Siya's Point of ViewThe lashes on my back were nothing compared to the gaping wound in my chest.Another crack of the whip behind me had me bracing just as the leather dug into my flesh.Still, the pain didn't even come close.They had taken Adelia. Nessa. Left more than one casualty for me to find when I went back to my room after the attack. The carnage that was my door told me enough.I hadn't wanted to go further into the room. Knew that what I might find would unsettle me in ways I wasn't prepared for. Another crack. Another whisper of skin splitting. My lips formed a hiss but I kept it firmly inside my chest. Refused to let Phaedra see the full extent of my pain.Nothing she did would ever compare to the loss I felt now. "Are you still counting, little brother?" She asked in that cruel bemused tone she loved using on me. Little brother. What a fucking insult. I was older. The rightful heir of this fucking pack. And she knew calling me little would only infuriate me more. "
Adelia's Point of ViewFlabergasted was an understatement. Maybe I had expected him to react like Siya. Or even show a bit more emotion when I spoke to him. But this? This was something I hadn't been prepared for in the slightest."Men, am I right?" Nessa grumbled from her seat.Her face was still squished against the cushion of the couch. Looked lopsided from this angle. But she was awake and well, at least."You're awake," I said, keeping a tight leash on my emotions.The mask that had fallen over my face when Michael had left was as good as armor. Kept me safe and hidden. Although Nessa had seen me emotional on more than one occasion. Didn't bat an eye about it.So why would she now?Oh, maybe because we had kidnapped her. Did exactly the same thing to her like Siya had done to me. We should have left her. Should have escaped without hurting her in the process. She would have gotten beat up at the hands of her half-sister and we both knew it. Knew that Phaedra would have flayed
Adelia's Point of ViewAlthough Nessa seemed fine with her current circumstances, I was unsure what to do with her. Yes, she had provided me much relief when it came to my own kidnapping but I was unsure of whether she would take kindly to this, even with her pretty words. Did that make a me selfish person? Most likely. But it also made me a cautious Alpha. One that didn't want any harm to come to her people again.So, whilst in the bar, I was sure to drop my voice a few decibels when I spoke. "Has your contract ended?" I asked Michael, all business and no pleasure.The handsome man stared at me for another second. Even though he had downed a considerable amount of alcohol, his eyes were still clear. Sharp as an axe. "That depends on how much more I can be offered for something else," He replied, noting the no-nonsense tone of my voice.Ulrich groaned and slid off of his chair. "Whatever it is he is asking extra, that's coming out of your pack's funds. I think we drained our accounts
Adelia’s Point of View It was like containing a wild dog when it came to Nessa. Her temper clearly ran within her family. Yet Michael held his composure well. Seemed almost unphased by her outburst.Until Nessa had whirled on me.Something had flashed in his eyes. Something like worry or weariness.I hadn’t given it much thought. Trudged on and calmed the girl down without hesitation.Now, on land and in a strange new place, the girl had fallen silent. Only took sidelong glances my way. As if to figure out where I stood. Why I had stopped her from telling him who she truly was.It should have gotten me some brownie points, I hoped. Showed her that I would protect her, even here and now.But no.From the fierce look she was now giving me as the rest of the people filed out of the plane, I knew I hadn’t achieved anything. Not really, despite her telling me some part of her was grateful for being away from that pack.Yet I couldn’t muster together the energy to worry about it right now
Adelia’s Point of ViewAfter a long day on the road and another few hours stuck informing everyone of everything I knew, I was wholly spent.Teagan was happy to have her mate back.Ciaran was happy that his mate had her friend back.And most of them retired to their assigned rooms without much fuss, no doubt indulging in their bodies’ desire to be close.Which left me alone. Or as alone as you could be in a house filled to the brim with people.Nessa, at least, remained in her room for the entire interrogation from Ciaran and his cabal. Resigned herself to thinking over what had happened in the last day or so. Not that she was any happier than she was back at the compound.Or any more free.Fuck.Just for now, she would be watched. Until I could figure out what to do with her. What role to give her. Michael offered to spy on her for-“If you squeeze the glass any harder you might end up with shards stuck in your hands,” A thrilling voice came from the small living room on the second f
Adelia’s Point of View“Wait, wait, wait,” I mumbled between breaths. Clutched at my stomach as I tried my best to keep my laughing under control. “So, you’re telling me that you only drink white wine but your favourite drink of choice is a cosmopolitan?” I asked, grinning from ear to ear.We were both on our second bottle. Had stumbled onto this topic only about ten minutes ago. But it was the funniest thing.It also didn’t escape me that he and Siya had that in common, along with being my mates.How utterly ironic.Michael was also grinning from ears to ear. Laid back in his seat a bit more and eyed me up and down. The light in his eyes sent my blood blazing.Or maybe that was just the alcohol.“Why is that so hard to believe?” He asked, rolling his eyes.I laughed again. Folded myself double, even, as I carried on. “Because you don’t drink red wine because you find it too sweet. Now you are telling me you basically drink syrup!” I exclaimed.My feet started aching beneath my body.
