ALLEN'S POV"Come on bro, Nicolette is very fine, trust me." Xander said to me.We had been up in the council meeting today and I could smell a rat. Yes, a rat. Xander for the first time was super late to the meeting and his apology was not even sincere. I would say he was caught up in a whiff of excitement that I was inclined to feel bothered, especially with the distress call which Zibelle had put up with me the night before when I had been on patrol. I kept trying to speak to him but he was always aloof and would skip on us sometimes. This was not the Xander I know right now. This Xander I was seeing today seemed more like the previous Xander three years ago when Laurel had left him out cold and had gone on after her lover, Ethan. I could tell that there was something that was not far from a romantic timeout with Laurel.Only a mate could do this to him.But if that was so, what had happened to Nicolette? Was she safe or had the two lovebirds joined up forces to kill her or somethi
LAUREL'S POVThis was all the fault of that bitch, Zibelle. She obviously had been playing with me when she sent me that message. Clearly, she had been in talks with Nicolette and decided to send me that message knowing it would set me off and excite me enough not to pay attention and now, I had lost my mate to the woman I hated most in the whole wide world.I had seen all Zibelle's missed calls and all her messages to me all in bid to find out what it was that was happening. I smirked with a devilish grin each time she sent me a message as I knew well enough that I was most certainly going to deal with her real good for what she had done.The shame and the pain of losing Xander was all too overwhelming and now that I had lost him, I could have sworn that I was on a full revenge spree. I needed to make them all pay for what they had done to me but that would start off somewhere else.With my headset on achieving a single goal, I left the pack house after my excruciating disdainful dis
ETHAN'S POVSeriously, I had never actually intended to hit her but the wench had just gotten on my bad side. It was her fault that I had begun losing control and I could not begin to think about anything else right now as I was pacing. She stood there still, looking at me with bewilderment in her eyes as she probably had not been expecting me to react to her misbehavior that way but I would not be blamed for her incompetence at carrying out a single task. It was her fault and her loss of good structuring, not mine."Sit down." I said to her,"Why would you..." She began."I said sit the fuck down before I lose it all!!!" I yelled at her.She put up her hands as she sat down."Okay, alright. I'm sitting. You don't need to scream at me like a child you are trying to train." She said to me,"Oh, I can scream at you all I want. You ruined everything!!!" I said to her,"I explained to you. It was that Zibelle's fault for pulling a fast one on me." She said nonchalantly.I still could not
ZIBELLE'S POVSleep with one eye open, that has been literally what I have been up to.I worried greatly as I could not even begin to fathom what my fate would be turning into at the moment. My life as it were right now was practically over and even as I stared now at my catalog and plans for the fashion show, I could only think about how I would be getting into trouble. The whole world would definitely see me as a premium disgrace and embarrassment at this time. Perhaps, I would have to find a way to end it quickly.Right now, I realized that I had been indoors all day and only ordered junk. A carton of pizza with one slice left in it was on the table open. There were lots of other things scattered around including the beers. Who would have thought that this would eventually be the end of the once high and mighty Zibelle. I did not even think to clear or clean the place as I picked up the remote, went to sit down on the couch and pulled up my knees as I huddled it closely. The fear i
ALLEN'S POV"Hey, big boy." She greeted me and I looked at her with my wandering eyes.What in the name of the moon goddess was she doing out here in the bar.Yes, the bar. You did not actually think that after I had heard that Xander had been given a second chance with Nicolette as his mate that I would feel alright. I did not think so too as I had not felt this way before. I just knew at the time that I needed some time with the drinks but decided to tidy stuff up first.The instant I was done, I found myself on my way to the bar where I found a good spot by the corner. It was really dark and I hailed the waiter over as he came up to me."Listen buddy, I need your strongest stuff as much as you can provide." I said to him,"But sir..." He began.I dug my hand into my pocket and produced a wad of cash that I pushed to him."Never say no to a saddened gentleman seeking an escape from reality." I said to him,"Of course," He replied as he took my cash and went away.He had returned wit
LAUREL'S POVThe loud crashing sound of her back against her wall where the photo frames hung was really something as I threw her there. "You bitch!!! You were going to rat me out? After all my promises? After everything I've done for you?" I demanded angrily.She was still trying to get a grip as for the past few minutes, I had been assaulting her. The crashing noise was really loud especially with the fact that it was late at night."Laurel, it's not what you think." She said withdrawing as her wounds were beginning to heal.Damn the wolfie healing gift. I wanted badly to see her bleed really bad and here she was, actually healing. What use was that? I walked up to her as I showed off my claws."It's not what I think?" I asked her."Yes." She responded."Then please, my dear. Enlighten me before I rip your head off. And damn right, I would do it." I said to her,"I was only..." She began to say when suddenly, there was the sound of the doorbell.I had not noticed that the streets h
NICOLETTE'S POV This whole new assigned mate thing was beginning to overwhelm me especially with the grand way I was being treated by the servants. I was beginning to feel like a true Luna but still it felt awkward knowing that she was here. I really wanted to know if truly, every ties with her had been severed and of course, if he no longer felt anything for her Coming back from Zibelle's, I had decided to go pay a visit to the gardens. It was a place I had not been to in a really long time since I was married here but now, I suddenly felt that attraction. I had taken a good book from the study and went straight to the garden.After walking around for a bit, I decided to rest in the shed built there. It felt really wonderful even as the maid that had walked with me asked if I was craving something to drink while I read. I smiled at her as I told her that I would very well request for an orange juice. She bowed to me as she retreated and I remained abashed for a little while as I st
XANDER'S POVI could not believe that Laurel would come and ruin this blissful moment I was having with Nicolette. It felt really good to have come home and meet with the woman you love. This was planned so well until she had to come show herself.Had she not done enough already to tear us apart? Why on earth was she hell bent on making my life more miserable than she already had made it. I glared at her angrily now as she shrugged her shoulders."Hey, don't give me that look. It's not my fault your new mate ain't as mature as the old one." She said pointing to herself.I nearly laughed out my frustrations and the fact that she thought of herself as matured. What was giving these hopes to Laurel and why would I care about how Nicolette behaved? I could simply not fault her as all my anger was channeled at Laurel for daring to show up at such a blissful moment. I had actually been thinking she would have left by now but here she actually was before me and causing more harm to my relati
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