ALPHA XANDER’S POVI was a bit nervous as I walked into Adriana's hospital room. The last we’d seen each other, I had refused to listen to what she had to say and I accept full responsibility for what happened to her. The guilt was eating me up, there was no way to stop it. I doubted she wanted to see me anyways but that wasn’t about to stop me.With a heavy heart, I turned the knob and pushed the door open. Adriana was lying on the bed, her eyes opened and she was staring ahead. Apprehension ate at my insides seeing her like that, I was overtaken with joy, she was awake and fine and I wanted nothing more than to wrap my arms around her. The mate bond pushed me to do that, common sense had me taking small tentative steps towards her bed. I’ve never been this careful or cautious with anyone. I never had to be, so it was slightly overwhelming.I was a few feet away from her bedside, Dacian pushed herself forward and took her arm, she whispered something to her that I didn’t pay attentio
ALPHA XANDER’S POVAs I sent the message, the urge to run gripped me. I needed to do something else to clear my head, and the run sounded best right now.There were no easy answers when it came to Adriana's condition, a wolf fighting it’s other part isn’t something that is common, the study would take a while.As I sat on the bench outside Adriana's hospital room, my mind was consumed with thoughts of the rogue attack. No sane being would dare to threaten the safety of my pack, it was like begging for death. The thought was almost laughable.Daciana's voice pulled me from my reverie. "Xander, what's wrong?" she asked, concern etched on her face.“Rogues were sighted around the border.” I said simply. “Shit. Is it bad?” I shook my head.“I don’t know. I want to go down there to make sure it’s nothing serious.” I explained. I felt the familiar tingling, someone was trying to break down my mind barrier. It was like a mind link but far more urgent. I let the person in and Donovan’s voice
ADRIANA’S POV I woke up to the sound of beeping machines and the smell of antiseptic. My head was heavy and my body weak, like I was between life and death. I tried to move, but I couldn't even lift a finger. Panic set in as I realized I was completely paralyzed. My limbs felt too heavy, the only thing seeming to move was my eyes. I forced my mouth open and let out a groan, thankful that I could at least move it too. The door to my hospital room opened and Daciana rushed in. her face was etched in worry, her steps tentative as she moved to my bedside. "Adriana, how are you feeling?" she asked, her voice trembling with worry. I tried to speak, but my throat was dry and the words wouldn't come out, only a small moan of pain. Daciana, seeing my struggle, quickly grabbed a cup of water from the bedside table and brought it to my lips. “Here, open up.” she said, her tone a soft command. I nodded my thanks as I took greedy gulps of the water, when my throat felt wet and not like sandpaper
ADRIANA'S POV "Good morning, Adriana.” The feminine voice sounds from behind. “How are you feeling today?" I straighten up, half-turning to catch a better view of the smiling doctor. "I feel a lot better, thank you." I replied, turning towards Daciana who gave me a tired smile. Her eyes had bags under them from lack of sleep but it didn’t seem to affect her in any way. As much as I’d tried to convince her I was fine and she could go home, she refused, saying she wouldn’t leave me alone in the hospital. I had a feeling she wasn’t telling me everything but I didn’t push it and gave up. She kept me busy telling me stories of her growing up, she was careful to not mention her brother in any of those stories. I was grateful for it, he was the last person I wanted to see. He hadn’t even bothered to show up at the hospital since last night, not that I wanted to see him, but he could at least pretend to feel sorry for what he had done. The doctor interrupted my angry thoughts by responding
ADRIANA’S POV“I don’t know what happened, he said he’ll be back but I’m unable to reach him and a few people have also reported the same thing.” Daciana said, her tone low and showing just how worried she was. Something squeezed in my chest though I stopped it, reminding myself how bad he had treated me. I didn’t have to feel sorry for him.“Oh,” was all I managed to say. Dacaina didn’t say anything, she just forced a smile and shook her head.“Anyway, it’s Xander. I’m sure he’ll turn up when he is ready.” She said, more to herself than me and smiled again, it looked a little more real now."Are you ready to go? The car is parked right outside." She said, standing up. I bet she couldn’t wait to leave this place, I felt the same too so I couldn’t fault her. She’d even stayed longer than I expected and I appreciated it. I wondered what was going on in her mind right now, and what she had to go through while looking after me all this while, not knowing where her brother was. I looked o
ADRIANA’S POVDaciana pushed me through the short length of the paved pathway to the front door of the Packhouse. There were only about three people hanging outside the place. Two teenagers chattering animatedly and a gardener trimming the bushes. He was the first to notice us, he bowed in respect before going back to her work. When we got close enough to the teenagers, they also did the same. I just sat stiff in the wheelchair not knowing what to do, I mostly got scornful looks from people back in my back. It was kind of weird seeing their submission, though it was mostly directed at Daciana and not me.When we got closer to the front door, I noticed a tall figure standing on the upper part of the building. From the way my heart thudded in my chest, I knew it was Xander. I commanded my stupid heart to stay still, not even knowing if it was reacting that way due to fear or anger, or something else entirely.He was standing on the balcony on the first floor, his back turned to us. I fe
ADRIANA’S POV“No, we don’t have to.” Daciana looked shocked when I said those words. Even though I didn’t turn back to look at Xander, I knew he had the same astonished look on his face. I could feel his eyes boring holes into the side of my face but I refused to give into the need to turn and face him.“Are you sure?” her expression was soft and I nodded firmly. There was no point running when it would only give him the thrill of a chase, not to mention, I didn’t want to go back to being locked. Xander wasn’t the type of person to be necessarily remorseful, he was known for being ruthless, not the other way around.“Yes, I’m sure.” I tried to make my voice sound confident, though it almost wavered. Daciana nodded and took a left turn. Xander was still watching us wordlessly, maybe he was communicating through mindlink with his sister, there was no way for me to know that.“Why did you say no?” when we’ve put enough distance between Xander and us that he couldn’t hear what we were sa
ADRIANA’S POV“Why so hostile, dear Daciana?” Donovan said with a smirk on his face. He entered the room like he owned the place, his eyes on Daciana. He didn’t stop until he got to the bed, then he got on it, resting his back on the headrest and crossing his legs at the angel. His legs were on the bed!“I came to check on our patient.” He finally acknowledged me. He lifted a hand and gave a small wave. “Hello sweetheart, did you miss me?” I glared at him internally, not having the guts to do it out in the open. I’ve seen what he is capable of, I know not to mess with him. Because if I think Xander is bad, then Donovan is worse.“You know Xander would skin you alive if he saw you anywhere near her.” Daciana said, standing in front of me so she could block his view of me. Still, I could feel his hateful gaze on me. It made me feel even smaller than the room made me feel at first. Donovan didn’t have to try to be scary, he was naturally intimidating.“Oh, I’m very scared.” He said, his
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