I like to think that one of the perks of me being the last child was that attention came easy to me and so naturally from a little age I shied away from it. I avoided it as much as I possibly could. While my sisters were up to one mischief or the other in a quest for attention, I was somewhere at one corner always with my mom doting on her or sleeping peacefully without a care in the world. Of course, my sisters were much older than me, and were expected to be mature when I was little but generally, I had been the most unproblematic child to my parents and my childhood has been the calmest as they claimed until well.. the war. That was when everything turned inside out and maybe it had some psychological effect on me because my life had been very far from unproblematic in the previous year and now that it was it felt as though I didn't know what to do with my life and all the calmness. Things were completely silent, Mac had gone back to ignoring me, with the offer that I could reac
My few moments of consciousness were riddled with confusion. I didn't know where I was, who I was with, or what I was doing before the whole world went black. I felt around me groggily as the details of where I was and what I was doing came to my mind groggily and slowly. I was at the library, with Lola and we were meant to nap a little and then wake up to finish our estimated time and grab dinner then head to the hostel. But now it was so dark, I could hardly see a thing. I blinked my eyes slowly into the darkness. It was so dark I could hardly see a thing. Why had the librarian turned off the lights? Did she lock us in? I knew she hated our company but this was extreme and she was just pushing it. I mean we could file for assault with this right? My nostrils felt trickled, I found myself sneezing as I reached for my phone beside me. I felt around me but there was no phone on the desk and the desk seemed different... harder than the one I was used to. I was so sure I kept my phone
This time, from the very moment I woke up I knew I was in danger. I also knew I had been drugged y whoever brought me here so there wasn't anything else the person couldn't do to me and I was terrified shitless by that realization. I stalled for a minute in opening my eyes, despite the fact that I had regained consciousness, I listened for the voice of people, anything, anyone to show that I was not alone in the room, but for a while there was nothing other than the chirping of birds in the distance, the faint blaring of car horns and the sound of hammer making contact with the wall somewhere far away. I held my breath. Then slowly I opened my eyes. It took a while for my vision to clear and smoothen due to all the darkness it had been fed in the past hours, but slowly and surely it came to a fine clarity and my breath ran away. A man was standing a few feet from me, his figure was bent to the level of my head and he was peering at me in inquisition with eyes that looked like bl
My heart sank to the ground as his last words left his lips, and soon it began to beat wildly against my ribcage, as though it was trying to escape my body, too frightened by everything that was suddenly happening. By the time he came to stand before me, my heartbeat picked up pace; this one was less muscular but taller and somehow his aura was more scary, more sly and sinister. ,He was putting on a navy blue mask and his black hair was on the border line of vanishing into his scalp. The tears fell freely this time. I kept chanting in my subconscious, "I've been kidnapped, I've been kidnapped, I've been kidnapped," as though that would automatically send some form of help or be of any consolation to me. I had to admit that I had lost hope in getting any help, I had spent the night here, and now it was fast approaching noon. If any help was to have come, would it not have been a while ago? Could I still hope on that?Why was it taking so long if it was ever going to come? Maybe they w
The blow landed fatally on the left side of my face. My entire vision turned black as the pain surged from my brain down to the very tips of my toes. I felt my mind going into delusion, slipping away little by little. Did he used the hammer on me? I wasn't sure it what hit me was a metal figure or simply his hands. If he did, I wasn't sure my head was still intact, I must have gone completely mad or died on the spot from the impact, but I was breathing. I was alive. I pried my eyes painfully apart as small dots of vision began to come into focus. Slowly my brain began to register the room I was in once more, and I could see clearly, as clearly as my eyes afforded me to. My tears rushed out without any hesitation now, my eyes were tired. They felt strained. and it scared me that they wouldn't stop leaking. "No need to cry, princess." He hushed, "If you give us what you want, we will let you go. We aren't unreasonable, you know?" Black masked Johnny added with a small smile." He was
The world went black the moment those words were out of his mouth, and as my world faded to black, all I could see was the blurry image of his face and the desperation with which I searched my thoughts, trying to clear my vision so I could at least know who was behind the suffering and agony I had gone through. Now that he had given me a blank check. The blood trickling into my nose from my brain had added a huge hand n stealing my consciousness as fast as it came. By the time I opened my eyes again, the sun was slowly setting in the sky, I knew this because the dim rays of light that entered through the windows were too dim to be noon or morning sun, so it was either really early in the morning or late in the day. My mind lit up with an idea as if I had only just realized, I heard the loud click of the door as they walked out of the room, which told me that they secured it fastly with a strong lock. But the windows, the windows, they were open and free. I could feel the fresh breez
