ZIBELLE'S POV As I drove home now, I recounted what had transpired between Laurel and I. The fear in my eyes when she had held me over the edge like she was actually going to toss me over. I had never been more scared for my life as I had been a few minutes ago. She had a preposition for me on what I was to do for her and she promised me something greater in return. She was going to write me a signed confession stating she had orchestrated Sophie's death all by herself without external assistance. She would give me the confession that she would sign with her name and her blood just to make it as solemn as possible. The offer was too great to reject. I mean, she was actually promising to let me live my life for once without her interference and I could not have wished for anything more. All she sought was for a smaller price and that was to assist her ruin Nicolette's marriage with Xander. She began pointing out to me for the sake of my conscience on how Xander did not love Ni
NICOLETTE'S POV I had been troubled all through as I could not get a grasp on my emotions. Especially not with all the taunting I had readily received from Laurel. It hurt really bad but I had to find better control and try not to lash out at her. That clearly was all she sought after, to get me really pissed and then what? Make it look like I had been busy creating ruckus in the pack house and then Xander would want to do away with me. I could not let that happen and neither could I let her win. I walked away to my bedroom with the glass of milk I had come for and remained there sulking.I clearly had made a total fool of myself the previous night. Of all rooms to go to in a drunken state, it had to be Xander's. I seriously needed to remember what things I had done and said that had probably ticked him off. The more I tried to think about it, the more my haziness grew and I drank from the glass. I sat there on my bed as I remained with my thoughts. Eventually, I had to let them se
XANDERS POV The day had been so hectic and all I craved for was a little rest for myself. I had to meet up with the members of the First which were our council elders as regards my suspicions over Maxwell and his minions. It had become clear that he was pulling the string somewhere from behind and I needed to detach it. I had a couple of conversations with Ethan and he reassured me that for my sake, he would return to the town just to assist with the whole process of figuring out what they were up to. The members of the council had been of the opinion that we do not declare war yet as we would be monitoring them and setting our traps ahead of time. After the meeting, Allen, who had to be present alongside the Gamma, met up with me. We had to talk about how we would be handling things this time. As we did, I found that my mind was restless over my best friend. To put it straight, I was suspicious of him and what his motives were. I found myself wondering if he would want to take
ETHAN'S POV Call me the party pooper and I would readily agree with the name because that was exactly what I was playing at right now. I had been busy playing the hydra and feeling Xander's thoughts with contagious reasoning from my deepest darkness. I had him wrapped around my fingers and I could feel it really. Each time I turned to stare at my outlined chess board and I saw the king from the opposing side, all I could see was how near I was to taking him down for good. He was nothing more than that to me. As I reckoned that our conversations were beginning to get deeper, I realized that I needed to get up close to orchestrate this whole feud that I was developing. That explains the reason why I had packed up suddenly and took the next available flight homewards. I had pre-informed Xander that I would be returning in high and good hopes that he would get ready for me. There was no time to lose in my plans and no way I would return without being victorious. I had it all figu
NICOLETTE'S POV It was already growing dark when I decided to bid goodbye to Zibelle and get home. A new decision embedded in my mind as I sat at the back of the cab yet, I had no control over the overwhelming tears that had begun threatening me. I paid off the cab man and walked into the pack house. As I stood out there along the lawn, I could not help but stare at the place that had been my home in the last two years. Its magnificence stood out amongst the other houses in the area. I felt really saddened.That which was once mine would clearly be moved over to someone else and I would be left alone. It hurt me as badly as it broke my heart but I needed to pick myself up.The minute I entered, I was met face to face with good old Martha as she had been on her way outside."My lady, is everything alright? You look sad." She noted."Martha, everything is fine. Is Xander back?" I asked her."Oh yes, he returned and actually asked after you." She said to me."Thank you, Martha. I gue
XANDER'S POVCould she be serious right now? I had no idea when those words left my mouth. I had been hoping to hurt her back as she had hurt me with her words of poison when I broke into that confession. If I had not been able to control myself, I would have put my hands over my mouth as a shy person but not me. I made the mistake and I would learn to live with it regardless.A divorce? She had to be kidding me. What was she actually thinking or perhaps even, who? I had been hoping to see her since I returned and get to talk to her as Ethan had informed me that he was already in town. I was hoping that if I could talk to her and make her see reasons why it had to be me and not Allen, then there would be no need to rat out on my best friend. But then I returned and Nicolette was not even home. I felt really hurt but was sort of relaxed when the servants said she had gone out around the time we were having the meeting with the pack elders. It had felt really nice knowing that th
