Mila’s POV Making myself look presentable wasn’t a hard task, especially with a closet full of Alpha Gunner’s mother’s clothes. I hadn’t bothered to make Alpha Gunner a list of what I needed, since so much had happened since our conversation about it, as I didn’t want to put more stress on his plate over materialistic things that I now wasn’t upset to wear. Putting the finishing touches on my hair, and then placing some lip gloss I found in the drawer on my lips, I headed downstairs to breakfast, wondering if Trina would be there waiting for me. But as I now stepped into the dining room, looking around for her, all eyes immediately turned to look in my direction, making me feel a bit subconscious of the attire I had picked for the meeting today with the council, as all eyes clearly were now on me. Whispers now broke out among the she wolves, as their eyes told me that they were looking upon me with disgust, as their words carried towards
Mila’s POV Too much time had passed in the study with Beta Ryker, and I knew that Alpha Gunner would be coming soon to look for me if I didn’t head straight to his office now, even though my stomach growled in protest, but I wasn’t up for eating. Between the worry about my food being tainted, and what just transpired between Beta Ryker and myself, I honestly didn’t think that I could force myself to keep anything down, as I now worried that someone had seen us enter the study together. I didn’t have a clue how Beta Ryker was going to get us time together, with eyes on me always, but I had to put my faith and trust in him that he would find a way. To my surprise the door to Alpha Gunner’s office was open, making me pause, fixing my dress one last time, before I stepped into its opening. But as I made my appearance, I quickly froze when Alpha Gunner says, “You are late. Where have you been?” Thinking quick on my feet, I say back to him, “I
Mila’s POV Alpha Gunner escorted me to the meeting room next door to his office, and as we entered the room, he placed his hand at the small of my back, as a sign to all the council members that I was his possession. In response, it made me feel at that moment like I was his trophy for what he had done to my pack, and I couldn’t help but feel like I was being made to attend this meeting because of that. Pulling out a chair, he motioned for me to take a seat, as he moved to take the seat next to me, while all the council members’ eyes were now on me. Their stares began to make me feel uncomfortable, as I could see the pity in their eyes towards me. I knew there was nothing any of them could do for me, as it was law that once a slave is purchased that slave remained with their owner until their owner gave them their freedom, which rarely ever happened. “I have called you all hear today for this meeting, because I believe that I may have a
Mila’s POV Taking a deep breath, I slowly got to my feet and stood next to Alpha Gunner, as all the council members’ attention turned to me, along with Alpha Gunner’s. My hands instantly began to shake along with my legs, as I realized what I was about to do, but with everyone staring at me now, it was too late to back out, and I knew that it was the right thing to do. “As you may already know, I am Mila, the daughter of Crescent Moon’s Beta. I know that my word means little to you, now that my father is dead, and I hold no standing, but I can vouch for what Alpha Gunner is telling you. Red Moon was attacked by a group of rogues, and Alpha Gunner was injured in that attack protecting his pack. I can also vouch that Trina, the she wolf that he speaks of, was taken by rogues, as I was there when he rescued her, and was attacked myself by two male rogues.” I paused as they all looked at each other, wondering if they could take my word, but what I was about
Mila’s POV Trina helped me up the stairs to my room, as I sobbed in her arms, while I felt like I was losing my mind. Between the look in Alpha Gunner’s eyes when he stared at me after I had confessed there was a she wolf from his pack there, to the electrifying feeling he then gave me when he touched my hand, had me confused with what the heck was going on with my body. These were all feelings I was supposed to have with my mate, but for some crazy reason, I had them with him. Trina helped me to my bed, and she quickly disappeared into the bathroom, returning promptly with a box of tissues, and a glass of water, as she said to me, “Take a drink. It will help calm you.” Slowly, I raised the glass to my lips, as my hands shook, while my mind continued to spin, with questions of why I was feeling this way. It was as if my heart was breaking now into a million little pieces, as my soul felt it was tainted. As the cool water
