Howzit going, guys? Happy New Year. This book is a sequel to MATED TO THE EXILED OMEGA. I suggest that you read that book before this one. Either way, this book can as well be read as a stand alone. With that said, welcome to my first book of the year. I hope you'll enjoy it. xoxo.
.....PROLOGUE "You were right. It is me, the one you abandoned.""Ava...""Don't. Don't try to sway me! I've given you enough time. I waited for so long. I thought you would change your mind. But, you chose her! She's not even your mate! I am!"Tears blurred my vision, my heart aching in my chest. My pent up emotions were straining hard and now, they were bursting out with untamed explosions.There was so much I wanted to say. So much that I'd swallowed and suppressed."You crushed me, Keegan! I've always hoped that my faith in you would be proven right by you. But, again, you fucking disappointed me!"Tears welled up his blood shot eyes, his face twisted into an expression of dismay. I wanted him to feel the pain he'd caused me, a thousand times over."I'm sorry...I was being a coward."His voice cracked, a tear rolling down his bruised right cheek. I'd tried to stop Darian from killing him, earlier. But, at this point, I couldn't help but think that he deserved worse."I still love you. I never stopped...""Lies! It's all lies! I was stupid to think that you cared enough... Like a fool, I craved your affection""Ava, please calm down. You're still bleeding" my other mate said, his voice reflecting his concern.I was starting to feel woozy from all the blood loss but I didn't care. I needed to get the weight off my chest. I was sick of it."Ava, he's right. You need to see a doctor""Don't act like you care about me, Keegan""Ava, please..." "I want you to choose now. Make your decision, right now!"His brows knitted into a frown, confusion etched onto his face."Will you choose to be with your mates or will you choose that wench?"When I swayed, Darian grabbed me to steady me. His gaze met Keegan's, the tension between them sizzling. They were mates after all.Swallowing hard, Keegan parted his lips."I-"The door was flung open and in stormed the one person I thought I would never see again."Vince?"I'd barely completed my statement when he stormed towards Keegan and knocked him out with a punch.****AVA "Will you help me or not?" I said through gritted teeth. I was frustrated. Our conversation had been going on for five minutes. But, somehow, he still wasn't getting what I was trying to convey. His beady pitch black eyes studied me with curiosity and suspicion. I could perceive the strong smell of liquor oozing from his pores. I felt stupid. I should have sought help from someone else. "So, you want to know about the Shadow Assassins Camp?" He asked, leaning against the wall, his arms folded across his chest. "That's right. I'm looking for someone" I told him. Turning his face away from me, he spat on the ground. "You're not from this town. How do you know about them?" "My friend is a part of them."His eyes darkened and he straightened. He was large and buff. I gulped as he leaned forward, reducing the distance between us. It didn't help that his height was just as intimidating as the look on his face. "You're lying. You are a part of them, aren't you?" 'Stay calm,
AVA The smoking nail. It was the trademark logo of the shadow assassins. At the moment, it was tattooed against Venom's skin, the dark ink standing out against his pale skin. "Cool tattoo you have there" I commented. He turned to look at me, a smile tugging at his lips. "It's been a while since I got it. You like tattoos?" "Yeah. I've never had a chance to get one." He stared at me for a moment, and for every second his gaze lingered, I was painfully self conscious. There was something about him that made even my wolf to cower. I could feel an aura similar to the one that surrounded my brother, the Alpha of my pack. This made me think that he was either an acting Alpha or the true Alpha of a pack. If he was an Alpha, why would he join the Shadow Assassins?"I'm curious about you, Ava" he suddenly said."Really?""I've met a lot of women but none of them intrigued me like you do. I like your choice of hair style by the way" he said. I found myself blushing furiously. For Ava
KEEGAN Her stare had a way of making me feel like shit. She was the last person I'd expected to meet today. Scratch that, I never thought I would see her again. "You don't recognize me?" She asked and I blinked. I couldn't forget her even if I tried. It was probably as a result of my guilt. The sight of her had shaken me, but I'd refused to let it show. She was more beautiful than ever. Her pink hair suited her as well. Her eyes were bluer than the sea, but I could see the pain ingrained in them. I was well aware that it was the pain I'd caused her. Her scent washed over me, bringing along with it, the strong feeling of nostalgia. Fuck, I missed her. However, I didn't have the right to confess how much I had ached for her. So, I chose to be a stranger to her. "Should I?" I deadpanned, keeping my expression schooled. She was hurt. I could tell by the way she took a shuddering breath, her eyes filling up with tears. My heart squeezed as I watched her struggle to maintain her
