DIMITRI
Another day, another string of bad events. Or, rather, this is the norm for me now ever since... I shake my head, forcing the unwelcome memory from my mind. No thinking about her. I'm not going to spare a thought about her. I didn't for five years and I won't start now. Keep deceiving yourself. A voice in my head clamors. Clenching my jaw, I force my attention back to the meeting. The meeting between Moonstone and Shadow pack. Five years ago, desperation drove me to find an ally in the Moonstone pack, Alpha Henry. Ever since then, there hasn't been a day I didn't regret my decision. Alpha Henry is notorious for his greediness and selfishness but I didn't have a choice then. Henry's assistance came with a price. A quarter of the Shadow pack's gold mine. I fulfilled his demands immediately but Henry's request didn't end there. He started by making minor requests like relocating a few moonstone families into the shadow pack territory. Now, Henry audaciously demanded permission to build a tech company within the borders of the Shadow pack which I rejected immediately. I wonder why he is here again. Alpha Henry shifts uncomfortably under the heaviness of my glare. "Perhaps, the Moonstone pack and Shadow pack should form a better alliance bond so that we can both establish in each other's territory without an etch." "What are you suggesting?" I ask, giving him the benefit of the doubt. "Perhaps, a marriage between the two packs will further strengthen our alliance and build more trust between us." Henry gestures with a slow wave of his hand. His lips curve up, forming a sinister smile, making the wrinkles on his face even more prominent than they were. Though Henry is just in his fifties, his greed has made him age far beyond his age. The Elders' voices echo in agreement as if Henry stated something of great significance. I ball my hand into a fist at Henry's suggestion. No, marriage will not strengthen the alliance between the two packs, it will only give Henry a permanent foothold in the shadow pack territory. Henry continues. "Since my daughter here—." Henry points to a woman seated beside him. I haven't noticed her until now. Her skin is pale and flawless, her hair as white as snow. Undoubtedly, she is beautiful, but her porcelain complexion holds no appeal for me. I like a... no...not her. Not her. A surge of frustration wraps around me like a vice. Why does everything remind me of her today? Every word. Every action. Every color. It is as if everything happening is intended to make me think about her even when I don't want to. A rush of nausea bubbles in my stomach, pushing up my throat. I taste something like regret on my tongue before I shove it back. My jumbled thoughts roll back to the present catching Henry's voice mid sentence. "...and you've been single since..." Henry trails off before awkwardly saying. "—what happened." My response is curt. "I'll consider it." I don't waste my time as I rise to my feet, the chair scraping against the floor. I don't pay anyone pleasantries or greet Henry directly. Instead, I stride towards the entrance. Groveling to people is something my father will do, not me. My father ruled with a carefree approach and believed showing kindness and giving everyone an open arm would make the moon goddess bestow blessing and goodness upon us. But that has only drawn in predators that considered us prey and made us vulnerable to attack. As I step out, I sense Gavin behind me. He is a beta and my second in command and my closest confidant. He was with me through it all. We fought together through the invasion's hellfire and rebuilt the Shadow Pack from the ashes. He is my brother-in-arms, someone I trust with my life. He used to be a ball of sunshine before the barbarians, now he is just stoic, barely smiles, and keeps to himself. The Invasion changed every one of us more than we would like to admit. I dribbled into alcoholism, I wasn't myself for months and I lost...no....not her. Never her. "Up for a run?" I toss the question over my shoulder as I start to descend the stairs. Gavin responds gruffly. "No." "Great, let's go." I don't break my stride as I burst into the outside clean air. Gavin mutters behind. "Why even ask if you're just gonna do whatever you want?" Gavin and I are about to exit the Alphahouse when Kahl, one of the warriors come racing toward us. His face is pale as if he saw a ghost. He stops beside Gavin and whispers to his hair. Gavin's face crumples into a mask of worry as Kahl hurriedly whispers in his ear. "What is wrong?" I say with a growl. Now, I'm concerned. Gavin runs a tongue nervously over his lips, searching for words that seem to evade him. "You better start talking Gavin," I say with a commanding alpha tone that jolts him into action. "It's Lynexia." He says. "She is back."LYNEXIA Never in my life do I think I will step foot into the Shadow pack again after I left five years ago but here I am. In the shadow pack and in front of my dearest husband. Ex husband. Over the years, I convince myself but the only thing I have for Dimitri is indifference but the way my breath catches in my throat and a tight pang pulls at my heartstrings says otherwise. The shadow pack has changed from what It used to be. And Dimitri isn't the same either. He got bulkier and bigger. His piercing blue eyes only hold coldness. A slideshow of memories hit me but I choke it down immediately. I'm here for my daughter. Only my daughter. Dimitri holds my gaze with an intensity that steals the air from the room. Heat prickles my skin at the emptiness behind his gaze. His jaw is set tight and his face holds no emotion. The silence stretches for what seems like an eternity as he keeps his predatory gaze on me. While I try not to waver, I'm no match for this intense stare-down
LYNEXIA I jolt upright, my hands balling beside me into fists of rage. "Are you insane?" The fact that he has a condition attached to this appalls me, not to talk of the condition itself. Dimitri scratches his jaw leisurely as if he can't be bothered by my sudden outburst. His calm gaze tightens around my gut. He is so unfazed, almost bored while a stream of anger begs to be let out from me. He sighs and says with a bored tone. "Take it or leave it." My mouth falls agape in disbelief, and the space between my brows creases into a deep furrow. I can't believe that I'm witnessing this. "Take it or leave it?" I repeat. The words roll on my tongue like black tar. "This is your daughter, Dimitri. Our daughter. How can you have a condition tied to saving her?" A vein ticks in his jaws and briefly a flicker of something I can't decipher creases his face before his mask of indifference slides back into place. "Are you doing this to punish me? Teach me a lesson?" I ask, my voice cracking
