Damon's POV I prowled the outskirts of the city, hugging the walls of the city as I scouted the men roaming the streets. I was checking curiously for the weak link so I could hunt. I clicked my tongue against my teeth, focusing on a man that caught my sight. He was young, pretty young for an enforcer judging by the badge on his shirt. He was nervously glancing at his phone and then at his colleagues. He was lean, almost thin and his brown, wavy hair kept on falling into his eyes and the parse stubble on his cheeks made him look younger. He was the perfect bait. I waited for them to be done with their various patrols until they started to separate, each going in different directions. He hesitated, before picking up his bag then he said goodbye to his colleagues, and started the long journey home. I've been watching him for a couple of days now and he fits the bill. Young, no close relationship except a distant older brother who seldom visited him. No mate, no girlfriend, n
Noah's POV Some of the pack members were gathered in a semi-circle, sparring while the enforcers were teaching some of the newbies and recruiting new skills and fighting techniques.I and a small group of men stood apart from them, discussing.After Zirah's issue, which died down considerably after I addressed the rest of the pack about her status.Of course, if I had expected people to warm up to her immediately I was sorely mistaken because they kept their distance….abut while they did that, they dared not disrespect her because they would have me to answer to.However, the current issue on the ground was with some of the neighboring packs clamoring for a piece of land that was across their border.The issue was a difficult one and just seemed to rise overnight and it worried me seriously.The ferocity of the packs and the suddenness made me feel that there was something behind it.Or someone.I had a select few in my head, but my thoughts just went to one person that has been the
Damon's POV "Are you sure about this?""Yes. It's now or never." Skyler's raspy voice floated over to me.I stared at him, trying to get a read on him but his emotions didn't give a hint of anything amiss and his heartbeat remained steady. We'd been carefully scouting Zirah's and her mate's movement over the past three weeks, looking for an open window that will give us easy access to carry out my plan. There was going to be an annual pack fest tomorrow, with some of the neighboring packs coming in to celebrate with the Red Rose pack.I had wanted something less rowdy because then their guards wouldn't be up as much, and they were liable to make mistakes. But Skyler had assured me that this was the best time to strike and get what I wanted while everyone was distracted. I was still skeptical about it, not fully on board. I had a suspicion that he was trying to set me up even though I'd followed him -without him knowing, of course- throughout the weeks and I haven't seen any form of w
Damon's POV I weaved my way through the crowd, doing my hardest not to look back so I don't appear suspicious.In between running away from the guard, I brought out my phone and began to frantically text Skylar.Where the hell are you????Skylar?Come the fuck on! If you set me up, I promise you this won't end well!!Skylar!!The longer my messages went unread, the antsy I became y, and I started to think about what to do.I looked down again at my phone, and luckily I saw three bubbles appear on the screen like he was typing.My heart was pounding, and I held my breath waiting for a response, but just like a tease, the bubbles disappeared leaving me with nothing.No reply.I wanted to shuck my phone in anger at the nearest wall, but that would bring attention to me so I tried to rein it down.Just barely.I got to the city square and saw the raised platforms where the Alpha and the Alphas of the neighboring cities would stay away from the harsh rays of the sun to watch the spectacle
Zirah's POV My breath stilled and every cell in my body froze. Time stood still and it was like we were the only two people in the world.He wore a ridiculous mustache that was entirely out of place and immediately I knew it was fake. Even with the bulky and unbalanced sweatshirts he piled on top of his slender frame, I could instinctively tell it was him….or was it?I could have been hallucinating because it would be damn gutsy of him to come here, especially with the incident he did the last time.The only reason he had to be here was me… but that couldn't be, since the switched-off phone he gave to me earlier was a clear sign that I didn't want to talk to him.I was still smarting from the realization that he played me by taking my kids and forcing me to stay with him under an illusion.I didn't know what to do for the first few seconds as shock encompassed my entire being.I couldn't look away. Neither could he.When the surprise leached away, the fear came in. I think he saw th
Zirah's POV "WHERE ARE THEY? WHERE THE HELL ARE MY KIDS?!!" I shouted, screaming until my voice became hoarse. I shook her like she was a rag doll, the lady growing more terrified the more hysterical I became but I wasn't seeing that because I was lost to the widening jaws of despair and sorrow blooming in my heart."Bring them back! Bring them back!" I beat my small fist against her chest causing the woman to topple backwards. I didn't realize tears were streaming down my cheeks as I pushed her away, running upstairs.Logically, I knew I wasn't going to find anyone there but hope was a dangerous feeling.It propelled you headfirst into crazy situations without giving you time to analyze.I took the stairs two at a time in my bid to reach there faster.If I was in my right senses, I would have noticed the way people parted for me as I ran like a mad woman down the hallway.I slowed when I got to the front of their room, and the door closed.I swallowed thickly, and a bundle of nerves
