Monday
Elle’s POV
Elle moodily dragged herself up the stairs to her depressingly empty apartment, where she flipped open her new cell phone.
She dialed her mother’s number. “Hello?” Aspen sounded as if she were smiling when she answered the phone. Tears welled in Elle’s swollen eyes, and her throat constricted at the sound.
She was so grateful to hear her mother’s joyful voice. However, she ached dismally at the same time. “Hey, mom. It’s me. I got a new phone!” Elle forced her enthusiasm as her lips pulled back in a frown.
Her mother laughe
Tuesday Elle's POV A long series of earth-shattering bangs startled Elle into awakening. When she realized it was just the blasted TV, she pushed herself up from the torturous couch and went into her lonely bedroom. The unbidden sun was coming up. Corvin had once again not come back to his apartment, and Elle was starting to wonder if it had something to do with her. Maybe he had run out of the garden because he didn't want to be with her. That would make more sense. If he were secretly pining for her as it felt in those steamy moments that made her heart race and her knees weak, he w
Tuesday Elle’s POV Elle was absent-mindedly organizing the scant belongings that cluttered her room when her phone dinged. It was a text from Tara. “At the gate. Who will let me in?” She hurriedly read the text before rushing down the stairs. There wasn’t anyone out there to let her in. The place was abandoned. After Elle opened the heavy gate, Tara slowly drove in parking in front of the steps that led up to the front doors. They embraced tightly. Her wide eyes took in the spacious courtyard, lingering on the houses peppered throughout the grounds.
Corvin’s POV Over the last few arduous days, the longest break between monster attacks was the shortest hour of their life. Remus and Corvin were at the lead of every fight. While the continuous strenuous activity was exhausting, nothing made them feel more alive than ripping the throats out of their enemies. The invaders had killed none of the pack through pure strength of will and focus. However, everyone had sustained injuries by now. It was hard to distinguish how much blood was from the warrior and how much was from the enemy. When the fighting went past sunrise on Monday morning, Corvin grouped the wolves into two parties. Each team took turns resting. As alpha, Remus’s team, which consisted of him and Sean, were the last ones to rest, and it was Wednesday.
Tuesday night - Wednesday Elle’s POV After Tara left, Elle feverishly tidied the apartment in preparation for Corvin’s anticipated return home. She didn’t want any filthy distractions. But as it grew late and she was still alone, Elle decided she would study to pass the time. Just because she wasn’t attending school didn’t mean that she didn’t have tests to pass if she wanted Arya to help her get into Parsons. The girl had promised to help her. At least in college, she wouldn’t be so alone all day. There would be lots of other students to talk to. She placed the pictures of Jimmy on a shelf ab
Thursday-Friday Elle’s POV As the tedious and secluded days passed, so did the hounding need to have her abundant questions answered. A deep, sweet longing for her husband replaced those questions, mirrored by empty aching loneliness. It was boring around the castle without a single living soul, but she missed Corvin most of all. Just the memory of his smile was enough to bring warmth and color to her cheeks. She went through the motions of checking the rooms for things to do. But they remained the same as yesterday, and it seemed that her laundry was all that would be cleaned today.
Arya’s POV After barely making it back to the doctor, Corvin had sneakily disappeared with that blood-sucking mongrel. And he came back with a plan that neither Arya nor Axel approved of. But he was set in that awful plan, and there was nothing they could say to convince him otherwise. So he got patched up and took a quick nap. After eating, he headed back out to the mines. While he was sleeping, the vampire was out scouring the mines for the enemy. The link to Corvin was thready and weak when he left. But as the day progressed, they eventually were cut off from it. The disconnect had everyone panicking, and it was up to Arya to calm them down.
Saturday Elle’s POV It was a beautiful day, the kind where nothing could go wrong. Tara walked by her side. She was saying something, but no sound was coming out of her mouth, and she didn’t seem to notice. Jimmy smiled at her from across the hall. Looking at him made alarm bells ring in her head; something was wrong. He stepped up to her asking if she was alright. She screamed. He leaned into her baring sharp pointed teeth covered in blood. She pushed him away. Suddenly, Jimmy was gone. She stumbled back and tried to clear her head. But it took her a few minutes. She looked up to see the most ferocious giant wolf. It faced off against the monstrous creature that attacked her. Her mi
Saturday Elle’s POV Stepping into the room, Elle noticed that Corvin was unconscious on his bed. Someone had cleaned him of most of the blood beforehand. His white sheets were unsoiled. She wondered briefly if Arya had brought him up. Then she remembered the hulking men in the living room and put her wager on them. Doctor Cayden and Arya whispered heatedly as they stood by Corvin’s bedside. Elle stepped up timidly. They both glanced at her and then continued whispering to each other as if she wasn’t there. “So, you think his last encounter was a wraith?” Doc
FridayCorvins POVElle thoughtlessly disturbed his blessed silence and insisted that she stay. He didn’t know how he would restore his beautifully restrictive defenses. Then she witnessed his fall, unbidden and unwanted.She saw him at his worst and still refused to leave. He tried to force her to leave, but she wouldn’t. He didn’t want to give in to her presence, that tiny little nagging feeling. Everything was going to be alright. Elle was here. She had kept him going in the darkest of times, and now she wanted to be with him.If she were to reject him now, it would finish off his crushed soul. He desperately did not want to give her that chance. But Remus insisted that Corvin not chase her off.