AVA "She smells oddly... familiar."The silver eyed woman regarded me with a cold gaze as she approached me. "The unfamiliar scent on Keegan's body...came from you?" She queried.Venom sighed and Keegan looked away. "She's just a new recruit, isn't she? How then did she get close enough to Keegan to leave her stench on him?" I frowned, balling my fists in annoyance. The bitch just indicated that my scent was a stench. I didn't have to be a part of the group to know that there was something going on between her and Keegan. This did not put me at ease. Instead, it made my chest burn. "We did not embrace. She bumped into me" Keegan stated. I glared at him. He refused to make eye contact with me. "Do you have a pack?" Shade demanded. I parted my lips to give her an answer. However, Venom beat me to it. "I have interviewed her. She is already a member of the pack"She furrowed her brows and folded her arms across her chest. Venom moved away from my side and started to head toward
AVA The look on Keegan's face was that of disbelief and confusion. This had to mean that he wasn't lying to me. The problem was that, my eyes had never been lilac. Never in my life. I moved backwards and Keegan frowned. "Is this the first time this is happening?" He asked. I didn't give him an answer. I was too caught up in my own head which was already swarming with endless questions of possibilities. So, I took off running. "Ava, wait!"Keegan's voice held concern but I didn't care. I needed to see for myself. I ran until I got to the room I'd been assigned to. I hurried in, locking the door with shaking fingers. Then, I rushed to the bathroom. Once I got there, the sight of my reflection on the mirror hit me hard. For a moment, all I could do was stare. I didn't blink or breathe. I just...stared. My eyes were gleaming with a mysterious brightness. A wave of dizziness washed over me and I stumbled out of the room, fishing my phone out of the pocket of my jeans. With unstea
KEEGAN I stiffened, my fists clenched. I was trapped, I was well aware of this. I couldn't fathom how Shade had discovered that much information in such a short time. Ava's face had gone pale, the horror in her eyes were unmissable. "Why? Cat got your tongue?" Shade drawled, her claws elongating. She was about to behead her. I could tell by the way her claws slowly inched towards Ava's throat. As much as I had chosen to back off from Ava's life. I couldn't let her die this way. For once, I couldn't stand and watch her get killed. "I rejected her" I blurted out and Shade went still. Slowly, she turned to look at me, her eyes narrowed."You did? Then, why is she here?" There was no time. If I didn't give her a reasonable response, Ava was bound to lose her life there and then. "She was exiled from her pack" I lied.Shade cocked a brow, confused. "How is that possible? Her brother is the alpha, is he not?""He is strict when it comes to punishments. Didn't you hear that
AVA A smile curved my lips and I moved my lips to Keegan's ear. "I'm not that easy, you know? If you want a kiss, you have to work for it" I pulled away and Keegan's expression hardened. Clenching his jaw, he turned away from me and walked out of the cell. I knew I'd just caught him unawares. He hated it. I knew this because he utterly detested surprises.After going through my morning routine, I went in search of the pack's gym or training centre. When I walked in, I found Venom pummeling blows into a punching bag. He was shirtless, his skin glistening with sweat. He also had his hair in a messy ponytail.He raised a brow when he saw me. "Ava? What are you doing here?"I shrugged as I approached him. "I'm a bit of a gym freak" I told him and he smiled, brushing a few strands of face away from his face."That explains why you were able to defend my sister at the bar.""Want to spar with me?" I asked. He folded his arms, his biceps bulging. They had me distracted for a moment. "Ar
AVA"What is it now? What do you want from me?" I said."Why won't you stay away from him? He's mine now. Get it through your thick skull" Shade uttered.I frowned. "He was in pain. I couldn't just look away. You must've been watching us. You weren't concerned about him. What kind of mate does that make you?" Shade's eyes darkened, her fists clenched. She was annoyed. It was written all over her face. "You seem to be extremely talented when it comes to pissing me off" The words had barely left her lips when she pinned me against the wall, her fingers wrapped around my throat."You still don't know your place, do you?" She hissed. A smug grin tugged at my lips and her expression faltered, her jaw slackening. "You heard him, didn't you? He rejected me. Why are you so insecure? What? Are you going to compete with a woman your own mate rejected? How pathetic" I knew I shouldn't be running my mouth, but I couldn't resist the urge to do so. Shade's grip on my throat tightened. Instin
