PHOENIX My eyes snap open and I’m almost blinded by how bright the place is. I blink a few times to get used to the light and when I stop feeling like my head is going to be torn open. I turn to my left, my brows creasing when I see the unfamiliar room. It is not my room back at home, but I know I’m not at home. I’m at the Wolf House, and this doesn’t look like my dorm. I try to search through my memories for what must have happened.I remember Jenny, she was crying, she was about to be hit but I tried to cover her as much as I could with my body. I wince through that part. At least the pain I’m feeling everywhere has an explanation. Black shoes. Yes! I remember black shoes, a sweet scent before everything went black. There is no one in the room with me and it makes me more scared. Where is the man that saved me? Why did he have such a nice scent? Why do I want to see him again? My rounds of questions get interrupted by the door being opened and a tall man walks in. I’m immediatel
PHOENIX Prince Zanders throws his head back and laughs. “God, if you’re going to just claim your girls, do it. You don’t have to make stories about them being your mate.” he says, mockingly. The hands of the man behind me tighten around my waist. The tension around us is so thick that you can cut it with a knife. It feels like forever before the man lets me go and I take a step away from, then I turn to look at him purely out of curiosity. My breath catches in my throat when I see his face. His hair is dark, not as long as Zanders but longer than Nate’s, his eyes are a glowing amber and I don’t think I’ve ever seen eyes look that good. He is much taller too, towering over me completely. “Sweetheart, you can find me whenever you get bored, I’ll be waiting.” Zanders winks again then turns and walks off. The tension disappears as he does too. I look between where he disappeared and where the other man that I still don’t know the name of stands. Now that I’m much calmer, I recognize h
EZRAI didn’t want to leave my mate alone and Jax whined all through the walk to my father’s office. I followed the long route, just to prolong the inevitable meeting.‘You knew it was coming.’ Jax snarled. Annoyed at the situation. I shut him up and turn to the corner. My brows crease when I see four men walking toward me, not exactly toward me but heading out.All their faces have the same grim expression and they send me looks of disdain as they pass. I recognize them all. They are pack elders and members of the Wolf House. The reality of why they are here slams into me hard.They didn’t agree with the sudden news of the abolishment and since I mentioned my father, they came to confirm and probably tell him to not go through with it.I’m almost at the last turn to my father’s office when I hear a loud obnoxious laugh from behind me. My jaws instantly clench as I turn and find Zanders standing with a smug grin on his face.“Is the lycan king’s favorite perfect son in trouble?” he tsk
PHOENIX I look around the familiar walls of the room I’ve been in for the past two days. I’ve been stuck here for so long that it doesn’t even appeal to me anymore. I’m still aware it is the most luxurious place I’ll probably ever see in my life but I still feel imprisoned. The only person I have talked to for the past two days is a maid that came in soon after Prince Ezra left on the first day. She told me her name is Kiara, she has been bringing my food to me. I haven’t seen Prince Ezra since he left that day. I’m starting to think it is because he has realized I’m not his mate, which I feel a little glad for. ‘Do you feel anything towards prince Ezra?’ I’ve asked my wolf, Maya, this every day since he came here and dropped that bombshell, but her answer is always the same. I don’t even know why I bother anymore. ‘No, I still don’t feel a connection.’ She replies, her tone somber. I nod to myself, knowing she is right. We can’t be his mate, I’m just an ordinary wolf, not even
EZRA The haunted look in her eyes is enough for me to know what was said in the letter. “Phoenix,” I call her in a small voice, not wanting to scare her. She takes a few seconds but when she looks up, I’m taken aback by how fast her expression changes. The darkness that has taken over her features rivals that of the August storm. My heart squeezes a little more, because the only thing worse than seeing her sad is her looking angry. Especially when that anger is directed at me. “You did this?” she grits out, the anger swirling in her lids. I shake my head, not really having an idea what she is talking about but knowing it isn’t a good thing. “What did you say to them? Why are they supporting you?” Her voice isn’t loud but she could as well be screaming. “They don’t want me to go back home.” She confirms my suspicion. “What. Did. You. Tell. Them?” her voice has lost all the warmth that is usually there, and I would give everything to not hear her sound like that anymore. ‘Then may
PHOENIX I giggle as soon as prince Ezra walks out of the room after offering me my very first job. I now understand his appeal, and it is not only because he said he would pay me fifteen thousand dollars monthly. I shake my head to get rid of the thoughts slipping. I don’t have any business with men, talk less of thinking of them. Especially not the prince, he isn’t someone I should think about and once he figures out I’m not his mate, all of this will be over. I just hope to keep my job. I’m going to do this job so well that the prince won’t even think of replacing me after he finds out I’m not his mate. I vow. A sound of pure glee leaves my lips when I think of working beside Kiara, that just makes everything ten times better and I almost forget the letter from my parents telling me to stay. I shouldn’t even be upset, at least now when I do go back home for breaks, I’ll be able to help them out with the house expenses. I plop on the bed with a relieved sigh, thinking of my life
