PHOENIXEzra and I didn’t have a solid plan on how exactly we are going to prove everyone wrong. The only progress we’ve made since last night that we had that conversation was, he got me to stop calling him prince Ezra, now it is just Ezra. It will take a little getting used to.And I am invited to their family dinner this week because he wants me to meet his father officially. He wants to go about making everything official.That did not make me panic at all. Cue nervous laughter.He’d laughed it off when I told him I was scared and nervous, anyone would if they were told they were meeting their boyfriend’s father. Wait, is he even my boyfriend?We haven’t talked about that. It seems like a tiny detail when I remember I am meeting the king.The LYCAN KING!!!! I am panicking!I couldn’t wait for morning so I would at least tell someone else. That is why, immediately after I got out of bed, I bounded to the servant’s quarters. I left Ezra in the bed today. He was surprised when I told
PHOENIXAccording to Kiara, who has now turned into a therapist, making people like you is not hard. The easiest way to go about this is to know what it is they like, talk about it and then boom, besties.It sounded crazy, but am I going to use it because that is my only hope? Yes.For the past hour, we have been going through articles and books about the king, trying to find what he likes. There aren’t many and since I am not going to cook—I don’t know how to—I have to look for another way to get him to like me. The one thing he likes very much that has been consistent throughout our reading was his late wife and the Luna Queen, also Ezra’s mother.Their love story seems magical, the young wolf from an average family and the ruthless lycan king. He was pretty much forced to marry her and they didn’t meet until the wedding day, only for them to find out they are mates. Fate has a way of making people they want together.Like Ezra and I. He is not my mate but I am sure we have another
EZRANate stumbles into the office, barely holding himself up. I get up so fast, my chair falls with a loud thud.“Nate!” I scream in excitement, rushing to hug him. He steps aside as soon as I get close holding his hand up.“No, every part of me hurts.” He groans, the sound is pure agony.That gives me pause and I take him in. The shirt that might have been white when he first wore it is a combination of brown and maroon. There are a few dark splotches that I know are blood just from the strong metallic stench. I was so focused on him being back that I didn’t pay attention to that.His hair is also matted with dried blood and dirt, his jeans are torn and the front of his shoe is missing. He looks like he was dug from a hole.“What happened to you?” I ask, watching him with worry.“Call the doctor and tell her it is an emergency.” I tell Jerry over my shoulder, crouching low to help my friend. “Can I hold your shoulder, it would be better if you lean on me.”He makes a noncommittal so
PHOENIX“Who sits on the left of the king?” Kiara puts the paper down and looks up at me.I stroke my chin with two fingers while staring at the ceiling like I’m deep in thought.“Come on, we have been over this for the past two hours.” She groans, throwing her hands up in exasperation.The past one hour has helped me see a side of my friend that I didn’t know she had. Kiara is cool and bubbly in every aspect of her life but she is definitely going to be a terrible teacher. She does not possess the type of patience it takes to teach anyone anything.“His second son and second in line to the throne, Prince Zanders the third.” I tell her in full and she sighs in relief.She throws the paper up in the air and falls back on her bed with a puff of a breath.“Finally,” she heaves a sigh of relief.I laugh from my position on the floor. I’ve been sitting cross legged for the past hour since she started this quiz of asking me random questions that no one would ask but I need to know so I won’
EZRAI knew I was not going to like whatever was happening in the palace the moment I got there. For starters, there were a lot of activities going on and too many maids were walking about and carrying things. I wouldn’t have noticed them on a normal day but they all made it a point to stop and curtsey when I pass, like this is some type of Victorian style soap opera.“You don’t happen to know what is going on.” I state instead of asking, Jerry.“I don’t know sir, but I can ask around if you would like.” I nod at him.We have already reached my door, the only part of the house that doesn’t seem to be going through whatever drastic change the others are going through.“Do so and get back to me as soon as you can.” Jerry bowed and waited until I got into my room before he turned and left. I shake my head at the man and his stifling professionalism.You would think that he would have loosened up by now, I have lost hope in him.I breathe in the faint scent of my mate in the room and I’m
EZRA“You’re not serious,” I burst into laughter.Zanders watches me with an irritated scowl which only makes me laugh harder. What the hell is he going on about?“This is your engagement party?” I ask again, just to be clear that I heard him right.At first when he said it, I thought it was a joke but then he didn’t laugh and well, he kind of looked like he was going to puke, or pass out, or even both.I should have known it was serious, for him to even be nice to me and not threaten me after being close to me for more than ten seconds. Now, this is fucking hilarious.“Who is the unlucky girl?” I finally regained enough control to be able to speak. My breathing is unsteady from laughing too much.“I don’t know, that is the thing!” he sounds so exasperated.I snort out another laugh and Zanders closes his eyes for a second, probably to stop himself from acting out and getting on my bad side, scared I’ll refuse to help him. Though to be fair, I don’t know how I’m going to be of any he
PHOENIX“Did I hit my head and wake up in a different dimension?” I whisper to Kiara, taking in the maids running up and down carrying things I can’t even see.“I’m wondering the same thing,” she says in the same tone of voice I used, also looking around us.We look like small kids lost in the park, trying to find their mother.“But then I’m sure I didn’t sleep and nothing happened, no earthquakes or distortion—ouch.” She growls at a maid that hit her when she was passing by.She didn’t bother to stop and apologize or even acknowledge. “Sorry,” I tell her, patting her arm.She is still glaring at the distance, her body almost shaking from her anger before she shakes it off.I admit I’m a little taken aback because I’ve never seen her act like this, almost losing her cool because of something. You would think she didn’t have a wolf because of how she is always chill and patient. A trait I can confidently say many wolves don't have.“Don’t worry,” she looks away from where the maid dis
EZRA“Phoenix,” my voice quivers as I call my mate’s name.She hums something that is incorrigible before her eyes roll to the back of her head and she goes still.A hand touches my shoulder making me jerk back.“Hey,” Zanders says slowly, carefully.“You’re scaring them.” He points to the side but I don’t look at where he is showing.“What happened to her?” I ask no one but also everyone all at once.“I—don’t k-know, we were just talking and then she stopped and she moved back and, and that.” Kiara’s voice shakes as she speaks.I pick my mate up, cradling her to me, inhaling her sweet scent hoping it would calm me down before I walk with her to my room. I hear the footsteps of the other people with us and I want to send them all out so it is just me and her.I hear Jax whimper in my head, it distracts me from my mate a little. Disorienting me just enough to close my eyes and try to listen to him. I almost don’t hear him over the sound of my heart beating in my chest.‘I can feel her,
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