Chapter 34Ciara's POV"You look so happy," Lucas commented, staring at me as if he was seeing me for the first time in a while. Technically, it has been a while but it hasn't been that long to warrant such a stare from him."I am happy Lucas, I have never felt so happy in my life." I raised my hands immediately after the words left my mouth and sent him an apologetic look. "That's not to say you didn't make me happy. I will forever be grateful to you for how much you helped me when I first got here. I wouldn't have survived without you so I owe you forever for that."He shook his head with a grin. "Forever sounds like a stretch. How about just for a couple of months until I can think of a favour to collect from you?"I pretended to think about it and then we shared a laugh. "I guess we have a deal."We shook hands and shared a laugh feeling carefree and young."So, are you happy?" He asked suddenly and I frowned.I didn't like his tone. "What do you mean?" I asked him trying to remai
Chapter 35Orion's POV"Alpha, a letter came from the Council of Alphas in the States and I'm afraid you will have to travel today."I groaned as I reached for the letter. I opened it and read its contents, sighing in defeat when I realized it wasn't something I could back out of so easily without getting an earful from my father who was big on these sorts of meetings.The meeting wouldn't have been a problem if I just had to stay a night or at most two days but I have to be gone for at least one full month. A lot could happen in that time. After the last few weeks as Ciara's husband, I had no regrets about my new life and if anything, I never wanted to leave her side. How could I possibly leave for that long without her? Would it be right?"Excuse me," James cleared his throat and left me alone with my thoughts.A soft knock sounded on the door pulling me out of my thoughts. I looked up just in time to see the subject of my thoughts standing there looking so pretty. I just couldn't ta
Chapter 36Ciara's POVI stood to the side and watched as Orion and his Beta put their things into the car in preparation for their one-month trip. "do you want to come with me?"Orion had asked me to come with him and it had come as a shock to me when he asked. Yes things between us have been incredible since we got married and this trip would have been quite the adventure and would have probably brought us closer but I couldn't just drop everything and go with him.Grandfather was still in the hospital. Although his health was picking up every day, he was the Old Man Heartfield I remembered or the one everyone knew and loved. He had become a shell of the man he used to be. It pained me to see him like that but it pained me more to see Grandma Grace suffering.There was no love lost between us and we didn't like each other, heck we barely tolerated each other and yet I felt heartbroken anytime I saw how lean she had gotten because of Grandpa's condition. I have been tempted to hire
Chapter 37CIara's POVIt's barely been an hour since the car drove off with Orion in it, barely an hour since that bruising kiss Orion gave me before he left and I miss him already. That kiss held promises of what was to come, promises that he'd fulfil when he came back to me in a month and all I had to do was wait while doing my duties as a Luna and taking care of my family; new and old."Here, it will help you relax,"I eyed the mug on the table and looked up at Bryan not sure what to make of his actions. He had been distant after I married Orion acting like a wounded lion when he saw how in love with each other we were and how crazy I was about Orion despite everything.The last reason probably had a good justification but what was his excuse for the other two?Bryan sighed and took a seat beside me, looking away from me. We sat there for a while neither of us saying anything until he reached for my hand. I didn't have the strength to pull away so I just let him. He placed a kiss
Chapter 38Ciara's POVIt''s been two days since Orion left and I haven't been able to leave this room.After the inappropriate moment I shared with Bryan yesterday I didn't feel up to seeing anyone so I locked myself in and I have been in this bed since then. My stomach had been growling and I didn't have it in me to get up and feed myself.I was at a loss for words and disappointed in myself for filling up with another man, my brother-in-law, a mere 24 hrs after my husband left home on business. That was disrespectful and if the roles were referred, I'd feel like Orion had betrayed me.Just the thought that Orion had searching for Sophie had broken my heart so what would Orion finding out that his brother and I had shared a moment do? If it were a brother he had love for then perhaps he might forgive me even though it would hurt but Bryan was his stepbrother who hated way too much. Why did I let myself go down this rabbit hole?I wasn't a cheat or disloyal woman so why did I let Bry
Chapter 39Bryan's POV ".....so what are your plans for when she comes back?"I gritted my teeth as all the color drained from Ciara's face feeling completely disgusted and appealed by Luna Stone's behavior. How could she ask her son's wife what she'd do if his ex showed up? What kind of question was that?I eyed Dad who had been silent all this time and wondered why he had become such a pouty little bitch for this woman. Why did he let her get away so much of the rubbish she did and why did he let her do whatever she liked without defending the people her callousness affected?"I don't mean to make you feel sad honey but we have to face the reality of things." Luna Stone continued and I clenched my jaw, my hands balled into fists. My wolf was nearing the surface not liking the way my father's wife was disrespecting our mate. "I guess you haven't thought about it at all but you have to at some point. What if Orion decides to leave you once Sophie shows up?"Ciara's gasp was fucking u
