"What?" I demanded, my eyes narrowing at him."That didn't quite come out how I planned, I'm sorry. It is not a demand; you are free to refuse.""I can't marry you; I don't even like you," I said blandly."Love is never a big part of many marriages," he says."So then why would you want me as a wife?""Your influence; you don't seem to notice it, but you are the werewolf queen.""Not anymore""Many would always see you as that.""And so you plan to do what?; Use me to increase your pack status?”"If you want the truth, then yes."He didn't hesitate; I should be irritated by his request, but strangely, I wasn't. At least he was making his intentions clear from the very start; he would only let me attain power capable of making me his equal if I agreed to be his wife, and this way benefiting the pack. Thane never did this.Still, his request had caught me by surprise. "You can take as long as you need to think about this," he said."There won't be any need for that; my answer is no.""I
I couldn't explain it all to my mother. She wouldn't understand; no one but Nick would; he understood what it felt like.The thought of hurting her saddened me."Riley, are you alright?" she asked. This was the third time she had asked that question."Yes, mom, I am alright," I answered, trying to put on a smile, but I couldn't fake that, not with her."Okay, tell me what's going on." she asked, taking a seat on the cushion opposite me.I inhaled deeply. "We all have to take risks to get what we want, you know that, right?""I do, but not all risks are worth taking," she said; it was almost like she could read me. "Something is wrong, I can tell. Does this have to do with... Nick, did he say something to you?""Yes...No""What did he do?" she asked, her expression turning grave."Nothing""Don't lie to me; what is the risk you speak about?""I and Nick are getting married.", This was only a part of the truth, but I knew I wasn't going to get past my mother's curiosity so I had to tell
It wouldn't make sense for Thane to come here after everything. Yet, maybe I've been wrong all along; perhaps, just like me, he couldn't stay away.I never bothered to think about the fact that Gabriel wouldn't refer to the Alpha King as 'someone’, I didn't want to think, my heart seemed to have a mind of its own. I followed Gabriel down the stairs, and all the while, I imagined scenarios of what it would be like to see Thane again. Would he be sorry for what he had done to me? Would I forgive him?The answer was; Yes. Call me pathetic and foolish, but I knew that would be my answer if he pleaded genuinely. A part of me knew he would come for me, and that part of me 'waited' each day for him. Was it possible to hate and love a person?Yes, it was. I hated Thane, but also I loved him. Finally, I walked into the living space, and there I noticed...There was no Thane.For some reason, that hit me so hard. I should have known better, but I didn't.I never realized how hopeful I really
"As much as I want to help you, you must have heard by now that I am no longer the Queen Luna," I said to him."Titles like that cannot be taken away by mere words," he insisted. "We need your help; an attack is coming soon, one bigger than the previous; we cannot fight that off."I still didn't think Thane would do this, not if these people haven't done anything to start up the war, and yet the man sounded so sure, and from the look in Nick's eyes, he seemed to agree with the man's opinion."I cannot help you; I am not the savior," I admitted, and with that, I walked away because I couldn't stand and watch the disappointment in their eyes. What did they expect me to do—talk to Thane? fight against him?I couldn't do that..I sat down alone in my room lost in thoughts until a knock at the door drew my attention."The door is unlocked; come in," I called, and Nick walked in."Can I sit?" he questioned, and I nodded. He took a seat on the bed while I sat on the cushion. "They were not
I always knew something was off with Thane's statement. How could I be so foolish? How could I have ignored such a huge clue? I remembered Thane's words when I confronted him about the pictures. 'Not everyone is happy about the new changes,' he had said. As the Alpha King, he claimed he was only monitoring them to stay one step ahead and remain on a safer side.' Then, I did feel like they were hiding something. What if they were? Still, I found it hard to believe Thane was behind this, those packs many believed he attacked committed no crime against him, many people had died, children too and all for what? Power is a deadly game, but Thane was all for the dangerous stuff. How could Axel agree to this? That was the most shocking of them all. I had long forgotten about the secret room, till the dream, and maybe I didn't want to believe this as the truth but the evidence was all there, how long would I keep denying it. Once more, Thane never fails to surprise me. I had
Nighttime came way too fast. Decisions like this were easier said than done. I couldn't tell my mother I was leaving. She couldn't know I was leaving with Nick either, just because things could go very wrong and he might not return back with me. I stared at the blank paper on the table. I couldn't just leave without writing my mother a letter, just in case... "Gotta take a walk; I'll be back late. I have some good news too. Nick just OFFICIALLY proposed to me, and now I get the hype. The ring is so beautiful, and I am actually... excited. I love you, mom, always. XXX I reread the letter; it would have to do. I packed up some of those beautiful jewelry I had gotten from Thane into a bag—I had finally found use for them as I rarely did wear them. I put on a black coat over my leather trousers and crop top, and I walked out of my room. I met Nick at the farm; he did love this place, and I admired that. "You came quick," he says. "Of course I would." "So do we
