[Xavier’s POV]She was shivering terribly, but I didn’t let go of her. The surface of the water was terribly frozen, but since I could feel my legs swinging below the water, it was clear that although the water was cold, if we stayed under, we would be able to swim back to the shore.I swam below as well, still holding her in my arms and as we both held our breaths, I was able to swim back to the shore and I lifted her out of the water and onto the sandy soil. I helped her sit up, and she began to cough out all the water that had gotten into her system as I patted her back.The horses which we had heard stampeding turned out to be ridden by some guards I recognised were from the Dark Moon Pack, and they looked like they had a message for the Alpha as their leader approached him while the rest stood at a notable distance.“You scared me,” I said, when she was done with coughing out the water.Instead of meeting my eyes, she turned away and glared at the Alpha who just stood there watch
[Layla’s POV]“Ouch!” I yelped, as the razor blade I was using to carve my brows slightly brushed against my skin, and very little blood popped out.“Are you okay?” Xavier asked, opening the door immediately.“Yes, I’m fine. It’s just a scratch. You don’t have to always barge in at every sound you hear,” I chided.“Maybe you should stop reacting too seriously to every little thing, so you don’t get me worried,” he said.“Why should you be unnecessarily worried? We’re just friends,” I retorted, partly because I knew he hated it when I said that.“Thanks for reminding me, but friends actually do worry about each other. It’s not a big deal,” he said, and with a shake of his head, proceeded to walk out of my bedroom.“Aren’t you going to put on your shirt?” I inquired as he turned his back to leave.“Samantha offered to add it to your laundry, so I have to be shirtless for a while,” he explained.“Just say that you love the attention you get from the maids whenever you’re not wearing a sh
[Xavier’s POV]“Who’s there?” the leader of the night patrol asked. His voice was loud and clear.I pulled Layla whose heart was thumping loudly to my chest. “Don’t look up,” I whispered to her, then turned to face the group of guards who had gotten to where we were standing.“Xavier?” he called, realising it was me.For some reason, it irked me when someone who wasn’t Layla referred to me without adding honorifics.“Greetings, Leader Aaron.”“Do you know what time it is? Instead of standing here and frolicking with a maiden, you should be busy guarding the Alpha King's concubine. I will make sure this is reported in the counsel meeting tomorrow. This act will definitely not go unpunished,” he threatened.“Layla is currently having a swell time with the Alpha right now. I was just fooling around. There’s no need for you to report this matter,” I said.“No matter what your reason is, it still doesn’t change the fact that you left your duty post. Maiden, show your face. I must report bo
[Layla’s POV]I was tired of being the reason Xavier couldn’t do things that was for the good of his Pack. I just wanted him to get his people out of here by any means possible.“Save your people, Xavier,” I said.The look in his eyes showed that he was sorry, but I didn’t know why... at least, not yet.“Don't mind me, just protect your people,” I said.He nodded his head to show that he understood exactly what I was saying, and I put on a brave smile even though I was scared of dying.His grip which had softened tightened once again around the neck of the bell-ringer, and the apologetic look in his eyes was replaced by a look of determination.“Do what you will with her,” he said, and in a blink of an eye, pushed the man to the floor making him crash heavily with a thud and with his fangs, cut off the rope.“You thought I was joking, didn’t you? Now, Layla will suffer the consequences of your disobedience,” my captor said and swiped the knife in his hands at my neck, as I trembled in
[Xavier’s POV]For as long as I lived, I was never going to forget the smile Layla had on her face immediately she saw that I had returned, maybe not in one piece, but at least, I was alive.“Xavier,” she said, as she ran to meet me before I got to where she was and embraced me tightly.I had been raging with fury just some minutes ago, but my heart melted as she engulfed me with her warmth.“You’re alive. I’m so glad you’re alive,” she said, heaving a sigh of relief.I smiled, softly stroking her hair. “Well, I’m glad you’re glad,” I said.Suddenly, she pulled away from my embrace and surprisingly began to hit me on the chest with a deep frown plastered on her face. It didn’t hurt, not even in the slightest bit, but I held her clenched fist wondering why she was doing that to me.“Let me go, you asshole,” she said.“Did she just call the Alpha an asshole?” someone wondered aloud.“Did I do something wrong?” I inquired, still holding her hand.She hit me once with her other hand, agai
[Xavier’s POV]“What is going on there?” Roman asked in a loud voice as he stepped out.We had gotten to the Palace, but the guards were refusing to let us in, and that had caused a serious argument amongst us all. As we walked, other members of the Pack who were curious to know what was going on had followed us to the Palace.Everything had completely changed, and Roman had turned the Shadow Pack upside down. The elders were just a bunch of thieves ruling the people now, and I heard the stories from the members of the Pack as we stormed over to the Palace.The Pack which was once rosy had turned into a den of suffering and poverty; the Beta, Roman and most of the other elders were exploiting the people and had increased their taxes by over thirty percent, rogues had been employed to wreck havoc upon those who couldn’t afford to meet up with the payment of their taxes, and the high class ones were basically living off the hard work of the Omegas.It was just like in the olden days, an
