ROSANNE'S POVDreams, they say, are messages from the subconscious mind, while nightmares are said to be warnings from the subconscious. I'd never had a nightmare, not even for a second, that my life would be ruined as soon as I turned twenty-one years old.At twenty-one, I should probably have been enjoying my youthful days in college with my mate, but here I was, standing in front of a dressing mirror, wearing a white wedding gown. The gown clung to my body, accentuating every curve.It was a masterpiece, a work of art designed to make me look like a queen.But I didn't feel like royalty.Who would feel like royalty when they are being sold off to the most powerful Lycan King of all time, not only as a wife but also as a breeder – a machine that produces pups? I felt like a pawn in a game I didn't understand.My mind wandered back to the events that led me to this moment. Axel, my older brother, had been arrested and thrown into prison for a crime I had only just discovered. Th
ROSANNE'S POVI stepped out of the catedral, the bright sunlight making me squint. My wedding gown felt like it was suffocating me, the layers of lace and satin felt heavier than it should. Landon signaled for me to follow him, and I did.We stopped in front of a black limo, with tinted windows. He opened the door, and I slid in, trying to pulling the long dress train. My mother's voice echoed outside, probably giving some sort of advice, but I ignored her, slamming the door shut. Her voice was the last thing i needed to hear.I closed my eyes taking in series of short breaths as I tried to calm my racing heart. But as I turned to sit back, my side gaze caught a glimpse of someone sitting beside me. I sat up straight, alarm ringing in my head. He was dressed in a black suit, his hair fell down like a curtain hiding most of his face. He scrolled through his phone like no one was in the car with him. He finally lifted his face and it turned out to be Xavier, Alpha ki
MIKHAIL’S POV Mate. That word always left a bitter taste in my mouth. While most wolves wished for it once turning eighteen. I never wanted to be tied down. I never wanted a mate. But I needed an heir, therefore, the only option that sounded good to me was a breeder. And so, when Rosanne's name had been brought up for an exchange. I took itIn fact, I'd barely given it a thought. She was a means to an end, nothing more. A pawn in my game of power and legacy. And I would use her as such. Besides she was a beauty and from an alpha family.I strode into my mansion, taking off my suit jacket and tie as I handed them over to my waiting butler. I rolled up the sleeves of my shirt, my eyes narrowing as I dialed Xavier's phone. "How did it go?" I asked, my voice low and even as I climbed up the stairs."It's been more than eight hours, brother," Xavier replied, his tone laced with mockery.I felt a spark of irritation burn within me. "I don't need you to tell me the time,"
ROSANNE'S POVI had not left my room in a week, unable to shake off the feeling of depression that had settled in. Every time I thought about how my dreams had been washed away, a fresh wave of grief hit me.I stood at the window, lost in thought, when a knock at the door brought me out of the daze. I turned to and my gaze met Anita. "I'm sorry to intrude, Miss, but Alpha said it's time to get introduced to the pack."I couldn't help but feel a little nervous, OK, scratch that i was very nervous. I had barely seen anyone since I moved here, and the thought of facing the pack seemed scarier than it should be."I'm not ready," I stuttered, turning back to the window.HAnita's voice was soft yet loud "I'm sorry, Miss, but Alpha said you are to come down or be dragged down."I took a shaky breath, nodding reluctantly. "Awesome, let's go."As Anita led me to the pack house, my heart raced with anticipation. The room was filled with pack members, all foreign faces. I searched for Mikhai
ROSANNE'S POV I was forced awake by the loud banging at my door. I sat up, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. Four men stood in my room, their faces stern."Excuse me, please, what's the matter?" I asked, trying to shake off the remnants of sleep, my body's still aching from the fight."King Mikhail has ordered your presence," one of them replied, their tone firm.I was instantly wide awake, my heart racing. "For what?" I asked, tying the belt on my robe.The ginger-haired guard stepped forward, his expression unyielding. "We have been told to take you there with or without your consent."My eyes widened in alarm. "You're joking, right?" I asked, but no one answered. Instead, they closed in on me, three of the held onto my leg while i squirmed trying to get away. One of them cover my face with a damp cloth that smelled weird. I tried my best not to inhale but i lost. The gas did its job and soon i was out cold. ******* A splitting headache greeted me the mo
MIKHAIL'S P.O.VA week had passed since I'd brought Rosanne to my room, and every night since then had been a repeat performance. We barely spoke, our interactions limited to the lustful urges that drove us together.I'd tried to push her away, to maintain some semblance of control, but my self-control had grown thinner with each passing day. Everything about Rosanne drove my wolf mad - her scent, the soft feel of her hair, the way she was perfect for me.I shook my head, chasing away the thoughts that threatened to consume me. "I need to go for a run," I growled, running a hand through my already scattered hair.My gaze drifted back to the laptop screen in front of me, trying to recall what I'd been working on, I had barely spent three minutes when Irene burst in, her face red and her chest heaving."This isn't a place for jogs," I said, not bothering to look up, my tone dismissive. I was already fustrated enough. I could not handle another contact with this pest."Tell me I'm wrong"