Damon's POV Zirah has always been beautiful.Devastatingly beautiful.Even while she spat fire and brimstone, wanting to pummel me to the ground till I remained nothing but dust, even with no makeup on and comfy houseware, I was acutely reminded of that fact.Her storming into my private meeting with Noah was unexpected but not unwelcome.Temporarily I had felt a stab of envy towards Noah, thinking if this was what he had to wake up to every morning, it was little wonder he fell in love with her.Just the way I did.I also noticed something different between them unlike the previous times I'd seen them both together…from the way they naturally leaned into the other person in an unconscious gesture to the happiness and ... .the other emotion I refused to name was practically oozing from their pores, it was sickening.Although it seemed I had put a damper on it.Zirah could be a loving person but she was also fiercely stubborn which sometimes could be very annoying.I had hoped to brow
Zirah's POV Noah met me outside kneeling on the soft grass.I heard him approaching, his steps light and sure.He wrapped his hands around and I leaned backward, soaking in his warmth."Hey.." I greeted him softly, bringing my hand up to draw circles on the corded muscles in his forearm.The past week has been a tense one.And the atmosphere gets increasingly clogged with every passing day, with me becoming sadder and more withdrawn too.He must have noticed that I needed some space because he suddenly became scarce at home, so it's been a while since we've sat down to talk.He's out before I wake up and I'm asleep when he comes back…Why did Damon have to come and destroy all our hard work….after how long it took us to get to the point?Noah pressed a kiss to the top of my head in response to my greeting, making me feel all soft and mushy on the inside."I miss you." I blurted out.But it was true.I did miss him, his presence was fleeting in the house and I missed our lovely pre-mo
Zirah's POV Right into his neck. Damon staggered away from me with a stunned look on his face while his hand slowly went up to the clutch at the side of his neck. He brought his blood-stained hand to his face with a shocked look on his face like he still couldn't believe what happened. "Why?" He asked, still with an air of confusion around him. And I broke down. "You left me no choice!" I sobbed out loud, thinking back to when I decided to do this. When I saw them fighting and he threw Noah into the wall, crashing into the metal tray and dislodging his items, instinctively I So I played him. The weak demeanor, the submissive woman, the arousal that shivered through my body as he ran his hands over my body…...was all fake. I had to swallow down my revulsion the moment he touched me, knowing I had to sell my submission enough or he wouldn't believe me. He opened his mouth to speak but instead gargled on his blood and his knees went weak and he crumpled to the floor. I careful
Zirah's POV I sat there frozen…..helpless.While I watched my former lover circle my mate like a predator looking for his next meal."Damon...no! Please... I- uh," I babbled incoherently, forcing words out of my mouth in a silly attempt to stop him from ramming the knife into a fragile spot on his body that could claim his life.He stopped behind Noah when my pitiful cries reached him and for a moment I thought that maybe he had changed his mind.However, he lunged forward pressing the thin part of the blade exactly into the jugular spot at his neck pressing firmly with those cold eyes trained on mine."You know what I need from you." He ground out harshly, his deep tone barely making his words distinguishable but I managed to catch it."Damon, I-" I had no idea what I was about to say but for some crazy reason I just had to open my mouth.His odd eyes hardened and the brief flicker of hope I'd seen bloom in his eyes died out and he turned his attention back to his semi-conscious pat
Zirah's POV Ice-cold water was splashed on my body, jerking me awake abruptly pulling me from the reins of unconsciousness.I flung my head, my eyelids fluttering as I sought to get my bearings.Everything was spinning, and my eyes felt like they were glued shut for the longest time.My body also felt heavy... probably 'cos I haven't used it for a while.I raised my head slowly and I realized two things.One, I couldn't move….at all.That jarred my senses and I awoke fully to see that my legs and hands were restrained with thick metal straps laced with chains, proving it impossible to get out of.Even if I could break through the leather straps, the chains had the distinct yet faint smell of silver which would be tough if not impossible to get out of.Secondly, I was in an underground dungeon that stank like the devil's behind.How I got here seemed to get away from here, but why was it a different case?I was here because I refused to give in.I think back to what happened after Dam
