Teagan's Point of View Wallowing in my own self-pity seemed too harsh a term for me to use. I saw my little stint as nothing more than a self-care day. Something that I used to make myself feel a bit better. Or rather to silence the guilt inside my mind. Not that it worked but it was worth a try. After my call with Harland last night, the world seemed a little less dull. More colorful and optimistic. Until I was left alone to my own mind again. Then it was back to being harsh and cruel. Seeing Bellamy whilst trying to be intimate with Harland was a line in the sand I didn't need. It made things clearer to me. I had to avoid Bellamy at all costs or it might just cost me my marriage. And that wasn't a price I was willing to pay. My mind always tended to stray further than it should but last night it went severely dark. To haunted crevices I had long since thought forgotten. Bellamy was there as well. Always there, it seemed, since I found him in his room. As if the bastard just
Teagan's Point of View There was no way in hell that I would ever go back there. Not a single chance. I had endured too much. Seen too much. Years spent behind a glass window just staring out at the world beyond whilst I stagnated within my parents' house. Then the send-off into the world they had given Harland and I. Yes, we had left of our own free will. But they hadn't given us an alternative. Years' worth of being told I would never amount to anything, seeing as I was born with breasts and not a penis. Being groomed to fit whatever image they had imagined for me. Finally, being pawed off on the closest male heir to a pack they could find. It was high time that I let all of it go. To be the better person. But now was not that time. Maybe with therapy and a good ranting session, I could come to terms with seeing them again. Not tonight. Not in the next year. Time. I needed time to deal. Come to terms with everything that has taken place. Process all of it the way Harland h
Teagan's Point of ViewFuck. Fuck. I didn't think he would be here. On the contrary, I had hoped he would remain fully out of these dealings. You know, like he always had.But no, he was here. He was here and looking so different than he normally dressed. Black shirt. Slacks. hair placed meticulously. Even his beard seemed appealing, something I never thought I would find attractive in a man.My insides were clenching together. Shuddered every time my eyes caught a glimpse of him. If it wasn't for the long sleeves of my dress, I was sure they would see my armpits break out in a sweat. The setting spray I had used before the dinner better be as good as the sales lady had claimed, otherwise I was going to be a melting mess by the end of the night.All of my attention went right to him. Went right to every single knuckle he kissed. Our eyes locked and my heart did several flips.This was going against everything I had promised myself. See him as little as possible. Don't let him touch
Teagan's Point of View I was out of that house like a bat out of hell. Anger roiled deep in my stomach. Made me want to turn around and shove a pipe into their asses. Make a fucking video out of it just to prove a point. They dared blame us for what we had endured. Not themselves or anyone else. Only Harland and I were accountable for something we had zero control over. Flying down the front steps, I was already halfway down the driveway when I heard the front door close again. "Teagan!" Bellamy called from behind me. I groaned but kept going. Forced my legs to go faster than they ever had before in heels. Rocks kicked up behind me. Was I going to walk the entire way back to my hotel? Most likely not. I just needed more space between me and them before I called a taxi. "Teagan stop!" He called again and I could hear his feet hit the ashphalt. He was steadily gainign ground on me. But Bellamy was part of the problem. If my parents hadn't wanted to marry me off to him, then I
Teagan's Point of ViewBreathe. Don't let him know that you are shaking on the inside. Confidence. You got this.The mantra replayed in my mind on a loop. Circled over and over again whilst I stood in front of that door.After the maid had left, I remained neatly in the foyer. Did my best not to fidget with my fingers. My rings. Or any piece of clothing.This was my last chance. Last crack at it before I tucked tail and ran back home.It hadn't even been a week here and I was already coming apart at the seams. Pitiful. But nothing a good few sessions with Harland's therapist couldn't fix. Or rather, it would grant me the tools to fix myself.I could hear Jonah chuckling from the dining room. A chair screeched against the tiles. Another followed and I already knew who it was.No backing off now. I had to stand my ground and demand the proposal be accepted, despite my reluctance to rekindle my relationship with my parents. Bellamy just had to take a backseat regarding this matter.Once
Teagan's Point of View They each got individually made breakfasts. My mother had chosen eggs benedict whilst my father had an all-around breakfast. Neither touched their food when it arrived. Instead, they stared at me. Never let their gazes slip off of my face. Remained stoic whilst I drank my second espresso. When I had come here, I hadn't bargained on them being here as well. On the contrary, I had hoped to speak with Jonah alone. Even Bellamy was an unwelcome sight. But as luck would have it, Jonah already summoned them from their firey pit of hell to come to torment me. Their presence knocked my confidence down a peg or two. My once glowing smile was far gone. "We want to apologize for last night," My mother started. I didn't miss the way her eyes slid over to Jonah. How she sought his approval. He gave her a shallow nod but one I couldn't miss. "We know now that broaching the subject of Harland with you isn't going to get us anywhere. You just need to consider that we rem
