Throw your gems to calm our hot-headed Alpha. Love, Bella
RykerI won't admit it to her face to boost her ego but I do like her theory about the haters. I finish my dinner and drop her back to our room before going to Alex’s office. I wonder what he needs to talk about. I’m sure that it’s not about the dispute I just had with Nicholas.Ethan crosses my path in the hallway and nods at me with a stern look. I feel like he knows what Alex wants to talk about but I don’t want to ask him as it will give him the impression of me relying on him and trusting him which I absolutely don’t wish to.“Where is Elias?” Ethan asks, breaking the icy silence between us and I realize that he is also coming with me to Alex’s office as he takes right from the lobby.Locked in our room. But I can’t tell him the truth or he will get suspicious because I don’t protect anyone like this and my behavior is kind of overprotective but I don’t care. I want her alive anyhow, I can’t risk her life and fortunately or unfortunately, she is safe in this academy only. With me.
Azura“What is this, Ryker?” I put my hands on my hips as I pace around the room in frustration. “It’s for your safety. The principal has offered the guards for your safety. He is so kind; you should be grateful to him, right?” He frowns, sitting on his side of the bed. “I don’t need them. They are ruining my privacy. Now, I have to be careful because they might hear me,” I whine, sitting beside him. Ryker sighs in exasperation. “You don’t have a choice, Azura so bear with it, and let’s sleep now because the first round is in a few days and I believe you don’t want to be eliminated so you have to train hard,” he says sharply before sleeping and turning his side of the lamp off.He had been furious since he had returned from Alex’s office. I wonder what happened there to piss this big, bad Alpha off. Shaking my head, I climb on the bed and turn my face to the other side, turning my back on him as he had turned his back to my side as well. I’m not missing looking at his handsome face
Ryker“You did a good job today. I was worried for the poor soul,” Logan remarks wittily, passing me a bottle of water, and Azura shoots a death glare at him. “No offense, Alpha Elias. I said that because it’s hard to concentrate when your life is in danger,” Logan defends himself but all of us know that he was right either way. Azura hasn’t been holding herself up against me. I had to restrain my strength not to hurt her, and Logan was worried because I had hurt Benjamin last time when he changed our partners in the practice, but he made sure that Nicholas wasn’t against me. “If he keeps getting defeated every time, he is bound to be eliminated in the first round,” Kieran shrugs, spitting his two cents, which no one has asked for.I swear to the Goddess that if I ever found this fucker against me in the practice, I would make sure that I beat his ass because he had been getting on my nerves lately, scolding me to practice harder when I’m already doing better than most of the Alphas
AzuraMy wolf jumps excitedly, feeling those fucking sparks that I loathe. I give her a reprimanding glare and she stops reacting to those sparks, and sits silently, putting her snout down. I appreciate the cooperation but deep down, I feel bad for her. As my wolf part, she feels the pull of the mate bond and feels the connection and all the emotions more intensely than me. “What the fuck was that?” Nicholas looks at me with his narrowed brown eyes, leaning closer to me to sniff my scent but he grimaces his nose when he smells sweat laced with my fake scent that I had made sure to bathe in before coming to the field.Thanks to Ryker, he had warned me earlier about my scent fading out after the training so I had made sure to carry some scent disguiser with me to use on the field, too, stealing from everyone’s gaze. “What?” I shrug, browning, feigning that I do not understand what he is trying to ask and I pray to the Goddess that he should faint or forget the past two minutes because
RykerDante presses his lips tightly, lowering his head and sighing nervously. I told him last time not to come again to the Lunar Academy, no matter what, yet he came again unannounced. “Hello, Dante,” Azura says, cutting the icy silence in the room. “Hi, Azura. I…um, sorry, I had no idea that you were here,” my Beta whispers, looking at Azura apologetically.“That was the plan, idiot- not to let anyone know that she is here,” I mutter through gritted teeth.“I’m sorry, Alpha, but you were not picking up the calls or replying to any emails, so I had no other option,” Dante retorts, but shuts his fucking mouth when I shoot him a death glare.“Stop acting like my possessive girlfriend, Dante. I had come here to train, so I was on the field. Am I supposed to leave the training to answer you?” I reprimand him, cocking a brow at him questioningly.He smiles awkwardly, looking between Azura and me, paying no heed to what I’m saying. Azura smiles back at him sweetly, and I glower at her. I
RykerDante rubs his temples slowly, avoiding my gaze. “I know a way where there is no security.”“What do you mean?” I ask, my eyes narrowing. How come I didn’t know about it and he knew? Of course, my Alpha ego is wounded, but at the same time, I want to know the details. “There is a tunnel from the woods that ends in the academy,” he replies sincerely. “Is there no CCTV?” I ask, and he shakes his head in denial, which reminds me that he has come here twice without being noticed by anyone. The tunnel doesn’t end in my room, which means…“Don’t tell me you’re sleeping with any witch just to come here with the help of her magic,” I resist the urge to growl as the guards are standing outside of my room, and I don’t want them to know about my Beta’s presence.“She cast an invisible spell on me so no one can see me except for you,” Dante says in a low voice. His tone is laced with guilt, which should be because I hate for them to fuck around like this, but I never said it aloud. It’s t
