Chapter 16: Punishment & LoyaltyLeanderNow that I finished with Dagger, my anger partially stated, but not done. I made my way to Hycinth. She looked up at me with wide, shocked eyes.Shocked. But not afraid of what had just happened.That's my strong little mouse, I thought with pride.The Moon had gotten right. She had the fortitude necessary, the internal strength required to be an amazing Luna. Now, I was going to have to find a way to convince her to stay. I wouldn't back out on her deal, but I sure as hell wasn't going to stop fighting for her. I was just going to have to be clever about it, I thought with a smirk, several ideas already floating through my head.But before I got to any of that, I still had business to attend. "Which Wolf told Dagger that he needed to stop because I would kill him for touching you before I got everything I wanted first?"Hycinth looked around the room, studying the many wolves. Before she could identify one, Samuel made his way through the wolv
HYCINTH'S POVI was breathless. Literally. So much had happened and changed over the last few hours. I was reeling, struggling to keep up.Leander dismissed the wolves, but a few remained behind to speak with him. While he chatted with the lingering wolves, I made my way over to Lucky's cell. He'd had a front-row seat to the commotion. I was curious what he thought, but I also knew he wasn't going to be happy with what he'd heard.When I reached him, his intense glowing absinthe eyes belied his casual stance and signature smirk. He breathed, "Wow, Cinn, that was quite some show. I gotta say, after we talked earlier, that particular testosterone-fueled Alpha display was the last thing I expected to see. Wanna catch me up on what the hell happened?""I don't even know where to begin," I exhaled.His gaze turned steel cold. "Why don't you start by telling me what that dick-eating fucker did to you and why you didn't tell me about it before?"I cringed. Yep, he wasn't thrilled. I sighed,
LeanderHycinth and I walked in comfortable silence back to our room. When we entered, my little mouse stopped and snickered as she examined the destruction, eyeballing the bed that was now at quite an angle due to the broken frame. She looked up at me, her lips twitching.I shrugged my shoulders sheepishly. "It couldn't be helped.""Of course not." She nodded solemnly.I raised an eyebrow. "Are you mocking me, little mouse?"She bit her lip to keep from grinning and purred again, "Of course not."I rolled my eyes. "I'm glad you're enjoying yourself at my expense.""So now what? Do we sleep on the floor?"I huffed, "Of course not."She giggled. I couldn't help returning her smile. "We'll sleep in one of the guest rooms until ours is repaired. Grab whatever clothes you need for tonight and tomorrow morning."She disappeared into the closet and came out wearing her usual nighttime attire. Sleep shorts and a tight little T-shirt. I bit back a groan as I looked at her slender and athletic
HycinthThe day flew by quickly. After spending most of the morning dress shopping, Leander and I caught lunch at a local Italian restaurant and then headed back for the Announcement Ceremony. I suspected Leander had purposefully kept us away until the very last moment to avoid any more potential drama. When we arrived, Gwen met us at the door and quickly followed us into our temporary room. She waited in a comfy chair while Leander changed clothes in the walk-in closet and I went into the bathroom to get ready. I could hear them talking through the door.Leander's voice was curt, "Stay with her.""I will. Don't worry. I've got this. I won't let anything happen," Gwen assured. "Now get going. We'll meet you down there."I didn't hear him give a response, just the door opening and closing again. It took several more minutes for me to sweep my hair up onto my head, leaving soft tendrils wisping around my face. I didn't apply much makeup. The cut of the dress was so elegant and simple th
LEANDER'S POVI held my little mouse close, tucked under the crook of my arm, splayed fingers applying pressure to her lower spine to keep her exactly where I wanted her-no distance between us, not even an inch. The pert mounds of her breasts pressed against my side, her two hardened nubs, the evidence of her arousal, poking into my chest. Her little hands rested flat against my back and right pectoral muscle. She was a perfect fit tucked under the crook of my arm, her tiny shape molded and created for me, two halves of one whole, just right together.I hadn't anticipated clutching her tightly during the speeches part of the ceremony. Typically, the Alpha and Luna stood next to each other, holding hands. But after the sweet scent of her arousal filled the air, she was lucky that's all I did, instead of listening to every primal instinct in my body, demanding I toss her over my shoulder and find the nearest den so that I could make her mine.My posturing was much more than physical. Na
Ever gave a hard nod to Alpha Cyril and stepped back. My father's deep baritone voice was easily heard as he spoke to Sydney, "Your sentence is fifteen. Count each one out loud. Is that understood?""Yes," she whimpered.Fifteen wasn't bad. It shouldn't take too long. I was more than ready to move along to the next step.My father didn't waste any time. His hand came up, and the paddle came down, the slap against her bare skin resounding loudly in the air. Sydney flinched hard but made no sound other than to gasp, "One!"As the punishment continued, and swat after swat rained down, Sydney was no longer able to contain her cries of pain. Her chest heaved as she panted hard. The wolves all watched on eagerly, twittering among themselves, pleased with the spectacle. I was a little surprised at their vocalness. They were usually reserved during public punishment, and I wondered what their conversation amongst themselves consisted of. It was hard to hear over the constant slapping of the p
