Eric's POVContrary to what we thought it would be, the meeting was a huge success with all the forty-two members of the patrol pledging their allegiance to Thor. The whole team, even Ella who doesn't like Victoria couldn't deny the fact that the success was partly because of Victoria's efforts. If she had not convinced her colleagues to come to the meeting and see for themselves that Thor was not the monster that he was painted to be, they would probably not have come and that would have made Thor furious. So furious he wouldn't hesitate to kill some or kick all of them out of the pack. What kind of leader would he be known for then if that was the case? A tyrant maybe?I'm worried though. I'm worried about so many things as a matter of fact. Thor has never trusted anyone outside his family or his team members but I can see he's impressed by his new concubine. He's beginning to let his guard down for her. I mean what if she's one of Evelyn's minions and doing all this to gain Thor's
"Please wait for me, we're already on our way back. I'm coming with you to see her." Ella says when I told her I want to quickly check on Ash.I knew she would want to follow me. Even if Thor had not said he'd take her along with him to the border, I can't allow her to come with me. I won't even be taking any of the new guys we brought from the estate as Thor had suggested because we're short-handed as it is. Right now, we need as many hands to help in protecting the pack as we can get and since I'm not on a death mission, I don't see any reason why I should take someone along with me."No. You can't come with me." I replied to her. "You and two of the new guys are going with Thor to patrol the border. He wants you guys there with him to watch his back. The patrol members are aware he will be working at the border with the mercenaries. Although they already pledged their allegiance to him, I still don't trust them not to try another ambush!" I speak into the Bluetooth stuck in my ea
I regret asking for just a snippet of the story the moment I heard what Uncle Knox said about Miranda not being Alpha Nate's daughter. Questions that beg for urgent answers claws at my mind. Now I'm curious to know...How come she's not their daughter? How did they find out? Why are they just finding out now? Why not before? Did Miranda already know? Is that why she aimed for Thor when the reality of not being a princess hit her in the face?I arrive in front of Council Yard Penitentiary and park in front of the gate, waiting for the guards on duty to verify my ID. When the security check is complete, the prison's massive gate automatically swings open and I drive inside. I want to park the car and tell Uncle Knox to continue talking but I see the warden that I asked Ella to call back is already waiting for me at the parking lot. He's dressed casually and not in uniform which makes me realize that my threat indeed got to him."Uncle Knox, I so much wish we could continue talking but
Even though I'm almost losing my mind with worry, I keep telling myself that I have to be patient. She's not dead. She just passed out. She'll be okay, eventually. I crouch and stretch my hand through the bar hoping I can at least hold her hand from where she's lying on the floor. Maybe that would give her some kind of comfort but my hand couldn't reach her. She's a bit far away from my reachBeing in that position and now closer to the dead body makes me realize the stench in the cell is a bit bearable from when I was standing. I am angry. Boiling with rage, even. Like how could they lock her in a cell with a dead body for hours? If I hadn't shown up would she have spent the night in that same position, beside a decomposing corpse!?Neal said they were going for breakfast when it happened. That means she's been locked inside that cell for about fifteen hours without food or drink"Fucking hell! Somebody is going to pay for this!" I unconsiously swear out loud.I want to know what or
'Ella said we would only be able to tell if she had conceived after two weeks. Could it be Millicent is inexperienced and didn't know what she was talking about, after all?' I thought with my eyes fixed on Ash who is dead to the world. I bring out my phone then, to call Anders, the healer we brought with us from Denmark. Anders comes from a family of healers. Apart from being a medical doctor, Anders, like his ancestors, is also a herbalist, who practices healing through the use of herbs."Hello..." He answers the call with a voice that sounds like he's already in bed, sleeping."Are you sleeping, already?" I ask as I check my wristwatch. "C'mon man, it's just past nine!" I add in mock disappointment. "I'm a healer Eric, not a warrior. What the fuck do you want? Is there an emergency?" I can picture him rolling his eyes upward in exasperation like he always does each time I take a jibe at him."Kinda. Can you quickly drive down to Council Yard Penitentiary?" I say and immediately he
"So it's true then? She's indeed pregnant?" I ask for further confirmation "Of course she is. Her palm is so pale like she has been drained of all her blood and judging by how rapid her pulse is beating, I'll say she's about two months gone or thereabout... Wait, you already know she's pregnant!?" He exclaims, picking up the IV bag Millicent left on the cabinet as if he's just seeing it for the first time."This is used for..." He's about to start explaining when I interrupt him."The Yard's doctor already checked on her so I know what it's used for. I called you here because I wanted to be sure about her diagnosis...You said her pregnancy is about two months but is there a chance that you might be wrong? I mean, how can she be two months pregnant when the first time they mate was three days ago?" I ask, frowning at him in concentration."Three days ago?" He scoffs and mockingly laughs like he has never heard anyone speak such rubbish before in his life."Did Thor tell you that?" He
