Erica:The phone rang for a while but my father picked it up and I could hear his weak voice on the other end.“Father?”“Erica, my daughter, how are you? Could you give me a few minutes?I listened as his old weary footsteps trudged along the floor.“Finally, I could tell that he was alone as his voice was a little louder than before.“Erica? Are you all right? Has anything happened to you?”The urgency in his voice was frightening but I assured him that I was safe.“How have the discussions with Dante been? How soon can we get the jewel and put a stop to Hazan's tyranny?”The worry in his voice frightened me and I tried my best not to stutter.“Discussions are moving as fast as possible. I hope to conclude them with him soon. It's just that some matters in his pack are causing a slight delay in the negotiations.”I heard my father exhale sadly and I felt awful for keeping something as important as this on hold just because Dante and I couldn't let go of our past.“I understand that
Dante;I was in my office going through some documents when I heard a knock at the door.“Come in,” I said coldly without lifting my head from the papers on my desk.My Beta, Robert, walked in and placed himself on the chair right in front of my desk.“Good afternoon, Alpha. I can see that you are busy.”“And I can see that you are here,” I said emotionlessly, still not bothering to raise my head to look at him. “If you are here Robert, then had better be something good.”There was a silence between us for a while and the only thing that could be heard was the sound of my pen scratching across the paper.I could feel Robert's eyes on me but I wasn't moved to care. I had work to do and he could sit there and stare at me for all I cared.“I came to give you a report on the Enterprise is so far.”“Okay, go on. I'm listening.”He pulled out a paper from a file that was under his arm and straightened it out in front of me.The sound of the crinkling paper drew my attention but without rais
Clarissa:I was in bed in my underwear and I had my phone in my hand. I was waiting for Lorenzo's reply to the pictures that I sent him but I still didn't get any.After about thirty minutes of waiting, there was still nothing and I tossed my phone wearily to the side and stared at the ceiling.I was in red lingerie. I bought them with Lorenzo in mind. I figured that he would like them and would find me more appealing if he saw me in something sexier.I had been inside all day and the only thing that dominated my thoughts was Lorenzo.I had only a few days left of my vacation and I had no idea what to do. After my experience at the club, I was convinced not to go ever again.As I lay on the bed, I gently brushed my fingers against the cleavage of my breasts. I was craving Lorenzo; I missed his touch and wished he was here.The feel of my fingers on my skin felt wonderful and I groaned slightly as I moved my body sensually, still craving the touch and smell of my mate.I closed my eyes
Dante;I was still in my office and my head was heavy. Robert had left me alone and I made it a goal to down the whiskey bottle.I felt light-headed and dizzy. I set my pen down and pushed the papers in front of me away. There was no way that I could do work with the way I was feeling. I sat laid back in my chair and my thoughts spun in my head like a ship being tossed on a turbulent ocean.The popped in and out of my memory revolving around Erica, the jewel, and Hazan.My body felt weak and I craved attention. I could feel my bulge slowly hardening even though I had already had a session in my office.“Erica.”Her name rolled off my tongue in a breathy and desirous way. I could smell the alcohol on my breath. I was dead drunk.I heard a gentle knock at my door but I was too weak to say anything. I managed to lower my head and I watched as the handle clicked and was pushed open slowly.“Dante?”My vision was hazy but it didn't take me two seconds to figure out that Laura had coming
Dante:I watched her grip the table with passion. She was lost in the feel of my fingers inside of her. I moved them slowly and deliberately, enjoying the moans and the way she held on to the table for dear life, knowing that once she touched me, it was over.“Dante, I can't take anymore. Please."Erica's face was red and beads of sweat dotted her forehead. She was under so much tension.I was slow and I would pull away from her clit and pussy, keeping her on the edge. I wasn't going to let her cum just yet.I pulled my fingers out of her and she fell off the table weakly and was on her knees in front of me.I bent down and tilted her head upwards.“Dante…”"Shhhh. I want you to go to my room and get naked. Wait for me on the bed. Got it?”She shook her head wordlessly and wobbled to her feet.She walked away uneasily and I felt a smile curl my lips. My job was done for the day. I grabbed my coat and left the study.I tried not to stumble on the stairs. I was wobbling from side to sid
