THERON'S POV I pulled up in front of the porch that led to Gamma Darrell's house. A weird emotion tightened around my chest as I took in the features of the terrace house. It's been a while I came here. Since I took over as the pack Alpha. I wasn't expecting to feel a surge of exhilaration. But the distant feeling associated with my childhood held deep sentiments that were a bit foreign to me. Vuk stirred inside me, ‘C’mon man. You don't have to show the world your weakness and you know this,’ My shoulders bunched at his statement. Darell was the only family I had…the only I knew. After the drastic situation with my father, which made me banish my mother from the pack.Anger settled in the deepest part of my bones. I hated—no, loath to ponder on the ugly incident, time and time again. It didn't go well that I sulked over something that shallow. Vuk grunted, clearly not sharing the same thought with me. Albeit, he didn't utter a single word. I tightened my fist around the steering
THERON'S POV The next couple of days went by in a blur. Riona wasn't recuperating like I'd expected her. Her injuries were still vivid, and the only thing I'd come close to doing, was suppressing her heat period. Vuk snickered. ‘How long do you think the portion would restrict her for?’ The tone of his voice was a tease. My jaw clenched. ‘Vuk. I'm not in the mood for this, not today…’ I dismissed his assertion, before I pushed the door leading to her room open.My gaze landed on the bed first, and a jolt passed through my heart when her scent wafted into my nose. I stepped further into the room, and there she was curled on the sofa. I cleared my throat, and she tipped her head sideways to face me. “I’m here with your medicine,” My tone was neutral. Riona pushed herself up from the chair, her steps were slightly staggered. She rounded the sofa and covered the distance between us. I stretched my arms and handed the medicine to her. Her face squeezed into a tight frown when she bro
Riona’s POV My heart pulsated violently against my ribcage. How’d he come to find out in the first place? Elara stirred with apprehension. This was a delicate situation for the both of us. Yet, the ease with how he spoke the words soothed a delicate part of my insides, I didn’t know needed it. An impish smile curled the corner of his lips, before it withered. “Riona, you let your pack members talk them on you, in your identity even though you were innocent—”I cut him off with a cough. This was like the elephant in the room I was trying to avoid. First, he knew about Elara. And now, he was probing me about my pack? A nightmare I’d rather not speak about? Fragments of memories from my childhood flashed before me, squeezing out oxygen from my lungs. “Why didn’t you ever fight for her?” He quipped, his voice unusually gentle. From the way he tilted his head slightly, I could instantly tell he was talking about Elara. A lump gathered around my throat. I swallowed to push it down, but
RIONA'S POV I braided my fingers through my hair, unsure of the best response to give. The incident happened a few years back, and I was the only one at the scene. “I don't think so,” “I know so,” Theron said, his voice low and throaty. He rested his weight against the cushion opposite me, “Hurting Luna Stacy isn't something you'd do,” I shrugged weakly. “Well, my entire pack thinks I'm responsible—” “I'm not a part of your pack, and I really don't want to be a part,” he paused, holding my gaze, “I believe you,” My head pounded violently. Alpha Theron's words spun around my head, and rested on my skin. Leaving a wave of goosebumps in its wake. He groaned. “I’ll be in my quarters, you still need to rest for a few days,” I nodded. I lifted his chin, and his smoldering look melted a delicate nerve in my heart. I racked my head for the right emotion, but it was foreign, nothing like I've ever felt. I watched his intimidating physique disappear behind the thick oak door. Elara clam
THERON'S POV Riona's face flushed bright red as I dressed the wounds. She groaned at the slightest brush of my hands over her skin. Her eyes dilated, and I could feel her gaze on me, when I wasn't watching. Still, her scent scrambled with my train of thoughts. It took me every bit of willpower to keep my focus in place. From the way she curled, and uncurled her fist, I could instantly tell Riona was on the verge of having a fever. Her palms were ice cold, and sleek with sweat. She drew in deep breaths, and let them out in a ragged motion. The nape of her neck, pale white and delicate. As if it was beckoning to me to dig my fangs against it. I swallowed past the bile that gathered around my throat, focusing my gaze on her wounds. Guilt stabbed me with jagged blades. All the while, Riona had been subjected to severe treatment. Heck! I was a total asshole to her. Vuk gnashed its teeth at me, resurfacing. ‘Theron! For crying out loud! Do I need to spell everything out for you?’ He s
THERON'S POV My reflexes kicked into action, my blood pumping with exhilaration. I grabbed her before she fell to the cold tiles. Her teeth grinded against each other. Riona let out a groan, as I lifted her in my arms and placed her gently on the bed. I tucked her under the thick comforter, and watched her closely. My wolf growled inside of me, seething with feral dominance. Vuk was slowly slipping out of control. And it was only a matter of time before he broke free from the torture of not marking his mate. She winced, stirring on the bed. I inched closer to her, and held her by the shoulders. She clung onto my arms instinctively, and her breathing slowly returned to normal. I couldn't let her alone in this state. It could result in a nasty situation. And by the goddess, I would drown in the abyss of guilt, if she hurts herself. I stood by her bedside, watching her. The clock ticked, and hours passed, leaving the sky misty with blue and orange streaks— an indication of sunset.