As the realization of their intentions hit me, panic surged through my battered body. I couldn't let them leave me here to suffer further, to find another method to extract information from me. I had to find a way to survive. My panic must have sent my system into overdrive, coupled with the fact that the survival instincts which fed me hope to keep going had been stolen forcefully from under my grasp, so my body began to react and cave in the way it should have long ago, as I realized that I was completely doomed and alone. My breaths came out in shallow, weak attempts, and my hands shook uncontrollably. I suddenly realized that one of my ears was blocked, and deaf at the moment and the other kept ringing faintly, dulling the sounds around me to nothing more than a buzz as more blood dropped onto my nose, then onto my lips from my head, the rough way I landed must have split open the wound more. Darkness slipped into my vision instantly, as though it had been waiting patiently for
The room fell into a chilling silence, or maybe it was just my world that went completely still for a moment, so still I thought I had died, and the silence was a reward for my pain.But that silence was broken only by the labored breaths of Lucas and the wheezing noise my lungs made as they struggled to retain air. There was no distant sound of sirens piercing the night. I wondered if any help at all was coming. I could feel both relief and anguish coming off Lucas as he moved steadily."Fiona," he whispered, his voice laced with guilt. "I'm so sorry you had to endure this. I promise that whoever did this would regret it, and there would be hell to pay. You just have to make it out in one piece for me, baby, and You just have to survive this," His voice broke; "you have to"I could barely hear him, but the misery in his voice somehow connected with mine, telling me all the things his words were struggling to say. I tried to respond, but my voice barely carried a whisper. My body ache
After the very intense and romantic dinner, which mainly consisted of Lucas staring at me with his electric blue orbs and me trying not to puke everything that had entered my belly due to the intensity in his eyes, he led us quietly back into the room where I perched awkwardly at the edge of the bed. "Where is everyone?" I whispered. I couldn't help but note the differences between his and Mac's houses. No pack members were sprawling around here, and no slaves or workers were moving to do his bidding. I was curious: was this how he lived as an Alpha?"I dismissed them," Lucas replied, dispersing the chaos in my mind. That made sense, I thought. Lucas continued to stare at me with something like longing in his eyes, and I had no idea what to do. He had said nothing would happen tonight, so why did he stare at me like that?As if sensing my thoughts, his long fingers wrapped around my jaw smoothly. " Don't think too much, just stay here with me." "What attracted you to me?" I whisper
"Oh, my goodness! I've told you, Amanda, I'm not going for something extra and shiny; I want something simple and nice!" She smirked as she handed me yet another one of her extravagant dresses. "You mean something cute and sexy?" My face went up in flames. "Oh my god! Amanda! For the hundredth time, we are not doing anything tonight!" "Oh yeah, and that's why you are spending the night with him?" "Urghhhh," I whinnied, covering my face with my hands at her absolute morbidity. It was practically impossible to win with this girl. In her most innocent voice, she added, "Well, since you claim it is nothing sensual, then you probably wouldn't want to wear a dress like this." She held up a red dress, and I lost my breath. "That's it," I whispered, and with one final squeal, I ran into the bathroom to get changed. At exactly seven pm, the doorbell rang, and Amanda ran excitedly to open it while I finished up my outfit. Spritzing perfume and taking deep breaths. I walked out to
Two weeks later, there was no word from Lucas. If I had not seen the weary news and heard the whispered rumors I would have been scared, but now I was more upset than anything. His plans were already in motion. It was one downfall to the other of the Ashen subsidiaries, and the tabloid made sure everyone knew. Between clans, they could tell that things were looking bad for the Ashens. Even though they played all the cards they had, Lucas was smarter, strategically utilizing all his inside men to break down the very foundation of their business. Father kept us updated as he continued working there, despite the fresh rage I had seen in his eyes after that discussion and the hunger for revenge for Mom. He kept us updated on the incessant fights that kept happening while also trying to gather some men who were formally of our pack before they became slaves as a means of survival. I sighed for the fifth time, watching as the red mother broadcaster spoke about an outbreak of fire in the