ROSANNE'S POVThe last time I saw or heard anything from Mikhail had been over week. The silence was deafening, and I couldn't help but feel a pang of loneliness. Despite the fact that I hated him for ruining my life, I was getting used to his touch, to the way he felt around me very night.But now, nothing. No summons to his room, no whispered commands, no gentle caresses. It was as if I'd been deleted from his brain.I couldn't help but wonder what I'd done wrong. Had I displeased him somehow? The only silver lining was that Irene had backed off. She no longer taunted me or made stupid comments. We existed in an uneasy truce, each of us minding our own business. Anita walked in, and I responded before she could even speak. "I'm coming down for lunch," I said, laughing, feeling a sense of normalcy wash over me.As we walked downstairs together, I noticed the mansion was filled with unfamiliar workers. I tried to piece together the reason for their presence, but my mind came up bl
ROSANNE'S POVI walked out of the pack house, my feet carrying me on autopilot. I could tell I looked like a ghost, one without purpose. The pack memebers passed by me but not without giving weird stare. That didn't matter; I was too lost in my own turmoil.My mind was filled with all sorts of emotions: anger, hurt, confusion, and betrayal. I wanted to scream, to release the pent-up rage, but my voice was trapped, silenced by my own shock.When I arrived back at the mansion, Anita was waiting for me, her face filled with pity. She said nothing, which I was grateful for. She escorted me to my room, and I sat down, staring blankly at the wall.As Anita slipped out, the dam broke, and tears began to fall. My shoulders shook, and I wept silently, wondering why it hurt so badly. I had hated Mikhail, resented being forced to marry him. But now, it felt like a part of me had being taken. Just as I thought I couldn't take it anymore, I heard a soft voice whisper. "Wipe those tears, my dear.
ROSANNEMaverick coughed, the sound drawing my attention from Knox, who lay at my feet, blood pooled around him. His heartbeat was faint, in just a matter of seconds he was going to die a slow painful death.Maverick was afraid, his eyes flickering between Axel and me, trying to put as much needed distance between us.I moved away from Knox, my eyes glaring at the man, who had betrayed his people, “What was that promise you made again about my children?” I asked, my blood-stained hand tapping my chin just like he had done a few minutes ago.Maverick winced, his hand holding his rib tightly, hoping to dull the pain that was forming, “Rosanne…” he tried to plead.“Remind me, or should I say it?” I hissed, cutting him off.Maverick stared at the floor, fear etched on his face. I loved this power, the control that I had over him was next to nothing. “Oh! I remember you were going to cut them piece by piece, right?” I mused.I dropped to my knees, keeping my gaze even with his, as I looke
ROSANNEThe warriors barely had time to grasp what was happening, with their swords drawn it did nothing to protect them from the wild beast that had been set free.Axel tore thrown the men, his eyes burning with molten fury as he made sure that they all felt the vengeance of his claws.It was carnage, a scene out of a grotesque book, and I dwelled in it, enjoying it.“Rosanne! Look out!” Ryan yelled, pushing me out of the way as an arrow whizzed past my ear, its tip missing my head in an inch.“Thank you,” I breathed, my heart slamming through my chest.“Just be careful,” he mumbled, picking up a sword as he blocked the next arrow that was shot at us.Axel was surrounded, his eyes fixed on the lost souls that dared to fight him. The only difference about the scene was that, while they were fighting to defend their lives, Axel was hunting to kill.Axel let out a roar, the primal sound of it vibrating through the walls of the room.“Save the rest of your elders,” I commanded Ryan, pick
ROSANNEThe air in the room felt thick with tension, coupled with the tangy smell of blood. Derek was dead, the game had changed right before Maverick’s eyes. Gone was the smug-looking man who thought he had everything under control, now, he was reduced to nothing; kneeling before Knox with his head hung low in shame.Knox stood beside me, the aura around him felt smug, and the large grin on his face showed the obvious truth, he had won and no one could contend with him.“You have the girl and her blood mage, please leave,” Maverick moaned, clutching his hand that Knox had stepped on.Knox chuckled, the dry laugh sounded like a bunch of hyenas roaring in the night, “But I want something more,” he mused, smiling broadly at him.“There is nothing here,” Maverick coughed.“You don’t see it? The land you have accumulated all through these years, the vastness, the fertile grounds, I want it all. And I am sure you have enough ladies to keep my men warm at night, huh?” he mocked.Maverick st