Chapter 40Ciara's POVBryan has been avoiding me.I sighed as I dipped the cloth in warm water and squeezed my mind playing back the events of the last few days. It's officially been a week since Orion left and exactly five days since my conversation with Bryan after Luna Stone rubbed my situation in my face and he has been avoiding me.I know what I said and I still stand by it but did he have to avoid me? Couldn't boundaries be maintained while we still talk? I didn't understand him, and even how he answered my question that day confused me more. He didn't explain himself and for some reason, I didn't ask him anything."Ciara,"I looked up as Grandmother Grace walked into the room practically dragging her body. Since Gramps fell ill, her health hasn't been in tip-top shape either. She acts strong but she's just fighting to be strong. I send her a soft smile as I mop Gramps's body with the cloth."You didn't have to stay behind for us you know? Being with Orion right now is more imp
Chapter 41Bryan's POVThe mate bond had to be the worst kind of hell, the goddess specially created to torment werewolves.Or else why would I have agreed to take my mate to ses my stepbrother when I could keep her here and have her all to myself? I ran my hands through my hair and let out a string of curses I'd never slip in front of her. This was the worst form of torture. Why couldn't I get my own mate? Why was I being forced to share her? A knock on the door pulled me out of my thoughts and I looked up in time to see Father walking into the room. “Father," I acknowledged his presence but made no move to find out what he wanted. “Son." He walked further into the room until he was standing by the desk. His fingers trailed over the wooden piece and for a brief moment I wondered what he was going to say. He had always been observant and now I fear more than anything that he has noticed something he shouldn't. “Ciara is your mate." He said, his tone held certainly. I inhaled
Chapter 93Orion's POV I threw back the glass of beer and it burned the back of my throat. I sighed and closed my eyes. Maybe going to the Blue Moon pack today had been a bad idea, no a terrible one because suddenly I couldn't get Ciara out of my head any longer. I had gotten so good ignoring the nagging feeling in my chest, the ache in my heart from losing my mate but now it seemed everything had been undone from just seeing her and sitting across from her in Bryan's office. I chuckled bitterly as I remembered how confident she looked sitting in the Alpha's chair. Gone was the timid, shy omega everyone called her and now she looked like a vixen who wasn't scared to rip someone limb from limb if they stepped out of line. It wasn't fair…how could she suddenly rise like a phoenix the moment I stepped out of her life? Why couldn't she have displaced such strength while she was with me? Perhaps if mother had seen this side of her then, she'd have embraced her. Maybe if mother saw h
Chapter 92 Bryan's POV It had been a few days since my meeting with my men and some of the elders and councilmen. They were right even though I'd rather gouge my eyes out than admit it out loud — a partnership with Orion would be enormously beneficial to the pack. It was secret that he was a strong Alpha and talks of his capabilities had spread even in the recent months since I last saw him. I guess he was better off without Ciara if he was able to be without her for that long. Speaking of Ciara, my mate hasn't been talking to me since our little disagreement days before. We shared a bed and a house and had a child who depended on both of us and yet, she wasn't speaking to me. I couldn't blame her because I knew it was all my fault, I should just trust her but it wasn't that I didn't trust her, I didn't trust Orion. “Alpha,” I heard as someone knocked on the door. I shook my head, pushing thoughts of my evil step brother to the back of my mind as I sat up in my seat.
Chapter 91 Orion's POV “Daddy, can I get a pen? Jeremy doesn't want me to share his,” I sighed without looking away from my associates and stretched a pen out. “The recent killings are a serious cause of concern for Alpha. Reports shows that they could be as a result of vampires,” I scoffed and shook my head as I listened. Vampires? What did they think this was, a fantasy book series? I had heard about the series of attacks and killings. Even my stepbrother's pack wasn't spared as their bonfire/imitation ceremony turned sour two days ago. I clenched my jaw and sighed, clasping my hands in front of me. It could be karma getting back at him for all the things he had stolen from me however the killings had started long before now. I would love to chalk it all up as something simple but it wasn't serious. If we had a serial killer on the loose then we had to do something about it. “Daddy, can you check this out?” James asked, holding up a piece of paper in front of my face. “Dadd
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 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 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