Zira-“That is cute, you seriously think that you will be able to survive? As long as you stay in this area, you will be suppressed by me and my pack. Even if you leave, I have ways of making sure you never see the light of day.” Trenton looped his arm over Allie’s shoulders and then whispered something in her ear, which caused her to giggle.“If you get on your knees and beg, maybe I will consider allowing my mate to keep you around as a sex slave.” Allie snuggled against Trenton. “As long as Trenton wants it, I will let him have fun with you.”“You two are disgusting.” I cringed at the thought of being intimate with Trenton.“When you thought I would take you as my mate, you were willing to do anything for me. You even gave me your kidney with just a little bit of sweet talk.” Trenton laughed.“Yeah.” Glenn and Bryce echoed. “Maybe we can all have a turn with her?” Glenn directed his question at Trenton.“Sure. You know I will share almost everything with you.” Trenton chuckled and
Zira-“My aunt?” The distraught look on Trenton’s face was priceless.If Axton had arrived at the party when I did, I doubt Trenton’s reaction would have been this satisfying. It almost made the two slaps I received worth it. The best part was that it looked as if Trenton didn’t know whether he wanted to laugh or cry right now.“That is correct.” Axton said as a slow and wicked smile spread across his face. “Now, how about you apologize to your aunt and give her a proper greeting?”Trenton’s expression changed from skepticism to absolute terror as he looked between me and his uncle, repetitively. Others in the room also seemed too shocked for words. Everyone was practically frozen in place, with their mouths hanging open, except for Allie. She was still glaring at me, but I was at a loss about what her problem with me was. It seemed a little too personal.“You’re joking right?” Trenton’s gaze kept shifting between me and Axton.“Does it look like I am joking?” Axton cocked his brow an
Zira-“You are right. What did you have in mind?” Axton quirked his brows as he twisted his torso to turn toward me.“Allie.” I kept my smile as I returned my attention to Trenton’s mate. “Why don’t you come forward and recognize us as your aunt and uncle, so you can receive a gift as well?”Allie doesn’t budge. She stood with her eyes burning with unmasked rage, and her jaw ticking as she continuously ground her teeth together. I could only imagine she was thinking up a hundred and one ways on how to kill me. Yet, she as well as everyone else in the room, knew Axton wasn’t to be trifled with.Although I hadn’t been around Axton much growing up, I knew that there wasn’t a single person who would openly oppose him. I didn’t know if Allie would, but when I glanced at Trenton, I saw he was glaring at her as if inaudibly ordering her to obey. I knew it wasn’t me Trenton feared, it was his uncle, but I had no apprehensions about using Axton’s presence as leverage to obtain the results I de
Axton-Watching her twirling around as if she didn’t have a care in the world, I couldn’t have been prouder. Over these past two weeks, I have watched her teeter on the edge of sanity until she broke free of the shackles of her past. I could still see a bit of darkness in her almond-shaped, stormy grey eyes, but for the most part, they were full of wonder and innocence.When I arrived at the party and saw her in a compromised position, I thought she would regress into the fearful girl she had been when I found her in the rain. To my surprise, she surpassed my expectations and even showed me that she was cunning. Although she hadn’t made Trenton kneel to her directly, I never would have expected she would make his mate kneel.Smiling at Zira, I tried to focus solely on her, but at the thought of Trenton’s mate, something didn’t sit well with me. Turning to Lukas, who had followed us out, I saw he was smiling at my girl. My smile faded and I narrowed my eyes at him.Lukas seemed to noti
Axton-After arriving at the mall, I led Zira inside. The moment we were inside, she was like an eager child as she grabbed my hand and began pulling me behind her. Even with my long legs, it was difficult to keep up with her, unless I was jogging. I didn’t mind, until almost fell from running in high heels.To prevent her from falling, I scooped her up in my arms and carried her to the nearest mall bench. “Stay here, I will be right back.”Without waiting for her response, I rushed off to the nearest shoe store. It didn’t take long for me to find something that would allow her to walk and run freely, without hurting her feet. I ended up choosing a pair of white flats, with a silver logo design on the side. They were simple but cute.On my way back, I stopped when I spotted something in the window of another shop. Going into the store, I purchased the item, but then tucked it inside my suit jacket, so I could surprise Zira with it. When I returned to where I left Zira, I had to force
Axton-“Do you mind waiting by the entrance while I grab something?” I asked when we reached the ground floor of the mall.“Sure.” Zira shrugged and took the bag with her shoes, that I had placed with security while we were playing.I waited until she was far enough away, before slipping inside the bakery we had stopped in front of. While we had been in the arcade, I had placed an order and told them I would pick it up before leaving. Walking to the counter, I was immediately greeted by the cashier, who seemed to know who I was without me saying anything because she placed it on the counter.“Have a good day. Thank you for coming.” She said and I didn’t know if she was greeting me or dismissing me.Taking the cake from the counter, I exited the baker with nothing more than a nod of approval. Before Zira could see me, I placed the cake behind my back and tried not to give away my surprise. When I stopped beside her, she didn’t seem to notice I was hiding anything.“Instead of heading h