HycinthThe air teemed with excitement. Howls, shouts, and cries of happiness- a symphony of the Wolves' hearts. Even the ground beneath our feet pulsed as hundreds of Wolves stomped their joy. I heard and felt it all, but none of it mattered. There was only one Wolf I could focus on, and he captured my complete attention- Leander.His bite had overwhelmed and stunned me. I didn't know what I expected, but not the utter bliss that wrapped around me like a cocoon. Being in his arms, surrounded by his warmth -words were pitifully inadequate to describe the sensation, only to say it felt like it was where I belonged -I was home.Leander's violet and cerulean irises glowed dark as he pulled back from my neck. I stared at his full lips, wanting him...wanting more. He guessed my thoughts and whispered, "Not yet, little mouse."I frowned. He'd told me that twice now, and I wasn't feeling any more patient than when I'd heard it the first time. If anything, my desire for him had doubled. Uncon
Rather than let me calm down and get myself under control, the asshat leaned in and whispered hungrily in my ear, "The things I'm shortcake. His expression changed. He positively radiated sexual intent as he slowly brought his mouth down.Was he going to kiss me?! Here? Now?My already racing heart took off like a rocket, thumping in my chest. I sat frozen, unable to move as he slowly eliminated the space between us. However, rather than finding his lips against mine, I felt his tongue sweep out and lick the corner of my mouth- apparently a bit of cream was left over there.Regardless of the benign reason for the touch, seeing his I'm-going-to-taste-you-e verywhere-soon expression and feeling his tongue lick the edge of my lips caused arousal to positively burst out of me. It was like a ripcord had been pulled and stunning heat shot through my belly making my pelvis clench and my toes curl. I had to wrap my hands into fists...to keep myself from jumping on him and riding him hard like
HYCINTH’S "It wasn't supposed to be like this. I was doing perfectly fine until Cade set his eyes on me. I'm really sorry for the trouble." I said, walking alongside with Leander and taking steps farther away from the warehouse. My wrists continued to ache along with the rest of my body. There was a stiffness that I needed to get rid of."It's completely fine." Leander replied. The silence and the quietness gloomed in his voice. We barely uttered any words to each other ever since he untied me from the warehouse.I glanced over at him once more, remembering the face before my eyes diverted back to the ground.I didn't know what to feel. I was certainly shocked and consumed by the idea of Leander, my mate, being present beside me after a long year of nothing. We made no contact, not a single word or a call to one and other.When I stepped out of the warehouse, I quickly recognized the location-the outskirts of the city where no one ever came. There was a dock nearby. The smell of ship
HYCINTH'S MEMORIES"Oh!" I sucked in a startled breath as I found myself straddling his lap on the wide seat, my hands pressed flat against his bare chest for support.Skin against skin.Tingles ran from my fingertips straight to my core, making me squirm.He groaned in appreciation and tightened his hold, one large hand gripping my hip, the other wrapped around the nape of my neck. Swirling violet and cerulean orbs stared up at me. Deep. Darkening.Under his intense stare and scrutiny, I felt incredibly alive.I was entranced, caught in the raw intensity of his gaze. The invisible force that drew us together tugged at my defenses, threatening to break down my walls and demolish my resistance. It was kinetic. Glorious and warm. It flexed, pulling us closer, refusing to be denied. A pulse of truth rippled through our connection -this beautiful male belonged to me. He was mine.For this moment, I was okay with that. I welcomed it. I embraced it. I didn't want to think about tomorrow-whe
HYCINTH’S POV Leander My mate.It wasn't hard to forget your mate, especially when there were cruel memories attached with them. I had seen it all with him, the good times, and the terrible times. There was nothing else I needed to see.He was a man, of my past.I let my head fall back on the ground as the men began leaving the shady warehouse. Cade simply grinned at me before departing. My pleads became useless, inaudible as soon as he recalled that he can't kill me because Leander will come for him.Shuffling with the restraints, I groaned and kicked my feet out of frustration. I still had enough time to run away before anyone could get here and find me but the only problem I had was setting myself free.Memories of Leander snapped into me like a whip, forcing me to face my past once more and open my eyes wide to see the reality. His face flashed through my head, I closed my eyes and breathed. It had been a long time since I had seen him, since I had spoken to him and since I had
