"This was once called the Alpha's chamber, but Thane never did like the place," Axel informed me, but I couldn't make up a response, not when the nerves were eating me up. I was meeting his 'parents', the Alpha King and Queen. I walked in, but Axel didn't follow. The first person I noticed was Thane; he leaned against the wall looking very imposing. They seemed to have been in the middle of a conversation, which quickly ended the moment I arrived. Thane's eyes assessed me, and I could see the disapproval in his eyes—those eyes that seemed to darken the moment he realized I wasn't in the blue dress he picked out. I hadn't imagined it; his eyes did change colour according to his mood. I gave a low bow, my eyes down. I had seen Ryker's mother do this before. "Rise," the deep, cold voice called out, and I finally dared to stare into the eyes of Alpha Slade Blackwood of the New Blood Pack. Now I knew where Thane got those eyes from, though his father's were a different shade. Alpha Sla
I felt Freya’s grip on my arm the moment we were out of sight.“Come with me,” she says, her voice was raspy and barely audible, almost like she spent so much of her days in silence; she had forgotten how to speak right. I let her lead me into an empty room, and she locked the door.My heart pounded. Should I be afraid of her? There was something about her that was indeed different.“Why are we here?” I questioned“I want to talk to you,” she said, her voice a little bolder now. “There are a few things you need to know about being the Alpha’s mate." She said, and I nodded, ready to do anything to be in her good books. Her mate didn’t seem to like me, maybe things could change if I gave her the right impression.She lifted her veil and let it fall over her hair. I held in a gasp. Her face was scarred; that was why she was in a veil, why she had left no skin exposed; she was hiding the scars. I should have suspected this when I saw her standing behind Alpha Slade, her head down, but of c
I followed after him, a sense of dread settling in the pit of my stomach. He led me back into our room and shut the door. I inhaled. “Things went rough with your mother, right?” He asked, this question I did not expect. “She doesn’t like you very much.” “That’s understandable,” he says. “You know, you did well today—with my father, I mean.” “I did?” “Yes. Though I didn’t miss the fact that you had again disobeyed me, You took off the clothes—was it because of your mother?” “Yes... No. I couldn’t walk around looking like a whore.” He walked closer, and it took everything in me to stand still. His fingers traced the fabric of the brown gown I had chosen—without asking for permission, of course. “You liked being well covered?” He asked “Yes” “Just like my mother, Freya?” I think my heart skipped a bit right there. I remembered the scars all over her body, they had been the reason she left no skin uncovered. "How could you allow that to happen to her?"
"There had been a reason I wanted you in that dress, Riley; let's say I wanted my father 'infuriated'." "That wouldn't be a good thing since I was hoping to leave a good impression" "You don't understand; my father has this strange way of thinking, one I don't share with him; he believes fear is another means of power." "And you don't think so?" I asked, knowing full well that Alpha Thane was feared amongst all regions. Though he had other enviable and equally intimidating achievements capable of giving him same influence, many still ‘feared’ him. "Is different when you enforce such methods on family too. That's what he made my mother understand, he wanted her to fear him, tremble in his presence and now she had lost her own voice, he keeps her wrapped up like some mummy, I don't like that, so letting you wear something so provocative was challenging him in some way" "I thought... I.. I'm sorry" "Yet, Riley, I am glad you fought me for what you wanted." "I thought that wa
"What books did you pick?" Axel asked as we headed back to my room."Just some history books," I lied."You are into those?""There wasn't much to select from," I lied again."True," he agreed. I was glad we moved on from that topic quickly. "A maid would be here soon with some healthy food. When had been the last time you ate?""A few days ago.""Days?""I am used to it." I paused, deciding if I should tell him. "I was born an omega; I am used to staying days without food.""Omegas are to be fed too, just like every other.""Not in the Windborne Pack""It would be different here," Axel promised..A few minutes later, there was a soft knock on the door. It was 'the' maid, and she came in with a tray in her hands.She gave a deep bow, placing the tray on the table before quickly exiting the room."Whatever is in there smells really nice.""It's meat balls and mashed potatoes," he said."That seems a bit much, don't you think?""You've not eaten in days; you need as much as you can tak
The day went by in a flash, and soon it was already evening. "You should get dressed now; do you need help with that?" Axel asked. "No. I know my way around those," I said, picking out a green gown from my wardrobe. Surprisingly, all the clothes here were my size, and that was very... creepy. "The red one" "What?" "The red one would be better," Axel said, and I picked out the red gown. It was a beautiful piece, and I wondered how much it cost. I imagine it cost a lot. "You are right."I didn't do much with my hair; I was too nervous to even try, but I left it down, brushing through it a couple of times. "Thane is here," Axel announced, even before I heard the footsteps. Just then, Thane walked in, and my eyes traveled to him. "Why didn't you tell me?" I sneered at him. "Tell you what?" he asked, his gaze trailing right back to Axel, who shrugged innocently. "You told me I was to attend some party; you never told me it was some joining ritual." "You would have found out in th
