Erica:I was home alone with the kids and trying my best to concentrate on my work. Elsa and Ethan were at each other's throats and Elma was not bothering me–surprisingly–but rather, took interest in her siblings’ bickering.I was worried that they were beginning to have an influence on her. The only thing worse than two squabbling kids was three.My hands were zipping across the keyboard. I was trying to see if I could finish up the last lap of my work and then stop the kids from taking their fight too far.One more paragraph!“And that is why the weekly budget should be in the range of…”Ring! Ring!! Ring!!My phone rang loudly and startled me. I gasped and grabbed my chest in fright. I was so engrossed in the work that I had zoned out for a bit.I glanced at my phone and didn't recognize the number. I ignored it and continued to write. I had to get this done as soon as…Ring! Ring!I was frustrated and immediately grabbed the phone. If it was Dante, I was going to…“Hello?”My voice
Dante:“Erica, what the hell are you doing here?"I saw her struggling lightly with the police as they held her.“What is going on here?” I demanded angrily.The head officer walked up to me and gave me a polite bow."She was speeding and when we stopped her, she revealed that she was the wife of the man involved in the bombing, so we arrested her as a potential accomplice.”I snarled and asked the men to release her."But, Alpha…"“Do you dare to question me?!" I snapped furiously.The officers slinked back and whimpered in fear.“N…no, Alpha.”"Good. Release her at once and I will pay for any damages or tickets that she might have incurred for the speeding.”They immediately let Erica go and she stared at me with suspicion mixed with hate.I ignored her and we both walked in. The airport looked fine to me. There were no injured people though the border security, fire department, and medical units were rushing around.I received a call about the bombing while I was at the office. I h
EricaI stared deep into his eyes. I was furious but deep down, I wasn't sure how true those words were. I loved Lorenzo but I could feel us slowly drifting apart.However, despite everything that had happened between Dante and me, I was glad that I could stand up and defend him.If anything, it made my guilt more bearable. I had so much more to do if I was ever going to forgive myself for cheating on Lorenzo.Dante let go of me and stepped back.I gripped my hand and massaged it. There was a slight red mark where he had grabbed me but it didn't hurt so much.We continued to look at each other and I could feel his anger sizzling hot. I braced myself and waited for the worst. I had experienced every form of maltreatment when I was with him. I could bear a little more.Suddenly, he left me and walked out of the lobby. I was stunned and was unable to move for a while.Finally, my brain caught up to my body and I ran after him.“Where are you going?!"He ignored me and walked briskly down
Erica:The next morning came and Lorenzo and I were still not talking to each other. He didn't even sleep in our bedroom and chose to sleep in the guest room on the ground floor.I was up early and was about to make breakfast for the kids when Lorenzo stepped out of his room, fully dressed in a t-shirt and dark blue jeans.He didn't even breathe a word of good morning and simply stepped out, slamming the door behind him, making the whole house tremble.I sighed and said nothing and the kids looked at me with shock on their faces and a dozen questions in their eyes.“Ethan, could you please set the table and get the bacon out of the fridge.”I tried my best to redirect my kids’ attention and began to give them all jobs towards getting breakfast ready.While Ethan got the bacon, Elsa got the eggs and Elma set the table.There was a thick silence in the air and I was quite absent-minded while I mixed the batter for the pancakes.I still couldn't understand why Lorenzo acted the way he di
Clarissa:“Thank you so much, Miss Clarissa. We really hope that you enjoy your new home. Feel free to call us for any questions or complaints.”I was given the contract and I scrawled my signature across the dotted lines. The property was now mine.The real estate agent left and I was alone in the large house, walking through the corridors and admiring the architecture for the umpteenth time.It was sad that the family that previously lived here were killed by my kind. They seemed to have exquisite taste in furniture and I had already budgeted for refurbishing.Today was the last day of my week break. I wasn't happy about returning to Erica's home but I had to. Day after day, my hate for her continued to grow. I still couldn't understand or accept the fact that Lorenzo had chosen her over me.However, my plans were slowly coming together. My investments had been a great decision and I had been meticulously watching the stocks of the four companies I invested in. Their profit was risi
Lorenzo:I stormed out of my house in the morning and did nothing but walk the streets all day. I had breakfast at an eatery and I did the same for lunch.As I strolled, I thought about yesterday. I still couldn't believe that Dante would think that I would purposely take a bomb to his pack.We were good friends back in college and he knew that I would very hurt a fly.I still couldn't get the image of his angry face out of my head. The way his eyes glistened with hate as he looked at Erica and me together. Did he think that I would actually hurt her?Despite everything that she did for me that day, it was already evident that my heart wasn't with her. I appreciated everything that she did for me but I didn't feel love for her anymore.It was glaring for the time she kissed me in the airport. Her lips are soft and perfect but there was nothing special about her kiss.It was what it was: a kiss and nothing more.I could only contemplate my embarrassment the entire time we drove home. I
Lorenzo:“What the fwuck?!”I was woozy but I had the strength to stuff my phone in my pocket and face the imbecile that had the audacity to take my drink from me.“Gwive that back!"“Or else what? You can always buy yourself another one.”The man taunted me and when I stood up to face me, three other men stood up and glared threats at me.It was then that I realized that the bozo that stole my drink wasn't alone.“Why the fuck did you have to take mine when you come get yours."The man scoffed and swirled my drink playfully.“I don't want to pay for my own drink. I'd rather take yours. He was about to put the drink to his lips when I lashed out but his men held me back.The man chuckled."It seems that you are a feisty one. I like you. But your courage is foolhardy. Don't you know who the fuck I am? Look around.”I scoffed. But when I looked around, I noticed that the club had gone quiet and all eyes were on me and the daring man."The ladies flocked around him and revered him. I loo
Erica:“Dante, stay away from me!"“No, Erica. I love you. You are mine. I will not sit back and let another man snatch you from me. Not while I'm still breathing."He pulled me close to him and I struggled to get away. I couldn't trust myself to be around him. I couldn't fall for him again.He held on tight to me and slammed me against the wall.“Dante! Stop!"“Erica, you know that you want this as much as I do. I am your mate. I am the one who owns you. The Moon Goddess put us together. I want you and no one else. Can't you understand that?”He leaned in closer to me and I began to tremble in fear. My mind became clouded and I could feel my struggling becoming weaker and weaker.My body was giving in to his demands and my desires were intertwining with his.He leaned in towards me, our lips were mere inches away from each other when someone barged into the room.“Erica?!”I jerked in fright and looked over Dante's shoulder. My legs turned to jelly and my face was flushed with shame
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