Zelene Sallow: Months Ago On The Night Of The Engagement Ceremony: I watched Ray shake his head in disapproval of the situation, yet he still had to make a decision. “Zelene!” he turned to me, even after seeing Vera's angry glare fall at me. "I have to drop her home and come back for you," he whispered, attempting to hold my hands. The sudden sigh of relief from his brothers bothered me. It was as if they wanted him to choose her. "Why? Do you not see how uncomfortable I am?" I whispered back, trying to lower my voice even more so as not to give satisfaction to his brothers. But it was increasingly difficult to hold back my objections and pretend I was fine with this mess. "Listen, before she comes back for you, I have to take her home," he uttered, and that's when I freed my hands from his grip. "Will she really come for me? So, you're acknowledging that she doesn't like me and that she holds bitterness toward me. Yet, you're choosing to take her in?" I couldn't believe he was
Zelene Sallow: I told my mom about what happened, my voice shaking as I went over the story. Tears ran down my face as I buried my head in her lap, seeking comfort from her calming presence. She gently supported me, giving me a sense of comfort, and then told me to wash my face and freshen up. I followed her advice, knowing that I had a showdown with Axel coming up in just a few minutes. As I went downstairs, I heard Ray and his mom having a heated argument. Besides their voices, there were other unclear sounds coming from Lady Jewel's bedroom. I sat down next to my daughter, still teary-eyed from all the intense emotions. My daughter was my only source of comfort now. She was the reason I kept moving forward and didn't care about all the accusations on my character. Now, they wanted to reopen those wounds. But could anyone ever clear my name? "I feel like I can't handle this every single day," I confided in my mom, my voice carrying a mix of frustration and sadness. "It's as if t
Zelene Sallow:"What is this?" I exclaimed, my voice carrying a mix of shock and anger as I snatched Axel's phone from his hands, my fingers trembling with a combination of apprehension and irritation. "It's the truth, our truth. Take a good look," he retorted, his tone laced with frustration and a touch of exasperation. As I scrolled through the images, my heart sank. There were more pictures of us together than I could count – laughing over meals, hanging out in various places, but most of them seemed to be taken during the evening hours. "What on earth! You must have meticulously doctored these images to concoct a narrative where I was playing both you and your brother," I erupted, the phone slipping from my grip as I confronted him, my disbelief evident in every word. How could he even consider presenting me with something so outlandish, attempting to manipulate me into doubting the genuine memories of my loyalty to Ray? "I did not. How can you accuse me of lying when the evid
Zelene Sallow: "Mom, it's not her fault," Shane intervened, physically keeping his mother at a distance from me. His gaze roamed around the room and then fixed on Axel's phone on the floor. "Look, he must have dropped his phone." His mother stopped moving and stared at the phone, but then she started shaking her head. "Did you not see him when he was leaving? He looked depressed, and now his phone is left behind. How do you think we're going to check on him?" she continued to bombard Shane with questions, although I was certain he already had answers. "Mom, he's an alpha king. He can take care of himself. He must be out there, doing something to make himself feel better," Shane argued. "He's not even with Jessica. Where else could he go to feel better?" Lady Jewel yelled, causing Shane to raise his hands in surrender. "Calm down. Oscar and Ray went out to look for him. I'm sure they'll find him and bring him home. You just need to relax," Shane reassured her, avoiding direct eye
Zelene Sallow:"Shane asked once more, 'You want to do what?' after I had repeated for the third time that I wanted to go out and search for Axel. I had found the brothers in the study room, thankfully without their mother, Lady Jewel, in sight. She was always a handful to deal with, especially when her sons had disappointed her on my behalf.Ray's eyes were still red, his black shirt was wrinkled, and his hair was a mess, but he hadn't taken his eyes off me since I had barged into the room.'I want to find Axel,' I reiterated, placing my hands on my waist as a warning to Shane not to make me repeat myself.'Ah,' Shane nodded weakly, turning to exchange a quick glance with his brothers, who appeared indifferent to my decision.""Zelene! Finding an alpha King who doesn't want to be found isn't that simple," Oscar whispered, employing his soft tone in an attempt to dissuade me from my plan."But you're forgetting that I'm his mate," I retorted firmly, determined to press on with my inte
Zelene Sallow:"Wear this; you might catch a cold," Oscar said as we stepped out of the car, having parked a little farther away from Death Valley. He held out his black jacket, offering it to keep me warm. I noticed Shane rolling his eyes at his brother as I accepted his thoughtful gesture and draped his jacket over myself."You know," Oscar began to say but was interrupted as Ray and Shane approached us, their eyes fixed on their brother, eager to hear what he was about to say to me. "You look great in black."Oscar's quick shift in gaze, prompted by his brothers, was awkward. The two of them seemed annoyed with him."So, are you trying to suggest she doesn't look good in other colors?" Shane quipped, shrugging as he directed the question at Oscar. Oscar turned to his brother, then to me, vigorously shaking his head to deny the implication."You're just making things up because I got to compliment her first," Oscar retorted, his tone carrying a hint of frustration, while Ray continu
