I knocked on the door to my mother’s apartment, but there was no response. I had been here for about five minutes now. Was she avoiding me?. I tried the door; only to discover it was unlocked so I pushed it open, walking into her apartment.“Mom?”No response.“Anyone home?”No response.It was very clear that there was nobody in here; maybe she was out working, but her scent seemed a bit... faint, like she hadn’t been in here for a few days, I was slowly getting the hang of my ‘heightened’ senses now, and I could easily note things like this.I frowned, bemused. I searched in the fridge for a drink—anything that would keep me busy, I hated the idea of returning back to my room. I felt so trapped back there. But the fridge was completely empty. Strange.I shrugged off this eerie feeling and walked out of her apartment, shutting the door just as I had found it.A maid had been walking by, and I called to her.“Have you seen my mother lately?” I questioned, and her eyes flew wide.“She i
She took a few moments of hesitation before she finally answered.“Yes. I did just that. I knew that if you weren’t away, somewhere Thane would never find you, then I'll lose him—of course he won’t expect you back at your previous pack, so he would be searching anywhere else. I wanted you as far away from here as possible and that had been the only way to achieve that.”“Why?, Beatrix”“Why!” she called out a bit louder. “You want to know why?” she questioned again. “Because I had been here all along, standing by his side, I had done everything, been everything, just to prove to him that I was fit to be his Luna. I gave my life into this, and I finally thought I was so close to achieving this, but you came in and everything changed, Riley. He went all those miles away, just to get you—a common wolf like you—over me! Over every single able she-wolf in this pack, it feels like an insult, a fucking slap on the face.”“You are not his mate; I am. What is your problem?”“My problem is that
Beatrix’s words were genuine, she had meant every single thing she said."Well, I love him too,” I said, staring right into her. “And he loves me.”“He never gave me the chance. You say you love him, but could you bleed for him? Would you give your life for him? Could you fight for him even with your very last breath? Could you leave behind the people you love just to be with him?” She questions, and there is something so deep about her words that I’m left silent. “No, you can’t. So what makes you think that you deserve him?”~That night, when Thane had asked me if I met my mother... I lied. I told him I did and didn’t know exactly why I had to lie, but at the moment it felt like the right thing to do, and I could only hope that the maid was the only one who knew that my mother was gone; Thane couldn’t know—not after I had lied to him.Beatrix words replayed in my mind over and over again: she was in love with him, so hopelessly in love just as I was... if not more, she was willing t
It had been a maid at the door; I had left so quickly I couldn’t get even a single word from their conversation.I didn’t know whether to feel at ease that my mother was back or more anxious. What had she done? Why was she injured? Where had she gone?Those were the questions on my mind—questions I would not be getting an answer to ‘yet’. She had said we would talk later—how much time is considered as ‘later’? I was only going to give her a few hours, and then I would be back. I didn’t like what was going on, and I had to know. I was more than ready to help now, if only she would trust me enough to tell me.~~“Is Axel alright?” I asked Thane, trying at anything to get my mind off my mother; she hadn’t come to me, and so I was going to go to her; her time was up and I needed answers. “Yes. He is”“I hadn’t seen him since the date,” I said.“He is pretty engaged,” Thane answered and then paused.“Anything wrong?” I questioned“No, I just got mind-linked by Axel; it seems like Slade lov
"I doubt the culprit is from this pack, and assuming it had been a common member, then how exactly had he been able to get to the Alpha King and leave without being caught?""Is not a he?" the messenger said, and a smirk spread on Thane's lips."So is a ‘she?" he questioned, though already suspecting the answer, the smirk on his face widened."Yes, she is a female; she had a darker shade of blonde hair.""Would you recognize this woman if you saw her?" Thane questioned."I had only had a single glance at her backside, but there is more... she has an injury to her arm; she didn't get away as easily as she had planned."The messenger said, and for some reason, my mind travelled back to my mother; she had seemed a bit strange since her return, and then... there was also an injury on her arm. I tried my best to look composed, also grateful that not a single eye was on me. I knew something was wrong when I went back to her room to discover she was gone; she had kept it a secret from me, an
I had doubts... I hadn't believed my mother was capable; this had been the same woman I lived with all my life, but here I was in her apartment... And now I think maybe I was very wrong; maybe I just never knew who my mother truly was; she might have hidden that part so well from me.“You were away for a few days. Where did you go?” I asked, my gaze burning into her.“I do not have to report to you; I am your mother, and I have the right to be wherever I want to be.”“A messenger was sent from the New Blood Pack, Thane had assembled soldiers to search for the offender. I can only help you if you talk to me,” I said to her.I could see the fight in her eyes die away.“I had been so close,” she says, and I shouldn't be surprised, yet I was because I hoped she wasn't involved; I hope it was just a mere coincidence, and maybe that had always been my problem... I hoped a lot.“I don't believe you; how did you do all that?” I asked staring at her, she was strong for a woman in her late thir
