Dane's POV
Once I sat inside the car, I let out a breath of relief. We've won the war days ago, but the king had been MIA ever since. We had kept it a secret to avoid unrest within our nation. Our King doesn't have any heirs yet. It was up to me, his Beta, to make sure he was found while maintaining order in his absence. I turned around to look at the woman in the back. She looked harmless, but we couldn't trust anyone where our king was concerned. He has many enemies who wished him dead. Who's to know they didn't send a beautiful woman like her to seduce him and deceive him. My men made a total check around the area but found no sign of anyone else there. Nevertheless, I still feel that she didn't work alone. "mmmph." The woman protested. I had gagged her earlier because she wouldn't shut up. I was avoiding any more interaction with her until the king awakened. I was not going to be deceived by those innocent looking blue eyes as well. Harming women is not something I choose to do, but I was not going to take any chances. As soon as we arrived at the pack, the king was rushed to the pack's hospital. I grabbed the woman from the back of the car. She was surprisingly strong for someone, so denty. She kept kicking and squirming, her muffled grunts echoing all the way to the dungeons. We went down the dark stairs to the underground cells. I could feel her heart thudding wildly on her chest. I dropped her on top of the old mattress, incide a cell. Her eyes widened when she saw me pull out a knife. "I'm just cutting the rope, be still." I said. With one of my hands, I grabbed both of hers with ease. I cut the rope, and then I removed the gag from her mouth as well. "You're a brute!" was the first thing she told me. "Easy there, woman, or I'll gag you again!" She stiffened. I watched her rub her wrists were the ropes left red marks. I felt a sliver of guilt, but I shoved it away. She was supposed to be the enemy. "Now, time to fess up, woman. With whom were you working? Why did you kidnap my brother? Were you planning to ask for a ramson?!" I growled, clenching my fists. That was the only reasonable explanation. If she wanted him dead, she could have done it already. "What? Ramson for a warrior? Why do you keep insisting on incriminating me? I was just trying to help!" She was practically yelling. She kept referring to King Chad as a mere warrior. I don't think she recognized him. She was furious now. I was sure that, given the chance, she would have kicked me already. "Mr. Grumpy Warrior, you're so infuriating!" She grunted. "Let's see if a few days without food refresh your memory." Her face paled. Well, I guess she loves her food. She will crack easier than I thought. I turned around and locked her cell. I looked at the 4 guards I left in place. "Nothing to eat, for...her." I didn't even know her name yet. Well, all in do time. "She could eat when she's ready to talk." I headed to the hospital to check on the king. I came to an abrupt hault when I found Alpha Terrence pacing in the waiting area. Of course, he would be here. He was one of the eldest members of the parliament. "Alpha Terrence, I didn't know you were here." I sighed. "Beta Dane! How did your men let this happen to the King?! This is outrageous! He still has no heirs. His safety should be of utmost importance! Chaos would ensue this country if we lose him. All the Alpha's would start disputing his title!" He bellowed. I am aware of the implications, Alpha Terrence. We're handling it. It is not your place to meddle in the King's matters!" I loathed his ancient entitled ass. "I agree to disagree. I'm an honorable member of the Parliament. As one of the king's advisors, it is my duty to see to the kingdom's best interests. When King Chad gets better, he should start considering taking a chosen mate and producing an heir. He is 36! How long will he wait for his fated?" He huffed. Padding his round belly. It was rare to see a werewolf so out of shape. "Why don't you go to eat something, Alpha Terrence. Even if the king wakes up, he won't be allowed any visitors until the Dr. approves." He beemed when he heard the word food, making a B line for the kitchen. Even I was hungry. After all of these chaotic days, I was starting to feel more at ease. I minlinked the kitchen for some food to be brought up to me. My stomach churned with guiltiness when I thought of the petite young woman in the cell. Well, she knows the deal. No talk, no chomp. "Beta Dane." the Dr. came out of King Chad's room. "How is The King Dr. Aaron? I approached him hastily. "Well, he was badly wounded. He fought. He has signs of struggle. My guess is that he killed his attackers and barely managed to escape. His wounds were treated well, though. None of them got infected. He's under strong sedatives while he rehydrates. You know him. If he awakens, he'd be up and about in seconds." I chuckled because that was Chad. My king and friend. He is made of steel. I still wondered how he got ambushed. Can the woman be telling the truth? Dr. Rick says his wounds were well treated. I will question her first thing in the morning. I was sure that her resolved would have wavered by then. "The next morning, I got up earlier than ever. I couldn't sleep well at all. I grabbed a cup of steaming coffee and headed straight to the cells. The fresh smell of coffee should entice her. I was so close to uncovering the truth. When I arrived at the cells, I found her sitting on the battered mattress. Her long honey blond hair was a mess, and she had darkened shdows under her eyes. It seemed that she didn't sleep well at all, either. I sent 3 of the warriors for breakfast, leaving just one with me, while I conducted the interrogation. "Do you want some coffee woman?" She looked at me with an unreadable expression. She was no ordinary woman. She looked dignified and well educated. Even sitting on that dirty mattress, she looked elegant and refined. What could a woman like her be doing in a cave? Too suspicious. "Open the cell." I ordered. She instantly jumped to her feet. My towering figured looked imposing compared to her smaller frame. Her baby blues looked straight to mine. Damn, she looked so fragil. I was about to just hand her the cup of coffee. I should have brought one of the female warriors to interrogate her. I wasn't capable of hurting a woman. I've got a mother and 2 sisters. Instead of conducting the ruthless interrogation, all