Zelene Sallow: "Why does he want to talk to me? What's left between us to discuss anyway?" I shrugged, determined not to let Axel manipulate me into giving in to his wishes. "I don't know. He just said he wants to talk to you. We don't have much time; please help us out," Shane insisted, attempting to hold my hand. When I freed myself from his grasp, he sighed deeply and stretched his neck before facing me once more. "You came all this way to find him, only to step back?" He was right. I had embarked on this journey with the brothers to help them bring Axel back home. However, I also realized that I wouldn't get any answers from him if he crossed the river today. With my conflicted thoughts in mind, I shot a frustrated glare at the two brothers before getting to my feet and running towards where Axel was sitting in a small boat in stagnant water. Ray paced around, clearly worried. "Here!" Shane exclaimed, waving his hand to signal Axel to look at me. I felt incredibly awkward bein
Zelene Sallow:Avoiding the eyes upon us, we continued to kiss passionately. It was strange how much I enjoyed being close to him. He didn't hesitate to slide his tongue into my mouth, wanting me to suck on it. My hands were gently placed on his chest as I obliged. The taste of his tongue was like cherries blending into creamy sweetness.The moment felt incredible, though it was short-lived. A firm pat on Axel's back from Ray abruptly ended our passionate moment. As Axel pulled away from the kiss, he looked like he had been reincarnated. His eyes sparkled with a newfound sense of hope. I was astonished by how genuinely happy he appeared."I think we should head home now. Mom's been calling me nonstop," Ray interjected, his eyes filled with disapproval and a touch of jealousy.I didn't plan on making out with Axel after his lies, but the anger inside me got the best of me. I wanted the brothers to see it and feel the burning pain of loneliness like I've experienced before."Okay," Axel
Zelene Sallow:Life had been treating us very well. I didn't want a grand public ceremony, so we waited for the next full moon to perform the markings. They had organized days to spend with me. While I would be on a date with one brother, the others would take care of Yuna."Hey! Is everyone ready?" Shane came looking for us as I dressed Yuna in a sweet pink dress. She looked like an angel. It was her first birthday, and I couldn't have been happier watching her being adored and cared for by her fathers."Oh, look at you!" Oscar rushed into the room, gasping in awe at the sight of Yuna. Shane scooped her up, and she giggled in his arms."Let me hold her," Oscar insisted, and Shane passed her over. Ray and Axel entered the room after getting ready, and their expressions mirrored those of the others."Don't think we forgot about you. We'll compliment you once we've showered our daughter with enough praise," Axel teased me, making me laugh at him before he turned his attention back to Yun
Zelene Sallow:My heart sank as Ray tightened his arms around me, pulling me closer to his body while he reached his other hand out freely behind me. I couldn't see what was happening behind my back, but a sudden sensation of something splashing against my bare neck made me shudder and broke Ray's embrace."AHHH!" Vera's painful cry echoed through the air as Ray's knife slashed her throat before she could stab me. Ray shielded me, pushing me behind his back even though Vera could no longer pose a threat to me.Vera dropped to her knees and gurgled, her eyes blinking with difficulty but fixed on Ray's face."You------," she whispered, "for her---," her voice began to fade.As she face-planted, her body started to shudder. I shook my head as I contemplated what her death would mean for Ray."No!" I exclaimed in a shaky tone, rushing in front of Ray to hastily unbutton his shirt while he gazed at me with an astonished expression."You shouldn't have killed her," I protested, struggling t
Zelene Sallow:"Finish her!" Vera shouted. I saw Ray narrow his eyes and raise the knife blade, ready to strike me with force. He pressed it down hard, and just as he was about to slice my neck, I managed to utter through my broken sobs, "I love you."All of a sudden, everything went quiet. Ray paused for a moment, and the hardness in his expression softened."I never stopped loving you," I whispered once more, closing my eyes, ready to meet my fate."Do it, what are you waiting for?" Vera screamed, and I braced myself for the end. But then, nothing happened. I felt the cold blade being lifted from my neck."I guess I've been waiting for her to admit her love to me," he said in his usual, soothing tone. My eyes opened in shock as I saw Vera looking at Ray with utter surprise."Ray! Baby! What are you saying? Remember what we talked about?" she said with a broken smile, trying to get closer to him while secretly cutting her palms.I didn't understand what she was doing until I remember
