LUCKY'S POV**4 weeks since last chapter (3½ months since Hycinth left)**I watched Hycinth from the corner of my eye. True to her word, she was doing all of the things I wanted her to. She got up, dressed, went to work and then went home. But she was only going through the motions. There was no happiness in her expression, ever. I didn't think she'd even smiled since we left Leander.She'd opened up a few more times about her pain and grief. We were making progress, slow, but progress. I could see her opinion start to sway. She wanted to fix what was wrong inside of her, but she just didn't know quite how to get there. And even if she did, she feared it was already too late to get Leander back. I didn't think so. That male would do anything for her...in the same way I would do anything for my mate one day. It would be painful for both of them, but they could get through it. I had to believe that. But her self-criticism and self-doubt kept her bound up unable to break free.And we wer
"The violet and cerulean smoke?!" Hycinth breathed. She seemed to understand more than I did. I had no idea what the hell colored smoke she was talking about.The Oracle nodded in approval. "Yes. That is correct. You bore his child at that moment."Hycinth's mouth dropped open. It took her a minute to close it. The shock never left her expression as she asked incredulously, "Are you telling me that was when Leander got me pregnant...even before we had sex?!"What she said sounded like nonsense, but I had no details on the ceremony preparation, so for the moment, I just listened.The older shewolf nodded again."Does it always h-happen that way for the mating ceremony?" Hycinth stuttered."No. Never has it happened in such a manner. Usually, conception occurs during intercourse."Hycinth blinked, stunned silent, finally out of questions."This smoke that you are referring to, the thing that got Hycinth pregnant...what was in it?" I asked skeptically."Leander's semen was the main ingre
Caught in a LieLuckyThe Oracle walked out the door, leaving both Hycinth and me gutted and raw with the truth, utter devastation in her wake.Unable to make my body move, I slumped in the chair across from Hycinth. Her arms were wrapped around her middle, clutching her belly. Tears streamed down her cheeks. She rocked back and forth. Confusion swirled unchecked in her irises, mirroring mine, trying to wrap her head around the impossible.But neither of us couldn't any make sense out of what we'd heard.Nothing made sense anymore...Lost blue eyes focused on me. "I thought it was about the war, Lucky-the decades-old conflict between our pack and Leander's -it was supposed to be about the war!" Hycinth wailed, gasping for breath. Desperation colored every word. "Not me! Why did they have to kill Leander's mother and your mate because of me?!"I inhaled slowly and let the breath out. I wasn't sure I could talk about my mate without breaking down into a puddle on the floor, so I focused
. "What are you trying to say? That we should never have run three years ago?" Hycinth asked with her lower lip trembling."Maybe...as much as I hate to admit it." I ran my hands through my hair. The more I thought about it, the more I questioned our decision because the facts all pointed to one conclusion. "What happened after he finally caught you? He did everything in his power to make you love him."Hycinth shook her head. "It's not that easy. Lucky, you didn't see his face that day. He wasn't happy to find out I was his mate. You heard him yourself. He thought of me as his whore when he first found out. That's not someone who intends to be gentle and loving.""True..." I acknowledged, "but happy or not, the bond is powerful. I haven't experienced it personally...and now I never will,"I swallowed to contain the lump in my throat before continuing, "but, I know it to be true. Think of it this way. How many names did you call him in those early days as well? We both did. Leander di
The following morning, Tommy and Frank showed up right on time for their almost daily tattoo sessions. Before Tommy could even get settled in the chair, I approached him. His attention sharpened instantly from the expression and my body language, but I couldn't hide my anxiety."What's up, Whiskey?""I've got to take a little trip. Not more than about two days, I hope.""Okay..." he responded, knowing there was more to come."We don't have any family here to keep an eye on Hycinth."Understanding lit his expression. "And you want us to look after her while you're away?"I nodded.Finally settling in the chair, he made eye contact with Hycinth and grinned. "That's easy enough, baby girl."My hands curled into fists. The timbre of my voice dropped into a warning, "Without the sexual innuendos.""What?" Tommy looked at me with the innocence of the newborn, but couldn't quite hide his smirk, and then he became serious, "She's family. You both are. Never think you are without again."Warmt
All of the animosity trained from her face, replaced by confusion. "I'm sorry for your loss, and I hope you get the answers you seek. But it is a very dangerous time right now. You are standing in the crosshairs of a volatile conflict. We have not been able to confirm where everyone's loyalties stand. For your own sake and that of your sister, it would be better for you to return to her right now. Stay away because the blood of many wolves is going to be shed.""I can't leave, not yet. Tell me what happened. Have you tried negotiations? I didn't come here for that, but maybe I can help." Truthfully, the last thing I wanted to involve myself with was a war. Hycinth needed me now more than ever.Sydney replied flatly, "We're at war because Hycinth left him."And then I understood...My heart sank.Swallowing thickly, I tried to contain my dread. "What happened to Leander?" Somehow, I just knew I wasn't going to like the answer.For the first time, all of her defenses were gone. Her bott
