ALPHA XANDER’S POV I don’t know for how long I sit there, staring at Adriana’s unmoving bloody body. I could have sworn the world stopped, my world stopped. I didn’t want to believe it even though it was glaring right at me, I wanted to find something to lie to myself about. Maybe, just maybe it wasn’t as bad as it looked. I’d even gone as far as telling myself this was all a dream, it had started like that. A fucking nightmare and I wanted it to end. The pain in my heart hasn’t subsided but I don’t feel it anymore, it feels numb. I feel numb, empty. I want to end it all and if it wasn’t for the fact that I needed to rip Dreaya’s heart from her chest, not because it would do anything for me but just because she was a waste of space on earth. The earth I didn’t even want to be in if my mate wasn’t with me. I stay on the ground for a moment longer, it feels like eternity before I hear the sound of footsteps, followed by a shrill cry and someone else’s presence fills the room. I’m on
ADRIANA’S POV“Who are you?” I ask the darkness, aware that I sound and probably look ridiculous but there is nothing better to do or ask. I can’t even sit in this place, wherever it is.‘I’m you.’ It takes me a few seconds for what she said to actually register in my head and when it does, I laugh. I don’t know what to do because it sounds crazy so I throw my head back and laugh out loud.“That would have been funny if we weren’t trapped in what looks like a nightmare.” I can’t see her but I feel her eyes roll. I’m suddenly backed into a corner, also something I can’t see but I’m aware of.This is crazy.‘I know right.’ She agrees with me and that gives me pause. Can she hear my thoughts? ‘Pretty much, yes. We kind of share the same headspace.’“What?” I sputter out and receive another heavy sigh in response.‘You asked where we were, this is your headspace. You’ve never been here.” I try to search my brain for anything that might have been said to me about having a headspace. I did
ALPHA XANDER’S POVDonovan had to go the traditional route to get me to snap out of whatever trance I was in. I liked the bleakness of not knowing anything and not feeling any pain, or coming back to the reality that I saw.I simply don’t want to believe Adriana is gone. She can’t be!“You’ve got to give her something man. I don’t know how this works but this doesn’t look like a good thing.” I shoot him a glare and move back to the bed where Adriana is still unmoving. I may have been lying to myself and hoping she would wake up.
ALPHA XANDER’S POVHow the hell did I not figure it out before? All the signs were fucking there, how confident she was. She knew she had already played her ace of spades and I was sitting with a bunch of jokers in my hand.Fucking hell.I don’t want to believe Adriana had any hand in it and it doesn’t matter how much so many things were starting to make sense. I know she wouldn’t do anything like that, even if she hated me at first. Rightfully so. I refuse to believe the past few days have all been a pretense, hell, the last few months. Even when she co
ALPHA XANDER’S POVI take note of him head to toe, from the blood splattered on his chest to the sweat and whatever has his shirt sticking to him like a second skin. His hand that was holding the door falls and he almost goes down with it but he manages to hold himself up. He looks pretty beaten and if I was a fan of his, I would have tried to help. I choose to sit and watch him, with my eyebrows quirked in question.He gets his breathing under control and walks, while stumbling and picking himself up, heaving with every step that he takes until he gets to the desk. He holds no regard for me either as he settles into one of the two chairs.Without a word in my direction, though he is aware of my eyes following his every move, he reaches for my unfinished drink and downs the content in one go. I feel myself almost smirk at his audacity. Even his father wouldn’t do that and I guess that makes me like him more than the spineless man.“You have the good stuff.” He nods toward the tumbler
ALPHA XANDER’S POVI feel myself smiling and I nod at him. “That isn't an insult.”“I didn’t mean it as one.” He shrugs his shoulders, I see a different side of him in that second. That makes me take a closer look at him, like really look at him. He has dark bags under his eyes and though he seems smug and cocky, there is a heavy aura around him and this haunted look in his eyes that remind me of a younger me. I guess having shitty fathers is a trend.“Look kid,” he glares at the nickname which I have to admit is intentional, a fire sparks in his eyes and that makes me satisfied. Even if it is irritation/anger, at least I got a reaction out of him. “I would love to help you with your situation and it would be an honor to finally bring an end to your pathetic father,” I sigh heavily, actually disappointed that I might miss it. “But my hands are tied right now.”“Tied? With what?” I raise a brow, hearing the interest in his voice.All the alarm bells in my head go off at once. I should
