I pick up my phone and I start calling Lucas. He is not picking at first- two missed calls. I am getting impatient- how could he be so careless with his phone now that he has a very crucial position in the pack security office? But he calls me back"Alpha," his voice comes through. He always talks to me in a formal tone"Lucas." I pause, letting the earlier resentment I had for him fade out. "Any... movement at the borders?"“What do you mean sir?” his voice comes from the phone“Have you seen Alora pass the borders?” I ask impatiently“Alora? No… no…, Alpha Harry,” there's a slight show of surprise on the other end. "No sign of her, sir. I've had my best guards watching, especially during the night shifts. But Alora hasn't tried to cross the borders. I strongly feel that she is in this pack."The concern in his voice when mentioning my older daughter's name is evident. I start to wonder why he cares so much about Alora that he has not even asked about his betrothed, Leah. I tried to
The library feels colder tonight. I sit in my leather chair, staring at the shattered remains of the glass table. I should have called a servant to come and clean it, but for some weird reasons I didn't. I subtly want to watch the evidence of my rage scattered all over the ground. Agatha's words resounded in my head: "You're not sleeping in the room today. That is your punishment!" As if I'm a child to be disciplined rather than her Alpha, her mate. But at least I am a good husband“You are no Alpha,” my wolf snarls at me. Oh moon goddess! I am tired of his constant poke nosing in the affairs of my life. “An Alpha would not let his mate treat him this way. An Alpha would not let his daughter become a monster like you are letting Leah become. The pack members are right, you are breeding a monster in your home!” he continuesI try to ignore him, but it seems like he is trying to strike a nerve- my nerve. "Shut up," I growl into the room. The alcohol in my glass trembles as my hand shake
"What search order?" Agatha glared at me. She takes a step toward me, her eyes searching my eyes to check for the truth. "After I specifically told you to leave Alora alone? Harry!?”"Agatha, I was just…” I begin, but she cuts me off with a sharp look."You were just trying to do what, Harry? Oh goddess, Harry!” her voice rises with each word. "Did you think I wouldn't find out? You just issued an order without consulting me first!”Leah's eyes dance between us, and I can see that she is enjoying the whole drama. "He wanted to make it really severe on her mommy. He said he would put her in the dark chambers and execute her with public flogging, the whole thing." She pauses, playing withher whip thoughtfully. "Though personally, I think Alora deserves worse for abandoning us. She picked up a fight with me and she ran away. Dhe injured me”"Leah, please…" I try to interject, but my daughter isn't finished."You know what's funny, Daddy?" Leah continues, her voice dripping with mock inno
Leah's PovI am happy as I watch how the first journalist is dragged forward towards the raised podium where I stand. I feel like a symbol of justice. If it were in the old times, perhaps I would be an executioner. I like the way the whip fits in my hands. I spent all night practicing how to whip without getting tired and I am so excited so much that I cannot wait to start dealing with all these people who thought they could challenge me and go scott free.I let my eyes land on the journalist and I laugh at his pathetic attempt to speak. He doesn't really concern me, the people I really want to deal with are those ones that dared to push me out of the boss the day I was coming from the Alistair Kingdom. I would have loved to use my fresh strength to punish them, but I want to punish others first so the criminals from the bus would shudder in fear. I want them to die from fear before I even touch themThe journalist keeps trying to beg me and it even infuriates me the more because he k
I see a young wolf of thirteen years, she is beaten up and weak. It is a miracle that she is alive. She has destroyed her life by liking and commenting harshly about me. I smile at her as she tries to look up to meI approach Daddy, I know he hates me now but I don't care. "Daddy? Wasn't I strong? Didn't I make you proud?" I ask him with puppy eyesHe looks at me and he let his eyes fall on me, taking in the sight of my bloody face. Then with a face smile, he says, "Of course, princess," he says. "You did very well. I am proud of you."Mother joins us, beaming. "You did well, Leah,” she looks around with a smile. “You have really matured,” she rubs my head roughly. "Shall we have dinner? I think this calls for a celebration."As we drive back to the pack house, I imagine King Alonso hearing of this day. He'll understand then that I'm nothing like my weak sister. I'm strong and I am ready to rake up the position as his queen. Maybe my name would dance to him in the rumours and he will
I feel my heart stop when Daddy's gaze remains fixed on me. Although I see him as weak, there is a kind of image I want to put up with him."Alonso mentioned in his letter that Alora was drugged into heat that night. Did you have anything to do with it, Leah?" his voice is cold. He doesn't sound as weak as he seemed earlier onBefore I can respond, Mother jumps to my defense, her voice carrying disappointment.. "Harry, we've been through this before! Why do you like opening up old wounds? Leah only put Alora's medication in her drink because Alira refused to take them. As a matter of fact, I told her to do it. Leah would not deliberately hurt her sister! She loves Alora, but Alora doesn't reciprocate the love!”My eyes widens as Mother speaks. How does she know about that night? I thought… I thought… I had. The question in my mind must show on my face because Mother turns to me with an explanatory look."Someone sent us pictures from that night, darling," she says softly, reaching out