Teagan's Point of View I was going home. The thought was both thrilling and saddening at the same time. After days spent in Desert Sun, I couldn't get Jonah to agree to any of our terms. I had made an enemy out of my parents. Alienated one of my mates whilst lying to the other about his existence. No. This was not the pack I wanted to be in for the rest of my life. This was not the pack I wanted to wake up to in the morning. Yet I had this looming feeling that I would be back. Like there was no escape from this place for me. Not truly. Ciaran was going to fight Jonah for Desert Sun, or Bellamy was going to be backed by Eiecrunt, granted he give us what we wanted. Bellamy. Bellamy Johanness. The heir of Desert Sun and my mate. A heady compilation of words, to say the least. If Ciaran was going to indulge in the latter, there was no chance I would come to deliver the verdict. Only then would I tell Harland about it all. Only then that I would bare my soul to the leaders of my pa
Ulrich's Point of View All this place had to offer me was a whirlpool of fucking dust. Not a single person had something of interest to tell me. Not even the fucking children. It was the most frustrating scouting mission I had ever been on. It was now evident to me that wolves knew how to keep their lips shut. But after years of myths and legends regarding them, I wasn't surprised. Just frustrated with my lack of intelligence. The town was named Desert Sun in their language. A foreign affair if you asked me. Some poor soul told me the word but I could barely comprehend his appearance in this blistering heat, much less the foreign language he had used. Zulu or some other strange language. The higher-ups weren't going to be impressed with my mission on this side. I could almost feel their angry eyes settling on me. Old cunts that had long since given up their active duty. Bastards, every last one of them. Oh well, what could I have done? Taken them back to my hotel and torture t
7 Months Later Teagan's Point of View "Who has the baby bag!" Ulrich screamed, flitting from room to room as he scrambled to get the one thing he was tasked with. "Already in the car," I mumbled, slipping out of my soaked nightgown. Although I doubted he heard me. No one could hear me above their panic right now. Who thought the baby would come in the middle of the night? Not fucking me. Not when I had finally figured out a way to sleep with such an enormous stomach. "Did you install the car seat like I asked?" Bellamy screamed back. I could hear him in the living room. He had forgotten to set up the spare cot downstairs. Thought now would be a good time to do it. Rolling my eyes, I slipped into a clean dress. Didn't bother with underwear. They were going to come off, anyway. "I can't find the fucking car keys! Who had them last?" Harland screamed. The house was echoing with their voices. Bounced around relentlessly. So it was no help to remind him that they were on the
Bellamy's Point of View"Where is he!" I screamed down the moist hallway. Down here in the earth, everything was damp. Which was strange, given we were in the middle of a desert.But that wasn't the problem right now. The problem was Felix. The bastard wasn't anywhere near the cells. Hell, his scent wasn't even here, which meant he had never made it down here to begin with. "Heir, sir, Alpha," The guard nervously stammered, sweat beading on his forehead. "From the list in the office, he was brought here right after you asked. The last man on duty here even swore he had booked him in."He had lied, no doubt. Or this little maggot was. Either way, Felix had never been here. No doubt thanks to all of his bribery. "Find him! The enemy is on our doorstep and you let our only fucking bargaining chip escape!" I roared and spun on my heels to march back the way I had come in. We had evacuated everyone in the town within an hour. Left only shells for homes and shops. Mariland and Keagan
Teagan's Point of View"Get most of the civilians to the ranch! Don't trust fucking any of the guards! The moment they try something funny, kill without mercy." Bellamy all but screamed as we stopped in front of the house.The two cars that had followed us from the desert were barely full, compared to when they left with us in the first place. So many of Bellamy's men had turned. Or died. "What do you want me to do?" I asked, clinging to his arm. Watched as his face shifted. Took in everything around us all at once.Those caramel eyes turned towards me. Blinked slowly."Why did you call my brother?" Bellamy asked in a whisper that no one else would be able to hear.Not with all of the commotion taking place around us.I stiffened. Twitched my eyes away from him.I knew he was going to be upset. I just hadn't thought it would come so soon. Not when we were still in crisis mode."Because I would rather take his help than see any of you in a grave. We need his man-power and he is more
