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 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 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 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 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 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 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 82 Orion's POV “Orion,” Sophie called out to me after Ciara walked off but I ignored her, too stunned to speak. When I was told by James that Ciara was here earlier, I was overjoyed and my heart had soared as my mind raced with the possibilities of what her arrival could mean for us. But her words hadn't been part of what I had envisioned. Her rejection and dismissal of me had stung even worse than her leaving the house. After today, there was no doubt in my mind that she was really done with me. “Son, did she just say you went to her house? What were you doing there?” My mother asked, walking up to me. “How could you still seek her out when she has obviously moved on and doesn't care about you?” Her words added to my pain and I glared at her as I shoved them out of the way. I made my way into the house without a word, my eyes stormy and dark. James was waiting in my office when I got there but as soon as he saw my expression, he quickly excused himself and close
Chapter 81Ciara's POV I sprayed perfume on my clothes, targeting the spots I knew would make the scent pop and took a step back, admiring my appearance in the mirror. Even though I have always been labelled as weak and a useless Omega, there was one thing people couldn't deny and that was my beauty. But of course what was beauty when the bearer was a lowly Omega?I waved away these thought and admired myself in the mirror, rubbing my belly with a fond smile. My due date was just around the corner and I was getting more and more impatient as the days past to see my child. I couldn't wait to carry her or him and whisper my love in his or her ears. I didn't know the gender because I wanted to be surprised with the outcome after delivery. My relationship with Bryan was getting more and more serious as the days passed and I knew without a doubt that I could no longer feign ignorance about my feelings for him. There were still some doubts in my mind about whether we would work out. Or
Chapter 80Orion's POV “Inform the guards not to let anyone in. I want to be alone.”James nodded and shut the door behind him. With my good sense of hearing, I could hear him relay the message and I leaned back in my seat. I closed my eyes and found myself thinking about Ciara again. My last visit to her place had gone pretty badly and I had been a total jerk to her. How was I going to win her over if she hated me?Of course Bryan swooped in and took the opportunity to win her over even more. At this rate, there'd be nothing I can do to win her over. Bryan was really getting on my last nerve and if not because James had called me that last time, I was ready to dig it out with him. He was putting on such a show to win her over and it was disgusting to watch her falling over him. “Let me through,” Sophie's snarky tone reached my ears and I sighed heavily as my thoughts of Ciara were disrupted. With a frown, I rose up from my seat and walked towards the door wondering what she wa