Alora’s POVI remain sprawled on the cold interrogation floor. I no longer feel the pain of Lucas's betrayal, but I still feel rejected. No one wants ro have anything to do with me."Alora, Alora..." Lucas takes quick steps towards me. "I know you're hurting, but you have to understand… please stand up…""Leave me alone!" I snap, wiping tears from my cheeks with dirty hands. “You are now happily engaged to my sister? What exactly am I supposed to understand, Lucas?"Before he can respond, the small television mounted in the corner of the room suddenly crackles to life as if waiting for the right time. How sudden it comes on makes me flinch and yelp, but what I see on the screen immediately makes my eyes fly open, I can feel my blood going cold. Showing on the television is the pack’s square, and standing on a podium is my sister Leah. What she is doing …. I feel nauseated and my heart is in mouthI see wolves - men, women, even some barely teenagers- are being forced to strip naked i
Harry's POVI cannot do anything as I watch Agatha snatch the letter from the messenger's hands. The servant wolf had obviously addressed it to me, his Alpha, but I remain silent as my wife tears open the royal seal from the Alister Kingdom. The messenger's eyes dart with uncertainty between us before he bows and hurriedly away before my wife pours her unbridled venoms on him. My heart beats in it's cage as I see Agatha scan through the letter. I never wanted her to know that I had written to king Alonso first“Do you know that the servant now talk about you?” my wolf's voice rumbles through my mind, dripping with disgust. “They say you are weak…”“I don't believe you!” I cut him short. “How did you know what they are saying about me?”“You seem to forget your alpha powers!” he growls. “Ever since you decided to submit to this woman, you forget that you are the first grey wolf of the midnight pack. You forget that according to history, your true offsprings would be highly sought after
“Okay… that is Enough!" Agatha pulls something from her coat – a black amulet that looks strange. "Let us stop this!” she screams before she turns to AloraYou leave me no choice.""Oh please, shut up, mother," Alora says. "You just consistently make the wrong choices."She raised both hands, and the earth beneath us begins to tremble. Cracks appears in the ground, spreading outward from where she levitats. White energy crackles around her like lightning."Hold her!" Agatha commanded, but even she took a step back. Something was wrong. Very wrong.Alora's body begins to convulse, her eyes rolling back until only the whites showed."What's happening?" Emma whispers behind me, clutching my mother's arm. I want to tell her everything would be okay, but I cannot find my voice.“Just stay away…” I say instead. “Run away… follow mother!” I talk to her with a sense of haste and panic“No I cannot leave you here, brother Lucas…” she breaks down crying“Go… go!” I urge in urgency“No! I will n
At first, Alora bursts out of the car runningStop her!" Agatha's commands.Two of Darren's men lunge for her, but she is a bit fast dodging them severally when they try to catch her. For a moment, I think she might make it. Then three more guards appeared before she knows it, she is caught."No!" she screams as they drag her. "Let me go!" she struggles. Then seeing that her struggles are futile, she understand the severity situation and she begins begging"Please," Alora whimpers as they drag her. "Please don't do this." Her voice is getting smaller and smaller. She keeps looking at me with tears in her face “Lucas, please..." she begs anything and anyoneI turn away. I couldn't bear to see her like this- plus I also have my own problem- I don't know what Agatha is planning to do to me and my familyran."Bring her here," Agatha commanded, pointing at the spot in front of her. "And this time, make sure she can't run."They dragged her back, her feet leaving trails in the dirt as sh
"Why should I believe you?" She finally says, her voice trembling slightly. "You handed me over to them before! You are confusing me! Are you for me or against me!”“Alora! This is not the time! I will explain later!” I put out my hands in an extension to her, but she doesn't take them- instead she takes a few steps back, she is scared of me now and it stings at my heart"I'm trying to help you now," I say, my voice low and urgent.“I don't need your help!” she almost screams, but she immediately remembers where we are“Please…” I plead silently but urgently. I reach out, my hand almost touching her arm, but she raises the stick up as if to show that he would attack me. "Trust me, just this once."Her eyes soften, then it hardens, then softens again. She opens her mouth as if to speak, closes it, opens it again. I can see that she is having an internal conflict- asking herself if she should trust me. She takes half a step toward me, stops, retreats. The bends -lowers an inch, then ris
