AURELIA~<>~I thought I knew sorrow and understood the feeling of loss. I thought life had knocked me down a couple of times and that had made me better at predicting what would hit me next. I thought I’d find peace here in Dakota’s house but all that was given to me was sorrow which was too bitter a pill to swallow.“S-stop pl-playing g-games, kid.” I stuttered, grasping for something. Anything to keep me stead… but there was nothing.Pheobe grabbed a hold of my outstretched hand, stepping out of the house with a facial expression that had my heart sinking further. “Trust me, I wish I was playing games with you. I wish Dakota was still alive to see the young woman I had become.”&
ALPHA RAIDEN~~Frustration had mixed with my blood and became a part of me. I sleep frustrated and wake up to more frustration… that’s even if I get any sleep. These days, she has been haunting me in my sleep. “She isn’t haunting you, Raiden. Your past actions are. You brought this on yourself.” Lex defended Aurelia and called out my bluff.He was right. Each time I close my eyes, I see the wrongs I melted out to Aurelia. I see her cooking for me without receiving appreciation, I see myself seeking pleasure from her body and through our bond while denying her pleasure. I see myself punishing her when all she did wrong was love me and the memories of our past have done more harm than good to me ever since she told me to stay away from her… And it’s only been five days. Five days of torture from my dreams and Larisa who has been on my neck for intimacy– something we haven’t had since I started searching for Aurelia. “You survived not having sex because of the broken bond you still
ALPHA RAIDEN~~I was wowed beyond words when I stepped into my home. The whole place has been decorated for a feast I had no idea about. Larisa smiled at me, pulling me into the living room where her dad, Nolan, stood with his mate, Helen. Andrew was also there and so was Jake, my best male warrior, who was also my gamma. “What’s the occasion?” I asked Larisa through the mind link as she pulled me closer to her parents who I hadn’t seen in years. I stayed away from her parents because I didn’t want them to pressure me into marrying Larisa or remind me of my parents, who had decided to abandon me and the pack since they heard that I divorced Aurelia. I see Andrew and Jake every now and then but seeing them in my living room with Larisa’s parents seemed unusual. “Relax. I just wanted to surprise you with a nice dinner with family and friends. It’s been a rough month if you ask me.” Larisa’s words bounced off the walls of my mind as she responded. Helen’s face popped bright when
AURELIA ~~ I left the room I shared with my kids and Hazel because I was overwhelmed by raw emotions that threatened to tear me open even though my kids were sleeping peacefully in between Hazel and me. I came deep into the forest because I needed to be alone not so I could run into a jackass who had grown nosy with the years. “Stay back!” I repeated those words when Raiden took another step closer to me. I’d have taken a thousand steps away from him if there wasn’t a body of water behind me. He was closing in on me and had me cornered. I wiped my face angrily, refusing to appear weak before someone like him. “Stay the hell back, Raiden. I’m warning you.” I barked at him, tears threatening to spill out of my swollen eyes once again. “How do you expect me to stay back when you have obviously been crying, Aurelia?” Raiden asked like he actually had a heart. “What’s wrong?” I chuckled, unable to believe his audacity. He must think I was still dumb. “The same way you stayed
AURELIA~~I was this close to forgetting how to breathe when I stared into the silver-gray eyes that I used to love… those eyes that used to make me come undone, shattering underneath him while he overpowered my fragile body like–“Focus, Relia.” Inara snapped at me, bringing me back to my senses.“What the hell was that?” I asked my wolf, breaking eye contact with Raiden.There was something. Something seized me and took control of my mind for a moment. There has to be an explanation because I didn’t want to believe I was just admiring the same man who made me understand the real meaning of emotional torture… I didn’t just feel an intense sense of sexual hunger for him. “Please tell me there was something, Ina.” I pleaded with my wolf, staggering away from Raiden.Inara replied, “He carries a bond you broke, Relia, and what you feel now is the effect of getting close to the mate bond. You broke it but your body is designed to want it.”Fuck. I’ve to stay away from him. He had me
ALPHA RAIDEN~~I’d be lying if I said I didn’t feel my jaw shift out of place as Aurelia’s unbelievably strong fist connected with it. I could feel the ache but it wasn’t something I had never felt before. The pain wasn’t new to me. What was new to me was getting punched in the face by a woman.And not just any woman. It was Aurelia. The same woman who couldn’t look me in the eyes back then just hit me in the face without flinching and she looked like she was ready to do it again. I was too stunned to speak while Aurelia stared at me with nothing but hate and anger in her orbs. If I had been blind, I’d have been able to smell her scorching anger from miles away. Goddess! How do I go about this? What words would sound right to her? I knew how I felt and In my mind, I knew the right words but each time I opened my mouth to speak to her, I ended up saying the wrong words. Heck! She unraveled me. “Don’t mess this up, Raiden. Please. I need her back.” Lex pleaded with me. Even my wo
