ARIA'S POV “A trip? All of a sudden?“ I was suspicious, but the way he was looking at me so earnestly was erasing the doubts in my mind. “Trust me, this is the best solution. Why didn't I think about this beforehand?“ He suddenly looked happy at the prospect of going on a trip, and I didn't want to ruin that for him. Since he looks like someone kicked his favorite cat. So I asked him the only sensible question. “When do we leave?“ He looked relieved, like he expected me to argue with him on it. “As soon as possible. Tonight, if possible.“ “Tonight? Where are we going? What should I pack?“ I started to panic before I realized that Brielle would help me with that. “Just a simple bag. Pack something you can run in.“ “Run?“ I balked, which made him laugh. “It'll make sense once I give you a full explanation.“ “Hmm.“ “Trust me, okay?“ Twenty minutes later, I was relaying the little information I had to Brielle. “Something you can run in? That makes a lot of sense.“ “But why?
LUCAS' POVI smirk at her as she takes in the full effect of my words. I'm not even joking with her, I'm going to spank her. Lightly, though, because I worry I might lose control.“Why… why would you do that?““That's what you get for assuming things. You could have just asked me.“ I know that wasn't fair to her because I was rarely home. She didn't even know I used to sleep at her door all through her heat. She had no idea that she was the one that consumed my every thought. Every single action of mine was driven by the need to protect her and to make sure I kept her to myself.“I'm right,” she said stubbornly. “You avoided me because you don't want to mark me.“ She was right in some way.I didn't give up trying to convince the elders that we were better off without that particular law. Why did she have to prob herself? I don't plan on having Aria near any fights or pack wars.I still remember the last conversation I had with Elder Thomas. I had reminded him that I could die of heart
Third Person's POV“The people are talking, my Alpha.“ The Elders of Red Moon Pack were gathered in the council room.“What are they saying? Why do they always have to say something?“ Alpha Kane roared, and they all drew back in fear. None of them were interested in dying. Just two days ago, Alpha Kane snapped and bit off an omega's head. He said she didn't bow at an appropriate angle. Ever since he rejected his true mate, Alpha Kane's wolf had been slowly deserting him, which in turn was making him lose his senses gradually.“My Alpha, they are all worried for your health.“ Even the stronger of the elders spoke cautiously, not wanting to incur his wrath.“My health? I'm fine. Am I not leading the pack well?““Eh, well,”“If you all have nothing to say, then leave. I must observe my siesta.“ He stalked out of the room, not giving them the chance to say anything else.The elders looked at each other before slowly filtering out of the room. Maybe they would be able to talk to him anoth
ARIA'S POV We ended up spending twenty-four days at the Orange Grove. I had never seen Lucas so relaxed and laid back. I haven't known him for more than two months, but I could tell he was different around his pack members. He never let himself truly relax in the pack. It was like he was always looking out for the next danger. His pack was safe enough. Even before I came into his pack, I had heard of how powerful the Moonlight Pack was. I had once overheard Alpha Kane talking to someone about how he would like to get an alliance with the Moonlight Pack. The person had replied that they would have to get bigger if they ever wanted Moonlight Pack to take them seriously.When I was told that it was the Moonlight Pack I had stumbled into, I thought for sure that it was the end for me. The border guards were ruthless, and they would have killed me on the spot if one of them hadn't offered to call Beta Cole before doing anything drastic.“You look so happy here.“ I said to him at the end
Third Person's POV In the aftermath of Aria's victory, a lot of things happened at once. Alpha Lucas swung his true mate around in wild joy. He couldn't believe she had actually won. Fair and square and so easily, too.“My woman is a natural,” he thought to himself. “We're going to be together for the rest of our lives. Forever.““Lucas, I did it.“ No one was as happy as the new official Luna. There was also another couple who were over the moon, with Aria becoming the Luna. It was Beta Cole and Brielle. They hugged each other as if it were a personal victory. Beta Cole couldn't believe the fierce feeling of pride that swept through him because of the new Luna Aria. Brielle was happy she was a close confidante of the new Luna.“I'm going to be like her lady-in-waiting.“ She thought. “We're going to have so much fun.“The night before the fight, the couple had turned and tossed around in bed. Cole was thinking of ways he could help her win while his mate hoped she wouldn't get beaten
ARIA'S POV I had no idea how to be a Luna, but Brielle and Lucas kept telling me I was a natural. Natural? I had never been in a revised position like this before.Lucas had hinted at the fact that he wanted us to leave in a house separated from the pack house. His reasoning was that he wanted more time with me and that he wanted to protect my privacy. I was onboard with the idea, but I wasn't sure if he had just said that because of how filled the packhouse was in the days following my Coronation.Two days after my coronation, the pack house was filled as usual when one of the elders approached me and said he had something to ask of me. I wasn't sure what he thought I could do for him, but I went with him anyway. I now had bodyguards who were never more than five feet away from me at all times. Victor and Earl were their names. They never spoke to me except in greeting. They barely even looked at me, but I was determined to break them out of their shells.“Luna Aria, pardon my for
