Vanessa's POVIt was past midnight and Declan was yet to be back with Dame. I paced the living room waiting for them to come back."Why don't you call them instead, if you are worried?" Jenny suggested and I waved her off.Calling Declan will only make me appear to be desperate. I know for sure that they are fine, but I am also anxious to know what the doctor said about Dame and why they are running late.I don't think the whole thing should take more than a few minutes. What if something else had gone wrong? What if Dame has to be admitted to the hospital? What if…"Vanessa…" Jenny called out once again."It's okay, you can go to bed, I know you are tired," I said, and she shook her head."I'm sure they are fine, you didn't have to be worried." Her eyes were half closed and I could tell how sleepy she was."It is okay, go to bed." After a little argument, Jenny finally listened to me and I was left alone pacing through the lounge waiting for a familiar figure to come in with Dame.Af
Vanessa's POVDeclan's question kept on ringing in my head and I kept on wondering if he asked because he also had some affection towards me because of the wolf bond.I spent the entire night tossing around, unable to close my eyes for a swift moment. Declan's expression when he asked the question had blurred my vision, and his face is all I see when I try to close my eyes.This is ridiculous. He is probably referring to something else for all I know. I mean, over the years, it has always been me chasing after him and him trying to ignore or ridicule me.But things have been different since I got here. We have been having a normal conversation for the past few days without one making the other feel awkward, hurt or unwanted. It is the first time since I have known him. He could have been referring to that too, but of course, I wouldn't know."Seeing how you are trying to justify your action amuses me. Coward, that is what you are," my wolf said, and I got out of bed angrily.It was mo
Vanessa's POVI stared at him a little longer until he broke the silence. "You are coming, right?" He asked once again, and I nodded unconsciously.I am still shocked to process the whole thing. Declan wants to go out with me. Declan doesn't like being seen in public with me. Even when we were married, he avoided me like a plague. This is shocking, I must confess."Dame, go and call Jenny. Tell her that her attention is needed." I said and he nodded. Dame ran into the kitchen immediately to look for her, and I turned my attention back to Declan."What are you planning to do?" I found myself asking, unable to trust him about the invite. I know Declan… he would do anything to avoid being seen with me in public. Why is he inviting me to follow them now?"Am I not allowed to do things out of goodwill?" He asked, and I stared at him a little longer. I am not buying that excuse."I mean…" I was saying, but he cut me off."For once, can you just forget whatever is going on between us? I am d
Declan's POVDame and I were waiting for Vanessa to show up when Dame began to pull me impatiently, asking us to leave."Mommy is coming," I said with a chuckle and he faked a pout. He is so damn cute. I noticed a figure was staring at us and I looked towards the direction to find Vanessa standing elegantly in her dress.It has never occurred to me that she was this beautiful… she stood tall in her flair dress that reached her mid-thighs. For someone with an average height, she has pretty long legs.She didn't make any attempt to look extra. Her face was plain, free from makeup, with her hair tied in a bun, yet, she managed to look beautiful, effortlessly.I watched as she climbed the stairs down majestically, it was as if she was on the runway show, and I couldn't keep my eyes off her. How did I miss this beauty?You are starting to look creepy, my subconscious mocked, and I cleared my throat."You made the right choice by asking her to join you," my wolf cheered and I immediately kn
Tristan's POVIt's been a couple of days since I asked Vanessa to leave and I feel awfully guilty for what I said to stop her for questioning me. I know I should call her to apologize but I can't bring myself to do that yet, not when I would have to lie if she asked about Rhiannon again.I know she is a very emotional and she might need a little time alone, so leaving her to calm down might be the best thing to do for now. Once she is a lot calmer, or maybe when she comes back home, we can discuss the issue.I wondered if she was okay with me not calling her, or if it was adding to her anger because sometimes, I really can't tell what she wants, but now is not the time to mess things up any further.The door was pushed open violently, snapping me out of my thoughts, as Bruce walked in. "What were you saying on the phone? I don't think I heard you clearly. Please tell me that I misheard you." He glared at me and I was starting to think maybe it was a bad idea to tell him about Rhiannon
Vanessa's POVIt's been a couple of days since I got here, and not once has Tristan called to check up on me or apologize for what he did. I should probably stop staring at my phone because I knew he would have called if he wanted to. If he cared.He had probably replaced us with his true mate, and that is fine. My only concern should be Dame. Not Tristan or anyone else, but Dame.I went to sleep feeling stupid for raising my hopes high once again when I knew that it never really got me anywhere the last time. I need to learn to know my place in people's lives.******I woke up with a renewed energy to focus on Dame and I decided to cook his favorite food. I went into the kitchen and Jenny was already there. "Hey, Jenny," I greeted as I brought out the ingredients I wanted to use from the freezer. Everything was still the way it used to be, which made things even easier for me."You are up early. Do you need something?" Jenny asked with a yawn."Not exactly, I just wanted to make brea