"You should try and eat something. You've not had anything to eat since morning. Take this, it will help settle your queasy stomach." I say, handing her a small packet of pretzels. "Okay, thanks..." She says and collects the snacks from me. She opens the packet and I watch as she nibbles on it until she finally finishes the whole pack."I'm sorry I couldn't come on time today. I had a very busy day but be sure I'll come to see you tomorrow with a sumptuous meal. How about that?" I ask and she nods with a smile. I give her a bottle of water then. After she has taken her fill, she puts the lid back on the bottle."Ash, can you tell me what happened this morning between you and the inmate that died?" I ask gently, picking my words so she doesn't feel guilty or bad about herself."According to some of the guards, you attacked her on your way to the mess hall for just no reason.""Wait, what!? But that's a lie! That's a big lie! Why would I attack someone I don't know for no reason? And
It happened all of a sudden. I wasn't really paying attention to the road because my mind was preoccupied. That was why I wasn't able to see what I hit or should I say what hit me. I only saw a blur. A furry, huge, powerful, and very fast blur.The impact my car made with the beast was jarring but I managed to maintain control of the car in the little time that it took me to swerve to the right and straight into the woods, where I smashed into a big tree.I feel stunned. It takes me a couple of seconds to gather my wits about me. The moment my head feels clear enough, my mind screams,'ambush! You need to get moving, Eric! This might be a very dangerous situation!' And as if realization just hit me, I repeated to myself; 'this might be a very dangerous situation, Eric. You need to call Thor and warn him that the pack is under attack!' I look at the passenger's seat where I left my phone and realize it's no longer there. It might have fallen off the chair when the car smashed into t
"The Council Chairman!" I exclaim with surprise when I see a familiar white-haired old man walk out from beside the villa and towards the aisle. "The Council Chairman is the officiant!?"He grins"Surprise!" He says with a flourish "Now walk. And remember, your best man is closely behind."I happily smile and nod at our guests as I walk behind the old man hobbling on his walking stick.I can't believe that the Council Chairman himself is going to officiate our wedding!? He's already so old but still makes the time. Today sure is full of pleasant surprises. He arrives at the front and turns to face the guests."Council Chairman, what an honor this is," I say as I arrive before him, my back to the guests.He smiles "Giving the opportunity to join the Chosen ones of House War-Cloud and House Howell in matrimony is a great honor that I dare not pass to another."I nod and he also nods backEveryone arrive at the front and stand at their respective places as we had rehearsed. The moment
I look at my Patek Philippe Nautilus watch before getting up to start dressing up. Just as I put on my tuxedo jacket, someone knocks on my door."Come in," Eric answers Timothy enters, already dressed for the occasion."The guests have arrived. The ceremony will begin soon." He saysI nod and reply,"We're ready. We'll be out soon." He nods and leavesEric finishes buttoning his tux before turning to me. He looks at me critically as he brushes something off my satin lapel and straightens my bowtie."Hmm..." He says satisfactorily before taking a step back. "Hair– on point. Skin– flawless. Tux– immaculate. Shoes– nice pair, they really compliment your outfit. All in all, you look good, man. Your bride will fall in love with you all over again."I smile at his compliment."What about the ring? Do you have it?" I ask to be sure he hasn't forgotten."I have it right here." He replies with a nod, patting on the area it is resting inside his tux. I exhale and nod"Then shall we?" He
Instead of going back to sleep like I tell him, he groans and slumps back into bed."Ugh!... C'mon, don't be a bitch about this."I scoff, looking at him in disbelief."Who's the bitch here? You're obviously tired and need to rest. I'm allowing you to do that but you can't see my good intentions." I guess he thinks I was being sarcastic when I apologized for disturbing his sleep.He sighs and gets out of bed then go to the wet bar. There, he gets a bottle of water and gulps it down in one go. "Now I'm awake..." He says before asking me, "Water?""Yeah, sure," I replyHe hands me the water before going to sit on the sofa."Alright, tell me about your anxiety attack.""I can't sleep. I thought I mentioned that earlier." ''Why can't you sleep?""How the hell am I supposed to know? I just can't!" I know I sounded defensive right now. That's because I know this conversation would end up with him poking fun at me."I wouldn't have found sleep difficult if I was at Alpha's mansion. My m