KEEGAN My mates stared at me with incredulity written all over their faces. It was quite understandable, especially since I'd gone off the grid without warning and returned a while later looking like I'd just fought with a group of ninjas. I'd refused to believe it either. My sister didn't know who I was anymore. "I don't understand. How did you find her?" Ava asked, her brows furrowed. "The list was very helpful," I replied and Darren wrinkled his nose at me."You should wash off all that blood," he said through gritted teeth. His eyes were starting to alternate between red and black.Ava cursed under breath, bringing a hand to Darren's chest. "Keegan, don't just stand there," she said and I grimaced."There's one more thing --" I started to say but was interrupted by the a loud thud which came from inside the apartment. "What was that?" Darren asked, his eyes narrowed. "I might've brought her along with me," I stated and my mates stared at me with puzzled expressions on
AVA Darian didn't answer my calls. I hadn't intended to stay away from him while he mourned. He was the heir apparent to the throne. Therefore, he had to stay in the palace to prepare for his coronation.Unable to keep myself away from him anymore, I'd decided to go to the palace to see him. It was risky business, but I needed to see him to make sure he was doing okay. Slipping past the royal guards was quite a complex task. And, while I managed to enter the palace halls unseen, my heart was thumping rapidly. My anxiety peaked, unease gnawing at my insides. Silence hung heavy in the air. The palace seemed more eerie than I'd expected. To make sure I didn't raise any suspicion among the guards, I ambushed one of the maids and quickly changed my clothes. Now dressed as a maid, I made my way to the inner court, and by chance, I saw the royal chamber. Written on the door in gold were the words, 'His Majesty's Chamber.'Two stoic guards were stationed along the passageway, swords in
DARIAN The moment I stepped into the palace, the pressure on my chest increased. I was way too tense for comfort. It had nothing to do with my poor health. I just couldn't recall the last time my father had asked to have dinner with me. "Welcome, your majesty," the guards stationed in front of the courtyard greeted. "Where's my father?" I asked."He's in the courtyard. Dinner preparations has been made," one of them responded, his head lowered. When I walked into the courtyard, my eyes widened at the sight of the unfamiliar setting. Warm fairy lights illuminated the yard, and arranged on the table was a whole feast of delicacies. My father, seated on a golden chair at the rear end of the table, gestured at the chair on the opposite end with a smile on his face. My father's smile was just as rare as his invitation.When he spoke, his voice was surprisingly gentle."What are you waiting for? Sit down." Quietly, I took my seat, my gaze meeting my father's again."We used to h
AVA Darian stirred as I dabbed his forehead with a damp towel. Four hours had slipped by since we returned home. Keegan had fallen silent. He was sitting by the window, staring at the sunlit afternoon sky. I knew he was taking his time to process his feelings about the whole thing that had happened a few hours before. "He's not dead yet, Keegan" Darian suddenly said, his eyes still closed. "You're awake" Keegan stated, rising to his feet. Darian opened his eyes, his brows furrowed slightly."I was never asleep. I couldn't. Especially not when your mind is unsettled" he said, his gaze trained on Keegan."How do you know that? I was sure I blocked-" Keegan started to say."You probably succeeded in hiding your feelings from Ava. However, you failed to completely block me out" Darian cut him off.Keegan sighed, running his fingers through the locks of his hair."How're you feeling? The poison must be lethal if you're still feeling the effects.""Don't change the topic " Darian brea
KEEGAN Terror seized me, it's suffocating grip unyielding. Darian was lying in my arms, gasping for air. Right before my eyes, Ava had just been abducted by Bloody Martyr. "No... what do I... what do I do?" I breathed, black dots swarming around the edges of my vision. "Fucking snap out of it, Creed!" a familiar voice yelled, grabbing me by the shoulder. My wide eyed gaze met Venom's. His brows were furrowed, his eyes darkened with fury. "My mates...I need to save them...I can't..."A slice of pain exploded on my cheek, my head jerking to the side with the impact of Venom's thunderous slap. I closed my eyes, tasting the metallic taste of blood in my mouth. "I said, snap out of it" he growled, his eyes glowing red. "We need to get the poison out of his Majesty's system." "How do we do that?" I breathed, staring down at Darian who was evidently in a lot of pain. Before I could process Venom's next action, he'd slashed across the inside of Darian's left wrist with his claws.