PHOENIX“Come girl, we have things to do.” Lady Gloria says through gritted teeth, her grip on my arm is tight. I turn to look at her, only to see a hand flying toward my face.My eyes widen as I whip my head back just in time. My eyes widened, what almost happened hitting me.Sibel almost slapped me.“Let’s go.” I don’t turn to face Lady Gloria but when she tugs me, I follow her without much hesitance. I’m here to keep a job, I don’t think getting into squabbles on my first day will say something good for me.When we reach a safe distance from Sibel, Lady Gloria stops, forcing me to stop with her.“What is wrong with you?” she spits through gritted teeth, her eyes shooting angry daggers at me. I pause and watch her mouth as she sputters angry words at me. “Do you know who that is and her importance in this palace?” she asks, I shrug because it seems like a rhetorical question.“No,” I whisper in a small voice when I see her expectant expression. So I assume she wants me to reply.“Yo
EZRAThe sound of my footsteps as I paced the empty hall is all that can be heard. I look down at my wrist watch again, then to the door and then the large ancient clock at the front of the meeting hall, above where the king’s throne is, where my father sits proudly presently. I’m too annoyed and my patience has run out fifteen minutes ago.I hate being kept waiting, especially when I would much rather be with my mate than being here waiting with him. I find that the former is much more enjoyable than this.I count another five minutes when I hear the sound of a door opening, I almost heave a sigh of relief when I hear the unmistakable sound of heels clicking. I have to fight the need to inhale my next breath, so as to stop myself from perceiving whatever God awful scent—or what is supposed to be a scent—the person marinated their body with.I know who it is even before I turn, unfortunately I can make out her natural scent even with all the too sharp perfumes she has on. I’ve been wa
PHOENIX It felt like I had been sleeping for years on end, and when I finally woke up, my entire body felt fatigued. Too heavy for me to lift even a finger. Ezra was beside me, he was wide awake and he was just watching me. I was aware of his presence, even in my unconscious state and that just made me realize how extremely lucky I am to have him in my life. “Hi,” he whispers, moving closer and pulling my body to his. I sigh when I feel his warmth surround me. He felt like peace, like home. “Hey,” my voice was weak from lack of use so I cleared my throat and tried again. it wasn’t any better not that he seemed to mind. “I feel like I have been sleeping for years.” I mutter, stretch and yawn as my bones make satisfactory pops all around. I felt slightly better after that stretch. “Three days,” Ezra says, his voice gentle and calm. I knew something was wrong from the way he sounded. Pushing back the heaviness I was feeling and the voice in my head telling me this was going to b
EZRA We have Alejandro and Hank in custody now, with audio and video proof of them admitting to all the things they had done.Yesterday had taken multiple unexpected turns but it turned out perfectly well if you asked me. I just had one thing to cross off my list before I can finally be at peace.I’m careful as I get out of bed. Phoenix is sleeping beside me. She has been out since last night when we came back with Nate and the cars they brought with them. I refused any medical checkup and instead stayed by my mate's side until she was cleared.The doctor, who thankfully knew what was happening, had stepped in for their actual doctor. They couldn’t deal with her face to face beforehand since they didn’t want their identity to be known, which made it easier for that to happen. A little overhaul and show of power by Nate had the actual doctor spilling, which allowed them to bring our doctor in.I was only able to alert Nate of what was happening but the second they drugged me, our conn
PHOENIX Alejandro is your typical bad guy, who would sit for hours and tell you how he came up with his perfect plans, the steps he followed, the moves you made that made it easy for him to win.I think I fell asleep five times during his anecdote, and each time I woke up, I prayed he would be done but my prayers weren't answered. We were all exhausted. In fact, he was the only one that didn’t seem tired of hearing himself.I started to feel sorry for him, because he clearly had issues. I couldn’t pinpoint where it stemmed from but he was more than due for therapy. And thanks to his torture, we all might too.“Enough.” Alpha Hank growls, getting off the wall he’d been resting on during his brother’s long history lesson.I have to admit, that is the one twist to the story I didn’t see coming. And though it doesn’t seem that significant, something tells me we need to be careful. I still have those dreams I’m not sure I translated well.At least, I feel better knowing Ezra is going to b
