Chapter 47Bryan's POV “Alpha,” I nodded at my beta as I walked forward into the room, holding the sleeping boy in my arms.I was aware of the questioning look my Beta was shooting me but I wasn't in the mood for questions. I just wanted him in bed so I could get to mine. I placed him on the bed in the guest room that was close to mine and slid the covers over his frail body.“Alpha,” my Beta called from behind me and I leaned up, shooting a look. He immediately clasped his mouth shut, whatever he had been about to ask me now forgotten or at least buried in his stomach somewhere. The boy in my arms shifted and I stood still waiting to see what would happened. He stopped moving and just fell back asleep. Sighing , I motioned for my Beta to open the door to my room for me. He did as I asked and I carried the child in without making a peep. I placed him on the bed and walked out of the room. My Beta was giving me a funny look as I walked out but I ignored him and brushed past him
Chapter 48Orion's POVThat bastardI gritted my teeth as I watched my stepbrother go and wondered if I had made a mistake by letting him walk freely without bending his nose to the side. He has no right to nutt into my affairs. I was Ciara's husband and she was my wife. He wasn't the marriage police so he couldn't dictate what was right and wrong besides I wasn't with Sophie in a room or something. This was a bar with so many people around. What course possibly grow wrong?“He hasn't changed much since the last time I saw him,” Sophie commented and I whipped my head around to look at her. I simply hummed but didn't reply. Bryan's presence has put a damper on my mood and now all I wanted to do was go back to my hotel room and sleep with Ciara wrapped in my arms, my nose buried in her hair so I could sniff her sweet coconut shampoo. “You got married?” Sophie asked, her tone accusatory and I glared at her wondering why she thought she had a right to question me. “Excuse me?” I could
Chapter 49 Ciara's POV I yawned, stretching my sore limbs and felt with my hands for Orion's hard body beside me on the bed. He got back in so late yesterday but I was too sleepy to really acknowledge him. I frowned when I don't find him and turned around, leaning on my side. The spot beside me where he usually sleeps was empty again! I frowned and sat up immediately searching everywhere for my phone. He couldn't just leave like that without letting me know. And why didn't I remember him leaving? I usually stirred and woke up when he made some kind of noise in the morning in his haste to get ready. I dialed his number four times but each time I was directed to voicemail so I doing my phone aside angrily. I guess I had to spend the day by myself again. Letting out a deep sigh, I got out of bed and walked to the bathroom to freshen up so I could get out of this room. Perhaps a walk would brighten up my mood that Orion has spoiled. I could even go window shoppi
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 147Bryan's POV Two weeks later…“I'm glad you're feeling much better,” Orion said as soon as I parked in front of Old Man Heartfield’s house. Leaning back in my seat, I killed the engine and shrugged but I didn't reply. Perhaps all it took was for me to see him in pain for me to come back to my senses. Barely two weeks ago, I had been spiraling out of control and losing my mind but now, my mind was clearer than ever. Ciara's disappearance still kept me up at night but now I knew better that wallowing wasn't the solution, not by a long shot. Orion had lost so much in such a short amount of time and maybe if I had sucked it up and handled my grief better then finding Ciara would be the only thing we had to worry about. Now we had Ciara to find, two missing boys and a serial killer on the loose. “What are you thinking so deeply about?” Orion asked, tapping my arm and I was pulled out of my thoughts. What an idiot I have been….He sighed when I didn't reply and opened th
Chapter 146Orion's POV It's been four weeks since Sophie up and left and my men haven't been able to find any trace that'd lead me to her. If she had left all by herself without taking my sons then I wouldn't have bothered but she took them. James and Jeremy had become an essential part of me and knowing that they aren't mine biological hadn't changed that. The love I felt for them when I thought they weren't mine hadn't diminished just because she said they belonged to someone else. If anyone was to blame in this situation then it was her lying cheating ass for deceiving me all these years. She made me leave Ciara, my tree mate and she did this to me. Such a witch. It's no wonder Bryan has always hated her. He had been able to see through her bullshit while I had loving up on her back then. When she eloped with some other guy before our wedding I should have moved on immediately with someone else preferably Ciara. That should have been the sign I needed to know that she wou
Chapter 145Ciara's POV I finally got a hold on my wavering emotions and pushed James away. He never expected the strength or force of my push and it sent him staggering a few feets backwards. “What the hell do you think you're doing?” I asked, anger bubbling inside of me. “Have you lost your mind?!” I raised my hand and slapped him, the anger I was feeling radiating off me in waves.He blinked, clearly in shock and then rubbed his lips with his fingers as if trying to wipe off any traces of the kiss. “You're testing me, woman, and I hate being dared."The eye roll that followed his words was an unconscious response to his silly statement. “Stay away from me and keep your filthy hands to yourself, you disgusting pig!” James sneered. "You don't give the orders. I'm the one in charge here."I spat on the ground close to his feet and leaned up with a raised eyebrow. "You're nothing but a spineless coward who accepted Sophia's orders simply because you're too whipped to see that sh
Chapter 144 Ciara's POV “Where is she?” The commotion from outside my room woke me up. With a frown, I sat up in bed wondering what could have happened. I slid off the bed and made my way towards the door with sleepy eyes. The door swung open violently, hitting my chin. I screamed and stepped back, holding it as pain throbbed from my chin to other parts of my face. “Have you lost your mind?” I shrieked, massaging my sore chin. “What is the meaning of this?!” “Come now cousin, that's no way to talk to me. Remember I control your life now.” A scoff left my mouth before I could stop it at her words. Why was she saying all of this now? My head snapped up and I stared at Sophia in shock. What was she even doing here all of a sudden? “You're shocked, aren't you?” she smirked and walked further into he room, running her fingertips over the bed, the wall, everything. “Why are you here, Sophia?” I asked before I could help myself. She shrugged. “What can I say cousin? I mi
Chapter 143 Bryan's POV “Alpha,” Ryan greeted me as he walked into my room with a tray of food. I sat up and balled my hands into fists when I saw the tray. “I already told you I'm not hungry. You shouldn't have bothered,” He ignored me and placed the tray on the nightstand. He stopped back and stared at me. “Your brother called to see you again,” I clenched my jaw and grunted. “I don't want to see him, I already told you this,” “Well he is very persistent. I am afraid I have run out of lies to explain why you're not here.” My eyes rolled to the back of my head on its own at his words. I knew how persistent Orion could be and it was really annoying that he couldn't just give me some space. “Alpha please speak to him. He's sorry about everything he did. He didn't mean to lie to you and when you look at it, he had been trying to protect you,” A scoff flew out of my mouth and I glared at Ryan. If looks could kill….. He didn't seem concerned by my behaviour and continu
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