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
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
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 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 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 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
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 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
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