Lorenzo:I was up early the next day. I could barely sleep and I made sure that I was on high alert. I slept at home with all the security lights on.I had already booked my trip and I decided that staying away from the pack and Erica was the best option I had to keep them both safe, as well as the employees under my care.I made sure to tell no one about this as the madman after me wouldn't be able to pry information from them because they honestly wouldn't know where I would be.I stood at my window and looked out and saw the chaos that the pack was in.There had been so many makeshift houses that have been raised along the streets and scrap metal from cars and lamp posts littered the streets. This beautiful pack now looked like a slum.I watched it all sadly and finally decided that I was going to aid in the relief efforts. If I was going to leave the park soon, then it was best that I made a difference before I disappeared.I headed into the shower and I allowed the cold water to
Lorenzo:Alpha Roland walked up to me and he asked the guards that were watching us to give us some privacy.“Lorenzo, what are you doing here? You aren't sick, are you?”He took in my green scrubs and the weary look on my face.“Nothing and no, I am not sick. I just thought that I should help with the relief efforts. I know I have been absent for a while and I think that this is the least that I can do for the pack in these difficult times.”The king smiled weakly and gave me an encouraging pat on my shoulder.“You are a good man, Lorenzo. The people will remember you greatly for this.”I smiled weakly and said nothing. I was still in shock from seeing the woman give birth. My hands still shook lightly as I imagined that I was still carrying that tiny baby in my arms.Speaking of arms, I caught a glimpse of Alpha Roland's. It was the first time I noticed that he was carrying a package that was wrapped in expensive silk. “Alpha, what is that?”He exhaled and took the package out from
Lorenzo:I was up early the next morning. I had packed my bag and I was careful to make sure that my phone was switched off. I didn't want any of my employees calling me and asking me for any information lest I disclosed to them that I was leaving the pack and put them at greater risk.I had scheduled my flight early for about 8:00 a.m.It was 6:00 in the morning and I decided to make an early trip to the airport.Ever since my phone call, I had avoided the use of my car and I was beginning to doubt if there was actually a bomb inside it. In fact, I was beginning to doubt if anyone was after me at all. I had only heard that strange voice once and it was the day that Mark was killed.It was possible for me to totally refute the idea of being hunted down but the death of my manager made sure that my head was clear and my senses were on high alert.I was able to catch an early bus to the airport and I set my bag down beside me.The number of people on the bus was few and I could count ab
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
Erica’s POVThe guards stopped him before he could come any closer.“What are you doing here?!” My mother yelled as the guards blocked Dante’s path towards me.“I need to see Erica. This is important.”My mother’s eyes bore down on him. I turned away; I could barely look at him. Did he come here to ruin my fathers funeral as well? Wasn’t he tired of ruining my life?“Guards! Take him away!”They stormed up to him and Dante began to back away.“Erica! I need to talk to you! Tell them to stop!”His voice calling my name was driving me insane. It was because of him that my life was ruined. Couldn’t he just stop meddling in my life.“Erica!”The guards grabbed him and began to drag him away. I watched him as he struggled and yelled at me. The guests all watched in awe. I already had more than enough gossip circling around me. I didn’t want anymore.“Erica!”There was a gasp and the guards were on the floor. Dante had broken free and was dashing towards me. My knees began to shake. I wante
Laura’s POV“Room service!”I put on my bathrobe and walked to the door. I didn’t order room service. I clutched my robe tighter to my body and opened the door just a crack.A lady stood there with a box in her hands. Was that a delivery for me?“Are you Miss Laura?”“Yes.”I felt a little emboldened and opened the door a little wider. The lady was dressed in formal wear, a little too formal for her to be in the room service business.“I have a package for you.”She handed it to me, and I looked at the tag attached to it. I couldn't help but smile.“I may not be with you, but I want all eyes to be on you and for every man to drool at the sight of you and wish you were theirs. But they can’t have you. You are MINE. Mate.”I smiled and felt a warm fuzzy feeling bubble inside of me. He wasn’t here, but he knew how to make me feel like he was.“Thank you.”I hurried back into my room, trying my best not to squeal like an excited seven-year-old. I hadn’t expected a dress for the party. I
Erica’s POVMy fingers were trembling as I did Ethan's bow tie. I had tried not to cry. It had been hard to keep my emotions in check while we planned the funeral. Everyone was still scared of me but the condolences they gave brought tears to my eyes every time I heard them.Today would be the first time in weeks that I would lay eyes on my father’s body and would never see it again.“Don’t be sad, Mom.”Ethan pulled me into a hug as soon as I lifted my fingers from his bowtie. He was such a sweet boy.“I am fine, love.-”I stroked his hair and kissed it.“-Go and find your sisters while I get ready.”He hurried away and I was left alone in my room. I looked at the mirror one more time and noticed the tears in my eyes starting to fall. My mascara was slightly smudged and I hurriedly wiped my face and did a fresh application.My thoughts were weighed down by thoughts of my father. It was draining. I couldn't imagine how disappointed he was in me. Mom kept telling me that it wasn’t true
