(Alice's POV)Since we arrived at the district and I was shipped off to the orphanage I had never contacted Ariel until now. Ariel too had never contacted me.If I had a choice I would never even contact her. I was very angry with her for sending me to the orphanage, I am sure she had something to with it. Perhaps she had whispered sweet nothings to Elijah and deliberately asked him to kick me out, to that lowly orphanage. I hated Ariel.But I got myself into a situation and she is the only one who can help.While in the orphanage I decided to make the most of my time and see if I can get away. So I hooked up with a werewolf guard. He was the guard at the orphanage.I had to endure his greasy smile and slimy hands just to secure a good deal for myself.“Let us meet after curfew tomorrow, I want to show you what a good time is.” He winked at me, the scar under his chick made it look terrifying.With a forced smile, I nodded and agreed. There was little to no choice here, it was either
(Ariel's POV)The shock and confusion lingered on my face after I picked up the phone call from Alice. Her voice was urgent and sounded like she was in trouble.It was no surprise if she was in trouble but it puzzled me that she would call me to ask for help. I knew she hated me. Alice would do anything to make sure I was not living peacefully.Her words were urgent and shaky but I could make out the general situation. She was in trouble and needed my help. I asked her for a location and she rattled off a description and insisted it should be somewhere in the central district.“What was Alice doing back in the center district?” I was puzzled, I may not know the exact description she had given me but I would find out.I realized Alice had hung up on me when I asked her what she was doing back in the center district. A loud beeping sound was the answer I received.Immediately, I got back to the palace, I found Ann and described the place to her. Her eyes widened and I feared the would f
(Ariel's POV)Alice never ceases to amaze me. It was disgusting that the first thing she said when she saw me was to come and trade with her. Someone she had not seen in a long while? Her own sister. Her selfishness was not a shock to me, it has always been there but her ungratefulness amazes me every day.How did I not realize that Alice could never reflect on herself? No matter how many times she came close to a dead end, she remained hardened, worse than before.I knew she hated me, she hated my guts. Always have since our stay in Moonstone pack but to keep holding on to that feeling… That was beyond me. It sent shivers down my spine when I thought of how I had lived with Alice.I stared hard at Alice, “What?” She screamed at me when I wouldn't take my eyes off her.“What are you doing to yourself?” I asked her softly.“What? Are you going to lecture me now?” She asked again. “You are the r
(Elijah's POV)I had been secretly investigating the werewolf center's underground activities. I discovered that the weapons being shipped to the central district did not match the number of the actual shipment that was ordered. It was puzzling because the number of weapons that the district received weighed more than they were supposed to.The MoonStone Pack was involved in the smuggling of weapons but it seemed like they were not just smuggling weapons, they were likely involved in other crimes as well. And that was what I was here to find out.I was on a mission, a mission to fish out whatever crimes the MoonStone Pack had involved themselves in. They needed to be called to order and I did not mind doing that. Although nobody knew that I was here for investigation. I made it seem like I was on a random patrol.I decided not to do it alone so I patrolled with a few of my high-ranking wolves. Nobody would suspect an investigation if they saw me with a fe
(Ariel's POV)As soon as I successfully avoided Elijah, I walked faster hoping to get back to the palace before he did, also I needed to speak with Ann.Maybe she had an idea about why Elijah was near the Colosseum today. I needed answers and it was evident in my urgent steps as I walked back.I still strongly hoped he would not disappoint. He better have nothing to do with the Colosseum. I hoped badly.“Thank goodness, you made it back in time, I was beginning to worry.” Ann pulled me into a hug as soon as she helped me climb back into the kitchen.“Oosh…Mama bear.” I teased her. “I had no choice, I couldn't let time catch up with me.”She looked sideways and made sure the coast was clear before we made our way upstairs.“Right, smartass.” She teased back.My cheeks stretched into a wide grin, “Guess who I ran into today?” I asked her, plopping do
(Ariel's POV)I resisted the urge to wipe off the stupid smirk on his face. “Well, I have seen all this before. I want you to do something different, something that might be worth it.”I held my tongue from cursing him and instead asked, “What do you have in mind?”“Turn your ass and sit at the edge of this bed, I don't want you falling off due to the pleasure of the exercise.” I narrowed my eyes at him trying to understand what he meant but I did as he said regardless.“Now open your legs, Ariel. Wide apart and stick your finger in yourself.”My eyes widened and I gulped a mouthful of saliva, “Tic toc, tic toc” he sang.I wanted to tell him, I could not do it. I had never done it but instead I traced the lips of my cunt carefully. I did not want to ruin it, I looked forward to his answer to both of my questions. I was too curious to stop.“I want to see you mastu
