Roman POV:Marvin’s forehead was wrinkled when I finished describing the events Julian and I had gone through, and his lips were pursed together. When they were finally separated, it was to let out a breath. “Well, that sucks.”It did suck. Apart from the incident where we’d found that Gertrude was in cahoots with some Crimson Wolves’ worker, Margrave wanting me to give up Audrey for a shaky alliance had continually echoed in my mind, and I was beyond annoyed about it, even if a part of me had begun to doubt my mate's credibility. I adored her with all of me, but who was to say she wasn't- ‘No, Roman,’ I told myself, stalling the buildup of such thoughts in my mind. I had to hold off on my assumptions. ‘Stop that. Audrey wouldn’t do that to you.’ Or would she? “Well, I have the perfect solution to end at least half of the problems.”I looked at my stepbrother, who had a mischievous smile on his face. I didn’t need to think twice to know that whatever he'd cooked up was something cri
Tanya POV:Marvin hadn't called yet. I stared at my phone, wondering when he would. After he smacked Audrey into unconsciousness, he told me to stay put and not do anything till he returned to visit or called me. I'd obeyed, of course, but it was noon, and I hadn't seen either hide or tail of him. It wasn't like I was worried for him. I just didn't want him to find himself in trouble because that would put a major damp on his plans. And his plans included me, so I would be suffering by association. I didn't want that. Especially now that I was the town's joke. I sighed, placing my phone screen down beside me and staring up at my ceiling. It hadn't been up to four months since Audrey arrived, yet she'd turned so many things upside down. I'd gone from being the most envied to the most joked about, from the most beautiful to the most idiotic, and from the beloved Tanya Hill to the Hill brat. Mother had started ignoring me, too, going for long days without exactly saying where she was
“He's dangerous,” she said, her voice wavering. “How the hell did you get roped with him?”She knew him. Great Luna. They knew each other. I was about to speak when Marvin pulled me closer to him, and briefly sighted a grin on his face. “Well, there was a bit of back and forth in the beginning, Diane. But the most important information is that we're mates now.” He pecked the side of my head, and I hated the butterflies that erupted in my stomach as a result of his action. “Meaning we’re in-laws. Isn't that wonderful?”My mother's response to his question was to collapse. ♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎Audrey POV:Roman was suspicious. I knew that much from the expression he'd given me three nights before when I returned from the bathroom. It'd been on his face for just a second, but I'd seen it clearly, and it'd registered in my mind before he switched to a neutral look. And ever since the following morning, we hadn't slept in the same bed, nor had he come looking for me. It was obvious he had his rese
Audrey POV:Paul tensed beside me when he saw the look as well, but I knew it was a defense mechanism, not because he wanted to fight Jacob. As Gamma, Jacob was leader of the Guard, and there was no way Paul would strike him unless Jacob attempted to hit me first. Which, from the look in his eyes, seemed very much likely. However, I was sure he wouldn't do that. Right from time, Jake preferred to talk things over than use his fists. That knowledge gave me the courage to continue approaching him as he sat on a stone watching his soldiers train. “Jake.”He glared at me, then turned back to his trainees. “What are you doing here?” We were attracting a bit of attention. I almost panicked. “I need to talk to you. Please.” He didn't look at me, and I saw the slight tense in his shoulders before he spoke. “Where's your mate?” The bitter tone of his voice indicated he wasn't asking out of excitement, but out of anger. I was taken aback. Why was he asking about Roman? “I-” I paused, cleari
Roman POV:I looked up when the door opened, my cheek resting on my palm. Julian walked in with an envelope, and dropped it on the desk after he'd shut the door. “Here we go,” he sighed, plopping onto a free chair and placing his hands behind his head. I gave him a questioning glance. “What's this?” “Feedback from the spies.” He closed his eyes. “This time, they stressed the importance of discretion while reading it. Not that I would have done otherwise.”I opened the sealed envelope with a claw and pulled out the file, a bit of anticipation building up in my mind. Then I saw the first photo, and my eyes dimmed. “Shit.”Julian opened his eyes. “What?”“They killed them.”He sat up, his gaze trained on me. “Killed who?”“The spies.” I examined the photo. “Fuck. They found them out. Tortured them before killing them, too.” “What?” Julian sped to my side, snatching the paper from my hands. I didn't stop him or get annoyed. I was too spooked to do that. If they'd killed the spies and s
“The infamous Roman Blackburn.” My eyes narrowed at the man who stood before us with a small smirk on his face. Despite his rumored rank in the Crimson Wolves’ community, Edward Kim wasn't the sort of man labeled as ‘pleasing to look at’. A long scar ran from his temple down to his chin, over one of his eyes so that he couldn't see through it. The skin around the scar seemed mangled, and one of his ears seemed mangled, as though an animal had tried to bite it off. His nose had a deep indentation in its tip, as though a knife had carved into it, and finally, his two arms were covered in burn marks.Despite all of those scars, and the others on the rest of his body, like his one surviving leg, he was still one of the most important people to the Crimson Wolves, and had committed himself to being invincible in combat. That didn't mean he couldn't be killed, however- it just meant it'd be hard for him to be. And he was fully aware of that, which is why he carried himself with an aura o