It had been scary at first.The knowledge that Nick was in total control was scary, but when I ignored those fears, it was simply amazing. I looked down; from this height everything seemed smaller.I lost track of time as we 'flew', but too soon we plummeted downwards, and Nick landed elegantly. Only then did I notice how tight I had grasped onto his shirt."You could come down now," Nick says, and I nodded, but my legs wouldn't cooperate. He chuckled, helping me down."That was... wow," I commented."I know right?""Is she here?, the sorceress, I mean.""Yeah, come with me," he says. I followed after him.We were in the woods; this had not been what I expected. A nervous feeling settled over me.Finally, Nick came to a stop. At this part of the woods, dense plants with tendrils formed a curtain, blocking our view from what lay ahead. Nick pushed aside the tendrils of the plants and walked in. I hesitated before following.In the little space, there were even more flowers, their inter
I woke up, squinting against the bright lights; it took a moment for my eyes to adjust to it.Was I dead?I stared around the room.This place looked familiar.This was Nick's room.The past day even flashed past my mind. I stared at my wrist to see the bite mark. It hadn't been a dream; Nick had wings, and he also had very sharp teeth. ‘Did it work?’ That was the next question on my mind.Just then I noticed Nick; he was making coffee.I rose from the bed, feeling a bit light-headed from the abrupt movement. "You might need to sit for a while; you've lost a lot of blood," he says."What happened... did it work?" I asked, my eyes wide and hopeful.He finally turned to me, and I could see the sadness in his eyes. He shook his head. "No. It didn't work. You almost died back there," he says. A wave of disappointment filled me. I just wasn't good enough."But you survived; that is the most important thing. Your mother had been worried about you, and with you in my room, she thinks we we
I sat in front of Thane's door the whole night, pleading and begging, but he never did come, and finally I rose.I had lost him, and it took me this long to see that. I hadn't only lost Axel; I had lost Thane's love too.How did my life turn into this? One moment it all felt like a fairy tale, one I didn't want to wake up from, and now it was a complete nightmare.Some days I questioned the point of my own existence; I had no use remaining here, and yet, I didn't want to leave, maybe because I still had hope that one day Thane would forgive me.I lay on my bed staring at the ceiling, ignoring the knock on the door. I didn't want to see anyone right now, and I knew for a fact that it wasn't Thane. Whoever was behind the door persisted and it got annoying. I rose from the bead, heading for the door. I pulled it open, the frown on my face that disappeared the moment I saw my mother.She hugged me, knowing exactly what I needed. I couldn't help but be a child again and cry in her arms. "
I stared at the mirror; I looked like a mess. I sprayed some cold water on my face; a knock drew my attention.It was a maid."Can I help you?" I questioned."The Alpha sent me to pick up a file he left here. It must be that one." She said, pointing to the file on the table. She walked in, picking it up."You know what? I'll hand it to him." I said, taking the file from her hand. She seemed unsure."As you wish Luna," she said."Uhmm, where is he now?""The third room on the fifth floor," she said, and I nodded."Got it.".I knocked on the door to his ‘new’ room, and after a minute the door was pulled opened. Thane stared at me."What are you doing here?" He asked like I was some complete stranger, an intruder, but I couldn't blame him."I brought your files."He collected it, about to slam the door, but I placed a foot in the threshold. I pushed the door open and walked in."You've been avoiding me lately." I said to him, but he gave no response. He took a seat, opening the file and
The next few days I spent them with Thane; he was still in coma. The healers had to extract all of the toxin the elders had passed into his bloodstream; only then would the healing process begin, and from their report, he was doing well, but he still had a few more days to recover.I wiped his face with a wet towel; next, I gently brushed through his hair. I placed a kiss on his forehead and then his lips. I knew that when he awoke, things wouldn't be like they used to. I returned back to my room to take a bath before joining him once again.I couldn't bear the solitude of my room; I always ended up breaking into tears. I hadn't realized I was sleeping until the sharp intake of breathe jolted me awake. Thane was awake.The healers had said he would be down for a few more days, but he woke earlier than they had predicted; my heart pounded for the first time in excitement; I was so scared, I couldn't lose him too. "Thane!" I cried out, running to him to embrace him, but his cold star
A rock fell inches away from me, and I only managed to dodge it. Axel was losing a lot of blood. I knew what was about to happen, but I didn't want to think about it. It just couldn't."Riley, please listen to me." he said, and I turned to him; sweat coated his face and his breathing was laboured. "I can't make it, Riley. You know that, but if you go, you can save yourself and save Thane.""Please, Axel, we can make it alive, the both of us.""Look at me, Riley," he pleaded, and I did. "Kiss me."Tears rolled down my eyes as I leaned to him and kissed him. I wouldn't let him go; I just can't. "I love you, from the very first time I met..." he took a long breath. "But you were never mine, and yet that didn't stop me from wanting you. Don't blame yourself for this; you, Riley, were the best thing that had ever happened to me.""But Thane... he hates me.""No, he doesn't; reason with him; make him... make him understand." Axel coughed out blood. "Go now, get him, and leave this place.""