RykerIt frustrates the shit out of me to see her hiding her pain. My wolf howls in pain and sits, pulling a face. He hates that she is shutting us out and not even sharing her true emotions. She hasn’t even grieved her father’s death yet; that fucking asshole didn’t even give her a chance to do so. Unlike my father, hers was very kind and loving. I had met him twice or thrice when he came to meet her on her birthday and attended the graduation ceremony of her daughters. If there was someone whom she loved more than Nicholas, it was her father. Drake would be glad to see his son-in-law’s true face, at least. ‘Don’t mention anything about her father,’ I tell my Beta through the mind link, and he obeys.“I’m going to see the secret tunnel path in the academy. I’ll be back soon but if anything happens, just give me a call and shout for the guards,” I instruct her, changing the topic. It hurts me to see her stoic face as if nothing happened when her whole world had crumbled down. How l
AzuraThe guards knock on the door, screaming my name, and my wolf stirs, smelling trouble. Her senses and intuitions are stronger and always correct.“What?” I ask after clearing my throat and masking my fear. I never felt good vibes from them anyway, so I didn’t try to conceal my irritation; they could sense it in my tone.“Someone is here to meet you. Come out,” Dom, the one with a huge scar on his left cheek, answers roughly. “That someone must have a name.” I frown, standing closer to the door now and holding a vase in my hand. If anyone would dare to break the door, I would have something to protect myself with.“Is the big Alpha scared?” Brad sneers. “Are you here to train to become the fucking Alpha King? You gotta be kidding me. A King can’t be a coward.” He tries his best to provoke me, which makes me suspicious of them.They have never initiated a conversation with me before. For the first time, we spoke, and they didn’t hide their arrogant asshole behavior, which makes me
AzuraOne Week Later...The Blue Moon hangs like a glowing beacon in the night sky, casting its luminous glow over the packhouse grounds. Tonight is not just any night—it’s the rarest of nights when magic courses through the air, weaving a mystical tapestry between all who gather under its light. It’s as if fate itself has written this moment, for not only is it my wedding night but also the Blue Moon, a time when the most powerful bonds can be revealed. I pray to the Moon Goddess to give me Ryker as my fated mate, but even if she is up to some game and gives me someone else as my second chance mate, I’m determined to reject him in the blink of an eye. I stand in front of the mirror, barely recognizing the woman reflected there. My wedding gown, a masterpiece of silk and lace, hugs my body like a dream. The bodice is adorned with intricate silver embroidery, weaving the shapes of moons and wolves, while the long, flowing skirt spills around me like water, glistening with the light f
AzuraThe smell of sizzling eggs and freshly brewed coffee fills the air as I step into the dining room, the warmth of the early morning sun streaming through the windows. My heart still feels like it’s floating somewhere above my head, ever since last night. The proposal. Ryker. My soon-to-be husband.I smile to myself as I sit at the breakfast table, but the moment I do, I notice something strange—everyone’s looking at me. Elysia’s grinning, Dante’s trying to hold back a smirk, and even Rosie is practically buzzing with excitement.“What?” I ask cautiously, narrowing my eyes at them.Elysia leans over the table, wiggling her eyebrows. “Oh, nothing. Just that your fiancé—" she drags out the word with extra emphasis, “—decided to make a very public proposal last night.”“Very public,” Dante echoes, unable to hide his grin. “I mean, the whole pack was watching.”“And now,” Rosie chimes in, her eyes sparkling mischievously, “it’s going viral. The Alpha’s proposal is the talk of the town
Ryker“Nothing’s wrong,” I assure her, my lips curving into a smile. “In fact, everything feels right. More right than it’s ever been.”Her eyes soften, and I can see the question forming on her lips, but I don’t give her a chance to ask. Instead, I stand up, pushing my chair back as I get down on one knee.The gasps around us are immediate. The pack members who have been subtly watching our every move are now openly staring, their eyes wide with shock and curiosity as a few of them start recording it on their phones. But none of that matters anymore. The only thing that matters is the woman in front of me.Azura’s hands fly to her mouth, her eyes wide with surprise. “Ryker, what are you—”“Azura,” I interrupt softly, pulling the ring from my pocket and holding it up for her to see. “From the moment I met you, I knew you were the one for me. Strong, fierce, and the most beautiful woman I have ever seen—everything I’ve ever wanted in my wife. You’ve challenged me, pushed me, and made m
RykerThe moment she steps out of the bathroom, wearing my shirt and looking both regal and relaxed, my breath catches in my throat. Azura—the one person who can shatter me with a glance and, at the same time, make me feel invincible—is here, wrapped up in my scent, my world, and for the first time in what feels like forever, everything seems right.Her hair cascades down her back, damp from the shower, catching the light in a way that makes her look ethereal, like some kind of warrior goddess who has walked straight out of legend. And yet, there is this softness to her that draws me in. The way her lips curve into a soft smile when she catches me staring, the subtle blush on her cheeks... damn, I’m a goner.I can’t help but shake my head as a light blush creeps onto my cheeks as I recall the moment she came to me, begging me to fuck her and make her forget everything else that’s been running through her mind. She is silly but cute and yet demanding; I absolutely love that about her.
