Mischa:Damn it, I thought in my head.This was supposed to just be about getting supplies and yet… and yet I had been forced by the hands of fate to meet my mate here.The man held out his hand and it took me a moment for me to realize I hadn’t said anything.I didn’t trust him; I wanted to leave. But I couldn’t handle my team getting attacked again. They all looked weary and exhausted.“Fine,” I muttered and finally took his hand. As we locked eyes with each other, I could feel a tingle own my spine. This man was strong and I didn’t know why but it made me feel safe with him.Was this the mate bond in action? I didn’t know.I hadn’t thought much about the prospect of meeting my mate before. Alisha’s stories of her two mates that had hurt her had been enough for me to swear off romance for a long while. But Hilda had bonded with Mark and they were a happy tale.I shook my head minutely and let go of his hand. I didn’t want to think about it right now.“I think it’s time we move,” I c
DerekI groaned to myself as I stood up from my bed. I had barely slept last night, what between working in paperwork, dealing with interrogating another of Gerard’s spies in the secret dungeon beneath the mansion and drinking away those unpleasant memories… i was very exhausted to say the least.I walked over to the door and flung it open. Upon seeing my best friend’s face I shut it again with a loud slam.“Go the fuck away,” i snarled, even though I felt glad to see he had returned from the mission safely.I put on my shirt over my naked torso as he opened the door and walked in, chuckling.“Come on, Derek,”he teased me. “Don’t act like you aren’t leased to see me, brother.“I sneered at him, wondering idly why he looked so happy. Usually on a mission he would return exhausted and relieved but not this happy.Something has happened.And I had to find out what.“Alright,” l gestured to the chair for him to sit while I slipped onto the armchair. “Talk.”“Whatever do you mean, Derek?”
AlishaDerek.His golden eyes pierced through me like never before and I felt more exposed than h had ever felt in my life. Suddenly I felt my twins little hands leave mine and they ran to their father, all of them looking so accusingly at me.“You’re nothing to me,” Derek was saying and then his eyes morphed to a green pair so familiar in my nightmares. Sebastian. I glared at him, realizing he had tricked me again.“Mommy save us…”I gasped and tried to take my kids back, but it was too late. He had them in his claws and then…Blood began to drip down from my little Aria’s neck.“Mommy!” I heard Ares cry for me and reach to touch me. I reached for him but then he became farther and even further away.A cry got stuck in my throat and I couldn’t move.No! I couldn’t lose them!…I was panting heavily, sitting up in my sleeping bag and pressing my hand against my racing heartbeat.Beside me, on either side, my two babies slept. It reminded me that I had simply been dreaming and I relax
Derek:The evening before I was to meet with the rogue group came faster than I expected.I had barely been unable to sleep and took to wandering the halls with abandon. I didn’t care about the looks of confusion or fear from my maids and guards, who probably thought I was acting so oddly again.I circled the courtyard, and the kitchens, and even the portrait room that held many portraits of my ancestors and previous Alphas going down centuries.Then at some point during the night I heard my mother’s voice.“Are you unable to sleep too?”I could tell there was concern in her voice and I turned to glance at her. She looked saddened at me, and I definitely didn’t like that.“I’m fine,” i replied. She looked dressed for bed already and I had an inkling hat one of the maids had alerted her to my odd nightly movements around the house, and that was what forced her to get up.“Go to sleep, mother,” i said to her, and turned away but stopped in my tracks when she spoke again.“How much longe
AlishaDamn it.This wasn’t what I expected.If I had known it was the Red Wolf Pack I wouldn’t have agreed to meet with them.I tried to maintain my stoic face as I stared at Derek who was staring at me in shock.Why was he the one I had to meet with? What curse had fate given to me that i would meet with him like this?“Alisha?” Mischa turned to me with questions in her eyes. Then as I met her gaze, understanding filled them and then horror and regret.“So,” i heard the clearing of a throat and saw it was Benjamin, the one who used to call me sister in law so fondly before-I schooled my face into a stoic expression.Act like a leader, Alisha. You’re not here to reopen old wounds.“I hope you haven’t been waiting long,” i regarded Derek with a nod. “I believe we should have the meeting now and get this over with.”With practiced ease I gestured to Mark who nodded and began to round up some men to scout.“Mommy,” Ares reached up with both hands, clearly wanting to be carried. I melte
Derek:I had well and truly screwed up.I stood watching my mate walk away from me holding the hands of my two children that I had never known existed. She never looked back.Her words and furious glare at me had more than stung; it was like a dagger straight to my heart, to be unable to even get to hold my children.Only once they disappeared into a tent did I realize I had been staring.I could hardly breathe and I turned away and stormed off, barely paying attention to my best friend calling my name.I walked through the forest, feeling a mix of emotions burn through me. I was a fool.I had been a fool to let her go.I had become drawn in by Sebastian’s words and how he mocked me for taking Alisha as my mate.But had I ever thought to ask her why she left the Silver Moon Pack? No. I had only been cruel to her and let her go without a glance. Because I had been angry at her for keeping those details of her past from me.What if she had kept it from me because she knew I would be ups
Mischa:I had yet to talk to my best friend just yet, and after bidding everyone else goodnight, I stepped towards the tent she occupied.“Do you need to pee?” Alisha was asking her twins, and they both shook her head. “You sure? Your stomach doesn’t hurt?” She asked again, which I knew was the same kind of routine she did every day when they went to bed or took naps during our travels. After a warm, wet and mildly uncomfortable experience nearly a month ago, she had begun to make asking them constant questions on their bladder and bowel movements a regular thing. “Okay, tuck in time,” she said to their beaming faces and they immediately got to lie down on the sleeping bags.Alisha looked tense as soon as I came in so I knew that she knew I was there, it I stayed silent and smiled at the twins who waved at me while Alisha tucked them in.Now that I had met Derek, the father of the twins, I could see a lot of resemblance they had to him. Aria clearly had her father’s eyes and hair, an
Derek:I was speechless and unable to even move as my best friend’s mate raised her voice at me.She continued, “I saw her care for my dying father even when she had no one caring for her! If not for her I wouldn’t have had a chance to bid my father a goodbye! When we escaped that place we ran! Without rest! She never said a word about it even when she was the pregnant one! And you know what? Even as a mother with so many duties resting on her shoulders, she never makes her children feel abandoned! She’s a good mother, just like she always wanted to be!”Those words cut through me.I tried not to let it but it was practically impossible.I felt regret as I saw the tears slipping down Mischa’s face and Benjamin held her, trying to calm her down.“It’s enough,” he murmured in her ear softly to her. “Misch, stop.”She finally fell silent and I couldn’t bring myself to say a word to her.The tears rolling down her cheeks were enough to cause me pain and she buried her face in Benjamin’s c
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