DECLAN'S POVI had finished inviting Vanessa before I began to question myself. Why do I want her to follow us? Dame and I could have breakfast on our own if we wanted. Why did I ask her to join?I sighed at the effect of the fake wolf bond and how it has been getting me to do things that are against my will. I blame my wolf for all of this. I can't wait for everything to come to an end. She will be gone in a few days after the alliance rules in my favour because they won't be able to tolerate her infidelity, and I will win the case. With that, we will have to stay out of each other's life."One would think you are really excited about them leaving if they heard you," my wolf mocked. "What about Dame? What if you never get to see him again? I bet it will be hard to let him go," he said and I sighed.I have no doubt that my wolf was my sworn enemy in my previous life because why is he always antagonizing me?There was no point arguing with him because he would only be more ridiculous t
Vanessa's POVI felt a tight grip around my arm, I turned around only to see Declan drag me out of the place. I felt awkward, but then I couldn't protest as my body was already swaying in the direction he was heading to. His face was beaming in fury. As I limped behind him grudgingly, I couldn't help but wonder what could've birthed the sour look on his face. I mean, I am the best person in this situation, that has every right to be angry at the moment, not him, who is obviously the creator of all this mess in the first place.I couldn't wrap my head around what was going on, and when I tried spitting out some questions to him, he muttered some words that sounded like an answer to the questions I was yet to ask."We are leaving!" - he roared.I guess the thought of getting myself out of the sight of everyone here shunned me from asking any questions, rather, I reached out for my son, and we all walked out, trying pretty hard to keep up with his pace.I felt like I had escaped from a
Vanessa's POV"Vanessa! Come and play with us!""Yes please, we are tired of playing alone," the kids whined as I sat down on the swing and watched them play by themselves."No, we want to play hide and seek," one of the kids whined, and I smiled at them."We have been playing hide and seek all morning," I said, still panting, from running for a long time. "You should play another game or I will have everyone go back inside," I threatened them, but it didn't even look like they were listening to me."Let's play a video game. Whoever wins gets to decide what we do next," one of the kids suggested, and I couldn't help but smile about how they reminded me of Dame in every way. That trick was the same Tristan and Dame always used to get whatever they want, and watching the kids say the same thing made me smile.It was as if the kids knew about my past life. They always find a way to remind me of the past in every way.It's been three years since I left the southern pack. Three years of le
Vanessa's POVI have concluded that I would be leaving once I regained my strength, but I do not want what happened when I tried to leave the last time to repeat itself. I know Declan would probably be looking all over the place for me, and he might have stopped me from leaving again, so I thought of writing a letter to him instead.I knew going to see him and telling him whatever I had to say was the proper way to end everything, but I was afraid that I might change my mind if I saw his pained expression, or even melt at his words if he surprised me by begging me to stay or do something worse like lock me up in his house to prevent me from leaving. With Declan, one can never be too sure.I opened the drawer and saw everything the way I left it. It was as if Tristan was hoping that one day I would return back to him. I expected him to throw out all of my belongings and wipe out every single trace or reminder of me in his pack, but he didn't.I imagined the good life I could have had w
Declan's POVTwo days have passed, and I have no clue where Vanessa might be. Even after watching the CCTV footage, I refused to believe that Vanessa would leave me. I spoke to the doctor and he said the side effects of the drug and injection he gave her were drowsiness and hallucination. Judging from how she left the hospital, I want to believe that she was sleepwalking and she is properly in some kind of danger right now.I had my men look everywhere for her, but she was nowhere to be found. We searched everywhere… every single road that led to the hospital. The streets nearby, we even went as far as searching through the people's houses, but there was no sign of Vanessa.I sat in my room, tapping on my table as I thought of where she might have gone. What if she had an accident? Then, the police would have said something. She doesn't have anywhere to go. She doesn't even have anything on her, where could she possibly go?Jenny…I rushed over to the kitchen where Jenny was busy cutt