(Ariel's POV)“What if I reject Elijah? Refuse to go to the MoonStone Pack with him? What would happen?” This thought hovered in my mind as I dressed to travel with him, my face squeezed in reluctance.Elijah had asked me to accompany him to the MoonStone Pack, immediately, I woke up from sleep. I held so much resentment against him for yesterday but I was not ready to show it. I would rather please him than let him know how I actually felt about him now.Elijah came back inside the room to pick me up after I got dressed. When we were headed towards the car, I decided to ask him the question that had been on my mind since he woke me up.“Elijah,” I called.He turned to me. “Why am I accompanying you on this journey? Wouldn't I be a burden to you?” I asked him. He turned away and looked forward before responding.“I need you with me because you are skilled in weapons research, I need someone skillful in weapons besides me,” I bit my lip to avoid asking him about his guards. “I am goin
(Ariel's POV)I stared at him in horror, my anger quickly dissolving as he made his way over to me. His steps kept advancing towards me until he was right in front of me. His strong palms held my neck up and choked me. His hands tightly wrapped around my neck and squeezed life out of it. My heart almost stopped.I don't why I was so tiny and Elijah was big. It helped him easily choke me without trouble or even guilt. I imagined it felt as wonderful as pressing a pillow to it. But I was the one with the trouble, the one with the pain. I was definitely not a pillow, if he needed a pillow, He knew the way to the market.“I need answers to my question, Ariel. And choose carefully or else…” He squeezed tighter.Elijah was ferocious, he was really going to kill me. Woe befalls me if I answered his question wrongly, I was sure he would easily snap my neck in one gesture. He looked ready to.I had to be careful while answering his questions. I needed to say something that would satisfy him if
(Ariel's POV)I hummed a tune as I got dressed for the day. I was excited to show my marksmanship, especially to the people who had not seen me in action ever but underestimated me. The look of shock and awe on their faces would make my day.I whistled and moved my hips to the tune I was humming while I brushed looking at myself in the mirror. I felt giddy.I spat out the spittle in my mouth and gazed at myself in the mirror. “You are amazing,” I hailed myself.“You are beautiful. You are smart. You are the brightest. See the adoration in their eyes because of your awesome talent. You are powerful.” I continued to hail myself looking directly at myself through the mirror.My cheeks high, my head straight, my face stoic, and my words firm.Truly, I felt powerful. Today was my day, it felt good to do something you excelled effortlessly at. I was looking forward to the shooting round. I may not know a lot of things but I understood weapons.I knew each gun just by looking at them, I iden
(Ariel's POV)I woke up to Elijah cleaning me up tenderly, my hands were no longer bound. He was drawing soothing lines over the rope mark, washing it with soap, and willing the marks to disappear.I sighed contentedly and leaned into him as he washed me. His hands massaged my shoulders gently, I was really sore and I let out a moan.“If you keep moaning like that, I would be tempted to take you here and now,” Elijah's husky voice whispered in my ear.I stiffened, I had enjoyed the sex, allowing myself to indulge in the passion and enjoy it but I was not ready for another one. I was too sore. So I tried to contain the moan that threatened to break out of my lips. Elijah was too gentle in washing me and it was making me feel so good.I relaxed and enjoyed his care. I felt helpless against Elijah’s childish attitude towards anger. The moment he was jealous or angry he showed it by trying to mark me and dominate me with sex. I was helpless against his behavior.But I wouldn't deny that t
(Elijah's POV)It's been a few weeks since I saw Ariel. I missed her so much. Dealing with the whole assassination thing was taking up my time. Each day I had lots of work on my desk and I hadn't been able to go see her.I missed her smile, I missed her body, I missed sex with her. I was craving her touch. Tomorrow was the day of her match but I needed to see her today.So I cleared up my desk early, pushing aside the rest of the work. The Moonstone file glared at me, calling for me to attend to it but I closed it right back and left to go see her.Thoughts of her riddled me as I walked down the hallway, my wolf was excited to see her, he whistled a happy tune in my head, and my body was excited to finally see her and have a proper conversation with her. Well, I hoped I would have a proper conversation with her.Every time we attempted to have a decent conversation, we always ended up with one of us angry. I knew it was bound to happen but I hoped it would be different. A man can hope