PHOENIX“Are you okay?” the doctor asks, looking over her shoulder in fear.“Do I look okay to you?” I mutter drily. I know I sound like a bitch but I couldn’t care less what she thought of me right now.She heaves a sigh and comes to stand in front me, she rethinks and immediately steps back, putting a little space between us. I only rolled my eyes because if I wanted to get to her, I would have since when Alpha Hank and Sibel’s dad were here. I’m not scared of them, even in the slightest bit.I’m biding my time because if I let whatever I’m feeling crackling under my skin take over, then I would rather it be worth it. I have a feeling there will be no going back from there.“You’re right, that is not the right question.” She huffs out a breath.I watched her, trying to look past the anger I’m feeling at her betrayal, to try and give her the benefit of the doubt but it doesn’t work. Maya just wants to tear her apart and it is taking everything I have in me to stop her from acting on
EZRAJax is losing his mind not knowing where Phoenix is or how she is managing.I’m calm for some reason, because I know she is alright. I don’t know how I know it, but I just di=o.‘Calm down, she is fine.’ I reply in a calming way, hoping it would help him relax but he just growls at me too. I sigh and throw my head back then almost immediately regret it when the wood dug into the back of my neck.They could have at least gotten comfortable chairs if they wanted to kidnap me. The chair is the most uncomfortable I have ever sat in.‘How can you be calm at a time like this?!’‘I trust Phoenix, if she was in danger she would have reached out to me by now.’ He just grunts. Not believing what I’m saying, or more accurately it wasn’t enough to make him calm down.‘And how can you be of help? Last I checked, you’re tied up.’‘I have you,’ I say with a small laugh. ‘I’m kidding.’ I immediately add before he does something dumb like try and hit me. Which is impossible but annoyance is a gre
PHOENIX I was tied up. It was the first thing I noticed when I woke up.I panicked immediately and tried to fight against the restraints but it was pointless. I didn’t even think to check to see if the person that has me tied up is still here. I just knew I needed to get out of here, I didn’t know how but I’ll be damned if I stay here for any moment longer.Ezra! The realization makes me stop struggling. I look around the room frantically, trying to see if I can see him but I’m alone.Everywhere is dark, if not for my wolf vision, I wouldn’t have been able to even make out anything.I’m on a wooden chair that is not comfortable in the least and my hands are tied behind me, so tightly that I fear that if I move the wrong way, I will pull them right out of their sockets.I couldn’t believe Jake’s dad was doing this. I didn’t even understand what he meant by the power I had was his. I never wanted it, but now that he so obviously wants it so he could hurt more people. He would have to k
PHOENIXI thought I was hearing things when I heard my old alpha’s voice. Jake’s dad. But when I turned, almost completely confident that I would find a different person, I saw him and my blood immediately went cold.Ezra’s hands tighten around me like he could feel the same negative energy I feel rolling off the man in waves.For the entire time I dated Jake, I wouldn’t say we were particularly close with his dad. I stayed away from him as much as I could because he just had this scary aura I didn’t like. Now, I’m seeing it as a different thing, especially as he bares his teeth in what I assume was supposed to be a smile.“What are you doing here?” I ask, my voice shaking slightly.He looks down at me, literally, and his lips turn down in distaste. He never really liked me but he never openly hated me. He just made it clear that he didn’t care what his son did with me. He looked like he wanted to slit my throat right now.“Shu—”“I would be careful how I finished that sentence if I w
EZRA Multiple times, I almost stopped Phoenix so I could kiss her and many more things. I managed to get my wolf to shut the hell up. This is extremely important for her—for both of us and our life. Our future.“Do you know where you’re going?” I ask her, circling my arm around her waist and pulling her to my side. She stretches and covers her mouth with her hand, yawning loudly.“I think I do,” she rests her head on my shoulder. I kiss the top of her head and hum in response.“I should have let you sleep more,” I murmured, steering her away from a tree root she hadn’t noticed.“I’m fine.” I only hum in response.She is stubborn but I loved her determination. I don’t know how she is doing it but i commend her hard work and efforts.Dealing with uncertainty and not knowing what to do or what is going to happen sucks. I’m unable to focus on anything, my mind is constantly running, thinking of things that could go wrong or another threat toward her.We have gone far from the main buildi
PHOENIX “Are you okay?” Ezra asks, his voice shaky as he holds both my shoulders. He wraps his arms around me, looks over my body, he is touching every part of me like he doesn’t even know where to check or where to stop.I’m not looking at him, instead I’m staring at his back, right at the large imposing building I have never seen before. We are not at the palace, this place looked unfamiliar but I feel like I have been here before. I feel the same feeling of déjà vu and I shake my head.“Phoenix?” I look back at Ezra, his amber eyes are filled with worry and he is panicking. I can read it in his body language.“I’m fine.” I’m surprised by how steady my voice sounds. “What happened?”I move out of his hold, a pained look crosses over his eyes but he doesn’t reach out for me, instead he stood to his feet when I did the same. Still standing at a safe distance, he reaches for my hand which I don’t offer.The way he looked like a scorned child made me feel bad but I don’t let that emoti