Louise’s POV The only reason why I returned home with my mother and aunt after our meeting at Damien’s mansion was so I could pack my things. I didn’t spend a lot of time loitering about. Caleb accompanied me. Also, I wanted to avoid meeting my father for now. I didn’t want to listen to his millions of reasons as to why this wasn’t the best idea. I was already aware of that. The man babied me a little too much. I was twenty-two for crying out loud. I was old enough that I could venture out and get myself in trouble, learn from my mistakes and evolve at the same time. How could I know how powerful I truly was if I was locked up at home practicing all day every day? After I had grabbed a couple of things I would need to stay with the vampires for a couple of days, I returned to the mansion with Caleb. Philippa was waiting for me in the courtyard. She had a blinding smile on her face as I approached. She linked our arms before I could utter a word and led me inside as though I was arr
Louise’s POV Kissing Philippa gave me a high I had never experienced before. Maybe, it had something to do with knowing she was a deadly killer. Yes, knowing that the alluring woman I was locking lips with was an apex predator who could suck me dry if she wanted was exciting. I’ve always had a thing for danger and taking risks. I knew I was no weakling. I was very much capable of defending myself, of throwing the first punch, and even of killing if it came to that. But the idea of being completely helpless and at the mercy of a creature more powerful than me had its appeal. Or maybe it wasn’t any of that. Maybe the only reason was that Philippa was an incredibly talented kisser. The woman knew what she was doing. I mean, she did have three hundred years' worth of experience in that department. Her expertise shouldn’t come as a surprise. I was beginning to feel dizzy, drunk on desire and pleasure as I was. There was something about the way she licked into my mouth that made me weak
Louise’s POV From the fixed smile on my face as I continued to bare my neck to a vampire for the first time, you’d never guess how nervous I was. My heart was practically beating out of my chest. There was an insane amount of adrenaline rushing through me. That had to be because my excitement outweighed the nerves. “What are you waiting for?” I taunted. “The offer will expire soon if you don’t take me up on it.” Those were the magic words that Philippa needed to hear. She shuffled closer to me and leaned down, lips almost touching my neck. She seemed to have zeroed in on a visible vein, and I shivered as her hands ran along it. When her fangs touched the tender skin, I let out a whimper, closing my eyes momentarily. I wasn’t sure whether to move closer to her or to get away. Everything was muddled in my brain as it stood. “This is your last chance to back out,” She whispered against my skin. “I’m not backing out,” I said, tone resolute. “I want you to feed on me.” She didn
Louise’s POV “Going undercover, no matter the length of time, will always be risky business,” Caleb stated as he circled me and Philippa. We were engaged in hand-to-hand combat. It has been going on for the past few hours. In the spirit of fair play, Philippa hasn’t been using her super speed and strength. I’ve not been using magic either. We were in a very secluded part of the woods, but it was very much werewolf territory in a sense. The Sangria and Crescent packs used these woods frequently for their nightly runs, even if they never came all the way to where we were. I had a feeling the rogues most likely frequented it. They also needed their nightly runs, and they very well couldn’t do that alongside the pack wolves. No, that wouldn’t go well at all. “The most important part of your preparation is the mental aspect,” Caleb said, haunching down as though he needed a better look as to what was going on between me and Philippa. Even without any powers, Philippa was still strong a
Louise’s POVPhilippa and Caleb insisted they’d brought me out here to instill survival skills I was going to need when I joined Ezekiel. However, I’m beginning to think the real reason was they just wanted to torture me. There was no way all of this was necessary. After Caleb had recovered from his temporary paralysis thanks to my very effective spell, he was only too happy to put an end to my make-out session with Philippa.The next thing they wanted me to do was to run through the woods blindfolded and with my hands tied together. According to them, it was to sharpen my senses of smell and sight considering werewolves had amazing senses like that. It was challenging, to say the least. I almost started hyperventilating before I told myself to take deep breaths and calm down. I relied on my senses and it turned out, they weren’t as bad as I thought. My instincts were sharp and for the most part, I could afford pitfalls, trunks, and rocks.When it became hard to rely on my instincts,
Louise’s POVAfter three grueling days spent in the woods where I was constantly tortured by two powerful vampires who were nothing more than bullies, we returned to their home. In all seriousness, I’d learnt a lot. There had been a lot of things they had instilled in me that the witches never would have. As thorough as my Aunt Lettie was, she wouldn’t have covered things like seduction skills as a way of wiggling myself out of certain situations.Considering that Caleb and Philippa used to be courtesans and their ruler now ran sex clubs all over the country, it only stood to reason that sex clubs were included in the syllabus of mandatory things I needed to know before going undercover.My time at Damien’s mansion had run out. I had to go back home so we could all put the next phase of our plan into motion. My first meeting with Ezekiel will be happening in a couple of days and I wasn’t as petrified as I should have been. Maybe my confidence came from feeling prepared, or it was an i