I felt like doing was to take her to the kitchen and let her feast on Gamma Celia's delicious scrambled eggs and sausage. "Do yourself a favor and start talking. You don't look good at all." She simply rolled her eyes with so much emphasis, I was surprised she managed to pull them back. "I'm tired of repeting myself, and you won't believe me. I found him lying on the ground, and then I..." Dr. Rick mindlinked me at that moment. I let drop the coffee cup and round towards the exit. The Alpha has awaken!Bella's POV I slept with one eye open. I didn't trust any of these people. At least they didn't hurt me physically, but they were starving me instead. My stomach was growling. I needed to eat something urgently. I carresed my stomach, promising my child I would find something to eat as soon as I could. The door of the cell opened with a squeaky sound, making me jump to my feet. In came Dane with a cup of steaming coffee, smelling like the heavens. The coffee, not him. My stomach growled. I was famished. I could almost taste the bitter yet smooth flavor of the coffee in my tongue. He stood right in front of me. I had to throw my head back to lock eyes with him. Goddess that coffee smelled so good. For a minute, I thought he was going to hand it to me. He just smirked. I felt the need to kick him on the shins if he weren't this stupidly tall. He doesn't look anything like his brother, though. Even their hair color ir different. Dane's hair is sandy blond, and his handsome brother h
Bella's POV As I stared impatiently around the white walls of the Pack’s clinic, bitter memories flashed through my mind. For five years, I have endured countless visits to the Dr. hoping it was the day when I finally heard the word pregnant. Something that my body has not been able to achieve to this day. Every time, I would leave the clinic feeling more worthless than the last. At first, my mate Jasper had tried to be supportive, but little by little, he had grown tired of my deception and has even told me he doesn’t care if I’m barren. That word hurt me beyond words. I refused to believe I’m incapable of creating life in my womb. My determination was stronger than nature. That’s why I’m here once again, even though my mate has been absent for 3 months. He was summoned by the Lycan King, along with all the packs' Alphas. There was unrest in the northern border. They went to fight on the battlefield to protect our country. But I was here alone fighting for my marriage. Ev
Bella's POV I awoke to the beeping of machines surrounding me. My first instinct was the well-being of my baby. Dr. Janna was there and guessed my thoughts. “Everything is alright, Luna. You passed out from distress earlier. Just rest." She padded my shoulder and stepped out. I sensed someone else in the room. It was my friend Sadie. She was flipping the pages of a magazine near the window. We grew up together in the same pack. Sadie was the daughter of my father’s Beta. Her father never let her endure the strenuous training I was put up with, so she had always seemed more fragile to me. I always tried to protect her even from the bullies at school. When I found my mate, she insisted on coming with me. Jasper was too kind to accept her. Soon, she seemed to have settled faster than I did. She saw me staring at her. I had hoped Jasper was here, but he had always disliked hospitals. What kind of death did my father and brothers have? Was anyone there to tend to their wounds? T
Jasper's POV I was feeling so relaxed after a good fuck, that I didn’t mind when Sadie didn’t move from my lap right away. I wasn’t the cuddling type. Not even with my mate, especially not with Sadie, whom I always left alone once I was done with her. She was a talker indeed. Must of the times I would just drift away without really listening to her. She was lucky she was hot. She wasn’t like my mate, though. Only Bella could make me lose control, and I didn’t like that. Sadie was like a balance in my life that helped me control the mate bond and put it at bay. After 3 long months, all I wanted to do was to rut away inside my mate, but that’s losing control. I can’t afford that. I won’t lose everything that I have worked so hard for. I will not become a pansy of the mate bond. But all I kept thinking about was Bella. After the tragic news of her family’s death, she wouldn’t be in the mood for a little time in the sack with me. I groaned. “…and you should have seen the clownish
Bella's POV Leaving the pack was not a problem. I took one of the cars designated for pack errands. No one would dare to question their Luna. Well, except Luca, Dr. Jenna’s mate and also Jasper's Beta. Luca was very protective of me. He would have asked questions that I wasn't ready to answer. I felt bad for leaving my people, but I can’t no longer be here. Jasper’s love was a lie. Soon, they will have Sadie as their Luna. A dreadful feeling in my gut had been present since I left. I can’t believe how stupid I was, I never saw this coming. All this time, they were laughing at my expense. They will all pay one day. I pressed my forehead on the steering wheel as tears clouded my vision once again. I caressed my still flat stomach to find the strength I so badly needed to continue. I was feeling weak. I had no idea how my legs were still carrying me. Today, I lost the four most important people in my life, Jasper being one of them. I had nowhere else to go, but to my birth pack.
Bella's POV I almost fell on top of the wounded man. It was still night before dawn. The man moaned in pain slightly. He must be one of the warriors who fought in the war. Before I disappeared from my pack, I thought of my father, and I wished to find him. I'm near the battlefield now. The weather was cold but not as bad as Jasper made everyone believe. I put my arms around me. The night was chilly. I needed to find a safe place to spend the rest of the night. I looked at the warrior on the floor. He must have fought side by side with my father and brothers. They were all protecting our country. The least I could do was to help him. Moving him wouldn't be easy. The soldier was impressive. With massive hands and muscles. Even wounded on the floor, he looked threatening. I played with the ring on my left hand. It belonged to my mother. My father told me how the ring worked, but he never wanted me to use it. He was always overprotective of me on that matter. I had already exposed