MADELINE'S POV....And Madeline!!!The sound of my name forcefully brought me out of my thoughts.Everyone's face held bouts of surprise.Freya nudged me on the side with her elbow. "She's trying to spite you, Madeline. Refuse it, no offense.""Refuse what!!!" I asked."Does anyone have any objections with the warrior wolves enlisted to go on this border patrol mission," Louisiana's voice echoed.There were murmurs within the crowd, but no one objected."This marks the end of today's training. We are to gather here before dawn to begin our journey.""Why didn't you say anything. You could have objected to going on this mission. This mission is very dangerous. The terrain isn't one to be trifled with. Most times we encounter dangers that cause grievous injuries—worst case scenario, death. You aren't yet qualified to be part of this mission. Most times, we don't know how long we will be gone for."I scoffed."My refusal to go, only gives Louisiana more ammunition against me.""And she's
MADELINE'S POVFreya was right. The terrain was unforgiving as Louisiana herself—jagged rocks that seemed to rise out of nowhere and twisted roots around the paths, gnarled at my boots making every step a challenge.I occasionally looked back at Sera to check if she was keeping up, but it was very obvious she was struggling more than the others. You could notice from her small frame that her breaths came in short, sharp gasps, her face pale and strained. But yet she made tremendous effort to keep up—refusing to fall behind.Freya fell into steps beside me. Her brows furrowed as she too, glanced over Sera. "She's visibly flagging Madeline. Leaving her behind in the pack would have been the best for her and you. I don't think she can last longer than this."I nodded. "I know, I said. There's really no going back. Is there?""Louisiana isn't going to slow down for you or anyone," Freya said as she trudged ahead."Keep up, or you will be left behind!!!" Louisiana called back, her tone lac
MADELINE'S POVAs the night deepened, the air around the camp grew colder. The camp fire crackled, casting shadows on the faces of the warrior wolves present. Sera, sat in a corner and Freya talked to a group of other warrior wolves. I kept glancing back and forth at Sera, and I couldn't help but think that something went wrong when she went to gather firewoods in the woods."Everyone gather up," Louisiana said. Immediately everyone pulled together. When she was sure everyone was together, she divided us into two groups. One group which was headed by Freya, would stay behind to monitor the camp, manning the perimeter to ensure no threats crept up unnoticed. The other group, led by Louisiana, would push forward into the dark, rough terrain to patrol and check for any signs of threat or danger.And guess what, I was in the group led by Louisiana. Honestly, I had expected Louisiana to pick me. It was just the kind of thing she would do, dragging me along to test me, without rest, to see
MADELINE'S POVMy eyes stung as I blinked them open, the dull ache in my head throbbed at every slight beat of my pulse. Darkness hovered around me. The air was thick and stale, carrying the scent of damp earth and rot. My body felt heavy, as if I had been dragged through the forest for miles.And yes, I remembered been dragged before I blanked out.It wasn't until I tried to move that I realized my wrists were bound tightly behind my back. My vision cleared immediately. The more I moved, the more the coarse rope bit deeply into my skin. It weakend me the more and I winced , feeling the painful strain on my shoulders. I perceived a familiar scent coming from the rope. I racked my brain for a while...I had perceived that somewhere. And wolfsbane, the rope was laced with Wolfsbane. It only gave me an insight. Our captors were definitely the same kind as us.Then I realized I wasn't alone. My back pressed against someone else's.Louisiana.The memory came rushing back. The border expedit
MADELINE'S POV"They are coming. Our captors are coming," I whispered loudly."Shit!!" Louisiana huffed in frustration.The poison had seeped deep into our system and transforming to our wolf form could not be attainable. "What are we going to do," I asked softly but loud enough for Louisiana to hear."We have nothing to do than fight them off physically."The surrounding flickered with a faint light from a worn out, old lamp. The faint light exposed three bulky men, thrice our size with hardened expressions. They towered over us, clearly confident in their build. The odds were against us, but that didn't matter."Seems they broke free. Feisty, just the way I love my women to be, the lead captor sneered with his folded arms across his chest. Do you really think you can take us trio on?" he asked, his fingers pointing at the three of them."Why don't you come try," Louisiana dared.Fright overcame me. "Louisiana, I whispered into her ear. We are at odds here, so I suggest we talk it ou
MADELINE'S POVI winced as Freya dabbed the wet antiseptic cloth against the wound on my arm. I could feel Freya's eyes on me, glancing up from time to time to where Louisiana sat at the far end of the camp with someone tending to her wounds."You got something on your mind," I asked Freya."Beat me, she exhaled. There's something different about Louisiana. What happened between you two?""Nothing," I replied her. I didn't want to talk about it or talk about the mission either. "Maybe she's still rattled from the fight," I added.Freya narrowed her eyes. "You are telling me, that Louisiana is rattled because of a fight? The same Louisiana who never misses a chance to remind us that's she's the toughest in the pack? Louisiana behaves like an asshole, but she isn't one to run away or be rattled because of a fight. You know you make a bad liar, don't you?"I didn't answer right away. I knew the words I said to Louisiana had struck a chord of reflection or better still, more intense hatre
