Dahlia.My heart thumped and thumped as I looked down at my closed fists. Not that I was anxious, it’s just that moments after sitting in the car, I felt a piece of paper in my hand. A note… Obviously, the note must have been slipped into my fingers by Damian, which is why I can’t stop hyperventilating in the car. I can’t wait to open it once I get home.Catherine went nonverbal the entire ride, and I didn’t say a thing afraid it would only make the air more awkward. Nearing my house, I hear her phone vibrate and she picked it up nonchalantly. Her screen was visible as she was sitting right by my side, and I saw her father’s nickname pop up on the screen.Daddy. My lips pulled into a thin line as the urge to call him the same thing suddenly came over me. I mentally shake my head, when I heard Catherine click her tongue.“What’s wrong?” I finally asked.Catherine sighed. “Dad is moving the ball to tomorrow midnight. He didn’t even say why.”I didn’t say anything. What was there to sa
Chapter 46Dahlia.I stared down at the note, blinking. Swallowing the lump in my throat, I wonder why he wanted us to meet. I licked my lips dry, my hands shaking when I folded back the note.Three knocks on my door had me gasping with a mini-heart attack. I crumple the paper in my hand, turn, and open the door.My eyes settled on Hades’ and Valerian’s obsidian eyes. I bit my inner cheeks when I see the silent rage in their eyes.They did not let me say a word as they forced themselves into my room, shoving me back that my ass bounced on the foot of the bed. I looked up in time to see they have locked the door and ushered themselves in.“Get out.” I hissed, baring my teeth as I do not appreciate being broken into my own room, even if these two sexy hunks technically own the house I sleep in.“Answers first.” Hades growled back, instantly making me shut up with the outrage in his voice.“What were you doing in the Alpha King’s Kingdom?” Valerian was quick to ask, and my eyes dart to h
Dahlia.“There, you’re done.” Lola’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts. I was too occupied with my thoughts, thinking about what Hades said about Damian. The look in their eyes were too real to ignore. They wanted to warn me from him, but why?Lola smiled in the mirror, while I looked at myself, unable to believe what I see.I look beautiful. And not with my usual make up. To me, mascara and lipstick were enough to get me through the day, but this…This is on a whole new level.I smiled, turning to Lola. Wrapping my arms around her waist, I tugged her sidewards towards me. I felt like wanting to give her a hug.Although I told her I was going to do it by myself, she insisted to help. “I’m sorry for being an asshole,” I apologize, referring to the entire day of ignoring her when I found out she was Valerian’s mate.Lola patted my head.“It’s okay. I get it.” She sighed, her words prompting me to look at her in mild shock.“You know, even if we are mates, I don’t feel it.” I swivel
Chapter 48Dahlia.“Thanks, babe.” Cathy giggled as she gracefully slipped out of the car with the help of Hades.I open my eyes and see his gaze is on her now, my heart sank. I know I wasn’t imagining it when his gaze locked on me. A part of me still wanted his attention, though, but I couldn’t do that to Cathy.When Cathy was in level with Hades’, his eyes suddenly traveled back to me and winked.‘You look gorgeous, little flower.’ His compliment sneaked into my mind like a soft purr as he tugged on the mind link. ‘Thank you.” Was all I said as a response.I let Lola go first, so I could go last. I didn’t have a partner anyway. It was Atlas and Lisa, Hades and Cathy, then Lola and Valerian. That’s how it’s supposed to be.Once they all left the car, I gather my bearings and step out, my heels tapping on the stone floor. “Man. Am I lucky or you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met?”I spin on my heel, my eyes moving past Hades and Valerian before they locked.“Tatum?” My brows
Dahlia.Tatum tugged on my wrists, grabbing my attention. He was watching me, his eyes narrowing a little before they move back to—“Little mate, I want you to meet my Dad, and the Alpha King.” Tatum said.King Damian looked at me, while I managed a nervous smile trying to keep my heart from exploding. Tatum looks at me with furrowed brows.I quickly extend my hand before I get any more weird looks from him, if he even suspects anything. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, King Damian.” I smile. He looks at me and takes my hand, and the moment our skin touched, a sense of warmth surged from the spot he touched. I quickly retract my hand, worried Tatum would notice this weird connection I have with his father.“No need for introductions. Dahlia and I have met.”Tatum raised a brow, his eyes moving to me. “You have?”“Yes, Catherine brought her here yesterday. They appear to be very good friends.” King Damian said, his eyes still on me while I did my best to avoid his penetrating gaze.“I di
Chapter 49Dahlia.My heart felt like it was going to do a somersault when he finally started approaching. It was going to bust out of me any second.Yet, why don’t I feel scared? It’s like something draws me to him, but I don’t know what.I blinked back, my eyes still heavy with tears as I dragged myself out of that ballroom. I flinched when his thumb caressed my cheek, looking up to see his deep purple eyes staring softly at me.“Why the tears?” his brows scrunched, anger crossing his face.“Nothing.” His lips pulled over his teeth, and he growled. “Do not lie to me, kid.” His pure, dominating aura rolled over me like a pang in my heart, yet it was harmless. I could feel him trying to get me to spill it, but to my surprise, I could easily fight it back. Almost like I could resist it.The King stared at me as if realizing something, before he gives me a confused look.“Why is my aura not affecting you?” He asked, and I shrugged.“I…don’t know.” It was the truth. I had no idea why