Adelia’s Point of ViewStanding in front of Nessa’s door had my hart pounding out of my ribcage. Closed up my throat to the point where I was unsure if I would suffocate or not.Behind the wood, I couldn’t make out a single noise.Timidly, I tapped on the door. Spoke even softer than I had with her last night before we went our separate ways. “Nessa. I know it is early but I wanted to know if you’d like to go for a run,” I asked and stifled my breathing.I had wanted to go back to work today. Had so much to do. There was barely a full week left before Christmas. And the pack needed to get ready for the festivities.But Alvara had shooed me away the moment I stepped foot into my office.I could go back to work tomorrow. Take today just to process and regroup my thoughts.So, running was the only option I had right now to soothe my ragged soul.“Come on, Nessa. You can’t just stay in your room the entire time you’re here,” I pleaded, letting some of my growing nerves show in my voice.S
Adelia's Point of View Despite our argument earlier, Michael carried on following me into the woods. Kept a healthy pace behind me at all times. Blood surged through my body. Legs ached as I crossed the 4-mile line. My time spent cooped up in the compound had done me no favors. Or I was just not getting into the right pace. The right rhythm. Either way, I kept pushing forward without thinking too much about it. Behind me, Michael barely even breathed. Had his rhythm so wonderfully under control that I couldn't hear him. Only the steady crunch of his feet told me- "You aren't keeping your chin straight and your back is slightly hunched forward. Try focussing on those areas," He called and I ground my teeth. Like he could hear my thoughts. Or read my body language. I hissed back at him. Increased my pace to a run, no longer a jog. The burning in my lungs felt pleasant. Washed away all of my other thoughts. Until he spoke again, keeping pace like it was nothing to him. "Fine. D
Adelia's Point of ViewThey both cleaned up well. Looked dashing in their suits. But the scene in front of me was obscenely strange. Two fully grown men hiding behind a bush. One with an empty glass of some type of alcohol in hand. The other laughing maniacally into the dark If it hadn't been for me noticing their scents nearby, we wouldn't have found them at all.With their vantage, they could see the entire party perfectly. Still, they chose to hide away. Watched from the outside.And the moment they turned around to look at us, both of their jaws dropped to the floor.I knew Nessa had done a good job of styling me. Knew I looked better than I had ever done before. But their reactions were priceless. Worth every single burn Nessa had given me when she tried to curl my hair for the updo."Close your mouths, boys, it's fly season." Nessa joked from beside me. Chortled when all Michael could do was curse again, eyes digging up my flesh inch by inch. Siya wasn't far behind. Let his ey
Siya's Point of ViewI was a mated male.For one, I couldn't believe I wasn't dead yet. At the end of my twenties and I was still alive and well. Or as well as I could be, given that my body was a royal fuck up at the moment.But not dead. Not yet. And not anytime soon. Second, I was mated and in a new pack. Watched now as my old pack members streamed into a lush and vibrant garden made up for them and only them. To welcome them into a new and more stable home.If only the rest of my pack could have followed as well. Could have escaped the hell that was now Noha Khoeli.My mother would have been proud to see me now. Would have loved to know that her son was not only living but thriving. Saddened by the fact that her daughter had turned into such a cruel monster, yes, but glad to know her son had escaped that reality."Well, don't you clean up well," Michael crooned as he approached me from behind.I was standing in the shadows. Avoided anyone looking at me yet. Speaking to me. Mainly
Adelia's Point of View"Stop fussing! Everything has been sorted outside. It is two hours before the ceremony starts, we need to get ready!" I screeched at Nessa, hand clamped around her wrist and pulling her furiously into my walk-in closet.She was finding every reason in the book not to go inside and look at all of her options. From the decor to the food and everything in between. "Shit needs to be perfect and that fucking florist put one too many fucking roses in the centerpieces," She argued back whilst pulling away from me.A child with a new toy, that's what she was acting like right now."One too many roses isn't going to kill anyone, Nessa! But we can't be late for our own party," I hissed again and finally dragged her the rest of the way into the closet.The overhead lights flickered on the second they detected us. Flooded the small but packed space with light. And shimmers and sparkles from the clothes around us. This was where I kept most of my fancy clothes. The kind t
Adelia's Point of ViewI left Michael at the pack house with Aiden.Both men were walking around the place, making sure that every security measure under the sun was well in place. Nukes weren't the only threat we had to face. If Phaedra wanted to she could send an entire army to come and eviscerate us for what we had done to her pack. A tit for tat kind of thing. So the men peacocked around, trying to figure out every single weak point within the pack house grounds."I'm back," I called into the house and closed the door behind me.Groans sounded throughout the house, coming from upstairs. Groans. Moans. A few curses every once in a while. This was followed by a shrill voice that I couldn't make out the words from.Making my way up the stairs, I felt my teeth grind together as the groans intensified. Nessa was doing a number on her brother and showed zero remorse.When I walked in, she was straddling his ass, working her hands up and down the length of his spine. Siya's face was tw