Teagan's Point of ViewWe headed out into the eastern part of the desert with several guards in tow. The ones who stayed behind with Felix were informed of the situation and instructed to keep him shackled at all times.Killing him wasn't an option. Not until we could safely get Jonah back. The moment we had him or deemed him-I swallowed down the lump in my throat, shoving the thought that he might already be gone to the back of my mind.Bellamy was never going to forgive himself if he didn't say goodbye to his father. Especially after the note Jonah had left in his last file.As if he knew he was walking into his death."There... On the dune just past that large outcropping." Ulrich said from the passanger side.He was looking west now. Scanned the horizon fervently with the stars shining down on us.Out here in the middle of the night was the best time. With no light pollution, the air was clear. The Milkyway a shiny symbol above us.But in the direction Ulrich was looking, someone
Teagan's Point of ViewThe end note left my mind reeling. Shot a wave of dizziness through my body. Jonah knew. Knew about Harland being here and about Ulrich. Knew that we had taken some of his files. And he had done nothing about it. Actually counted on the fact that we might come snooping again.Now he was somewhere in the desert, likely dead, from what the note implied."We have to tell Bellamy." I breathed, feeling my lungs quiver with each word.Ulrich's eyes shot towards mine. Eyebrows nearly touched his hairline. "There is no fucking way I'm letting you go down there by yourself. We might not be able to hear what is happening but I can assure you, it isn't going to be pretty." "His father can be somewhere out there fighting for his fucking life and you just want to keep that from him when we can try and help?" I screeched, balling my hands into tight fists.A sheepish look passed over his face then. One of pain as well. "It's not like the guy is winning the Father of the Yea
Teagan's Point of ViewHarland moved closer to me on instinct. Shifted his weight to his dominant leg. Geared himself up for a confrontation if the need arose."What do you mean he can handle himself? Why would he have to?" I pushed more, feeling a shift of energy all around me.Felix gave me another long and cruel smile. Took one step forward before I noticed several men behind him. All tall and menacing. Brooding hulks that engulfed the space we stood in.None of them looked familiar. Or even scented to me that I knew them."Let's just say that Jonah isn't the only one fighting for his life right now." My heart slammed into my throat. Bellamy. He was talking about Bellamy. Harland sensed my urgency. Spun around and pushed me lightly to the staff door on the other side of the kitchen. "Go. I can handle this." He urged, fear lacing his voice.He was my mate and I loved him dearly. But he wasn't the best fighter around. Ulrich, on the other hand, was.I nodded and broke for the door
Teagan's Point of View Even with everything aired out, Harland barely looked my way. His shoulders were still sagging. Hair fell into his eyes. And whenever I tried to make eye contact with him he would look away the moment he noticed. The air wasn't clear yet. "He is going to be away for two days. I say we haul up in the pack house and start digging for whatever we can find on him. I told him I'm your new assistant, so he won't question my scent. Harland can lead the run tonight so that no one questions your absence too much. Get the shit and-" Bellamy shook his head in the driver's seat. Locked eyes with me in the back of the car. At least Harland had agreed to drive with us instead of walking. "No. I'll go lead the run. They won't expect Teagan to be there, seeing as the news of her pregnancy has spread like wildfire. Jonah can smell Harland in the house when he gets back because by then we will have everything we need to dethrone him. Just make sure that Felix doesn't j
Ulrich's Point of View Their family was fucked up. Beyond fucked up. Made me thankful that I had grown up in the foster system. Drama on drama on drama. Like there was no end to it. But it shaped Harland and Teagan into who they were. Gave me the greatest blessing I could ever have. Teagan. Our baby. A future where I didn't have to kill or maim. A stable home. Well, it was going to be a stable home the minute all of this madness passed. Died down. Which wasn't going to happen anytime soon, I was sure of that. "Harland. Wait up!" I screamed and followed him down the driveway. If he heard me, he gave no sign of it. Continued marching toward the gate and away from all the shit this place gave him. "Harland!" I tried again and upped my pace. Broke into a sprint. When I touched his shoulder, he whirled on me. Those were tears in his eyes. Snot peeking out from his nose. He was crying. And I could feel his pain as if it were my own. "Something wrong?" He asked, wiping his face
Teagan's Point of View Jessebelle brought out tea and coffee for everyone. Stood at the door and watched as the drama unfolded. Her little smirk of satsifaction upon seeing Mariland's distraught face was enough to make me smile as well. "Now then, we have something to drink. The mood in the room seems to be less intense. Care to explain what happened?" Bellamy asked, placing his coffee on the small table in the middle of the room. We were sitting around the living room like we were friends. Discussing the weather and upcoming plans. Like we weren't hoping the other would just fall over and die. Keagan sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. Placed on leg over the other. His eyes slid my way. Took me in with a remorseful look that had my bones aching. Was he ever as bad as Mariland? Not really. But he permitted it and that was all the confirmation I needed to not pity him. "When we mated, we tried for years to have a child. Jonah was freshly made the Alpha of Desert Sun and h