EARLIERBailey was still in here somewhere. I walked cautiously down the passage ways and I spotted yet another room. I pushed open the door and walked in. The room was similar to the one I had been kept in earlier, but she wasn't in here either.I needed a weapon; the sword alone wouldn't do to kill an elder as powerful as she was so I searched through the room. I pulled open a cabinet, and there I found more syringes filled with black serum, the very same ones used on Thane. I was almost certain of it. I would have to take a gamble with this. From what Bailey told me, this was created by the elders as a bane for Lycans, I could only hope it had some effect on her too, if it didn't work on her, then I was doomed.I strode out of the room, and there she was, standing at the very end of the passageway."So you've come to kill me." Bailey said with a smile on her face. "You know, Nyaos has been killed by your mate" She said to me.I couldn't exactly say I felt bad for that.I chose to r
THANE'S POVThe door opened, and Caleb walked in, his hands up as if in surrender. My beta, Axel followed, a gun pointed to his head."Free him," Axel said.Caleb walked to me, taking out the pipes. "The chains too." Axel said, and I could tell Caleb was not going to do that.Axel shot at his leg, but Caleb was strong—maybe even the strongest of all the elders. In the next second, Axel's gun was in his hands, and the table turned."Let him go, Caleb; it's me you want." I warned."You are right." Caleb says, "But I want him dead too."He shot at Axel. I growled, pulling at the chains; they burned my skin. He aimed for me next, pulling the trigger, but the gun was empty of bullets, and he tossed it to the ground."In every single room, I had planted a bomb; all I need to do is press the button, and everything would go 'boom'; everyone in this building would die, and I alone would be left. After a while, you will be forgotten, but for me, I'll take over from you; I will be known and fea
Axel unsheathed his sword before striding towards Nick.Nick let out his wing, flying right over us, but Axel leaped into the air, bringing him down by his wing. Axel pinned Nick down, holding both wings. I watched in amazement as Axel sliced them off, and Nick roared in pain, the bones where his wings had been attached prodded out of his back.Axel passed the blood stained sword to me. I limped to where Nick lay groaning in agony."Didn't I tell you, I will kill you?" Now kneel." I said, and he rose, falling on his knees. "Riley I..."I didn't let him say more; in a clean swipe, I incapacitated his head from the rest of his body.Axel took off his leather jacket and helped me put it on."I know a way out." Axel says, leading me out of the room, we walked down the hallways to an open space."Going somewhere?" A voice called from behind us. Bailey.She held a crossbow in her hands. "Nyaos is dead. Thane killed him. I guess this means our deal is… off."She shot the crossbow at me, bu
RILEY"It's girls time, Nick; you should leave." Bailey said to him, and he gave me a long look before leaving both of us alone. "I didn't remember telling you to stop with the dagger," she said."It fell." I lied.I didn't know if she bought that, but she spoke no more about it, taking a seat beside me."I'm going to tell you a story, one I had never told anyone before. Well, you would die in the end, so it makes no difference.I was in love once. I don't mean the casual crushes and those little feelings girls have. I was in love with Nyaos; he had always been there for me when I needed him; he helped me so many times; I can't even count the number of times he had saved my life. But Nyaos loved another; I was the ‘other woman’, and I knew that. Katara believed we were good friends; she trusted me; she trusted the both of us, and I knew what we did behind her back was very wrong, but I couldn't help myself. Nyaos said he loved us both, and though I always wanted more, I could settle
CAUTION: THERE WOULD BE VIOLENT SCENES IN THE FOLLOWING CHAPTERS; PLEASE READ WITH CAUTION.THANE.I could do it; I knew I could break through the chains. Rage is one powerful thing. I pulled hard, and the chains broke off. I ripped out the pipes that had been used to pass the fluids into my bloodstream, and I staggered to my feet. I heard footsteps approaching, and I positioned myself beside the door. Nyaos walked in; he noticed the empty chair, I could smell his fear; he should be afraid. I shut the door behind him, and only then did he notice me; he turned, his eyes widening in terror as I plunged my hand into his chest, past the crunch of his ribcage, and deep into his heart. His mouth opened, frozen in a silent scream."The cursed weapon isn't the only way to kill an elder." I whispered before I pulled his heart out. The sight of blood was so intoxicating it ignited a lust for blood in me, I wanted to spill more blood. An elder had been brought to nothing in a matter of minutes