LYNEXIA "I never would have thought shadow pack territory would ever look like this again after the war," I say. The territory of the shadow pack moved from a primitive infrastructure to a more modern one. However, it is still interwoven with nature which is one of the landmarks of the Shadow pack. We connect with nature and seek guidance from it. Gavin's smile didn't reach his eyes. "Well, all thanks to Dimitri's grand vision." His tone holds something I can't decipher. The mention of Dimitri's name is enough to make my stomach churn. "Shit. I shouldn't have mentioned his name." "It's fine," I mumble, digging my shoe into the pebbles beneath me. I may despise Dimitri at the moment, but he is Gavin's best friend. Gavin asks "Want to tell me why you were crying?""I was hoping you won't ask." I focus my gaze down as if the pebbles are the most interesting thing I have ever seen. "Is it Dimitri?" I hear a sharp edge in Gavin's voice prompting me to raise my head. His jaw is clen
DIMITRI I know. It's twisted and sick to make such a deal with Lynexia but I wasn't going to take any chances. Not anymore. I already lost her once, I won't risk losing her for the second time. Even though I hate to admit it, without her, I was miserable. She may hate me now but I can work with that. As long as she is with me, I don't care but her being gone isn't something I can deal with. It is unbearable. Besides, when she is with me, I can win her over again just like I did five years ago. Even before I found out Lynexia was my fated mate, my eyes had always been on her. She had always sparked something inside of me. Being around her always made me feel alive. I thought that the spark I felt towards her was dead by now. I lied to myself that it was dead, that I didn't feel anything remotely for her. But I was wrong. The moment I set my eyes on her after five years, it blazed back to life. Hotter. Stronger. More consumin
LYNEXIA The doctor was able to revive Felicity back but I was told that next time when this happens it may not be possible. I was also told that Felicity has only three months to live if she doesn't get a transplant. I am left with no choice but to accept Dimitri's mind-twisting condition. A twin frisson of anger and hatred twist in my gut towards Dimitri for attaching a condition to help my daughter. Our daughter knowing fully well that I will never be able to turn away. I can't live with everything but not with my daughter being gone. I will lay my life down for her if I can. The tears in my eyes have already dried by the time I get to the Alpha house house. My clothes are also drenched and I'm shivering to the teeth. I'm a fire wolf so cold is something that makes my wolf sick up right there with Dimitri. Not my wolf but me, he makes me sick. I grind my teeth at the fact that accepting this condition will tie me to Dimitri. I hate him so much I want to scratch his eyes out. The
LYNEXIA Dimitri sucks in a breath as he leans closer than he already is. My skin tinges, a thousand goosebumps erupting under his scorching hot gaze. Blue.His blue gaze, heavy with something feral bores into me. It's as if he is looking through me. At my soul. My breath hitches in my throat. Time slows as his hand reaches to my jaw, fingers grazing on my skin before they cup my cheek. I swallow, every fiber in me screams to pull him away, but I don't. I can't. It's as if I have turned paralyzed. Now, his nose is a whisper away from mine. His face mere inches from mine. His gaze on my lips. His hand caressing my skin and making shivers glide through me in waves. He felt my shiver and I hate it. I hate that even after five years my body still throbs to his touch and gaze. It's as if my inner wolf doesn't understand that there is no love lost between us. She is just excited to finally meet her fated mates after five good years. I'm sure if Dimitri slips his hand into my panties, sh
LYNEXIA Blinding fury stirs inside of me the moment I open my eyes to a black ceiling trimmed with gold borders. Volcano simmers inside me intending to explode at a particular, twisted, and sick Alpha's face today. Dimitri drugged me yesterday. The fucker spiked my drink and made me spend the night here when I don't plan on doing so yesterday. My steam of anger breaks out of my nose when I gaze around Dimitri's bedroom and find it empty. I know it's his because of the heady mix of masculinity and not-so-very-delicious scent that is vaguely citrusy, laced with sandalwood. If that isn't enough pointer, the gold and black mix of the color of the interior design indicates hundred percent that it belongs to him.Stomping to the door, I rip it open with unnecessary force before marching out of the room and heading straight for the stairs. I meet with Dimitri's househelp in the middle of the stairs, who is ascending. "Please, point to me where Dimitri may be?" I give her a fake smile.Sh
LYNEXIA Deep down, I'm certain Dimitri will never do that even though I hate to be the one to vouch for him. He may be the devil, but he has a twisted sense of honor. He rolls me over in a flash until I'm facing him. His gaze narrows a fraction and I feel triumphant. My words definitely strike a nerve. A scowl etches a harsh line across his face, the raw heat in his gaze twisting a knot in my gut. Even back when Dimitri was leaner, Dimitri always possessed a primal magnetism that could make me melt. Now, with his sculpted, muscular body, it is a force almost impossible to resist. My legs scream to run far away from him as his gaze becomes pitch black but I remain put. That will just be pathetic. I hold my ground, stark like a dry fish between Dimitri's warm body and the counter biting into my skin. My legs tremble violently. But lucky me, Dimitri isn't looking down. I shift my gaze to his chest before my legs give out and I embarrass myself. Dimitri earns a gasp from me as his fi