XADENI watched them all leave, still not 100% sure what to think about Kira and her new secret mission.But perhaps, a far more pressing question on my mind, was what an innocent, young, inexperienced wolf like Soraya could have done to them, to elicit this vehement opposition from them.Like I said, this felt way beyond the usual norms and traditional ordinances, because if it were that, then I was willing to place a bet that with Soraya’s display and new found boldness, they would have been convinced.Something was wrong, and while I couldn’t place it, I promised myself that I would at least, try.Once the majority of people had filed out of the hall, the natural sunlight that came from the windows, came and casted their blinding glow on Soraya.Her beautiful, tanned skin looked even more emphasized under the assault of the sun, and the little wisps of hair on her arms and face, that would otherwise have been difficult to spot, now seemed visible enough.I watched as she squinted h
XADEN“I uhh…there’s a lot,” she hesitated.“I know, baby. If you don’t want to, you can tell me. All that has to…”She shook her head, interrupting me. “I want to do this, Xaden. There’s no other way to prove to the people that I can lead them without showing them that I can I can handle the ropes of leadership.”I settled into the chair, feeling a little more proud of the woman that Soraya was becoming, every single day that passed and I knew she could see it on my face.She looked away when I smiled a little, the little shy girl in her brimming to the top.“I understand you, Sora. You want to do this, but you’re…” I didn’t want to complete it on her behalf. I didn’t want to put words into her mouth.“Scared,” she muttered quietly and it made it a lot easier for me to offer my solutions. I loved communication. When it was clear and concise, communication was a very powerful tool.“I’m scared, Xaden…that I’ll mess it all up. I mean, I already started with a precedence…the speech from
SORAYA“I think that was a well-deserved success,” Xaden said to me as he drove, and I didn’t say anything to reply.I couldn’t I was just so exhausted.As the streetlights flickered past in the evening dusk, I watched Xaden drive, his jaw set and silent after the long meeting. I was about to reach for his hand when his phone buzzed on the dashboard, lighting up the dark car interior. He frowned and tapped a button to transfer the call to the car’s speakers.“Xaden, there’s a protest forming right outside your house. They’re unhappy about… about Soraya’s candidacy as Luna.” Mike’s tone was tight, serious.I knew him to be the lawyer responsible for a lot of the pre information that Xaden has used to counter the council. He was also the person that set up the meetings that we’ve been going to.Invaluable man.I felt my stomach twist. The house…our abode…under protesting riots?Xaden’s knuckles whitened around the wheel. “Not happy? That’s putting it mildly,” he muttered, the words ha
SORAYAAs soon as I finished talking, they all lowered their heads in a bow.Weird. I mean, I was hoping I’d convince them, but getting them to bow this early was a stretch.A strong hand on my shoulder brought me up to speed. It was Xaden…and Kaylee was beside him.“We’re sorry, Alpha Xaden,” the older woman, I’m now guessing is the main leader in this protest spoke up.“You should be,” he growled with a commanding air. “I’m disappointed. After everything? I have sacrificed so selflessly for this pack, and this is how you repay me? You deny my happiness?”“Forgive us, Alpha,” the woman pleaded again.“You will earn your forgiveness tomorrow in the council voting pool, when you select Soraya as your choice for Luna.” Xaden stated simply.“Consider it done.”He nodded. “Good. Now, go to your homes. Go to your families. They need you.” He dismissed them. It didn’t take long for the crowd to disperse, and for the rest of the night to pass in peace.As dawn broke, casting soft light acros
SORAYAAs the council hall filled with tension, Lancelot, the council presiding over that day’s hearing, leaned forward with a smirk that twisted his features into something dark and satisfied. His voice rang out, cold and condescending.“Alpha Xaden,” Lancelot drawled, as though savoring every word, “I commend your loyalty to your chosen mate, misplaced though it may have been.” He gave a mocking sigh, his gaze sweeping over me as if I were little more than an unfortunate inconvenience. “But perhaps, Soraya,” he continued, “it was loyalty to something greater than a foreign mate that the pack needed.”Xaden’s hands clenched by his sides, but he kept his tone controlled. “Lancelot,” he said, forcing patience, “You insult the mating bond. Again, I implore you to be careful of this.”Lancelot scoffed, his mouth curling. “Oh, there’s a bond, alright! It’s undeniable. But loyalty?” He gave a theatrical sigh, turning to the crowd. “Can we, in good conscience, allow a former associate of A
SORAYANo one? Not even a single soul?Was I done for? My heart raced and broke at the same time. My eyes scanned the room, and I fought back tears that were close to pouring. I wanted this. I needed this.If they didn't accept me, this could mean a lot of bad for me. They could send me away from Xaden or force him to step down as Alpha, the very thing he had sacrificed years of his sanity with Celeste over. I had known that the possibility of being accepted was slim and they could still choose to reject me but I had the biggest hope that even if it weren't many people, a few would be on our side.I didn't even realize that Xaden had walked over to me until I felt his touch on my skin, pulling my troubled mind back to him. My eyes met his and I let out a sigh. Whatever it was, I knew he was going to be by my side for it.The look on his face however scared the bit out of me. Beside me was a man ready to give it up over if it meant being with me. And I could swear that I heard his tho
