Chapter 50Bryan's POVI stepped into the shower stall and turned on the water, checking the temperature. I turned it off and then threw the towel on the ground before walking in. I shivered a little as I got under the vent, relaxing as my body got used to the water. Ciara had taken to Mikey so well, almost as if he was her own son. She looked really cute and hot fussing over him like a mother over her own child. Just looking at how good she was with him and how Mikey had taken to her, I knew she'd be a good mum.Watching the two of them interact and play, I had no doubt she'd be great with my pups when we finally got together. I groaned and looked down at the boner I had gotten from thinking about Ciara and took my dick in my hand, pumping it a little. She would be so attentive to the child's needs, breastfeeding the child, giving them so much love I would probably get jealous of my own seed. “Fuck!” I swore, pumping harder, feeling my orgasm coming fast. “Ciara…” I grunted as
Chapter 51 Orion's POV It was time to return home and yet I didn't feel like returning. Meeting Sophie has raised so many questions and doubts in my mind. Over the past few days, I have found myself seeking Sophie out to ask her questions that had been plaguing my mind. Yeah maybe I was a fool for clinging onto the past but I couldn't help it. Meeting Sophie here had changed everything. I had no idea what this meant for my relationship and marriage with Ciara but I knew I had to get these answers or else I'd never be able to move on peacefully. When I knew she left I was devastated and kept searching for her consoling myself with the thought that it was her loss and not mine. It was still her loss but I needed answers. I didn't know if I had it in me to go on without getting them. Memories of our time together have been on repeat in my head like a movie. Thoughts of what could have been id she didn't leave kept popping into my head. It was unhealthy to remain stuck in the
Chapter 52 Ciara's POV Orion hasn't been himself since we got back from the Alpha conference. Two weeks ago when we returned, I could tell right away that something was bothering him, but no matter how many times I asked him what was wrong, he wouldn’t tell me. Later on, he made a comment about bathing together but immediately suggested I go alone. It wasn’t such a strange request, but for Orion—who couldn’t keep his hands off me before—to suddenly be avoiding me at every chance he got... it felt off. It all started after we got back. Two weeks and not a single touch, not a single kiss. Almost a month since Orion made any move to be close to me. Every time he brushed past me or barely looked at me, I could feel the distance growing. It was like he was slipping through my fingers, and I had no idea why. My thoughts wandered back to Mikey. The little boy I met in California. From the moment I saw him, something inside me shifted. I didn’t realize it at first, but the time I spent wi
Chapter 53 Bryan's POV It had been hard leaving Ciara especially in the condition she was in. She looked down and was completely depressed. It had taken everything in me not to stay behind with her. I didn't know I had such control to resist my own desires. It would have been inappropriate to stay as her brother-in-law and I would have no justification not even the fact that Orion was ignoring her. That idiot had been acting rather strangely since we returned from California and I didn't need a witch to know that Sophie was the cause of his distress. Why he was so hell bent on destroying the good thing he had with Ciara was beyond me but I wasn't going to let her suffer because of his foolishness. “Alpha, here is the progress report for the new systems we have adopted.” I sighed and pushed Ciara to the back of my mind. I took the envelope my Gamma, Luke stretched out to me and quickly scanned it, mye eyes not seeing anything as my concern for Ciara overshadowed any other thou
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 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. “