Derek:I waited at the foyer as night fell, for Alisha to come out from my mother’s room, and be in her way. I longed to have time alone with her even if it was just for a moment.I felt impatient, or rather it was an anticipatory feeling that it made me long to drag her out of my mother’s room myself.Soon my attention was brought to the sound of her footsteps down the hallway and towards my direction.I met her gaze, which turned from surprise to suspicious.“What are you doing here? Aren’t you supposed to be asleep or something?” She asked in a breath and I let a smirk tilt my lips upwards. I held her hoodie in her hands and reached out to hand it to her which she gazed at with shock.“I had to return this to you,” i said confidently. “Don’t stare at it, darling, just take it.”She reached out and took it from my grasp but not before our fingers brushed.“Thanks,” she sounded sarcastic as she verbalized her gratitude, and began to tug the jacket over her torso. I mourned the lost si
Alisha“I’m done with this,” I handed the patient’s folder back to Simon who hummed and tossed it aside without even glancing to check. He looked extremely busy, with his sleeves rolled up to his elbows and the sound of his muttering and scribbling of the pen filled the small space of his office. I couldn’t help the corners of my lips quirking up into a smile before I shook my head minutely and left.The clinic was closed for the day and I relished in the emptiness of the clinic, but my mind wandered. I had been trying to get Derek and his behavior the previous night out of my mind and used work as a distraction to do so. However it was clear that I still had him in mind.I let out a soft groan and wished I could have my twins beside me, so I would distract myself even more by focusing on the ire care.I missed them; I missed my children so much that it hurt. But I also knew I couldn’t provide for them the way that Derek would. There, they were considerably happier and got a lot more
AlishaStanding, Kaiden looked just about as tall as Benjamin, and had dark eyes and hair. He had a stubble, which was different from how I remembered him years back. And he looked battle worn.“Alpha Derek of the Red Wolf Pack,” Kaiden bowed slightly, not too deeply as to proclaim his servitude, but deep enough to show his respect for Derek.Then the Beta’s eyes flickered to me, whose face he couldn’t see under my large hood, and back to Derek.“I thought we agreed on not having anyone else at this meeting,” Kaiden said sounding on edge. I’m sure he felt like he was walking into a trap.I stepped forward and spoke, “Im not just anyone else, Kaiden.”Then I removed my hood, and his eyes widened in surprise as he saw me.A chuckle left his lips shortly after.“Don’t tell me… He’s been looking for you at all the wrong places, it seems. You’re back at the Red Wolf Pack,” Kaiden remarked.I shot back with, “I only just returned a few weeks ago. But, thats not what we’re here to talk about
DerekThe treaty had been agreed on, if only informally.I waited until Kaiden had left the clearing where we had our meeting. As I watched him disappear into the darkness of the forest, my thoughts were full of so many things - past memories, and future plans.I was glad that I would be able to have an ally in Kaiden. He would make a good Alpha, as he was charismatic enough and cared for the Silver Moon Pack. To be fair, I thought anyone was better than the Mad Alpha Sebastian. And if such a treaty between our two packs was reached it would put both mine and Kaiden’s names in the history books.Sebastian would no longer be too much trouble, and now I was free to think about how to deal with Gerard. I thought about my last with that snake of a Beta. I hated him, both as a Beta and as the friend of my father.If I was going to be rid of him it would take more than just killing his spies; I would have to find something on him that would drive the Elders of our pack to favor me over him.
Alisha:“Screw him,” I cursed while I tried on another damned dress. I didn’t like the idea that I was being forced to go to dinner with Derek, simply because I had been too enraged to not take him on in a spar.Despite the compliments on my ‘truly dangerous’ fighting skills, my pride still bruised a bit.I stared at my reflection and couldn’t help but scowl.Pink definitely wasn’t my color. There was a time I felt like being delicate was a virtue, and I always sought to do no harm wherever I found myself. But I had grown hard from the trials and tribulations that life had to offer me.I sighed, pushing the straps of the pink dress down my shoulders and it fell to the ground, the dress pooling around my feet. Stepping out of it I began once more to rummage through the wardrobe for anything that wasn’t too… ‘not me’, to wear.I didn’t know why but the thought of wearing something unattractive and dowdy made me mad and frustrated. Even if I was just having dinner with Derek, whose opini
AlishaDamn it. Damn it!All the regrets I had upon accepting Derek’s dinner bet had come to roost, and I stood up at once, looking from left to right to orient myself.The sun streamed in through the windows and I knew it had to be late in the morning for that to happen.Oh, goddess, what had I done?I began to query myself like never before. I dug my fingers into my hair and tried not to scream in frustration.Had it been the wine? It had been a little too sweet for my liking. Had Derek put something inside it?Or the food?It had been delicious to say the least . I felt my appetite awaken iron recalling how scrumptious each dish tasted, from the soupy appetizer to the creamy dessert with strawberry glaze.And I had eaten it all up! If there was a way for me to have been drugged or poisoned, that would definitely be it.“Alisha?” Derek’s voice rang and made me stiffen, before whipping my head to glare at him. A growl slipped through my lips and I longed to lash out at him.He must h