Axton-“Zira? Talk to me.” I kept my voice soft, but I didn’t nudge her again.She still didn’t respond, and it caused me distress. I wasn’t sure what to do. If she kept shutting me out like this, I had a feeling I was going to freak the fuck out. It was one thing for her to verbally refuse to tell me what was on her mind, but the cold shoulder was another matter entirely.Looking at the jade pendant again, I wondered if she was thinking about her mother. I had known she never took it off, at least not until she moved it to her wrist and wore the necklace I bought her, around her neck. I made a mental note to try to get the pendant from her so I could replace the rope with a white gold chain.Since it was evidently important to her, I wanted her to be able to continue wearing it regardless of whether she wore casual or formal clothing. I still wanted her to keep the necklace I gave her because it wasn’t just any ordinary necklace. I had purchased it before returning home two weeks ago
Zira-While I looked out the window, it was difficult to see the crescent moon. My vision was blurred due to my tears that continuously fell regardless of how hard I tried to fight them. I knew it wasn’t fair to Axton, but when I saw what time it was, all the happiness I had been feeling while I celebrated my birthday with Axton, came to a crushing halt.The reality of not receiving my wolf hit me unexpectedly. I had thought I had accepted that I wouldn’t receive my wolf, but I had been wrong. Maybe it was because I started thinking of how my mother would have enjoyed the water display. That reminded me of how my mom used to run through the water in her wolf form.I used to dream that when I received my wolf I could run freely like my mom had. When she was in her wolf form, it was like all her troubles disappeared and she didn’t need to worry about anything other than being free. I could still remember how beautiful my mother’s wolf had been.My mother’s wolf had been a light grey. At
Zira-The rest of the week went pretty fast; before I knew it, it was Monday. After returning home the day we received our marriage license, Axton and I didn’t see much of each other. Axton had a lot of things to deal with after being laid up in bed for a few days. Kason and Lukas ended up taking most of Axton’s time. I also focused on the stuff Jeremy needed from me before starting school.When it was time for me to get ready for school, I became a nervous wreck, and it was like I lost my head. I couldn’t do anything right, and I couldn’t find anything. I always thought of myself as an organized person, but not today.“Where are my new uniforms?” I yelled after sticking my head out of my door and into the hall.“They are in your closet!” Ruby yelled as she was rushing up the stairs.“I looked, but they aren’t there.” I ducked my head back into my room to continue destroying it to search.“I just saw them there yesterday.” Ruby entered my room, looking as pristine as ever, in her blac
Zira-“What else did you need to do?” I asked Axton, taking my eyes from the certificate.Axton was also looking at his certificate, with a wide grin on his face. His blue eyes twinkled with something I couldn’t quite explain, but it almost seemed a little like excitement or something similar. When Axton turned his attention to me, the smile faded, and the twinkle in his eyes was no longer present.“It is already done.” Axton said as he grabbed the certificate from my hands. “I will hold onto this. That way it won’t get lost. Because losing it would make it difficult to get divorced later.”The thought of getting a divorce made me feel sick to my stomach. Now I needed to find a way to get Axton not to want to divorce me later. I was tempted to take both certificates and hide them for that purpose. Yet, compared to Axton, I was nothing more than a naive teenager.Even if I didn’t want a divorce, I couldn’t force him to stay married. But I could drag it out long enough and work harder,
Zira-“Where are we going?” I asked for probably the tenth time since we left the house.“You’ll know when we get there.” Axton responded with the same words that he had spoken every time I asked.Sighing, I slouched in the back seat of the Rolls-Royce. It wasn’t that I needed to know where we were going, but I was concerned whether Axton could handle it. He had still been weak a few hours ago. Now, he looked like he usually did, but he had hidden his deteriorated health from me before, so for all I knew, he was hiding it again.Glancing out the window, I chewed on my lower lip and wished I had at least put on something a little more formal. Axton was dressed in an expensive suit and looked as if he had walked off the front cover of a men's formal wear magazine. Whereas I was wearing a pair of blue jeans, a purple and black blouse, and my hair was pulled back in a loose ponytail.I thought I should change into something else when I exited my room, but Axton didn’t give me a chance. He