AVA I couldn't bring myself to succumb to my exhaustion no matter how many times my heavy lidded eyelids slipped close. Darian's fever had reduced a little, but it wasn't enough to make me feel relieved. His face was still much paler than it usually was and his skin was damp with a sheen of sweat. I turned to look at Keegan who was standing by the window, his arms folded across his chest. His brows were furrowed, his shoulders tense. Behind him, I could see the rising sun through the open window. "You can go to sleep. I'll watch over him" he said. I shook my head, rubbing my eyes. "I don't want to. I have to stay by his side" I mumbled. Keegan sighed and walked up to me. "He's no ordinary vampire, you know? He's going to be fine"Keegan didn't understand. I just couldn't shake off the feeling. It was a sickening feeling, one that felt like a wet blanket. "We've never seen him in this state, you know that too. Keegan, he could barely walk. What if..."He crouched in front of
DARIAN I felt physically sick. I couldn't help but notice everything. The wine, the lights, the decor, the fake smiles, the fancy dresses and suits...At this point, everything sickened me.Probing stares were constantly sent my way and every few minutes, a guest would approach me to whisper congratulatory words in my ear. My skin crawled and my stomach churned with discomfort. But, there I was, seated beside my fiancee in an impromptu engagement party which had more attendees than I'd hoped. The thought of actually marrying Astoria was consuming me. Even worse, I couldn't stop picturing the look on Ava's face when she would discover it. I'd assured Keegan that I was going to avoid my marriage with Astoria in whatever way possible. Nevertheless, it was easier said than done. "Is everything okay? You don't look so good" Astoria said to me, her brows furrowed. When I didn't give her a response, her frown was replaced by a big smile. "Is Darian the great already experiencing
Several years ago,KEEGAN Coughing into the palm of my hands, I doubled over as pain racked my skull, black spots dancing across my eyes. I stumbled forward, reaching out to rest my hand on the tree in front of me. My chest hurt. "Are you alright?"a masculine voice said. I groaned, squeezing my eyes shut. At this rate, I would collapse soon. Shade's venom was tearing away at my defences, not even my healing abilities were helping. In her fit of rage, she had injured me with her claws. This was because I'd failed to complete my mission. Now, I had no choice but to find my targets and finish them off. Shade had given me two days to do this. "Do you need help?" the voice continued.I parted my lips to drag in air into my lungs but ended up choking on my blood. I gasped for air, coughing and sputtering as I fell to my knees. A large hand rubbed my back in small circles. I lifted my head to look at this person and found him staring at me with an eye full of concern. His left eye
AVA Darian was pissed. It was written all over his face. The weight of his power grew, causing the vampires who were holding me captive to tremble. I was in awe of how powerful my mate was. When he snatched the knife out of the grip of one of the vampires, his movement was a blur. Keegan grabbed my hand and pulled me to himself. Resting my head on his chest, I watched Darian as he lifted both vampires off their feet, his hands wrapped around their throats. They gasped and sputtered, their eyes rolling into the back of their head. "Are you alright, Ava?" Keegan asked and I nodded in response. While he examined the cut on my neck, he muttered under his breath."Remind me never to get on his bad side."I grinned. "We've got to get out of here, Darian. There's no point in lingering around here any longer," Keegan said. Clenching his jaw, Darian released them. They fell to the ground like ragged dolls, blood oozing out of their mouths."What about your sister?" Darian asked when he