LUCAS' POV I watch in with part fear and trepidation. There's every chance she could clam up and refuse to tell me anything. I should have been grateful that she would take this step to get to know me on a deeper level.This is the first time she's initiating something between us, and I shouldn't screw it up.“You would like to know?““Yes, baby. I really want to get to know you better. I adore you so much, and it breaks my heart that you don't think you can trust me.“ I pull her closer on my lap, my vulnerability only hers to see. “Have I ever done something that would make you distrust me?““No.““I…I love you, do you know that?“ I know it's too soon to say, but I need her to know how much she means to me. How much she has come to mean to me in such a short period of time.She wants to get off my lap, but I don't let her. She has to know how much.“You really love me?““I do. I think I would love you even if this mate thing wasn't involved. You're a truly likeable person.““Well, t
LUCAS' POV “I've told you about my past, now it's your turn to return the favor." She said, and I chuckled.“We're going to get you fed first.“ Her cheeks blush as her stomach lets out another growl of hunger.When we get to the kitchen, she automatically moves to the stove, but I pick her off the ground and seat her on the island counter.“You're not cooking a thing in here.““You can cook?“ Her eyes shine with amusement, and I feel proud that I'm the reason she's laughing.“Yes. My parents didn't live in the pack house either. They wanted some privacy.““How come you were living in the pack house then?““My childhood home was practically a mansion. After they both died, it had become too big for just one person, so I moved into the packhouse after I became Alpha.““Did your mother teach you to cook?“I shook my head to get rid of the memories that came swirling at the question she asked. “She didn't exactly teach me to cook, but my earliest memories of her were in the kitchen. She
ARIA'S POVThe dinner has to be perfect. Nothing must go wrong. "You keep stressing about it, baby." Lucas rasped from the bed. I guess my pacing must have woken him up. I don't know why I've been so snappy and irritable all day. I'm not one to snap at maids, but how hard is it to set the chairs at the right side? How hard is it to note down the number of chairs needed? It's very frustrating. "I'm not stressed. I just want everything to be perfect.""And it's going to be, baby. Come here to get some sleep so I can sleep. I have several important things to do.""What you're saying is this dinner isn't important?" The anger in me was rising by the minute. "You know, I've seen the way you've been nonchalant about this, and I get it, you're not the one bringing two sides of your lives together.""Whoa, whoa, I didn't mean it that way, baby." His gentle words made me burst into tears. "Come here, sweetheart." He pulled me under the covers, and I snuggled up to his warmth, which made me w
THIRD PERSON'S POV "Through her necklace?" Alpha Lucas wasn't sure if he was hearing correctly. He tightened his hold on his wife. He had first known that some people who could possibly be her parents were looking for her through Oliver. That was all he had heard before he told his people to go check them out. He just wanted to make sure they were not some weirdos or anything that could pose a threat to her at all. They had turned out to be real. This was the first time he was seeing them too, and he thought they were solid so far, but this necklace talk was bothering him. "How I found her was through a silent auction that was being held." Augustine spoke up. "It was a necklace I had when I was younger. It's a stone yin and yang necklace, see?" He showed them the one on his neck and produced a similar one in black while his was white. "Of course, it could be a similar one, but there was an old picture of us wearing it, so I took it to Mum for confirmation.""I knew it was hers the
ARIA'S POV The first thing that came to my mind was to hug the man in front of me. I don't know if I was in an alternative universe or something. I managed to recover my composure to raise an inquiring gaze."Luna Aria?" He said. His voice was deep and calm. Like hot cocoa in freezing winter. He spoke my name again and snapped me out of my reverie. The sound of my name coming from him felt wrong for some reason I couldn't fathom. There was a pull from him to me. I shook my head to get rid of the thought, and I realized that I had been staring at him, which was very rude of me. "You're talking to her." I said calmly enough to hide the tremors in my voice. I could certainly be an actress. He bowed lightly and introduced himself. "My name is Augustine, and these are my parents." Huh. Why can't I stop staring at him? There was something about him, and it wasn't even because of our resemblance. I hope I wasn't the only one that saw it."Can I come in?" He stared back at me with a quiet