Adelia's Point of ViewHis lips were as soft as I had remembered them. As intoxicating as well. But this time, his hands roamed my body freely. Hungrily. Claiming every inch as if he would never have the chance again. As if he needed to feel me to believe that we were doing this.Settling my own hands in his hair, I pulled his face away and smiled at him softly. Felt my heart still beating a mile a minute as he stared down at me. Blue eyes were half-lidded and twinkling when he looked down at me. Smiling like a damned fool.Ever so slowly he brushed a hand down the side of my face. Swept some of my baby hair back behind my ear. "You are so utterly beautiful that I might just die from looking at you too long." He whispered, breathing fanning my face in a minty puff. I rolled my eyes and shook his head for him. "That was maybe the cheesiest thing you have ever said to me," I bemoaned, unable to look even a tad bit disgusted by it.Because he could say those things to me my entire lif
Adelia's Point of ViewFor the first night where both of my mates were with me, we all collectively decided to sleep on our own. Not because I wouldn't have loved it to be the filling between both men but rather because neither of them felt very comfortable with that yet.Which was to be understood.I wouldn't know how to feel sleeping with my mate and his other mate.But Nessa's couches slept like utter shit! The girl had really said 'fashion and fuck the rest'. They were lovely to look at. Wonderful to curl up on. Horrendous for the back. So, when I finally woke up, I felt like an old woman climbing out of her coffin. My spine was shot to hell. Knees creaked from having had to curl them to my chest for the entire night.And if I felt this way, I didn't even want to know how Michael must have felt."We really should have brought another mattress," I groaned and stretched. Some of my limbs popped in their sockets, making me wince.Siya grumbled something into his pillow on the mattre
Adelia's Point of View"And you made sure to ask him that everything was disabled? Thrown away? Burned?" Nessa screeched, hands on her hips as she paced the length of the living room.Every time she passed Aiden, he reached for her but she was having none of it. Dodged his efforts every single time with a dip of her shoulder. Or a sneer when he got too close to calming her down."Ozias asked Dargan to check everything. He even sent over a plan of the house and where Ciaran placed everything," Michael explained and let his eyes dance over to mine. "He also apologized profusely for what his Alpha has done." "In what regard? Because everything he has done has been more than fucked up from what I hear." Nessa seethed again.Aiden made a last lunge towards her and when she dodged out of his way, he threw his hands up in exasperation. Looked done with trying. Hell, with living at this point.It was funny to witness them together.Him, the pragmatic planner who thought shit through. Her, wh
Michael's Point of ViewShe was fine. More than fine, actually, from the looks of things. Adelia was joking and laughing. Kidding around with Siya and his lack of cooking skills. Made fun of the fact that a carrot nearly took him out. And her with him, if she hadn't stopped healing him when she had. But she was bubbly and happy. Looked relaxed, even when I tried to tickle her feet. Or got her to snort coffee through her nose by accident.This felt comfortable. Easy. Like this was the place I had always been destined to find. A home I always needed to occupy.Logically she had tried several times to get back to planning. Or tried to sneak away with her phone, just to make a few calls, she had assured us. Neither of us let her, on orders of the Beta of the pack.Your first healing was as taxing on the body as your first shift. Something I had to keep in mind once I won her over and got her to turn me. The process and changes of it all were grueling enough that even Alpha pups were
Adelia's Point of ViewI was helped down the stairs. Helped, like a damned invalid. All because my body had decided healing a gash on an arm was one too much.Sure, give it a kidnapping. Nearly being killed. Being held captive by your deranged mother. Escaping said Mother. Organizing one large ass ceremony. And everything in between. But goddess forbid I tried healing someone. That was just fucking unacceptable.At first, both had offered to help me down. Neither wanted the other to help. A few glares had been exchanfged. Maybe a profanity or two, said through their eyes and luckily not their mouths.By the time they were done with their pissing contest, I was already at the door, tired of their bullshit. Scolded them for handling me like I was broken and not just tired. That had been the final straw for them to back off. Michael had been the winner in the end, to my utter dismay.His hand around my waist and my arm around his shoulders caused us to touch all up my side. Forced so m