"Stairs, stairs," I mumbled to myself as I trudged through the dark hallways, trying to find any signs of the stairs Alpha Travis had mentioned.
Who turned off these lights?I knew they were turned off because I could see extravagant light bulbs hanging off the high ceilings with not a speck of light in them.My gaze was still fixated on one when I missed a step that made my feet clack together before I came tumbling down the exact flight of stairs I was looking for.'This is bad,' I could not help thinking to myself when I lifted my head and my eyes met with Alpha Travis'.How I wish I could turn myself into a speck of dust and be blown away with the wind and not have to lay on the ground sprawled out embarrassingly before my mate."What are you doing?" His face creased as he looked down at me, looking like he could not understand why I was lying on the ground.Had he not seen me fall off the steps?I wishedEveryone began to leave one after the other right after Alpha Travis stood up.I was the only one still seated without a clue what to do. Dinner had barely just started and I had not even gotten a single bite because I was nervous yet it was already over."Sorry I ruined your first meeting with the family," Adriana reached to grab my hands over the table apologetically."It's fine," I replied with a simple nod of my head.What else could I say? A meal was not going to give me a sense of belonging or anything but what I was really worried about was Alpha Travis' silence before he left.Did he mind or did he not? Would he suddenly order for his sister to be killed or tear her to bits himself?I shook my head at the ridiculous thoughts I was having then stared at the plate of bone-in rib steak adorned with truffle butter with seasonal vegetables on the side that I was hesitant to leave."Let's go," I hea
I was still enshrouded in the haziness of the demanding kiss that had taken my breath away when Alpha Travis stepped away from me as abruptly as he had kissed me."Don't ever try to avoid me, you belong to me now," I swallowed nervously at the dangerous look in his eyes, yet I was unable to look away.It held me in place with tingles running all over my body.Still, my mind pondered what he meant when he said I belonged to him.My neck turned swiftly to the empty bed and my eyes widened in realisation.Would he force me to have sex with him and mark me?No, I was not ready, I did not want to.With that thought in mind, I shrank my body even further away from him, plastering my back against the wall in fear."You're scared of me." It was not a question but a statement.He was my mate and even without us standing in such proximity, I knew he could feel my emotions."Why, do you think I'm going to
"Miss, watch out!" Ann yelled, reflexively pulling me aside before a wolf running mindlessly through the streets could crash into me."What is he doing?" She huffed, her face reflecting her annoyance."Um, running?" I said with uncertainty, wondering why she was angry.She noticed the look I gave her and smiled awkwardly, "I don't like when others turn in the streets, they never consider the accidents they could cause."Well, she did have a point. There was a mix of wolves with furs of different shades and those in their human forms alike mingled together in the street we were passing through and the huge and looming form of those wolves made it a little challenging to navigate through the streets.Earlier, I had to jump backwards so I would not be squashed under their heavy paws."If everyone decides to morph now and then, no one would be able to do business, it's already rowdy enough," She went on complaining."I guess
"Don't just roam around however you wish, I will not be responsible for your safety," Beta Jay warned sternly then stepped past me to speak to the rest of the men behind me who I presumed were his subordinates."Ann," I called out and ran over to wake her. She groaned out loud before stirring then jumped to her feet anxiously, still in shock."It's okay, we are fine." I grabbed her shoulders, pulling her to a stop.She stilled in disbelief then turned her gaze to the right in time to see Beta Jay's men taking the body of the hybrid away."Wh...what happened?" She stuttered."Beta Jay saved us, we are fine," I answered, reaching out to pull her into my arms and patting her back comfortingly.From her reaction, it was easy to tell that she had never gone through such a frightening experience.If it had not been for the recent happenings that had taken place in my life as well, I would have had the same reaction.A
CHAPTER 18Ann was right, Alpha Travis was not just angry, he was brimming with rage, enough to send down a torrent of thunder and brimstone, enough to destroy creations if he were a God.He grabbed me by my shoulder, the same one that was hurting and slammed my back against the wall, repeating his words in the same terrifying tone he had used earlier, "Who the hell asked you to leave?"Tears pooled in my eyes at the sudden pressure on my shoulder and I fought it back desperately.They were not allowed to fall, at least not now.Judging by his question and the extent of his fury, I could guess that my mate had misunderstood my intention."I was not trying to leave, Ann took me on a tour of the Pack and we were suddenly attacked..." I was glad my words did not come out as a stuttering mess but they did trail off when he suddenly took a step back from me.He raised his hand off my shoulder in surprise, revealing a bloody i
I resisted the urge to ask Alpha Travis about what Ann had told me earlier, about being the Luna.It was a decision he had to make or had already made as the Alpha and if I had any chance of refusing that role, I had to talk to him.However as I sat across from him in the restaurant, I lost all courage.Soft music was playing in the background, whispers rising above it from the people seated around us but all I could stare at was the small flickering candle on the table.Earlier today, after Alpha Travis had left, I had spent the rest of my day with Ann, listening to her tell tales about the Pack and its wolves.Some were real while some were myths and fables they told each other to pass the time.Ann left when it was time for dinner, after reminding me not to be late.My mind was against the whole idea of having dinner with everyone, knowing fully well there could be a repeat of what happened yesterday or even worse.