Louise’s POV “I’m going to ask you one more time, are you sure about this?” my father said, his gaze intense on my face. “Baby, if there is any part of you that doesn’t feel ready, all you gotta do is say the magic word. You don’t have to do this. Not at all.”There was something about my father’s love for me that always gave me a sense of protection and comfort. Even when he was far away from me, it was as though I could still feel it. It was a warm blanket wrapped around me in the dead of winter. It was something that gave me strength as well as confidence to barrel ahead in life no matter how tough things become. Right now, I could see the worry etched in his expression, how his bushy brows furrowed, and the lines that increased on his face. But I could also see the passion and confidence that burned in his brown gaze. He did believe in me. He was proud of me, and he did have faith in my ability to see this through.He was asking me this question right now because he needed to ma
Francesca’s POV I would be the first to admit that I wasn’t entirely sober when I kissed Bianca. Did I thoroughly enjoy it? Absolutely! Do I regret it even a tiny bit? Absolutely not! I stood by what I did even though I was drunk. I’m not even sure I needed the liquid courage to finally cross that line. I genuinely think I would have kissed Bianca that night either way. However, what happened after the kiss was a bit of a blur. We’d proceeded to the dance floor afterward. It was safe to assume we spent the rest of the night dancing and getting more fucked up on alcohol and weed than we already were. Maybe, we’d made out some more, maybe not, I couldn’t remember for the life of me. Things have been a bit awkward between Bianca and me ever since that night. It felt as though Patrick was caught between two people who fought in his absence and he’s missing the relevant information to dissolve the tension. Not to say Bianca and I were acting like two people who fought or anything extreme
Francesca’s POVThe coronation of the Alpha King and his chosen Luna is one of the most sacred events for any Pack. It’s one that is celebrated in a grand affair, and remembered for months after the fact. Every Pack had its own special way of going about it, the rituals they always made sure took place and all the flurry of activity and prayers that happen, taking advantage of the full moon and asking the Moon Goddess to bless us and grant our heart’s deepest desires.“Mother, you look absolutely stunning,” I said, my tone dripping with admiration as I stared at Alpha Jessica Reginald, where she sat dressed in a lovely golden gown, about to be crowned the Luna of the Sangria-Crescent Pack.“Thank you, darling,” Jessica replied, smiling, her blonde hair framing her gorgeous face like a halo. “Come sit with me.”The other women who’d been helping my mother get ready for the coronation excused themselves and walked out of the drawing room.I threw them a discreet smile as they exited the
Francesca’s POVAs we approached mid-September, the Fall weather really began to set in. The unbearable heat of the previous month was abating with every second that passed. The leaves of the trees were changing color, losing their life force and vividness, and falling to the ground in a melancholic but beautiful display of the wonders of nature.Our summer vacation was still very much ongoing. Bianca, Patrick and I had at least another two weeks before we were due to return to campus so we were definitely making the most of our last days of leisure. Although to define our days as leisure was subjective. Our training sessions were more intense than ever. Alpha Ian has been present and running most of them. Ever since his therapy sessions came to a fruitful conclusion, he has been more determined than ever to push us to our limits. There was an obvious shift in how he now regarded Ezekiel and the imminent war between us. His hatred was less personal. It was no longer the kind of acidi
Ezekiel’s POVI was standing back a considerable distance as training went on. As much as I had said I wanted to oversee it, my intention was not to interrupt it in any way whatsoever. I also didn’t want our warriors to feel under pressure or act as though they had to do anything different simply because I was present. I wanted to observe them as they always were during each session. And of course, I had the utmost trust in their tutors that they would do a good job today as they’ve been doing for as long as they’ve had the responsibility.So far, I was mighty pleased with everything I was seeing. Our warriors seemed to be disciplined, determined, unceasingly strong, and above all, they all had a killer instinct. From what they were showing, they would absolutely have no qualms in striking down any enemy they came into contact with, and those were the kind of warriors I needed on my side when I made my first calculated attack against the Crescent-Sangria Pack.Alexander and Eve were m