Alisha“Alis,” Mischa was the one to say my name and stand up from her seat to pull me into a hug, all smiles. My body was stiff and i kept my eyes on Derek’s, whose expression had slowly morphed into confusion.As my best friend saw the look on my face, she asked in a low and soft voice, “what’s wrong, Alis?”She sounded so worried for me and I glanced briefly at her and tugged my hand from her loose grasp.“Derek, I’d like to speak with you in private,” i emphasized the words ‘I’m private’ and his brows furrowed.“Alisha, come on,” Mischa sighed. “This isn’t like you. Did anything happen? I thought you were with the twins?” She asked those questions one after the other and I could tell she was trying to distract me.They must have caught on to the fact that I wasn’t in a good mood and tried to make me feel better, as well as defuse the situation.“How about this?” Benjamin joined in, keeping a pleasant tone on his face though there was concern behind his words. “You can sit with us
Derek:It took me a lot longer than I would ever admit to return to normal.In the wake of Alisha’s abrupt exit, I felt the stinging pain of rejection, and the bitter taste of defeat on the top of my tongue.It felt truly awful: like a burning in my chest and a heaviness that left me reminded of the two years Alisha hadn’t been in the pack or in my life by my own stupid mistakes.I left the portrait room and went back to the study, my body moving on autopilot. The zeal I had to hang out with my friend and his mate (and possibly include Alisha in the mix) had vanished straight into thin air.I had made another mistake, and I knew it. It was just another in the long list of reasons why Alisha refused to return to me.I shouldn’t have brought the children into our disagreeable relationship. I had known it was wrong but somehow I had been a little desperate. I knew that Alisha would never have the heart to say no to anything the twins asked her, and thought I could take advantage of it.“
EPILOGUE IIIALISHATWENTY YEARS LATER“Mmm,” I grunted as I sat up, my back hurting after using Derek’s body as a pillow.He had woken up early and left the bed, I remembered, after giving me a kiss as usual.I shouldn’t have drank so much.We were all getting on in years now, and though I had clocked forty-one last night, I still had a long life ahead of me.I smiled to myself as I remembered the way Misch, Benjamin, Hilda, mark and Derek had coerced me to take not one, not two, but THREE whiskey shots.Damn them all for being able to hold their liquor while I, barely used to drinking even at my age, had NOT.“So damn unfair,” I muttered under my breath, and thought briefly about postponing the training session I had with Mischa, Markson and Erika.The two children had grown up so fast, and were already 19 and 20 respectively, already becoming accomplished warriors at their age.Erika was much like her mother, a consummate warrior. I smirked as I remembered the way that Mischa and I
EPILOGUE IIHilda:I opened the windows of the kitchen to let in the fresh air, and enjoyed the beautiful scents of spring. My nose in the air, I sniffed, and ended up my twitching a little.I had grown sensitive to the scent of pollen around the air ever since I had given birth to Alis, my lovely daughter.She was five now, and a delightful little one to have. I began with the task of preparing lunch, as breakfast had long passed. The children would be coming over today and I also needed to go out to get some herbs and meats for dinner and breakfast tomorrow.Somehow, my role in the Red Wolf pack had settled into becoming a part-time assistant for Doctor Simon, who was soon retiring, and handling the children. Meaning, Alisha’s and the Alpha’s four children, Mischa’s and the Beta’s daughter, and mine.That was often a lot to handle, but I many ways I enjoyed it. I loved having children around me and hearing the sounds of their laughter. It reminded me of my own voice which had been s
EPILOGUE IDerek:“…And they all lived happily ever after,” Alisha finished, smiling at the dozing faces of our twins.Finally, I thought with a light chuckle. Some peace and quiet.The head of my son killed on my chest and I gently carried him out of his sister’s bed, and took him over to his own bed.Meanwhile Alisha strengthened, and I heard her take a deep breath.Her abdomen had rounded delightfully, growing our baby in her.Her due date was soon, according to Simon the last time he checked over her. And each day I prayed I wouldn’t have anything that would take me out of the pack long term, because I didn’t under any circumstances, want to be out of the pack when she gave birth. I had missed the birth of my older two children due to my own foolish mistakes, I didn’t want to miss this next one at all.“What are you thinking about?” Alisha asked me, as though she could read my mind.I smiled at her, knowing the best way to rile her up.“Our bet,” I replied with, and felt y grasped