CELESTEThat bitch!She thought she had won against me. She thought Xaden was hers forever. But I wouldn't rest. Not until everything was mine again and that bitch was gone for good.I left the spot I was, and headed back home. But where was home now? My father's house was nothing to be called home. It was too shabby to become anything close to Xaden's grand house.“I have to find a way to get back in…” I muttered to myself. I grabbed the whiskey bottle that was on the table and popped the lid open. I didn't bother reaching for the glass next to it before raising the bottle to my mouth and taking a big gulp.It burned. But it was nothing compared to what I was feeling. Just like that, everything was taken away from me and the fact that no one fought over it and I had to do it - I still was doing the fighting - was appalling. I sat on the sofa and tried to relax my aching back. And then the front door swung open, with my father walking in. That stupid, stupid man.It was his fault to
JEREMYRunning away was the only fucking thing I could do at the time. Hiding, the second best thing I did since then. I thought my plan was full proof. I had been so sure that it would work and I would have both Kaylee and Soraya back to me. And they should have been had Xaden not been around. It was appalling how resourceful he was to have caught up to us as fast as he had. I should have known. And when he appeared I should have fought hard for her regardless. So close I had been. She was within reach. In my arms even. And Kaylee too. It felt good to have her with me again, and I felt my peace return. The feel of her body against mine. It was home again. But that moment was yanked from me. I should have made her reject him. The thought came, but in that moment where she looked just about ready to break, - I saw everything from a monitor - I knew I couldn't let that happen. So close to having what's mine back but fuck I lost her. Again. I wasn’t one to give up though. Which
CELESTE He stayed silent and eyed me suspiciously for a while before letting out a deep exhale.“I hope you’re not trying to fuck me Celeste? I would end your life painfully if I even get as much as a whiff of treachery on your part.” He said as stared me down and held my gaze uncomfortably.“Why would I betray you? We both came up with this and the plan would favour us individually when it comes full circle. Just be patient, you would have Soraya in your arms soon enough.” “You had better be right.”“So now, are you going to tell me why I’m really here?”He watched me for a moment before pulling out a folder and tossing it at me.“What’s this?” I asked, staring at the strange package.“Open it and have a look.”I quickly opened it and read through the document. For the most part, it made no sense to me but I got to a unique point in the write up where I was familiar with what I was seeing and my eyes widened with disbelief.“How did you get this?” I asked, staring at him in shock.
CELESTEI walked out of the living room with a skip in my step and I commended myself for expertly finding a way to get Xaden to calm down and not make me the brunt of his still simmering anger. If I stuck to the way things were playing out and held out just a little longer, I was certain that I would be able to win him over and then Soraya would be out of here. I just needed to be a tad patient.I stepped into the kitchen and noticed Melissa pulling out an oven tray filled with pie. My blood boiled at the thought of Soraya who actually conceived to sabotage all my plans and come clean to Xaden. That bitch actually had the gall to ask me to go to hell and she mixed batter while doing it. It didn’t matter now, I was the one who ended on top.“What the fuck are you doing Melissa?!” I announced, completely startling her.“Ma’am! You scared me. How long have you been standing by the door?” She asked, holding a hand to her chest as she tried to catch her breath.“I asked you a question fir
CELESTE What a show that was! I thought excitedly to myself as I retrieved two clear crystal glasses and a bottle of absinthe from the living room side bar, Xaden had requested for the strongest stuff I could lay my hands on. Seeing Soraya completely stranded, scared and afraid had filled me with so much ecstasy that I thought I would burst. Nothing could have prepared me for it, Xaden definitely did not pull any punches and I loved every bit of it. There was however one little bump in an otherwise flawless plan, he didn’t have the guts to send the bitch packing. He could have ranted for as long as he wanted and even tried to come up with valid reasons as to why he couldn’t kick her out but in the end, I knew there was a part of him buried deep down that still cared for her even when he thought she had been unfaithful to him. I didn’t worry much about it, in no time, I would smother whatever little feelings he still harbored for her until I was the only one he saw, until I was the on
