Chapter 54 Orion's POVI rolled over on my side and stretched my sore limbs. Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted Ciara sleeping peacefully on the bed and paused to look at her, my fingers itching to touch her.I swallowed back the urge and clasped my hands tightly at my side as I made my way to the bathroom.Things had been strained since we came home from California, and it was all my fault.She was so innocent in all of this, and I was the idiot who couldn’t seem to get over my ex. I didn’t know why, but each day that passed, I found myself thinking about Sophie more and more.My wolf wasn’t in agreement—after all, Ciara was our mate—but I just couldn’t shake off the feeling that I would be making a mistake if I didn’t at least consider my feelings for Sophie.Letting out a deep sigh, I washed my face and then wiped it with a towel. When I walked back into the room, Ciara was still sleeping peacefully.I smiled, taking some time to admire her rare beauty. God, I was the most stu
Chapter 55 Ciara's POV I ran my hands over my tight fitting dress and smoothened the creases as I walked to Orion's office. Our relationship as husband and wife has been nonexistent since we got back from that stupid conference and I don't know what to think anymore. Last night I had been in the shower taking a shower before bed when he suddenly walked in, scaring me. I relaxed and invited him to join me. I didn't actually expect he would but he did and I was relieved thinking that maybe, finally we were about to put an end to the strike we had been on. Everything had been going so perfectly and I had felt myself getting lost in the moment when he suddenly pulled away and apologized. It had all been a blur. One moment I had been on cloud 9 and the next minute I was suddenly grasping at straws. I stood there, unsatisfied and completely confused. It took me a few minutes to drag myself out of there. I didn't bother looking for him as I crawled into bed and forced myself to
Chapter 56Orion's POV I have never felt so drained in my life. For some reason today's meetings have been back to back filled with a bunch of old men telling me how to run my pack. Dad had stopped sitting in these meetings with me so now I was riding solo. I ran a weak hand over my face as I dragged myself to my bedroom. I had left the room very early to avoid Ciara after the awkwardness from last night but now I wished I had stayed because being with her was better than sitting in a meeting. I was still thinking about Sophie a lot but I knew one thing for sure, I wasn't ready to lose Ciara. With a sigh, I opened the door to our room and stopped in my tracks. “Hey,” Ciara whispered as I walked in and I just stood there, staring at her. “Uhn how was your day?” She asked when I remained still and I forced my feet to move. I slammed the door behind me mindlessly and walked towards her. She was dressed in nothing but sexy lingerie that covered absolutely nothing and she looked eve
Chapter 57 Ciara's POV I ran out of the dining room, tears blinding my vision as Luna Stone's hateful words replayed over and over again. I didn't bother turning around to find out if Orion was the one chasing after me as I made my way out of the house. As the breeze hit my face, I thought of a place to hide out for a bit where no one would find me or bother me. Thinking deeply, only one place came to mind. After the confusion at the training center the last time, I had stayed away from there and busied myself resolving my personal matters but that has been a mistake. There was no way for Orion and I to be together, our worlds were divided by a giant ward and too many obstacles stood in the way. The biggest of them all was his mother who didn't seem to like me at all. Her perceptions of me hadn't changed in all this time since Orion and I had been married. I could never be compared to Sophie and it was disgusting to think that I had even thought of trying. Tears
Chapter 58 Ciara's POV I tiptoed into the house as soon as I walked in praying I didn't run into any of the servants or worse Luna Stone. Thankfully I reached our room without a hassle and let myself in. I walked into the room further and screamed in fright when I found Orion sitting there waiting for me. I gulped as I studied him trying to gauge his expression. Then I shrugged off the guilt I was feeling reminding myself that it was his mother's fault I had needed a distraction in the first place. I ignored him and walked over to the wardrobe to get changed and ready for bed. I heard footsteps behind me and flinched when Orion's arms wrapped around my waist. “What are you doing?” I asked, uncertainty in my voice. I wasn't ready for whatever this was, all I needed was a good night sleep. If I gave in, he'd only leave me wet and unable to reach my climax. “Let me go,” I insisted when he refused to let me go. “I'm sorry," he whispered, against my neck and I took in a long whiff
Chapter 59 Orion's POV My head was pounding hard and my ears were ringing but I was alright. My wolf didn't let the alcohol hit me so I could walk straight and I remembered everything that happened last night. A goofy smile appeared on my face as images of my night of passion with Ciara replayed in my head. I was happy things had gone well. When I had started drinking, it had been to drown my sorrows because I didn't like how things had gone during breakfast between Mum and Ciara. I hated being one of those men who had to worry about the two most important women in his life not getting along but that was what it had come to. It was my own fault for being indecisive up until now. Left to Mum, I should have brought Sophie back already and made her replace Ciara in my life but I just couldn't get past the fact that Sophie walked away from me once before. Even if she was back, what was the guarantee that she'd stay or that she had the right motives for coming back? I just coul
