Darren's POV."Alpha." I turned to Aidan raising my brows, I could feel the gaze of my guards on me.Aidan's expression made me understand he wants to talk to me alone."You can all leave." I ordered.The three guards saluted and left the room.Aidan took a deep breath before beginning. "Something happened.""What happened?" I stared at him in confusion.Aidan rubbed his arm and looked down. It seemed like he was afraid to tell me something but wanted it over with. "Leila is in the cell room underground." "What?" I gasped, feeling an overwhelming sense of concern for her."Why didn't you say so sooner?"He shook his head. "I couldn't. It's not too long since I heard it." He stated matter of factly."Who caught her stealing?" I asked."Shantel?" he replied."What did she steal?" I asked."That's what I don't know." Aidan shook his head."Something feels fishy." Aidan added."Shantel hasn't told anyone what she stole, all she said is something important is missing.""Go find out more a
Shantel's POV.I picked up my pace, rushing to the cell room. I needed to see Leila.I was excited that I punished her, accusing her of stealing my stuff was the best thing ever.I had the chance to punish her the way I wanted, I wanted to punish her to death.Her screams and pleading made me happy, though it felt like she's strong at the same time. I could still remember what the witch said.I kept walking, excitement thrumming through my veins, this is gonna be fun.I increased my pace as I opened the underground door, I couldn't wait to see her cell room.I entered with a smile plastered on my face, I looked around the dimly lit room before me, the place looked abandoned.I couldn't see Leila in there, except the cell door was completely broken.I couldn't believe I got happy for nothing, I wanted her punished badly, and yet she wasn't there.My eyes scanned the other cells and the whole dungeon, trying to see if I would see her anywhereThe rage and anger I felt immediately dimin
Shantel's POV.I hid perfectly, making sure the guards didn't see me.I tried not to breathe too hard and keep as quiet as possible while I waited for the right time to sneak outside the pack grounds.The Alpha has made sure security was tight with the ongoing attack packs were having.I watched the guards pace the border of our pack until they eventually gave up on the search.They retreated back inside of the fence, leaving me with my freedom.The air around me felt thick and hot from the fire that kept all the anger I've been feeling.The heat seeped into my skin, almost burning away any sense of relief I had been feeling moments ago when they left.I clutched my sling bag tightly, surveying the area once more for any sign of guards.My stomach churned as a sudden urge to go back to the Alpha's room and kill Leila came over me.I sighed in relief when I realized there was no one, not even a hidden guard like the Alpha said.I began walking across, trying to find a hidden path to t
Leila's POV.I woke up with a start, my head hurting like crazy and my eyes stinging from crying out. My whole body ached , my limbs numb. The pain in my head was almost enough to make me scream.I opened my eyes slowly, the world swimming around me. It took me a while for me to realize that I wasn’t alone.The alpha sat beside me, his hands covering his face, I looked around the room realizing I was in his room.As soon as he noticed me, I opened my eyes. He stood up instantly, moving closer."Are you okay?" he asked endearingly."Should I call the healer?" he raised his eyebrows.It was weird seeing him this way, he was always confusing me, he always acted hot and cold.Like right now he was suddenly sweet and soon he'll hate the air I breathe.I couldn't understand him, I knew he disliked me, he showed that several times, but at the same time,he acted caring once I was in a near death experience like now.I stared at him, still confused by this act, I don't know if he'll switch so
Darren's POV."I'm sorry but my dad didn't do that." Her voice repeated in my head and I stared at her like she was going crazy.I don't know what made me tell her why I hate her and like her at the same time, but I couldn't help but tell her that.It just slipped out when she asked me why I was nice to her.I couldn't help but slip up and tell her, the way she stared at me when I told her that her dad was responsible.She looked at me like I was crazy, the same way I looked at her right now when she told me this."I'm really sorry you had to go through that." She said again."But I don't see any possibility, anyway my dad would be responsible for what happened to you." She said."Why will say that?" I barked."Are you trying to defend him?" I asked, I couldn't help but accuse her.It seemed that way, it was very suspicious and annoying that she defended him immediately."I'm defending him because whoever gave you that information lied to you." She said."You know I didn't just get th
Leila's POV.I returned to the slave quarters shakily, I wasn't feeling strong and the wind was blowing harshly.When I finally got to my room and closed my door, I collapsed against it. It felt good to be safe.I didn't know what would happen to me. Once the head slave found out I was back, I didn't know if my name was cleared, but I hoped it was.As much as I was singled out a lot, the slave quarters are like a safe space for me, and staying here felt okay, especially in the walls of my room.I sighed, staring at the ceiling trying to calm down. I still wasn't sure what happened. I took deep breaths, slowly calming myself. The sound of my heartbeat echoed in my ears, and I wondered why.When I tried to think about what happened, the memory of my discussion with the Alpha came to mind immediately.I could still see his angry face, how he looked at me in shock and anger when I told him my father didn't do anything to him.He looked like I slapped him in the face. The way his nostri