SORAYA“Now tell me, is there anything I have not done or sacrificed for your protection and that of Kaylee? Or is there even any request you may have made that I have ever deemed as insignificant?” “No there isn’t. You have been most generous and I am grateful for everything.” I said as I threw a look of disdain at Celeste who was already seated and crossing her legs, obviously savoring every bit of that moment. She was having the time of her life at my expense and she wasn’t going to say one word. She wouldn’t risk undermining Xaden again and so she simply kept quiet and enjoyed the show.“Have I not been fucking good to you? Have I not been a loyal mate and genuine partner?” He asked, staring at me like he couldn’t even recognize the woman in front of him.“Xaden please, if we’re going to do this, can we not do it right in front of your ex wife?” I asked, while the pain of the way he looked at me threatened to bring me to my knees.“The same ex wife who got wind of all your escapa
SORAYAXaden’s voice rang out through the halls with such an intensity that it had sent shockwaves thrusting throughout my body and the ominous tone with which he yelled, echoed throughout the space and filled it with a scary ambience. In all the time I had known and been with him, I never heard him sound so furious or intimidating. Sure, he normally had the occasional outbursts and feats of rage but there was something different this time around, this time it seemed as though the fire in his voice would never be palliated. I felt my lips twitch and my fingers tremor in fearful anticipation of what was to come, it definitely was not going to be pleasant.I was still set up in the kitchen with Melissa and had almost rounded up with the pastries we spent the better part of the evening preparing. I had put so much effort into them and now it seemed like in the end, it would all be for nothing. I was still going to get them done and Melissa could keep them for all I care, she worked just
XADEN “You can be honest Dax, you don’t have to be brutal about it.”He paused momentarily, thinking over what he had to say. “If I’m being honest, I wouldn’t say my advice on this would be the most insightful but from the way I see things, I don’t think Soraya is or will ever get over Celeste living in your house. It’s just not right, I mean I don’t even live there and I really find it repulsive. I can’t possibly imagine how hard it must be for her to wake up to that everyday.”“Well, it seems you ended up being brutal with your honesty Dax.” I began, stifling a smile. “The thing is, that is what she said and I don’t believe it one bit. She may not have been comfortable but I knew she was already coming around to tolerating and ignoring her. No—this is more than that, this is definitely something deeper. The switch was too sudden and that’s completely out of character for her. There is something afoot Dax, I’m just finding it hard to place my finger on what it is.”“Like I said boss
XADEN To say that I had the faintest idea of what has been going on for the past three days would be an obvious lie. One moment everything seemed to be fine with Soraya and I thought we were finally in a good place and the next, it’s almost as if her mind did a complete one-eighty and I couldn’t even recognize my mate anymore.I had gone above and beyond for her protection, pulled strings to organize a lavish and fancy dinner for her, I even kept my distance from Celeste, choosing to move her away from the masters and still, it’s almost as if it wasn’t enough. There was something definitely wrong with her and whatever it was, she was choosing not to tell me. If she wouldn’t spill, then I guess I would just have to pry it out of her when I had the chance. But how could I even possibly get the chance? She refused to move back into our room, refused to cook and eat together as a family, it’s like living with a completely new person.Screeeeeech!I quickly slammed on the brakes of my SUV
SORAYAI didn’t know how George had done it but he somehow managed to drop Kaylee off and still get me to the university in time for lectures. Xaden sure knew how to employ those who were the best at what they did and our movement this morning was quite hasty. I couldn’t say the same for the classes though, the entire process just seemed to drag on for hours as lecturers replaced one another in a frenzy. I was grateful for the close of day and quickly made my way to the parking lot. I located the car parked in a corner under a tree shade and hurriedly walked up to it before knocking on the driver window.“Did you wait here all day?” I asked, looking over at George who had his hat hooded over his face and the driver seat reclined. He had probably been napping. He jumped up with a start and quickly adjusted his seat.“Sorry about that ma’am.”“Don’t apologize for resting, I mean what else would you do here all day? So you just stayed here waiting for me?”“Yes ma’am, those were my dir
SORAYA Morning definitely couldn’t have come faster. I thought as my eyes opened to the soft glints of the early morning sun that slowly filled the entire room. The cool fall breeze softly sipped in through the open window and caressed my skin with a tender feel. It was a beautiful morning and I couldn’t even appreciate it, all I felt was an heartache that threatened to tear me apart.I hadn’t had much sleep, how could I? When Celeste had made sure I heard everything that was going on during their dinner, even while I did my very best to ignore. She wasn’t kidding when she said she would be keeping me here simply for the fun of humiliating me and last night was seriously a test of my patience, I didn’t know how much more of it I would be able to take.With every laughter and happy moment that they seemed to share, an equal of amount of pain shot through my body and just seeing them cozy up to each other like that was simply too much to bear.I promptly got out of bed and went into th