Thane rose, and by his signal, I rose too. He took my hands. I knew it was all an act; I should be trying harder; we had the whole pack to convince now, but I couldn't help but think about 'the marking'. The fact that everyone here would watch us. How was this normal? Thane drew me closer to him. "Don't fight me," he whispers, low enough that only I could hear him, and then his lips met mine. The kiss was gentle at first and then demanding; he consumed me, and all I had to do was play along, even if my eyes teared at the knowledge that he would be doing this here, right now. Maybe I could just close my eyes and pretend it was just the both of us. That wouldn't be hard, right? His lips finally left mine, and I was sure my lips were swollen and my cheeks flushed. "My mate would be marked and claimed tonight," he announced, and the whole crowd erupted. I watched the faces of the people waiting to see me naked. "But it would be done in private," he says, and the applause died down. I
Axel was there almost immediately. "Thane" he called out, but the Alpha was far gone and I was a complete wreck, one thing was sure, I wouldn't have stopped him."Listen to me Thane, you don't want her hurt, remember?"Slowly Thane's eyes returned back to their normal colour, he stared at the mark he gave me, it still stung, but my mind was too clouded."I'm sorry" he says and with that he walks away, leaving the room. It took only a few minutes to gather myself and realise that Axel had seen ‘everything’. I couldn’t look him in the eyes, even as he brought a robe for me helping me into it.“Thank you” I said to him, avoiding eye contact.“You didn’t seem to want him to stop though” Axel said and it was of course very much true, I hadn’t wanted him to stop, damn I would have let him fuck me right in front of Axel. I had no response to that.“Thane’s father seemed rather unpleased at the fact that he was breaking the tradition” I said, trying my best to act like ‘this’ was nothing,
"How did you get in here?" I questioned him."Let's skip that part. I was hoping you would ask why I was here.""Well then, why are you here?" I asked him."I needed to apologize.""It doesn't work that way, and I don't appreciate you showing up in my home, Bruce.""I know, and if I will try not to do that next time —if there ever has to be a next time. I didn't handle things well when you came to visit; I had been too brash and... cold. For this reason, I ask for your forgiveness.""Got it. You can leave now.""I know you wanted an explanation, but I didn't give you one...""Bruce, I don't really care, not anymore; all I need is some time alone.""I would leave, but I went through a lot to be here, and so I need you to hear me out.""You have one minute, and your time starts now.""I do have an explanation; there is a reason I had to stay away from you, but the problem is I cannot tell it to you.""If I may ask, why?""I just can't. But I want you to know that I did care for your mo
Now it all made sense. Thane's reaction to Isabella finally made sense.I was mad, angry, and jealous, and I had every right to be. After Bella's death, Thane had been in so much pain, he couldn't bear it all alone, and that had been the very same reason he shut everyone out; it had taken so many years for him to move on, but the effect of her death remained, even till today. So I didn't exactly believe that he could just... Stop loving her.I paused in the hallways; hesitating for a moment before taking a turn, I headed to the room Isabella occupied. I knocked once, and she opened the door. I didn't wait for an invitation; I pushed past her and walked into her room. She shut the door before turning to me. There was a small frown on her tiny doll-like face. Her red hair had been made into a messy bun; she was beautiful, and I couldn't deny it, and despite myself, I felt an ache in my chest. Thane never spoke of how beautiful 'Bella' had actually been."I know why you are here," she s
RILEY"There's something I need to tell you." Thane said to me, his tone calm but I could sense the gravity of his words, and I gave him my full attention."Earlier, I told you that I had been seeing my father.""Yes, you did." I prompted him to go on."He wasn't the only dead person ‘visiting.""Thane, I think about Axel too; sometimes I dream about him. I understand that." I said to him, already knowing where this was heading to."No, it’s not Axel— that wouldn't have been a problem. It's Bella, my… dead mate. Though she only visits my dreams, it still worries me; I hadn't dreamed about her in years, and all of a sudden she is all I dream about, and in this dream... it's always like we were still together, just how it had been before she died.""Thane, I trust you. I know you don't love her, and it's just the deities trying to mess with your head, but I know you love me, and I love you too. The fact that you see your dead mate in your dreams doesn't mean a damn thing." I assured him