"No," was his curt reply and my shoulders sagged in relief. My back was sweaty, a telltale sign of how anxious I had been."I told you just now, I would never hurt you," He added then picked up his fork and began to eat, gracefully like the last time at dinner.He glanced at me, still chewing then swallowed. I watched his Adam apple bob as the food went down his throat and his mouth moved, "Stop staring at me like I'm some big bad wolf who is going to jump you."So he was capable of some humour, I forced a laugh that even to me sounded like a grimace.His influence on people was noteworthy, he had not even done anything besides eat but the way he had done it made me self-conscious."Stay away from the hybrids or rather, the next time you see one, run. Don't try to be unnecessarily courageous and fight them, you will die." His words made me choke on my food and I hurriedly reached to grab a napkin but he was already offering one to me, alm
"Adriana, where are we going?" I had been asking this question for the past hour, ever since she told me she wanted me to meet someone."You would have gotten the full details last night but my brother decided the both of you would not have dinner with us. In light of that, it's now a surprise. You will see when we get there." She answered with a mischievous glint in her eyes."Come on Larry, get us to the Cascade restaurant." She said to the driver while brushing her finger through her hair, taking a peek in the rearview mirror to make sure it was properly laid back.She was just like Travis, beautiful and elegant, except the latter did not have to put in an effort at all to exude grace.Andriana, on the other hand, had a certain feistiness and cheerfulness to her that I adore, maybe because it reminded me of how I used to be."Are you going out for Lunch?" I asked curiously, "That can't be right." We just had breakfast a while back and
The air in the room seemed to freeze, going several degrees lower as Travis's presence filled the room overbearingly.His eyes were cold and sharp, like the edge of a blade, and his muscles were filled with tension as his eyes scanned both of me and Sylvia with demanding scrutiny.Sylvia's breath caught in her throat, all the colour draining from her face as she swallowed, her wide eyes flicking from me to him.I was sure my expression mirrored hers; my throat felt constricted and dry, and I could not formulate a quick response, gaping instead at him as his face hardened even further, "I asked you a question.""Travis," I pushed past the lump in my throat to say, my growing fear a chasm that passed between us.How should I begin to explain that Sylvia had come to seek my help to disrupt or at least stall his plans, and I, on the other hand, had made an instant decision not to tell him in favour of her? I had even hidden the fact that I ha
"What do you mean by that? What problem?" I asked, my brows knotting into a frown as I stared at her face searchingly.We had parted just a few minutes ago, so I wasn't expecting to see her so soon or that she would suddenly grab me.Her face was lined with worry, fear reflected in her wide-open stare, "Alpha Travis, he's planning a hunt.""A hunt? Why is that a problem? Isn't a hunt normal?" I questioned in bewilderment. Most werewolf Packs I knew frequently organised hunts to hone their skills and survival instincts so I could not understand why she was so anxious about that."No, no, you don't understand," She shook her head vehemently, "He's planning to hunt down the hybrids, he's going to kill them all."The realization of what she meant finally dawned on me and my eyes widened in shock, "Kill them all? How?"."Their trip to Chantel Ridge wasn't so simple; their true intention was to purchase Nightshade.""Nightshad
"Please do not mention a word of this to anyone," Sylvia paused by the threshold to say to me, her eyes pleading for secrecy. "Of course, my lips are sealed," I made a motion with my finger then smiled softly. "You don't have to worry. I won't tell anyone unless you ask me to." She nodded appreciatively, turning to head in when I called out to her, "Sylvia," Stopping her in her tracks once again. "Thank you for sharing this part of your life with me," I mumbled softly. It was a hefty decision she had made when she wasn't even sure about my intention and if I would rat her out to Travis but, she had still done so because she trusted me and, I was thankful to be made out as someone reliable, even if it was just for a few minutes. "I did that majorly because I wanted your help, thank you for not judging like the others." After that, we came to a tacit agreement to stop discussing our trip to the h
"Please do not mention a word of this to anyone," Sylvia paused by the threshold to say to me, her eyes pleading for secrecy."Of course, my lips are sealed," I made a motion with my finger then smiled softly. "You don't have to worry. I won't tell anyone unless you ask me to."She nodded appreciatively, turning to head in when I called out to her, "Sylvia," Stopping her in her tracks once again."Thank you for sharing this part of your life with me," I mumbled softly.It was a hefty decision she had made when she wasn't even sure about my intention and if I would rat her out to Travis but, she had still done so because she trusted me and, I was thankful to be made out as someone reliable, even if it was just for a few minutes."I did that majorly because I wanted your help, thank you for not judging like the others."After that, we came to a tacit agreement to stop discussing our trip to the hybrid Pack, lest the others caught o