The moment Agatha's ultimatum pierces my ears, I know I have to find a way out. My sister Emma's terrified eyes doesn't leave me even as they drag her back into the car. Her silent plea for rescue is louder than even if she screams- I would have preferred she screams rather than remain quiet and give me those eyes that make guilt gnaw at me. Agatha's cruel grip on my family has always been suffocating, but now she has crossed a line that I am willing to fight against. I need to be a man and do what is right.As soon as the dizziness passes, I'm moving. One moment, I want to help Alora, the next I'll do anything to save my family. The shock of the blow quickly transforms into determination. I can hear Alora's footsteps as she escapes. I know what's at stake- it is either her or EmmaI am reminded about Agatha’s threat to Emma. One mistake, and my sister pays the price. I am so confused right now. I feel so much like a loser. I cannot protect my family and I cannot protect the one I cla
The taste of blood? Oh please, I am used to it by now. Darren's men still hold me down against the forest floor. Blood and dirt mixed in my mouth, but that doesn't even bother me one bit. My attention is fixed on Luna Agatha as she approaches the invisible barrier where the cabin stands. Her black dress seems to make her more evil, and I fight back a shudder as she reaches out to touch the protection spells."Such clever magic," she murmurs, her fingers almost going through the air where the barrier shines faintly. "An old protection spell. Your father taught you well, Lucas. But not well enough. Or perhaps you are not worthy enough"My heart stops as she nods toward the black Mercedes. They open the car boot and I watch in horror as two guards drag Emma out. My sister's face is tear-stained and she is scared – she looks so much like our father that my chest aches because I cannot protect her now. I hate the Luna!"No!" I struggle harder against the hands holding me down. "She has no
Darren notices what I am trying to do. "Don't even think about it," he growls and so I don't move.“How come you watch seven alpha's die? I heard they died so young in war and you didn't even try to save them?”"Are you stupid?" I am getting the exact reaction I want to get from Darren- he is as angry as I want him to. "You're barely old enough to remember the last war, and you think you can speak to me about sacrifice and leadership!? Do you know what I had to sacrifice!?”I force a smirk even though I am calculating the places and corners to run and escape with. I also calculate how fast I can open the door, enter inside and relocate even though I know that after relocating I will be a rogue wolf forever because I will obviously be an enemy of the pack for going directly against the Alpha's orders and housing a wanted pack traitor, Alora- that is what the pack calls her now. I look at Darren and I like the way he is heaving in anger. "Seven Alphas died under your watch. That's not
Darren notices what I am trying to do. "Don't even think about it," he growls and so I don't move.“How come you watch seven alpha's die? I heard they died so young in war and you didn't even try to save them?”"Are you stupid?" I am getting the exact reaction I want to get from Darren- he is as angry as I want him to. "You're barely old enough to remember the last war, and you think you can speak to me about sacrifice and leadership!? Do you know what I had to sacrifice!?”I force a smirk even though I am calculating the places and corners to run and escape with. I also calculate how fast I can open the door, enter inside and relocate even though I know that after relocating I will be a rogue wolf forever because I will obviously be an enemy of the pack for going directly against the Alpha's orders and housing a wanted pack traitor, Alora- that is what the pack calls her now. I look at Darren and I like the way he is heaving in anger. "Seven Alphas died under your watch. That's not
Now I am watching Daren almost find Alora and if he is as good as he claims to be, Alora is in trouble because he would be able to sense hiding magic in the area. Alora would not be able to leave because Daren would stay there until she comes out. I want to relocate the house, but the house can only be relocated when I- the key holder and the descendant of the builder is in itThis makes me remember how during the war, we were stuck in the house for over a month because the soldier sensed hiding magic. Dad had not given anyone the power to relocate yet. So the soldiers stayed outside for more than one month waiting for us to come out from wherever we were hiding. Food and basic needs were not a problem because the house provided for us. But staying indoors for over a month was mentally stressful. Dad on the other hand kept watching us, until one day he decided to distract the soldiers. He kept trying for days until one day he succeeded. Immediately he got in, we relocated to another
"I want to accept it so badly. To let her take away the pain, to let her touch me so I can feel our energy one last time. But is it worth it? Agatha's warning signs in my ears like a bad omen. At that moment, Goth walks in with a slightly bent head, he avoids my gaze because of what Agatha had made him do. Of all the guards who hit me, Agatha had made him hit me the most. I hold no grudge against him yet- well until I understand what the stakes were for him to betray me like that. Was it money offered or threats made to him? From the looks of the things in the hall, it is the laterIn the night, they come for me again. This time, they brought videos of my mother's torture- they hold her hostage since they captured her. The message is clear- reject Alora, or watch everyone I love suffer.The next morning, I do the unthinkable."We need to talk," I tell Alora- I make my voice sound cold and strange. We stand in the empty corridor before the first period, my heart breaking with every