Darren's POV.I rush away, trying to get my mind off everything.It's a futile endeavor, I’m sure. My thoughts won’t leave me alone until things are sorted out.I planned to find answers with Aidan today, I needed to know what the truth really is, and if it's what I know then I would feel relaxed.I scanned the pack, smiling as I saw the guards go about their duty of guarding the pack.Packs weren't free from whatever threat was lurking around and I didn't want my pack among the packs that would fall victim.I began jogging into the woods, my boots crunching on the fallen leaves that had gathered under them.The sun was high in the sky and the forest smelled clean, like rain and soil.The air was cool enough to make my cheeks flush and my chest heave.The trees were so close together they looked like the branches might brush over my head at any moment.I couldn’t believe how far I’d come till I stared at my environment.I was deeper in the woods, past my pack's border.I kept jogging,
Darren's POV.I followed Alpha Dean, glancing around his pack.It looked much different than what it appeared to be at the outskirts.It was very developed, and the buildings and environment were eye-catching.The whole area was very beautiful, and I couldn’t help but marvel. Alpha Dean turned to me with a warm smile on his face."I'm surprised you remember me." He laughed."Well I do, I was actually jogging, I didn't expect to reach here, but once I did, I realized it immediately and I needed to meet you too.""Well, I'm surprised to see you, but I'm happy.""I've heard of the things you do." He shook his head."But I need to train my guards better, you beat them up easily." He sighed."I was trying to not hurt them, it was fun though, it took my mind off things." I said absentmindedly."Like?" He asked as we continued our way through the large clearing. "Well, it's a lot, but it's something I need to clear off my mind." I sighed as the weight of every thought I forgot hit me.I fi
Leila's POV.I followed him, I was too giddy and excited.He kissed me, ruffling my hair, as I giggled in delight. He told me how proud he was of me and we both laughed at it. His face formed into a smile that didn't exist and it made the butterflies I felt in my stomach go wild again. I loved it when he smiled at me or made me happy.I felt so good, everything was lovely and wonderful, and then he looked down and whispered, “We have to go or we won't see the sunset." He said.I followed him, feeling like I was floating on air, as he carried me up.I couldn't stop thinking about everything that happened and how I felt now.I was filled with so much happiness, love, adoration. I wanted more than anything else to spend my life with this amazing man who had given me all I had ever wished for.He gave me protection, love and care, and I couldn't ask for anything more."We're almost there." He whispered.He covered my eyes as I stumbled trying to find my balance."Be careful." He said
Leila's POV.I groaned as the incessant knocking on the door jolted me awake from my peaceful slumber. Rubbing my eyes, I stumbled out of bed and made my way to the door, struggling to shake off the lingering remnants of sleep.I swung open the door to reveal a young maid standing on the other side. Her hair was neatly pulled back into a tight bun, and her eyes darted nervously around the room. She curtsied before me, her voice trembling slightly as she spoke."By Alpha's orders, I have been sent to get you ready for the celebration, ma'am," she announced, her voice barely above a whisper. "It's the mating ceremony today."Confusion washed over me like a cold wave, and I frowned, trying to gather my thoughts. Mating ceremony?"What... what ceremony?" I stammered, my voice still laced with drowsiness."The mating ceremony, ma'am," the maid repeated, her eyes widening. "You and Alpha Darren's he had been preparing for it all day"My heart skipped a beat at the realization. How could I h
Darren's POV.I stepped into the kitchen, the savory aroma of freshly cooked food wafting through the air. It had been a long day, but I wanted to make sure Leila had a proper meal.She deserved something special, something that would nourish her body and lift her spirits. As I glanced around the kitchen, my eyes settled on the ingredients neatly arranged on the countertop. It was time to create a healthy and delicious dinner for my mate.I started by selecting a vibrant array of vegetables. Bright red tomatoes, crisp green lettuce, and vibrant orange carrots caught my attention.I carefully washed and chopped them, the sharp knife slicing through the vegetables with precision. Next, I reached for a head of cauliflower and broke it into florets, ready to be roasted to perfection.With the vegetables prepared, I turned my attention to the protein. I had bought fresh salmon, knowing that the omega-3 fatty acids would be beneficial for Leila and our unborn child. I seasoned them with a d