Chapter 60 Bryan's POV I wasn't shocked to see my brother, in fact, I had been expecting him. Finally all the chess pieces were falling into place. I watched Orion’s face twist in shock and snickered secretly. Everything was going so well, it was unbelievable how easy it had been to fool Orion. For such a great Alpha that he was, he was such a fool to have fallen into the trap I had set. “So, they were right all along…” Ciara commented as she walked further into the room. “You’re back,” she glared at Sophie trying to look strong but I could see that this was really hard for her. Too bad she was also one of the pieces on the board but it was for the greater good. “Cee, what are you doing here?” Orion asked, stunned to see his wife standing at the doorway. He hesitated for a bit but walked towards her eventually, reaching for her hand. I clenched my fists by my side as I watched but the next minute, joy filled my heart as Ciara slapped him across the face and pushe
Chapter 61 Orion's POV I stormed towards my car, fuming. I couldn't believe I had been so blind and oblivious to Bryan's schema. He had been playing the long game since we were in California and I had no clue. How could I have been so blind? “Dammit!” I banged my fists on the car repeatedly leaving dents but I didn't care. Everything had been ruined and there was no way out. Ciara was never going to forgive me for this. And even if she managed to forgive me, we could never go back to the way things were. I was fucked. “Shit..” I swore as I jerked the door open. Bryan was going to regret messing with my life like this. He would regret playing these useless games with me for the rest of his miserable life even if it's the last thing I did. I climbed into the car and slammed the door violently before driving off. I had to get home as soon as possible before Ciara did anything rash. I had to at least try to salvage this complicated situation no matter what and I needed he
Chapter 118Orion's POV “What do you mean she went running and never came back?” I barked into the phone as I shrugged my coat on. The temperature was at least -30° and I wasn't looking to catch a chill. “Alright, I'm on my way.” I hung up and tossed the phone in one of the pockets before grabbing my keys from the nightstand. I paused at the door as movements from the bed caught my attention. “Go back to sleep,” “Where are you going?” Sophia asked, her voice groggy and hoarse. I sighed as I pulled the cloth tighter around me. It felt like I was going to war. “Go back to bed,” I'll be back before you know it. I finished the rest in my head and let myself out the room, closing the door gently behind me. I made my way to the boys room and slipped inside gently not wanting to wake any of them up. If that happened, I'd never be able to leave and I had to. Ciara needed me or rather Bryan did. The dynamo between us had shifted from enemies to somewhere in between civil and barely
Chapter 117Bryan's POV “Hey,” I whispered and watched as she squinted, trying to get a hand on her surroundings. “You slept the entire way. Old Man Heartfield must have done a number on you.” She groaned and sat up, wincing as she grabbed her arm. “You have no idea. I can't feel my legs right now.” I chuckled as I got out of the car. I walked over to her side and opened the door. “Well it's a good thing you have me. Hop on,” I turned my back to her and waited. It felt like I had been waiting a long time before she finally jumped on my back. I straightened and began walking into the packhouse. “Alpha,” Ryan greeted me just as we were halfway to the house. I nodded at him and threw the keys at him. “Help me lock up,” He ran off after catching the keys and I carried Ciara into the house heading for my office instead of the room where I'd normally have taken her. “What are you doing? I need to lie down.” She said and I sighed. “I know but we have to talk first.” She stiffened a
Chapter 116Ciara's POV “Focus lavender,” Gramps sang as he sent a punch my way. I ducked out of the way just in time to avoid it hitting my face. Gramps had offered to help me transition beautifully into my dire wolf phase and since he knew more above them than I did, I had taken him up on his offer. It had been two weeks of torture and each time I walked more frustrated than ever. I had a lot on my mind and I had hoped this would help distract me but it wasn't. “Snap out of it,” I sucked quickly before his hand could touch my face. He grinned and I rolled my eyes. Straightening my back, I leaned forward again and blocked his next attacks, sucking in air as the pressure in my chest increased. “Okay, I think that's enough for one day,” he said and pulled back. I frowned and stared at him in confusion. “What's going on?” He pinned me with a hard look as if trying to read me. “I should be asking you that.” “What?” I asked, avoid his gaze. He shrugged and picked up a water bot