NICOLETTE'S POV My heart fluttering and my world merging in beautiful colors, I could not believe this was happening. This had actually been my desire for so long that someday it would be more than just a marriage of convenience. I could not think about anything else right now or the fact that a couple of minutes ago I had just been asking him for a divorce. A divorce from a man like Xander, I mean who actually does that? What had I been thinking when I said that?He had made me silent and made my lips get sealed with his kisses and touches. All I could feel was the ecstasy of rushing and overwhelming desire. I still could not believe it. Xander had suddenly made his way to my nipples after getting me bare from the upper part. I was totally floored.. I had no idea about what exactly I wanted to do as there was the desire and the need to want to touch him. But I was also shy. I just laid there, offering up my body clearly to him. He could use it for as much as he wanted and I wou
LAUREL'S POV I had finished the food and then grabbed myself a bottle of good old wine after dinner. I could not believe the triumph I was feeling over Nicolette at the time after seeing her that way. To crown my feelings of nostalgia was the text I got from her best friend who we just might hashtag as my minion stating that Nicolette had decided to call it quits before the battle for Xander's hand. That she was going to divorce the man herself meaning I would not have to get my hands all soiled and dirty trying to get him back. Good riddance, I had thought. Triumphantly I waltzed my way to my bedroom and opened the door. I cared less about drinking from a glass as I popped open the wine bottle. Instantly, I had started drinking straight from the bottle as there was an unsung rhythm in my head which I could not let out audible. I was overwhelmed when suddenly, I could not breathe. At first, it had been just a weird feeling that I dissed as I caught myself immediately and resum
XANDER'S POV I could not believe I had missed all of that in my rush. To think that Zibelle had been so aloof should have told me all I needed to know about what was actually happening. We arrived at the place she was hosting her show and then found the luxury cars that were scattered around outside the premises. It was clear the attendees were no persons of ordinary caliber. I turned to my men coming down from their car behind mine. "Smoke the area to make certain there are no other wolves. If she has taken Nicolette, then she's not in this alone." I said to them, "What about me, Alpha?" The werewolf who had driven me to the place turned to ask. "You're coming with me as backup. Where's the gamma?" I asked, noticing Adriana was nowhere to be found. "None can tell, Alpha. She's been missing since the proclamation of Allen's banishment." He said. I nodded my head knowingly. That could be understood knowing how much she actually cared about Allen. She probably was out there weepin
XANDER'S POV"Don't do this, Xander. You know I'm innocent." Allen said to me as he stood before me in the dark woods.I had already declared him a criminal and he was to be banished. The more I looked at him now, all I could think of was the fact that he had probably won Nicolette's heart."Tell me then, where is she?" I asked him."Buddy, I swear this to you. I have no idea where she is but together I know we can find her." He said to me,My face grimaced. He still had the nerve to lie to me after all this while. What was so hard about the truth."I actually thought you were my friend but apparently, you're a cheap liar. These are the borders, go and don't return." I said to him avoiding his eyes."Xander, please." He said to me,His voice was shaky and I knew he was probably crying at this point. "The next time I lay eyes on you,.it shall be your death. I'll give you the grace and time to get these fixed. Return my wife to me or I shall hunt you for the rest of your miserable life
NICOLETTE'S POVI could not go the way out as there was no telling how many men had been left out there to tame me. The only way I could think of was the high scaled window and what I needed now was a really big leap. One mistake and I would certainly be caught again. I thought of the baby, breathing within me and all I had endured all along. Nothing would have to go wrong, right? No way was I going to lose my child for my friend that so easily had backstabbed me.I looked right at the concoction that had been given to me. Who's to say it is not actually poison?Either way, I took a deep breath right now as I made the biggest leap yet of my life. It was a lot for me to take in as I jumped really high until I hit myself against the window pane. It suddenly burnt and I nearly let go and lost control as I had not been prepared to find that it was made out of pure silver. My feet had lost their footing and it took me a while to balance up. I started to climb over the window, burns and a