Alisha:I opened my eyes to the sound of birds chirping. The sheets were warm underneath my body and I felt peace within me.There was finally a conclusion, I thought, to the pain and suffering, the hiding and secrecy that had been occurring for ages now.Now I could calmly walk down the streets of our pack with my twins in hand and not fear that Gerard would show up. I could embrace my relationship with Derek fully without needing to second guess myself.Sebastian was Gone.And Gerard, was Gone.Everything was well.“Hello, love,” i felt an arm I knew to be Derek’s worm its way around my waist and I smiled at the contact.It had been several days since I moved back into his home- now OUR home, and I had never felt more complete in my life.“Good morning,” I murmured to my mate, feeling his lips on the back of my neck. I turned my head and met his lips with mine, and I close my eyes as my body felt alive, wrapped up in his.“What are you thinking of?” He asked me as our lips parted an
Benjamin:“Oh goddess,” Mischa’s sigh made me smile. “That was some workout.”We lay side by side facing each other in the dark, sweat sheen over our naked bodies.“I’m glad you feel that way,” I chuckled at my mate’s words, wrapping my arms around her and pulling her closer.The scent of her hair drove me crazy, and I wondered like so many times before what kind of oil she used on it. She was always taking care of her curls with expert ease.Only the bathroom light was on in the entire house, leaving a trail of light towards our bedroom, and I enjoyed the sounds of silence, thinking about how the day had gone so quickly with all the happenings. I was glad that finally, Gerard was condemned for execution, and Sebastian, the thorn in our sides that had troubles us so much, had eventually been taken out.“Things are going to go smoothly from here on out,” Misch murmured and I marveled silently at how we always seemed to think the same thing. Almost like we knew each other since we were
Derek:I turned to glance at the Silver Moon Pack warriors who watched me and Sebastian as their Alpha lay curses on them.In their eyes I saw defiance and weariness, and I smirked inwardly.“Do you think they would come to your aid now that you’ve finally been taken off their hands?” I sniggered at Sebastian, who flared up at me. It wasn’t very much effective as he probably hoped it would be, for his eyes were swollen form the best down I had given him.“YOU ARE ALL TRAITORS!” Sebastian was livid, baring his teeth maniacally at his men. “I will KILL YOU ALL!”“Not if I have anything to say about it.”Kaiden’s voice reached me and I smiled. So the Beta did arrive.Sebastian’s face upon hearing Kaiden’s voice was nothing compared to his expression when his Beta entered the scene with the rest of their pack’s men.“You!” Sebastian spat in Kaiden’s direction, and the Beta only regarded Sebastian with indifference. “What the duck are you doing here? Disobeying my orders?!”“Your orders me
Alisha:Sebastian’s declaration made me want to retch hi whatever was left in my stomach since last night’s dinner.Well, he hasn’t changed one bit I thought. He was every bit as reprehensible as I remembered. The sense of entitlement he still had over me made me furious as well.However I was content to let Derek fight this battle for the both of us. Talking with him would only give me a headache.“Is that so?” Derek said, a calm look on his handsome features. “I had no idea you can still lay claims on someone who has absolutely nothing to do with you. And your threats, Sebastian, are nothing more than words to me. You know you will never win against me.”That served to drive Sebastian more into unbridled rage and frustration.“Alisha is mine!” He growled.Derek took a step forward, and I saw the tension in his jawline and neck as he all but spat out, “She was NEVER yours! She is MY mate, and mine alone! You made that very clear with the way you treated her when you had the chance! A
Derek:The trial had filled me with pain and guilt from the get go. Knowing that my mother had to reveal her past with my father brought me no measure of relief.But thanks to her and Alisha,The door suddenly opened and a guard rushed inside, panting as though he had run a full mile.“What is this?!” The Elders were incensed upon the trial’s interruption.“Silver Moon Pack warriors are out our gates!” The guard blurted out in such a loud voice.Immediately I went rigid. Alarm filled my body and I looked to Alisha who met my eyes at the same time.Sebastian was at our door. And that news brought a chaos that shattered the peace of the meeting hall.I could see the Pack Elders themselves had begun to lose their heads and it made me grit my teeth in frustration.“Everyone please be calm,” Alisha’s voice was like a steady lighthouse in the storm. “Now isn’t the time to panic. We can’t let this distract us. I believe we have to move against Sebastian at once. But Gerard must be put behind
Alisha:I looked to the Elders, all of whom were shocked into silence at Melissa’s confession.“Things got so bad, that I had been unable to have another child. Or rather, I couldn’t carry the pregnancies to term. That was because, due to many of Marcus’ actions, I would end up having a miscarriage before long. There were several times…” she swallowed heavily. “That I had to deal with those losses without any support.“Hearing that shocked me to my core; she had never told me this before! Turning to glance at Derek, I saw pain on his face, and knew he hadn’t heard of this either.How badly he must feel, I thought, to see his mother this way.Every part of me longed to comfort them, but I knew I couldn’t put a stop to this trial just yet.Melissa took a deep breath and exhaled slowly before continuing. “That night Marcus died, was another of his worse nights. Derek stopped him, and Marcus tried to attack him. No… he tried to KILL his own son. And Derek had no choice but to defend himse