Teagan’s Point of ViewBellamy tightened his hand in mind. Squeezed with a lot more pressure than he had ever used on me.But that handsome face of his remained impassive. Assessed his father with a cold look that would make anyone feel smaller. Even an Alpha.Jonah shrugged it off. Or shrugged off my comment.“See it as an early mating gift. I assume from your clenched hands that you are well on your way to being mated.” He said with a raised brow. As if to urge us along.“That, father, is something we are still in the midst of discussing. As we all know, I want a grand wedding, in the spring preferably, whilst Teagan is more than happy to elope at any given moment.” The words came out so smoothly. The lie spun together beautifully.It made me look at him for a second. Saw exactly who he had to be in order to survive his father. And I liked none of it.But that was the bargain I had made when I had agreed to do this. To fool his father into believing Bellamy was my one and only.It s
Harland's Point of ViewI couldn't let go of my moping. Wanted to. Desperately so. But it remained firmly in my chest whenever I scented the air. Knew that this was the home of the man who had nearly married Teagan.Now he was stuck with him for the rest of his natural life.Hopefully, the goddess didn't have a cruel sense of humor and trapped their souls together in the afterlife as well. Ulrich seemed to adjust better to their circumstances. With his awed expression at every luxury in the house. How he flitted from one room to the next, taking it all in. One would think he was used to everything, being a spy and all that.But no. He roamed about like a puppy."Stop your brooding," Ulrich muttered and stepped out of the kitchen.There was a drink in his hand. Something with alcohol in it, from the smell wafting my way.All of the doors and windows were open. To let in some fresh air, Ulrich had explained earlier. His keen senses were working overdrive to consume everything around hi
Teagan’s Point of ViewWe drifted far out into the desert. Passed the last signs of life more than thirty minutes ago. Still, we carried on driving. Silent.Neither of us had it in us to speak right then. To clear some of the air.He was taking me to see his mom.The first woman that had fallen victim to Jonah’s rage. In his quest to make sure all women remained beneath men, he had slain the only woman who had stood beside one. Not beneath or above. Just beside.It had cost her her life, in the end. Forced her two sons to grow up with a monster for a parent.Another stretch of road passed beneath us.When he had asked if I would be alright with it, every emotion in my chest balked. Shied away from this opportunity to get to know him better. Figure out who he truly was beneath all the lying a scheming.I had quelled the voices, though. They weren’t necessary. Just tried to warn me not to get close to someone who might bite. But Bellamy wouldn’t bite. Something else, something small, in
Bellamy's Point of ViewShe was in my arms. Had her lips pressed to mine. The curve of her body settled into my muscles. Held me tightly in their embrace.This was what heaven felt like. All those years of waiting for her, waiting for this, had been well worth it. Ecstasy dripped from her very lips. Hooked me in and kept me there.Teagan pulled away. Looked breathlessly beautiful as her lips quirked into a smile.Our first kiss had been in the car. Soft and sensual. Filled with yearning. Then Teagan suggested we go for a swim. I happily obliged.It was for the wrong reasons, of course. Had been a shot in the dark at seeing her body, drenched and free. Her clothes plastered to every curve. Nook. The best way to view her without feeling like an utter pervert.Just as the thought slid into my mind, my groin hardened against my jean's zipper. Achingly pressed against the metal to be free. To be inside of her.I shoved the idea away and prayed she wouldn't notice the bulge. Not like she
Teagan’s Point of ViewHarland was on edge. And I was sure, despite claiming it was because of Ulrich, he wanted us home. Wanted me in his sight.Well away from Bellamy.Maybe I was wrong for thinking like that. Maybe I was wrong for getting angry because of it. But I couldn’t help the thought crossing my mind.My mate was jealous. Even when he had assured me he would dampen it. Tried to sort through his shit. Yet he couldn’t go home now to talk to his therapist. Actually work through all of the bullshit in his head.What had I expected from him, though? For years now, it had just been the two of us. Happy and in love with no one to protest it. We had learned to count on each other and only each other.Now I had two other mates and he felt betrayed. Or sidelined. Even abandoned.“What do you mean he wants his boss to come here?” I asked, letting go of Bellamy’s arm.Harland sent me a stare that could have put me seven feet under. I remained neutral. Assessed him. After this problem wa
Bellamy’s Point of ViewCold rage swept over me as the door clicked shut.Not at Teagan. Never at Teagan. Well, not now that I knew the truth behind her actions.She was scared of Harland up until this point. Some part of her, however deep, was petrified that he might leave. Or hit her. Or whatever else the cunt could muster up.In the distance, I could hear a car start. Knew that it was most likely the one Ulrich had hired to get around. She wasn’t going to take a taxi, then. Would come back when she was well and ready.With all of her clothes being here, I wasn’t sure how she would bathe. Be comfortable in that unbearably sexy dress.Later I would take her some things. Later, once Harland’s face was beaten into a blood pulp.The sound of the car faded. Drove off toward the hotel she had been staying in. The further away it went, the angrier I got.“What the fuck is your problem?” I asked, eyes finding Harland’s.We were locked in a glaring competition. Neither of us had moved away f
Teagan’s Point of ViewI should have drowned my feelings. Swept them under the rug and ran in the opposite direction. Played stupid when I found Bellamy. Or Ulrich.Acted like nothing was between us and that they were just grasping at straws. If I had done that, then I wouldn’t be in the mess I was right now. Wouldn’t be breaking on the inside.I was selfish. Wrong and utterly selfish. My mother had always told me I wanted more than I could have. Even as a child, I wanted everything and gave nothing in return.Especially with Harland.What had I truly given him? A life without his family. Being shunned from almost everyone around us because I was his mate. His sister. All of it landed on my shoulders.And I hated myself so much for it. If I hadn’t wanted more, then I would have been happy where I was. Goddess be damned. She was wrong. I didn’t need two other mates. He was enough.Harland had always been enough.This wasn’t his fault. It was mine.Fuck.He was angry. Angry. Angry! At
Teagan's Point of ViewThe kiss was light and sensual. Sent shivers down my spine as his lips moved against mine. Rugged hands extended forward. Laced themselves into my hair.A lump formed in my throat. Thick. Unwavering. I could barely swallow around it. Could barely breathe with Bellamy so close to me. Like fire swarmed my body. Tingling mix of pain and pleasure lanced together.He was still kneeling before me. Still gave me the most vulnerable position imaginable. If I wanted him dead, he could have been, long ago.Tentatively, a tongue brushed my lower lip. Asked permission to enter. I opened up for him. Let him explore the inside of my mouth. Claim it as his own.My arms wrapped around his neck. Forced my more forward until I was sliding off of my perch. Kneeling in front of him. Equals, kneeling before each other.No longer rivals or competitors. But two people who were willing to bend for each other.For a moment, Bellamy hesitated. Paused his kissing and pulled away from me.
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