Teagan's Point of ViewThe rest of the flight was spent in silence.Ulrich was a brooding mess at the back of the plane. Had settled into a window seat and refused to look anywhere but outside.I, on the other hand, couldn't sleep after our little talk.A new type of guilt had made its home inside my chest and I couldn't shake it for the life of me. His mental health might not have been my problem in the past but it was now. At the end of the day, he was my mate and I had to help him. Even if it wasn't for me, eventually. One day, he might meet someone of his own kind. Fall in love. Create a family.That future wasn't possible for me.Sliding my legs off of the couch, I braced my arms on my knees. My eyes slid to the back of the plane. Landed on a desolate-looking Ulrich. His hand was wrapped around a glass. Brought it to his lips from time to time. He looked hollow.I sighed and stood. Walked to the back. Fell into the seat across from him."I'm sorry." Those were the first words u
Bellamy's Point of View"She will be landing within the next half an hour. I expect you there with a smile on your face." My father said, scanning his newspaper.It wasn't the local kind. Came all the way from Makatza. On the front page stood a beautiful young woman. Dark curly hair. Striking features. The headline read 'King slayed by concubine!'. The incident happened a few weeks back but it was still fresh in everyone's mind. No one wanted to let it go.The manhunt for Nerezza was taking place across the globe. But from what I have gathered and what Amadeus has told me, they had a refuge in Ireland. One of Nerezza's mates was supposed to become the Alpha there."And why don't you send Felix instead? You know how she feels-" Jonah dropped the paper in front of him. Gave me a flat look. "And I told you what I expect from you. To get her to accept you. Write off Harland. Join Desert Sun. It isn't rocket science, Bellamy. You always think with your dick so why not now?" He glowered.
Teagan's Point of ViewI knew I had crossed the line the moment my mouth formed the words. Now I was stranded at an airport with nothing but my own guilt to eat at me.By now, the feeling of shame had become a part of my being. There was no way else to describe it. From lying to Harland to telling Bellamy that I would only accept him when his mother came back from the dead. All of it was one big fuck up on my part.I knew that. Could process it. What I couldn't fathom was when I had become this bitter woman. This shell of my former self. Someone I wasn't proud of anymore.Looking around the empty parking lot, I wondered how Ulrich had gotten to his hotel. Cab company? Most likely. But all of my cards were in my luggage bags being sent to the hotel.Fucking hell.I had to stop doing that. Needed to carry my cards around from now on. What was I fucking thinking? I know. I fucking wasn't. Not lately, at least. Let everything slip through my fucking ass.There was no way in hell I wou
Harland's Point of ViewThe pub was filled to the brim. Had screaming friends and kissing lovers. Oil was the prominent scent of the bar, thanks to their greasy menu. Alongside beer, of course. But Ciaran and Maverick sipped on their brandy whilst I nursed a single malt whiskey.Better than the pack house. Or rather, an escape from the pack house.Most of our hours were spent inside the pack house. All of our most important documents were kept there. Most of our meetings were held there.Besides. Alvara had asked for some alone time with Dargan for the night. Ozias was busy in the office, as usual. And neither three of us wanted to get in either of their hair.So, we slipped out and came here. I had no idea how they did it. How they shared the same mate. Stayed in the same house. Yes, they had been friends long before Alvara or her sister had shown up. Lived with each other and built a pack without the hindrance of a mate. But now it was different. They weren't just friends. In a
Teagan's Point of ViewBy morning I was better. Or some version of better. Not that my mental state was any less fragile. More I had three mimosas and I wasn't going to let this meeting with Jonah get me down.I had meticulously chosen my outfit. Settled on business casual. A more laid-back look. An updo with my hair. Flat shoes.But all of this didn't make the wrinkles on my forehead or the bags beneath my eyes look any better.If you looked at me too long, you could tell that the worrying had gotten the better of me. Knocked me down into the earth with a violent thrust. No matter, I had a job to do.I was out the door by nine. Grabbed a coffee and a pretzel at the cafe next door. Made my way to the pack house whilst taking in the world around me.Until my phone rang. "Good morning, my love. How did you sleep?" Harland asked, his voice cheery and bright.I smiled to myself and discarded my empty coffee cup in a trash can beside the road. "Well enough, considering you weren't next t
Teagan's Point of ViewI had to swallow down my growing anxiety. Had to keep my leg still. Looked Jonah in the eyes instead of anywhere else.This was where my cocky attitude would win out. But in evaporated the minute he uttered those words.Cocking up an eyebrow, I crossed one leg over the other. It looked like I wanted to be more relaxed. As if I owned the very air they breathed. Yet I knew it was only meant to keep myself from bouncing it up and down.A slow smile spread out across my face. That's it.Good.Fake it until you make it."And what credentials do you think I had to be able to run a mine? I have a degree in fashion and have never touched grease in my entire life." I replied, keeping the grin firmly on my face.Felix moved in behind me and sat on the tip of Jonah's table.This was met with a raised eyebrow from Jonah but nothing else. Not even a hint of irritation. Just surprise."That's why I will be helping you. Not forever, Just the first few months. Call it a learn
Bellamy's Point of ViewEvery curve of her was perfect. Fit so well with what she wore. Accentuated it to the max.Just seeing her had plunged a knife into my groin. Made it throb. Gone was all of my resistance towards her. All of the anger that I clung to since yesterday morning.But the feeling only became worse when I was standing this close. Breathing down her neck. Inhaling her scent right from the source.Until Griselda broke the bubble I was in."But sir, if you want to accomplish maximum-"Teagan recoiled then. Broke away from me like a scared deer ready to flee.My head snapped in Griselda's direction. Eyes wide and nostrils flaring.This time, she was the one recoiling. Fear entered her eyes and I knew right then that I must have looked like a beast ready to pounce. To rip her from limb to limb.But I inhaled through my nose. Out through my mouth.Forced a smil
Teagan's Point of ViewI had to compose myself. Breathe some form of calmness into being. This wasn't the time, nor the place, to have a panic attack. To wither away, right in front of him.He was my mate, yes, but that didn't give him any right to me. Nor to my body.But here he was, pressing every button I had at the same time.My nostrils flared as I looked up at him. Glared ferociously until my point was across. I wasn't some plaything. I never will be. Not to him or anyone else."Let go of me," I growled and placed my hand over his. Placed my fingers over the ones digging into my chin.It didn't hurt, at least. Gave me just enough pain that I was fully awake. Remind me that this wasn't a dream or a nightmare."Admit that you are mine and I might," He mused with a grin growing across his face.Snarling, I tried to rip his hand away. What angered me, even more, was the fact that my body responded to him. That I melted into him. Heat pooled in my panties. Heartbeat raced furiously
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