Lila’s POVThis was different.I never expected my dad would hit me in his life. He had always scolded me in many ways but never once hit me.I had never seen him furious like this ever, either. His eyes bulged and his face was red and I could see his canines elongated as though he was about to fight a foe.“Don’t dare act so childish, Lila,” he growled at me. “Why are you this stupid? I had raised you to be more cunning than this. But perhaps my lessons never sank in.”I snapped at him, “I want to leave the house but you wouldn’t let me, Dad. Why am I stuck in here? I want to go OUT!”“And what are you planning to do if you left?” He asked me, to which I closed my mouth; he was still very angry. “Have you forgotten my plans revolve around you staying out and out of the limelight? Your reputation isn’t the best among the pack members as you already know, or have you somehow forgotten? You have always acted so spoilt but I never once thought you would misbehave even now. Your actions a
Derek’s POVI hummed to myself as I finished off on another round of paperwork. It was such a satisfying thing to see the bottom of my desk every once in a while when it wasn’t so cluttered.Just a couple more minutes and I could spend time with my children, like I promised earlier that morning at breakfast.As I skimmed over the new parchment of reports on several missions, I couldn’t help my thoughts going to Alisha.She and I had been going further into our relationship than even I had expected. It wouldn’t be long now, I told myself, that she would finally agree to return to live with me and the twins as a family once again.Every time I spent with her reminded me of how much I needed her. Seeing her stirred life in me again.For now I had to be content to simply be with her, and not push the subject of her moving in. She had brought up Gerard the last time that I mentioned it, and I had no comeback for that as of yet.Knock, knock.“Enter,” I called out, still staring at the poor
Alisha’s POVThank the goddess that today wasn’t a regular clinic day. I sighed as I let my hair down from the ponytail, and ran my fingers through the long black tresses.My hair had grown even longer since I hadn’t cut it in a while, and I inspected the ends as I restyled my hair into a half-up, hair down style which was more comfortable.I left the bathroom and the first thing my eyes went to were the flowers. Not the first one that Derek had given me but a third. It sat neatly on the dresser in a porcelain and gold vase that was so luxurious that it looked out of place in the homely bedroom.My lips quirked up at the memory of writing to Derek that he should stop sending flowers because there was no other vase to keep it in. Only for him to send the guard back with another bouquet and the most expensive looking vase I had ever seen.I knew that I was falling hard and fast for him again and this time I could hardly believe it. Where was the anger that I held for him deep in my hear
Derek’s POVI was a lot calmer by the time I finished my pack duties for the day, and returned to the pack clinic that evening. I knew that Alisha must have been unable tjs top thinking about Lila’s sudden arrival to the clinic, despite all my words to her.How had such a mistake been made? I berated myself for letting my guard down when it came to Lila.That woman had been quiet all this time and I had grown complacent. It was true that she had acted out some while before, and Gerard had chosen to put her on lockdown instead of letting her roam around the pack freely and make more trouble.Perhaps that’s why I had been so dismissive of her.I was unsurprised to gone that though the pack clinic was quiet and dimly lit, Alisha still paced around the entrance of the clinic as though waiting for my return.I could see how frazzled she was and it caused an ache in my heart.as stealthily as I possibly could, I grasped her hand which resulted in a shocked look and a gasp coming from her li
Derek’s POVThe next morning, as I had somewhat expected, arrived with a summons from the pack Elders.I had just put on my shirt when the knock on my door came.“Enter,” I called out while adjusting the fit of the shirt - which was snug over my torso.The guard that stepped in bowed to me before saying, “Alpha, the Pack Elders are calling for you.”I nodded, my mind already alert and thinking over the various ways that Gerard could come at me. I knew today wouldn’t be easy but I had already made my decision on what to do.Dismissing the guard with a nod I grabbed my leather jacket and gave myself a once over before leaving the room.Alisha and I’s conversation from the previous night rang through my head so before I left the house I decided to open a note quickly.‘The Pack Elders have summoned me. Stay out and don’t worry. I’ll handle it.’I called a guard.“Go over to the pack clinic and hand this to Alisha,” i ordered the guard who bowed and left to do as I had asked.The way to t
Gerard’s POVThis…I tried my best to contain my seething rage which threatened to raise my blood pressure through the roof. I grit my teeth as a growl stirred up in my chest.This was the LAST THING I HAD EXPECTED.Children?!With THAT woman?!Had I missed something somewhere?I remembered that woman was pregnant and with a full belly when she had been ousted from the pack but… surely those children couldn’t have survived?As Derek finished speaking then came the chaos resulting from his words. I could tell he expected such a reaction and reveled in throwing our meetings off course as the Elders struggled to get things back into order.The cacophony of sounds stoped when one of the Elders slammed his hand in the table repeatedly that the table shook.“Derek,” the Elder that had brought about silence once more in the meeting room spoke. “You can’t possibly mean you have children with this woman? Even for you this is…”Derek chuckled and I could sense he was a lot better in mood than b
Alisha:“What are you doing here?” Derek asked me.I refrained from rolling my eyes;“How did it go?” I asked Derek in turn, pressing my lips together thinly.I had come to Derek’s home because I was much too nervous to sit still. I held Ares in my arms. He slept soundly, and I thought briefly he might be be trying a little too old for me to hold him this way.Placing Ares on the couch to continue snoring while his sister colored a drawing under Melissa’s watchful eye, I went out of the living room with Derek.“I came because i couldn’t wait. And my cover’s already blown. What happened in the meeting?” I asked the question again with impatience in my voice.“Well,” Derek sighed. “I had to tell the Elders that we have children together.”“What?!” My voice was raised, as was my frustration. “Derek, how could-“He cut me off at once, “It was the only way that they wouldn’t banish you, Alisha. They already know your last with Sebastian. I did this to protect you.”I fell silent.My last a
Gerard:I opened my eyes to the sound of a loud and banshee-like shriek which attacked my eardrums with how high-pitched it was.Damn it!My eyes burned; i had not slept until early morning due to work and discussing with a lot of my spies across the pack.It was always difficult handling the double like I was living but it was getting more and more burdensome with the ever present obstacle that Derek presented to me.I got up off my bed, growling angrily.Storming out of my bedroom, I ran out towards the source of the scream. My own daughter, Lila.“What the hell is wrong with you?!” I shouted at her, approaching the foyer of the house. Then I stopped short as soon as she turned to me, holding a box. Her eyes looked horrified. But that was not the first thing I had noticed.The first thing I had in fact noticed was the unmistakable stench of death hung in the air. It wasn’t hard to miss once one recognized it.“What is this?” I moved closer, only to be left horrified as she pushed th
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