Erica:Pulled up to the driveway and sat in the car. I was exhausted. My dress was torn and it had a bloody hole in the middle.I reached over to the back but couldn't find my coat, Lorenzo's coat, that I had worn to the party. Where was it?I sighed and found an old shirt in the back and pulled it over my head. It covered the hole well enough and I planned to dash upstairs before the kids could see it.I got out of the car and went inside and the kids were excited to see me. The house wasn't as messy as I thought it would be and I gave them all a big kiss for being so responsible.Elma didn't hesitate to jump into my arms, much to her brother and sister's dismay. They asked her to leave me alone so that I could rest but she clung to me like a koala.“I guess we are all ready to go out."“Yes!!"The cheer was loud and unanimous. Even Elma was excited.I excused myself and headed up to my room to change. I dashed up the stairs as fast as I could so that Elma wouldn't catch up to me.I s
Erica:“Erica? Erica ?”I was pulled out of my thoughts by Javier staring at me, as well as the kids. I gave a nervous laugh and tried my best to collect my thoughts.I didn't want Javier coming with us, but at the same time, I didn't want to seem rude. He seemed like a nice guy and I was certain that there was not going to be an incident where I would end up fucking him.If anything, he was way better company than Dante. Maybe that was what I needed: some good company.“Hey, Erica,” he started softly. “You seem a little hesitant about me coming along with you and the children. I don't want to force your decision. I can go if you like. I have…”“No, no, no,” I said, holding his arm tenderly.I looked up at him and was once again captivated by his warm golden eyes and his handsome face.“I would be delighted for you to come along with the kids and me. I've been stuck in some bad meetings this week and some good company would do me a lot of good.”I watched his lips curl into a smile a
Erica:I paid for the toys and we finally left the store. My stomach growled and so did the kids.“It seems that you all are hungry. I know a great Chinese place where we can have something to eat.”Javier offered to take us and I was so happy that the kids didn't say anything to him, though I could tell that they were excited to go.“You know that you don't have to, Javier. I can take the kids out to get something to eat. We wouldn't want to burden you any more than we already have .”Despite how happy I was that he offered to take us out for dinner, I didn't want to be a burden to him. We only just met at a party and he had already followed me and the kids to the toy store.“Nonsense. I wouldn't mind taking you and the kids out. It would be my treat and besides, you could share some of your architectural ideas with me over dinner. And I know a place where the children can play a little while we talk. I doubt they would want to be bored with business discussions.”I turned to look at
Clarissa:I was in my hotel room all day the next day.I felt scared leaving; I still couldn't get over the fact that Erica nearly saw me at the mall last night.I lay on the bed and stared at the ceiling. I had never felt so bored in my life. I was living in a large hotel room and had enough money to buy and order whatever I wanted, yet, I didn't know what to buy or what to order.I tried on all the clothes that I bought last night at the mall and they all fit me perfectly. I wore them one by one and twirled in the mirror and imagined how happy Lorenzo would be seeing me in them.Now and then, I would imagine him holding my waist and kissing my neck, telling me how beautiful I was and how much she loved me.I would feel his hand on my arm and when I reached out to touch him, I was jerked from my thoughts and I realized that I had been lost in a daydream, that none of it was real.I did have some fun with the lady at the front desk. She had called me a dirty and ugly bitch the first n
Clarissa:I got dressed and headed down to the front desk.Once again, I got the opportunity to relish the look of astonishment on the receptionist's face. I couldn't seem to get enough of it.I went outside and flagged down a taxi. He pulled up right in front of me and gave me a seductive glance.“Damn! And where do you think you are going this fine evening, beautiful ?”I was about to reply to him but I suddenly realized that I had no idea of the clubs that were in town.As I continued to think, I caught glances of him staring at me and licking his lips hungrily as he savored my body.Finally, I gave up and leaned in seductively, trying my best to act enticing.“I am kind of new in town. Do you know any good clubs that you can take me to ?”I flashed a smile and I watched in delight as the cab driver unraveled at my seductiveness. “Of course I do. But for a beauty like you, it might cost you.”I rolled my eyes and smiled again.“I think I can pay the fare .”He pointed to the back
Dante:I was alone in my study and suddenly the door burst open.“Dante!”The voice was so familiar but I didn't even bother to raise my head from a document that I was perusing.Strong perfume filled the air and I felt the presence of two people in the room.They stood there watching me with irritation but I was determined not to give them the time of day. I had more important things to do than get myself involved in a meaningless squabble.“Dante, I am talking to you. Can't you hear me?”The voice came again and I could feel myself slowly losing strands of my patients. I gripped my pen a little harder and heard the frail plastic crack a little under my grasp.“Dan…”I slammed my hand down on the desk and looked up at the impudent figures that were glaring down at me.My sister, Pearl, stood defensively in front of my desk while Laura took shelter behind her but was still glaring at me ferociously.“What do you two want? Can you see that I'm busy?” My voice was rough and dismissive.