AzuraA sliver of sunlight peeks through the curtains, dancing across my eyelids. I stir, blinking as the warmth wraps around me like a soft blanket. My muscles are sore, my body deliciously tired, but it’s the weight of the arms around me that brings a smile to my lips before I even open my eyes.RykerThe heat of him against my back is grounding, his heartbeat steady and strong, a rhythmic reminder of the night before. Memories flood back, each one sending a shiver down my spine. His touch, his words, the way he made me forget everything but him.I turn my head slightly, catching a glimpse of him still fast asleep. His dark hair falls messily across his forehead, his jaw relaxed, and his arm is draped possessively over my waist. Even in sleep, he doesn’t let me go.He looks so gorgeous even in sleep; his long eyelashes, sharp jawline, square face, and full lips make him look like a Greek god. I give him a small pack on his lips, nose, and forehead. A flutter of emotion tightens my
Ryker “Put me down, Ryker!” She snaps, her voice laced with fury, but I’m already halfway up the stairs, my steps heavy with intent. I don’t stop until I reach my bedroom door, and with one swift kick, I push it open. The sound echoes in the quiet hallway as I stride in, locking the door behind me.I toss her onto the bed, her body bouncing slightly against the mattress, but she quickly scrambles to her feet and tries to run away. Before she can make another move, I’m in front of her, pinning her against the wall, trapping her between my body and the cold surface behind her. Her breath hitches, her eyes wide with a mix of shock and something else—something that matches the heat blazing in my chest.“You want to know what I want, Azura?” I growl, my voice low as I lean in closer, my lips inches from hers. “I want you to stop pushing me away. I want you to stop acting like you don’t feel this, too.”Her breathing quickens, and for a split second, I see a flicker of uncertainty in her e
Ryker“You wanted to dance, right? Let’s go and dance,” I growl, holding her hand firmly when she tries to walk away.Azura stops in her tracks, her back stiffening at my words. She turns to look at me, her eyes blazing with anger, but I can feel the tension in her hand as I grip it tightly. She’s furious, and to be honest, so am I.How could she let another man touch her? Dance with him, no less, while I’m standing here, watching her? Did she think I’d just let it slide? Not a chance.But instead, she pulls away from me with a sharp yank, her lips curling into a mocking smile. "Don’t play with me, Ryker. Go back to your bitch. I’m sure she’s waiting for you on the dance floor."My jaw clenches at her words. "Azura, I wasn’t dancing with her because I wanted to. The Elders—"She scoffs, cutting me off. "Are you going to give me excuses now? And do you expect me to believe you?" She crosses her arms, her stance challenging me, daring me to give her a weak excuse.I grit my teeth, trying
AzuraI can’t help but feel a pang of guilt gnawing at me as I sit quietly, picking at my food. Ryker’s question echoes in my mind. Did you not like the dress I bought for you? How could I have missed that? A part of me feels bad for not going to his room and checking out the dress earlier. He looked so hurt, but he was quick to mask it over with a smile when he got to know that I hadn’t seen it.I glance at him across the room as he chats with some of the warriors; he is looking so hot in that suit. Of course, the women would throw themselves at him. I scan the venue and find the girls staring at him with lovesick eyes. Sighing, I grab my glass of red wine that Xander had brought for me, only to spill it onto my dress accidentally. “Oh no!” I mutter under my breath, blotting at the grease stain with a napkin. Of all the times to be clumsy. As I try to clean it with the tissue, the stain doesn’t go away; it spreads on my dress. My wolf smirks at me; you did it intentionally. I sho
RykerThe chaos erupts when Elysia’s parents storm in. It feels like a crack of thunder, sharp and jarring. My body stiffens, my wolf on edge, ready to act. Elysia’s mother looks livid, her lips pressed into a thin, disapproving line while her father strides toward Dante with a fury that promises trouble."How dare you abduct my daughter?" Her father’s booming voice slices through the peaceful atmosphere, drawing everyone's attention. His eyes blaze with a mixture of anger and disbelief as he takes in the sight of his daughter in a wedding dress, standing next to Dante, who looks caught between panic and determination. I immediately step forward, my protective instincts kicking in, but before I can speak, Andrew and my grandfather appear out of nowhere, moving to intercept Elysia’s parents. Their presence is a calming force, and I see both of them exchange a quick glance before addressing the royal witches.“Wait,” Andrew begins, his voice calm but firm, as he raises his hands to sto