Vanessa's POVCrying for so long made me feel numb and it felt like there was no water left in my eyes to shed. The injection given to me made me drowsy and my head felt heavy. I know the smartest thing to do right now was to sleep or at least lay on the bed and get some rest, but I can't afford to be anywhere around Declan anymore and I just wanted to leave.Staying in the hospital reminds me of how I watched Dame's lifeless body on the bed without being able to do anything to revive him and I think it's best to just leave.My vision was blurry, and I felt so weak. I knew I had to leave, but I couldn't even think straight. With trembling hands, I reached for the tube in my arm, wincing as I pulled it out. The pain shot through me, but I gritted my teeth and kept going. Finally, I was able to pull it out, and I staggered out of the ward, barefoot and disoriented.Every step felt like a hassle as I made my way down the corridor. I have to get out of here. Those were the only thoughts i
Declan's POVI stormed back home, feeling enraged, as my insides boiled with anger like a pot left unattended on a raging fire. Guilt weighed down on me at the reminder of Vanessa's accusations, and shame chewed me up inside. As much as I hated to admit it, she was right. Dame died because of me, I killed him.Even if that was true, it's not like I neglected them intentionally. She has equal blame in all of this. She ran away with my child and only showed up years later. If she hadn't left, or if she had ignored her pride and informed me about the pregnancy, none of this would have happened.Dame's death hasn't been easy on me too, heck, it hasn't been easy on anyone. Even the maids are grieving his death so what made her think she could get mad at me on this? I understand that she was mourning her child, but he was my son too.I could feel all sorts of emotions surge inside me; anger, irritation, hurt, and pain.The last time I felt this way was when I lost Ellena, and now, once agai
Chapter 140Vanessa's POVI woke up in the hospital bed, surrounded by the sterile scent of antiseptic and the low hum of medical equipment. My body felt heavy like I was being dragged in the mud, and all of my pain came rushing back in double folds.When I lost Dame in the rogue attack, I thought that would be the end of me. I cried every day and became a mess because he was all I lived for. But then Tristan came back to tell me he was alive, all of my pains vanished into the air. It felt like I was given a reason to live again. To work harder, to become a better mother.Just when I thought I had all the time in the world to be with my boy, I lost him to the cold hands of death. I wanted to scream, to yell out my frustration. I wanted to blame somebody so badly, and hate them for the rest of my life, but where do I begin?I haven't shed a single tear since we got back home from the hospital. This one was different— I had two weeks to prepare for his death. His death wasn't exactly ne
Chapter 139Declan's POVIt's been a week since Dame died. Seven miserable days of wishing and hoping even though no amount of breakdown would bring him back. The last time I felt this vulnerable was when Ellena died. I wasn't even this sad when I lost my parents.Everything felt vain and I had lost the will to continue with my role as the Alpha or do anything to gain more wealth or power. What was the use of all my power and influence when it couldn't save my son from dying?What is the point of being the most powerful Alpha when I can't even keep the one thing I wanted most in my life?What hurt the most was the fact that I was beside Dame when he took his last breath, but I wasn't there for him. I slept peacefully that night, thinking I still had another day to grant his wishes. I went to bed feeling on top of the world because I finally got to hear him call me father, not knowing those would be his last words.If only I had known that those were the last time I'd hear him speak, m
Vanessa's POVI traced my hands on the bed, expecting to feel a small hand or at least a tiny body, but there was none. I opened my eyes lazily and found myself in a room different from the one I thought I would be in.I was at Dame's ward until last night, how did I end up here? Judging from the smell, I could tell that I was still at the hospital. Did I pass out? I searched my body checking for any visible injury but other than the throbbing pain in my heart and the headache that has become a constant thing since I found out about Dame's health, I am all good.Maybe Declan brought me here so that I can sleep peacefully. I stood up from the bed and made my way to Dame's ward, where Dame and Declan were sleeping peacefully.This is the first time Declan has looked peaceful since we have been visiting the hospital. He was trying so hard to stay strong, to hide his feelings, but he couldn't always keep them in check. His expressions sometimes sell him off.Dame clung onto Declan's cloth
Declan's POVVanessa paced the room anxiously, waiting for Tristan to return with Dame as I watched from the minibar. We haven't said a word to each other since our last encounter in the morning and I do not want to say another word knowing she would end up misunderstanding it.Right on cue, Tristan came in with Dame sleeping peacefully in his arms. Vanessa's worried expression was soon replaced with excitement as she rushed over to his side."Thank you so much for today," Vanessa gave Tristan a warm smile which made my stomach twitch. The way Dame and Vanessa act so comfortable around Tristan was enough to rile me up, and once again, Tristan does that thing he always does.He acts like the perfect gentleman that Vanessa could always lean on. Too fake if you ask me. They seemed to be carried away with their little conversation to notice my presence.I made my way to them, and Tristan handed a basket of fruit to Vanessa simultaneously."What is that?" I pointed at the little puppy roam