and swallow her. This is the biggest face slap I have ever seen, that Sherry slaved all day only to have her effort wasted because Devon chose to make a hot water bottle for Sherry! “I'm sorry, but this has got to be a big mistake.” Debby laughs, she refuses to believe. “Sherr