NICOLETTE'S POVI was locked in this room in the cabin. The cabin was divided into two parts and I could not help but notice how it was being built to have just a single entrance. My prison room had a window that seemed really high for me but I knew I needed to figure out a way to escape.As commanded, Maxwell's men did not attempt to lay hands on me for now because there was actually no telling what would become of me when the evil duo decided to come for me. They were working together crying out loud!Who knows right now what Zibelle has been up to acting selling me out cheaply. It was a little wonder as to what Laurel must have promised her and right now, I was beginning to question our entire friendship that seemed to be based on a lie.Was there a possibility that all these years together had meant nothing or had she been spying on me from the very beginning? I was confused at this point that I could not even begin to think about it. I sat down there, recounting and wondering if
MAXWELL'S POVSeeing Nicolette after all this while was really something and I suddenly felt this tinge of elation towards her. She seemed not so happy to see me and I could have sworn that there was fear in her eyes when she looked at me. Was she by any chance thinking that I would hurt her or something? I would never...I guessed I spoke too soon as suddenly I heard it. The faint beating of that steady heart that he had implanted in her womb. It made me feel a surge of anger swim through me as I watched her steadily."You're indeed pregnant." I said to her,"Let me go." She said to me,"Go? You're free to go, Nicolette. That's the way." I said pointing out where she had just come from.She looked rather confused as she stared back at me. It would come to seem as though I have begun playing games on her.A couple of seconds and she turned back to find that there was no one on her path. Not even Laurel stood there as they all cleared a way for her in the middle.Nicolette was skeptica
XANDER'S POVI suddenly felt restless after I had left the witch who apparently had been shot. She probably died on the way but something seemed to be bugging as suddenly, I felt a heart wrenching pain on my chest."Nicolette..." My wolf cried out weakly. "Trouble."I had to hastily return to my car and start the ignition immediately. Whatever this was, I would be needing to get to the root of it immediately. I tried to start the car again but the damned pain returned again, this time more searing and I knew she was in trouble.I quickly decided to dial Allen. He had probably gotten to her or something. The guy took the phone immediately on the second ring and then I asked if he had seen Nicolette today."Not really but I received a call from the pack house security. She's gone missing and is not taking her calls." He said to me,"Why didn't you call me immediately?" I yelled at him, putting the car in motion."Because they said you would react badly. We were hoping to find her before
NICOLETTE'S POVI could not believe that this was happening as I tried to take a quick glance at Zibelle who apparently averted her eyes. She was clearly not going to look at me after her sore betrayal.Laurel walked over to me and right then I saw some persons with torches go over to the entrance and block it off with the caution sign. That way, no vehicle would pass this way again."How could you do this to me?" I asked Zibelle who kept looking away as she came off from the vehicle."Oh, so sad but you should know that Zibelle and I have always been best buddies right from our school days. We love and care about each other. Hence, it should not come as a surprise that you have been sold out." Laurel said as she opened my side of the car. "Out."I hesitated but reckoned that she would deal with me even as I noticed eyes glowing in the dark. There were other werewolves here but certainly, not from our pack. They reeked and I knew being pregnant and outnumbered was not the time to fig
ZIBELLE'S POV"Just act naturally and lead her to us. We'll take it from there." Those were her words on the phone when she called me on this day that the plan had been set up.It was only a couple of days to Nicolette's birthday party which we all could tell now that in anticipation, Xander was making bigger plans. I have been keeping up tabs with her and playing the caring friend and anticipating godmother to Nicolette.I had a thing tomorrow also. My fashion show and hopefully, should things go as planned today then I would be a free woman and minding both my business and my show.Clearly, I had been lacking good sleep as all my thoughts were filled with the fear of being found out or betrayed by Laurel who had always been known to be up to no good.I got out of bed sluggishly dressing up and eventually got prepared. I decided that I would call Nicolette just so we could do some shopping."Zibs, what's up?" An excited Nicolette said to me over the phone.The happiness and innocenc
DELA'S POVI found out.To think that I had been smart and careful all along only to let down my guard upon my very first encounter with Xander was really something. It had been years since I stayed in the background, secretly watching Nicolette and seeking the best ways possible to get closer.We had separated at some point when I felt she would be able to stand on her own two feet as I went into seclusion which was a thing with us witches. It used to be the best time when we could gather up the potency of our powers and also return stronger.Mine had taken me years as my times out of practice when playing nanny to the child had been something else. I reckoned how young she had been when I fled away from her with a promise that I would always be watching her. It had been long years in the dark cave where I lost track of time.I returned to find my dear child as that was what I saw her as, married to someone dangerous. Xander was never supposed to happen and the more I dug into his fa