Axton-“I wanted to celebrate your birthday. I had been looking forward to it for months. Also, if I hadn’t shown up to that party, I might have killed Trenton if I heard he laid his hands on you.”For months before her eighteenth birthday, I had dreamed up various scenarios of her learning that I was her mate. If not for the age difference between us, I would be ecstatic to be her mate and wouldn’t let the chance slip me by. I knew I was likely the only one who had an issue with the age gap, but I couldn’t look past it. Especially after learning some of the things she experienced in my absence. Zira is just so innocent and young, and she hasn't even begun to live her life. The last thing I wanted was to tie her down to a mate bond or a relationship. If she were with me, she would have certain obligations as my Queen and the Queen of werewolves.During these last two weeks, I have seen the kind of person she is. Zira has some healing to do as she is still broken inside, but her inner
Axton-For three days I felt trapped. I was aware of the time and everything around me. I could sense Zira and everything she did or said. It was like I was awake, but I wasn’t. In suspended amination or even a vegetative state, but a hundred percent aware.Aside from the few words I spoke shortly after Zira came into my room, I couldn’t speak or move of my own accord, except for the occasional time, but more as a reflex than anything. Before Zira came into my room, it was much worse. I didn’t even want Zira to see me the way I was but having her beside me made my situation worth it.Maybe I was selfish, but I enjoyed every second she took care of me. I did feel a little bad because occasionally I would open my eyes and see her lying on the bed in an uncomfortable position. Much how she was now.No longer unable to move, I turned my head to the side, to gaze upon Zira’s sleeping face. She had her head resting on her arms, which were folding over each other on my bed. A bit of drool es
Zira-Feeling embarrassed for being caught, I dropped my gaze to the ground, while clasping my hands and rubbing them together nervously. Slowly making my way toward Axton, watching my feet move one foot in front of the other, I racked my mind on how to explain what I was doing. When I stopped beside his bed, I suddenly remembered I wasn’t the one who should be nervous.Axton was the one who lied and hid that he was sick from me. Lifting my gaze to look at Axton, I saw he had fallen back asleep, with tension written across his forehead. Instead of being upset with him for hiding from me, I lowered to the bed and sat beside him. Placing my hand on his forehead, my heart twisted at feeling how hot he was.Pulling my hand back, I slunk off the bed and into the bathroom, where I retrieved a clean towel and soaked it with cold water. After ringing out the excess water, I returned to his side. Before placing the now folded wet cloth on his forehead, I massaged my thumb against the stress li
Zira-“The worst part is she doesn’t even know what he has done for her. Since she is the reason he is the way, he is now, she should be the one taking care of him.” The first maid spoke, and I was fairly sure she rolled her eyes.“Don’t let Alpha hear you say that unless you want to lose your job.” A different maid commented. “Even if she is the reason he is laid up in bed.”“I don’t know how Alpha managed to hide having a pint and a half of blood drawn every day for two weeks.” A housekeeper scoffed. “I mean, is she that stupid that she didn’t know that her medicine was his blood?”I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. I didn’t care that they were insulting me, because honestly, I was feeling rather foolish at the moment. I do remember having a bloody aftertaste in my mouth like I was sucking on a penny or something, but when I was drinking the medicine, I didn’t taste any blood. I just thought the blood taste was a side effect of the medicine.“I guess the guy who was drawing the
Zira-“No.” Axton chuckled as he should his head. “Don’t believe everything you read in books. Silver isn’t going to kill us. If we get shot by a silver bullet, it could potentially kill us, but so can a regular bullet.”That made me think about the other deadly thing I heard and wondered if it was real. “What about wolfsbane? Is that deadly to our kind or is it a myth?”“Where did you hear that? Or is it something you read in a book?”“I overheard Trenton mention it.”“You shouldn’t believe anything you hear coming out of his mouth.” Axton chuckled again. “Wolfsbane is technically a myth, at least in the sense you heard.” He picked up his water glass and took another drink before continuing. “In fact, the plant that is known as wolfsbane is poisonous to everyone, including humans. The plant has been known throughout history to be used as a poison for various situations.”“Then why does it have a popular connection with werewolves?”“Because people have a strange imagination. They mad
Zira-An instant later Axton noticeably relaxed. Tension dissipated from his body, causing his shoulders to sag and his muscles to soften under my touch. Given how much he relaxed, I was a little surprised he didn’t collapse.“You really think so?” Axton asked as he turned slightly, pulling his arm from me and then grabbing my wrists in his hands.“I do.” I beamed up at him.Axton's thumb rubbed against my wrist, just below the jade and his eyes focused intently on me. “Would you be willing to let me take the jade to have the robe replaced with a chain? I didn’t realize until earlier that you always wear it, but instead of wearing it around your neck, you placed it on your wrist.”The idea of anyone messing with my jade didn’t sit well with me. Axton apparently caught on to my hesitation. Before I could give him an answer, he made another suggestion.“If you want, I can have someone connect it to the diamond necklace.”Chewing on my lower lip, I glanced down at the jade. It wasn’t tha