Chapter 83 Ciara's POV Three months later… “She's really beautiful,” Bryan commented as he paced around the room with my daughter, Lacey in his arms. He had practically moved into our house after I gave birth to Lacey and he was such a doting father to her that I had no regrets choosing him. We had started a relationship about two months ago after I gave birth to Lacey and it's been three months of bliss and happiness. Bryan is such an attentive and intentional man, the kind that many shewolfs in the pack would be dying to have and luckily he was all mine. I flushed and cleared my throat, looking to see Bryan already staring at me. He had a knowing smile on his face and i felt my cheeks grow hot and turn pink. “What are you thinking about?” He asked as he walked up to me. I stretched out my hand to take Lacey but he ignored them and sat by the side of the bed, leaning towards me. “Well?” He asked, his eyebrows raised. I sighed and shook my head. “Nothing important.”
Chapter 84 Bryan's POV Two days… It had been two whole days since I let the cat out of the bag about the mate bond and it had been radio silence since then. I haven't had time myself to check up on her anyway so I couldn't really blame her. The affairs of the pack had been pretty tasking over the last couple of days and we had been getting news of a series of killings in the neighboring packs. I sighed and looked around the room at all the powerful men sitting here. This meeting had been organized to discuss plans and ways we could protect our pack members from being victims of these series of attacks. We had been talking and arguing back and forth for a while and we still hadn't reached a conclusion. There were no leads and no one knew who could be behind it either. The pack members were agitated and rightfully so because the killings were strange and unprecedented. “The bite marks and loss of memory of the incident are the popular traits of those who have suffered the
Chapter 85 Ciara's POV I paced in front of the room waiting for an update on my daughter. Lacey had suddenly developed a fever this morning and I got really scared. As I paced back and forth, my mind kept reeling with different thoughts, different possibilities. Since I had no wolf, could my daughter have been affected? And then there was the issue with Bryan and I being mates, what did that mean? Since Lacey was Orion's daughter, an Alpha's flesh and blood, she should be protected, right? “Ciara,” I heard and turned, freezing on the spot. “What are you doing here?” “Orion,” I whispered, shocked and yet not that surprised to see him after all this was his pack. He pointed at my belly with a frown. “Did you…?” I raised an eyebrow. “Did I what?” Just then the hospital room opened and the doctor walked out carrying my daughter in her hands. I forgot all about Orion and ran to her, lifting Lacey into my arms. “Hey baby, are you okay?” I asked even though I knew
Chapter 86Bryan's POV “We have increased the security at the border. Three of our strongest men are stationed at the border every morning and switched with their replacements every night.” Gamma Luke announced to the entire room of men. I leaned back in my seat, half of my mind on the current situation with the killings, the other half was far away with Ciara, wherever she was. “Alpha, would you like to say anything?” I looked up and found all eyes on me. Schooling my expression, I shook my head. “Go on,” Ryan shot me a curious look and I shook my head before turning to Delta Storm. “I think we need to make training compulsory for both males and females. Let's give everyone a fighting chance against whatever is hunting and killing people in their numbers.” I paused and looked around waiting for any interruptions. When there was none, I continued. “Yes the men are stationed at the border and even in strategic places around the pack but it isn't enough. I think everyone deserves
Chapter 87Ciara's POV I slid the new diaper under Lacey's bum and secured it around her legs before propping her on my lap. “Sleep baby,” She had been restless all day as if she knew that Bryan wasn't here or perhaps she could sense my internal struggles. “I'll be back,”That was what he said to me three days ago and yet I haven't set my eyes on him. He promised he'd come back to me and instructed me to look after Lacey and make sure she didn't miss him too much. It's been three days and there's no sign of him or Ryan. I had no clue if he was even alive or if something had happened to him. If only someone knew something. Presently, I was in his room where I had been sleeping since he left that day. Being around his clothes and objects that smelled like him was helping to calm me down but for how long?Perhaps it wasn't such a bad thing that I didn't have a wolf or else she'd be going berserk right now with her mate so far awayAlthough having a wolf, I'd know if Bryan is dead o
Chapter 88Bryan's POV “Sir there's nothing there. We searched everywhere but couldn't find anyone or anything.” The last batch of the search party we sent returned with the same dissatisfying news. I hung my head and closed my eyes. We've been stuck in the woods for days without food and water trying to hunt down the creatures responsible for the recent killings. “I can't believe we've been unable to find anything,” one of the men grumbled as he sank tor he ground. Soon, murmuring began amongst the other men expressing their disapproval and dissatisfaction with the situation. I listened wordlessly unsure of how to comfort them when I was also feeling down and depressed. How could we have found nothing in these last few days? It was disheartening and very shameful. “Alpha, I think you should return back home now. Luna Ciara must be beside herself with worry. Ther has been no news sent back to the pack since we left.” Ryan said respectfully pulling me out of my thoughts. At the