Chapter 115 Ciara's POV I got down from the car and muttered my thanks to Ryan before walking towards the house. I had been texting Bryan in the car on the way here so I knew he was already home but I didn't expect to find him standing at the entrance, waiting for me. When he saw me, his face spread into a wide grin and he opened his arms wide. I smiled and ran into them, burying my face into his neck as he held me by my waist, my feets not touching the ground. “I missed you,” he whispered in my ears as his arms tightened around me. I held on tighter and inaled his scent. “I missed you too and before you ask, Lacey is with her grandparents. They decided they wanted her around.” He groaned as I struggled to be put down but obliged. Once my feet touched the ground again, I leaned against him and kissed him deeply like I had wanted to do when I first saw him. I didn't know it was possible to love someone so deeply but yet here I was falling helplessly in love with him mo
Chapter 114 Bryan's POV “Alpha Bryan is here to see you, Alpha,” “Tell him I'm busy,” I rolled my eyes and pushed the door open, tired of his excuses. He was obviously avoiding me or Ciara or both but it was clear. “What do you think you're doing?” I asked as I walked inside. Orion sat up in his seat, a scowl on his usually tight face. “Bryan, I don't remember agreeing to a meeting.” I shook my head. “I don't remember asking,” I turned to James. “You can go now, I'll take it from here.” James eyed Orion before he sighed and walked out leaving us alone. “What are you doing here Bryan? I have a lot of work to do.” “Yeah? Like what?” I asked as I walked around the desk. “There is no serial killer on the loose any longer as it turns out, all is right in the world again.” He sighed and slammed the folder in his hand on the table. “Goddamnit Bryan can't you just go and be happy with her? I'm trying here.” I narrowed my eyes. “What are you talking about?” He rolled h
Chapter 113 Ciara's POV “Well, what are you doing here?” Grandma Grace exclaimed as she opened the front door for me. I rolled my eyes and handed Lacey over to her as I walked inside. Ryan was sitting in the car outside and no matter how much I had convinced him to come in, he refused. “Of course I'm happy to see you, I'm just surprised.” She closed the door and turned to me. “Is everything okay?” She asked and I nodded. “Why wouldn't they be?” She raised an eyebrow and I sighed. “Everything is fine Grandma I promise. I just missed you all so much and I thought, why don't I come visit?” She didn't look convinced but she wasn't trying to pry the real reason out of me either. “Where's Mikey? The house is too quiet.” She laughed. “Well, he and your grandfather went to the store.” I narrowed my eyes. “Alone? Grandma, it's…” She cut me off before I could finish giving her a lecture. “You don't need to remind me how unsafe it is around here child but your grandfathe
Chapter 112 Ciara's POV “Come at me harder, you can do this.” I grunted as I charged towards Bryan, panting heavily. He was quicker though and by the time I got to him, he had moved. “Faster,” he chorused behind me, clapping his hands. I turned and frowned when I saw the smirk on his face. “You're enjoying this.” I accused and he shrugged. “Maybe, maybe not but what you gonna do about it?” he taunted and I sneered as I charged towards him. “Not fast enough,” he snickered as he swerved out of the way again, beating me for the tenth time that morning. I snorted and stepped aay, making my way to the bench where we had kept out things. “Giving up so soon?” He asked but I ignored him as I grabbed my water bottle and drank from it quickly. The tremor in my body relaxed a little as the water passed my throat and circulated. We had been at this since dawn. Bryan woke me up with a passionate kiss and promised to finish what he started if I agreed to train for four hours. N
Chapter 111 Orion's POV I twirled the pen in my hand absentmindedly. My body was sitting in my chair behind my desk in the office but my mind was miles away. What good was rejecting Ciara as my mate if I was going to feel restless when she was hurt or in pain? It was like we were more connected than ever and it took all of my willpower to stand up and walk out of that room when all I wanted to do was sit by her side and stroke her hair. I dropped the pen and began tapping my fingers on the desk. “You're an idiot.” My wolf said and I sighed. He was right, I was the biggest fool. Why would I reject my mate even if she was moving on? Why would I try to reassure my nemesis that she was alive just to calm his wolf when I should have blamed him for her condition? It wasn't his fault that Brianna had shown up at his pack but he could have kicked her out already. Mum had no idea her sister was back and from the looks of things, Brianna had no plans of showing up here to anno
Chapter 110 Bryan's POV I stormed out as soon as I heard noises outside and glared at Brianna who was lying on the ground with Ciara unconscious beside her. “What happened?” Orion was standing beside me wordlessly but I could feel how restless he was. “We were attacked.” She said in a breathless tone. “It seems most of your pack members aren't very fond of your choice in a Luna.” She staggered to her feet. “This wouldn't have happened if she had remained with Orion.” I growled and stepped forward. “How do you expect me to believe that you had nothing to do with it?” She scoffed. “If I did, you have no way of proving it.” She spat on the ground. “Although your mate held her own for a weak and useless Omega.” My heartbeat picked up as I bent over Ciara's limp body. Had she shifted out of desperation to protect herself? “And what is little Orion doing here? Does my sister know you're here?” she asked, turning to look at Orion. Orion ignored her as he came to stand by my side. “