When I got in, Father pulled me into a big, tight hug that left me both shocked and in awe, and I went to bed tipsy with happiness and the euphoria of everything that had happened. Finally, it felt like everything was all coming together, so for that night, I swallowed the questions I had for Father and basked in the sheer joy in the air, falling asleep with a huge smile on my face and a weight lifted from my chest. Soon, very soon, we will all witness the heavy downfall of Mac and the entire Ashen family. ****** The smell of pancakes and bacon that wafted through the air the next morning told me of my sister's arrival. Father must have called them over last night, and that could only mean that we were having a family meeting. I jumped down from the bed, excited to see them and eat delicious food after such a long time. "Fiona darling," Giselle's slender arms wrapped around me as I stepped into the kitchen, looking as ivory and as beautiful as ever with that flowery scent that ma
The ride home was silent and filled with the many words and thoughts running through our minds. I finally had enough time to process everything Lucas told me, which was a lot. The plan was for him to drop me off, but I knew I was going to tell my family the truth about everything that occurred many years ago and find out why Father hid so many things from me. Even if Lucas was fine with being the bad guy and being blamed for things he had no hand in, I wasn't okay with it, and I needed to get it out.I glanced at the brooding man on the wheel. Ever since we managed to pry ourselves apart and his almost confession, he had been unusually quiet and even more brooding, like he was lost in thought in a space of his own, and I had no idea how to reach him. "What's going on?" I asked, turning to face him and taking him in more; we had spent the past days together, yet he still looked handsome in a new way. I still couldn't get over how handsome he was. I didn't think it would ever be somet
Somehow the kiss transcended from my little kiss as Lucas took control, fighting with every urge in his body against his wold from ripping my clothes and taking me, and I could feel it in every strain as he deepened the kiss, picking me up from the floor, I wrapped my legs instinctively around his waist as I went in for more, grabbing a handful of his shirt. The desire I felt eroded my senses, but I knew it was nothing compared to the one a person with full access to his alpha wolf felt; all I got from my wolf was an intense need and constant purring, which rang out as moans as Lucas raked his hands hastily from my back to my waist repeatedly.Carefully and still deep in the kiss, he led me back into the room till I was dropped softly against the soft sheets and towered by him. My heart seized as I stared at his almost black-blue eyes now, electricity running up and down his blue orbs and desire fueling them so passionately I felt dizzy for a second. My own need propelled me to wrap m
"No," Lucas thundered, taking my soft fists in his large ones. I expected this, so I didn't budge. I added calmly, "I wasn't asking for your permission, Lucas. I was simply letting you know I am all in on this." "I don't want to drag you down this path. The Ashens are ruthless and very crafty. You are not ready, and I would hate for any harm to come to you on my account." "You think I don't know they are ruthless? Do you think I have no idea how crafty they can be when I have been a victim myself? I am well aware, and it is my knowledge that fuels my anger." I paused, inhaling deeply. "I, too, have been offended, and I am itching for my revenge, So train me or protect me. Whatever makes you feel better, but know that I will not sit and watch idly, and I will make Mac pay whether or not you let me in on this. I will beat him at his own game," I fought. He stared at me warily for a while before heaving a breath and nodding. "I will not put you in harm's way, but I will train you we
Lucas didn't come in for at least twenty minutes, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't stop thinking about the big bulge in his pants when he walked out of the room. I had felt it earlier when I laid down, and now it has become the most fascinating and most terrifying thing to me, but I just couldn't breathe my head to kick out the thought.I lay beneath the duvet, covering my red-coated face and my swollen lips from the past few minutes, my heart was still racing as though I had just run a marathon, and particles of the lightheadedness I felt when Lucas was kissing me still remained. I missed him immediately when he left, as he walked out of the door, as soon as his hands left my body. I came to the slow realization that my feelings for Lucas were rapidly changing into something big and beyond my control it was only a matter of time before they blew up in my face. The air in the room still smelled like him, like wood and soap and masculine sweat and for a second I imagined hi
Lucas caught up with me in no time, but I refused to give in when his large arms encircled me again. I thrashed against his body and bumped into trees hoping to scratch and loosen his death grip on me. "I'm sorry, Fiona, But listen, Hear me out first," He said, not sounding a minute breathless or like someone carrying a thrashing girl. "No, let me go!" I thrashed and kicked around the open air "You're only going to hurt yourself, Fiona," Lucas growled. " Stay put and listen to what I have to say for your own sake." "No, you listen to me, Let. Me. Go." I protested. Lucas sighed and wrapped his hand even firmer around my torso. "Why do you choose the wrong times to be stubborn and throw a tantrum? Do you have any idea how difficult it has been for me to watch you fawn over someone as horrible as Mactervish?" He scoffed, then continued in a ludicrous manner, "Or should I speak about how worried I have been every second that you have spent with him? dined with him, sat with him, a