RIONA'S POVI made to stretch of my sleep, when the heat from a calloused hands keeping me in place, holding me back. My heart thumped violently against my ribcage, as I tried to wriggle out of his grip. I held my breath, close to the brink of freedom when he pulled me right back into his bosom. Gosh! How did I end up on the same bed with Alpha Theron? Snippets of last night cake flooding in, and my head was full as if it was going to explode. I wiped a frustrated hand over my forehead carefully, so I wouldn't wake him from his sleep. Slowly, I lifted his hands and carefully placed them against him. Phew! I heaved a sigh of relief, as I skitted to the edge of the bed. A strange sensation clouded me, as I swallowed the lump in my throat. It fizzled out, leaving my body feeling light. Almost like my bones couldn't carry me much longer. Alpha Theron splashed fast asleep on my bed like a dream. The slow rise and fall of the perfectly honed muscles on his chest. His lash fringed over h
THERON'S POV I held her in place, her eyes tightly shut as she groaned. My words had triggered something in her past. I had a lot of unanswered questions, I was dying to unravel.Suddenly, her muscles eased and she slipped into the peaceful oblivion of sleep. Minutes passed, and I mindlinked Gamma Vincent. ‘Yes Sir,’ He answered the minute he connected to the mindlink. ‘I need two of Silverfang’s finest warriors to come stand guard here.’ ‘They’ll be there in no time. And I was able to lay my hands on what you requested.’ Vincent said and zoned out of the mindlink. There was no need to prove further with questions. He knew I'd spent the last couple of days straddled by her side. And for some goddamn reason, I was going to do that over and over again. My jaw clenched. My mind raced back to the last part of his statement, leaving a wake of curiosity buried in my bones. Vuk snickered, ‘Someone is finally warming up to his mate. Isn't he?’ His sarcasm poked at my ego. My face turn
RIONA'S POV I watched Rylan and his grandmother speaking. Equal parts confused, and equal parts curious. Odessa whined inside of me. She perked her head to take in everything in front of her, but the heat from his mere presence confused her. “Camilla, there's never a good time for anything,” he muttered. Whatever the problem was, it was obvious it drained a part of him, he didn't want to talk about. A mixture of panic, and pain lined his facial features. His jaw clenched harder with each word he spoke. His gray eyes became tawny, coloured with wariness. Camilla reached for his hands, and squeezed it softly. “Son, we can't have you plunging into something that delicate,” frustration carved wrinkles on her face, “Remember you still need to win the heart of your subordinates, to become the official heir to Oakville throne.” His lips parted like he was about to counter her, when she added, beating him to it. “I don't think the pack members would want an injured Alpha.” He grunted, r
Tree branches slapped and scratched me, searing my skin as I ran through the thick woods. Heavy stomps of feet raced closer to me, covering the distance between me and my predators, and reached my ears. My vision became blurry, and it took every bit of willpower in me to keep my heavy legs running through the woods filled with thorns. My lips fell slightly apart as I struggled to drag in oxygen into my lungs. “Riona, you can't run away from us…” one man growled behind me before he let out a sinister laugh.My wolf, Elara, twirled inside of me, fighting and scratching to come to the surface. Unlike me, she was raw, brutal, and wouldn't hesitate before her claws sliced out and dug out their eyes.Elara was nothing like me. She was always ready for a faceoff with anyone she perceived as an enemy. But letting her have her way would mean shoving her as bait to her enemies. They would easily outnumber her, and the last thing I wanted was a weakened wolf.With each step I took, my legs fel
RIONA'S POV My day started badly. My feet tingled with a foreign stiffness I wasn't used to. I made to turn but my insides twisted with a torturing pain. I fell with my back against the bed. I let out a groan, when Alpha Theron's scent floated into my nose. Elara reared her head in sheer pleasure. His presence soothed a part of her, a part of us we didn't know needed to be calmed. What followed next was the stomping of his feet against the marble tiles as he approached my bed. His gaze net mine, and even with the signature permanent scowl etched on his face, his eyes glimmered with a soft smile.I made to push myself up, Alpha Theron covered the small distance between us, and wrapped his arms around me, serving as an edge. The warmth pressed harder into my bones. “Hey,” A faint bitter taste lingered in my mouth. I tipped my head sideways to take in his facial expression. The skin beneath his eyes was smudged from exhaustion. My eyes hovered around the room, and the pieces of puzz