(Ariel's POV)The postponement of the contest also gave me ample time to recuperate. I had been worried about how I would perform in casts or with limps. It did not help that I had overheard some people talking and they said the next round would be shooting practice.I hoped my leg would be properly healed before the next contest. Shooting was my forte, my knowledge of weapons gave me an advantage and so I was looking forward to this section. I did not want anything to jeopardize my winning chances.25 days later, my leg was fully healed. I could stretch it, walk without limping, run, and put the whole pressure on that foot without wincing or hissing in pain. My leg was completely healed.“I am damn excited that my leg is completely healed now,” I told Raven, flexing my ankle, my cheeks turned up very high in a smile.“I am happy for you, mi lady.” She handed me a branch of the rose flower she had plucked and curtsied while at it, we laughed together.The echoes of our laughter resoun
(Vincent's POV)“I am here to escort Ariel back to her room,” I announced the moment I entered the office. Although my gaze was intent on Ron, I could feel Ariel roll her eyes. Her antics amused me.“Your eyes would soon fall off with the amount of time you roll them,” I told her. She muttered incoherent words under her breath and I chuckled.I did not mind riling her up every once in a while, I did not get the opportunity often.I had rushed here the moment my investigation had clicked that Ron was part of the resistance. He was connected in more ways than one with the resistance.It did not surprise me, I was wary and hesitant when Elijah suggested that he bring him in as Ariel's personal physician. I did not dissuade him but I did share my reluctance with him.But Elijah wanted someone he knew and someone that Ariel could be safe with after the near-assassination experience. I believed that nobody was worth trusting or was even safe to be with at the moment. Everybody was a damn su
“What did you say you are doing here?” I asked Ron again when the initial shock wore off.He sighed. “Elijah arranged for me to be here,” he dropped another bombshell.“Elijah arranged for you to be here?” I asked in confusion, almost shrieking. That thought felt absurd, what was Elijah thinking?“Yes, due to your injury. He said he wanted you to recuperate in a quiet and comfortable environment.” He replied.The wheels of my mind began to turn, so that was why Elijah did not let me stay back in my room or go to the infirmary for this treatment. No wonder he had insisted that I get a new primary care physician.It still did not make sense to me that he chose Ron to be my primary physician. Wasn't he always jealous of Ron? What happened? What changed?Something felt suspicious and not knowing what it was kept me agitated.“Come and sit down, so I can examine the wound.” Ron patted the small bed in his office.I hesitantly climbed the bed with difficulty refusing his help, my movement a
(Ariel's POV)Ten minutes after I'd woken up, I still lay in bed with my eyes open, I was still tired. I allowed my mind wander to the conversation I had with Vincent the night before. My eyes followed every object I could see in the room but I did not sit up.Another ten minutes later and I stretched my body finally ready to step out of the bed. I sat up and looked around, adjusting my body to the new day. I was a little disoriented.My ankle throbbed and I hissed in pain, rubbing soothing circles around it. Gently, I dragged myself off the bed and into the bathroom. I took my bath, making sure water did not touch my wound and then I gently re-dressed my wound. I popped a few pain killers to get rid of the pain I woke up with.When I was done, I headed towards Raven's room to check on her. I had been in severe pain yesterday plus Vincent and Elijah did not leave my room so I was not able to check on her.I felt bad that I had not checked on her and her wound until now so I hastened m
(Ariel's POV)As soon as Vincent walked out with a heavy face, Elijah entered his face wary, glancing between me and Vincent's back curiously.“Am I missing something?” Elijah asked, looking curious.I shook my head, “Nothing.”“Why did he leave with that expression then?”“I don't know. It's nothing.”Elijah stared at me warily and then shrugged, “It did not look like nothing to me.” He muttered very lowly, I almost did not catch on.“We found your assassin's,” Elijah informed me.I perked up, “Really, did you find out who sent them?” I asked genuinely interested in knowing who must have wanted me out of the way. I was certain the killers came for me and Raven was just unfortunate to be with me at that time.Elijah frowned, “No. I was still in the process when they killed themselves,” My face scrunched up in confusion.Elijah stared into space, his face bristled with unleashed anger, “I was interrogating them when they just began to bleed to death. Turns out, they had a pill in their
(Ariel's POV)I sat frozen and unmoving, my hand trembled lightly as I pondered on Vincent's question.“I want to know about your father.”The statement kept running in my mind even in my immobile state. I refused to acknowledge the question, what did he want with my father?I was not expecting the question, what had my near death had to do with my father? I had barely survived from the ruckus earlier and here he was questioning me about a man who had since died.It kept me on edge. Why did he ask about him all of a sudden? I thought about what we had been discussing.‘Yes, we were just discussing his reasons for appearing in the palace today.’ I thought. So how did the conversation include my father?I paid him no attention, my mouth shut, as I looked around the room instead, my eyes falling everywhere but in Vincent. I felt his gaze sharply piercing, waiting for an answer.And when I could not stand it anymore, I bent under his gaze.“What do you want with him?” I managed to ask.“I