**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 It's almost midnight, I hear about the major accident in the city, even though I have just gotten out of a meeting. I ask my security to take the rest of the day off, send Brandon home, and I drive myself to the hospital. That's what a good Alpha does. Make sure that his pack and city is protected all the time. After speaking with the chief doctor of the hospital, I am assured that everything is fine. “Thank you, Alpha, for coming to our aid. Everything is under control, the Doctors and nurses worked so hard. Only one casualty was experienced.” “Praise be the goddess.” I say. “I would like to say a quick word of appreciation.” The doctor chuckles nervously and says something about how the staff would have prepared better if this wasn't so out of the mood. I know that the staff are not in their best shape, there is blood all over and their clothes are not formal enough for a meeting with me, but I am just here to appreciate them for the good work that they have done.
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
Naya's POV Sherry is a very resourceful girl. She runs a couple of businesses and one of them is the jewelry store she has in the middle of the city. I have been there a few times. Late at night, blinds are drawn to keep my privacy. Today is one of those days for me, and I'm helping to unpack everything that she just restocked. “I've been selling so much that my sister and I are thinking about opening another store.” She holds a diamond bracelet. “These are very nice.” I hold a blood red earring against my earlobe. “You want that?” She looks at me. “You can take it.” “What? No!” I put it away immediately. “I haven't worn everything that you have given me already.” “I'm going to get Jordan this beautiful necklace, but they don't have it yet.” Sherry mutters to herself as she works. I smile. She is so cute, she is so much in love with Jordan, I just know that she is going to be a good mother. The doorbell rings and we both raise our heads. The shop is supposed to be closed, ca
Erus' POV She is trying to avoid eye contact, she is also shaking so much that the juice is spilling from her hand. That's how scared she is. Yeah, I killed the foolish rogue that tried to touch her yesterday, but she looks like she still suffers from that encounter. “Are you hurt, Naya?” I ask her. “No, I'm fine.” She sighs. “You know that I don't like when you lie. Or steal.” She glares at me. “Yeah, I don't want to talk about that.” “Yeah, let's not.” I fold my hands. “Else you get angry and drive off wrecking my favourite car and almost getting yourself killed.” She rolls her eyes at me. “Hey, don't roll your eyes at me.” “I just want to go home, okay? Jordan would be worried about me. Just… give me a car key or something.” “A car key?” I huff. “You will never drive another car in your freaking life.” ****I cancel anything I am supposed to have for the next three hours, and now, I have to drive Naya back home by myself. We don't speak to each other, not even when sh
Naya's POV Her reminder of the traumatic events of hours ago weakens my knees and I immediately grip the wall. I can't go through the door anymore, I have this sense that the rogues are going to grab me. The last time I was this scared was when Luna Bloodton asked the servants to kill Jordan and I. Gwen sees me shaking against the wall, but she just smiles and raises her eyes to the door. “Servants, prepare some coffee for us.Miss Woods won't be leaving anymore ..” *****My left leg is shaking under the table, and I am biting my lower lip. Gwen looks so unbothered, she is sipping her coffee in a very chick manner. “This is your doing, Naya.” She sighs as she drops her cup. “Excuse me?” “We have never had this much trouble with the rogues until now. Surely there is something that you haven't told us yet. What did you do?” My eyebrows furrow. “What did I do? I don't even know anything about the rogues, I don't even know what they want from me.” “You should stop lying, Naya.
Naya's POV I don't know how long I have been out for, but when I wake up, my nose gets hit with a sharp aseptic smell. I try to open my eyes and immediately feel the needles of pain go through me. I can't move myself, I am in too much pain. I'm supposed to be in a hospital, at least that's what it smells like, but this room is too fancy to be a hospital. Not even the most luxurious one. I hear heels clicking around, I feel someone's warm breath on my face. “She is a pretty girl, I must say, but she is dumb.” A strange woman mutters. “Don't call her dumb, sister.” Erus' voice replies. “It was an accident, and she is fine.” “You are speaking as if the accident is the worst thing that she has done. All this girl has done since she married into this family is to bring trouble to us! She is soiling the Bloodton name and this pack!” Surely this has got to be a psychotic nightmare. Erus doesn't have a sister, and she doesn't hate me so much. I thankfully can't open my eyes, and I ju
Naya's POV I'm so desperate that I get down on my knees and crawl as close as I can to the gate. Yes, I am that determined. It's a fair distance and my entire body is on fire and I'm covered in sweat when I get there. I see Erus from behind the bush I am hiding, and he speaks to the guards at the gate. They say something to him, then he growls and starts to walk towards the house. I wait for him to leave before I stand up to my feet and push my hair away from my face. The guards are startled to see me, but they bow down and won't meet the gaze of my eyes. “Mistress, good evening. Is there something you want us to do for you?” I look over my shoulder. “What did Erus – I mean, the alpha, what did he say.” “He was just asking if you left the house in the morning. We only told him that you are still inside.”Good. I stretch out my hand. “Give me the key to his car.” Their eyes widens. “But Mistress, he is looking for you in the house.” “Stop arguing with me and give me the damn
Erus’ POV Devon laughs, and I have never wanted to hit someone like I do right now. He turns back around, his eyes wrinkled as he laughs and laughs in my fucking face. “You think that I am interested in your wife? I mean, she is beautiful and all, but that's stupid that you think I would want to get with your mate.” Devon says. “Oh, your charm doesn't fool me at all, Fields.” I mutter. “Get any closer to Naya, and I will break every bone in your body.” Devon stops, but he still has a smile on his face. He doesn't even feel a little bit scared by any of my threats. “Days ago, Naya was in my store to do some shopping.” He says. “Wait, I'm just being nice, she wasn't shopping, she was stealing from me.” My heart drops into my stomach. “That's not true. Naya isn't a thief.” “She is my friend, I wouldn't call her a thief, but she did try to steal alcohol from me. I let her go without telling you, but since you think I am interested in her, there you go.” My fists clench. I am abou