Erica: The next meeting came sooner than I expected. I sighed. I was actually the one that set up the meeting with Dante but only because Javier kept pestering me about it. I had given it a lot of thought. The book could only be read by a purebred alpha wolf. To others, it was in a cryptic kind of writing. Maybe, it wouldn't hurt to show them. I was dressed in my suit, ready to leave the house. The kids enjoyed the time they spent with me while I was home. They stayed away from Lorenzo but he didn't seem to mind. In fact, Lorenzo had changed quite a lot. He was locked in his room most of the time and his face was always grim and silky when he came out. I had pestered him–for fianceé's sake–to tell me what was wrong but he never did. He only made a weird growling noise and retreated into the safety of his room. I was grabbing my coat and the children were looking at me sadly. They didn't want me to leave and I couldn't blame them. They had still not warmed up to Lorenzo. I sigh
Dante:I was horrified. How did this happen? When did this…It was like I was set free from a spell and it slowly began to come back to me.That evening I was drunk. She came into my office. I kissed her and fucked her.I covered my face in anger as the scenario played in my head again.Fuck!I had thought that I could escape it. That that night was just a lucky night like all the other times that I had fucked her.I was bewildered. I stole a glance at Erica and all she did was look at me in shock.She slowly lowered herself back to her chair and sat, looking into empty space.It suddenly dawned on me that she was bothered. I took a deep breath and I could feel the betrayal her wolf felt.I bit my lower lips angrily. My hands were quivering as I struggled not to slam my palm down on the table.Laura had a satisfied smirk on her face and had her hands folded across her chest.“I am waiting for an answer, Dante. Aren't you going to say anything?"I was about to say something but I soon
Erica: “We need to leave, Javier.” I pulled him back outside the room and closed the door firmly behind him. He looked at me confused and I felt my body quivering. My eyes were stinging but I fought to keep the tears at bay. I couldn't risk crying in front of him. “Erica, what…what is going on?” I refused to say a word and walked away from the door. I was fast and had to pull out my handkerchief to dab my eyes every few minutes so that he wouldn't notice my tears. My heart felt broken. I was shattered and my wolf howled painfully inside of me. My face was pale and my lips were thin and chapped. I was just about to step outside when I felt someone grab me on my arm. “Erica." Javier spun me around and made me look at him. His golden eyes bore into me and I nearly burst out crying. I bit my tongue to hold it all in. I had to hold it all in. “Erica, I've been calling after you. What's going on? You pulled me out of the room. I was only gone for a few minutes. What happened in t
Dante: I called Erica all night but she didn't pick any of my phone calls. They rang nonstop, only to end in a beep. Arrgghh! I pushed the papers that were on my desk in my room and they sailed to the floor gently but littered everywhere. Fuck! How could I have been so stupid?! Damn you, Laura! I was mad, raging, my fists were clenched tightly as anger ravaged my body. I could barely contain myself and I found myself smashing my fist into the wall Crash! A neat hole formed and I could see the empty room on the other side. The debris littered the floor and my knuckles were bloodied and bruised. I snarled and flexed my fingers. No pain could equate to the rage that I felt now. I thought that I could just do away with Laura. After all, she wasn't pregnant for me. I owed her nothing, and the times in bed were simply for physical pleasure. Now, she had this leverage. I gritted my teeth angrily and knocked some things off my dressing table. I heard glass smash and the room was
Laura:I was home alone. My body was tense. The house was quiet but a strange smell hung over the place.The smell tingled my senses and filled me with joy. My wolf was howling loudly and all I could think about was him.I was cautious and followed the smell upstairs. The smell became stronger and my body convulsed pleasurably as I remembered the sublime ecstasy that I had felt when I met him the first time.Met him?No. I had not met him. But his voice was delicious and deep, his touch was sensual and caring and I couldn't help but shiver as I remembered the way he played with me in the dark.The mystery around him was tantalizing and though it seemed quite stupid that I was doing so much for someone that I hardly knew, I really didn't think much of it.He was my mate and for those few electric seconds, I felt love and genuine care. Wasn't that enough?I got to my room but it was shrouded in darkness. The light switch was off and the windows were opened and they let in a cool draft o
Laura:I got to Dante's office. It was getting late and I knew I had to hurry before they closed for the day.I knew that Dante had gone home. Having his employees around was not going to much of a problem for me. I knew how to take care of them.I parked discreetly in the parking lot and stepped out.I walked up to the building confidently and headed inside. The security men at the door didn't stop me and I smiled to myself.This was going to be way too easy.“Good evening Miss Laura."Some of the employees greeted me as I walked in and I didn't even bat an eyelash at them. I smirked internally.It seems that all that fraternizing with that fool, Dante did work in my favor after all.I had been coming with him to the office for the past six years and his employees had learned to give me special treatment.I slipped upstairs without anyone asking me a question.My heart was nonetheless beating wildly in my chest. What if I was wrong and Dante was around doing overtime in his office?I
Erica:I was up early the next day. My eyes stung and my body felt weak.I got up and walked to the dressing mirror. I was right. My face was a mess; blotchy and ugly in different places.I had spent the entire night crying about Dante.Pointless. It was all pointless.I loved him but I could be with him. My family and my pride and dignity wouldn't allow it. No. Not after everything that he had done.I gripped the dressing table hard. My eyes stared back at me and I felt a lump form in my throat.It was settled then. No more seeing Dante. I was going to give myself to Lorenzo. All of myself.The decision had haunted me in my sleep. I had seen it all unfold in my dreams and now I was asleep no more. I was going to do it. I owed Lorenzo my faithfulness. It was no longer a question.I grabbed my phone and rang Clarissa. I needed to get the children out of the house for the morning, at least.I really hoped that she wasn't busy with her mate.It rang twice and she picked. She sounded grog
Erica:I was in the kitchen with a bottle of wine and the frying pan was on fire.I had to check online for the recipe and I was told to flambé with alcohol. The shrimp were a blaze but I was calm and flipped them in the skillet until they were a beautiful golden brown.Finally, I was done. I found it odd that Lorenzo hadn't come out of his room since Clarissa left. I was certain that the smell of his favorite dish was sure to attract him.I sighed and set the table. None of this felt right.I mean, it was the right thing to do but it didn't feel natural. I felt off. Like a part of me was resisting all of this.I literally had to force myself into all this with the hope that I would ease up over time. But the feeling was still as strong as before. None of this felt like I was doing it with my heart.I covered up the food and headed upstairs to shower and change.The clean and fresh water on my body filled me with life and I could feel the aroma of the spices and sauces that clung to m
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