Ember’s POV:After Luna left, I started pacing the room while waiting for Nicholus and Damon to arrive. Luna was right, I should keep my anger aside and only listen to my heart as it was the most important decision of my life. I should definitely fight for my happiness.With every passing minute, I was growing restless as more chaotic thoughts jumbled in my head. It was difficult to deal with two brothers at once but I had to do it.My footsteps halted as I heard a loud knock on the door right before it creaked open. I willed my erratically beating heart to calm down as the duo stepped into the doorway.Both of their gazes were zeroed in on me. But instead of going nervous, I lifted my chin and said firmly, “Come in.”They exchanged heated glares while flaring their nostrils before finally stepping inside. Damon slammed the door shut while Nicholus walked all the way to me.Dipping his head, he placed a kiss on my cheek. For the first time ever, it felt wrong because, by the way he lo
Ember's POV:I heard the trembling voice from my left, "Lemme ask you again, are you really sure about it, Ember?"I jerked my head in Sophie's direction, not liking the doubt in her demeanor at the last minute, "Why else do you think I've crossed the Forbidden Border and entered the North territory?"Her eyes swept our gloomy surroundings, taking in the dark forest all around, and she shivered, "I am not liking any of it. We can still go back..."My eyes narrowed in annoyance, "The fear in your voice is now making me question Liam's training skills."Sophie rolled her eyes, "You are this much confident because you are an Alpha born."I gave her another look to which she responded with a groan, "Don't look at me like that. You know why I am this afraid. I mean, come on, we are in the NORTH."I shook my head and sighed in disappointment, "You knew what you were getting yourself into when you agreed to it, Sophie."Her voice lowered when she replied, "I couldn't really let you come here
Ember's POV:I stationed Sophie behind the bush outside the castle and made my way over to the guards. They got suspicious but before they could warn others through the mindlink, I was up to them and breathing down their necks. As soon as our eyes met, the game was over for them.Once my hypnotizing power kicked in, I inquired, "Where the prisoners from the South are kept?"Just as good little puppets they were, they responded in unison, "In the dungeons."Stashing that crucial piece of information, I then asked about the way toward the dungeons and how many more guards would I encounter on my sweet way to the said dungeons.Taking Sophie with me, I stepped inside the castle and took a quick sweep. Sticking to what the guard had told me, I started walking toward the left. Reaching the end of the corridor, I stopped at the edge of the staircase leading downward where everything was engulfed by the eerie darkness.I kept my mindlink open and tried to reach out to the prisoners that bel
Ember's POV:Staying close to each other, the four of us sprinted through the dark and gloomy forest. Even though the castle must have been a chaotic mess right now there was no doubt that a small army of North warriors must be out here by now, searching for us.None of us dared make any noise because if we got caught now, there would be no going back because I had already deprived my energy reservoir to hypnotise any more of them and it would be impractical to think that the four of us- I cast a gaze at Sophia and sighed. Well, the three of us stood a chance against the army of Alpha Nicholus.I quickened my pace and glanced over my shoulder. There was no one. And it was even more suspicious.The path was leading us to the edge of the forest which was actually the border of the North region. As we got closer to it, I opened the mindlink and informed Jake about our status, "There are four of us. We are hardly five minutes away, Jake. Be ready.""Roger that," came his reply, and a minu
Ember's POV:The ride back to the South was eerily silent. I had broken the hypnotizing spell on Sophie and she was now sleeping peacefully as if she had been hella tired after fighting the beasts of the North.The other two packmates that I rescued today were over the moon and chattering to each other about how high their alpha, my father, thought of them to send ME to rescue them.One deadly look from me and their mouths had been clamped shut since then.But yes, I had also pondered over that more than once. When exactly did these two nut heads become so important to Father? As far as I know they neither possessed any extraordinary wisdom nor otherwordly powers to be of utmost importance. They were just two packmates who were foolish enough to roam outside the territory and were abducted by the warriors of the North.And even if they somehow became so important to him, he could have sent an army of warriors to rescue them. Why would he go to the lengths and put my life in danger for
Nicholus's POV: The shock still lingered inside me long after she was gone. There had been a very few moments in my life that had rendered me speechless and it surely was one of those. Those eyes. Those big, round eyes, the shade of melted chocolate. The most mesmerizing and surely the most unforgettable. Today, my mom, the Luna of the pack had arranged The Mating Ball for the unmated wolves of our pack. Many renowned personalities of the North were invited. The preparations had been going on for more than a month. I had commanded the warriors to maintain strict security, patrol the area, and share the word if anything seemed wrong. Trouble tonight after that much security was the last thing I had expected. I was mingling with the guests when my Beta, Darius, opened our mindlink. His worry reached me way before his words did. I had already excused myself and stepped aside when he informed me, "There has been some trouble in the dungeons." I tried to keep a calm facade in front o