Thane was already there by the time I returned back to our room.That could only mean one thing.“Where did you go?” He asked“I needed to take some air... why?”He turned to me. He was only in a black bottom-down shirt; the sleeves of his shirt had been rolled up, and he had a glass of whiskey in his hands.“You are back early.” I noted aloud.“Yes” was his only response, his gaze on the glass in his hands.“Any luck tracking down the rebel?” I asked“Let's not talk about that right now,” he says, and I let out a sigh of relief.I walked towards him, and he took my hands.“You are very special to me,” he says, and my heart fluttered. This was the second time he had told me that. “I want you to tell me now, is there anything I need to know, Riley?”There it was. He knew something; I was almost sure about it, but never would I give my mother up.“I am not hiding anything from you, Thane,” I lied, and he nodded. He brought my hands to his lips, placing a kiss on it.“I'll miss this a lo
Thane had never gone back on his words; I knew that, yet I could only hope; I had no other option.“Thane, please don't do this; I can't live without her. Don't take her away from me; please do something,” I begged, going on my knees before him.I was willing to degrade myself—anything it took—just for her life to be spared.“I will do anything; I will be anything you want me to be, and I will not complain once, if only you will spare her life,” I said. I was practically begging to become his toy, begging him to take me as whatever he sees fit, just to save my mother.“Get up. There is no such thing as mercy, not in this pack. She did wrong, and she had already accepted her fate; you should too,” he says, his tone cold and unyielding.“No, you can’t do this... please for me.”Thane eyes were on me, no smirk on his lips this time. “I have to do this for the pack; no one goes against me or the Alpha King and stay alive.”“Alpha Slade deserved what he got.”“And I am not the one to judge
"Empress," I called. But she was not alone—I noticed other empresses and high regents trailing behind her.“You were gone for quite a long time.” She said to me, “Did you really think you could run away?”“I didn’t intend on running away… All I wanted to do was explore the city.”“Explore the city?” she questioned, walking closer to me. “You are the Chosen; out there, all you would find is sinful people, ready to taint you; there is nothing out there.”“Then maybe I don’t want to be the god of light's chosen! Maybe I want to just live my life like any other girl; maybe I think this—everything, it’s all a lie.”She slapped me hard, and the sharp sting was followed by the metallic taste of blood on my tongue.“How dare you say something so blasphemous?”“I don’t take back my words. You lock me in here, day and night, forcing me to read stupid books, forcing me to learn stupid languages. If the god of light was so powerful, she shouldn’t have an issue in speaking with the common tongue.
“Are you scared, Aliya?“No.” I lied.“I can tell when you are lying.”“I’m not.”“Another lie.”“Yes. I am scared.”“Good. You should be.”“Are you going to hurt me?”“No. I won’t. But I have another question. Have you ever touched yourself?”“No.” I answered, avoiding his gaze.“Then I’ll be the first person to make you cum.”He slowly circled a finger around my clit, and my breaths grew shallow. “Trian…”“Don’t speak. If this is to be the last night I spend with you, then it must be worth it.”The last night? What did he mean?I had no time to think about it as the pleasure consumed me. He went lower, a place no one but the Empress had ever gone. I didn't like it then, but now… I wanted it so bad. “Don’t look away, Aliya; watch as I fuck you with my fingers.”He thrust two fingers into me hard, and I cried out; he went even harder, his thrusts unrelenting. I built up quickly, hard and fast. “Train.” I warned, but he wouldn’t stop; he placed a kiss on my clit and then nibbled on it
Ash gave me one last look—hesitant, uncertain—before he ran.“We need to leave now.” Trian said, helping me up to my feet.“Where are we going to go?”“My place,” He answered. I could tell he was angry.He pulled me along, and after twenty minutes of walking, we came to a stop before a house. I had no time to study the place before he led me inside. It looked even nicer; only the wealthy here could afford such houses.“I never knew you had a house.”“I only just got it,” he said, passing me a bottle of water. I twisted off the cap and took a drink.“I’m sorry…” I began.“Don’t. Don’t even say that. What the hell were you thinking running out of the castle all on your own? Did you even know where you were going?”“I was bored.”“Being bored is better than getting killed. There are bad people out here, Aliya; do you know what would have happened if the wrong set of people had found you? Some would have sold you for gold; others wouldn’t mind tainting you just to anger those empresses. Y
