ANAYA'S POVThe room suddenly felt so heated up even though I was practically almost naked. I raised my hand and began fanning my face as I felt it turn red. "Is it always this hot in here?""It's not hot." He simply replied as he turned his back on me and continued arranging his paint brushes."Where did you learn?" The question was a means of toning down the level of awkwardness between us."Learn what? To look this good? It was a talent." He flashed me a smirk.I swallowed, trying to contain my emotions. Did he know how hard I was trying to not do something stupid? Why keep torturing me like that?"To-- to paint." I cleared my throat. "Where did you learn to paint? Was that a talent too?"His hand stopped what he was doing and for a second, I thought I heard him sigh. "It was an easy skill to learn since I always had the special touch for art. Any skill you learnt in particular?" He was obviously avoiding the subject by diverting the question to me.He didn't want to talk about it
DUKE'S POVI ran my fingers through my hair as my tongue slipped out to lick my lower lip. She didn't even calm down to hear me out first!Building up a school for only omegas where education is free, wasn't that a privilege? The community was only trying to look out for them!In a school where other higher ranked werewolves attended, would they feel any more safer with a higher risk of being bullied or murdered?Other ranks wouldn't find it fair that only omegas would get to enjoy such a privilege and it could lead to a riot or something which obviously would be bad! Would they be any safer then?That would just be risking them to much more danger than they already are and it is exactly what the community is trying to eradicate. They wanted to help. That was all I was trying to imply.Did I sound rude? I never meant omegas should accept whatever was being thrown at them, I just thought--"Duke?"I turned around and noticed Darius standing by the door, looking quite confused. "Oh, hey
ANAYA'S POVThe sun crept in through the window and reflected on my face. I had barely gotten good sleep all through the night since I had slept through the afternoon.The anger in me also kept me up all night but it had melted into sadness now.I was used to being called a useless omega by people but it just hurt me more to be referred to like that by the one person that made me feel full on an empty stomach.Sitting up, a tired yawn left my mouth as I threw my blanket off me and went into the bathroom to shower after making my bed.There were hardly many plants to be seen during the winter season but I still wanted to look.Dressed up in a cropped baby blue top and a floral long skirt, I threw on my jacket and packed my hair behind me to wrap my neck in a muffler and put on a head warmer. Everyday that went by drew us closer to the cold.Unlike other ranks, omegas were almost like humans. We felt the cold to our hearts if we didn't wrap ourselves during winter.The last piece of clo
ANAYA'S POVI felt so angry to the core that I was being treated like a puppy he was walking. He stayed behind me in silence, monitored my steps and cross checked everything and anything I bent touch to touch.I couldn't help but to frown at him every time he came close to me.A four petal pink flower stood firm despite the cold wind blowing every once in a while.I stepped closer to and and knelt down to get a better look at it. Its petals were light pink with the middle being of each petal being a deep shade of red. Yellow seeds stood out in the middle of the small flower.It was the first of its kind I had seen all day!Taking out my book, I flipped through it, page after page and finally landed on the one I was looking for."Pink ivy, rare and beautiful. It brings good look and blessing to each home it resides in and grows perfectly whatever the condition as far as there is sand." I scoffed a laugh. "This is amazing! We have to take it back home and replant it!""Why?" He finally
ANAYA'S POVClearing my throat, I rose to my feet and shuffled backward awkwardly like a penguin in shoes. Almost tripping, I felt firm hands grip my wrist and pull me back to a balanced position.I was back at staring into his innocently beautiful eyes. I didn't know what to do, there was a hesitance in his gaze.He cleared his throat, "listen..." His voice was low and gentle like a soothing rumbling in the sky. "About last night... I didn't mean things in the way you thought I did... I just meant that it was change, you know, the elders and other ranks agreeing to do something nice for omegas for a change.""It's not change if they stuff us in a box like outcast toys." I stated firmly."I know. I know. And I'm sorry for hurting your feelings... I didn't mean to. I would never..." His gaze pierced right through me.I felt my heart pounding in my chest like it was going to explode. He looked innocently handsome, like a sad puppy looking guilty after doing something to offend its owner