Nicholus's POV:Chasing a girl in the forest for any reason other than preying was the last thing I could have imagined, myself, the King of North, doing.What exactly was I doing there when I already had chaos to handle back in the castle was beyond my understanding. For now, all my mind was set on was to chase that faint scent I was rapidly growing addicted to.Of course, I maintained my distance and didn't let her know that I was lingering closer. When the four of them were at a little distance from the edge of the forest, the sound of a helicopter whirled in the air.A little later, I watched them climbing into it.I stayed glued to my spot. Anger was rolling off of me in waves. I was angry at the choice of Fate. I was enraged at the fact that the girl who was supposed to stand by me and rule the North was actually the one to betray it and run away.How could she just discard such a sacred bond just like that? Was it really so easy for her?Our eyes met once again and for some sic
Nicholus's POV: "I hope all is well, dear," came my mother's soft voice. Always sweet, always carrying a hint of warmth in it. To be precise, it was the only source of warmth in my otherwise icy cold and dark life. I had been trying my best to appear as normal in front of the guests as I could despite the lingering memory of those eyes carrying thousands of secrets and my constantly enraging wolf. Of course, Mom had suspected something was wrong. She asked me even though she knew that my answer would be the same as I said now, "Of course. Are you enjoying?"Looking at me, she shrugged as if to say you-know-how-much-I-can-enjoy. She didn't like parties or huge gatherings. According to her, there was too much politics or negative energy involved in such gatherings and I couldn't blame her. What she craved was a small get-together with her favorite people where she could discuss the affairs of North in the light of honesty.But hosting such mating balls for the unmated wolves of the pa
Ember’s POV:After Luna left, I started pacing the room while waiting for Nicholus and Damon to arrive. Luna was right, I should keep my anger aside and only listen to my heart as it was the most important decision of my life. I should definitely fight for my happiness.With every passing minute, I was growing restless as more chaotic thoughts jumbled in my head. It was difficult to deal with two brothers at once but I had to do it.My footsteps halted as I heard a loud knock on the door right before it creaked open. I willed my erratically beating heart to calm down as the duo stepped into the doorway.Both of their gazes were zeroed in on me. But instead of going nervous, I lifted my chin and said firmly, “Come in.”They exchanged heated glares while flaring their nostrils before finally stepping inside. Damon slammed the door shut while Nicholus walked all the way to me.Dipping his head, he placed a kiss on my cheek. For the first time ever, it felt wrong because, by the way he lo
Ember's POV:Tilting his head backward, Darius pinched his eyes closed. When he opened them again, he seemed so tired and fatigued.With a deep sigh, he told me, "I think it'd be best if Nicholus himself tells you everything about your mother. I don't even know all the details."Disappointment washed over my face as I slowly shook my head in disbelief. Of course, all his loyalties lay with his Alpha.As I stepped away from him, Darius took an urgent step toward me, "You can have your doubts about everything but one thing that's certain is that he loves you, Ember, and you know that."Tears welled up in my eyes as I croaked, "And yet he always hurts me."I hated myself for being so vulnerable and childish but I had no idea how else to act in such a matter. Both of them outrightly refused to listen to me like I didn't even matter to them.Pressing his lips into a thin line, he said, "I understand what you are feeling right now. You are being overly emotional and sensitive and that's tot
Ember's POV:After Nicholus left my room, I stayed rooted to my spot for a long minute. I was too stunned to process what he just said. He sounded so detached, so unbothered like killing his brother wasn't a big deal for him.After a few minutes, the door creaked open and Darius rushed inside. He came to a sudden halt as soon as he saw me pacing the floor."I've come to tell you about it but by the looks of your pale face, it seems like you already know," he stated.My hands flew in the air, "Tell me it's nothing but bullshit. I mean, there is no way he could be serious about killing Damon, right? He is his BROTHER. No matter how much hate, enmity, or misunderstandings they have between them, they are still brothers," I rushed out in one breath.He let out a tiring sigh, "You know how they are, Ember."I let out a loud groan, "How could either of them even think such a horrible thing is beyond my understanding."He remained silent for a few minutes to let my anger cool off before spea