Mila’s POV “It’s the rogues, they are attacking again.” Trina says, as she grabs ahold of my arm, and pulls me away from the window, while she says in a frenzy, “They came back for us. We have to get to safety.” At that moment, Trina begins to pull me towards the door, but I pull my arm from her grasp, as I say to her, “We are on the top floor. We are on the safest floor of the house.” Making her stop to turn to look at me. Shaking her head, she says to me, “No. They will come here first to look for us. We need to hide somewhere they would never look.” She was right, if they were here for us, and they got through Alpha Gunner’s men, they would come straight here to find us. Plus, there were members of the pack working with them, and they knew this was where Alpha Gunner was keeping me. Another howl now echoed from outside, but this time, I recognized the howl, knowing that Alpha Gunner had joined the battl
Mila’s POV Moving towards the door, I placed myself in front of the councilmen, knowing that I had to do everything in my power to keep them alive for not only the sake of Alpha Gunner, but for the sake of all the packs in our region. One by one, the stack of chairs began to fall to the floor, while I could see the hinges on the door begin to pull from the wall. Fear was now present inside of me, but I couldn’t allow it to take over, as I knew what I had to do. Slowly, I raised the sword before me, pointing it directly at the door, as my hands shook, while I tried to steady them, as I took deep breaths, praying to the Moon Goddess for a miracle. As the last chair fell from our barricade, and the door broke free from its hinges, a low growl echoed into the room, and I knew that growl better than anyone. The door at that moment came crashing into the room, but the rogue was no longer standing on the other side of the doorway. In his place
Mila’s POV Stepping outside the walls of the house, I immediately seen the aftermath of what had taken place, while I had been barricaded inside. The backyard no longer bared a luscious green color, but instead was covered in the crimson shade of blood of the fallen. The lifeless bodies of pack members were now being retrieved by members of the pack that had survived the attack, while the rogue bodies were being piled on top of one another. Seeing all of this carnage and death, took me back to the night my own pack was attacked. Small flashbacks began to flash before my eyes of that night, making me pause for a second, as I took a deep breath, knowing that I needed to compose myself if I was going to be any help to the pack doctor saving Alpha Gunner’s life in the operating room. Getting my emotions under control, I picked up my pace trying to avoid the sight around me, as I focused my attention on the infirmary now in my view, but the s
Mila’s POV “Do you like it?” He asks, making me turn the rest of the way around, as I took in the newly remodeled room, that was painted in the most perfect shade of purple, with up-to-date furnishings, suited for a princess. “Like it?” I asked him, as I continued to look around, wondering when he decided to do all of this, as my eyes landed on the walk-in closet, and I could see from here that it had been freshly restocked with new clothes. “Gunner.” Whispers from my lips, as I turned around to look at him, overjoyed with happiness that he had done all this for me. “If you don’t like it, we can change it.” He now said to me with the look of worry on his face, but I quickly closed the distance between us, before I said back to him, “No, I love it. I’m just in shock.” “I promised you that I would buy you clothes, but I never had the chance to do that while you were here, and well, it was time for this room
Mila’s POV The drive back to Red Moon was done in silence, just like most of the first drive had been when he had purchased me as his slave, but this time he held my hand in his, as he grieved silently to himself. My heart ached from the pain he was feeling, and I could only pray that time would heal his heart from all the damage that Trina had done to it. As the gates to the estate opened, a sense of being home filled me, especially as we drove up the lane and the house came into view. Outside stood many members of the pack, awaiting the arrival of their Alpha back home, as I was sure they were all curious about what fate Trina had received. While the vehicle came to a stop, my attention turned from the members of the pack to Alpha Gunner, as he sat there with his head looking straight forward, like he was lost in his thoughts. I was sure that he knew that a statement needed to be made to his pack, to insure them of their safety and tha
Mila’s POV I felt more at ease, as we took our seats once again at Trina’s trial, as I knew that even with her best efforts to keep us apart, she had failed, and in return opened a window for the two of us to truly open our hearts to one another. The conversation that Alpha Gunner and I had at the café was one full of mixed emotions, as we laid everything out on that table between us, leaving nothing for either of us to question. Her actions may have initially driven us apart, but her moment of conviction had brought us back together. Now as the council entered the room for the second time, I didn’t have the same grave feeling in my heart as I had the first time, because whatever the outcome of this trial was, I knew that nothing could come between us. But as Trina entered the room, her demeanor, and the look on her face was so different from the first time she had, telling me that a decision had been made on her punishment for her crimes committed.