Dante:I locked the door securely and went into the bathroom in my study. I leaned over the sink and looked at myself in the mirror. My head was spinning and my breath was erratic.I tried to calm myself down but the thought of Erica lingered in my mind. I saw the softness in her eyes when I asked her to be my Luna. I had the strong inclination that she loved me but that bastard, Lorenzo, was stealing her heart from me. He was the reason why I couldn't have her as my own.“Fuck!"The throbbing feeling in my pants didn't disappear. It multiplied and I couldn't help it anymore.I ran my hands under the tap and scooped up some cold water and washed my face.“That should do the trick."I did it a few more times and finally, I felt slightly better. I dried my hand and turned to…“Erica?!"I was stopped right in my tracks by Erica, who stood in the bathroom with me with a seductive smile on her face.“Erica, what are you doing here? How did you know that I was here? How did you even get in?
Lorenzo:I finally made up my mind to go and see Erica's parents. I couldn't keep hiding out in my home anymore. I was certain that they were worried about where I was and were questioning Erica about it. It was surprising that she hadn't called me to ask me why I hadn't seen her parents; it seemed like the text that I sent to her was enough conviction already.I walked to the pack house and I noticed the carnage on my way there.Roads and properties were destroyed and I could see soot and ashes from trees, cars, and houses that had been set ablaze.The entire pack was deserted and there were only a few people left, whom I guessed had nowhere to go.I watched a sick mother run to a store for medicine only to find out that it was closed. I watched her fall on her knees and begin to cry and I could tell she wanted medication for her sick child but now, there was no way to get any.Hazan was a monster. How could he do this to an entire pack of wolves? And all for what?I got closer and c
Dante’s POV“...And that was how the brave werewolf defeated the witch and her coven. The end.”I looked at the kids and they were all sound asleep. Ethan was snoring loudly and Elsa mumbled something adorable. They looked so wonderful. I wasn’t sure that I would ever get over the shock of them being my children. Erica had really raised them well.I tiptoed toward the door and was about to close the door behind me when I heard a voice.“Dad?”Elma sat up and looked at me with wide eyes. I thought she was sleeping wit
Javier’s POV “How are they doing father?... Yes, I am making progress here. You don’t have to worry about anything. I will get it done… Yes, she swallowed the bait. Women are so gullible… I know, father. I just need a little time. Yes, father.” The phone call ended and I was left by myself. My father had received Laura and Lisa. Things were falling into place nicely. My heart did a little thump. I hoped my father was treating my mate well. I could only imagine how many times she would have called. She was going to be so mad when I saw her. It would take a miracle for her to forgive me, but she would understand in the end. It was
Erica’s POVI looked at the number, stunned and in disbelief. Why was she calling me? Hadn’t she ruined my life enough? Wasn’t she and Lorenzo already tired of making a fool of me?I cut the call and placed my phone back on the bedside table. Dante looked at me in shock and made a reach for my hand but I pulled it away.“Who was it?”“None of your business,” I snapped, shifting away from him.“Erica, we need to be able to stick together and…”“Can you just leave me alone, Dante? We aren’t married. I barely recognize you as the father of my children, so I suggest that you keep your nose out of my business!”Ring! Ring!The phone began to buzz again and I fought the urge to pick it up. I trusted Clarissa and she made a fool of me. I wasn’t going to take any more shit from her or Lorenzo.Ring! Ring!I could hear the phone ringing louder and louder and I pressed my hands over my ears. I should have just put it on silent as soon as I touched the phone the first time. I feared picking it u
Erica’s POVI pulled my kids closer to me and glared at Pearl. I should have known that she would be here. I watched her lock eyes with Dante, but every few minutes, he would steal glances at me and my kids. I couldn’t explain how much I hated her.“Dante, I don’t know what she has done to brainwash you, but she is lying, and you know it. She is barren. She can’t have…”“I am not going to stand for this any longer, Pearl. These are my kids and if you don’t get out of my way, I’ll make sure that you are thrown out of this place.”His voice boomed and even the kids jumped in fright. They had never seen him this angry. Pearl stepped back and shot me a hateful look. I gave one back to her; the feeling was very mutual.He picked up Elsa and turned to one of the maids, ignoring Pearl’s presence completely.“Have the chef prepare dinner for the five of us. We had a long trip, and we are famished.”The maid disappeared into the house, and we followed her behind, as Dante pushed Pearl out of h
