The entire room fell into silence as they all waited for Duke to come clean about what we had to tell them. We?! As in Duke and I!I felt lumps in my throat as his eyes remained fixed on me in a way that felt so wicked and excruciatingly painful.What did WE have to tell them? Nothing at all! How could he decide on his own to come clean on the very day we had sex? Who did that in this world?"What is it you would like to tell us?" Luna Freya questioned and I only just realized she had directed her question to me."What? I don't... I don't think there's anything..." My words stumbled against each other and my voice chose that particular moment to croak. I cleared my throat loudly, "I don't think I have anything to tell you, Luna, or anyone else at this table.""Oh come on," he rolled his eyes skywards. "Have you forgotten about it so quickly? You made such a big fuss about how important it was and now you're telling me that you don't remember?"A big fuss? I wanted to rip his hair righ
ANAYA'S POVLuna Freya suddenly asked all of us to back away from the table and we all obediently did so while staring confusedly at the plant on the table.She, herself, seemed to be studying the plant intently with squinting eyes. Her mind seemed to have wandered far away from the dining room where we all were.I had a bazillion questions to ask her but I also didn't want to interrupt her thoughts. If it wasn't pink ivy, was it something dangerous? What was the odd surge I was feeling? Those desires I felt that were my own but also weren't.How was I to explain that? What was that?Had I urged Duke to bring home something very dangerous? Were we all going to die? Was it feeding on our energy or something?I couldn't remain quiet anymore. "Freya, what is it then if it isn't pink ivy? Have I brought home something very dangerous? Are we all going to die?" Anxiety hooked me in the throat, choking me and making it hard to swallow."No," she replied in her usual motherly calmness but her
ANAYA'S POV"We should get rid of it!" Darius said, his tone wavering with worry. A feeling that matched the one in his eyes.Luna Freya shook her head. "No, we can't. It still has important properties that are very useful. I can grow more and use it for treatment but I will take it away from here so none of us will ever get tempted to do anything stupid--""But mom! It's too much of a risk, even for you and you know that." Dean cut her off.It was written on his face that he was worried about his mother just like the rest of his brothers."Dean is right." Alpha Donald said in agreement. "We should do something about it but most definitely not keep it.""No, all of you just listen to me. This plant will work as a cure to anything! Even wolfbane once ingested to a certain point." She looked at all of us. "We can help so many people, the last alpha who had such thing in possession cleansed the world of every sickness and though it was hard, he fought against the darkness of the flower a
DUKE'S POVAnaya stared wordlessly at me, eyes burning with confusion and what seemed like fear. I felt my hand squeeze into a ball of rage even though I managed to keep my anger from showing on my face.How could they be so thoughtless? Aren't they the only ones in our midsts who knew well the dangers of having such a thing around us? So why act so foolishly?"It doesn't matter what--"It doesn't matter what?" I cut her off sternly. "It doesn't matter what people think? It doesn't matter what others say? It doesn't matter what I say?""It doesn't matter what other people think about me!" She yelled, sadness flickered across her eyes. "It doesn't matter how they treat me! I will still do what I can to help people when they are sick. Sure, they all hate me, they bully me, I'm a nobody and they probably even wouldn't want to accept anything from the disgusting hands of a lowly omega as myself but I am not them! I am not a selfish, egoistic and arrogant fool who only does things to her o
ANAYA'S POVThe whole Sunday went by in the blink of an eye. Luna Freya had spent most of the day searching for a place for us to replant the soil feeders or maybe she already had a place like she had and was just furnishing it.Whichever one it was, she was busy the whole day.Alpha Donald and his sons went on patrol repeatedly only after short intermittent breaks. Just to make sure there wasn't another flower sprouting carelessly in the ground where any greedy soul could find it.I, on the other hand, spent all my time in my bedroom studying. I usually studied with Ella but now that we were no longer friends and having the fact that she was my only friend, I had to study on my own.It didn't turn out bad though, I was able to focus more on my studies, rest when I felt like and picked up at my own pace.But the weekend was already over and Monday morning stood just a few hours away. I felt so disturbed, I could barely get any sleep.It wasn't because of the economics text I was havin
ABOUT THE CAVANNAGH BROTHERSANAYA'S POVLuna Freya squeezed my hand affectionately. "I know they are, but still, I feel like we owe you more. Your father... He made a great sacrifice and fought well for each of us in this pack. He fought to keep us safe. You deserve to be treated better.""No, no, don't say that!" I took her hand and squeezed it. "You guys are treating me just fine."I did deserve to be treated better, not by them though, but by the other people around me. By Ella, by Sarah, by Donna and Maria... Well, I wasn't expecting anything much from the latter two.But after my own father gave up his own life to protect every single one of them, why did they think it was fair for me to treat me the way they did?But the people who I had expected to bully me and hate me forever now cared for me and worried about me. Like that wasn't enough, the Luna and the alpha were always there for me whenever I needed them to be. I couldn't ask for anything else.I smiled at both of them. "