Dahlia.It was stunning. Beautiful even. I can’t believe something like this actually exists in this part of the kingdom. The path on the way here I’m not gonna lie, looked like a staircase to hell. But as my eyes trailed from the stone path lined with flower beds and plenty of white rose on the side, I couldn’t help but gawk in pure awe.“Did you… built all this?” I ask in disbelief.Tatum chuckled, and when my eyes moved back to him I noticed he’d been watching me intently.“You can say that.” He replied.“It’s so beautiful…” my voice trailed off through a whisper carried by a strong gush of air from behind, making me jump.“It’s the vent. As you can see this place can’t survive without fresh air. I installed pretty large vents to help the air intake. Most coming from the outside.”I look at him, tilting my head.“This place is connected outside?”Tatum nods, pointing at the largest vent situated up the corner of two walls. “See that vent? It leads to the dark forest just at the ba
Chapter 51 Tatum’s POV TATUM – 17 years old It’s cold. My teeth chatter as they threaten to break and I don’t think they won’t. I’m not privileged to a goddamn health inspection when I need it the most. My teeth hurts and my gums are bleeding from taking Declan’s punches when last customer refused to pay me for being ‘soft’. How the f*ck could they blame me when their faces disgust me more than they arouse me? Old men who can’t come out yet refuse to either. They pretend the same sex don’t interest them but behind the scenes, they’re pigs who take advantage of teens to do their dirty work. Some only do it for money like me. Well, I think you could say that. The wind gushes and swooshes directly into me, I shiver violently from the cold. My back stings from the repeated lashes I received from Declan after the last guy practically threw me out of the tent. Usually, I would be rewarded with a bowl of rice if I did well, but some days, well, are just plain shit. And I have to fu
Dahlia’s POV:It felt like just like all those weeks ago, last time we met at our rendezvous and that same nudging feeling pulling me to him, yet I have no idea what. My brows furrow, and I notice Tatum’s eyes darken just before I remove my gaze to look right down at the steps in front of me. Now that I have made an entrance, it would be embarrassing if I make a fool of myself stumbling down the stairs. I have yet to reach the bottom stair when Tatum reaches his hand out to me. I look at it, glancing up at him to see his eyes had turned black in his anger, he was shaking, that I can tell, yet he was trying to mask it under his usual cheerful façade in front of Damien.‘Take it, mate,’ he orders through the bond, and my instincts snap instantly as I grip his hand. I wince, and he shoots me a death glare at the sound I dared to make, apparently I am not allowed to make any sound so long as his father is right in front of him.“Dahlia, it is so good to see you,” Damien smiles, and I sh
Hades’ POV“You have some fucking nerve, don’t you!” He snarls menacingly as he stomps over to me. I throw my hands in the air, a sign of my submission towards him while I step back slowly.His eyes bleed black as he glares daggers at me.“Get the fuck out of my sight before I have you killed! After that, I’ll have your pack killed as well,”My jaw clenches. No alpha should let anyone threaten his pack before him and let him get away with it, but this situation falls different. My pack literally lives off of his supplies and provision. Our father, before handing the title over to me and Valerian, filed for the pack’s bankruptcy, only we managed to save it thanks to the Alpha King’s tremendous help. Until I can pay him back and get the pack running on its own funds and thriving businesses, I am forever indebted to him.“Please, hear me out. It’s about Dahlia,” He growls ferociously, looking like he was about ready to lunge at me when Cathy jumps out of nowhere. Her small bump is on di
Hades’ POV:“Any news?” Lola asks, looking at me. Her brows were creased with worry. Atlas was right behind her, and I see him lift both his hands in an attempt to caress Lola’s arms, but stopped in mid-air before taking a step back. I can feel my wolf roll his eyes, now that we know he actually has a thing for Lola, and for god knows how long, it is starting to feel really uncomfortable with Valerian glaring daggers at him, and his mate. Yet he doesn’t say anything or do shit about it either because with all our dirty laundry piled out in the fucking open, no one has got the say on anything. I shake my head, trying to get it together before I fucking explode from the lava of anger deep inside me. On second thought, I may just have to shift and hunt her down myself. It’s been nearly three weeks and we got no fucking lead!I have been driving back and forth to the mansion, but each time I turn the car around and drive away. How the fuck am I supposed to face him when my pack’s safe
