Erin’s POVI was struggling when we appeared at a place that looked like a hospital. It was all white and smelled of antiseptic.“Where is this place?” I asked in confusion, my eyes scanning the unfamiliar area.Lyla was ahead of us. Boris, on the other hand, held me in a tight grip. He was almost hugging me. I recoiled inside, detesting his nearness.“Don’t worry, sis. We are still within the Red Stone Pack.” Lyla told me, whipping her head around to face me.Right after she delivered that bit of information, Lyla turned her back to us to resume walking. She sashayed her way inside, leaving Boris and me behind.Boris is standing at my back. He was almost hugging me.Inwardly, I recoiled when I felt our skin making contact.“Let go. I can walk by myself.” I ordered, my voice full of loathing.Boris chuc
Erin’s POVI could not believe it when Lyla laid out her plans for my family. I stared at Lyla, not comprehending the extent of her evilness. How could she be this greedy? She already had everything. What more does she want?Her greed destroyed her.A chilling sensation coursed through my spine as I looked at Lyla. Anger, like I never knew existed gushed through my veins, prompting me to hit Lyla and knock some sense into her. Alas! I could not even move my hand an inch because Wolfsbane made me immobile.I glared at her.“You wouldn’t dare!” I snarled, but it seemed to carry no weight on Lyla. I wonder where she gets the audacity from? But my mind is not working much right now because of Wolfsbane. Even my voice sounded distinctively far in my ears. Still, I tried to keep lucid for a few more minutes just to get Lyla to talk about her plans for
Alaric’s POV“We still did not find any trace of her, Alpha,” Blake reported, which had me increasingly worried.They just came back after scouring the south and eastern part of our border. They checked the area for abnormal movements, but they did not find anything. Erin was nowhere to be found.With every day that passes, I am increasingly losing hope that I will never see my mate again.“Did you try to contact her? What about her wolf Maya? Can Eric feel her?” Ben asked. We were back to my study, waiting for news about Erin.Yesterday, Ben and I tried to track her. We went to our border in the north to trace her scent, but we did not find any.I pulled at my hair in frustration. “Nothing. I tried to establish contact, but all my efforts were in vain. Erin has not made any attempts to contact me.“Do you think
Erin's POVI closed my eyes as one of the doctors tied a tourniquet around my arm and looked at Lyla in disgust. “Is this the best you can do?” I sneered to mock her.Lyla, standing in the corner with arms crossed over her chest, glared at me. She ignored my taunt, turned her head away, and nodded to the doctors she came with.“Untie me and let our wolves settle this.” I challenged her once more.“Do not try to tempt me, sis. I won't. I already have the upper hand. Why would I give you a chance to gain on me?” She shot back, seemingly unaffected by my taunts.I struggled in bed while the two doctors worked on my arms. They are checking my pulse to search for the perfect spot for extraction.They came with Lyla earlier holding a tray containing a syringe, tourniquet, and vials. I decided I would not make this easy on them.&l
Lyla’s POV“Work on the samples immediately and let me know the result of your experimentations right away,” I ordered the two doctors before pulling the surgical gloves from my hands and throwing them in the nearest trash bin.Then, we all headed out of the room.Walking the empty hallway of my secret laboratory with the sound of my clicking heels hitting the tiled floor, I could not help the grin spreading across my face.All my plans are slowly taking shape.After my experiments come through, I will dispose of Erin and her worthless mother. Then, with Gavyn’s help, I will ditch my worthless mate, too.The Red Stone Pack could not serve two masters. And Boris will definitely have to go. That is after I also plan my dear Father's untimely death.I am clearing the path to my own success - running over anyone who will block my way.I got out of the secret la
Lyla’s POVI shoved Boris out of the way and ran toward the secret room where I kept Erin and her mother.This couldn’t be happening. I am so close to my goal. I could not allow anything to hamper my plans.It is unthinkable.“No!”I cried so hard when I saw them both gone. My hands shook. Without thinking, I swung it back and forth, flinging everything in my sight.My chest heaved in so much anger.When I stopped, the whole place was in chaos. Everything was turned upside down.“How did they escape?” I asked Boris after I fully vented out. My chest heaves in between heavy panting.Boris’s eyes darted to the side. He refused to meet my gaze, which was quite telling.Eyes narrowed into slits, I watched him when he recounted his version of what had happened. My ears strained for clues.&ldqu