Chapter 89Ciara's POV “What do you want us to put on this Luna?” Lilian asked and I smiled, ignoring the title. I looked around the room. The tables were already packed with food. The bonfire celebration was going to be a grand affair from the looks of it and Bryan wasn't settling in terms of food and provisions. “Need some help?” I heard his voice and I rolled my eyes not bothering to look at him. “You can just leave that there, thank you Lilian.” I waited for her to leave before I turned to him. “Seriously? What are we going to do with all this food?”He looked around and shrugged, smiling at me as he closed the distance between us. “Why are you standing so far away?” He laced his arms around my waist and buried his nose in my neck. “I don't like being ignored.” “I'm not ignoring you. You haven't answered my question. What are we going to do with all this food? It's too much.” “It's a celebration, bonfire or not.” He stretched and picked up a sausage roll. “The more food the
Chapter 90 Bryan's POV “They have to be vampires because how else do you explain this?” One of my men said and murmurs ensued. Some sided with him while others disagreed and some weren't sure what to believe or which side to pick. I sat back in my seat brooding. Last night had been going so well until people suddenly dropped dead. Werewolves were naturally strong so whatever was killing them had to be supernatural or else it wouldn't make sense. There were no signs of struggle on their bodies, just the bite marks and complete blood loss just like the other bodies that were found before. I had failed them. I had failed my people and I let whatever was killing and hunting down wolves enter my pack. So much for being a powerful Alpha if I can't even protect my own people. The door swung open and Ciara walked in. She ignored the men sitting and headed straight for me. I frowned when I saw the serious look on her face and got up from my seat immediately. “I came to check on
Chapter 142 Orion's POV “He's still not picking up?” I asked and James shook his head. “No Alpha. It keeps going to voicemail,” I sighed and banged my fists on the table repeatedly. What was going on with my brother? Surely he wasn't still mad at me because I called Sophia's bluff? We were both mature adults and we could harsh it out like men. James had informed me that he had been here to see me a couple of days ago but I never received him in office. I had been confused when James told me about it. Why had my brother come to see me but then changed his mind last minute? My heartbeat picked up as I remembered that the same day, Lucas and I had been discussing something sensitive in my office. A gasp left my mouth before I could stop it and I nearly tumbled out of my chair. Could he have heard our conversation? “Alpha?” If he had, surely he'd have barged in and challenged me for lying right? He wouldn't just storm off like that. At least that's what I wanted to
Chapter 140 Ciara's POV It's been two weeks since I found out I was pregnant and so far I have been doing a horrible job at hiding it from James and Brianna. The maids have stopped serving me since Brianna took over making it easier to hide since Brianna is as oblivious as they come. In a couple of months from now it would be rather difficult to hide it because then I'd have a noticeable bump. If I was home and had access to my wardrobe then I'd have selected a couple of maternity gowns. Here I'm stuck with shirts and my single pair of jeans that I had on when they kidnapped me. Now there's a slight bump that isn't noticeable except I take my shirt off which I would never do in the presence of these people anyway. I had to think of a way to ask for more clothes or find a way to get myself out of here before my child would be at risk of being used for Sophia's dirty games. It was getting close to noon and since Brianna had already fed me once for breakfast, my next mea
Chapter 141 Ciara's POV “Hey,” I raised my head and rubbed my sleepy eyes to see James standing at the door, one foot in and the other outside. With a frown I sat up as my mind began to race. “Did something happen? What's going on?” What time was it? He shook his head and walked in fully, closing the door behind him. “Good morning to you too,” he teased with a smirk and I raised a brow. “Okay okay, I know this might be weird for you,” “Weird? Try strange, uncomfortable amongst other things,” I sighed and slipped on a smile. “What can I do for you?” His smile grew bigger. “Oh it's nothing I just came to keep you company that's all. If you don't mind of course. I could leave if you don't want me…” He turned his back to me and started to move towards the door. I flew off the bed and grabbed his arm. “No, sorry,” I let my hands fall to my side again and took a step back, my cheeks flushed pink. “What I mean is I'd love to have another human being besides myself in this room
