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 POV"Wait wait wait, hold on one second," Darius walked towards me. "What the hell is all this about? Why are you suddenly asking my dad what happened when your dad died?""Because he knows what exactly I want to hear." I said firmly, keeping a stern gaze at the alpha."Anaya..." Luna Freya finally walked towards me. "What... What does that mean? Why are you... Are you thinking that my husband..." She shook her head, "no, that the alpha had something to do with your father's death?""No," I sharply responded. "No, of course not. I know that he is innocent regarding that but he knows what I am talking about. Something else that he hid from me all this while. How could you lie to my face?" I squinted at him, tears pricked at my eyes."I didn't lie..." He said, his tone changed from confidence to guilt. "I just didn't tell you..." His gaze lowered.Luna Freya stared confusedly at the both of us. She walked over to her husband and held his hand. "Honey I-- I don't understand. Wha-
THIRD POVLuna Freya let out a soft sigh as she sat still and stared at the TV that wasn't even turned on. Falling asleep the night before was no easy feat and now she was impatiently waiting for the arrival of her son and Anaya.The boys hadn't found it easy to fall asleep either. Knowing well that Anaya had suddenly become depressed after the party.They had explained everything to their father and mother, telling them they didn't know why her mood had suddenly been altered after a conversation with the former beta.Alpha Donald couldn't help his mind as it wandered back to the conversation he had forbidden ex beta Ray from ever telling anyone. Especially Anaya since it was about her father.'Could he have told her that fantasy of his?' He asked himself. 'He isn't dumb enough to let the girl think otherwise when she is only just learning to move on and live a better life. Or is he?'He couldn't voice out those thoughts because he never mentioned it to his sons or even his own wife!
ANAYA'S POVThe ray of sun shone directly at my face as I opened my eyes. I shielded my face with my hand, trying to turn away from the sunlight, but then I realized I wasn't alone.My heavy head was laying on the chest of Duke who laid there with his eyes closed. His naked chest rose and fell momentarily as he breathed in and out softly.I looked around and realized that we had slept in the car last night and didn't go home, everyone must have been worried sick. I tried to get up but his arm was wrapped around my waist under the thick blanket covering our naked bodies and I knew I would wake him if I made any sudden movements.I had to wake him, we had been gone all night, yet I wanted to just remain there and stare at his face. His handsome lips were pursed in a cute manner and his eyes were relaxedly closed.I trailed a finger across his face, outlined his handsome facial features. Gently, I removed a strand of escaped hair from his face and returned it to its place.I found myse
ANAYA'S POVI threw my arms around his neck, hugging him like I wanted to take out his last breath. He didn't complain. His strong hands wrapped around my waist and hugged me tightly.Tears ran down my face like a river, pain burdened my heart like an anchor, emotions seeped through my every being like I had holes."It's too much..." I muttered as I sobbed against his body."It's alright." He responded in a soft tone. He didn't ask me what was too much, he didn't ask me what had hurt me so much, he simply just patted me down on my back like I was an infant that couldn't voice out its pain yet and just simply cried for attention.I raised my head from his shoulder and stared into his eyes. The next word that left my mouth surprised us both. "I need you to have sex with me."He blinked. "What?"It sounded so absurd asking for something like that out of the blue but I had my reasons. If I slept with him, I wouldn't get the chance to worry about anything, I wouldn't even be able to think
THIRD POVDarius wore a smile on his face as he saw Anaya walking back towards their table. "Hey, how was the talk? Are you okay?" He arched his brow, his smile turning into worry as he saw how pale she was looking.Duke and Dean were on their feet as well, trying to figure out what had happened to her.She simply smiled, a smile that barely touched her eyes, "let's go home." She said in a zombie state.Without waiting, she started for the exit and walked out on her own. The triplet was left hurrying after her.All through the car ride, she was silent, clutching the photo album to her chest. Her heavy head nested against the window and she looked as if she would break into tears any time soon.Duke didn't want to pay any attention to her, he was angry at her for what she did earlier with Miguel, yet he found himself casting glances at her to make sure she was alright.One time, he had to look twice to be sure that she wasn't in tears. He couldn't help the rage that began to sprout ins
ANAYA'S POVMy stomach churned, my heart raced, tears blurred my eyes and my head spun. All I could think of was his smile, I had tried so hard to remember his laughter ever since he passed but now that I was looking at his picture, it slipped to me so easily.The way his face lit up whenever he saw me. Up until I was sixteen, he still treated me like I was three.My lips stretched into a smile and all I could do was yearn for him.Ex beta Ray's soft voice pulled me out of my thoughts and I sniffed. "You cannot imagine how much I miss him too."I looked up at him and smiled. "Miguel has always been good looking." I tried to change the subject.He chuckled wholeheartedly. "Of course! He takes after me. I always thought you two would grow up to become mates, you were joined at the hip!"I cleared my throat and let out a nervous chuckle. "You don't say..." I anxiously replied.He sighed and turned the page over. It was a picture of he and my dad standing side by side with the biggest smi
ANAYA'S POVI shuffled from foot to foot, not solely because my feet were hurting from the heels I was putting on but because I was nervous, waiting for the former beta.I clutched the bag with books inside close to myself, hoping and praying that the beta wouldn't realize what was inside. Maybe I should have handed it to Darius as he asked.I took the opportunity to show myself around his study. The room was large and in neat order.His chair was a strong looking leather and the table carried more weight than it looked like it could.Two soft looking white sofas sat close to each other with a rectangular glass table in the middle of the place.The walls had a unique set of paintings in all colors. Large flower pots sat in two corners of the room."...and call me when he is done." I turned around as I heard him say from behind.He smiled as he saw me and gently closed the door behind himself. "Oh, you're already here. You must have waited long, sorry to have kept you waiting." He apol
ANAYA'S POVI thought about the offer for a second even though it tormented me too. I needed that book, well apparently, those books.Luna Freya had told me about a book that held more information about dark flowers like the soil feeders and I desperately needed to know more. Apparently, the keepers of all information related things was the beta family. It had always been.The alpha used to keep it before but he got robbed so they secretly moved it to the beta without anyone knowing. Now for generations, only the alpha and his family knew that the beta were the keepers.Knowing that, I just couldn't hold back the urge to ask Miguel what he knew about it. I didn't know if he would actually have the book or know where it was but then that was one thing.Handing it to me by himself was another thing entirely.Now that he was willing to hand it to me, a few moments from my time should be enough to pay the price.I nodded my head. "I'll keep my word about the seven dates. I promise you.""
THIRD POVDuke slammed the door behind himself as he walked outside. He scoffed, finding it hard to understand why she had chosen Miguel over him.'That arrogant jerk! What did he promise her to make her choose her over me so easily? I could tell that she was lying to me in there but why?'He asked himself severally as he stood by the door like a security guard. He folded his arms across his chest and let out a chuckle of disbelief.The door pulled open behind him and he turned around as Anaya and Miguel walked out of the room.Miguel stared at Duke with a smile on his face but the smile was a mask. He was thinking about something but didn't want it to show on his face.What she had asked him for, he knew it was in the Rodrigo family's possession but he didn't know where exactly it was. But he would find it somehow and hand it to her. For the security of the entire town.Anaya smiled at him, knowing well that he would keep his word. "Thank you for answering me, I think I should be abl