MADELINE'S POV Ever since my confrontation with Louisiana, I haven't seen her. But I could feel her anger hovering around like the storm cloud. I could feel the way the others looked at me, quick glances and whispers behind my back. No one spoke anything to me directly. The moment the words left my mouth, I knew there was no going back. I was in for shit and Louisiana would be out for my blood. "You really gave Louisiana a hit, Freya said. You were the only one who had the boldness of a lion to confront Louisiana concerning the rumors in such manner. You are totally different now. You have finally removed the cloak of naivety. Congratulations Madeline!!!, but don't get too comfortable." Just as I had thought to take a rest, a knock was heard at the door. Alpha Novare had summoned me. My heart leapt in terror, but I followed obediently. While on my way, I met madam Apricot. She stared at me squarely and her sharp eyes never missed a detail. She walked past me and I knew she was go
MADELINE'S POV Maybe it was all manipulation sprinkled with his touch of mischievousness. Maybe it was one of his many tactics to drag me to the abyss. Maybe this was my form of punishment for prying into his private affairs. ".....What?" I whispered out in confusion. "Why what? You didn't hear me right?" he asked. "Listen and listen attentively. I will repeat myself again just once." "I like you Madeline." That was it. I wasn't mistaken. I heard right. I sat there, my heart hammering in my chest. My mind went for a spin. He likes me? "Cat got your tongue," alpha Novare asked casually, with a grin evident on his face. The tug of shock and amusement deepened on my face and it was damn obvious. I stared at him, trying so hard to guage his intentions. His expressions began to shift back to the cold authority I was accustomed to. The casual grin he had flashed moments ago had disappeared. It was like watching him reverting to the alpha Novare I knew, but I couldn't help but b
MADELINE'S POVEven though I had done everything to the wound, it wouldn't stop bleeding. There was no other option than to send him to the Pack Hospital.As soon as we entered, it unfolded into chaos. Doctors and nurses rushed towards him. Without a word, they whisked him away leaving me standing in the hallway, my hands still sticky with his blood. I stayed outside the door as I waited for him to be treated.Finally, the door creaked open, and the pack doctor stepped out. His face was calm, and I rushed to meet him halfway."How is he?" I asked."He is stable now. If it were a normal human, he would have died," the doctor said flatly. "But surely, it will take time to heal. You can go in and see him now if you want to."Did I want to? I wasn’t sure. My feet stayed rooted to the spot even as my mind screamed for me to turn around and go back to my quarters. After all, he had others who would come to check on him. He didn’t need me.Yet, my feet betrayed me, carrying me toward the doo
MADELINE'S POVAlpha Konan had been gone for weeks. I hadn't seen him since the day I rudely told him off at the Pack hospital.Those words had come from a raw place inside me, and once they were out, there was no taking them back. In fact, I didn't want to take them back. I thought they would make me feel better, and make him distance himself away from him, but all it had done was leave a bitter taste in my mouth.And then, he was nowhere to be found.At first, I noticed his absence in small ways—empty study, his commanding voice during pack meetings. But as the days stretched into weeks, the emptiness became worse. My wolf was always restless, pacing inside me like a caged animal.I tried to ignore it, to shove the ache down and focus on my daily life and life as a diplomat, but it didn't work.I couldn't stop thinking about him. One day, curiosity got the better part of me and I asked Rosaline about him. I tried to sound normal, though I doubt I pulled it off."He's out of the pack
MADELINE'S POVThe air in the pack hospital felt unnaturally still. Since I woke up, Alpha Konan hadn't left my side. At first, I thought nothing of his presence, but as time went on, it became overwhelming.Every time I opened my eyes, he was there, watching as if I might disappear if he blinked. The sight of him sleeping in that uncomfortable chair, head tilted awkwardly, warmed my heart and displeased me at the same time. I needed to make him leave."Alpha Konan," I called softly.His head shot up immediately, scanning my face."You are awake," he said in a groggy voice. "Do you need anything? Water? Or should I call the pack doctor?" He asked intermittently."I need nothing," I replied. "I am fine, better actually. You don't need to be by my bedside all the time."He frowned."I am not leaving, Madeline, until I am sure you are fully rested."His words sent shudders of unease through me. The last thing I wanted was to be a burden to Alpha Konan."I will be very fine on my own. Yo