Two weeks laterThor's POV 1:10 am! I glare in disbelief at the digital clock on my bedside drawer as if it's its fault that time chooses to be moving at a snail's pace today of all days. It was 12:49 the last time I checked, I can't believe that only nineteen minutes had gone by since then."Ugh!" I growl and slump back in bed as I recall all the advice I got yesterday from all the females around me. (that did not include my mate, mind you. I haven't spoken to her in two days because of some Howell's wedding tradition)"You should go to bed early, Alpha," Lily said as they were about to leave for Night Howlers Pack. (They are Ash's maids and matron of honor.)"Yes, you should." Carla chipped in, nodding, before I could ask Lily why she wanted me to go to bed early. "Poor sleep can lead to breakouts, you know?" "Breakouts?" I asked, looking at both of them with interest."Yes, breakout. Believe me, Alpha, you don't want that..." Clarita replied, looking appalled as she shook her he
I step out of the lobby's revolving door and frantically look around me. I don't see him anywhere but his essence is stronger. He's definitely here."Ma'am..." A voice questioningly calls and I turn around to see Jeremy, one of my security details that comes from my Dad. I wonder where he sprang from? "Have you seen the Alpha– I mean my mate?" I say, handing him my backpack."No, ma'am, I haven't." He replies, looking in the parking lot's direction."Yeah, maybe he's just arriving," I say and hurry towards the place. When the parking lot becomes visible, I smile when I see him leaning on his car reading a book. Immediately, he turned in my direction and grinned as if he knew I was coming. I know it's because he smells my essence.I run, speedily closing the gap between us, and then jump into his arms, tightly wrapping myself around him like a koala bear hugging a tree."Oh, hi, monkey." He says, chuckling.I laugh, slightly pulling away from him "Hello, monkey's husband," I say. "
Twelve weeks later"Prom is more than a dance, Miss Reynolds. It is also used to celebrate and honor students who excel in academics, athletics, and extracurricular activities..." Mrs Jones, my homeroom teacher, lectures me. "Even though you're only spending this term with us, your excellent performance has made you popular among the teachers. You're also loved by not just your peers but also your juniors. Even though you're a new student, they voted for you to be on the prom court, and with what I've been hearing on the grapevine about you, I'm sure they would vote for you to be this year's Prom Queen. Now, won't they be disappointed if they find out you don't want to be part of the event? It would be a shame if..."'Would it? Aren't you over-exaggerating?' I think as I continue to listen to her drone on and on. Contrary to what she's been saying. As far as I know and can see, no one truly cares about anyone amongst my peers in Apex Academy. Most of them are rich, pompous, opportu
"You didn't have your wolf and you weren't aware of my existence. I just recently figured it out myself. That was why I said earlier that a lot of things about our bond recently became clear to me. Even though I was made aware of our mate bond, I didn't know it was such a big deal. Uncle Elias also didn't see it as such; otherwise, he wouldn't have gotten me a girl on my birthday. Only The Seer knew. Knowing he's one of our number one fans, I guessed he also didn't make a big deal out of me being with other women before I met you because he knew the connection between us was not complete. You were too young. You were six years old when I was sixteen..." It suddenly feels as if I've been slapped in the face with the difference in our age. Damnit! Why didn't I think about that before!? Now that he called my attention to it, I feel I've been insensitive. To think I was eight years old when he was eighteen! An eight-year-old child is too young to shift to their wolves and has no busines
"About us..." He replies, and my body stiffens. "About what happened before you left for Hill-backside." "But I thought everything was fine now. We are fine now so why do we still need to discuss that?" I say and want to stand up, but from his lap, he prevents me, holding me in place. "Please..." He says, looking at me soulfully I exhale "I just don't see any reason why we should talk about that. We're fine now, aren't we?... I love you. You love me. Nothing else should matter except that." I say, not knowing if I should confess to him my real reason for not wanting to discuss that matter. Should I tell him I'm afraid to hear what he wants to say? I'm afraid I might not be able to bear it if he tells me how he manipulated his way around our mate bond? Should I let him know I would rather pretend Delilah never happened than risk hearing about her and not be able to forgive him out of jealousy. How would I let him know that I just want to forget the bad memories. I don't want to di
Even though it bothers me, I'm not really surprised when I return from the bathroom to see Thor in his nightwear, sitting on the sofa far away from the bed. At least now I know without doubt that something is indeed bothering him.He stands when he becomes aware of my presence."Can we have a few words?" He asks seriously and my heart thumps again.I nod. Few words about what? What could be bothering him this much? I wonder as I walk towards him. He doesn't need to say another word before I know what he's about to discuss is very serious. It's written all over his face. "I sensed something was bothering you. What do you want to talk about?" Even though I asked, I dread his reply and hurriedly add"Don't tell me! I don't want to know...""You don't!" He exclaims. "But we really need to...""Okay– but please not right now!..." I plead. "I can tell from your expression that what you want to talk about is serious and I... I don't want to talk about anything serious right now, Thor! Tod