AURELIA~~Sadly, I had to spend another night at the hospital but this time, with Katie. My daughter has refused to leave Kyle's side even after Phoebe and the doctor taking care of Kyle had successfully put him to sleep.Before Phoebe and the doctor left the room for us, I was told that Kyle was suffering due to the treatment he received while in Larisa’s captivity. That brought tears to my eyes and I could only imagine what staying in Larisa’s lair for almost two weeks would do to anyone… and Kyle was just a kid.He was my sweet little boy. “I’d kill that witch.” Inara snarled within me, radiating with rage. While I felt pity for my son since I was informed that he was being haunted by the dark memories Larisa imprinted on his mind, Inara had been boiling with rage despite the fact that she was still weak from burning her energy to find the invisible lair. “How do we help Kyle forget? I need him to be carefree and happy again, Ina.” I cried to my wolf, staring down at my kids.
AURELIA~~I didn’t realize how much I needed to sleep until I did. To be honest, I couldn’t recall the last time I had such a deep sleep without Inara having to induce my sleep. It was way before I brought myself and my kids to Raiden’s pack out of my stupidity. As my eyes fluttered open that morning, I wondered what would have happened differently if I had stayed back at Black Fur… I wondered what life would be like for my kids. Katie wouldn’t have been bullied. Kyle wouldn’t have been kidnapped.The twins wouldn’t be traumatized. And of course, Jessica would still be here if Kyle wasn’t kidnapped in the first place.But If I had stayed back, I wouldn’t have known that Dakota was gone or heard about how Larisa manipulated the bond between Raiden and me even before she returned. Yes, I heard that part of her confession in the forest. I just didn’t know what to do with that piece of information and I haven’t had the time to let it sink in or make a difference. It shouldn’t eve
ALPHA TRISTAN’S POV (4)~~“Argh!” I groaned angrily, flinging my cell phone against the nearest wall. A shattering sound reverberated in my bedroom as pieces of the cell phone scattered across the floor. Blood pumped fiercely in my veins and I could have sworn that the world had suddenly turned red because that was all I saw. “I told you not to leave her there but you didn’t listen.” Dolf seethed within me.My wolf believed this new development wouldn't have happened if I was still in Dark Moon pack with Aurelia. Perhaps he was right. I couldn’t be certain but I was sure as hell that Jessica wouldn’t have died in a strange territory if I was there. And Aurelia wouldn’t be there alone with the bastard that brought this doom into her life… our lives.My fists clenched as I recalled the last time I saw Jessica. I also recalled breaking Jessica’s leg intentionally just to get Aurelia to perform in the finals of the stupid pack games! Stupid! I was so stupid!Of course, I was used to
AURELIA~~My chest rose and fell rapidly and tears streamed down my face. I felt useless. Completely useless and broken, I struggled to get a glimpse of Kyle who was surrounded by healers and doctors, collectively restraining him as he kicked vigorously and cried out, horror loud in his voice. Kyle was experiencing another episode. One of many in the past two days and I was losing my mind. Thankfully, Katie wasn’t in the hospital to witness this particular one but sadly, my daughter had witnessed more than enough to know that her brother was suffering and the hospital wasn’t helping him.“What’s taking him so long?” Inara sniveled and I instantly knew she was talking about Alpha Tristan who still hadn’t contacted me in the past two days. I was becoming anxious and very scared. Seeing Kyle fight with unseen demons was killing me and I couldn’t help but hate myself for putting my son through this torment. “Perhaps he is taking his time because there is no hope for Kyle,” I mutter
ALPHA RAIDEN~~Why are the women in my life stubborn and annoyingly strong? From the oldest, my mom to the youngest, Katie, they find a way to drag me through hell without lifting a finger. “Mom…” I called out again, carrying her unconscious body to the second bed in the room. Aurelia’s eyes were still wide and teary as she watched me place my mom in the bed and Kyle just seemed confused. I wouldn’t blame him. After all, he had just woken up from a long disturbing sleep to see an unfamiliar woman collapse by his bedside. Within a minute, a doctor and a healer stormed into the room as I had already asked them to stay close. It’s safe to say that I knew this would happen. I predicted that something would go wrong because my mom wasn’t fit to use her rusty abilities but she was hell-bent on saving Kyle from the dark dreams had been enduring for many days. And for that, I was grateful. But again, why do the women in my life have to be stubborn and unreasonable? “What happened her
AURELIA~~“You’re a white wolf?” I didn’t know when those words slipped past my lips. I was experiencing the biggest shock of my life and yes, I called it that despite the crazy shocking experiences I’ve had in my twenty-six years of living.“Partially a white wolf, child,” Iris responded. “My mom was a white wolf who was born in the extinct pack and my father was a member of this pack. My parents met each other during one of the quinquennial pack games. They realized they were destined mates and my mom moved down to dark moon pack to start a family with my father. I’m their only child and instead of giving me one simple wolf, the moon goddess decided to bless me with a mixture of both worlds I originated from, Dark Moon and White shade.” I couldn’t believe my ears. In fact, I didn’t know what to make of her words. Despite my silence, Iris continued speaking, telling me more about a world I didn’t know about, “I was born with black hair but with visible white strands and I’ve ha