THIRD PERSON'S POV What happened next was a blur. Zach could barely breathe with the bullet firmly lodged in his side. His life was flashing before his eyes, and he knew he had only a few minutes left to live. The blood had already seeped to reach his head. He could hear someone screaming, but it was distant.He knew he had to say something. Thankfully, Todd had come nearer to examine his beta. He didn't even know how to feel about the last two minutes. "Zoe was a spy. He was trying to help him take over the pack. He wanted to...""Stop talking, Zach. I'm going to get you help." Todd said and he meant it. There was no way he was letting him die. Todd bent over him and pressed firmly over his wound, but it was useless. He had bled out too much. "I'm not greedy, Alpha." Those were the last words he whispered before he gave up the ghost. Alpha Todd didn't have time to mourn too much because the cry of his youngest and favorite child rang out clearly.He looked up to find Augustina in
THIRD PERSON'S POV "I'm still a little bit skeptical about this Alpha's mental health." Alpha, Todd said to Zach. They both stood in front of the new glamorous pack house, waiting for the guest to arrive."It sounds insane in theory. You have seen the numbers, they're insane too, but we're both going to make a lot of money off it in the long run.""Yeah. I wouldn't have believed it if everything hadn't checked out. I guess we have a little bit of competition now.""What do you mean, Alpha?" "I sent out a messenger to slyly check on that pack yesterday to see if there's really a well and everything. He came back yesterday, and everything checks out. They do have a well, so yes, we have competition.""Huh. I didn't know you were sending anyone." Zach tried to keep his voice level so he didn't sound suspicious. "Yes, I didn't want to burden you any more than I should. I hope you find a way to resolve your wife's situation."He blanked for a moment before he remembered he was supposed
THIRD PERSON'S POV The next time Zach woke up, he was tied to a chair, and not one muscle in his body was working."Welcome. I was beginning to think you wouldn't join the party on time.""We had a deal." Zach managed to whisper. "You said I could trust you.""I didn't say anything like that, boy. It's not my fault you're so naive.""What do you want with me?""Oh. You're going to find out in a minute." Bart stood up from his chair and rounded his desk. "There's no silver, is there?""Isn't that obvious?" Alpha Bart laughed as if there was anything remotely funny about the whole situation. He cursed his own st*pidity. How could he believe something that st*pid? He would kick himself if he could move. "Of course, there's no silver.""I still don't know what you plan to achieve by holding me hostage here.""Plenty, boy. You know, when I first sent out that proposal, I told Gary here that there was no way we would get any response. You know what John told me?"A man snorted behind him,
THIRD PERSON'S POV Zach knew the plan was too good to be true, but he still couldn't help but pursue it. He knew he should trash the document and forget he ever saw it, but he had already made all the mental calculations in his head. They would make millions of dollars if it were true."Snap out of it, Zach. You know it can't be real." He kept telling himself but he couldn't help but open the document over and over again. He read the document over and over again until he could recite most of it by heart."This is crazy," he said to himself as he sat down to make a rough estimate and calculations. He took into account the manpower that they would need and how long it would take to have it running. By his rough calculations, the factory would be up and running in eighteen months, at most twenty-four months, and they wouldn't even have to spend one penny. That would also mean employment for the pack members. A second factory would mean more money for the pack. Maybe they could finally
THIRD PERSON'S POV Zach was aware of how much influence he held in the pack. There was nothing that went on in the pack that he didn't know. More importantly than all this, he was the Alpha's most trusted man and his right hand. He was in a delicate situation because he knew how deeply paranoid his Alpha was. If he ever got a whiff that he was plotting something behind him that might pose a threat to him or his children, he wouldn't even think twice before killing him.Not that he would ever betray the Alpha, he would chop off his own hand before he hurt the Alpha and his family. Zach was always careful of the deals he brought to the Alpha's attention. He would vet it about a million times before he brought it to the Alpha's attention.As usual, when another pack wanted to make a deal with the pack, they would have to go through him. Just last week, they had spoken about how they could move the pack forward. He had even been surprised that the Alpha was talking about new developments
THIRD PERSON'S POV Sixteen years ago, the lives of Alpha and Luna of the North pack changed. The North pack was the largest pack in the North, and there was only one reason for it. The North pack was the only pack in the North. They didn't start out that way. In fact, they used to be one of the smallest packs out of the ten packs that were in the North back then. Their name used to be The Bright Moon Pack. The Bright pack kept to themselves and managed their resources well. The Bright Moon pack was the only pack with high-level technology, and most importantly, their pack had a high concentration of silver. Silver trading was a major source of income in the werewolf world. Alpha Todd was wise, and he knew that this resource could become a source of misery for his pack. He knew how power-drunk people could be. Alpha Todd had to kill his own friend, his Beta, when he found out he was plotting against him. His friend's reason was that he was not monetizing their resources well. Alpha