Clarissa's POV“Lorenzo, please wake up."I sat beside him as he lay on the living room couch with his head on my lap. His forehead was covered in sweat and his eyes were blank and white.My heart was racing. I didn't know what to do. I wanted to give him CPR, but I didn't know if what he had was infectious.I couldn't count the number of times I had placed my head on his chest to make sure that his heart was still beating. His breath was faint, and his skin was clammy and cold.I couldn't take this anymore. I should have called for help sooner and damned the fact that the entire pack probably hated us.My fingers shook as I grabbed my phone and began to dial the numbers.Suddenly, Lorenzo gasped and his eyes cleared up slowly. My fingers shook even more as I watched him silently take in the room.“Lorenzo," I whispered, terrified to the core.His eyes finally fell and focused on me. I held my breath.“Rissa?"He tried to sit up but I slowly eased his head back into my lap.“Don't try
Erica's POVThe meeting finally came to an end and I was grateful. I remained seated with my mother and we watched the counselors leave.Counselor Rufus gave me a death stare before he left the room. I turned to look at my mother and her face was impassive until we could no longer see his fake hair through the open door.“Good riddance!" she exclaimed, and her face relaxed, and she smiled at me.I returned with a nervous grin though my fingers were knotting frantically on my lap.“It's going to be alright, Erica. I will not let the counselors treat you like trash. They are just a bunch of old fools that are stuck in the past. I believe that you will make a good Luna."Her words made my nervous smile fade.“You know that I won't be a good, Luna. You saw how they looked at me. Everyone is afraid of me. I can't even get through the hallway without a maid or guard seeing me and flinching.”I lowered my head and heard my mother sigh. Her fingers intertwined with mine, stopping my frantical
Clarissa's POVMy eyes watered as I chopped up the onions. I set the knife down and paced around the counter as the broth bubbled in the pot.As I stared at the boiling pot, a flash of Erica came into my mind. Her monstrous form and the death of her father. The purple hue on his skin was exactly the same as that on Lorenzo's arm.It just didn't make sense. I asked my assassin to kill Erica. Why didn't he do it? Was he a fraud?I had tried to contact him severally, but his phone rang, and there was no answer. Had I been duped?I gritted my teeth at the thought and turned my attention to the bubbling broth. It was time to put the vegetables.The onion went in first, and then the carrots and peppers.This was my first time in Lorenzo's home back at our pack. It was beautiful. Luxurious, nothing like my home back at the pack Erica was sent to.My watery eyes scanned the room and I exhaled. There had been so much drama in just a few days.A shiver ran down my spine. I didn't expect to see
Erica's POVI walked to the meeting hall and felt my breath being hitched in my throat. The maids, as they walked past me, gave me terrified greetings and hurried off in the other direction.It did nothing for my nerves. I could only imagine what the council was going to say.I soon reached the door that led to the hall and stood outside of it for a while. My heart was racing, and I was clutching it with my left hand as if it would do something to make it calm down.“Easy, Erica. Easy. This is just a meeting. Nothing more."I pushed the glossy black wooden door open and finally walked into the room. As soon as I was guided across the carpet to My spot beside my mother, I could feel all eyes on me.It was so hard to fight the urge to look over the room. A few of the counselors were whispering as I walked in, and above three were staring at me, their faces white with fear.I sat down next to my mother and the seven counselors stood in greeting. The man who sat at my left-hand side was f
Erica's POVI lay in bed quietly. The silence in the house was thick, but I could hear the whispers of the maids as they passed my room door.They were all scared and I couldn't blame them.I had asked my mother to watch the kids for me while I got some time to rest. This all felt extremely overwhelming for me.I felt strange being here. My father was gone, and it was like a big chunk of the pack house had been ripped off.I buried myself deeper into my covers, the comforter soaking up my silent tears as they rolled down my cheeks.“I miss you, Dad. I am so sorry that I failed you. I… I was just so weak and I didn't know what to do…”The tears choked my words and soon burst out but were muffled by the comforter.If only he was alive, he would probably know what to do. I wasn't even sure about how to get the Living Gem. Worst of all, I didn't even know what to do with it once I got it.A cold draft of wind blew through the window, chilled my fingers, and dried up my tears, leaving stre