ALPHA TRISTAN’S POV~~“You left and rejected me, Aurelia. How could–”Raiden’s words echoed in my mind as I strolled back to the apartment he made available for reasons I didn’t know back then. I’d asked myself why he was acting nice and suspicious but it wasn’t until now that I got my answers. I heard every word, starting with Raiden’s claim… starting with how he called her Aurelia instead of Lia as she told me that day in my special hospital room where she delivered her babies… Raiden’s babies, I supposed. I might not have heard every word because I just happened to stumble into the duo but I heard enough to justify the roaring flame of anger underneath my skin. I heard enough to make me understand that I’d been a fool for almost six years.She lied to me. She deceived me. She played me for a fool. Despite the grace I showed her and her kids? Hell! I provided her with a place to stay, a home, a pack, a family, and a new life because I thought she was from a dead place. That dea
AURELIA~~A yelp escaped my mouth when a cold hand wrapped itself around my leg, yanking me off the bed in one swift movement. I hit the cold floor of the room with a thud. I was genuinely terrified until I perceived and came face to face with Hazel’s amused face. “For goddess’s sake, Hazel. You just killed me.” I yelled not finding her stunt funny. However, Hazel laughed, “If I did, you wouldn’t be yelping, girl.” My best friend shrugged, the sound of her laughter echoing in the bedroom while I rolled my eyes and pushed myself off the floor. Hazel threw herself on the bed and supported her head with her hand so she could look at me as I struggled to get back in bed. “You look like shit, Lia.” She pointed out, her tone neutral but her hazel eyes flickered with the genuine concern that I knew her heart carried. I rolled my eyes again, settling into bed with Hazel. “Tell me something I don’t already know.” I tried to sound unaffected but deep down, I was barely holding back tear
Princess Katie Anne~~"Open your damn eyes, Katie Anne." Zoe’s vicious voice snapped through my mind in a way that made me groan even though I was trying to pretend to be asleep.Even though I have been awake for the past ten minutes.I just didn't want to open my eyes—“That's because you can feel our mate waiting for you, Katie. He even went downstairs to get breakfast for you,” Zuri muttered so softly.She was such a lover girl, the opposite of Zoe, of course.“Whatever. Just get your ass up and get it to the purifying, but where we have to be to channel enough to go into Dolf’s memory,” Zoe chimed emotionlessly.Although she didn't say it, I knew she believed that Davien went to get breakfast for me because he was hoping I would change my mind about taking the trip down memory lane with him. She didn't have to say it. I have come to know that she would read meaning into every action, including the meaningless and harmless.“You should get up, Katie. I agree with Zoe on this one,
ALPHA PRINCE KYLE~~As soon as dinner ended that day, my Ma and Pa chose to walk me to my bedroom even though they had a nighttime ritual they performed with Elora, Ronald, and Kennedy. My younger siblings weren't pleased they wouldn't have the attention tonight, but I wasn't delighted to be getting it either. I wanted to be left alone, but in this house, it seemed like I was asking for too much. “You can leave now, Ma, and you too, Pa,” I said to my parents as soon as I got to the front of my bedroom door. The walk from the dining hall was silent, and I knew they had many questions to ask me, but I wasn't in the mood to entertain them tonight. “You know I am not leaving, young man.” My Ma chimed, countering and walking past me to enter my bedroom.I looked towards my Pa for help, but he raised his hand and shrugged, saying, “I can't leave now, can I?” With that said, he also stepped into my room. I began to panic because I knew my Ma would make me break down before her in a
DAVIEN~~After Katie decided to read Dolf’s memory the next day because she was tired and also had to join the family for dinner, I also decided to tell her about my father’s text tomorrow. It would be if she could read my memories too and find out that I wasn’t involved in whatever conspiracy my family was cooking.I would do that tomorrow. I promised myself, walking side by side with Katie into the dining hall, where I was welcomed with warmth and smiles.Elora asked me to sit by her side, and to my surprise, Ronald and Kennedy began to talk about having a date with me, individually and also together.It was a wholesome time until Luna Queen Aurelia exhaled, her eyes on Katie, who seemed to be focusing on her meal. “Your brother isn’t here again tonight, Katie. What is it you aren't telling us?”Katie tensed for a minute before she looked back at her mom and stated, “You worry too much, Mom. Kyle is fine, and I already told you I have nothing to share with you. You can ask Kyle y