[Xavier’s POV]“What?” everyone chorused, shocked to the bone.“Even the Moon Goddess acknowledges her as the best one for me, so who are you to think that you are better than her?” I asked, looking Veronica deep in the eyes.She seemed like she couldn’t believe her ears, and kept on shaking her head in denial. “So, all this time... all this time, you’ve known she is your mate, why did neither of you say anything about it?” Veronica inquired.“That is none of your business. Henceforth, my mate will no longer be addressed as a slave, or the daughter of a traitor. She is to be addressed as Layla Clayton, or the Alpha’s mate. Also, her family is hereby exonerated from the death of my father and they can freely return back to the Pack,” I announced.There were murmurs from the crowd as they seemed to strongly disagree with my last statement.“I have good reason to believe that they aren’t responsible for the death of my father. Someone else is, and I’ll find out who that person is and beh
[Layla’s POV]I looked sideways carefully before stepping out of my bedroom and closing the door gently behind me. Almost everything had changed. The people were happy. The Alpha King was given the respect he deserved. Roman was in prison. No one had heard from the Beta or his daughter. Only the elders who had been found clean had been reinstated, while the criminals had received befitting punishments.However, some of the things which needed to go back to normal wasn’t possible yet. Jeffrey hadn’t been found even though a reward of 1000 gold bars had been placed for anyone who found him, Elsa wasn’t so close to me anymore as she was hell-bent on finding Jeffrey, Xavier and I hadn’t gotten back together, my family hadn’t returned, and Lady Millicent spent so much time looking gloomy without bothering to even wear makeup.Presently, I was tiptoeing past the hallway gently so that Xavier would not detect my presence. I was also holding my breath as well.“Where are you going to?” Michae
[Author’s POV]After unlocking the door, Alpha Xavier stepped into the chamber. It was his father’s, and since he died, he had not for once entered inside for any reason whatsoever, mostly because he was ashamed to face him after being unable to find out the person who had caused his untimely death.Everything looked the same, except that dust now made it almost impossible to breathe while in there. He reminisced about a whole lot of things as he ran his eyes over all his possessions which still remained in the chamber. He should have moved in there, but he hadn’t had the heart to.Alpha Xavier took a long look at the picture frame hanging on the wall. It was of him and his father the very day he had transformed for the first time. His father looked so proud of him, and he had been extremely happy because he made his father proud.He drew out the seat next to the table, and sat there staring into the mirror and seeing his father’s reflection staring back at him. His bows and arrows hu
“Almost a year ago, I overheard a conversation between my late uncle and the former Beta here. My uncle had found out that he had been stealing and coveting the people’s wealth, precious stones and our natural resources. Before his trip to the Dark Moon Pack, he said that if the Beta doesn’t relinquish all that he had stolen and make a public apology, as well as step down from his position, he was going to expose him in the most disgraceful manner when he came back, unknown to me that the Beta was aware that I had been eavesdropping on their conversation.“He then called me privately and twisted my mind by telling me he would make me the next Alpha King if only I kept quiet. I was stupid and greedy, so I agreed, not knowing that the price for my silence was my uncle’s life. When he died, I confronted him but he manipulated me into keeping quiet and doing all other dirty jobs for him. I stand here today to apologise for all that I did, ranging from not exposing the truth earlier on, bu
[Xavier’s POV]“Your... your highness, it is not what you think,” Veronica said, falling on her knees as she shook her head in negativity.The whole world had seen her shame.“It is exactly what I think it is, you good-for-nothing deceiver. I should have known better than to trust you. You were never pregnant after all,” I roared at her angrily.“I’m sorry. I never meant to do something like this. It was my father that...”“May the goddess strike you down if my name comes out of your miserable mouth again,” her father said, as he stood up and marched to where we were, which brought about more surprised looks from the audience.“Dad!” she exclaimed, as though she had been betrayed.“Veronica!” he yelled back. “All this is your fault, and you know it. If only you had slept with him like I commanded you to, you would have truly gotten pregnant for him since you were in your fertility period, but instead, you chickened out and I had to come up with another solution,” he revealed.“Wait. H