Isabella seemed taken aback by my refusal, tears welled up in her eyes — albeit they were tears of embarrassment; I could easily tell that she wasn't used to being rejected. I debated leaving the office, but finally she spoke up."You don't love me anymore, Thane.""I think I've had about enough of this; it's time you leave.""So you are going to push me away? After everything?""Well now you are making me believe you are crazy.""Don't pretend like you don't know what I speak about. You had the suspicions, but I turned them down. When I told you I forgot my memories, I hadn't been exactly truthful. I don't know what happened these past years, but all I could remember was being with you.""What are you trying to say?""I am trying to say I am the very same woman you loved; I am Bella.""Don't you dare..."She cut me off. "I can prove it to you. We met in the woods. At first, I ran away from you because I knew I was going to die. I didn't want to hurt you, but you were persistent, and
THANERiley had never once forgotten to replace the flower on Axel’s tombstone. I had seen her more than once, heading for the grave with a fresh flower to replace the old ones; sometimes she'd sit down beside the tombstone and talk to him.Axel had been a close friend to her, and sometimes I worry she would be all alone while I am away, ‘occupied’ as always.I had to run a check on Riley’s father, Sebastian Bruce; he had nothing under his name, and the thought of tracing him down was far too enticing. All I was going to do was talk to him, maybe leave him with an injury or two, nothing too much, just a reminder that he shouldn’t mess with my mate.I smirked at that.Just then I notice the woman approaching. It was Pricilla, Axel’s mother.I did remember informing the patrollers to never let her in, but on the day of Axe’s burial, she had practically begged to be let in to witness her son's burial, and as much as I disliked her, I let her in. But currently she was exceeding her welcom
I didn’t think Daemon could be easily manipulated; he was no child, and I knew that, yet I did feel guilty about Jade; she was in all these because of me, and we had easily moved on, not even bothering to look deeper into things; maybe it had been because we’ve been through too much and we wanted to believe it was all over. It wasn’t over, not yet. “Daemon, Jade was only trying to help me; I told her to capture you, and I’m sorry.” He turned to me. “You thought I would be a monster, right?” “But you aren't, and we were all wrong. I was wrong.” “What if they aren’t? What if I am a monster?” “No, I see you now, and I know you could be a better person; my only mistake was giving up soon.” “Riley, I haven’t harmed anybody from this pack because I don’t want you to hate me, but when I’m away, I kill people, many who had done no wrong, but I do it anyway because that is my nature; this is who I am, and so they are right, but even then, they wouldn’t separate us.” His words regi
I stared at Bruce, astonished. He had introduced himself as my father, as if he had any right to that title. “Maybe we can just leave it as Bruce. How may I help you?”I couldn’t help but feel disappointed. A part of me hoped he would have some kind of explanation to why he hadn’t been there for me or my mother, but it turns out he simply didn’t care. I didn’t have to care either; I needed something from him, and that’s why I was here.“Daemon told me you could help me get rid of my darkness.” I said to him.“He did, didn’t he?” Bruce said, giving Daemon a cold look.“Can you help me?”“I’m sorry, I can’t.”"Seriously?"“Yes.”I turned away from him, heading to the door, and then I paused.“You know what, Bruce?"—I called the name with as much venom as I could place in a single word, “You were never worth it. All my life I had wondered who my father was. I thought you were dead, and maybe it would have been better that way. You are a disgrace, a shame, a reproach, a coward. That’s wh
RILEY’S POVI didn’t know exactly what had gotten over me; maybe it was the pregnancy hormones, but I might have acted like a bitch to Thane; he didn’t deserve that.I watched him get ready for work; I knew he was still mad at me.“Thane, I’m sorry.” I said to him, and I meant it.“It’s fine.”"No, it’s not. I know you are mad at me, and you have every right to be.”“Riley, you’ve made a bad decision once with Nick; he deceived you. I want to protect you from that.”“I won’t make the same mistake.”“I’ll forgive you, Riley, but please let go of this plan you have about ‘getting rid of the darkness in you.” He said to me, watching me, waiting for my response, but he wouldn’t understand; no one would. “I guess I’ve gotten my answer.” With that, he walks past me and away from the room.I wish he could see that I was capable of making my own decisions too.“He is right, you know.” said a voice from behind me, and I slowly turned around. Daemon leaned against the wall.“You heard it all, d
ISABELLA'S POV...I watched him play the old piano; the piano had been the only thing I had brought here from my pack. I had discovered his name, Thane, and I couldn't deny that the name was very fitting for a man like him. He sat on the stool, shirtless, his full attention on the music he played, I couldn't stop watching those skilled fingers; he didn't strike me as the type who played. I really couldn't believe he was all mine. I had been told before that I was beautiful, petite, and perfect, but never once did I feel as appreciated as I felt when I was with Thane.I walked to him, and he immediately stopped playing, his attention now on me, a smirk on his lips."You were watching me?""I didn't know you played.""I don't, but I watched you and I learned; I am only doing this to get your attention." He confessed.I couldn't help but be amazed, Thane was no ordinary being. I knew that from the first time I met him, and yet, each day, he proved that to me over and again. I could h