THIRD POVThey both stared at each other in silence, Anaya felt her heart beating inside her chest like it would burst out and she tried to keep her gaze from falling from his.Duke let out a soft chuckle and took a step back. "I'm just kidding. Come on, let's go inside and give you some warmth. From the fireplace, not me."Anaya felt like a fool for feeling so affected by his presence. The way their breath mixed, the way his scent filled up her head and made her almost lose grip on sanity, the way his mesmerizing brown eyes watched her body, she felt lost in his gaze.He turned and walked away while laughing to himself and Anaya felt her cheek burn up. A big part of her wanted it to be true. She had hoped he would touch her and help quench the strange hunger inside of her.The way she felt was all too strange and demanding. Her body was demanding for the unthinkable, what she would have never thought about on a normal day.Her naivety always found a way to make a fool of her in situa
ANAYA'S POVHe just stared silently at my breast and I felt as hot as I could ever be. I was so surprised to have done something so outrageous but oddly, a bigger part of me was filled with excitement and eagerness.I breathed heavily, my nipples hardened just watching him watch me. My cheeks burnt up as he stared at my now hardened nipples."Mm..." He moaned thoughtfully with a look that said he was not totally displeased with what he saw.Why did it matter to me what he thought about me? Why did I allow myself to get judged by him? Why did I want this to happen?I didn't have the answer to any of those questions. In fact I didn't know what I was doing or why I was doing anything but I knew I wanted to do it.Without listening to my head, my legs made their way towards him, one quick step after another. Afraid of slowing down and letting hesitance rule. Afraid of losing to the many thoughts that flooded my head.I walked towards him and stopped right in front of him. "Didn't you say
ANAYA'S POVI spent the rest of the day thinking about what I had done in my room. Did it mean anything to him? Did it mean half as much as it did to me to him? Or was I just another girl he ticked off his 'have sex with' list?I didn't know why, but I felt like I was more than someone on a list to him. Like what we did meant something to him.For him to ask me if I truly wanted it, if I were just someone on his list, I doubted if there would be any hesitation.But now that he saw me naked, now that he had explored my body and taken away my innocence, what was I to him?It would be too much of a burden to ask him right away so it might be best to wait a while. Right? Was I even making any sense?'We don't have to ask him anything,' my wolf said to me. 'We can just watch his actions for a few days and see how he acts. There are three options to how his behavior might be, firstly, If he acts the same, like nothing ever happened, then it doesn't mean anything to him.'Her first option ma
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
DUKE'S POVI searched my surroundings for any face with a slight similarity to Anaya's but found none. She had left to go to the bathroom a while ago and was yet to return. I had a bad feeling about the way she acted from the start."Hey, have either of you two spotted Anaya anywhere?" I asked my brothers.They finally fell silent, their conversation drowning as they looked around in a futile attempt to find her."Now that you mention it..." Darius spoke up. "Didn't she say she was going to the bathroom? Do you think it's for a number two?" He arched his brow."Miguel isn't here either," Dean said. He has a suspicious look on his face. "I don't like it. I'm getting a strange feeling inside. She's not in danger but she's feeling tense somehow. I don't know how to explain it.""You don't have to." I said to him in response. "We can all feel it too." My expression darkened as a slight frown sat on my face."We should try to find her right?" Dean questioned.Darius nodded his head. "We sh
ANAYA'S POVMy eyes almost popped out of their sockets. Did Miguel Rodrigo know what he was saying? Me? His mate? How was that even possible?"All the questions you could possibly think of, I have the answer to them." He proudly said. "So go ahead and ask them.""Firstly, do you even know what you are saying? The alpha triplet is my mate and I have not been rejected by either of them.""You don't have to be for me to find you. Didn't you notice? I haven't found a mate yet. I was curious as to why mate hasn't shown her face to me yet, who knew she was busy with the Cavannagh brothers?" His brow arched maliciously at me."You said you have a woman." I returned my hands beneath my breast as I glared at him."I did, didn't I? But I never said she was my mate. I believe the Cavannagh brothers were fooling around with some pretty girls before they found you. It hurts to know that you are my first chance mate and I your second. Has any complication like this happened before?" He placed a cur
