Darren's POV.I watched them walk in, all ready for the training I was about to give them.My face didn’t break from the smile I wore as they walked through the door. A few of them looked a little nervous, but most of them were just confused at first. I couldn’t blame them, though, it wasn't in my plan for them to get trained by me."Let's begin the training." I said."Today you'll be doing some fighting styles that you haven't learned yet. So we're going to start with these." I gestured to my right where two men stood, holding their fists up and ready to brawl. They started off with basic punches to show that they would know how to fight.The second man had a punch so strong that you could see dust flying around him while he hit the other guy. He was strong, really strong, almost impossible to block.The guy on the ground kept struggling against the punch, trying desperately to get away but getting nowhere.The guy who fought back was also pretty strong himself, his punches seemed t
Darren's POV.I woke up with an ache all over, like I had gotten hit by a truck but somehow without the pain from getting crushed.My head pounded, I felt dizzy and disoriented for some reason. The room was dark, so I couldn’t see much aside from a thin stream of yellow sunlight through the closed curtains. My body ached too, my chest hurt and my legs felt numb. My throat was dry, like when I had a cold. Everything was fuzzy.I stood up stretching myself, trying to work out any aches or pains that had accumulated in the night.After a few minutes, everything seemed okay, though it still took me a bit of time to get used to walking around normally and not having a crick in my neck.I knew it was from the training I gave Alpha Dean's guards yesterday.The practice with them had me aching so early.Though it felt good, it was long. I trained that much.I rushed into the bathroom, sighing in relief as the hot water touched my aching muscles.Once I felt comfortable enough to step out,
Darren's POV.I dragged Leila with me and I moved past some guards.Everyone ran, looking for a safe place protected by guards.I watched her slightly through the corner of my eyes, trying to see if she was okay. She must have been frightened, but from what I saw,she looked okay, though I wasn't sure anymore.Her lips were slightly turned downwards as she looked at the ground, her eyebrows furrowed slightly as if deep in thought and a frown etched into her brows."This attack won't take long right?" She asked."No it won't take long." I replied as we kept walking.Aidan had texted me to come to the shade close to the slave quarters.I increased my pace, tugging her along with me, she followed suit, looking up at me every now and then, stumbling as she didn't concentrate.I grabbed onto her wrist and pulled her along, making sure she didn’t stumble again.I noticed a slight blush on her cheeks, as if she were embarrassed that I held her so tightly,but she didn't pull away from my hold
Leila's POV.The pack was in a total uproar after the attack, it affected us a little.I could see the place destroyed, those who were hurt were treated.I touched my neck, remembering the feeling of the intruder's hands on my neck.I wanted nothing more than to rip his heart out myself, but that would be counterproductive.I was surprised to be saved by the Alpha, I thought he wouldn't save me or even look my way, but he did and that was all that matters.I sighed as I watched the soldiers and guards walk past me, searching the whole area for one of the intruders who escaped after being held captive.It was the one who held my neck to the point that I couldn't breathe, the fact that he was the one missing was scary to me.He is still the reason for so much death and he killed a lot while escaping.His face was burned into my memory forever. The way he almost killed me if the Alpha didn't come save me.I didn't know how the intruders infiltrated the pack, but I knew they were still he
Leila's POV.I ran with all the strength in me. I didn't know where I was going at this point, but I kept running ahead, past the pack's border.They kept pursuing me, it felt like they wanted me to run past the borders.They kept running after me and I kept running tirelessly.It felt like I was filled with some energy suddenly, something had changed in me, and there was a feeling of relief that had spread through my whole body, I could feel the weight on my shoulders lifting off them and my legs moving faster than ever before as I kept running forward, never looking back or stopping for once.Finally, I reached the edge of the woods. I didn't know where I stood, but I couldn't see them anywhere, it made me feel safe.I started to relax again.But then I remembered. That he promised he'll use me to kill Alpha Darren.I looked around nervously, trying to know where I was, but I couldn't think of anything, I just knew I ran straight and I found myself here.I began walking back to whe
Darren's POV.I looked around, trying to see any signs of Leila, but I couldn't see her.My heart ached terribly as I wondered what they would do to her.I knew she was taken by the intruder, most especially the leader.I could feel it in me, he knew something I didn't, and I needed to find him so he won't hurt Leila.I walked faster, trying to reach Aidan quickly."I can't find her." I sighed ruffling my hair in frustration."What?" he asked, staring at me like I suddenly ran mad."I've searched everywhere!" I sighed ruffling my hair."When I asked about her, it seemed like he knew her and he was here for a reason." I kicked the desk close to me.Aidan looked down. "Maybe you're not looking hard enough-""I am." I interrupted him before he could finish that sentence."I've searched the whole place for her, the guards are looking at me weirdly like I'm going crazy.""And she's nowhere to be found." I sighed."The head slave said she sent her to get peaches to prepare something." I gro
Shantel's POV.I have decided to revisit the witch, since my plan seemed to have failed, frustration rolls off me in waves as I think about my next move, nothing seems to work and it's getting me in a shitty mood.Those foolish intruders didn't seem to know what they were doing, they should've killed Leila, ended her immediately, but they failed to do so.I scream and upturn the table, sending its contents skittering to the ground, hot tears of frustration sting my eye and I wipe it off, that Leila girl must pay, she doesn't deserve to live, and she definitely does not deserve to have the Alpha.He is mine.Mine alone, no one can have him, if they try, they will end up on a pyre or with their heads on a pike. My hands are balled into fists and I want to punch someone, preferably Leila, but I cannot do that. The walls of my room feel suffocating and I pull at my hair, slipping to the ground, rage immediately turning into pain as hot tears flow.To think that I'm shedding tears because
Leila's POV.Of course Shantel is the one to blame for the recent mishaps that have been happening to me, I know this fact like the palm of my hand, call it a hunch or a psychic ability, but I know Shantel is the one responsible for the Intruders trying to end my life.She was also involved, or might have even spearheaded my poisoning, and she never missed the opportunity to accuse me of one difficulty or another. I know all this, I just do not have the evidence to prove it, so I have no choice but to be quiet about it, that does not mean I will let her harm me in any sort of way, in fact, I am going to keep a close eye on her in case she decides to start some sort of ruckus.I shake my head and continue scrubbing the office, the Alpha is not in the office today, so I have to scrub the whole place clean, I should not be daydreaming, the marble is cold against my touch and my hand is wrinkled, from all the scrubbing but I keep going, because if I didn't do it properly, the Alpha woul
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