ALPHA THERON'S POV Streaks of anger resurfaced at the edge of my consciousness. I got her to the safety of the pack house. The instant I set her in bed, I checked her thoroughly. My heart slammed against my ribcage with a bruising force. Examining her wounds was like stabbing my muscles with a silver dagger. Asides the cuts, and the mild concussion there was nothing to panic about. Still, the surge of adrenaline slithering through my veins petered out any sense of reasoning. I…I thought I'd lost her. Mental images of holding Riona's limp body emerged at the edges of my consciousness. Her body felt limp, cold. Riona's temperature was beyond belief. I unbuttoned her shirt, and waited for the slightest response from her— I got nothing. The lingering fear of losing her pressed further into my consciousness. I made a mental note to deal with Kanesha much later. For now, all I wanted to do was see Riona back to her feet. That was what mattered to me. I placed a bag of ice packs agains
THERON'S POV My curled fist hung midway in the air, as I fought with my guts whether to knock on her door or not. It's been a few days since I flipped on her. Somehow, Riona had thought the best option she could come up with was keeping to herself. The first couple of days I'd ignored her. Yep. I'd struggled through breakfast and having to train without feeling the gaze of a certain five foot six inches staring at me. Today was the height of it. Vuk had snugged me out of my sleep and dragged me straight to her door. ‘Vuk, we really don't have to do this,’ I tried to cajole him. He hissed. ‘Do what exactly?’ Vuk reiterated. My jaw clenched. ‘Going to meet her right in her room! It's absurd man, and you know it.’ ‘Hmm. Last I checked, a certain Alpha wouldn't keep his arms off his mate while in bed—’ Wait a quick minute. I cut him off before he had a chance to continue his rambling. ‘That was different and you know it. She was sick, sick! I couldn't let her suffer that alone.’ V
RIONA'S POV My insides collapsed as Alpha Theron masculine scent swooshed out the last ounce of oxygen from my lungs. Everywhere spun around in a haze of polaroid, and I tightened my grip around him— technically, Alpha Theron's bulky physique prevented my arms from curling around him perfectly. This should've felt perfect. But a tiny feeling of nostalgia wrapped around me. Elara was all but calm. We remained in that position for what seemed to be like forever, when it actual sense, it lasted for ten minutes. Alpha Theron pulled away from the hug, and a strange feeling of disappointment engulfed me. “What was it you wanted to talk about?” He quipped. His voice, sleek and husky. I swallowed the lump that gathered my throat. A slight headache was starting to blossom at the base of my skull. “I-I-I–” I stopped when Elara stirred. She didn't seem like she was satisfied by the abrupt end of the contact between I and Theron Moretti. He—We were yet to consummate the bond between us. Conc
ALPHA THERON'S POV I spent the next couple of days shuffling between pack duties, and keeping things in place. Vuk was even more disgruntled by my refusal to consummate the bond with our mate. “Fire!” One of the warriors screamed out the order to the rest of the warriors. The sun had just appeared from the dark clouds indicating the start of a new day— which meant training. There was no trusting anyone else. Especially when it had to do with my pack subordinates. Heck! Even the warriors at the pack might flaunt my rules in my absence. So, the only right thing to do was doubling the security around the pack house. It was the powerhouse of the Silverfang. My jaw clenched in disgust when one of the warriors hit Gamma Vincent to the ground. Vuk hissed in response. Embarrassing. My nerves tightened with animosity. “What the hell are you doing huh?” I sneered. “Do I smell incompetence with my Gamma?” I demanded in a husky voice. Gamma Vincent struggled up to his feet. I narrowed my e
THERON'S POV This second, I get lost in the swing of emotions. In a swing of an eye, I snap out and irritation prickles through my veins. Ugh! I hated dealing with weird intense emotions. They killed me, ripped me apart. It was already enough that Vuk struggled to dig his fangs into her skin and mark her his, each time we set eyes on her. I took the left staircase, and headed to my chambers. I had a brief meeting with the pack elders. I hated meetings. And it got worse since they started questioning my capability as an Alpha. Who the hell do they think they are! Riona's Alpha instincts were way stronger than I could imagine. There was more to her than she knew. She was the broad canvas with her pieces scattered all over the place. One piece held a different story from another piece. I was going to— “Theron!” A sultry feminine voice cut through my train of thoughts, and a low growl erupted from the corner of my lips. I stopped abruptly in my tracks, and turned to the direction o
RIONA'S POV I relished in the ecstasy of the moment, as I took in the sight before me. I'd seen the sunrise— from a good distance of course. Capturing it this close. My arms brushed against his sharp shoulder blade. I tightened my grip around the rails, taking in the crisp fresh air. “It’s really beautiful,” the words fell out of my mouth before I could think it through. Still, the pangs of regret I thought would linger weren't there, not even slightly. Silence rented the air around us. Still, I could practically taste the serenity that dug in the crevices of the silence. “Exceedingly perfect,” he said in that familiar husky tone that left a trail of tingles in its wake. Elara reared her head sideways, her body rippling with an intense urge to rub her fur against his. It was one thing to know my mate. Yet another to consummate the bond between us. Another round of silence pressed in around us. I had so much to say. Since I thought they were baseless, I clamped my mouth shut and w