Friday Elle’s POV It took several hours before she could finish resolving the conflict between the Alphas, and as intense as it got, she really enjoyed the debate. It reminded her of her friends in high school and how they would come to her to settle fights. Though, she hoped that was the extent of settling alpha disputes for a while. It wasn’t long before the new shirt and tea arrived. Doctor Cayden came. But Octavio refused to be evaluated despite the efforts made to arrange care. They ate dinner and drank wine as they vehemently discussed each person’s perspective. Elle did not appreciate the wine brought into it. But the debate slowly went from a passionate argument to an ardent discussion.
FridayElle’s POVAfter finding out that Fiel and Octavio were fighting, Elle groaned and indicated he should lead the way. She followed him to the dining hall, where Fiel and Octavio were in each other’s faces with their snarling betas behind them. They both barred their teeth in aggressive growls.“It is evident that it was necessary,” Octavio spoke in low menacing tones as he pressed aggressively towards Fiel.Fiel wasn’t about to back down.“It appears that you are the one who truly needs to be placed in the shackles you speak of.”His accent was especially pronounced ri
FridayElle’s POV The arrival of Aza SkerpTand was the next day, and Arya dressed Elle in a brightly colored wrap with abstractly embroidered edges. She also wore colorful beaded bracelets and necklaces. Arya explained that it was the traditional clothing of their people and would be seen as a sign of respect.Elle knew Luna Skerptand was a formidable member of the council. Axel and Arya had only glazed over her despite Aza being the only female. So Elle was surprised to see her traveling without an alpha.Instead, she had two beautiful women at her side. All four of them were tall and sleek. Their features were perfectly carved stone
ThursdayElle’s POVKnocking on Corvin’s door, she called out to him. “Corvin! Remus! I need to have a word with you guys. Can I please come in?”There was no response. She pushed the door gently, and it opened into a pitch-black room. Before Corvin woke up, Remus kept a light on, at least.She took a quick tentative step into the darkness, deeply aware that she wouldn’t see a monster until it clutched her in its maniacal grip. She tried to ignore the dark whisperings of her mind about what could be in there, hidden within the menacing shadows. The door behind her opened.Elle swung around with her pulse pounding in her chest. Corvin stood at
ThursdayElle’s POV Before going into Alpha PataDiamante’s room, Elle saw Corvin haunting the halls and looking like a long-dead apparition, shadows fed by lack of color. His dark eyes peered out from the blackness of shadows, emphasized by the paleness of his skin—a stalking monster lurking in his gloom. When she left the playful festivities in Alpha PataDiamante’s room, she expected to see Corvin, but he was gone. Briefly, she considered going up to their apartment. But quickly decided against it because she was still angry with him. Besides, she had a ton of other things to do.Her first stop would be the kitchen. With
ThursdayElle’s POVWhen Arya came back to get Elle ready, she explained that Corvin was ‘not feeling well.’ Apparently, it was why he said and acted so callously. But Elle already knew that he wasn’t well. Her confirmation only made Elle feel more gloomy. Should she have been kinder, more understanding?As Arya did her make-up, she spoke about how Corvin was not ready to face the council. Elle secretly knew that. But it filled her with an unhappy apprehension to know she was still without him in this matter.When Elle met Fiel at the airport, he flirted heavily with a petite blonde as his men gathered all the bags. She waited for him to finish talking to her. Then Elle sauntered over, cheerfully greeting hi
ThursdayCorvin’s POVDespite laying in bed all night, Corvin couldn’t will himself to go to sleep. Then, the awful dreams would return. He let so many people down. Would he be eternally stuck paying for his sins this time if he went back?It was so damn tempting to never speak to anyone again. The fewer people he let in, the fewer people he would hurt. And he would save his own ruined heart just a little.What was worse, Remus blamed Corvin for Elle not being here. He didn’t say it outright, but he wouldn’t stop whining about her absence. How would Corvin ever be able to sleep with all that racket in his own head?
Thursday-Friday Corvin’s POV Remus wouldn’t stop howling and trying to push forward. Corvin struggled to hold him back. Never before had Remus struggled for control like he did when he was around Elle, especially when he sensed her distress. After Corvin reacted so harshly, Remus had pushed until he agreed to come in here, show his appreciation for what she had done, and apologize. He had done that. It was the right thing to do anyway, and he knew it. So why was she upset now? He heard her sniffle and the crack in her voice and when she turned around, her eyes were wet and puffy. Remus attempted to surge forward again. ‘I have to help