[Layla’s POV]I clipped the diamond earrings to my ears and stared at my reflection in the mirror. I looked really elegant, dressed in a long white dress which shone with precious stones that had been affixed onto it, with silver heels embracing my feet.I rubbed my wedding band with a smile on my face as I stood up, then began to walk out of the bedroom. Michaela, who had been trying to finish up her fries looked up, and her mouth was instantly agape as soon as she saw me.“You look so beautiful, your highness,” she said, not hiding the admiration she had for me.“Thank you, Michaela. I should look beautiful, don’t you think? Today is the day that all my enemies will be brought to their knees,” I said, then gave a small chuckle.“Yes, your highness. I am so glad this is finally drawing to an end, and you and the Alpha can be happy forever without anyone ruining your joy,” she stated.I gave a small smile. “You’re right. Peace and happiness are the two things I have always desired in
[Layla’s POV]I stepped into the room where Jeffrey was being treated as that was where the guard I had seen positioned at Xavier’s bedroom door said he was.He was sitting on a stool next to Jeffrey’s bed. Jeffrey still hadn’t opened his eyes, and he hadn’t even moved a single finger. Xavier looked deep in thoughts and he hadn’t even noticed my presence yet.“Hey, baby,” I said, giving him a kiss on the cheek, to notify him of my presence.He jolted from his thoughts and looked surprised on seeing me. He yawned tiredly and rubbed his eyes with his fingers.“My love, I didn’t realise you came in,” he said.“I noticed. Tell me, what’s on your mind?” I asked, drawing a seat to sit beside him.“I’m just lost in thoughts. I can’t help but wonder why someone like him would do such a thing,” he said.“Who are you talking about?” I inquired.“It’s not something you should be worried about, my love,” he said, forcing a smile on.“Well, I want to know what it is that has kept you away from me
“What’s that supposed to mean? Answer me, come on, answer me!” I yelled at him.“Easy, dear cousin. Shouting isn’t going to change the fact that what’s done is done. In fact, if you yell at me one more time, I may choose to withhold all the information I have to give,” Roman said, sitting up on the ground which he had just been sprawled on a few minutes ago.“Leave us alone,” I said to the onlookers which consisted of the guards and the other prisoners in Roman’s cell.They all began to leave, including Kyle. “Not you, Kyle,” I said, and he stayed back while the rest left. Apparently, the prison guards were going to keep the inmates in another cell.“Want a little private chitchat with your cousin?” Roman asked, with a wink.I crouched, then taking him by surprise, grabbed him by the neck and began to strangle him while he tried to resist as he almost choked to death.“Listen to me, and listen real good. It will cost me nothing to end your life right here and now. The only one who is
[Xavier’s POV]I placed the box which Layla had given me carefully in the safe which always stayed hidden in my closet and looked like just a mere suitcase. No one would guess that some of my important stuff were actually there, and once I closed the door to my closet, I took out the button which had been in my pocket all day and examined it carefully once again.“Kyle. Kyle is back,” I said to myself, hearing the “welcome” greetings which they were saying to him as he hadn’t been in the Palace for a few weeks due to the special mission I had sent him on.I hurried out of my bedroom immediately and slammed the door behind me. The two guards positioned at the door started to follow me, but I told them to stop immediately.“I have a private matter to attend to. Wait for me here,” I said, and hastily left where they were.I was still walking with long strides when I bumped into Lady Millicent who was coming from the opposite direction.“Greetings, Alpha King Xavier. I’m sorry for bumping
[Layla’s POV]I kissed him back.It was the first time since we had fought, and kissing him now made me realise how much I missed him, how much I loved him... how much I craved his touch.The kiss deepened as his tongue slipped into my mouth, hands gripping me like I was the last piece of oxygen in the world... My body reacted to it before my mind did. His grip tightened on me as I pulled him closer, feeling him grind against me from behind.Our kiss continued until we were both out of breath, panting for more. My hand roamed over his chest, slowly working its way lower. He groaned, leaning down so our foreheads met. He stared into my eyes, his own full of want and need. I moved forward again, my lips brushing against his once, twice, three times before he leaned his head down so our lips met once more, his hand still on my back.This time, it was different. It was soft at first, but quickly turned hard as a moan left his lips when I pressed down further. My lips moved against his, an
[Xavier’s POV]I had been humiliated before everyone, and although I knew I could never feel the pain Layla had felt while losing our child, this was way out of bounds. I was angry, furious and never in my life had I felt so insulted.What exactly had I said that was wrong for her to hit me in the presence of my own people? That had automatically reduced the respect they possibly had for me.“She believes she has you wrapped around her fingers, that’s why she does whatever she likes these days. She knows you love her and you don’t see her wrongs,” Veronica said, while the women and servants present still looked shocked with their eyes and mouths wide open.“Everyone, calm down. Things like this happen. You can all go back to your respective homes and businesses,” I told them, brushing off what Veronica had said.“Yes, your highness,” they chorused.I turned my back around and began to leave hastily to avoid facing further embarrassment, while Veronica hurried after me, trying to pick