ADRIANA’S POVEverything feels right when Xander’s arms wrap around me, his scent all around me, I’ve never felt safer.“God, Adriana.” He breathes out, tightening his hold. I fist his shirt in my hand and pull him closer, there isn't any space for him to come closer but I can’t help myself. He groans softly before pulling back. “I missed you baby, so fucking much.” He kisses my forehead, hugs me again then pulls back and captures my lips.I sigh into his mouth, my knees wobbling as his tongue sweeps into my mouth, tasting me, retasting, saving himself in my memories again. I never want to be away from him. The few minutes, or hours, or days, I have no idea, that I spent trying to figure out the way to my core like my wolf has said were daunting. She hasn’t warmed up to me and I’m not even sure I can communicate with her, I was only focused on one thing and that is getting back to Xander. Now that I’m here, I feel fine. I’m happy, fulfilled, cont—“Cough, cough.” I jump back, my eyes
ADRIANA’S POV“What’s wrong?” I’m confused by his question at first and when I looked up to face him, I realized that I’d pushed him away. I shake my head, trying to look as normal as possible because I didn’t know I did that.“Adriana, look at me. Are you okay? Do you feel anything strange?” I shake my head again. I don’t noticeably feel any different. Just that I’d remembered this was the exact position we were sitting before and I guess I’m scared I’ll go back to that darkness.“You’re worrying me,” there is a hint of fear in Xander’s voice.“I’m fine,” I tell him, he doesn’t look sure so I explain the reason. He looks more convinced after and he doesn’t try that again. He even asks to change the sitting position but I tell him it is okay. His hands tighten on my waist.“I met my wolf,” it is like my mouth has a mind of its own when it speaks. Xander perks up, he looks confused but then he smiles.“That is a good thing, yes?” he asks, looking hopeful. I don’t feel anything, I’m pre
ALPHA XANDER’S POV “How do you know?” I’m not sure that is the right thing to ask but the question comes out either way. “I saw him,” he swallows. The tears fell this time, full of guilt. I know I’m a heartless monster but I still reach out and pat his shoulder in what I hope is a comforting touch. “I used to have trouble sleeping so I usually sneak into her room and sleep on her bed, she leaves the door open for me but he didn’t like that, he said I wasn’t man enough,” he frowns, his eyes hardening. He was just four, Jameson is a sick bastard and he deserves to die a slow and painful death. I vow to deliver that to him, in whatever hell he is hiding. “He had a pillow over her head and he didn’t stop until he was sure she was dead, I was too shocked to move. I ran to my room after, scared he would do the same to me and I never told anyone. I don’t know how he found out but he punished me and threatened to do the same to me if I said anything about it.” His throat bobs as he swallo
ALPHA XANDER’S POV“I know where he is,” Carlson says out of the blue. He has been quiet for about five minutes and I was reveling in it but that gives me a pause. I look up at him, his eyes are fixed on the ceiling like he is seeing a prophesy or some shit up there.“What?” I ask, because I can’t be sure what he said is right. If he knew where his father was all this while, why is he just telling me? I sit up and push the papers that are littered on my desk out of the way.“Jameson,
ALPHA XANDER’S POVDonovan suggested we cremate Adriana’s body, the look I gave him made him never mention that again.It has been three weeks, five days, three hours, twenty-one minutes and five seconds since I watched Dreaya slit her throat, and like I have been doing since it happened, I replayed every part of it. Every excruciating second of it. I try to analyze all that has happened, think of what I could have done to make the end happen differently. Burning Dreaya’s body was very easy but I made sure I left a mark.In whatever dumpster her ashes remain,
ALPHA XANDER’S POVMy entire world stops when she pushes the dagger deeper, a small raspy sound leaves my mate’s throat. That is the only thing I can hear is the drip of Adriana’s blood, I can hear every single gurgle from her throat.I try to force my legs to move but it feels like I’m rooted to the spot. No! This can’t fucking happen!Unlike the first time, I feel our connection sever. It is like my heart is being ripped from my chest, painfully slow, every vein being cut at an extremely slow pace. This seriously can’t be!“No.” I go to scream but it comes out in a small moan.Dreaya stands back and twirls the bloody dagger in her hand, she holds it to her face then brings it to her lips and juts her tongue out. I don’t feel disgust at her licking her daughter’s blood right off it. I’m in too much shock to do anything except stand there and watch all of this crazy shit. A part of me is praying this is just some type of messed up hallucination and I will snap out of it.I will give e
