I woke up feeling dizzy.A glass of water was passed to me, and I accepted it not bothering to look at the person who gave me the water, I took a big gulp before realizing something—it wasn't water; it had this strange after- taste to it."Thane?" I called, everything seemed a bit blurry."I am right here; you need to rest.""No. What is this?" I asked, referring to the glass of water that left a bitter taste in the back of my throat."You blacked out earlier; it must be due to your now heightened senses. It would take you some time to adjust to it all. The liquid would help clear the dizziness," Thane says. The liquid worked faster than I expected and I felt very much better immediately."Where am I?""In our room," Thane said, and though I wasn’t looking at him, I knew there was still that annoying smirk on his lips."I'm naked, Thane.""Your dress was utterly ruined by your shift. Too bad, it was really a beautiful piece.""So I did transform... into a wolf?" I questioned; it felt
"Why not another book?, I picked up this other book...""No, I want this book, our favourite.""You are really going to do this to me, Thane?""Yes. That's the plan."He passed me the book, and I held it with shaky hands as he took a seat."What passage do you want to listen to?""You pick," he says.I inhaled, scrolling through the pages of the thick book before stopping randomly on one. My cheeks redden, and I was about to scroll past it."That one, I like that one," Thane says, and I knew he simply wanted me burning red in embarrassment. I could do this.This passage was shorter than most, so I began:"Mr. Cutie wasn't as innocent as I thought him to be when we were in bed. He was going to try a different technique, fisting—he called it. I was a very naughty girl, and so I could make a wild guess, it wouldn’t be my first time getting a fist from a guy but I was soon to find out how pleasurable ‘Cutie’ could make this." I paused. I had read about this ‘act’ from previous passages, Th
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'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
RILEY.I couldn't turn back; if I did, he would see the tears I could no longer suppress; that would destroy everything and my little act would be over, so I didn't turn back when he called, I had my eyes pinned to the door. "When I get out here, I will kill your lover, Nick, and after that, I will kill you, bitch."Those words would forever haunt me. He sounded so cold. I wondered for the first time if I did the right thing; my fear was that my attempt to save would cause him to lose the little humanity he held onto."You did well back there." Nick says, "I almost believed that maybe you never really liked him. He seemed very angry; I would stay as far away from him as I could if I were you.""Stop talking.""Oh, come on, this was the deal; get over..."I punched him right in the face, cutting him off; blood dripped down his nose and his eyes flashed with anger. He slammed me against the wall, and my skull, still fragile from his previous attack, hit the wall hard. For a moment, all
I remembered Regnux's words; he had suspected Riley; he must have seen something, something I was too blind to see.I also recalled Riley's disappearance and how all of a sudden she wanted to tag along anywhere I went. She was the only one who knew where I had kept the keys to Bailey's cell, yet I believed there had been a spare key. I was ready to believe everything but the truth that had been right before my eyes.A fool. That was what I was.The evidence was clear, and yet... yet, I didn't want to believe it. It couldn't be true. Once I had been heartbroken, Bella's death had left me in so much pain I couldn't heal on my own. Axel had bonded with me to share my pain.But I hadn't loved my mate like I loved Riley, and that's why I refused to believe it; the truth was clear, and yet I wanted it to be a lie; I wanted there to be some kind of explanation to it."Riley, if you think you are doing this to help me in some way, then don't. This won't help me, tell me this is all lies."The
THANEI couldn't move. It must be these damned fluids being passed into my veins. I was forced to endure hours of pain and agony, the only comfort I got during that time was the minutes I spent thinking about Riley.My fear was that they got her too; I didn't mind them taking me; I was ready to bargain my life to save hers if it came down to that, she could go back to Axel, I was confident that he would take good care of her and she could live the rest of her life happy. The only problem was that in this position, my life wasn't really good enough to make the bargain. I hated to say this, but I was completely at their mercy, and that could only change if I managed to take these damned pipes out.The pain only worsened with time; maybe this would be my end. I had spent my life killing people—yes, the majority of them were those who challenged me and others who were just in the wrong place at the wrong time, so this could be karma catching up with me. My only wish was to have a few more
I always knew Bailey wasn't a good person; from the very first time I saw her, something about her was off-putting, but this was beyond evil.She was not only going to torture Thane but torture me too. He would hate me; even in my death, he would never discover the truth that she had been the one compelling me, and yet... it would be worth it if he stays alive in the end. Yes, he wouldn't have his wolf, but he would still have his life."And how do I know you won't stab me in the back after I am done with what you've asked?" I questioned. I couldn't trust Bailey; I knew that."You don't really have a choice here, do you?"That was equally correct; I didn't exactly have a choice. "Take me to him.""Give him a day; he is too weak to react now.".....A day.That's what Bailey asked for, but I would have preferred if I walked right into that space and said it all to him at that moment; at least it would be over, but now I sat here, alone, thinking about what I was about to do; I didn't
RILEY'S POV I was alone in the empty containment room, chained to the chair I had been placed on. The footsteps approaching got my attention. Bailey was back, again. "Your mate is here. Just as I had said, feelings make us weak, and that was his downfall." "Don't you dare harm him." I warned, struggling out of the chains. "I guess you would want to see him, right?" She questioned me, and I gave her no answer; I wouldn't let her see how desperately I wanted to go to him. She walked to me, taking off the chains, and I immediately bolted for the door. The moment I touched the handle, the silver burned my hand. "You may call it karma—you remember the silver dagger you used on me?" she asked. "Let me out." "I'll do that, but first, we need to make things clear. In whatever you do, you will not try to escape this place. Got it?" She ordered, and I nodded, compelled. "Good, now come with me." I followed her out of the room. The building seemed ancient, clearly an underground h