MADELINE'S POVI couldn't listen to Sera's confessions anymore. I left the room. As soon as I stepped out, the impact of what she had said hit me. When I reached the end of the corridor, I could barely focus.I didn't realize that I had wandered so far. I hadn't escaped my past. It still haunted me, as clear as day. Everything around me blurred. It was like I was hearing double.The world tilted.I tried to steady myself, but it was no use, and everything went dark.When I opened my eyes again, the sterile white ceiling of the pack hospital greeted me. The scent of antiseptic increased my headache. I tried to sit up, but a hand on my shoulder stopped me."Don't push yourself," Alpha Konan's deep voice said beside me.I turned my head slightly and found him sitting on a chair by my bedside, his gaze fixed on me.I rolled my eyes. Why would he sit here? Doesn't he have anything or any pack documents to review?""You slumped, came his voice. The doctor said it was fatigue. You are going
MADELINE’S POV I was struggling to keep my eyes open, as I adjusted to the rhythm of the border patrol. I had just shifted my focus back to the task at hand, when I was told that the messenger was here for me. It’s about Sera, the messenger had said, offering no further explanation. I didn’t bother to ask. I fell into step behind him as we trudged the road that led to the pack mansion. “Why Sera? What had happened to her? What could she have done that required me to be pulled out from border patrol?” When we got to the park mansion, we stopped in front of the interrogation room. Why here? Rosaline stood waiting, her arms crossed, her gaze very serious. “Go in, she said with an edgy tone. Sera’s waiting for you.” I wanted to question her, but her expression silenced me faster than any command could have period I turned toward the door, my fingers turning the door knob. Pushing the door open, I was met with Sarah sitting on her chair in the centre of the room period
SERA’S POVI inhaled sharply, my breath shaky, but I forced myself to stand tall. My legs trembled, and the flood of fragmented memories threatened to overwhelm me. But I couldn't show weakness—not in front of the Godfather.The man who’d brought me here stood silently to the side while Godfather and his men watched me. Godfather's eyes were intense, like they could see right through me. I felt exposed, but I didn’t look away."You know why you’re here, Marilyn—or should I say Sera?" he asked, a dark grin playing at the corners of his mouth.The word revenge made my heart race. That was what they thought I was here for, but they were wrong. Before I could think of revenge, I needed to remember who I was.I straightened my back and met his gaze. "Yes. I’m here for revenge.""Good," Godfather said, his smile never leaving his face. "Then you’ll do as I say. No mistakes. I get what I want, and you get your revenge."I nodded, trying to mask the unease gnawing at my insides. I couldn’t af
ALPHA KONAN’S POVThe air was crisp and clean, tinged with moisture from the late afternoon rain. My paws sank slightly into the earth, the leaves crunching beneath me. The familiar feeling, which usually grounded me and connected me with nature, wasn’t working today.Nothing felt right.I pushed myself harder, forcing my legs to move faster. But no matter how much I tried to outrun it, she was there, in every step, in every breath I took. Her memories from breakfast clung to me, following me through the day. They wouldn’t leave.Elyan, my wolf, snarled in frustration. His thoughts tangled with mine, making it hard to focus. He was restless, hungry for something I couldn’t give. His growl of protest echoed in my mind, but I couldn’t let him take over again, not like he had during breakfast. I was glad she hadn’t noticed.She had been bold in the pack meeting, I’d give her that. Wearing that same dress—the one she wore when she first attended. Back then, I’d seen her as nothing more th
MADELINE’S POV I closed the door behind me. Alpha Konan didn’t say a word as he strode to his desk and sat down, not even sparing me a glance. His face was serious and stoic, like was ready to snap at any given second. “Was it because I spoke to Uncle Damien?” Well, I don’t care. They should do well to sort their issues between themselves and also do well not to involve me. I decided to settle on the seat across from him, and then his voice came, sharp and commanding. “I never gave you the permission.” My body stiffened as my body was already halfway to the chair. I straightened myself back up and obeyed. This was not the time to play defiance. Alpha Konan pulled a stack of documents towards him and began flipping through the page. As I stood opposite him, I studied him. He had become more tanner than before. More alluring and sexy. He had now developed a new behavior, running his index fingers on ever-present creases on his forehead. Each crease signifies the burden of his pos
MADELINE'S POVAfter the weird breakfast with Alpha Konan, I prepared for the pack meeting. Then a thought crept in. Since Alpha Konan had decided to introduce me as the diplomat in front of the pack elders, the same pack elders that prejudiced me, how about I make a statement?I stared at myself in the mirror, the emerald green open-back gown. The dress was as good as new. I made sure I packed my hair and my make-up in the same way, just like that time. As I stepped into the corridor, Alpha Konan was already on the way there. His eyes landed on my dress, and for a moment, I saw something shift in his expression. It was either amusement or admiration."The dress still looks good on you, just like that time. Fall into step beside me, he subtly commanded."I did and stepped beside him."Right now, the story's different. We are walking into the great hall as Alpha and diplomat. Quite fortunate and amusing," he remarked.I said nothing. Instead, I lifted my chin.The door to the great ha