DUKE'S POVAnger coursed through my veins as I sent a sharp kick to the front tire of our stupid car. "Gah!" I grunted furiously.Dean got down from the car to assess the damage. "How the hell did a tiny nail like that puncture such a hole in the tyre?""How the fuck am I supposed to know? Last time I checked, I knew about paint brushes, not car tyres and nails.""Geez, chill bro." Darius said. "Why are you extra grumpy today?" He slammed the car door and leaned against it with his hands folded at his chest.I let out a sigh as I stood with my hands at my hips. How was I to tell them that Anaya was the cause for my anger? I ran my hand through my hair as it occurred to me what she must be thinking.How was I supposed to tell her that I didn't take advantage of her the other night? I didn't sleep with her just because she wanted me to and it obviously wasn't that I saw her as cheap or anything.Why was it so hard to communicate with one simple girl? Maybe it's because she isn't so simp
ANAYA'S POVI stared silently at her but remained in place. She smiled and walked closer to me, her fake smile and pretending as if she really cared about me made me feel so angry.But I managed to remain calm and stood there waiting for her to spill whatever trash was in her mouth."You think the Cavannagh brothers care about you right? You think they want to stay by your side now that they know you are their mate? Well it isn't that easy." She said firmly.She smiled softly like she used to whenever she wanted to comfort me. "The Cavannagh brothers aren't as humane as you think you are. I mean, those guys used to be your biggest bully! Can you really be stupid enough to think they love you?" She arched her brow at me.There it was, the scrutinizing squinting of eyes I had been waiting for. She looked at me like that anytime she wanted to give me a lecture. It made me feel so angry that I usually listened to the bullshit she said every single time.My fist clenched but somehow, I man
ANAYA’S POVA loud pitched ringing echoed in my head as I tried to open my eyes. I groaned softly, trying to settle my breathing. Where was I? I wondered, Trying to move, I felt a sort of bondage holding me back, what was the meaning of this? Struggling, I realized I was tied to a chair. A gasp escaped my mouth as I looked around. Footsteps were being heard from a distance. Turning my head backwards, my eyes landed on the stranger whom had been talking with Duke. His piercing green eyes were one to not forget.My eyes widened as I sighted him. His lips spread into a wide grin, “hello Anaya,” he smirked wickedly, “you must be surprised to meet yourself in my house, don’t worry, it is my boss that wishes to see you.”I squinted. His boss? I wanted to speak but my mouth was covered. I struggled to speak either way.“Calm down dear,” another voice came from behind me. “No need to struggle, I just don’t want any disturbance while I explain things to you. I have come to realize that you a
It was a cool Sunday morning, the wind howled silently and the subtle breeze danced along with the trees. Anaya walked out of her apartment dressed in her winter sweater and mittens, a cool icy breathe escaped her mouth as she breathed out. She rubbed her hands together and pulled her head warmer properly over her head. The year was falling into its second trimester and the summer breeze was starting to sit comfortably.How long had it been since she set foot in this small town? About four years or five. After graduation, things had moved rather quickly for her. Getting into a good university was easier than she had expected, Rafa had been there all through to help financially and emotionally. After spending four years in a prestigious university, she had graduated with the best of the best result and surprisingly, her rank but was not considered when she was given the post of a secretary in a high end company. Over a year since she started working, she had saved up enough to car
ANAYA'S POVI did not know how to process the information I had just heard. Whether it was true or not was left to my mother's wolf and she would have no reason to lie to me or try to deceive me with something so expensive. 'My name is Ella,' she said lovingly, 'after your mother's death, I became your protector because it was her dying wish. So I will be with you forever until we are no more.'Tears trailed down my face like a free stream, my heart ached so wearily and I could not breathe. I felt like I was drowning in a deep ocean. "Mom..." I called out to her as I sobbed. Hitting my chest, I tried to help myself breathe again but it seemed all my efforts were futile. 'Anaya... Breathe...' I heard Ella's voice in my head. 'You are holding back your own breath... Breathe...' She said so soothingly but it did not help me. So I was the hindrance to my own breathing, knowing that did nothing to help me though. I still did not breathe. I hit my chest again, sobbing even louder into