I ran as fast as my feet could carry me away from the castle. I could only hope that while I was gone, Julia wouldn’t have a reason to check on me—because if she discovered I was missing, Then I was doomed.The city was alive as always.I headed straight to the fortune teller’s hut. Ever since my last visit, all I could think about was coming back here to ask her more questions—normal questions any girl would want to know. Questions that had nothing to do with me being a ‘chosen.’Trian believed that fortune tellers were all liars, maybe they were, maybe they weren’t.I stopped before the small, odd-looking hut with bones hanging from its door. I walked in and immediately spotted the old woman. She sat on a wooden stool directly in front of the fireplace, her eyes fixed on the fire. She muttered some foreign words before blowing a whitish powder into the flames, causing them to burn brighter.“How can I help you, girl?” She asked, without looking at me.“I came here to ask some more q
ALIYA’S POVI heard footsteps approaching and quickly hid the book I had been reading. Empress Julia never liked seeing me with leisure novels; I doubted I was even allowed to read anything that didn’t concern my studies or my future as the god of light’s chosen.“Empress,” I addressed.“You look well,” She said, “How have your lessons with Cynthia been going?”“Very well, she is a good teacher.” I lied.Empress Cynthia’s lessons were the worst; I hated every minute and second of it. I was currently learning an ancient, ‘forgotten’ language called Sumerian. Most times, all I imagined was shoving the textbook down her throat. I couldn’t deny that there was something off-putting about her—but then again, so was every Empress in this damned city.“I don’t expect less.” Julia said. I could tell that wasn’t exactly the reason she was here, and she was getting to that part soon. “Have you seen Trian by any chance? I’ve sent a few soldiers to find him, but he seems to be out of reach.”‘How
I didn’t exactly call for Sarah just so she could help me draw a bath.“Luna.” Sarah addressed, bowing. “The Alpha informed me that you requested my presence.”“Yes. I wanted to ask about the girl… the little one Alexander brought from the Gray Moon Pack."I caught the slight hesitation on her face before she answered. “Her name is Amanda.”“Beautiful name for a beautiful girl. How has she been recovering?”“She’s doing very well, better than I ever expected, actually. She’s blending in with the other kids, which is nice—she should be around people her age and…" Sarah kept talking. I couldn’t help but smile.“You seem to have grown a fondness for this girl.”“I… I just feel sorry for her; I want to protect her in any way I can.”“Sarah, you know you can tell me anything.” I reminded her, and she nodded.“Of course. It’s just that I don’t know if you’ll approve.”“Approve of what?”“I had taken her back to my apartment; she has been living with me—I didn’t ask for your permission; it’s
KAIDAI should have won. I had been so close, and then he appeared out of nowhere.Alexander switched to his human form and then he…. bursted into laughter, of course he found my failure funny. “I guess it was your pride that got bruised.” he said.I transformed back to my human form too. “You are a guy, and I’m a girl—you shouldn’t be competing against me.” I said to him, and that only made him laugh harder.“I wasn’t. I wasn’t trying, and I still beat you.”“It was just luck; it won’t happen again.” I promised him; what I meant to say was I would never be foolish enough to challenge him to a race. He was not only stronger than me; he was also faster. He was better than me in everything, and that bruised my pride. “We should get back.” I turned to walk away, but in a flash he was right in front of me.“Forgotten our little bet?” he asked.Yes, that had slipped my mind; now that I think of it, I was indeed a proud fool for agreeing to it.“What would you have me do, Alpha King?”“If y
ALEXANDER’S POVReturning from my ‘trip,’ all I wanted was to see my mate. I’d missed her, missed kissing her, but then I discovered she had been kept in the dungeons for over three nights. My own advisors had seen fit to humiliate her. It took all my will to remain calm.There were going to be changes to the Council; perhaps I never needed so many advisors after all.“The woman’s name is Helen; she does have a five-year-old child. She worked for Eamon as a sales representative.” Austin read from the file.“She was paid pennies; that’s very low for a full-time worker.” I said.“Yes, it is very far below the minimum wage.” Austin agreed.“Get in touch with this woman; make sure she’s well taken care of and established.” I said to him, and he nodded, taking the file along before walking away.I turned to the rest of my advisors; tension hung in the air. They weren’t just unsettled; they were afraid, and they were right to be.“Alpha, if I may speak…” Ronan began, but I cut him off.“No,
I climbed up the stairs and stood right in front of my mate, Alexander."The man was not innocent..." I began, but my words were cut off as he pulled me onto his lap and kissed me. The kiss was passionate, raw, and full of need."Hush. You need not say a word."There was complete silence in the hall.Alexander rose, gently setting me down before walking over to Seth."You placed your Queen Luna and my mate in the dungeons. Who gave you that authority?"Seth fell to his knees. "I apologize. I meant her no harm...""It seems I need to set more examples, and you'll be the unlucky one I use to make them.""But I am your advisor; I have been by your side ever since you were only a boy.""I haven't forgotten that," Alex said, his claws tearing through his skin. "But you forgot your place."I watched in complete astonishment as Alex ripped Seth's head off his body and tossed it aside, the lifeless body crumpled to the floor, blood pooling around it."The soldiers who had been stupid enough