ROSANNETrust is a luxury, and now I have learnt the hard way that it is one luxury that I can’t afford, “I am sorry,” I mumbled in a low tone, my hand pressing his side trying to stop the bleeding.Ryan smiled a bitter smile, his lips paling as he struggled to speak, “I know, you wouldn’t have thought of me any less,” he said.His words were meant to comfort me, but rather they sliced through my chest like a dagger had been plunged through me. I had been so blind with anger that I had failed to see through Maverick’s façade.“We are going to get out of this,” I swore, my voice filled with determination.Ryan’s eyes were closing, from the way he was losing blood, I could tell I was going to lose him, “Stay with me,” I said, my hand gently tapping his cheeks to keep him awake.The silver chain burned into my hand, and I hissed at the pain. Not only was I bound with silver but I was locked in a silver cage, it was like he was trying to make sure that I suffered through my last minutes w
ROSANNEThe elders froze, their eyes wide as they watched Maverick drag me into the room, screaming and kicking.“Let go of me you rascal!” I yelled, my eyes wide as I looked around the room.Just like I had expected, the mole had been the first to move forward, “What is happening?” he asked, looking at me with an unreadable expression on his face.“I am doing what I think is best for my people. Alpha Knox only wants her, I see no reason in trying to harm my people,” Maverick replied.Something struck me, his tone, he addressed me with some much venom in his tone like he hated the sight of me. I must say, he was really playing his role right.“You can’t do that!” the man hissed. “We have a solid plan, a fail-proof one,” he hissed.Something didn’t sit right with me. The mole wasn’t meant to defend me, he should be excited about this plan.“Would you rather, Alpha Knox and his men massacre our people for some bitch?” he spat, his ring digging into my wrist.The man tried to speak furth
ROSANNEMaverick’s call to action was to storm into the room and expose the traitor. But I knew we couldn’t do that, not when we still needed the upper hand.“This is perfect,” I smiled, snapping my fingers as I plotted out a new plan in my mind.“What is perfect?” Maverick hissed, his eyes burning with hurt from the betrayal he had just discovered. “These men have been with me right from time, and now, one is a mole? That is if the whole crew isn’t corrupted,” he spat shaking his head in disapproval.It hurts, and I knew that. But he had to face it, nothing lasts forever not even friendships and loyalty.“I am sorry about all this, but now isn’t the time to stand and mourn some lost friendship. Now is about making sure that your people are safe,” I said.“What do you have in mind?” he asked, staring at me with slumped shoulders.I wasn’t scared of the way he had subconsciously handed me the reins of leading his group, “The defence plan that we had set up still stands, but rather than
ROSANNENo one was brave when it came to war. No matter how hard you plan or prepare something is always going to go wrong.“You have to go with the women,” I said to Anita, placing soft kisses on my baby's head.Anita shook her head, “Come with us, I can’t let you fight,” she said, tears gleaming in her eyes as she held onto my children.I understood her fear, she couldn’t image me out there fighting, but I had to. I had to step up and protect my children. I needed to prove to them that I could do it. I could be strong.“Anita, they are here because of me, if something happens to me, I need to be sure that they are safe,” I said, my voice cracking as I thought about the possibility of not being around them when they learn how to take their first step.My voice croaked, "You are their godmother, protect them," I said.Axel moved forward, an unreadable expression on his face, “Take care of yourself, I will see you soon,” he mumbled, placing a kiss on her lips.I smiled, watching the wa
ANITAThe door banged open, my heart racing at the sudden intrusion. After my last encounter with Maverick, I had expected him to be the one.“What is going on?” I asked the soldier, my heart racing as I noticed the panicked expression on his face.“Where is Maverick?” he asked, looking around the room.Beats me, the last I had seen of the man was before Rosanne had given birth, and after that, things have been on a hush-hush around here. No one was saying a thing.“What is wrong?” I repeated my heartbeat spiking at the way his hand trembled.“They are coming,” he replied, with a slight tremor in his voice like he couldn’t bring himself to say the name.“Who? What?”“The Golden Rise pack, they are marching down here, Alpha Knox leading the troop,” he said, rushing out of the room.I staggered, my breath caught in my throat, it couldn’t be.The world tilted. It was spinning out of control.“Rosanne!” I gasped, rushing towards the room she had been holed up in.There was no time for ple
ROSANNEThe raw shrilling cries of babies filled the room, it was real, filled with emotions.My children.I groaned, my body groaning in pain as I tried to rise to my feet, through my blurry vision I noticed the nurse from earlier, holding onto my children’s cot, her eyes devoid of the warmth they once had.I couldn’t remember much that had happened after the birth of my third child, the one that had been hiding behind his siblings, surprising the midwife and me. I had thought I was having twins, but the little shocker had decided to finally make himself known.And from how loud the cries were, I knew it was him, my firecracker; Aiden.“Let me hold them,” I whispered, my body still struggling to recover from everything that had happened.I looked around the room, expecting to find Axel or Anita, but I was shocked to find Maverick, standing by the side, his eyes staring at me with untold emotions in them.“Good to see that you are awake,” he muttered, smiling slyly at me as he moved c