Audrey's POV:I stared at the clouds in the evening sky, wishing that I was feeling as bright as they were looking. But I was too overwhelmed by sadness to be. I sat overlooking my room window, the cool breeze caressing my face as I ruminated over the events of the day. ‘Fuck you,’ Jacob had said. The incident had occurred earlier in the day, but his words kept playing in my mind, and I relived his insults over and again. ‘Five times over,’ he'd responded to my outburst of anger, with no hesitation. He hadn't looked apologetic at all, and he'd been clear about what he felt.When did it all change? We were thick as thieves, and would have continued to be if Diane hadn't prevented us from communicating when I ran away. We'd cared for each other like siblings, and when I discovered that he liked me, he didn't let that hinder his kindness towards me. He’d even kissed me on the forehead. So what changed? What had I done that was so evil, he was ready to toss our friendship away? By ki
Roman POV:Initially, our- that is, Julian and my- thoughts were tuned towards the cloaked figure rescuing us due to almost deafening yowls the rogues sent into the atmosphere. Then we found out he was a magic user, but also an enemy of ours. Before we could make our escape, the concealed person caused us to fall face flat onto the ground, preventing us from moving as he spoke to Kim.We lay there on the ground for so long, I began to feel insects crawling over me, and I wanted to rip someone's head off his shoulders.“Well then, Alpha Blackburn,” Edward Kim said after what seemed like a long time, and it'd taken so much to even look up at him. “Information reaching me says I shouldn't kill you. My master wants me to just rough you up a bit.”Julian immediately barked, “Over my dead body!” Kim gave him a bored look, and I was almost afraid he would tell the magic user to kill him. Instead he blinked, his eyes turned green, and Julian howled. “There. That should hold you for a bit.” T
Audrey POV:I raced through the woods, my heart pounding in fear. I'd shifted in the course of my escape, and my senses were terribly heightened now. It was as though I was one with the woods. Every scent, every twig crack, every noise…I could perceive them all. I could especially perceive the wolves that were currently bounding after me. The sound of their snarls echoed in the woods behind me, causing stabs of fear to run through my heart. I almost couldn’t breathe.The cold air slashed through my lungs as I ran, my paws slamming against the damp earth, scattering leaves and dirt in every direction. My heart thundered in my chest, a deafening rhythm that drowned out everything- save for the snarls behind me. They were getting closer to me, each one louder and more closer than the last. The forest around me blurred, a dizzying smear of bark, shadow, and moonlight. Twigs snapped under my foot, branches tore through my fur.Somewhere, somehow, in the middle of my desperate run for s
Roman POV:The air that left my lungs at her statement slowly returned, but that still didn't stop the shock from flowing off me in waves. “What-” I paused at my choked voice, coughed, then started again. “What do you mean by that?”She gave me a sad look. “Roman, if I can't find Audrey right now, then it means she's in danger. Whether it is that she's unconscious- for someone could have knocked her out- or that she's…well…”“She's not dead.”No. It couldn't happen. She'd only just walked into my life. I couldn't lose her just like that. Audrey was a light, a beacon of hope that I could find love, even in this bleak world where I was surrounded by so much hate and betrayal. Mother shook her head. “Obviously, I don't wish for her to be. She's such a sweetheart. What I'm trying to say is-” “Audrey's not dead!” I snarled despite myself. She bit her lower lip and turned away. “No, Mother. She cannot be dead. For crying out loud, it hasn't even been up to a year since she stepped into m
Roman POV:“You did quite well,” Julian said to me while I watched Jacob supervise the cleaning of the conference room. It'd been about fifteen minutes since the meeting ended, and a part of me had reveled in the fear the elders had in their eyes whenever they crossed the body of their dead comrade. “You really didn't have to kill anyone though.”“They are infuriating,” I said emotionlessly as the cleaners began their job. “It was high time they learned that I wasn't just the old Alpha's son. I am the Alpha.” My best friend gave me a look. “I hope that doesn't mean you plan to resort to the harsh ways of your father.”“Never,” I grunted. “But I'll have to place some respect in these elders’ hearts. They need to be reminded of their position before me.” My Beta merely passed a breath through his mouth. “If you say so, Roman. I just really hope you're not using your anger with your mate's disappearance to cloud your greater sense of judgment.” “Audrey's disappearance has nothing to
