It felt like good things weren’t destined to happen to me. I hated my mother more than I had ever done my whole life because she had told me a truth that I didn’t want to hear.Why did she have to tell me?That was the question echoing over and over in my mind.I couldn’t think of Thane as a brother, not after all we shared and all that happened between us. I had to be strong; no one was to see me in tears, so I had escaped to a more secluded space, a dressing room of some kind; there was no one in here, so I could cry my heart out.I felt like I had lost something dire to me, even if he was still there. This was what she wanted; she wanted to separate me from the only man I truly wanted.I would never let that happen. I had told myself that I would fight for what Thane and I had, and ‘this’ wouldn’t change it.But then being with him could feel so... wrong.Someone walked in.“I need some quiet time; leave now,” I ordered, backing the door.“It’s me Riley” Axel says and I turn to face
I had prepared exactly what I would say to Thane, but the moment he walked in, all I had rehearsed for hours was completely forgotten.His brown hair fell over his amber eyes and that’s all I could think about, how beautiful his eyes were. I couldn’t lose him, not just because he was the most beautiful man I had ever seen my whole life, but because I had fallen so in love with this man that I didn’t think I could live without him."Riley,” he calls.“Welcome back, Thane.”“You seemed to be a bit lost checking me out,” he mused with a smile before walking to me. “I got you something.”“Oh” I said in response; he took out the box and pulled it open, and it was a golden bracelet with emerald and blue flowery designs.“I could only think about you when I saw this,” he says, taking my hands and securing the bracelet around my wrist. No doubt it was pure gold; it looked so beautiful and very costly too. “Thane, I can’t take this.” I said even if I would very much love to.“Riley, don’t tur
If he loved me, then he should fight for what we had.Yet since I told him the truth that I was his sister, he hardly ever touched me; it had only been five days, but that was unusual for a man like Thane. He did kiss me, but it was never as passionate as it had once been. That would have to change because I was going to make a move... on him, tonight.I was in the sexiest pair of underwear. He would be back any moment. I laid on the bed waiting, and just as I had expected, he walked in.The moment he spotted me, he paused. I could see the need in his eyes, so strong, this was it; he was going to claim me.“Riley, put on your clothes.” He says and his words contradict the look in his eyes.The cold feeling of rejection washed through me, and I rose from the bed, walking toward him. “Thane look at me,” I pleaded, and he did. “Nothing had changed. Has it?”“No, you are still as sexy as ever,” he says, his eyes trailing down my body. Yet he held back.“You don’t need to restrain yourself
I had been on my way to Axels’ apartment when I walked right into my mother, she must have been waiting for me. I took a turn, trying to avoid her; she was the last person I wanted to see, but I felt her firm grip on my hands."Please, Riley, let’s talk,” she says.Talk? What's the point? We've been talking and it led to more problems, perhaps it was best I avoid chatting with her, this way she could keep her secrets to herself.“I do not need to talk to you right now; let me go,” I said. My voice sounded so cold, I almost didn’t believe it came from me. She finally let me go.“You were right, I didn't want you with him, I was never okay with that and so I knew telling you the truth would end what you both had, if only I knew how bad I was hurting you in the process. I acted selfishly but I think I have a solution.” she says, her eyes sincere."No, you don’t; the only things you can come up with are more problems, and I am fed up. I am sick and tired of you.”“Hear me out. I read abou
“Then why, why did he turn me down?” I asked, and Axel had been about to say something, but he stopped. He knew something, something he wasn’t going to tell me.“Have you tried a DNA test?” Axel asked instead.“On my way here, I ran into my mother who also brought that up... but I don't see the need of going through that only to have my hope shattered?”“Riley, I hope you don’t feel bad about me saying this, but your mother was with... others too, not just Slade,” he says, and I nod; I wanted to believe it too, I wanted to believe there was a chance.“What are the test requirements?” I asked him.“Thane’s blood or oral fluid,” Axel said.“I'd prefer he doesn't find out about the test until I get the results, and that would be impossible if I needed his blood or... saliva.”“Then his hair would do, and I could get that for you.”“You can?”“Of course,” he says with a small smile.“Thank you… so much”Something occurred to me. Axel had always been there when I needed him, but I had nev
“Is it twenty-four hours yet?” I asked Axel."There is still twenty hours to go” Axel answered, and I groaned.“Hey... what about now?”“It is still twenty hours to go, maybe minus twenty seconds. Riley, you have to calm down.”“Calm down? How do you expect me to calm down?” I asked, frustrated at everything. “You know what? I’m sorry... I know I could get very irritating, but these four hours feel like a whole day already.”“Maybe because we are practically sitting down and waiting for twenty-four hours to pass by.”“You have any ideas to pass time?”“Have you ever used a gun before?”“That’s a random question. No, I just held it a few times.”“Well then this would be fun... put on some pants, we got to go” he says."Well, my clothes are back in Thane’s room, and I am not going back there.”“I could find something that is a bit smaller for me,” he says, staring me up and down. “You are really small.”I glared at him, sticking my tongue out childishly. “Maybe you are just too big." He
Axel held my hands, guiding me, and this time when I took a shot, it landed right on its chest.“You’re dead stupid wood,” I said with a wide smile.“Your hands are steady; you can make the shot,” Axel says, and I swallow. I was going to do this on my own. “Picture someone you dislike... a lot,” Axel says.And so many images pass through my mind, Beatrix. But then I thought of someone I would hate even more. Barley, I hadn’t realized how much I disliked her. I hated her so much I was determined to get it right this time."Okay, I got it.”“Then fire,” Axel says, and I do just that, even without a single hesitation; it lands on the eyes of the mannequin, but I don’t stop there; I keep on shooting till the gun runs out of bullets. I tossed it to the floor.“Now I want to know who the person you pictured is,” Axel muttered to himself, amazed.“I hate elder Bailey a lot,” I admitted. “I think we could move on to archery now." "Yes, we can,” Axel says. He took the bow which hung on the wa
I was alone in Axel's room; there had been an emergency and Axel had to go. He did tell me he would be back soon, but it had been five hours already.Screw it.I took the envelope and walked out, heading to the room I had shared with Thane.I stopped before the door; maybe I should have waited for Axel's return before leaving, but it was too late to turn back now.I pushed the door open and walked in."Thane, we need to talk!" I called out; I knew someone was in the room, and just then I spotted Bailey seated on the couch, wrapped in a robe... Thane's robe.I swallowed."Elder Bailey, what are you doing here?" I asked, and my voice sounded shaky even to my own ears. She took a drag from the cigarettes she held."What does it look like?" She asks with a shrug; there was no smirk on her face, but I could see the victory in her eyes.I couldn't believe it. I suddenly felt suffocated; I couldn't breathe.How could he?That was the question I asked myself over and over again."Don't be ha
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