Leila's POV.I woke up with a pounding headache, my temples throbbing as I tried to make sense of my surroundings. Slowly, the fog lifted from my mind, and I realized I was in my own room. Relief washed over me, mingling with confusion.How did I get here? Why was my head hurting so much? And then, like a dam breaking, my memories flooded back, crashing into my consciousness with the force of a tidal wave.I remembered meeting the healer and all, I just know the memory didn't leave. Shantel. The name echoed in my mind, carrying with it the terror of the past few days. I had been kidnapped by her and the witch, held against my will in a nightmarish ordeal.Tears welled up in my eyes as I allowed myself to fully comprehend the gravity of the situation. The Moon goddess had spared my life, and for that, I was eternally grateful, I'm sure she sent the blasting moon to kill them.The room seemed simultaneously comforting and alien. The familiar sights and sounds of my sanctuary took on ne
Leila's POV.Opening my eyes, staring at the healer as she cleaned off my bruises, applying ointment on it as the memories of Shantel's wickedness dawned on me.I felt so proud of myself for surviving all the pains and all the torture I received in the hands of that monster Shantel.I remembered how the Alpha carried immediately when he saw me there.She made my life a living hell, my child was my hope and my strength so I had to survive.I would have been devastated if I had lost my child to Shantel's torture, even at the expense that she doesn't know that I'm pregnant her torture was enough to kill a mother and her child."Whoever did this to you must be hell bent on having you dead" The healer said as she slowly rubbed the ointment on my legs."Oh she's definitely hell bent on killing me and Alpha Darren, she's a monster. You should have seen what she did to me. This is just because the wounds were healing." I uttered hastily, trying hard to shade off the thoughts of Shantel becau
Darren's POV"We have to go and find Leila, if anything happens to her I wouldn't forgive myself" I uttered, wondering what Leila must be passing through in the hands of Shantel, the fact that I wasn't there and I don't know where she could be filled me with the thoughts of incapabilities.I've got to find Leila to shade off my thoughts of incapabilities and also to prove to Shantel that she can't get away with her plans, her obsession is quite killing her. "It's dangerous out there,we got hurt when we came back."Aidan stuttered, knowing that his words would get me pissed. Truly his words got me pissed to some point, I lost my appetite for even eating this beautiful meal."I don't care... Besides it's the reason I want to rescue her out of the hands of Shantel" I retorted in a manner that he understood that he had to think about his words before saying it to me to avoid my wrath."Having you in the hands of Shantel would mean her gaining full victory over you and her plan could be to
Leila's POV.I was tied up on top of a stone, my hands behind my back.I was nervous, wondering how the ritual would be, when I woke up, I saw myself here.I was about to become a sacrifice for a greedy witch, and here I was.I couldn't move, I felt paralyzed, everything in me was frozen, unable to respond to anything other than the cold.The sensation spread throughout me like ice, freezing every part of my body. There wasn't enough air in my lungs, and yet I could feel nothing, no air moving through my throat. My stomach turned uncomfortably and I started to gag involuntarily.The nausea came in waves, and it took all of my will power to fight them off until they subsided again, slowly returning to a normal state.I was terrified, my heart beating so fast I thought it might explode.My mind went blank, my breathing slowed, and the world stopped spinning around me, just as my body was starting to slow down from its frantic heartbeat.In an attempt to distract myself, I began counting
Leila's POV.A scream rips from through my throat as ice cold water cascades down my body."Get up" Shantel hisses at me in a harsh tone, I can see her silhouetted figure in the room, my mind is in a haze and I try to focus, to regain my bearings. Her voice pierces my ears but all I see are blurry spots, "Get up" she repeats with more emphasis, I can't move, my limbs are shaking violently, "Stand up at one and do not waste my time, the ritual is happening elsewhere. " She snaps at me, it takes my brain a few seconds to process this, the ritual she speaks of means death. They are going to kill me and take my powers, I try to stand, and immediately I am hit with another wave of dizziness.Fear shoots through my spine in a hot wave, gripping me, my mouth goes dry, my throat clogs up and my eyes water. I feel my knees give out, they give way beneath me, and I collapse on the floor once again, a sob tears from me as I curl up into myself, wrapping my arms around my shivering body.
Shantel's POV.I shivered, fear filled my body, and I could barely breath for a second. It wasn't because of the cold due to the rain. No, this was more than fear and pain.I couldn't believe what I heard from Dean, the Alpha was suspicious of me and I didn't know what to do.I was so terrified and Dean wasn't picking up his calls, or even texting me like he usually would. He's not picking up his calls, I wonder if the Alpha caught him already.I paced the corridor, trying to figure out what to do.I called his line again, and it was switched off.I bit my fingernails, my whole body shook, but my eyes stayed glued on my phone as I waited for another text message or a call.The witch came back already and she was doing her final preparations as she told me.I really didn't care about that, all that mattered to me was seeing a reply from Dean.I kept looking at my phone, waiting for anything, any kind of notification. My hands were shaking as I tried to text him again, my mind raced