Audrey POV:I gawked as Sam opened a portal the moment I accepted his hand. He grinned at me while the magic door pulsated with energy, and placed a leg into it. “Come on, young lady.”I hesitated, suddenly feeling very unsure and stupid. The moment he extended his hand, I'd snatched it without thinking. As soon as he opened the portal, it hit me. Just who exactly was I about to follow through a portal that only he knew that location it led to? Sure, he'd claimed to have known my father, but almost everyone knew my father then. Not only did I not know his true intentions, but he'd been part of the men that watched my humiliation. He cocked his head to the side when he saw my hesitation. “What's the matter?” “I don't know you. You might want to kill me,” I blurted, turning red when he began to laugh. “That's what you’re bothered about, darling?” he chuckled. “I just saved you from getting raped and potentially mauled by that piece of scum.” He stepped forward. “You really think you
Roman POV:“This is preposterous!” I glared at the elder who'd just spoken, and he wisely kept his mouth shut immediately. Lucky for him. I would have slit his throat if he made one more sound. I wasn't supposed to be here. I was supposed to be out saving Audrey. I was supposed to have gotten her into my arms, and rescued her from whatever hellhole Edward Kim had put her in. “I apologize for speaking out of turn, Alpha,” the elder who'd just interrupted my speech said, fear shining in his eyes. “I was just…I'm laden with emotion at how much torment this pack has fallen into.”I schooled my features into blankness. “Thank you so much for your concern, Logan, but you haven't even been around to know how much torment we are in right now.” He reddened and turned away, knowing what I'd said was true. Just like Diane Hill, he'd disappeared for a while, but he'd returned a bit earlier than she had. A nasty thought about him dying just like Kennedy and Hill crossed my mind, but i waved it
Audrey POV:I was returned to the dark room when the men had had enough of me. The visiting Brothers were not returning to their homes, so I was to be a spectacle for them again the following day. In the meantime, Derek wanted me to ‘rest’, which essentially meant he didn't want me to die yet. Normally I would have willingly killed myself to escape his torture, but I had people’s lives tied to mine. I had no idea what Edward Kim would do if I committed suicide. That would be against the deal we made, right? So I kept quiet and let Derek do whatever he wanted till he finally ended my life. My body was bruised all over again from the beatings Derek had given me, and every time I laid against the cold wall or put too much pressure on the side of my body that rested on the hard ground, I cried out in pain. I wanted to curl into a ball and cry, but I knew the would cause unimaginable agony. And Derek's words at the beginning about him wanting to hear me cry out in pain haunted me, so I f
Audrey POV:“I still don't know what exactly to do for her sendforth into the great beyond,” my holding master laughed as I coughed out blood, feeling the life slowly draining out of me. I'd been presented on a makeshift stage before some of the ‘Brothers’ that Derek had invited to watch my torture spectacle. They were surrounded by lots of food, and they chuckled at Derek's jokes while I writhed in pain. “Perhaps you should save her the torment of a prolonged death,” one of them said. “Just one swipe across her throat and you'll be done with it.”Derek seemed to consider the idea. “The issue now is, I don't want to do that. I don't want to be done with it so easily. She's still alive. Her eyes haven't lost their spark.” He bared his teeth playfully at me. “I need that spark to disappear first. Then I'll kill her.” Fear gripped me, and if my wrists weren't bound and my body hurting, I'd have attempted to slide away. “Any news from Kim?” another of the Brothers asked, spearing a pi
Tanya POV:“You did good,” Marvin said, placing a hand on my shoulder. “They didn't suspect a thing. I'm proud of you.” I didn't say a word, merely staring ahead, like I expected my mother to appear before me. The moment I heard the explosion, I'd sunk to my knees, crying out loud. Marvin had immediately gagged me again and held me close, being both good and evil at the same time. I'd leaned against him, too tired to decide what was right or fair and what wasn't. The following morning, I woke up cuffed to a chair, and he laid beside me, his eyes closed. However, the moment I shuffled, his eyes opened wide, and his gaze bored into mine. It was then I knew I wasn't going anywhere, no matter what he did to me. Not because I was afraid of him, but because I’d given myself to him. Mind, body and soul. For better, for worse, right? “Jacob is coming soon, so you'd better dress up.” His hand pressed on my shoulder. “And look very presentable.”I gave an almost imperceptible nod. Jacob had
Roman POV:“Hold on,” Julian said while I absentmindedly kicked a small rock along the road. “Your mother is…Ruby? Ruby is your mother? I don't understand.” It'd confused me too, but after I returned to my room, I found Ruby staring wide eyed at me. It hit me that she probably wasn't completely aware of what was happening with her. We were on our way to Marvin's apartment to pay a courtesy visit to Tanya regarding the destruction of the Hill residence. According to Julian, Diane Hill's body had still not been found, but the probability of her being burnt to ashes was much higher than the probability of her crawling out of the inferno. I didn't like the woman at all, but that didn't completely mean I wanted her gone. She was Tanya's backbone, from what I noticed when we together, and finding out about her mother's death must have been very hard for her. That's why I asked Julian to accompany me. “It really doesn't make any sense,” Julian was mumbling. “Did your mother go back in ti