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 “Mila, what you are proposing is traitorous. Plus, I would be lying to the entire pack.” The pack doctor said to me, not believing that I would have made such a proposal, but I had to make him understand that it wasn’t safe here for Alpha Gunner, especially if they thought he was going to make a recovery. “Listen, this is the only way to keep him safe.” I said pleading with him, praying that he could see that I had Alpha Gunner’s best interest at heart right now. The pack doctor shook his head, as he walked back over to Alpha Gunner’s bedside, like he was waiting for him to wake up and tell him what to do, but that wasn’t going to happen anytime soon, and we had to make sure that we gave him the time to safely recover. As he stared down at Alpha Gunner, he finally says to me, “I don’t like this plan of yours at all, but I do believe that there are members of this pack working with the rogues. If what you’re saying is true, the
Mila’s POV Standing in the doorway between my room and Alpha Gunner’s room, I watched the two pack members that had carried him earlier to the infirmary, now gently placing him on his own bed, as the pack doctor stood there watching their every move, just like myself. Even though the pack doctor seemed to trust these two men, I myself, still had little to no trust now for anyone in this pack, until those that are working with the rogues were discovered. Once Alpha Gunner was safely in his bed, the pack doctor dismissed the two men, and once the door was shut, he said to me, “You will need to change his bandages three times a day, along with putting this sab on it.” As he held the items in the air, for me to take, but I remained standing there in the doorframe remembering back to the first night I was here, and how I tried to open the door with so much fear inside of me.Now the door between our rooms was completely open, but this time there was no fear
Mila’s POV My nights and days were starting to run together, as I cared for Alpha Gunner, and every time there was a knock on the door, my heart began to race thinking that it was someone coming to end his life. But each time it had only been the pack doctor doing his daily check-ins, like he had promised, along with bringing me food, to get me through the day. I had moved a chair beside his bed, and at first, I sat there in silence reading a book, but as the time went on, I found myself reading out loud, as if he could hear me. A part of me wonders if he could, as I could see small twitches now with his fingers, but I honestly didn’t know if it was just a reaction from the pain of fighting off the silver poison, or if he was reacting to what I was reading. Either way, I felt like I was less alone reading out loud to him, and I continued to do it, hoping that it was therapy for him too. On day five, Alpha Gunner began to have the sweats,
Mila’s POV To say that I was starting to feel very uncomfortable was an understatement, as I looked away from him, not able to look him in the eyes any longer, while I continued to have an unnerving feeling that I couldn’t shake, hearing him say that I would be his. Something about the way he said it made my stomach curl into a knot, as his words continued to seem undesirable to me. Now pinned between the bedside table, I was out of room to put space between us, as he moved towards me once again, obviously sensing the little distance I had managed to get. “Mila, I am beginning to sense a change in you. Have you changed your mind about wanting to be freed from this imprisonment to be with me?” He now asked me, and by the look in his eyes if I told him how I was truly feeling right now, he may just keep me as a prisoner for the rest of my life himself, if Alpha Gunner doesn’t make it. So, instead of telling him how he was making me feel, I
Mila’s POV The pack doctor quickly moved to my aid, as he helped me take a seat in the chair next to Alpha Gunner’s bed, while the room around me continued to spin. Tears now formed in my eyes, as the realization dawned on me that I had been played by Beta Ryker as a fool, but one thing that I couldn’t understand was how the pack doctor knew that Beta Ryker wasn’t my mate. How would anyone know that, except for the person that was truly my mate. “Why are you saying that? You can’t possibly know that.” I say to him, now in denial, even though deep down I knew that it would explain the reason I was feeling unsure about my feelings towards him, and the way my body shivered to his touch. “You’re right. I don’t know that for sure, but I have always been good at reading people’s body language, and you my dear were not too accepting to his touch.” The pack doctor now said, and he was right, I was trying to put distance between us before he show
Mila’s POV I barely got a wink of sleep between watching Alpha Gunner while his fever slowly came down and praying that the plan the pack doctor and I had come up with to get me out of the house undetected would be successful. My mind also raced now with the possibility that Beta Ryker wasn’t my mate, and that he had played me, just like I had initially thought he would the day I had seen him in the dining room with the she wolves.What I couldn’t understand though was why he made a scene in front of the pack doctor announcing me as his mate, if I truly wasn’t, but my gut was telling me there was so much more to all of this than what I was seeing. A part of me wanted it not to be a lie, but that was only because I had given him my first kiss, while another part of me was begging for it not to be true, as there was something different about him that I wasn’t caring much for.His words kept playing over and over in my head, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that he truly
Mila’s POV I was on pins and needles for the rest of the day, and I didn’t know if it was from Trina’s unexpected visit, or if it was because I could feel my wolf within me with the night coming. Restless, I found myself pacing between the two rooms, becoming consumed by fear of what was coming. I began to miss my family more than ever, as I thought about doing my first shift without them guiding me, while I was becoming an emotional wreck. My eyes kept moving to the clock between each pace, thinking that time had passed, but each time I looked at it, the clock hands didn’t seem to be moving. I could feel the full moon approaching, as I watched the sun slowly beginning to set, and I knew that it was just a matter of time before the pack doctor would be here. As time ticked on, my eyes then moved to Alpha Gunner still lying motionless on the bed, while something within me was being pulled to him. I tried to maintain my distance between th
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