"I don't think she'll be able to answer any more questions," Ash says out loud"Yeah..." I reply with a nod and take her hand in mine before walking out of the cell, leaving my men to deal with Celine. "Are you okay?" I break the silence between us as we walk towards our wing.She smiles up at me hugging my arm closer to her body."I was about to ask you the same question. I'm fine. What about you?""I'm good," I reply her"I'm glad." She sigh and takes my arm that she was hugging, placing it over her shoulders. I chuckle and kiss the top of her head as I hold her close to my side. "Were you worried about me?" I ask her."Yes– I was concerned... After all these years. After all, you've been through. The name callings and discrimination from people. How does it feel to finally know that you're not a bastard after all? Justin is the bastard. Your parents are each other's mates. Your mom's position was actually stolen by this evil woman who has been claiming your mom stole from her."
We arrive at the main wing and see the twins are indeed waiting for Ash. They hurriedly stand the moment they see us enter but I wave them back to their seats. "Okay, babe. I'll see you later in the day." Ash says and runs up the stairs to get her purse. I let my nose lead me up the stairs of the first wing where I can clearly smell Eric's and Henrik's essence coming from. I'm surprised to also smell my dad and uncle's essences. Are they back already? I wonder as I hurry up the stairs.Even though the Caribbean countries are part of North America, the thirteen different packs that are home to the Caribbean werewolves declared themselves independent decades ago when House Denton was voted to be accepted back into society after just two decades of being ostracized. According to them, it's better to be independent than be governed by corrupt Council Elders who accepted back the traitors who killed their ancestors.They appointed for themselves a King to rule over them and a consensus
Ash's POV The interview took longer than I expected. When we finally finish with the last applicant, I check my wristwatch and see it's been more than five hours that we've been at it. Victoria has still not shown yet. She was supposed to be here by now, what's keeping her? I wonder I called her before leaving Alpha's mansion this morning to tell her about the gifts that I needed her help buying and to also inform her about going with my mom and me for my dress fittings. She promised she would meet me at the shelter by noon. It's past two already and still no sign of her. Not even a call. I just hope everything is okay with her.I take my purse and open it to get my phone so I can call her when someone knocks on the door."Come in," I say and Clarita walks in"Luna, what would you like to be prepared for you for lunch?" She asks"Umm... I don't know yet. I can't have lunch right now anyway. Victoria was supposed to be here by noon and it's past two already. She's supposed to call
Punish...What a cruel word to say to one's mate. A word that my own mate has never used in connection with me. I can't believe I ever compared this rogue to my Thor. I can't believe I ever suggested Victoria give him a chance and not judge him based on what she heard about him.And I can't believe I'm just standing, paralyzed with fear while listening to my friend's cry of pain and her struggle to get away from the rogue animal. I have to do something. I have to save her. The question is, how exactly am I going to do that?Another painful cry spurs me to action."Stop it!" I say firmly "Leave her alone right now otherwise I'll call the cops on you!"He turns his gaze toward me and it feels as if heaven and earth has frozen over. Even though I can't see his eyes through the dark shade he's wearing, I feel its coldness as if a blast of cold air was suddenly directed at me. "Stay out of this Ash, it's none of your business! I'll handle it." She says in a shaky voice. Straining to look
Immediately we arrive at Alpha's mansion, Victoria, Dahlia and I begin to arrange the office supplies gift basket for the shelter's donors. We were later joined by Ella, and then later, the twins returned when they closed from the shelter. After a while, Victoria left when she got a call from her mother. It was evening by the time we finished arranging, packaging, and addressing the cards we would include in the baskets.I pick Thor's gift basket from the lot and return to our room to call my Mom and make arrangements for our appointment the next day. Since I don't want to eat alone tonight and also don't want my man to go to bed on an empty stomach like the previous day, I made dinner arrangements with the chef. If they're paid to work round the clock then it's not fair to have the person paying the wages eat what is available and not what he desires for.I smell him the moment I hear the living room door open. Immediately, I pick up my phone and see the time is some minutes past o
Thor's POV Every wing in Alpha's mansion has six bedrooms, not including the three rooms on the ground floor. While my men occupy the first wing. Me and my mate and Dad stay here in the second wing, so there's plenty of room for me to crash in. I pick the room next to our suite and go straight to the bed to slump on it. Immediately I close my eyes, the scene of my argument with her starts coming back to me. Every word we exchanged echoes loudly in my mind, especially my last statement.'I don't want that girl anywhere near me. I don't even want her in my pack. She's still here because of her mother and the moment Carol leaves with my Uncle then it's either she goes with them or goes with her mate. Otherwise, I'm throwing her out of my pack.'Fuck! That was harsh! I realized.Even if her friend can no longer live in my pack, I shouldn't have made it known to her in such a brutal manner.Indeed, I have grown to dislike Victoria. Even with all the explanations Ash gave to me about why
Ash's POVImmediately Thor's phone starts to ring, I push away from him and move back to my side of the bed to bury my head under the pillow in a bid to shut out the annoying noise. Who am I kidding? I can hear everything he's saying, even with the pillow placed over my head."Oh, are we?... Damn!... Yeah, okay. We'll be there in five." He finishes and gets out of bed"We?... Who is the ‘we’ he's referring to?..." I'm still thinking about what I overheard when the pillow I buried my head under was suddenly removed. "Get up! That was Eric. He called to tell us we're late for training." He says but I ignore him and pretend as if I didn't hear him.'Maybe he had a change of mind?' I think to myself and begin to relax when minutes pass and he doesn't return to wake me up. Just as I begin to doze off again, I suddenly feel myself being lifted, and placed over his shoulder."What do you think you're doing? Stop! I'm not up to it today. Just apologize to them on my behalf, okay? You ca
Are you serious? Omg, Ash! You mean to tell me Luna Raina– my idol! The Runway Queen herself is your mom! Why, Ash! Why are you just telling me this!?" Victoria says, vigorously shaking my arm that she's holding on to.I laugh"Well, maybe, one, the conversation never came up. Two, I've only recently reconnected with her, and three, I didn't know she was your idol. I would have said something earlier if I had known."She scoffs"Do you even know who your mom is!?...""Of course. She's a beauty queen""No, silly! Your mother isn't just a beauty queen, she is, The Beauty Queen that most women and young girls idolize. She's a supermodel. A fashion icon. She's the Miss Universe for Shifters, 2015 and Miss World, human and shifter, 2016."She laughs"My mom must not hear this, when I was ten, I wanted to be a supermodel and used to secretly wish your mom was my mother."I laugh. I never knew my mom was such an icon. Watching Victoria speak about her, I am indeed impressed and proud of he
"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