ALPHA RAIDEN~~“Gently, Mom.”I whispered, holding her gently and guiding her steps as we walked out of the pack’s hospital. It took two days for my mom to regain the energy she used to heal Kyle’s mind and Kyle was also fully recovered which meant we could all go home. Kyle was in Hazel’s arms and Katie walked hand in hand with Aurelia. I felt at peace knowing that this was the last time any of them would be at the hospital because of me or as a result of my failures. “I hate to be the bearer of bad news but now that Kyle is healthy and discharged from the hospital, Aurelia would begin planning her return to Black Fur Pack. They would be gone, Raiden.” Lex imprinted each word into my mind. My breath caught in my nostrils as his words echoed in my head and knowing that he was right killed me but I didn’t react. Instead, I helped my mom down the sloppy exit of the hospital and sighted Andrew and a few of my men standing beside two cars. Although my home wasn’t exactly far from th
AURELIA~~Despite being back in the apartment, I still didn’t feel at peace. Yes, I was happy to have my son with me, hale and healthy. It gladdens my heart to see Kyle and Katie playing together again. I was happy my daughter didn’t have to worry and my son didn't have to deal with trauma.But a lot doesn’t seem right. There was a void in the depth of my soul. “Are you yearning to kill Larisa?” Inara asked, trying to understand the void in our soul. She could feel it as well. “I do but that’s not all. I have tons of questions, Inara.” I responded, confusion oozing off my pores. Fortunately, Hazel entered the bedroom, saving me from myself as she uttered, “So when do we start packing?” “Packing?” I asked, blinking my confusion away. “Packing to go home, Aurelia. We have to return, right?” Hazel clarified. I nodded quickly, “Yes, of course. We are going home. Jessica needs to be buried properly and in her homeland.” Mentioning Jessica stirred buried emotions in both Hazel
Alpha Prince Kyle’s POV ~~“Kyle found his mate?”That question was expected, so I wasn’t surprised when my mom blurted it out with shock and curiosity. What I didn’t expect, walking into the living room, was to hear Katie telling our parents what I had told her in confidence.Katie went still and pale as realization flashed through her eyes. She stuttered into my mind, “You haven’t told them?”I failed to contain my rage as I retorted, “Of course, I haven’t! Why would you even think that I told them?”“I suspected you wouldn’t tell them without informing me, but I was cornered. I was under the impression that you told them last night. They made me believe—”Before Katie could finish speaking through our twin bond, my dad voiced, cutting her off, “Is that why you decided to leave the pack and study in the human realm? What went wrong?”“You can talk to us, Kyle. Are you going to the human realm because she is too young and you couldn’t make it work, or do you plan to go with her?”
Princess Katie Anne~~Walking around the pack didn’t help me clear my head; neither did it help me stop thinking about Davien. I desperately yearned to be with him, to apologize to him not just because I was in his mind but because of the hell he had to grow up in.“I feel so sad,” Zuri eventually broke the silent bubble she had popped around herself.Zoe, who had been pointing out how she was wrong since Davien ran out of the purifying hut, added, “Me too. I have been mean to him, and all of this happened because of me. I was pushy and unreasonable.”“You sure were, Zoe, but you had to. I believe this happened for a reason,” Zuri said to Zoe, comforting her even though that was the last thing I expected from her.Clearly, what happened with Davien had bridged the gap between my wolves and me, and I could only hope that this bridge wouldn’t collapse anytime soon. I mean, both Zuri and Zoe can be very unpredictable.“Still, I'm sorry,” Zoe apologized to Zuri and me.Her sincerity br
Princess Katie Anne~~“Davien!” I called out as he ran out of the purifying hut with undiluted terror in his eyes. “Please wait, Davien.”I pushed myself out of the lake, ready to run after the man whose mind I had seen and now knew like the back of my own hands. I didn’t just have a small peek. I was in Davien’s mind long enough to have a glimpse of every memory he had stored.I still didn’t know how I did it, but I knew I saw him laugh a few times, and when I went deeper, I saw the real him. The young boy whose family failed him in all ways. I saw the real him, and my heart ached for him.My heart nearly ripped itself out of my chest when he screamed in the memory realm. Seeing him shake even in that space made me realize the kind of damage that had been done to his mind and soul.Fuck!Why was I in his mind?Before I could make it out of the lake, fatigue hit me like an enemy who was hell-bent on stopping me from going after my mate. Auntie Susanna caught me before I could lose
DAVIEN~~At first, I thought nothing was happening because, despite how much the white wolves Gamma, Susanna, and a famous mind reader tried to instruct Katie, I felt nothing.Katie felt nothing as well.Until it happened.An electrifying sensation crackled between Katie and me, and before I knew it, my mind transitioned into a space that was completely out of the ordinary.It felt strange. I was both confused and curious, looking around for answers that seemed to be slipping out of my grasp. In fact, nothing felt familiar until my voice sliced through the thick, foggy air, invading my ears.“Mom, please,” I cried.I cried, but at the same time, the cry wasn't mine. I mean, I don't sound like that anymore. Over the years, my voice had thickened, but the voice that I heard at that point was soft.Soft yet recognizable because it was the younger version of me.“Please let me attend the party with you and Damien. I won't try to make friends. I won't disgrace you and Dad,” my younger se
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