Princess Katie Anne~~“Go down memory lane with me, Katie, and if you can, let’s peek at the future while at it.”Dolf’s voice echoed in my mind, instantly resulting in a drop of my jaw, as I didn’t expect this conversation to lead us here. I thought he would be hurt, and Davien too. I knew I would be hurt if he were to tell me that he didn’t trust me, even though I had done nothing to earn his distrust.Hurt and anger were what I expected, but Davien was staring at me with those warm honey-brown eyes, and Dolf's voice was soothing in my mind.Dolf’s offer was tempting, but I wasn’t sure I wanted to do that.“And why on earth would you not?” Zoe’s voice resonated in my mind, leaving Dolf out of the conversation even though his consciousness was stirring within my mind as well.Before I could respond, Zuri chimed in, “Because if he is offering to do that, then he has nothing to hide, Zoe. We can’t keep hurting them just because of what someone in the past did to us. It’s not fair to
DAVIEN~~“Experiencing the war so close and having two parents actively fighting a war that could have been avoided broke me. My mom returned bloody and in tears. She was wounded, but she didn’t care about herself because my dad was unconscious,” Katie said.Although this was not how the conversation started, we got to this point where she opened her heart and bore her soul to me. I moved to sit beside her on the bed, and I held her hands when I noticed how difficult it was for her to continue.I didn’t want to speak or interrupt her, but I still wanted her to know that I was listening and would always listen to her.“My dad’s condition almost tore us apart. Mom lost herself and could barely look at us. Kyle and I had to manage our feelings. I’m not blaming my mom for not paying attention to us then because I know how difficult it was for her. What I am saying is that although the entire realm felt the scorching wildfire of the war, my family and I were the closest to the flame.”My
Princess Katie Anne~~The conversation with Auntie Susanna didn't end with her telling me I was sabotaging my connection with Davien because of my fears.After she let that sink in, she added softly, holding my hand, “I'm not invalidating your fears, Katie. It's okay to be afraid, and this is bound to happen after you had your trust broken as a kid. However, I'm invalidating your doubts about Davien. Although doubts are part of life, you can't let them stop you from living your life like you should.”I nodded but still asked, “How do I trust him? Zoe could be right. He might be bad for me, and I don't want to get hurt again, Auntie Suzy. I can't bear to be hurt again.”Auntie Susanna sighed while I looked at her expectantly. She seemed lost in thought, but before I could ask her to say anything to my racing heart, she voiced, “Sweetie, I wish I could promise you that you won't get hurt. Life has a way of testing us, and during those challenging days, we might get hurt, but we usual
Princess Katie Anne~~Davien’s peaceful face was the first thing I saw as my eyes fluttered open that morning. I stayed in bed even though I knew I had to be on the training ground early today. I train young girls twice a week, and today was one of those days, but all I could do was stare at Davien. Of course, Zoe’s words were still echoing in my mind, but they no longer controlled my mind. I felt better after sleeping all through the night. I felt better because I woke up to Davien. “I don't like how we felt last night, Katie. You have to speak to someone about the trauma you have been holding on to. We have to find a way to heal, or it will affect our relationship with Davien, and I don't want that to happen.” Zuri said into my mind, disturbing the peace I woke up to.Sighing, I rolled out of bed and said to Zuri, “I know, Zuri, but I don't know who to speak to. My parents have tried to help Kyle and I get over the trauma. They have done everything, so why am I still holding on
DAVIEN~~“Katie…” I called out again, rubbing the sleep out of my eyes.How did I fall asleep?Sleep should be the last thing on my mind after the texts I read, like, what? Hours ago? I noticed that I was still holding my cell phone as I got off the bed, standing before Katie, who seemed to be staring into space.I pushed my worries about my dad’s texts and ambitions to the side, concentrating on Katie. “Are you alright?”Obviously, she wasn't okay.However, Katie nodded, blinking rapidly as her gaze shifted around the room. “Just a little tired from training.”My heart tightened when she wouldn't meet my gaze. I tucked my cell phone into my pocket, hiding my family issues away. I muttered to her, “You should be in bed.”“I couldn't go to bed without you,” Katie whispered, her voice as soft as the blue in her eyes. “Why are you here? You didn't show up for dinner either. Do you want to have a room to yourself?”Although she asked calmly, I could tell she was holding back pain beyon
Princess Katie Anne~~I checked everywhere for Kyle and Davien, but I could not find them. I started my search from Kyle’s room and then my room, just in case Davien was back, but they weren't there.Sometimes, I can't believe the size of our home. I remember getting lost a couple of times after we moved in.“He is in the guest room downstairs,” Zoe voiced grumpily.I asked, dragging my tired self towards the stairs, “Who is?”“Your mate.” Again, Zoe answered grumpily, obviously trying to piss me off.“For how long have you known that?” I asked Zoe because I could perceive her conviction.“Since we got back from training. I perceived him downstairs and traced his scent to the guest room,” Zoe answered nonchalantly.“And you didn't think to mention it? You know I have been searching everywhere for him.” I seethed at Zoe, unable to hold back my anger. “You know how tired I am, yet you pull this? What's wrong with you, Zoe?”“You can yell at me all you want, Katie, but you didn't ask