"That's Alex, right there," Sylvia pointed towards a young man with dark brown hair in the distance who was heaving a squealing child above his head while the other children gathered around him tried to douse him with the water from the pond their feet up to their abdomen were submerged in.They were all hybrids; I could tell even though we were still some distance away from them."Alex, look who is here," Ava shouted, waving her hands towards the man who slowly turned and set the child in his arms down.The children all gave squeals of excitement, rushing out of the water to run towards Sylvia the minute they recognized her.They surrounded her, their cheery voices filling the air while giving me curious glances just like Ava had done earlier."She's just like Sylvia and those other big wolves we've seen," Ava chattered to them excitedly, looking back at me with the belief that I was oblivious to what she was saying because of how low he
I took in a deep breath, mulling over her words. You know what, maybe she was right; maybe we had never given the hybrids a chance to show that we could live harmoniously together."I know, I shouldn't have brought you here; I just wanted to show you a world different from what we know. To show you that the hybrids our kind detest are not so bad after all." She said, placing a reassuring hand on my shoulder with the knowledge that I was already giving in to her words.I grabbed her hands and let out a long sigh then smiled softly, "Alright, I guess I should get to know them. You are a kind and sweet person, Sylvia, and if these people are really what you say they are, then I trust you." I nodded firmly.It was about time to stop letting my past cloud my decisions; not all people would betray me, and I needed to understand that.Sylvia had been nothing but kind to me since I arrived and this was a time for me to reciprocate her goodwill towards me.
"Sylvia, what are we doing here?" I asked, a rising feeling of worry pervading my senses.Based on my recollection and observation of the path we had taken, we were in the next town, which was precisely the old inhabited land of the Lunarcrest Pack, which was a worrying sight.I could not understand why Sylvia had chosen to come here of all places when according to what I understood, this was where Travis had gotten attacked."I know you are nervous but I assure you, it's fine. I want to show you something," She said, grabbing my hand with a comforting smile as she began to pull me along.Her long hair billowed, soft strands hitting my face as we walked and I took in a long exhale of air, deciding to trust her.Based on my instinct, she didn't seem like a bad person or someone that would harm me. There were times when I could not tell what she was thinking, but every one of her gazes held no bad intentions.Discerning people's mi
"What are you working on?" Adriana asked curiously, leaning over to take a peek at the papers spread out in front of me.I twirled the pen in my hand then handed one of them to her, "It's the Female sentinel's budget for the month. Their coffer is almost empty yet there are still a lot of expenses to cover. I'm trying to figure out how to cut costs," I explained."Oh right, you are in charge of that now. Do you need my help?""Never mind," I replied, taking the papers back from her and pointing them towards the huge journal she had on her side of the table. "You already have a lot to do.""I had no idea you were good at accounts," Nicole gave me a curious look from the other side of the room where she was also seated knitting what seemed to be a sweater."I know quite a bit; my Father used to let me help out with his accounts," Her question brought back thoughts of my days back at the Raging Flame Pack when I used to help my Father with o
My cheeks flushed almost instantly and I hastily looked away.He kept staring long and hard, I could feel his eyes on mine but could not see his expression because of how low my head was hanging."I'm not avoiding you," I muttered guiltily, sneaking a peek just in time to see the amused expression on his face.His appealing visual, coupled with a rare smile, was a sight to see, and I found myself staring longer than I intended to."Had enough?" He said with a teasing tilt to his tone and I hastily cleared my throat."Now, do you want to tell me why you are avoiding me?""I'm not," I mumbled hastily in defence. "Why are you home?"Wait, what was I doing asking the owner of this house why he was back in his house?I chuckled, feeling foolish, but he surprised me by answering, "I came back to pick up Cameron; we are headed to Chantel Ridge."The fact that he had even answered and provided this much detail