Mila’s POV As we walked outside the front door to the building, I found myself taking in the late morning sun, while my lungs took in the fresh crisp air. Fall was fully upon us, and in its wake the mountain ranges surrounding the small town were an array of vast warm colors. Although I was welcoming the fresh air into my lungs, its crispness sent a chill down my spine, as I pulled my coat tighter around me. Alpha Gunner must have noticed my actions, and he quickly moved to put his arm around me, as he guided me to a small café across the road. The smell of fresh hot brewed coffee tickled my nose, along with the sweet scent of chocolate as he opened the door for me, and my stomach instantly growled in protest, as I had skipped breakfast this morning, nervous about seeing him today. A booth in the back of the café sat empty, and he quickly guided me to it, before he excused himself, making his way to the counter to place an order.
Mila’s POV There was nothing left that could come from Trina’s mouth that would shock me, but it was clear that she was trying to get under Alpha Gunner’s skin, and it was clearly working, as he let go of my hand and stood, calling her a liar, while a growl came from deep within him. Scared that he was going to lose it here, like he had lost it back at the auction, I quickly stood up by his side, as everyone’s eyes were now on us, as I placed my hand on his arm, begging him to regain control. Thankfully, his head turned in my direction, and in his eyes, I could see the anger that he now had towards Trina, but also, I could see that he was somehow maintaining his cool, before he nodded his head to me, telling me he was okay. “Order! Order! We must have order.” The leader of the council said, as he got to his feet once again. But his command of order didn’t phase my mate, as he remained standing and so did I, by his side. “
Gunner’s POV As Trina stared at me, I wanted to look away, but I couldn’t bring myself to do so. Even with all the evidence piled up against her that I had found, I still saw the little scared girl that my father had brought home. But the more I stared into her eyes today, the more I realized that little girl was no longer, and in her place stood a cold-blooded killer with no remorse for what she had done. I was never more thankful in my life for Mila’s presence today, as I needed her to calm my wolf stirring inside of me with the rage he had towards Trina. Not only was he irate about my parents’ murders, but he also blamed Trina for our mate leaving us, but I knew the truth that it was me that had done that. Either way, her hand was now holding tightly onto mine, and I knew by the feelings she was projecting to me now, she was here because she wanted to be by my side. The room now filled with growls of anger, as Trina was put on display
Mila’s POV My heart fluttered to life in my chest, as he turned to look at me with those piercing blue eyes of his, that I dreamt of seeing again. “Mila.” Softly whispered from his lips, making my breath hitch, hearing my name so gently spoken from him, as I watched him move to stand up. Knowing that the councilman’s eyes were on us, I try and pull myself together, finding my voice, before I can say to him, “I am sorry to keep you waiting.” “Don’t be sorry.” He said, as he moved now to pull a chair out for me to take a seat, while his eyes remained on me, holding me with his gaze, as I slowly sat down, not able to look away from him. As he pushes my chair in, the tips of his fingers graze against the bare flesh of my collar bone, and my breath hitches at the mere touch, as my heart begins to race in my chest, now being so close to him after so long. My head remained looking up at him, unable to look away, as those captiva
Gunner’s POV It was killing me being away from her, but I had promised her, her freedom, and if that was what she chose, then I had to respect her choice. I couldn’t take back the pain that I had caused her, but I prayed each night to the Moon Goddess that she would forgive me and one day come back to me. The pack house no longer felt like a home, but like purgatory to me, as it reminded me of all the losses I had endured at the hands of Trina. Now knowing that my parents’ deaths were caused by hatred by the person that they had taken in, killed me, especially knowing how much they cared for her, making me wonder if all these years the love she showed them had been an act on her behalf towards them. Looking back, I tried to piece together where I had gone wrong to give her the thought that my love towards her was more than just for a sibling, but I couldn't recounter anything that I would have done to insinuate that. It was hard on me to
Mila’s POV A few weeks passed, and even though I was technically home, it didn’t feel like home anymore. Everyone I had ever loved or knew was gone, and the walls to the house felt like they were closing in on me with each day that passed. Seth was my only means to human interaction, and I was thankful that he had stayed with me, but something told me that he had his orders too. Even though Alpha Gunner was leaving me alone per my wishes, he was still taking care of me from afar, as daily deliveries of food and supplies were delivered, along with bouquets of flowers. It was clear that he was trying his hardest to give me the space that I needed to heal, but he also was trying to show me the love that he had for me. It was almost a month that had passed before a letter accompanied the delivery, and I hesitated to open it, in fear of what it would say. As I sat there at the dining room table with it in my hand, recognizing his handwriting