DUKE'S POVI gave a swift turn and tried to flip the person behind me but then my eyes widened as I realized who was standing behind me. "Darius?" I furrowed my brows. "That could have been one mean flip," he said, "and very painful too." He added. I could not help but to smile but only for a second. "What are you doing out here when it's so dark?" I questioned him as I released him from my hold. "I could ask you the same." He responded as he crossed his arms. "I just... Needed some air." I avoided his gaze as I responded. What good would it come to if I told him I was looking for Anaya to make sure she was okay? Especially since I was the one who hurt her in the first place. I could almost laugh out loud at my foolishness. "Do you have any idea how fast we had to run to keep up with you?" I turned to look behind Darius as I heard another familiar voice coming from that direction.I arched my brow at him. "Dean? What are you guys doing out here? Did you two follow me to scold m
ANAYA'S POVI felt a sudden cold air blow past me and a shudder ran down my spine. Yet I knew the weather was stagnant and no leaves rustled from being pushed around by any sudden wind. I felt cold and warm at the same time, all feelings and emotions traveling through my body without care for the effects it was causing me. But I didn't mind because even though I felt it all, I felt nothing. "What did you just say....?" The question rolled off my tongue as carefully and slowly as it could go. At first, I was met by a deafening silence. But then her voice boomed in my head, gentle and caring as one would tenderly speak to a struggling plant while trying to offer it support to grow. 'Your mother was a strong woman and I was her best friend. Just as strong and even more powerful.' She gave a pause but I did not bother to interfere or rush her. Instead, I listened on to her explanation in utmost silence and total concentration. 'She was a very strong sentinel, keen, resilient, stubbor
THIRD POV"What the fuck did you do to her, Duke?!" Darius spat out angrily. "Don't tell me it is what I am thinking.""Yeah Duke," Dean added as he advanced towards his brothers. "Tell us exactly what happened.""What are your brothers talking about?" Luna Freya stared confusedly at her sons. What were they talking about? Duke felt the words too heavy to pronounce but they had already felt it and it was of no use to pretend. So he took a deep breath and spoke up in a loud, audible and confident voice. "I rejected her as my mate."Luna Freya's arms dropped lifelessly to her sides and her heart slowed. She did not understand what her son had just said or maybe she had not heard him clearly. "You... You rejected her?" She arched her brow at him. "What were you all expecting?" Duke asked without a hint of remorse in his voice. "Were you expecting me to make her our luna? Come on, we can't always be selfish.""Why can't she be our luna?" Dean requested in a stern voice. "Because she is
ANAYA’S POVI had hoped I would be next to him until the world would end. Until death would do us apart, until our bones would wither away. Had I hoped for too much? My heart was heavy, my feet were too heavy for me to lift but I managed to turn away from him without looking back. I wanted to keep my confidence as I accepted his rejection but I knew my heart would ache and my eyes would fail me. So I turned my back and opened my mouth to speak, "I accept your rejection..." Tears poured from my eyes. An invincible knife stabbed my chest and my body ached seriously. I wanted to crumble to the ground, it felt like I was being torn apart piece by piece. It was true when they said the pain of rejection could kill an omega. It left other werewolves feeling like they had lost a big part of their soul but it made me feel like my entire soul had been sucked out of me. THIRD POVDean grabbed his chest at the same time Darius reacted in the same way. The ceramic dish in both of their hands
ANAYA'S POVShock was a feeling that could not explain what I had truly felt at his words. My ears refused to believe what they had just heard but then again, that was the plain truth. He had truly said those words and I was not delusional. He... Wanted to reject me as his mate. He stared into my eyes for a second before avoiding my gaze once more. His former coldness returned and he furrowed his brows. "I, Duke Cavannagh, reject you, Anaya Fields, as my mate and future Luna." "That is absurd!" I spat out before I even realized it. My body refused to fall under control, my heart could not handle the wounds and bled uncontrollably. "You cannot reject me!" I yelled. "No, you will not reject me! Not after everything we have been through. Do you have no idea what you really mean to me? How can you just selfishly say those cruel words to me without even batting an eye?" "Because it is the truth, reality. This is our reality Anaya, you and I were never meant to be, it was a mistake and
THIRD POVDuke stared at me with confusion in his eyes and I realized what I had just said and I tried to swallow the words back but there was no way to do that. He walked over towards me and as much as I wanted to stand still, my legs betrayed me and I took a step back. "You... Are you trying to tell me that you found out that Miguel was your second chance mate but you still stayed with him for the winter?" He arched his brow at me. I opened my mouth to talk but the words refused to leave my mouth. I cleared my throat and decided to try again. "I just needed a place to stay until my place was ready. I couldn't stay with Rafa because she lives with her dad who is an alpha. "The man is quite strict and he would not have even allowed me there. I just had to take him up on his offer to spend a few days before moving. He had several rooms and we went without seeing each other for days whenever we wanted to. It was no big deal. Besides, I lived with you guys for months." He scoffed a