Alaric’s POV“What were you talking about?” Erin asked when she stopped a few inches away from me.Seeing the happy look on her face, I could not help but grab her hips and draw her close to me. I rested my head on her flat tummy. She, on the other hand, wraps her arms around my neck.“My Alpha wants something," she whispered huskily.Her voice was so low that only I could hear.Casting a warm gaze on our son sleeping contentedly in his stroller, I mumbled for her ears only.“I want another pup,” I told her.Erin looked shocked. She pulled my head away from her belly to lift my chin. Our gazes met.“Are you serious, or are you jealous?” She teased, motioning her head in the direction of my Beta and his chosen mate. Her face took on a softened expression when she watched them cozy and lost in thei
Erin’s POVI peeked at the gap through the slightly ajar door of the ward room where my mother currently undergoes a check-up by Dr. Martin. Medical staff in white lab gowns surrounded her, so she could not see me loitering outside her room. Alaric had been inside, talking to her, but I could not move my feet to follow him. Wiping my palms on the front of my jeans, I kept stealing glances inside. Then, the medical staff cleared, and the only people left inside the room were Dr. Martin and Alaric. Mother looks tired and frail. I saw her nod or shake her head in response to Alaric’s questions, but her eyes darted around like she was looking for someone.Finally, her hands lifted. She placed them on Alaric’s to get his attention. At once, Alaric stopped talking. She mouthed something, but I could barely hear her. Then I saw Alaric nod once as if in reassurance. I saw my mate head out in my direction, adding to my nervousness. Alaric opened the door, and I jumped back in surprise
Erin’s POV How do you recover from the death of a loved one? One who had been an integral part of you and who had greatly influenced what you had become? How do you cope with the loss, at the gaping hole they left in your heart? They say that for werewolves, losing a mate means eventual death. I never fully understood it until now. I scattered the ashes in the air and saw specks mingled with the wind. They danced together, intertwined like some old lovers until that far beyond. While I watched them go, I murmured in the air, hoping it would reach the ears of my loved one. “Luna, it is time to go.” I turned around and met Boris’ shadowed face. We nodded at each other before my gaze locked with my mate. We do not need any words between us. One look from him is all it takes to calm the storm within me. “I love you.” He mouthed. His words were enough to puncture the dam in my eyes and it burst. In quick strides, Alaric reached my side. He wrapped my trembling body in his arms as
Alaric’s POVThrough the help of Fabian Gray, we unbound the spell cast on Lyla. A cloud of smoke appeared, and out came Lyla, who at first looked disoriented upon seeing herself surrounded by too many people. We were inside the courtroom. Alpha Douglas, as head of the council, was presiding over Lyla's trial. There was a general look of amazement, and everyone seemed to hold their breath when Fabian Gray started reversing his spell. Fabian's movements were precise and meticulous. It was no wonder he was the best of his kind and the undisputed Warlock chief. My gaze scanned the whole room until it landed at the back of the courtroom where Luna Bella and Erin were seated. Luna Bella insisted on witnessing the trial. Erin came in support of her mother. I guess it would be hard to tear Luna Bella at bay. Lyla is her daughter, too. After Fabian broke and retracted the spell, Lyla appeared before us in her human form. She looked around, surprised to see the Alphas surrounding her.
Alaric’s POVI shouldn’t have walked away from her. I shouldn't have let my emotions get out of hand. It was just that the mere mention of my mother reminded me so much about Alpha Leo’s crimes against my family. Compounded by her sister’s crimes and her mother’s demands, I could not hold back my temper and snapped at her. I looked back in remorse to where I last saw her, but Erin was already gone. She has probably gone inside the house. Taking my frustrations out on her is uncalled for. Alpha Leo and Lyla's actions are their own. Erin has nothing to do with it. Having the same family name does not make one responsible for the other member's mistakes.Shedding off my human form, I started galloping into the forest. I let the speed and the wind clear my head as I put distance between me and my mate. I stopped at the lake Erin, and I frequented panting. For a while, I looked at my reflection in the water. Dark, guilty eyes stared back at me. I snarled my frustratation. I loo
The following morning saw us atop the highest mountain lining the border of Red Stone and Black Water territory. Luna Bella chose this spot specifically. “I want to have a vantage view of our territory.” She explained when she requested that we bring her to this place. We arrived here before dawn. Now, the skies that were previously covered in darkness slowly lighten up as the first light appears. The sun is breaking. I watched Luna Bella contemplating in silence. Her shoulders hunched like she carried the weight of the world on them. “Even in death, your father cheated me.” I knew what she meant. Alpha Leo died ahead of her, thus, leaving her behind. Sometimes, I wonder, who hurts more: the one who left or the one left behind?Alaric and I stood a little distance from my mother to give a quiet moment with her thoughts. But she let her nurse, Dana, and personal slave Beth flank her small frame as she looked beyond the mountain range. The wind slapped against our faces as