Ember's POV:After Nicholus was gone, I slid down to the floor as the walls I had built around my heart cracked and the dam just broke apart. Uncontrollable tears rolled down my cheeks. My shoulders shook as my body rattled with ugly sobs.How could a mother be so cruel to her only child? What did I do so wrong to deserve that? All my life I craved for my parents' affection but what did I get in return? Their betrayal...?Father failed me miserably but I had my Mother's thoughts to keep me going. Even though I had no memories of her but I still thought that she must have loved me. I used to find comfort in the fact that the only reason she wasn't with me was because she just couldn't. It was better when I thought her to be dead. Because the thought that she had abandoned me was killing me bit by bit.Was I really that bad of a person? I've heard...heck, I've seen parents always loving their children no matter how bad of a monster their kids are. Was I even worse to be depraved of both
Nicholus’s POV:Watching her looking at me with nothing but hatred shattered my heart into so many pieces that I didn’t know how to pick them all and make it whole again.I don’t know how the hell Damon got his hands on the confidential inside information about military and state matters and I absolutely had no idea that he’d be twisting that information to sow a seed of doubt in Ember’s heart.But I couldn't really blame him. I should have been cautious. I should've foreseen it. I shouldn't have taken his long silence so lightly. I let my guard down and was witnessing the results now.But as far as the matter of the South was concerned, I had it under control. I had no bad intentions and I'd keep telling her even thousands of times if that would make her believe me.But the irreversible damage occurred when that fucker told Ember about her mother. He shouldn't have gone there. He had created a big mess which I had no idea how to come out of.I knew I’d lost all fight when Ember yelle
Ember’s POV:Despite the turmoil raging inside me, I waited patiently as Nicholus wiped his hands through his hair before starting, “First of all, I want you to know that the army has nothing to do with marrying you, okay?”My eyes widened horrifically, “So it means you ARE planning to take over the South…?”He shook his head, “What? No.” He walked closer to me but I lifted my palm, making him stay wherever he was. I need a little distance between us to think rationally.“Tell me about the army first,” I said in a sharp tone.Nodding slowly, he started speaking, “Do you remember when you were on bed rest, you heard Damon, Ethan, and I talking about the war looming over us?”I nodded curtly, thinking back to that night when they were all worried about Nicholus’s wolf weakening while the war was close.A slight frown appeared between my brows along with a relief. But I told myself not to grow any more hopes before going to the bottom of it.“So, the army is for that war?” I couldn’t kee
Ember’s POV:Grabbing my hand, Damon had just taken a step toward the door when an ear-piercing roar boomed in the air. “Enough!” Nicholus growled.My feet came to a sudden halt as I felt the sudden shift in the air. Damon pulled me forward, more urgently now. But before he could another step, the doors to my room flung open and dozens of warriors spilled into the room, blocking the exit.My head whipped around as I heard warriors jumping in through the balcony.In a few seconds, my room was brimming with warriors closing in on us, surrounding me and Damon. My gaze shifted from one to another as I blurted out in shock, “What’s happening?”Damon bared his teeth and pointed behind me, “It’s him, of course. He must have mindlinked his minions. That's why he was silent and still.”Damon shook his head and said amusingly, “Really, Nicholus? Are we really doing it?”Nicholus shrugged nonchalantly, unbothered by everything happening around us, “Warned you time and time again to shut that fuc
Ember’s POV:I stole a glance at his fingers brushing over my necklace and heard his shocking whisper, "The Celestial Stone."My head whipped up to him and saw his pupils dilating as he looked at me, “You are…what the…”I felt Nicholus going rigid behind me. His voice sounded menacing as he warned his brother, “Damon, no, not this…not now.”A deep frown appeared between my brows. Closing my fingers around the necklace, I stepped aside and watched the brothers exchanging heated glares.An eerie feeling of unrest settled in the pit of my stomach. My throat felt constricted as I sobbed, “What…what is it about my mother?”Nicholus was slowly shaking his head in a threatening manner. At that, a wicked gleam twinkled in Damon's eyes as if he had stepped closer to his victory.My heart lurched to my throat as a devilish smirk tugged over Damon's lips before he chuckled coldly, “Dark, dark secrets between the mates are crazy.”It felt like my heart just dropped all the way to the floor. Fear
Ember's POV:With my pulse a ticking bomb waiting to explode, I stood there, waiting for him to deny all accusations, assuring me that whatever Damon was spewing out of his mouth was nothing but bullshit.But all hopes trembled to death as Nicholus stepped backward. All of a sudden, he seemed so tired as he rubbed the nape of his neck and sighed, “Ember, I…listen…”More tears streamed out of my eyes. Angrily wiping them away, I screamed at his face, “Is that true or not, Nicholus?”I already knew it was. But still, I waited pathetically for him to deny it all so that we can go back to our fairytale wedding we'd been so excited about.His gaze flickered to Damon standing behind me before shifting back to me. Slouching his shoulders, he breathed out, “Just a half truth.”A gut-wrenching sob escaped me as I took another step away from him only to walk closer to Damon.Nicholus took a quick step forward and grabbed me by the shoulders. His voice sounded urgent as he spoke, “And you need