ADRIANA’S POVI’ve thought I felt what an out of body experience is before, but what I’m feeling now, I realize, is exactly what it means to have an out of body experience. I’m here, I hear things, I see things but I feel absent. In my body. I know this isn’t just my wolf taking control and pushing me back, it is more than just that.“What did you want to say again?” Xander asks, sounding bored.The woman—my mother—it feels weird calling her that because I didn’t feel any of the things I thought I would feel if I saw her. No joy, not even disappointment or anger. I just feel numb, and she could as well be anyone at this point. She hasn’t turned or spared me a glance since she came and that is probably adding to how I feel about her presence.I’d known it was her the moment I caught sight of the long blond almost whitish hair, so much like mine, and her eyes, I have a feeling they are the same color. Even our statures are quite similar. It is like I got all my genes from her and not Ja
ALPHA XANDER’S POVThe hairs on the back of my neck stand at attention, I don’t turn immediately. Letting the shock wear off my face first.My first instinct had been to get my mate out of there, then on second thought I didn’t move, knowing she was playing a game I have no idea how to. If she gets an inkling of my affections towards her daughter, this will just be a million times worse. I already have a lot to lose as it is. Any more and I would be left with nothing.“Hello Xander,” her slightly raspy voice says. This time I spin and face her, my eyes flicker to the bed, where Adriana is sitting still like a sculpture or something inanimate. I make sure the look is as brief as humanly possible, a blink is slower than that.Beside the bed, standing in her full glory is the woman I had hoped I wouldn’t have to face since the last time we tried to kill each other, a century ago.I feel the darkness that has been hibernating in me all these months, probably even years, the main reason wh
ALPHA XANDER’S POVThe most unlikely place for me to think is when I’m in between Adriana’s legs, or on the verge of cumming from how good she was riding me. If I wasn’t so sure about her being innocent, I would have been worried about how she knew how to do that.Wolves and lycans know the natural instinct of mating and since she is more wolf than human now, it makes sense that she would want to mate, completing the mate bond on another different level. If I was thinking straight, I would have stopped her knowing what would come after this. She would want to mark me and it won’t stop that way, her wolf, now linked to me and feeling my lycan aura would want to shift. That would be disastrous seeing the state the manor is in. The first shift is always horrendous.I’m lost in the sweet world of ecstasy that only involves my mate and me, and the pleasure and high we’re chasing.Everything goes well and I try to soothe her while she transitions into her true self and submit to her natural
ADRIANA’S POVI can admit one thing, I’d thought of taking control from Xander just to see how he would react, and because I was thinking with the throbbing between my thighs and not my brain.What I can’t agree with is what I did after, or what my body did. I’m feeling more confused than ever now.Xander’s eyes are widened into slits as he looks up from beneath me, the fire in his eyes makes my insides burn and they travel down my body and finally settle where I need him most. I’m sitting right above his crotch and I feel his excitement, it takes a lot of effort for me to not further move down and just end this torture.“Fuck,” He groans throwing his head back, he closes his eyes for the briefest of seconds. “You look beautiful on top baby, that is where you belong, above everyone else.” He says in a deep sexy drawl, I feel the need to clench my thighs but it is impossible because of the way i’m sitting. Xander places his hands behind his head, making his muscles flex and. He adjusts
ALPHA XANDER’S POVI almost decline his offer, then I stop when something comes to my mind.“You can help with something, but first, I need to make sure I can trust you.” Telling him is not the best thing, but it is not like it is something we don’t know. He knows I don’t trust him, not even a little bit, and the feeling is mutual. I’ve just grown a little liking toward him after interacting with him.“What do you want?” he looks a bit cautious asking that, as he should.“For you to answer a few questions for me too.” I haul his words back at him. The sides of his lips tip up in an almost smile.“Do I have to sit through a lie detector test?” he asks, it sounds like a joke but there is a hint of seriousness to it.“I have more effective ways of getting the truth out of people.” I smirk and point to the door. “Feel free to make yourself at home. Ring a maid or something if you need anything.” I’m going to see Adriana and hopefully try to work through her wolf issues with her.“Yeah sur