I remembered screaming for a minute before my world blacked out and I lost consciousness. When I woke up, the first thing that struck me was the thick scent of death and blood. I didn't want to imagine where I was or who had taken me but there was an idea in my head.Just an hour before I was blacked out, I recalled a man I knew warning me that they were coming for me. I ignored all the flags waving in front of me and continued with my life.The Alpha of the Night shade pack Cade.He had me.I placed my hand underneath and pressed my palm against the cold, unknown ground. My eyes opened wide, but I couldn't see anything. It was pitch-black and silent as a graveyard.And my hands were tied.The ropes were digging into my wrists as I tried to break free. My hands were tied behind my back therefore every time I stood up, I fell back on the ground without any hope.A few seconds later, when I began feeling my sore legs, I quickly realized that my feet were tied together. My shoes were ta
In the middle of the morning, my phone began ringing and buzzing. I thrashed over the bed, my eyes still closed and a pain sweeping through my head. My hand stretched and reached for the phone. I wanted to silence and cut the call, but a glimpse of the unknown number at the caller ID tore the sleep right through me and forced me up.I picked up the call and heard heavy breathing on the other end for a few seconds before the man spoke up. "They are onto you." He said, giving me a warning. "Be careful."I didn't say anything but I knew the person who had called to warn me. A few more seconds passed before the call ended. I pulled the phone away from my ears. My heart thudded hard against my chest.Fuck. I groaned at myself while rubbing my forehead, hoping the throbbing would leave me for a minute.They were onto me.By saying "they" , he meant Alpha Cade of the Night shade pack. He was also among the Alpha's that worked with Dagger to bring me down. He was among the bastards that wante
HYCINTH’S POVThere was no peace.Not in this world. I had no peace and I no longer wanted it.I think I had cried for exactly six months before wiping my own tears and setting my focus on something else, my revenge. There wasn't a single day I hadn't thought about my unborn child that was viciously murdered by someone who had a grudge against me. I had mercy before but right now I didn't have that in me.I wanted that bitch."Please, please, don't kill him. He hasn't done anything to you." The naked woman nearby begged, her hands clasped together and meeting with her chest.I never looked in the direction of weakness. Not since I ran away from Leander and came here, hoping to find peace. The world ahead of me was red, full of blood, death, and an urge to kill. And I wanted to revenge for everything. Yes everything happened, l lost my unborn pup but luckily the moment I left Leander the moon goddess helped me and gave me back my wolf.Before getting it, I spent nights and days cryin
LEANDER'S POVEverything good had to come to an end.It was how the world worked. Even with all the riches and power, no one could save anyone from death. There was no such thing as immortality or giving one a life. There were two instances where I had ever cried, one was where my mother died, where I couldn't do anything to bring her back, where I felt the weakest of all, where I felt nothing could help me and the second time was when my unborn child was killed.Same feelings.Same emotions.Different people.Different deaths.One's grave was big and the other one was small. The tears were the same and the pain was the same. But I never thought I was ever going to cry for someone who was living, breathing right next to me. It took courage and a lot of strength to love someone and seeing them going through pain was worse than the pain of any death.When I held Hycinth in my arms after her surgery of abortion, I wept like a child while she struck her fists into my chest, screaming how
Every body moved away, creating a path for us as l moved quickly. I clutched Hycinth to my chest as she writhed and began to groan in pain. The guard's eyes widened as they saw Hycinth spitting up blood in my arms. “Guard around the pack, no one in , no one out , there might be a reason why she is vomiting blood”, l shouted at my beta, Ever brushing past him to run.I didn’t wait for his response.Gwen was running behind me as I raced for the pack’s infirmary. My heart was beating painfully in my chest as l pushed myself faster than I had ever moved before. “Lay her on the bed here”, Gwen gestured to the first open bed and l gingerly laid Hycinth on bed. I held her head to the side so she wouldn’t choke on the dark colored blood. “Hycinth my darling, can you hear me?”, My voice was strained as l held her face and brushed her hair back from her forehead.A cold sweat was forming on her face and she continued to spasm in pain. Somehow her cloudy eyes seemed to find me and her lips moved
I wasn't sure if Hycinth's surprised response and rapid heartbeat were related to Sydney's actions or my reference to her as my Luna. "I can only tell you what I've seen. I really do think her punishment changed her perspective, and again, we will discuss it with her to confirm exactly where she stands now, but she has held you in her lap while kissing your hair and whispering softly spoken sentiments of affection. She watched over you whenever I was forced to leave your side and whenever I returned, she never failed to whisper a loving goodbye to you.Hycinth blinked, her eyes taking on a glistening shine. After a long moment she said softly, "Okay."Transitioning back to our original conversation, I asked quietly, "Were there any other reasons you kept our daughter from me?""No," Hycinth whispered. "I've always known you would be a good father. I knew you would come for her...you would save her." Expression turned glassy, utter anguish radiated through the bond.Still connected to