Chapter 99Dahlia’s POV:‘This is good, right? The Alpha King is coming,’ My wolf says to me, making my brows pinch.‘Maybe he can help us?’ she whispers. I shake my head at her, looking into my reflection in the mirror. I have just finished my make-up, and now I am ready to put on the dress.‘You heard him, Diana, we’re not getting out of here.’ I tell her, feeling her whimper at the loss of hope in my words. I wasn’t going to give her false hope or some play-pretend fantasy that we could even step out of this room without him watching us. We know what he is capable of, he has shown us, and with him repairing the bond, I doubt there was escaping him now.‘We’ve already gotten Ayesha and Felicia killed. They’re dead because of us. I don’t want us making it any worse.’ I say as I move to the edge of the bed, my legs cramping for a second and I wince. My body freezes as pain shoots up from my leg. I grit my teeth, not wanting to make a sound knowing Tatum might barge through those do
Dahlia’s POV:“What are you waiting for?”I step back, staring at him as he leans against the wall by the door.He waits, raising a brow at me before glancing down at his watch.“Clock is ticking, Dahlia. You have ten minutes,” he snaps at me.I quickly jump to my feet and hop under the shower, not wondering anymore about his kinks and why he loves watching me use the bathroom. He has seen every inch of my body by force, what more does he want? Turning the hot shower on, I go to pull the curtains but Tatum’s growl stop me.“Leave it on,” he snaps, my hand freezes in the air before I retreat back under the hot shower. Trying to ignore his presence, I grab the soap and lather my body with it. I shower as quickly as I could seeing as I only got ten minutes, and this is the first shower he allowed me in days. Lifting my head, I revel in the feeling of the water dripping down my face and silently pray he lets me shower again. I stink, that much I figured after seeing the color the water t
Dahlia’s POV:Tears prick the back of my eyes, and when I start blinking, I gasp as Tatum growls and snatches my throat, shoving me back against the giant bed he has imprisoned me in. Pain instantly rushes to the back of my head from the impact, and I winced.“I knew it,” he spits at me, while I stare back wide-eyed.“Tatum—” I choke.“You still like him, huh?” he snarls, and slowly I could feel him tightening his grasp, almost as if he was planning on squeezing the life out of me.Yet I wanted to scoff at the remark. Like is more of a weak word. Love, I love Hades, more than anything. Him and Valerian before he chose another path. And all that’s left was Hades. Despite his tricks and playfulness, I knew he would always fight for me.I choke, and close my eyes. Slowly, I could feel my breath leaving me little by little, feel his anger rushing out of him and rolling over me in waves when two knocks comes to the door.Then he grows and shoves me back again. I hear a thud and a crack onc
Dahlia’s POV:One week later.Hours passed, yet I wasn’t sure what time it is, though I could see it’s already late into the evening. It is dark outside, and pouring with rain. I am sitting upright, naked on the bed Tatum and I used to share, until now. This bed means nothing to me any more than a fucking prison bed, as he had me cuffed to one posts. My arms are outstretched, and I bet my hands are already turning purple from how tightly he had it cuffed. Tatum has never let me out of his sight after we attempted the escape, not once had he let me out of the room to speak to the women, which worried me since I heard nothing, not a sign that would tell me they were outside my door or anything. Although I settled it was a good thing, since it means he hasn’t hurt them. It was the only thing that kept my sanity intact inside the confines of these four ugly walls, which seemed to be caving in around me each passing day.The only time he has let me out of these painful handcuffs was when
Dahlia’s POVEverything stills, and we all turn to Thalia who shakily stood up from kneeling.“Please, punish me instead,”I look at Tatum horrified, who tilted his head as he raised an eyebrow at her.“Oh? Playing the good mother now are we?” he chuckles, before turning to Ayesha and dragging his hard nail further along her neck. Ayesha now lets out a scream which makes Scar let out a roar before plunging forward, but was stopped by all the women surrounding her. Her eyes flickered to her wolf’s, and I know it is not her in control now but her wolf, her need to protect her mate dominating her own.Tatum glares at Scar, shaking his head, and I growl, slowly taking a step toward him.“You never learn, do you Scar?” he chuckles, while Scar all but growls, bloodlust raging through her eyes before she was ripped back by the women forcing her down.Ayesha whimpers for her, and lets out a gasp when Tatum pulls her a little closer back against him. I growl.“And Thalia, allow me to think abo
Dahlia’s POV:Just when I thought he would never let me go, he releases me making me drop to the ground with a loud thud. My hands immediately go to my neck, tracing his fingerprints I am sure are now embedded into my skin with how tight he had me in his grip. And for the first time, I suck in air so deep than I ever needed to in my life, as I chased my breath.I hear Diana growl in my head, outraged our mate would hurt us, but he was mate to us no more. I felt the bond sever, meaning I would no longer have a connection whatsoever with him anymore. Tatum cemented my decision when he brought his knee up and kicked me, throwing me back a couple meters away while I was still catching my breath. Clearly, the man doesn’t play fair.I try to get up, but Tatum’s foot suddenly smashes into the back of my head as he stomps on my head like people normally do with the butt of their cigarettes. Diana snarls and all but spits curses at him.“Fucking b*tch, think you could reject me and get away