The next few days are hectic. Mother and I went back to the Red Stone Pack to meet with Gamma Alexander to discuss pack affairs and to keep tabs on what has happened since Lyla and Gavyn took the reign of the Alphaship. Upon Gavyn’s death, the remaining pack officials elected Gamma Alexander to handle its affairs temporarily.With my mother sick, Lyla missing, and me in the hospital, the position of Alpha was left vacant.“Here are the books detailing the income and the expenses these past months.” Gamma Alexander showed us an updated version of Red Stone's cash position. In addition, he gave us a rundown of everything that has happened since Alpha Leo's death. Mother had no concern over that. She was impatient to know one thing, and so did I. “Where are Alpha Leo’s ashes? I did not give him my proper respects.” Mother’s voice almost broke in the end. She was trying to hold back her tears, and I knew she had never mourned his death yet. Or maybe, that is our way of coping. Gri
“Erin Acklen…” The sound of someone calling my name woke me up.Still cloaked in a sleepy daze, I pried open my eyes only to shut them close immediately when bright lights glared at me. “It hurts,” I complained to the voice, ignoring whoever it was calling me and letting sleep take over, only to be roused, yet again, by that same mysterious voice to wake up. Again, I ignored it, but it persisted. It kept badgering me until I was too irritated by the constant harping. Super annoyed with whoever has the gall to disturb my sleep, I opened my eyes and angrily bolted out of bed. Even with my disorganized thoughts, I was surprised to find out I was not inside our room back in Black Water Pack but somewhere else.Chin jutted forward, I scanned the area around me before my head tilted down. It was then that I realized I was in the middle of what looked like a forest, and the bed from which I rose earlier was a bed of moss-green grass. It felt ticklish under my bare feet. “Where am I?
It took Alaric not more than fifteen minutes to process my discharge slip and pay my hospital bills. Then, Alaric returned to tell me we were ready to go. I was excited to leave. In the past weeks, I was not allowed to leave the confines of this hospital, nor was I allowed to walk outside. Alaric posted bodyguards everywhere I turned, annoying me no end. It was a refreshing change to see the bodyguards’ unmissed presence. “Let’s go?” He asked, eyes drifting to the bag beside me on the sofa. In his absence, I collected all my stuff lying around to deposit them inside a travel bag I saw on the bottom of the cabinet.I stood and took the bag, but he knocked my hand off. “Just lead the way, ma’am.” He said playfully, making me laugh so hard. We were silent inside the elevator. We did not speak, but the silence was not a strained one.“Stay here,” Alaric instructed, placing the bag beside me on the floor after submitting to a security check and exiting the lobby. I did not argu
“Luna.” Ben struggled to get up from his hospital bed. I saw the pride and respect reflected in his eyes when he saw me. How do I know it was him? I don’t know. I just do. When I started to take in Alaric’s word and accepted the idea that I am his Luna, things began to clear in my head. My memory still eluded me, but maybe it was the acceptance that made me see things in perspective. My head turned to the side to see the other bed’s occupant. He was still asleep, but from what I gathered earlier, it was safe to presume he was Blake, the pack’s gamma. Both Ben and Blake were muscular like their Alpha, and I am quite sure they could hold their own on the battlefield, as good as Alaric. I still don’t remember anything about them, but there was a sense of rightness in seeing them. “Ben.” I drew close to his bed and reached for his hand. Ben’s eyes twinkled when our hands clasped, but later, it was fixed somewhere behind me. I do not have to make a wild guess to know he was
Erin’s POVIt was the sweetest kiss!My eyes snapped open when I realized what I was thinking. It was like crashing back down to earth after a spine-tingling explosive kiss.“W-what did you do that for?” I stammered when Alpha Alaric released my lips, only to venture south and nuzzle my neck. He darted out his tongue, sending glorious tingles of sensation that spread out all over my body. What is happening to me? Desire shoots up to every corner of my being. Wide-eyed, I stared at him. “This can not be!” I pushed him hard, but he would not budge. He pressed his body against mine, effectively trapping me to the wall. And his stare. Gosh! Why does it make me weak? “Do you understand what I was trying to tell you?” His muffled voice carried its weight to my ears, causing me to shiver involuntarily at the promise in them. I hate it! I hate how my body melted so naturally in his arms. “Stop!” I cried before I pressed both palms to his chest and shoved him off of me. I app