House of CardsLucky"Nooo!" Sydney dropped to her knees in front of me.I didn't need to explain.She fully understood just from my reaction. Arms wrapping around my shoulders, she held tight. Her voice quivered, "I'm so sorry, Luca."We sat on the floor for several minutes while I composed myself. Sydney was silent...just there with me.Kneeling for so long caused my legs to feel numb. I shifted position so that I was sitting on my butt with my back against the couch, my elbow resting on my bent knee. My head felt heavy, and I struggled to keep it up, finally just dropping it back on the couch behind me with my eyes closed.Sydney's voice came soft, "I want you to keep it."Lifting my head to look at her, I found she was also still sitting on the floor across from me. Her eyes glistened with emotion.I looked down at my still tightly clenched fist and opened it to reveal the tiny gold treasure. I was desperate to keep the little locket, but I didn't know Sydney's sentimental attachm
At her words. memories of Hycinth floated through my mind...her barely able to get out of bed and the haunted look in her dead eyes. I shook my head sadly. "Hycinth may have had the willpower to walk away, but what good is it when she's left miserable without him?"Sydney studied my expression. "Hycinth really wants to come back?"Bringing my other knee up, I rested both elbows on them and nodded. "She'd been making strides...grieving and facing the past. I hoped it would only be a matter of time before she was strong enough to make the decision on her own, and I think she was getting there slowly but surely. But she's devastated after everything the Oracle told us yesterday. Alpha Grant hurt so many wolves in his effort to manipulate her future. Right now, she's internalizing guilt for all of them and can't see how anyone would want her when she was the catalyst for all of the pain."Sydney contemplated my words. "The pack is hurting now without their Luna and the effect her absence
Time passed by slowly. The bleeding stopped momentarily but returned soon. Instead of blood spilling from my nose, it began choking out of my throat and I ran to the bathroom everytime I felt it build up. The sink was flooded with my blood, clots of it. I felt it all drain out of me.My skin changed colors, it turned into pale and I couldn't recognize myself anymore. Without blood, I felt colder and began shivering soon."You cannot cancel the dinner," I spoke with Leander and he tried his best to change my mind and to tune my thoughts elsewhere. "You have to go.""I'm not going to go without you. I'll reschedule for another day. And I'm not going to leave you alone." He whispered, pressing his hands against mine. My fingers trembled under his touch and I blew out a sharp, cold breath. "You'll be fine.""I feel like I'm dying." I buried myself in layers of blankets that were in the house. The cold was unbearable. But surprisingly, after all the blood I had lost, I still didn't feel in
Something had changed."I don't care. It's not that fucking late to get it out. What the fuck do you have a degree for? Don't you do this all the time?" A voice roared in my head, Leander's voice. It was full of tension and worry.I peeled my eyes open and stared at the window in front of me. It showed the backyard of the house. From there, I understood I was in Leander's bedroom. Everything came to me in a rush and sweat collected around my forehead before my pulse quickened and I rose up from the bed."It's already too late..-" The man in the white suit, the doctor, stopped speaking when his eyes fell upon me.Leander spun around and saw me, "Hycinth." He called out my name and rushed me in such a hurry I had never seen before. "Are you okay?" He asked, curling his hands around mine."No," I shook my head as I became furthermore aware of what had happened. "She poisoned. Oh," I breathed out. "Leander, she -she poisoned me." My eyes teared and I lost control of myself entirely."It's
I waved at Leander as he got inside the car to go handle a few pack matters. There was a group of rogues seen nearby the border and he went to question them along with a few other wolves under him. I stayed at home during the next day, pondering and having some chai latte whilst Gwen was making dinner. The night had passed by with ease. I slept in his embrace, forgetting all of my worries. When the morning sun shone, I turned over a new leaf and decided to not listen anything from Sydney anymore. Whatever she spat out, it was bullshit and I truly needed to stop listening to her."Don't you feel bored here? I mean, Gwen, you cook all day and light." I said, hands underneath my chin while my shoes were knocking against the table's leg. I had found boredom finding its way to me after leander had left. There was nothing more to fight with him about.We had invited Grayson, the Alpha of the Goldridge Pack and his mate, Claudia over for dinner and Gwen was preparing exactly that. They had c