Chapter 139 Bryan's POV “How could you do something like that?” “You weren't thinking clearly,” The heavy words I had spoken to my brother yesterday without thinking came back to haunt me as soon as I laid down to rest for the day. Guilt and a sense of loss filled me. When he had walked out after bowing and calling me ‘Aloha’ I should have realized how much I had screwed except I chose to turn a blind eye and kept fumming. But as I laid down on my bed and closed my eyes, images from that moment started to replay like a film in my mind ripping my peace away. In truth I had been the one who told him to stand up to that dreadful woman and when he took my advice, I had turned my back on him. How could I have been so stupid and judgy why all he had done all these while is trying to protect our mate? He had been forced to sleep with the enemy literally and wine and dine with her while I got to live my life free just without Ciara in it. If I was being completely honest, h
Chapter 138 Orion's POV “Alpha,” James greeted me as I walked past him but I didn't respond. My head was clouded with different thoughts all centered around Bryan and his reaction when I told him how I stood up to Sophia. For someone who didn't want to entertain Sophia from the beginning, his reaction had been less than satisfactory. I had gone there with my head held high feeling extremely proud of myself for sticking it to Sophia and I had expected he'd be proud and pat me on the back. Instead he lashed out at me as if I were a little kid. I hadn't been expecting the completely different 360 reaction he dealt me today and it was still a bitter pill to swallow. My office door slammed behind me but I didn't flinch as I made my way to the chair. Setting down on it, I shook my head as if to expel every negative and hurtful thing he had said to me. Even if he was angry, he shouldn't have spoken to me in that manner and tone. Not even my mother would speak to me the way
Chapter 137 Bryan's POV “Since the killings have stopped, our people have grown more secure and more confident in your leadership Alpha Bryan,” one of the elders said and I almost scoffed at his attempt to flatter me. We were having a council meeting that had started since 7am but my mind was divided. After Old Man Heartfield's visit yesterday, I found myself thinking a lot about Ciara and her wellbeing. I wondered how she was doing and if Sophia was treating her right just like she promised Orion she would when they made their deal. I was going to keep being strong and not give Ciara any reason to worry about me. The less she worried about us, the better for her. All she had to do at this point was focus solely on staying alive and eventually getting out of there in one piece. Once she was safe in my arms again, she could go back to being the worrywart she always was. “Have we found the cause of the killings?” Another elder asked and I looked at Ryan. He flushed an
Chapter 136 Orion's POV “Hey babe,” Sophia whispered as she walked into the dining room. I grunted and turned my face away when she tried to kiss me. “What's wrong? Did someone upset you?” She asked and I scoffed. Was she really that oblivious to the disgust I felt for her? I motioned for one of the servants to set the table and pushed Sophia away lightly. She huffed and went to sit down but she kept touching me and leaning over to put her hands on me. “Don't you take a hint? I wish to be left alone,” I yelled, unable to tolerate her behaviour anymore. “Why are you reacting like this? I always do this,” I shook my head and stood up. “Have breakfast by yourself.” I stormed off, fuming and shaking in anger. I made my way to the room and slammed the door hard behind me. She ran after me and walked into the room after a few seconds. “What is going on? What did I do wrong Orion?” I shook my head and pointed to the door. “I just want to be on my own. Is that too m
Chapter 135 Bryan's POV “How long have you known?” The old man made a sound in the back of his throat but didn't respond. I shifted in my seat feeling very uncomfortable. After a while of silence, I cleared my throat. “I didn't mean to keep the truth from you. I was just hoping I'd have found Ciara by now.” He grunted but still kept quiet. I cleared my throat. “Please say something,” I begged, almost about to fall on my knees before him. “I know I should have told you. I was wrong to keep something as important away from you but I thought I was protecting you and her family from the pain.” He nodded and finally spoke, his words shocking me. “How have you been holding up?” I blinked, wondering if I had heard him right. “You…” He sighed. “Look Bryan,.I get why you did what you did. Am I angry you hid the truth from me concerning my granddaughter's situation? Yes I am. But at the end of the day, you did what you thought was best and I can't fault you for that.” My eyes
Chapter 134 Bryan's POV Turning on my side in bed, I opened my eyes and yawned. A smile slowly made its way to my lips as I recalled the events planned for today. Ciara would be coming home today after several months of being held hostage by her crazy relative Orion had been so sure that Lucas and his men would come up with better results than the other men we had assigned to the job a while back. I had my doubts but with no other options available, I decided to give them the benefit of the doubt. Lucas didn't disappoint and gave us the first major clue. He had managed to do what we couldn't do in the months since we had been conducting the investigation. The best part was the place had been infiltrated with our own people who knew that Ciara's life was the top priority. I had repeated it constantly to Lucas that I'd rather have Ciara held hostage but alive than dead and gone. Despite having all this set aside, I couldn't brush off the nagging feeling in my mind tha