Ezekiel’s POVGreat Aunt Elizabeth’s sprawling estate has long ceased being hers. Not since the day I snuffed the life out of the stubbornly staunch old woman right after making her sign over the deeds. That was another lifetime ago, way before I grew into myself. Sixteen-year-old me wasn’t exactly the brightest. I can’t believe he tried to have it all, tried to hold onto Ian even when he knew there was no way the other boy was going to be accepting of the inevitable path I was going to choose.The path I was already on when we were merely thirteen-year-olds and I decided on animal sacrifice to summon the Moon Goddess. I didn’t even think twice about killing those helpless bunnies that I’d spent weeks raising. That should have been Ian’s warning shot, and maybe it was but he definitely did not heed it.But what made me hope, that I could bring him over to my side, even if I had to use lies and manipulation to aid me was how he reacted after he watched me commit cold blooded murder for
Alpha Ian’s POVThe idea of going to some cold and lifeless office of a therapist was enough to make me want to puke. If I was going to cut my skin open and bleed for a complete stranger, I had to do in a place I felt safe and comfortable in. The sessions had to take place in my Study and nowhere else. And this was how the therapist that had been chosen for me by Jessica found herself sitting on my high-backed chair facing me, as I reclined on the sofa. Her name was Valentina. She was a beta wolf, and the energy she gave off was of someone kind and capable at the same time. She had honey blonde hair that was cut in a bob and it framed her oval face in a flattering way. She wore red lipstick, and had a nose-ring.It was the nose-ring that threw me off when she arrived. It didn’t match the image I had of the look of a therapist in my head. But somehow, that injected this chill vibe into the atmosphere. And I could almost delude myself into thinking I was about to have a conversation w
Alpha Ian’s POVIt was a different kind of torture, having to narrate practically everything I told Francesca and the others to my wife the next day. She listened to me with the same empathy and compassion that I received from everyone who was present in my Study the night before. She didn’t cut me off necessarily, only asked questions when she felt that I had mentioned something too important to skim over.By the time I was done with my narration, Jessica let out a loud sigh and said, “I’m afraid Francesca is right on this one, Ian. You do need therapy.”I nodded, she took my hand in hers and squeezed it in comfort. We were sitting side by side on a sofa in our bedroom. I’d alerted her we needed to talk about something right before she turned in for bed. Jessica wasn’t one to dwindle when her specific time to sleep arrived.“I know, darling,” I said to her. “I’ve already accepted that this is something I need. It’s high time I dealt with this unfinished business so I could move forwa
Francesca’s POV“So, what’s the verdict?” Alpha Ian asked after I hadn’t uttered a word after his vulnerable confession. “Am I still in love with a monster?”I fixed him with an intense stare then, really looking at him. There was a vacant look in his eyes, it seemed as though he was bracing himself for the worst. It was kind of tragic, the entire situation was, if I was being entirely honest.And I couldn’t bring myself to feel any sort of jealousy toward Ezekiel. Maybe, it would hit me later and I would hate him even more for being my fated mate’s first love. But now, I was more concerned with helping Alpha Ian sort through his emotions and any lingering feelings he might still harbor for the king of the rogues.“Well?” Alpha Ian prompted. “Will you say something?”“I don’t know,” I finally said.“Excuse me?” Alpha Ian sat up then, and fixed me with a disbelieving stare. “What don’t you know?”I shrugged, breaking eye contact. “I don’t know if you’re still in love with him or not.”
Francesca’s POV“What did you just ask me?” Alpha Ian said in a dangerously low tone, his eyes narrowing as they gazed into mine.“You heard me very well,” I said, “But I can still repeat myself: are you still in love with Ezekiel?”This time, he seemed unable to form words. He opened his mouth several times but ended up closing it again. I guess one can say, he wasn’t expecting that kind of question from me, or from anyone for that matter.Even I wasn’t completely sure why I asked it. Okay, I did know why. The root cause wasn’t jealousy. It was a true desire to help him sort through any lingering feelings he might have had where Ezekiel was concerned because a love that intense doesn’t just disappear altogether. I wasn’t even sure I could decipher all the different kind of feelings and emotions that I experienced while listening to him go into depth about his relationship with Ezekiel, the bond they shared, their subsequent honeymoon in the penthouse, and ultimate rupture.At some
Alpha Ian's POV"So that was how it went down," Dominic said, looking like someone who's entire world has been tilted on its axis. "Man, you kept all of that inside you when you returned, and pretended as though you merely failed in convincing Ezekiel to come back with you and plead his case.""Yeah... pretty much. that's what happened.""I bet he was impossible to be around when he returned," Francesca wondered."Oh yes, he was was," Denise replied to her. "It was worse than when Ezekiel had just been banished. The Ian who returned was a completely different person.""He seemed to have shoved all his emotions in a box, locked them away and and threw them in a raging volcano," Dominic said."Hey, I wasn't that bad," I said, tone defensive."You so were," Dominic and Denise said at the same time and then they started laughing as they stared at each other."You were worse than bad, big brother," Dominic said. "You were frighteningly cold. It seemed as though the only emotions you allowe