ANAYA'S POVI walked down the hall but didn't find anyone with the resemblance of Miguel. I stopped one of the passing maids-- an omega-- who greeted me with a now."Hi, I'm sorry to bother you while you work but I am looking for beta Miguel." I said in the most modest tone I could."I think I saw him going into the library just a few seconds ago." She said to me. Her voice was soft and full of respect.I smiled at her. "Thank you so much for answering. Can I go into the library without permission?" I asked her."Of course you can, would you like me to show you?" She asked me."Of course," I responded with a smile, "you are very nice."She smiled as well and led me to the library. Arriving there, she pointed at the door and with a bow, she turned and walked away.I allowed myself into the library. Taking a step forward, it was like walking into a different world. Several books aligned on tall shelves, taller than I had ever seen.The covers were of several different colors, from blue
ANAYA'S POVBeta Ray arrived a few moments after Miguel left our table and he was a man looking as handsome as his son.Both of them scented like fresh mint. Wealth was the aura eluding from them and it was impossible not to stare at them.I heard beta Ray was in his forties. He looked so young and handsome for his age.He gave a speech about how much he loved the pack and how grateful he was to hand it over to a suitable person like Miguel. He praised his son heavily, talking about how diligent and strong willed he was.I had to roll my eyes when he called his son decent. I could tell from one glance that Miguel was the kind to sleep with different women, if possibly, at the same time.Miguel had a smug smile on his face as he received praises from his father. His eyes fixed on me for more than a moment and I didn't avert my gaze. I didn't want to.My hands were placed on my laps, my stomach churned and I felt extremely shy as his yellow eyes bore into my soul, yet I kept my head hig
ANAYA'S POVI didn't know why I was feeling so funny inside. That was Miguel? The guy I couldn't stop staring at. The guy that kept staring at me as well? Miguel?"What's his last name?" I found myself asking."Miguel Rodrigo. Son of a wealthy ass beta." Dean snorted."Why do you hate him so much? You guys are also wealthy, I thought you all would get along well with each other." I asked them.Dean scoffed a laugh. "Get together well? The egoistic werewolf wants us to treat him like an older brother even though he is just a year older. He expects us to bow at his feet and kiss his shoes even though our family is the alpha's family and we are also wealthy enough."More than enough if you asked me. I thought to myself.The alpha family lived a very comfortable life. More than comfortable if you asked me. They could buy whatever they wanted whenever they wanted and they lived in a mansion. Well it was a mansion to me in comparison to where I used to stay with my dad.But the family weren
ANAYA'S POVThe rest of the week went by in a haze. Rafa and I had hung out a couple of times after school and I ended up with several shopping bags. As always.I was beginning to think I could open my own mall with all the gifts I had gotten from her so far. I understood that she was trying to teach her father a lesson by misspending all of his money but she was highly generous. She still went to the same shopping mall with the beefing girls and of course, she left them a healthy tip. Every single time.Duke and I were hanging out but casually. I couldn't help but to wonder when he would make things official but no matter what, I told myself that I wouldn't ask. It was finally time to attend beta Ray's son's naming ceremony. He was going to be named Beta at the age of nineteen.Thanks to Rafa, I had quite the choice of dresses to wear and Luna Freya didn't have to buy me any new clothes for the event.I put on a deep blue flair dress with snow white fluffs at the hem and top of i
DUKE'S POVShe slid her top down her shoulder to reveal her bare skin and I fought the urge to keep going.I smiled and pulled it back up. "I told you... I have work."She cleared her throat. "Oh, I'm so sorry. I didn't..." She let out a nervous chuckle. "I know, it's just... Nothing, I'm sorry.""You don't have to apologize. Would you like to see what I'm painting?" I asked and she nodded her head with a soft chuckle.Holding her waist, I carried her down from the kitchen counter and led her into my studio.I had never had any problem with having impromptu guests since I always kept the place clean and tidy. I wasn't like Darius. I couldn't help but to roll my eyes at the thought of how messy he could be sometimes.Every time I remembered when we were all forced to share one room while growing up, I was always grateful for having my own room now. He didn't understand the need for personal space and privacy sometimes."Is this it?" She pointed at my current work piece, her words pulli