Noah's POV It soon became obvious what their ace was….or rather, who.It soon became obvious when Damon separated himself from his pack, that was what I had taken to calling considering how they fluttered around him.When the two of us caught the other's gaze, it held for the longest and the tension, the need for bloodshed was calling out to us.Riding us both hard.He was standing now unobstructed, without his men underfoot, his white shirt flapping around him as the wind blew up a notch.His dark pants and heavy boots looked worse for wear, but that wasn't what drew my attention.It was the unnaturally still way he held himself, it was like his body was encased in eyes but from here I could see his eyes were sharp, picking up on every movement.It felt like no one else existed but the two of us, even though I could hear distant sounds of roars and men fighting.Everything that happened was building up to this point."You need to go," I said quietly to Zirah who was still behind my
Noah's POV We were winning.Or so it seemed.No, I know we were winning. It started as a tough battle at first especially when they got the upper hand by taking us by surprise- I still wondered how they might have known where we were and we fought to regain our defense since they were attacking mercilessly but hours of training won out and we started to beat them back.Their numbers were gradually reducing, and it also helped that we had support from the Grand Canyon pack since they were furious that they were attacked in their home. I was tearing my way through the men, my eyes trained on the prize, killing mercilessly and without remorse as I inched closer to the man at the helm of all this.Damon Westwood.I had had enough of his constant interference in our lives, and once and for all...I wanted to end it.By stabbing a knife through his cold heart.Or by beheading him.Whichever way works for me.But it seems that just when I was within reach of him, I would spin around and he w
Damon's POV All five of us were surrounding the table. Me, Skylar, Amanda, and two other werewolves one from my side and hers each named Frank and Erik when someone rudely barged in without knocking. We were currently in a private meeting, as we were thinking through our next moves and I had left explicit instructions not to be disturbed in the meantime.Now this.Immediately I got to my feet in front, ready to strangle whoever it was but Erik held me back, placing a hand on the table to stop me."What is it?" He asks the heavily panting young man quietly, patiently waiting for him to compose himself before talking.He was doubled over, sweat soaked through his body. He slowly raised his head, wiping the sweat dripping into his eyes."I-I-I…" his eyes were wide, his face pale as if he just realized what he had done."Get on with it!" I spat out. "We don't have all day.""You can see he's in no shape to talk." Erik points out, scraping his chair back as he stands up. "It looks like he
Zirah's POV Traveling en masse with such a large crowd while trying to move stealthily proved to be a big deal for us.Also for different packs who are just getting acquainted with each other for the first time, being enclosed in a small space wasn't the ideal choice and soon enough after a couple of days, they started to get on each other's nerves.I learned that lots of testosterone and small spaces don't mix when Noah had to come between a brawl brewing for the third time in two days.We'd been traveling for almost a week which was longer than expected but Noah insisted on the element of surprise so mostly we traveled in small clumps during the day and large during the night. It slowed down our progress significantly but it did the job.We were stopping at a neighboring pack who was a very good friend of Noah's and graciously offered to host us.We had eagerly accepted, anxious to get a reprieve from camping life and the tension or altercation brewing every minute.I, for one, had
Damon's POV For some people, it would be hard to lead two different people on a united front. But luckily for me, I had experience in such and it seemed quite seamless the way I effortlessly combined Amanda's people and some of mine. I had called in some favors and put a call through to some of my most loyal men and of course..they answered. Amanda's father was wealthy, and apart from that he was also vastly connected which was how we got this massive mansion to hide our people in and conduct our business without query. If he had any idea of Amanda's plans, he did well to turn a blind eye to it. We were engaging in mindless chatter when a murmur rippled through the small crowd that had gathered here on the balcony. One thing I loved about this place was the view. Sometimes when I stood here, it gave me this empowering feeling, you know, like I could do anything I wanted. And of course, you guessed right, it quickly became my favorite spot in the house. I was lounging in my corner
Noah's POV The taste of defeat left a bitter tang in my mouth as I gathered my men and went back home.The car itself was silent, no one daring to utter a word. To say I was furious with myself was putting it lightly but there was nothing more I could do…. except turn back time which was out of my power. So I sulked all the way home, rehashing all the possible ways that situation could have gone.All too soon, we arrived at the gate's entrance and then I realized I still had people waiting to talk to me.The car stopped in front of the house, and before I went in I was making small talk with the men when I heard my name."Noah!" Zirah screamed, gathering her flowy summer dress in her hand as she hurriedly rushed down the stairs.I was struck by how beautiful she looked at that moment. For a second, she appeared young and carefree….like she should always be.I felt a twinge of guilt when I saw how scared she was, and the guilt expanded to become a large block resting on my chest.She