After the seer's warning/prophecy has been delivered, my dad wants us to immediately call Alpha Nate to let him know Ash is his lost daughter. Even though I know it's the right thing to do, especially when he told me her mother had always had reservations about Miranda, and Eric added what Alpha Nate told him about her suspicions towards their maid, Celine...I still strongly disagreed with him. For one thing, I don't want Ash to meet her parents yet because I'm scared she would finally reject me like she had threatened to if she got to know her family name.My dad tries to make me see reason but I remain adamant. I will keep her away from her parents for as long as it would take her to forgive me and forget about rejecting our mate bond. It's when the seer assures me that she cannot reject me because of the special mate bond we shared between us that I finally heave a sigh of relief. My mate and I are stuck with each other as the humans usually say; till death do us part.As soon as
Ash's POVIt's my 22nd birthday and we're having a cookout to celebrate. Werewolves, vampires, and humans are all invited together in one place, to celebrate with my family. The weather is great. The music is perfect. I look around me. I am surrounded by family, and friends that I've acquired along the way.Some are happily chatting with each other. Some couples are dancing. Some men are by the barbecue stand while some women are helping with arranging platters of food on a long, wide buffet table. I am happy.I see Eric, chatting and laughing with Ella and Ivar, who has his arms wrapped around his mate's pregnant belly. I see Victoria, my best friend, smiling brightly up at a man. She's glowing, looking like a beautiful ray of sunshine in a white summer dress. She waves when her eyes meet mine and I wave back. I see Millicent and Neal. I'm surprised to see Ethan is also here. I never knew Thor would want to consider inviting him. It's been two years but Thor has never fully forgiven
Thor's POVMy mate is acting strange and it scares me. Something is seriously wrong with her. I was confused at first when she started speaking nicely to me. I mean I know I want her to forgive me but considering what she thought I did to her, I wasn't expecting her forgiveness to come that easily. At least not before we had the chance to talk it out.Then she said I look different and I know right then that something I s seriously wrong with her. I mean, everyone knows I've always had this particular look and never even considered changing it.Recalling her words...'You let your hair grow out like it was before when we just met. It doesn't matter to me how you choose to wear it though. I love it both ways...''How long was I out for this time?... How's everyone?... How's the baby? Martha is taking care of him I presume?'My heart sinks 'Martha is taking care of him!?'... But Martha is dead! And the pregnancy was not even three months when she miscarried so how could she refer to th
"Here, I'll carry you," I say to Ash the moment Anders leaves the room and she lovingly smiles back at me..."And then you'll carry me down the stairs to dinner and after dinner, you'll still carry me back to the room?... I'm not as weak as I look, you know?""Are you sure?""Of course, baby, relax." She replies with a smileInstead of allowing me to carry her, she holds my arm and uses it to support herself as she stands. With my help, she takes dainty steps at first to test if she's strong enough to walk by herself. When I'm satisfied she can walk without help, I allow her to let go of my hand and walk the rest of the way to the bathroom. In the bathroom, she examines herself in the mirror, making small comments at the same time."Aww, babe! You cut my hair?" She pouts. "But I thought you liked it longer? If it was a problem, you could have just asked Ella to braid it instead of cutting it you know..." I'm still thinking up the lie to respond to her with when she raises the shirt
Ash looks great in one of the dresses Ella bought for her courtesy of Eric. I owe Eric a lot for going all out to make sure my mate was comfortable while inside the prison that I put her in. Things would have been far worse for my mate and me if it wasn't for him. I know I'll forever be in his debt when I think of how he almost lost his life on his way from visiting her at Council Yard. I can't believe my eyes when we arrive at the dining room and I see everyone dressed up, waiting for our arrival. I'm happy. I never thought they would organize a celebratory dinner to welcome my mate. We lost our unborn baby but the fact that we're finally able to reunite with each other is still worth celebrating.Ash's face breaks into a huge smile when she sees the feast laid before us and all of them dressed up, standing up to welcome her. As we walk to our seats at the head of the table, I'm not surprised by the way she warmly greets each of my men by their names.Ella leaves her chair and wal
Ash's POVI suspect there's a problem when I wake up to see Thor staring blankly at his laptop with his hand frozen over the keyboard. Even though he happily smiled at me when he saw I was awake, I could tell from the worried lines etched on his forehead that all was not well.Doctor Anders arrived to check up on me and my suspicion became stronger when I saw the secret look they shared after the check-up was done. They thought I wasn't paying attention but I saw everything. The doctor clearly looked anxious as he questioned me while Thor looked worried.When the doctor came to speak with Thor the second time, I was so curious to find out what the problem was to the extent I was tempted to come out of the bathroom and listen in on their conversation but the thought and embarrassment of being caught in the act held me back.My suspicion was further confirmed before we had dinner when I saw the way I was greeted and hugged, plus the strange look on their faces... Could that be fear? Am
My eyes are swollen with tears. The pain in my heart that I'd unconsciously covered with scab tissue reopens and it hurts so bad. I remember everything now. How I met my mate. When I lost him to Miranda. Martha, my dear mother's death. My time in prison and finally the loss of my pregnancy. I place my hands on my belly as I think about how I will not get to carry my baby in my arms as I hoped.Tears pour down my face as my thoughts run into each other. I cry hard for Martha, my mother. The human that loved and adopted me when I was rejected by my kind. It hurts so much because I know I will never see her again in this life. I will never be able to take care of her in her old age as I promised her. If anyone should ask right now what my greatest regret in life is, I would reply, 'Living with Martha.' I know she would still be alive if she hadn't taken me in. I also cry about the irreversible mistake I made when I remember Lilly the witch. If I hadn't been so lackadaisical about what s
Thor's POV'How could I ever think I like this girl enough to accept her as my concubine?' I thought with irritation after I knocked on my bedroom door and she opened it with what looked like a smug smile on her face. Seeing her smile, I know the bitch is happy to be having a party in my room. I never knew Ash was serious when she asked Ella if she had the bitch's phone number until she told me, Victoria is still her friend regardless of what happened.' I watched with surprise as she pulled Ella along with her before turning to Eric in disbelief."It's okay if she wants a slumber party but why invite Victoria? How can she still consider her a friend when she knows what happened between us? Any other woman would want to stay away and not have anything to do with the woman who has a history with her man. Why is she doing this!?"Eric sighed before replying, "Really, Thor!? Are you really going to complain about this? It's just one slumber party and you won't be seeing Victoria anywa
"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