Dante’s POV“Uhmm… I believe we should get going. It is getting late and we… might miss our flight.”I watched Erica gently pull her hand from her daughter's grasp and grab her suitcase. My heart fell and her daughter looked confused. I sighed and was at the same time, grateful. It seemed she hadn’t told her kids about what happened between us. My heart pounded at the thought.It wasn’t too hard to see that they loved me. I could only imagine how much hate they would have towards me if they found out the truth.She took Ethan’s hand gently and they walked to the car that was waiting outside. From what I had noticed. He was the eldest of the three, and he was a spitting image of me, but I could see a bit of his grandfather in him. I could feel his heart inside of him.I watched the kids go after their mother but little Elma still clung to my fingers, looking up at me with a big smile. She was so sweet.“Elma, dear, could you please join your mother outside? I need to talk to your ‘fat
Erica’s POVI grabbed my suitcase and looked at the contents. I hadn’t even removed anything from it except the book. I looked at my clothes and sighed. I couldn’t believe that I was going to do this, but this was what was best for the kidsand my pack.I felt a tear come to my eye but I wiped it off. I shouldn’t cry. I should have known that it was going to come to this. I should have known that he would find out soon enough and that he would do anything in his power to get them back into his life. I couldn’t forget my meeting with him and the head of the council burst in. They looked ravenous and desperate, quite like the counselors in my pack who seemed very hell-bent on keeping me from taking over from my father.There was a soft knock at the door and my steady gaze was broken.“Come in.”The door opened and my mother opened the door and smiled sadly at me. I tried to give her a reassuring smile but my lips were trembling. It was like I was going back in time but it was a little d
Erica's POV"You just let him leave?! After what he did?! After the disturbance that he caused? I have never seen the level of such disregard at the Alpha's funeral. He should be ashamed of...""Enough!" I snapped at counselor Rufus. I was sick of his talking.He was lucky I was being civil. I should have spoken my mind the day we were planning my father's funeral.He looked at me with shock, but it soon morphed into anger and disdain."How dare you? I am the head of the council and...""And I am the daughter of the Alpha and the heir to his throne. I am well aware of who you are, Counselor Rufus and I assure you, you are beneath me."His mouth was wide and the murmurs in the crowd intensified. It was high time I put everyone in their place."I am my father's daughter and I want his cremation to be peaceful. I don't care for your gossip and back talk and anyone that dares to interrupt the decorum will answer to me..."I could feel my anger rising inside of me. I could feel my eyes glo
Erica's POVI stood there in the rain, staring at him. Was he out of his mind?! Did he think that he could just show up at my father's funeral unannounced and spew this bullshit? Hadn't he caused me enough pain already?I slapped him again and he let me. He didn't move an inch and moved his jaw in pain to readjust it.“You can hit me all you want, Erica. But I am not leaving here without the kids. You can't win this battle. I stated that are mentally unfit to take care of them and have a certain ‘illness’ that makes you lose control of yourself. You are a danger to them.”I was stunned."Did you just call me mentally unstable? You think I'm insane?!”I could feel my anger building. Who did he think he was?!“I didn't say that you were…”"Don't you dare think that you can play coy with me! You know what you implied!”I sunk my fist into his face and he reeled backwards. I watched as blood streamed down from his face to the puddle of water beneath our feet.He pulled his hand away and h
Laura’s POVI watched as Lisa and her father breezed through the crowd. It wasn’t difficult to tell that she was thoroughly bored. I couldn’t blame her. Her father looked like a stuffy stuck-up man.I turned my head and caught sight of Rusev watching me like a hawk. I grumbled. I hated him. Why did my mate think it a good idea to leave me stuck with him?I shadowed Mr. Hans as he dragged his daughter along, greeting dignitaries and other stuck-up people like himself.A waiter passed me and I grabbed another glass of champagne. How was I going to get Lisa away from her old man?My mind kicked into overdrive, and soon, an idea hit me. I sighed and winced in disgust as it continued to take shape in my head. It wasn’t pleasant but I had to do it. I guess that was one other purpose of the dress I wore.I took another sip of my champagne and strutted sexily towards Mr. Hans. He caught a glimpse of me through the corner of his eye and was soon fully facing my direction.A dirt smirk crept on