Zelene Sallow:I watched as he tied my hands to the tree and then walked back to Vera. He had brought me to the woods and waited for me to regain consciousness. Now that I was awake, I was back to facing horrors.The two of them stood in front of me, Ray with a blank expression on his face and Vera with a proud smirk. The rain had blurred my vision, preventing me from seeing the disdain in their eyes as they looked at me."This is not going to help you get him," I voiced, shivering from the cold but filled with anger at the same time."He's already mine," she shrugged, showing me her bloody palms.I didn't understand the meaning behind her gesture until she clarified, "Every time my blood penetrates his mark, he becomes more and more mine.""Then what do you want from me?" I yelled, struggling to make her hear me through the heavy wind and pouring rain."Huh! Because you're never truly gone. Every time I have him, you crawl back into his life. This time, you almost made him break the
Ray Steele:I sat her down before the council, and they signed the papers for her punishment. She hadn't really said anything but kept staring into the distance, silent tears rolling down her eyes.I didn't bother talking to her the entire time, but I did plan to give her a piece of my mind. After the council cleared the charges from Zelene's name and signed Jessica's punishment, I handcuffed her in silver and made her walk behind me to the vehicle outside.In a few days, the full moon would consume me again, and I would forget about my love for Zelene. I would once again be upset with her and dismiss any love and affection for my daughter. It was just so unfair, but I was stuck in this mess.After I sat Jessica down in the back of the vehicle, I asked her, "What did you get out of it?" She had her head tilted, and big tears were forming in her eyes."You would have ended up with Axel if you hadn't caused all this mess," I knew sooner or later Zelene would have felt the mate bond with
Zelene Sallow:We began our journey back home in two different cars. Shane and Axel were in one car, and Axel had asked to carry Yuna, while Oscar and I were in the other.Oscar and I were the first to reach home. The rain had become so heavy that we had to rush inside instead of waiting outside for Shane and Axel's car.Once we were in the foyer, I began to pace around, glancing at the entrance for Shane and Axel and around the mansion for Ray."Ray!" Oscar called out for him, preparing to search for him, but before that could happen, Ray himself walked out."Oh my!" Oscar sighed in relief, and I echoed the sentiment."Where is Vera?" I asked instead of allowing Oscar to speak.Ray turned to look at me with a blank expression and then muttered, "she's resting in the guestroom.""I heard about Lady Jewel," Ray said with a shrug of his shoulders, "karma catches up with bad people sooner or later." Clearly, he was devoid of emotions because he wasn't himself. I couldn't even imagine how
Zelene Sallow:"Yuna isn't here!" I screamed when I rushed into the room and found her crib empty. This was my worst nightmare coming true. We had been so preoccupied with everything else that no one had thought she would come for Yuna."We need to find her," Oscar grabbed my arm, trying to snap me out of it before I got overwhelmed by tears and despair."How could she do this to me?" I screamed, sobbing as I followed behind Oscar, who was pulling me along with him."Right now is not the time to lose our composure; we need to find her. She wouldn't have gone too far," Axel ran behind us after making a call to Shane, who was already searching for her."What did Shane say?" I asked him, stopping near the car."He said some people saw her heading towards the mountains," Axel replied, helping me get into the car without any delay.Ray didn't come with us because, clearly, Vera wouldn't allow it. Moreover, he seemed to have lost his rationality to the point of becoming Vera's puppet.We dr
Zelene Sallow:"Where's Mom?" Shane and I rushed upstairs to find the cellphone Hans had mentioned. The things Hans had told us were devastating for Shane.Oscar looked up from his phone while he sat in the room where she was supposed to be resting. Ray was in his room with Axel, who was trying to stay close to him to prevent any further interaction with Vera.After learning what her father had done, they were now cautious of Vera and what she might be capable of."She went to use the restroom, why?" Oscar frowned, noticing our breathlessness. Shane was visibly upset, and Oscar couldn't help but see it."Where is it?" Shane avoided Oscar and began searching the room. I had to get closer to Oscar to update him on what was happening."Hans claimed that Lady Jewel was in a consensual relationship with him," I whispered, observing Oscar's eye roll as he doubted the man. "But there's more."I watched him slowly stand up and move closer to me as Shane continued to make a mess in the room."
Zelene Sallow:"Shane, stop it!" I yelled as I pushed him away from Hans, who couldn't even stand on his feet now.Shane was enraged, and so was Axel. Both of them were struggling hard not to let their wolves take over, but it was clear they were failing miserably."I'm going to kill this jerk!" Shane yelled again when he saw Hans trying to get to his feet. I had to push Shane once more to prevent him from harming Hans any further."Do you even know who you're defending?" Axel shouted in frustration, his eyes turning red from anger."What's going on here?" Oscar stood between the brothers and me and posed the crucial question."He... he was in our mother's room... he was assaulting her," Shane yelled, exposing Hans's crime, and even I couldn't hold back a gasp."What?" I yelped, covering my mouth in shock."That's not true--" Before Hans could say another word, Oscar turned around and punched him, knocking him to the ground and rendering him unconscious."I'm so glad you guys arrived.