My body was on fire and it burned through me when Leander pushed me over the bed. I curled my legs around his torso, sealing him, as if I needed to do that. I raced my hands over his back, feeling every inch of him while he deepened the kiss.It wasn't just about sex- it was more than that. It was ensuring that Leander was going to be with me forever and the only way possible was for me to let him in, to let him take me whenever he wanted to, to let him fuck him. I was his mate, he had marked me and l didn't want to loose him.I squirmed underneath him, rubbing my legs and arms all over him as warmth filled me up till the core. The feelings came by itself, it didn't need to be forced. It was always there, buried deep inside.He drew my lower lip into his mouth and bit down hard till I moaned loudly. Chuckling, he pulled away from me and that's when I saw his face. His eyes, brimming with lust and desire not for the first time.I ran my tongue over my lip and rose my arms as he reached
"I was once fucked by Leander, just like he does to you. We all the same. We want power , dont you?" She grinned at my response and the proudness appeared in her eyes for a longer time."I don't , I'm nothing like you." I stared down at her with disgust in my tone. From the corner of my eyes, I looked at the food and said, "Eat it if you want to live. I don't mind burying you at all.""You wouldn't be here if you wanted to bury me, Hycinth." She huffed and sat back, pressing her back against the cold wall. "What are you going to do? Keep me here for the rest of my life? Kill me? You and I both know you can't do any of that. You have to eventually let me go. You still weak.""So you can kill more people? Take more innocent lives?" I asked her in all honesty.What did she want more? She had nearly ruined everything for me and now she was killing people left and right with the poison she had created."And who helped you create the posion? Where is he?", I asked."Don't worry about my
It had been a tedious task to call Grayson and his mate, Claudia, over to the house. At first, we tried to come up with everything that wouldn't seem odd as we didn't want to attract any negative thoughts from them. We didn't want to let them know that we were ambushing them in any way.After another long hour of deciding, Leander finally placed a call over to Alpha Grayson's Beta who then handed the phone to the Alpha of the pack, the man we needed to bring in and question.Upon hearing his voice, I was more than sure that he was in possession of the poison and that it could be only him Sydney would have made a deal with.The Goldridge Pack was a known, favored pack around the area. It wasn't far from the town but not closeby as well. The drive could gather around for three long hours but by plane it would be merely a few thirty minutes, even less.Leander invited Grayson and Claudia over for brunch and to discuss future pack matters that couldn't be discussed at the charity event ea
Magnus and Allison arrived at the house soon after we had called for them. We had told them the details they needed to know and put them on work. There were at least twenty packs surrounding ours, some couple hours drive away while some a small plane ride away. The packs that were small, covering little towns were ruled out as they were wealthy enough to buy the poison Sydney and whoever had helped her create it.Leander knew Sydney and she wasn't going to give anyone with a cheap price. It was her work and she must've received a great sum of money by selling it.We short-listed five packs and then looked at the timeline of Sydney's visit to these packs. The ones she hadn't visited at all were ruled out as well.At the end, we were only left with three packs.The Goldridge PackThe Iron ClawsThe Silverpaw PackWe had our suspicion on all three but couldn't find enough evidence to blame one.Night fell and the sky became as dark as it could. Heavy clouds formed, promising a rainy nigh
There was a little pause before he asked, "I can?" He spoke slowly as he still seemed to be unsure even after I told him to have it."No, I can't." He shook his head and looked away, changing his thoughts and killing the hunger within himself."Why not?""I can't hurt you.""You're not hurting me," I shook my head. "I want you to have it." I whispered, leaning closer to him and resting my free hand over his shoulder.He had resisted it yet again which meant he had the control but I couldn't leave him without fulfilling the need his eyes that continued to grow as every second passed by.With his gaze on mine, he pulled my hand closer to his mouth and then ran his tongue, tasting my blood at last. Watching him do it was enticing and terrifying at the same time. Suddenly, a heat grew between us. He pressed my palm harder against his lips and continued drinking my blood for a long minute.His eyes were wide open and on me. The hunger disappeared. My lips parted and I almost gasped at the
I stared at the fireplace inside Leander's office and warmed my hands while he scurried through papers behind me. "Did you keep track on her?" I asked him while looking over my shoulders.He seemed confused, "I don't know. I'm not sure but I did have one of my men follow her. Though, I didn't keep track of the updates as I was dealing with problems of my own." He looked behind and met with my gaze while holding a bundle of papers. "The last time I had seen Sydney was at the same time and she had poisoned me then."Problems.I understood what he had meant by that. After Sydney had given him the poison, he began changing and with that came awfully terrible things. He was not the monster that we had encountered in the forest as he had learned to control himself. I didn't know how he did it but I knew it was difficult and it took plenty of his time.I lowered my eyes to the papers in his hold before lifting myself off the ground and walking over to him. "What's this?" I placed a hand ove